Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Several minutes passed, but the pain was still an ache deep inside her. She was being ridiculous.
Regent wasn’t hers. He hadn’t betrayed her. Sure, she had this stupid childhood crush on him.
But that’s all it was. Stupid.
And it wasn’t like he even knew about her feelings. Thank God. Because that would be more than a bit embarrassing.
So there was that to be grateful for.
Right.
So why didn’t that make her feel any better?
A knock on the door made her startle. “Yes?”
Moving to the mirror, she checked that her mask and hair were in place.
“Yo, it’s me. You okay? Keegan said you seemed upset.”
Jilly rushed to the door to open it. Sasha eyed her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t see Sasha that often when they were working. In fact, she thought that Sasha deliberately tried to stay away from her. Perhaps she thought she might slip up and call her Jilly or something.
But Keegan had seen them talking a couple of times, so he probably thought she was closer to Sasha than anyone else here.
Which was definitely true.
The other girls didn’t like her that much. And while some of the bartenders and other bouncers were nice to her, she wasn’t friends with them.
“You’ll never guess who was just here,” she said.
“Who?”
Sasha glanced around as though expecting someone to be in the room.
Jilly almost burst out his name but realized she couldn’t.
“My landlord. Well, he’s sort of like a family friend. But that part doesn’t matter. I know him! And he was here!”
“Wow. And he hasn’t been here before?”
“No. I didn’t think he’d be into . . .”
“A place like this? Why? Because it’s so cheap and nasty and sleazy?”
Jilly frowned. Why would she say that? “No, of course that’s not what I meant.”
Sasha waved her hand in the air with a sigh. “Don’t listen to me. My mom has been on my case to get a different job. She’s being relentless.”
“I’m so sorry. I still haven’t even told my mom. Honestly, I haven’t told anyone.”
“Including this family friend/landlord?”
“Yeah, including him.”
“I wouldn’t worry, I doubt he’d recognize you. Where was he sitting?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t notice him until he walked past.”
“To the bar?” Sasha asked.
“No, to the . . .” she trailed off.
“Private rooms? Right. Who was he with?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I’m probably better off not knowing.” Because she didn’t want to have to scratch the other woman’s eyes out.
“No doubt. So that’s why you’re upset? Because he might have recognized you? If he had, don’t you think he would have reacted?”
“Yeah, of course. You’re right.”
For some reason, she couldn’t tell Sasha all of it. That she’d had a crush on this guy forever. Still did.
And he’d broken her heart tonight.
Wow. Dramatic, much?
Besides, she knew what Sasha would say. She was basically the opposite of Jilly.
Where Jilly was romantic and looked at everything with rose-colored glasses, Sasha was practical and cynical.
She’d tell Jilly she was an idiot for lusting after a man for years. A man who had never shown any interest in return.
And Sasha would be right.
But that didn’t mean that Jilly wanted to hear it.
“Yeah, it just rocked me, is all.”
Sasha shrugged. “In a few months, you should be out of here, right?”
“I’m thinking about staying on a bit longer. Get some money into my savings.”
“Really? I thought you’d be out of here as soon as you could.” Sasha smirked.
“Well, if I keep seeing people I know, I might have to.”
“You could fast-track things by taking on some private dances. Someone offered you three times your fee the other night. You know, maybe I should stop offering them, and then people might offer me ridiculous amounts to give them private dances.”
“You must do all right.”
Sasha huffed out a breath. “Not as well as you’d think. I’ve got to go, it’s nearly time for me to go on. You sure you’ll be all right?”
“Yes, thanks for caring.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
Regent stared at his phone.
He’d sent Jilly a message three hours ago to let her know a plumber and builder would be starting on her bathroom the week after next.
But he’d heard nothing back.
Sure, it could take someone longer than an hour or two to reply. But not Jilly.
Typically, she answered within half an hour.
Perhaps he should go around there.
Anne had been concerned when Jilly wasn’t getting back to her. Was there a reason for him to worry?
Leaning his head back, he stared up at the ceiling. He was tired. That must be why he couldn’t get her out of his head.
That might also explain his obsession with Nyx. She was so different from Jilly that he didn’t really understand it.
She’d moved around the stage like no one else was there.
Sexy and confident.
Yeah, thoroughly different from Jilly. But still, both of them were occupying his head tonight.
He hadn’t talked to Santé about having a private moment with Nyx. It had felt wrong.