Page 126 of The Playboy Billionaire

“Sorry, do I know you?” I say, hoping if I play dumb, he might go for mistaken identity.

“Definitely you,” he says with a smirk that sets my heart pounding. “At least with your clothes on.” He takes a step closer, and I find myself frozen to the spot. “It’s been a long time, Electra.”

I attempt to suppress the shudder that wracks my body.

He steps forward and runs a finger down my arm. My body reacts, jerking away, slamming me into the cabinet that lines the corridor, shaking the pictures and ornaments on the top.

Sir Leonard tuts and smiles, his eyes twinkling with a twisted sense of delight.

“Careful now. You don’t want to break anything. Franny has a strong attachment to her possessions.”

I choke past the lump in my throat. “Can I help you?”

“Now Electra, is that any way to treat an old friend? We all missed you when you left.”

I grimace at the use of my old stage name. A name I haven’t heard in two and a half years. Adults always warn you that the decisions you make when you’re young may come back to bite you.

I take a step back, my fight or flight finally kicking in, but before I can move, his hand grips my upper arm. I try to shake him off, but he’s bigger and stronger than me.

“Take your hands off me.” My jaw locks as I grind out the words. “I don’t know who you think I am, but…”

“I know exactly who you are.” His knowing smirk makesme freeze. “But do they? Do the Frazers know who they’ve let into their home? Caleb Frazer was telling me all about his beautiful and talented girlfriend. All she’s done for her community, he’s quite the advocate, my dear. Imagine my surprise when he pointed you out.”

I shake my arm once more, trying to dislodge his hand, but he just squeezes harder. So hard, I know I’m going to bruise.

“Let. Go,” I say, through gritted teeth. When he doesn’t, I decide to try another tack. “What do you want, Sir Leonard?”

He grins, his pearly whites flashing, reminding me of the wolf in little red riding hood. They’re a contrast to the leathery skin of his face and the wobbling jowls of his jawline.

“Now, now. The Frazer boys need to be a little pickier. I was surprised when Gabriel chose his little secretary… beneath him. But at least she had a proper education, even if it wasn’t obtained from a redbrick university. Elijah, well, he chose poorly, but at least Darra was from the right family. You, my dear…” He rambles on, loving the sound of his own voice, shaking his head almost in a fatherly fashion. “You’ll never fit into this life.”

His words hit almost as violently as a punch to the gut. I know this. I’ve just allowed Caleb to sweep me up in his dream.

“What do you want?” I ask again, only to see his smile widen. His thumb rubs lazy circles on my arm.

“A few choice words to the right people. That boyfriend of yours. His business…” he doesn’t need to spell it out to me. He’s threatening Caleb. But why?

I try to shake his hand off again, and this time, his face hardens, his smile gone.

“You always were an aloof little bitch.”

That does it. “What? Because I wouldn’t sleep with youand your buddies? That you wanted more than I was willing to give? You’re pathetic.”

My anger rises. I will not let this man take any more from me than he already has.

It’s not like pretending I don’t know who he is, is working. So, I return to that place. A place where I wore a suit of metaphysical armour to work every day to protect both my body and mind. For four years, I took my clothes off and danced for these perverts. I’d smack away their wandering hands with a smile when I really wanted to smack them in the balls. At nineteen, when I started, I was young and naïve, but by the time I stopped at twenty-four, I was much more jaded towards men like the one standing before me. Wealth and power make them think they’re invincible and can have anything they want.

Leonard Crawley was never one of my clients. I only danced for him once, and that was enough. He was a lecherous old perv, and I made it very clear to management and patrons that I was not into the other side of the business. I danced. Stripped for their entertainment, I took part in the shows, but that was where I drew the line. I didn’t add extras. I didn’t need to. I was earning enough taking my clothes off.

“The lady told you to take your hands off her, Crawley.”

A voice comes from behind me.

I freeze, but so does Crawley, although his grip tightens almost as a warning.

“Ah, Elijah. Good to see you. How are you? Bad business, all that stuff with Darra.”

I bite the inside of my mouth. Does Crawley have a death wish? The animosity swirling behind me is palpable.

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