Dante arrived at Black Silk. He was a regular there, though he never entered through the main entrance like the other clients.

Of course he didn't. He was the powerful Dante Montgomery. He had an image to protect. The perfect husband. The faithful husband devoted to his perfect wife.

A private entrance had been built exclusively for him, leading to a secluded lounge that no one could access without his permission. Madame was the only person who knew his identity, and she dealt with him personally. Whenever he selected one of the women, or "prostitutes," as he preferred to call them, he made her sign a strict confidentiality agreement.

Revealing his identity to anyone would cost her livelihood, perhaps even her place in the city—or the country. No one had ever dared challenge CEO Dante Montgomery.

"What a pleasure to see you again so soon," Madame said as she entered the private lounge reserved exclusively for him.

"Madame."

Dante sat back in the leather armchair, somehow looking just as commanding as ever.

"I assume you're here to choose one of my ladies tonight," she said with a pleasant smile. That was what she called the women who worked there.

A crooked smile tugged at Dante's lips. Ladies? They were prostitutes. Though he had to admit some of them were better in bed than the mistresses he usually kept.

"I want last night's prostitute." He didn't bother with pleasantries.

Madame arched an eyebrow. She already knew exactly whom he meant.

The problem was, the young woman didn't work there. She had only been a special guest for one night.

In fact, Madame hadn't even been able to transfer her share of the auction money yet. Her only contact was Ivy, and none of her messages had been answered.

"Mr. Montgomery, I'm afraid that won't be possible. The young woman from last night was only a special guest..."

Dante raised one hand, wagging a finger. He didn't accept no for an answer. Ever.

"I want her here. Now. Or you can forget about your little business."

Madame swallowed hard. She couldn't simply refuse him. This was Dante Montgomery.

She rose gracefully, bowed, and walked out of the room without betraying the panic churning inside her. She had to find yesterday's girl. Whatever it took. Otherwise, Dante Montgomery's wrath would fall on both her and Black Silk.

She strode purposefully toward her office. On the way, she spotted the man Ivy usually spent her nights with.

She motioned for him to follow. He did. The moment she closed the office door, she collapsed into her chair, leaned back, and let out a long sigh.

"Do you have Ivy's personal number?" she asked without preamble.

The man raised an eyebrow. He did. But hearing Madame ask for it was unexpected.

"The number she left with us isn't answering," Madame explained. "Surely you have a more private way of reaching her."

He shrugged.

"I only have the same number you do. But if you tell me what's going on, maybe I can help."

Madame frowned.

She didn't have much choice. She needed to reach Ivy immediately.

Only Ivy could bring that young woman back.

"I need you to find yesterday's auction girl. You remember her, don't you?"

He nodded.

"The man who paid six million wants her back, otherwise he'll close Black Silk," she said, lighting a cigarette.

"Come on, Madame. One man can't threaten you like that. Half your clients are powerful enough to protect you…"

"That's the problem. He’s not a mere man. He's the most powerful of all Black Silk’s clients," she interrupted.

For the first time, the man saw genuine worry on her face. Whoever this client was, he had enough influence to make even Madame afraid.

"It'll take me about half an hour to reach Ivy," he said, his expression turning serious.

Madame watched him through a cloud of cigarette smoke. He sounded completely confident. She didn't care how he planned to do it. As long as he succeeded.

"Thank you, Alex."

She lit another cigarette. Alex left the office and walked away from the rest of the staff before pulling out his phone. Getting Ivy to come wouldn't be difficult. But no one could know how he intended to contact her.

That part would remain his secret. And truthfully, he wasn't doing it just for Madame. He wanted to see that sexy blonde again. The night before hadn't been nearly enough.

The call connected.

"Bring Ivanna Montgomery."

His voice was cold and commanding.

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.

-

Ivanna was out shopping.

Spending money without limits was one of her favorite hobbies.

Her brother, Dante, had never objected. Their parents certainly had. They had even gone so far as to freeze all of her bank accounts.

Dante, however, had simply opened a new account in her name and handed her a credit card with no spending limit.

She was browsing through a collection of sexy lingerie when she suddenly found herself surrounded by a group of large, intimidating men dressed in black.

They looked rough and dangerous. And she couldn't deny they were incredibly sexy.

Crossing her arms, she flashed them a smile. Ivanna wasn't easily intimidated. No one in their right mind would dare lay a finger on Dante Montgomery's little sister, especially not in the middle of a crowded store with dozens of witnesses.

"Miss, we'd like you to come with us, please," one of the men said.

His polite tone was completely at odds with his intimidating appearance.

Ivanna bit her lower lip. She could have refused.

Instead, curiosity won. She loved adventure. She lived for adrenaline.

Without another thought, she agreed.

Besides, there were plenty of witnesses.

