Striptease

Eric got up from his seat. Giving everyone a fierce glare, he turned around and left from there.

Emery had been looking at the scene in front of her quietly all along, but soon the cheers of people around her brought her back to reality. 

“Striptease! Striptease! Striptease!” Everyone chanted these words like all of them had just won and now wanted a prize. 

Emery's eyes widened as soon as she realized what they all meant.  She looked at Darren helplessly, hoping that he wouldn’t be expecting her to striptease in front of everyone, but seeing the smirk dangling on his lips, she got scared. 

“What are you waiting for now?” 

“Hurry up!"

Some of the men surrounding them shouted, which triggered Emery, but she calmly replied to them, “The match was between Mr. Harper and Mr. Langford, and it doesn’t concern me in any way.” 

Darren’s smirk deepened as he took a few steps toward her.  “But Miss Hart, the thing was already decided."

Emery stepped back, but as she could move further back, Darren held her hand and pulled her towards himself. 

Her head clashed on his hard chest while his cologne filled her nostrils. She felt his warmth wrapping her as her heartbeat fastened. 

“I will give you two options now. Either strip here, or you can give me an exclusive show in the room, and in return, I will remove those articles from the media for you and also give you some customers that would boost up your company’s reputation.” Darren’s breath fanned on her ears as he completed saying. 

Pushing himself back, he stood straight in front of her. For a moment there, Emery’s eyes piqued with curiosity. 

Darren realized that he had struck while the iron was hot, so he continued saying, “Now the choice is yours: either me or these hungry wolves.” 

Emery’s eyes cautiously moved to the man standing around her before they fell back on the man holding her protectively. 

‘Think, Emery, think! If I don’t go with Darren now, these monsters won’t leave you, and if I go with him, he will eat me alive.’ 

She continued thinking for some time before she screamed in her head, ‘Ahhhh.’ 

‘Fuck it! I will go with Darren. At least I will be left with some respect that I went with Darren Harper and might as well get the chance to get more customers for the company.’ 

Emery glared at Darren as she spat out, “Fine! I will go with you. But I have a condition.” 

Darren’s smirk deepened. “And that is?” 

Somehow his playful smirk made Emery’s heart flutter; she looked away, trying to hide her emotions.

“Look, but don’t lay a finger.” With that, she started walking while Darren followed her. 

“Where is she going? That’s cheating!” A man yelled as everyone watched Emery walk out of there. 

Hearing that, Darren halted in his steps and glared back at the man. Seeing Darren’s red eyes, the man felt shivers running down his spine and instinctively looked down. 

“Look at her one more time and I will claw your eyes out.” Darren said with so much authority that not only that man but also other people around him looked away. His voice had such authority that it made people shiver with fear. 

All the murmurs around them also quieted down before Darren continued walking and went out of the hall along with Emery. 

They entered the elevator, and Darren pressed 10.

Emery felt her heart beating fast. She was now realising the damage she had done. 

Did she just willingly agree to do a striptease in front of this devil? 

‘Oh god! What have I gotten myself into?’ 

Darren stayed in his place like he hadn’t just heard his thoughts. He had the ability to hear her thoughts whenever she was too close to him and Emery wasn’t aware of the fact. 

‘Can I just push him out of the window? If he tried to do anything to me, I would scream! What scream? Emery, are you stupid? These rooms are soundproof. Ahhhh! 

Darren couldn’t help but smile at her adorable thoughts. 

Did she really think she could throw the king of devils out of the window? How naive she can be!

Ding… 

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened up. Darren was the first one to step out of the elevator, while Emery stayed rooted in her place, fidgeting with her fingers. 

Darren had just taken a few steps when he realized that Emery wasn't following him. 

Turning around, he raised his eyebrows as he asked, “What? Do you want me to come and pick you up?”

“I... I...” Emery tried saying something, but no words were coming out of her mouth. 

Seeing her reluctant form, Darren realized that she wouldn't be coming with him willingly. He took two steps towards her, and he was there in front of her again. 

Emery didn’t even get the chance to react and say anything before she felt his arm wrapping around her waist, and she was there on his shoulder. 

“What the hell are you doing? Put me down!” She yelled as she tried to get herself off of him and moved here and there. 

“Stop moving if you don’t want to give your show here.” Darren’s playful voice fell in her ears, and she felt the tips of her ears getting red. 

“Shameless!” She yelled, trying to hide her face in her hands.

He chuckled a little before blurting out, “I can be more shameless than this.”

Emery stayed quiet until they were in front of the room. She heard the card being swiped and the door being opened up and then closing. 

As soon as they were inside the room and he turned around to lock the door, she was now sure that she wouldn’t be able to get out of that devil’s den until he got what he wanted now. 

Darren took her straight to the bed and gently put her down, but before she could get up, half of his body was already over her, weighing her down. 

“Now tell me, do you want to do it yourselves or do you want me to?” Darren asked while eyeing her up and down like she was nothing but a delicious piece of meat lying beneath her, and it was his responsibility to devour every part of her. 

“Listen to me first.” She gulped the lump forming in her throat as she tried to push him off of her. 

“I will…” She was just about to say when suddenly Darren’s phone started ringing. 

Ring…

Darren growled with annoyance as he pulled his phone out of his coat and looked at the caller ID. A frown made its way onto his forehead as he looked at the caller ID. 

Giving Emery a look, he ordered her, “Get yourself ready until I come back. I want to see you in the middle of the room once I am back.”

With that he moved out of the room and went onto the balcony. Emery looked at him as he placed the phone near his ear and started scolding the other person on the phone angrily. 

Emery sat up on the bed as soon as Darren stepped out onto the balcony. Her heart was beating fast, she knew if he come back he won't be leaaving her easily then. She can't just let her ex husband ruin her dignity.

This was her chance.

She had to get out of there. 

Her eyes moved around the room, as she tried to find a route for an escape route.

The door was locked and she was sure the keycard was with Darren. She slightly slid off the bed and tiptoed towards the table when she saw the keycard on the stand.

Her eyes immediately lit up seeing that. She cautiously moved towards keycard, her eyes glued to Darren’s back as he was angrily talking to some one on his phone. 

“Just handle it,” he growled, his voice getting octaves high, “I don’t have time to deal with this shit right now.”

Emery swallowed hard before looking at the keycard which would take her out of this room. Approaching the table she quickly picked up the card and hurriedly moved towards the door.

Darren was still in the balcony and hadn't moved until now. 

'He’s distracted. Just go.' She told herself.

Taking a deep breath, Emery bolted toward the door. Her hand was on the handle when...

“Where do you think you’re going, Miss Hart?”

His voice was low yet dangerous which caused her to freeze in place. 

Slowly, she turned her head to see Darren leaning casually against the balcony doorframe, his phone now tucked into his pocket. His eyes were dark and gleaming with a predatory glint, and the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk.

“I…was just…getting some air,” she stammered, cursing herself for how weak she sounded.

“Air?” Darren chuckled, pushing off his body and strolling toward her with the grace of a lion approaching its prey. “The balcony is right there, darling. Or were you planning to run?”

Emery’s back pressed against the door as he closed the distance between them. She was trapped, and they both knew it…