Page 33 of Crushed
CHAPTER 10
Cormac
When it came to Scarlett, I knew enough to know that I wanted her alone. I stopped wasting time on the main floor of the Dahlia District and brought her directly to the Terrariums.
This time, I chose one of the love suites. The love suites were the few private rooms that didn’t have a theme, but instead came stocked with champagne and chocolates. I preferred the dungeon myself, but that night, we were there to negotiate. This was so I had an idea of how she acted one on one, when there weren’t any expectations of sexual acts.
I popped the cork, then poured two flutes of champagne. The bubbles gathered on the sides of the glass and enveloped the sliver of strawberry. Scarlett was wearing a peach babydoll. The straps and bottom of the hem were lined with feathers, making it more like a burlesque costume than lingerie. Her hair was straightened, long side bangs tucked over the side of her forehead. I took a seat beside her.
“You weren’t entertaining anyone,” I said. “You’re always available.”
She lowered her shoulders. “I guess there’s no one else that’s interesting.”
What a line. I wasn’t stupid. I knew she had other intentions than simply enjoying my company. I still had my bets placed on a spy. A rival of mine must have sent her. Whatever the reason, I would find out soon enough.
“You mean to tell me that there’s no interest in the brand new server?” I rubbed my forehead. “I highly doubt that.”
She lifted her hands in a loose gesture. “I’ve talked to a few club members, sure, but that’s part of the protocol here, right? I’m allowed to make my own decisions. Be my own boss. Have the final say about who I work with.”
That was true, to some extent. But each server was bound by an extraordinary amount of debt to Dahlia, which meant that they were controlled by their debts, and by Dahlia.
“Dahlia is your boss,” I said.
“She doesn’t control who I talk to.”
“She will add to your debt if she determines that you’re wasting her time.” I had seen it happen before, to Teagen, back when she first started. Scarlett shrank behind her shoulders, then drank a long gulp from the flute. Maybe she did understand the gravity of ignoring protocol, but didn’t care. Because Scarlett had her own reason to be here.
I was secretly pleased that she had waited for me. But it was a foolish thing to think.
“What is it about me that makes you think I’m interesting, but not another?” I asked.
“Do I have to have a reason?”
“There’s always a reason.”
“Can it be that I think you’re hot?”
I suppressed a smile. The attraction was mutual, but that didn’t matter.
“Many of the men here are well-kept,” I said.
“I guess I just want to know you.”
Her copper eyes glittered with earnestness.
“You want to know me?” I asked, my voice soaked with incredulity.
“You were the first club member I saw back when I first started.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m intrigued by you.”
“So you’re drawn to me.”
“Yes.”
I didn’t buy it. Not for a second. “Would you still say that if I put your hourly-rate for the Terrariums to zero?” I asked.
“Sure. Why not? We’re just talking, right?”
I removed my phone from my pocket, went to the Dahlia District app, and made sure that she was watching. I decreased the amount, all the way from the thousands per hour to zero, waiting for her to stop me. I did it slowly, giving her time, but she did nothing.
