Chapter 7

Aidan

God, I was going to have a stroke at any moment. In one hour’s time the doors were opening to press, other business people and new members. I’d done my final walk around and all that I needed to do now was wait. H and Eli were here among others. I sought H’s approval more than anybody else’s as I had taken on his legacy and tried to improve upon it. I had consulted with him all the way to ensure that I did nothing he wouldn’t approve of. Sure, I knew it was my business now, but I kinda held H up there as a role model. A lot of my wealth had come from the fact that my parents had been loaded in their own right and when they reached seventy they had transferred many of their assets over to their only remaining child, me. I had more property and investments than I knew what to do with but employed a manager, Serena, to oversee all of what I’d received via my parents. I preferred to concentrate on my own businesses which were making me vastly wealthy in my own right. The last thing I wanted was to be treated as someone who hadn’t had to work for their wealth. Serena also micro-managed a charity trust, that helped with the rehabilitation of those injured in any kind of vehicular accident. My brother hadn’t been fortunate enough to survive his crash, but in his honor both my parents and I had wanted to make sure that others who did survive could receive the help they needed to enable them to live life the best they possibly could in the circumstances.

I’d not had a chance to chat with Lori other than wishing everyone all the best and thanking them for their input in getting Abandon ready for opening night. Everyone had received a commemorative gift and some alcohol in case they thought the gift lame. I’d had a photograph taken of the inside of the bar area with all the staff on it and it would hang pride of place in my office here.

And then it was time, the doors were opened and people began to trickle in and I was meeting and greeting. An hour in I was still chatting to guests, and I was already exhausted and getting fed up of repeating myself. My head bartender had made sure I had a scotch in my hand at all times which I was thankful for. One of the models had been hovering around and asking if I’d be going through to the rooms later, wondering whether I would be joining in. I’d explained that the club was off limits to me now as an owner so she’d slipped me a card with her telephone number into my pocket instead. At one point I’d have been fucking her within ten minutes of her proposition, but tonight I didn’t have any inclination whatsoever to get laid. I was in full on business mode and enjoying being the boss of my amazing new club.

I got a brief rest when Ember from Modern Woman magazine tracked me down for her exclusive interview. Although a few journalists and other magazine people were here tonight, only Ember, a shit-hot businesswoman at the top of her game had secured an exclusive. We escaped to my office, and I took a seat at my desk and indicated for her to sit opposite.

“You mind if I take this jacket off a minute? I’m not really a suit wearing kinda guy.” I asked her.

“Not at all, and there’s my first exclusive. The relaxed side of the billionaire.”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was relaxed.” I smiled. “What’s your opinion on how it’s going out there? Do you think it seems well received?”

“A vulnerability too.” Ember crossed a well defined leg over the other. The woman obviously worked out. She was wearing a gold colored tight dress which accentuated her chocolate colored skin and wore her hair short. She kinda reminded me of that actress Halle something or other. “My readers are gonna eat you up, Aidan. You single too?”

“At the moment, yes, I am. Single and okay with it. Currently in a relationship with my businesses.”

Ember nodded, “Yeah, I get that, but some nights can get lonely after you switch off the laptop, right?”

“You switch it off? I find I wake in the morning with it at the side of me.” I chuckled. “Okay, so what do you want to ask me?”

“Well, my main focus for the interview is the fact that Club S as this place was previously known, had no noticeable business plate on the door downstairs and was a secret club, only known about by a select number of individuals. However, for Abandon, your concept is to make sex clubs more mainstream, right? What was behind that decision?”

“Simple. We are living in modern times. Sexuality has never been discussed as openly before. Why should you have to feel like it’s some dirty secret if you seek your kicks in a club? Obviously the same confidentiality rules apply for our members but there is now a business plate on the door. There are so many other businesses in the building including a health spa and a gym that it won’t be easy to work out who is visiting the club and who is visiting the other businesses, but I’m hoping members embrace their sexuality and don’t care if they are seen coming to the club, anyway.”

