by Bella Rose
Her heart dropped. Twenty-nine hours a week working on ten dollars an hour? That wouldn’t even begin to pay the bills. “Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate the heads up,” she whispered hoarsely. Before he could apologize again, she hung up and slipped the phone back in her pocket. Panic was about to set in, but she didn’t want her mother to see the stress on her face. She tried to push the problem to the back of her mind.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Ella jumped up and down a few times to energize herself before hopping into it. Rolling her shoulders, she focused on evening her breath before the elevator stopped.
Walking into the waiting room, she saw that it wasn’t empty.
The sexy Russian lounged in one of the chairs and flipped through a magazine. His eyes met hers and a slow smile spread across his face. Yesterday it would have made her heart speed up, but today she barely registered the expression.
“Ella. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Erik.” She tried desperately not to yawn. “It’s nice to see you too.” It was strange that she’d run into him three days in a row, but she was a creature of habit. He probably was as well.
“Despite the circumstances, I was hoping that I would see you today.” He stood.
“Really? Me?” It wasn’t until he started to chuckle that she realized that she’d said it out loud. Blushing furiously, she started to rub her hands together. “That was only supposed to be in my head.”
“I gathered.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, but the move did nothing to make him look less imposing. Not only did he exude a dark appeal, but there was something dangerous about the man.
“Look, Erik, I am happy to see you, but I don’t have a lot of time. I’m really want to see my mother.”
“Take your time. I’ll see you when you get back.”
He was going to wait for her? She tried to process the information, but there was too much on her mind. She could only nod her head before she scampered to the window. The nurse wasn’t there, so she anxiously rang the bell. She could feel his eyes on her and tried not to look back. She just wasn’t equipped to handle whatever this man wanted to offer her.
But that didn’t mean that she didn’t desperately want a taste.
The door opened, and a nurse walked into the room. When she caught sight of Ella, her eyes brightened. “Ms. Davis! Good morning. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“You’ve been waiting for me?” Ella frowned. All thoughts of the sexy Russian fled. “Why? Did something happen last night? What’s wrong?”
The nurse held up her finger. “Hold on. I’m coming to you.” She rounded the corner out of the nurse station and walked through the double doors. “Nothing is wrong, my dear. In fact, something amazing has happened. Your mother has moved up the transplant list.”
Ella sagged. There were at least thirty people ahead of her mother. Moving one or two names up wouldn’t make a huge difference. “That’s great,” she said weakly.
“Oh, honey. I don’t think you understand. Your mother didn’t just move up a few people. She’s next on the list. As soon as a match comes back, she’s going into surgery,” the nurse said with a huge smile.
Stunned, Ella put a hand over her heart, and she stumbled as she reached out to grab something to hold on to. Something warm moved up behind her, and she felt hands settle on her hips. “Easy. Take your time. Breathe,” Erik murmured into her ear.
Breathe. “She’s next. I never actually thought that would happen,” she whispered. Feelings of euphoria flooded her. “I don’t believe it. How?”
“It is strange,” the nurse admitted. “But I am not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Your mother needs this surgery, Ms. Davis. I don’t know if you’re religious, but this is miraculous.”
Miraculous. Ella nodded and sagged against the warmth of Erik’s body. For some reason, the stranger anchored her. “What happens now?”
“We still wait. As I’ve explained before, we can do a living liver transplant, if you have a friend or family member who qualifies. Donors are screened first on blood type. We’re looking for someone with type A or O.”
Ella nodded. She was type B which was why she couldn’t donate. The nurse continued in a low voice. “Next they’ll look at tissue typing. The best chance your mother has for accepting a liver is to find one that matches six codes in both livers. After the tissue typing, the donor will test for cross-matching and do an antibody screen. If both tests are negative, there’s an excellent chance that your mother will accept the liver.”
Some of that made sense to her. When she’d discovered that she couldn’t be a donor, she looked into as much research as possible. A liver could be transplanted from a living donor, but only if a donor stepped forward.
With the word surgery bouncing around in her head, reality hit. “Oh God.” How was she going to pay for it?
“Ella?” The nurse frowned.
Panicked, she looked up and tore her grasp from Erik. Wild-eyed, she grabbed the nurse. “You have to do the surgery, right? You don’t expect payment up front?”
“We will do the surgery, my dear. Worry about your mother, and then you can worry about the money.” The nurse smile and squeezed her hand. “I’m going to go check on her. I’ll let you know when you can go back and see her.”
She left Ella in the waiting room, and Ella suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t even remember that Erik was behind her until she turned around and walked right into him.
“I’ve got you.” His low voice comforted her, and she steadied herself. Gently taking her by the elbow, he led her to the chairs. “Sit down.”
Following his command, Ella dropped into the chair and started to twist her fingers around each other. “I know you think I’m crazy. I am happy about my mother’s surgery, but I make ten dollars an hour. I’ll never be able to pay for it.”
