57. Sloane
Sloane
The two weeks that follow Cole’s art show go by in a blur.
I’m still looking for a place to live AND a job, neither of which are proving particularly fruitful. Em’s offered for me to move into Luke’s spare room, and while I love the safety net, I want to be able to do this on my own. I need to be able to do this on my own.
The boys have been hugely supportive, and even though I know they’d both love for me to move in with one of them, neither has offered. They both understand me well enough to know it would be pointless. And they know I’d never be able to choose.
I’m not telling them that I could easily see the three of us living together in a year or so. Freddie would get ahead of himself and have us shopping for a three-bed semi before the end of the month if I did.
I’m in the middle of another disappointing round of flat viewings when I get a message from Jessie.
JESSIE
Any chance you are free this week to catch up? At Salt?
Sure thing. Now that my dissertation’s gone in, I’m a free agent. I could come this afternoon?
JESSIE
That’s perfect, actually. Luke and I are both in.
Both of them? Curious . I make my way across London with Wet Leg on my Airpods and a little frisson of excitement in my heart. I might have frequent flyer miles at Salt, but I still get excited every time I go there. After all, anything is possible at Salt.
Half an hour later, I press the ‘S’ doorbell, then make my way in. It’s so discreet that they don’t lock it during the day when they’re expecting people. Always makes me feel like I’m part of the family when I can just stroll in.
Luke and Jessie are sitting in a booth – the booth in fact, where Freddie made me come – and wave me over as I materialise at the bottom of the stairs. Luke stands, pulling me into a hug.
“Can I get you a drink, Sloane?” He rolls up his sleeves as he says it and I remind myself to congratulate Emmy later when I catch sight of his forearms. Because damn , I’ve not seen him perform his Shibari skills for a long time, and it’s easy for a girl to forget.
“A tonic water would be lovely. Thanks, Luke.”
I sit down with Jessie as she leans over to give me a kiss on the cheek. Her hair is up in a high ponytail today, and I have the fleeting thought that she’d make an incredibly convincing domme. I know she’s got the leather outfits for it.
“This is a tad ominous,” I say, as Luke places a tonic down in front of me.
“It’s not designed to be,” he says, giving me a warm smile. “We wanted to run something by you.”
“Ok,” I reply. “I’m all ears.”
“As you know, Salt’s been open for a few years now. And we pride ourselves on our discretion. But as our circle has grown, we have attracted the interest of some potential… investors.”
I already know a bit of this story from Emmy and I’m not surprised. Salt is an incredible club – high end, consent-led, and female-friendly. So many of the alternatives just don’t have the same attention to detail when it comes to creating genuinely women-centric spaces.
“We’ve met a few different people now, who’ve laid out a few different options in terms of expansion.”
I catch a slight flicker cross Jessie’s face before she composes herself again.
“I think it’s clear that, no matter which route we take, my time is going to be taken up with that for the next year or so.” He then looks to Jessie, as if passing her the mic.
“Obviously, I’m going to continue to run things as normal,” she begins.
“But with Luke taking on this investment opportunity, I’m going to need some support to keep things running smoothly.
You know how much this club means to me, to us.
And I think it means something similar to you.
We’d like to offer you a job, as deputy manager of Salt. ”
I blink as her words land. And then I blink again because I think I’m about to cry.
“You want me to be your deputy?” My voice comes out in a rasp.
Jessie nods.
“We can talk salary, benefits, hours, etcetera, but the package is generous and the hours can be quite flexible. Obviously, I will need you here some evenings but not all – some of it can be done remotely as well.”
I nod, still processing the fact that I’ve just been offered a role I didn’t even know was an opportunity when I walked in the door. In the one place in London that I’ve always felt safest and most myself.
“I’ll take it.”
“You don’t even know what we’re paying yet,” Luke says, though there’s a big smile on his face.
“I trust you.” I shrug. “And I know that Emmy would tie your testicles in a knot if you tried to shaft me,” I say with a sweet smile.
He coughs out a laugh.
“Full disclosure, I’ve never deputy-managed anything in my life. But I love this place with my whole heart. And I learn really fast. I promise, I’ll work really hard for you.”
“I know you will.” Jessie leans over and squeezes my knee. “You’ve shown on more than one occasion that you’ve got Salt’s best interests at heart. And you’ve got a real eye for creative events and experiences. I’m predicting your influence will spell a really exciting new chapter for the club.”
