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EMMA

M y heart feels like the wings of a butterfly.

It’s light, flighty, all over the place. I don’t know what to feel.

My state of mind reminds me of something I read about a long time ago—the butterfly effect.

It’s a theory about how one minor event can cause significant consequences over time.

The concept stems from the idea that the flap of a butterfly’s wings in one part of the world could trigger a chain reaction, ultimately resulting in a tornado in another location.

That’s what meeting Klaus Sinclair felt like.

It felt like the start of something new.

It felt like the end of who I once was.

But none of that matters now. I’m back at the agency, right back at square one. I didn’t get the nanny position, so I’ll have to speak with Mrs. Hendricks about other job opportunities.

Three other girls sit in the waiting room with me. They look vaguely familiar. I’m pretty sure I saw them here a few days ago, but I don’t say anything.

One of the girls, a redhead with a bright smile, flutters her fingers at me in a hesitant wave.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

I suck in a breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.”

“I’ve seen you around here before,” she says.

“I remember seeing you as well,” I reply, giving her a small smile. “I’m Emma.”

“I’m Gigi,” she says, extending her hand toward me. She tilts her chin toward the identical twins sitting beside her. “I met these two the other day.”

The twins introduce themselves as Olivia and Ophelia. Though they share identical features, their personalities couldn’t be more different. One is playful and bubbly, while the other is more reserved.

“What job did you apply for?” Gigi asks.

“The nanny position at Sinclair mansion.”

“Oh, I’ve heard stories about that one,” Ophelia, the bubbly twin, says.

“Whatever you heard, it’s probably true,” I answer.

“They say that the entire family is cursed,” she continues. “Misfortune shadows the family and everyone else who works at the mansion.”

“Curses aren’t a thing,” says Olivia, the soft-spoken twin.

“Then how would you explain what happened to the last nanny?” Ophelia shoots back.

“The last nanny?” I ask.

“They didn’t tell you about her?”

I shake my head.

“Well, that makes sense. They probably didn’t want to scare you off,” Ophelia says. “The Sinclair kids used to have a nanny. She was hired a few weeks after the accident. But after a few days of working at the mansion, she disappeared from town. It was like she never even existed.”

“She just…disappeared?” I ask.

“Crazy, right?” Ophelia says. “She was never seen or heard from again.”

“There’s probably a perfectly reasonable explanation for what happened,” her twin sister says.

“Of course there is,” Ophelia says, her eyes as wide as saucers. “The man killed her and buried her in the forest.”

I take a deep breath.

I think about Klaus Sinclair. In my head, I can still picture him in vivid detail, almost as if he’s someone I’ve known for years.

He’s cold, but is he heartless enough to take someone’s life?

“Don’t listen to her,” Olivia says. “My sister has an overactive imagination. She gets carried away by wild theories sometimes.”

“Well, I was turned down for the job anyway. Chances are, I’ll never see the man again.” As I say the words, a heavy weight settles in my stomach.

It doesn’t make any sense.

All we had was a brief, unpleasant interaction. Yet I can’t stop thinking about him.

“What about you guys?” I ask, clearing my throat. “What type of job are you considering?”

“Oh, we’re going to work at the club,” Ophelia says.

“The club?” I ask.

“ The club?” Gigi says. When I stare back at her with a blank expression, she adds, “The gentlemen’s club?”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s the agency’s main business,” Ophelia explains. “It’s a high-end sex club.”

My cheeks flush with warmth.

“Oh,” I say. “Mrs. Hendrick’s didn’t tell me about the club.”

“We’re actually going for a tour tonight. Would you like to come with us?” Gigi asks.

My stomach is a ball of nerves. I never even considered anything like this.

“There are lots of positions open,” Gigi adds. “You can be a cocktail waitress, a dancer, or even part of the maintenance staff. You don’t have to be one of the house girls.”

“I don’t know if I would fit in there,” I say, glancing down at myself.

I’m a simple girl. I don’t belong in glitzy, glamorous places made for men like Klaus Sinclair.

I’m thinking about him again. I don’t understand why he keeps sneaking his way into my thoughts.

“Just come for the tour,” Gigi says. “You don’t have to decide anything right this second.”

I look at the three of them.

I never thought I would consider working at a gentlemen’s club.

