Page 72 of Owned (Office Intrigue Duet 8)
“Are you speaking from experience?”
Talon grinned. “Several of my possessions are damn near close to perfection, rarely causing disruption. However, a couple are still young enough not to know better. They keep me on my toes. They don’t push me, though. If they did, they’d be gone. Like I said, they’re human, so I can forgive.” Talon’s grin widened. “With the right amount of punishment, of course.”
“Of course.”
“It’s taken several years to smooth the rough spots with my own possessions as well as those in the program, adapting along the way, but we’ve managed.”
It appeared he had.
“We’re rather secretive and for good reason,” Talon noted. “Owned, Incorporated does not exist on paper. It’s buried beneath an array of shell companies to ensure anonymity for those who’ve utilized our services. If word got out about what it is I do here, I’m sure we’d have some not-so-positive publicity, not to mention, some very displeased Owners.”
“You’d be accused of human trafficking,” I told him, because I could see how some would make that leap.
“At the very least, yes. But I assure you, everyone here has made a choice to be here. Turns out, it’s far more profitable when everyone involved is willing. Owners, possessions. They eagerly indulge their fetishes, and I give them the privacy and security to do so, eliminating unnecessary risks.”
While I’d been immersed in the BDSM world for quite some time, I found Talon’s take on it fascinating. And while the majority of people wouldn’t understand his needs, or those this group exhibited, it was there all the same. And he’d been profitable.
I was almost envious that I hadn’t come up with the idea myself.
“Is there anyone else who provides a similar service?” I asked.
“Sure.” Talon chuckled. “Swipe left or right and you’ll have the chance to meet someone who’s willing to bounce on top of you for a single night, maybe more. Proclaim your desire to find happily ever after whether you’re a Christian single, a farmer, a cat lover, snake lover, tattoo enthusiast, or whatever, and you can pay someone to meet another who might share your interests, but most likely modified their profile to suit their current needs. As for whether or not they’re who they say they are … that’s your gamble. But might I suggest you always wear a condom. I seriously doubt safety is a concern of theirs.”
I laughed. “You’ve given it some thought, have you?”
Talon smiled. “It’s not that I’m knocking those applications. They work quite well in the vanilla world. But for those of us with a proclivity for something darker, they hold no value.”
He was right. They didn’t.
“Since I have the ability and means to see through the bullshit, to identify the imposters and eliminate them before they ever get their greedy claws into what will ultimately belong to another, I figure I might as well offer my services. Which is beneficial to many, because those who join Owned are simply looking for a happily ever after that doesn’t conform to polite society.”
I nodded in agreement. “To each his own, right?”
“Exactly.”
“I think the question of the hour is: how much does my sister know about what goes on here?”
There was genuine concern on Talon’s face when he spoke. “Nothing. As of yet. My intention is to show her around this morning.”
I ignored the urge to ask him what other intentions he had with my sister, choosing rather to peer around, trying to decide how Braelyn would react to this. I’d never sheltered her or babied her. Not because I didn’t want to. More because she would have none of it. However, I knew Braelyn to be flexible and tolerant, so I figured there was a chance she wouldn’t run for the hills. Didn’t mean she would accept all this with open arms.
Granted, if I’d known the details of Talon’s operation prior to asking for his help, I wasn’t sure I would’ve all but thrown my sister at his feet.
“Any more questions?” Talon asked.
“Not at the moment.” I figured I’d have plenty once it all sank in.
“Then let me introduce you to a few people.”
He gave me a brief tour of the main floor, introducing me to the day chef, some of the kitchen staff, then on to a couple of employees who’d evidently made the trip with us.
“And this is Gideon Malone. He’s my head trainer, manages the place, if you will,” Talon introduced when we approached a tall blond man with square features that somehow formed an attractive face.
Gideon nodded, clearly waiting to hear who I was.
“Gideon, meet Ransom.”
“Pleasure,” Gideon said, holding out his hand.
I shook it, smiled. “You’ve got a nice setup here.”
Gideon appeared pleased by the praise. “We try.”
“I’m giving Ransom the dime tour,” Talon informed him. “Don’t let us keep you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gideon said, then ventured toward a group of naked possessions, barking orders upon his approach.
