Depths of Depravity by Rhea Wilde Read Free Book Online

You can do this. Find the story.”
    I wa s doing my best to calm myself down and psych myself up all at the same time. As an investigative reporter, I had to constantly remind myself that everything would be worth it as long as I got to the truth. That was more important than anything. It was my obligation. My own discomfort and hesitation was something I had to put off to the side.
    Nothing I said to myself worked like I had planned it to. As I walked toward the entrance, the butterflies began to flutter around in my stomach. I was fighting off my nervousness while trying to look like I belonged in a place like this. I got in line behind a few gentlemen. They were good-looking but generally nondescript businessmen. I thought about Lauren when she said there were tons of men in the city that worked in offices like my now ex-boyfriend. I never imagined I would run into a couple of them so quickly. But they ignored me as the line moved.
    When I got to the front, the bouncer eyeballed me up and down. He was just as imposing as the rest of the security guards. He had to look over his chest to see that I was standing there. Even in my heels, I barely reached his stomach. I stared up at him and held my ground.
    “ You have an ID?” he said to me.
    “ Oh, right. ID. Let me see…”
    I dug around in my purse to search for some identification. It wasn ’t as simple as pulling out my driver’s license though. I had to find the right one. Right now, I wasn’t a reporter. I was a woman just looking for a good time. When I handed him my ID, he stared at the photo. He twisted it back and forth to make sure that it was real then looked back at me. It was a fake but the guy I bought it from was an expert at making it look authentic.
    “… All right,” the bouncer said. “Have you ever been in Platinum before?”
    “ No, I haven’t.”
    “ Women’s cover is one-hundred dollars.”
    “ What?”
    I was shocked at the price. He stared at me and repeated what he just said except slower.
    “Women’s cover is one-hundred dollars. Or you can pay the men’s cover if you want.”
    “ How much is that?”
    “ Five-hundred.”
    Men were paying five-hundred dollars just to get in here. There had to be something going on inside. I had to stop myself from choking. I had never heard of any place, anywhere, having a cover charge that high. I looked around in search of some other way to get into the club without having to pay the price.
    I stared back at the bouncer then tried to give him an excuse without letting him know who I was.
    “Listen,” I said. “What’s your name?”
    “ Bran.”
    “ Bran, I’m not actually here for the same reason as these other men.”
    “ It doesn’t matter. If you want to get inside, you have to pay the cover. Unless you’re talking about working here.”
    “ Yes. Yes, that’s why I’m here.”
    I said it without hesitating. I didn’t plan on actually seeking employment here but the opportunity presented itself. I had to take it. Bran handed my ID back to me then eyeballed me once again. My role had switched from casual observer to hopeful stripper. I stared back at him seductively, hoping that he wouldn’t see through the facade. Bran sighed then looked back into the club.
    “ I don’t know if Franklin’s actually looking for new talent but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Follow this man and he’ll take you inside.”
    B ran pointed at one of his fellow security guards and I followed him inside. I had done it. I managed to get my way into the club without paying the exorbitant cover charge. I didn’t get in the way I had hoped but I convinced myself that maybe this was for the best. Maybe I could learn more about the inner workings of the club if I actually worked here.
    As soon as I stepped inside, I finally got to see all of Platinum for myself. In front of me, a thin woman spun around on a pole on a small stage while men s at around a railing. They showered her with dollar bills as she