This was not her scene.
She was never one to hang out at places like this. Not that there was anything wrong with it. Clubbing just wasn’t her thing.
She would try to have fun. This was what London did for a living, and if his client wanted to go to a club for a few drinks and music, then so be it.
Alana was out of her comfort zone. There were just too many people, the music was loud and crude.
They were in the VIP section of the club, seated in a half circle booth. From where Alana was, she could see the entire club. With her wineglass in hand, she remained quiet at her seat in the booth. London and Khalil were standing nearby, talking with a few other extremely tall men. They had to be athletes.
The champagne was flowing.
Alana just about had a heart attack when she saw the prices on the menu. This was London’s world when he was courting athletes. Money apparently wasn’t an issue when it came to catering to the millionaire athletes.
The group of men stood around, their laughter drawing the attention of the clubgoers.
Especially the women.
Alana was appalled by some of their outfits. The brazen women weren’t the least bit shy when they approached Khalil.
She glanced over at London. The London she used to peek at through her peephole was present.
The charmer.
The businessman.
He knocked back a shot and sat his glass down on the table. Catching her eye, he motioned for her to come to him.
She shook her head at first. The music was so loud, she couldn’t hear a thing of what anyone had to say.
He motioned to her again, his sexy grin in place.
She couldn’t deny this man anything.
Standing, she made her way over to him.
“Fellas, I need to introduce you to my lady,” London announced, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Alana blinked.
Did he just say she was his woman?
The newcomers nodded to her. They looked familiar, but she couldn’t place from where. Clutching her glass, she smiled nervously at them all.
“This is Liam, Mark, and Scott. They’re all signed to Primetime,” he informed her.
“Now I know why we haven’t seen much of London.” Liam laughed, reaching out to shake her hand.
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” she asked.
“Good thing,” Mark chimed in, taking her hand next. “Are you signed to Primetime? I swear this man never quits working. The only thing that would stop him would be if he’d met a beautiful woman like you.”
“No. We live in the same building.”
“Don’t worry about where I found her,” London snorted. “And no, she doesn’t have a sister.”
They all shared a laugh. Alana scanned the area and found a bathroom located not too far from them.
“I’ll be right back.” In his ear, she whispered, “Bathroom.”
“Hurry back.”
Pressing a kiss to her cheek, she smiled and made her way to the ladies’ room.
When she entered, she found a small line. Keeping to herself, she waited her turn as she listened to the women speak about the men they had their eyes on.
This was so not her.
Compared to their barely there dresses, Alana had played it safe with one that was formfitting, but allowed her to show off her curves, look feminine, and had brought a gleam of heat to London’s eyes.
She wished Sofie was here with her, giving her a buffer. Alana and Sofie were notorious for people watching, and they would’ve had a ball tonight.
Her turn came up, and she quickly did her business. Washing her hands, she walked out and made her way toward London. A raucous cheer went up from where they were standing, and a waiter was delivering another round of shots. She hoped it meant that Khalil was signing with Primetime. London had worked so hard to woo the basketball star.
The bottom of Alana’s stomach gave way at the sight of the women surrounding London and the guys. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying not to be the jealous woman. She knew who he was going home with, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t scratch out the eyes of the ones standing too close to him. Khalil and the others, she couldn’t care less about.
“Excuse me,” she murmured, trying to make her way back to London. The women were crowding around, all trying to catch them an athlete, and apparently a sports agent.
Not on her watch, they weren’t. They could have any of the athletes, but not her man.
She elbowed her way through until she stood next to a woman who was clearly trying to put the moves on London.
“I said, can we get out of here?” the blonde bimbo giggled.
“You sure can,” Alana snapped, grabbing her attention. “But not with him.”
“Excuse me?”
“Move.”
Blondie’s girlfriends pulled her away, apparently sensing the daggers Alana was shooting from her eyes.
London’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he pulled her close to kiss her. Holding up her hand to block him, she looked closely to see how drunk he was.
“How drunk are you?” she asked.
“Not so drunk that I didn’t realize that wasn’t you.” He pulled her close, a smile on his lips. “I didn’t even know what she was saying. I swear.”
“Is that so?”
After a moment of giving him a stern look, she leaned into him. His hand slid around to the swell of her ass and held her in place.
“When we leave here, I promise I’ll prove it to you.” He nuzzled her neck, and she melted against him.
16
London found Alana had made it to the booth and took a seat. She looked out of sorts. He knew she wasn’t a nightclub type of person.
Khalil and the fellas were just ramping up, with no signs of slowing down.
He couldn’t torture her by keeping her out any later.
He motioned over to the waiter so he could settle the bill. Whenever he took clients out, he always footed the bill. It was a business transaction, and he’d send the receipts to his secretary on Monday morning.
“It’s time for me to head home,” he announced.
This was new for him. When courting a client, he would normally stay until the club closed. But one look at Alana, he knew he had to get them home.
“Take Alana home, man.” Khalil gave him the one-armed hug. “She’s something special.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Alana had won Khalil over with her analytical advice.
He waved to Liam, Mark, and Scott. They were his clients, and he was sure they would talk about him when he left.
Which would be a good thing.
He had a great relationship with the three of them, and he was sure they would talk Khalil into signing with him.
Walking over to the booth, he held his hand out to Alana. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you home.”
“Are you sure? We don’t have to leave if you’re not ready,” she protested.
With a nod, he assisted her up and out of the booth.
“Sir, the check.” The waiter handed him a small black portfolio that hid the receipt. London signed the small piece of paper, barely glancing at the total. What he spent tonight was nothing compared to what he stood to make off of Khalil signing with him.
“Can you bring over another bottle of Ace of Spades for my clients?” London asked, handing him back the signed receipt. It was Khalil’s favorite, and London wanted his future client to be happy.