Page 4 of Forbidden Fruit

I grind my teeth. My payslip might say I’m the Chief Financial Officer of the Moretti-Bartoli Holding, but what I really am is the man who cooks the books and I’m the only one who does what I do for Alana Moretti. My absence would be noticed, and though I can probably get a couple of weeks off, that won’t be a permanent solution for my kids.

“What would you have me do?” I ask my father, who’s always been there for me and given me all the guidance I could ever ask for.

“Find a nanny. Someone who can handle two kids but is shy enough that they won’t sniff around. And someone who looks as far from their mother as possible. You don’t want them imprinting on their new caregiver or some shit.”

“Imprinting? Really, Dad? Have you been watchingTwilight?”

“I’m surprised you know of it. Your mother made me watch all the movies last month when she was sick with the flu.” He groans. “Let me tell you, that shiny motherfucker is a creep.”

I scoff, then sober as I watch Anton waking up my mother with a little shake. “Fine. I’ll find someone.”

“Tell Alana,” my father suggests. “She works with all kinds of people in her clubs. She might know someone who would rather work as a nanny than an escort.”

Later that day, I make a call to my boss and hope for the best.

THREE

DANCE LIKE NO ONE’S WATCHING… IF YOU CAN

“Ican do this. I can do this. I can do this,” I repeat, hoping to gather more courage with my inner pep talk.

I knock on the heavy door of Lady in White on a Saturday afternoon, hoping the club will be open for walk-ins. I really don’t feel comfortable asking for a job when customers are there and having sex out in the open. Because that’s probably what happens there. I don’t know. No one does. Even if you’ve been to Lady in White, you don’t talk about it.

The door opens and a blonde woman appears on the threshold, looking me up and down with sharp blue eyes. She looks like a model, and I struggle not to gape. “Oh, hi. I thought you were Battista.”

“I don’t know who that is, but no. I’m Vanessa. I’m looking for a job.”

“And I’m Jade. I’m the manager.”

She smiles and raises a brow, like she can see right through me, and what I just said amuses her, before crossing her arms over her chest. That’s when I notice she’s only wearing a black sports bra and the tiniest pair of matching shorts I’ve ever seen.Her long legs end in clear heels that must be fifteen centimetres high, making my eyes widen.

“If you want to work here, you better stop gaping like a fish, babe, because trust me, I’m dressed compared to what you’d see inside,” she drawls.

I swallow and meet her gaze, squaring my shoulders.

“Sorry. I was looking at your heels. They’re pretty high. Anyway, I was told you’re always looking for girls, so here I am. Can I come in?”

“Sure. Why not? Follow me.”

She sounds like this is all a joke, but at least I’m in. I tell myself that’s already a battle half-won.

We walk through a long corridor with dark patterned wallpaper on the walls and beautiful golden sconceshanging like flowers. The carpeted floor absorbs the sounds of our footsteps as we make our way to what I assume is the main floor, where half-naked people rehearse dance moves that make me dizzy. With bright lights illuminating the main stage, I can fully make out the private alcoves with round tables that can be closed with red curtains.

The idea that people can choose to leave them open and be seen by everyone sends a flutter of heat through my core and I bite my lip, admonishing myself for where my mind wanders when I should be focused on getting a job.

“Do it again,” Jade tells the other people in the room who are rehearsing complicated choreographies on the various stages. “I won’t let your asses go until it’s fucking perfect. Nathalie, show Miu Miu how you work the pole. I want her ready by next weekend,”. Then she turns to me. “You.” She points her finger at me and curls it to invite me to follow after her through a black door leading to a small private room. “Show me what you can do.”

Jade sits on the plush sofa and plugs her phone into a sleek sound system hidden within the lavish décor, before sultry music blasts through the speakers. There’s a small platform with a pole on it in the middle of the room, similar to the main room, but the atmosphere in here is more intimate.

My heart rate picks up at the realisation of what she wants me to do; a cold sweat breaking out across my skin. I have never danced in front of anyone, only ever allowing myself to do it in the privacy of my room. And even then I wouldn’t really call it dancing. When I became free, I didn’t have the friends to go to clubs and be a normal young woman so somehow, it became this weird thing I can only do when no one is watching.

“I don’t have all day, babe,” Jade tsks.

I swallow hard. Leaving my coat and handbag on the sofa, I step onto the dais and close my eyes. I hope that some sort of movement will just take over me. It can’t be that hard, can it? But I remain still as a fucking statue and want to curse myself for being so stupid to think that I can work here. Instead, I decide to go with the truth.

“Listen, Jade. I’m not a dancer. ”

“Oh. I get it, babe. Usually, people who come to knock on our door for a job aren’t interested in sex work, but if that’s what you do, I’m all for it. I also do it from time to time. The money’s really good and the patrons are fun. But I’m not the one who vetoes the workers. I only hire dancers and bar staff. You’ll have to talk to the big boss.”

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