Page 46 of Don't Lie To Me

This time his eyes narrow in on me. “How do we make money out of this event, Sloane?” he asks, a little more seriously.

“We sign up new clients who pay through the nose for their yearly membership privileges. After being vetted, VIPs receive a black card that allows them access to the VIP section where the dancers work. Invitations to all the events and parties we host and access to booking out the private rooms when needed. It’s win-win.”

His fingers dance across his keyboard once more. “How much are you charging for these privileges?”

“A hundred and fifty grand a year.”

He runs a hand thoughtfully along his jaw, mulling over what I just told him, I’m sure working out that for him that means a whopping ninety thousand on every VIP that signs up for a new membership. But it’s not all profit. It takes a hell of a lot to run this place, and mostof the money I make goes back into the business, that’s the way I have always run it.

“Could we offer different tiers? It’s a great idea to host these events, and I’m sure it helps to keep your girls happy if they make all the money they earn. But we need to be making bank as well. What if we introduced some tiers to your VIP card system? Say black is the bottom at one-fifty, then we could have gold at two hundred and platinum at three hundred. At the top level, the VIPs could receive their own hostess for the night, who will cater to their every need. Private lounge access, where only gold and above can enter, exclusive performances, possibly even a secret menu with special services, something more provocative. Platinum could be priority picks of dances, personal fantasy nights, no-limits-experience VIP treatment with no restrictions.” He shrugs, a little too pleased with himself. “Just a few ideas I have been working on.

I stare back at him, thinking over everything he just said. It’s not the worst idea I ever heard, and now that he’s going to be significantly cutting my profits, I’m going to need something to help make up the difference. But we will need to be careful how we word it, and we might need extra security measures to make sure the girls are safe. “It could work. Where are we going to find this extra room? For the more exclusive parties or shows?”

His smile broadens. “You like one of my ideas?” he asks cheekily, looking way too pleased about it.

My head drops, and I fiddle with the hem of my skirt. “I didn’t say I liked it. I just said I would consider it.”

His chuckle fills the room, and I glance back at him, wondering why this is so amusing. “The extra space is easy, sweetheart. I have purchased the entire building to the right of us. There is more than adequate room to have a few areas that cater to different needs andparty sizes. I’ll email you the particulars. But I think you’re going to like what I have come up with. It’s going to mean more cash for both of us and your girls don’t have to take the hit. The wealthy bastards who want to sample their goodies do.”

I nod, indicating he can send me the details. “Do you have the keys? I want to see this space.”

He types something into his laptop, and I assume it’s him sending me the email. Then he closes it, stands, and walks toward me, taking a key out of his pocket. He dangles the thing in front of my face, and I snatch it up.

“Look at you getting all excited by my changes. Maybe we can work together after all.” He winks playfully.

I want to wipe the smug-as-shit grin off his face, but he just might be right. I have been doing this alone for so long, I was stuck in a rut. I hadn’t considered expanding further. And as much as I will never admit it to him, this might actually work.

Chapter 18

Romeounlocksthedooronto a vast empty concrete space. It runs the length of my entire club, but it’s narrower. Onyx follows us in and stands in the doorway, guarding it as we both walk in further. He looks unimpressed, but that seems to be his face today. Anything to avoid what we did last night and the real feelings it might have brought up, for me anyway. I return my full attention to Romeo, wishing I could forget everything we did.

“It’s a blank canvas, we can do whatever we want with it,” Romeo says when I haven’t uttered a word.

I wander, picturing the cool smoothness of marble and the deep, luxurious texture of velvet and leather, transforming this space. Elaborate chandeliers dripping with crystals down the center of the room and a more intimate bar off to one side. It could work.

“I was thinking two spaces, maybe the VIP party room at the front, then at the back more intimate spaces. We can keep the color scheme the same, so it blends seamlessly with next door. And have the entry through the middle of the club so they have already gone through the existing space for security reasons, and also, so the cops don’t get wind this place even exists. From the street it will still look like a vacant building.” His hands come to my waist from behind, and I know he’s desperate to hear what I think of all his grand ideas. His mouth dips to my ear, his warm breath ghosting across my skin. “It will be RavensHollow’s best-kept secret,” he says, in a way that makes goosebumps erupt over my skin, because he makes it all sound so enticing.

I turn back to face him, his eyes dancing with delight. He’s like a kid in a candy store, so damn excited about his idea. “How long have you been working on this?”

“Six months.”

I stare back at him, my mouth nearly dropping open. I knew this wasn’t all some overnight idea. But fuck, six months is kind of insane. “You have been watching me and researching this place for six months?”

He drops eye contact; even he knows how messed up that sounds. What the hell is his obsession with me and this place?

My heart kicks up a beat. “What was your plan? Come in here on my birthday and seduce me so I would fall for your charm and give you everything you wanted? Don’t bullshit me, Romeo, I think it’s about time you offer me the courtesy of the truth. Exactly what did you expect to happen, because I don’t get it. With the share you own, you could have just done what you wanted, but you felt the need to screw me first. What did you get out of our hook-up.”

A shiver runs down my spine as his hand moves up my arm, then his fingers brush lightly against my cheek, a feather-light touch tracing my lips. “I got you,” he responds with more determination. “I don’t just want to run this place alongside you. When it comes to you, Sloane, I want it all.”

Oh, dear God, the way he looks at me, I feel like my heart might just combust. I take a step back from him as if he just burned me. Because in a way, it feels like he did. What the hell does he mean he wants it all when it comes to me? He barely even knows me. “You can make a start on this. Keep me in the loop.” My voice trembles slightly. He’s rattled me, and I know I need to get away from him immediately. I stride backtoward the door, where Onyx is waiting for me, and my cheeks break into an all-out blush of heat, the sight of him making my pussy clench in memory. Oh my God, I need to get away from him as well. “I’ll be out for a few hours,” I tell Romeo over my shoulder.

“Don’t forget we have dinner tonight at the Moretti boys’ mansion,” Romeo calls back to me, stopping me dead in my tracks.

My eyes meet with Onyx’s, and he looks as unimpressed as I feel. Damn it. I had forgotten about that little arrangement he forced me into. “You know I’m a woman of my word. I will be there,” I throw over my shoulder, not wanting to turn around to see him again. I can’t. He has this hold over me, and even I don’t know what I will do when he’s around.

“Where are we going, trouble?” Onyx grumbles as he falls into line with me.

“I’mgoing for lunch with Harley, you can have the morning off,” I tell him as I walk from the entrance of the vacant space. I spot Ricky’s Jeep pull up to the curb out front of the day spa. I should have known they wouldn’t let her come alone. There is always at least one of them hanging around her. It would drive me crazy. I glance at Onyx and see he’s watching me, his eyes filled with something that looks an awful lot like longing. One fuck wasn’t enough for either of us, and now we’re stuck together, the erratic tension swirling through the air. What the hell am I saying? It would drive Harley crazy, and I’m no better off. My situation is driving me to the point of insanity, I’m sure of it.

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