The Runaway Viper (Viper #2) (14 page)

"Your drinks," I broke into the chat of a five men who sit at one of the tables situated in the middle of the room. I placed their drinks down upon the oak table top, feeling their eyes indulge upon my scantily dressed body.

"
Well look at this piece of fine ass again, men," one of them spoke, slapping my butt in return. The sound of his palm hitting me was loud, resounding and unforgiving all at once. I closed my eyes as his hand slid over my skin until he was able to grab my hip and pull me in close.

I had to take this one. I couldn't argue, I wasn't shielded, and I certainly had no right to exercise my right to morals and appropriate treatment. I felt him pull me closer, his other hand touching me. He pushed his lips to my skin, hitting the hem of my sheer jumpsuit. My eyes fluttered closed, and I didn't feel desire linger from deep within, I just felt humiliated. The nausea washed over me, attacking me hideous waves of pressure.

"I think I found my girl," the man kissing me joked, pulling me down onto his lap. He kissing into my neck, biting upon me as if to claim me his and I just took it not thinking about how I truly felt.

"Sorry, Gentlemen, but Joely is merely a display model. You can touch all you like, but she is for public consumption for the time being." Clara’s appearance is welcomed and the client releases me ever so slightly. “She’s just our drink server. Look all you want, want all you want, but you can’t have her quite yet."

"Well then we all want her double and a room," one of the moguls joked heartily, winking at me from his seat across the table. "She's perfect."

I look at Clara as they speak, and I see her gaze slowly
raise to look at me, a smile twisting upon her perfectly red lips. "Yes, she sure is." She puts her hand out for me; I take it and the client releases me. “Stick around and she might be yours sooner rather than later.”

The moment I’m free, the dirt sets in. His hands have stained me, sickened me with each rub and touch he issued me with. She pulls me away to the bar, and I find Eli with a fierce glare frozen on me. He looks positively livid over what just happened.

“See, this is why I wanted you on the floor,” Clara announces merrily. “You are what they all want. Even now, with Cassidy as my only head girl, you and Brianna are the two they predominantly want. The moment you two enter the room, attention is all on you.” She’s scolding me for not wanting to be here, but that’s a statement I’ve made abundantly clear since day one. “And you behaving like a damp cloth will not gain you any points in my books. You need to show them you want them as much as they want you even when you don’t.”

“Ms.
Delvine, if I may?” Josh’s voice eases into my mind, interrupting Clara’s slating of my behavior. “Sorry to interrupt, but I was shocked to see Joely back and I do believe Joely was mine before you terminated our time with her due to her absence. Now she’s back, I would appreciate having my slots back with her.”

“I’ll have to look into that.” Clara keeps her poise and conduct in front of Josh. “It might take a few days, but it’s definitely something I can look into.”

“See to it,” Josh remarks sternly. “Plus I have another client who could benefit from her ways.”

I glance just behind Josh, and my heart stammers. I look directly at my
brother, and my eyes water heavier than ever. I rival with myself, fighting for them to stay away. If they fail, my game’s up.  He gives me a quick, sympathetic gaze, and his soft stare is almost my undoing. What’d I give right now to not be in front of my little brother, barely dressed and under the controls of my boss.

“
Ahh, a new client?” Clara asks and puts her hand out to my brother. “Clara Delvine, boss of this establishment.”

“Wyatt Smith,” Spencer steps in and falsely introduces to himself. “I’m a new business associate of Josh’s, and he’s been keen to show me the club.” He continues to play along, stepping in to introduce himself probably by kissing Clara’s hand. “I can see your girls are the best New York has to offer.”

“They’re the finest,” Clara declares proudly. “And Joely was always one of our head girls.” She practically preens beside me. “She seems to have a lot of male attention,” Clara flounces, pulling me close to her side. “As I said, she was one of the head girls. She’s a very desirable lady.”

“I’m willing to pay whatever for her,” Spencer speaks up, putting his hand into the inside of his blazer.

And just like that Clara’s face ignites, the dollar signs fall before her, and I’m initiated back as Viper Girl.

