Page 5 of Digit's Deflection
“Thanks.” I smile at her. “I’m new to town and in need of work. Do you have any openings at the moment, maybe?”
“I’m sorry, no. Not at the moment,” she replies, and to her credit, she does actually look apologetic. She leans a little closer and speaks softly. “I don’t know if it’s something you’d be interested in, but my sister works as a server at a local, um, adult club in town, but she’s going away to college soon. So they’re looking for someone to replace her with, if you’re not easily offended, if you know what I mean.”
I nod. “I’m not overly squeamish about things, for the most part, so it’s definitely an option. Thanks so much for the heads up. I appreciate it. Do you have the details for me, by any chance?”
“No, sorry. But if you’re okay with it, let me hook you up with my sister, and she can tell you what you need to know.”
“Yeah, please. That would be great.”
“Awesome. So her name is Amelia,” she says, scribbling on a piece of paper before handing it to me. “This is her number. You can tell her I gave you her details. And I’m Shelly, by the way.”
“Hey, Shelly. I’m Liora. Again, thanks very much for the tip. Hopefully, I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, that’d be cool. Have a good one.”
With a last smile for Shelly and glance at the table of sailors, I head on out with the paper and my pizza slices in hand.
I can’t say I’m particularly thrilled at the idea of working at an “adult club”, but it’s better than nothing, right? My bills aren’t going to pay themselves, so best I get on that, I guess. But first, I need to find somewhere to lay my head for the night. The idea of sleeping in the U-Haul does not appeal in the slightest.
Tomorrow’s soon enough to find gainful employment.
4
DIGIT
Seated at the bar, I take in the tastefully appointed club with a sigh. I thought by coming here I’d be able to shake the funk I’ve been in lately, but it would seem not.
Casual dating, meaningless hookups, and sex with SEAL groupies – yeah, apparently, it’s a thing – leaves me cold now, rather than bringing the same sense of satisfaction it has in the past.
It’s coming up on the twelfth anniversary of Liora disappearing from my life, and I suspect this melancholy that’s come over me has everything to do with that. Including this complete lack of interest in any woman.
Thoughts of her still plague me, even if it isn’t as often as it used to be. It took years to stop running the shitshow that was our last time together through my mind, like a movie on a loop, trying to figure out what the fuck happened.
I spent the rest of that long ago night calling and texting her. Eventually, I even went to her house. When throwing stones at her window didn’t elicit a response, I resorted to breaking into her bedroom. The utter shambles that met me told me all I needed to know, but was too afraid to accept.
Liora had disappeared into the night, never to be heard from again.
It’s as if she never existed. My beautiful golden angel simply vanished without a trace. And I have no fucking clue why. That’s the kicker for me – not knowing what set her off. If I knew what I’d done wrong, I could have maybe fixed it. But no, not a word passed her lips as she fled into the night. So instead, it’s haunted me for nearly a decade and a half.
Even after all this time, I still catch myself looking for her in public spaces. I have zero idea how I would react or what I would say to her if I ever did find her. I’m not even sure I’d recognize her, although I like to tell myself I would – that I’d know my princess anywhere. But that doesn’t stop me from searching the face of every blonde I see on the street or in the mall, at the grocer or a gas station. Every single place I go.
“Excuse me, Master Treven, Master Samuel would like to see you in his office,” Myra, the submissive who works as his PA, says.
“Thanks, lovely. I’ll be there shortly,” I reply, taking another swig of my drink, hoping to swallow down some of my melancholy with it.
“Thank you, Sir. I’ll let him know.” I watch as the tiny woman walks away. If she hits the five-foot mark on a height chart, I’ll eat my damn camo hat. She’s petite, completely dwarfed by the large Dominant who owns The Blue Rose. It’s a poorly kept secret that the man has a thing for his PA, while she’s completely oblivious to the way he feels.
There are whispers on the floor that there’s a bet going, to see how long it takes for her to finally cotton on. I’m staying well out of this one, I don’t need to piss anyone off getting embroiled in something that’s got nothing to do with me. All I can say is, I hope they find their way to each other, and soon. Lord knows, we all need a little love in our lives.
Knocking back the last bit of my drink, I get to my feet, intending to make my way to Sam’s office. But a glimpse of a face in silhouette across the crowded floor, way back in the room catches my attention, and I find myself automatically heading in that direction.
It seems so familiar – she would be older now, but I’m willing to bet no less beautiful. And a glorious head of golden hair, just like my princess’s.
I barely hear the greetings called out to me as I make my way to the far end of the cavernous room, throwing up a hand in reply here and there. My focus, however, is solely on where I saw the vision. A dungeon monitor calls out to me, attempting to get my attention, and I turn my head in his direction briefly. When I look back, there’s zero trace of the unidentified woman.
Once again, like an echo from the past, she’s nowhere to be found. Growling in frustration, I head for Sam’s office.
“Come on in,” I hear him call out in reply to my knock.
