Chapter 24
I walked down the corridor towards Kyle's office, my heart beginning to beat faster. Did he want to talk to me about another client? He hadn't sounded happy by all accounts. Maybe he was going to fire me. I never thought my heart would drop at that thought.
I knocked on the door and heard his voice within. He certainly didn't sound happy.
“Come in.”
I walked in and shut the door behind me. He sat behind the desk, his expression firm and stoney.
“What's going on in there Alice?” he asked.
“I'm just having a drink. Is there a problem?” I kept a hard edge to my voice, like it was no big deal. I didn't think it was.
“Not if it was just you, or even you and the friend you came in with. But when your friend then goes off and has a private dance with Tatiana, then we have a problem.”
“Why is that a problem? What's the harm?”
He stood up suddenly, pushing his chair back behind him and sending it crashing into the wall. “It's a problem, Alice, because your friend hasn't been vetted. It's against protocol.”
My heart was beating a little faster now, my calmness beginning to disintegrate. “I - I didn't know that would be an issue. She's just my friend, she's safe.”
He breathed heavily. “It's not about being safe, Alice, it's about being exclusive. This place, it works in a very specific way, unlike any other club in town. If the integrity of that system is compromised, the whole f*cking thing breaks down. The rules cannot be broken.”
I could feel my eyes welling under the force of his words. “I'm sorry,” I said weakly, “I didn't know. I'll go get her now, take her away. I'll tell her not to talk about this place, I promise she won't.”
I turned to walk towards the door, my hands shaking slightly, my heart crashing around in my chest.
“Wait.” he said, stopping me in my tracks. “Come back.”
I turned and looked at him, his expression beginning to soften. “I'm sorry Alice, I know it's not your fault.” He retrieved the chair from the floor and placed it back in position, slowly falling back into it. His eyes, which had flashed red, calmed as he sat there, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
I stood in place, waiting for him to say something more - dismiss me or keep talking, something. He poured another glass and gestured for me to come take it. I moved over towards him and took it from his hand, my fingers slipping over his as I did. I could feel a spark run through me at his touch, a bolt of energy that struck at my core.
He stood from his chair, his body lifting close to mine, his blue eyes mournful. He looked down at my hand, still shaking slightly, and took it, calming my nerves.
“I'm sorry for shouting Alice. It's just - I have people to answer to. There's always people watching.”
I glanced over at his computer and saw a screen split into multiple images. In the top left corner I could see an image from behind the bar, Lexi busily serving a customer. Next to it I could see a top down view of the stage, the camera zeroed in on the men sitting there, monitoring their actions. Then, at the bottom, I saw Tess, sitting there in private room 2 with Tatiana gyrating in front of her.
“These are a select few angles I've had fed onto this computer,” Kyle said as I stared at the screen. “There are many more around the club, all monitored in our security room. Every square inch of this club is covered. Nothinghappens in here without us knowing about it.”
“It falls on me to ensure that everything here runs properly,” he continued. “When someone unauthorized comes down here and has a private dance, that falls on me.”
I was beginning to understand why he'd been so angry. Clearly there were others so answer to above him who were cracking the whip.
He moved in slightly closer towards me, his hand reaching for my face, his fingers gently rubbing along the line of my chin. “Here, though - here there is no camera.”
His hand gripped slightly harder at my chin and pulled my face gently forward towards his. My pulse began to race as his lips approached mine. I could see his tongue slowly cross them, moistening them for the kiss. Our lips metas I closed my eyes, the world going dark, nothing but my senses to guide me.
His mouth was so warm, so smooth, a lingering taste of whiskey on his lips. His tongue gently explored my mouth, running over my bottom lip before meeting my tongue. His scent was intoxicating, the touch of his hand at my cheek reassuring.
He pushed me to the desk as our embrace intensified, his left hand squeezing tight at my waist and moving up towards my chest. My heartbeat missed as his hand took my breast, his touch forceful yet sensual, his fingers slippingbeneath my top and under my bra.
His right hand traced a line down from my face over my body, stopping at my hip. He pulled at my skirt, dragging the fabric up and exposing my thigh and panties. His fingers toyed with my underwear, sliding inside and behind to my ass. He gripped firm as my breath was thrown from my body, the inside of my thighs growing more warm and wet with his every touch.
There was a sudden knock at the door and he instinctively stepped back away from me, the bulge in his pants obvious and enticing. He quickly caught his breath as he spoke. “Who is it?”
“Sorry to disturb you sir, but you father wants to see you urgently.”
“My father?” He sounded alarmed. “He's here?”
“Yes sir, he's in the control room.”
I could see his eyes grow wide with worry as he quickly composed himself. “OK, please tell him I'll be there in a moment.”
I could hear the footsteps walk briskly away from the room as Kyle straightened his shirt and suit trousers and grabbed his jacket from over the back of his chair.
“I'm sorry Alice, I shouldn't have done that.” He sounded worried. “Please, go get your friend and go back to your dorms. I'll be in touch.”
He walked quickly to the door and opened it up for me to walk through. I shook my head as I walked past him, angry that our passion had been cut short. Lexi was right - I shouldn't even consider going there.
“I'm sorry Alice,” he whispered as I passed. “I can't help it with you. I'll call you soon, OK.”
I said nothing as I continued past him down the hall and back towards the main club. Sure he'd call me, like that would happen.