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A deep, guttural growl reverberates through my bones. “That asshole was a potential ally and now needs something to make up for this disastrous show.”
Pearl and Jasper stride in our direction. “We can handle it, Master Aris. He was cute, so you know I’ll show him a good time.” Pearl offers a seductive smile.
“You fucking better,” Alexander snaps. “Take one of your sisters with you and don’t disappoint me.” Turning to Jasper, he flashes his fangs. “Rush ahead and ensure the suite is ready for entertainment.”
Jasper nods and spins, running away without a second thought. Opal turns her attention to Alexander, and they share a few whispered words before she lifts Pearl into her arms and the two of them disappear, leaving me with Alexander.
I wobble, my legs aching and the pain getting to me the longer he stares at me in sizzling silence. I don’t know what to say, so I just try my best not to react under his scrutiny. This is the first time I’ve been alone with him since before getting taken to The Pala.
“Come on, Hayley. We’re going to my office to get you fixed up. I can’t have you limping around here and looking like easy prey.” Alexander growls with his words, his face refusing to soften. “There are a few things we need to go over as well.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Alexander grabs my wrist and yanks me with him. I cry out as his quick movements force me to put pressure on my ankle. I fall to my knees, tears burning my eyes, but he doesn’t bother picking me up and carrying me like Opal would. Instead, he drops my arm hard, slamming it to the hard floor and locks his fingers to my wig, yanking it to drag me. The pins holding it in place rip at my natural hair, and I flail, trying to hook my fingers to his arm to lessen the pain.
My hip skids across the tile, heating up, and then the floor turns to carpet, and the rough texture burns me. I can’t stop the sob from escaping my mouth as pain consumes me. Alexander manhandles me as a way to show me my place beneath him, but this is worse than usual. I don’t know exactly what goes on in his mind, but I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong to deserve this.
Alexander drags me all the way to his private backstage office, where he hides out when he’s not in the mood to deal with the staff or needs somewhere private to truly punish us for something he feels we’ve done wrong. I’ve only been in here once before three years ago when I fucked up and kissed someone on stage who was one of the backrow assholes. It was when I first started headlining after the star of our show aged out and didn’t know any better. I learned real quickly after that the expectations Alexander never thinks to share and just insists we know.
That’s the problem with him. I never know if something I do is wrong until it’s too late. I think he does it this way because the not-knowing and fear makes us less likely to push boundaries, which is true.
Until now.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, landing with my back on the floor. “What have I done wrong?”
Alexander slams his door shut and hits the electronic palm pad to lock it. “Are you that stupid, Hayley? Maybe I should knock some sense into you.”
“Wait, please—”
Alexander rips me from the ground, not giving me a chance to beg for his mercy and forgiveness. I land with my stomach on his lap, and he yanks down the bloody bottoms of my costume and whacks me so hard on the ass that I see stars. I tense, my muscles clenching, trying to brace myself for his next hit, but nothing prepares for the paddle he swipes from his desk, the sharp metal studs intended to make me bleed.
Agony swells from my ass cheek, burning over my skin with the force of his punishment, the humiliation of him treating me like this just as bad as the act itself. I gasp and cry, trying to stifle my sobs. I can barely think straight, his beating of my body worse than anything he’s ever done. This is worse than getting struck with Mr. Pala’s cane.
I’m afraid this might be it. He might’ve become fed up with me and no longer thinks I’m worth the trouble to keep around.
“Alexander, please,” I whisper, managing to find my voice. “Please. I’m sorry for anything I’ve done wrong. Forgive me. Tell me what I can do to make things better.”
Alexander sighs and stops paddling me. He flips me over, causing me to wince, and without even having to see my ass, I know it’s raw and bleeding, his strength damaging me worse than if a donor had done such a thing.
He hugs me with tears shining in his eyes. “My baby doll. I didn’t want to have to do this. You’ve always been such a good girl.”
My lip quivers, my body wanting nothing more than to breakdown and cry harder. He’s so twisted, and there is nothing I can do about it. He claims he didn’t want to have to punish me, and I can’t even call him out. He’ll do worse. I know it. I can feel it deep in my bones.
“I wish I knew what has gotten into you, Hayley. You haven’t been trying your best. You’ve ruined more than one show in the last few weeks. Not to mention, I heard you didn’t do a great job at The Pala. I’ve heard rumors that you were a disgrace and cried instead of being the tough, sexy woman I’ve raised you to be.” He purses his lips and searches my eyes. “There have also been whispers among the staff that you’ve been seen hanging around those Bella Crew assholes by the pool. I’d expect that from the others—I know they’re good looking and bad boys are irresistible—but you have standards, my baby doll. I’d hate to see you fall as your mother had. It’s why I’m so tough on you.”
His words stun me, stealing away my ability to think. He’s lost his mind. We’ve never had this sort of discussion. None of the other performers face this kind of bullshit, and I’m not the only heir of a former performer. Emerald is too, except her mom still lives here and has retired and was allowed to accept a union with one of the donor cooks to have children.
“I wouldn’t, Alexander. I know her mistakes. Please, you have to trust me. I’m not like her. I live for you and this show. There is nothing going on with me. I was hanging out with Mya by the pool and then was taken when I was going back to my room. Maybe one of the staff mistook Perry for one of the Bella Crew? He acted like he was kidnapping me.” I shift on his lap, wishing he’d stop forcing me to put some much pressure on my injuries. It stops me from getting my tears under control.
His face softens at my explanation. “I suppose that could’ve been the case, but it doesn’t explain why you underperformed at The Pala. Our contract with that hotel is important. I should be hearing nothing but praise.”
I break, my hurt shifting into anger as I think about Mr. Pala and his cane. It takes everything in me not to scream that he’s out of his damn mind. If I had known what the hell was happening, I could’ve been better prepared. Instead, I was just taken and dropped off somewhere unfamiliar and basically told to spread my legs and give the men a good time.
“Of course I fucking cried,” I snap, digging my nails into the palms of my hands. “Mr. Pala humiliated me. He hit me with his cane. The guests there wanted him to fuck me with it. They wanted to hear me scream and beg. He said that it was my job to please the crowd. I—couldn’t do that.”
Alexander groans and shakes his head. “Of course you could’ve, baby doll. You’re the best actress I know. I wouldn’t have negotiated a contract like that had I thought otherwise. You know what you’re doing and how to please. I’m sure Mr. Pala wouldn’t have gotten rough with you had you behaved. You know how it is. Assholes have the need to flex their power. It’s your fault if you thought you could test a stranger.”
I heave a few breaths, my stomach twisting. “Are you kidding me? You know I wa—am a virgin.”
