Twisted Perception (Flawed #2) (16 page)

He was reluctant at first to work with me, to be set free, as he’s still scared of me. I don’t blame him. He has tremendous respect for me as well, which I admire. He was in a bad way when I grabbed him, he was hard on drugs and owed a lot of money to some dangerous people. I may have broken him, but I also rescued him.

The music beats loud, the bartenders are shirtless, and the drinks are being set up. In five minutes the doors open for the first time. It’s VIPs only tonight, those that could afford my price of admission get to come first and experience the Heaven to Sin. Yes, that’s what I named it.

I know most of the clientele coming are the rich socialites that were aware that I had opened a new place. Some are new, but it should be good. Opening night tickets alone have paid for this place. It still amazes me what people will pay for sex.

“Aria, you have ten minutes to be ready,” Derrick tells me. I nod my head and walk off. I’ve made him manager and he never has to sleep with another woman again. It’s solely his choice. He chose to manage and he didn’t want anything else. I was fine with his decision.

I dress in black leather pants, with heels so high that I had to practice wearing them for days before I was confident enough that I could walk out on stage in them. My shirt cuts off just under my breasts. I’m not going to lie, my stomach is my favorite part of me. I’ve worked damn hard to get it flat and to have this shape. My hair is up and pinned high, the ends dropping down on my shoulders as I turn my head. My eyes are smoky and dark with color.

I even invited my father tonight, but he isn’t sure if he’ll come or not. I told him what I had bought and my ideas for the place. He looked shocked at first, but that soon turned into an impressed look. Jessa walks in, dressed in all blue and fans herself.

“Those men out there…wahoo!” She continues to fan herself.

“Stay away from them,” I warn her. Most of them want sex and they get it any way they please.

“Even the filthy rich clients? ‘Cause there are a few of them…” she trails off.

“What?” I ask confused. I didn’t invite any men.

“There are some lookers out there in the audience.” She points past the stage to where everyone is seated.

Derrick comes backstage and my sister blushes and turns her head away from him. He looks at her and his mouth stops working, his jaw dropped open. I click my fingers in his face to draw his attention to me.

“Right, umm…you’re on,” he says looking back to Jessa and walking out.

“And stay away from him,” I warn her, which promptly gets me a pout. The music starts, and I stand behind the curtains waiting for them to open. Walking confidently out to the mic stand, I cock my hip to the side excitement radiating from me.

“Welcome to my own Heaven to Sinnn,” I draw out the last word, and people start clapping and cheering.

“We have rules. As most of you know, I love rules.” My hand slides down my stomach and stops. “But we also have fun, and fun in all ways that lead you to hell.” The cheers grow louder.

“You will have dancers that will make you want to drop your panties to the floor and lay down, asking them to take you now. But ladies…I have a room for that, so no panty dropping till you’re in my Heaven to Hell rooms.” Screams start as five dancers walk out on stage behind me. All shirtless. They position themselves around me, drop down and pick me up so I’m sitting like I’m on a chair.

“Who’s ready for some fun?” I yell and they all scream, “Yes.”

“Who’s ready for some hot, steamy, lose all your senses kind of fun?”

The men place me down and they stand in a straight line. I walk from one to another, my hand running over their abs one at a time.

“Enjoy ladies. If you’re bad, really bad, it’ll be me you deal with. And I know most of you don’t want that.” I wink at the crowd, walking off stage. The music starts with a different kind of beat and one dancer stays on stage. The rest follow me backstage as they begin preparing for their shows.

“There’s money like you’ve never seen tonight. Do what you do best, do what you need to do, and if something goes wrong come to me,” I tell the men. They all nod their heads in understanding. They probably think I can’t do much, but most don’t know me or know that I’m not what I appear to be. Derrick is the biggest and probably strongest. He has the most respect for me, which leads them to do the same. I know he wouldn’t tell them, he wouldn’t tell anyone what happened to him. Even if people would dare questions his scars, some of which I inflicted.

“Now, why didn’t I think of this?” a voice booms as soon as I leave the dressing room and enter my office. Bexley and Zeke are sitting on my couch. I raise my eyebrows and join them.

