Chapter 2

THE HEAVY, thumping bass of Club Vixen reverberated through the walls of the dimly lit, staff-only corridor. Aldrich Astor, still wearing his bespoke charcoal suit from his interrupted Taiwan meeting, marched down the hallway with a lethal expression. He pushed open the door to Private Room 304, locking it instantly behind him.

Inside, Amberlyn was pacing back and forth, holding a sleek black paper bag. When she saw him, her face lit up with relief. "Boss! Thank God, ang bilis mo. You made it on time!"

"Where is she?" Aldrich demanded, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He completely ignored her greeting, his eyes scanning the empty room as if expecting to find Pepper cornered by some sleazy clubgoers.

"Nasa exclusive VIP lounge siya sa taas, Boss. Safe na safe at walang pwedeng pumasok. But we don't have much time," Amberlyn rushed to the table and pulled the contents out of the paper bag. She shoved a pair of black, fitted leather-accented slacks and a highly ornate, half-face gold masquerade mask into his chest. "Here. Magpalit ka na."

He looked down at the items in his hands, his perfectly sculpted brow twitching in absolute confusion. "Ano 'to, Amberlyn? Is this some kind of masquerade event?"

"Hindi po, Boss. Iyan ang isusuot mo. Uniform mo for tonight," Amberlyn instructed briskly, crossing her arms. "Suotin mo na 'yang fitted slacks at ang gold mask. Oh, and by the way, strictly no polo, no undershirt, and definitely no coat. Dapat topless kang papasok sa VIP lounge."

He froze. The sheer absurdity of her demand hung in the air for three agonizing seconds before his cold composure snapped.

"Are you out of your f*cking mind?!" he growled, throwing the slacks onto the velvet sofa. His dark eyes blazed with fury. "Nababaliw ka na ba, Amberlyn? I am Aldrich Astor, the CEO of Astor Industries! I just walked out of a multi-million dollar acquisition in Taiwan, flew across the ocean, just to make sure my woman is safe—at ngayon, inuutusan mo akong maghubad?! Do I look like a cheap male stripper to you?!"

Amberlyn didn't even flinch. Having worked as his top operative and secret agent for years, she was immune to his deadly billionaire tantrums.

"Boss, makinig ka muna kasi!" Amberlyn rolled her eyes, stepping closer. "Tingin mo ba gusto kitang gawing bold star? I am doing this to help you get close to her! Ma'am Pepper is in a very... reckless state of mind right now. Gusto niyang maghanap ng entertainment. She even paid for escorts."

His jaw clenched so hard a muscle feathered in his cheek. "Escorts?! Is she insane?!"

"Yes, Boss, and she's gorgeous, drunk, and determined. Kaya kung hindi ka papasok doon bilang 'escort', mapipilitan akong kumuha ng iba pang lalaki sa club na 'to para ibigay sa kanya. Gusto mo ba iyon? May ibang lalaking hahawak at titingin kay Ma'am Pepper?"

The mere thought made his blood run cold, instantly replaced by a blazing, violent jealousy. The image of another man walking into that VIP room, looking at Pepper in that stunning green silk dress, was enough to make him want to burn the entire club to the ground.

He glared at Amberlyn, his chest heaving as he fought a losing battle against his own territorial instincts. "You are playing a very dangerous game, Amberlyn."

"I am securing your territory, Boss," Amberlyn countered with a smug, knowing smirk. "You want to be the only man near her tonight? Then you have to play the part. The gold mask will hide your identity so she won't know it's you, and the... well, the lack of a shirt will definitely keep her attention exactly where we want it. Walang makakalapit sa kanya kundi ikaw."

Aldrich stared at the gold mask resting on the table. He hated this. He hated being manipulated into a ridiculous costume, and he absolutely loathed the fact that Pepper was looking for another man, even if it was just an escort. But his obsession and desperation to protect her completely overpowered his pride.

Muttering a string of dark, heavy curses under his breath, he forcefully ripped his expensive silk tie off his neck and threw it aside.

"Make sure all the security cameras inside that VIP room are turned off," he commanded in a deadly tone, rapidly unbuttoning his tailored shirt. He shrugged it off, revealing his broad, heavily muscled chest and perfectly sculpted abs, a physique forged from years of rigorous martial arts and survival training.

"Way ahead of you, Boss. Blind spot na ang buong kwarto," Amberlyn grinned triumphantly, handing him the gold mask. "Now, put the mask on. The first step is done. Hinihintay ka na niya sa loob."

Aldrich slipped the gold mask over his eyes, the metallic finish casting a dangerous, mysterious shadow over his sharp jawline and intense gaze. He looked less like an escort and more like a lethal, captivating phantom.

"If any other man even tries to knock on that door," Aldrich warned, fixing the belt of the black fitted slacks, "I will hold you personally responsible."

"Understood, Boss," Amberlyn gave a mock salute. "Now go get your girl."

BUMUKAS ang mabigat at soundproof na p***o ng VIP lounge. Aldrich stepped inside, expecting to find Pepper nursing a drink or dodging persistent clubgoers.

Instead, his eyes widened in utter, paralyzing shock.

