Josie Cohen POV:

Harper Valentine' s words, sharp and laced with disdain, doused the last spark of hope I had that Demetri might intervene. He just sat there, impassive, watching the spectacle unfold.

Claudia, ever the victim, nestled deeper into Demetri's side, her voice a soft murmur. "Demetri, dear, did you tell them why you came? You know how easily I get anxious in crowds."

Demetri' s gaze softened as he looked at her, a stark contrast to the glacial stare he' d given me just moments before. "I told them, love. Just checking on you before my flight to New York. Wanted to make sure you were comfortable."

A ripple of murmurs went through the table. "Oh, Demetri, you're so sweet!" "Always looking out for Claudia!" Their fawning voices only twisted the knife deeper.

He glanced at the others, a subtle warning in his eyes. "Please, give Claudia some space. She's been through a lot lately." His gaze never once landed on me. Not even a flicker.

My heart, which I thought had already turned to stone, throbbed with a fresh, raw ache. The indifference was almost worse than the open contempt. It meant I truly was nothing to him now.

"So, Josie," Harper Valentine said again, breaking the agonizing silence, his voice now a low growl. "Are you going to be a good girl, or do I need to remind you who's in charge?" He gestured towards the block of ice, a cruel smirk on his face.

My mind raced, searching for an escape, any escape. I couldn't do this. Not here. Not in front of Demetri. It would break me completely. But Bennie… Bennie needed this money. He needed me to survive.

"Sir, please," I pleaded, my voice barely audible, thick with unshed tears. "Couldn't I… a different song? Perhaps something less… challenging?"

Harper Valentine' s face contorted in a sneer. "Still playing the innocent act, huh? Last time I heard, you were quite the performer, Josie. Willing to do anything for a buck, weren't you?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Or maybe you just prefer a private audience for your talents?"

His suggestive tone made my stomach churn. The memory of his lecherous gaze from earlier, the feel of his clammy hand on my arm – it all came rushing back. I felt utterly exposed, as if the thin lace uniform had already vanished.

Just then, Caron Wolfe, my manager, appeared in the doorway, her eyes quickly assessing the situation. Her face was ashen, her lips pressed into a thin line. She knew. She knew the line had been crossed.

"Mr. Valentine," Caron said, her voice surprisingly firm. "I apologize for the misunderstanding. Josie is new to the VIP section. Perhaps I can offer you another girl? Someone more… experienced with your preferences?"

Harper Valentine waved a dismissive hand. "No, no. I'm quite happy with Josie. But it seems she needs a little… encouragement." He looked at me, his eyes glinting with malice. "Josie, get down on your knees and apologize for your insolence. Now."

My body stiffened, a cold dread seeping into my bones. My knees threatened to buckle. Apologize? For what? For trying to preserve the last shred of my dignity? But the look in Harper's eyes… he meant it. He wanted to break me.

I glanced at Caron, whose face was grim, a silent command in her eyes. Do it, Josie. For the money. For your brother.

My mind flashed with Bennie' s face, pale and injured in the hospital bed, the doctor' s grim prognosis. The mounting medical bills. The looming threat of juvenile detention. It was all for him. Everything. My pride, my dignity, my very soul.

My knees hit the plush carpet with a soft thud. The lace of my uniform scratched against my skin. I lowered my head, my hair a curtain around my face, biting back a sob. "I… I apologize, sir. Forgive my… presumption." The words felt like poison on my tongue.

A small snicker broke the silence. "Look at her, groveling like a dog," someone whispered. "Who would have thought Josie Cohen would end up like this?" Another voice, harsher, said, "Demetri's not even looking. He probably still hates her."

Harper Valentine chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "Good girl. Now, get out of here. You've ruined my mood." He waved his hand dismissively.

I scrambled to my feet, my legs wobbly, and tried to escape the room before I completely shattered.

As I stumbled out, Caron was waiting for me, her face a thundercloud. She gripped my arm, her nails digging into my flesh. "My office. Now."

The office was small, cramped, and smelled faintly of stale cigarettes and desperation. Before I could even close the door, Caron's hand flashed out. A sharp, stinging slap cracked across my cheek, making my head snap back.

"You idiot!" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "I told you to make him happy! I told you to follow the rules! Do you know how much money you just cost me? How much you just cost yourself?"