“No need for that just yet, Mr. Smith. For tonight, she is only allowed on the club floor,” Clara announces, trying to strive for optimism. “But we’ll have her room ready for your next visit.”

“Fine,” Josh interjects. “We both want some time with her. We expect her to make our time here as exciting as possible.”

“Of course,” Clara agrees and smiles gleefully. “Joely, take the men up to booth number three and I’ll have Eli bring over some champagne for you to enjoy. Would you like me to draw up a contract for you, Mr. Smith?”

“Yes, please,” Spencer accepts, willing to take a place here. “I can see I’ll like it here.”

“Excellent. I’ll have it all
aranged before you leave,” Clara obliges with utter courtesy. “Please, take a seat.”

“I’ll show you which booth,” I herald and look to Clara who nods for me to continue. I walk past her, feeling both men follow. As we head to the booth, I can feel how clammy my skin is.
It’s prickling with sweat, the anticipation dancing across my entire body. As we get to our seats, I slip in and go to the back as Josh takes to my right side, and Spencer takes my left. “You shouldn’t be here,” I whisper trying to settle between Josh and Spencer.

“Nor should you,” he scolds under his breath, putting his arms on the back of the booth, lounging out. He gives a wave over to Clara who beams at him. “So that’s the bitch who’s kept you away from us, is it?”

“Yes,” I admit coyly and tuck a few strands of hand behind my ear. I gulp, look at Josh, and am glad to find his entire concentration on me. “Eli said Jace isn’t resting.”

“Do you blame him?” Josh asked, chortling at me. I give a tight smile, which works as Clara looks at me with delight at how I am treating these two men. “Jo, he’s a mess. Bit like you are. What has she done to you?”

“Nothing,” I abruptly tell him, and both he and my brother scoff. “What about Mom and Dad?” I ask and look to Spencer. I try to keep my alertness and panic down to a minimal. I don’t want Clara to catch on. I need both these men right now. “Dad doesn’t hate me, does he?”

“No!” Spencer retorts. “He’s with Jace right now. He wanted to come, but Jace was sure she’d recognize Dad over me.” He puts his hand under the table, taking my hand. “What do we tell them?”

“That I’m surviving,” I quip blankly as Eli comes over.

“Ms.
Delvine asked if everything was okay,” Eli asks, looking between both men, playing his part well too.

“Eli-” I stop him, “Tell her I said thank you.” He takes the bait and nods his head in an affirmative.  I know Clara, she works on a reward scheme only – you praise her, the better she treats you. You do otherwise, and you’ll know the payback.

When he gets behind the bar, I see Clara sat there, watching carefully, and I decide to release my inner Viper Girl. I toy with Josh’s hair, twiddling it between my fingers. It’s easy to give into chemistry with Josh. I can make it believable, but only because we were always so playful around one another. With Spencer it will be a totally different matter at hand.

“She’s watching,” I whisper, putting a small seductive smirk on my lips. The entire time I remember being here with Jace. Josh leans in, playing with my hair as he speaks sweet disguised bullshit at me.

“I really, really wish I could have brought Jace here to do this instead of me,” he speaks, making it look seductive, when really I’m trying my hardest not to emit some burst of happiness.

“And if Dylan could see you now enjoying this, he’d kill you,” I joke, making the tension lessen somewhat.

“And your brother’s right here,” Spencer breaks in quietly. “He’ll kill you too, Josh.”

I laugh, so does Josh as he sits back, trying to put my attention onto Spencer without creeping him out. I hate that he has to see me here, as I am. I then turn away, grabbing the champagne to pour us three glasses.

“I say we toast,” I announce, sitting back and handing them a glass each. “To new contracts.”

Josh raises his glass, “And to freedom.”

Even though I toast, I don’t believe in Josh’s statement. How can I? But I do believe in the first part. I look at Clara who just stares at me with utmost pride. When she sees me take a sip of my drink, she gets up and disappear. I just have to settle into this and hope that I don’t draw a lot of attention – something I seem to be failing at as I see the table I last served staring at me.

