The Billionaire And The Stripper. ARI LEVINSON

Chapter Four

Warnings: Mature content. Mention of the objectification of women (slight)

Author's note: No proofread. All mistakes my own. Let me know your thoughts about this chapter after reading. Enjoy it!

"You are fired."

"I'm-why? Susan, What happened last week, I swear will not happen again, But you can't-" You try to defend yourself.

"You made me lose a great potential client Y/N. I can't afford more mistakes. I made you forget the last one-"

"It wasn't my fault." You are quick to cut her off, reminding her.

"But this one was. And I can't risk losing any more clients" She replies.

Fuck this man, fuck everyone. You mentally shout to the world as you walk home. You stopped in front of a grocery store and took your purse out, you checked your savings. Great. You will be able to get some food and necessities for the house.

You put the stuff in front of the cashier. You take a look at two chocolate bars behind and ask the cashier how much your siblings love chocolate and you can't remember exactly when was the last time they had one bar for each other, and they will love it. After all, after this shitty, not day, but a week, you want them to be happy, excited, and smiling at something, even if it's just chocolate. Marie will love it.

The cashier gives you the total, and as you take your savings out and count, you realize it's not enough. Fuck, just let me buy the chocolates, God!

You are about to dismiss the bars when a big and large hand hands the cashier a card.

"I will pay" the voice, one that you recognize but don't exactly remember from, says.

You turn around and your heart stops. This can't be. What the hell is he doing here? Why today?

"No. Here, I will leave the chocolates" You quickly hand her the cash but the asshole stops you. His hand takes the cash out of your hands and shakes his head. Letting the young employee pay with the card.

You want to kick him in the balls right now so bad, but at the same time, part of you is grateful...How fucking weird. You don't even know him. Why would he be here? Did he follow you?

"You didn't have to do that." You ignore his gaze as both walk out of the market, saving the money back in your purse.

Asshhole has his cold gaze fixated on you. "Consider it a small investment."

Your eyes narrowed, suspicious "Why? What do you want in return?"

"I've been watching you. You have a certain... resilience. I appreciate that." his expression is inscrutable.

You scoffed, crossing your arms. "Watching me? What are you, some kind of creep?"

He ignored your comment. "I have a proposition for you, you could say."

You raised an eyebrow, both intrigued and cautious. "What kind of proposition are we talking about?"

"I believe you could be valuable to me," Ari explained vaguely.

You hesitated, weighing the options. The man infuriated you, but the thought of a job, especially after losing one, sparked a glimmer of hope. "And what's in it for me?"

Ari maintained his tone almost conspiratorial. "Stability, financial security, and a chance to prove yourself. Consider it a fresh start."

As much as you detested the idea of owing him anything (If he thinks owning an apology is important), the offer seemed tempting. The uncertainty in your life contrasted sharply with Ari's apparent confidence. "I don't trust you," you stated flatly.

Ari chuckled, his amusement evident. "Trust is overrated. Actions speak louder than words. Take the card, and if you're interested, be at this address tomorrow at noon. The choice is yours." He coldly hands you a small black card with an address.

As Ari turned to leave, you couldn't hold back the nagging curiosity that burned within you. "How did you even know? And why the hell are you here?"

Ari paused, glancing over his shoulder with a cold stare "Y/N, knowledge is power. I have a way of knowing things." With that, he disappeared into a sleek black car, pulling away from the curb and merging into the city's labyrinthine streets, letting you wonder how he got your name...

When you entered your home, the warm aroma of a home-cooked meal greeted you. You aren't used to this. You always take the leftovers or the preheated meals that Alex cooks. Today's different.

Marie is on the floor, engrossed in her drawings, a world of creativity unfurling on the paper before her. Alex's still in the process of preparing dinner.

He looked up in surprise. "You're home early. What happened?"

You sighed, a mix of weariness and uncertainty lingering in your voice. "I had the day off, but it wasn't by choice. Things at work... didn't go well."

Alex's eyes flicker with concern. You forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with the details. "Just a little setback. Don't worry about it. How was your day?"

He shrugged, "Normal. Boring. Are you sure everything's okay?" He asks raising an eyebrow, sensing there is more to the story.

"Yeah, yeah," you reassured him, putting on a brave face. "Just a weird day. But hey, what smells so good? Did you decide to become a chef while I was away?"

He chuckled.

You placed the bags with groceries and necessities on the kitchen counter, the clinking sound of the items catching your brother's attention. "I managed to get some things for the house," you explain, trying to inject a note of optimism into your voice.

Your brother nods appreciatively, a grateful smile on his face. "Thanks, Y/N. It means a lot."

Marie, sensing there was more, looked up from her drawings. Her eyes widened as she noticed the bags, but it was the sight of the two chocolate bars peeking out that made her jump in excitement. "Chocolate! Y/N, you got us chocolate!"

You couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Well, I thought we could all use a little sweetness today. Consider it a treat for being the best siblings around."

Marie's face lit up, and she rushed over to inspect the chocolate. "You're the best, Y/N!" She hugged you.

As your brother continued with the dinner preparations, a sense of warmth enveloped the room. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, the simple joy of sharing a small treat with your siblings brought a much-needed respite from the uncertainties of the outside world.