Chapter 002

Chapter 002

----ALEX VAUGHN----

GABBIE

The towel clung to my skin as I stared at my open closet, water still dripping onto the floor. Rows of costumes hung like silent witnesses to this stupid job. lace, leather, sequins, straps, velvet. Pieces designed to turn women into fantasies, or weapons, depending on the night.

My fingers brushed a red bikini set when my mind replayed Dante’s words again...

“He doesn’t care what you wear.”

That alone was strange because men always cared what I wore. They had fantasies... nurse, schoolgirl, angel, slut, kitten. Costumes fed their delusions.

But he didn’t care? was he trying to be polite?

Or trying to hide something?

A knot formed low in my stomach. I hated that I was thinking about him at all. Hated that curiosity had settled heavier than it should.

“Fine,” I muttered to myself. “Let’s see what kind of man you are.”

I pulled out a black bodysuit, not skimpy, not flashy. Revealing neckline, no sleeves, and only a slit of skin at the waist. Conservative by this club’s standards. The kind of outfit no man here ever asked for.

A test and If he complained, then he was just like the rest.

If he didn’t… Then he was something else.

I slid into the bodysuit, feeling the cool fabric mold to me. Then I sat before my mirror again. The face staring back looked calmer than I felt.

For some reason… my hands trembled. I never trembled.

My job was a mask, and I wore it better than anyone. But tonight? I wasn’t sure if I was putting on the mask… or hiding behind it.

I reapplied my makeup slowly, deliberately. Black eyeliner, smoky eye shadow, Highlighter on my cheekbones and Deep cherry lips.

Then the glitter, God, the glitter.

I hated it but I needed it. Needed to shine even when I was drowning. I pressed the fine dust onto my collarbones, shoulders, thighs feeling that familiar sting of fake confidence rising with every shimmer.

A performer again, Stronger again, Untouchable even if inside, something felt… wrong, so tight... so uneasy.

A knock sounded behind me. “Ella,” Dante said softly. “It’s time.”

I exhaled once, grabbed my mask, and slid it on, instantly becoming her again. The siren, the one men paid for.

Dante led me down a hallway I’d never bothered to walk before. The VIP corridor was quieter, colder, it smelled of expensive cologne and sins never spoken off.

My heels clicked too loudly.

“I never go in these rooms,” I whispered, surprised that I had whispered at all. “You know what happens behind these doors.”

He nodded. “I know. But this one’s different.”

“You said that about Frederico last month.”

“This one really is different.” Dante looked at me, for once without that greedy twinkle. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

I didn’t trust promises in this place, but for some stupid reason… I trusted this moment.

When we reached the last door, he paused, hand hovering inches from the handle.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he said quietly. “He agreed.”

He agreed, Another strange detail like I didn't need to worry.

My heartbeat was a drum now.

I hated that it was.

Dante opened the door slowly, and a wash of cool air brushed over me, expensive air, clean air, nothing like the club outside.

“Good luck,” he whispered.

I stepped inside and the door slammed shut behind me.

The lights were dim, soft gold instead of neon. The room smelled like cedar, not sweat. A private bar glowed in the corner, untouched. A single leather chair sat facing the stage area.

And in that chair…

Him.

My first impression was a perfect gentleman, in a tailored suit that looked like it cost more than my rent.

He had a calm posture, confident, controlled.

Hands resting on his lap, not reaching, not grabbing.

Respectful, too respectful, but then he lifted his head.

I saw his face and every ounce of glitter on my body suddenly felt like ice.

Alex Vaughn, his eyes looked so calmer than the man I knew but I hated him, Soo much at work that I once wished him death.

Might sound too stretched but this man saw me once and decided to cut 10 percent out of my earnings just because I happened to pass by when he was in a bad mood, at work? We called him the demon and all of a sudden he's here?

Right under my nose.

My first instinct was to run, hide before he saw me but I realized I didn't even have to, I still have my mask on so he can't recognize me.

With the look on his face, he doesn't even look at me like someone irrelevant, his eyes hold so much respect now.

I swallowed hard and stepped into the light letting him get a better look of me.

"So it's you uh? The man who paid so much for a dance." I held the pole and twirled around it to earn a reaction but I got none, he only stared like he was lost in thought.

"Mr Alex? Are you with me?" I called and he looked straight at me strangely.

"How do you know my name?" When he said this, I knew I fucked up."

"Uh... Dante told me and I..."

"If you meant that Italian guy, I didn't tell him my name so do you know me?"

My pulse raced at an unhealthy rate each second and I knew this could escalate into something bigger, he would definitely, definately not let it slide and most importantly I might lose my job.

That can't happen, Ella think! Think!

"Uh... I... Saw it on your receipt." Our eyes met and I swallowed hard, this has to work God...

"Oh right." He muttered and gave a tight lipped smile. It worked. barely, i shouldn't let my guard down one more time.

"So what kind of dance do you prefer... Mister?"

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he leaned back in the chair, slow, staring into my eyes like he was trying to remember me, I couldn't let that happen so I looked away dryly to make him look away.

His gaze dragged down my body, unhurried, unapologetic. So strange my stomach clenched.

"You choose," he said finally. His voice was lower than I’d ever heard it at work, smoother, almost dangerous. A part of him I've never seen him before.

"And how sexy do you want it to be?" "Your highest beautiful.” he said, his voice low and seductive, so strange I hated it.

My breath hitched and I didn't even like it, strange that someone I hated would make me feel so seen, so beautiful. No had ever called me that, I was always refered to as... Sexy, hot, dangerous but never beautiful.

I hated that these words came from a monster, I wanted to pretend I wasn't fazed but the way he looked at me… like he could peel the mask off with just his eyes… it made my knees weak.

I stepped closer, my fingers lightly grazing his shoulder as I walked behind him. he stiffened, as if trying to meet my gaze.

When I leaned down, my lips brushed the shell of his ear close enough that he could feel my breath.

“You sure you can handle that?” I whispered.

He inhaled sharply.

His hand tightened around the arm of the chair.

And his answer came slow… like it cost him something.

“Try me.”