I look out shocked at what I’ve created. There’s a frenzy of impressed clients, and when I see Clara, she’s grinning like a cat who caught the canary. I want to jump for joy that I’ve won, what looks to be, her good graces again. My joy is short lived when the only people not standing and clapping are Jace and Cassidy.
My heart sinks all over again and I do my job. I ignore them and go and stand beside my Boss. I am here to fulfil my duties, all personal problems are to be left at the door – even if one gets to walk the club as often as he wishes.
“Let’s start the bidding at ten grand,” Clara announces excitedly and immediately men are throwing their money at me. Apparently, talent in a girl ups our prize. Clara’s glee mounts with every grand that’s added and her hand squeezes mine harder when we reach eighty grand.
I never thought I would be worth so much, but feel so little.
“Eighty-five grand!” A new voice chants and my heart palpates. Josh bids on me and I calm. He came back. I see a new savior, someone I can cry to without him having any real involvement with Clara. I feel ease prematurely coursing through my system as no one attempts to outbid him. Not even Jace has made a move as men tirelessly fight over me. It’s added proof I destroyed any chance of a future with him.
"Ninety grand!"
And there's a voice I'll never forget in my life. My heart leaps into my throat and I’m cast back to where I was only a few months prior.
"Clive?" I whisper and weaken as my nightmares come alive again. I was told he had died. When I look to Eli he looks angry, his gaze fixed upon the man who beat me only weeks ago. I have no idea how this happened. "No, Clara," I beg her in a whisper. "He was supposed to be gone. I was told he died."
“About that,” she admonishes coolly and I can see I’m not going to like what’s about to happen here. "He's a business associate, Joely. He held his end of the bargain so it's time I did mine."
"What?" I ask and my voice shakes and wavers with my ever growing fear.
"You don't think I’d really let a potential woman beater into my club by accident do you?" She laughs as my mouth drops and she sees the recognition burst.
"You're evil," I gasp in horror and look to Clive who just waves at me. I shoot my gaze to Jace and plead with him across the club. His body is stiffened as he sees my reaction, but he doesn’t move. A part of me is pleased he doesn’t play heroics because I know how that could end for him, but I’m disappointed. I feel like my body is ceasing up, my palms becoming clammy as they hang limply beside me. I whimper, pleading with myself to wake up.
She just smirks. "I have to keep you girls in line. Get used to it." She then turns back to the crowds, stepping forward to continue. “Do we have a higher bid than ninety grand?” She looks around and I bet she wishes she had a wooden gavel to throw down and declare me Clive’s property.
"One hundred and fifty grand!" Josh exclaims loudly and glares at Clive to dare outbid him.
“Do I hear one hundred and fifty-five?” Clara asks and waits a moment. She even looks to Clive who backs out. “Going once, going twice, sold! Josh Phillips, come and claim you little viper.”
Even though I’m elated that Josh won, I’m deeply wounded by Jace’s lack of attempt, but I can’t be angry. I forced him to hate me. I made him not want me. Why would he bid on a girl who only wanted him for a short time?
“Go to your man!” Clara pushes me from my spot beside the piano and I head towards him.
My feet carry me in a hasty manner, knowing I have to bypass Clive and Jace in short succession. I’m trying to remain stoic and desirable, but my willpower is defeated and beaten. And Josh catches me the moment I’m near. He puts his arm around me, ushering me to my room quickly thereafter. I’m breaking all over. This time due to the familiarity I’ve been presented in an old pal. I want to tell him everything and sink into the security of someone who cares.
When I look back out to the room, I see Jace watching me, but it’s not out of curiosity. I see the hooded look to his eyes and the stare he has me wrapped up in. He is done with me. It’s official.
I’ve lost the only person I’ve ever known my heart to truly love and there’s no going back.
***
“So, you fell in love with a client, which breaks a rule given by your Boss.” Josh is currently trying to piece everything together. “And said Boss, made sure you got a client who beat you?” I nod at him and his face darkens. “She can be arrested for that.”
