My name is Jazmin, I'm 20 years old, and until two months ago, I had a very close-knit family, but we lost everything due to an accident

I'm Latina, and like many Latinos, I came with my parents when I was a child to chase the American dream. Although my parents always worked hard, life became increasingly tough, especially when my younger sister Cristi was born with a terminal heart condition. My parents spent days and nights in hospitals, and I was by their side. To cover Cristi's expensive medical costs, they mortgaged our house and took on debts from various banks, as we didn't have residency and weren't entitled to public healthcare

But one day, when I least expected it, I found myself alone with Cristi. Our parents died in a car accident. I couldn't afford to fall apart, my sister needed me to be strong, even though there are days when I feel like I can't go on and just want to run away

Today, like every other day for the past month, I went out job hunting. I didn't finish college, so my options are limited. Even though I work on the construction of a shopping mall, it's not enough; Cristi's medications are very expensive, and now a mortgage payment notice has arrived at home

I've walked for hours, dropping off job applications at various businesses, but none give me any hope of being hired

"Jazmin, hey, what are you doing here?" said Lola, Jazmin's friend from high school, smiling.

"Lola, hey, you know, I'm looking for a job, I'm really desperate. You wouldn't happen to know someone who needs cleaning done or lawn mowed, would you?" Jazmin said, hugging Lola.

"No, I'm sorry, but maybe you can work where I do. Come on, I'll treat you to a meal; I imagine you haven't eaten, you look very pale."

"Jazmin, first, I want you to know that this place might not be for you, but you'll earn the money you need!"

"Really, I don't care, Cristi's medicine is about to run out," Jazmin said, tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry, Jazmin, calm down, I'm going to help you. So, I need you to wear any denim skirt you have, boots or comfortable heels, okay, and a white shirt, and go to this place. I'll wait for you there at 8 p.m., alright?" Lola said, handing her a paper with an address.

Lola and Jazmin ate, and Lola explained she'd secure her a job as a waitress in one of the bars where rich people went, where being friendly could earn her good tips on top of her salary. Jazmin agreed without hesitation, although the idea made her somewhat uncomfortable.

Upon arriving home, she found Cristi lying on the couch, clutching their mother's sweater.

"Jazmin, you're back."

"Yes, my little bear, and I have great news – I found a job, well, Lola will find it for me, but it will be at night. So I need you to be brave and stay home sleeping while I work, okay?"

"But I'll be alone!"

"It will only be for a short while, I promise."

"Okay," said Cristi, crying.

Jazmin bathed and dressed as Lola had instructed, put Cristi to sleep, looked at her for a moment imagining her mother in her, then hopped into a taxi and left for the bar

"Jazmin, you look beautiful, friend. The bar is packed; my boss said you could start working right away, so you'll be serving drinks to the VIP rooms – it's all rich people who come here to work, so it will be easy."

"Okay, then I'll go. Thanks for everything, Lola."

"Take it easy, go on, and good luck," Lola said, embracing her.

Jazmin was happy with the number of tips she was receiving, though she felt objectified by the men at the bar who blatantly stared and called her names like "kitty," "sweetheart," and other obscenities

When she reached a secluded lounge, she walked in with a tray holding two bottles worth more than three times her wage, opened the door, and saw three men: two held women on their laps, and one sat alone focused on his phone

"Here are the bottles you ordered. Anything else I can get for you?"

"Yeah, pour it for us, sweetheart," said Joshua, a blue-eyed man playfully holding a woman on his lap.

Jazmin was about to finish her shift when she felt the gaze of that lone man upon her. His green eyes and slightly tousled hair caught her attention. He looked at her from top to bottom as if imagining what she wore underneath her clothes...

She left the place and took a breath, stroking her arms to relax her goosebumps, tying her hair securely. But just as she was about to leave, a man shouted at her.

"Hey, beautiful, where are you going? Come over for a moment," Joshua said.

She took a deep breath, walking towards the red room, still holding the tray. Upon entering, her gaze focused on that man who was already lounging on the couch with a glass of whisky in his hand.

"Do you need anything else brought to you?" Jazmin asked anxiously, watching the men kissing those women.

"Yes, we need you to sit here with us," Roberto, an older-looking man in contrast to the others, said with a smile on his face.

"Excuse me, but I don't do that. I'm just a waitress, but I'll see who can help you with that," Jazmin replied, slightly annoyed and nervous.

Before she knew it, that older man grabbed her arm and then her waist, bringing his face close to hers. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Let me go, you idiot," she said.

"Sweetheart, why are you getting angry? I'll treat you to the best whisky in the world, and don't worry, I'll leave you a very good tip," Roberto said, touching Jazmin's leg.

"I said let me go," she said, her voice trembling.

"She said let her go," Emilio spoke from the couch, his voice loud and serious. Most importantly, he spoke in Spanish.

The women and the other man next to him fell silent as the tone of his voice was an order. They looked at Jazmin and Roberto.

"But Emilio, look at how exquisite she is, and she's Latina too," Roberto said, touching Jazmin's shoulders.

Jazmin took advantage of the moment when the man looked at Emilio and kicked him with all her might in the groin, causing him to fall at her feet.

