The Stripper is My Billionaire Boss

CHAPTER THREE

Chloe’s POV

I didn’t leave the apartment for two days.

Hunter stayed close. He cooked. He cleaned. He stayed awake until he was sure I had fallen asleep. He didn’t touch me. He didn’t flirt. He didn’t invade my space. Only did it when I asked him to, never for once took me for granted.

It made me restless at times wondering why he was too good. Too disciplined. Looking too unreal but at the same time real.

I wasn’t used to someone being gentle without expecting anything back.

But I didn’t say anything. I didn't refuse, just kept watching him calmly.

On the third night, I sat on the kitchen counter while he washed dishes.

“Why do you work at Eclipse?” I asked casually.

He dried a plate. “Needed money fast.”

“Why a stripper?”

“It’s good money.”

“Not ashamed?”

“No.”

I liked that answer.

It was honest.

I slid my foot against the counter edge. “What’s your real job?”

He paused. “Why do you think I have one?”

“You’re too calm to be a full-time entertainer.” Guys in this industry were rough, naughty and wild. He wasn't any of this. His life was best suited for an office which made me suspect he must have been here before.

He smirked. “You watch me that closely?”

I didn’t answer.

He dried his hands and leaned on the counter across from me. His gaze softened.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

“No,” I lied.

He stepped closer. “You can tell me whatever is in your mind.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to seem weak.”

“You’re not weak.” He sounded pretty understanding enough but still I had to consider if I really wanted to tell him what's in my mind.

I breathed slowly. “Hunter… he could’ve hurt you.” I decided to deviate back to my ex.

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re worried about me?” He seemed to doubt that's what I wanted to say.

“You’re my… employee,” I said, stumbling. “It’d be difficult to find someone like you.” I managed to confess.

He chuckled. “Well. True.”

My pulse jumped.

His eyes flicked to my lips.

I hated how easy it was for him to read me. But I didn’t pull away when he leaned closer. I didn’t stop him when his hand came up and traced my jaw. I didn’t move when his breath warmed my skin.

He didn’t kiss me. He didn’t push. Just waiting to gain permission.

“You’re safe with me,” he said quietly.

Someone like me, betrayed by a man recently, shouldn’t have believed that. But I did. With him.

Because the world outside was getting darker. And I needed one person on my side.

Even if it was temporary.

The next night, everything changed.

Hunter and I were watching a movie when my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

I ignored it.

Then another text came.

“I saw your nice new toy.”

Hayden.

My stomach twisted.

Hunter saw my face and snatched the phone from my hand.

His eyes peered with focus on the screen, he was reading it. His jaw flexed. He typed back one sentence and sent it before I could stop him.

“Come see me directly. Leave her out of it.” I read.

My eyes widened. “Hunter—why would you—”

He set the phone down calmly.

“He wants a reaction,” Hunter said. “I don't want him to have anything to do with you, that's why I replied.” He said rather fiercely.

“But he’ll come after you.” I uttered, tone lowered.

Hunter burst out laughing. “He already hates me.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Not trying to be funny.” He snapped. The thing was I didn't want anything to happen to him. I was concerned about him.

I stood up, yawning loudly, sleep crowded round my eyes. “Hunter, he’s dangerous.”

“So am I.”

I stared at him, wide-eyed. My breath stopped as I looked deeper on who just said this.

“Do you mean you're pretending?” I sank back to the couch, falling my head on his bosom. “This isn't your real self?” I muttered.

Before he could speak, a knock crashed on the door.

Not the loud, slamming kind. But a quiet, slow one.

Hunter’s body stiffened instantly.

“That’s not him,” Hunter whispered.

My heart stopped. “Then who—”

He put a finger to his lips. I froze. He walked to the door silently, checked the peephole—

Then stepped back fast.

“Chloe,” he said, voice low, “go to the bedroom. Now.”

“Who is it?”

He looked at me with something I had never seen from him before.

Fear.

“It’s not Hayden,” he whispered. “It’s someone worse.”

My pulse skyrocketed.

The knock came again.

This time, louder.

Hunter grabbed my arm and pushed me toward the hallway. “Bedroom. Lock the door. Don’t open it.”

“Hunter—”

“Now.”

The knock turned into a heavy pounding. Hunter pushed me inside the bedroom and shut the door. I locked it.

My hands were shaking again, but for a different reason. Not Hayden. Not humiliation.

This was something new.

Something worse.

I pressed my ear to the door. I heard Hunter’s voice.

Cold.

Dominant.

“What do you want?”

A second voice answered.

Deep. Smooth. Dangerous.

“Hunter. I heard you’ve been hiding a woman that doesn’t belong to you.”

Silence.

Then the man said—

“Bring Chloe out.”

My blood froze. They knew my name.

Hunter’s voice turned sharp. “You will never lay your eyes or hands on her.”

The stranger chuckled. “I’ll take you instead.”

A crash shook the apartment. The sound of something breaking. Hunter’s grunt. Footsteps. Another crash.

Then—

Nothing.

No sound. No movement. Just silence so tense my whole body vibrated. I pressed my hand to my mouth, tears burning behind my eyes.

“Hunter?” I whispered.

No answer. My breath shook.

Then someone touched the bedroom doorknob from the other side.

Slowly. Deliberately. I stepped back.

The knob turned.

Once.

Twice.

