— Being poor sucks — Ian grumbled breathlessly, he had run to catch the bus and when he finally arrived the driver dragged the car as if he wanted to make fun of him.

He knew the day was going to be bad, being late for work was enough to ruin everything. If he didn't get there on time he would have to make up for the time he was late, which would make him late for his second job and that meant staying until closing, and if he stayed until closing he would get home even later which meant less sleep, which was already so little.

This double-shift life was killing him, but what choice did he have? He had a shitty underemployment at a shitty company with a shitty salary and with his qualifications it was all he could get. At least his second job was fun and paid a little better, but he had no formal contract or any benefits and that was what kept him trapped in this hell.

It's not like he was in debt, or had to support anyone other than himself, because he didn't. But life was hard and everything was expensive, and an orphan had to make do as best he could.

As a child who grew up without parents, without love and affection, receiving less than the basics in the orphanage, he had become a decent adult who worked and paid his bills, but at what cost? Ian spent most of his day working and the time he had left he used to sleep.

But the young man had a dream, he knew it was an impossible dream, however, that didn't stop him from wanting it. He wanted to stop being that scrawny boy he saw in the mirror and become a powerful person, his thirst for power and money was great and he liked to think that he would be able to do anything to achieve it, but in reality, he was stuck in that shitty routine.

And what could an orphan, with two shitty jobs and only getting 4 hours of sleep a day, do to change that? Nothing, just dream.

As expected, the day was hell, Ian had to make up for his hours at the company and arrive late to his second job, where he was a bartender and was greeted with shouts and insults, the Lust nightclub was super crowded and it looked like it was going to receive someone very important.

“I heard Dante reserved the entire VIP section for himself” a customer said to her friend as she waited for her drink to be ready.

“Really?” The friend sighed “We're luck then! Who knows, maybe we'll be chosen to keep him company?”

“Wake up, girl! Do you think we're at his level? He owns the whole damn city, he's not going to settle for two boring girls like us.”

The drinks were delivered and the girls continued to discuss whether or not they had a chance with this Dante guy. The bartender was very curious, he had always heard that name, but he didn't know who it was. He was a very oblivious person, he didn't watch television or read the news, all he did when he wasn't working was sleep or listen to music, or more precisely listen to music while he dozed off on the bus.

The excitement grew even more intense when a tall, broad man with a square, firm jaw and eagle eyes fringed by thick eyebrows entered the club. He was dressed in a black linen suit and leather shoes. His presence was imposing, and he exuded power and confidence.

Ian's attention was captured by such a man, after all he was the man of his dreams! He wanted to be like him, to have the power and money he had, he wanted to be able to chase his ambitions and grab them with all his might. But this was nothing more than a dream, a brief and sweet illusion.

The man walked around the club as if assessing the atmosphere and headed towards the VIP area.

So this must be the guy Dante, no wonder they always talk about him.

Ian wanted to ignore the gossip that was spreading even more fervently after the arrival of the VIP client, but it was impossible, despite the loud music in the nightclub, people were shouting their opinions and suspicions from the rooftops, at least if they spoke like this every time they went to order their drinks, Ian wouldn't have to ask several times.

The atmosphere, which had been hectic, began to become tense when the singer, who was supposed to perform that night, did not show up.

An emergency meeting with some employees was set up in the break room.

“Damn, I'm going to kill that bitch!” Mariano, the nightclub manager, shouted “How can she disappear just like that?! Today of all days, damn it!!!”

“Isn’t there anyone who can replace her?” Elen, the bartender who worked side by side with Ian, asked.

“Can you sing?” Mariano looked hopefully at Elen “If you can, the job is yours!”

“No fucking way!” she exclaimed “Even if I knew, I wouldn't want to show up on the night Dante is here.”

“Why not?” Ian asked confused.

“What world do you live in?” Elen retorted “Dante is the most powerful man in the city, I dare say he owns the city and that's why he thinks he has the right to have whoever he wants in his bed to use and then discard, that's why I want to stay away from his eyes.”

“And you, Ian?” asked Mariano “Do you know anyone who would risk singing?”

Someone who would take a risk?

Ian didn't understand the risk and he didn't understand the drama, how could one person be so powerful? But he did understand one thing, if he could replace the old singer, he would make more money and maybe even be able to quit his shitty job in the shitty office.

“Perhaps I do” he replied.

“Who?” Mariano asked anxiously “Would she arrive on time?”

“SHe?” Ian asked anxiously “Need to be a ‘she’?”

“Do you think Dante would want to see a grown man singing and dancing on stage?” Mariano was furious “Of course not! He wants beautiful women that he can appreciate, so tell me, what is your friend's name?”

“Ivy” Ian replied without thinking much about where that would lead him “Her name is Ivy.”

“What are you waiting for? Let's go after her!”

“Luckily for us, she's already here.”

“What are you waiting for, then go get her!”

Ian shook his head.

“You're a fucking bastard, you tell me you have the solution and you don't go after it?”

Ian ignored the manager's ranting and began to rummage through the boxes that were resting in the corner of the room. It was almost like a mini warehouse. They kept all the items for the presentations there. He was sure there was a wig stored there. And he wasn't wrong.

Luck smiled on him for the first time that day, he found not only a beautiful wig with long, black strands, but also an outfit that would fit his slender body perfectly.

“What are you doing?” Elen whispered, afraid for her colleague.

Ian didn't answer, he just put on the wig and started putting on makeup.

“No, no, no” said Mariano “Damn, this isn’t going to work.”

“Why not?” Elen asked “He's perfect!”

“But he's a man, damn it! He'll never be able to pass himself off as a woman, especially a beautiful woman.”

“Look at him carefully” Elen put her hand on her waist “He is more feminine than me”!

Mariano looked at Ian, who was finishing his transformation and couldn't believe what he saw, he always thought the boy was boring and lifeless, but with the wig and a little makeup he really looked like a beautiful woman.

“Put on the damn dress!” Mariano ordered “Let's see how you look!”

He changed, unfazed by Elen's complaints, who closed her eyes the moment he began to undress. Ian didn't mind people seeing his naked body, after all, there was nothing there but skin like everyone else, his shape was neither beautiful nor attractive, he wouldn't arouse lust in anyone, so he didn't care who looked at him.

Completely complete transformation, Mariano and Elen could not believe what they saw, the person in front of them was completely different, there was brightness, there was presence, there was an exuberant beauty.

“You're almost convincing me” Mariano said thoughtfully “Now sing!”

Then he sang with a sweet and strong tone, his voice was deep, but not thick, it could perfectly pass for a female voice and it was beautiful and in tune.

“Looks like we're going to have a great performance tonight” Elen said, clapping her hands.

An opening in chess is the initial phase of the game. A set of moves at the beginning of the game that are studied by chess players. Openings are catalogued in the ECO, according to the style of play and known variations.