Chapter 8

Lacey spent the whole day arranging her new apartment. She loved the modern style but it was a little bit cold for her taste. It lacked the personal touch she was craving for.

But she loved the view in her apartment. Her apartment was on the tenth floor of the apartment complex and it gave her spectacular view of Aron City's busiest street and the Capital Building.

It was a slow afternoon weekend, she had planned to spend it with her father in the hospital. He was going to be out of the hospital soon and she couldn't wait for him to be back. Her father stayed with her aunt, but she wondered if she would be able to convince him to stay with her.

He would like the view and the serenity of the apartment but she knew he was going to be asking her too many questions.

She knew he would be suspicious, he had every right to be, everything about her life had changed overnight and she was still in shock.

No, he wouldn't want to stay with her, unless she divulged where she got the money to him.

She had struggled keeping away the fact that she was a stripper from him a long time and she didn't want him to learn about that part of her life. Or any other part that could make him unhappy.

The doorbell rang and Lacey looked at it with a small frown on her face. She wasn't expecting anyone. No one at all. The very few friends she had didn't know she had moved. Everything had happened so fast she barely had the change to catch up with them.

She walked to her bedroom to pick up her dressing robe, she was in nothing but a blue shorts and a black tank top.

"Who is it?"

She asked as she looked through the peephole while pulling hair messy hair in a ponytail. It was Aidas.

She sighed and rolled her eyes as she unlocked her door. Aidas walked in with a knowing smirk. He was clad in all black as usual, only this time his dressing looked casual. A black T-shirt showing off well toned biceps and hugging his figure pleasantly with a black jeans to compliment them. He grinned as he watched her closely as his eyes did a mini sweep on the apartment.

He must have noticed that she had added a few homey touches. But he chose not to comment on that.

"I'm sure you weren't expecting me."

He said as he plopped on her couch with outstretched arms. He looked pale as usual, Lacey wandered if his skin could ever take a tan. Lacey stood awkwardly in front of him as she wondered if she had the right to be angry that he just came over without informing her.

"Yes, I wasn't."

Lacey answered with folded arms. She walked towards the kitchen to get him a glass of water. Not that he asked for it but she just needed to leave to gather herself.

She pulled her robe closer to herself, suddenly self conscious and shy as he watched her every move.

"Want something to drink?"

She asked and he shook his head.

"No, you won't have what I want. Come here. We need to talk."

"Sure."

Lacey sighed as she walked back to the living room.

"If it's about Hunt I'm afraid I have nothing on him."

"And that's exactly what I want to talk about. It's been a week Candy."

Aidas taunted with a glare on his face. Lacey sat down in the couch opposite his, hugging her arms and legs closely.

"I know. But nothing much happens. Just company stuffs. And I did tell you about that time he disappeared and came back for a few days."

"Yes, but that's not what I want Candy. I need names, I need locations, I need him to talk."

Lacey rubbed her eyes.

"I have his schedule. It's all work related. The people and places he goes are all business related. I think he's clean."

"Hnmmmm."

Aidas looked out the window, he seemed to be deep in thoughts, with the same infamous frown that he always had.

"He's being too careful..."

"What? I don't understand..."

Lacey frowned but Aidas was too busy touching the fake cactus tree on her coffee table to even notice or pay attention to her.

"He's weary of you. So of course you don't know what he's up to. You have to make him loosen up."

"How? How am I going to do that?"

She stretched her arms out in frustration. Aidas shrugged, there was a glint in his eyes that suggested that he had an idea.

"Well, I guess we'll have to move up to phase two of our plan faster than we think."

Phase two?  Adidas never mentioned anything about their plans being in phases.

"What is phase two?"

He stood up, ignoring her question and walking straight towards her.

He beckoned for her to stand up and she did, slowly with her eyes searching his deep green eyes for answers.
He wore a lot of contacts. Lacey noted as she studied his facial expression.

"Phase two, you have to seduce him."

"What?"

Lacey asked incredulously with shock written all over her face.

"Seduce him?"

Aidas nodded.

"Yes, you have to. Don't act so surprised, I warned you it might come to this."

"But? Why? What exactly are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for what's going to ruin him Lacey. That's what I need."

"Why do you want to ruin him? You've never told me before."

