Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

3. Stella

3

STELLA

I step into the cozy, dimly lit café, and a familiar face catches my attention, and I can’t help but smile as Anastasia, a close friend of mine, waves me over to a quiet corner table. Her bright blue eyes sparkle with warmth, and her long blonde hair cascades down her back in soft waves as she stands up to greet me.

“Stella!” she exclaims, pulling me into a heartfelt embrace. “It’s been too long.”

“Anastasia,” I sigh, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me. “I’ve missed you.”

“Ditto. It’s been too long.”

Before I started dating Owen, I’d spent just about all of my free time with Anastasia. The two of us have been friends since middle school, and although I hadn’t seen her as much these last few years, that didn’t mean we didn’t talk on the phone whenever we got the chance.

Anastasia reaches across the table to take my hand. “Stella, I actually wanted to talk to you about something,” she says, her eyes earnest. “After you told me about what that stupid jerkface did, I started thinking about something. I think you should come stay with me until you get back on your feet. It’ll be fun, like old times!”

Her words shock me although I’m not sure why. It’s not like the two of us hadn’t lived together before, but…

“Anastasia, I couldn’t,” I protest, hesitant to accept her offer despite the relief it would bring.

“Yes, you can. Stella, you’re my best friend,” she replies firmly. “And right now, you need someone in your corner who’s going to help you through this. Let me be that person.”

Her words are heartwarming, but something stops me from accepting her offer. I don’t want to be anyone’s charity case. “Seriously, Anastasia, I can figure something else out. I always do. I don’t want you to feel like this is something you have to do or to become a burden or something.”

“Stella, please,” Anastasia insists. “You’re not a burden. This is what friends are for. You’ve always been there for me, and now it’s my turn to be there for you. Let me do this! You know I won’t let it go.”

That’s true. Once Anastasia sets her mind to something she doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants.

Despite my reservations, I really could use the support. “Alright,” I concede quietly, gratitude flooding through me. “Thank you, Anastasia.”

“Of course!” she exclaims, her face lighting up. “And don’t worry about finding a way to contribute. In fact, I might have a lead on a job for you.”

“Really?” I ask, perking up at the prospect of employment.

“Uh-huh,” she replies, reaching into her purse and pulling out a small piece of paper. “I was talking to my friend Marnie the other day, and she mentioned that they’re looking for someone at the gentlemen’s club she works at. Here’s her number.”

Taking the paper from her, I study the digits scrawled on it, my excitement dying down. Working at a gentlemen’s club isn’t exactly what I had in mind…

“Anastasia,” I start, hesitating, “I’m not sure if that’s the right kind of job for me.”

“Hey,” she says, holding up her hands defensively. “I know it’s not the most glamorous gig, but it pays well, and Marnie says the people there are respectful. Give it some thought, okay? At least give Marnie a call.”

I nod slowly, knowing that Anastasia just wants what’s best for me. “Alright, I’ll think about it,” I agree, even though I have no intention of doing that. A gentleman’s club is like one step over a strip club, isn’t it?

“No,” she says, her eyes softening. “Call her now. If I don’t watch you do it, I don’t believe you will.”

It’s annoying how well she knows me.

I take a deep breath, eyeing Anastasia. I pull out my phone and dial Marnie’s number, my fingers trembling ever so slightly. As the phone rings, nervousness churns inside me.

I desperately need a job, but a gentleman’s club…? I’m sure I know exactly what goes on there.

“Hello?” Marnie’s voice comes through, casual yet sharp. I must have caught her in the middle of something.

“Hi, uh, Marnie? This is Stella March. Anastasia Kensington gave me your number,” I say, trying to steady my voice, my eyes glancing to Anastasia who gives me a thumbs up across from me. “She mentioned that there might be a job opportunity at your club ?”

“Ah yes, Stella!” Marnie replies, her tone brightening. “Anastasia told me all about you. She said you were pretty good, and that’s exactly what we need here. We’re looking for someone to join our team, and she thought you might be a good fit.”

Yeah…having boobs and a butt probably makes any woman eligible.

I fiddle with the edge of the napkin on the table. “That’s great to hear, but I should mention that I’ve never worked in a gentlemen’s club before. I don’t have any experience in that kind of environment.”

“Hey, no worries. Most of us didn’t have any experience before we started here either,” Marnie reassures me, her voice warm and genuine. “You’ll learn everything you need to know on the job, and the team will be more than happy to help you get settled in.”

I look at Anastasia again, who is scrolling on her phone now, but grinning. She’d clearly worked hard to get me this job, and I didn’t want to neglect the hard work that she’d put in.

I could try it out for a day, at least, right? And if I quit after then she couldn’t blame me…

“Thanks, Marnie,” I say, touched by her understanding. “I’m just a little nervous, I guess.”

“Totally normal. But trust me, once you get started, you’ll see it’s not as intimidating as it seems. Plus, the money’s good, and that never hurts.”

I can’t help but smile at her candidness. “That’s definitely a plus,” I admit. “Especially considering my current situation.”

“Then we might just be the perfect solution for you,” Marnie says, a hint of playfulness in her tone. “Why don’t you swing by tomorrow and check the place out? See if it’s something you’d be interested in.”

“Alright, I’ll do that,” I agree, feeling a surge of cautious optimism. “Thank you so much, Marnie. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course! Just let me know when you’re on your way, and I’ll make sure to meet you there,” she replies, her voice warm and welcoming. “I’m looking forward to meeting you, Stella.”

