Chapter 3 #2
"No, but make sure they're not exclusively allies of Devereaux. Feel them about about him but be discrete. I need their perspectives to be objective."
I mentally ran through my strategy. I was walking into unfamiliar territory developing outside the Whitney umbrella and making an enemy of Christian. But, I never played things safe. This property was as good as mine. No one was getting in my way. Not my father and damn sure not Devereaux.
"I haven't had to do this much homework since getting my master's degree.
I'm over this already," I mumbled and Tezni lifted my laptop from my thighs and set it down on hers.
I lifted my legs onto the sofa and crossed them in front of me before I sank back into the softness of the cushion behind me.
"Let me see what we're dealing with."
My one-month contract request was approved on provisional terms but immediately following the acceptance I received five pages of very detailed rules along with a link to mandatory online classes I had to complete before the contract would be finalized.
I also had a video call with Giselle Denning, the owner, who, oddly enough, I liked a lot.
She was all business when it came to the club but also very friendly and easy to talk to.
We discussed more than just my time at the club.
She asked personal questions about me, my life, my family and my relationships.
All of which should have felt odd considering the nature of what our association would be but it wasn't.
I handed over all the personal shit about my life, my career with the family company, and I told her about my marriage.
I never talked to anyone about my marriage.
Tezni as pretty much the only person who knew all the details but I freely offered them to Giselle.
She listened, occasionally asking questions, and not once did I feel judged.
I could imagine people came to her club for a multitude of interesting reasons.
So my husband being a fraud and me living a lie of a marriage for ten years was likely one of the more mild reasons she approved a membership.
"You're done."
"I am, but shit, that was a lot. There's no way anyone can remember all of that so I pray there's not going to be a pop quiz required prior to entry."
Tezni grinned. "I doubt it. They just have to do their part to make sure you were given all this.
After that they're in the clear, but damn friend, this is really a lot.
Consent and communication, safety protocols, risk aware consensual kink.
Safe, sane, and consensual. Club rules and etiquette, confidentiality and privacy, terminology, mental and emotional health in BDSM.
Damn girl, I'm tired just reading the titles of the training. "
"I should make your ass go through those too since this is all your fault."
She smiled big as hell. "Stop complaining. After the first orgasm you have while strapped to a Saint Andrew's cross or bent over with your wrist cuffed to your ankles, you're going to thank me."
"If that even happens. After reading all of that, it might just be better for you to snitch to my father about the property and take an L on the membership."
"You're too stubborn for that."
"I know," I pouted.
"This is going to be good for you."
Orgasms provided by a fine ass man with no feelings attached? Yes please, but in a club and with a stranger? Not so much.
"That sounds like corporal punishment and since when did that become a good thing?"
Tezni closed my laptop and placed it on the coffee table. "Corporal punishment with happy endings though. Consider it a win because it’s definitely a good thing."
I rolled my eyes. "If you're so supportive then why don't you have a membership to one of these clubs? There are several here in the city."
"What makes you think I don't?" She arched her brow and I reared my head back.
"You don’t…" I didn’t know for sure so I just waited and her ass grinned.
"I don't spank and spill. Isn't that how the saying goes?"
"Bitch, it's kiss and tell; now answer the question, do you?"
"No, I don't but I've been to one a few times."
"When? And why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"Because it was my personal business and it was when I was dating Leron. He was into that shit."
"Wait, that's who you did the threesome with, right?"
She nodded and shoved her hand into the bowl of popcorn. "But please don't bring that up."
I grinned because Tezni had been mad as hell after it was over. She said threesomes in theory and on TV looked much more appealing than actually having one. Based on Tezni, there was nothing pretty about their performances and not nearly enough orgasms.
"Still too soon?" I flashed her a smile and she cut her eyes my way.
"Yes, hoe." She shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth and grabbed her glass off the coffee table and followed it with wine, talking through a mouthful. "So what's the game plan with Project Sexy Enemy?"
"What the hell is Project Sexy Enemy?" I lifted the ranch seasoning and refreshed the bowl before I grabbed a handful and followed it with another swig of wine.
"Christian Devereaux. He's sexy as hell but also your enemy."
I froze with my glass inches from my lips then lowered it slowly. "How do you know he's sexy?"
"Damn sure not because my friend told me. I had to do my own recon, and for the record, I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it." She over exaggeratedly slammed her thighs together.
"You care about my professional enemies?"
"Yes, because when you were telling me about him you had that tone."
"I did not have a tone."
I definitely had a tone because damn, damn, damn...
I hadn't been able to stop thinking about Christian since Alex handed over his folder two days ago trying to warn me that he was a problem. The only problem I had was trying incredibly hard not to think about him while putting toys to use. I was obsessed with his sexy ass. My time had been spent searching for every detail I could find on Christian. And of course he didn’t have a personal social media account for me to creep on but when I selected image after I typed his name in a search field, I found several more pictures of him.
A few may or may not have been saved, but I knew from personal experience what a time Tezni must have had researching him.
"You had a tone friend, and I'm willing to bet everything I own that your pussy did too —a come and get me tone —because that man is sexy as hell."
She made the statement at the exact time I swallowed wine which I almost spit out with the laugh that followed. "Hoe, you don't own anything so that's not a good bet."
"Maybe not but what's the plan? You should just give up the goods so he stays out of your way.
If you're not willing to ride that dick like a champ and want a proxy, I'm available.
" She threw her arm in the air dramatically.
"Tap me in, coach. I'm ready to get down and dirty.
Really nasty and dirty with that fine ass man. "
"You are so damn extra."
She smiled widely. "How am I extra because I'm willing to take one for the team?
" Tezni frowned. "As you so eloquently stated, I don't own shit, so me being willing to offer up the most precious thing I have in my possession…
" She slapped a hand between her thighs and thrust her hips.
"…is a show of true love, loyalty and friendship. "
I rolled my eyes and smiled. "You fucking him would be purely selfish and not about me, Tez."
"Yeah it would. But if it grants you his favor, then I don't see the issue."
"As much as I appreciate your dedication to our friendship, I've got this covered. The property is already mine. They accepted my offer. When I get there, all I have to do is send a wire transfer to their closing attorney and I officially own the majority of the waterfront property in the city."
"I'm so fucking proud of you. This is a big deal."
"It's a really big deal," I said, smiling behind my glass before I took down the rest of my wine. "I honestly can't believe I did this on my own."
"I can. You know your shit, Scot, but you let your father's bias get in your head. Fuck him."
"I don't."
She narrowed her eyes and I grinned because she knew me better than anyone. "Okay…I do sometimes but I didn't with this and I won't ever again."
"And what about Alex's sexy ass?"
My expression twisted. "Please don't call my brother sexy."
"Why not? He's very sexy."
"Uhh, number one reason is because he's my brother and I don't want to think of him as sexy. That shit is just weird."
"Well he's not my brother, so it's not weird to me, in fact…"
I glared and she flashed me a smile. "Okay, fine. I won't go there."
I wasn't sure if Alex and Tezni ever had a thing, but if they did, I wanted it to remain unknown to me. She was so much like my sister and she had been such a huge part of my life that the thought of her and Alex doing the nasty felt icky.
"Now that you've totally killed my vibe with the whole Alex thing, can we discuss what's going on with you? And it better not involve any of my family members."
Tezni sighed dramatically. "My life is my life. Still trying to decide what to do with this damn salon. I really think it's time for me to let it go."
"Tez, no. You're not doing that. It's your dream and who the hell is going to keep my hair slayed and healthy if you do?"