11 Chapter Ten

"So, what's it going to be," he asked, still towering over my smaller frame, "What's more important, your own defiance or my business?"

It didn't matter what I said. He'd still bring me in there anyways. His former enemy was waiting for us and I highly doubted Elijah wanted any inconvenience.

"what, what am I supposed to do in there, " I asked softly. Did I dance for them? Entertained them while they chatted away about business? I'm sure the atmosphere there was a world different from what was going on in the main room.

"you do your job. Anything else and perhaps I'll give you a reason to be afraid."

I felt stupid for feeling I had any kind of choice in this. This is what I did; dance for them. And if Elijah or anyone requested me to the VIP room, I had to oblige. It didn't mean I wanted to. It just wasn't my preference.

This was my life now. For tonight, tomorrow, and the endless days after that.

Elijah must've sensed my defeat as he began leading me to the closed-off section in the hallway.

The guard posted outside of it opened the doors immediately. I'd never actually seen the inside of it. There wasn't too much of a contrast from the man floor, except for the glow of the room. Deep red and dark leather made this space feel more intimate than the cool blue that radiated out there.

Even the air felt different, altered, if even.

Elijah left me as soon as we entered, going to sit across who I was guessing were the Acostas. I didn't know it was possible for them to be just as intimidating as Elijah. No, that wasn't true. In numbers, yes they radiated power and fear, but Elijah was the embodiment of it. His glare, the way he spoke, his frame, this man had it all and knew it.

And yet I had no reason to fear him? I'm no fool not to believe him. I know an intimidating man when I see it. But if that were true, why refuse an order from him, I thought.

I had no time to think about it when one of the dancers in the room pulled me back to reality.

"You need to change," she told me.

What was wrong with what I already wore, I wondered. "Why?"

"It's just policy for the VIP room. See," she gestured to the other women who wore similar black and red bodysuits. They looked more like showgirls than dancers.

"I have yours in the changing room," she continued, already leading me there, "Be quick."

I was pushed into a small room, more like a walk-in closet, and figured the only suit on the hanger was for me. Quickly I slipped into it. Luckily, it was less revealing, covering my entire torso, although it was high waisted and exposed my back and some cleavage, I found it more comfortable than what I was previously wearing.

And the gems that embroidered it made me feel luxurious, a feeling I didn't deserve to feel. Yet, I did anyway.

I made my way out of the small room slowly, feeling the realness wash over me. I had to do my job, Elijah said. So, that's exactly what I went to do. There was a small stage that was surrounded by a crescent-shaped seating booth, right where they sat barely acknowledging the women performing for them.

I stepped onto the stage, my platform heels clicking all the way to the pole. When they stopped and I grabbed the pole tenderly, I considered some eyes on me. Lucky for me, the mask I wore covered my embarrassment easily.

After sucking in a deep breath, I let my body move to the more intimate music, some slow instrumental with some bass. my arms wrapped around the pole, carrying my full body weight, swinging me around in calm circles. After about two of them, I let my body lift and fall into a spread eagle, still spinning.

Once I let out of that position, I brought myself down gently. My eyes flickered up quickly and I wish they never did. Their eyes were on me. All of them, including his.

I looked softly at him over my shoulder and continued. Scaling the pole, I kept twirling myself, letting one hand go to reach out a bit. It felt fun almost. The fear and anxiety were vanishing as I kept moving. I had found my own rhythm when it came to dancing like this. Something I never knew existed or even thought about.

Even during my time at the El Royale, I never cared for this. All of the extra money I could've made dancing wasn't something I wanted. The attention of those men felt wrong, but for some reason, this felt powerful.

To have the eyes of the most ruthless men in New York on me, watching only me. That was power to me.

And yet, like anything too good to be true, all of the power went rushing away when I heard the song come to an end. I wasn't sure if I were to keep dancing but the music was gone completely and standing there made me feel awkward.

"What a treat," one of the Acosta's said. "Your girls sure know how to put on a show." he gestured me towards him and I went, but after a hesitant glace and Elijah. His eyes were still on me, more than before.

He never looked at all of me since that day I ran into him and he didn't know who I was. So that explains it, a stripper wasn't worth more than a glance, I suppose.

"Yes, she does," Elijah replied back, taking a sip of his drink. From the look on his face, I expected him to say more about me but he remained silent as I sat next to the man. He wrapped his arm around my waist and surprisingly pulled me onto his lap.

"Careful," Elijah continued, "Don't mishandle someone else's property."