The Choice

by Alice Ward

  I remembered the note and my anger returned, but I didn’t dare look over at Jack. Instead, I focused on her and the night we hopefully had in store for us. I wondered if the hostess had given her my gift and what she thought about it.

  Her performance was over too quickly. The lights came up as the emcee announced the Parade of Delights.

  As he was making his speech, our hostess glided over discreetly and whispered in my ear. “Mr. Wellington, I’m sorry to inform you…” My breath hitched in my throat. “The Butterfly wants to inform you she is otherwise occupied this evening and cannot comply to your request.”

  My hope for the evening crashed into hell, and I was surprised at how disappointed I was. Perhaps she’d lied. Perhaps she was just one of the other Jewels, and she had played hard to get to make more money.

  She bowed and offered her regrets. “There are other women who would love to have a conversation or more with you this evening.”

  My head spun in Jack’s direction. I had a gut feeling he had something to do with this. For the first time I wondered just how powerful Jack was. Could it have been him who had made false reports to the media? Surely, he wouldn’t have had time to stir up so much trouble in one day. But with his kind of money and influence, theoretically, he could do anything he wanted.

  My jaw tightened, and I took a deep breath, chasing away images of hacking off Jack’s little pecker with a kitchen cleaver. I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving the Butterfly with him, but there wasn’t much else I could do.

  Had I misjudged her? I never assumed she’d want to spend her night with Jack, not after that scene last night. Had he offered her enough money to entice her? If so, it would have been an expensive buy.

  I swallowed my pride, then responded to the hostess, who was all but shaking before me. “Who secured the Butterfly tonight?”

  The young woman froze, and I watched her closely. Her eyes slid in Jack’s direction before re-focusing on me. That was answer enough.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Wellington, I—”

  “It’s okay. Thank you for delivering this message. I’ll have no further need of services this evening.” I managed to keep my voice calm and focused.

  I then leaned into Duk. “I’ve just received some disturbing news, and I’ll have to leave immediately. You go on with your evening, and I’ll have my driver wait for you to take you back to your hotel.” I was all business and kept my bubbling emotions under control until I could get outside.

  “Oh no, nothing too serious I hope,” he said with a note of genuine concern.

  “Nothing that can’t be sorted out, but I’ve got to deal with it, unfortunately.” I kept my face frozen in neutrality as I downed the last of my bourbon, wishing I’d had another to numb the pain in my chest. This was what came of opening up to any woman.

  “Sure. Thanks for everything. I’ll have my distribution team set you up with that shipment tomorrow and it’ll be at the lower rate this time.” He smiled proudly and shook his finger at me as if bestowing a great honor upon me. “I gave you a really good deal on this.”

  “You’re the best, Duk. We’ll catch up next time you’re in town.” I grabbed my coat and motioned for our hostess, to follow me to the door.

  “Yes, Mr. Wellington,” Juno said, winded somewhat from her sprint across the theater.

  “Send a Flaming Bacardi 151 to Mr. Marshall as a thank you for the cocktail, and put everything on my tab. I’ll settle it tomorrow.” I then handed her a few hundred-dollar bills and quickly left the building.

  I needed to be far away from Jewel, as I feared what I’d do to Jack if I stayed. More than rage, however, was the overpowering emotion of disappointment.

  What and idiot I’d been. The whole thing last night had probably been all part of her act. Pretending to be disabled, fragile like a butterfly caught in the grips of men’s lust… all for a price.

  I felt like I was going to vomit.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Adara

  I entered my dressing room just as Janis walked by and popped her head in.

  “I got picked tonight.” She flashed an enormous smile.

  I couldn’t imagine being so happy to sleep with a stranger, but I guessed desperation and money could make people do things that would normally be out of character.

  “Well, congratulations, I guess.” I forced a smile, hoping she thought I meant it.

  “He’s a regular, and I like him a lot.” She ogled the outrageous bouquet in the corner of the room. “Who are the flowers from? They’re so gorgeous.”

