Ruthless Heir (Ruthless Billionaires #5)

Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Harper

“Are you okay?” Beth asks, looking across at me.

We’ve just pulled up in the parking lot of the Dark Odyssey and my heart is heavier than lead.

Am I okay?

That’s a good question. I just don’t know how to truly answer it.

I guess the simple answer would be no. Because I’m far, far, far from okay. But there’s so much going on with me that I don’t know which parts are worse.

Being here at the Dark Odyssey about to start my first night at this job?

Or Asher?

I was grateful that he gave me the PR job. We also seemed to connect when I told him about my crazy good luck ritual—which I actually did to calm myself after I got a check-in call from one of Vito’s lackey’s. If only good luck were as simple as swimming around the sea at night. I’d be immersed in it every night.

Aside from that everything else Asher and I spoke about felt strange.

He was strange and I saw that confusing desire in his eyes again that caused conflict in my soul.

At one point when he touched me I almost thought he was going to kiss me. Then I realized how ridiculous that thought was and how ridiculous I was.

He’s getting married. Which brings me to the main reason I felt he was acting strange.

He never told me his fiancée’s name or anything about her. He never mentioned a wedding date, even though it seemed like it was soonish when I heard him on the phone talking to Hunter. He also never spoke about any of the usual stuff people talk about when they’re getting married.

Maybe he didn’t want me to know. But that would be strange too.

“Let’s just go in,” I say, trying not to sound as despondent as I feel.

Beth is playing my support system. Like a mother taking her child to school on its first day. She’s going to see me off and make sure I’m okay then head home.

“Harper, you’re going to be fine.”

I nod slowly and force a smile. “Thanks for being here.”

“Of course. Come on, Diane said she’d meet us in the dressing room.”

Diane has been great and compassionate toward me. She’s Beth’s friend who’s responsible for the recruitment at the club. It was she who gave me the job.

“Okay.” I nod again, feeling like a robot. “Let’s go.”

We step out of the car and head toward the towering building, which seems to loom over me tonight like a mountain. This place prides itself on being high end, sophisticated and elegant. It’s not the back-door seedy kind of place you would imagine when you think of a sex club. But my heart pounds inside my chest as if I’m marching toward my fate. Like I’m walking to the gallows

The automatic doors to the staff entrance whoosh open as we approach and a cold gust of air-conditioned wind brushes against my face.

It’s cool and should feel soothing but instead it feels like an invisible hand pushing me forward.

It can’t be good if I’m already thinking like this.

We step onto the polished marble floor, our heels clicking against the surface.

I nod at the guard and the receptionist, offering a weak smile when they acknowledge me. Then I swallow hard, forcing down the bile that rises with every step I take.

By the time I reach the dressing room I feel like invisible chains are dragging me down and I can barely breathe.

We walk into the room, which looks like it came from the Moulin Rouge.

Diane steps out from one of the rows of boudoir dressing tables with a vibrant smile on her red glossy lips. Her hair is red, too. She wears a wig so she can change her hair color, style and length as many times as she wants in any week.

“Girls,” she beams in her soft French accent. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Hey, Diane.” I smile. “Thanks for meeting me.”

“No worries at all.”

“You’re a gem, Diane.” Beth gives her a hug. “Thanks for taking such great care of Harper. As you can imagine, she’s very nervous.”

Thank God for Beth. She’s the friend who will talk on your behalf even when you don’t want her to but need her to.

“Don’t be nervous.” Diane looks at me and takes both my hands into hers. “Yes, things can get a little crazy and I understand this job would probably never be an option for you under normal circumstances, but the best advice I can give you is to think of the money. The money is what brings people here. People who have money and people who need it.”

I don’t think she could have said it any better. Think of the money . I need to because that check-in call from Vito henchman last night truly jarred me.

“Thank you. That helps,” I say, trying to look more enthusiastic. The worst thing I could do right now is sabotage myself with the job prospect that’s going to save me.

To their credit, the Dark Odyssey knows that most of the staff who work here would never work here if they had the choice, so they pay them accordingly. In just my few training days one girl did a night’s work and got snapped up for a million dollars just to accompany some guy to his private island for a week.

I heard she screamed like she’d won the lottery.

“Come this way. I’ve got your outfit for tonight. I’ve put you with a group of bankers. They’re regulars. They're celebrating one of their birthdays so they wanted a few extra girls. I’m hoping the tips will be good for you.”

