Temptation (11 page)

The ride to Nashville isn’t what I was expecting. Viktor hardly said two words to me and I wanted to tell him more than once to take me back to my parents. He seems to be in mood. I noticed his hands never left the steering wheel and his knuckles are white. Like he’s resisting something. I don’t know if I like cold Viktor. Maybe he’s just as uncomfortable as I am, neither one of us knowing what to say or how to act.

It’s strange to think back to the day he brought me to the hospital. That day, he was easy to talk to, but now, I find I have nothing to say. Honestly, what could I say? I still have tons of questions about his club and I hate I can’t remember what he told me about it before. All I know is,
the uneasy feeling is not going away. I have a sense that whatever he’s wanting to show me and ask of me, I’m not going to like it very much.

Viktor pulls up beside the curb and I look out the window to see if we’re at his club. The first thing I see is a leather padded red door. There’s a huge bald man standing outside of it and I can’t help but wonder what’s inside. I see there’s a huge sign that says, ‘The Gentlemen’s Club,’ and I think it’s in red as well. It’s still daylight, so I can’t be for sure. There are no windows to let me see what’s happening on the inside. It’s just a brick building.

It seems as though this club, wants whatever’s happening inside to stay a secret.

Viktor gets out of the car and I slowly get out as well. He leads me to the door and I can’t help but feel nervous, and excitement at the same time. The man guarding the door looks at Viktor, then to me, and nods as he opens the door.

As I walk in I take in all that’s happening around me. The first thing that hits me is the music. Loud and sexy music. Music that makes you want to go find someone and have sex with them. It’s so loud I can feel the base in my chest. The lights are dim and the strobe lights almost blind me when it hits my face. There’s a bar to my left with a small man cleaning glasses. By the walls, tables and booths are lined up in a perfect row. But the tables have a pole on them extending all the way to the ceiling.

What I notice most of all, is the center stage.

I stop walking, feeling Viktor’s hand on my back again. This is a strip club. I take in a breath, seeing what this place really is. I want to turn around and walk out. Viktor’s hand moves to my lower back keeping me in place. As if he knew I would want to run. But as I’m made to stay, I can’t help but to look around more.

The stage takes up most of the room, and has one pole right in the front. There are two other poles on each side as well. Single tables and recliners sit in front of the stage. It’s almost as if only the main attraction dances here.

Then the music changes, and I see a very beautiful, dark mocha colored girl come out from behind the black velvet curtain. She makes her way dancing provocatively on the stage, but at the same time, it’s exotic. Sensual. Graceful. Her moves and the way she bends her body is absolutely beautiful. When she gets to the pole in the middle of the stage, she moves like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’ve never seen a woman look this way while dancing before. I thought ballet was graceful and the most beautiful way to dance, but this … this is so much more.

I watch her dance for three songs, and I’m mesmerized. It’s like she has me transfixed on her and nothing else. I see her leave the stage just as gracefully as she came, and I imagine that it’s me up there. I see
me
being the one doing everything this exotic dancer just finished. The thrill of having everyone watching
me
as I dance again is breath taking.

I remember that feeling all too well. And I realize, I miss dancing terribly.

“Let’s go into my office.” Viktor’s voice pulls me out of my trance and I follow quickly behind him.

I cannot believe I just pictured myself being a stripper.

While following Viktor, I take in everything I can about this place. We cross in front of the center stage and turn right. We walk down a hall and I can see rooms down this hall. All the doors are closed so I don’t know what’s inside. Before we make another right, I see stairs to my left and I wonder what’s up there? The walls in this whole club are black and red. The floors are title and grey, I think, but I can’t be sure since the lighting’s so dim.

I have so many questions to ask, so many things running through my mind that I run into Viktor’s back when he stops. He turns and gives me a look that I can’t describe and he pulls out a set of keys. I want to ask him to give me a tour of the club, but I hold back when he opens the door to his office. It’s dark green and it’s very close to the color of his eyes. I wonder why his door is different from all the other black and red doors, but I don’t ask. He steps back to allow me inside his office and I blink a few times when he turns on the lights. It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to being in the light again.

Viktor walks over to the massive desk that almost dominates the entire room. He sits down and he holds his hand out showing me a leather couch to my left. How many girls have been on that couch? I think to myself. I don’t know why that thought even occurs or why I get angry about it. I shake my head and as I sit, I look over his office. The walls are a deep dark green as well. Certificates in frames adorn the walls. Nothing personal. I’m guessing they are what he needs to keep this place up and running. His desk is black as well, and when he sits in his chair, I feel as though he’s sort of like a king. His presence makes the small office seem smaller. He dominates the room and suddenly, the air is so thick with tension it makes it harder for me to breathe.

I put my hands in my lap not knowing what to say. All this is overwhelming and I still have no idea why Viktor wanted me to be here. I don’t even meet his intense gaze. I can feel him watching me.

“Do you understand now what kind of club this is?” He says and I jump a bit at hearing his voice. It’s so commanding and hard. I’ve never heard him talk this way before.

I don’t want to like it. I don’t want to feel my heart racing, or how my stomach flutters from hearing his hard voice. “Yes. But I still don’t understand what I’m doing here.”

“You’re here because I want you to be here.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Look at me, Ava.”

I slowly raise my head and I look at him. He takes my breath away when I see him sitting there at his massive desk. He sits back in his chair like this is another ordinary day for him, and I guess it is. I’m sure he has done this many times. His hands are on the handles of the chair and he holds them tightly just like he did while driving me here. Is he holding back from touching me, like I am too? When I meet his eyes he nods his head at me, like he’s telling me he appreciates my obedience.