“There’s one more thing I wanted to show you,” Luke says, gesturing for us to get up.
Jessie’s eyes are full of mischief. “Oh yes. Room three!”
“What about it?” I narrow my eyes.
“Come and see,” Luke says, as Jessie and I follow him in the direction of the playrooms.
He waves a discreet black card over the lock and the door swings open. He leans over to flick a switch and the room is filled with its familiar, soft ambient lighting. And right above the bed is Cole’s purple, blue, and pink painting.
My eyes fill with tears.
“You bought his painting?” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
“I did,” Luke says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “I thought it would be rather fitting to hang it in your favourite room.”
I smile. It looks beautiful. Perfectly at home in the elegant, clean lines of room three. The perfect melding of colours and textures.
I sniff. “It looks beautiful. Fuck.”
“You scared the shit out of us all when you got hit by that bike,” Luke says, his voice low. “It made me realise I’ve never told you how much you mean to us. To the whole Salt family. And to Emmy, of course. I hope you, Freddie, and Cole know you’ll always have a home here.”
“Oh, Luke. Who knew Daddy Dom was such a softie?”
He mutters a curse but gives me one more side squeeze before he lets go.
Jessie and I return to the main bar to chat through logistics, then I shoot a text to the boys.
I have news. Come to Salt for 7pm. Meet me in room three.
COLE
Intriguing… I’ll be there.
FREDDIE
Fuck yes. Whatever it is. Can’t wait.
I spend the rest of the afternoon on an emergency lingerie shopping trip, and by the time I get back to Salt, it’s 6:30pm.
I make a beeline for room three before having an everything shower.
My legs are freshly shaved, my pussy has a neat little landing strip, and I’m slathered in that fancy French body oil that has a touch of shimmer.
I’ve wrestled myself into a lace number that criss-crosses my skin in a way that I just know will send Cole nuts. I text Giancarlo a plea to deliver me a bottle of champagne on ice and his eyes nearly pop out of his head when I open the door to him. I take it as a massive compliment.
At 7pm exactly, there is a soft knock on the door before it beeps and the boys step into the room. The audible intake of breath goes straight to my clit as I preen on the bed before them.
“Hello, boys,” I say with a grin. “Champagne?”
“Princess,” Freddie breathes, stepping closer to the bed. “You are breathtaking.”
“Utterly stunning,” echoes Cole. They prowl closer and I hold up a hand.
“First thing to celebrate,” I say, leaning over to pop the champagne, “is this.” I point above my head and watch the surprise on their faces.
“Oh my goodness,” says Cole, sounding adorably British.
“Oh hey, it’s your flag painting!” Freddie says, happily.
Cole frowns. “My flag painting?”
“It’s the bisexual flag, isn’t it?”
Cole and I both turn to look at the painting, brows furrowed.
“Oh my God, how have neither of you noticed? I’ve been queer for approximately five minutes and it was the first thing I thought of when I saw it.” He shakes his head, taking the bottle from my hands and pouring the first glass.
“Now that you mention it,” I reply, squinting slightly, “I do see his point.”
Cole mutters something under his breath but there’s a curve to his mouth.
Freddie grins. “Well, I think it looks fucking fantastic. And in our room too.”
“Luke and Jessie thought so too,” I say. “The second thing we are celebrating is that they offered me a job today. As deputy manager. I start next week.”
Freddie whoops so loud that Cole flinches, and then pulls me into a crushing hug.
“YES! That is incredible, babe! I’m so proud of you! You will absolutely smash it!”
“Well done, firecracker.” Cole cups my jaw and strokes a thumb across my cheekbone. “What an incredible new opportunity – for both you and Salt.” I lean into his touch, feeling the love in it.
“Best of all, it’s really flexible, which means I will still be able to study. The long-term goal is still to be a sex therapist, but there’s no rush, and I think Salt will give me the perfect platform to build my knowledge and experience.”
“Plus, you’ll be able to shop for clients here once you’re qualified,” says Freddie with a wink.
“Ha, the people who are catering to their kinks may be the ones who least need sex therapy,” I reply. “It’s the repressed souls that need it most!”
Freddie passes around the glasses and we all toast to my new job.
“Now, can we please talk about this silly little outfit? Because as much as I’m enjoying you torturing me with it, I’d very much like to see it on the floor.”
“All in good time, pretty boy,” I reply. “I had a few ideas about how we could spend tonight…”