My cheek burned, throbbing with pain. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I… I'm sorry, Caron. I tried. But he wanted me to-"

"I don't care what he wanted!" she spat. "You think you're too good for this, Josie? You think you're still that rich art student who can afford to be 'proud'?" Her eyes narrowed. "Look around you, honey. This isn't USC. This is the real world. A world where money talks, and you, my dear, are just another piece of merchandise on the shelf."

She paced the small room, her anger vibrating in the air. "You're a liability. I can't have you messing up my clients. You're fired."

My head snapped up, my eyes wide with terror. "Fired? No! Please, Caron, I need this. Bennie… he needs this. I'll do anything. I swear. Just… don't fire me. I'll obey every single rule. I promise." My voice was a desperate plea, stripped of all pride.

Caron stopped pacing, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Anything?"

"Anything," I repeated, my voice barely a whisper.

She studied me for a long moment, a calculating look in her eyes. "Alright, Josie. One last chance. But if you mess this up, you're out. For good."

I nodded, relief washing over me, cold and desperate.

I stepped out of the club, the cool night air doing little to soothe my burning cheek. I just needed to get home, to disappear into the darkness. But a figure emerged from the shadows of the alleyway beside the club, blocking my path.

Demetri.

Josie Cohen POV:

My heart stopped. It wasn' t a romantic flutter, but a sickening lurch, like a car hitting a pothole at high speed. Demetri. Here. Now. All the humiliation from inside the club, the slap from Caron, the desperate begging-it all came rushing back, crashing over me. I lowered my head, wishing the pavement would swallow me whole.

"Josie." His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. "I saw you leave. We need to talk about Bennie."

Bennie. Of course. It was always about Bennie. My head snapped up, a surge of adrenaline pushing away my shame. "What about Bennie? What did he do now?"

Demetri scoffed, a humorless sound. "Your brother, Ms. Cohen, has managed to assault Leo again. This time, he threatened him with a weapon."

My mind reeled. "No! That's not possible! Bennie wouldn't-"

"He would," Demetri cut me off, his voice cold. "And he did. It seems your 'good kid' has quite a temper. Perhaps if you weren't so busy entertaining wealthy men, you might actually supervise him properly."

The words were a direct hit, aimed with surgical precision at my most vulnerable spot. My mouth felt dry. "How dare you? You have no idea what I've been through, what I've done for him." My voice rose, cracking with indignation. "He's just a boy, and he's angry. You think I haven't tried to guide him? To protect him?"

Demetri's eyes narrowed. "Protection, Ms. Cohen, does not excuse criminal behavior. Your brother threatened my client's cousin. And he refuses to apologize. You leave me no choice but to push for the maximum sentence."

A hollow ache spread through my chest. "Max-maximum sentence?" My voice trembled. "You... you can't be serious. He's a minor."

"The laws apply to minors as well, Ms. Cohen," Demetri said, his face a mask of stone. "Especially when repeated offenses are involved." He turned to leave, his silhouette stark against the flickering streetlights.

"Demetri, wait!" I cried, desperation clawing at my throat. My voice was raspy, barely audible. "Did you… did you ever trust me? Even once?"

He stopped, his back to me. "I trust evidence, Josie. Always have. That's my job."

He didn't turn around. He just walked away, disappearing into the darkness, leaving me alone under the harsh glare of the streetlamp. The humiliation, the fresh wounds from Bennie's cruel words, the weight of my parents' deaths-it all converged, threatening to drown me.

I walked home in a daze, the city lights blurring through my unshed tears. My apartment, small and sparsely furnished, felt cold and empty. Bennie wasn't there. He was still out, God knows where, probably stewing in his anger.

I collapsed onto the worn sofa, exhaustion seeping into my bones. My fingers found my phone, and I typed a quick message to Bennie. Where are you? Please come home. We need to talk.

Hours later, the door creaked open. Bennie slunk in, his eyes dark and defiant.

"Where have you been?" I asked, my voice tight with worry. "Demetri said you threatened Leo again. What happened?"

He shrugged, dropping his backpack with a thud. "Nothing. Just taught that little snitch a lesson."

"A lesson?" I cried, jumping to my feet. "Bennie, they're talking about juvenile detention! You can't just keep doing this!"

"What do you care?" he shot back, his voice laced with venom. "You're too busy playing the victim, just like always. You think I don't see it? You just want to look good, being the 'responsible older sister' while I rot in some damn prison!"