“Me too,” I say sincerely.

“See you tomorrow, then,” Marnie says before we hang up.

“Bye,” I reply, ending the call and turning to Anastasia, who has been watching me intently throughout the conversation. “Looks like I have an appointment tomorrow.”

“Really?” Anastasia’s face bursts into a beaming smile, her eyes shining with excitement and relief.

“Really,” I confirm, allowing a small, tentative smile to cross my lips. “I never thought I’d be a stripper.”

“You’re not,” Anastasia says quickly, giving my hand an encouraging squeeze. “They don’t do that there. Besides, it’s just temporary, and it can help you get back on your feet.”

“Yeah…” I swallow, still unsure but it’s the quickest way for me to make some money. And I need that.

“Stella, I have to ask… how are you holding up after Owen left?” Her voice is gentle, but her eyes flash with anger. I’m shocked she’s been able to withhold from asking about him this long – if there’s one thing about my best friend that everyone knows, it’s that she’s a major gossip.

I look down at my hands, clasped tightly in my lap. “Honestly? I don’t know.” My voice trembles. “Some days, I’m so angry at him for leaving me like he did, for abandoning me when I needed him most. But other days… I think that maybe it was a good thing. I don’t love him in the way that I think I should have. Does that make me a horrible person?”

Anastasia’s gaze softens, and she reaches across the table to touch my hand. “You are far from horrible, and you can’t do anything about the way you feel. You deserve so much better than him, Stella. You need someone who will support you and appreciate you, not just take advantage of your kindness. That’s all Owen did…he used you. That’s not love anyways.”

I know she’s right. While Owen finished school, I paid for all of our needs, so he didn’t have a care in the world.

I should have known it wouldn’t be reciprocated.

And she’s right…that’s not love.

My fingers curl around hers. “I know that, deep down. But it’s hard to let go of someone I’ve been with for so long. We had plans, dreams… and now they’re gone. Now, it’s just me again. I don’t even remember what it’s like to be single.’

“Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is walk away from what’s familiar, even if it’s hurting you,” Anastasia says quietly, her eyes filled with empathy. “Did you get your security deposit back?”

The thought makes me frown. “Nope. He sent it to his dad, Elio Lombardi.”

“Elio Lombardi?” She repeats. “That name sounds familiar. What do you know about him?”

My gaze drops to the table as I consider my answer, my thoughts clouded by Owen’s negative comments about his father. “Honestly, I don’t know much. Owen always spoke poorly of him, said he was a cold, ruthless businessman.”

Anastasia’s brows furrow, concern etched in her features. “That can’t be all there is to him. Do you mind if I look him up?” she asks, already pulling out her phone.

“Go ahead,” I reply hesitantly, unsure what we’ll find but willing to learn more.

In moments, Anastasia finds an article online and starts reading aloud. “Elio Lombardi, CEO of Lombardi Enterprises, has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts, including funding scholarships and supporting children’s hospitals.” She glances at me, her eyes wide with surprise. “This doesn’t sound like the man Owen described.”

I lean closer, peering at the screen as I read further. “He’s also been awarded for his contributions to environmental conservation projects and has helped many small businesses thrive.”

“Not to mention he’s smoking hot!” Anastasia looks like she’s about to drool all over the screen.

I elbow her. “That’s Owen’s dad!”

“Hot is hot, Stella, and Elio can get some.” She sticks her tongue out of her mouth. “Did Owen mention whether or not he was married?”

“You make me want to gag.”

She laughs, as I look back at the picture of Elio. Anastasia is right though. He is hot.

Anastasia breathes, scrolling through more information. “He seems quite successful and charitable. Maybe Owen didn’t have the full picture of his father, or maybe their personal relationship was just strained.”

A whirlwind of conflicting emotions stirs within me as I try to reconcile this new image of Elio with the one Owen had painted. Could it be that there was more to the man than I had been led to believe?

“Maybe.”

“What’s weird is how Owen’s dad is so rich, yet you were the one paying the bills.”

I hadn’t thought about it like that. “Yeah. If I could go back and get the money back, I would.”

“So what happens next?” She asks.

“Next, I will go to him and get my check back.”

“Get your check back?” she hums before her smile suddenly widens and she leans forward. “Stella, I have an idea. When you go to get your security deposit from Elio, why don’t you demand compensation for all those years you spent taking care of Owen? Clearly, the man can afford it.”

“Compensation?” I ask, caught off guard by the suggestion.

“Duh,” she says. “You were practically his caregiver, and you deserve to be financially supported after everything that jerk put you through.”

True…but that doesn’t mean I can go to his dad and demand money.

“Ana, I don’t know...” I hesitate, unsure if I have the right to make such a request. “It feels...wrong.”

“Wrong? Stella, you dedicated years of your life to him!” Anastasia exclaims, her blue eyes blazing with conviction. “And he just left you, without so much as a backward glance. You have every right to ask for what you’re owed.”

Her words strike a chord within me. I bite my lip, mulling over the idea as I weigh the pros and cons.

“Think of all the things you could do with that money, Stella,” Anastasia urges, her voice softening. “You could take care of your brother’s expenses, find a new place to live, and start rebuilding your life.”

Her words paint a vivid picture in my mind, one filled with hope and possibility. A future that I deserve.

“Alright,” I agree.”I’ll do it. I’ll tell Elio to cut me a check.”

“Good,” Anastasia replies, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

I wish I had her confidence.