Example-I hope you have the decency to keep your mask on the entire time.
Not asked. Not invited.Requested—as if I had no choice. Clearly, he was used to people simply following his demands, no questions asked.
Fuck that guy and his god complex.
I set my phone back down and stretched my legs out from underneath me. Placing my feet on the cold floor, I pushed down into my heels and raised my arms, stretching out the stiffness in my back. The hard wood beneath me was stable and real—unlike whatever fantasy world he seemed to live in.
I was ashamed to admit that for the briefest moment, I was actually excited to see the email come through. That initial reaction suddenly felt like a traitorous emotion, and I scolded that part of myself as I weighed the options of accepting his offer. The whole event intrigued me for multiple reasons. Not only was it an exclusive event, but I liked the environment, and I knew it would be a good payoff for me in the end.
I reached for my mascara as I felt my jaw clench. Regardless of my interest, the email hadn’t asked if I was available, it hadn’t even asked if Iwantedto participate. I curled my lashes and blinked a few times in the mirror before moving the small brush to my left eye.
I hated that man, and I knew for a fact that in his twisted mind, he saw no reason I wouldn’t be there. The most annoying part was that he wasn’t wrong, which made me hate him even more.
Straightening in the mirror, I ran my fingers through the curls I’d just put in my hair. I then stood and crossed the room to my closet to find my outfit for the day. Hangers scraped against the wooden rod as I searched for something that fit my mood for my shift. I pulled out a black top and paused with it inmy hand.Black. The color of his club walls, which meant that would probably be one of the colors of his masquerade.
Ugh.
Lowering the shirt, I sighed. If I was being honest, it would be stupid to not take the job, especially forthatkind of money. If I could focus on something other than my growing hatred for the owner, I could probably let myself get excited. Maybe I wouldn’t have to deal withhimto get the job done, or at all, for that matter. I clung to that thought as I dressed quickly, pulling the shirt over my head and tugging my jeans up with sharp movements.
“You look like death.”
I jumped from Kinsley's voice, the one that came from my doorway, where she stood staring at me with her arms crossed. Her blonde hair was twisted into a lazy topknot that somehow still looked runway-ready. Silk pajamas clung to her body, and two green gel pads sat perfectly under her eyes.
“Any word from the demon boys?”
A small sound escaped my throat, something between a laugh and a scoff. “They want me to come back.”
Raising one eyebrow at me, she pulled herself off the doorframe and stepped into my room toward my bed. “Just wait until Kolby finds out. You know he thinks you belong to him.” With a dramatic sigh, she flopped onto the edge of my purple comforter. “The electricity bill is due today, and it's your turn to pay. You still good with that?”
“Yeah. With the money from the club, I'll be good for twomonths.”
At the mention of the club, she shot upright like she’d been electrocuted. “Oh no, absolutely not. I can just use my trust fund. There is no way you are paying with cash from the demons and their—what did you call it? The den of sex and assholes?”
I snorted as I packed up my make-up, realizing she actuallyhadbeen listening to me that night. “Yup, pretty much.”
Her questions about the club had been pretty direct, and I answered most of them, but we really hadn't talked since.
“I just don’t understand why that place would even exist, Ember.”
That made sense.Kinsley wasn’t exactlythattype of person—more so the hopeless romantic, with the meet-cute in a coffee shop. “You don’t have to understand it.”
She wrinkled her nose like the mere thought of the club offended her whole existence. “I don't like it.”
I turned slightly and gave her a small smile. “You don’t have tolikeit either.”
“No, I don’t accept that. I’m taking care of the bill.” She leaned forward, resting her hand on my shoulder. “You know it won’t even make a dent in the account. That way, you don't have to go back—”
Before she could continue, another presence appeared in my doorway.
“Ugh. What do you want?” Kinsley deadpanned, staring at her brother, who now stood in the same spot she had momentsbefore.
Kolby didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, he nodded in my direction as he strolled in with his usual grin and tousled blond hair. As he reached the bed, he pushed her legs over to create space for himself. “Notyou.”
I rolled my eyes at him before clearing the rest of my vanity.
Giving me a lopsided smirk, he threw himself onto my bed beside Kinsley, shoving the pillows on the floor like he owned the place. “She probably wouldn’t have bothered you if I had been in your bed this morning.”
“Kolby—” I scoffed, making eye-contact with him through the mirror.
