Ella, Fiona, and Lilly stopped just outside the restaurant, catching their breath. Fiona grinned and said, “This place is famous for its bar. I heard there’s a main performer here who’s super popular with all the rich ladies. He does striptease on stage, and the tips never stop coming in.”
Lilly nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Yeah, I’ve heard about it too. Supposedly, all the waiters are these shirtless guys with insane abs. We should totally check it out.”
Ella laughed, already reaching for the door. “I’m in. Let’s go.”
They squeezed through the entrance and were instantly hit by the crowd and the thumping music. The whole bar was packed, everyone pressed up against the stage. A handful of good-looking guys were up there, muscles on full display, moving in time with the beat as a song blasted through the speakers. The chorus was ridiculously catchy, repeating one thing over and over—take it off, take it off, take it off. The guys started to strip.
Front and center stood the headliner. He wore a black tank and black pants, his face hidden behind a cold, sleek mask. Fiona leaned in and whispered, “Is that him? No wonder he’s the star. That body is insane.”
Ella let out a soft whistle. “I’ll give him that. Lilly? Lilly!”
She turned to see Lilly frozen, staring at the man on stage like she’d seen a ghost.
Lilly recognized him instantly. That was Jace. Even with the mask, she could feel the wild, dangerous energy rolling off him. No one else moved like that. She never expected to find him here, standing under the flashing lights with a crowd of rich ladies losing their minds for him. The whole place felt like a fever dream.
“Take it off! Take it off! Take your shirt off!” The ladies chanted, voices rising above the music. Lilly couldn’t look away as Jace reached for his shirt, gripping the collar in both hands. With one quick motion, he tore it open. The sound of fabric ripping echoed over the music. Half his chest was suddenly on display, muscles sharp and perfect in the stage lights.
The crowd went wild.
A host climbed up to the mic, laughing over the chaos. “Having a good time, ladies? If you are, don’t forget to show your appreciation with a little something extra.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Genius Ex-Wife’s Revenge Portfolio