Chapter 2

　　JANICE

　　Aiden Grant, for one thing, had the decency to look away after some time. He never used to care about me whenever I came to visit his daughter, Mila. The last time I saw him was that damned night three years ago, and honestly, he had become way hotter than the cameras captured.

　　As I continued to stare at them like some creep, I saw Calder lean in to whisper something in Aiden's ear. Their eyes remained fixed on me. Lucian's lips thin into a smirk as he speaks to Aiden, who was staring at me again. He narrowed his eyes on me, causing me to turn around instantly.

　　What were they doing here?The question echoed in my mind, but it didn't matter.

　　I needed to leave.

　　Now.

　　I angled myself toward the back exit. I could slip out and no one would notice. It wouldn't be hard, since the place was crowded and chaotic.

　　"Hey."

　　Shit.

　　A hand tapped my shoulder lightly, causing me to turn, only to find a waitress standing there, with a blank expression on her face.

　　"They're asking for you."

　　My stomach twisted. "I—I think you've got the wrong person," I said quickly.

　　The waitress didn't even blink. "VIP table," she said simply, tilting her head slightly. "Now."

　　I could still leave this place, and go back to my sister. There would surely be another way. But what would Val say when she learned I left her gig before her time was up, after I barely made anything?

　　"Fine."

　　I thanked the waitress and walked towards them. The way their eyes wandered from my face to my chest to my waist and then to my thighs was enough to make me squirm.

　　What was going through their minds?

　　Aiden sat in the center, like he naturally belonged there, like everything around him bent just slightly to accommodate his presence. There was simply nothing casual about the man.

　　"Well, hello there, darling," Calder leaned back, one arm draped over the back of the seat. His eyes dropped to my exposed cleavage, and it remained there. He didn't even have the decency to not shamelessly check me out, while I was standing right there.

　　"Never expected to see you in a place like this," Aiden took a sip of his drink. "Doesn't seem like your style. How long has it been since I saw you last?"

　　"Three years," I replied. "Give or take."

　　"And you ended up in a strip club at the end of it."

　　Before I could respond to that, Calder cleared his throat softly, causing Aiden to pause. It was almost like he had forgotten something.

　　"I'm pretty sure you know them," He gestured lazily to the men sitting on either side of him. "But if you don't, Calder Vaughn," The one at the right. "And Lucian Graves." Left. "She is Janice Cross."

　　Calder leaned forward slightly, dragging his gaze over me again in a way that made my skin crawl. "Since we are acquainted," he started, voice laced with something dangerously close to amusement, "let's not waste time."

　　"What?" His lips curved. "Your rate, darling."

　　For some reason, the words didn't register at first. It just floated between us, meaningless.

　　"My… what?"Aiden exhaled softly, like he was mildly inconvenienced. "Your rate, Janice," he repeated, slower this time.

　　The nerve of these assholes!!

　　Heat rushed up my face. "No. I'm not…" I swallowed. "I'm not a whore." A flicker of something passed through Calder's eyes. Interest? Amusement?

　　"Pity," he said lightly. "You've got the figure for it. I would certainly give something just to have you bent over this table…"

　　"Find us," Lucian's baritone voice cut in, ending the rest of what Calder had to say. It was the first time he had spoken. "When you are."

　　"When I'm what?" I snapped.

　　He shrugged. "Willing to offer a price."

　　There was something about the way he said the words that made my stomach tighten a bit. It couldn't be desire. Sure, the men radiated sexiness, and any woman in my position wouldn't have hesitated to offer a price. I just… I just couldn't do it.

　　I straightened my shoulders, and kept my head up. "You don't have to worry about me. I won't."

　　Then I turned and walked away.

　　The music hit me again the second I stepped back onto the stage. It sounded louder for some reason, like it was mocking me. My movements were sharper this time, less hesitant.

　　If they were going to look… if everyone was going to look, then I had to give them something to see.

　　I moved my body with more force, eyes shut with just the music to guide me. I could do this. I would make the money I needed without violating my body even…

　　SMACK

　　"Agghh," I yelped, freezing as the sensation of someone smacking my ass ran through my body. It burned. For a split second, something wild surged up my spine.

　　I wanted to turn, and lash out. To…

　　I couldn't find it in me to carry out that plan, because at the end of the day, I needed the money, and I didn't want to be the one to cause Val problems. What on earth was I going to tell her if they threw me out of the club because I decided to fight someone just because he smacked my ass?

　　Nothing.

　　By the end of the night, I felt hollow. Not tired, or even upset. Just… empty. I stood in the corner, counting.

　　Again.

　　And again.

　　And again.

　　It didn't change.

　　"Just five hundred," My vision blurred slightly as I stared at the cash. "This is the amount Val is expecting from me."

　　It was barely enough to cover the expenses waiting for me. I could see Nancy's face as she smiled at me, all groggy from sleep. She needed me to do whatever it takes to make sure she is alright again.

　　When I got back to the club, I headed straight to the VIP section, only to find it empty. This could not be happening.

　　No.

　　No, no, no…

　　I turned sharply, scanning the room. They were gone. Panic rose up my throat, threatening to strangle me. I moved quickly, pushing through people, and ignoring the looks they gave to me in return.

　　I needed to get out.

　　The cool night air hit my skin like a shock as I stepped outside into the parking lot, eyes darting around… and I saw them. They were walking towards a sleek back car.

　　"Wait!" I hurried toward them.

　　They stopped and turned around slowly.

　　By the time I got to them, it took me a second to speak. I couldn't think… couldn't even breathe.

　　"You didn't have to run, darling," Calder grinned.

　　"Do you have your rate ready now?" Aiden asked, eyes twinkling a bit as he closed the distance between us. He was way taller than me. The tabloids said he was about six feet two inches, but I had a feeling that stat was not correct. "This better not be some ploy for something else, Janice."

　　"Come on, darling. Don't keep us waiting," Calder came to the other side of me, his right hand circling my waist before resting right on top of my abdomen.

　　Before I knew it, I was surrounded by all three of them.

　　They were sexy and powerful. Women would kill for a chance like this, and here it was, offered to me on a platter of gold. Would it really be so bad?

　　"Five thousand," I blurted out. "For just one night with one of you."

　　Calder chuckled, his hand raising till they were dangerously close to my side boobs that peaked out of the bra-like-shirt Val had given to me. "We don't fuck individually, darling. So it is either all of us, or none."

　　"What do you want, Janice?"

　　Nancy's face came to me once again, all smiles and giggles as we walked into the park. My throat tightened a bit. This wasn't who I was. I didn't know the person who spoke the next words.

　　"One night," I started quietly, "With all three of you."