18. The nanny who has the hots for her boss. What a cliché.
EIGHTEEN
THE NANNY WHO HAS THE HOTS FOR HER BOSS. WHAT A CLICHé.
“ E ver since I got sick a couple of weeks ago, he’s been weird. It’s freaking me out,” I tell Jade as she wipes the counter of Lady in White’s bar with a clean rag before placing a pink cocktail in front of me.
It’s Friday night, and the club opens in half an hour, which means it will get busy and hot very quickly, but I really needed someone to talk to.
Lino hasn’t been the same since Anton and I got sick and I dreamt of him taking care of me. It was so embarrassing to face him the day I came back to work. I couldn’t look him in the eye. It’s not like he heard me ask him to stay with me or felt it as I ground against his body to find some comfort. It was all in my imagination, yet, his gaze on me grows heavy with each passing day, like he knows what I was dreaming about.
“Have you tried talking to him?” Jade asks absent-mindedly.
“Be serious. I’m not going to ask Mr Marquesi why he looks at me like I murdered his puppy. You’ve seen him. He’s so… serious. You probably even know him better than I do since you see him all the time here.” I’m fishing for information, and Jade knows it because she gives me an arrogant smirk.
I don’t know when the lines started blurring between us, but I feel myself needing to know more about him. What he likes, who he is when he stops pretending he needs to keep me at a distance. I’m not stupid. I know it’s for the best. I’m his employee and besides, he’s way older than me. Divorced and with two kids. But I guess it’s easier to keep lying to myself and nurture this silly little obsession.
She rolls her eyes at me before answering. “He hasn’t been back here for weeks. Actually, the last time I saw him was when we moved out of my flat. Mrs Moretti actually bought the building and is renovating the entire place. I can’t wait to move back in.”
I barely hear the rest of Jade’s story, latching onto that little piece of information she just shared, like it’s not the bomb it is. Mr Marquesi, who I’ve seen twice at the club and who I’m sure is a frequent patron of the place, hasn’t been back since I came to live with him. I mean, on his property . I’m sure it has nothing to do with me, but my body didn’t get the memo as my nipples harden with the thought.
The nanny getting the hots for her boss. Could I be even more of a cliché?
I groan and plant my forehead on the cool marble bar.
“You okay, ma biche ?”
“I’m fine. Maybe I just need to get out . I spend all my days with two children under five years old and my weekends alone with smutty books.”
“Hey! You have me,” Jade swats the rag at me and we laugh together. The camaraderie between us feels so natural.
“You know what I mean. I’m like a sad spinster and I’m only twenty-four.”
Jade throws her head back with a cackle.
“Glad to see I at least entertain you,” I moan while sending her a nasty look.
“I’m not mocking you.”
“Could have fooled me,” I grumble before taking a sip of my pink cocktail. The alcohol burns my throat as I swallow. I’m really not used to drinking, but when the liquid settles in my stomach, it warms me from the inside out and leaves a pleasant buzz under my skin that grows with each sip.
“I’m not, I swear. I’m laughing because I’ve got the perfect event for you. On Sunday, we’re hosting a bondage workshop for beginners,” she says, glee tainting her every word. She’s so excited for me. It’s infectious and my smile widens, my interest piqued. “The trainer is Milo. You saw him that first day you worked here; he was on stage. He’s so hot it’s ridiculous. You should join.”
“Are you going?”
“No, ma biche ,” she scoffs. “My man and I are not beginners.” She winks and I flush, bringing my cold hands to my cheeks to stave it off. The idea of being tied up is enticing but, it doesn’t evoke images of her and her boyfriend playing with ropes. No, the image I’m creating in my head is far more forbidden.
“Okay. Maybe I’ll join.”
“You should. You don’t need a partner. If you’re by yourself, Milo will partner you up either with someone or he’ll be your partner.”
“Shall I…” I clear my throat. “What should I wear?”
Her smile is salacious when she answers. “It’s a beginner’s workshop, Vivi. We might be a sex club, but there won’t be anything sexual going on for your first try. Wear comfortable clothes. These yoga pants you always wear will be fine.”
I give an excited squeal and finish my cocktail before I leave Jade to her job and take the bus home, daydreams of red ropes leaving marks on my skin accompanying me all the way to bed.
