5. Lena
CHAPTER 5
Lena
“ S ign,” the woman who stands in front of me says with a hint of a Russian accent. She is stunning, like supermodel gorgeous. She’s wearing a pencil skirt with a slit up the side, has porcelain skin that would give those vampire movies a run for their money, and has silky red hair that is pulled back in a perfect bun.
“I won’t have to be naked, will I?” I ask her. She eyes me, and her emerald eyes look familiar. I just can’t put my finger on where I’ve seen them before.
“No. Though, if you want to, feel free,” she replies, handing me the pen.
“I’m good, thank you.” I take the pen and sign the NDA she handed me.
A dark-haired man walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, then kisses her neck. I avert my gaze but quickly sneak another peek, unable to look away from the duo. They’re menacing and powerful in a beautiful but scary way. The man has tattoos all up his arms, and his eyes, which are an interesting mix of blue and hazel, clearly burn only for her. And he looks like no more than an accessory to her right now as she focuses on getting all the dancers situated.
Julie has already gone off and started to change, obviously having done this before. The red-headed Russian in front of me told me my outfit is in the back, but I couldn’t go farther until I signed the NDA.
“Go.” She waves me off as if I’m no more than a fly being swatted away. However, I can feel her gaze on my back as I leave. When I push open the door, I peek over my shoulder. Since I’m the last of the dancers, the couple are left alone in the room. Her head is tilted to the side, giving the man better access to her neck, but her eyes remain on me.
Because that’s not intimidating as shit.
Taking a deep breath, I make my way to the dressing room, where I find ten other women, all wearing leather dresses. Very showy leather, I might add.
“Here,” Julie says, grabbing my dress from a rack and handing it to me. “Get dressed. We have to be out there before the guests arrive.” I take it from her and look down at it. It’s obviously going to expose my ass, and considering I’m thicker than all of these women, it’s going to be a whole lot of ass. It’s not nudity… but sort of?
“How often do you do this?” I ask, curiously, because I’m still not entirely sure if what we’re getting ourselves into is legal. But if there are contracts in place, surely it is, right?
“Cinita got me the job here about a month before she ran off.” She shrugs. “She knew a lot of shady people, but I appreciate it. You know, doing this every now and then helps pay for all of this.” She waves a hand over her body.
Not legal, then.
“A man was asking about her,” I say, seizing my opportunity since she brought Cinita up.
“Yeah, she was popular with the men,” she adds, like it means nothing.
I study her as she puts on a black wig. Then I tie my hair back and do the same. My blue eyes are a stark contrast to the black in the mirror.
“Have you heard from her at all?” I ask Julie as I pin the wig into place.
“Nope, she ran off. But Cinita does that. Runs off with men.” She laughs as if it’s so normal and not at all a scream for help. Perhaps their friendship wasn’t as deep as I thought it was.
“You don’t worry about her?”
“You lived with her. Were you not worried?” Julie asks, confused.
“I didn’t really know her well enough. She wasn’t home half the time either.”
“No one really knew her. Cinita came to rehearsal and stuff but very rarely hung around. She always had somewhere to be or would have various guys picking her up.”
Well, shit. I thought she was a lot more personable than that. Everyone seemed to love her whenever we practiced, so I thought her friendships were deeper than they actually were.
Julie glances at the dress I still haven’t put on. Everyone but me is dressed and ready to head out. Standing, I quickly tear off my clothes and let them fall to the floor. Grabbing the leather underwear, I decide to keep my G-string on underneath it, as I don’t know who might have worn it before me, but I do remove my bra.
It’s hard not to notice how much smaller the other women are than me. It’s always the same in my industry, but I love my curves. I haven’t had to pay for my ass or tits either. Not that I mind those who do; mine just come naturally.
Standing there in only my G-string, I hear a man’s voice bark over the chattering of the women. It’s not unusual for men to enter the dressing rooms—some are hairstylists and others even do makeup, but this voice sounds awfully familiar.
