Page 35 of Breaking the Limits

My head snaps back up and I study her to see if it’s some kind of joke. She doesn’t laugh, hell she doesn’t even crack a smile. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I got a job as a cocktail waitress at Red Hott,” she replies.

“That’s a joke, right?” Kynlee shakes her head. “Why the hell would you want to work at a strip club?”

“I need a job, Ace.”

I raise my eyebrows at her and let my fork fall from my hand. “I don’t think you need a job that badly. You don’t need a job so badly that you have to take a job at a strip club. You just want a job there.”

Kynlee rubs her forehead with her hands. “Ace, it’s not like that.”

“Really? It sure as hell seems like it,” I snap at her. I know I’m handling this all wrong but the idea of Kynlee working in a place like that makes my skin crawl. She is so much betterthan this and I can’t figure out why she can’t see that. I could understand her taking the job if she were in desperate need of one, but she still has some in her savings account, all of her bills are current and I can help her until she finds something better, there is no excuse for this choice.

“What do you want me to do Ace? I need a new agent and Red Hott is notorious for having some of Hollywood’s heavy hitters in it. This could help my career,” she says calmly.

A harsh laugh comes from my mouth. “I know what Red Hott is notorious for but baby doll let me tell you one thing. Hollywood heavy hitter or not they’re only in there for one thing. To get off on some naked girl or to get a piece of ass, it ain’t going to help your career one damn bit.” Kynlee glares at me and the fact that she’s mad at me right now pisses me off even more. “Is that what all this was about tonight? Practice for your new job,” I say sarcastically.

“Screw you Ace!” she says, as she gets up and storms to the bedroom.

“You’re going for employee of the month now baby doll,” I bite out while getting up from the table and pacing the length of the living room back and forth. Kynlee reappears dressed a few minutes later with her purse in her hands. Her brown eyes glare at me. “Where are you going?”

“To formally accept my new job. I wasn’t sure I was going to take it but now I am.” She steps around me and I grab her upper arm. “Let. Me. Go,” she says, through clenched teeth.

“Kynlee, you’re better than this. You have to know that. You’ll get another agent in time. This isn’t the only option,” I plead with her for a minute.

“Let go of me Ace.” I release her and watch as she opens the front door. My heart is pounding in my chest, words on the tip of my tongue when she turns back around and looks at me. “You know I thought you would be happy for me, maybe support methis time but obviously I was wrong. You’re still the same asshole as before. I’m done Ace, stay out of my life.” Kynlee turns around and leaves, slamming the door behind her. I stand in the middle of the apartment while her words leave me chilled to the bone.

Chapter 23

Kynlee

I was so upset by Ace that my hands were shaking. I could barely get my key in the Jeep door. How could he act like that? Once I was in the car, I turned up the music on the radio to drown out my screaming thoughts. I want to stay mad but a part of me feels like Ace is just trying to protect me. The two pieces of myself are pissing me off, conflicting me in what I feel for Ace. I pull into the parking lot of Red Hott and throw my Jeep into park, but I can’t make myself get out of the car.

Sitting there staring at the customers coming and going from Red Hott I feel the first ashamed thread in my body. Why did I want to work here? Ace had a point; I didn’t have to take this job. I was trying to justify it but really there was no justification. I want the attention, crave it, need it. I was taking this job because it would give me what I believed I needed. Ace is just trying to protect me. Yes, he’d gone about it the wrong way but I believe his heart is in the right place.

Sitting in the parking lot I let my tears come freely. I never get out of the Jeep instead once my eyes are dry, I pull out of the parking lot heading toward the beach. I just need to clear my head then I’ll go back and talk to Ace. We could both use the time to calm down and get our thoughts together.

The beach is vacant as I walk out and take a seat in the sand. I bury my toes in it. I don’t know what it is about a beach but it somehow always calms me down. It can settle my mind and soul which is exactly what I need right now. My mind is running a thousand thoughts a minute.

I’m sitting here thinking about how Ace seems to have two completely different sides when my phone starts ringing. I look at it and see its Enzo. Inwardly, I groan because he’s the last thing I want to deal with right now. He’s part of the reason I’min this whole mess. He’s relentless though because as soon as the phone call disconnects it starts ringing again. Finally, I answer the phone call. “Hello.”

“Good evening beautiful. Welcome back,” Enzo says.

I sigh heavily, “Stalk much?”

“Only a little,” he says with a chuckle.

“Look, I’m not really in the mood so why don’t you get to the point of why you’re stalking me,” I tell him, my tone much harsher than I had anticipated.

“Well, someone is in a mood that’s for sure. Why don’t you come join me, I’m sure we can…workthat mood right out of you,” Enzo says, dropping his tone a couple of notches. His voice doesn’t do anything for me though, not like Ace’s.

“Enzo, cut the shit. You’ve already messed up enough stuff in my life I don’t need any more right now.”

“Noted. I was actually calling concerning the shit I messed up. I think I have someone who is interested in being your new agent,” he explains.

I sit there stunned for a moment. “How did you know I lost my agent?”

“Remember, I’m stalking you.” A small laugh escapes Enzo but when I stay silent, he goes on to explain. “When I called to tell Mr. Sobolak that I wanted to replace you he mentioned that letting you go from the video would also result in him releasing you,” Enzo explains.

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