Chloe stood outside the Black Silk building.

Getting out of the Montgomery mansion hadn't been difficult, but she hoped no one had seen her leave. Her feet ached. To avoid raising suspicion, she'd walked several blocks before hailing a taxi instead of having it pick her up directly at the mansion.

"Miss."

The man Ivanna was always so friendly with approached her.

"I'm Alex. Madame is waiting for you."

He handed her a masquerade mask. Turning away, Chloe removed her sunglasses before slipping the mask into place.

Alex led her inside.

They didn't use the same entrance as the night before.

There wasn't time.

Madame wanted her there immediately.

He knocked on the office door.

An invitation to enter came almost instantly.

Alex opened the door and stepped aside to let Chloe pass.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

The moment she entered, her eyes found Ivanna. She let out a relieved sigh.

Alex remained outside, closing the door behind her and leaving the three women alone.

Madame didn't waste a second. There was no time.

She had to convince Chloe to spend another night with Dante Montgomery.

"We don't have much time," Madame said bluntly. "The man who paid for your first time last night wants you again. Name your price."

"I'm not interested in money," Chloe replied.

Truthfully, she wasn't even sure why she'd come.

Perhaps it was because she'd heard the desperation in Ivanna's voice.

"Ask for anything," Madame insisted, growing more anxious by the second. "I guarantee he'll pay whatever you want without hesitation."

Chloe glanced at Ivanna. Ivanna simply shrugged.

The decision was Chloe's alone. She thought about it for a moment.

She couldn't deny the man had given her the most incredible night of her life.

Maybe it was only because he'd been her first.

Still...

There was nothing wrong with seeing him again. It would give her more experience.

Biting her lower lip, she smiled. "All right. I'll do it."

Madame nearly cried out in relief. The girl had just saved her.

Now all that remained was getting her ready for Dante.

She looked Chloe up and down. The oversized black trench coat she wore was obviously expensive, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

"Ivy, take her to get ready," Madame instructed. "I'll let our guest know she'll be with him shortly."

She hurried out of the office, leaving the two young women alone.

Ivanna practically bounced with excitement. She hadn't expected Chloe to agree so quickly. It made her proud. Chloe deserved to enjoy herself. She deserved more than wasting away inside that dreary mansion.

"Come on," Ivanna said, linking their arms together. "Let's make you look irresistible for that stud."

She led Chloe toward the door. From farther down the hallway, Alex watched them leave while chatting casually with a few coworkers.

He could wait. Once Ivy was finished, he'd find an excuse to get her alone. Then he'd take her to one of the private rooms. This time, he intended to keep her moaning all night.

-

Madame returned to Dante Montgomery's private lounge.

He was no longer alone. His assistant stood beside him, holding a folder. Madame immediately knew what it contained.

Dante Montgomery never accepted the word "no."

Everything had already been prepared for the night ahead.

"She's getting ready for you," Madame announced.

She extended her hands toward the folder. Dante gave a slight nod. His assistant understood immediately and handed it to Madame. She already knew exactly what she was supposed to do.

"No mistakes, Madame," Dante said, his commanding voice carrying a quiet threat.

Madame nodded. Her hands trembled as she accepted the folder. All the young woman had to do was sign the documents. And if she valued her life, she would never reveal the identity of the man paying for her company.

"Thank you. As for the payment..."

"The amount she asks for..." Dante interrupted, "...you'll receive the same amount this time."

Madame's eyes lit up. The girl had already said she didn't care about the money. That meant Madame would be the one setting the price for the evening.

Naturally… She intended to make sure they both profited handsomely.

Chloe stepped out of the bathroom after taking a quick shower.

The bath products Black Silk provided were exquisite.

Her gaze fell on the lingerie Ivanna had laid out for her.

She loved it. It was even prettier than the set she'd worn the night before. She picked it up. The black lace felt soft against her fingertips. It was delicate and nearly transparent, leaving almost nothing to the imagination.

She liked it even more because of that.

