23. Soren
SOREN
“You’re not going to stay tonight?” I asked Jude when he parked outside the club.
While he rarely came to the club, he’d taken to at least dropping me off every night.
Sometimes I got a ride home with Phoenix or one of the other workers on my shift.
Only the ones I had grown close to, though.
Over time some had started giving me the cold shoulder because I’d sort of become popular in the VIP lounge.
But it wasn’t my fault that years of being royalty meant I was a natural at rubbing elbows with the rich and famous.
Once I’d gotten the hang of the club, I started feeling invincible.
It didn’t even faze me anymore when I spotted Martin’s former boy around the club, prowling for a new rich lover. I just gave him a wide berth.
“I didn’t plan to,” Jude said, reaching across the console to squeeze my thigh. “Why? Did you want me to stay?”
“No, it’s okay. Just wondered.”
He smiled, brushed my cheek, and then leaned in closer so he could kiss me. “I’m so proud of you. It’s been over a month, little prince, and look how far you’ve come.”
“Only because of you.”
“You had it in you all along. I love you, Soren.”
Guilt gnawed at my insides at the way he was looking at me so trustingly.
He’d shared everything about his life with me, including his ex, his criminal past, and his family.
Meanwhile, Aaron had found out that I was really a prince the day we’d been packing care items for the shelter.
One of the few pieces he’d found among the recovered items from Daphne was my brother’s crest, which I’d been gifted when he was buried.
He’d looked up the item, and it had led him to the royal family of Belvaria, where he’d found all the articles about my conferred title and subsequent ruin.
I was lucky it was Aaron who had found out about it and no one else. I trusted him not to say anything, but he’d reminded me that the truth couldn’t be hidden forever, and wouldn’t I prefer to tell Jude myself?
I’d tried so many times to tell him, then chickened out.
Other men would have probably been ecstatic to be in a relationship with a prince, but I knew enough about Jude that I was certain he wouldn’t be thrilled about the news.
He was a simple man who’d had too much excitement already in his life from when he went to prison.
All he wanted was to live a quiet life on the beach with someone as normal as he was and make furniture in his workshop.
And what if he didn’t want to be with a traitor whose home country didn’t even want him?
“Soren,” Jude said quietly, bringing me back to the present. “You’re being a bit strange tonight. Maybe I should stay.”
“No, it’s truly okay. I’m just thinking that I should call my dad again soon.”
“You sure that’s all?”
“Hmm.” I gave him my best smile. “I’ll miss you, though. Can’t wait for my days off so I can do nothing with you. Thanks to working now, I appreciate a day off.”
“Then I’ll be back at two to pick you up,” he said.
“Great. I should go in before my hours are docked.”
The first time that happened because I was late, I’d been stunned. Now I made sure I was never late, even if Jude distracted me at home and wanted sex. Surprisingly, at times, he could be irresponsible, but Phoenix said that was a good thing because he was in love.
Still, I’d made him pay me back for the docked wages.
While I hadn’t been serious, he’d agreed that it was fair while telling me that it was money well spent.
Now, if he wanted sex before I went to the club, he had to join me in the shower.
Otherwise, I kicked him out of the room to get dressed so he wouldn’t be tempted.
I kissed him goodbye again, then made a run for the staff entrance to clock in on time.
Clubbing might seem exciting for the first few nights, but after that, it got old fast. As someone who had never had the opportunity to go clubbing because of my family's reputation, I’d found it fun at first. The scene was repetitive, though, and even the faces became familiar.
Before I knew it, I had my clients’ favorite drinks memorized.
I was fortunate that my popularity on the VIP floor meant I didn't have to work the general floor. I was told this wasn’t usually the case and that servers had to work their way up.
The one time Phoenix had thought I was ready to face the first floor, he’d changed his mind after a VIP client had requested me personally, and he’d never asked me to host on that floor again.
Unlike Halo House, Club Halo was a business for Phoenix, and the VIP members spent a lot to have us cater to them.
Others asked me what my secret was for connecting so well with the wealthiest of men and women.
There was no secret at all. I just knew the places they frequented, had interacted with the brands they had and some of the same people.
Other than Martin, none of the other clients knew who I was.