“You can’t have all the brains,” I tell him. Bexley looks through the one-way glass, to the direct view of the stage. I put that little touch in and I’m not afraid to admit that watching hot men shake their ass all night long is definitely not a crazy idea.

“I like it. I want to invest,” Zeke says, throwing a check on my desk. I look down at the numbers and it’s double what I initially invested in the club.

“Are you trying to buy my business?” I ask him.

He laughs and shakes his head. “No, I want to invest, Aria. Give you what you need. Bodyguards, accountants, lawyers…” he goes on explaining.

“I’ll think about it,” I tell him, which I may or may not. I created this place. It was a strip joint when I bought it, but I’ve had it redecorated. The rooms are black, creative lighting is everywhere to get the right mood that’s required. There are private rooms, all with cameras—it’s absolutely magnificent. A high-end place.

“You going to get a dance, Bex?” I ask her, leaning on my hands and watching them trying not to smile.

“Like hell,” Zeke says, standing and pulling her up. “She came to support. Now she’s leaving, never to step foot in here again,” he says looking out the window to a man that is practically fucking a woman on stage.

“Just one dance?” she teases him and winks at me. He glares at me, his face hard.

“She’s a bad influence on you,” he says it like a father would berate, then looks back to her. “I will dance with you all night, Pixie” he whispers to her. I make barfing sounds, loudly pretending I’m going to be sick. Zeke laughs at me and Bexley waves as she’s pulled out the door with him.

“Five minutes, boss,” Derrick pops his head back in then straight back out. He’s really good and I’m keeping him and never letting him go again.

Chapter 29

“Didn’t that just make you hot?” I fan myself as the light dims on the stage. The spotlight is shining on me as I walk through the throngs of ladies at the tables. They cheer their agreement loudly.

“I have a surprise for two lucky ladies. Stallion and Rodeo here want to take a special someone backstage, to my Heaven to Hell rooms. Who wants to dip their fingers in a slice of hell, ladies?” The two men flank me and look around the room.

“Hands up if you want to go to hell?” Every single hand I can see flies up in the air. Who knew people would want sex that bad?

The men walk off and pick two ladies. They’re not doing it for free, I will be paying them instead of the clients. Unless they return, which I can guarantee they won’t.

The music starts up again and another dancer comes on stage. Now it’s my turn to mingle, to ensure satisfaction of all clients. I walk around and spot Carol, my first client. I met her at one of the parties I attended. She smiles and waves me over to where she’s sitting with three other ladies, whose eyes are glued to the stage.

“I haven’t seen you in so long and I just love what you’ve done here.” She gestures to the general area of the establishment.

“Thank you, Carol, I hope you enjoy yourself and plan to return.” Her friends cheer loudly as the man on stage rips his shirt off and dances around wildly.

“Oh, that’s something I can guarantee.” She turns back to watching the stage.

I walk away planning to mingle more when I see Jessa at the bar talking to a man who looks very familiar. I straighten up and walk over there, stopping just before I reach them. I think I may just walk away and act as if I never saw him.

I take a step back, but Jessa spots me and smiles sneakily making Mika turn around to face me. He sees my withdrawal and straightens his stance. He isn’t dressed in his typical suit and tie today. No, he’s dressed like someone I would want to date if I did date. Nice dark jeans, slight tears in them. Black loose shirt with a pocket over the breast showcasing all his tattooed sleeves. Hair messy, like someone just ran their fingers through and tousled it up. His warm chocolate eyes meet mine and he just stares, not looking up and down my body like he usually does, instead just running his eyes over my face.

Why did he have to come?

Why is he here, making me want him so bad?

“Aria,” he acknowledges, turning back to pick up a drink and walking closer to me. “I’m impressed,” he says, looking around while I can’t seem to look at anything or anyone but him. His appearance has thrown me for a loop. He looks so young, so different. More like me. Not his usual business self.

“Business or pleasure?” I ask him. He then decides to eye me up and down, a lazy grin playing on lips.

“Pleasure,” he draws it out and I see a peek of his tongue. He smiles and then the unexpected happens. Gabrielle walks up, wraps her arms around him and kisses his cheek. He doesn’t move as she does, instead watching me for a reaction. One he will not get. Gabrielle smiles at me, walks over and kisses me on the lips. She then steps back so her back reaches Mika’s front and his arms go lazily around her.

