Chapter 5

Now- Four Years Later

"HEY." I SMILE AT ROGER, the door man, as I walk up the steps to The High Roller for my shift. He takes the phone in his hand and slips it into his back pocket.

"Jade." He nods his head. "How was your day off?"

Stopping to talk to him, I cross my arms and shrug. "Not bad. Slept in, then kind of just spent the day walking around the strip. Spending money on things I don't need but can't seem to help but buy anyways." I laugh.

He chuckles. "What was it this time? A stuffed animal to add to your nest along with the millions you've been accumulating, snacks to hoard in your mini fridge, or clothes you"re never going to wear?" he asks with amusement, raising a brow in question.

If you didn't know Roger like the staff does, at first glance, he comes off as a big, scary alpha. The man is tall, buff as hell, with a bald head. He looks intimidating, but deep down, he's really a sweetheart.

He takes his job very seriously and works hard to keep the girls safe.

"Wanna take a guess?" I do my best not to smile.

"All of the above?"

"Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner!" I laugh. "You know me too well."

"That I do," he chuckles. "Hey, have a good shift today, okay?"

"I'll try my best." I wink as he opens the door wide for me.

"And, Jade..."

I look up as I step into the building.

"Yeah?"

His face softens. "Happy four years."

The smile on my face falls a little. "Thanks." Roger takes his place inside by the door as I continue into the club.

It's been four years today since I walked through those golden doors, hoping to get a bit of good luck in my life, to be able to start the new one I desperately wanted.

The plan was to work for a bit, save up some money, move away, and start over. Only that didn't happen.

The moment I walked in here, I almost turned around and ran back to the center. I was a nervous eighteen year old newly presented omega, but before I could get very far, a tall blonde older omega stopped me.

Leisha asked for my name and why I was here. It took me a few minutes to stop feeling like I was about to be sick before I spilled it all. Leisha has that effect on you.

I told her about being in foster care, not having anyone to help me out, and that I needed a job. She asked for my ID, went upstairs, came back down ten minutes later and said I was hired.

She gave me a pair of black leggings and a T-shirt, and told me to sit at the bar to observe for the night.

There was something about the atmosphere of the place that sold me. Omegas were the ones in charge and all the rich alphas in the room knew it.

They could toss their money around all they wanted, but if the omega wasn't into it, they said no without a second thought, and no one caused a fuss about it.

And if they did, they were removed from the club. It's called The High Roller for a reason.

For the first few months, I worked four nights a week and lived at the center. But as I got more comfortable and confident with my job and the club, I moved into the apartments on the basement level of the building.

Over time, I went from server to filling in on stage for the girls. I did both until last year when I turned twenty-one. That"s when I started part-time bartending. I was doing a little bit of everything. And I loved it.

I felt free when I was on stage. It was an adrenaline rush knowing that all these hungry alphas watched me move on stage as I danced, salivating for me. I held all the control.

Servicing clients was not something I ever thought I'd be into. A lot of the omegas who work here have regular clients, some even using them for their heats.

Not me. I'm on suppressants. The idea of having my heat terrifies me. I don't care if it's basic omega biology. It means you have to put all of your trust in another person when you"re at your most vulnerable state; to trust them to care for you and keep you safe. I know I can't stay on them forever because of the long-term side effects, but I plan on using them until my doctor suggests I get off them.

It's something I couldn't do when I presented, and something I still can't do to this day. Because the fact is, I trust no one. Especially alphas. At least not with my body, and I sure as hell don't trust anyone with my heart.

I'll admit that my past has left me with some hefty trauma. I don't rely on anyone but myself. I have no interest in finding alphas to settle down with, and I make it my life's mission to avoid any mention of anything to do with or about them.

Leisha was the first person to find out why when she put on one of their songs before the club opened one night. I shut down, right in the middle of the room.

I was very careful not to listen to the radio, not wanting to risk one of their songs coming on. Instead, I download my favorite artists' playlists to my phone and only listen to those.

And while I don't really know many of their songs, I do recognize their voices, their sound. When you spend years listening to them after school, getting lost in their melody, there's no mistaking their sound.

Poor Leisha thought I was having a stroke or something. I told her why their music bothered me, and since then, their songs have never been played again. It's kind of an unspoken rule around here, and I appreciate it more than they will ever know.

Taking in the black luxury space of the club, I look to my right where the bar is. "Hey." I nod to Glade, one of the bartenders. She's wiping down the bar, getting it ready for tonight. Being a Friday, it's going to be a busy night.

