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Something in me had changed, and I had a good feeling I knew exactly what it was. He had sandy blond hair and the perfect balance of green and gold eyes that I’d found myself getting lost in more often than not lately.

As I walked into my shift at the club tonight, for the first time, I questioned why I was even here. I knew I had a living to pay for and money to make. But why was I here? Why was I still entertaining clients when my heart was itching to make more of myself in the dance world?

It felt wrong when it never had before.

These days, working as a sex worker and being in a relationship was more normalized than it used to be. A bunch of the girls I worked with had partners back home. But I still couldn’t help the pinch of doubt that creeped in. That dancing naked for other people who weren’t Hunter felt like the worst type of betrayal, and we hadn’t even put a true label on anything. But I knew how deeply my feelings ran for him, how big they had grown in the short time we’d been together, and no matter what label we had on our situationship, something about it all felt wrong, even though Hunter made it very clear that he’d never judge me.

Even if Hunter said he was okay with what I spent my time doing, or acted like everything was fine, this profession wasn’t something I could spend my life doing if what I wanted for years to come was a life spent happily with him by my side.

It didn’t take a genius to figure that out.

Lately, each shift had grown more and more uncomfortable. Gone were the days when I walked into this building, excited to get on the pole, and lose myself in the music and movement. Lately, I spent most of my time on the clock just waiting for my shift to end, trying my hardest to pass the time by walking around aimlessly, hoping no one would stop me and ask for a private dance. Or anything in a private room, for that matter.

Just like most days recently, today, I did the same. I avoided customers I recognized as regulars; I took more bathroom breaks than necessary and flew under the radar.

With just an hour left of my shift, I thought I’d made it. That was until I heard a gruff, “Hello, Scarlett Jade,” in passing.

Before turning around, I swallowed thickly, forcing out a chipper, “Good evening, Phil.” I smiled sweetly, but if I had to guess, my eyes didn’t tell the same story.

Phil owned half of the hotels and casinos on the Strip. He often came in here with his wallet wide open and the tips flowing. He had a few favorite girls—me being one of them. By the way he greeted me, my stomach churned, knowing that I was the one he wanted tonight.

He had a kink for jerking off while I danced for him, fully nude. In a private room. While this didn’t involve him touching me, it still felt wrong on every level to allow him the ability to drink me in.

Honestly, I should have just called out of work with the way I was feeling before I left my apartment. But I could only do that so many times before a red flag was raised. I’d already called off a couple of times in the last few weeks, which was totally out of character for me.

“Glad I ran into you. Haven’t seen you around here as much lately, and I’ve been dying to see you dance.” Phil swiped my hair off my shoulder, moving it so he had a better view of my barely covered breasts.

“Why watch me dance when you could have some fun with Brandy?” I pointed over at the platinum blonde with long legs. I was grasping at straws, trying to convince him to have something else in mind for his evening.

His eyes lingered long enough that I was hopeful he’d pick up what I was putting down.

Feeling a weight lift off my shoulders, Brandy caught him staring. She offered a seductive smile and wave from across the club before she clicked her heels in our direction.

“What if I could have both tonight? You and Brandy in the same room?” Phil offered.

Every part of me wanted to decline his offer, but the last thing I wanted to do was make an enemy of one of our most powerful members. Offering a giggle without a definite answer, I mulled over every way I could flip this situation in my head.

Brandy walked up to us, but I was too in my own head, and I missed what she’d said.

“I was just mentioning to Scarlett here how I’d love to see you both tonight.” Phil turned on what I’m sure he imagined was a charming smile.

“Oh, is that right?” Brandy placed her hand over his chest, tracing the outline of his shirt temptingly.

Both of their stares found mine. I still couldn’t find the right words to say when the only ones taking up space in my mind were ‘I don’t want to do this.’ At this point, I had to look like I’d seen a ghost. Especially as I did a double take behind them when another blond in the room caught me off guard.

What the fuck was Hunter doing here?

This could either be my saving grace or a grand disaster.

“Um, uh … Brandy, do you mind entertaining Phil while I take care of some business?” The words awkwardly slipped off my tongue.

“Uh, yeah. Sure.” Brandy looked over her shoulder, spotting who I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Once she connected the dots, she turned on her charm even more so, pulling Phil away.

Standing in the middle of the club—now alone—Hunter walked up to me, a slightly more disheveled version of him than I was used to seeing.

“Hi,” the word slipped from my mouth breathlessly mixed with relief and longing. I know it had only been a few hours since we’d been apart but seeing him appear when I needed him the most hit different. I begged to reach out and pull him in close to me. To give him a kiss in the middle of the club.

“Hi, pretty girl. Causing some trouble today?” His eyes veered from mine, finding Phil and Brandy walking down the hallway.