Page 27 of Beneath the Blindfold

Dominic shifted his stance. He didn’t seem to be faring much better than I was with the seesaw emotions between resentment and surprise. “Uh, yeah.”

Joseph’s attention sought mine. “I bet you want to know why I asked you here.”

“The question had crossed my mind.”

“I need a favor, and unfortunately, I need it from both of you.”

Well, he was just full of surprises today. “What is it?”

The amber liquid sloshed in Joseph’s drink as he swirled his glass. “I hired a new girl, and I can’t get a read on her.” He paused to take a sip. “Usually I can tell whether or not they’d be good, but this one . . .”

“How’d she do with her . . .” I wasn’t about to remind Dominic how the girls at the club got their spots. Several months ago I’d had too much vodka, or ‘truth serum’ as he called it, and spilled all the gritty details about the club. “With her audition?”

“Christ,” Dominic growled.

But Joseph’s face was stoic. “She didn’t audition. Regan’s only interested in being a sales assistant. She’s made it clear she won’t get on the table.”

As far as I knew, that was a first. All girls started on the table. “Why not?”

“She says she has a boyfriend, but I don’t think that’s her reason.”

“Okay, what is?”

“She’s not submissive,” Joseph said.

I could sense Dominic’s impatience with all of this, and tried to get right to it. “So, what’s the favor?”

“I’m hoping you’ll get on the table,” he said, his dark gaze trapping mine. “And let Regan negotiate the deal when Dominic tries to buy you.”

EIGHT

Regan was a redhead, her hair fire engine red with streaks of copper. She had gorgeous, big blue eyes and high cheekbones, and a slender frame. But beneath her simple black suit dress, I could see power lurked. This woman had a strict workout regimen.

Her sleek nose and bow lips made her look regal. She was beautiful, which was good. Her looks would help her during negotiations. A little older than me, but still young.

“You’ve done this before?” I asked her as I stripped off my clothes and hung them in the empty, open-faced locker in the dressing room. Dominic had been sequestered into one of the holding rooms downstairs, while Joseph went to his office.

My fiancé hadn’t been thrilled with this plan, but I felt like I owed Joseph. I’d abandoned him twice in the last year, first when I’d quit, and once again when I’d gone back to Japan. So I told Dominic I wanted this, and gave him the reminder that he’d be running the show when I was on the table. Total control over me.

So, he was on board.

Regan’s voice was pleasant. “I shadowed with Nina and Tara several times. I know I’m new, but trust me. I’ll get the most I can out of him.”

Even though it came off sounding arrogant, I liked it. Sales were all about confidence, and this woman had it in spades.

I slipped an arm into the silk robe while her gaze lingered at the tattoo on my hip, but she said nothing. She seemed comfortable when I’d gotten naked, not staring, but not averting her eyes either. Like she was assessing me as a product, which was good. I dug through my black hole of a purse until I located a tube of lipstick and went to the mirror to apply it.

“You’re sure you’re up for this?” she asked. “Joseph said you haven’t been back very long.”

I pressed my lips together, spreading the color evenly. We’d decided for a cover story that I’d left Dominic back in Japan, returned to Chicago bitter from the breakup, and flat broke. I was ready to get back to the blindfold club and start earning money.

“Fuck yeah. I might be a little rusty, but I haven’t forgotten what to do.” I gave her a wink. Not that there was all that much to it. I’d be bound, blindfolded, and not supposed to speak.

“All right. Let’s go make some money.” She hooked in her earpiece and motioned toward the door.

If Regan was nervous about her first solo sale, she didn’t show it. Her heels clicked steadily over the floor when she pushed open the door to Room Two and led me inside. She moved with practiced efficiency to prepare. First, the lights, then the thermostat, and finally she went to the cushioned table in the center.

A drawer squeaked as I slipped the robe off and hung it on the hook. Regan already had the straps tethered to the anchors on the table when I made my way toward her.

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