Brent would meet with them for several hours going over rules, details, and contracts, before the event could be scheduled. But those meetings were usually loud and boisterous, and the tomblike quiet up here when the floor was empty worked much better for Dex’s purposes.
“Thank you, Benson,” Dex said, gesturing to the other agent. “I’ll call you when she’s ready to leave.”
The agent nodded and left, pulling the door closed behind him.
Opal fidgeted, looking both nervous and uncomfortable. He had to put her at ease, or he wouldn’t get much farther than the other agents had.
“Would you like something to eat or drink?”
She nibbled her bottom lip, her gaze fixed on the table in front of her.
“Opal,” he said, using the command voice he used while in Dom mode.
Her gaze snapped to his. “Yes, sir.”
So Opal did have some sub training somewhere in her past. Or had at least partnered with a Dominant. “This doesn’t have to be unpleasant. We can just talk.” He smiled at her and waited a few long moments while she kept his gaze but sat stiffly in her chair.
“Have you eaten today?”
“Yes, sir. But I wouldn’t mind some Dr Pepper.”
Dex nodded. “We can accommodate that.”
He picked up the phone next to him on the table and hit the button for the club’s kitchen on the floor below them. He ordered them both drinks and a tray of assorted snacks.
Club Desire’s kitchen was open twenty-four hours a day, and always kept a good assortment of both salty and sweet snacks on hand, as well as a fully stocked pantry for full meals. Only Brent, Sandra, and Jake lived on-site full time, but several of the Doms spent considerable amounts of time here. Before Dex became a full agent he had spent most of his time here as well, and still had rooms on the fourth floor just down the hall from Brent’s office. So having a full-service kitchen open around the clock was great.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted.
Dex leaned back in the comfortable rolling leather office chair. “What are you sorry for, Opal?” He had called the agents who had interrogated her before she shut down, so he knew the basics, but wanted to hear directly from her in case there was some nuance or difference in her story now that would give him more information.
She sighed and slumped in her chair as if trying to take up as little room as possible. Her sandy-blond hair looked rumpled, as if she’d been running her fingers through it impatiently, and there were dark circles under her eyes that her makeup did little to hide.
“What did the other agents tell you?”
He kept her gaze. “I’d rather hear everything directly from you.”
A soft knock sounded, and then Agent Benson cracked open the door and peeked inside.
Dex motioned him forward, and Benson stepped back to allow the man from the kitchens to bring in the rolling cart. He laid two trays along with a bucket of ice on the table between them and then quietly turned to leave.
“Jeff,” Dex said, to get the man’s attention. “Please take care of anything Agent Benson and his team would like.”
“Absolutely, Dex. You can count on me.”
Jeff had been an employee since Club Desire had opened its doors, and he took pride in his job. In turn, Brent paid him, and the rest of the staff, very well and gave them great benefits.
When the door closed again, Dex picked up a cold can of Dr Pepper and handed it to Opal. “If you’d like ice, help yourself.” He motioned to the glasses Jeff had brought along with everything else.
Opal shook her head, and instead popped the top of the soda and took a long sip. “I just need some caffeine. It’s been a long few days, and sleep has been hard to come by.”
Dex nodded as he thought about the reasons for his own lack of sleep.
Before thoughts of Kate could swamp him, he made himself a cup of coffee and took a long sip.
“I’m something of a caffeine addict myself,” he said, trying to put her at ease. “So, tell me why you wanted to speak to the FBI, and more specifically, me.”
She sucked in a breath, her gaze darting around the room as if trying to see if they were being watched. “Several reasons. Only a few of which I shared with the other agents.” She pursed her lips. “Since my actions affected you directly, I wanted to talk to you.”
He’d figured that might be the case. Especially since she had met him at The Dungeon and he’d treated her like a person, rather than just menial support staff like he’d seen others do in his very brief time there. He figured she might feel more at ease with him. Or mistakenly think he wouldn’t be as tough on her as the other agents were.
Dex had various methods, and he had a knack for getting people to talk to him, even when they didn’t want to. And regardless of his size, it usually had very little to do with intimidation. Although that was a useful tool when needed.
“What would you like to talk about?” He reached out and took a cracker topped with what looked like either tuna or ham salad, and popped it into his mouth as he let Opal decide where to start.
After a long moment, a soft sob broke from her throat. “I’m so sorry,” she said as her voice cracked. “It’s all my fault.”