The Double Life of My Hot Secretary novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Her Own Money

The business office wanted twenty-seven thousand, six hundred dollars by Friday.

That was three months paid in advance, a deposit for the foundation's trouble, and a smile from the woman behind the desk that said she hated this.

I had nine thousand in savings.

I drove to River North at noon, an hour before the Lantern opened, and knocked on the back door.

Gus Maddigan let me in himself, in a cardigan with a mop in his hand.

He looked at my face and put the mop down.

"Who died?"

"Nobody. My mother's money did."

I told him in the empty bar, among the upturned chairs, while he poured two coffees and didn't interrupt.

I told him the foundation, and the texts, and the ballroom.

I did not tell him what Vaughn had said at the window. I couldn't get that far.

When I was done he rubbed his shaved head with both hands.

"Three years," he said.

"Yes."

"And you never once let on at my club. I'd have broken his kneecaps."

"He'd have sued you."

"Worth it." He opened the register, then thought better of it and went to the office safe instead.

He came back with a bank envelope as thick as a sandwich.

"Ten thousand. Don't argue."

"Gus, I can't."

"It's not a gift. It's an advance." He pushed it across the bar. "You're headlining Monday through Saturday. Four sets a night. I'll move the Saturday girl to Sundays and she'll cry about it."

"I've never done more than two nights."

"Because you had a day job and a boss who'd have killed you." He pointed a thick finger at me. "That's over. You owe me dances, not money."

My eyes stung. "Why are you being so good to me?"

"Kid, you've been the only one in this building who ever counted the till back to me twice." He shrugged. "Go find your mask."

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