Chapter 7

Beatrice dragged Adelynn up the stairs and into the massive VIP room at the end of the hall.

The heavy door clicked shut. The loud bass from downstairs disappeared completely. The silence made Adelynn's ears ring.

The room smelled like cedarwood and expensive cigars. Axel's scent.

Axel walked to the single leather chair in the center of the room. He sat down. He crossed his long legs. He watched everyone else.

Jax, Beatrice, Kindra, and Gilbert sat on the long couches. They moved carefully, afraid to make a sound.

Adelynn walked to the darkest corner of the room. She sat on the edge of a small sofa, as far away from Axel as possible.

Waiters walked in. They placed silver trays on the marble tables. Black truffle caviar. Slices of raw Wagyu beef. Bottles of wine that cost thousands of dollars.

Adelynn stared at the beef. Her empty stomach contracted violently.

A loud, hollow growl echoed from her stomach.

In the dead silence of the room, the sound was deafening. Everyone stopped moving. They all turned to look at Adelynn.

Beatrice's face turned bright red. She glared at Adelynn.

Adelynn felt the heat rise in her cheeks, but she refused to look away. She was terrified of Axel. She was surrounded by people she hated. But she was starving.

She grabbed a silver fork. She stabbed a large piece of Wagyu beef and shoved it into her mouth. She chewed aggressively.

Jax curled his lip in disgust. Beatrice looked away. They started whispering to each other. Kindra sat frozen on the couch, her eyes darting between Adelynn and Axel, her face pale with fear for her friend. She clutched her tiny purse, clearly wanting to say something but too terrified to speak.

Axel sat in his chair. He held a glass of red wine. His dark eyes were fixed on Adelynn. He watched her cheeks puff out as she chewed. He tapped his index finger against the crystal glass. A tiny, almost invisible smile touched the corner of his mouth.

Beatrice cleared her throat. She looked at Jax, then spoke loudly.

"Adelynn, I was thinking. You should move in with me."

Kindra looked confused. "I thought you hated Brooklyn."

Beatrice smiled and touched Jax's arm. "Jax's apartment is so big. I get lonely. I need a friend there."

Adelynn swallowed the meat. She looked at Beatrice.

She knew exactly what Beatrice was doing. Beatrice wanted to live in Jax's mansion, but she needed an excuse. She wanted Adelynn to be her free maid and her shield.

Adelynn wiped her mouth with a napkin. Her voice was ice cold.

"I have zero interest in being your free cleaner or your excuse to sleep in a rich man's bed."

Beatrice's smile vanished. Her face turned white, then red.

Jax slammed his hand on the table. "You ungrateful bitch. You belong in the slums."

Gilbert frowned. He opened his mouth to speak.

Axel slammed his wine glass down on the marble table. The sharp crack of crystal hitting stone echoed like a gunshot.

Everyone froze.

Axel didn't look at Jax. He kept his eyes on Adelynn.

"Too loud." His voice was flat, but it carried a heavy threat.

Jax snapped his mouth shut. He looked terrified. He thought Axel was annoyed by Adelynn.

Adelynn looked at her half-empty plate. The air in the room was suffocating. She needed to leave right now.