“Will you just get on with it?” Isabella said. “The suspense is killing me.”
Sadie grinned. “I have to work this Saturday. It’s a pretty big deal. A group of
rich out-of-towners who only come through once a year. Well this weekend is it and
they’ve rented out the entire club for the night. All of the dancers are expected to be
there, no excuses. Only I have this party I was invited to. Howard Griffin is going to be
there and Leslie is going to introduce me.”
“Who is Howard? And who is Leslie?” Isabella asked.
“Howard is producing a new Broadway musical. And, he’s opening auditions next
week. They’re by invitation only. People would kill to get an invite from him. Including
me. Leslie has an invite but then she’s all over Broadway right now. Everyone wants her.
I met her a couple of weeks ago, and we became friendly. She’s doing me such a huge
favor by basically recommending me to Howard. I can’t miss that party.”
“Okay, so what does that have to do with me?”
Sadie gave her an imploring look. “If I don’t show up for work, I’ll lose my job,
and until I land enough steady roles—big roles—I can’t afford to lose the kind of money
I make at the club. So I thought you could fill in for me just for a few hours Saturday
night.”
Isabella burst into laughter. “You want me to pose as you in a strip club? Sadie,
we look nothing alike. I’m a terrible dancer. I’d get you fired in two seconds.”
Sadie shook her head vigorously. “First of all, I wear a blond wig. We’re of
similar height and with the right makeup, no one would be able to tell the difference if
you wear the same clothes. No one looks at your face in that place anyway,” she added
dryly.
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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE
28
MAYA BANKS
SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
“And how does this have anything to do with Theron? He’d have heart failure if
he knew I even went into a strip club, much less worked there for a night.”
Sadie’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “Just think about it. If he knew where you
were, he’d blow a gasket, and he’d no doubt go haul you out by your hair which would of
course force him to see you half naked.”
“How does this not get you fired?” Isabella asked pointedly.
A frown creased Sadie’s forehead. “Damn,” she muttered. “I hadn’t thought of
that.”
Isabella instantly took pity on her friend. “How about I cover for you without
Theron knowing, and I’ll figure out another way to get his attention.”
“Are you sure?” Sadie asked anxiously.
“I’ll give his security team the slip. Apparently he’s hired a team to follow me
around New York. If you ask me, he’s taking this guardian thing a bit far.”
Sadie’s mouth gaped open. “You have a security team?”
“Yeah, I know, ridiculous isn’t it? I’m to report to his office bright and early in
the morning to meet them, and then, according to Theron, I’m to go nowhere without
them.”
A mischievous smile curved Isabella’s lips.
“Why do I get the impression you’ll see this security as a challenge?” Sadie
asked.
Isabella’s grin broadened. “It’ll make Theron crazy. See, I can give them the slip
to cover for you at the club. Word will get back to Theron. He’ll never know where I
went, but it’ll give him another chance to lecture me. I’ll think of some way to get his
attention. If the lecture gets too bad, I’ll just kiss him again.”
“You know, I hope he’s worth all this trouble you’re going to,” Sadie said. “My
first thought is that no man is worth all this effort.”
“He’s worth it,” Isabella said softly.
Isabella climbed out of the taxi in front of Theron’s office building and walked
briskly toward the entrance. She took the elevator up to his floor, and when she entered
his suite of offices, she saw a pile of luggage in the hallway.
She walked into Madeline’s office to ask what was going on, but saw that the area
was full of people. She approached Madeline’s desk and leaned over to whisper.
“What’s going on?”
Madeline cleared her throat. “Alannis and her mother arrived early. That is your
security team,” she said, pointing in the direction of three intimidating-looking men.
“And the others are this morning’s appointments which are waiting because Alannis and