Chapter 2

Elena's POV

By the time I arrived at Velvet Eclipse night club, I had already locked every emotion outside its gates.

Because in this business, feelings weren't needed at all.

Feelings made people weak, and weakness was a luxury I could no longer afford.

The moment I walked into the employees' dressing room, I stopped being Elena.

Here, everyone knew me by one name.

Coco the Cobra.

The name had been given to me on my very first night at Velvet Eclipse, and over the years it had become far more famous than the woman hiding beneath the mask.

I opened my locker and quietly changed into my performance outfit.

The crimson lace costume hugged every curve of my body before falling elegantly against my hips, while the delicate black mask concealed the upper half of my face.

I fastened it into place and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Velvet Eclipse had been the only place that offered me a chance to survive.

I started as a dancer. Then, when the bills outgrew what dancing could cover, I let it become something else.

Private hookups, arranged through the manager, always with the wealthiest clients.

It was an indecent job but indecent jobs were the only ones that paid enough around here, and I would do every filthy thing this city demanded of me, over and over, if it meant Eli kept breathing.

I picked up my lipstick and carefully applied it before smoothing a hand over my outfit.

My body had always attracted attention.

I was a plus-sized woman blessed with generous curves, a narrow waist, full breasts, and wide hips that no dress could ever hide.

Even after years of stress and sleepless nights, my figure still turned heads wherever I went.

It had become both my greatest blessing and my greatest curse.

Most of the women working at Velvet Eclipse resented me because the wealthiest clients always asked for Coco.

Some came because of the mystery surrounding the woman behind the mask, while others simply couldn't look away whenever I stepped onto the stage.

The attention often brought jealousy.

Tonight, I didn't have the strength to deal with any of it.

After taking one last look at myself, I left the dressing room and made my way toward Brandon's office through the back hallway.

I had barely walked a few steps when three familiar figures deliberately blocked my path.

Lana folded her arms across her chest before letting out a mocking laugh.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up.”

Crystal clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"As usual, Boss is going to push the rest of us aside the second Scarlet walks through his door."

The third woman looked me up and down before sneering.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You really believe you're the most beautiful woman in this club, don't you?"

Normally, I would've ignored them.

Tonight, my patience had already been exhausted at the hospital.

"I don't have time for this," I said evenly. "Move."

Instead of stepping aside, Lana moved even closer until we were almost nose to nose.

"What if we don't?"

"You've got every important client wrapped around your finger," Crystal added bitterly. "The rest of us barely get noticed because all anyone ever asks for is Coco”

I slowly exhaled, fighting to keep my temper under control.

"I've had a terrible day, and I have work to do. Don't make yourselves part of my problem."

My warning only made them laugh.

Lana reached out as if to shove my shoulder.

That was the last straw.

Before she could touch me, I caught a fistful of her hair and yanked her forward.

She cried out in pain.

The laughter vanished instantly.

I looked straight into her watering eyes and spoke in a voice so calm that it frightened even me.

"I'm trying very hard to keep my life from falling apart, so don't push me to the edge."

I tightened my grip just enough to make my point.

"Mind your own business in this club before I teach you how.”

I released her with a firm shove.

She stumbled backward, clutching her head while the other two hurried to support her.

I dusted off my sleeves as though nothing had happened.

"Run along now," I said coolly. "Unless you want to kiss your jobs goodbye."

None of them dared answer.

They stepped aside immediately.

I drew in a slow breath, steadied my racing heart, and reached for the handle of Brandon's office door.

The room reeked of expensive liquor and cigar smoke.

Brandon sat behind his oversized desk, his bald head gleaming beneath the dim light while his enormous stomach strained against the buttons of his black shirt.

A thick cigar rested lazily between his fingers.

He didn't even bother looking up immediately.

"You're late."

"I'm sorry," I said, struggling to steady my voice. "My son had another medical emergency. I had to take him to the hospital."

Brandon finally lifted his eyes toward me, irritation written all over his face.

"You always have an excuse, Coco."

"I—"

"If your son isn't bleeding, he's throwing up."

He leaned back in his chair with a mocking snort.

"Or barking like some wild wolf.”

My fingers curled into fists.

He continued without a shred of sympathy.

"Frankly, everyone in Ashridge is terrified of that little monster. The kid acts like an animal every time whatever's inside him wakes up…”

Smack!

The sharp sound of my palm striking his face echoed through the office.

His cigar flew from his hand as his head snapped sideways.

For a moment, complete silence filled the room.

My chest rose and fell violently.

"How dare you," I said, my voice trembling with fury.

"How dare you speak about my son like that."

Brandon slowly turned back to face me, one hand pressing against the reddening mark on his cheek.

For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to hit me back but instead...He laughed.

It started as a low chuckle before growing into a full, unsettling laugh that echoed around the office.

I frowned.

"What are you laughing at?"

He took another puff from his cigar and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

"You've got guts, Elena. Normally, I'd fire anyone who dared lay a hand on me.”

My stomach tightened.

"But tonight..." He grinned. "Not when you're about to make me one million dollars."

My breath caught.

"...One million dollars?”

Every hair on my body stood on end.

That was enough to pay Eli's hospital bills, clear every debt hanging over my head, and still have money left for his treatment.

Brandon noticed the change in my expression and smirked.

"Now I've got your attention. The deal is simple, I take sixty percent and you keep the remaining forty”

"There has to be a catch," I murmured.

Brandon chuckled.

"Smart girl, of course, there is.”

He opened a drawer and pulled out a sleek black keycard with VVIP LOUNGE engraved in gold across the front.

"The client waiting upstairs isn't one of our regulars."

He slid the card toward me.

"He's the CEO of the largest corporation in the werewolf territories”

My fingers froze inches away from the card.

"No. I told you from the beginning." My voice was firm despite the panic rising inside me. "Wolves are off limits, I want nothing to do with them”

He scoffed.

Brandon waved away my refusal with a dismissive flick of his hand. "Don't be ridiculous.”

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do you think clients like this come knocking on my door every day? He specifically requested you."

"I'll pass, Brandon."

I reached for the doorknob.

"I'll get ready for my stage performance instead. One of the other girls can take the booking."

I had barely touched the handle when Brandon's voice stopped me cold.

"You know you owe me your life, Coco."

I froze.

"I took you in when nobody else would. I gave you a roof over your head, a job, and enough money to keep that sick kid of yours alive."

His tone turned dangerously calm.

"And with the snap of my fingers…”

He snapped them.

"...I can take it all away."

Slowly, I turned to face him.

"What are you saying?"

Brandon took another drag from his cigar before blowing the smoke into the air.

"I'm saying I know you're hiding from someone."

Every muscle in my body, locked.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?" He smirked. "Then why have you spent the last five years panicking every time a wolf walks into this club?”

I said nothing.

He leaned forward, resting both hands on his desk.

"I may not know who the father of your little boy is...but I know he's important. So important that you'd rather break your own back than let anyone from the werewolf territories find you.”

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Brandon's smile widened.

"All I have to do is make a few phone calls."

He shrugged casually.

"I'm sure the Alpha you're hiding from would pay handsomely for information about the woman who disappeared five years ago."

The color drained from my face.

"You wouldn't..."

"Oh, I would."

His voice was ice cold.

"And once he finds you..."

He looked me straight in the eye.

"...do you really think he'll spare your son?”

Brandon picked up the black keycard again and held it out to me.

"So here's your choice."

Brandon thrust the keycard into my hand.

"You have exactly five minutes to make your choice."

He smiled…a smile that belonged to the devil himself.

"Either you walk into that lounge...or before sunrise, the Alpha you've been hiding from for five years will know exactly where to find you.”