9. Michaela
Michaela
I ’m back at Rhys’s place.
I had a lengthy conversation with my father about my meeting with Phoenix. He’s relieved we buried the hatchet long enough to set things in motion. Daddy reminded me time is of the essence because he’s choking in debt.
Copy that.
Once I ended the call with my father, I joined Keira for dinner. We’re sitting where we sat this morning, but nothing is the same.
After a light dinner—because I was still stuffed from my delicious lunch on Phoenix’s yacht—I spill my guts to my friend.
She’s the only person on this planet other than my father I can confide in.
I’m so grateful I don’t have to keep this fake marriage charade a secret from her.
I can’t imagine having to deal with all of this on my own.
Since my mind is still a bit jumbled from everything that’s transpired in my life since I woke up, I blurt out everything in one go. I expected my friend to be shocked, but nothing like this.
“Say something,” I say.
She stares at me like a deer caught in headlights.
“Keira.”
She shakes her head. “You woke up this morning unaware your life was going to take an unexpected turn.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” I say.
“Well, at least you’re marrying a hot guy and a former boy band member.”
Keira is a singer, and she used to be a member of a popular girl group.
She was a little peeved I never asked Phoenix about his former career as a pop star.
I read about the glory days of the boy group 4Destiny—4D, for short.
Slate, Wilder, Roman, and Phoenix were at the top of their game when Barron died.
and I even drooled over a few videos while I was doing my recon. Finding out more about that part of his life was way down there on the list of priorities for our meeting.
“I haven’t decided if I’m marrying him yet,” I say.
“It doesn’t sound like you have a lot of options, Mikki.”
“That may be the case, but I want to make peace with the decision. It’s the only shred of control I have left. When I’m ready, I’ll give him my answer.”
Keira shakes her head, her disbelief still written all over her face. “This is wild.”
“Oh, it gets better.”
Her head whips in my direction. “You’ve been holding back from me?”
“Phoenix knows Rhys.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Something about a club. I asked him to elaborate, but he was evasive about it. I figured I’d get the scoop from you.”
“Oh…” Keira’s face turns as red as a tomato.
“Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?”
She stares at me, wide-eyed.
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Keira, I’ve had enough surprises for one day. What club is Phoenix talking about?”
She shifts in her seat. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell Rhys I told you.”
“Okay.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“I won’t tell him.”
“Swear it,” she says.
“Holy shit, woman. You’re scaring me.”
“There’s nothing to be scared about, however, this isn’t public knowledge, so it requires a high level of secrecy.”
I lift one hand and place the other against my heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
She shifts her gaze to the left, then the right before fixing her hazel-green eyes onto me. “There’s this hotel called the Quintus Hotel. From the outside, it’s another five-star hotel, but it has many layers. There’s a secret passage that leads to a club that caters to LA’s high rollers.”
“Oh, like a business club.”
“Well, that’s one of the many layers. There’s a gentlemen’s club where members conduct business and there’s also one exclusively for women. Given Rhys and Phoenix’s power positions, I’m sure they rub elbows at that club to talk shop. But there’s more. A whole lot more…”
She cocks an eyebrow, as if I’m supposed to pick up on her cryptic explanation.
“For the love of God, woman, stop speaking in codes. Spit it out, already.”
“I’m not sure you can handle what I’m about to share.”
“If I can handle finding out my father practically sold me to an obscenely rich man to cover his debt and prevent our family hotel from going under and not fall apart, I can handle whatever you have to dish out.”
“Dark Compulsion is an exclusive, member only adult club where high rollers meet for an illicit night and all sorts of kinky stuff.”
My jaw drops.
Talk about ripping off the Band-Aid in one shot. “Come again?”
“You heard me the first time.”
“Adult club? As in, sex club?”
“Yes.”
My curiosity is piqued. “Have you ever been?”
“I’ve been to the Quintus Hotel for dinner with Rhys. He wanted to introduce me to the kinky club, but my new role in his company, and the accident… delayed things.” She taps her leg.
My face contorts. “Is it like a swingers club?”
She shakes her head. “Some married couples are into that, but that’s not the essence of the club.
There are many floors… there’s a lot to explore.
From what Rhys has candidly shared, it’s not sleazy.
It’s high-end. There are a lot of hurdles to becoming a Dark Compulsion member.
Their screening process is top notch. Hence, the exclusive part.