"Come on, we need to hurry," Ivanna said, walking over with a makeup case. "You have to look irresistible."

"Okay."

Chloe began getting dressed in front of her.

Ivanna couldn't help staring.

Chloe's porcelain skin was flawless, save for the faint red marks left behind from the night before.

She was beautiful.

Her idiot brother had no idea what kind of woman he had for a wife.

A knock sounded at the door.

Madame entered without waiting for permission.

Startled, Chloe immediately turned her back to the doorway.

She wasn't wearing her mask.

Ivanna quickly handed it to her.

No one could know she was Chloe Montgomery.

"I need you to sign this confidentiality agreement," Madame said as she strode toward them.

Once the mask was in place, Chloe turned back around. The revealing black lace hugged her body, leaving very little covered.

"Why?" she asked, making no move to accept the folder Madame was holding out.

"Because he's a very important man," Madame replied. "His identity must never be revealed. You have to sign it. You don't have a choice. Otherwise, he'll ruin your life."

Chloe frowned and reached for the folder. Before she could open it, Ivanna took it from her hands.

Despite her carefree lifestyle, Ivanna knew enough about business to recognize a bad contract. She read through it carefully. Most of it was standard.

If Chloe revealed the client's identity publicly, she'd owe an enormous financial penalty. Ivanna almost laughed. Dante could hand Chloe that amount without blinking if she ever asked.

Still, there was no reason to invite unnecessary trouble. One clause, however, made her pause. It implied Chloe's safety could be at risk if she broke the agreement.

"Sign it," Ivanna said at last. "It's only for tonight."

Chloe nodded. She was right.

Just one more night with the mysterious man. After that, they'd never see each other again.

She picked up the pen. Then hesitated.

She couldn't use the signature she now signed as Mrs. Montgomery.

If the contract ever leaked, it would be disastrous. Instead, she signed with the initials she'd used before her marriage. Chloe Brooks. Almost no one remembered her by that name anymore, as she had married at eighteen.

From that day forward, she'd only been known as Chloe Montgomery.

"Perfect. Ready?"

Madame took back the folder.

She needed to deliver it to Mr. Montgomery's assistant, along with the payment request for both herself and Chloe.

Chloe turned toward Ivanna. Ivanna uncapped a tube of deep crimson lipstick. The transformation was immediate. The bold color made Chloe look like a completely different woman. Her full lips suddenly looked irresistibly sensual.

"Ready," Chloe said.

She slipped on a sheer robe. It barely concealed the lingerie beneath it, but it completed the look perfectly. Madame personally escorted her to the same suite as the night before. The room where she'd lost her virginity.

Tonight...

She would meet the man who had awakened her all over again.

"Enjoy yourself," Madame said, stopping outside the door before walking away.

Chloe took a deep breath. There was nothing to fear. She'd already been with him once. Tonight would be the same. Maybe even better. She intended to enjoy herself. Far more than Dante Montgomery probably was at that very moment. She was willing to bet her husband was currently in bed with one of his mistresses.

She opened the door. The lights were dim, bathing the room in a soft, almost romantic glow. The irony wasn't lost on her as neither of them had come looking for romance. Still, it didn't matter.

She closed the door behind her and walked gracefully across the room. Her eyes settled on the man standing before the floor-to-ceiling window. His back was to her. He looked impossibly handsome.

Broad shoulders. A commanding presence. The tailored suit stretched across his muscular frame.

He slowly turned to face her. Unlike the night before, he wasn't wearing a mask.

There was no need for one now. Masks had only been required for the auction guests.

Besides, she had signed the confidentiality agreement. His assistant had already delivered it. The signed contract was now in his possession. If she dared reveal his identity, he was confident the consequences would silence her forever.

Chloe froze. Her crimson lips parted in shock. Her eyes locked onto the man before her.

The man who had threatened to destroy Madame if she wasn't brought back to him. The man who had paid six million dollars for her virginity, was her husband.

"Dante..."

The whisper barely escaped her lips. It was so soft, he never heard it.