Page 73 of Fixate
“Yes, that is a valid point,” she answered slowly.
“I also think that this type of thing being offered could draw in crowds of people who are local too. I know that Vegas has a vast kink community. There's a club here and there are people who come in from time to time for a summit, but it's not well known, I guess you'd say. And not because it's only word of mouth secret society level stuff.”
I laughed again at the way she said those words. Candice was very charismatic.
“So, if it's not because it's only word of mouth, do you think it's just a lack of opportunity?”
She snapped her fingers. “That's it, exactly. People just don't know. And what you don't know, you can't experience. I mean, take this for instance.”
She pulled out a toy from under the cabinet.
“It's one of our newer products. Though it looks simple enough, this thing can get you where you need to be like nobody's business. I'm talking short on time, need a pick me up — this is your friend. Whatever floats your boat, this will do it.”
I stared at the device, curious to know why she was so enthralled with it. It looked just like the others I had been collecting. I bit my bottom lip, pondering if I should purchase it too.
I didn't necessarily need to know about the products, but if I wanted to be a part of the process as a whole and really present this idea to Pharrell, then I should have some kind of idea. I pulled out my wallet and slid my card free.
“I'll be the judge of that,” I said with just enough of a hint of what I wanted for her to light up like the Fourth of July.
She rang me up, chattering on and on about ideas she could have for the classes.
“I mean I'm not certified or anything, but I could totally contact the local club and have someone come out for more specific things. Ooh, or we could go there. That would be fun. I think they would give guest passes for people who wanted to watch. I mean, maybe they did background checks and stuff too, which could deter customers. I don't know. Maybe there's another place we could meet because doing them on the floor seems like a bad idea with the glass windows and everything.”
She waved her hand to the view behind me. It was jam-packed with people. The shopping area was never empty.
I was surprised that no one had come into the shop while I had been there. But then I saw the imposing figure by the door and my heart stopped.
Pharrell was here.
And where he was, people gave him space.
Candice must have noticed him at the same moment I did because she squeaked as she bagged up my package quickly.
“I work here a lot, so just come by if you need me again. I'm sorry. I'm not flirting with you. Please don't tell him I did.”
She held up her hands and backed away from me slowly.
I would have laughed if my breath had not been frozen, if my heart had not completely stalled out because I had no clue what was going to happen next.
I had just purchased a toy, one that I had planned to use to prepare for the man currently staring a hole in the back of my head.
Of course, I didn't expect him to show up here because he said he would be busy all day. So now I was stuck with a load of secrets and a man who was very good at getting me to tell the truth.
"I'll be in touch, Candice.” I waved goodbye as I turned to leave.
At the door to the shop, Pharrell's eyes moved over me. He glanced at the bag for a moment before nodding and sliding his hand into mine. We didn't speak as we wove through patrons to the private elevator.
The second we were inside his home, he took me to the living room and pointed to the couch.
"Sit," he demanded.
I dropped onto the couch and put my bag in my lap. At the sound of the brown paper sack, he looked down at it. Again, but this time, his gaze was deeper, more curious.
"What do you have, mon chou?"
I swallowed the scream I wanted to let loose, not because I was scared or anything, more like I was ready to crawl out of my skin.
This question was heavy. I didn't know how to answer it. The truth would have been best, obviously, but the truth would also require telling him that I already had a collection hidden in the bedroom that he didn't know about.
