Page 9 of Take Me (Dark Odyssey 5)

I laugh and genuinely smile.

The ideas she’s come up with are ingenious and I can see why the club owners hired her. I’m supposed to dance in a massive crystal ball that moves around the ceiling on a mechanical device creating an illusion I’m dancing in the air.

The ball is big enough for me to glide around and leap through the air as if I am on stage doing a show. A show I’ll be the star of.

All that while I’m surrounded by sex. It’s called the Heaven and Hell exhibition for a reason.

During my time here I’ve only seen people having sex once. That was when I was leaving late after rehearsals. I wondered if people would seriously have actual sex. Then I saw it. A threesome at that, and right by the bar where I went to grab a glass of water.

“I’m excited,” I say.

“That’s what we like to hear,” Louise chimes in.

“I’ll go get the makeup ready and the stylists.” Tatiana is once again rubbing her hands together.

“We’ll do paperwork and join you in a few minutes,” Louise answers and Tatiana saunters away.

Louise gives me a cautious look and bites the inside of her lip. “How are you really feeling?”

“I’m okay.”

“As it’s your first night, Mimi asked me to take special care of you. She sensed you were a little nervous,” she states.

“I am. I guess it’s because I’m new and this … is new,” I confess.

I put on a good act over the time I’ve come here. I tried to make them think I’m this wild adventurous woman who’s in touch with her body and wants to explore sex in every way. Of course, they would think that when I ticked the box on the contract that said I’d be willing to do anything.

That’s what I did. Opening the floor foranything.

Louise and Tatiana were so thrilled, Mimi though? I knew she could see straight through the shit of a façade.

“I’m going to be real with you, and please don’t take this the wrong way at all. For a start, I saw you dancing, and I can see you’re better than this, but that’s the same reason why we want you. The Dark Odyssey is more than just a sex club. It’s about fantasy, so we want the best. But not if you find yourself in a situation where you’re uncomfortable or feeling forced to do something you don’t want to do.”

I nod my understanding. “I know and I get it.”

“Lilly, I know the money is seriously good. Mimi and I are both moms, so we know the value of good money. At least she has a good guy to take care of her. I on the other hand know it can be hard when you don’t have that, and I get why you’re doing this, but think about what you’re doing. You said you’d do anything on your contract, and I have to let you know that anything meansanything.”

“I understand,” I assure her, but she still looks concerned.

The job is only for three months. Dancing alone will pay a base of seven grand per month. That’s just for one hour’s work a night to dance virtually naked. I don’t know anywhere else that would pay me that much. I definitely wouldn’t make it dancing in the shows I’m used to. What I’m pushing my neck out for is the predicted hundred grand I stand to make for being booked to spend the night with a man I don’t know, ormen. It could be more. After all I said I’d do anything. The minimum bid anyone can place is two grand. I was told it would likely be more than that, however. And that’s why I’m selling my soul to the devil.

“I just want to make sure you’re a hundred percent okay with that. The men who come here have all sorts of tastes.”

“I know, and I promise you, I’ll be okay.”

She’s a single mom like me, but I don’t think she’s been through the hell I had to go through with my baby and the man who was supposed to take care of us.

In the end there was no one to keep us safe from him. I’m here now and this is the home stretch out of hell.

“Great. We’re all extremely excited. Well, this is it. You get ready and you dance. I’ll have someone there waiting to tend to you at the end of the performance. The ball’s flight will end at Christian lounge tonight.”

He’s one of the owners of the club. I heard it was Christian who hired Tatiana. Each of the owners do different things here. He’s responsible for some of the wilder attractions like what I’m doing tonight.

“Oh, cool.”

“He’s nice. Watch it though, he’s the last Giordano bachelor left, sexy as hell and hot as sin. The girls want to get him into their beds and a lot of them would love a ring on their finger. Get too close and you’ll make a few enemies.”

She chuckles and shakes her head. I’ll be fine. Men are out of the question for me, so the girls are welcome to him.

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