Page 6 of Interview with a Sadist
“Nolan agreed to an interview?” she asks.
“Yes.”
The blonde shakes her head before opening the door all the way and stepping to the side. “Fine.”
While the blonde closes and locks the door behind me, I do my best to take in the scene in front of me. Before arriving, I expected to see sex swings all over the place, and perhaps red couches for people to have sex on in front of tons of onlookers. I thought I’d see sex toys adorning all of the walls for random people to grab and use on each other. I imagined a lot, but to my surprise, I don’t see any of that. Instead, there are only black curtains and walls dividing the entrance from the rest of the club. There’s no music blaring either. It’s obvious the club is closed right now, but I still expected more than this.
“Follow me,” the blonde demands after locking the door, and I silently follow her lead.
We walk through a hallway that has closed doors on either side, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to know what’s behind those doors, but we don’t stop. I see a few curtained off sections as we make our way down the hall before it opens up into a much wider area where the bar is located to the left. In the center of the open space is some sort of large harness hanging from the ceiling and touching the floor. While this certainly isn’t my world, I’m sure the harness is made to dangle someone from the ceiling in front of everyone in attendance. It’s the first sign that this place is a BDSM club, but it’s not the last.
In all four corners of what I now see is some sort of dance floor, are massive silver cages big enough to imprison human beings. The cages are empty, but again, I know better than to think those are just for decoration. I’d bet my paycheck that when The Black Collar is open, those cages become display cases housed by latex-covered deviants.
“You coming?” the blonde’s voice snaps, catching me off guard and forcing me out of a spell I didn’t realize I was in as I stared at the cages.
“Oh, of course. Sorry,” I say, hoping small talk will ease the tension and keep me focused. “I was just checking out the cages. Those are quite … interesting.”
The blonde’s eyes cut over to me for a second, before going back to the path in front of us leading to a staircase at the back of the dance area. She doesn’t respond as we reach the steps and start to ascend.
“So, what’s it like working at a club like this?” I ask, but get no response as I follow her up the stairs. “Does it get pretty raucous in here on the weekend when it’s packed? I imagine a place like this—”
We reach the top of the stairs and the blonde whirls around. “Stop it. Save your questions for Nolan, which he will answer … apparently.”
“You seem bothered by the fact that Nolan is willing to talk to me,” I say, keenly aware of how close the stairs are behind me.
The blonde shakes her head, not in disagreement but in apparent disappointment.
“It doesn’t matter what I’m bothered by,Bree Barrett,” she says, spitting my own name at me like it tastes disgusting in her mouth. “Nolan’s the boss, so if he thinks giving an interview to a journalist from the Philadelphia Inquirer is a good idea, then I’ll escort you to his office. My agreement with it isn’t necessary or required. Nolan leads, and I follow. Gladly. Now, stop trying to get quotes out of me and let’s go.”
Without another word, she spins around and starts walking, leaving me no chance to respond. I don’t want to burn the interview by pushing Nolan Carter’s employees, so I pinch my lips together and follow her again.
We walk past what looks like a VIP section and a second, smaller bar, before we reach another corridor with two doors on each side, and a final door in the center at the end. Although there isn’t a nameplate, it’s obvious from the setup that this is Nolan Carter’s office. My nerves flare up again as we approach the door, and the mean blonde raps on it three times. Nolan’s voice booms from the other side.
“Yes?”
“Nolan, there’s ajournalisthere to see you,” the blonde answers. “Do you want me to throw her out?”
My eyes widen and I frown in shock, wondering how Nolan will answer.
“No, Maddy,” Nolan says with obvious annoyance staining his words. “Let her in.”
The blonde, who I now know is Maddy, glares at me one final time before placing her hand on the black door knob and twisting it.
“Bree Barrett,” she says, looking at me before raising a hand and turning to the man in front of her. “Nolan Carter.”
Maddy steps to the side, and the moment I see him sitting there, my lungs ice over. The air leaves the room and I stand there gawking at the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. By the time I’m able to take in air again, I only manage to mutter two words to myself.
“Holy shit.”
ChapterFive
“Good afternoon, Miss Barrett,” Nolan says as he rises from his seat and starts on a direct path toward me. He steps around his desk, and I’m blessed with my first glimpse of his entire body from head to toe.
Based on my best estimate, Nolan is six-foot-one, maybe two hundred and ten pounds, with the smoothest caramel skin I’ve ever seen. His beard is trimmed short, so it’s more scruff than beard, and it outlines his jaw and full, luscious lips. His hair is thick and curly on top while faded short on the sides, and the man has the audacity to be wearing a white button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a navy-blue tie with a matching vest adorned with eight buttons to keep it fastened. He’s a walking GQ model, and my eyes bulge at the sight of him approaching me with an extended hand.
I clear my throat to knock the ice off my vocal cords. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you, and please call me Bree,” I manage to say as I take Nolan’s hand in mine and shiver as he squeezes it. It’s not enough pressure to hurt me, but it lets me know there is power in those fingers.
“It’s nice to meet you as well. Thanks for coming,” he says, before turning to Maddy, who’s watching like she’s studying us for an exam. “Thank you, Maddy.”
