Hi Guys! I'm back! Please feel free to leave a review and let me know how you are feeling about this story. This is a twist on the same old tale of Eli and Clare. I don't want to give too much away, but trust me, this story is going to be a long and detailed one. I have written most of the story at this point and there will be a sequel. So I'm thinking of a 50 chapter story and a 50 chapter sequel. Give or take. I tend to write shorter chapters, so I haven't decided whether I'm going to do longer chapters and have less or more shorter chapters quite yet.

***Also, I will highly stress that this is going to be a trigger story. There are many trigger warnings in this story. The best comparison I can make, is if you have read my other story Ransom Romance. This will be dark and sinister as the description suggests. There will be some very dark themes as we go along. Please let me know if you would like me to put warnings before each chapter as we go. I will gladly do so. Thank you!

I hope you guys enjoy! I will be updating every Sunday so stay tuned! Keep in mind that I will be uploading and updating other stories on Sundays as well and to check them out too! Thanks guys! As always Read and Review!

Chapter 1: The Newbie

Clare's POV

"Hey Becky!" I turned as Alli came running up to me in the crowded room.

"What's up Alex?" I asked, pausing in place. The music from the club, pulsing around me. "Am I next on the floor?"

"No. Jane is. You're after her. Asher actually wants you to do your rounds first." I nodded, knowing that what Asher wanted, Asher got.

I walked away from Alli, heading towards the front of the stage, where most of the men were. I walked through the horde that was enthralled with Jenna up on stage, and focused on the men that were chatting and distracted. Those were the easy targets.

Sashaying my way over to two men, I turned on the charm. I flirted with them and worked them over pretty well. When neither of them were seeming to take the bait for a private, I moved on. As I was zeroing in on another man that was leering at me, movement to my left caught my attention. A man that couldn't have been more than a few years older than me, sat down, watching me.

The look in his eyes was paralyzing. His gaze was smoldering and I couldn't look away, I was so enthralled. Forgetting the other patron, I headed in his direction. Whether he was interested in a private or not, I knew that whatever time I spent with him, I was going to enjoy immensely.

As I walked up to him, I studied his features. His emerald green eyes were striking against his pale complexion. He had a sweep of black hair that covered his brows and a carefree, almost bad boy like, attitude that drew me in.

"Hey, honey. How are you doing?" I asked, sliding onto his lap, like Alli had taught me how to do.

"Better now that you're here." He smirked, lazily up at me. I threw a genuine smile down at him, as I wrapped an arm around his neck, while my other lazily stroked his chest through his open leather jacket and band tee.

"A man who knows what he wants." I spoke coyly. He smirked, sliding his hand in front of me. When I registered what was in his hand, his smirked widened, as I faltered. I was caught off guard by the amount.

"A dance if you will." He teased, clearly excited about my reaction. When I still hadn't spoken, he continued. "What? Not what you were expecting?"

"Not at all." I smiled briefly, finding my words. "You know a dance is only twenty."

"Think of it as a tip of gratitude." He gestured grandly, making me laugh.

"With this much, though, I owe you at least five dances." I continued.

"Like I said, tip of gratitude my dear. If you feel it's necessary, make it two dances." He teased, trying to sound philosophical. I smiled at him briefly before beginning my dances. While I was enthralled by him, I was also confused. Who was this man, to be spending time in a place like this? Surely there must be something wrong with him?

After the dances were done, he practically forced the money into my hands before saying good night and walking out of the club without so much as a glance in anyone's direction. It was by far the most intriguing moment of this job, since I started here over three months ago.

As I'm packing up my things for the night, Alli walks up to me with her purse slung over her shoulder.

"I forgot something in Jenna's car last week, so I'm going to go get it with her." Alli asked.

"Jenna? Don't you mean Jane?" I teased, smirking at her as I continued to put my clothes in my bag.

"The one and only!" Jenna joked walking up to us.

Most of the girls didn't use their own names here at the club. Asher wasn't really a stickler for the rules and word got around that we could get hired with fake work documents. This is how I got the job with Alli. She and Jenna were both eighteen, but since I was seventeen, most creditable clubs wouldn't even bat an eyelash in my direction.

Knowing that I could make some extra cash for my family, I jumped at the thought of being able to work a couple nights a week and make enough money for rent and food. Alli and I knew each other from school, we were in the same AP English class, and I was strapped for cash. Alli suggested working here with her as a joke, but I finally became desperate enough to give it a shot.

Alli was rich and didn't do this for the money. No. She was in it for the fun. She grew up in a very stringent household and her father is very strict. She spends her nights dancing to get away from him, and to piss him off, as she likes to say.

