Page 13 of Learn My Lesson
That snaps me out of my haze. “What?”
Hercules gives me a pitying look. “Come now, Hercules. You didn’t think you’d bargain away yourself to me and then go back to your sad little life, did you? Call in and quit your job. My people will gather your belongings and see to your apartment. The Underworld is your home now.”
1 If there’s one thing Hercules has in abundance, it’s the audacity.
2 Hades is so damn mean. I think he’s one of the meanest heroes I’ve ever written, which is why he’s one of my favorites.
3 Reading this scene years after writing it cracks me up. Hades really offered absolutely nothing in exchange for Hercules giving everything. Silly golden boy.
MEG
“Did you hear about the new guy?”
I look up from the spreadsheet detailing the Underworld’s income last month. I wasn’t sure what the disruption of Balthazar’s territory would do for our bottom line. Coups in Carver City make everyone nervous, and nervous people will either drop mad cash or button it up completely. Judging from the accounts list I have, they went with the former.
Thank fuck.
I drag my attention back to the present to find Tink standing in the doorway to my office. She’s victim to one of the many deals Hades has made over the years. I don’t know the terms of this specific one—I rarely know the details unless he feels I need to—but she’s fit right into life here at the club while still running her stylist business during the day.
She’s also a delicious little plus-sized blond with a taste for pain, bondage, and group play. Add in snark and total disrespect for most authority, and she’s my kind of woman.
It takes a moment for her words to penetrate. Even then, I don’t comprehend them. “What did you say?”
“Hades has a new guy starting tonight. From the gossip Tis had, hot from the source, he doesn’t even know he’s a sub and I’m expected to give him a crash course in kink before the club opens.” She crosses her arms under her breasts. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit, Meg. I really don’t.”
“Why does he have you training instead of one of the Dominants?” Instead of me. I don’t handle every new person we hire, but if they’re important enough to be brought in because of a deal, then I should be.
“She said Hades is handling that part of his training personally.”
What? “We can negotiate hazard pay once he’s up to par and working,” I say absently. A new hire from Hades means one of his deals. Normally every employee who the Underworld hires goes through me, whether they’re Dominant, submissive, or just looking to bartend. It’s one of my most important functions as the person who manages this place.
Kink in all its flavors requires an incredible level of trust from all participating parties. If the wrong person were to become involved… Well, it hasn’t happened since I’ve been here. We get assholes sometimes, but no one who actively ignores the rules, both explicitly stated and generally understood. Anyone who plays here is guaranteed a consensual good time, no matter what they’re looking for.
Which means I need to check this guy out before tonight. Hades wouldn’t actively undermine our operation, but he often plays deeper games that make my life difficult. Sending a submissive who doesn’t realize they’re a submissive even out into the lounge without the proper preparation is a recipe for disaster.
Training them himself… He hasn’t been hands-on with training since I was new here.
What the hell is going on? I blink to find Tink still watching me with her pretty green eyes. “Was there something else?” I manage.
“I’m coming up on the end of my contract.” She props her hands on her hips, drawing my attention to her floral romper and black, strappy heels. A black cropped jacket pulls the outfit together just like Tink always seems to. She makes my suits and slinky dresses feel mundane sometimes, but no one can pull off fashion the way she does.
I lean back. “Two months. You’re not quite there yet.”
“Compared to the last four years and change, two months is almost the end.” She considers me. “Is staying on an option?”
I blink. Tink hates Hades. Actively loathes him. I can’t imagine she would be content to work for him unless under duress. “Do you want to stay on?”
“I don’t know yet.” She shrugs. “I’m exploring my options.”
If I were a better person, I’d guide her out the doors and tell her never to look back. Tink was meant for greater things than working as a combination assistant manager, costumer designer, submissive, and general fire-put-outer.
I’m not a better person. She’s worth her weight in gold, and I’d be a fool to let her go. “Of course. You’ll always have a place here.”
“Oh. Okay, then.” She nods a little too fast. “My shift starts at eight, but I’m going to give this dude a run-down at seven.”
“Does he know that?”
“He’s staying in the building.”
