Page 25 of Punish Me

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Black leather furniture dominates the space, second only to the large circular stage up front that extends like the bottom of the lowercase “i” to the middle of the club. Black and blue carpet covers the floors. The grey and light blue wallpaper provides a lighter backdrop to the leather seats and shimmers underneath the chandeliers above.

Nicki Minaj’sSuper Freaky Girlpours from the speakers as scantily clad servers in short, blue skirts and glittery, blue nipple tassels come and go throughout the club, delivering and picking up drinks and food.

“What’s the difference between this place and what the DeLucas and Blacks plan to offer?” I ask, sipping my amaretto sour.

“Hardwood floors, crystal chandeliers, full dining experience, and a more polished and elegant atmosphere overall. Including the dancers,” he says, lifting his snifter at one of the dancers working a man at the table across from us.

She gyrates, and her movements are wild and unskilled sexual moves.

“You won’t see jeans, ballcaps, and gym shoes in their club.”

“Suits and ties?”

Nodding, he says, “Semi-formal and business casual. This is more an eclectic mix of everyone.”

“I’ll bet the pricing tier will also be different.”

“For sure. Your average Joe won’t be waltzing up into that club.”

“They made it sound like the resort will be for everyone.”

“The resort will. The gentlemen’s club won’t be.”

“And the women’s club?” I ask as disappointment fills me.

“I think they’ll leave that for you and Nicole to work on.”

“Me? You think I’ll be included in the plans?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“I wasn’t invited into the meeting,” I point out.

“That was a request of the DeLucas and the Blacks. They’d requested a private meeting with Mr. Cape and the attorney when they first decided to use the firm. Because the DeLucas will be involved, there will be a lot of speculation about how on the up and up this project is. My cousins also didn’t want our relationship disclosed initially although I didn’t mind.

“They didn’t want anyone to suspect we got the contract because of my connection. Mr. Cape wanted to weed out their true intentions before presenting them to the board and the rest of the staff. This isn’t something that you blow up to another level before you know what you’re dealing with. I’m okay with it because I know my family and the Blacks.”

“Mmm,” I say, sipping my drink.

“What’s the mmm for?”

“Nothing.”

Before he can ask again, a dancer approaches us and says, “Would you or your date like a private dance?”

My eyes widen, and Ambrose’s eyes narrow as he stares at me, pulling his fingers through his beard.

“I’m not his date.”

“Yes. My date would love a private dance, please.”

“I’m Amethyst, and I’ll be your private entertainer for the night. Please follow me,” she says.

What the fuck? I want to kill him, but the dancer is smiling and beckoning us to follow her. Ambrose stands, and his beautiful hazel eyes dare me to object.

“After you, Ms. St. Clair.”

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