4. Declan
Chapter four
Declan
I undo my tie and the top button of my shirt as I walk into the club. Sometimes I regret opening this damn place. A lot of the local political scene are members, but those that aren't, try to shut us down. It's a constant battle. I just left a public hearing at the courthouse where locals get to voice their concerns. The religious crowd rants about morality and sin, but the law doesn't give a shit about that. Legally, we're not doing anything wrong, so they can't shut us down. But that doesn't stop people from trying.
The White Envelope is important to me. Human history is a twisted evolution of sexuality. From the fluidity of ancient Rome to the shame associated with it thanks to religion after, to the explosion of the internet and porn, and all of the confusion and judgment that comes from exploring one's sexuality. I wanted to create a safe and judge-free environment where people could explore anything and everything without fear.
So when Daniel and Harrison started talking kinks one night over beers, the idea for The White Envelope formed. It's not a gentleman's club, or a strip club, but a members-only club. A club of like-minded people who want to explore the sexual sides of themselves in a safe environment. Named after the white envelope every member's invitation comes in.
It was an overnight success but continues to receive hate mail, negative reviews, and constant public pressure. But I'll continue to defend our right to operate until I no longer can.
Servers and staff bustle around, preparing for opening. I need to blow off some steam. Maybe I'll find one of my regulars and rent a room with her.
Daniel and Harrison will be here soon, too. Maybe they'll have better news for me.
I like to walk the location before openings to make sure everything is in place. When I walk down the hallway to the private rooms, however, room number twelve's red light is already on, indicating it's occupied. I spin on my heel and find Cassidy or Madame Kline, as she’s called professionally.
"Cas, why is room twelve's light on?"
She smiles slyly at me. She's got a secret, this wily one. "It's occupied."
I stutter. "Occupied? By who?" I check my watch. "We don't open for another hour."
"Look, Dec. Do you trust me?"
She knows that I do, but I don't like the feeling that she's playing games. Like she's going to pull the wool over my eyes. "You know that I do. I wouldn't leave The Envelope in your hands if I didn't.
She motions for me to sit at one of the bar stools before making her way behind the bar and pouring two glasses of whiskey for herself and me.
Shit. This really isn't good if she's loosening me up for it. I flick open the top bottom of my shirt and chuck my cufflinks onto the bar top like I'm preparing for a fight.
"We have a new server starting today."
She hesitates, and the suspense is killing me.
"And?"
"And she needed a place to stay."
Fuck that. I stand and march down the hallway, Cas close on my heels. "The fuck she is. This isn't a goddamn hotel."
"Dec!" she calls after me, wrapping a small, manicured hand around my bicep. I throw the door to Room Twelve open so hard the door bounces against the stop. But in the next instance, the breath leaves my lungs. Sitting on the counter, bare feet in the sink, next to the mirror, wearing nothing but a robe, is the most hauntingly beautiful woman I've ever seen. Dirty blonde hair, pulled back in a sloppy bun, wide, panicked, blue eyes, and pouty lips, parted in surprise.
A worn paperback spills out of a large bag next to her on the counter.
It isn't until I take in what she's doing that my anger comes back. She's got a bottle of concealer in one hand and a sponge in the other, and half a black eye peeking out from her cheek.
"What the fuck is this?" I shout, storming over to her to get a closer look. She drops the concealer and sponge and scurries backward along the counter, terrified. I stop and run a hand down my face. Christ, this woman is scared of me. And I can't blame her. A man laid his hands on her less than twenty-four hours ago and I storm in like a fucking hot head. That's always been my problem. Quick to anger, especially when feeling out of control.
I take a deep breath in and out, trying to calm myself down. But when I open my eyes again and see she's shaking like a leaf and tears are gathering at her lower lids, the fight sinks out of me completely.
Cas presses a hand to my bicep again. "Serenity is starting today as a server. She's not safe at home, so I've offered her this room until she can get on her feet. I'll cover the cost of it."
"Fuck the cost," I spit at her, offended she could think I would put money over a woman's safety. I look around the room, noting it's empty.
"Do you have clothes? A purse? ID?"
"N-no." She clears her throat and looks at the floor in front of me. "No, sir. I-I didn't think to grab anything before I left."
I suppress a groan. This poor woman has no idea what 'sir' does to me, and that her shy submission has my cock straining against my zipper. But I can feel Cas smiling next to me. She knows.
She tips up on her toes, using my shoulder for leverage. "She's a pretty little thing, isn't she?"
I grunt in response.
"A virgin, too," she whispers.
"Christ!" I scream, throwing my arms in the air before turning around and storming away before I throw this poor woman over my shoulder and make her mine.
I find Harrison and Daniel standing next to the bar, staring and our half-empty drinks curiously. I down mine, then hers, before grunting, "We need to talk," and storming to my office in the opposite direction of the rooms.
Amused, they follow me and sit in the chairs across from my desk. I drop my face into my hands while I gather my thoughts. Cas shows up then, crosses her arms over her chest, and leans against the door frame, utterly amused.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I growl at her.
"So, so , much." She laughs; eyes alight with mischief.
"Enjoying what?" Daniel asks, looking between us.
"Apparently, Cas is picking up strays now and turning The Envelope into a hotel." I narrow my eyes at her.
"You want me to throw a battered woman out? Fine. But you tell her why when the door smacks her on the ass on the way out." And then she turns on her heel to leave.
"Cas!" I shout. She resumes her position against the doorframe.
"Battered woman?" Harrison asks.
Cas sighs. "We have a new server. She was supposed to start tomorrow as a trial. She showed up a few hours ago, running away from home, with a black eye. Her stepfather is a piece of work and her mom's just as bad. Forgive me if my past makes me soft, but we can protect and provide for her. Doesn't that mean we should?"
Daniel and Harrison simply look at me. They know as well as I do that we're not going to toss her out.
"Fine. She can work tonight, but she's not staying here. I can't have a virgin living in a sex club."
Harrison's eyes widen.
Cas leans down and whispers not-so-quietly in his ear. "A virgin. And she's beautiful and naturally submissive." My eyes narrow on him. He's not into virgins. I am. She's mine. We all started this club because of our various kinks. Being prominent in the social sphere meant all of our secrets are published in gossip rags. Trying to find subs, who aren't brats, and who wouldn't tattle to the nearest paparazzi about what we did behind closed doors was becoming an issue.
"She'll stay with me after her shift." I narrow my eyes at Daniel and Harrison, willing them to understand my meaning. I may not make her mine, but she's also off-limits for them.
Cas simply laughs. "Whatever you say, Boss-man. Good luck convincing her of that."
I'll send Daniel to talk to her. He's the calmest of the three of us. "Daniel, go introduce yourself and make sure she has everything she needs. Convince her to stay with me. I've got plenty of extra bedrooms. It's more appropriate than staying here."
"On it, Boss," he says with a smile before shooting me a cheeky half-assed salute and walking away. They all call me Boss. Technically, I'm the CEO, Daniel's the CFO, and Harrison's the COO, but we're all equal partners.
Harrison watches me quietly. He's the observer, the silent judge and jury between the three of us.
And right now, I feel as if he's peering through my skin into my deepest, darkest desires.
And he knows I'm screwed.