Chapter 3
Chamber~
It was already close to four, and I was getting ready to head out.
Even with Barrett stopping by, I’d still gotten everything done in a timely manner, and I was really looking forward to going home, throwing on a pair of sweats, then vegging out in front of the television.
However, when I heard a knock on the front door, my mind immediately went to Barrett’s two-way speaker suggestion, and even though it was only four in the afternoon, I was already beginning to see the merit of having a couple of them installed.
Nonetheless, because we had our business hours posted outside and on our website, if someone was knocking on the door, then it was because they needed something.
Yeah, I could always just not answer the door since I wasn’t obligated to in any way, but that just didn’t sit well with me.
Plus, if it was someone here to rob the place on a Monday afternoon, would they really knock?
Still, I grabbed one of the bats that we kept behind the bar before making my way to the door, and while I wasn’t exactly what you’d call bloodthirsty, I had no problem swinging on someone if it was a matter of my personal safety.
With the bat firmly in hand, I unlocked the door, and when I swung it open, on the other side stood one of the hottest men that I’d ever seen in my life.
He was also tall as hell, and my guess would be that he had to be around six-foot-five or so, and it wasn’t a skinny or lanky six-foot-five.
Yeah, no...this six-foot-five came with broad shoulders, a well-defined chest, muscular arms, and a tapered waste that I was willing to bet had a six-pack attached to it.
He was also dressed professionally, minus the suit jacket, and there was just something so damn sexy about a man in a button-up and slacks.
As for his face...Sweet Baby Jesus, the man was gorgeous.
He had a head full of dark brown hair that was cut short on the sides but had enough on the top to run your fingers through, and from where I was standing, it looked soft as hell.
Along with his soft locks, he had dark matching brows that sat over a pair of startling blue eyes, and they were a blue that could almost be called turquoise; that’s how bright they were.
It also didn’t help that they were surrounded by these long, thick, dark lashes that were wasted on a man.
Plus, if that weren’t enough, he looked very aristocratic with his straight nose, full lips, cut jaw, and angular cheekbones.
In fact, if masculinity had a mascot, this man’s face would be it.
Jesus Christ.
Being only five-foot-three, I also had to crank my neck back just to look at him, but he was gorgeous enough to be worth the kink in my neck.
“We’re closed,” I said, stating the obvious. “If you want to reserve a room, you’ll have to call during our business hours, or else you can visit our website.”
“Actually, I’m here to speak with you,” he replied, his voice a deep tenor that added to his alpha energy. “I’m Hayes Rainier, and I was hoping that you had some time to speak with me, Ms. McLaurin.”
My eyes immediately narrowed suspiciously. “How did you know that I’d be here?”
“I didn’t,” he admitted. “However, I saw that the club was closed on Sundays and Mondays, and so I took a chance that you might be here for whatever administrative tasks that needed to be handled.”
I arched a brow, unimpressed. “Because you couldn’t have called during business hours or reached out to me via our site? There’s a contact option on it, you know.”
“I’m aware,” he replied evenly. “However, I was hoping for a private tour of the club, and that can only be accomplished while it’s closed.”
That had my eyes narrowing a bit. “Why?”
“Why?”
“Why do you want a tour of the place? Why not just stop by when we’re open and take a look around yourself?”
“Because I also wanted to speak with you,” he repeated.
“About what?”
He grinned, and two dimples popped out, making him even hotter than before, which was something that I wouldn’t have imagined possible two seconds ago. In fact, I could see women standing in a line a mile long if he was on the menu for a scene in one of the upstairs rooms.
“You’re a suspicious little thing, aren’t you?” he teased, and that only made me more suspicious.
“Mr. Rainier-”
“You can call me Hayes,” he offered easily, and there was no way that I was going to start calling him by his first name. For whatever reason, warning bells were going off in the back of my mind, and I wasn’t one to ignore my instincts.
“If you want to speak with me, then schedule an appointment like a normal person,” I told him, ignoring his offer to use his first name.
He quickly arched a brow. “And here I thought you were the unconventional type.”
“Which goes to show you that you shouldn’t make assumptions about people that you don’t know,” I retorted. “In fact, you probably shouldn’t make snap judgements about anyone.”
Seeing that he wasn’t getting anywhere, he changed tactics. “Just ten minutes of your time. Please.”
“Ten minutes that I’ll never be able to get back if you turn out to be some asshole just out to waste my time,” I pointed out.
“I’m not here to waste your time, Ms. McLaurin” he assured me. “I’m here to talk business.”
That piqued my interest.
I glanced around to make sure that I didn’t see anyone else lurking nearby, and once I was satisfied, I stepped back, then let him inside the club. While I had no plans on giving him a tour, I had no problem speaking with him at the bar where there were plenty of cameras to record the entire thing.
Once he was inside, I locked the door, then escorted him towards the bar area, and as soon as he was seated, I walked safely behind the countertop, putting that barrier between us, and putting the bat away. Nonetheless, I still hadn’t lost my manners.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“A water would be nice,” he answered, eyeing me like this was some sort of test or something.
Since our waters weren’t kept on ice, I walked over to the last counter fridge, then grabbed him a bottled water. Once I set it in front of him, I decided that it was time to get to the point since I still had shit to do today.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked, a might bit rudely.
Hayes just grinned. “I’m so glad you asked.”
