Chapter One
Sophia
Four years later
Sophia hated the holidays, simply because shoppers got mean when something they wanted was sold out. Working in retail definitely had its downsides, and that was one of them.
It didn't help that she didn't really want to work in retail. She was taking computer graphics courses online, but she still felt… disillusioned.
At least she would be off work early enough to head to the Merciless Few clubhouse for the party planned that night. It would give her the chance to discreetly watch her crush.
Lennix 'Axel' Rivers. The man was sin wrapped up in a tatted package. And he didn't seem to even know she existed. Well, that wasn't quite true. He knew she was Sinner's daughter. Beyond that…
Sighing, she put her focus back on her job until she was finally, blessedly, able to clock out and go home.
Her father still insisted that she live with him, Hallie, and her half brother, Kingsley, and since she didn't make enough to live on her own, she didn't argue.
After going home and showering, she got dressed and headed to the clubhouse. She'd donned a pair of snug fitting black jeans, a teal corset top, and black boots. Her hair hung loose to mid-back, and she'd applied a minimal amount of makeup.
The moment she walked in, she removed her winter coat and her eyes scanned the main area until she found him. But he wasn't alone. One of the sweetbutts was sidled up to him and he had his arm slung over her shoulders.
Seeing him like that had her deflating a bit. So much for hoping to catch his eye.
“Oo la la. Don't you look hot?” Phaedra said, approaching her.
“Fat lot of good it does,” she grumbled. “Thanks,” she added.
Phaedra slipped her arm through Sophia's and tugged her toward where the old ladies were gathered. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just frustrated. But it's nothing I want to talk about.” Sophia was glad when Phaedra didn't press. She was also grateful to all of the ladies who made up the ‘old ladies’ of the club. They'd all accepted her into the ranks and made her feel welcome even if she was just Sinner's daughter.
As the night progressed, she wandered around the clubhouse, avoiding Axel and his little sweetbutt as much as possible.
She and several of the ladies played some pool, and as the night began to wind down, she headed for one last mocktail when a conversation between Rose and Indi made her pause.
She knew it wasn't polite to eavesdrop, but she couldn't seem to make herself move away.
“With Sheila, Marie, and Allison leaving, I put out an ad for auditions to fill their spots,” Indi told Rose.
“Thank Goddess. The rest of us have really had to scramble to fill the void. How soon do you hope to get them filled?” Rose questioned.
“With any luck, by this time next week,” Indi responded.
Sophia continued on her trajectory, but ideas were churning. She'd been to Club Elysium a couple of times and had been impressed with the place, and even more so with the dancers.
Yeah. Maybe this was the change she'd been looking for.