then took the elevator with Kai who was scrolling through his phone. We arrived at my penthouse. It was a modern, elegant bachelor pad that hadn’t seen the touch of a woman—yet. My urge to find a more permanent solution to my relationship problem had only intensified in the past year.
As I took off my coat and placed it in the walk-in wardrobe, Kai walked up behind me with his eyes lit up. “I may have found something, Sir. It’s called Le Cabaret and it’s on Berwick Street in Soho.”
“Get me the VIP booth,” I told him firmly as I regarded my reflection in the mirror.
My face stared back at me from the mirror. I looked younger than my thirty-eight years, but the silver hairs in my inky black hairstyle didn’t lie. I worked hard on my body, long hours exercising making me lean and muscular. The shadow of stubble was ever-present on my chiseled jaw.
I was going to turn thirty-nine soon. Too old for this.
“And make sure I won’t be bothered. By anyone.”
“Of course, Sir. Are you taking a guard with you?”
I contemplated his words before shaking my head. “No, not tonight, Kai. But I want a woman with me. Find me a date?”
“Of course, Sir.”
He withdrew from the room. I knew my answer hadn’t pleased him—Kai was always irrationally worried someone would realize who I was and try to force some cash out of me. But I was more worried about putting out shady business partners than some random junkie in Soho’s back alley. Besides, I could defend myself perfectly well. I’d only been made into a fool once. At the thought, my hands formed fists at my sides.
I couldn’t think about that failure now. I had a night at the burlesque show to get ready for. And I had a good feeling about Le Cabaret.
***
My date for the night was a gorgeous twenty-something socialite by the name of Addison Meyer.
She was a stunning chocolate-haired and green-eyed beauty I wanted to fucking devour, but I knew she was not kinky within ten minutes of our first conversation. I cursed inwardly as I led her to the car. She wouldn’t like where our first date was happening one bit. Usually, it would have made me excited to push a woman’s limits, but this one was barely a woman. She was still a girl—an innocent, darling girl who would make someone very happy one day, but that man would not be me.
As Addison chatted about her heiress lifestyle, I stared out of the window, already bored. She seemed to sense my mood and shut up. She’d seemed thrilled to be out with me at first. I supposed being pranced around town with London’s most eligible, dangerous bachelor was quite the feat. But as we pulled up in front of Le Cabaret, her eyes widened, and I could tell our destination was not a pleasurable surprise.
“Is this where we’re going?”
“Yes.” I left no room for her arguments, gallantly escorting her out of the car and into Le Cabaret. It wasn’t the classiest of establishments, but I had a feeling Kai had sent me there for a reason.
We walked inside with our arms linked, and Addison visibly recoiled when we sat down in the VIP booth. She wore a look of disapproval as we settled down and I ordered us their finest bottle of champagne. I saw the bartender wipe the thing down before they brought it over in an ice bucket, probably to remove the dust it had been gathering in their bar for years.
A staff member popped the champagne for us, and a waitress scantily clad in a thong and nipple tassels poured me a glass to sample. I nodded my approval though the drink wasn’t up to my standards. But I had a feeling I wouldn’t get anything better. This place was a dump.
While Addison stewed in her own fury, I watched the woman moving on the stage before us. Her tits were out, pretty pink rosebuds enticing the patrons of Le Cabaret to stuff their money into her thong. I wasn’t impressed. Yes, the girl was pretty, but I wanted something more. I wanted someone that would take my breath away. And I wasn’t sure whether Le Cabaret could offer someone like that. It was subpar for the time being. I wasn’t easily impressed.
The music changed and the woman left the stage while the crowd demanded more. I shifted my attention to Addison, who was busy scrolling through