Broken Pieces by L. S. (best thriller novels of all time txt) 📖

think you’re over doing it, you’ve lost a lot of weight.” she said with so much concern in her eyes as she continues to apply some color on her cheeks.

I ran my fingers on my hair. That’s true I may have been overdoing it, working at the same schooling but I don’t have any choice. I need this job to support my studies and that’s all that matters to me. I don’t care if I get sick with my situation but all I want is to have a better life. A life that I can be proud of. A life where I can be a normal person. The life that I’ve been dying to have since Dan took everything from me.

“Don’t worry about me Nic, I am fine. I just need to get some sleep but everything is good about me.” I assured her.

“If you say so, then I’ll keep my mouth shut” she said.

I sighed, I remembered Carter again and what he told me today. I don’t know if I should tell Nicole about it. She might I’m crazy or he’s crazy. I don’t know if I should take it seriously or not but I wonder what Carter gets if he’s just playing with me?

“Everything all right?” she asked, maybe noticing the uneasiness on my face.

I nod then I shook my head.

“I want to tell you something because I am really confused right now.  I don’t know what to do.” I told her trying my best to explain how I really feel about this whole situation.

She went towards me and held my hands.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” she asked with concern tone.

We sat on the bar stool. She was still my hand as I told her about Carter. I told her everything from the night he took me out and I spend the whole evening in his place. The money and note he left me, the conversation we had earlier in the campus, everything.

“Wow!” she said. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say. He was basically buying you from Keith.” She added.

That made me more confused.

“I don’t know what to do. I mean, I should be scared right? Cause who’s in the right state of mind will offer me something like that. It’s ridiculous! And what making it worse is that I am actually entertaining the idea like I believe him or something.”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know what the right words to say are but I have this feeling that he is dead serious. I feel like he really likes you and is willing to give you everything. Actually, it doesn’t really matter if he was serious or not cause the question here is, are you going with him in California?”

I opened my mouth to answer her but nothing came out. I feel like there’s a lump in my throat that blocks my voice. Or in reality I just don’t know how answer her. I told Carter no, but why do I feel like I lied to him that my answer isn’t really no? But it isn’t a yes either. I feel completely lost about this whole thing. I never expected anything like this to come in my way. Since I left St. Louis, my plan was certain; to have a better life and that was what I have been doing until the day I met Carter Greene.

“No!” I said strongly trying sound as sure as possible. “I am not going anywhere with him.”

Nicole nodded and went back to her. I wasn’t sure if she believed me because honestly speaking I am having a hard time believing myself either. I’ll just need to take him out of my head and go on with my life.

 

At exactly six PM Annie was calling everyone for the night club briefing. The bar was already full when Nicole and I arrived. There are a total of thirty girls from twenty two states working with Keith. From time to time Keith and Nate travel around to recruit more girls. Last month they went to Colorado and recruited one girl, I forgot her name but she was a tall brunette who has a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

“Jillian, Keith is looking for you. Please go to his office.” Annie said once she laid eyes on me.

I was wondering what Keith wants, he rarely calls someone in the middle of the nightly briefing unless you broke one of his rules. Instead of asking Annie I just made my way to Keith’s office. There I found him sitting on his desk wearing his usual buttoned down shirt and jeans.

“Annie said you want to see me?” I asked as I peaked on the door.

“Yeah, please come in.” he answered and gestured me to take the chair in front of his desk.

I sat on the chair.

“Jillian, I don’t know if you are aware about this but do you still remember Carter Greene?” he asked.

When I was walking my way to Keith’s office I had this idea that Carter might be reason why I am being called to his office. But I tried so hard to make myself believe that Carter is just fooling with me, cause I think that makes it so much easier.

“Yes.” I answered.

I want to hear what he will say to me first before I tell him my meeting with Carter earlier at the campus.

“Well, I am not sure how the hell am I going to explain this but this guy is offering me a huge amount of money in exchange of letting you go.”

I wasn’t surprise anymore and I don’t even know why. I felt like I’ve already expected this.

“What did you tell him?” I asked.

He sighed; I can clearly see his confusion about this whole matter.

“I don’t know. I am not even sure if this is real or what cause I’ve never encountered any of this before. He practically wants to buy your contract.”

