Page 4 of Undercover Desires

What kind of job is he about to offer me? The list of criminal activities Detective Reader gave me plays through my head again. I swallow the nervous lump in my throat. “Okay,” I answer him tentatively. Slipping my hand in his, I feel anything but okay. Electricity buzzes between us. Something unexpected. I put it down to anxiety. I act confident on the outside, but really, the prospect of doing something like this tonight scares the hell out of me. If these guys are as dangerous as Detective Reader thinks, I need to be careful. But something in the way Kobe looks at me makes me want to trust him.

He guides me through the busy club of dancing partygoers to the roped-off area with the upstairs lit in gold. He nods at the two security guards, and they let us pass. They watch me with a scrutiny I don’t like. Have they already worked out who I am?

I climb the stairs with my hand still in his. It feels strangely comfortable when I know it shouldn’t. And that makes me feel very uneasy. I don’t do random hookups; I don’t go to bars and hold strange men’s hands. I know this is an undercover mission to work my way into their world, but I agreed to come with him so easily, and that sends a flush of panic running through me.

This floor is larger than it looks from downstairs, with a number of different sections. We walk past a couple of girls dancing on an elevated stage for a small gathering of suited men, and Kobe stops when we get to another bar. This one is fancier than the main bar downstairs. There are only women working behind the lit-up showcase of expensive liquor. All attractive, super-model types. Tall, with their long hair in neat high ponytails. Their black silk shirts have plunging necklines that don’t leave a lot to the imagination, the lace of their brasshowing. Their skirts are short and fitted. They are all stunningly sexy. So much that I can’t help but stare at them.

“Wait here,” he tells me, leaving me by the bar as he slides behind it, straight over to a pretty brunette with tattoos running up her arms. He drops his head, whispering in her ear, and she smirks playfully. Her eyes come to me, and she nods.

He returns, walking toward me with so much swagger, if I weren’t trying to play along, I would have to laugh out loud. He hands me a cocktail, something green, then motions for me to take a seat in one of the plush red velvet booths. He sits across from me. “Xavier will have you up here in our elite lounge.”

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

“You want a bar job? You can work up here. Be one of the elite girls.”

I glance back over at the other stunners. I know I’m attractive, but I’m not that kind of attractive, and they are all wearing practically nothing. “Um, I don’t think I would fit in here,” I say, not sure how else to put it. I know I need a job here so I can start investigating them, but as one of the elite girls, it’s just not going to work. He would see right through me instantly. I need to fit in, not stand out.

His eyes roam over my body leisurely. He takes his time checking out every part of me. Heat warms my cheeks under his assessment. Why do I want his approval? “You would be the pick of them all,” he says smoothly, and I don’t know why, but his attention makes me feel all warm inside.

I like his eyes on me. He’s so handsome, and when he tells me he finds me attractive, it makes me feel special. That must be his game. Make them feel special so he can take what he wants. He’s for real. He wants me to work up here. What would that position even be? I have read about this club and its private rooms. It’s one thing the boss wants investigated. “What would the job involve?”

“Working behind the bar. There are other opportunities for you to make more money, topless waitress, stripping, or spending time in the elite rooms, but that’s entirely up to you. The job I’m offering is bartender.”

I can feel my eyes widen as he lists off the other jobs in this place, and I wonder what kind of money those positions pay. Not that I would be tempted to take them up, I’m just curious. “Would I have to wear that?” I motion to one of the other girls serving a drink to a table of men in suits. As she bends over in her tall heels, I can practically see her underwear. If she’s even wearing any.

His eyes hold mine, and I can tell he’s picturing it. “You would look sexy as sin in that uniform.”

Uniform, it could hardly be called that. “Um…” I think about it. Can I really do this? The job posting I saw in the paper, for working downstairs, looked a hell of a lot more up my alley. Less intimidating.

“Unless you want to work Tuesdays? Tuesdays we have topless waitress night.” He has a menacing gleam in his eyes as he says it.