"You fucking prostitute, you'll pay for this," Roberto said, lying on the floor, almost in tears.

The other men burst into laughter, looking at Roberto.

"Do you need anything else, someone else?" Jazmin asked, her voice trembling, her words becoming tangled, as she watched that man squirm.

Emilio looked at her, leaned back in the chair, and took a big sip of whisky.

Jazmin didn't wait any longer and left, walking to the restroom with trembling hands. She turned on the tap, letting water flow into her hands and splashing it on her face.

"Did something happen, Jaz?" Lola asked, worried, as she entered the restroom.

"A man tried to touch me," Jazmin replied.

"These damn rich people! I'll talk to my boss right away. They think they can do whatever they want with us because of their money."

"No, I already put that old man in his place. I just don't want to go back there," Jazmin said.

"Stay calm. I'll finish up here. Take a deep breath, Jazz. See you outside. I have to keep working," Lola said.

Jazmin took a deep breath, wiped away the tear that trickled down her cheek, and left the restroom. After several more hours of work, the last customer had already left.

"Come on, Jazmin. Let's go have dinner with the girls. They bought tacos," Lola said, taking Jazmin's hand.

Everyone there was very friendly, talking about tips and some discussing the important men they had served.

"But tell us, Jazmin, what's Emilio Conner like?" a blonde woman asked, smiling. All eyes turned to Jazmin.

"I don't know much. He doesn't talk much," Jazmin replied.

"Don't be silly. I want to know what he's like. They say he's incredibly handsome, tall, and muscular," she laughed.

"Well, he has green eyes. He's tall, you know, normal," Jazmin remembered his gaze on her.

"Oh, girl, what do you mean, normal? I would have fallen at his feet. He never comes around here. You were lucky," she said.

"Well, girls, we're leaving," Lola said, getting up from the table and closing her jacket.

The two of them left the bar, and upon reaching Jazmin's house, they stopped.

"Mr. Conner left this for you before he left," Lola said, giving her an envelope of cash.

"But why?"

"That's how the rich apologize. Take it and buy medicine for Cristi, and use this for some food."

Tears welled up in Jazmin's eyes. That money would help with Cristi's medication.

"Thank you, Lola, truly."

"See, everything will work out. Rest soon. Tomorrow will be the same. Take care, Jazmin," Lola said, hugging her.

"Thank you Lola, I love you too." Jazmin said, with a smile as she got out of the car.

The next morning, Jazmin went out early to buy some food and medicine. Cristi was getting weaker by the day, barely getting up to comb her dolls' hair and spending most of the day sleeping.

One week later,

"Do you investigate about the girl from the bar last night?" Emilio asked as he saw his brother Joshua enter the office, raising his hand to his forehead.

"Well, you didn't give me much time to do it, but I know she works at the bar and also for you in one of the downtown constructions. Obviously, there's the construction work, it seems like she knows how to do all the electrical work. I also know she's an undocumented migrant from Jalisco. Her parents died two months ago, leaving her in charge of her sick sister and a lot of debts. Oh, and she doesn't have any social accounts," Joshua replied, throwing the papers on the desk.

"I don't understand why you're so interested in this girl. As much as she wants money, I don't think she's the best option for pretending to be married to you. She might later extort you or something," Emilio replied.

"You're mistaken. With all these debts and her sick sister, she'll do anything for money. And even better, nobody knows much about her. The contract has been ready for a year now, and I'm in a hurry. I need you to bring her here, I'll take care of everything else!" Emilio explained.

"Alright, if you say so. I'll go see how I can bring that wild girl here. Poor Roberto is still recovering from the blow," Joshua replied, leaving the office with a smile.

Jazmin went to work at the construction site. This time, they had assigned her to the loading area. Despite the workers seeing her as weak, she lifted a bag of cement just like all the men there.

During lunchtime, she sat with the men, eating and chatting. She took a bite of a tortilla wrapped with chicharron and nopales.

"Miss Jaz, my respects. You carry just like us, and you're so skinny. I thought you'd faint on us," one of the men said, handing her a glass of water.

"Well, you shouldn't judge people beforehand," Jazmin smiled and replied.

"Miss Lopez, I need you to come to the office for a moment," the architect of the construction site called out.

Everyone became quiet, knowing it wasn't a good sign. Maybe she was going to be fired.

"Don't worry, gentlemen. Everything is fine. Go back to work," the construction site manager assured them.

Jazmin brushed off the dirt from her pants, as well as her boots and helmet. She entered the office and was surprised to see one of the men from the bar with whom she had problems. Her nerves heightened.

"Jazmin, right?" Joshua asked, looking her up and down.

"Yes, sir, it's me."

"Jazmin, I hope you remember me. I was reviewing your papers, and I see you have good references from our architects. I have a job proposal for you. But for that, I need you to come to the Conner Corporation tomorrow at 7 am."

"Well, sir, I'm not interested in moving up in positions. But thank you, and as for the other night, it wasn't my fault. It was your friend who got too pushy," Jazmin said.

"I'm not asking you about that. I need you to present yourself tomorrow at 7 am at the Conner Corporation," Joshua said sternly.

"Oh, yes, of course," Jazmin replied nervously. She was undocumented in the country, and if she was reported, Cristi would be left alone.