Page 21 of The Secret Club
“Hey Roxy,” Sophie says breezily with a warm smile as she slides in behind the coffee counter.
“Hey Sophie,” I reply brightly, looking up over the coffee machine. “How are you feeling this morning?” I say with a wink.
“Oh you know, toasty.” Sophie winks back. We giggle in a shared unspoken joke bumping shoulders. Then we straighten up, remembering where we are, we put back on our professional faces and demeanors and begin our shift together.
The morning passes like any other Monday until noon brings in the early risers who have just finished the circuit of 18 holes of golf. I am busy restocking the shelves with teas and fresh coffee beans, Sophie is at the till. I’m not looking but see the men who have just saddled up to the counter in my periphery.
“Flat white and two cappuccinos please Sophie,” a sexily husky voice requests.
“Flat white and two caps coming up. I’ll bring them over, please take a seat,” Sophie purrs in reply. My head shoots up, and I side eye Sophie and then look at the man who is ordering. He’s tall and pleasant looking but I’ve never seen him before. Maybe he visits after my shifts usually or on the weekends?
Turning my attention back to Sophie, she runs up the order in the till and begins to make the gentlemen’s coffees. She’s going through the usual motions to make the coffees, but she has a slight tremor about her. Like she’s been caught off balance. I move across to stand next to her and hand her another two cups for the cappuccinos. “Everything ok?” I ask quietly, genuinely intrigued. I’m trying to work out if Sophie is happy about this man being here or is unnerved.
“Everything is fine,” Sophie chirps in a high pitch tone. The bright reply is in contrast to her lowered chin and mischievous sparkling eyes.
“Ok,” I say, convinced she is fine but also well aware I’m reading something going on between the lines. “Lunch at 1?”
“Perfect.” Sophie grins at me with a wicked smile that does not show her teeth.
I watch as she sashays over to the table with her tray of drinks. Placing them on the table in front of each of the men, they all give her their attention. I can see them speaking and joking around with her and she laughs along with them before sashaying back over to the counter. The devilish look she gives me has me wanting time to speed up an hour so we can leave, and I can find out who that man is. The last hour is painful as I watch each minute of the clock, dying to ask questions but knowing that I need to uphold the professional expectation (and confidentiality agreement) of no gossiping at work.
I keep peeking at the men. All are attractive in their own way and in their mid thirties, all wearing wedding bands. The one who ordered has long blond hair tied back in a slick ponytail. Easy for me to spot if I see him again but I’m sure I haven’t seen him before.
Thirty minutes later the men stand up and start heading out. Blondy strolls over to the counter where Sophie is trying to look busy. She looks up as he gets closer to her and whispers in her ear. Sophie blushes, narrows her eyes at him with a coy smile. He looks equally coy as he dips his head in a nod, which I can only assume is a confirmation or a goodbye. Gahh I need to get out of here now and find out who this man is. My imagination is going wild. He must be a member who has booked Sophie, but for what? And when?
Once the men have left and are out of sight, Sophie turns to me and bends over fanning her face. I’ve never seen her look so flustered. Raising my eyebrow at her when she catches my eye I give her a look that I hope says ‘you’re going to tell me every last detail at lunch.’
Thomas and Ava arrive just before 1pm, and I couldn’t behappier to see them. I thread my arm through Sophie’s and pull her out of Café Marion and then out of the golf club leading her firmly towards her car. It’s only when we’re safely inside that I turn to her and say, “So! Tell Me! I’m dying right now Sophie!”
Sophie lets out a breath and signs. “Where to start?” She puts her head back on the seat’s headrest. I’m bemused, but I hold in the urge to shake her and ask her to hurry up with the story, I’m dying to know!
“You remember when I said it’s hard to know who each job is for when posting because club members have access and can see the jobs posted and often cut and paste a listing? Each time they post a job they are allocated a new one off member number, only management knows who they are when they post a job?”
Yes…”
“Well that was Kieran. I haven’t mentioned him because it’s been a few months. He is my one.”
“Your one?” I ask, wondering if she means the one she wants to marry.
“He’s the one who got under my skin. He’s the one that I hope I get every time I take a certain type of job. He’s the one that I shouldn’t want or like or enjoy. But I can’t help it.”
“You have feelings for him?” I ask curiously.
“Yes and no. He’s just the one who gives me butterflies. Makes my knees weak and turns my world upside down after a job booking. I’ve decided not to fight it, just enjoy it now.”
“What is his kink?” I ask. It’s such a shame you can’t look at someone and know. But then that goes both ways and I’d prefer if no one looked at me and knew mine.
“CNC.”
“Which is?”
“Consensual non-consent.”
“Which is…?”
“He likes to run after me in a balaclava in the dark, he likes me to fight when he captures me and fucks me.”
“Oh right.” I’m surprised. I have never heard of this before. I assumed there was only the black and white, consent or non-consent. But it sounds interesting, from the way my body is reacting it sounds like something I’d be interested in trying. “And I’m guessing you enjoy this kink? Or is it mostly him?”
