Page 55 of Entwined
I buzzed his office, pressing the intercom button with more force than necessary. “It’s done.”
There was a brief pause before Vaughn’s smooth voice came through. “Thank you, Joey. My father would be proud of you.”
I swallowed hard, a tightness forming in my chest. “I hope so.”
“I have a conference call with Eltech in fifteen minutes,” Vaughn continued, his tone casual, as if we weren’t discussing the finality of what had just happened. “I need to prepare. Your place tonight? Or... there’s this new club I’ve been hearing about. We could check it out.”
The shift in conversation caught me off guard. I cleared my throat. “You want to go out? In public?”
He chuckled softly. “I think it’s time, don’t you? We’ve been together for three months. We can’t stay in the shadows forever. Besides, do you really care what people say?”
I hesitated, gripping the edge of my desk. Did I care? The truth was, I did. I’d spent most of my life as an outsider, ridiculed and ignored. Then, with two simple words—“I do”—my marriage had thrust me into the elite circles of wealth and power. But no matter how high I climbed, I never forgot how it felt to be on the other side, to be an outcast.
And I couldn’t shake the fear that if we went public, I’d find myself there again. “I... I just don’t want the scrutiny,” I said carefully, choosing my words with precision.
Vaughn’s voice softened. “You’re not going to be a pariah, Joey. You’re with me now. That changes things.”
But did it? The weight of my past pressed down on me, the memories of whispers and pointed stares never too far away. Could I really trust that being with Vaughn would be enough to shield me from that?
The dimly lit alley outside the club was quiet, save for the distant thrum of music from the upper floors. Vaughn led me by the hand, his grip firm but not reassuring. As we approached a heavy steel door, he nodded to a bouncer who gave us a knowing look before unlocking it. We slipped inside, bypassing the front entrance entirely.
“This way,” Vaughn murmured, his voice low and smooth, but something about it set me on edge.
The hall was narrow and lit with red lights that cast eerie shadows. My heels clicked against the concrete floor as Vaughn guided me further into the depths of the building. I could hearfaint music above us—an actual dance club, by the sound of it—but this wasn’t where we were headed.
We entered a spacious underground lounge that looked nothing like the dance club I imagined. The air was thick with a heavy scent—something between sweat, sex, and expensive cologne. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized why. This wasn’t a club for dancing.
Everywhere I looked, there were bodies. People were lounging on velvet sofas, some completely naked, others in various states of undress. Couples, and even groups, engaged in open, unapologetic sex, their moans mixing with the soft beats of the music that pulsed through the space. The dim lighting played tricks on my mind, but there was no mistaking the blatant eroticism around me.
I froze, wide-eyed and speechless.
“What... what is this place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Vaughn smirked, pulling me close. “It’s exclusive. Private. For people with... certain tastes.”
I jerked back, eyes scanning the room. “You brought me here?”
His smirk widened. “You wanted to go out, didn’t you?”
“This isn’t what I had in mind,” I said, my voice trembling as I looked around, feeling eyes on me—hungry, leering eyes. I wanted to leave, but Vaughn tightened his grip on my waist, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Relax, Joey. You’re with me. No one will touch you unless I say so.”
I stiffened at his words, my skin crawling. Vaughn had always been possessive, but this felt different. There was something darker in his tone, something I hadn’t noticed before.
Before I could respond, Vaughn’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression unreadable, then leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Wait—Vaughn—” But he was already gone, disappearing into the shadows of the club.
I stood there, feeling vulnerable and out of place. I clutched my purse, my heart racing as I scanned the room for an exit. How could Vaughn just leave me here? The idea of walking out alone, through that maze of people, felt terrifying. But staying here felt worse.
I moved toward the far wall, trying to stay out of sight, when suddenly a loud commotion broke out near the entrance. Blue and red lights flashed outside the windows, illuminating the club like a surreal, grotesque scene. Panic spread through the crowd as uniformed officers stormed in, shouting orders.
“Police! Everybody down!”
I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. People scattered, scrambling for clothes, some bolting for hidden exits. I tried to make myself small, but before I could move, rough hands grabbed me from behind.
“No!” I gasped, struggling. “Wait, this is a mistake!”
