I heaved a sigh as yet another of my potential bosses called me to tell me that they would not be able to hire me.
I just couldn't understand it. They had all been happy with me at the interviews. Why the sudden change now? It made no sense to me.I sighed, at least there was still the club, although I didn't want to work there, it was beginning to look like I had no other choice.The owner, Kevin, had asked me to come in tonight, which I found a little odd. The ad had stated I would be doing admin, so why would they want me to go in at night?Regardless of how I felt about it, I clearly didn't have any other choice left but to go in.I hurriedly got dressed before leaving to get there on time.And boy, was I surprised when I walked in.It was packed, which I had expected. What surprised me was the naked girls dancing on poles. And the naked girls walking around on stages. And the barely dressed waitresses.What the hell had I just walked into?Before I could turn around and make my great escape, Kevin came over to me.He wore a simple black suit, his hair jelled up into dangerous-looking spikes."Kenzie! So glad to see you, come with me."I followed him, not wanting to be rude while keeping my head down."Here you are.""Wait. What?" I looked around the dressing room. Why was I in the dressing room?I looked at him, "Why am I in the dressing room?"He looked at me as if it was obvious, "You start work tonight, babe.""Admin. The ad said, admin."He laughed loudly, "Oh, you poor naive girl. No. Dancing. But obviously, we will ease you into that, so tonight stick to waitressing, and keep the bored one's company. Maybe do a few stage walks."I could feel my chest tightening in horror, "I can't... This... No, I-""You're pretty, you'll make a lot on tips. Are you sure you want to pass this up?"Shit."Um... Wait. Can I waitress for a few days and decide?""Sounds fair. Four days and then I want you up there or out of my club."I nodded."Pick anything that's your size." He said before walking out.I felt sick to my stomach, but after the day I had with all the rejections, I didn't have much of a choice.I chose a very short black dress that had a corset-style toppiece.It just barely covered, but it was still the most non-revealing item I could find.There were no flat shoe options either, so I left my own black heels on instead of the sky-high options that would probably break my neck.With a heavy sigh, I walked out and was immediately met with a blond wearing a pink bikini top with a tiny flared tutu. Her hair was blond with the left side having red ombre and the right having green."Took you long enough. Name?""Uh, Kenzie.""No, honey, we don't use our real names out here.""Oh? I don't know then."She sighed, "Don't worry, we all started out like you. Pick something sexy and cute, or fun. Easy to remember. I'm Jazzy.""Uh, right." "Sultry Sundae. That's what we're calling you. Come." She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the club.I wanted to point out that I was far from sultry, but I doubted it would do any good."Did you see who went into one of the rooms?!" Squealed a redhead, I had forgotten her name after my sixth drink.
Shifts were over and the girls were having drinks, I had wanted to go straight home but they wouldn't hear any of it, so I was here in the back room of the inventory, and very drunk."Who?" A brunette named Candy asked."Wyatt Grimes."I spat out my drink in shock, "What?"All eyes were now on me."I'm just curious. He has a girlfriend.""That does not stop them," Piper commented.Wyatt had come in here? When? Why? With who?"He took Cherry in with him."Who the hell was Cherry? I hadn't met her.Jazzy scoffed, "No wonder she disappeared," she turned to me, "He used to come in here all the time for her. She's so in love with him. She doesn't give a damn that he will never settle down with her."Candy nodded, "She has it bad," she scrunched up her nose looking at me suddenly, "You know, Cherry actually looks a bit like you."I could feel the color draining from my face, suddenly I wasn't feeling so good, "What?" The girls were all nodding and adding their agreements to this.Shit. Wyatt was coming in here and picking a girl that looked like me? Surely that was only a coincidence. It had to be."I think I better get home." I got to my feet."What's up with you? Your mood soured the moment we mentioned Grimes.""Uh, he's my ex-fiance's father," I responded while fishing my phone out of my bag.Before I could do or say another word, I doubled over emptying the contents of my stomach."Oh, God. Okay, girls, go home. I'll sort her out." Jazzy said."Not a big drinker, huh?"I shook my head."Can I call someone to take you home?"I shook my head again. I had no clue how I was going to get home."Do you know your address?" "What kind of question is that? Of course, I do.""Give it to me, let's get you home."×WYATT× Returning from my meeting, I sank down into my office chair, turning to stare out of the floor-to-ceiling windows that served as walls along one side of my office.I looked out over the city and found my mind wandering to Kenzie. I couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't come to see me about a job.I had made sure every potential job had turned her down.It was the only way to make sure she came to me.But it had been a week and still, there had been no sign of her.Did she hate me after what had happened years ago on her twenty-first birthday?I thought back to that night, the way her shirt and black dress had clung to every part of her body. The way her legs looked so long with those heels on her feet.But what stood out more was the feel of her soft skin against mine.I shook my head, Caleb was a fool for cheating on her. She was young and beautiful, she had a good heart. There was no reason to fuck it up.But, no, my son didn't fall very far from the tree it appeared, and
×WYATT× I was seated in the plush seat of the VIP room. My anger had me seething. How dare she do this? Why had she not come to me? I had offered her a job.The door opened and slammed shut as Kenzie stormed in."What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She snapped at me."Paying for a dance. That is your job now, isn't it?"Her eyes narrowed at me and I could see she was angry, she may have been quiet, but she had one hell of a temper when pushed."What are you doing here? Why did you pick me to come in here? To humiliate me?"I sighed, "I come in here often. What can I say, I wanted to test out the new goods." I was aware of the fact that I was being a jerk toward her. "You're doing this on purpose," She crossed her arms over her chest, I could see she was feeling awkward.I got to my feet and pushed her hands away, "What? Now you're shy? But you were just fine out there weren't you?!"She glared up at me, "Yes, I was because none of those people know me!""But I know all of you