They liked the mystery of my knowing so much about their exclusive life when I was nothing but a lowly server.
Still, I ate it up, played the part, and kept the flirtation to a minimum in order to not irritate spouses and cheaters alike.
As usual, Evan was on the prowl, looking like a beautiful dark angel in a pair of shorts so tight that it made me wince on the inside.
He’d tried to bribe the security guard posted on the second floor to let him up there but had been turned down, so he was sulking at the bar.
Malicious as he was, he snatched up a client’s drink that I had ordered and walked off into the crowd with a smirk.
This made my order late, as I had to wait for another to be mixed, and the client was visibly pissed at how long I took.
I’d learned not to dwell on mishaps, though, so I kept the smile and continued with the job.
During my fifteen-minute break, I munched on the nuts Jude had packed me because I sometimes got hungry while on shift but didn’t want to eat too much.
It’d been a long time since I’d been to the gym, and if not for the filthy way Jude talked about my ass while slapping it, I would have been appalled at the weight I’d gained.
I’d planned on talking to Jude, but I had messages from Dean that I couldn’t ignore.
He’d found out his Daddy was married and wanted to keep him as a side piece.
Phoenix was furious at the infidelity and had dropped the man as a sponsor of Halo House but had left the decision up to Dean as to whether he would end the relationship.
Dean: I’m devastated, but he treats me so well. I’ve never had anyone pay me this much attention before.
Me: But at the expense of his wife and children?
Dean: He says they don’t even have sex anymore and he’s just with her for the kids.
Me: We’ve heard this story before, Dean. Are you really comfortable being a side piece? Because you deserve to be the main dish.
Dean: You don’t understand. You were born a prince. You’re used to getting everything you want. You even got Daddy Jude after being here for just one week, when he wouldn’t give any of us a chance. For the first time in my life, someone wants to take care of me. Why should I give that up?
My fingers hovered over the keys as I tried to find the words that wouldn’t upset him further while gently disagreeing with his decision.
Me: You do what’s best for you. I just think you deserve better.
Dean: But what if it doesn’t get any better than this?
Me: You’re a great catch. Of course it will. I have to go back to work now, but let’s have lunch tomorrow.
I didn’t wait for a response but shoved my phone and the rest of my stuff into my locker and returned to work.
I wasn’t back for fifteen minutes when an unexpected ripple swept through the floor.
Aaron was the last person I expected to see coming toward me.
I started to smile but then noticed he wasn’t alone.
Another cop was with him, as well as Phoenix, who might have looked calm on the outside, but I’d worked with him long enough to understand the tension in his eyes.
Whatever they were doing here, he was upset.
“Really, Aaron, I told you I could handle this,” I heard him say.
“I’m sorry, Phoenix, but this is out of my hands. It’s a police matter.”
Whatever the hell they were talking about, it sounded serious. My heart sank when they stopped in front of me. Aaron wouldn’t meet my eyes. Was this about my connection with Belvaria? Had he told them despite promising me he wouldn’t?
“Soren, another server will replace you for a bit,” Phoenix said. “Would you come with us, please?”
“Phoenix—” Aaron protested.
“No, I’m not going to let you do this in the open when we have no idea what happened.”
His tone brooked no argument, so when he turned on his heels, expecting me to follow him, I did. We took the elevator in silence down to the locker room, where I always took my break so I could use my phone. Phoenix signaled one of the bouncers to keep the area clear.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Phoenix opened his mouth to speak, but Aaron touched his arm.
“You’ve interfered enough, Phoenix. This is a police investigation, and you need to let us do our job.”
“I’m confused,” I said, wringing my hands. “What does a police investigation have to do with me?”
“Soren, this is Officer Cook,” Aaron said, gesturing at the other cop who still hadn’t spoken. “He’s with the narcotics division. We received a tip that an employee at the club was distributing drugs. Can you show us your locker, please?”
“My locker? Why?”
“Just open the locker,” Cook said. “If you cooperate with us, I’m sure we can have this whole thing sorted out and you can get back to your night.”
“You don’t have to open that locker, Soren,” Phoenix said quickly. “Not until they produce a warrant.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t have anything to hide.
I took out my key and opened the door.