  “I’m not sure exactly.” Please don’t let them be from Jack. “I need to change out of this hideous thing first.”

  “Oh right, sorry, I’ll let you get dressed. I just wanted to tell you the good news.” She beamed brightly.

  “Of course. I’m glad to see you so happy.” I gave her a thumbs-up. “Stop by later and you can tell me about him.”

  “Have fun tonight, and don’t worry, it gets a lot easier after the first time.” She flashed a supportive smile and ducked out of the room.

  What the hell did she mean by that?

  Had Anne already heard about Roman’s offer and thought I was planning on sleeping with him? The rumors around this place were ridiculous.

  I grabbed my cane and walked over to the flowers. They were even more magnificent than I thought. A mixture of roses, gardenias, zinnias, and carnations. The size of three bouquets in one. I leaned in and inhaled, and noticed a tiny envelope stuck on a stick poking out from between the blooms. And a long black box lying next to the flowers.

  Hoping it was from Roman, my fingers shook as I picked up the black box, saving the envelope for last because it was sure to be the most special. Inside lay a gold necklace with a dainty butterfly pendant. Diamonds sparkled on its wings and gave the illusion it was in flight when I fastened it around my neck and looked in the mirror. Tears threatened to spill over, and I shook my head, reaching for the small envelope.

  There was a simple, elegant card inside, on which was written,

  Please allow me to release you from your cage, my most beautiful butterfly. I want to know you, not possess you. I’ll be waiting, Roman

  He was right. This was a cage. And I wanted to be free. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I could have a life outside of here, a normal life. It would take time, but dammit, I’d sing in bars, wait tables, anything but be pressured into selling myself and watching others spiral down the black hole of prostitution.

  My heart sang as I turned toward a small closet in the corner where I kept my personal belongings. I didn’t have much in there, just a styling kit for my hair, a jacket, and some jeans in case I got cold. I yanked my see-through dress over my head, tossed it over the chair and opened the closet.

  All my things were gone except my flesh-colored mask, which had fallen to the floor. One black low-cut dress hung on a single hanger.

  Where the fuck was my stuff?

  I grabbed my cape and put it on, feeling a little better not standing there in nothing but a string. I pulled out my phone and dialed Brandy, then heard her phone ringing in the hallway. Within moments, she was in my dressing room. I wrapped the cape more tightly around me.

  “Where are my personal clothes?” I lashed out at her the moment she closed the door.

  She seemed surprised to see the flowers, but wiped all signs of emotion off her face. “I told you that they were going to take most everything to the cleaners, sorry if they got your own stuff too.” I didn’t know her well any more, but I knew in my gut that Brandy had just flat out lied to me.

  “So where did this come from?” I showed her the little black dress still wrapped in plastic.

  “Honey, don’t get your panties all twisted, the laundry people probably just brought you someone else’s dress. Sometimes they make mistakes. Don’t worry, I’ll find out where your stuff is, but since it looks like they wiped you clean out of clothes, you should probably put it on. Unless you want to
wear the cape and nothing else to your meeting with Mr. Wellington.” Her hand shot to her hip and her eyes slivered, daring me to defy her.

  “One, it’s not a dress, it’s a fraction of a dress, and second, it’s brand new. It looks more expensive than the ones Jewel…” I stopped my tirade for a moment to look at the price tag. “What the hell? Nine hundred dollars? There’s not even enough fabric to blow your nose with this. I’m not wearing this. I’ll have to go back to my apartment first.” I tossed the scrap of expensive cloth at her.

  “You haven’t got time,” she said, tossing the dress right back. “He’s already in the pleasure room waiting for you.”

  I frowned. Was it possible he had bought this too? This slut-in-seconds dress? It would be so contradictory to his behavior up until now. Something didn’t seem right. Why would he have my things removed from my closet?

  “I’ve got good news though,” Brandy interjected, “and I’ll tell you while you’re putting that on.”