"See you outside?" Alli continued, looking at me. I nodded my approval as I finished cleaning up, sliding my heels into my bag. Most of the girls had trickled out of the room by now, leaving me one of the last to leave.

"Becky." A voice called out to me, as I opened the back door to the alley by the parking lot. I turned back towards the other side of the alley to see Adam walking up to me. "Wait."

"What?" I asked, crossing my arms. The last thing I wanted, was to deal with some perv. I just wanted to get home and sleep. Alli was waiting for me in the car, and I knew I was already holding her up as it was.

"Hey." He exhaled, stopping in front of me. After a moment of silence, I decided he wasn't going to speak first, so I did.

"I don't mean to be rude, but my ride is waiting for me." I stated, not showing any emotion. I didn't want to be mean, but I also didn't want to give him an opening if he was one of the bad ones.

"Right. I'm sorry." He shook his head, putting his hands in his pockets. "So, I was wondering. Can I buy a private from you tomorrow?"

"That's a little peculiar. Most people don't ask." I replied.

"I am." He continued.

"I suppose." I stated, as Alli honked her horn behind us in the parking lot. I couldn't see the car from here, but I knew it was her.

"I'll be around by ten. Does that work?" He asked. I nodded, before he walked back the way he came. I watched after him, caught off guard. When Alli honked again, this time I started heading towards her car. As I climbed in the car, Alli spoke.

"What took you so long?" She asked.

"Sorry. I forgot something." I lied.

My mind was spinning. Adam didn't seem to be like the rest of the guys. Something was different about him. Whether or not that was a good thing, remains to be seen. Although, I did find him intriguing. I guess I'll find out what he's up to tomorrow. Surprisingly, I was looking forward to going to work for once.

As I was clearing a table the next night, Jenna came up to me.

"I guess tonight's your lucky night." She stated.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The new hotshot picked you." She said shrugging as she started collecting the items from the table that I was cleaning.

"Really?" I asked nervously.

"Room eight." She continued.

I handed her the tray I was holding, before heading down the hallway to the back rooms. As I came up to the room, I stopped. I needed to calm myself before walking into that room. When I was Becky, I put my emotions away.

It was the only thing that kept me going in this job. And this would be my first private that wasn't with Fitz. So I wanted to do this right. Fitz I knew was lusting after me. It was obvious from day one that he wasn't going anywhere.

Adam, however, was a wealthy, attractive guy that every girl in this place wanted to dance for. Whether to make a few bucks or get laid, either way, I couldn't screw this up. If I didn't satisfy him, I could lose out on a lot of money that I needed.

After a few deep breaths, I opened the door. Adam was sitting on the bench by the wall. His arms were stretched out across the back of the bench.

"I just want to talk." He began.

"Yeah. Sure." I smirked, as I walked up to him. I walked up to him, placing my hands on the sides of his neck, as I slid onto his lap.

"Becky. I'm serious." He said, as I began to move against him.

"So talk." I said, focusing on my movements.

"Look." When his hands moved towards me, I halted my ministrations. "I'm just moving to show you I don't want this." He moved his hands up in a defensive position. Realizing that he wasn't joking at this point, I slowly stood up and back away.

"Then why did you ask to order a private? What was all of this for then?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"I told you. I just want to talk." He said, lowering his hands, and placing them on his lap.

I was extremely aware of every movement he was making, even his breathing. It was in my safety to know every move he made.

"I don't know where you think you are, but this is a strip club. I'm not a therapist." I stated, waving him off. "Don't you have someone else to be talking to?"

"Maybe. But you're the one I want to talk to." He smirked. I couldn't tell if he was flirting with me, or just being honest. Both were definitely unexpected, for me.

"Look. I'm just trying to work here. My boss will get mad if he doesn't see me doing my job." I explained. His eyes flickered to where I knew the camera was by the door. We were in full frame of it, which was the point. When his eyes landed back on me, I knew that he had made a decision.

"By all means, do your job. I just wanted to talk." He shrugged, moving his hands back to leaning on the back of the bench.

I nodded, before climbing onto his lap again. As I started to move, I noticed his eyes on me. When I looked up at him, his eyes were on me. Not on my body, but on my face. He was studying me, which didn't make me any less nervous.

"What?" I asked, after a few moments of making eye contact.

"What?" He repeated, smirking.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, as I shifted positions over him.

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"I don't know." I sighed, looking down, and focusing on my movements again.

"Did anyone ever tell you, you have pretty eyes?" He asked, making my eyes snap to his. He was still studying me.

"Thank you." I said, smiling briefly. A true smile.

"Don't mention it." He smirked again.

In this profession, I spent most of the time being either judged or complimented for my body, but for Adam to say that he liked my eyes, well that just proved that my initial assumption was correct. He was different. And I was starting to believe that it was a good thing.