Chapter 2
TWO
Sophie
“Hi Casey, my new work buddy!” I say as I walk into the staff room and find Casey hanging his motorbike jacket up. Casey spins around and grins at me, the smile crinkles his eyes with fondness and I know my eyes reflect the same.
“It’s about time they let me in on the morning shift. I’ve only been petitioning since I started.”
“Well, it is a coveted position working alongside me. I’m sorry it’s taken you, how long? How long have you been here now?”
“Six months, five days and 22 hours,” he replies playfully.
“Oh stop you idiot!” I wave a hand at his silliness.
He did not count every day and hour. “Casey boy, are you joining the big dogs now?” I grin back at him.
Since the minute we met, we have had an easy carefree banter like old friends instead of new ones.
Sometimes you are lucky enough to meet someone who just bounces off you and that person is Casey.
“If you are referring to this playmates underworld, then fuck yeah I am. How did you not tell me?”
“Oh honey, we gotta make sure you’re not a sap and can handle the job and its members first,” I tease with a playful wink.
“Ouch. You thought I was a sap?”
“Nah, I knew there was a submissive sex kitten underneath all those muscles and masculinity. The question is, did you know it about yourself?”
“Apparently not. I thought I was doing Sandy a favour by working here. Little did I know she had other plans for me,” his eyes widened to convey his surprise.
“We all have other plans for you darling,” I quip and then cackle at his almost convinced look that I was planning to have my wicked way with him. He is too sweet and innocent. I’m looking forward to hearing how he finds the playmates side of his job going forward.
“Wanna grab lunch after work? I know a cute little place where we can eat and chat without anyone overhearing. I have an opening for a new lunch buddy if you’re keen?”
“Sophie, you know I’d do anything for you,” Casey replies, his words dripping with sweetness, which I know would melt any other woman into a puddle but strangely not me.
“I know you would. Now come on, you need to get to work, playboy,” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the locker room door in a mock hurry.
“I will do whatever you say, show me your ways in the cafe, oh mighty one,” he chirps back, pulling a laugh from deep in my throat.
“Oh honey, you are everything Sandy could ever want in a playmate. Heck, even I would hope you applied for my jobs if I was a member,” I say jokingly.
“You would?”
“Yeah of course. How can anyone resist those puppy dog eyes and your keenness to please.”
“Is there a chance we’d work together, on a job I mean?”
“Always a chance. If the opportunity came up, I think it would be fun,” I raise my eyebrow up as I run my eyes up and down his athletic body. I may not be romantically interested in Casey, but I sure as hell wouldn’t mind seeing what he has going on underneath his clothes.
Four hours later, Casey starts up his Ducati Scrambler and I jump into my Land Rover and we head to my favourite lunch spot.
A pang of sadness hits me as I pull into the carpark.
This is, well, was mine and Roxy’s, my previous work partner’s, lunch spot until her life turned into a fairy tale and she left the Clarendon to live it.
When we’ve ordered at the register and we’re seated in the far corner of the outside dining area amongst the pretty trailing bougainvillea, I look over at Casey and grin.
He has a youthful glow about him despite the fact he is in his thirties much like everyone who works at the Clarendon, and an eagerness to please like no one else I know.
His blond locks hang around his face, his baby blue eyes are hidden behind cute, black-rimmed glasses and he has an air about him like he doesn’t know how fatally attractive he is.
Even I have trouble looking past his appearance to see him underneath.
And whilst he is breathtaking in a Calvin Klein underwear campaign kind of way, he feels more like a bestie to me than a partner.
The attraction isn’t there because I like my men dominant, not sweet and obedient like Casey.
“Have you taken a look at the job board yet?” I ask assuming he must have done, it’s been a week since his probation was up.
“Of course, how could I not?”
“Annd…” I prompt.
“I took a job last week,” he blushes like he’s too gentlemanly to sleep with someone and tell.
“What job did you take?” I ask keeping my tone measured as I don’t know whether he would just take the female playmate jobs or male too. My guess is both, but it’s not something we’ve discussed.
“I took a low key one to start, I didn’t know what to expect.”
“You took a massage job?” I ask, guessing.
“With a happy ending,” he blushes back.
“How did you find it?”
“I loved it.”
“Which part?” I push, Casey is clearly not big on elaborating the details.
“All of it. I was terrified but the lady put me at ease, gave me all the instructions I needed and made me relax with her guidance. She sure knew what she wanted.”
“And you were ok with that? Being submissive to her?”
“It was surprisingly fine. It felt weird as I am usually dominant in the bedroom but apparently I can switch and be submissive too. So yeah, she got everything she paid for and I left wondering what just happened,” he laughs bashfully as he runs his hand through his falling locks.
I can only imagine the field day that that female member had with him.
She must have thought she was god’s chosen one, I think to myself trying to hold back a grin.
“Are you going to take just female jobs or are you bisexual?” I come out and say it because I’m genuinely curious.
“I’m bi curious, I guess,” he shrugs. “But I’m more job curious right now to figure that little conundrum out.
I know you are very aware of the type of jobs on the job boards, but shit, Sophie, we work in a golf club and sell our bodies on the side.
