the contract marriage

CHAPTER 6

Emily

"Are you ready?" Lilly asks, her voice cutting through my anxious thoughts as I apply my lipstick. She’s the one who signals us to start and keeps an eye out for any private room requests. My stomach churns; I’ll be on stage right after Stacey.

She steps up behind me, hands resting gently on my shoulders, and meets my gaze in the mirror. “Just relax and remember the moves Candy taught you.”

I nod, forcing a smile. "I’ll try. I can’t recall all of them, but I remember a few.”

Lilly beams back at me. “If you’re feeling shy about the pole, get on your hands and knees. Stick your ass out and shake it. Then roll onto your back and thrust your hips. Trust me, they love that.”

I laugh nervously. "Okay, I'll do my best to remember that.”

She massages my shoulders for a moment before pulling my hair back. “You’ve got this, honey. Don’t worry. If you need a drink from the bar, you’ve got 10 minutes, alright?”

Standing up, I nod and head straight to the bar, trying to calm my racing heart.

I’m dressed in skin-tight shorts that barely cover my ass, paired with a crop top. On stage, it’ll be just a thong and a bra—definitely not my usual style. But tonight and tomorrow night, I’ll do this for my sister’s education. Just a means to an end.

As I reach behind the bar, I grab two shot glasses and a bottle of Jägermeister. I turn, crooking my finger at Vinnie. He raises an eyebrow but saunters over.

“Have a drink with me?” I propose. “I won’t tell the boss if you don’t tell him I had a drink without paying.”

He scoffs, a grin forming on his face. “You don’t have to worry about paying. I saw you drink without paying the other night. Neither of us said anything. This job is demanding for our girls; if they want to drink, we let them.”

I nod, appreciating the unspoken camaraderie. “So, will you join me until it’s my turn?”

He glances around, the bass of the music thumping through the air, then looks back at me. The club is packed tonight. Men and women are transfixed by Stacey, dollar bills waving in the air as she dances.

I lift my shot glass. “The things you do for family, huh?”

With a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, he takes the glass I filled. “It just means you love them. I’d do anything for my family if they were still alive.”

His words hit me like a punch. “You have me, Vin. I’ll be your friend and family. I’m fiercely loyal.”

He meets my gaze, his expression softening. "I’d like that, Emily. Thank you."

I lean over and kiss his cheek. “You’re a good man, Vinnie.”

He chuckles. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I do every day, Miss Anderson.”

“Let’s leave that for another time. I prefer to think of you as a knight in shining armor,” I tease, and he laughs, shaking his head.

We enjoy each other’s company for a few minutes until Lilly calls out, “You’re up, girlie! Let’s go!”

My heart races as Vinnie helps me off the stool. I feel clammy and need to grab the liquid chalk before stepping on stage.

“Boss is in the crowd. He has a meeting, so give it your all. Don’t be nervous; it’ll be over in minutes. The curtains will close, and then one guard will collect your tips.”

I nod, shaking out my shoulders. Leaning my head back, I rock from side to side, then step out as they announce my stage name. "Give it up for our new girl, Dove!"

The crowd erupts with hoots and whistles at the introduction of a new girl. My heart pounds, feeling like it might stop when the curtains part. I stride forward, gripping the pole and doing my best to exude confidence. I walk around it, then execute a turn that resembles a ballerina’s grace.

As I hang upside down, my heart nearly drops when I spot Emmet sitting with a man who looks like Aiden, alongside my boss, Marcus.

Emmet’s eyes lock onto mine, and I grip the pole tighter, my palms slick with sweat. Pulling myself up, I swing my legs down and lower myself to the stage floor.

I have two minutes left. What the hell is he doing here? Why is he meeting with Marcus? I’m doomed. He’ll tell Aiden, and I’ll lose my job.

Blocking everything out, I finish my dance, relief washing over me when it’s finally over. I don’t turn around; I walk off stage toward the back, bending over, struggling to catch my breath as panic surges.

---

**Aiden**

I told Emily there was an emergency, hoping she'd get some much-needed rest. It was a lie.

As I leave my office, my phone buzzes with a text from Emmet that sends shockwaves through me.

Emmet: “Isn’t this your assistant?” Attached is a picture of Emily hanging upside down on a stripper pole. This is why she was so tired and why she smelled of booze.

I respond, barely keeping my temper in check.

Aiden: “What club?”

Emmet: “The Edge. I’m here with Dean. He’s meeting with the owner for some deal.”

She’s stripping for a mafia boss? My fists clench as I dash toward the elevator and sprint to my car.