Fallen Angel (Club Burlesque) Read Online Free PDF Page A

market yet. I’m giving my guests tonight a preview. Or, a preslather.”
    “Um, thanks,” Mallory said.
    “I’m going to bring some by the Blue Angel for the girls,” Martha said.
    “Okay—great,” Mallory said. Because what else was there to say?
    She looked around for Alec, but the room was filling up with women, one more beautiful than the next. And, surprisingly, her outfit wasn’t the most bizarre in the room.
    “Some interesting fashion choices around here,” Mallory commented.
    Martha sighed. “I find it tedious, Honestly, Moxie, you can get away with it. You’re a performer. But most of these girls? Posers. They’re absolutely unoriginal. It’s Lady Gaga chic, and it’s so yesterday. But my husband finds them entertaining, don’t you, dear?”
    “I have to admit, I do,” he said, kissing Martha on the cheek.
    Mallory saw Dominick Monde heading their way with a pale, freckled brunette in tow. She knew it was time to make her exit.
    “Well, it was great to see you guys. I’m going to find Alec and head out soon. It’s been a long night.”
    They kissed her good-bye, made sure she had her gift bag, and told her to have Bette call them when she was back in New York. “Getting in touch with her and Zebra is like trying to get an audience with the Pope,” Justin said.
    Mallory spotted Alec in the next room almost immediately. How could she miss him, standing next to Billy Barton, who wore one of his trademark, flamboyant, three-piece suits. Tonight’s fashion statement was a hunter green suit with matching green, polka-dotted tie. If he hadn’t been so handsome, with thick, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, she doubted he would get away with his outfits—no matter how much money he had in the bank or how many magazines he owned. She could see the enormous, gold, Yacht-Master Rolex watch on his wrist from six feet away.
    “Hey, Mallory. Nice to see you. You look fetching, as always.” He kissed her on both cheeks. “You’re just in time for the good news.”
    “Oh, what’s that?” she said. Alec put his arm around her, but she shrugged it off. She was still pissed off about last night, and no matter how late it was getting or how spirited the party, she wasn’t ready to kiss and make up.
    “I was just telling Alec I’m flying him to LA next week for a major interview.”
    “Oh, yeah?” She glanced at Alec, but he was looking at Billy expectantly.
    “Kendall James: our March cover story. She’s in the new Kathryn Bigelow movie coming out that month. Major score.”
    Mallory looked at Alec. A year ago, he had been lucky to get an interview with Bette Noir, a New York burlesque performer. Now he was flying to LA to interview the hottest starlet in Hollywood? She hated to admit it, but she felt jealous.
    “Are you serious?” Alec said, clearly elated.
    “Serious as cancer, my man. So here’s your excuse to have a Kendall James movie marathon this weekend. Just to save you some trouble prioritizing which ones to watch first: she’s topless in the Ryan Ellison one.”
    Mallory rolled her eyes. “I’m leaving,” she said.
    “I’m leaving, too,” Alec said. “Billy, great score. I won’t let you down— Gruff readers will see a whole new Kendall James when I’m done with the article.”
    “I kind of like the old, topless Kendall James,” Billy said. Alec laughed.
    Mallory walked to the door.

4
    V iolet was a visual person. She had seen a lot of beauty in her twenty-five years—not the least of which greeted her in the mirror every morning—and she was difficult to impress. And still, Ryan’s three-story, 3,200-square-foot penthouse suite at the Hotel on Rivington made her gasp.
    Floor to ceiling glass walls. A panoramic view of the city. The room was glass, dark wood, and steel. It was elegant, masculine, and very, very, hot.
    Ryan opened the bar.
    “What do you want to drink?”
    “Champagne,” she said, without hesitation. She only drank champagne. In fact, she