  “What?” I barked as I walked over to the mirror and held the dress up in front of me. Damn, I didn’t want to go to him looking like an extra slutty Catwoman. I went back to the closet and picked up the flesh-colored mask. Yes, I’d wear it. It would be the first step toward revealing the real me.

  “The money’s in your account already. Harmon had it direct deposited right after the show.”

  “Why would he do that? He’s not that generous.” The news made me even more worried.

  “He’s grateful you’ve altered your contract to accommodate a client’s needs. He does nice things when people please him.” A tiny, weird smile was plastered on her face.

  “What is he, the Tzar?” I did a mock bow to accentuate my point. “I didn’t alter my contract. I’m just meeting Roman this one last time and that’s it.” I peeled the dress off of the hanger and looked at it with disgust. “Don’t you have anything else?”

  “I do. Much sluttier things, so just put it on and shut up,” she answered, sounding exasperated.

  “God, Brandy, you’re such a bitch.” I looked at her, unwilling to let any more of her callous treatment go.

  She stared at me for a moment as I fought my leg into the itty-bitty dress. The look was meaningful, like one between two sisters who had been fighting but now faced something horrible together. I’d never thought about her not wanting to do this stuff. In fact, I’d never taken her feelings into account. It was always about me. And suddenly, I had the most horrible feeling she didn’t want to be here at all.

  As if she sensed the change of mood in the room, she said, “I’m sorry about what happened last night.”

  “The security guard knew what Jack was doing and didn’t even try to stop him.”

  “Some guys are into that. ‘Pursuit games’ are on the menu. He must’ve thought it was an act.” She gestured at my cape draped over the chair. “You’re not Adara Wilde here. In that cape, you’re just another one of us.”

  Maybe, but then why hadn’t the guard stepped in even when Roman came to my rescue?

  When the dress was covering one-eighth of my body and I’d slipped my black flats back on, she said, “You look absolutely gorgeous,” as a glint of jealousy lit up her eyes. “I know you don’t like it here, Ady, but remember, whatever happens, we have each other.” She walked to the door then turned back. In that moment, she had never looked more like the teenage girl who had been my biggest defender. “I’ve got to check on the other girls.” Pausing, she dug in the tote she always carried and pulled out the usual black beaded clutch, handing it to me. “Don’t open it until you are in the room with him.” She gave me a meaningful look and whispered, “And use it if you have to.”

  When I took it from her I noticed her hand was shaking, but before I could ask her why the clutch was heavier than usual, she pulled open the door and walked out.

  The minute she left, another knock startled me. No one but Brandy ever bothered to come to my dressing room. Maybe it was Janis, needing to borrow something. I pulled the dress lower on my upper thighs. The damn thing barely covered my ass cheeks and plunged deep into my cleavage. I threw my cape back on and wrapped it around me. Damned if I was going to be caught dead wearing this in the halls.

  A quick shiver went through me as an image of the Roman of my dream flashed in my mind, and his reaction to this dress. Would he like it, or would it just make him think I was the same as the Jewels?

  “Ms. Wilde, I’m here to escort you to your meeting,” a male voice spoke through the door.

  “Coming,” I called out as I grabbed my cane and flung open the door. “I can walk myself, I don’t need an escort.”

  “I’m sure you can, but since you were involved in an incident last night, I’m here to make sure you get to your appointment safely.” He offered his arm, which I took but only because I was too polite to refuse. An incident. That’s what they called a potential rape?

  By the time we reached the pleasure rooms, I was nervous and excited to see Roman again. I could barely hold in my smile. We stopped at an ebony door with a gold nine on it. I took one more deep breath as the Jewel security escort knocked.

  A deep, throaty voice answered, “Come in.” My heart stopped. It wasn’t Roman’s voice.

  I knew that voice.

  Frozen, all I could do was watch as the guard opened the door and moved back to reveal Jack Marshall sitting on what might as well have been a throne. When I took a step in the other direction, I thumped into the guard’s bulky chest and his hand wrapped around my arm.

