Page 13 of Interview with a Sadist
“Wow, that actually makes sense,” I reply. “So, your goal is to make sure the experience here is, shall I say, kink-friendly?”
“Of course. There’s a lot that goes on here, and we don't intend to water it down for the sake of people who aren't in the lifestyle. Here, we embrace who we are, and we embrace our kinks.”
I nod along as I write the phraseEmbrace your kinksonto my notepad and underline it three times.
“I think your regular patrons would certainly appreciate that,” I say, but my eyes linger on the underlined phrase. Something about it threatens to lock me in and I have to shake my head to push it away. “Umm, so tell me more about the club. We’ve sort of danced around the topic of what goes on here when the club is open, which is what our readersreallywant to know. So, what exactly does The Black Collar have to offer to those who get past the questionnaire?”
Nolan leans forward for the first time in a while and flashes a brief, mischievous smile.
“Well, when it comes to what goes on behind our closed doors, it’d be much easier to show you than it would be to tell you, Miss Barrett.”
My eyes bulge. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means we’re done for today,” Nolan says. He looks down at the blue-faced watch on his wrist and frowns at the time. “I have another meeting I have to get to, so let’s continue this conversation tomorrow night when you come back.”
“Excuse me?” I snip, as Nolan stands like he’s already prepared to escort me out. “Wait, you think I’m coming back tomorrow?”
“Of course you are,” he answers quickly. “How else could we continue the interview?”
“I … Mr. Carter,” I stammer as I stand up with a racing heart. “Will the club be open tomorrow night?”
“Of course,” he says. “You didn’t expect to get a great interview for your readers without experiencing The Black Collar scene for yourself, did you? Besides, the best way to learn about the lifestyle after you’ve heard about it, is to see it for yourself. So, come back tomorrow night, and I’ll show you everything. By the time we’re done, Miss Barrett, you’ll have an experience like no other—a story about the club and the lifestyle that onlyyoucould tell from your experience. I’m going to give you, andonly you, exclusive access to both me and The Black Collar. Don't let your fear of stepping outside your comfort zone convince you to throw the opportunity away.”
Worry takes over my face as I think about walking into this club while it’s full of party-goers. What will I see? How will I be treated? Will it be too intense for me, and most importantly, will I like it?
“Umm, I don't know what to say,” I state as I stand in front of Nolan and lift the recorder off the table. I press stop and shove it back into my clutch. “I guess I just thought we could do it all in one sitting. Even if we had to do multiple sessions, I thought we would do it while the club was closed.”
“Nah, that would only be scratching the surface,” Nolan says. “What I have to offer is much deeper than that, and if you're willing to follow me, I’ll lead you into a sea of passion and excitement you never knew existed. You simply have to be unafraid of the dark. So, will you follow me, Bree?”
The sound of my first name floating off of his tongue continues to make me feel like I’m swimming through thin air, and it coaxes me. Nolan has a sense of gravity about him, and it pulls me to a place I’m not sure I want to be. He scares me and excites me simultaneously, and no matter how afraid I am, the urge to say yes to him is a riptide pulling me out to sea.
I should say no. Regardless of how gorgeous the owner is, The Black Collar isn't my type of scene. I’m used to tea and iced coffee with Melissa and Teagan, not leather-clad masochists wearing blindfolds. But, I know Chase would lose his mind if backed out of this interview just because I don't agree with the lifestyle Nolan proudly flaunts. Hell, I’m not sure Chase wouldn't fire me for dropping this story without a reasonable cause. So, I don't really have a choice.
“Okay,” I answer, looking Nolan in his eyes and finding comfort there. “Yes, I’ll follow you.”
Denial
ChapterTen
“You’re kidding. Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“Nope, I’m not,” I say, lifting my freshly poured glass of red wine to my lips. “It was … absolutely insane. I … he … I’m not even sure how to describe it.”
“How aboutbonkers?” Teagen chimes in, giggling to herself. Maybe it’s the effects of the wine, but probably not.
“Umm, sure,” I say, trying to hide my frown behind my wine glass. “I guess that works.”
“Bree, you’re telling us you had an interview with the owner of that depraved, sketchy sex club?” Melissa asks. “I never would’ve thought in a million years that anyone I know would ever step foot in that place. I can’t believe Chase gave you that assignment.”
I don’t know why I told them about the interview. I guess Melissa, Teagan, and I have been friends for so long now that talking to them about what I have going on in my life is just second nature. Teagan and I were there when Melissa talked about Andy getting a little too friendly with someone at his job. Melissa and I were there when Teagan slept with her college professor before meeting Russell. This is what friends are for, and we’ve always done it. So why does it feel like I may have made a mistake this time?
The three of us are at Melissa’s dinner table, an open bottle of wine sitting in the middle like a centerpiece. We’re dressed comfortably tonight, all of us wearing sweatpants and baggy T-shirts for a girl’s night in, even though Melissa’s husband, Andy, is in the back of the house somewhere trying to stay out of sight. After such an eventful day at work, I needed to meet up with my friends and have a drink, although I can’t pinpoint exactly why I feel the need to unwind after leaving The Black Collar. Usually I reserve these girl’s nights for stressful days, but stress isn’t the word I’d use to describe how I felt as I walked out of Nolan Carter’s office. Since speaking to him and hearing the story about the sadistic sex he had on his desk, I’ve just felt tense.
Luckily, Melissa’s house is the perfect setting to relax. Whoever Andy hired as their decorator was obsessed with eggshell. The walls and couches are all eggshell, while the countertops in the kitchen are light gray. Melissa chose curtains to match the counters and cabinets, and while the entire place looks sterile, it’s still beautiful with plush couches and gorgeous art on every wall, which is a good distraction from the table when I start to feel flustered by Teagan parroting Melissa.
“Yeah, it’s crazy that Chase gave you that assignment,” Teagan says, right on cue.
“It’s not that crazy,” I answer, trying to keep annoyance out of my voice. “It’s part of my job to investigate stuff like this. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
