Chased by My Possessive Ex (Dylan) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

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DYLAN

I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath until the heavy stage curtains fell behind me, cutting off the spotlight and the sea of hungry eyes. The moment I stepped out of its glow, I exhaled sharply, my chest deflating as though I’d been underwater the entire time.

“You did great, Dylan!” Philippe beamed at me, clapping enthusiastically as I entered the dressing room. He looked like a proud father sending his daughter into her first recital. “They loved you! I knew you were going to do great!”

I mustered the best smile I could manage, my lips stretching into something that felt half–real. “Thanks, Philippe,” I said, my voice hoarse but steady.

As I peeled off the mask and blinked against the backstage lights, I realized… it hadn’t been as terrifying as I’d imagined. Sure, my heart had raced like a wild thing, and my stomach had twisted itself into knots, but I’d made it through. I’d danced. I’d survived.

I leaned against the wall for a moment, letting the weight of the night settle over me. I used to scoff at this kind of work, convinced it was all glitz and desperation. But now, I understood it was more than that.

And who was I to judge anyone for choosing their own path?

If there was anything this stage taught me tonight, it was that people do what they must to make it through. Some danced, some ran, and some fought battles no one else could see. And as long as it was your choice, and you weren’t hurting anyone along the way–maybe it wasn’t so shameful after all.

I had done what I had to do.

But even as the sense of accomplishment tried to take root, I couldn’t forget that shadow in the crowd–that presence that had stirred something unsettling in my gut. My eyes drifted toward the direction of the darkened balcony, even though I knew he wouldn’t be there anymore.

Still… his gaze haunted me.

“So, do

you

take checks, or do you prefer cash?” Philippe asked me.

I smiled before I answered, “I’d prefer cash.”

“Okay. You wait here,” he said before he left the room.

Once he was gone, I started to change my clothes and started removing my makeup. A few minutes later, Philippe went back to the dressing room.

“Here’s five thousand dollars for your performance tonight,” he said as he handed me the cash.

“Just for a night?” I uttered in surprise. This was way bigger than what I was earning in the dance studio.

“Well, one performance usually costs two thousand dollars. But the clients loved your performance, and they were very generous with the tin” he explained.

10:25 Thu, Dec 25

Chapter 13

“Tip?” I said shock was probably evident in my voice.

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“Oh, you’re probably expecting clients to throw money at you?” He said, followed by a soft laugh, “We don’t do that here, honey. We just put it on their tab.”

“Thanks for this, Philippe,” I said.

I was hesitating whether I should say something or not. Though this is already a huge amount of money, it still wasn’t enough to pay for everything that I needed to settle tonight. Though I don’t agree with paying those thugs with money twice the initial amount of what my parents borrowed, I know they weren’t the type to negotiate.

“This is probably too much. But do you happen to have another spot for tonight? I’m kind of needing some money. And though this is already a huge amount of money, this isn’t enough to pay for everything that I had to pay.”

He winces as if it were bad news. “Our spots were already filled tonight. You were only here because Amanda quit,” he explained.

**DYLAN**

“Oh,” I murmured, trying to keep the disappointment from seeping into my voice. I’d been hoping Philippe had more work lined up for me–maybe another set, another gig, anything to help me inch closer to the amount I needed. But when it became clear there was nothing else, I swallowed down my frustration and forced a grateful smile.

“That’s fine, Philippe. Really. This is already a huge help. Thank you so much,” I said, giving him a polite nod as I turned to leave.

“Actually…”

I froze mid–step and spun back around before he could even finish.

“I’ll take it!” I blurted out, a little too eagerly. My heart was beating fast, hope rising again like a stubborn weed through concrete.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Let me finish, honey.”

I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment and gave him an awkward smile, silently cursing my impulsiveness.

Philippe folded his arms, his expression more serious now. “A very important client requested a private session with you.”

Just like that, my throat went dry. My heart, which had been galloping with excitement just seconds ago, stumbled.

“P–Private session?” I echoed the words, barely escaping my lips as I tried to process what he meant.

Philippe raised a calming hand, his voice patient and reassuring. “It’s not what you think, sweetheart. You won’t be asked to do anything different from what you just did on stage. It’s the same performance, the same routine. The only difference is you’ll have an audience of one.”

10:25 Thu, Dec 25

Chapter 13

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My lips parted slightly, unsure of what to say. The idea of being alone in a room with someone, vulnerable and exposed, made my stomach churn.

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But Philippe seemed to understand what I was feeling, and his tone softened. “You’re not obligated to say yes. If you’re not comfortable, you can walk away. No pressure. Like I always tell my girls–once you walk into that room, you hold the power. Not them. You set the rules. You call the shots.”

I swallowed hard, listening to his words.

“If you decide to do it and there’s anything you want to put in place–any boundaries, conditions–we’ll respect it. We always do.”

I nodded slowly, trying to calm the storm of thoughts racing in my mind. The money… it could be enough to make a real dent in our debt. But this wasn’t just about money anymore. It was about control. About choice. About me reclaiming some piece of myself in the midst of this chaos.

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