  “Let me go!” I screamed, not caring about anything but staying out of that room. I swung my cane and rapped him hard on the shin with it.

  The guard grimaced but didn’t say a word, just scooped me up and carried me into the room, the door slamming shut behind us.

  My heart was pounding, my breathing crazy and erratic. I had to calm down. Had to think. I was on a mountain top in the middle of nowhere in a room with a man who was intent upon raping me last night and the only weapon I had was my cane.

  “Just set her on the couch,” Jack growled. “I want to get a good look at what I’ve paid for, damaged as it is.”

  “Yes, Mr. Marshall,” was the guard’s curt reply.

  This must have been what was wrong with Brandy tonight. She sold me out, but must have been having some feelings of guilt.

  The security guard set me on the couch across from Jack and silently left.

  I wanted to beg, to get up from the couch and cling to the man’s leg. But I’d gotten myself into the wolf’s den and I refused to let the wolf see me in distress. The door slammed closed, and I wondered if I would be the same woman when it opened again.

  I looked over to Jack. He was smiling, the pompous bastard was getting off on watching me struggle for composure and probably couldn’t wait to put his hands on me.

  “There don’t seem to be any knights in shining armor milling about the halls tonight.” He pretended to pout as he stood and walked closer to me.

  I still had the clutch in my hands and wondered briefly if it was heavy enough to clock him over the head. If I did that, I’d have to leave this compound immediately. What had Brandy put in this purse that was so damn heavy anyway?

  He leered at my barely covered breasts. “So why don’t you be a good girl and do what you’re being paid for.”

  The cape had fallen open, revealing the dress. As I looked back up, my eyes fell on Jack’s growing crotch, and I had to bite back a wave of nausea.

  I stood, unwilling to be caught in a submissive position and gave him a haughty look. “I haven’t accepted any payment from you, Jack. I was told Roman was my client. Now, call off your dogs and find yourself someone who is willing to be your bedmate, because I’m not.”

  Jack continued to advance, then surprised me when he nearly tripped over my cane. He was drunk. Relief coursed through me as I realized just how inebriated he was.

  Jack licked his lips, sweat glistening at his temple, his breathing escalated. �
��There’s nothing I like better than an unwilling woman. I look forward to taking that self-righteous look right off your face.”

  My heart pounded. He was really going to do this, force himself on me in this horrid little room. How many other women had he done the same to?

  I couldn’t let him do this to me. I wasn’t who he thought I was, weak and desperate. He was between me and the door, and I sidestepped, wincing as my full weight came down on my bad leg. I didn’t let the pain stop me.

  I moved to wipe the sweat from my palm, and when I did I grabbed tighter to the clutch in my hand.

  Use it if you have to.

  What had Brandy meant? Clutches were given to all the girls to carry necessities — lipstick, feminine toiletries, condoms. It was Jewel’s way of ensuring that their workers had all they needed but didn’t provide extra perks to clients without the fees attached.

  “Did you like the gifts your boyfriend left for you?” he sneered, moving until he was between me and the door again. “He changed his mind about tonight by the way. One of the other girls tempted him, and he’s in a room with her right now. What did you expect?”

  “You’re a liar, Jack, among other things.” I clutched both my cane and the bag tighter, deciding to go on the offensive. “Now, I’m going to go back to my apartment. You may be able to buy anything you want, but you can’t buy me.”

  “Come, Adara Wilde, I’d never lie to you.” His laugh personified evil when he saw the horrified expression on my face.

  How does he know?

  “Yes, my dear, I know who you are. Why else would I bother to pay so much for you? I’m going to fuck a Grammy Award-winning ex star in every hole. Ha! Now, let’s start with your lovely mouth. I want that beautiful throat, with it’s incredible voice, to swallow.”

  I began salivating like you do the moment before you throw up and the world began to spin. How had I ended up here, in this room with this lecher? I’d let grief and pride strip me of everything I’d become. Well, I wouldn’t let Jack Marshall strip me of what I had left.