If she disappeared for more than a couple of hours, she had no doubt Dante would come looking for her.

The men escorted her to a black sedan.

She climbed into the back seat and remained perfectly calm throughout the drive, casually scrolling through her phone.

Oddly enough, she still had a signal. That alone told her she wasn't being kidnapped. Whoever these men were, they didn't seem interested in hurting her.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a second phone. The one she used whenever she was Ivy. The moment she powered it on, a string of messages from Madame appeared.

The first asked for an account number so she could transfer Chloe's share of the auction money.

Ivanna had completely forgotten about it.

The second message had been sent less than an hour ago.

Madame demanded to see her immediately.

"Miss."

The voice startled her.

One of the men was holding the car door open.

Ivanna stepped out and looked around.

They were in Black Silk's parking garage.

Her gaze shifted back to the men.

Had Madame sent them?

No...

That didn't make sense.

Her identity as Ivy was supposed to remain secret.

Whenever she visited Black Silk, she kept her face hidden beneath a mask or wore a wig to make sure no one recognized her as Ivanna Montgomery.

She slipped on a pair of oversized black sunglasses and deliberately tousled her blonde hair.

As she headed toward the elevator, she switched off her personal phone and tucked it safely into her purse.

-

Madame returned to Dante Montgomery's private lounge.

His patience had run out.

They still hadn't fulfilled his demand.

The moment she stepped inside, he fixed her with a cold, murderous stare that sent a chill down her spine. Sweat prickled across her skin under the weight of his imposing presence.

"Where is she?" he asked, his voice frighteningly calm.

Madame lowered her eyes.

She still hadn't managed to reach Ivy.

She had no idea how to answer him.

"She..." she whispered.

Before she could finish, someone knocked on the door.

She hurried over and opened it just enough to keep the man inside from being seen.

"Ivy's here," Alex said.

Color immediately returned to Madame's face.

Her salvation had finally arrived.

She slipped back into the private room and closed the door behind her.

"Mr. Montgomery, the only person who knows where last night's young lady is has just arrived. I ask that you be a little more patient. It won't be easy convincing someone who earned six million dollars in a single night to come back."

Her confidence had returned.

"Tell your prostitute I'll pay her whatever she wants," Dante replied coldly. "And I'll make sure you're rewarded as well."

Madame smiled.

Now all she had to do was persuade Ivy to bring her friend back.

She had no doubt a generous payment would convince almost anyone to return for a few more hours.

Leaving the private lounge again, she went to meet Ivy.

She intended to offer her a generous reward as well if she could persuade the mysterious young woman to come back.

The moment Ivy saw her, she smiled.

"What do you need, Madame?" she asked cheerfully.

"Your friend. The former virgin." Madame didn't bother with pleasantries.

Ivanna raised an eyebrow. She seriously doubted Chloe would agree to return.

"That's impossible. My friend only wanted to lose her virginity, and she already did. She's not coming back."

Madame shook her head. She couldn't accept that answer. If she returned to Dante Montgomery empty-handed, he could destroy Black Silk in a matter of days.

"I won't accept no for an answer," she insisted. "I promise there'll be a very generous payment waiting in your bank account."

"Madame, believe me..." Ivy replied. "I don't need the money."

Madame looked her up and down. Ivy was dressed in expensive designer clothes. She always arrived looking like that. There had even been nights when she'd left without collecting the money she'd earned.

Madame's anxiety returned. Dante Montgomery's patience wouldn't last much longer.

"You seem awfully nervous," Ivy observed. "What's going on? If you tell me why you want my friend, maybe I'll reconsider."

She settled onto a sofa, waiting. Madame sighed and sat across from her. She would have to tell her. Just not who the client actually was.

"The man who paid six million dollars for your friend's first time wants to see her again. He's willing to pay whatever it takes to have her back tonight."

Ivy's eyes widened. She hadn't expected that. The man had practically destroyed Chloe the night before.

She doubted Chloe would want a repeat. Then again… Maybe she would.

"I'll ask her," Ivy said as she stood and reached for her personal phone, not the one she used as Ivy, but Ivanna's own phone.

"But honestly, she doesn't need the money either."

"Ivy..."

Madame's voice turned desperate.

"My entire future depends on her. That man threatened to destroy my business if I don't bring her to him as soon as possible."

Ivanna left the office and walked to a quiet corner before dialing Chloe's number.

"Hey bitch," she said the moment Chloe answered. "I need you to get to Black Silk right now. It's an emergency. The man who took your virginity threatened to destroy Madame's business if you don't show up."

Silence. On the other end of the line, all Ivanna could hear was Chloe's uneven breathing. The seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity.

She glanced back toward Madame's office and saw the older woman step outside, panic written all over her face.

"Chloe," Ivy urged, chewing nervously on a fingernail. "Make up your mind."

"I'll come."