“Why am I here, Viktor?” I ask and I don’t know if he hears me. I barely hear the words myself.

“I want you to dance for me.” He clears his throat as he adds, “For the club.” Like this is the most common thing he can ask of me.

“You … you want me to what?”

“Dance, Ava. You’re a ballet dancer right?”

“I used to be, but I haven’t danced in months. As you can see, I’m not exactly in shape for any kind of dancing.” Viktor looks at me and the way his eyes look me over make me twitch on the couch. I don’t miss his smirk as he does so, and I can’t help but enjoy his intense gaze on my body. I shouldn’t like it as much as I do, and when he meets my gaze again, I shouldn’t want him to do it again.

“Take however long it takes to get your body in the shape you feel that needs to be considered back in shape. I want you do dance. I think you will bring my business ten times the money it’s getting now and for yourself. Say yes, Ava.”

“I … I can’t say yes. What you’re asking … It’s not something I’d ever do.”

“I disagree. I think, no, I know there’s more to you than you let on.” He gets up out of his chair and grabs a folder. He walks over to me and sits down beside me. He’s too close to me. I move away from him but he grabs my arm before I can get too far. I stare at him, wondering why he’s not letting me put distance needed right now between us.

“This is a contract. In this contract, you’ll find what I want from you and the rules for working here.” He hands me the contract and I don’t even let myself look at what’s inside. I can’t look because there’s no way in hell I’m doing this.

“Ava. Look at me.”

I look at him once again into his intense dark green eyes. I can’t figure out what and why he wants me of all people to be … a stripper. I want to ask him, demand he tell me the answers I need, but I don’t. Instead I get lost into his green eyes. All my questions evaporate from my mind, and I find myself unable to break eye contact with him.

“You will look over this. You will sign and do everything this contract says. In return, you’ll make more money than you can dream of. You’ll be provided with a house in Nashville, as well as a car of your choosing. Come work for me. Say yes, and you’ll have everything you need to take care of Gabriella.”

“I … I don’t know. I think I need to go.” I shake my head, trying to clear it. There’s so much to think about. Moving away from my parents. Taking my clothes off for strangers. Letting him buy me a house. How can I say yes? But, how can I say no, knowing what all I’ll get if I say yes.

“Alright. I’ll give you one week to decide. Say yes, Ava.”

“Viktor …”

“Go. There’s a car waiting to take you back. I’ll see you with a decision in one week.”

I quickly get up and walk out of Viktor’s office. I go back along the hall with different doors, and I walk in front of the center stage again. I stop and look at it one more time. Am I really considering this? Can I really get up there, on this stage, and do what Viktor is asking of me?

I have no idea what I will do, or what I want to do. All I know is, I need to get back home to my baby girl.

One week later

I can’t even count how many times I have read over Viktor’s contract.
It covers everything – from health and beauty requirements to my lifestyle choices. I should have it memorized by now. But, as many times as I’ve read the contract, it seems it’s all new. The things he wants me to do, and the rules he has in place, overwhelming doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel about all of this.

I hold Gabbie in my arms as I look over the list again. I think if I do say yes, I can handle some of the things he’s asking. I mean, this contract isn’t just for his protection, it’s for mine as well. It’s the last paragraph that holds my attention as it has every time I read it.

“If the employee signs this contract, she will be held in this contract for two years. During these two years, the employer and employee will not engage in any sexual acts of any kind. There is to be absolutely no interaction between employer and employee, other than strictly professional reasons.”

Reading this again makes me wonder if there’s a reason for it. Did Viktor have a relationship with one of his dancers before? The thought sends a sick feeling to the pit of my stomach. I don’t understand why. I shouldn’t care who or what Viktor does with his spare time, but I do. If he did have a relationship with one of his dancers, it makes sense for him to have some of the rules. Like the one that says:

“There is to be no touching of any kind between employer and employee”.

Or,
the employee is never to be allowed with the employer without another person present
. But, my personal favorite is the one that says
, if the employee should decide to engage in acts of sex, or any other form of sexual acts, she may do so, but only outside of the club, with the client of her choosing.

Yeah, that definitely won’t be happening.

I sigh and toss the contract on my bed. I’m on the last day for Viktor’s deadline. And I still have yet to make up my mind. I look at Gabbie again, seeing she has fallen asleep in my arms. I want to do this for her. If Viktor thinks I can make easy money, doing the one thing I love, well isn’t that enough? But, what if my parents find out what type of work I’ll be doing by saying yes? Or what if one day when Gabbie gets old enough to understand and she finds out her mother was a stripper? I’d have to lie and hide this life if I say yes.

The thought is exciting.

To pretend to be someone else, knowing no one knows the real you and who you are, sends a thrill through me that I’ve never experienced before. I can see why someone like me would want that. I’ve always been the shy and good girl. But now, I wonder if maybe I’ve become this person because it’s easy to stay hidden. It’s easy to stay behind the shadows and let other’s take the spotlight. Even with small things. If I do this, I will be front and center. I
will
be seen.

My heart starts to race from thinking about it.

I look over at the contract laying on my bed. The urge to sign my name on that dotted line is strong. Very strong. But, before I completely make up my mind, I do have some conditions of my own for Viktor. It’s time I start standing up for myself and speaking up. Even though Viktor is demanding as hell, I have to show him I can take care of myself and Gabbie.