Chapter 2
Chapter two
Ezrah
It has been two years since my life fell apart. Two years since I endured the most gut-wrenching pain and lost a part of myself.
The first year was hell. I was a ghost of my former self. Nothing more and nothing less.
The second year was a bit better, but I was still in the throes of despair. That was when I began building a new version of me.
Now, for the first time in two years, I feel optimistic about the future. I look forward to my mornings, eager for the day ahead. I've finally found my smile again, dimmer than before, maybe, but mine.
To rebuild your life from the ruins is no joke.
There were times I thought I'd never recover.
But here I am.
I can't deny I'm different from the man I used to be. Finding out that your husband, your childhood sweetheart, has been cheating on you will do that. The innocent boy who believed in true love died in an instant.
I'm no longer the guy with rose-tinted glasses who thought love was enough. Life doesn't work that way.
I shake my head and say out loud, "No. I'm not going to think about this. Today's a big day."
I was promoted unexpectedly at the club where I've worked for the past one year. I started as a bartender and somehow climbed my way to a manager. I still don't know how it happened.
The Vicious Vines is an exclusie, high-end club.
Everything here is expensive, from the decor to the drinks we offer.
But it's more than that. Two hidden floors set it apart.
One is the VIP level, the one place where even I haven't entered.
The other is devoted entirely to BDSM rooms, equipped with everything anyone in the lifestyle could need.
I only got in because an old friend knew the boss and set up an interview. Without that connection, I never would've stood a chance. Membership fees are higher than my monthly paycheck. This is not a place you stumble into.
Despite all that, I love working here. The team is tight, professional, with just enough goofing around to keep things fun. Our boss, Ethan, is strict but fair.
I don't know how I got so lucky to replace the old manager, but I'll do my best. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I'm not doing it only for the money, but for the thrill too.
I used to be a laid-back guy. But now there's a constant itch under my skin. Novelty, more access, adrenaline. Being a manager will give me all of it.
I can't wait to begin this part of my life.
It's going to be an amazing day.
***
I park in the designated lot, buzzing with energy.
My first day as a manager will mostly be spent shadowing Ethan, learning everything I need to know. The previous manager left suddenly, and Ethan said it was because of a family emergency.
Today is also the first shift for a new hire behind the bar. Word is Ethan himself recruited him. That's rare. Ethan typically leaves the hiring to management and only steps in later to check paperwork and meet the candidate.
I quicken my steps, and in no time, I'm opening the door with my key card and fingerprint. Ethan is notorious when it comes to security.
As I step into the foyer, I'm greeted by the secretary, who welcomes and checks the identities of our club members. She and I aren't close, so I give her a nod and continue toward the main floor.
The second I step inside, my movements falter.
There's a guy on the floor, wearing tight shorts that cling to his ass as he moves slightly to the beat of the music. His crop top leaves nothing to the imagination, showing off a slim but defined frame. A flop of light pink hair sways with his movements.
Fuck, he's gorgeous.
In the past two years, I haven't checked anyone like this. But there's something about him that grabs me.
"Oh, hey, Ezrah. Glad you're here. Meet our newest addition," Conrad, our head bartender, calls out.
I scold myself, because checking out the new hire is definitely not what a manager should be doing. I school my face into a smile and step forward, then freeze as he turns around.
My gaze collides with blue-green eyes I once knew. The little boy I remember is gone, replaced by a man with a blinding smile and the most sinful body I've ever seen.
"Sebastian…" I croak.
All the air leaves my lungs.
The man I was just checking out, the man about to start working here, is none other than my ex's little brother.
Fuck my life.