The private lounge had its own small, elevated stage with pulsing neon lights. And right there, sitting on a red velvet couch with a glass of champagne in hand, was a visibly tipsy Pepper—cheering at the top of her lungs.

"Woooh! Mas bilisan mo pa ang indak, kuya! Ayan, ganyan nga!" Pepper giggled, wildly waving her glass as four buff, half n*ked male dancers performed a suggestive routine right in front of her.

Aldrich froze mid-step, his sculpted body turning rigid under the dim lights. A vein throbbed violently on his temple behind the gold mask. "What... the actual f*ck is this?" he choked out, his deep voice barely audible over the thumping music.

Amberlyn, who had discreetly slipped into the room right behind him, leaned in and whispered frantically into his ear. "Boss! Huwag kang maging estatwa diyan! As you can see, the competition is fierce! Apat agad ang kalaban mo!"

"Amberlyn, space out those idiots before I kill them," Aldrich growled through gritted teeth, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned ghost-white. "I didn't fly out of Taiwan to watch four random strippers flex in front of my woman!"

"Hindi pwede, Boss! Kapag pinalayas mo 'yan nang walang dahilan, magagalit si Ma'am Pepper!" Amberlyn gave him a forceful shove toward the stage. "Go up there and dance! Agawin mo ang spotlight! Prove to her that you're the best guy in the room!"

"Dance?!" Aldrich turned to Amberlyn, looking at her like she had grown two heads. "I am the CEO of Astor Industries! I have a black belt in Krav Maga! I don't do exotic dancing!"

"Aba, eh 'di panoorin mo na lang silang hawakan si Ma'am Pepper—"

"F*ck!" Aldrich snapped.

Driven by a blinding surge of possessive jealousy, Aldrich swallowed every ounce of his pride, threw his self-respect out the window, and committed the most humiliating act of his entire life.

He marched straight onto the small stage.

The four dancers stopped mid-routine, staring in confusion at the tall, insanely ripped man wearing a gold mask who had just barged into their space. Aldrich didn't give them a second to react. With raw, masculine dominance, he shoulder-checked the guy in the center out of the way, stepping directly into the spotlight right in front of Pepper.

His heart was hammering against his ribs in sheer embarrassment, but as he locked eyes with Pepper through the slits of his gold mask, his instincts took over.

He moved.

He used every bit of his elite athletic control, rolling his broad shoulders and executing a slow, sinuous hip roll that emphasized his tight, sculpted abs and lean waist. He ran a hand through his dark hair, leaning forward over the stage edge, his intense, dark gaze burning straight into Pepper's soul. He deliberately flexed his chest, smoothly pivoting to block out the other four guys entirely, making sure Pepper's view was hundred percent occupied by him.

The four other dancers, sensing they were being completely outclassed, slowly backed off the stage in utter defeat.

Pepper's jaw literally dropped. The glass in her hand tilted dangerously as her wide, glazed eyes traced every inch of Aldrich's bare torso, glowing under the purple stage lights. Her face flushed a deeper shade of pink.

"Woah..." Pepper gasped softly, her drunken haze suddenly clearing into pure fascination.

Aldrich ended his forced, humiliating performance by dropping down to one knee on the edge of the stage, looming right over her, his breathing heavy as he stared down at her with intense, dark obsession.

Pepper suddenly stood up, staggering slightly on her heels. She wobbled toward the stage, locked her gaze onto Aldrich, and pointed a finger dramatically right at his chest.

"You!" Pepper declared loudly, her voice ringing across the private room over the music. "I'm choosing you! You are hired!"

Aldrich blinked behind the mask, stunned. "Hired for what?" he rasped out, his voice deeper and lower than usual to keep his identity hidden.

Pepper leaned in close, smelling strongly of sweet champagne, and patted his broad shoulder with absolute seriousness.

"I am hiring you to be my co-babymaker!" Pepper announced proudly, waving her hands around. "Buntisin mo ako! Kailangan kong mabuntis ASAP para matalo ko ang bwisit kong half-brother at mabawi ko ang kumpanya ng Mommy ko! Magkano ba ang rate mo, Mr. Gold Mask? Babayaran kita ngayon din!"

Aldrich froze dead in his tracks.

**Co-babymaker?!**

**Buntisin?!**

The piece of the puzzle finally slammed into place with terrifying clarity. She wasn't here to party. She wasn't here to destress or dance. She was here to hire a male escort to get her pregnant so she could win her father's f*cked-up inheritance game!

Slowly, very slowly, Aldrich turned his head toward the corner of the room.

Through the golden mask, he shot Amberlyn a look of such lethal, terrifying brutality that it could have stopped a man's heart on the spot.

Amberlyn, who was leaning against the bar, casually took a sip of her cocktail, offered him a sheepish double thumbs-up, and slowly gave him an 'I-told-you-so' wink.

Aldrich looked back at Pepper, who was staring fixedly at his abs with a very drunk focused expression. A dangerous, triumphant smirk slowly spread across Aldrich's hidden lips.

"Co-babymaker, huh?" Aldrich whispered, reaching out to gently wrap his large, warm hand around her small wrist, pulling her just a fraction closer. "Deal, sweetheart. But once you hire me... there's no turning back."