7 Emeric
Over the next week she tries to avoid talking to me, and I’m enjoying watching her squirm whenever we work together. There’s embarrassment in her eyes every time she looks my way, and I’m starting to wonder if she’s just not sleeping with worthwhile partners if that one orgasm rocked her world. Dragging her onstage was an impromptu choice, and grinding on her just sort of happened. I really did intend to just have her join in with everyone else.
The powder on my hands left prints on her skirt, and I seriously doubt she noticed until she got back upstairs. The horrified look on her face didn’t sit well with me when she bolted from the room, and even our obvious show did nothing to deter the few participants who come to my classes just to see me. They are still as eager as ever.
Talking to her upstairs really didn’t help. That girl is so stuck in her head I don’t think she knows how to let loose. Everything she does is controlled and if she doesn’t learn when to give into something, she’ll stress herself to death.
Teasing her with my dancing skills? That opportunity just kind of fell into my lap, and I didn’t miss the desire in her eyes when she watched me.
“Tell me you aren’t corrupting my cousin.”
I cringe, the reminder that I’m on the phone seriously cutting through my thoughts. I don’t want to be on this particular call right now as is. “Couldn’t you have called her instead of me?”
“Where’s the fun in that, Emeric?”
Jo called me while I’m sitting at my house, her voice sounding a little rough. I asked if she’s spent much time screaming, and she blew past my joke. “Jo, just call her. It’s her idea.”
“An auction is a big deal. Serenity is good at publicity and marketing, but I don’t know if she has much skill at budgeting. Uncle Wayne has money to spare. His two kids never went without.”
It’s weird hearing Jo refer to Serenity’s Dad in any capacity. He’s a faceless nobody in my head, but she speaks of him bitterly. “Is her sister any good at this shit?”
“Her sister is in high school. She’s a baby. Keep her out of this.”
“Right,” I mutter, flipping over the pancake in the pan. It’s my day off, and Jo oh so kindly decided to call me at home. “Did you give her the old paperwork?”
“I told Russell to pull the files for her. Let Serenity make the ads. She’s good at that.”
“She can’t hold a conversation with anyone at the club except for Anita. She brought in a new member recently, and I think he only signed off because he likes her.”
“Oh, that might be good,” Jo muses. “She is so against PDA.”
“That’s weird, Jo. Why did you ask her to work at the club then?”
“Because she lets my past affect her present,” Jo snips out, and I catch someone talking in the background. “Listen, just let her try things as she sees fit. She’s shy.”
“And you think that’s a good idea?” I ask, thinking of the stage again. She was mortified, even if I’ve seen people do much, much worse up there. Hell, people have sex on that stage pretty often.
“I think she needs the push.”
I scoff, wondering when it became my job to watch out for Serenity. She’s got her own issues apparently. “This isn’t really what I signed up for.”
“Well I didn’t sign up to play babysitter at an asylum,” Jo barks, and my brows lift with interest. If she could only see me. “I called to warn you that the news might break soon.”
“Going down there didn”t get him to talk?”
“You know how Alastair is,” she breaths, and I almost dare to think there’s a bit of longing in her voice. “He’s gotten into it with Vinny a couple times. His information isn’t helping the FBI, and the copycat killed again. The gossip columns are going to catch up soon. We won’t be able to hide anymore.”
“Should I be prepared?”
“I’d be ready for more gossip around the club. If news breaks that it’s following the patterns that the CGS used to have, then it’ll be a national scandal.”
“And you thought going back to Florida would be a good thing,” I grumble.
“Just keep things going a while longer,” she says tiredly. “All the killings are still here in the swamplands. Nothing outside of the city. They have to catch the guy, right?”
“Think of how long it took to catch Alastair,” I tell her tightly. “You think they’ll catch a copycat that quickly?”
“They only caught Alastair because of me,” she breathes. “Copycats aren’t usually as good as the original.”
“Then why hasn’t the FBI caught them yet?”
She’s quiet for a beat. “I don’t know.”
I sigh, dragging my hand through my hair. I know they are in the middle of a mess down there, but Jo’s lack of communication and Vinny not being in on this call is a little strange. I know there’s more going on than either one is willing to tell me, but how long can this go on?
“I’ll handle the auction,” I relent, sliding the last pancake onto a plate. “Your cousin might not like what all it entails though.”
“Serenity will be fine.” Suddenly I hear yelling in the background, but I can’t make it out. “I have to go.”
Jo hangs up the phone before I can respond, and I slide it away from me on the counter before turning off the stove. This is the kind of mess that I tried to avoid when I moved away.
Of course, moving back to Florida was strategic back then. But there’s little I can do from here, except keep up the mirage that Jo and Vinny created for themselves.
~~~
“There’s no technical rule against playing with a manager, is there, Emeric?”
