Grayson
“Boss?” came a surprised call over the walkie. Humphrey was his head of security, and normally stationed out front where the line of people blared even louder than the music coming from inside.
As he looked down at Lexi trying to get her blush back under control, Why did she fight it so hard? He considered his options. He could fire Andrew, but as far as he knew, Andrew’s work history had been fine until now.
After a few deep breaths, she seemed to have it down and looked back up at him.
He noticed her lower lip was still swollen, but she’d stopped fidgeting to stare directly at him.
He shrugged internally; as the wronged party, in club fairness, it was up to her.
He stared hard at Andrew as he brought the walkie back up to his mouth.
“Send Gaidar to the back door. Andrew’s…” he hesitated just long enough to watch the heavy guy squirm. “Not feeling well.”
Andrew’s head popped up as if someone had pulled on his strings, and Grayson felt a little satisfaction.
He handed the walkie back, while Andrew started sputtering out a thank you, and it wouldn’t happen again, and it was just a misunderstanding, really.
Grayson let him run out of steam and stared him down.
“Consider this your only warning,” he said, speaking low.
“You’re going to be feeling unwell for the next two weeks. You’re going to apologize to Miss Lexi here, and you’re going to be changing posts.”
Crimson, Andrew nodded and looked at Lexi.
“I’m sorry I scared you, Miss Lexi,” he said.
Lexi laughed, and Grayson struggled not to smile.
“The only thing that scared me was your breath. You were just rude.”
Andrew flushed red to match his beard and, with a quick glance at Grayson, he mumbled, “I’m sorry I was rude then.”
“Apology accepted. Thank you.”
Lexi smiled, and Gray felt a little buzz coming off her.
He realized she was being sincere; his apology had been accepted, and she was content.
Grayson decided not to analyze why that made him want to squeeze her tight.
He heard heavy footfalls coming down the hall, preemptively announcing Kris Gaidar.
Of some type of Eastern European descent, Gaidar had worked at Lifestyle for almost four years. He barely spoke, never reacted out of emotion, and was a hulking six foot seven with disinterested blue eyes.
Grayson considered him the perfect choice for security. Kris seemed to recognize Lexi, which Grayson filed away for later, before zeroing in on their hands. He stared a couple of moments, blinking, then resumed his ambivalent expression as he stopped in front of the three of them.
“Gaidar, you’re relieving Andrew for the foreseeable future. Have you worked in this position before?”
Gaidar shook his head no.
“Quick overview, because our night’s been interrupted enough.
You’re alone most of the night, unless we’re getting deliveries.
No deliveries tonight. Ask Humphrey for a schedule.
You watch the cameras there,” he gestured past the door to a closet with a single chair and several monitors, “but touch nothing unless someone presses the doorbell at the back. You let the front know, and answer the door. Questions?”
Gaidar shook his head again.
“Good. Andrew, we’ll see you in a couple of weeks. I hope you feel better.”
Hand in hand, he and Lexi made it up three steps before he paused and turned back around.
“And gentlemen? Just for the record? As of now, Miss. Lexi belongs to me, and will be treated as such. Understood?”
He felt her stiffen next to him. For the moment, he ignored the tug of Lexi’s hand against his, asking to be let go.
Both men looked at each other, then back, and silently nodded. Gaidar stared an extra long moment at Lexi, who, for once, had nothing to add. He was relieved. Since he’d announced it to staff, he knew before the end of the night every team member would know that Lexi belonged to him.
They would know her picture, her birthday, her favorite drink, and how she liked her steak.
Preferential treatment was part of the package in becoming one of the owner’s submissives, and Grayson thought she would enjoy it.
He just had to convince her to agree to fight for him and sign the damn papers.