I gulp down my alcohol and go straight for another glass allowing the alcohol to flood my veins and Josh and Spencer to lead this moment.

“You’re requested at the salon.” Clara approaches me as I rub glasses down to add that extra shine. “I want you ready for a reintroduction later.”

“Excuse me?” I ask, confused at the sudden changing of events. “I was told I was behind the bar.”

“And I’m telling you now you’re going to the salon. I have a top hair dresser waiting and the makeup designer waiting alongside them. You’re going to go, get pampered, and join the other girls. You’ll be the last out, but I expect nothing but your old standard.” She doesn’t give me a chance to argue, even as a part of me gears up. “Benson is waiting for you. Don’t disappoint me now.”

She walks off and Eli just shoulder bumps me. When I look up to him, he nods his head to the door, gesturing me to go and I know I have to. It’s barely been two weeks since I was thrown into the deep end and I’m definitely not feeling ready for the ultimate showcasing. As I leave the venue, I give one
more chaste glance over my shoulder to Eli, before I fully leave. Every time I feel like I’m walking to my death, just waiting for Clara to trip me, howl in humor and cast me into the bowels of hell. Yet it hasn’t happened yet, and I need to believe it won’t.

Even once I’m sitting in the back of the Bentley, Benson not even saying a word, I feel like the trepidation trickling upon me is because this is the final race to my slaughter. With every ticking moment, I feel hounded by ghosts and taunted by wild scenarios of what’s to come. I don’t want to live everyday like this. I don’t want to feel hunted when I’ve already been caught.

I close my eyes, but as I do the car pulls to a halt, and my eyes snap open.

“Don’t worry, Joely,” Benson chortles from the front seat. “We’re not going to kill you.”

I laugh nervously, looking forward to see him watching me in the middle mirror.

“You need to relax a bit. From what I’ve heard, Clara’s at her happiest to have you back. She won’t do anything to jeopardize that.” His words are so full with honesty; I remember why he and Shads were always my
favorites out of Clara’s stupid can of guards. “Plus, you were always my favorite girl. Go in and I’ll see you later for the pick up.”

“Thanks, Benson.” I appreciate his words and quickly get out of the car. I pull my bag onto my shoulder in a bid to wash away some of my nervous energy and then I cover the small space
between the car and salon door. I can see through the glass, all the girls are enjoying themselves. Steeling myself, I walk in and as people spot me, they become quiet.

“
Well look what the cat dragged in!” Cassidy cries as I step in, the door chiming with my welcome. “Oh, sorry, what the dog dragged in.” She then giggles. “What do you want, dog?”

“Clara sent me to get ready for the party,” I comment. I don’t even have the energy to summon a response to Cassidy’s callous
behavior. She can be the bitch, but I won’t lower myself to her level. I don’t want to be here, and from a lot of people’s faces I can tell they don’t want me here either.

“So what is this?
Your initiation party?” Luca asks, her voice a drone of nonsensical emotions. “You get to live the free life, ruin it for us, and then within a few weeks get a spot back in the club.”

“Hardly seems fair,” one of the new girls sneers.

It’s gotten so bad that I don’t even know everyone’s names. I’ve tried to introduce myself to them, but they’ve all turned on me. If they didn’t attack me, then they blanked me. No one but Brianna speaks to me. If this is what loneliness feels like then I wish I could have prepared more. Sure, I have Eli and Brianna around and Josh and Spencer on my client list, but when I’m thrown into the pit and the door is locked the solitude becomes me.

“I didn’t ask to come back,” I snap involuntarily. “I definitely didn’t ask to be one of you again, so you might hate me being here, but I hate it as well. So we’re all in the same boat.”