"How can you say that?" I asked, my voice cracking. "I'm your sister! I'm all you have left! Mom and Dad… they made me promise to look after you!"

His face twisted in a sneer. "Mom and Dad? You think I forgot? You're the reason they're dead! You screamed at them, made them upset, and then they crashed! It's all your fault, Josie! I hate you!"

The words, raw and unfiltered, pierced through me, tearing open old wounds. My breath caught in my throat. He blamed me. He truly blamed me.

Bennie, like a wounded animal, glared at me one last time, then slammed his bedroom door shut. The sound echoed through the tiny apartment, leaving only silence in its wake.

I sank back onto the sofa, my heart a raw, bleeding mess. He hated me. He blamed me for everything. My parents' deaths, our debt, our broken lives. Was he right? Was it all my fault? The thought twisted in my gut, a bitter poison.

Tears streamed down my face, silent and endless. The only sound in the apartment was my own ragged breathing, slowly turning into despairing sobs.

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window, my eyes puffy and aching. Bennie's door was ajar, his room empty. He was gone. Again. My phone buzzed. It was Caron. VIP room 5. Tonight. This is your last chance, Josie. Don't disappoint me.

I felt a cold dread wash over me. Tonight. Another humiliation, another piece of my soul chipped away. But I had no choice. Bennie was out there, volatile and reckless. I needed that money more than ever.

Later that afternoon, while getting ready for my shift, I heard a familiar voice from the TV in the communal lounge area. It was Claudia. Her face, impeccably made up, shone from the screen, radiating an aura of false sincerity.

"It has been a long journey of healing," she said, her voice soft, almost angelic. "After the trauma I experienced at university, and now with my dear cousin Leo's tragic accident… I'm just so grateful for the love and support of my fiancé, Demetri. He's my rock, my everything."

"Oh, isn't she just so brave?" one of the other girls cooed. "After all that Josie Cohen put her through, and now this with her cousin. She really is an angel."

"And Demetri, what a catch!" another chimed in. "He's so loyal, so protective. Imagine having a man like that by your side."

My blood boiled. Brave? Angel? She was a fraud, a master manipulator. "Brave?" I scoffed, unable to hold back. "She's a liar! A fake! She built her entire career on false accusations!"

The girls stared at me, then at the TV, then back at me, their faces a mixture of shock and pity.

"You really believe that, Josie?" one of them asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. "After all the evidence, after what happened at USC? You're the one who got expelled, remember?"

I turned away, my jaw tight. What was the point? No one would ever believe me. Not when Claudia had spun such a perfect narrative of innocent victimhood.

The bell chimed, signaling my rotation. VIP Room 5. My heart hammered against my ribs. I pushed open the heavy door, carrying my tray of expensive champagne.

And there he was. Sitting at the head of the table, commanding the room with his presence. Demetri Anderson.

Josie Cohen POV:

My breath hitched. Demetri. Again. I felt his cold gaze on me the moment I stepped into the room, a shiver running down my spine. I gripped the tray tighter, my knuckles white, and forced a smile onto my face, the professional mask firmly in place. This was just a job. He was just a client.

I moved around the table, pouring champagne, my movements practiced and precise. The chatter in the room was boisterous, filled with the self-congratulatory laughter of the ultra-rich.

"Demetri, you truly are a godsend," one of the men slurred, raising his glass. "That legal advice you gave me saved my company a fortune. Your insight is unparalleled."

Demetri offered a polite nod, his expression unchanging. "Just doing my job, Mr. Davies."

"Oh, more than that!" another woman chimed in. "You're brilliant, Demetri. And so principled. A rare gem in this city."

I kept my head down, focusing on the bubbles in the champagne flute. The praise for Demetri felt like a direct insult to me, a painful echo of a past I couldn't escape.

"Hmm, this one has good eyes, Demetri," Mr. Davies chuckled, his gaze lingering on me. "Sharp. What' s your name, sweetheart?"

I flinched, my voice barely a whisper. "Josie."

"Josie," he repeated, savoring the name. "Nice. Come, sit here." He patted the empty seat beside him. "Pour me another, and keep me company."

My heart pounded. Sit? With them? And Demetri? I felt a wave of nausea.

"Someone get this poor girl a chair!" a loud voice boomed. Another man, whose face I couldn't quite place, gestured to the vacant seat directly beside Demetri. "Josie, come keep our legal eagle company! He looks like he could use a little warmth."