When I came back to Keith and finally agreed to work with him I signed this contract that lasts for a year. After a year, I have a choice if I want to stay and renew the contract or I can just leave. From the time I started going back to school I had no plans of leaving the club, maybe not after four years or so.

“I think he’s crazy. I don’t understand his game. He offered me so much money or a new club. That guy is just so fucking rich and he is willing to spend every dime on you.” He said shaking his head. “Tell me Jillian what did you do to this guy?”

I shook my head. I don’t know. I’ve been asking that same question ever since I walked to that coffee shop and found him sitting on the corner looking like a Greek god.

“I don’t have any fucking idea what I will do about this whole situation, Jillian. Maybe, I’ll discuss this with Nate first but for the mean time fix yourself up cause he’s waiting for you outside.”

He’s outside? I kind of figured that out. I knew Keith wants me to continue seeing him while he decides on what to do. Well, I guess the final say will be Keith’s after all. He’s the one who owns me since I am under contract with him.

I just nod. I didn’t say anything at all. I felt like my word won’t even count so I’d just what I am told.

I left Keith’s office and went straight to the dressing room. I want to change to something more respectful looking dress. I was wearing a sky blue short halter dress that shows half of my breast. I’ve learned my lessons; he might be taking me to that same hotel again so I don’t want to get those same wondering eyes of the attendants there. I know I am a stripper but I don’t think there’s a need to shout it out to the world.

The dressing room has a bunch of clothes that can be worn by anyone. These dresses are mostly the skin tight short ones. Sleeveless, strapless, short dresses, cleavage flaunting dresses, anything that will make you look as slutty as possible but in a sexy way. The club is not just the ordinary club. We rarely wear 2 pieces underwear unless you’re doing a show. Most of the time we wear dresses like the ones in the dressing room. Keith wants to his club to look more of a decent club.

All the dresses that I found were just the same as the one I am already wearing. I looked further and I found a navy blue long sleeve short dress, I wonder who put a long sleeve dress here, though it’s short its still do not belong to the dresses we usually have in here. Without anymore hesitation, I put the dress on and I was surprised how it fits perfectly on me. I am wearing my beige platform pumps that I think just perfectly paired with the dress. I kind of became a fashion conscious ever since I came back with Nicole. Earlier, I tied my hair up but I think it will go better if I just put it down and let my blonde locks be swayed by the wind outside. I also decrease my make up so all in all I look pretty simple. Not slutty but elegant just the way I want it to be.

The bar is still empty when I went out of the dressing room. I think the nightly briefing is still ongoing. Jarred as always just popped in front of me wearing his black tight shirt and black jeans.

“Miss, Mr. Greene is waiting for you outside.” He said bluntly as he looked at me from head to toe. Maybe he was wondering why I looked different.

I nodded at him. Then he accompanied me to the club exit. There I found the car I learned to familiarize with. Like before Jarred opened the door and gesture me to get in. I did. There I found him, wearing a white buttoned down long sleeved shirt he neatly folded up to his elbow and jeans. I smelled his usual scent of body wash and cologne. The car isn’t as dark as before, in fact there was a dim that surrounded the inside of the car.

“Good evening Jillian.” He greeted me, as usual smiling.

I gave him a slight smile as a reply. I also noticed the tinted glass window still up so I guess the driver cannot see us.

My body shook as he reaches my hand. Once again, I felt his warm and soft hands on me.

“I’ve missed you.” He whispered as he puts my hand on his lip and slightly kissed it.

I feel nervous as usual but not scared though my heart is beating so fast but not in a bad way. The car started and drove away. Like before he never let go of my hand until the car stopped for its destination.

“We’re here.” He whispered again but this time on my ear.

I shrugged as I felt his cold breath on my neck.  His every move sends me shiver down my spine. The car door opened and Carter get off. He slightly pulled my hand and I carefully get myself off the vehicle. I saw Marcus closed the car door and stood still near the car. I expected to see the hotel entrance where he took me the last time but I was wrong, we are in front of an Italian restaurant. Quattro GastronomiaItaliana is the name of the place. Carter let go of my hand and put his at the small of my back. As we walked inside the place we were greeted politely by a bald guy wearing a white long sleeve buttoned down shirt, a black pants and vest, a bow tie and shiny black leather shoes.

The inside of the hotel is just cozy, dim light, tables for four, for two, and for a big group of people. Tables are covered with clean white cloth with scented beautiful flower