“No, she can’t,” I mumble unhappily by that truth. “My medical report says I was in a wreck and Clive’s a business associate, so his ass is covered. He won’t be liable for what he did.”
Without another word, Josh grabs my hand in his and squeezes it. “I’m so glad I decided to come here tonight.”
“I am too, but you bid too much, Josh.” I keep thinking about the bidding war and it makes me feel uncertain. That was too much money. “How do you have that much money?”
“It’s called my own business,” he jokes and nudges me. “Now shut up. I would have paid more. This is now a withstanding date. I’ll be looking at ways to get you free and home.” So much about Josh reminds me of Jace and it stings. His promises, his mannerisms, the way he looks after me. His cell begins to ring out, alerting him to a text message, breaking the moment. He retrieves his cell and silence settles for a moment. “That’s the missus,” he announces proudly and I know I’ll be asking him about this on another day. He reads his text with a small smile then looks to me. “I have to get going. I didn’t realize it was so late and she’s now cracking the whip.” He’s suddenly off the bed, putting his jacket back on. “You’ve got my number, use it.”
I follow him aimlessly.
“I know I’m just shooting off, Joely, but we had plans, and so far I’m nearly an hour late.” He practically winces at the thought and I just tell him it’s okay. How can I keep him here? He has a woman at home. “You sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes.” I nod solemnly and then look into him dead in the eyes. “I can’t see you outside of the club. Not now that you’re a member. I can’t risk it all again, Josh. You’re now my client.”
“Well I’ll book as much as possible,” he vows and I’m reminded of how Jace was like that in the earlier days. “The highest bidder has to have eternal rights to you,” he jokes and I laugh. It’s not enough to make my body feel alive, but it takes away from the jagged edge of my hurting. “I’ll see you next time, Joely.” He opens the door, drawing me out with him. He only stops to pull me into his tight embrace, but I push him away. “Sorry,” he apologizes as he remembers where we are.
“No, I am,” I murmur softly. “For ever winding up here.”
“Don’t start that,” he scolds me. “We’ll discuss this later, but I really need to head home.”
I nod and gulp, scared of him now leaving me, but I don’t tell him that. I just let him go. When he is out of plain sight I go over to Eli and lift myself onto one of the stools. I wait for him to finish serving before he makes his way to come to me.
“Why did this have to be so complicated?” I ask him rhetorically. “Can I have a scotch on the rocks?”
“Was it that bad?” Eli ponders, fixing me a drink.
“No,” I mumble unhappily. “It’s just that I feel like he’s trying to get me to go home, but how can I? I’m Viper property.” He passes me my drink and gets pulled away to help Shad’s with a delivery. I take my drink and swirl the ice around. Taking a gulp, I allow myself to be swallowed whole by my memories as the scotch burns the back of my throat. I’m only drinking this because it offers me some connection to Jace. Stupid I know, but I need this. A strong liquor, and a part of him he can’t take from me.
“Hey, girlie,” Brianna breaks into my silent musing sadly. I look to her and see how upset she is, but I don’t react. “Can we talk?”
I don’t want to give her the opportunity, but morbid curiosity has me yearning for an answer as to why she sold me out. Without
being polite, I jump down from my stool and head to my room. I walk in, but I don’t hold the door open for her. I let her catch the door as it flings back.
“Look I’m sorry.” She begins to speak, easing the door closed as she does so. “I had to do it. I was forced to when she found out that three of us are too close to clients, she said if I didn’t destroy your relationship then she would look into mine. I couldn’t let her. He’s my future. She offered me that deal, I took it, but it was all a lie. You’ve got to believe she made me do it.”
I snap. I thought I’d have more restraint and reason in me, but I don’t. I have no rationality to exude towards her and I have no fight in me to find any.