“What about those who do want to keep it secret?”

“I have ways of getting them into the club without them having to come through the front door. Ways no one else would be able to see them.”

“Ah, a secret entrance?”

“Maybe.” I winked.

“So, obviously I researched your background. You were already wealthy from your family business; what made you decide to form new businesses in the sex industry as besides the club, you also took over GoDown Productions.”

“Again, I want to demystify the whole process. The movies GoDown makes are again quite mainstream. There may be a hint of a taboo, like perhaps screwing the stepsister, but there’s nothing that makes me uncomfortable. I’m quite open with how our team are all one big happy family and that’s why our actors and actresses stay loyal to GoDown. Good pay and benefits, and no sleaze. We’re making movies, it’s just these have sex in them.”

She smiled, and I noted a more calculating look sweep across her features. “So, my research brought up that you used to take part in some sexual acts in this club when it was owned by Henry Carter. Will you continue to do so?”

“No. Now I’m the owner, this club is strictly off limits to me. Also all the staff are off limits to the members. They are here in their capacities as bartenders, security, etc.”

“So how will you fulfill your sexual needs now if you liked menages etc?” Ember’s eyes were flashing with interest, this was the real exclusive she was aiming for.

“I’ve been there, seen it, done it, Ember, to be honest.” I realized then that there was some truth to that statement. “When I visited here as a member, I got to play. I was lucky that women begged me to satisfy them and I made the most of the opportunities available to me. But now, I’m in a different place. I guess you could say I’m evolving.”

“So you’re now what? Looking for a longer term prospect.”

I sat back and steepled my fingers and placed my chin on them. “Hmm, I honestly don’t know. I’ve been so focused on the businesses that I haven’t had time to consider my future in any other way. I guess I’m just going to relax a little now and see what happens.”

“Okay, I’m totally writing that you’re considering a longer term relationship in my article.” She laughed.

“Anything else before I have to return to the fray?” I asked her.

“Yeah, what are you doing next week? Do you fancy going for dinner sometime?” She asked.

I took her number. She was an attractive woman. Understood how business could take over our lives and she also, if I considered my wager goals, knew what I did. Whether she was the kind to stay at home while the guy went to work, I doubted. She was an amazing businesswoman. I realized how stupid I’d sounded when I’d made my bet. Why had I said I needed a woman who’d sit at home? Why couldn’t they work too? Sometimes I was a complete dick. I was sure a shrink would link it back to my relationship with my own mother. She’d always been home and had always been there for me. We’d supported each other as a family through the death of my brother, but where my dad had worked, my mom had always been around if I needed her. I guess I wanted that for my own children but the fact was these were modern times and some women liked to be the boss in the boardroom as well as the bedroom. I figured I may as well go out to dinner with Ember one evening and see where it went.

With the interview over, I returned to the bar. It was getting late now. Members had moved to the rooms and the bar area was quietening down. We would close now at four am. Drinks stopped being served at three am and then it was a wind down. The music switched to slow songs to let members know that it was the last hour, and then fifteen minutes before closing it would switch off altogether. At five minutes to four security would begin having a kind word with those who still didn’t look ready to leave. The idea was that the club finally closed its doors no later than four-thirty am, at which point the cleaning service would come in along with a team of ‘refresh’ staff who restocked the bar etc ready for the following evening.

H and Eli wandered over to me. H patted my back. “It’s been a triumph, bro. Place has been buzzing and everyone I’ve talked to thinks you have made a success of the relaunch. Club S is no more. Long live Abandon.” He clinked his glass with mine and I noted he was a little wasted. “Amelia know you were having a party night?” I asked him.

“All is good.” He said. “Though I was warned that if I moved from the bar area, I wasn’t ever getting back in my own home.” A dreamy look came over his face. “I told her I didn’t need anyone else. She’s fucking amazing, and,” he giggled, “amazing at fucking.”

