Page 14 of Interview with a Sadist
“But what was he like?” Melissa asks, sipping her Merlot. “I can only imagine he was just insufferably aggressive.”
“I hope you didn’t drink anything. He probably tried to slip you something,” Teagan says, and I flinch.
“Wow. No, it wasn’t anything like that at all.” I place my wine glass on the table and cross my arms. “He was … quite normal, actually. He didn’t do or say anything that made me feel uncomfortable. To be honest, he was just interested in educating people about what goes on at the club, and what kind of person he is. He thinks BDSM gets a bad rap.”
Melissa laughs. “Seriously? BDSM gets a bad rap? It’s freakingBDSMfor crying out loud! How could you get agoodrap when you go around slapping and whipping each other?”
“Yeah,” Teagan says. “And now they have a club in the heart of Philly dedicated to slapping and whipping each other. It’s obscene and gross. I bet there’s all kinds of STDs just floating in the air at that so-called club.”
Melissa laughs and looks at me, making me feel the need to at least giggle with her. “Can you imagine if you had gone at night?” she asks. “Who knows what those people would’ve subjected you to. I bet there’s people having sex right out in the open while a group of weirdos watch and stroke their dicks.”
Teagan bursts into laughter that nearly makes her double over. “That’s so gross, Melissa.”
“What? It’s true. And I bet the owner is floating above them all like the god of depravity, with his big ole johnson out, watching it all take place while he laughs like the devil himself. Just a disgusting group of people.”
The two of them laugh together, but I can’t find the strength to join in. While I don’t necessarily have the highest opinion of people who are into that kind of stuff, I’m not interested in ridiculing an entire group of people I’ve never met and know nothing about. Just because we’re different doesn’t mean they’rethedevil.
“If I’m being honest, Nolan really wasn’t that bad,” I inform them as the laughter finally starts to simmer down.
“Oh, the criminal has a name?” Teagan asks sarcastically.
“Criminal?” I repeat, frowning hard.
“Uhh,yeah! Anyone who gets off on assaulting people is definitely a criminal,” Teagan explains with more confidence than she should have.
“I mean, it’s not really assault if they have consent,” I answer, and the air in the room is sucked out immediately.
“Seriously, Bree?” Teagan says. “Are you condoning that kind of behavior now?”
“Uh-oh,” Melissa says. “It looks like Bree may have spent a littletoomuch time talking to that club owner. Are you interested in BDSM now, Bree?”
“Yeah, are you ready to take a walk on the wild side?” Teagan asks.
I throw my hands up. “God, no. All I’m saying is that it’s not really assault if the personwantsto be assaulted. I still think it’s … you know … disgusting and all of that. I’m not defending it, I’m just stating the facts.”
The two blondes stare at me like they’re suspicious that I might be a serial killer.
“Well, facts or not, those people are sick,” Melissa states matter-of-factly.
“Maybe so,” I reply. “But, I have to keep an open mind because the interview isn’t complete. Nolan invited me to the club tomorrow night. He wants me to see the place when it’s open.”
“Oh, my god. Are you actually going to go?” Teagan asks.
“Of course, I am,” I nearly shout. “It’s my job.”
“That’s insane, Bree,” Melissa says. “Surely, Chase can’t force you to go to a BDSM club to witness that immorality up close. That’s the same as forcing you to watch porn against your will.”
“I don’t think it’s the same. This is my job,” I try to explain, just as Andy comes waltzing into the room with an empty can of Bud Lite. He crushes the can and tosses it into a recycle bin in the pantry before walking over to the table and standing behind his wife.
“Babe,” Melissa says, looking up at her husband. “What do you think about Bree’s job forcing her to go to a sex club against her will under the guise of journalism?”
I lift my hand to object, but Andy plows over it like it was never there.
“Against your will? Oh, they can’t do that. If you threaten to sue, they’ll back off,” Andy says.
Melissa hops on his back and follows his lead. “Yeah, tell them if they don’t get someone else to do it, you’ll sue for sexual harassment. Andy knows a good lawyer,” she says.
If I frown any harder, there’s no doubt my face will get stuck forever.
