Chapter 6 Stephanie McCain.

Marcus flashed me a smug smile before releasing my hair. I hunched my head over my body for a moment as I caught my breath.

Marcus walked back towards the kitchen island and sat back down to eat his food again. I watched him under my lashes as I squeezed my jaw together.

How the fuck am I going to get anything in Hayden after Xavier threatened him?

Oh God.

I was about to burst into a heart wrenching sob because I didn't know if there was a way around this. And I know Marcus enough to know that he'd keep to his word. Boiling water isn't even as bad as some of the things he's threatened to do to me before. My knuckles and knees still remembered the feeling of crawling over shattered ceramics. It's a memory I'll never be able to shake. The pain stays with me everyday.

“Come eat, love.” He gestured at all the food sitting on the counter. “Don't want all these to go to waste.”

I stood in the same spot for a while but Marcus wasn't phased. He was more interested in the amount of food he could shove in his mouth.

I know I should eat something but I couldn't find the strength to stomach anything.

Hayden.

I needed to think of something. I have to earn his trust again even if he was touching me inappropriately in the club.

I never want to sleep with these men but I can't deny that it does get them to open up sometimes and I despise the fact that Marcus has basically turned me into a prostitute for his business inquiries.

He hasn't touched me since he started pimping me out, making it clear that he'd never come anywhere near me if I was out fucking different men that he doesn't trust, notwithstanding that he sends me out to these men.

But I always made sure a condom was involved, always.

I leaned over the counter and grabbed a croissant before pulling it apart with my fingers. Marcus was too engrossed in his phone to look at me but in my mind, I was already thinking of yet another million different ways to kill him, since going to the police was no longer an option.

My eyes flicked to the kitchen counters. Everything was locked so I couldn't access the knives, scissors, or any sharp object I could use to hurt him, his workers or even myself.

Some days, I still can't believe that this was my life. That the man I once called the love of my life was now my greatest enemy.

Some days, I wondered what it was like to be dead instead.

Xavier Othello.

There are only so many pictures of Athena and Enzo on the beach that I could take.

I've been so focused on taking care of my empire that even in my spare time, I still try my hardest to keep myself busy because the house is ever so quiet since Athena left.

So I decided to head over to Jake's club. With new business ideas to share with him, I might as well mix business with pleasure for the time being. At least it was better than sitting indoors and masturbating into oblivion because there's genuinely nothing else to do.

That's how sad my life is.

Seeing Enzo with my sister spikes up the curiosity of having a relationship of my own but a part of me knows that I barely have any time to sit down as it is. Quick one night stands are going to have to do for the foreseeable future.

As I head into Jake's club at about eleven o’ clock at night, I'm swept upstairs to the VIP section immediately. My eyes glanced over the room. It's a lot busier than most nights but that's certainly a good thing.

I spot Jake standing at the bar and talking to a man I didn't recognize. I made an instant beeline to him, greeting him along with his company. “Finally needed a night out, huh?” He joked.

I chuckled. “You could say that.” I said as I straightened out my jacket. “Thought we could discuss a thing or two. I've been coming up with some ideas.”

Jake hummed. “Had a lot of time to think?”

I scoffed and nodded. “Being alone at the house does that to you. But this will benefit us in the long run as it would put us in profits."

We grabbed a drink from the bar while Jake explained the new upgrade he was planning on creating for the club. He was always looking out for ways to make this place better even if he opened the club just a couple of months ago.

One thing I know about Jake is that he was such a perfectionist.

My eyes glanced over the upstairs section, floating past women in little cocktail dresses and heels, men in suits drinking the finest and most expensive champagne. Until I saw a flash of long blond hair. I could recognize that color from anywhere.

I raised my glass to my mouth as I flicked my eyes to the man standing right beside her. He has a hand latched onto her waist, towering over her as he grins in the most predatory way.

My jaw began to tense when I looked at Stephanie again. It was obvious she was uncomfortable even though her facial expression was saying otherwise. She was beaming at him, nodding when he spoke and staring dreamily into his eyes.

But I could see past all that bullshit. Behind her eyes were a wall of strain and resistance.

It's more than obvious that she doesn't want to be standing right next to that guy, so why was she?

I cleared my throat and glanced at Jake. “Does she come here often?”

Jake swallowed his drink and then followed my eyesight. “Oh.” He hummed. “Yeah… sometimes. Actually, she's here quite a lot.”

“Always talking to a new man?”

He turned to me with a playful smirk on his face. “Jealous?”

I scowl at his words. “No. I'm just trying to figure her out. She's Athena's friend and I need to know what's up with her.”

“Beats me.” He sighed. “She comes in, gets a drink and lets men swoon all over her. Who knows, maybe that's what she enjoys. Like a pastime, you know. We men like a good fuck. Why can't women too?”

Because she's not fucking comfortable. Why on earth would she be doing something she so clearly despises? Or maybe I just don't know her at all.

I shouldn't even be invested but with suspicious behavior like that, it makes me concerned especially since she's Athena's friend.

“Last time I was here, I had to literally drag a man off of her.” I said.

My eyes remained glued to Stephanie's face as she stared up at this man. I glanced down at her throat. It clenched and wobbled for a second. Another fake smile. I might be over analyzing but it was all clear as day to me.

“Who?” Jake's voice snapped my head away from Stephanie's direction.

“Some asshole.” I grunted. “She was telling him to stop. He wouldn't so I yanked him straight off her. He's probably in his fifties, grey hair. I've seen him before but I have no idea who he is.”

Jake nodded at me before draining his drink. “Well, if you ever see him again, let me know and I'll revoke his membership. I'm not standing for that sort of behavior in my club.”

“Gladly.” I nodded.

He patted my arms as he nodded at someone from across the room. “Come see me in my office in about forty minutes. I've got something I need to take care of first.”

“Alright.” I said as he walked away.

When I took in Stephanie's face again, she was attempting to distance herself from the man in front of her. She pushed him away gently but he stepped forward again. My fingers tightened around the glass and I was so ready to pounce when she shook her head and the man paused.

She walked across the room to the other end and waited at the bar. I shouldn't have looked but I got a glimpse of her perfectly rounded ass in that tight black dress and heels that made her legs look never ending.

I groaned to myself, finishing my drink before slamming the empty glass on the bar. I'm walking straight towards her because I couldn't help my curiosity. There's something about her that wasn't adding up in my head and I'm desperate to find out what.

When I approached her side, I pretended to not see her as I rested at the bar. I could feel her stare on my back and I'd bet a whole load of money that she's scowling right now.

“Are you stalking me?”

I twisted my body to face her and looked down. I was right. I'd be richer than I already am.

Her eyes flicked between mine slowly and I tilted my head. “Just doing business…..” I trailed off. “Looks like you are too.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”