“Okay, dude. Let’s get you in a taxi and home. I’ll escort you so she knows you’ve been a good boy.”

“Hey, I might get rewarded for being a good boy,” he winked.

I rolled my eyes but secretly I was pleased H was so pussy-whipped and loved up. He’d had his own fair share of grief over the years and now he had the life he so deserved.

“Right. I’m off home,” Eli stated. “It’s been a great night. Haven’t seen any sign of a date though. Times getting on you know for you to be all loved up yourself with a woman. Looks like my daughter might get a date soon after all.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I replied. “Don’t you worry about me. I have plans, dates to be arranged.”

“Is that right?” Eli winked. Clearly not believing a word I said.

“I will find a woman and you my friend will be dating that Assistant of yours, believe me. Now stop ganging up on me.” I said, getting annoyed. “Just because I turned down that model.”

“We just worry about you, friend. You turned down a Victoria’s Secret model. We thought you must be losing your mind.” H patted me on the back again.

“Not my type of girl.” I said.

“I don’t think they’ve made your type of girl yet.” Laughed Eli. “A woman who’ll stay at home while you work here. Not a chance.”

Then the strangest thing happened. Lori wandered up to me and slid her arm inside mine.

“Hi, babe.” She said. “I know we said we wouldn’t say anything tonight with me having to work behind the bar, but I finished my shift now.”

I was frozen to the spot. It had come out of left field and I didn’t know what to say. Wouldn’t say anything about what?

Then she held her hand out to H. “Hi, I’m Lori. Aidan’s girlfriend. It’s lovely to meet you.”

My girlfriend? She was saying she was my girlfriend? I didn’t understand what was happening. I looked over at her, my mouth hanging open. Damn it, I wanted to ask her questions but I couldn’t in front of the other guys. So I was completely unprepared for what she did next.

She kissed me.

I’d had enough alcohol to dull common sense and my adrenaline was pumped high due to the success of the evening so when her lips hit mine, all thoughts of this not being real were off as far as my synapses were concerned. I wrapped my arms around her neck, pulled her in close and crushed her mouth to mine. The kiss lasted several minutes until I felt Lori slowly push me away and I heard a cough to my left. Eli.

“Well, as I was saying, time for me to go now. Thanks for a great evening. The business is going to be a phenomenal success if tonight is anything to go by.”

“Thank you.” I shook his hand and watched my friend’s retreating back.

H swayed at the side of me.

“You okay getting yourself home, babe? I need to get this drunkard home.”

H protested. “No, you take her home. Much better looking than me.”

“We’ll both take him.” Lori suggested.

So that’s what we did and when it came to getting H up the driveway of his home, I was glad I had an extra pair of hands.

“I’m so sorry,” Amelia apologized. “I told him he could enjoy a drink. Seems he took me at my word.”

“He stayed in the bar area all night. You have my word on that.” I told her.

“He’d not dare do anything else.” Amelia laughed and me and Lori both joined in.

Amelia looked at her husband’s wavering form as he staggered down the corridor.

“You want me to get him in bed?”

“No, you’re fine. He’ll make his way there and then no doubt pass out cold. Right, I’d better follow him. Nice to see you again, Aidan and…”

“I’m Lori, Aidan’s girlfriend. I work at the bar.” She replied.

Amelia looked at me for a second longer than necessary. “Well, it's great to meet you. You’ll have to come to dinner one night.” She said. “Would be nice to have some female company for a change.”

“Sounds great,” Amelia said. “I’ll let Aidan make the arrangements.”

Whoa. We hadn’t even discussed this whole girlfriend thing and now we were going for a meal with another couple. I needed a chance for my mind to catch up here.

“Well, we’d better get back.” I said, and we headed back to the car where my driver waited.

“Right, give the driver your address.” I told Lori. She hesitated. “There a problem?” I asked.

“I had trouble with an ex, I kinda don’t like giving my address out. It’s my safe place.”

