The Vaults Temptation (an ADULT 18+ READ)

Chapter 7

Holly Grace

The moment I stepped into the club, I felt the usual mix of excitement and nerves settle over me. The red mini dress hugged every curve, and my ponytail was slicked back so tight it made my head throb a little. But I was used to it by now. I glanced over at Ben, who was already busy with something at the bar, and I tried not to fidget. "You're working at the lower Vault tonight, hon," he said, almost too casually, as if that didn't mean a whole different world compared to upstairs. My stomach flipped, and I froze for a second, the words catching in my throat. "O-Okay, but Ben... I'm not sure I can work down there." I managed to say, feeling my voice come out weaker than I wanted.

Ben chuckled, clearly not taking my concern seriously. "You'll be fine, it's a lot less people, so it'll be calmer for you," he said, giving me a reassuring smile. I swallowed hard, trying to shake the unease settling in my chest. Calm sounded nice, but the lower Vault had its own reputation, and it wasn't one I was sure I was ready for. "The clientele is really exclusive down there," Ben continued, leaning in slightly like he was about to let me in on some big secret. "Don't speak to anybody unless they speak to you first or they're other staff, okay? They're big shots and don't like to be bothered." His words were meant to reassure me, but all they did was make me more nervous.

I nodded, even though my throat was tight, and tried to look like I was ready. "But don't worry," Ben added with another laugh, "they're normally a calm bunch." I gave him a small smile, feeling the relief creep in just a little. Okay, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Less people, calmer clients. That didn't sound too terrible, right? I could handle this.
As I made my way down the stairs to the lower Vault, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The music was still loud, but it felt...different down here. Deeper. Darker. The lights were dim, casting shadows across the sleek black floors, and everything felt more intimate, like the space itself was holding its breath. I tried to stay calm, reminding myself of Ben's words. It's calmer. It's exclusive. No big deal. But as I stepped behind the bar, my hands were already clammy. The lower Vault had its own set of rules, its own rhythm, and I wasn't sure I was ready to dance to it.

I wiped down the counter, trying to focus on the small, mindless task. The bar was empty for now, and I was grateful for the silence. It gave me a second to gather myself, to push down the nerves that kept bubbling up. I glanced around, taking in the sleek furniture, the low, private booths, and the overall atmosphere of luxury. This wasn't like the main floor upstairs, where people danced and flirted openly. Down here, everything was quieter, more deliberate. It felt like the kind of place where secrets were kept, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know what any of them were.

Just as I started to relax, the door swung open, and I glanced up instinctively. A man walked in, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in an expensive suit. His eyes swept over the room before landing on me, and I quickly looked away, remembering Ben's warning. Don't speak unless spoken to. I focused on the glass in my hand, my heart racing. I could feel his presence, heavy and commanding, and even though he hadn't said a word, the tension in the room seemed to spike. So much for calm.