And then a deep voice said—

“Chloe. Open the door. Your protector is… unavailable.”

I slapped both hands over my mouth to stop the scream.

The doorknob twisted again.

Harder.

And the last thing I heard before the wood splintered was—

“Come out, sweetheart. We’ve been looking for you.”

Suddenly my body leapt up, heavy breathing followed before I saw it open, the same someone had been shaking. Hunter walked in, carrying a tray of orange juice.

The room was bright, the golden rays of the sun shone through the curtain. It was morning. Meaning I'd been sleeping through the night?

I turned, staring with narrowed eyes. “Hunter?” I stammered, eyes wide, a bit confused.

He gave a small smile. “Good morning, boss. You're awake. You really slept deep last night.” He said, pulling my mind back as I tried to recall what really happened. Last thing I remembered what him implying he's dangerous and me, thinking he was pretending

So the attack was a dream? Or something to happen soon?

ONE WEEK LATER

I knew my life had flipped the moment I walked back into the Eclipse Bikers Club the next weekend with Hunter and every biker there looked at me like I had walked in with a claim. My new man.

He wasn't official though but I was already falling for him.

Hunter touched me like he owned the air around me, we were the center of attention here at the club. But I acted like I didn’t notice.

I walked up to the bartender to order a glass of alcohol, ignoring the stares. Hunter was behind me. He didn’t speak. But he stood close enough for heat to crawl up my spine.

I didn’t turn.

The bartender slid the glass to me. Hunter caught it before I did. He held it by the rim, lifted it halfway, and passed it to me like it was some private ritual only we understood.

“Your hands are shaking,” he murmured.

I gulped half the alcohol so he wouldn’t notice it more.

“Nothing,” I muttered, looking elsewhere. But when I turned back to him, he was still staring at me.

“Why do you seem to care so much?” I asked.

“You hired me,” he replied. “I’m supposed to care, as well as observe your body for any weird signals.”

His tone wasn’t s****l. It was steady. Neutral. Professional? No, it wasn't. Hunter was certainly cooking something.

“Come with me,” he said, sliding his hand over my waist right away.

“No.” I struggled.

“Yes.” He said firmly.

I knew what he was about to do but guess he had overstepped his boundary, I didn't ask for it now. But I hated how my body wanted what he was about to give so much.

I ended up following him anyway.

He led me to the private lounge of the club—the red door, the soft lights, the quiet, romantic air. I remembered our first night.

But tonight, he didn’t drop to his knees. He wasn't delaying with the romantic talks and caresses of that night.

Going-straight-to-action was tonight's theme.

He set me to the plush, soft, luxury bed, before raising me up again. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, lust filling his eyes. I lowered my face, trying hard to hide my blush.

Mr. Gentleman was getting sassy.

His hands trailed my sides while his eyes fixed on me. His lips curled. “Strip!” He ordered.

“Urgh?” My head c****d to the side. “Have you forgotten I'm your boss?” I whispered.

He smirked. “Yes, but not at the moment. So now strip!” He was serious, his eyes had darkened and his teeth gnashing within with some seemed like an uncontrollable urge.

My body reacted with panic. A sexy, flirting one. Before I knew I was reaching for the hem of my gown, hurriedly zipping myself down till I was in my undies.

Hunter folded his arms across his chest, revealing his bulgy arms, carved out like a sculpture. The mischievous grin never left his lips.

“Goshh!” I shrieked as I took off my undies, standing bare before him.

“Good!” He pushed me to the bed with just his index finger. I fell with a stud, my lips parting with deep breaths. Before me, he rushed over his belt, unbuckling, then stripping, control lost. Both of us panted endlessly, he dropped to the bed with me, kissing me furiously. His hand slid down, in between my legs.

I squirmed when his fingers touched my wetness but he pressed me harder to the bed with his weight.

“So f*****g wet.” He groaned. My body was going to melt when three of his fingers slid into me, all at once, deeper and deeper. My legs wiggled below me and up here, his lips were devoting my lips.

“I'm going to f**k all the remnants of my brother, if any, out of you.” He growled, thoughtfully, with deep fury.

I gulped.

Truly, I wanted this and was ready for what was going to happen the next second when my phone buzzed.

We froze. Angry faces followed with Hunter pulling out and climbing off me.

I was about to curse whoever could do this to me when a small voice spoke close to my ears. “Check out who it is.”

It was a message. An unknown number when I peered at it.

I grabbed the phone, tapping on the screen to take me to the message.

My blood first ran cold seeing it.

“Tell your new boy to stop following you. Unless you want him dead. Saw you enter the lounge with him.”

The phone dropped from my hand, my face froze stared at the ceiling.

“What's that?” Hunter panicked, picking the phone right away and staring into it. A cold, deadly feeling ran down my spine.

He read it through. Then, a new message.

“I won't mind killing my stepbrother because of you. After all he isn't blood, just a foreigner whom dad took in and made a star.” Hunter read.

I froze.

It was Hayden.

“How did he even know that we're here?” Hunter asked, puzzled.

My heart rammed into my ribs as I shook my head. I didn't know. The exact thing I'm pondering about but can't get any answer.

He sighed, dropping the phone back to the table across me, staring at me with pity.

And I realized—

Hayden wasn’t done with me. Not even close.

“But don't worry, you've got nothing to fear. I'm right here with you.”