Page 9 of High Rise Secrets

What?“I don’t understand.” I shake my head, trying to rack my brain. “I never gave my permission for a background check. According to what I’ve read, you don’t allow members to join without it. I also have never received a bill.”

“Yes. That’s correct. However, according to what I see here, you know one of the girls who works here, and she signed you up under good faith.”

My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. “Who?”

“I’m sorry, I’m unable to give you that information,” she replies coolly.

I tug on my hair in frustration. “What do you mean, you can’t give me that information?”

“You’re in good standing here atRISE.Why not come by and see if you can locate your friend? Is there anything else I can do for you this evening?”

“No,” I growl, then think better of it. “Actually, does Ember work there?”

“Madam Ember is here, yes. She’ll be on the main stage soon.”

“I’m on my way. I want a private show with her.” I hang up before she can respond and rush to my car.

If I can’t fuck Addison, hopefully, I can get the next best thing. The traffic is light into the city, and I pull into the full parking lot in only a few minutes. All the cars in the lot are nice and expensive. I wouldn’t expect anything less when the dues every year are five-thousand. There’s not a line outside, so I give the bouncer my name.

He ushers me inside where a woman greets me and shows me to a table. I ask the girl if Ember has been on stage yet, and when she tells me she’s up next, my heart pounds against my chest.

I feel like a twenty-two-year-old all over again. It’s exciting, almost forbidden. A smile spreads across my face as the lights go down and the last girl exits the stage, shrugging back into her clothes. The steady bass drum of the song starts, and the DJ announces Madam Ember to the stage. Random whistles and hoots can be heard around the room, and I sink lower into my seat to watch.

I’m not sure why, but I feel like I’m in trouble, like I shouldn’t be here watching her dance. It’s almost like someone is going to pop up from the shadows and tell me I’ve been caught with my hand down my pants. Not that my hand is anywhere near my pants, for the record. Not yet anyway.

The lights come up and her back is to the audience, her long red hair flowing down her back and her toned legs on full display. She glances over her shoulder, and I swear she looks right at me and winks from behind a bright pink mask before she starts a slow turn around the pole, sliding her hands up and down it as if it were something else.

I motion for one of the girls to come over. She bends down to hear me over the music, and without breaking eye contact, I say, “I want a private show with her.”

“I’ll put in your request, and if she accepts, someone will be by shortly to get you.”

I haven’t been laid in months, and she might just take the edge off.

Chapter 5

Addison

Ican’t believe Ethan is here watching my show.When Eden said he’d called today and was snooping around, I did a little happy dance until I saw the fear in her eyes. She knows the type of man he is. I’ve told her one too many times. He’s looking for information about his membership. I knew he was going to; I just didn’t think it would happen so fast.

And Ethan will stop at nothing until he gets answers.

I need to make sure that doesn’t happen. The music is blaring from the speakers next to the stage, and I’m doing my pole routine on auto-pilot as I watch Ethan enjoying my show. I roll my hips along the pole, and I swear my insides are turning to a puddle of goo. He’s not doing anything out of the ordinary, drinking out of the tumbler in his hand, but I see the fire in his eyes, even from this distance.

I crawl to the edge of the stage to get as close to him as I can, then blow him a kiss and a wink before turning to sit on my butt and push myself back. He bites his lip and soothes it with his tongue. God, the look he’s giving me shoots straight to my core, and I know if I can’t find some relief soon, I’m going to be in trouble.

I usually like staying on stage for as long as I can, but tonight, I can’t wait to leave. I’m hoping to entice him to a room. Maybe I can show him how much better my skills have gotten. How much I’ve learned since we were together eight years ago.Maybe he’s learned some new tricks, too.

The song ends with me on my knees, my head bowed, and my bra somewhere next to me. Bills are being thrown at me, but I don’t care about that. I usually give my dancing tips to some of the other girls, or ones that are in need of it. Between owningRISEand working atEmulation, I do just fine. I try to peak out at Ethan from behind my mask, but he’s no longer at the table. My heart drops to my stomach, and I stand on shaky legs as the lights go down to leave the stage.

Candy said he wanted a private dance tonight, didn’t she?I frown as I leave the stage.

As soon as I step backstage, Eden is waiting for me. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and her Madam Roxie persona is locked tightly in place.

“Ethan wants a show.”

I try to hide my smile because I know she’s not happy with me right now. “He wasn’t there, though, at the end of the set,” I say, confused.

“I already brought him back to your room.” She reaches out for me and grasps my forearm. “He can’t know, Addy,” Eden says, stepping into the dim light.