“I absolutely understand your concerns. Your health care system is horrible, and I’m sure many Americans bow under the weight of medical debt. But your mother’s life should be your primary concern. You heard the nurse. You’re over the first and biggest hurdle. They’re going to do the surgery anyway. You don’t have to worry about money until after your mother is home and healthy again.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I need to focus on the positive. I used to be so good at that, but good things don’t seem to happen to me anymore. Her move on the transplant list is amazing, but I can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen next. I hate living like this. I hate wondering when the next shoe is going to drop.” Not that she wanted to voice her concerns out loud, but losing her hours at Supermart was disastrous. What if something worse happened now?
“Ella, I’d like to help you,” Erik murmured. “Would you like that?”
“How can you help me?” she asked dully. Unless the man was a multi-millionaire who wanted to throw money her way, there wasn’t a whole lot that he could do.
“I’d like to offer you a job.”
Ella smiled. “For a stranger, you’re awfully sweet. As it so happens, I’m in the market for new employment. I don’t suppose your job is going to pay a hundred grand a year?” Immediately, she flushed. “I’m sorry. That’s a horrible thing to say. Here you are trying to help me, and I’m being cynical.”
“The job won’t pay a hundred thousand a year,” Erik admitted. “It will probably be closer to four hundred thousand. For just one year.”
What did he just say? “Excuse me?” Shocked, she stared at him. As she pressed her back to the chair, she slowly moved her hands away from him. Just who was this man? And just what kind of job was he offering her?
“I’m very rich, Ella. I’d like to help you. I’ll pay for your mother’s surgery and any aftercare that she needs, and enough extra to give you a clean slate, if you have any debt. That kind of money is pocket change to me.”
It seemed almost too good to be true, and her pride started raising red flags
. She didn’t know anything about this man, and strangers didn’t throw money her way. “I’m not a charity case.”
“And I’m not giving you the money freely. One year in my service. You’ll help me, and I’ll help you.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. At the very least, she wanted to hear him out. “What do you do?”
“I come from family money, but I own the Black Orchid. It’s a new club in the city, but you won’t have anything to do with that. I need some help around my home. Light cleaning. Organizing. That kind of a thing.”
“A maid?” Ella blinked. “You’re going to pay me four hundred thousand dollars, and all I have to do is keep your house clean for a year? How do you not already have a cleaning service?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you always interrogate people when they offer you employment?”
After years of talking with her mother through her father’s illness and now her mother’s, she recognized the ease with which he’d dodged her question. “Only when it seems too good to be true.” The words flew out of her mouth, and her eyes widened in horror. “I’m being rude. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’ll admit that it’s unconventional, but I think I should do more to help others. Maybe that starts with you.”
Something inside her desperately wanted to look further into the situation, but did it really matter if he already had a maid service? He was offering to pay for her mother’s surgery, and it didn’t involve anything illegal. Hope surged through her as she reached out and grabbed his hands. “I’ll do it.”
“Ella, you’re excited. I like that, but I want you to think about this. I can tell that you’re the kind of woman who takes time to process information. Go visit your mother, and then I’ll have a driver take you to the house so you can see exactly what you’re getting into.” His eyes hardened. “When you take my job, I want you to know what I expect from you.” He let go of her hand and stood. “Go see your mother, Ella.”
Flustered, she shook her head. “I have to work when I’m done. And if I don’t take your job, I need to keep mine.”
“Then when you get off work.”
“That’s midnight.”
Erik smiled. “I’ll be at the Black Orchid. I’ll have a driver bring you to the club, and when I’m done with my business, I’ll take you to the house. It’ll be a late night for you.”
It didn’t matter. Ella didn’t need to sleep. She needed money. “I’m a professional when it comes to late nights.”
“Good. Enjoy your time with your mother. I’ll see you tonight.” The words sounded almost ominous as he walked away from her.
Ella stared at him as he got in the elevator. He was her hero. Maybe things were finally going to go her way. “Ella? Your mother can see you now,” the nurse announced.
The doors buzzed and opened up, and Ella hurried through.
Fifteen steps straight. Turn left. Seven more steps. Turn right.
She practically raced down the halls. “Mom!” she gasped as she burst through the door. “Did you hear?”
Heather slowly turned her head and smiled. “I did, darling.”
There was something sad in her eyes. Ella sat on the bed and tried to ignore the cold beep and hum of the machines. Grabbing her mother’s limp hand, she squeezed. “What’s wrong, Mom? This is amazing news!”
“With your father, you lost your scholarship. With me, you lost your job. I had hoped that this disease would take me quickly so you could move on with your life. This surgery will put you so deep in debt, and I can’t let that happen,” Heather said. Ella could see the pain in her mother’s eyes. She’d obviously never expected to leave the hospital.
Ella felt tears well up inside her. It was easier to stay positive because her mother had always been positive, and it hurt her more than she wanted to admit to hear her mother talk like that. This was the woman who always showed her the bright side of life. “Mom, we don’t have to worry about money. I’ve been offered a job. A really good one. We’re going to be fine.”
“A job? What kind of job?”