“You were forced to?” I ask her, my voice is vehemently filled with my intense anger that is solely made for her. “So I could lose the only man I ever loved so she didn’t dish dirt on you?” I ask her in disbelief. I’m shocked at her selfishly ran motives. “Lose the man, might I add, who proposed to me? You took my entire future away from me, Brianna, to keep yours. I’m happy you fell in love, but had I been in your position, I would have lied! I would never have been the snitch and turned you in. And do you know why?” I ask her, not expecting her to reply. “Because I’m your friend!”
“Joely, I still am your friend.” Her argument is futile and empty.
“No, you aren’t.” I snort my response, trying not to laugh at obliviousness.
She shakes her head at me, ready to fight. “I am, but she had me pushed into a corner. She made me a promise, but I regret it. If I could just turn back time or get a do over, I would. I would never take the deal because I can’t bear how unhappy you are now.” She grabs me, desperation smothering her. I shake her off, unable to believe her. “Just give me another chance,” she begs, her eyes streaming, dragging her makeup down her face.
“No, leave me alone, Brianna. You really think that’ll cut it? It won’t!” I spit at her and head out of the room. I hold the door open, prompting her to leave. Before she leaves, I grab her hand. “Don’t trust her.” It’s the last bit of advice I’ll give her, but she needs to hear it. Just because she held her end of the deal, doesn’t mean Clara will. I release her hand and she takes her leave. When she’s gone, I go back over to the bar and resume my seat. We’re close to closing now and I’ll be happy when I can go home and hide away. Seeing Jace and Clive in one night has drained me far more than I could have ever expected. Now to put Brianna on top of it all and I feel like I could sleep for a month.
“I don’t know what you did to that Mason guy, but I think you broke him,” Cassidy remarks tensely as she comes over to the bar. I want to groan at how little I can get a break around here.
“Why?” I ask her, not understanding her. My attention darts to the booth he usually occupies, but it’s now emptied.
“He just quit the club,” she tells me angrily. She’s upset she doesn’t get him, but she’s more upset she doesn’t get to flaunt him in front of me. “He said he actually hated the place and everything it stood for.”
“Is he coming back?” I ask, retaining my raising alarm. She must know I’m devastated by losing him as a client, but she can’t know the extent of my loss.
“I don’t know,” she says with a shrug. “I’m not his keeper, but he told me everything in here was corrupt and wasn’t worth fighting for anymore.” She doesn’t look pleased, but the way she’s looking at me tells me I’m to blame in her eyes. “Like I said,” she snarls at me, “You broke him, Gilbert. Well done.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Yet another party has been cast upon us with little to no preparation. As always, we were given a day at the spa and salon, pampered and readied. When we entered, we were given a party exclusively to have fun. I’m yet to find it, but all the other girls are enjoying themselves before it’s pulled away from us again.
“You look gorgeous.” I look to my left and see Josh standing beside me. He has a drink in his hand and an impressed smirk smeared across his face. “I really should have chased you harder when we were kids.”
I explode into a small fit of mirthless giggles and roll my eyes. “And Dylan would have tortured you slowly.”
“True,” he points out and comes to claim the spot directly next to me. “How are you today? You look like you’re missing some vital piece.”
“I feel like I am,” I admitted sorrowfully, but force myself to smile through the pain. “It’s got to get better right?”
“Sure has, Joely,” he comments and takes a deep breath. “Just take it day to day.”
I nod and straighten myself up – physic and attitude strengthening. “I’ve got to go and do a bit of my job,” I lie to him. I reach up, kiss his cheek, and find myself drawn to the bar. Instinctively, alcohol is my nerve suppressor, numbing me of my qualms and pains.
“No drinking,” Josh calls out to me and I shoot around to face him. “Let me take you dancing. I’m your new client, I need to be impressed.” He puts his hand out to me, offering me a satisfied glare. I sigh dramatically like giving this to him is a hardship. He is currently the only good thing about this. Eli is part of the staff tonight, so I can’t even rely on him. Josh has been my heaven sent savior.
We dance and grind to the music. I let my hair down like I used to back in Florida. He may be my best friend’s brother, but we always had a closeness I was grateful for. He spins me around, dancing circles around me, making me feel myself, not like I’m a piece of property.