"Hey, girl." She smiles, her long dark hair flowing over her shoulder. "You working tonight?"

"Yup." I make my way across the room, taking one of the stools at the bar. She grabs a glass and starts to fix me a drink, seeming to read my mind that I'm in need of something to take the edge off.

"You on the floor or dancing?" She slides over a Rum and Coke.

I shrug and down the thing in two gulps, grimacing at the taste of the alcohol. I hate the shit, but I drink it anyway. "Not sure. Thanks."

She laughs, shaking her head as she takes the glass from me and places it in the sink.

"Little birdie told me Calvin is in town tonight," she sing-songs without looking at me.

Calvin is an alpha, and one of the club's biggest clients. One that happens to have taken a liking to me.

He first started coming around the club six months ago. He took one look at me, and I guess he decided no other omega in the club would do. He wanted me.

However, outside a private lap dance—and only if the price was right—I don't take any clients to the rooms upstairs.

Calvin is determined. He's older, I'm not quite sure of his age, but if I had to guess, I'd say maybe late thirties. But I wasn't blind, the man was fine as hell. Tall, dark, almost-black hair, and covered in tattoos. I have a type, and he fits it to a T, aside from the age gap. Older men aren"t really my thing.

But he keeps putting on the charm, offering me an amount of money only a fool would turn down.

I told myself that if I accepted his offer, that money would set me up for life. The only thing is, I've been saying that about this job for years. I had enough saved up two years ago to move and buy a damn house if I wanted to.

The High Roller has become my life though. I like my job, like the girls. I feel safe. Why change a good thing if I don't need to? The money will still be there if anything changes.

The real reason I said yes was because I was attracted to him. As much as I hated being an omega at times, the bottom line is, I am one. I have my moments of being needy, of wanting someone to take care of me, even if it's just for a short time.

So, I broke my rule and took him on as a client. Something I'm not proud of was the fact that I had to drink a lot to stop my mind from going right to the guys.

In a way, I was a virgin—only using sexy toys to satisfy my needs—before I slept with Calvin for the first time. My foolish hope was that the guys would be my first, and maybe in the back of my mind, a part of me was still holding out for that.

I reminded myself that it was never going to happen and took Calvin up on his offer. I can't say I regretted it. That man knows how to use his tongue and work that alpha cock. That night was amazing. The sex was mind-blowing. And the money was the cherry on top.

Calvin remains my only client to this day. I don't know much about him, we never get into personal details—I don't even know his last name. The only real thing I do know is his first name, that he's loaded, and doesn't live in Las Vegas.

He comes every few weeks for business and only stays for a night. Those nights, he spends a few hours gambling and ends it in a private room with me, leaving us both sweaty and very satisfied.

"Not going to lie, I could use a little something to take the tension off." I grin as I slide off the stool to my feet. "I'll see you tonight," I tell her before making my way across the room.

"Get it, girl!" Glade calls out to me with a laugh, making me grin and shake my head. I head to the set of stairs at the front of the club that leads down to where the apartments are to get ready for my shift.

Heading down the hall, I stop at the door with the silver four. Grabbing my key card, I unlock my apartment and walk inside.

Most of the rooms here start off with the standard black like the rest of the club, but we're allowed to decorate our places how we want. So, I did a pretty spot-on job, turning it into the room I had back at the center. Something about the pastel colors is relaxing.

Tossing my purse on the bed, I head over to my adorable gold Victorian vanity and brush out my long, copper hair. I cringe a little as I notice a bit of redness under my eyes and on my nose.

"Should have worn the damn sunscreen." You would think, growing up in Vegas, I'd know better by now. I'm a ginger. I don't tan, I burn.

I'll be using some makeup to cover that up tonight.

Grabbing the things I need, I move into the bathroom that I share with one of the new omegas, Elena. She's a sweet thing with blonde hair and blue eyes. A bit shy, but I'm sure after some time here, she will open up.

Once I'm done washing up, I head back into my room and slip into my uniform—a sleek black dress that ties up around my neck and forms to my body like a glove before flaring slightly at the hips.

After I dry my hair, I style it in loose curls. Using a bit of foundation, I cover up the redness, hating that it also covers up my freckles, which I love. I do my makeup—a soft smokey eye that makes the green in my irises pop and my signature deep-red lipstick.

I give myself a once over in the mirror and nod when I'm pleased with my look for the night. I seem to only have one person to impress tonight, and I know that I don't have to try.

"Well, Jade. Time for work. I have no doubt, it's going to be an eventful night."