When I applied, they said I’d be a waitress in the probation period. I might be promoted to an escort if I do well. I’ll make sure I’m accepted but I won’t do well enough to be promoted.
I take the stairs where the guard has directed me. I’m to see the madam before getting started.
There’s a commotion as soon as I reach the second floor.
The woman from last night, Mist, the madam of Le Salon, is twisting a man’s arm and locking it behind his back. He wears an expensive suit and appears mid-age. His face is reddening while hers is completely serene as if she’s dealing with a child.
Beside her, a darker-skinned woman in a beautiful tulle gown sniffles and half-hides behind Mist.
The madam hisses something in the man’s ear and his face turns ten shades redder. She lets him go and says in a cool tone, “One more strike and you’ll be banned from Le Salon, Mr Jacobs.”
He stumbles away, massaging his wrist.
Whoa. That’s so cool. I don’t care if she’s the madam or the leader of an illegal organisation, but if she protects the girls then she’s a hero.
Having grown up in the dirtiest of places, Elle and I are no strangers to the scene of madams and prostitutes, but they usually treat their girls as a business, nothing more.
Mist’s hawk eyes zero on me and their deep hazel is striking against the crimson red hair. “Yes?”
I straighten my posture. “I’m Zoe and I’m to start working today.”
I thought about using another name, but that will give me away for sure since I don’t respond to other names. However, I changed my last name and got a fake ID to go with it. Liam managed to hide my police track records, so they shouldn’t find anything suspicious. I’m only an orphan who bounced from one foster home to another.
“Right.” Mist measures me up and down. “Natalie was supposed to take you on a tour.” She faces the still crying girl — who I assume is Natalie — and her tone softens. “You can take the night off.”
Natalie sniffles and shakes her head. “I’ll be fine. I’ll freshen up and then return.”
She walks to the stairs that must lead to the third floor.
Mist keeps watching Natalie until the girl disappears upstairs. She faces me and gives one hard, but not harsh, look over. “You can wait for her downstairs.”
Then she disappears behind a door.
I go back to the Victorian-styled bar and slide onto one of the stools. Partying isn’t new to me. It made me forget things. Elle has always been an unwilling accomplice and barely went with me, though.
Le Salon is a million times different from my usual clubs. It’s elegant and the men here are groomed and put together. I prefer someone ruggedly handsome like that boxer from yesterday.
I shake my head. While I like his looks, his darkness and arrogance are a major turnoff and he brings serious flashbacks from the monster in my childhood.
Besides, I was out of that game since my freshman year when my then boyfriend Nick told me I’m not normal. I’d rather stay celibate than be judged for my preferences.
You’re fucked up, Zoe. You should do some counselling. No woman in her right mind would want that.
Sometimes, I can’t help thinking he’s right.
I push the haze away and order a martini — only because they don’t have coffee here unlike they do in pubs. Coffee relaxes me more than alcohol.
I take my first sip when heat radiates down my back. Warm breaths tickle my ear before a dark voice murmurs, “Stalking me, beautiful?”
Chapter Four
I never thought trouble would come to find me. I’m the one who crashes into it head first.
But here she is. Right under my fucking roof.
The woman who almost made my guard impotent is staring at me with huge green eyes. I would’ve called them jade or emerald or some fucking cliché, but they’re not. It’s like they didn’t know whether to be blue or green and settled on an imperfect, nagging colour I can’t even describe.
Fucking annoying.
I can, however, imagine those same eyes staring up at me while little miss trouble has those full red lips wrapped around my cock.
Only… the headache isn’t worth it.
From that encounter yesterday, it’s clear that she has an attitude that doesn’t interest me. I prefer my women bound and fucking silent. Unless they’re screaming.
And yet…
My gaze rakes over her. The tight dress – that would look better