I fall against him, laughing myself silly at how young he makes me feel. He brings out the best in me, like Jace always did. As I begin to find myself comfortable with the feeling, I’m thrust into the icy hell. Reminded again how I’ll never feel like that again with Jace. I reach up to Josh’s ear, and whisper soberly to him, “I really do need that drink now.” I pull away, telling him to behave himself while I disappear amongst the crowd.
I retreat back to the bar and get a glass of champagne and let the intense bubbly goodness cling to my senses. I’ve stood on the sidelines, watching the party continue on in a newfound hazy whirlwind. This party isn’t like the others. We’re here to have fun, not be paraded around like objects. It’s just one big party where the drinks are free and so are we. We have been given one evening to be normal girls. Of course, I’m sure if we take that too far then we’ll see the repercussions, but until then everyone looks happy. Even the Boss – the one who’s glowing pleasantly as she advances towards me.
“Joely, why are you standing here out of the way?” she asks me, a slight scowl on her face at my lack of involvement.
“I’m just trying to loosen up,” I quip and shake my champagne flute at her. “Give me a few more and I’ll be dancing on the tables.” I’m being sarcastic. What else would I be? If I actually did that I would find myself in the pit for a week. No one embarrasses Clara or the brand after all.
“You’re too funny,” she laughs falsely at my joke, her cackle penetrating my brain and working my last nerve. Her laughter dies out suddenly and she replaces her freer spirit with her Boss demeanor. “I thought you should know something about Jace.” My stomach enters freefall, pulling my heart with it. “He’s pulled his contract entirely. He has no legal binding with me, but still follows the direct instructions lay before every client. With that said, he is officially no longer a member of The Viper Rooms.” Her hands rub together in that gleeful, sanctimonious war. “You deserve a medal.”
“Why?” I ask and grimace weakly. My tone is wracked with uncertainty. I shuffle my weight from one foot to the other, unease taking over.
Clara’s face is filled with absolute merriment. “Between Jace’s removal and your recent behavior you really do know how to rip hearts out.” I can hear how impressed she is with me, but I’m having trouble allowing her words to settle upon me. “I never knew you’d be quite so problematic, but you made it to where I hoped you would. The past two weeks have passed perfectly. You’re where you need to be.”
“W-where’s that?”
I stutter upon the question.
“Embracing me. You really are my protégée.” She raises her glass of Moet to me and smirks. “You’ve done me proud by clawing your way up to the top. My little Viper.”
I feel like the room has suddenly shrunk around us and my muscles have turned to ice. Is she serious? My mind is trying to get me to flee, but I’m left standing here. Jace said I was more like my Boss than ever and he was right. I feel ashamed of myself all of a sudden and hate how I’ve gotten to this place in my life.
“Now, get to work,” she orders me softly and I’m shoved back into the working girl life. “I see a new client fast approaching.
She swans off, leaving me open to all invitations from viable suitors. This one seems around my age, well-built and well suited to his tux. I brace for my inevitable meeting with him and he gives me a wide, white toothed grin.
“Joely, right?” His introduction is strongly carried in a baritone voice with a posh twang to it. I nod wordlessly, unsure how he knew my name. Usually we greet each other like normal human beings, but he is one step ahead of the rest. “I was told to come to you if I was looking for a Viper Girl,” he announces to me politely. “By one of the waiters.” He looks over his shoulder and straight at Eli, who gives me and this stranger the thumbs up. I mentally make a note that I’m going to kill him. “I’m interested in having you.”
I don’t want to, I want to be off duty, but I smile falsely. “I guess we better join the party.”
He takes my hand, leading me out to the dance floor where everyone’s having fun with new and old clients alike. He keeps me close and I allow him. I’m throwing myself aimlessly into this world now. I’m done trusting my heart. I plan to do my job, all starting with this unknown man.
Saturdays at the Viper Rooms Page 24
