Chapter 23 Celeste
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CELESTE
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Inever felt so liberated and powerful as I do now.
The way that I could have everyone on their knees with a snap of a finger if I wanted to, not that it changes any other time.
This is a different feeling. Everyone's eyes are on me, every sway, tease and prowl, they yearn for more.
Money flies onto the stage from every direction, hooting and hollering fills the club.
They have no idea the owner and Mafia queen is entertaining not for their benefit but her own.
That under this disguise is a predator looking for its prey amongst the crowd.
My eyes search through the crowd looking for the one face that looks uncomfortable with a hint of rage.
He has to be here, this has to work. As I crawl seductively forward, my eyes collide with brown eyes that don't belong with the man that sits in my clear view.
His eyes widened with realization of who the woman is under the rouge.
His emotions are going wild within seconds of each other.
Shock, turned on, confusion as if he’s trying to figure out what I’m up to.
His hand is clenched to the arm of the chair and his breathing becomes erratic as he’s about to blow his cover and march right up to this stage and punish me for my little show.
A part of me hopes he does and takes me to his sacred room, ties me up, and makes me beg for his touch.
I break our stare, sliding my body to the floor with my ass in the air, moving my hips side to side.
Rolling my chest on the ground, my legs move to the side.
In one movement, I bring myself in a split and bounce up and down.
My eyes roam the audience, noticing a guy perched up against a wall.
He’s dressed in a white suit, a small cross laying on top and his hair is slicked back with gel.
I take note of his stiff body and slight tremble in his hands.
“Gentleman on the east side wall in the white suit. Stiff, hands trembling, fighting to keep under control. He’s the only one I notice wearing a cross as if it’s going to protect him from all the dirty sins he’s witnessing,” I mumble low but enough for my earpiece to catch.
The feds may have their men, but mine are at every shadowed crevice. They’re like demons, watching, waiting for a soul to take.
“Got him. Don’t break character, keep going. Your man looks a little rough, though,” Samson teases.
“Good, payback for letting the little hoebag of a partner hang all over him,” I retort.
When I saw her hands on him, it took every ounce of willpower not to snap those fingers. She knew what she was doing.
“It’s literally part of their job tonight, darling. It’s an act. Don’t let your panties get stuck up your ass,” Antonio chimes in.
“Did someone tell her that?” God, this woman gets under my damn skin. I grab onto the pole, making my way up before twisting it so it's behind my shoulder and swing myself around it, swiftly moving into another position.
For a moment, I lose myself in the moment and forget about everyone around me.
I let my body take over as I swing out and the pole is between my legs as they are straightened out and I bend backwards letting my upper body bend backwards.
The next couple of movements on the pole happen in a blur, as if it knows what to do without asking.
Once I lower to the ground, I step from the stage and find a gentleman near Alaric and my hand brushes across his shoulders. I circle him until I'm right in front of him and bend forward, my chest sticking out and my mouth a breath from his.
“May I?” I whisper seductively. He shutters and nods his head quickly.
Running my hand down his chest, I twirl so my ass is facing him and lower myself into his lap.
I swear I hear a little growl to the left of me and I turn my head slightly as Alaric is about to launch from his seat but his partner has hold of his forearm whispering into his ear.
I smirk, taunting him and grinding into the willing participant below me.
Said person brings their hand to my waist as if he wants me to grind harder.
I leap out of his hold, slamming him back into his chair with my heeled foot.
I wag my finger at him right before security quickly closes in and removes him from his seat.
Tisk. Tisk. Should not have done that, buddy.
One of the rules here, no hands on the girls in that manner.
We don’t allow force upon them, no matter the temptation or how much your urges take over.
The song switches to Seduce by Russ and my body glides me over to the one person I should avoid.
Without thinking, I nudge Monroe to the side and bend over seductively, coming up slowly as my hands glide up his thighs.
He sucks in a breath at my touch, waiting for more.
I twirl around and lean backwards into him and roll my hips up in the air and back down, grazing his lap, face almost touching his.
“You have been very naughty, baby girl. What the hell are you up to?” he whispers in my ear. His warm breath grazes my neck.
“Are you going to punish me, sir?” I purr before moving into a different position to keep the show going and staying away from suspicion.
A zing-like feeling runs through my body, straight to my pussy. Such a simple thing causes the need for him to build.
“I’m going to do more than punish you. You’ll be on your knees begging once I’m done with you,” he promises.
I can feel the heat radiating from the two of us; no doubt others can see the chemistry if they look close enough. I need to move away from him before things escalate further. If I could, I would jump his bones, right here, right now.
"A lot of threats from someone who’s not in control right now.” I force myself away from him and move over to his partner.
Stepping around the couch, I bend over her shoulder, run my fingers up her arms causing goosebumps to rise.
“If you ever get close to him like that again, you better pray that we never cross paths alone.” My words are live venom, twisting and embedding into her veins. Before she can say anything in return, I move to other guests amongst the crowd before returning to the stage.
The man in white has moved to a different spot, trying to blend in more with the crowd, searching for something. His eyes dart to the exit points, above to the ceiling as if trying to look for cameras. I look away before he looks back towards my direction and I end my set.
Once back behind the stage, I’m greeted by Melodie with a robe and a bottle of water.
I give her a smile of gratitude and wrap myself up before taking a drink.
I forgot how taxing dancing could be on the body.
I nod my head, signaling her to follow, and we make our way into the elevator up to my office.
Once we reach the third level, we move to my office where Antonio and Larson are already waiting for me.
“I had no idea you could move like that, Celeste. You really played the part.” Larson looks up with eyebrows raised as I pass him towards the divider where I can change.
Melodie shuts the door and turns the blinds from the office so no one can peek in and presses a button on a remote to black out the windows so pedestrians can’t get a clear view of my ass while changing.
She plucks a bag that holds my change of clothes from behind a cabinet at my desk and brings it over to me.
“You were a little too close for comfort with the agent back there. What the hell was that, Celeste?” Antonio grumbles.
“Just needed to make a statement was all. I made my rounds around the room to make it less obvious. Chill,” I call out from behind the screen, peeling off my attire and tossing it to the side.
I slide my under-garments and leggings on with a tank and a loose hoodie.
Not something I would wear other than at home relaxing, but it’ll play the part for the end of the night shift.
I can’t leave the club in my attire from earlier as the dolled-up club owner.
I leave the wig on and twirl it into a clip.
Stepping around the screen, I sit in my seat behind my desk.
Larson twirls his laptop around so I can get a clear view of the feed.
The man that I spotted is in one of the divided shots.
He’s starting to get more agitated and he’s discreetly looking for anyone who may be watching him or catching on to who he is. So far, the agents have no clue who he is or they haven’t acted on it yet. We need to act before they do in order for our plan to work.
“Melodie, I want you to make sure the girls do not leave. If they aren’t performing, they’re in the changing room. They are to stay put until you’re given the all clear.” I give her orders, making sure she’s clear on the directions.
We want to make sure none of the girls become his next victim and get taken instead of me. We can’t afford a mishap.
“The girls are aware and we have additional security making sure they follow directions and no unauthorized person goes into that room. They’re too spooked anyways to leave without an escort.
Are you going to be okay? I’m worried for you, Celeste.
” She stares back at me with so much concern; it’s heart-warming how much she cares about me.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. My only concern right now is to get Samantha back safe. Whatever you see or hear, do not follow. The boys will take care of me. If the police or FBI ask questions, you know nothing. Understood?” I give her a knowing look.