Page 4 of Morally Corrupt

"Fine. I'll take this." I pull the curtain deep in thought. I need to make this the perfect outfit to attract Theo’s attention. Vlad is right in that regard. I need to make Theo salivate at the sight of me.

We spend the rest of the day going from shop to shop, buying more things until my outfit is done.

The last stop is at a beauty salon. Vlad checks out though, saying his duty is done. Seeing how restless he's become; I take pity on him and release him from best friend duty. I'm almost offended at his sigh of relief when he leaves, but then I remember he's not used to people, anyway. I must have worn him down.

Good!

The lady at the beauty salon is nice enough to explain what she's doing, and I pay careful attention so I can emulate the steps. I'd told her I wanted to become someone unrecognizable, and she'd complied.

Heavy contouring, highlight, bold eyeshadow and red lipstick. All that paired with the pink wig and the new green contacts will ensure I'm unrecognizable.

Now there's only one thing left to do — create the circumstances of our meetings.

For the past three years, I've been keeping tabs on him, venturing out to see him now and then — the reality is just much sweeter than pictures. I know exactly what he's been up to, and who he's been meeting. And I'd made sure there were no women. I mean, not that hard in the first place, since he doesn't seem to have a particular interest in dating.

Which brings me to my current dilemma. I've put in so much effort to tempt him, but I still need an opportunity to work my charm on him.

I dial my go-to P.I. and I tell him to pay careful attention to where Theo goes.

One way or another, he's mine.

2

BIANCA

You could say I'm not the most patient person. Especially when it concerns Theo. That I've lasted so long is a testament to my sheer willpower and a realization that our meet-cute must be perfect.

It's been a few weeks now that I've been working on an approach to get to Theo with my new disguise. For a while, I'd thought it was hopeless. Maybe his lack of interest in dating coupled with my interference by eliminating all women from his proximity had made it impossible to approach him.

But then my P.I got back to me with an update. Theo's new position in the mayor's office meant he was spending a lot of time socializing with his peers at an exclusive club in the city — The Palace.

I'd done my research. The Palace wasn't just any club. It catered to the elite, and it provided both entertainment and . . . relief of a certain type. When I heard that, I was sure this was my moment.

It had taken me quite some time to infiltrate The Palace by becoming a server. You'd think it would be easy enough to score such a job, but I'd had to be vetted by three people (two of which I'd bribed) before I was officially hired. Like an excellent employee, I'd showed up every night for my shift, hoping to catch sight of Theo.

One week passed, then two weeks, and all I was getting was less sleep and more untoward remarks. The number of people I'd had to refrain from killing had been too high for my liking.

And so I find myself, once again, prancing around with a fake smile on my face, coked up from sniffing that damned powder, and ready to murder someone.

"Darlin' do me a favor and wipe this table down, will you?" an old man calls out to me. I have to grit my teeth at the appellation. I'm no one's darling, and I'd love to show Mr. Geezer at table two just how much I appreciate being cat-called. I've already suffered one attempted sexual assault for one night, and the only reason that man isn't dead is because I had to hurry inside and clock in. This job is too strict on working times.

I swallow a retort and start cleaning his table, trying to ignore the way he's leering at me, his gaze too focused on my cleavage.

Fucking hell!

I'm mentally debating whether or not I should shoot him when a group of people make their way inside and toward the VIP wing. I turn my head to study the newcomers and that's when I see him.

Theo.

My Theo.

He's here.

I strengthen my spine, my eyes following his movements as he heads toward the back of the club. Absentmindedly, I drop the cleaning rag on the floor, my feet leading me toward one thing — him.

I quickly check with the girls working the VIP wing, and I resort to buying one of them out of her shift. Nevertheless, it's not long before I'm in the same space as him . . . so close I can practically smell him.

I close my eyes and inhale, a smile spreading on my lips. This is it. My chance.

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