Chapter 7

~ELYSIA~

With Alex's words, I came to my senses. I'd been seduced by my surroundings, by the power dynamics. By the raw, unbridled passion that hung in the air. I also knew this was just the tip of the iceberg…that there was so much more to come. And though I didn't know positively what Alex's plans were for me, I had my suspicions. But I was nobody's plaything. I'd agreed to work in the club for my freedom, but I'd never agreed to become a submissive; hell, I didn't even know if I had a submissive bone in my body.

As we left the room, I felt my rebellious nature return. It had been buried beneath the sheer dominance of the man before me, the threat he held over my head.

With a glance back at the couple on the bed, their limbs tangled in the aftermath of their passionate dance, I realized they were lost in their own world, oblivious to the girl who had just watched them. And for the first time since Alex had proposed that I work for him, defiance began thrumming through my veins. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew one thing for damn sure, I wasn't going to be anyone's plaything.

Seconds later, as we walked back to the main area of the club, my thoughts raced. How far was I willing to go to gain my freedom? Was I willing to lose what little bit of morality I had left?

Alex noticed my silence, his eyes searching my face. "You okay?" he asked. 

His voice had emerged, low deep…seductive, and damn my traitorous hide, IIt took every thing I had to lie and not give into the need cruising through my female parts. "Just... taking it all in," I breathed. Was I okay? Hell no, I wasn’t okay, but I would be.

Without pushing any further, Alex nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turned away. I knew he didn't believe me. I knew he could see the turmoil in my eyes, the defiance in my posture. And I knew as well, this was just the beginning. The battle for my soul was about to begin.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur, and I watched the scenes unfolding around me, my mind raced with questions and fears. Could I ever truly be a part of this world?

As I served drinks and mingled with the guests, I felt the weight of my questions pressing down on me. I needed to find a way to maintain my independence, my sense of self, in a place where those things were often traded for a fleeting taste of power. And, in time, I would.

I caught glimpses of myself in the mirrors that lined the walls, my reflection didn't show any of the uncertainty, nor of the woman I'd been before all of this had begun. Instead, the woman in the mirrors looked confident and alluring. A sense of defiance burning within her eyes.

Later, as the club's activities reached their peak, and the air grew thick with the scent of sex and sweat, I made my decision. I would become the ultimate master of my own fate. I would work within the club, pay off my debt, then get the hell out of here. I was not hostess material.

Alex noticed the shift in my demeanor, his eyes narrowing slightly. He knew something was up. "Elysia, come with me." His voice was firm, brooking no argument.

He led me to a private office. The walls were lined with books and artifacts that whispered of his wealth and the dark secrets of his world. He sat behind a desk that looked like it had seen more than its fair share of power plays.

"You've decided where you fit into all of this," Alex said, his eyes piercing through me knowingly. "You're not a submissive, and you know it. But I see something else in you, a spark of rebellion that could make you a force to be reckoned with in this world."