Cassidy stands from her seat and approaches me. She’s in a white robe; her hair pulled back which tells me she’s taking advantage of the services more now than ever.  She approaches me; lips poised in a pout, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

“We are not in the same boat. We girls stick together, we protect one another and look out for one another, but you, Joely Gilbert, are the outcast. You’re the girl who will never have a family here. You deserve all you get for abandoning us when you were always the front runner for keeping us all together. You left and you lost that right.” She tilts her head at me. “Let’s just hope that husband of yours doesn’t give up hope and abandon you. Although, I never knew what he saw in you.” She shrugs and then rolls her shoulders, tensing her face up as she does so. “I’m so pleased I get a massage. I get to work out some of the tension you’ve given me.”

She flicks her hair my way before sashaying away and demanding she get a massage now. I’m pleased when I’m ushered off to a salon chair on the other side of the room. I don’t mind the isolation really. It gets to me, but when I look in the mirror at them all, I can tell a few things. None of them are particular friends; no one’s a family unit anymore. I might have destroyed that, but I had good reason to. It’s laughable - if it hadn’t been me, then one of the others girl would have taken as much opportunity as possible to escape. My time just happened to come sooner.

I catch Brianna watching me, and it’s only when our gazes meet in the reflection she gives me a wink. I smile warmly. I can cope with losing them all, but Brianna will always have a special part in me. She did wrong, we’ve been over that, but I cannot hold a grudge forever. I still
haven’t lost Jace, no matter what anyone thinks. If anything I have gained since being forced back. Brianna and I cleared the air, Josh has stuck by me, Jace is fighting for me, and my family hasn’t given up on me, even though they know what I am.

I bristle when I hear my name whispered between the girls. They’re having quite the bitch session behind me, but I just allow the hairdresser to wash my hair, cut it and style it ready for my Viper Girl transformation. A couple of times, Brianna has stepped in and so has Alex, another of the high ranking girls. Alex even tells them I was beaten by a client shortly before I left, that had I not hit the panic button, I’d have died. It’s nice to know not everyone resents me.

After that, the new girls look at me differently, but only when Cassidy isn’t around. It’s like she’s got some sort of hold on them all. They’re her victims, powerless and ready for acceptance. It was never like that for me. I only ever wanted them to feel a part of something other than a trap.

Like it mattered because now Luca hates me and I don’t see that changing unless I get the opportunity to avenge everything that’s happened. That’s unthinkable and laughable all at once. I close my eyes and beg myself to enjoy being looked after and pampered. I allow myself only to visualize my parents, brother and sister, and Jace, my family merging into one.

“C’mon, girlie!” Brianna breaks into my thoughts. I haven’t even looked at how much time has passed. When the hairdresser finished pinning my hair up into a messy bun, she left me alone.

When the dresses arrive, I gear myself for looking last. I don’t want to see what awful gown I’ve been left with. I was always used to the best; it was a reward I loved most about my high ranking.  Now I don’t know what my bottom luck will be. I imagine crudely sewn horrors, masterpieces woven with barbwire, barely there dresses.

“Oh my,” Cassidy’s gasps as she pulls a dress and I think about the dress she’s been given. “How is this fair?” Her next action is to come straight at me, the dress in hand, murder in her eyes. “What have you done to deserve this dress?”

“I did nothing,” I utter, trying to steer my nerves to calmer place.

“Well clearly you did,” Cassidy snipes and throws the dress at me.

It’s entirely made of an unusual material and immediately I know I’m holding an
Elie Saab original. His dresses have always been my favorite, long before Clara dressed me in them. It’s light in color, a pop of bright peach, and hangs loosely apart from the silk ribbon around the waist, pulling it in for definition. The moment I look up I have a makeup artist telling me what color eye shadow would look divine with it, which lip color would make me pop.

Shortly after I’m finished, I grab myself a glass of champagne. Now I’m dolled up, makeup and hair ready, the dress waiting to be worn, and I feel talons of nerves begin to flick at me, gripping me tightly. I allow the alcohol to drain into my system, not stopping at all.

I watch Luca from my spot across the room. She panders to every one of Cassidy’s whims like a panting puppy at her feet. She laughs at ever joke, answers every question, tries to evolve to be a miniature version of Cassidy. It sickens me. If I knew this would all unravel I would never have just abandoned the club, my position, them.

