What brings you down here, boss?
Luther’ POV
I was trying to clear my head.But no matter how hard I tried, she kept showing up in my thoughts, Charlotte. The one woman I had no business thinking about. Victoria knelt in front of me, her hands working my belt open like this was some routine she had perfected. We were in one of my private club rooms. I had them built for this exact reason, to keep things simple. No names. No feelings. Just what we both wanted, nothing more. She looked up with a smirk. “You seem tense. Long day?”
I did not answer. Small talk was pointless. I was here to forget, to clear the weight off my chest. But instead of relief, all I felt was pressure building behind my eyes. Charlotte’s name sat on the edge of my tongue, even though I hated myself for it. Victoria freed me from my trousers and gave me a slow, teasing look. “Missed this,” she said as she brushed her lips along my skin. But I was barely present.
The room spun in a different direction. My eyes closed. And there it was, her. Her soft skin. Her shy smile. The way her hands trembled just a little when I touched her. That was the image burned into my head.
“God,” I muttered under my breath, jaw tight. Victoria paused. “Did you say something?”
My eyes snapped open. I had not realized I had spoken at all. She narrowed her eyes. “Wait. Did you just say... Charlotte?” Her voice cut the air like a knife. She pulled back sharply and stared at me like I had slapped her. I said nothing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said, scrambling to her feet. “Are you seriously calling me another woman’s name right now?”
I pulled up my trousers, adjusting my shirt. “Lower your tone.” She scoffed, brushing her hand across her mouth. “You don’t get to tell me how to react. Not when I’m on my knees and you are thinking about someone else.”
“You knew what this was,” I replied, keeping my voice even.
Victoria crossed her arms. “Yeah, I knew. No strings. No questions. But you crossed the line. I am not here to help you get over someone else.”
“This room is not for emotions,” I said, stepping closer. “You wanted the same thing I did. You just forgot the rules.”
She laughed bitterly, eyes flashing. “And you forgot that I’m still a person.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. Her face was flushed with frustration. Mine? Blank. I had learned to keep it that way.
“I should have left earlier,” she muttered, picking up her purse. “Next time, call the right name.”
She walked out, heels clicking against the floor as the door shut behind her. Silence returned. I sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor. Everything I had built to keep feelings out was falling apart, all because one woman had managed to crawl into my mind and stay there. This was supposed to help. It never did.
"You have no right to be mad, Victoria," I said coldly. "From day one, I told you, we were just sex. Nothing more. You don’t get to catch feelings." I pointed between us. "This? It’s done. Get out."
Without waiting for her to respond, I turned and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. I had called her hoping to blow off steam, just a quick fix. But like the others before her, she caught feelings and ruined it. That’s when I cut them off. Always the same damn story. They think they’re the ones who can change me.
I splashed cold water on my face, trying to pull myself together. I needed to get back to the club and find someone new. One night. No strings. Just a release. A few minutes later, I stepped out, buttoning up my shirt. Victoria was gone. Good, no drama and no tears.
Back in the VIP section, the usual chaos filled the air, strippers dancing, wealthy men laughing, neon lights bouncing off champagne bottles. I nodded at familiar faces as I passed, but I didn’t stop. Not tonight. The regular section was packed. Music thumped hard, lights flashed, and the crowd was wild. Everyone was either drunk, high, or trying to forget something. I fit right in. I went straight to the bar.
"What brings you down here, boss?" one of my bartenders asked. Young guy. Sharp. Reminded me a bit of Charlotte, too fresh for this world.
"Can’t I drink in my own damn club?" I muttered, sliding onto a stool.
He chuckled and poured me a full glass of Irish Scotch without another word. I appreciated that.
"You haven’t been in the regular section since we opened last week," he added.
"There’s a first time for everything," I said, staring into my drink.
I turned on the stool so I could watch the room. From here, I could see almost everything, the dancers, the bar fights about to start, the couples already slipping off into the shadows.
A table full of women caught my eye. They were watching me, giggling, whispering, waiting. Two of them got up. One was a redhead in a short dress that barely covered her ass. The other wore tight dress pants that showed off every curve. They walked straight to me like they already belonged there.
"Hey, sexy," the brunette said, her voice low and dirty. The redhead traced her fingers over my wrist without asking.
"Ladies." I gave a tight nod. No smile. No warmth.
"You're even hotter up close," one of them said.
I didn’t bother pretending to be flattered.
"What do you say we take this party somewhere else?" I asked with a wink, locking eyes with the redhead. She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing.
"Mmm, what do you have in mind?" I was about to answer. But then I saw her. Charlotte. She was on the dance floor, laughing. Dressed like sin. And she wasn’t alone. Some young guy had his hands all over her hips, pulling her against him as she moved. She tossed her head back, smiling at something he said, and grinded into him like she’d forgotten the whole world. Like she’d forgotten me. And just like that, I saw red.
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