“Thanks, that would be great.” In my heart I pray the tips could be good enough so I never have to come back. But that’s all reliant on what I’m willing to do.

Diane leads us to my section and when I see the blue glittery thong and barely-there bra I’m supposed to wear I almost cry. But I think of the money.

“This is it. You can get dressed here and when you step out into the club, you smile and become part of the fantasy. You’re in the blue suite. And just remember, if the guys get violent call the guard. You don’t have to do anything you’re not contracted to do.”

No, because being contracted to take your top off and give lap dances is quite enough. Isn’t it? Maybe not.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Come and find me if you need me. I’ll be around.” She turns back to Beth and smiles. “I’ll take care of her for you.”

“I know you will,” Beth replies.

“See you during the week.”

Diane leaves us and Beth and I look at each other. Beth places her hands on my shoulders and offers me an encouraging smile.

“I know you have a million things on your mind and Asher is just one of them. But please think of the money.”

“Believe me, I am.”

“Those banker parties are where the money is at. Who knows, you could have the money for the loan arrears tonight.”

“That would be nice.”

“It would. When I worked here one guy paid me ten grand a night just to listen to him read the songs he wrote.”

I smirk. “Really?”

“Yes. Of course, I’m forbidden to tell you who he is but let’s just say he’s super famous.” Her eyes light up.

“Oh my gosh, you have to tell me. Now I’m definitely going to want to know who he is.”

“No. There are some secrets you keep in your heart forever. And now you know you can trust me.”

“I guess you’re right. How come he wanted you to listen to his songs?”

“He was going solo from his band and didn’t trust the people around him, so he came here for three nights and paid me handsomely.”

“That is insane. Wow. And all you had to do was listen to him?”

She nods and smiles widely. “That was all I had to do even though he was gorgeous. I hope you find someone like that. A decent guy who just needs a listening ear.”

“I hope so, too.”

“And don’t worry about Asher. I guess… some things are just not meant to be. He’s one of them.”

Nothing feels truer than that right now. For the last few days I kept imagining him and his nameless fiancée.

All sorts of questions drifted through my mind, from what does she look like to how did he propose to her.

I’m sure she’s prettier than me and if I know Asher he would have gotten down on one knee.

He's an alpha through and through but he also has those masculine qualities that women love. They’re not for me. They’re for her now. Whoever she is.

I guess I’ll meet her soon.

“You’re right. It wasn’t meant to be.” I can’t help the sadness in my tone any more than what I feel in my heart.

“Get ready. Call me later when it’s over. Or if you need to just talk on your break.”

“I will.”

“Cool. Remember, think of the money.”

I dip my head and she leaves.

I turn back to look at the outfit I’m supposed to wear tonight and take it off the hanger.

“Well, at least I start out wearing clothes.” I study the beautiful sequins on the bra and thong as they sparkle against the light.

Pulling in a deep breath, I set it down, take my clothes off and put on the bra and thong.

I look in the full-length mirror and my heart twists when I see myself. I’m practically naked.

Think of the money, Harper. Think of the money.

I force the thought into my mind and do my makeup. Minutes later I’m ready. The party starts in ten minutes. I have to join the other girls setting up drinks.

I take the route where I can avoid the sex and head up to the room.

The three other girls I’m supposed to work with are already there setting

up. I met them the other day when I came in to do my paperwork.

The two blondes are Clara and Denise, and the redhead is Amelie. They’re wearing the same get-up as me.

“Hey, girl, happy first night on the job,” Amelia says, raising a champagne glass.

The others join her and wave me in.

“Hi.” I smile back.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to things when we get started. The guys are already here. They’re making their way up.”

“Oh, good.”

“Come on, have some champagne. You look like you need a buzz,” Clara says, holding out a glass to me.

She’s right. I need something. I take the champagne and down it. I drink so fast I hardly taste it.

The three of them giggle.

“Have another one.” Clara pours me another drink and I knock that back, too.

The buzz I was hoping for comes, so I nod.

“You good?”

“Yes, better.”

The door opens and four men walk in carrying more drinks. They holler and hoot when they see us. They look like they’re in their early- to mid-thirties.

“Thank God for fucking hot women,” the tallest one cheers.

“Tops off now,” the blond guy who looks like an oil tycoon in the making orders and I hate it when he sets his sights right on me.

The girls take their tops off but I hesitate. Then I remember Vito with his threatening voice, threatening messages, threatening everything.

So I think of the money and undo the hook of my bra.