Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/p>\n
94\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t even realized I\u2019d been holding my breath until the heavy stage curtains fell behind me, cutting off the spotlight and the sea of hungry eyes. The moment I stepped out of its glow, I exhaled sharply, my chest deflating as though I\u2019d been underwater the entire time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did great, Dylan!\u201d Philippe beamed at me, clapping enthusiastically as I entered the dressing room. He looked like a proud father sending his daughter into her first recital. \u201cThey loved you! I knew you were going to do great!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I mustered the best smile I could manage, my lips stretching into something that felt half\u2013real. \u201cThanks, Philippe,\u201d I said, my voice hoarse but steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I peeled off the mask and blinked against the backstage lights, I realized\u2026 it hadn\u2019t been as terrifying as I\u2019d imagined. Sure, my heart had raced like a wild thing, and my stomach had twisted itself into knots, but I\u2019d made it through. I\u2019d danced. I\u2019d survived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned against the wall for a moment, letting the weight of the night settle over me. I used to scoff at this kind of work, convinced it was all glitz and desperation. But now, I understood it was more than that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And who was I to judge anyone for choosing their own path?\u00a0<\/p>\n
If there was anything this stage taught me tonight, it was that people do what they must to make it through. Some danced, some ran, and some fought battles no one else could see. And as long as it was your choice, and you weren\u2019t hurting anyone along the way\u2013maybe it wasn\u2019t so shameful after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had done what I had to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But even as the sense of accomplishment tried to take root, I couldn\u2019t forget that shadow in the crowd\u2013that presence that had stirred something unsettling in my gut. My eyes drifted toward the direction of the darkened balcony, even though I knew he wouldn\u2019t be there anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still\u2026 his gaze haunted me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, do\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u00a0<\/p>\n
take checks, or do you prefer cash?\u201d Philippe asked me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled before I answered, \u201cI\u2019d prefer cash.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. You wait here,\u201d he said before he left the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once he was gone, I started to change my clothes and started removing my makeup. A few minutes later, Philippe went back to the dressing room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s five thousand dollars for your performance tonight,\u201d he said as he handed me the cash.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust for a night?\u201d I uttered in surprise. This was way bigger than what I was earning in the dance studio.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, one performance usually costs two thousand dollars. But the clients loved your performance, and they were very generous with the tin\u201d he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTip?\u201d I said shock was probably evident in my voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
94\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you\u2019re probably expecting clients to throw money at you?\u201d He said, followed by a soft laugh, \u201cWe don\u2019t do that here, honey. We just put it on their tab.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for this, Philippe,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was hesitating whether I should say something or not. Though this is already a huge amount of money, it still wasn\u2019t enough to pay for everything that I needed to settle tonight. Though I don\u2019t agree with paying those thugs with money twice the initial amount of what my parents borrowed, I know they weren\u2019t the type to negotiate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is probably too much. But do you happen to have another spot for tonight? I\u2019m kind of needing some money. And though this is already a huge amount of money, this isn\u2019t enough to pay for everything that I had to pay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He winces as if it were bad news. \u201cOur spots were already filled tonight. You were only here because Amanda quit,\u201d he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
**DYLAN**\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d I murmured, trying to keep the disappointment from seeping into my voice. I\u2019d been hoping Philippe had more work lined up for me\u2013maybe another set, another gig, anything to help me inch closer to the amount I needed. But when it became clear there was nothing else, I swallowed down my frustration and forced a grateful smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fine, Philippe. Really. This is already a huge help. Thank you so much,\u201d I said, giving him a polite nod as I turned to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cActually\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze mid\u2013step and spun back around before he could even finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take it!\u201d I blurted out, a little too eagerly. My heart was beating fast, hope rising again like a stubborn weed through concrete.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled, shaking his head. \u201cLet me finish, honey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment and gave him an awkward smile, silently cursing my impulsiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philippe folded his arms, his expression more serious now. \u201cA very important client requested a private session with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just like that, my throat went dry. My heart, which had been galloping with excitement just seconds ago, stumbled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cP\u2013Private session?\u201d I echoed the words, barely escaping my lips as I tried to process what he meant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philippe raised a calming hand, his voice patient and reassuring. \u201cIt\u2019s not what you think, sweetheart. You won\u2019t be asked to do anything different from what you just did on stage. It\u2019s the same performance, the same routine. The only difference is you\u2019ll have an audience of one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips parted slightly, unsure of what to say. The idea of being alone in a room with someone, vulnerable and exposed, made my stomach churn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
94\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Philippe seemed to understand what I was feeling, and his tone softened. \u201cYou\u2019re not obligated to say yes. If you\u2019re not comfortable, you can walk away. No pressure. Like I always tell my girls\u2013once you walk into that room, you hold the power. Not them. You set the rules. You call the shots.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, listening to his words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you decide to do it and there\u2019s anything you want to put in place\u2013any boundaries, conditions\u2013we\u2019ll respect it. We always do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded slowly, trying to calm the storm of thoughts racing in my mind. The money\u2026 it could be enough to make a real dent in our debt. But this wasn\u2019t just about money anymore. It was about control. About choice. About me reclaiming some piece of myself in the midst of this chaos.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I get to see the client first?\u201d I asked softly, testing the waters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philippe gave me a knowing smile. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, honey. The client wanted to remain anonymous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair enough that a client never wanted to share their identity. However, I\u2019m desperate for money, yet, I can\u2019t allow myself to go inside a room with a completely stranger while I dance in front of him provocatively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say I can have my conditions, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, of course, honey. As long as it will not put our client in any harm, we are happy to oblige,\u201d he answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want him restrained,\u201d I said bravely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philippe was obviously shock by my request. But it\u2019s the only thing that I can think of to keep me safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney, we\u2019re talking about a very important client here\u2013like, *very* important. Are you absolutely sure you want them tied up?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a sharp breath before I answered. \u201cThat\u2019s my condition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He let out a loud sigh before he said, \u201cI\u2019m not sure if this was a good idea. But sure, I\u2019ll inform the client and I\u2019ll get back to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He brings out his phone from his pocket and went to the corner of the room. He was far enough so I wouldn\u2019t hear what they were talking about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a few minutes, Philippe ended the call and approached me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019re lucky or you totally bewitched our client that he\u2019s willing to be restrained just to have a private session with you,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cH\u2013He agreed?\u201d I asked in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
**\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 13 Chapter 13\u00a0 2\u00a0 94\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t even realized I\u2019d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24364\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}