Cohe

threadbare bed, the reality of it settled over me like a suffocating blanket. What had I just agreed to? A high-end n

knee-deep in loans, trying to expand too fast. Their assets were seized, their legacy devoured by cr

wn art on the street. It was never enough. The Serpent's Kiss paid exorbitantl

bottle service. She managed the exclusive VIP section, a place where discretion was paramount and moral lines were blurred. I' d always refused the VIP rooms, sticking to the m

felt heavy, leading me toward an abyss I desperately wanted to avoid. T

immering, barely-there uniform. It was a slip of black lace and sil

is a... generous client. He likes his girls assertive, but also compliant. P

ough. Enough to cover the first installment for Ben

t remember, we protect our own here. No one will touch you without your consent. But they wi

diation room, then Leo's injured arm. This wasn't for me. T

inst the muffled bass of the music. The air in VIP room 3 was thick with expensive cigar smok

them. My bl

ral faces I recognized. Faces from my past life,

rd the bottles rattled. I immediately lowered my head, my hair falling forward, hopi

r shrieked, holding up her ring finger. A massive diamond glittered under

n so devoted to her since her cousin Leo got injured. Such a tragic accid

intertwined with Demetri's. Leo. Her cousin. The pieces clicked into place, a sic

miliation. I quickly suppressed it, focusing on my

r girl gushed. "He's absolutely smitten.

verything is... settled." She glanced at Demetri, who offered her a small, reassuring smile. "It just goes to sho

ersations, Demetri and I, sprawled on my dorm room floor, planning our future. He' d talked about a simple silver band, something meaningful, not flashy. He'd even

t was Tiffany, a girl from my art history class. Her eyes, wide w

er died, replaced by a mixture of shock and thinly veil

ped. "Josie Cohen, the art snob from USC,

t it felt like a physical blow. My dignity, al

ncern. "The girls... they do whatever the client wants, right?" She glanced at me, a

k with shame. "Yes. Wit

of Demetri's clients, a tech titan known for his ruthlessness. "Well, well. If it isn't little Miss Josie. You always were too good fo

'special performance' Caron had warned me ab

he truly debauched. Play a classical piece while standing barefoot on a block of ice, wearing nothing but the u

on his face, I knew I couldn't do it. Not in fr

stammered, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm quite

He slammed his fist on the table. "Don't forget where you are, Josie. You're just a glorified call girl now, aren't you?"

ing me bare. It was worse than anything I could have imagined. I stoo