“Not available on Tuesdays,” I blurt out, making it clear where I stand on the topless thing. Wearing a skimpy outfit is one thing, but having my tits out on full display is another matter entirely.

He shrugs like it’s my loss. “The hourly rate up here is twice what it is downstairs, $40 an hour, and the tips are generous. This part of the club is for members only, exclusive. The patrons expect a certain type of service and anonymity, and in return, they reward the girls who work here generously.”

I take a gulp of my cocktail. It tastes like a margarita with a little Midori added, loaded with alcohol but delicious. “For just serving them drinks?” I ask again, making sure I’m not about to sign myself up for one of the stripping jobs or some sex-on-demand kind of arrangement. Reader mentioned prostitution; is that what goes on behind these walls?

He scoffs at me like he can read my mind. “That’s right. When you look like that,” he motions toward me like I’m something special, “they would be ecstatic to have you serve them all night. Don’t get me wrong sugar plum, I’m sure they will offer you more substantial amounts to visit one of our private rooms or give them a lap dance, but you don’t have to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. The job I’m offering you is just serving drinks. If you can handle that, then it’s yours.”

My heart hammers in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins mixed with the alcohol. I’ve never done anything like this before. Sure, I worked in a bar back in LA while I was doing my training at the academy, but this is something different entirely. This place is like a playground for the rich men in this town. Even contemplating his offer feels a bit reckless. But my real job hangs in the balance if I can’t secure an in, and he’s offering me one wrapped up in a nice paycheck as well. One I truly need after the mess I have myself in financially. If the clientele are the type who have a pricey membership, then I’m sure this place would be a playing field for all the illegal dealings the brothers have going on. I could see deals taking place in dark corners and find out what really happens in those rooms. If stuff goes down, I’ll be here to witness it firsthand. I need this opportunity, so I’m going to have to pull up my big-girl panties and work out how to become one of them. “What did you say your name was?” I ask him.

He smiles with a sexy confidence that makes my belly flutter. He knows he has me. His offer is too good to be true. “Kobe Rivera.” He holds out his hand for me to shake. “And you are?”

“Bella.” I smile sweetly, wishing I had even a fraction of his self-assuredness. Though I suppose having most of the towneither intimidated by you or indebted to you would naturally instill such confidence.

He keeps his hand in mine, staring right into my eyes. “Well, Bella, no last name. What will it be? You coming to work for me or not? I can assure you this is a fun place to work, the elite girls are treated like the queens they are. We run themed nights, live entertainment, gaming nights, and four times a year we do a charity auction.”

I pull my hand free, rolling my lips. This might be the most stupid thing I have ever done, but I don’t see any other way of getting inside this organization. I clink my glass with his. “To trying something new.” I throw back the rest of my cocktail.

“And maybe learning something about yourself.” He winks. And the way he says my words from earlier and the look in his eyes, oh my God, that look says he wants to be the something new I try. And damn, if I didn’t know who he really was, I would be all for it. He could be just the type to help me move on from my ex. God knows I have been trying, but back home it was impossible with Wyatt so close by. I felt like every time I tried, he was right there looking over my shoulder.

I stand in a rush. Kobe makes my stomach do somersaults in a fun way I haven’t experienced in so long. I need to call it a night before I agree to doing something really stupid with him. Something my body has been begging me to do since he sat down with me at the main bar. This is work. Just a way in. I have to convince myself. He looks at every girl the way he is me right now, it’s part of his appeal. It’s his thing, using his good looks to charm and get what he wants.Don’t fall for his façade, Arabella, you’re smarter than that.

“I should get going,” I say, feeling the effects of the alcohol more than I thought I would. What is in this drink? “When do you want me to start?”

“Tomorrow. Three. I’ll show you round. Then you can work the early shift so Xavier can show you the ropes. She’s the elite floor manager.”

I slide myself out of the booth. “Okay. Thanks for the drinks. And the job.”

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