Page 66 of High Roller

“A Discovery of Witches.”

“I’ll watch with you. What season are you on?”

“I just started it, so I’m only on episode two. We can go back if you want.”

I shake my head. “Unnecessary. I can Google a synopsis of it later or I’ll watch the first one without you in bed tonight.”

She hits play on the remote again and turns the volume back up.

We sit in silence and watch three episodes together before she gets a phone call and goes to meet one of her partners. She used to travel with Tyson Vance, a celebrity chef and part time member of our club, but she recently moved in with me because she wants to live in Las Vegas full time and only travel occasionally. The arrangement has made rent a lot cheaper for me, which is part of what gave me the courage to go back to school. I’m not sure why she isn’t traveling as much anymore, she’s not terribly chatty about it, and I don’t push for details. I have no doubt she’ll tell me anything she’s comfortable sharing.

“What am I going to do?” I ask myself out loud in the empty apartment after she’s gone.

Is Victor really going to transfer me to one of the other club owners? The submissives who work for the club all answer to one of the club owners as their supervisor and Dom. I hate the idea of anyone but Victor being in that role for me. After all, he is the entire reason I came to Las Vegas.

As I’m getting ready for bed, there is a knock on my door. My shoulders tighten. Not many people have my address, so I have no idea who it could be. It might be someone for Sabrina, or it could be more creepy flowers, or whoever is sending them has decided they need to escalate their game.

I peek out the peephole and find Zara Bowden standing there.

My shoulders relax, but confusion is on my face as I answer the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Victor asked me to come talk to you before I pay our guest a visit tomorrow. Thought maybe you could give us some insight that will help me connect with her. I tried texting you, but you didn’t answer so I dropped by.”

Somewhere around the middle of the second episode, I put my phone on the charger, and I haven’t looked at it since.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to my phone. Come in. What kind of visit are you paying to Lili?”

“I just want to see if I can get a read on her. Find out who her husband has been hiring, that sort of thing.”

Hiring? What is she talking about? My face must show confusion because Zara sighs. “I see they’ve kept you in the dark on some things. I’m really sorry about that. There are some holes in my knowledge also, but I’ll fill you in as best I can.”

“Well, Victor punished me for eavesdropping today, so it’s possible he wants me in the dark.”

“Victor is an asshole,” Zara declares.

“He can be. But he usually means well.”

“Don’t make excuses for people. Especially not people you’re in love with. They deserve to be held accountable.”

In love? I twirl a strand of hair around my finger staring at her with a deer in the headlights look. She motions to the couch.

“Can I sit?”

I nod and join her on the worn sofa. “I’m sorry for speaking out of turn. Your relationship with Victor is none of my business. I just care about you.”

“Thanks, Zara. I appreciate it. Things are confusing right now, but I’m doing my best to sort things out. What do I not know?”

Zara takes in a slow breath and squares her shoulders, as if clearing her mind and mentally moving on to the next subject. I do the same because she puts me at ease.

“Lili’s husband seems to be fond of paying professional Dominatrixes to play with him. As you can imagine, I’m not against anyone doing that, and I don’t think he or anyone else should be ashamed of it, but his role and place in life probably demands that he keep it a dark secret. If it came out, it could ruin not only his career and image, but his mother’s as a conservative politician. That might wind up benefiting us as we work out a plan to take him down for good.”

“And you want to use Lili to do it?” I can’t explain why that doesn’t sit right with me. There is no reason for me to feel anything towards Lili. Deep down, I know that isn’t true, though. We’ve shared a lot in the past couple of days.

Zara nods in answer to my question. “I’m not saying it’s a good idea. But Luke and the others seem hellbent on making it happen, so I’m playing my part. What can you tell me about her?”

“She’s kind, gentle, and enjoys helping people. Has a few charities that she participates in. At least one involves helping the homeless. And I get the idea she’s hands on, not just donating money or showing up at fancy fundraisers.”

“You like her,” Zara says with a smile.

---