The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 15

Regina sighed as she stepped backstage. She looked at her hands to replace them shaking. This was the most hated part of her night.

A year ago the club's owner approached her with a proposition. Let the guests bid to spend time with her between performances. At first Regina adamantly protested against it. Then the owner offered her ten percent of the final bid...straight. How could she turn that down? As a performer she already made more than the servers but it never seemed to go very far with two growing boys and Gaby's ever-growing medical bills. In fact when the club owner made her the offer Gaby had just come back from another trip to the emergency room. As much as Regina hated the auction her dignity was cheap and selling it was worth it if she could provide more for the little ones at home.

"Just a drink. That's it," Regina insisted. "I sit at their table, chat and give them a toast. Nothing else. No touching. No sitting on their laps. Nothing."

The owner assured her it was fine. There had been some issues in the beginning. Some of the patrons didn't seem to understand the rules but eventually everything settled into a routine. However that didn't stop some of them from pushing the boundaries. She hated it. She hated their leering gazes behind their masks. She hated their touchy hands and fondling fingers. But she needed the money.

"Wow! Fifty thousand!" Becky gushed. "That's the second highest bid you've ever gotten."

"Yeah," Regina agreed though she was far less enthusiastic.

The higher the bid the more the patron expected of her. But she refused to compromise. She was not some floozie willing to sit on their laps and tease their boners. If they wanted that kind of satisfaction they could go somewhere else.

She frowned thinking back to the night of the highest bid. Regina had actually been led to a private booth on the second floor. It was the first time she had even seen them. The winner sat looking out over the activity below and had said nothing the entire time she sat at the table across from him. His companion chatted amicably with her but didn't leave her with much of an impression other than the fact that they were clearly both older.

Still...

"Madame Butterfly, are you ready?" the MC appeared after announcing the next performer.

With a sigh Regina nodded. She couldn't put this off any longer. Following the MC and flanked by one of the club's security she stepped out onto the main floor.

"Mister Big is one of our most important clients," the MC intoned quietly as he led her around the milling crowds. "So try to be nice and don't cause a scene."

Regina grimaced but nodded. This was not the first time she had been given such a warning. Often the winning bidder was someone of importance so she was expected to treat them as such. Any unwanted advances therefore had to be carefully deflected so as not to offend. It was a fine line to walk but she had more practice at it than she cared to admit. "Hello Mister Big!" the MC greeted the seated figures as they reached the table.

Regina paused to study the man who bought her time. There were two at the table which was only surprising because it was such a small number. Both were young men about her own age if she had to guess. While both wore complimentary masks it was clear enough that they were good looking. One in particular seemed genuinely nervous as he stood to greet her.

That was a first. Most men remained seated, sometimes patting their lap for her to take a seat. This one actually offered her a chair and even helped her sit before going back to his own place.

He had thick, dark brown hair and eyes. His face, what she could see of it, was free from blemishes and smooth save for some stubble. He had a straight, prominent nose, strong chin and full lips. Regina didn't know why but there was something oddly familiar about him.

"I'll be back with your complimentary drinks," the MC intoned before leaving them.

"I must say Madame Butterfly your performance was as stunning as ever," Mister Big smiled.

Regina turned to him offering a stiff smile, "Thank you. So you've caught my performances before?"

"Oh yes, many times. Though this is the first time I've ever taken part in the bidding."

"And why is that? Surely a man of your means isn't intimidated by a little performance," Regina teased gradually feeling out her company.

Neither of these two felt like the usual perverts that leered at her. These two maintained a respectable distance even if the other one was staring so intensely he could burn holes through her.

"Well my friend here looked like he wanted to meet you."

Frowning slightly at that, Regina turned her attention to the other who had yet to speak. She avoided looking at him because of the uncanny familiarization she felt. That was impossible. There was no way for her to be familiar with any of these clients. There was no circle in which they would have met except at the club.

"Oh? Did you enjoy the performance as well?"

"I thought it was amazing. You have a fantastic voice."

Regina stiffened forcing her smile in place and hoping her panic didn't show. That deep baritone was one she could never forget: Marcus Avery: the father of her triplets. But what was he doing here? He had only just returned from overseas. Surely there were mountains of paperwork needing his attention not to mention the announcement made at his welcome home party Renata told her about. Shouldn't he be planning his wedding? Luckily their drinks arrived buying her time to compose herself.

"Here you are gentlemen, your complimentary drinks," the MC announced setting down a pair of scotches. "And for Madame Butterfly."

He set down a champagne flute with the sparkling amber liquid before departing. Regina grasped her glass trying to control her anxiety. Everything was okay. He had no idea who she was. He had no idea about the triplets. She was even wearing a mask so everything was fine.

She just had to play her part for a few minutes. There was no way he recognized her under the mask. They had only had one night together. Surely time had faded the memory from his mind. There was no way he would connect her to that night. She was a stranger to him. "Gentlemen," Regina raised her glass. "To you."