I closed my eyes and allowed myself to think about Greyson. He ticked off every box on my list, but he came with a couple of disclaimers I wasn’t quite sure about: heartbreaker and illegal.

“Are you awake, Meg?” Nancy whispered to me softly and I smiled. I was really lucky that I had gotten paired with Nancy.

“Yeah, I am.”

“What do you think we’re going to do today?”

“I have no idea.”

“It’s such a weird concept. I wonder if my sister had to go through this.”

“Who knows?”

“Will you help me?” She spoke slowly and my fingers froze in my hair.

“Find out about your sister?”

“Yeah.” She got out of her bed and stood up so that her face was close to mine in the top bunk. “You’re a lawyer and you’re already investigating stuff for your best friend. I was thinking maybe you could help me as well.”

“I suppose.” The words tripped out of my mouth before I had time to say no. I was already regretting telling her that I thought my best friend was dating a guy who had a connection to the club.

“Oh my God, really?” Nancy’s eyes widened with happiness. “Oh my God, that would mean so much.”

“I don’t know that I could really help much.”

“Oh, you would be a godsend.” Nancy’s fingers gripped my sheets. “I honestly have no idea what to do next.”

“You got this job. You know enough.” I sat up, rolled my legs over the edge of the bed, and then started laughing hysterically as I stared at Nancy’s eager face.

“Are you okay?” She gave me a worried expression.

“I feel like I’m in college again.” My words sounded bemused. “You remind me of my best friend, Katie. We were roommates for most of college. And I was always there as her sounding board.”

“You don’t sound happy about that.” Nancy’s voice was soft, and I stared at her in surprise.

“You know, I’ve never really thought about it before. But you’re right. It got old being her sounding board. You’re pretty astute.”

“It’s hard, isn’t it? Being number two.”

“Number two?” I frowned and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

“I’m guessing if you were the sounding board in the friendship, she was the one who had the boys and the fun.” Nancy looked at me with a question in her eyes.

“I guess so. Though I never looked at it like that before. It was more like, she had all these experiences and I just felt like the one who got left behind. Like all I wanted from life was to be a lawyer or travel the world.”

“Yeah, I’m the smart one.” Nancy shrugged. “Maria was the beautiful one. My parents always used to thank God that I got the brains and she got the looks.”

“But you’re beautiful.”

“Not when compared to my sister.” She smiled at me softly. “Maria was the kind of beauty that could sink ships. My dad used to say they should have named her Helen.”

“Helen?”

“Like Helen of Troy.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, my dad is...” She paused. “Or rather, was, a very funny man.”

“I’m sorry he passed away.”

“It’s okay. My mom warned him about the food he used to eat.” She shrugged and looked down. “He had a heart attack. My mom blames the steaks. I blame my sister.”

“Your sister?”

“He was never the same after she left.” She looked back up at me. “I think she broke his heart.”

“I don’t understand why he didn’t look for her.”

“She got engaged.” Nancy sighed. “They all had an argument. My dad thought she chose the fiancé over her family. Well, I don’t think she did.”

“Whoa, what?” I jumped down from the bed. “What do you think happened?”

“Well, the guy she was dating, he seemed to—”

BANG BANG.

Nancy and I both jumped as we heard the loud knocks on the door.

“Hello?” I called out timidly and shook my head at myself. Since when had I become scared of a few loud knocks?

“Are you girls up?” Patsy’s voice called through the door.

“Yes,” I called back and watched as she walked in. She looked her age this morning. She had no makeup on and her hair was in rollers. She was also wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants and looked very unglamorous. She grinned as she stared at Nancy and me and the shock in our faces. “We all look normal at some point in the day.”

“You look very beautiful,” Nancy squeaked out and I nodded.

“Don’t lie, girls.” She looked us over. “You both need to get ready so you can meet the other new recruits and some of the staff.”

“Do we learn about the positions today then?” I spoke up, curious as to when we were going to find out what our actual jobs were to be.

“Unlikely.”

“Will we see Greyson? I mean, Mr. Twining?”

“No, he doesn’t have much to do with the girls.” She shook her head and frowned at me. “Mr. Twining is the owner of the club. He has much more important things to deal with.”

“I understand.” I blushed, feeling embarrassed.

“Will I get to meet him?” Nancy spoke up, and I could tell that she was wondering if Greyson was the man her sister had dated. In fact, I was starting to wonder that myself.

“If you make it past the three days.” Patsy turned around. “Now, go shower and get ready. We have a long day ahead of us.” She strolled out of the room. “Meet me in the courtyard in an hour. You’ll see the other girls there as well.”

“Okay.” I nodded, and Nancy sat on her bed. “I wonder how many other girls are here.” I looked at Nancy and she shrugged.

“Who knows?” She jumped up. “I’m going to go shower. Coming?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m going to have a quick look around first.”

“Wow.” Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really!” I laughed. “I want to figure out where I am and what’s going on.”

“You’re brave.”

“Aren’t you here to figure out what happened to your sister?”

“Yeah, but I’m going to build up to it. What if you see Greyson? Won’t you be scared?””

“No.” My heart beat fast and I looked away.

“I’d be so scared to see him. He’s so handsome and strong. He makes my legs shake.”

“Yeah, he is a bit intimidating.” I gave her a weak smile.

“Good luck, Meg. I could never do what you’re doing.”

