Chapter three

Rowena’s POV

"Move," the bodyguard growled.

"I'm walking," I snapped back.

"Walk faster." He shoved my shoulder hard.

I stumbled forward. My bare feet slipped on the sticky floor. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to run away. But two other large men blocked the only exit. The guard shoved me past the thick velvet ropes. We stepped into the gold and black leather lounge. The loud club music instantly sounded muffled. The air smelled like expensive scotch and sharp mint.

I looked up and finally saw him up close. Arlo Kensington. He looked even more terrifying than the book described. Danger radiated from him.

"Sit down," Arlo ordered.

"I prefer to stand," I replied.

I crossed my arms over my exposed chest. I tried hard to hide how badly my hands were shaking.

"I told you to sit," he repeated.

"And I said no," I held my ground.

The bodyguard grabbed my arm. "Do what Mr. Kensington says."

"Take your hands off me," I hissed at the guard. I yanked my arm away.

"Let her stand," Arlo instructed the guard. "She looks ready to run."

"I'm not running," I argued. "I just don't want to sit."

The bodyguard stepped back into the shadows. Arlo leaned forward. He rested his elbows on his knees. His dark eyes studied every inch of my face. He looked at me like I was a puzzle he wanted to break apart.

"Why did you push your friend?" his voice sounded dangerously low and smooth.

I forced myself to swallow my fear. I couldn't let him know I felt terrified.

"I didn't push her," I lied smoothly. I kept my voice very steady.

"You pushed her right into my section," he stated.

"She tripped," I argued. "I tried to catch her but I missed."

Arlo tilted his head. An amused smirk formed on his lips. He hated being lied to. I could tell he knew exactly what I did.

"You missed," he repeated slowly.

"Yes," I insisted. "It was an accident. She is just clumsy."

"I saw your hands on her back," he challenged me.

"You saw wrong," I fired back.

"You are a bad liar," he observed.

"I'm not lying to you," I maintained my fake story. "I have no reason to lie."

"Everyone has a reason to lie," Arlo countered. "You wanted my attention."

"I don't want your attention," I told him honestly. "I want to go home."

"You aren't going anywhere," he promised.

He chuckled. The sound lacked any real humor. He reached into his tailored jacket. He pulled out a massive stack of hundred dollar bills. He tossed the money onto the glass table between us.

"Dance for me," he commanded.

"No," I answered instantly.

"Just you," he ignored my refusal. "Right now."

My breath hitched. I stared at the thick stack of cash. I knew the rules of this club from the book. Refusing a direct VIP request broke my contract. That breach carried a massive penalty f*e. The debt would ruin me financially.

"I said dance," Arlo repeated. His voice held a sharp edge now.

"I'm off the clock," I lied again.

"You work when I say you work," he told me.

"I don't work for you," I reminded him. "I work for the club."

"I can buy this club with pocket change," he threatened softly. "Dance."

"Find someone else," I suggested. "Cressida would love to dance for you."

"I don't want Cressida," he said bluntly. "I want you."

"Well you can't have me," I shot back.

"I always get what I want," Arlo warned.

"Not tonight," I said.

"Pick up the money," Arlo challenged me. His eyes dared me to disobey him.

I stared at the money. This was the trap. If I danced for him, I entered his orbit. The deadly plot would begin. The original Rowena would have danced. She would have tried to seduce him right here on this leather couch. I refused to play this game. My survival mattered more than a fictional contract.

"Are you deaf?" the bodyguard barked. "He told you to pick it up."

"I heard him," I snapped at the guard.

I stepped forward. I reached down and picked up the heavy stack of cash.

Arlo leaned back with a satisfied smirk. He thought he won. He thought I was just another greedy dancer ready to perform.

I looked him dead in the eye. I didn't start dancing. Instead, I threw the stack of bills right back at his chest. The thick paper smacked hard against his expensive suit. The money scattered all over the glass table and the floor.

"What did you just do?" the bodyguard yelled.

"Keep your money," I snapped. I turned my back on the most dangerous man in the city. "I quit."

"You can't quit," the guard grabbed my shoulder again.

"Watch me," I warned him.

I didn't wait for Arlo to react. I shoved the guard's hand away. I pushed past him and stormed down the back hallway. I kicked open the heavy metal exit door. I stepped out into the freezing night air. I wrapped my arms around my shivering body. A massive wave of relief washed over me.

I changed the plot. I survived the encounter. I was finally free.

I started walking down the dark alley behind the club. The cold wind bit at my exposed skin. I didn't care. I just wanted to get far away from him.

Then my relief shattered.

I heard a slow crunch of tires on gravel behind me. The heavy sound echoed in the empty alley. I glanced over my shoulder and my blood ran cold.

A sleek pitch black SUV with tinted windows crawled down the alley. It trailed exactly five feet behind me.