“Let me show you your new workplace.”
ChapterThree
CHLOE
The rain has stopped as Zeus holds the door of the car open. I stop for a moment, unable to process what’s just happened. On an ordinary evening, I’d be taking dinner orders, and rushing in and out of the kitchen, the smell of whatever Dylan’s cooking heavy in the air.
Instead Zeus Marchetti is back in my life. Bossing me around like he owns me, despite leaving Darlinton and disappearing from my life. He kept in vague touch with Dylan, but even Dylan hadn’t heard from him in a couple of years. I haven’t forgiven him for that.
But that familiar heat between my legs that starts whenever he’s close to me overrides my anger. If I thought I had a crush on him before, I’m overwhelmed by him now. His enormous frame, huge hands, tattooed arms and tailored suit give him a power that suggests he’s grown up, fast. The way the people around him jump to do his bidding suggests he’s used to getting what he wants.
It’s also annoying.
I cross my arms and look up at him. “First I’m dancing at the Grind, now you’re my new boss? Don’t I get a say?”
Zeus stares down at me, then raises his voice. “I don’t have time for this and we shouldn’t linger out here on the street. Get inside, Chloe.”
I shake my head. “I want to know what the hell is going on. Why did you give Mitchell so much money? And he was wrong about how much he loaned Dylan. It was one hundred thousand.”
Zeus' tone is clipped. “I’m sure that’s what your brother told you.Get outof the car.”
I close my eyes. He’s not giving me any answers; still as infuriating as ever.
I blink my eyes open as I’m lifted from the seat of the car and thrown over Zeus’s shoulder, my legs flailing. His arm is like a vice across the back of my thighs.
“Put me down–” My cheeks are heated, imagining my panties on display to the whole street in this stupid dress. His hand reaches up and smoothes my dress back down and he chuckles.
“If you’d done what I told you, we wouldn’t be in this position. Not that I’m complaining, of course.”
The world is at a weird angle as he kicks the door of the car shut and carries me into the club. I can’t imagine a more embarrassing way to enter a nightclub, but he seems to be taking it in his stride. The fabric of his jacket brushes my nose and a mix of woody aftershave and his own incomparable musky scent rises up. My nipples harden and another wave of shame washes over me. One touch from him and I’m lost, deep in my familiar fantasies, where those big hands are exploring every inch of my body.
He carries me down some stairs, then up some more stairs and over to a raised booth. The interior of the club is all polished mahogany with deep red lighting, miles away from the disco lights and stale alcohol smell of the Grind.
“Stay here.” Zeus doesn’t give me time to object. He turns and leaves me with the driver of the car standing to one side, obviously to keep an eye on me. The driver’s face is impassive. He probably sees Zeus carrying flushed girls into his club all the time. He leans down. “I’m Noah, can I get you a drink while we wait for Mr.Marchetti?”
“Um, a glass of white wine? Thank you.”
Noah gestures to a woman in a short, sequined black dress, who smiles as she takes the order.
My phone vibrates. There are multiple texts from my brother, telling me to call him as soon as I get his message. Another one comes through as I’m scrolling through.
Dylan: I’m so sorry, Chloe. I’ll get us out of this mess. Just tell me you’re ok?
Chloe: I’m fine, can’t speak now. Zeus showed up, Mitchell seemed to know him. He’s going to come see you tomorrow.
Dylan: Zeus? What was he doing there?
I pause for a second. Dylan would go crazy if he knew I was dancing in Zeus’s club. Back in Darlinton, he caught me staring at Zeus once and told me later in no uncertain terms that I could never date him. He was convinced Zeus was too much of a bad boy, great as a friend but no way was he ever going near his sister.
I make a snap decision. Dylan hadn’t told me about his deal with Mitchell, or how much he borrowed, so he doesn’t need to know where I’m working. He’s going to try and boss me around, and I’ve had enough of him treating me like his baby sister. If I’m to be the collateral in this stupid deal, I’d rather belong to Zeus than Mitchell.
Chloe: Not sure. It’s fine. He said hi. Got to get back to work, I’ll text you later.
The waitress comes back with a bottle of Chablis and a glass. The wine is ice-cold and I drink a glass way too quickly, then pour another. The weirdness of today is starting to catch up with me and I’m shaky. Am I in danger? From Mitchell? Or Zeus? I can’t even tell anymore.
Zeus comes back, walking through the dancers on the floor. People look up as he passes. As he nears the booth, two women stand in his path. They both look like models with their expensively blow-dried swishy hair and even more expensive designer bags. One of them reaches up and tries to brush some imaginary dust off his shoulder, but he moves before she can touch him.
If I was out of place at the Grind, I’m a thousand times more of an outsider here. Zeus, on the other hand, with his tailored suit, height, and presence, fits in effortlessly. It’s just like being back at high school again. I take another gulp of wine, relishing the warmth as the alcohol hits my stomach, my shoulders beginning to relax a little.
