Chase (Resisting Love #1)(34)

I walk out wearing my black high waisted shorts, with a net lace tight top which is tucked in and black pumps. My hair is in its natural, wavy long, black tresses. I added a little volume with my teasing brush, and added some gold color to my eyes. I wanted to look sexy, but not so sexy that I looked like I might work in the club.

Chase’s eyes heat when he sees me, and I can see him checking me out from head to toe. When his eyes hit mine, I can see the heat turning to anger. He barks out one word. “Change!”

“No. I look fine. Now let’s go.”

“Yes you look f*cking fine. You want to torture me don’t you?” He pauses for a moment, and then shakes his head and sighs. “Fuck, let’s get this over with. Come on.”

Even angry at me, he still opens the door for me. I try to hide my grin. As we get closer to Heat, Chase visibly starts getting nervous. I know this because I can see him tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, and I can see the muscle ticking in his jaw. Okay yes, he is taking me to a strip club, his strip club. But there is something else, and I’m curious as hell.

Even if the thought of Chase owning a strip club kills me, the building he has designed is a piece of art. The man is clearly talented. The building is black and modern, with asymmetrical features. We walk in and are greeted politely by the bouncer. Inside the place looks exactly like you assume a strip club would look. A bar, podiums with poles, tacky lighting and loud music. But Heat also has a large stage; I assume that’s where he also holds performances.

Chase puts his hands around my waist and quickly leads me away from the fun and towards his boring office. “Stay in here for a minute, I need to handle some business.”

“Okay.” I answer sweetly.

He narrows his eyes at me, like he knows I’m lying. He shakes his head in exasperation, then leaves.

I am so not staying here. I want to explore. A few minutes after he leaves, I walk back out to where we came from, to see a security guard blocking the path I need to exit. Did Chase tell him to do that? Damn that man knows me well. I wait for a few minutes, contemplating my next move, when he becomes distracted by a huge pair of boobs. I slowly sneak through, then head for the bar. The bar tender is a beautiful red head, she has lots of tattoos and looks like a pin up model.

“What can I get ya?” Her voice is raspy.

“Two tequila shots please.”

I down the shots, then have to do a double take when I see some familiar faces. The three girls from the beach are here. They glance my way, but mustn’t remember me. I guess they had their eyes on Chase the whole time. I now know why Chase was nervous. Not only is Aubrey here, but exactly how many of these girls has he slept with? His brothers too. I have a feeling that they share girls and don’t really care, which is why at the start, Chase didn’t trust them around me. Because normally I would have been fair game. Sleeping with his employees? Not very professional Mr. Jackson. And I know siblings are meant to share, but come on!

An older gentleman sits next to me, not even bothering to hiding his interest.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

I blink. “No, thank you.”

“A beautiful girl in a strip club, all alone. I think tonight is my lucky night.”

Umm, gross. “Sorry, but I’m not interested.”

I see Chase walk out and glance around frantically, he finally sees me and even from here, I can see he’s not happy. His movements are tense but quick as he walks up towards me, and glares at the man sitting next to me.

He leans closer to the man and says, “You must have a f*cking death wish, sitting there, trying to hit on my woman.” Before the man can respond, and before I can protest that I’m not his girl, Chase signals one of his bouncers to come over. He grabs the man by his arm and drags him out.

Chase slides into the now vacated spot. “I’m pretty sure I told you to stay in the office.”

I shrug. “I hate this.” I whisper.

His face pales. “Baby, you wanted to come here, I thought..”

“I hate that you own this place. That you come here. That you probably hand-picked these girls,” I gesture to the girls working the pole, “and most of all I hate that I have shared you, with hell knows how many other women in this building right now. I hate that these girls, essentially these girls are yours.”

Chase’s voice is solemn when he responds. “It is what it is, Layla. These girls are well looked after, well cared for. No one can touch them, they are kept safe. I don’t hand pick the girls, Layla, I hire people for all those tasks. Yes, I have been unprofessional in the past, but that was a while ago. I was young, stupid and had a lot of money on my hands that I had no idea what to do with, and with all that, came lots of women. But I’m not like that now, Layla. I only want you, I wish you could see that. There is nothing wrong with these girls doing what they have to do to get on in life, you shouldn’t judge so harshly.”

“I’m not judgmental!” I scoff.

“You’re judging me for being with these girls, because of their occupation.”

“Okay fine I’m not thrilled about it, who would be?”

“These girls choose to do this, who are we to judge them about it?”

He’s making it seem like I’m over reacting about everything. I need five minutes alone, so I stand up.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”