I jerk back from the sight of my brother in the doorway
Damian told me not to tell him about working at Nightshade, but I can't say I came to drop my coat either.
Damian: Juliet was looking for a job. I've hired her as my event planner.
I shoot Damian a surprise look, but his face is impassive. Ethan narrows his eyes.
Ethan: That's who that guy outside was, wasn't it? He works here, too.
Damian: I should have known he was involved.
Ethan: Involved in what?
Damian glances at my coat.
Damian: Forget I said anything.
Ethan: Now, you're both keeping secrets from me? What else don't I know?
Relax, Ethan. nothing else is going on. And even if there was, I'm an adult. I can make my own choices.
Ethan: I don't care how old you are. Juliet, you are not working at Nightshade.
Damian: Give Ethan and I some space.
Juliet; But...
Damian: The room, Juliet.
Damian's eyes lock on mine, his calm but firm voice stirring something inside of me. I turn and leave the room.
Damian can't help but feel pleased as Juliet obediently close the door behind her.
Ethan: What the hell were you thinking, Damian? Juliet can't work at a BDSM club. She'll get hurt.
Damian: Ethan... I won't let that happen, I've never let her get hurt before. Have I?
Ethan: That was when we were kids. We can't keep her under lock and key anymore.
Damian: Exactly, IT's better she works for me than some creep at another club. There's an organization, the society for moral standards, that's been shutting down clubs left and right.
It's only a matter of time before they discover Nightshade. I need to bring in more members with clout before that happens.
Ethan: So, hire another event planner.
Damian: Juliet is the best person for the job. You know it, and so do I.
Ethan grits his teeth but says nothing. you place a hand on his shoulder.
Damian: Other clubs aren't nearly controlled as Nightshade, Here, I can keep an eye on her.
An image of Juliet bent over his desk in her teeny lingerie flashes in his head. His dick jerks. He shove the image away but not before Ethan catches the look on his face.
Ethan: Don't tell me you have feelings for her. it's bad enough she's been in love with you for years.
He start to say no, but the words get stuck on his tongue.
Damian: I don't have feelings for Juliet, I can't. you are blowing out of proportion.
Ethan: I mean it, Damian, you can't get involved with Juliet. she can't be the... type of woman you want.
Damian: As if I don't know that. It's just a job, Ethan.
Ethan: Does Juliet know that?
Damian: I will make sure of it. I will give her an employee contract and make sure she stays far away from the dungeon.
Ethan: You and Juliet are the only family I have left, Don't fuck this up.
I jump back from the door as Ethan barrels through it and down the hall without a word.
He's pissed. What happened?
Damian: It's under control, Right now you need to focus on your job. He hands me a contract. Nightshade employee handbook.
Damian: Read and sign this tonight, You start tomorrow.
The next day, I meet Damian in the lobby before the club opens and hands him the contract.
Here you are. signed, sealed, and delivered
Damian: So you can follow directions.
I care about my job.
I'm glad to know you're so devoted.
Juliet: Once I want something I don't back down.
His eyes lock on mine, the hint of a wicked smirk on his full lips.
Damian: Do you have any questions about the contract?
Just one, What is an introduction scene?
Damian: Nightshade has a close-knit community, All employees also play and therefore must be introduced into the club.
The introduction scene signifies the start of a sub, Training, preparing the sub for a Dom
Excitement blooms in my chest, as if reading my mind Damian tucks the contract under his arms.
Damian: it doesn't apply to you
Juliet: Um... That's not fair.
Damian: Neither is being bombarded and flashed in my office.
Juliet: As I recall, you didn't seem to mind
Damian's eyes darken and he swallow hard .
I promised your brother I'd keep you away from the dungeon...
His eyes trail down my body, and my stomach swoops.
Damian: But if you're working here, you need to look the part. He hands me a boutique bag and sends me into the locker room.
The locker room is buzzing with cubs and Domes preparing for their scenes, they all got silent when I entered.
God, Damian must be desperate for new members if he accepted someone like you.
Excuse me...
Back off, Nina I think her doe-eyed look is charming.