Aidas shrugged.

"Because that's not what's important here Lacey. All I need is for you to do what I ask and I'll keep my end of the bargain."

Lacey became furious. Everyday Aidas pestered her for information, but she didn't know what exactly he was looking for. She always gave him reports of Hunt's schedule for the day but still it seemed like he didn't care about that.

Besides, Hunt didn't always keep to his schedule. It was a bad habit of his Donna said he always had. He was always springing up last minute plans sometimes.

"What are you looking for?"

Lacey asked after a few seconds of silence and Hunt finally looked at her.

"What?"

"What do you need from him?"

"I need him to pay for what he did. And what he's doing."

"What's he doing? What did he do?"

Lacey asked and Aidas shrugged.

"There were a few rumours released about Ecstasy yesterday. I've had to do damage control and all but it has crippled the club."

"Oh! I'm sorry. What were the rumours about?"

Aidas scoffed.

"Well, someone claimed they found a dead body in our secret room."

"The media's been talking about it all day. And since I'm running for Mayor, the press is turning it all into a political mess. This can hurt my chances."

"A dead body? Is that true?"

Lacey asked and he glared at her. She knew there was no way it was true, Ecstasy was a lot of things, but she knew it wasn't dangerous. Besides, the only secret room the media could have been referring to was the Red room. And it was nothing but an overpriced room where men and women alike could fulfill their sexual fantasies.

"Of course It's not. We've released a statement and the police have been asked to check out the place. But the damage has already been done."

"That's horrible. I'm sorry about that."

She said as she slowly stretched her hands but quickly withdrew it. She was going to place her hand on his shoulder but she wasn't sure he would like the personal contact.

"Who would have done such a thing?"

She refused to believe it could be Hunt. Hunt was a lot of things but he wouldn't stoop so low. At least that was what she believed. Aidas was also a man with a lot of enemies, it could be possible he had pissed off a few people.

"Who else? Hunt Adler."

Aidas said as he spat out his name with disgust in his features.

Lacey rolled her eyes.

"Oh no. You don't really believe that."

"I do Lacey. And it's the truth! That's why I need you to move to phase two. I need something on him before he ruins me."

Aidas pleaded. Lacey could hear the desperation in his voice. But his claims were far from believable. Or was she the one being naive? Was Hunt Adler really has bad as Aidas painted him to be?

"I'll work harder. I'll try my best to find something for you."

She reassured him and he looked a little bit relieved.

"Thank you. Please keep me posted as always."

"Sure I would."

She reassured him and he made a move to leave.

"Oh yes. Before I leave I need a favour."

Aidas said as he turned back to look at her and Lacey shrugged.

"What is it?"

She didn't know what the favour was, but she hoped it wasn't going to be too extreme.

"We're doing opening show in the next three days at the club. There will be free drinks and all. It's a strategy to shrug off all the bad energy in the club after those rumours."

"Oh! That's a great idea."

Opening nights were always very lucrative.

"What do you need me for then?"

She asked and Aidas gave her a knowing look. She could already tell what he wanted.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Wait! You honestly don't expect me to perform do you?"

"Please."

"Oscar mentioned something about the crowd missing you. And you're pretty good at what you do."

"Unbelievable!!!"

She exclaimed in shock and Aidas rolled his eyes.

"You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But the girls also miss you too. And some of your fans do. One night wouldn't hurt."

Lacey folded her arms. Things must have been really bad if he wanted her back in the club, even if it was just for a night.

She found herself pitying him.

"It's that bad ugh?"


"Will you do it?"


Lacey tilted her head to the side thinking. It wasn't a horrible thing to ask but not something she really wanted to do either. A small part of her missed that part of her. The pole dancing part of her where she gave herself freely to the music and shut everything and everyone else out.

"Sure. It's not such a bad idea."

She said as she shrugged and Aidas nodded.

"Good. Rehearsals are this evening. I think the girls would be happy to see you."

He said as he walked towards the door without another word.

The girls...

Lacey had totally forgotten all about them. All about that part of her. She felt bad that she didn't even have the courage to give Kitty a proper explanation for leaving.

She should have.

Kitty was perhaps the only one that truly cared for her.

And how did she repay her?

By leaving without another word.

Lacey was definitely looking forward to opening night.