W hen Sunday comes, I’m a mess of conflicting emotions.
I haven’t seen The Marquesis all weekend, as if Lino is avoiding me. The thought shouldn’t make my heart squeeze with an emotion akin to disappointment. Why should I care that he wants me around the kids or himself? I’m just an employee. He’s just a job. And I see the kids all week anyway.
I shake my head to dispel thoughts of my boss and enter the lavish entrance of Lady in White. A hostess I don’t know in a white suit encrusted with red gems welcomes me and asks for my name before guiding me to a waiting area.
Located just above the main level, the view from this balcony is clear and all-encompassing. My eyes dart to the bar where Jade is serving a couple that lean towards each other and seem to exchange secrets and promises. The low light and baroque decor, with the soft piano melody coming up, soothes my nerves. My shoulders drop and after a few deep breaths, I relax and enjoy the view of people kissing, enjoying their drinks and disappearing behind curtains that I know lead to private rooms where they can enjoy each other however they prefer.
Multiple people are waiting here with me and give a polite smile as I pass and sit on a velvet sofa, the soft fabric caressing my thighs where my shorts have ridden up.
I count thirteen of us.
I guess that means I’ll be paired with the instructor. The knowledge is both reassuring—at least, it will be a pro who ties me up on my first time—and making me nervous. What if I suck at this? Not that I think I need specific skills to be tied up. Do I? My palms sweat and I’m about to jump ship when the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen walks towards us with a beaming smile and calming energy.
I remember him well from when I waitressed here. Milo’s smiling at us, his dark brown eyes alight with excitement, his thick hair now braided in mesmerising patterns on the crown of his head and his relaxed outfit made of grey sweats and a white cotton t-shirt put me at ease.
“Hi everyone, I’m Milo. I’ll be your instructor for our introduction workshop to bondage. Before we go in, I’d like you all to take a moment, if you need to change into something comfortable or go to the bathroom. They’re located to your right.” He smiles at each of us before continuing, “This workshop will go quite quickly. It’s only two hours. We’ll have a break at the end with snacks and tea, and I’ll be available to answer all your questions. And we’ll make our way out so as to not disturb the patrons or, if you’re in the mood, you can join in as part of your workshop pass.”
His tone is cheerful and open, and I smile at him. The nervousness I felt a moment ago dissipates, replaced with excitement.
“Hi, you must be Vanessa. Jade mentioned you’d be coming alone.” Milo extends his hand and I shake it, slightly disappointed when no tingles or spark buzzes between us.
“Jade can never shut up.” I roll my eyes playfully. “I wanted to do something new, and she thought this would be perfect.”
“So, you’ve never played with ropes?” he asks without a hint of desire or innuendo.
“Nope. First timer.”
“Don’t worry, most of the people here today are also first timers. I’m happy to guide you through your first knots and coax that playfulness out.”
When everyone is ready, Milo guides us into a room on the second floor. As I enter, I can’t help but notice that one side of the room is actually a glass wall exposing us to a corridor. It’s empty for now, but it’s not hard to imagine its purpose.
Milo walks to it and pulls a heavy black curtain across, closing the view from outside.
The room is well lit. Mattresses and meditation cushions, along with red hemp ropes, are placed in a circle and each couple finds a place to settle together. The people in this workshop are surprisingly diverse. The couple next to me are two women in their sixties and they smile kindly to me as they take their seat on the cushions.
As I sit by myself, I can’t help but wring my hands together. I glance around me but no one seems to pay me any attention, which helps me relax and calm my racing heart.
We all introduce ourselves and Milo starts by folding the rope into two equal parts to reveal ‘the bite’, the place where the rope bends to become two. “For our first exercise, decide who will tie and who will be tied. We’ll start with a simple knot at the waist and move our way down the legs.”
Everyone begins to tie their rope around their partner while I awkwardly do it by myself. Milo approaches me. “I can tie it for you, if you’re okay with that.”
Before I can answer, the door of the room bangs open, hitting the wall with a resounding bang. It’s so loud above the soft music, everyone’s gaze is drawn to it.
Including mine.
And it collides with Lino’s.