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I’m two steps out of the voyeur hall when I see him.
“Shit,” I mutter as I watch club owner Emerson Grant stride toward me with a sense of confidence that I’ve lately found incredibly irritating. Normally, I welcome any and all conversations with my old friend, but since he started harassing me last month, I dread it.
“Don’t run away,” he says in a cool, cocky command.
“I don’t have to listen to you,” I reply with snark.
With my head up, I walk right past him toward the bar. Geo lifts his gaze from the sink where he’s washing glasses and bites back a smile when he notices me blowing off the big guy himself.
I drop my clutch on the bar and settle myself on a stool. “Vodka martini, Geo.”
“You got it,” he replies. His eyes scan over my shoulder, where I know Emerson is following.
“Bourbon on the rocks,” he says, knocking on the counter with his knuckles once.
“You’re insufferable,” I say, tilting my head to stare up at him.
He takes the seat next to me and smiles as if this is so entertaining to him. “At least tell me you’ve given it some thought.”
“I don’t have to, Emerson. I told you I’m not interested.” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, my stomach twists with regret and anxiety. But I can’t let that show. If he sees even the slightest chink in my armor, he’ll tear my entire argument to shreds.
“I don’t believe you,” he replies.
Arrogant prick.
“I appreciate the offer. Really, I do. But I’m fine with my job as it is.”
He turns toward me, leaning one elbow on the bar as Geo sets our drinks in front of us. “Look, I’m desperate. The only one I have left is Garrett, and it’s only a matter of time before he and Mia start trying to have a family. I feel like I’m losing Hunter a little more every day. And Maggie’s been gone for nearly two years now. Even Ronan has a new baby at home. You’re the only one I would trust to bring on board.”
I try not to meet his gaze. It’s the pain of harboring secrets from the people I care about that makes eye contact a killer. So I stare straight down at my glass and try to hold it together.
Emerson doesn’t know about Jack. Besides Ronan, no one does. I made that promise to myself years ago before I started working at Salacious and collaborating with the owners. They ran the dating app, and I had my kink blog. I never saw the relationship evolving to where it is now. It just became too late to confess that I had a child of my own at home that I never happened to mention over the years.
When the club opened, Emerson was so impressed with my knowledge and popularity that he offered me a private room at the club to use for my own clients and business. I’ve never workedforSalacious. I’ve only workedatSalacious, which has been great. It gives me a safe space to work and brings in an abundance of business for the club too.
Ronan tried to convince me so many times to come clean, but I don’t think he understands what it’s like to be Madame KinkandEden St. Claire. There’s an invisible wall between my two lives that I can’t bring myself to cross. He and Daisy are the only people alive to have seen both.
Until two nights ago at the movie theater, that is.
“So, people with kids can’t own a sex club?” I ask with a curious smirk.
“Of course they can. But I don’t want to stretch Garrett too thin. And Hunter has two babies at home. He wants to spend more time with them.”
“I get the feeling you’re trying to make room for me, even if there isn’t any.”
He scoots closer and draws my eyes up from my glass so I’m forced to stare at him. “You might be right. That’s how much I want you on our team. You should be running this club with us, Eden, not working your ass off in these rooms every night. Plus, I know you have some ideas that you’re dying to share with me.”
I laugh, rolling my eyes.
“I can’t buy out a portion of the business, Emerson. I don’t have that kind of money, and I won’t take it from Ronan.”
“I know you won’t,” he replies as he leans back. “But I can hire you on as a club director. It would be a significant raise, Eden, which youdeserve.”
Forcing my gaze away from him, I swallow down the anxiety creeping its way up. Taking on a management role at the club would mean more work and more time away from Jack. But it would also mean more money for him too. At least now, I can create my own hours and work when he’s sleeping.
Emerson rests a heavy hand on my back. My jaw tightens as I fight the urge to take the job, if only because there is a part of me that really,reallywants it.
“Think about it,” he mumbles softly.
