And the men packing the place love them. They shell out bills and compliments like there’s a chance in hell one of these women will offer them more than they’re willing to pay for.
“Mr. Valinov.” A woman dressed in a slim cut suit and a pair of heels so high it’s hard to believe she’s still upright offers me a wide smile as she steps in front of me, blocking my path to the main floor. “What an unexpected surprise.”
Her expression is warm and serene. Surprising, considering she’s purposely keeping me from going into the club, which annoys me. “Does this club have an entry requirement I’m not aware of?”
The woman’s easy smile holds. “Of course not.” She motions to a guarded door on the other side of the bar. “I assumed you were looking for our VIP section.”
“I’m not.” I turn my eyes back to the swarm of bodies packing the area around the stages. The longer I stand here the angrier I get.
Duchess is here somewhere. Probably getting pawed all over by some prick with a wife and kids, out to enjoy all New York City has to offer.
The thought of Duchess offering someone else what she offered me sends me pushing my way into the room, driven by an intent I don’t care to name.
To his credit, Victor stays right by my side, dodging distracted bodies as we move deeper into the sweaty, sexually charged scene. Fighting for each step only sours my already foul mood more.
She made me a fool. Tricked me into believing she was something she’s not.
I’m not thinking about Frederick or the pawn I turned Duchess into.
That’s not what matters.
What matters is that she lied to me.
It wasn’t a wise decision.
Victor taps my arm, the contact barely noticeable over the anger feeding my need to find her and punish her. “There.” He points at a spot on the other side of the room.
Sure enough there she is, surrounded by a group of men much younger than me, each one grinning like a fool as they try to lean closer to her slim body, flirting in the hopes of catching her attention.
But Duchess isn’t flirting back.
If anything she looks annoyed by the attention as she tries to get drink orders from the unruly table.
I watch as she expertly dodges a hand attempting to grab at her ass, using the tray in her grip for added coverage over the spots her tiny black shorts don’t protect. Every movement she makes looks uncomfortable and awkward.
Even the smile plastered on her face.
It brings on a smile of my own.
I’m still not happy. Not by a long shot.
And Duchess still has to be dealt with.
But maybe things aren’t exactly what I thought.
I drag my eyes from her and lean into Victor’s ear as I turn back the way we came. “Get her.”
The woman from earlier smiles at me as I return to the spot she never left. I pass over my black AmEx. “Get me a private room.”