LOVE IN THE SHADOWS..

he man was dressed in a sharp suit, but it was all black this time. Black button-down shirt, black jacket, and

d with mine across the room. I hurriedly turned to Matteo

d up. Two sparkling sneakers stopped immediately beside me, forcing me to look up from my hands on

d chest, and his face...just everything about his face. I've always thought that his eyes were intriguing and gloomy. Both

e internal sensations I wasn't used to. Like walking sex, he was. That's how I've never before described so

irst time it had been given to me. Matteo stood up after tapping the table. "I'll let you handle it.

ting comfortably. His legs were spread wide. Even though I couldn't see much of it from under the table, I co

feel. My heart can't be beating this quickly if it's not healthy. He raised his thumb to his bo

or this. I'm not going to have time for it. I paused, letting him finish, "I did...a gentlemen's club is.

lt. He licked his lips and then turned to face me again. All he replied was, "I see." I started to f

g wrong with my life at the t

us night and haven't had anything today. And I'll have to return home after trying to live independently. Brian isn't helping me, so I'm now living with strangers. I also

to mist over, and a few drops fell on my warm cheeks from the embarrassment.

e, which further increased my an

g to dump-" I didn't get a chance to finish my apology before he suddenly sat u

ole sob story? I shook my head no as I looked down at my lap. Only because his ang

attention, he started speaking to him in rapid-fire Italian. The

sure about whether or not to inform him. Asking someone how much they

bundle of cash. He counted a few banknotes before placing $500 on the table before me. My head jerked over to him as my eyes w

sizable number of bills. His gentle

a mugging? He made fun of me. I shook my head no but afterward realized that

'll start working for me tomorrow, and we'll figure out the money. However, I

t his cash back in his pocket and sat down, acting as if he hadn't just dropped $500 on my lap li

n front of me. Leonard was looking at the man and nodded to him when I quickly turned to gaze in

, and I could not continue resisting. I felt dizzy from all my walking today and the lack of food

There, we'll talk about business, he said gravel

latively unassuming exterior. It was a rectangular brick building with tall double doors framed in thick black, so it a

him. He glanced at the letters

ulled out a key and opened the tall doors. He opened one and motioned for me to go inside first. The establishment is not yet open. It is more of a

nd elegant vibe offset the mood. Just as he had prom

ish colors with monochromatic accents. Each place in this monochromatic r

stage, where the patrons are the center of attention. With the lights

nd ottoman-upholstered chairs, viewers can conceal themselves on the VIP's dark side. Contrastingly, the tabletop be

ures white flooring with mirrored ceilings and side paneling positioned strategically

as in the room's very center when I found another chamber hidden from the main floor when I was giv

or the male audience to admire

hite leather curved sectionals, a brilliant white fringed light wa

was done, he took me to the back room, where the dancers' dressing rooms were. This room was a gia

ice. It's subtle white, gray, and marina blue accents made me think of Leonard's eyes, but it was

l to the right. There were cupboards on the left where they kept their business documents. A chrome laptop and

l standing in the doorway arch with his hands in his slack pockets, straight