My brow twitches, and I’m half tempted to punch the smug look off of Tyson’s face. I haven’t ever spent a lot of time with him now or years before when I worked at the club, but according to Callie he’s good friends with Jo and Vinny. He’s kind of a character, with lots of piercings through his ears and face, and I’ve watched him stick out his tongue enough to know that’s pierced too.
But I don’t want to focus on him. Work tonight is turning into a kind of hell, and I wish this were one of my off days so I didn’t have to listen to all of this. Chad stands to the side, eyeing Serenity across the room like a last meal, and I’m silently crafting a way to kick Tyson out for the evening.
“Technically, the only management staff to this point were Jo and Vinny. No point trying to date one of them.”
“So there’s no rules about it at all?” he asks with a smirk. I’m definitely doing something violent to Tyson later, I just haven’t figured out what.
Honestly, getting annoyed at the question really isn’t justified. He’s asking for another member, and even if Chad has no interest in looking my way, his head is cocked in my direction like he’s listening for an answer.
Part of me doesn’t want to answer. I really don’t like Chad, and his cocky attitude and wandering eyes really don’t belong here. He’s going to do more harm than good being in the club, but I don’t have a justifiable reason to kick him out yet.
I blow out a breath. “No, I suppose there isn’t a rule, but I doubt it would go over well if one of us randomly took a partner. Things are still unsteady.”
Tyson cuts me a look, curiosity in his eyes. We aren’t sharing every detail with the members of the club, but they have to know that things aren’t working out how they usually do. People are dropping for one reason or another, the new members join at random when Serenity and I get around to doing it, and nothing is smooth like it’s supposed to be with Jo and Vinny.
My jaw ticks. One of them could come home. A couple months is more than enough time to deal with the issues in Florida. It’s not as though anything can change after all these years, not with my buddy waiting on death row.
“I won’t pressure her, man,” Chad says, looking my way for the first time. He offers me a wink, and it comes off more sleazy than helpful. “I’m just going to go over and warm her up.”
I raise a brow, watching as he paces over, and Tyson snorts. “Would you like to be a little more obvious, man?”
Turning my attention from them, I glare at him again. “Shut it, kid.”
“Woah, grandpa,” Tyson says with a laugh, holding up his hands. “I’m just saying. Would you like to go hang a sign on her?”
I frown. “A sign?”
“Yeah, maybe one that screams ‘Do not touch’ with your signature.”
“You’re not very funny.”
But Tyson just laughs, turning to take the glass Nate hands over. My friend gives us a curious look as he wipes his hands on the towel at his waist. “Little miss tightass going to get some action?”
Sighing, I glance back. There’s a rumor circling around that Serenity might be a virgin, and even though there’s a badge for that, she’s smart enough to not pick it. I have my doubts, but I can see why people are joking about it. She blushes a lot and avoids pretty much everything.
But fucking Chad walks over there, kisses her knuckles, and makes me wish I’d punched him like I wanted.
Tyson is laughing again in the background, but I can’t be bothered to look as I watch her giggle again at this dork, before he gestures to the far hall. She squirms, dropping her gaze, but he must say something that spurs her to move.
I should find a whole lot of paperwork that needs to be addressed and drop it on her desk. Maybe I’ll drop a stack of files. She can’t seem to handle when things are disorganized and it would keep her upstairs for at least the rest of the night. Anything is better than watching the spectacle in front of me.
“Pay up, man.”
I glance back, watching Nate hang his head. “What?”
With a huff he glances up, dark eyes glaring at me. “Tyson bet me a twenty you’d get jealous the first time she walked off with someone.”
This seriously can’t be what these fucks are doing down here all damn day.
“You can’t be here!”
My head snaps around at the outburst, but it isn’t Serenity’s voice carrying across the room. A pretty brunette with a rose-gold collar is lunging at Chad, and a raven-haired man wraps his arm around her waist to hold her back.
“Good luck, buddy,” Tyson calls, but I’m already jogging over. The brunette is still irate, jabbing a finger in his direction as Chad chuckles and backs up. The guy holding her back tightens his grip, dipping his head to say something I can’t hear as I approach.
Serenity catches my gaze, but she looks as lost as I feel at the spectacle. “What’s going on here?”
The woman jabs a finger towards Chad, her maroon lanyard spinning in front of her. “He cannot be in here! David, let go already!”
Shit, I didn’t even realize the guy is David. I never talked to him a whole lot, but I vaguely remember seeing him at the club years ago as a newbie. He finally picks her up and sets her on the other side of him, creating a barrier between her and Chad. “Myla, calm down.”
“I will not,” she all but growls, and ferocious gray eyes swivel my way. “You let him join?”
I raise a brow. “Technically Serenity helped with his paperwork.”
