Page 10 of Bad Duke

“Don’t forget to practice, we only have two days until the show,” I call after them, sighing as I turn around and remind myself to smile for Lewis.

“Did you want something?” I try my best to sound polite. Lewis is a creep, but he’s also Madame Riverty's son and I really like my job.

“You know what I want.” He steps closer, overstepping the boundaries when he takes both my hips in his hand and steers me directly in front of him. “I want you to dance with me.” He leans forward and whispers in my ear, causing my skin to crawl and my insides to squirm.

“I don’t dance anymore, I teach.” I push gently on his shoulder to put more space between us.

“That’s not what I saw the other night.” He raises both his light-coloured eyebrows at me.

“You were watching me?” I can’t hide how disturbing I find that from my voice. I was alone here on Tuesday night, or so I’d thought. Madame Riverty gave me the keys to lock up because she had an appointment. The thought of him being here and watching me from the shadows makes me shudder.

“That was just me, dancing for my own enjoyment. I’m not good enough to be in a production.” I laugh nervously, making my way over to my bag and sitting on the floor so I can untie my shoes.

“I disagree, and since it’s my production I get to select whatever lead I want to join me. We could practice together, improve your skills. It’s there Olivia, you have such talent.”

“No,” I tell him, trying my best to be firm but friendly as I slide on my sneakers and stand back up. I grab the oversized jumper from my bag and pull it over my head when I notice the way he stares at me through my leotard.

“What you suffer from is a lack of confidence.” He puts his hand on me again. “Don’t have regrets, Olivia. Take me up on my offer.” I look up at the clock on the wall, it’s five past six and I have a car picking me up from my place at seven to take me to another meeting with Alex Stanley. Is it bad that I’m as equally enthralled by that thought as I am terrified?

“I have to go.” I go to move past him but he grabs me forcefully and pulls me back.

“Think about what I’m offering you.” He presses his body tight against mine so I feel his hard cock press against my hip. It makes my stomach churn. Sure, Lewis is a handsome guy, he’s tall and athletic, and he has every one of his female dancers throwing themselves at him, but I see through his floppy, blonde hair, good guy act. Ever since I’ve been working here he’s been making me feel uncomfortable.

“I’ll think about it,” I promise, snatching my hand out of his grasp and rushing for the door.

It takes me half an hour to walk home from work, which gives me hardly any time at all to get ready. I shower fast, and finger dry my hair while I consider what I should wear. I have no idea where this meeting we’re having is taking place, will it be at his home or at his club again? For all I know it could be in some basement with plastic sheeting on the floor and a bodybag ready and waiting for me. But I still worry that I’ll be underdressed for it. The women who were at his club the other night all looked so glamorous, I know if I'm going to go through with the offer I put on the table, I’m going to have to make myself a little more appealing. I have no idea how to be sexy. Elsie seems to do it so naturally. She gets attention from men wherever she goes. I look in the mirror and attempt to smoulder my eyes the way she does and end up laughing at myself when I look like I’m in some form of pain. Checking out the time again, I quickly pull on the denim dress that's hanging on the front of my wardrobe and slide back into my sneakers.

The buzzer goes off at 7 pm on the dot, and I grab my bag so I can rush downstairs. I’m not sure if I was expecting to see Alex, but the huge guy on my doorstep whose chest is level with my eyes takes me completely by surprise.

“Miss Adams?” He glances down at me with a blank expression.

“Yes,” I confirm, hearing the nerves in my voice.

“Follow me.” He leads me past a concerned-looking Eric, towards the Range Rover that's parked on the other side of the road. Opening the back door, he gestures for me to get inside.

“Thank you.” I hop up. Smiling at Eric to let him know I’m okay before the door closes and we start our journey.

After about thirty minutes of traffic and a long, awkward silence between myself and the driver, I notice that we’re heading out of the city. The roads have become much narrower, the air’s a lot fresher. When we stop in front of a huge set of gates, and I see the stately home in front of me, I automatically lean forward between the two front seats and stare.

“Is this where…Is this where he lives?” I ask the driver.

“It is, now,” he answers, reaching out of his window to type in a code that opens the gates. He drives through them and along the lengthy drive that eventually leads to the front of the house.

“Miss Adams.” An older man wearing a black suit steps out of the oak front door to stand on the steps and greet me. “I hope your journey here was comfortable.” He looks past me to the driver and smiles warily. “Please, follow me.” He leads me into the huge reception room and I almost choke on the smell of fresh flowers. “I hope you don’t suffer with hay fever.” He smirks before moving us on, and I freeze when two massive dogs come from nowhere and start bounding towards me. They both look terrifying with their pointy ears and long jaws, but when they start circling me excitedly, sniffing me over, and wagging their tails I feel confident enough to say hello and give them each a stroke.

“They’re supposed to be for security,” he tells me.

“They look as if they’d lick the flesh right off your bones.” I giggle nervously and as the old man smiles to humour me he shoos them away. He leads me past the oceans of flowers that are lined up against the wall, past the enormous open staircase, and onto a corridor that's lined with paintings. There’s an old-fashioned bench seat halfway down where he stops and opens the door opposite.

“Please take a seat, the Duke will be with you shortly.” He pulls back the chair in front of the desk and nods as I take a seat.

“The Duke?” I check I’ve heard him right. I was under the impression that the meeting I was having tonight would be with Alex, not his father, and now I’m even more nervous.

“Unfortunately, the former Duke of Hatherly passed away last night. His son now holds the title,” the old man informs me, leaving me on that thought, and closing the door behind him.

ALEX

“She’s in your office, sir.” Barnaby is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs when I come down from getting changed. I had all my gym equipment brought here this morning and I’ve spent most of my afternoon working out and trying to talk myself out of this idea that my head’s been fixating on.

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