Page 61 of Highest Bidder

Oooh, that’d be fun. Watching Jeff get tossed out on his ass by the meatheads working security in the yellow shirts wearing earpieces.

Still, I’d have a hard time explaining how Jeff had hassled me when he hadn’t even talked to me.

“Hey, Frank. No, nothing like that. I just need some water.”

The music kept going, girls paraded onto the stage and performed while men ogled them. In other words, the world kept turning. Meanwhile, I felt like it’d stopped.

I’d just finished my water when I saw Jeff come out from behind the curtain, zipping up his pants, and looking around. I knew exactly what—or rather, who—he was looking for.

Me.

His eyes finally found mine, and he patted Sapphire’s ass when she walked past him, then glanced back to make sure I was still watching. He smirked when he saw I had been.

I didn’t break eye contact as I reached up to my throat, unclasped the collar, slid it off my neck, and held it up for him to see it dangling from my fingertips.

I glared at him as if to say,You wanted a performance? Here’s your fucking encore, prick.

I closed my hand around it, then I turned on the ball of my foot and walked backstage with my head held high.

At least until I reached the dressing room.

That’s where I burst into tears.

I didn’t bother to change, just threw a sweatshirt on over my head with pasties still on my tits and wriggled into my jeans over my G-string. I grabbed my bag and pulled on my coat before heading out the back door to the employee parking lot.

I watched in the dark from the driver’s seat of my Malibu, with tears still streaming down my face, as he slid behind the wheel of his Porsche and drove off like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Only then did I start my car and head toward Kit’s apartment.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vivian

Kit took one look at my face when she answered the door and just stepped aside to let me pass, then wrapped her arms around me and didn’t let go.

“That fucker’s going to get the most watered-down drinks from now on,” she promised. “From everyone. I’ll spread the word.”

I laughed through my tears. It wasn’t really much of a consolation since it meant he’d be back at the club.

“You can hide out here as long as you need to, babe. I’ve got your back.”

~~~~

When my phone buzzed with a text on Friday at precisely five p.m., I knew exactly who it was.

Jeff: The driver is waiting. Don’t make me tell him to leave.

Was he fucking for real?

Did he actually think I’d go to his house after what he did to me atmyclub? I hadn’t been able to figure out how he knew I’d be there. Hell, maybe he hadn’t known, and he’d gone there for entertainment. Seeing me had just been a coincidence.

Yet somehow, I was the bad guy.

Fuck him.

Me: You probably should since I’m not home.

I flipped my phone face down on the coffee table and kept folding Kit’s laundry. I wasn’t going. And I wasn’t explaining myself either.

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