Chapter 15 Entertainment
ALICE
This 'professional' outing didn't sit well with me.
I was suspicious. I had a feeling that he mentioned it would be a professional setting just to get me to go with him, but what could I do? This asshole was my boss, and I couldn't say no to him.
I had to go even though I was sure that he was lying to me. If he said it was part of the job,
Why would there be a professional event when it wasn't marked on the calendar? He would've told me about it a long time ago.
This was all bullshit and I knew it.
My suspicion was confirmed when the driver stopped in front of a nondescript building. From the outside, I couldn't tell what kind of establishment it was.
A hotel? A bar? A commercial space?
I glanced at Mr. Linden-Hawthorne, but he wasn't looking at me anymore. He got out of the car and I did the same, walking hesitantly behind him while tightening my hold around my clutch.
It was freezing out here. The cold seeped through the thick material of my coat. I hurried to get inside. He said a few words to the security guard in Finnish, and then the doors were opened for us.
What was this place?
I practically froze at the door. What the hell was this? This was a whole ass club! From the outside, nobody could tell a thing, but there were countless bodies on the dance floor, vibing to techno music, and judging by the way everyone was dressed, this wasn't a place where just anyone could be granted admission.
I glared at the back of my shit boss's head and he must've sensed me glaring at him because he stopped, then turned his head to look at me.
"I don't appreciate being deceived," I said loudly so he could hear me over the music.
"Relax, Miss Rhodes," he claimed before making his way to my side. "Have a drink."
I replied through my teeth, "No. Thank you."
He shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself."
"I'd like to go back to the Airbnb."
"When I'm ready to go, I'll let you know."
I scoffed as he turned his back to me and disappeared through the crowd. The humiliation I felt burned, and all I could think of doing was throwing my clutch at his head. The bastard did this on purpose! This was a show of dominance, nothing more.
Fuck him. Fuck Theodore Linden-Hawthorne.
I stood by the entrance, lost and annoyed, arms folded across my chest. It wasn't long before the air got stuffy, so I removed my coat and held it in my hands while looking around and wondering what to do.
I didn't want a drink, that much I was sure of. After the New Year's Eve incident, I swore to never drink again. If I'd been sober, so many things would have been avoided. I was sure of it.
For several minutes, I occupied myself by looking around and observing the dancing bodies. I couldn't lie that I didn't feel like throwing my arms in the air, downing a whole bottle of wine, and dancing until my body forced me to stop. But this place just reminded me of Emma and how we used to do this once a month.
The whole time, I had no idea I was dealing with a snake.
She wanted my life. My job. My fiancé.
What an envious cow.
I felt emotional all of a sudden. I suspected that it was not only because I was irritated by my asshole boss's schemes but also because I tried calling my parents earlier to wish Rory a happy birthday, and they didn't pick up.
This was pure torture. They knew how much my brother meant to me, yet, they were punishing me.
It was hard for me not to feel angry and betrayed by their behavior. Fuck, they didn't even care about hearing my side of the story.
I didn't need all this extra shit making me feel worse.
Deciding that I was tired of standing near the door, I decided to look for a bathroom or something. Someplace where I could sit down and wait for Mr. Linden-Hawthorne to be done partying.
"Miss Rhodes?"
I whirled around and saw Mr. Steimer standing behind me. He approached with a broad smile and looked over my shoulder. "It is you, isn't it? I'm surprised to see you. Is Theo here?"
"Yes," I replied before clearing my throat. "He's...around here somewhere."
He laughed. "Well, this is awkward! I invited him and he never got back to me. Look, I love Theo, I really do, but he can be such a dick."
I had to agree with him there. He was a dick all the time, though.
He brought the glass up to his lips and watched me. Despite the fact that I knew he was just trying to get in my pants, seeing him was better than coming across my boss. "I'm surprised he let you out of his sight."
I shrugged. I didn't really know what to say to him. I didn't like what he was implying.
"Are you okay? You don't look like you're having any fun."
"I'm not."
"Why?"
"I mean, I'm here with my boss. I'm not exactly comfortable with the thought of..."
He arched a brow as he took out a cigar from the inner pocket of his blazer. "...loosening up?"
"I guess so."
He placed his empty glass on the tray of a passing waiter, then dug for a lighter in his other pocket. He lit his cigar and watched me with an expression that made me a little nervous. "I see. Oh, I understand perfectly now."
I arched a brow. "Understand what?"
He looked around before stepping closer to me. The smoke from his cigar stung my eyes and my throat. "Can I let you in on a little secret? I'm allergic to sadness and boredom, and you're the perfect picture of both. Let me cheer you up."
I immediately felt uneasy. "How would you do that, Mr. Steimer?"
"Todd," he corrected. "Come with me. I'll show you."
"I don't know..."
He threw an arm over my shoulder and started dragging me with him. "There's no reason for you to be scared. You want to be entertained? I'm the right man to do it."
We weaved through the crowd. I didn't see Mr. Linden-Hawthorne anywhere. Not that I was actively looking. We passed another bar, then stopped in front of a staircase leading to a room below.
"What's down there?"
"Entertainment."
I met his gaze. "What kind of entertainment?"
His eyes darkened and he sucked on the end of his cigar. "Curious?"
"A little."
"Then come along. I assure you that you won't be disappointed."
I made the decision to head down the stairs with them, ignoring the way the red lighting made me nervous. The closer we got, the more my thoughts became scattered. What would be down there? Another dance floor? I had a feeling it had to be something more obscure. Something that explained why this section was sealed off from the main one.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I understood.
What. On. Earth?
The room wasn't all that big, and I couldn't see anyone's face in the crowd because the stage was the only part of the room that was lit.
"How about that?" he asked in a low voice, his cold lips touching my earlobe. "Is this fun enough for you?"
I didn't know what to say to him, so I said nothing.
As shocked as I was, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene before me. A man and a woman were on a bed in the center of the stage, both naked, and he was fucking her savagely. Her hands were cuffed to the bed frame, and her legs were spread apart. There were clamps on her nipples, and I could see how red the skin on her chest was.
I couldn't believe my eyes.