×WYATT× I pulled the car to a stop in front of her apartment building and frowned.When she had given me her address a few moments after leaving the club, I immediately knew it was in a bad area. But I hadn't been expecting this."You live here?" I couldn't help but ask."Yes, Wyatt. Not all of us can live in expensive, fancy areas." She reached for the door, but I hit the central locking."This place doesn't look safe. Who is that?" I asked while looking in the direction of a man crouched over at the entrance.Kenzie shrugged like it was no big deal, "That's Paul, he's homeless.""He looks dangerous."She scoffed, "He isn't. Now, please unlock the door.""I'm walking you in," I got out of the car, ignoring her protests.Kenzie climbed from the car and glared at me before walking to the door."Hey, Paul, what are you doing? Why aren't you at the shelter?" Although moments before she had looked at me with anger, as she spoke to the elderly man at the door, her voice was soft and held c
×KENZIE× Wyatt had been shooting me looks throughout the day and I couldn't wait to get out of there."Why do you keep looking at me?" I asked suddenly.He got to his feet and walked over to me, there was something in the way that he looked at me that made me nervous."How do you know so much about the homeless shelters?"I blinked, that wasn't the question I had been expecting, "Um, because I've lived in them." I said it as if it should have been obvious."You've been homeless?" "Yes. Mr. Grimes, you know my past, it's no surprise that I've been in shelters after leaving Caleb."A mix of emotions crossed his face at my confession, "You've been homeless. Why didn't you come to me for help?"I couldn't believe what he was asking me, "If I'm done with the work for the day, I'll be leaving." I got to my feet, it was getting late and I had moved all of his appointments just as he had asked me to."Kenzie, I asked you a question.""Right. I should have come to my cheating ex-boyfriend's f
×WYATT×I twirled the scotch in my glass before bringing it to my lips and taking a hefty sip.My father was looking at me with a disapproving expression on his face, not that it was anything new. He was always looking at me like that. But I supposed for a man in his mid-eighties, I couldn't really expect much more.Normally, I didn't give a shit about what he thought, but tonight was different.Tonight we had dinner with Caleb and Selma.Caleb joined us in the study with Selma and I just knew I had to be very careful with this conversation.Not only would it be uncomfortable for poor Selma, but Kenzie would hate me if I let anything about our secret come out and I didn't want that to happen."So, you hired Kenzie Middleton as a personal assistant. When you have Hilda." My father's tone was clear, he thought I wanted to take her to bed.If only he knew."Yes, I did. How I run the company is up to me."My father placed his drink on the table beside him, "Wyatt, son, I love you. But thi
×KENZIE×I was walking out of Grimes Enterprises with my phone in hand, I had missed a bunch of calls from one of the homeless shelters, and I could only assume Paul had been trying to get ahold of me for something.I was about to call them back when I heard my name being called.I looked up and smiled as Axel walked over to me, "Hey, how are you?""I'm fine. Wyatt is a complete slave driver though.""Do you want to join me for dinner? You still owe me a date."Normally I would have said no, but he was right, he had bid the highest so technically I did still owe him."Sure. I just need to call the homeless shelter back."His brows furrowed with concern, "The homeless shelter?""Yeah, I think it's a friend of mine. He lives at these shelters.""I'll wait."I dialed the number hoping they would answer at this time, it was already seven.To my surprise, the call was answered."Hi, this is Kenzie Middleton. I've missed a few calls from you.""Miss Middleton, I'm so sorry to worry you. Pau
KENZIEI had been seeing a lot of Axel recently and he was taking me out again tonight.We had agreed on going to a local club. He said he missed music and was tired of the businessman lifestyle.I purchased a new dress for the occasion, something completely opposite from what I would usually wear.I wore a very short black dress teamed with high heels.When I met him at the entrance I was surprised when he pulled me against him, his lips meeting mine as we kissed.It was the first time he had kissed me, and he tasted like alcohol."Sorry. You look amazing."We made our way into the club with its loud music and many gyrating bodies.We got some drinks to start off the night, and my heart nearly stopped when I looked across the bar and found a familiar pair of blue eyes staring at me.It was Wyatt. He had a redhead on his arm who couldn't have been older than twenty-one, maybe twenty-two.He held my gaze before I turned away wondering what the hell he was doing here.This didn't look l
KENZIEMy head hurt when I opened my eyes.But not because of the alcohol I drank the previous night. Because I couldn't forget the feel of Wyatt's hands on my body, or the feel of his tongue entwined with mine.I couldn't forget his taste.I sighed heavily and looked over at the clock. It was late, but being a Saturday, I was off and didn't need to go in to work.Or so I thought.As soon as I switched my phone on I was bombarded with numerous amounts of missed calls, some were from Axel, but most were from Wyatt.I decided to call him back."Where the hell are you?" He barked."Jeez, good morning to you too. Why are you screaming?""Did you forget to keep your phone on? Or were you too busy fucking around to care?!""Wyatt, it's Saturday. We don't work on weekends." I attempted to keep my voice neutral, refusing to let him get to me."You work when I tell you to. Get your ass over to my place, now!" "Why?" My question was met with silence and when I pulled the phone away from my ea