VELVET CHAINS

Episode2: Invitation

Leah's Pov

I immediately rushed to the address of the hospital in my work clothes. Oh s**t, I forgot to change, but in that moment I couldn't care less. My sister was way more important than how society viewed my dressing.

As I got to the reception, I was told my sister was in the ICU, she had sustained severe injuries to different parts of her body. I panicked, broke down in hot tears. I couldn't afford to lose my sister, she's the only family I've got ever since my mum died 4 years ago.

After about 12 painful hours, the doors opened, and my sister was wheeled to a room. The surgery was successful. I was happy, but then it hit me. Where would I get the money to pay for all this? There was rent, my sister's tuition, and the light and water bill. I was slowly sinking into debt at a young age.

Then I remembered the offer. A million dollars would solve all my problems right now, but I couldn't accept it. It would mean he controlled me. I didn't know much, but I know that no man parts with such an amount for free.

I spent the night with my sister, even though she was still unconscious. I left early the next morning to prepare breakfast. I emptied all my savings as a deposit so they could commence treatment.

The next night, I danced harder than I needed to. Harder than I should have. I twirled and turned around the pole like my life depended on it. Because it did. But no amount of movement shook the weight of his offer from her mind.

“He’s in your head,” Roxy said between sets, popping a piece of gum. “Whoever he is, let it go. You know how men like that work.” I noticed she had a black eye that she was trying to cover up with makeup.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “He doesn't deserve my attention.” I turned to her, ‘’When were you planning on telling me?’’ I asked, holding her face and tracing her eyes.

‘’It’s nothing,’’ she said with a wry smile. You should focus on paying your bills instead.

I tried to lose myself in the rhythm of work, but it wasn’t working. Not tonight. Not with every wrong thing happening in my life.

And when my shift finally ended, I stepped outside into the cool, damp air behind the club, I found the second crack in my armor of resilience.

A black envelope, tucked beneath my windshield wiper.

I froze.

There was no name. No logo. Just weight — heavy, like it meant something.

I opened it slowly, my hands trembling, my heart racing faster than a race car.

Inside, there was a simple card. Matte. Gold-trimmed. It read;

PRIVATE EVENT — One Night Only.

One million dollars.

No Contact. No Touching. Just Be Present.

The car arrives at 8 PM. You say yes, or you don’t.

— P

There was no address. No signature. But I didn’t need one.

I knew exactly who it was from.

My fingers gripped the card until it bent.

I wanted to rip it up. Toss it in the gutter. Walk away.

But I didn’t.

Because $1,000,000 meant six months of rent. It meant paying Coral's medical bills and buying her overdue medications. It meant breathing room, for once.

And even more than that, it meant control.

If I said yes, it would be my choice. Not his.

I stood in front of the mirror, wearing the black silk dress I’d once saved for escape fantasies. My makeup was subtle. My hair was pinned back in a cute ponytail.

At precisely 8:00 PM, a sleek black car pulled up outside my apartment. "This billionaire sure is very punctual," I said as I walked out the door.

The driver didn’t ask questions.

Didn’t speak. Just handed me a glass of champagne once I settled in and drove toward the city lights. I tried to convince myself that this wasn’t a surrender.

It was just business. I needed the money in exchange for my services. The elevator was glass, and the higher it climbed, the more the city looked like a lie. Beautiful, glittering, unreachable. My reflection stared back at me—black dress, silk heels, perfect skin, cold eyes.

It wasn’t me

Not really. It was the girl I had to be tonight.

As soon as the elevator doors opened to the top floor of an exclusive Manhattan penthouse—and I stepped into a room filled with nothing but silence and candlelight, I asked myself if I had made the right decision.

Powell White burn was already waiting. He stood at the bar, two fingers of scotch in hand, his tie loosened, jacket tossed on a nearby chair.

Alone. No party. No crowd.

Just a man in a dark tailored suit, holding a glass of whiskey, looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered to him.

“I said no touching,” he murmured. “But I didn’t say I wouldn’t fall.”

‘’Let’s get this over with,’’ I said coldly

“No rush,’’ he murmured. ‘’Time slows down in here.’’

‘’Why the invitation?’’ I asked. ‘’And don’t say it’s because I dance so well. You don’t waste one million on a lap-free lap dance.’’

A smile touched his lips. Not amused—impressed.

“Because I don’t just want the performance,” he said. “I want to know who you are when the music stops.”

And just like that, I realized I made the worst decision of my life.

He turned away, walking to the long glass table behind him. He picked something up—a paper. When he handed it over to me, my anger and disdain dropped.

It was the hospital bill. Coral’s bill

My heart slammed against my ribs. ‘’Where did you get this?’’ I asked genuinely, curious.

‘’Well…if you must know, your sister’s name is on your emergency contact file at the club,’’ he said simply. ‘’And I make a habit of knowing the full cost of a woman’s time before I ask for it.’’

‘’You went through my records?’’

I paid for an hour. I intend to use it to understand the price of you.’’

That made me flinch.

He saw it. His voice softened immediately.

‘’I didn’t mean it that way.’’

‘’Then how did you mean it?’’ I asked quietly…