Donna attacked her chimichanga in response. "Like that will ever happen. He's creepy. Sometimes I think he follows me. He sure does pop up frequently."
Jessica smirked. "The office isn't that big, Donna. And people do eat lunch. He wanted Mexican today, and so did we. That's all."
"I guess," Donna said with a grimace. "I don't know what it is about him that gets to me—I mean he says things, or did, until I told him off in front of everybody. Now he just looks creepy. Stares." She glanced over at him and caught his eye. "Like now."
When Jessica glanced over, however, he was eating. "What?"
"Never mind. Maybe I'm on edge because Eric's gone. He says it's nothing to worry about too."
The two finished, paid their bills, and chatted happily as they walked back to work. Neither of them had much planned for the weekend, other than a yoga class for Jessica and a determination to sleep late for Donna. They decided to catch a movie the next evening. "I'm working a few hours in the afternoon, though," Donna said.
"Right, your part-time gig," Jessica said. "I could pick you up there, if you want."
Donna grinned. Won't you be surprised! "Sure! Come at six, and I'll give you the ten-cent tour."
Saturday evening, when Jessica pulled up to the address Donna had given her, she thought her GPS must have made an error. What the what? Although there were plenty of cars in the parking lot, the building appeared to be deserted. She called Donna's cell. "I must've written it down wrong or something," she said. "I'm here, but this can't be it."
There was a giggle at the other end. "Hang on, I'll see if you're outside." In few seconds, Donna stepped out the front door and waved to Jessica. "Come on in!"
Jessica couldn't get over the change from exterior to interior. While the building looked all but abandoned from the parking lot, as soon as she walked in the door, she knew this was a thriving business. Behind a counter, was a little desk area, a couch, a few chairs. All the furnishings were sleek, modern and black. The lighting was dimmer than usual, the walls painted a dark red. She recognized the lobby from Donna's article. "Wow," she said. "This is the club you wrote about. What exactly is it that you do here? Or shouldn't I ask?"
Donna grabbed her purse from behind the counter. "Mostly, I just man the front door and check people in and out. It's a club—people pay by the month or year, come as often as they want to, stay as long as they want, within reason, of course. Fees go toward upkeep, new equipment. Cleanliness is a top priority, that, and privacy." She lowered her voice. "Insurance, of course. Definitely not advertising, though."
Jessica said nothing. A secret club that a lot of people, apparently, knew about. She'd had no idea that business was so good for the club, however. "So… couples only?"
Donna shrugged. "I think most of the members are couples, but there are single folks, too. Madame X—the owner, that's what they call her, anyway—has a website and a chat room, so members hook up there with someone they find who has… mutual interests. An elite few hook up with her."
"Whatever floats your boat, I suppose," Jessica said breezily. "Are any of the rooms open, so I can see one?"
They walked down the hallway. "It's early still, so there are some vacant. There are six rooms… that I know of. There may be more, but those would be private for Madame X." She lowered her voice. "She may even live here, for all I know. I never asked, but there's a locked door that may lead to an apartment. I've seen her come from that direction first thing in the morning. Here we are—"
Jessica drew in a breath. She'd always considered herself sexually adventurous, but this room obviously took it to a whole different level. "Is that for…" Her voice trailed off. A black metal contraption, a sort of swing set with chains and straps, occupied the middle of the room. She tried to imagine how one would get into the seat and what kind of positions would be possible.
"Indeed. There's another one hanging from the ceiling," Donna said, pointing overhead. She watched Jessica's face with amusement as she explained the various gizmos around the room. "The rooms are soundproof, so you'd never know from outside what's going on inside. There are panic buttons, of course, in case of emergencies, but I've never heard of them being used."
"Sometimes if I'm here just a few hours, I don't even see anyone at all," she continued, walking around the room. "They've checked in before I arrive and don't leave before my shift ends. Otherwise, I go in and get the room ready for the next folks. It all gets cleaned, equipment put back. Some people bring their own things, though. The more, um, intimate items."
Jessica put her hands up to the sides of her head and popped her fingers open. "Mind. Blown. I mean, I read your article, but all of this… it just didn't register." She pointed to a slender padded bench with an open headrest, more chains and restraints. The bench was slanted and looked immanently adjustable. She envisioned herself on it, face down, hands and ankles bound, Worth standing behind her, taking her. She cleared her throat and looked at her watch. "We'll be late for the movie if we don't leave now."
Did the AC go off? Without realizing it, she had started fanning herself.
Donna giggled. "Ready when you are. Let me text M and tell her I'm leaving." When