The redhead's tone is playful, but her demeanor is self-assured. the other ladies watch her anxiously.
Juliet: She must be a Dome
I'm Linda. what's your name?
Juliet, I'm the new event planner
Nina: you work here? tell me you're not a sub.
Linda: I'II find out.
Linda takes the back of my neck in her hand, it's a pose you've seen before, a pose of submission.
Your body is relaxing into me, you are a sub.
Juliet: Yes but not yours.
Lind: I can see why Damian hired you, he has a thing for brats.
She peeks into my clothes bag and pulls out a pink corset top and skirt. wear this one you will get a master in no time.
I slip on a leather pants and blazer and meet Damian back in the lobby.
Damian: You played it safe I'm surprised.
I didn't want to rock the boat on my first day.
Damian: You match the vibe of the club, That's what matters. I've set up an office for you in the back.
Actually I'd like to see how the lobby operates, I need to know how members are responding and what needs to be improved.
Nina: Damian gave you an order, you can't defy him.
Damian: I will be in charge of my employee, Am I clear, Nina?
Yes sir.
Damian points to a camera above the desk, I'II be watching you Trixie
As soon as Damian leaves the lobby, Nina scowls at me.
Nina: Don't even think about Damian, He's my master.
Oh... That's funny he's never mentioned you, I guess he isn't possessive of his playthings.
Nina: Listen here, you little...
Elliot: Don't listen to Nina Juliet she's delusional.
Damian doesn't scene with anyone, especially not employees.
Juliet: But he's a Dom.
Nina: All Dom's are particular about their subs, some will scene with a particular sub type, others prefer exclusive Dom-sub relationship. don't you know anything?
I start to respond when Elliot opens the front doors and the lobby floods with members
I watch the members reactions and the way Elliot and Nina work, half an hour later Damian joins me.
Damian: what's your professional opinion of my club, Trixie?
You have a good staff and no shortage of members... but they're all kind of old.
They are my age, are you calling me old?
Juliet: Um... Not at all age doesn't matter once you're an adult, right?
Damian: Something like that.
His eyes drop to my lips and a muscle in his jaw ticks, I swallow hard.
Juliet: My point is the club isn't appealing to the younger crowd. we need to revamp the lobby.
It's the first room members see, we want it to feel as exclusive as Nightshade is.
Damian: I design Nightshade to pass as a typical office building, no one outside of this club would know what it is.
Juliet: Exactly, let's lean into the secrecy even more. we can make it feel like a speakeasy
Damian raises a brow, a slow impressed smile spreading across his lips. My members satisfaction is my top priority, they need to approve.
They will.
He nods towards two members at the desk. consider this your first test, Trixie. Ask the members if they agree with your idea.
Fine I will.
I walk up to two members at the front desk, excuse me , my name is Juliet and I'm the new event planner. what do you think of the current lobby?
Member 1: It's classic.
Member 2: Better than any of the other clubs we've seen.
The members glance over my shoulder at Damian.
It's okay we need your honest opinion in order to improve the place.
Member 1: well... it hasn't been changed since I started comin her six years ago.
Juliet: what if the lobby felt like almost like a speakeasy? Maybe with a secret entrance.
Member 1: That would be insane I bet all of our friends would want to come.
The members talk excitedly among themselves as they make their way into the club.
Damian: Go ahead gloat.
Damian... I told you so
Damian: Maybe you are growing up after all.
I told you I care about my job.
Neither of us wins if the club doesn't do well, Damian.
Damian: Okay, you have convinced me, walk me through your vision.
Really?
I trust your judgement but I still need to be involved in the process.
Nothing feels more exclusive than a secret entrance I say we turn this lobby into a Hidden Veneer.
We will update the paint bring in some leather elements and make the door to the dungeon a fake mirror.
Damian: I Hate to say it, but I like it.
Wait, I don't think I heard you correctly say that again.
Don't push it Juliet. I'II have the builders start first thing tomorrow.
Nina: Sir? There's a problem with the schedule.
Damian: I'm on it. Juliet, why don't you go check out more of the club?