How was she going to explain Erik’s offer to her mother? It would only make her worry even more. “It’s an executive assistant position,” she lied. “For a wealthy business owner. I’m going to meet with him tonight to talk about the details. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow morning.”
Heather smiled. “Darling, that’s wonderful. But you don’t have to use that money for me. You can use it go back to school.”
Ella glanced at the clock. She was due at Supermart in thirty minutes, and she really didn’t want to argue with her mother anymore. Her life at Atherton was long since over. “I have to go Mom. Don’t give the nurses too much trouble. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I wish you didn’t work so hard. I wish you didn’t worry about me so much.” Her mother tried to squeeze her hand, but Ella barely felt it.
Kissing her gently on the forehead, Ella smoothed her mother’s hair and tried to swallow back the tears. She was going to take that job.
Even if there were strings attached.
Chapter Four
The Black Orchid was packed. Erik stood on the VIP floor and surveyed what was going on below. The music pumped through the speakers, and the crowd moved to the beat. His dancers twirled fluidly across the bar and enticed the crowd to drink more. They carried portable credit card machines and stuffed cash in their scandalous outfits as they poured drinks down the throats of gaping and desperate men. Drunk college students enjoyed overpriced body shots off his luscious cocktail girls, and at the end of the bar, bikini clad women dropped in and out of the huge aquarium. Drops of water dripped off their bodies as they teased the crowd below.
“Hi, Mr. Chesnovak,” a breathy voice said in his ear. “I’m here to stock the bar for your guests tonight.” His marks were already on their way. They’d taken the bait far quicker than he had expected. The day had gone well. The night would go even better. He turned to survey the bartender. She was dressed in a uniform that consisted of a short black skirt and a bikini top that flowered into two black orchids at the nipples. Like all the women who worked for him, she was perfection.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Michelle,” she said as she swiveled her hips seductively. It was clear that she was hoping to be his favorite, but Erik had a firm policy about not mixing business with pleasure. He also knew that all of the women who worked for him had one thing in common. They had very few boundaries and absolutely no shame.
None of them were enough to even tempt him to break his policy.
“Thank you, Michelle,” he said softly. “I will not be needing your services after the bar is set up. My business tonight is sensitive, and I’ll need privacy. I trust that you have only our best selection of liquors?”
She looked disappointed, but she nodded. “I’m very good at following orders,” she said as she licked her lips.
“Boss?” his earpiece cackled. “The drivers are here if you want to unlock the VIP door.”
“Consider it done. Thank you, Leonid.” He returned his attentions to the bartender. “You may return to the club.”
It was clear from the look on her face that she didn’t like being denied, but she didn’t say anything as she left the VIP room. Erik signaled to his guard to let her through. “Matvei,” he said over his earpiece. “Send in the girls.”
Three beautiful women walked into the room and lined up against the wall. Erik surveyed them closely. One blonde. One brunette. One redhead. All with ample curves and skills that would make a man plead for mercy. They were all wearing long black coats.
“You’re dressed as I’ve asked?” he asked softly.
“Yes, Mr. Chesnovak,” they answered automatically. Sultry voices to go with their sultry bodies. There were seven more just like these three waiting in the back rooms.
The door opened and three men walked into the room. Mark Chancellor
was a state senator, Jeffrey Granger was the city police commissioner, and Charles Taffey was a high ranking judge in the city court system.
Soon they would all be in his pocket. Once they were his, the law couldn’t touch him. He could move as much drugs and dirty money through the club as he damn well pleased.
“Gentlemen, I’m so glad you could make it. Please. Come in and make yourselves comfortable.” Erik stood and buttoned his jacket as he gestured to the table. The men glanced at the women nervously before sitting down.
“I’m Erik Chesnovak, owner of the Black Orchid. For the past year, I’ve been growing this club to be the talk of the town, and now I’m ready to show you just what I envision for this place. And I’d like you to help me.”
“I’m sorry,” Taffey said as he held up his hand and looked at the other men. “I thought this was going to be a private meeting.”
“Judge Taffey, I assure you that you will get your private meeting, but first I have some business to discuss.”
“Business? What is the meaning of this?” Granger blustered as he stared at the brunette. Desire was written all over his face, but so was fear. Fear that the other men would discover Granger’s invitation. “You do realize who I am, right?”
Smirking, Erik sat back down and surveyed the men. “Commissioner Granger, I know exactly who you are. And I know exactly what you like. You don’t have to worry about your reputation. Mr. Taffey and Mr. Chancellor are here for the very same reason.”
“And what reason would that be?” the judge demanded.
“Yesterday you took a private meeting during your lunch break.” Erik smiled at the women. “During that meeting, you discussed the more pleasurable sides of life. It was just a taste of what I can offer you. That’s what I’d like to provide here. A safe place for men in your position to freely enjoy yourselves.”
The men relaxed in their chairs. Now that they knew they were in good company, they were more susceptible. “I’m listening,” Chancellor muttered, but his eyes never left the blonde who smiled coyly at him from the bar.