What parallel universe is this?” he asks, showing genuine surprise as his eyes widen and he holds his palms up to shrug.
“The best parallel universe my friend, if only you knew.”
“I want to know, tell me. Wait, are you allowed?”
“Yes, I am allowed now, now you’re in on the secret. What would you like to know?”
“What jobs do you like to take?”
“Well, I’ve tried a lot, not heaps from the Red job board, but enough on the Amber one, that is really where my sweet spot is.
It pays well enough and is not too extreme if you know what I mean.
Although I have been at the Clarendon for three years now, I’m getting twitchy.
So maybe it is time to get out of my comfort zone, I don’t know.
Something needs to change if I’m honest. I feel like something is missing or lacking in my world right now.
I can’t put my finger on it but I know something inside of me feels unbalanced, I just don’t know in what area.
I think I miss feeling excited about something, anything.
Maybe meeting the right person or going on dates - something to look forward to, rather than the same same, week in and week out.
Does that make sense? Do you ever feel like that?
” I think about the email I received this morning and the instructions it gave and the excitement that bubbled through me.
I consider telling Casey, but he’s so new to the Clarendon, I don’t want to confuse him or worry him.
Instead I lean forward confidingly and say, “Anyways, to answer your question, I enjoy Pet Play, Daddy Play, Electro Play, Shibari which is with ropes, CNC which is consensual non-consent and being dominated.” For my confession, I am rewarded as Casey draws in a sharp breath.
“You know I don’t really know what any of those are.”
“You will though Casey, if you want to?”
“Yes, I do want to. I want it all.”
“Well, if you ever see a job that takes your fancy, tell me and I can explain in detail what you can expect. I haven’t taken any jobs with women so unfortunately I can’t prepare you in that way, but I am a woman and can help you or show you how to please them.
I’m guessing you are already very good, but all you have to do is ask, I’m here. ”
“You’d show me?”
“If it might help, I want to help,” I reply charitably but I mean it.
Casey practically gapes at me. I know what I am offering.
When you’ve been naked with enough people and done all manner of things with strangers, suddenly being self conscious is not a thing any more.
And I’ll happily lend my body out to help a friend.
And Casey is a friend, I like him a lot.
“Ok, thanks,” he replies uncertainly. His look of shock makes me smile on the inside and I fight to keep a straight face.
“So, what are you eyeing up? Will you take one or two jobs a week?”
“I figure one a week to start, but in all honesty, I think that is going to be a problem.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I don’t think I am going to be able to wait a whole week til the next one.” He pulls a rueful smile.
“Welcome to the club!” I reply good naturedly. “It’s addictive at the Clarendon. Why do you think so many of us don’t leave? Who gets paid this well to live out other people’s fantasies?”
“It feels too good to be true.”
“It is good and it is true. Think of it like we’re the chosen ones. I don’t know why we are, I’m guessing it helps that we are both submissive and we are both open to the experiences. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I haven’t told anyone in my real life.”
“Me either. It’s not something I plan to tell my mum over Sunday lunch.”
“She wouldn’t approve?”
“Did yours?”
I shake my head. “No one in my real life would. That is the catch—we are living a lie. I did have a boyfriend for most of the time I have been working here, so I could tell him at least. But we broke up.”
“You had a boyfriend and he was ok with you working here?” asks Casey his mouth agape.
“Don’t be so shocked, over half the workers have partners or are married here.
It’s just our way of life. No one would be here if they didn’t like it, believe me…
” I trail off thinking about my previous work colleague Roxy and her last job here at the Clarendon; she was literally asked to lactate for clients and still did it.
Is there anything us playmates wouldn’t do? I muse.
“I’m not sure I could have a girlfriend and work here,” Casey replies.
“Don’t be so sure, you’ll be surprised where this life takes you and the people you meet. There is someone out there for all of us and that person will accept us however we come. We just need to remember that.”
“Sounds like a fairy tale to me, Sophie.”
“Well, I believe,” I say as I scrunch up my serviette and throw it at him. It barely knocks him on the ear as it sails past him, even this close I’m a terrible shot.
“What was that for?” he playfully grumbles.
“You shouldn’t be so closed off. Yes, society tells us we can’t share, but at the Clarendon, all kinds of situations and situationships are born.
If you are open to it, you are one step closer already,” I say as I fold my arms over my chest as if that is my final word on the subject.
Just then a waiter brings over our club sandwiches and settles them in front of us and leaves before we speak again.
“Ok Sophie, I will try and be more open minded for you,” Casey replies placating me as he picks up an overfull sandwich and eyes it wondering how he’s going to fit it in his mouth as I reply.
“Good boy,” I purr teasingly and his eyes shoot up to mine, his pupils dilate and I see exactly why Sandy hired him.
After our lunch, we part ways and I drive back to my apartment in Prahran.
I want to check the Green job board and see what is on there so I can speak to Casey about the jobs tomorrow.
When I am home, I open my laptop to a new email waiting in my Clarendon inbox.
I haven’t applied for any new jobs so I’m curious as to what it can be.
The only email that is new and unread is from Mack with the subject line: No virus, click on the link.