Page 26 of High Rise Secrets
I don’t want to tell him I’ve been paying them because I’ve been in love with him since the moment he fucked me nine years ago, but there is no way around it. He lifts his eyebrow in question, waiting for me to answer the second question he asked.
“You treated me like a person that night, and as little as it probably meant to you, it meant a lot to me.”
“You’ve known who I was this whole time?” he asks.
I nod and reach for the tumbler of scotch on the table. “I found out who you were shortly after that night, yes.”
He rests his forearms on his knees and bows his head. “And you work for me, knowing we had sex and I had no clue who you were.”
I nod again. “I found out who you were and changed my course of studies to get my MBA. I researched your company, well, your dad’s company, and knew it would be an amazing place to work one day. That was my goal. I never expected to be given the role as your executive assistant.”
His eyes darken when I mention his dad. “What did that bastard do to you?” The words are full of malice and hate.
I choke on the scotch and cough, the burn sliding down my throat. I shake my head and keep my features calm. “Nothing...” I trail off. I can’t tell him what he tried to do. Not yet. Maybe if things progress, we can go down that road, but until then, it’s another one of my secrets.
He eyes me up and down. I’m not stupid and neither is he. He knows there’s more I’m not telling him, but thankfully he lets it slide. I study him, watching all the small movements he makes. He’s so different from the man I see at work every day. Here, he’s relaxed, and even though I just dumped a ton of information in his lap, he seems to be processing it well.
“So, what now?” I ask, hoping I didn’t just lose my job over this. If so, I’d find a way to make it work; I always do. My mind drifts back to how I even got started at the strip club. Eden had been distant the first moment I met her freshman year when she was my roommate. After a rough night, we confided in one another, and I told her I couldn’t find a job. I can still remember the day I showed up at the club like it was yesterday.
The Devil’s Playground. This couldn’t be right. I looked at the number above the door and back to the address Eden had given me. This wasn’t a bar; it was a strip club. She had to be out of her fucking mind. Eden stepped through the front door, out into the sun, and when she spotted me, she waved.
I was beyond pissed. I got out and slammed the door behind me, then marched straight up to her. My body shook from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I gestured to the red sign on the side of the building. “This is the bar?”
“Addy, please, just listen to me.” She batted her hands in front of her, willing me to calm down.
I crossed my arms over my chest, my lips pressed into a tight line. “You have one minute.”
“You’re never going to be able to get another job. It’s either here or nowhere.” Her cheeks burned red, and she kept her eyes on the ground. “You’ll be safe, though. I’ll make sure of it.”
I shook my head back and forth in disbelief. My chin quivered as I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth to stop from crying. How did my life end up like this? What did I do to deserve it? She placed her hand on my shoulder, and I saw the unshed tears in her eyes. She didn’t want this for me any more than I did. Eden Riser was a pawn in this game, just like me.
“You promise I’ll be safe?” I whispered, a tear rolling down my cheek. She nodded as I wiped my eyes with my arm. “How?”
“Because I’m the only one who knows his weakness.”
The door behind her opened, and Lia and Everleigh stepped outside to join us. They were in sweatshirts, just like Eden, but their legs were bare. Everleigh offered a smile and waved while Lia stared at me. I wasn’t sure what to make of her yet, but Everleigh seemed nice.
I looked at Eden. “You’ll teach me?”
“Everything I know.”
She reached her hand out for mine. My breathing slowed as I put my hand in hers, and she wrapped her cold fingers around mine before walking me to the other girls for introductions. I felt as if I was joining a sorority or something with how serious everyone was. Don’t some girls strip for fun? This was just a way to make some money until I graduated from college. So, why did I feel like I’d just sold my soul to the devil?
“Addy? You okay?” Ethan asks, pulling me from my memories.
I blink at him a few times and take a deep breath. “Yeah.” I stand. I should probably get going. I’ll call for a ride.”
“Whoa, calm down there. You’re not going anywhere.” He grabs my wrist, keeping me in place. He rubs his thumb over my scar as if he’s trying to figure out how I got it. Trying to learn my story from touch alone. “It’s late and you need sleep. I have a spare room you can sleep in, and we can pick this up tomorrow once you’ve had some time to sleep on it.”
I try to protest and he glares at me, daring me to defy him. Finally, I nod as he shows me to the room, not that I was expecting to be able to sleep in bed with him. He tells me goodnight and I settle into the large, soft bed.
God, the sheets smell like him. Everything smells like him, causing sensory overload. Every time I close my eyes, I see him behind my lids and feel him on my skin. I punch the pillow and turn to the side, trying to find a comfortable position. This isn’t good. I’m in way deeper than I thought, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to drown.
My life was so much simpler before I blurred the lines. He never should have found out. I never should have told him. He’s never going to look at me the same way. Now, when he sees me, he’s going to see Ember, just some random stripper. I pull my phone out and text Lia. Landry got a huge surprise when he found out who she was, and that she was pregnant with his baby. A miracle, really. I know she’ll have some insight on what to do.
Me:Hey, are you up?
Lia:Yeah, what’s going on?