Looking up, I see him. His gloved hands are on the doorframe as he tells the women to move, but his narrowed green gaze is locked on me.
“Everyone out. Now,” he says, and the women quickly file out. “Except for you,” he adds, still staring at me.
“Uh, I’ll see you out there, Lena.” Julie skirts around me.
Why is this fucker here?
I turn so he can’t see any more of me as I pull up the leather underwear that my ass hangs out of, then put on the dress that cuts low, emphasizing my cleavage. When I’m dressed, I turn toward Alek just as the door clicks shut. We’re now alone in here.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Happy,” I say sarcastically.
“Leave,” he says.
“Sorry, what? You can’t tell me what to do,” I scoff.
“You’re fired. Leave.”
“But I need…” He turns, opens the door, and strides out as if whatever I have to say isn’t important enough for him to hear. That his word is law. My blood boils. Fuck this guy and him thinking he can tell me what to do in any type of way.
He doesn’t own me, and he sure as fuck isn’t telling me where I can and can’t earn my money.
Nope, no way. I want this money. As soon as he’s gone, I take a deep breath and try to contain my emotions. Brushing my wig back out of my face, I slip on the boots that were left for me and then peek out the door. Two security guards stand there but say nothing.
“Do you know where the other girls went?” I ask politely.
One of them arches an eyebrow, and I wonder if he heard what Alek said, but he seems slightly amused as he points down the hallway.
“Thank you,” I say as I follow his direction and head down the hall. I’m quick to find Julie, who seems to be walking up a short set of stairs that most likely lead to a stage. She waves me over before grabbing my hand and pulling me onto the stage with her.
It’s not like our stage at the show. No, this one is circular, and two dancers fit on a podium together. I find myself sharing one with Julie. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into? But it’s only a performance. Four hours and two thousand dollars. I can shake my ass for that. I’ve done it for less, picking up an asshole from a club once or twice.
“Want a hit?” Julie asks me. I’m confused at first until I see her pull a tablet from her bra and put it under her tongue.
“No, thank you.” Each to their own, but it isn’t my vibe.
Music begins to play, and Julie rubs her body against me as the curtains raise. I realize we’re in human-sized birdcages. The main part of the room is dim, and I can’t really see the faces of those in the crowd who sit at the tables.
I notice a large stage at the front with what looks like an auction podium, if the hammer is any indication. I wonder what they’re selling. I’m shocked as a woman walks out naked onto the stage, and I turn my focus back on Julie.
Okay. Sex. They’re selling sex here.
Fuck, I hope I haven’t put myself on the market.
Oh shit. What if I’ve signed up to be trafficked?
Fuck . I knew this type of money was too good to be true.
I need to calm the fuck down, because it doesn’t mean I’m here to be sold.
The sound of voices increases as I grab Julie by the hips and roll down her front, then I mimic licking up her leg as I roll back up.
Just think about the nights out with the girls in your college days , I tell myself. If I start freaking out now, I’m going to cause more issues for myself.
Turning ever so slightly, I spot Alek. Fuck . But with this lighting, he doesn’t seem to recognize me. He stands near the door, watching as others walk in. I quickly look away and face Julie as I continue to move my hips to the music.
I’ll have to be careful not to draw his attention.
“Damn, girl, you were being modest when you said you can’t dance like us,” Julie whispers as she bends over in front of me. I glide my hand up the back of her leg as she flicks her hair over her shoulder and slowly straightens back up.
“ You, ” I hear someone growl, and I know whose voice it is. Swaying to the music, I don’t look down to where I know he’s standing, instead pretending I don’t hear him or notice his presence. Which is very fucking hard to miss.
“Umm, Lena.” Julie is frozen and tapping me on the shoulder.
“Dance,” I tell her through gritted teeth.
“He’s the boss, Lena,” she tells me quietly. Of course he is. I offer another forced smile as I turn around.