The members prefer their relationships uncomplicated, therefore a mutual level of understanding is paramount.
You can’t even get through the door without signing an NDA and leaving your phone in a secure holding area.
So, club members get their kicks and at the end of the evening, they walk away.
No drama. No expectations. No stalker behavior. No photos leaked to the press.”
“I can imagine what goes on in such a club.”
“Rhys can’t wait to take me. From my understanding, most of his friends are members and they bring their significant other. You can tailor the experience to your needs and kinks.”
Whoa. I rest my back against the seat. “This isn’t Kansas anymore.”
“No, it’s not.”
Realization hits me. “Phoenix has a kinky side…”
“Chances are, he does,” Keira says. I should be freaked out––concerned, even––but I’m not. “That’s a good thing for you. In no time, you won’t be able to spell the words vanilla sex . Trust me.” Keira grins from ear to ear.
I swallow at her admission, and my stomach flips as I flashback to Phoenix’s raunchy words when I asked about our wedding night.
Conscious of my shortcomings compared to a master dirty-talker, I decided to press the eject button and get myself out of that erotic battle of words.
Because, holy Jesus, I’m so not equipped to go toe to toe with that man.
And damn his deep, baritone, sexy voice.
An afternoon with him and I’m dying to live out every one of his promises.
What’s wrong with me?
My cheeks flush.
“Are you having a moment?” The amusement in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed.
I narrow my gaze at her. “No, I’m not.” Lie. “We still have to iron out the detail surrounding our sleeping arrangements, but I made it clear, sex isn’t part of the deal.”
Her head jerks back. “You’re going to be married to one of the most eligible men in the country, you’re going to live together, you’re going to see him walking around in his boxer briefs—and potentially, naked—but nothing is going to happen between the two of you? For a whole year?”
“I’ll do my best not to see him naked.”
Her head rears back. “Why? I bet that man is something else naked.” I’m sure she’s right.
“First, he’s still the enemy?—”
“I thought he was saving your hotel?”
“It still doesn’t mean I like him.” I continue without giving her a chance to respond. “Second, this is a business arrangement. Third, there’s a time limit on this fake-relationship, so I’d rather keep my wits about me.”
“Hmmm…”
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
I let out an exasperate breath. “Just say it.”
“Is he going to hire escorts to take care of his needs while you’re married?”
“No. He promised he wouldn’t. And as strange as it sounds, I believe he’ll keep his word.”
Keira bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“You two are going to kill each other,” she says. “All that pent-up sexual energy.”
I roll my eyes. “You must be drinking the same Kool-Aid as Phoenix. Like I told him, I’m good. Thank you very much.”
“So, you’re not going to visit Dark Compulsion?”
“What’s the point? It’s not like anything is going to happen between Phoenix and me, and it’s not like I’m going to get down and kinky with other men.”
“Point taken.” She pretends to drop the subject, but I know her better than that. “You’re not even curious a little bit?”
I am, but I’m unwilling to admit it. “This is a business deal.”
“Why can’t it come with benefits?”
“Keira, I’m carrying a lot on my shoulders as it is,” I say.
“My father bestowed on me the responsibility of saving a legacy that was started four generations ago. He made a string of bad decisions, and I’m the only one capable of digging us out of this colossal mess.
Adding benefits to the mix is going to fuck with my head.
I can’t afford that. I refuse to give Phoenix more than I have to. ”
Banging a sexy as fuck man with a kinky streak sounds like fun and games until someone gets hurt. I’ll pass.
“You’re right,” Keira says and moves her attention to her wine glass. She circles a manicured finger over the rim in a deliberate slow motion, eyeing me from under her long eyelashes.
“What now?”
“You have a lot more willpower than I do,” she says. “I was throwing myself at Rhys when I moved in with him.”
“You two go way back. I’m marrying a stranger.”
“You are marrying him?” Her grin is epic.
My jaw ticks. “As infuriating as he is, King Kong Tycoon is my only lifeline. I disagree with the way Daddy went about doing things. This reads like the plot of a bad mail-order-bride-slash-pioneer-frontier romance from two centuries ago.”
“At least you lassoed a good one.”
I giggle. “Yeah. My father spared me on that front. I could’ve ended up with a hideous man with a severe case of halitosis, body odor issues, an ugly wart on his forehead, hairy knuckles—and back—and scary looking unkempt feet.”