Entwined With The Devil

ia's

t another night. I did my best to maintain eye contact with the men in the audience, my gaze flicking from one face to another. They wanted to feel seen, like I was dancing just for them. The usual

irs for the night, and I pretended I cared about more than their money. It was always the same, the eager requests for private dances, th

ines I wouldn't cross. Not that it mattered to them. To these men, I was jolie, the faceless stripper who ruled the night in New York. Beautiful, confident, dangerous. The kind of w

hat, I probably would've been tracked down and torn apart by jealous wives a long time ago. little did these women know that i cared less about their husbands, not just their husbands, all men, to me, men are not worth my time, finding a new boyfriend to me is like finding a new job wh

ivate investigator. I could be anything for the right amount of money. Well, almost anything. I wasn't a killer or a prostitute, no matter wh

skin. The men were on their feet, applauding like I had just given them the best show of their l

shoot. He looked out of place, too put-together for a place like this. And unlike the others, he wasn't clapping. He wasn't even smiling. Just sitting there with

too wealthy-looking to be here. This was a place for older men, the kind who thought they could

me more than I

s expression didn't change. It was like he was bored, or worse, completely uninterested. What the hell was this guy's deal? After a few more mi

nd stepped off the stage, heading backstage

young man who's been waiting for you for a while now," my

's not asking for a private session be-cause I've got

ing more appropriate for a normal human interaction when my manager chimed in agai

is he?" $5,000 for an hour? That's more than most people make in a week. All I had to do was give him a lap dan

s I stepped inside, my eyes landed on him-the same guy from the audience earlier. The young one. The one who hadn't even bothered to c

e on stage," I said, arching a bro

ick accent I hadn't noticed before. "I did. It was bor

e m

etail. Sharp jawline, thick brows, striking blue eyes, full lips, and dark hair that fell perfectly across his forehead. God,

estion altogether. His voice was calm but comman

I replied smoothly, grabbing a rope from

s brows furrowed, eyes n

the chair," I said

that nec

o you don't get tempted to touch me." My voice was soft, seductive. I felt his body st

od-looking man like you doing in a strip club?" I asked,

the famous faceless stripper," he said, his

ng slightly. "Jolie is F

o, you think y

, feeling the hardness of his muscles beneath the fabr

e shot back, and I could feel the challenge in his voice. He was trying to get under

to question me?" I asked

ow," he replied darkly. His words felt

ove his collarbone. I was about to touch his face when, suddenly, his hand shot up and grabbed

ed your hands,"

ess shove, he pushed me off his lap and stood up, brushing himself off. "This was a waste of money," he m

ne had ever hated my performance that much. I tried everything, but he just seemed...

eird encounter. As I picked up my phone, my heart sank

to be at his place by 8:00. I rushed to change into a corporate out

traight in. The scene that greeted me made my stomach drop-Josh, sitting at the dining table with a

, landing with a thud as the

" I asked, my voice edged with

r voice dripping with sarcastic sweetness.

wing. "You haven't answered my question,"

ncé is, so I came to find him myself. And we had a really nice talk." She flashed a smu

air and practically shoving her toward the door. I locked it behind her before she could cause a

t knowing what to say, waiting for

te," he said, his voice cool, almost de

said, the lie slipping out effortlessly. "It came

hill down my spine. "I just called your boss," he said. "He said you lef

l, I was with Tasha, but I we

oice was raw with anger, his hand raking through his ha

my heart stopped. There I was-dancing half-naked in the strip club, my mask firmly in place, but there was no mistaking th

though," I said with a nervo

ar," he said bitterly. "I bought you that lingerie on your birthday, Amelia

thinking. "Josh, I'm not a prostitute! I'm

ade before his hand came down hard, slapping me across the face. Pain exploded across my cheek, but the shock

rage making me lash out, my hand slapping him just as hard. The sting of my palm against his skin rang through

i'll ever be able to hit him back. He looked at me like he couldn't

hly. In one swift motion, he pulled the engagement ring off my finger. The co

new it was over. My mother is mentally unstable, so she says shit most of the time, i've been trying

, turning my back on him, heading for the door. But j

hone, the house, the debit card-

ed hard, my entire body going rigid, but I didn't turn

And for a moment, I wasn't sure what