“Then I guess you’re lucky you’ll have my help.” I smiled. “Let me go now, before I chicken out.”

“See ya, Meg.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a quick smile and hurried out of the room, my brain turning everything over. Something didn’t seem right, and I wasn’t sure what had my brain whirling.

I hurried down the cold hallway and quickly turned the corner. I paused as I saw two men talking hurriedly at the other end of the corridor. I walked quickly to a door and pushed it open so I could hide. For some reason, I knew that it would be a mistake to have the two men see me. I leaned against the door and tried to control my breathing. And then it hit me.

Nancy had said that she’d be scared to see Greyson because he was so handsome and strong. But how did she know? From all accounts she had never met Greyson before. She’d even asked Patsy if she would get to meet him. It didn’t make sense that she would ask about meeting him if she had already met him.

Why would she lie? She had either lied to me or to Patsy. Did she know more about her sister’s boyfriend than she was letting on? I rubbed my forehead and looked around the room curiously.

I was in what appeared to be a child’s nursery. There were cribs and toys, and I shivered at how creepy it was. Everything about this setup was creepy, and I wanted out. I was no Poirot, and at this moment I didn’t want to be one.

I opened the door slowly and paused as the two men walked past the door, still talking.

“If she figures it out, Greyson and Brandon will be destroyed.”

“Maybe we should help her figure it out then.” The other guy laughed. I peeked through the door to see if I could catch a glimpse of their faces, but their backs were now to me.

“If the truth gets out…” One of the guys stopped. “This place will blow up.”

“When you play with fire...” the other guy started, and they both laughed.

“What if he finds out first?”

“Then she’s gone.”

“Like the others.”

“Yeah.”

“We gotta do what we gotta do.”

They rounded the corner then, and I stood there, rooted to the spot. I should find the exit and run. I should leave and never come back. I should go and call Katie and tell her that I thought Brandon was bad news. Very bad news. But I didn’t. I exited the door and walked back quickly to my room. I hurried into my safe haven and then stopped as I saw who was in the room.

“Good morning, Meg.” His voice was as deep as I remembered it being.

“Greyson.” I nodded, my face flushing red as my eyes stared at him eagerly. He looked like a golden god, all toned and muscular. The tips of his hair were damp, and I realized that he must have just come out of the shower.

“How was your night?” His tone was monotone, but his eyes surveyed me with more interest.

“Good.”

“Good.” He smiled. “Ready for day one?”

“I guess.”

“Don’t sound so eager.”

“Why are you here?”

“Because I own this building and the club?” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“Why are you in this room?” I tried to ignore the stirring in my stomach as I felt his blue eyes staring at my bare legs.

“I came to see you.”

“Why?”

“Because I was passing the room and I wanted to say good morning.”

“I see.”

“Where were you?” He frowned and walked over to me. His fingers ran down my hair and he bent his nose to my neck and sniffed. “You weren’t in the shower.”

“Are you saying I smell?” I glared up at him and ignored the want to run my fingers across his jaw.

“I’m saying you don’t smell like soap.” His lips curled up. “And your hair isn’t wet, which it would be if you had just been in the shower.”

“Your hair is wet,” I mumbled as I stared at his glistening locks.

“I can take another shower if you want.”

“Why would I want that?”

“If you need a shower buddy. Someone to wash your back.” His eyes twinkled as his fingers ran down my back. “I don’t mind getting wet again.”

“That’s okay. Thanks.” I took a step back and he took a step forward.

“Don’t you like getting wet, Meg?” He took another step towards me, and I stepped back into the door. He placed an arm above my shoulder and pinned me back against the wall. “I’d love to see you wet.”

I blinked up at him, trying to ignore the heat that was rising up through me. I adjusted my legs.

He laughed before bending his lips to my ear. “It seems like you’re already a little wet.”

“You’re an obnoxious ass.” I pushed against his chest, but he remained rigid.

“Do you really think so?” His breath was warm in my ear and I closed my eyes.

My body trembled as I felt him push himself against me harder. My nostrils expanded in ecstasy as I took in his scent and felt his warmth against me, warming me up.

“Yes,” I whispered, shivering slightly as I saw the undisguised lust in his eyes. “I thought I told you I didn’t want you to touch me.”

“You lied.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Your lips are lying, but the rest of your body isn’t,” he whispered against my lips. “You want me to kiss you now.”

“No, I don’t.” I shook my head, my eyes wide. “In fact, I’ve decided I’m leaving the program. I don’t want to work here anymore.”

“What?” He took a step back then and his eyes looked disappointed. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to work here, and I don’t want to put up with you.”

“Liar.” He looked at me angrily. “Did you speak to Brandon?”

“No.”

“Come and have breakfast with me.”

“No. I’m supposed to meet Patsy and the other girls in about thirty minutes in the courtyard.”

“So you’re staying then?” He cocked his head and stared at me through hard eyes.

“No. But I’m going to go and tell Patsy that I’m leaving.”

“I knew you wouldn’t make it.” He turned away from me.

“Excuse me?”

“Girls like you can’t handle a place like this or a man like me.”

“A man like you?” My eyes widened at his words.

“I was going to train you.” He looked at me again.

“I thought you didn’t interact with the girls.” I frowned, remembering Patsy’s words.

“I do. In special cases.”

“I’m a special case?”