My body trembled, a cold sweat breaking out on my skin. This was a nightmare. I couldn't. I just couldn't.

Demetri's voice cut through the tension, cold and sharp as ice. "Thank you, but no. My fiancée is waiting for me. And I prefer not to associate with… certain types of people." His gaze swept over me, lingering for a fraction of a second, heavy with disdain.

The words were a direct hit, a poisoned arrow straight to my heart. My face burned, a furious blush creeping up my neck. He still hated me. He still thought I was beneath him.

Mr. Davies, sensing the shift in atmosphere, chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, Demetri, always the loyal one! A man of integrity! We respect that." He turned back to me, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "Never mind, Josie. You can stay right here with me. And don't worry about the others. Just for staying by my side tonight, I'll double your usual rate." He peeled off a wad of hundred-dollar bills and pressed them into my hand.

The money felt like a branding iron, hot and painful against my skin. It was the price of my humiliation, the currency of my utter degradation. I forced another professional smile, my voice hoarse. "Thank you, sir. You're very generous."

Mr. Davies chuckled, then pulled me closer, his arm snaking around my waist. His head dipped, his lips brushing my ear. I froze, my muscles locking up, my mind screaming in protest. I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

"Mr. Davies," Demetri's voice cut through the haze, calm and authoritative. "My flight leaves in thirty minutes. We need to finalize the contract details before then."

Mr. Davies sighed, releasing me with a grunt. "Fine, fine. Always business with you, Demetri." He clapped his hands. "Alright everyone, the party's over! Time to get down to brass tacks!"

A wave of relief, so potent it almost buckled my knees, washed over me. I wanted to laugh, to cry, to scream. I bit my lip, tasting blood. The money in my hand felt heavy, tainted. But it was money. And Bennie needed it.

"It's just money," I whispered to myself, a bitter mantra. "Just money."

I took a shaky breath, trying to compose myself. When I finally stepped out of the VIP room, the corridor was empty. Until Demetri emerged from the shadows, blocking my path once more.

"Impressive, Josie," he said, his voice flat. "You've certainly found your calling. Consorting with men for money. It suits you."

I felt a fresh surge of anger, burning away the last vestiges of my shame. "And what about you, Demetri? Consorting with a woman who built her career on lies? It seems we both have our own ways of… making a living."

His face went rigid, his eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you dare compare Claudia to yourself! She is a good, honest woman. You, on the other hand, refuse to acknowledge your own transgressions, let alone apologize for them."

"Transgressions?" I scoffed. "The ones I didn't commit? Or the ones you so eagerly believed, despite knowing me for years? You chose to condemn me based on 'evidence' that was clearly rigged! You chose to believe her over me!"

He took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "There was no rigging, Josie. Only your violent actions and her tears. The facts were clear."

"The facts you chose to see!" I shot back, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. "You never looked deeper. You just swallowed her story whole. And now you're about to marry her. How principled of you, counselor."

The vein in his temple throbbed. "You are beyond redemption, Josie. You cling to your petty grievances, while I strive for justice." He stared at me, his eyes filled with a chilling disappointment. "It's a pity. I truly thought you were better than this."

"Better than what, Demetri?" I asked, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "Better than the woman you abandoned? Better than the woman whose parents died because of your so-called 'justice'?" My chest heaved with emotion. "Go ahead, Demetri. Go marry your saintly Claudia. I hope you both rot in hell."

He flinched, a flicker of pain crossing his face, quickly replaced by a cold fury. "Don't forget, Josie. Your brother's apology is due soon. Make sure he's there. Or I will ensure he faces the full consequences of his actions." He paused, his gaze hardening. "And if you ever mention Claudia in such a vile manner again, you'll regret it."

"Are you jealous, Demetri?" I taunted, a reckless impulse taking over. "Is that why you're still waiting for me in dark alleys? Because you know, deep down, you made a mistake?"

He didn't answer. He just turned and walked away, the click of his expensive shoes fading into the night.

I stood there, trembling, trying to catch my breath. The anger slowly drained away, leaving behind a profound emptiness. Bennie. His apology. The deadline.

My phone vibrated in my hand. It was an unknown number. I answered, my voice hoarse.

"Is this Josie Cohen?" a frantic voice asked. "This is St. Jude's Hospital. Your brother, Bennie Cohen… he's been in an accident."

The world tilted.