“I’ve missed you so much, I haven’t seen you in over a month,” she gushes.

I wave my hand out indicating my business. “I’ve been busy as you can see.”

She giggles and nods her head. “I can tell. I love this place. So different to what we used to do,” she says, smiling.

“Used to?” I question, taking my eyes from her then back to Mika, who stands there letting Gabrielle do all the talking.

“You haven’t heard? Well, we closed that business down. Actually, it was right after you left.” She looks back to Mika. “Isn’t that right, baby?” She smiles up at him showcasing her beautiful smile and pushing her breast up and leaning back on him.

“That’s right.”

“Interesting,” I mutter. He hears me and his head snaps up, looking at Gabrielle then to me.

“Well, you two lovebirds have fun. I have some work to do.” I walk forward and kiss her cheek then turn to look up at Mika. I surprise him when I lean up and kiss his cheek. His sharp intake of breath is hard to miss. “Have fun,” I whisper, turning and walking away.

I don’t get far before strong hands wrap around my waist, lifting me off the floor and hugging me so tight I might pop. “You want it hard or soft?” a voice murmurs in my ear. I turn to see Sebastian, one of Jagger’s college friends. I haven’t seen him since he left for Chicago three years ago. I fucked him in the back of his car before he left, as my goodbye present.

He’s dressed in slacks, no jacket and a pink shirt bunched up at his elbows. His hair is cut short, with a mixture of blond highlights and brown. He drops me and I turn to him and he picks me up, wrapping my legs around his waist.

“Should we try one of your rooms? They sound interesting.” His smile is all lust. I look past him and see Jagger standing there, dressed similarly to other work colleagues, shaking his head at us. He hated us together, mainly because it was all sex with us, nothing more.

“No, I have work to do. So you need to put me down.” I lean back, lifting my arms from his neck and his smile drops like I’ve wounded him.

“Just one taste? Just one taste is all I need.” His face is close, his lips an inch from mine. He licks his lips, wanting more. I lean forward and kiss him with a closed mouth, no tongue, and lean back.

“Now put me down. There are hundreds of willing ladies out there for you. Hell, I could set you up with one tonight.” He places me on the ground, his arms loosening his hold on me.

“You’re a buzz kill. I came here to have you.” Jagger walks over and slaps him on the back. Walking off back to his group of friends, he looks wounded until Jagger hands him a drink.

“Did you bring all your friends?” I groan, hearing and watching them become rowdier as the night wears on.

“Only a few,” he says, looking past my shoulder. “He looks pissed,” he says. I turn to see Mika standing there, watching us. I turn and shrug my shoulders—it’s not my problem.

Chapter 30

The night is wrapping up and security is starting to clear the club. I stay in my office unless I’m due on stage. I have mountains of paperwork to clear up and get through, things that have to be organized and men that need to be paid. My head hurts from looking at it. I may have to hire someone because I sure as shit can’t do this all by myself.

There’s a light tap on my door, then it’s opened and Gabrielle walks in. Smiling, then taking a seat in front of me, she crosses her legs. Her short pink dress riding up when she does so.

“Can I ask you not to make contact with him? I think I’m in love with him,” she says.

She loves him? Do girls just do that? Love someone so quickly?

I lean back in my chair and she watches me, playing with her fake nails and waiting for my reaction. She’s nervous, but about what I’m not sure.

“I haven’t made contact, Gabrielle,” I tell her. She can’t tell me who I can contact, though.

“I know, it was his idea to come tonight. But, I’m not
you
. He tries with me, I know he does. I’ve wanted him for a such long time, but that night you walked out it was my first taste. I couldn’t stop after that and neither could he.” She blushes.

“Gabrielle, don’t come in here telling me what to do. If you’re comfortable enough in whatever it is you two have going on, don’t come in here and stir trouble. You won’t like the answers you end up with.”

“I just wanted to tell you that I love this place, you’ve done great. And thank you for leaving him, for giving me a chance to have him.” She stands and walks out, leaving me with a
‘what the fuck just happened?’
look stuck on my face.