Chapter 4 A Cold Discovery

Adrian's Pov

"Fuck," I groaned as the sunlight sliced through the curtains like punishment .

The room smelled of sex and the faintest trace of something sweet, 'peach' soft and lingering against my skin.

I reached out without thinking, hand brushing the spot where she had been. My fingertips hit nothing but rumpled sheets.

My stomach dropped.

"Angel?" I sat up slowly and scanned the room. My clothes were scattered, the used condom on the floor but no Angel.

No note.

My chest tightened not with panic, not even with confusion, just something heavier.

I climbed off the bed, throwing the blanket to the floor, my back aching from her scratches.

"She left." I laughed bitterly, "I always leave, not the other way around."

Sex was just sex. That's what it had always been.

But last night?

Last night wrecked me.

There was something about the way she touched me. Like I mattered, not as a billionaire and definitely not as a one night stand.

I would've been quite keen on a good morning fuck or at least a conversation about last night.

"Get a grip on yourself, Adrian. She was just a good night fuck."

I grabbed my clothes and hurriedly put them on trying to rein in my disappointment.

A part of me, a small, dangerous part wanted to find her. "Who the hell does she think she is?"

My fingers paused mid button as my eyes fell on the bed again.

Blood.

"What the-" I strode closer to the bed, pulse quickening. The crimson stain is more visible on the sheets. My heart sank.

"Did I hurt her?"

Is that why she left?" My jaw ticked, unsettled by that thought.

Before I could process it further, the door slammed open, my eyes jerked towards it expecting her. But a pot bellied man staggered in, cigar on his lips.

"You are still here." He said with a smug grin. His eyes scanned the room. "I take it that she was a good fuck. Lucky you."

"Who the fuck are you?"

He took the cigar off his lips and wiped his hand on his shirt. "I'm Smith, the owner of this fine establishment." He stretched out his calloused hand for a handshake. I didn't take it.

"Where is she?"

He looked disappointed but covered it up with a smile. "Her shift is over. What she does after is none of my business."

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged animal.

"Is everything okay?"

I stopped pacing and glared at him. "I would like to know why there is blood on the sheets!"

He stared at me as if I had grown two heads before accessing the bed. I should have felt awkward but my despair was greater.

He chuckled, his whole body shaking in unrestrained amusement. "I was scared for a second."

"And?"

He shrugged, "I thought she was lying but I guess she was a virgin. Didn't you notice when you were screwing her?" He chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive way.

I guess she was a virgin.

A virgin?

The words hit me like cold water.

Then it all made sense.

The way she trembled, the way she grabbed onto me like her life depended on it. The way she looked so helpless yet determined. Her screams.

How tight she was.

Was I so blinded by pleasure that I forgot to be careful?

"You gave me a virgin," I said slowly, dangerously. "Without telling me."

He raised a brow. "So?"

My voice dropped to a growl. "So you think I'm the kind of man who buys innocence?"

Smith scoffed.

I stepped forward, and he stopped grinning. "That girl dances semi-naked for money, Mr. Marks. Don't act like you deflowered the Virgin Mary."

Rage coiled in my chest. I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall so hard his cigar dropped to the floor.

"You set me up." I yelled. "You exploited her. I should bury this club to the fucking ground."

His face paled. "W-wait. Your friend paid! I just delivered her as agreed."

He talked about her like she was a product on a shelf.

I let him go, disgust curling in my throat. He fell to the floor, fixing his crumpled collar, too shaken now to look smug.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out with one hand, still staring him down.

Sandra, my Assistant.

"Sir, I've been trying to reach you for hours. Urgent board meeting. Contract leak in London division. They need you in twenty."

I nearly laughed. Of course.

I just took advantage of a girl and now I was supposed to walk into a boardroom and pretend to give a damn about contract leaks.

I looked at Smith one last time. "If I find out you pressured her into anything. I'll make sure Club 99 is destroyed. Understand?"

He nodded too quickly, sweat glistening at his temple.

I walked past him without another word.

---

The boardroom felt like a graveyard.

The spreadsheets looked like a puzzle. The projector blurred as voices droned like flies in the room. I had never been so distracted before.

Sandra leaned close to whisper, "Sir, are you feeling alright?"

That snapped me back to reality.

I wasn't alright.

Because I kept hearing her cries, the way her nails dragged down my back. The way she just felt.

She gave me her all for What? Money? Was that all it was worth to her?

I lasted ten minutes before I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved my chair back, stood up and announced, "Meeting adjourned till further notice."

I ignored the shocked stares and dashed out of the board room and headed towards my office.

"Sir, Sir!" Sandra's voice halted me in my steps. She finally caught up to me, panting.

"What?"

"Miss Victoria is in your office."

I blinked.

Victoria!

My go to booty call. Always ready. Always willing.

She always came when I needed to let out my frustrations. She was convenient. An Acquaintance.

"Okay, you can go. Clear my schedule for the day." I said flatly.

"Yes boss."

By the time I entered my office, she was already seated in my chair, scrolling on her phone.

"Vicky,"

She looked up at the mention of her name and came over fast, always did. Red lips, green dress fitted to her skin, vanilla scent.

"You haven't called me in months." She pouted, wrapping her hands around me.

"I was busy."

"And now?"

I shrugged.

She kissed me. I let her.

She was warm, familiar, and perfect.

But I only felt dirty.

I pulled back to meet her disappointed gaze. "Not here, not right now."

She rolled her eyes and walked to the sofa at the edge of the office. "I've forgotten your rules. No sex at work."

"Go home Vicky. I will call you when I need you."

She knew better than to argue. She rolled her eyes and slammed the door behind her.

I ignored her and headed for the bathroom, ripping off my tie.

Staring into the mirror, I looked like a mess. I had never been so disorganized. My hair was messy, my shirt wrinkled. I smelled like sweat and peach. No one dared to point it out.

I took a quick shower, bracing my hands against the wall. I winced every time the cold water hit my back. A reminder of her, of last night.

I fisted my cock, jerking off hard and fast to the thought of a certain dancer whose pussy had clenched so tight around me that it hurt.

As I stood and watched the cum dripping down the tiles of my shower, all I could think about was how fucked up I was.

I quickly wore my spare suit and walked back into my office. To my relief, Vicky was nowhere in sight.

I plopped on my chair feeling like a man with blood on his hands.

My phone rang twice before I gave in and picked it up.

Leo.

"How was she?" Leo's excited voice made me hiss.

So much for trying to forget.

"She was a virgin." The words ripped out of me before I could stop them.

Silence. Then a disbelieving laugh. "No shit? Damn. Guess you hit the jackpot."

"This isn't funny."

"Why not, she was worth more than the price."

"I feel like I... I violated her or something." My throat tightened. "I fucked her like a slut. I didn't even-"

"Because that's what she is, a slut."

"But-"

"She sold it, Adrian. That's what they do. You paid, she played. End of story."

I gripped the edge of my desk until my knuckles turned white.

It didn't feel like that. Not for one second.

But I didn't say that out loud.

Leo kept going, his tone exasperated. "You're overthinking it. Forget the girl."

"I can't get her out of my head!" I snapped.

"Was she that good?"

I hung up, unable to take it anymore.

He was right. She's nothing.

Just a girl in a mask who sold herself for money.

So why the hell do I feel like I'm the one who lost something?