“You’re overdressed,” he comments as he holds the door for me.
“Not for long,” I toss over my shoulder as I head to the VIP room.
Leni’s waiting for me at the VIP bar. She’s dressed more like security in head-to-toe black. It’s early, and a handful of staff are back here, including the bartender, who nods at me in recognition. I return the gesture.
“Cam, can I get a—“
“Vodka soda coming up.”
I grin, turning back to Leni.
“See? Like coming home,” she says.
Maybe she’s right. It already feels better. As if parts of me are waking up. I remember how hungry I was only a year ago, how every show was shiny and new and a chance to do what I loved.
“How’d you get a thousand people to wear skin with three hours’ notice?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Convincing young, beautiful, drunk people to get naked? Not that hard. And I told them Little Queen would be here to show them the way.”
I reach for the belt of my trench coat and shrug out of it.
Cam the bartender is at my side with the vodka soda, but he freezes when I toss the coat on a nearby chair. “Jesus.”
“Venus,” I correct.
“Birth of Venus, actually,” Leni goes on, scanning me admiringly.
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror over the bar. The custom lace bodysuit matches my skin tone. I bought it to wear under another costume, but I figured tonight called for something simple. The effect is definitely provocative.
On my feet are nude platform sandals. My blond hair is straight, hanging in slow waves to cover my breasts. My eyes are lined dark, and my lips are sheer.
It’s more than hot.
And sure, maybe I wanted to push Harrison’s buttons, to remind him he can’t jerk me around anymore without getting jerked right back.
Sue me.
I reach for my vodka soda and take a congratulatory sip.
“Can I get you anything else, Raegan? Miss Queen? Fuck,” Cam mumbles.
Leni pinches his cheek. “Sweetie. You’re cute. But if the boss comes down here, you’re gonna have to put those eyes back in, or he’ll rip them out and keep them.”
Cam gulps and heads back to the bar.
Leni laughs silently. “You do look fucking incredible.”
“Thanks. I’m missing one thing.” I reach into my bag, pulling out my headphones. I loop them around my neck, the cord secured. “There.”
She shakes her head.
“What?” I prompt.
“Just deciding if I should call Harrison or wait for him to find out.”
My smile dies. “He doesn’t know I’m here?”
Her brows shoot up. “Honey, I didn’t ask the boss. Think he has a business dinner tonight. Maybe he’ll swing by after.”
Shit. I assumed Harrison was in on this and had his own reasons for not calling me. But he didn’t know…
I catch sight of myself in the mirror once more.
It’s too late to worry about what he’ll think about it. Two thousand people in the next room need entertainment. And I won’t let them, or the staff of the place that made me, down.