Though she knew she would never be a trophy wife, the kind of woman a captain of industry wanted on his arm, she also knew that she’d eventually marry a kind man — a regular guy — and have a life that she’d dreamed of having since childhood. A life completely unlike what she’d seen at home.
She hadn’t had a bad life after her father had walked out on her mother and her. And her mom had never been bitter, had never told her not to find her own love. She’d just warned Elena that the world was full of frogs who couldn’t be transformed by kisses, and that she should never settle for someone slimy. If they were all hands, it was because they wanted one thing. They were sticky, but with no sticking power.
When a group of men filled the club with their laughter as they walked in, Elena glanced in their direction. That’s when her heart stopped beating for a moment. Before it sped up double time.
Tyler Knight.
If she hadn’t decided to come to work tonight, had simply quit as she should have done, she wouldn’t be going through the heartbreak of seeing her first love. In a gin joint like this. A titty bar, really, though hers had never been on display. Her heart thudded as she looked his way. She had only been ten when he’d broken her heart. And she’d tried not to think of him since.
It hadn’t worked.
She’d followed him for years through the news and entertainment media. Like a kicked puppy, dammit. Why? Because he was her first love, her first best friend, the only person to this day she’d ever been fully open with — well, besides her mother and her best friend, Piper. She’d instantly bonded with Piper two years ago, their freshman year at the university.
“That’s your table, Elena,” one of the waitresses said before patting her on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“You take it,” Elena told her through gritted teeth.
“Are you sure? That’s the youngest Knight brother, and that’s the son of the junior senator. You know those tips are going to be big,” said her co-worker, Sara, with hungry eyes.
“I’m positive,” Elena told her. “I think I’ve made a mistake coming in tonight”
“Yeah, what’s up with the appearance?” Sara asked.
“Trying to prove a point — that I’m not a piece of meat.”
“Honey, to the men who come in here, that’s exactly what we are,” Sara said with a laugh. “And since they pay for my house and all the little baubles I’m so fond of, I really don’t give a damn.”
“That’s the difference between us. Nothing is worth this to me,” Elena told her.
“Good luck out in the real world,” Sara said before skipping over to the table and taking the men’s orders, laughter spilling from her.
“My office, now!” Her manager had spotted her, and he’d snarled those outraged words into her ear before he moved to the other side of the room.
Keeping her head down, she began walking through the room, but she made a mistake. She went by the group of guys she’d tried to avoid. And they were already drunk and rowdy.
“Why are you dressed down like this, darling?” One of the men at the table grabbed Elena’s arm and held on. “I’ve seen you looking so much hotter before. How are we supposed to check out the merchandise when you’re hiding your best stuff under mountains of material?”
Another one spoke up. “I want to see those nice little tatas of yours, babe.”
The rest of the men cackled when the guy who’d grabbed her arm tugged and made her to fall into his lap. Elena was mortified as she struggled to break free. When her eyes connected with Tyler’s for the first time in ten years, what she saw broke her heart all over again. And his words hit her even harder.
“This place has a much better selection of women to flirt with, Tom,” Tyler said. “Why don’t you let this one go so we can have a little fun?” Her former friend leaned back and smiled right at her.
When the group of men guffawed again, Elena’s humiliation was complete. She never should have come back to this place, never should have put herself through this. Although she had a good poker face self-confidence had never been one of her strong suits, and she’d just lost all her cards.
Yes, she’d been trying to prove that silly point — that she wasn’t a piece of meat — but she also didn’t need to be discarded like a lame horse. Tom released her, then slapped her ass as she struggled off his lap. Thank heaven for tender mercies, she told herself. At least he hadn’t gone for her “tatas.”
“I told you to come to my office!” Her manager was back with her moving less than three feet from the men who were watching her further humiliation.
“I got mauled on my way there,” she told him.
“Are you insulting our guests?” her manager asked far too loudly.
“I was the one who was insulted,” she pointed out.
“You’re position here is terminated. I want you out of my club immediately.”
Laughter erupted again from the group of men who’d just humiliated her. This night couldn’t possibly get any worse. Elena walked straight to the backroom. The game she’d begun was over. She just wanted to leave.
Throwing a thick coat over her large uniform, she wiped away the tear that was streaking down her face and then grabbed her purse and slipped out the back door.
She didn’t make it two feet before she heard a whistle. “Where are you off to in such a hurry, baby?”
A tremble ran through Elena when she heard that voice again. She was grateful to be in the shadows as she turned to face Tyler Knight for the second time that evening.