*****
Hayes~
Since Lyle had been diligent with his research on The Fantasy Factory, I’d seen pictures of Chamber McLaurin in the file that he’d given me, but those pictures hadn’t done the woman any justice. She was what you called stunning, and holy fucking shit.
Now, being six-five, I towered over a lot of people, but Chamber had to be only about five-three or so, which put me over an entire foot taller than the woman. However, her short stature was full of soft curves, and nothing enticed a man more than an ample playground to explore.
In addition to those luscious curves of hers, she had inky-black hair that was currently piled on top of her head, but from the size of the messy bun, it was clear that she had long hair, and I was a sucker for long hair; the femininity of it never failed to turn me on.
She also had these black brows that didn’t exactly match each other, as one was a fluid arch over her left eye, but the right one was arched pointedly with assumed attitude.
At any rate, both brows sat over a pair of captivating grey eyes that looked a bit unreal because of the dark lashes that surrounded them.
Everything about her coloring made her eyes seem like they were glowing, and I bet she looked incredible when she was underneath a man.
As for her face in its entirety, she reminded me a bit of Irina Shayk, though her coloring was darker, and as far as I knew, Chamber McLaurin didn’t make her living as a runway supermodel, though she could if she’d wanted to.
Granted, that was just my opinion, and it was completely based off the fact that I was obviously attracted to the woman.
Nevertheless, I was here for work, not to hit on her.
“Are you familiar with Carlie Incorporated?” I finally asked.
Chamber nodded. “I’m sure that everyone in Portal Lands has heard of them.”
“I’m an acquisitions manager for them and-”
“Yeah, you guys already reached out to me,” she announced, making my head rear back in surprise. “I’m not interested in selling, franchising, or anything else that you’re going to suggest.”
Another weakness of mine?
Strong women.
Now, while there was nothing wrong with the delicate breed of the softer sex, I just didn’t have the patience for needy women, and it was clear by the conviction in her voice that Chamber McLaurin did not fall into that latter category.
“You’re not even going to hear me out?” I asked, doing my best to keep my interest off my face.
“No,” she answered sternly. “No, I’m not.”
“You’re not interested in hearing what all this place could become?”
The woman shot me a look that I’d give my left nut to see while buried deep in her, and it was clear that there was something in the water that she’d given me, because the last time that I’d felt this...this eager to get to know someone, I’d been falling in love with my ex-wife.
“It’s already everything that it needs to be, Mr. Rainier,” she replied evenly. “And by you even suggesting such a thing, it’s clear that you’ve never been here during peak hours before.”
“Which is why I’d been hoping for a tour,” I reminded her.
I watched as Chamber’s full lips smirked with condescension. “Oh, no, Mr. Rainier...if you want to see what The Fantasy Factory is really all about, then that tour will come when it’s in full swing, not comfortably while it’s empty.”
My lips twitched at that. “Are you calling me a prude?”
“I’m calling you uninformed,” she shot back. “Very, very, very uninformed.” Then she cocked her head as she added, “Or maybe it’s inexperienced.”
Yeah, never challenge a guy’s manhood.
I leaned forward on the bar. “When’s a good time for you?”
“Any Friday or Saturday night of your choosing,” she easily replied. “Of course, you might want to make sure that you don’t have to work in the morning, as things run rather late here.”
“Not a problem,” I smirked.
“You also may want to bring your wife or girlfriend,” she suggested. “Honestly, no woman in her right mind will believe that you’re here for work.”
Refusing to let her believe that I was taken, I said, “Luckily for me, I have neither a wife nor a girlfriend.”
“Then bring your boyfriend,” she replied smoothly. “The reasoning still applies.”
“I’m not gay,” I informed her, making my preferences clear.
Chamber straightened to her full height, and she really was a fiery little thing. “Well, then...won’t that be interesting.”
“Mocking me, are we?”
“Not at all,” she lied.
Eyeing her, I asked, “And what time should I show up?”
“Depends on the date and what kind of tour you want,” she answered with a casual shrug. “I won’t let your presence disrupt my patrons’ good time.”
“What about this Friday?” I asked, semi-afraid that I might need a couple of days to recover.
“In that case, I suggest that you show up around five or six,” she replied. “The two main rooms aren’t reserved until eight, and the upper floor usually doesn’t get any visitors before ten.”
“Not enough liquid courage before then?” I joked.
She shot me that look again. “Most party people aren’t even leaving their homes until nine.”
“Good point,” I conceded. “But in all fairness, I’m forty-six, and I’m usually getting ready for bed at nine.”
Chamber was gracious enough to smile. “If this club wasn’t for night owls, I’d be getting ready for bed right along with you.”
“Oh, do tell,” I grinned.
“You know what I mean,” she drawled out.
Still grinning, I said, “I’d like to propose a deal.”
Those silver eyes of hers narrowed a bit. “I’m listening...”
“If I can make it through the night without clutching my pearls, then you hear me out,” I proposed. “Actually hear what I have to say and be open to discussing it.”
She let out a heavy sigh, and it was hard not to respect an honest woman. “I can agree, but it’ll still be a waste of your time, Mr. Rainier. I am not open to selling this place, no matter what.”
“Just listen,” I repeated. “That’s all I’m asking.”
“Sure,” she finally agreed. “Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”
With nothing more left to say, I grabbed my water, then stood up, and Chamber was immediately there to escort me out of her club, and after shaking hands like civilized people, I walked to my car, wondering what in the fuck was I getting myself into.