“I told you already, you’re fired,” he grits out.
I put my hand to my ear. “Sorry, can’t hear you,” I say over the auctioneer’s voice as bids increase for the naked woman on stage.
With the music still going, other dancers in highlighted cages seem to notice the commotion, as their gazes turn in our direction. Some look curious, while others are sneering as if I’m receiving special treatment.
“Oh, you can’t hear me?” he says, lifting his phone and pressing a few buttons before the room falls silent. The music is cut off, and the girls are no longer dancing. The female auctioneer seems to stumble only momentarily but then continues.
“We’re currently at ten million. Do I hear eleven?”
Ten million for what? I want to look in the direction of the main stage but can’t tear my gaze from the piercing green eyes that are seriously pissed with me right now.
“Can you hear me now, sunshine?” he asks.
My teeth hurt as they grind at him calling me ‘sunshine’. So it’s not that he didn’t hear my Mr. Happy insult before. He just didn’t address it.
“I can,” I say, swallowing, and hating that he can probably hear that as well. Because this guy is intimidating.
“Get down,” he growls.
I lean down, purposely giving him a cleavage shot. “I need the money,” I tell him desperately.
“I’ll pay you double. Now, get the fuck down.” I look at the stairs that lead up to the cage. They seem slightly scarier than when I came up them. I also consider it’s easier just to jump. But I have these boots on, and I may hurt myself. The music starts again, and before I know what’s happening, Alek reaches for me and pulls me down.
I’m startled by his featherlight touch and want to cling to the bars, suddenly feeling like this man is a far worse danger than dancing in the cage. He holds me effortlessly, but I notice his uncomfortable expression, his jaw tight, his lips pressed into a straight line.
The moment my feet touch the floor, he immediately steps away from me, then turns and storms off. Without a word, I know I’m supposed to go with him, and I don’t defy him this time.
I follow him out, trying to ignore the few people staring, until we step out of the auction room and into the main hall, where it’s significantly quieter. I thought it was strange when we came to a mansion to dance. I thought it was a rich person’s party. But this shit is next-level wild. He stops, turns to me, and his jaw loosens just a little.
“How much?” he asks.
“Sorry, what?”
“How much are they paying you?”
“Two thousand,” I tell him just as the doors open and the redheaded woman walks out. Her eyes narrow as she looks at me before she looks at Alek.
“Tell me why you stopped my music. This is my auction,” she demands.
“She’s not supposed to be here, Anya,” he tells her, referring to me. Her gaze narrows on me.
“Why? Is she with the police?”
I snort a laugh. “Me?” Then I realize she’s deadly serious.
“No, she’s just a ray of fucking sunshine,” Alek mumbles under his breath.
“Who are you?” she asks, glancing between Alek and me as if there’s some burning secret she must uncover.
“Lena,” I tell her. “Lena Love.”
“Well, Lena Love, my brother here says you aren’t supposed to be here, and I would like to know why.”
“I just needed the extra money. My friends worked here, and I don’t know why I’m not allowed to. Maybe because I sing for an off-Broadway show?” Even I’m confused by that since my contract doesn’t say I can’t dance anywhere else.
“Who are your friends?” she asks.
“Julie and Cinita.”
Her eyes widen, and she looks back at Alek, who is staring at me. His jaw tics as his sister gapes at him, almost in disbelief.
“You can leave,” he says as he hands me four thousand dollars in cash from his pocket as if it’s loose change. I take it. The tension between these two could be cut with a knife, and I don’t know why he’s so fucking mad about me being here. We don’t even know each other. But I’m certainly not going to say no to four thousand dollars for less than an hours worth of work.
I think about Julie, but she says she’s done this before, so she’ll be okay, right?
“I need my stuff,” I say. When neither of them makes a move to stop me, I walk past them to grab my belongings.
She starts talking to him in a hushed tone, and I try not to listen, but I hear Cinita’s name.
How could I not?
This guy is fucking obsessed.