Brianna comes over and sits with me. She doesn’t speak, just hands me another glass of champagne. We sit in equal silence, no longer is it awkward and wary between us. We’re back on an even tandem with one another. I’ve forgiven and forgotten her sins, and she holds none over me.

“Luca told me my leaving is what changed everything for all of you girls.” I gaze down at my hands. “I’m sorry for that.”

Brianna puts her hand onto mine. “It changed it, sure, but it just hastened the speed of something already set in motion.” She gives my hand a squeeze, and I force myself to look up. “Clara just used her anger toward your disappearance as a reason to tighten the reign on us. She gets full reward for making that club what every man wants. There are no limitations.”

I bite my lip, wondering if this is unchartered territory I shouldn’t approach, but I need to. “Have you ever been forced into my old room?” I ask, and I feel a thunder of anticipation rumble through me. My old room is like some torture chamber now. Cassidy seems to love domination, but when it comes to clients she loves the submission, so the room is clearly fit for her. I just wanted to know how many men are that way inclined with their fetishes and fantasies.

“Once,” she counts, holding her index finger up at me. “I made such a lousy submissive to him, he cut the session short and threw me out,” she chortles at her own disapproval. “Too disobedient for him, and he couldn’t even tolerate it! Not like Christian Grey,” she muses teasingly. “That man loved a disobedient wench. Some men just don’t know a good thing when they get it.”

I have to laugh. This is like the old Brianna. The woman she was before she was riddled with devilish bargains and addictive substances. She has that pizzazz and I-just-don’t-care attitude. If a man didn’t want her, she never lost any sleep over it. She never saw it as her loss and clearly that part of her has never changed.

“Cassidy is the one they all want,” Brianna admonishes and screws her faced up. “Don’t know why. The girl grunts when she comes. It’s not a turn on.” Brianna laughs loudly when I look at her in horror. “It’s true! She’s so loud when I was at her apartment block before with Alex, she was with some man she picked up in a bar and it was all night long and just grunt and groans. She never got a second date.”

“I think that’s more to do with her personality,” I counter and shrug, trying to keep myself from laughing.

“God, I’ve missed you!” Brianna declares and suddenly throws her arms around me, tightening them around my body. “I love having you back, but you need some meat on your bones. I’m sure Jace won’t like you this skinny.”

“I don’t get a social life remember. I’m in the pit until opening hours and back in there when we close. I don’t get proper food. Only what Eli brings me.”

“I think that’ll change after tonight. Why else would Clara have you dressed to the nines, looking gorgeous and ready to bring you to a party?”

Total humiliation
is my first thought, but then I wonder if there’s been so much interest in me being a client’s Viper Girl that maybe, just maybe, she wants to reinstate me permanently. It’d sure make a better living than I’m in right now. I have to take small mercies where I can.

“C’mon,” Brianna gestured. “Let’s go get our dresses on. Like old times.”

Like old times
. That hits me hard. We used to be at our peak with the club, now we’re both the ones who occupy the bottom level of the viper chain. We used to rule the roost without unwittingly knowing we did it. We used to have power and attention, now we’re just pushed aside and forgotten. So this time I decide to give myself to the old times and allow Brianna to grab our dresses, so we can get changed and help one another with the finishing touches.

We face away, but when we both have the dresses on, we’re each other’s first to give the nod of approval. Brianna looks magnificent in this cream dress. I look at myself and worry about the dress I’m in. I’m not sure if it’s a bribe or something to soften whatever blow Clara is powering up for.

She ushers me out of the back room excitedly, and we walk the small corridor. Already I feel my heels pinching slightly and remind myself why I hate brand new high heels I haven’t chosen. I feel my body prickle with coldness, panicking over the others’ reaction to how clients will react tonight.

When I come out into the main room of the salon, I have to admit I feel a million dollars, and apparently from the silent
gawps of everyone, I look it. It’s the first time I feel attractive since getting dressed up to free my husband. I needed this to get through the party with the same feeling.