Page 6 of Black Velvet

I turn to her in an instant, a polite smile gracing my face as I follow her gesture to come in and take a seat.

"Again, I'm really sorry to make you wait, Mr. Graves," she says after we've taken our seats. "You know this isn't how we usually treat our clients."

I nod quietly, crossing my legs as I lean back, casting her an expectant look. "You said there's an opportunity you'd like to discuss with me?"

She smiles then and fixes her tight-fitting blazer, a sign of nervous tension that doesn't escape me.

"Yes, I actually have quite exciting news," she begins, her gaze locked onto mine. "As you may or may not know, our agency has done really well for itself the past few years. We've been growing every month, attracting more and more high-profile clients such as yourself, and employing extraordinary talents, only providing the best—"

"Let's skip the marketing talk," I say, twirling my hand in an impatient gesture. "Why don't we get to the point, Miss Barry?"

She clears her throat, nodding in understanding, but arching her eyebrows for a split second, displaying just the slightest hint of annoyance.

"We want to expand," she states simply. "So far, Violent Delights is nothing more than an exclusive—veryexclusive—escort agency, providing companionship and pleasure, but there is no place to live out your fantasies in safe and suitable surroundings."

She pauses, fixating me with her gaze to make sure I'm still listening. I urge her to continue with another twirl of my left hand.

"This is how we want to improve our service," Miss Barry continues. "We want to expand our business by providing a space for our clients and girls to meet in a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by lavish luxuries, exotic beauty, and unimaginable pleasure. There will be a bar, a lounge area, and well, of course, some rooms to retreat for private or semi-privateadventures."

She winks at me, trying to evoke a reaction.

"So, you want to open up a sex club?"

She scoffs and shakes her head.

"I prefer the term 'kink' club," she says. "But no, it's more than that. First of all, our premises will be very different from an ordinary club. Bigger, more beautiful, equipped with everything you could ever dream of—and more. There will be rooms specifically assigned for certain pleasures and fantasies, and they will not be accessible to everybody."

She stops, flinching as if she just remembered something important.

"Speaking of accessibility," she adds. "The club itself will have a new level of exclusivity. Not all of our clients will have access to it."

"I thought the agency's customer files were already selective and exclusive? Isn't that what you always tell me?"

"Yes, they are," she concurs, nodding. "And still, we're not approaching all of our clients to become a part of this new endeavor. You see… the opportunity I was speaking of is more than just enjoying something new. It's about becoming apartof it."

Realization dawns when our eyes meet, and I see the request written on her face without her saying the words out loud.

"You want me to become a part of it, huh?" I repeat. "That means… you want me toinvestin this? Help you make it a reality."

She shrugs.

"To be quite frank, Mr. Graves, we can make this a reality without your financial assistance," she says, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'm merely presenting a business opportunity for you. I'm convinced that your investment in The Velvet Rooms would benefit not just us, but you as well. And it would come with early and exclusive access to something very, very special."

"The Velvet Rooms?"

"Yes, that's what we're going to call it," Miss Barry affirms, smiling proudly.

I sigh, shifting in my seat while I contemplate her offer. It's hard to deny that it does sound intriguing. Of course it does. It's new, it's exotic, it's exclusive. It speaks to me and my never-ending hunger for more.

But I'm not ready to say yes just yet. Every investment has to be considered thoroughly, especially when I just recently decided to put a lot of money into yet another opportunity that lured me in with its own promise of newness.

"I will need more information before I reach a decision," I respond. "And I need to see your business plan."

A smile blossoms on her face. "Of course, Mr. Graves. That goes without saying. I will have more for you in a week or two. Pictures, plans of the premises, a business plan."

I nod.

"Sounds good. I'll be waiting to hear from you then," I tell her, rising from my seat so suddenly that she jerks in surprise before following suit.

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