“Take us to Kave, on Knickerbocker Avenue.” I told the driver.

“It’s closed.” Lori said.

“I know, but you said it was close to where you live, so I will have us dropped off there and then I’m going to walk you home. That will be right to the door so don’t protest, and then I’ll walk back to Kave and my driver can take me home. That sound okay?”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“And while we’re walking, you can fill me in about what happened just before we left.”

She nodded. She knew exactly what I was talking about, but also seemed to realize that I wanted to talk of it out of earshot of the driver.

We departed the car and started walking. Lori said her apartment was around six minutes walk away. It was a pleasant enough temperature out and after being in the club for hours I was actually pleased to get a bit of fresh air.

“I’m sorry about the whole girlfriend thing. I should have run it by you as an idea before I waded in.”

“So, why didn’t you?” I asked. “Not that I’m objecting, but you kinda took me by surprise.”

“I was leaving, and I heard your friends giving you grief and some kind of instinct just kicked in. I must have been protecting my bbbf. Before I knew it, the words were out of my mouth.”

“Well, you know we will have to fake date now don’t you? You already scored us a double date with Amelia and H. I’ll need to learn everything about you. My friends are astute businessmen. They aren’t dumb. They’ll work it out.”

“Well, getting together as friends and fake dating can’t be that different.”

“Oh it is. It’s going to be a little like your movie acting now, because you will have to pretend to lust after me, and you’re gonna have to kiss me and make out with me in front of my friends.” God, this was bad. The thought was making me hard. She was into women. I tried to drill it into my brain. My mind wandered. It imagined Lori and another woman. Thanks brain, you’re not helping in the slightest. I then realized I was jealous of the male actors. She might fake it with them, but they got to bury their cock deep inside her warmth. I wanted to do the same. Even if I got nothing back in return. I was a lost cause. An idiot.

“Well, you’ll see first hand how good an actress I am,” she said. “So where will you be taking me on our first date?”

“I think we’ll go back to the restaurant where I had my date from hell with your friend, if that’s okay with you. I’d quite like to try to order the steak and actually get to eat it. As a fake date if you ask me to swap for your salad the answer will be a resounding no.”

“Meanie.” She giggled. “Well, I’m free tomorrow night if you are? Though second night of business, I guess you’ll still be needed around the club?”

“I can go in later. I’ll come pick you up at eight-thirty.” She looked at me. “I’ll drive. I can do without alcohol. No need to worry about your secret location being given up. So what’s all this about an ex anyway, that makes it that you have to be so secretive about where you live?”

“It’s a long story for another time, but basically I had an abusive ex. A lot of shit went down and I don’t want them ever to discover where I live. I’m settled now and haven’t had to look over my shoulder for a long time. That’s how I need it to stay.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” I told her. “If you ever want them taking care of, let me know. I know they say not to hit women but I could have some warnings whispered in her ear.”

“Oh my God. Calm down Mr. Testosterone.” Lori shook her head. “I don’t need anyone going into battle for me. I can take care of myself.”

“When this fake dating shit is over, we will have to get you set up with a beautiful girlfriend.” I told her. “You deserve to be happy.”

“As do you.” She said. “You best hope we don’t start competing for the same one.”

We reached the steps of an apartment block and Lori stopped and turned to me. “I’m number six.” She pointed and I could see the number outside the entrance. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” She reached over and kissed my cheek.

I grabbed her chin, tilted her face towards me and kissed her directly on the mouth. “Just in case anyone’s watching.” I whispered.

“There’s no one around for miles, you idiot.” She said and laughed. “You’re just taking advantage of my good nature.”

“Are you sure you don’t find men even the slightest bit attractive? What if I put a wig on and some make up?”

“Go home, Aidan.” She yelled, and I realized I was probably overstepping the mark and maybe being offensive.

“Sorry, Bestie.” I told her and I turned and headed off back down the street towards the driver.