But it’s nice to be around girls who are my age. I’ve always been busy with school and work, so I never had any close female friendships. And I know I just met these girls, but I have a good feeling about them.

“Am I even allowed to come on the tour?” I ask.

“Absolutely, you are, my dear,” Mrs. Hendricks says, stepping out of her office.

She’s a stylish lady with a flirty, playful vibe.

She’s also the owner of Hendrick’s agency.

“I would have offered sooner, but you were nervous enough about the nanny position. Come on in, all of you. Let’s talk inside. ”

We follow her into the office.

A sense of calm washes over me every time I enter this room. There’s a large fig tree in the corner. One of the walls is composed of built-in bookshelves filled with beautiful hardbacks. Everything is in shades of white, dark green, and luxurious brown.

We sit down in the lounge area.

Mrs. Hendricks’s assistant hands us glasses of fruit-flavored sparkling water.

“I take it the interview with Mr. Sinclair didn’t go well?” she asks, looking at me.

“To say the least.” I lean back in my chair.

“Between you and me, he’s one of my more exhausting clients,” she says.

“Between you and me, he’s one of the biggest jerks I’ve ever met,” I reply.

Mrs. Hendricks smiles and flicks through something on her iPad.

“How much do you know about the club?” she asks.

“Only that it exists,” I reply.

“Do you think it’s something you could be interested in?” She studies me with her pretty almond-shaped eyes.

I shift in my seat and glance at the girls. They smile at me encouragingly.

“I’m putting you on the spot, aren’t I?” Mrs. Hendricks says.

“No, it’s just different from what I imagined,” I say. “And I don’t have any experience with bartending or…dancing.”

“All of my girls receive training, so that’s not something you need to worry about,” she says. “The only thing you need to decide right now is if you want to accompany us on the tour.”

I chew on my bottom lip.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever consider working at a gentlemen’s club. It’s just so far out of my comfort zone.

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll come along for the tour.”

The girls grin. Gigi even does a little shimmy in her chair.

“Very well. But before I take you to the club, I want you all to be prepared for what you’re about to see,” Mrs. Hendricks says.

The four of us glance at each other. For the first time, I notice that they look a little nervous as well.

“The first thing you girls need to know is that there’s something for every comfort level. You won’t ever be coerced to do something you’re not ready for. Your safety is our top priority, so you’ll always have an assigned personal bodyguard with you.”

I take a deep breath, nervous as hell about what’s to come. I can’t believe I agreed to the tour.

“Additionally, all of our clientele are handpicked and pre-approved,” she continues. “The club is an exclusive space for gentlemen seeking to unwind and enjoy the company of beautiful women.”

I wonder if Klaus Sinclair has ever been to this club. My body heats at the thought of him with other women.

I exhale slowly.

I have no clue what that was about.

“Would you like to hear about the available positions?” Mrs. Hendricks asks.

I nod. “Sure.”

She hands me a thin folder. I flip it open and freeze at the numbers I see. This can’t be right.

“Our entry-level positions include waitressing and bartending. Nobody will be touching you, but you’ll be required to wear revealing uniforms. This position pays sixty dollars per hour.”

I suck in a breath. So these numbers aren’t a typo.

“Next, we have topless waitressing and bartending,” she says. “Those pay one hundred dollars per hour.”

I’m speechless.

“And then we have the dancers,” she says. “There are three tiers. Tier 3 are on stage. Tier 2 are on the dance floor with the men. And Tier 1 dance in private. These positions pay at one fifty, two hundred, and four hundred dollars per hour, respectively.”

I blink.

“And finally, we have the house girls. They’re the only ones who participate in sexual intercourse of any kind. These girls will be paid a solid five thousand dollars per nine-hour shift.”

My head is reeling now.

I can’t believe I’m actually considering this. This is the kind of money that can turn my whole life around.

“It feels like there’s a catch,” I whisper.

“There is no catch,” she says. “My club is a safe environment for all of my girls. And should you decide to be one of the house girls, it’s not just the man who gets to decide who he wants to spend the night with.

The girl has to choose the man back. You’re never forced to do anything you’re not comfortable with. ”

I glance down at my hands. They’re cold, like my blood decided to stop circulating there for some reason. This is way out of my comfort zone, but maybe it’s time for me to start taking some risks.

“What’s the name of this club?” I ask.

Mrs. Hendricks leans back in her seat and smiles at me. “ Elysium .”