Page 12 of Chasing Danger

However, the real money was made in the back. Guests could purchase a “private show” if they wanted, and the dancer agreed.They claimed it was just dancing, but everyone knew what really happened behind those doors.

Just the other night, I’d been offered twenty thousand dollars to give a guest a “private show”. I’d turned them down. My body may be on display, but it wasn’t for sale.

However, as I waited for my turn to perform, I couldn’t help thinking of the secret folder at the back of my sketchbook. Even with my mom’s job, my job, my under the table paycheck from the coffee house, and the money I made dancing, we were still barely making any headway.

Twenty thousand dollars wouldn’t solve our debt problem, but it would definitely help. And if I kept giving “private shows”, eventually, I might even be able to pay it all off. My family could finally be debt free. Rowan could be set up with even better care, and my mother wouldn’t have to work so hard.

All it would cost would be… me.

If I gave my body away, then my family could finally thrive.

What was I even saving myself for anyway?

It wasn’t like anyone actually wanted me. I was hanging on to something worthless when I could be profiting off it.

I had half a mind to find the manager for that night and tell them that I would accept any “private show” requests. However, an image of the man from earlier popped into my mind.

I didn’t know his name, but he had definitely been flirting with me. I still didn’t know what he saw that made him take an interest, even just a passing one, but it gave me hope that maybe I still had some value in the eyes of others.

The song for my performance started. Putting on a sultry expression, I stepped out onto the stage under the spotlights and grabbed the pole to start my routine.

I wouldn’t accept any “private shows” that night. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, but I could afford to wait a little longer.

CHAPTER 7

D’Angelo

It wasa week before I was able to go back to the coffee shop. Usually, once I’d set my sights on someone, I moved on them as quickly as possible. A week was probably longer than I’d ever waited before, but dealing with the Russians was proving more difficult than expected. Whatever Alex’s father had done had really insulted them, because even getting any of the Pahkan’s men to talk to me ended up being extremely difficult.

Finally, however, I managed to set up a meeting with a Russian representative so we could at least get the ball rolling. Only then was I able to return to the coffee shop, this time earlier in the day.

The sun shone through shop windows, glinting off the earring dangling off Oliver’s ear when he looked up at the sound of the bell over the door. For a moment, a stiff customer service smile covered his face, but a complex mix of emotions immediately replaced it when he realized who he faced. Just like before, heinstinctively turned himself slightly to the side, keeping his scars out of sight.

“Oh, um... hi. I mean... hello.Welcome to Brew Crew Coffee.”

Brew Crew Coffee?

Oh, right, the name of the coffee shop. I hadn’t even bothered to check the name of the place. The shop itself held no value to me beyond the man behind the counter.

There were no other customers in the shop at that moment, so nothing stood in my way as I approached the counter. I watched Oliver fidget under my attention and tried not to let the heat show in my eyes as I imagined him writhing under my gaze for a different reason and in an entirely different situation.

“I have to say, you look even better in the daylight.”

I expected the other man to blush and get embarrassed, or maybe even scoff and tell me to leave if he wasn’t interested in me. What I didn’t expect was laughter, but that’s exactly what I got.

Oliver snickered behind his hand, biting his lip in a failed attempt at holding back the sound. Hazel eyes glittered brighter than his jewelry when he looked at me.

“That’s the first thing you say to me? After a week? You certainly like to come on strong, don’t you?”

The unexpected reaction was refreshing. My smile widened, and I held out both my hands to the sides as if putting myself on display.

“Of course. I’m a busy man, and I hate the way people so often dance around each other when they could just say what theymean. Besides...” I leaned forward until my hip braced against the counter. “I don’t think you mind.”

The blush I’d expected earlier finally spread over his cheeks. For a moment, he seemed to forget about his scars and faced me directly. His posture relaxed, and I was already celebrating my victory, but his self-consciousness settled back onto his shoulders like an iron cloak.

Clearing his throat, he turned partially away and clawed at his bangs to make sure they covered the left side of his face.

“What, um... what makes you say that?”

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