“Yeah, Myla,” Chad taunts, and everyone’s gaze turns back to him. The questioning look in David’s gaze hardens, the confusion morphing to protection in a matter of words. “I’m within my rights to be in this club.”
“You’re as bad as Liam,” she growls, and I’m lost on what’s going on. “You were the whole reason he thought it was okay to abuse me.”
Chad’s gaze hardens, and David looks ready to fight him. Things are quickly escalating towards a fight, and there are people watching us.
Serenity looks torn, her eyes flickering between Myla and Chad. “Is that true?”
“Of course it is,” Myla snaps, trying for a second time to work her way past David. “I let someone else’s words put more value on me than my own opinion.”
I watch the two of them, trying to figure out who’s speaking the truth. I don’t really know Myla, but I remember David being pretty determined to protect anyone he partnered with. His hard blue eyes glare at Chad, who just smirks in response.
Clicking on the headset I wear when on the floor, I listen for someone to pick up. “Yo.”
“Russell, we might need-”
“Hey, no damage,” Chad says, interrupting before I can finish my sentence. “If little Myla here is still that unsure of herself that she needs me to dip for the night, I can do that. For her comfort of course.”
“You don’t do anything for her comfort,” David snaps, and I can feel things ramping up again. “She doesn’t need anything from the likes of you.”
“Enough,” I interrupt, glancing around. We’ve definitely drawn a crowd. “David, take Myla to the second office down the hall.”
He frowns. I know he knows which room I’m talking about. “Why-”
“Just do it,” I growl, glancing at Serenity. She’s being completely unhelpful, staring at Chad with a mixture of disappointment and confusion. He’s staring back, that grin still in place as he completely ignores the glare Myla is shooting him. “Now.”
David looks ready to fight me, his shoulders tense and hands clenched, but after a beat of uncomfortable silence he caves and wraps an arm around Myla again. She’s still spitting mad, but he manages to guide her away without anything else happening.
Chad can’t take a hint, reaching out to grasp Serenity’s hand. She’s stiff, but the crease in her brows relaxes when he kisses the back of her hand. “Sit tight, pup. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“It sounded like an accusation,” I argue, and he huffs before glancing at me. “Security is the highest priority here. We don’t take allegations lightly.”
“She’s just mad, man. Nothing to fuss about.” He lets go of Serenity’s hand to draw a circle near the side of his head, repeating the motion several times. “She’s a little unhinged up there if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t,” I tell him bluntly, glancing around. People are openly staring, and that jab at Myla won’t go unnoticed. That’s just great. “Serenity, go chat with Myla and David about what the issue is.”
“What?” There’s a guarded look in her eyes, and I can tell she’s trying to hide her emotions. “Why don’t you?”
“I’m going to have a chat with Chad,” I reply, smacking him on the shoulder. It”s harder than it needs to be, and he glares at the action.
Serenity sputters, her blush returning. “I can handle-”
“Myla and David,” I stress to her, narrowing my eyes. “Since Chad here is interested in you, it would be a conflict. So go talk to them.”
Her eyes look between us, and I can’t help wondering if she hadn’t realized he was into her. It’s doubtful, but maybe she didn’t know what he wanted exactly. This is a sex club, so if she’s hoping for something outside of primal urges, she needs to lower her standards. A lot of the members here aren’t looking for commitment.
And if Chad is anything like Myla claims, he doesn’t belong here.
She throws up her hands. “I can separate business and pleasure.”
Wonderful, she’s fighting. Usually I like getting into a bit of banter with her, but it looks bad while half the club looks on. If he wasn’t behind me I’d glance at Nate to gauge how bad this is going. So far things haven’t gotten out of control with an altercation with a member during business hours, but no one’s been bold enough to try and approach Serenity before either.
I step closer to her, sidestepping Chad, and get in her face. “Humor me, Doe Eyes. He’s already got eyes on you. Let me have a peek.”
She hesitates, seeming to have some inner fight over my words, before she finally gives me a nod and flattens her lips to a hard line. “Fine.”
I wait until she’s halfway across the room before I nod to Chad. “This way.”
“Hey man, it’s really not necessary-”
“You’re going to walk with me, Chad,” I tell him tightly, watching as a frown creases his brow, “and not fight with me about it if you plan to come back into this club.”
He scoffs, but there’s no more arguing when I move to cross the room. There’s another small room that we use for anyone signing into a partnership, as it’s a different contract than simply joining the club. I suggested to Serenity she take one of the rooms and we’ll take the other.
If there’s any weight to Myla’s accusations, we might be banning him as is. I’m not exactly disappointed, but we have to know if there’s truth behind the words. Just because whoever Liam is treated her poorly, it doesn’t necessarily mean Chad is the same way.
Unfortunately.