I returned with a set of keys, passed them over.
“Deirdre and her team are upstairs. They’re remodeling the bedroom.”
“What’s it turning into now?”
“A fancy living room.”
“Oooh. I can’t wait to see that.” She clapped her hands with glee. “I do love seeing what Trent comes up with when it comes to ordinary household rooms. Then again, most of us aren’t as privileged as he is. My bedroom definitely isn’t as decadent as the one he had designed.” She turned on her heel, followed me toward the scanning area. “Do you think his house is equipped like that? All the hidden torture devices and bondage equipment?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“Is yours?” she inquired.
Her question had me pulling up short. “Actually, no.”
“Really?” She sounded sincerely surprised.
“Really.”
“Why not?” Cambria stood back as I stepped into the reception area, rummaged through the desk drawer.
I took a seat in the chair, pulled the drawer out farther. “Never had time.”
“Hmm.”
I stopped my search and stared up at her. “What does that mean?”
She shrugged. “I just figured you for the type of Dom who was ready for anything.”
“Yeah, well. Too much on my plate to worry about that.”
“By that, are you referring to a personal life?”
I pushed the drawer back in, pulled out another. “There it is,” I muttered.
After grabbing a stack of blank RFID cards that we used for membership IDs, I closed the drawer and got to my feet.
I held them out to Cambria. “The training roster for the upcoming class is on my desk in my office. Can you please get these done? They’ll be here for orientation tomorrow night and I’d like to have them ready.”
“Sure.” She took the cards. “You ignored my question.”
“What question was that?” I asked, making my way back toward the stairs.
“Your personal life.”
I waved her off as I started up. “No time for that. Too busy.”
Cambria laughed behind me. “I’ll just wait for the electrician.”
I simply nodded, preoccupied with my never-ending to-do list. I was meeting a client at one for a formal lunch meeting and I was already running behind. I’d been hoping for a few minutes to go over my presentation. Unfortunately, there never seemed to be enough time in the day, so something was always pushed aside. Good thing for everyone, I was good under pressure.
“Hey, Edge?” Deirdre called out as I was rounding the landing to head up to the third floor. “I had to requisition a piece of equipment from Dallas. I called Dylan. He’s getting it handled. Should be here by Wednesday.”
“Great.” I kept walking. Deirdre was used to my distraction, so she wouldn’t take it personally. I trusted her to get things done and she worked well with Dylan Thomas and his wife, Sara. They managed Dichotomy’s Dallas location and were valuable assets when it came to getting things done with minimal issue or cost.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, glanced at it as I stepped into my office. It was the alarm I’d set to remind me I had to leave. Tucking it back into my slacks, I grabbed my planner and was starting to rummage around for my iPad when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Looking for this?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Deirdre holding out my iPad.
“Actually, yes.”
I took it from her hand, slid it into the planner, and took a deep breath.
“Relax, Edge. You look tense.”
I inhaled slowly, exhaled deeply. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
She chuckled as she turned and left. “You always say that.”
I started for the stairs again. “I always mean it, too.”
That was the way I rolled. The more pressure, the better I handled myself.
The story of my life.
Jamie
WHEN TIFFANY CALLED LAST NIGHT, I PROMISED to meet her at the mall today for lunch. Since she spent every extra minute working at one of the hip clothing stores, we’d gotten used to sitting in the food court and scarfing down chicken sandwiches while sharing French fries and a chocolate shake.
“I want to hear all about the club. What was it like?” Tiffany blurted the instant my butt touched the hard wooden seat.
“Nice.”
Tiffany stared at me, disbelief making her eyes wide, her mouth hang open. “Nice? That’s all you’ve got?” She feigned hurt and disappointment as she rummaged through the paper sack, pulling out the French fries. “You go to the hottest BDSM club in the nation and you describe it as nice.” Big blue eyes latched onto my face. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”
I laughed, unwrapping my sandwich. I had to be back at school shortly, so I had to be efficient.
“Fine. Tell me about him, then. What was he like?”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. “He was … Dom-like.”
My friend burst out in laughter, drawing the attention of everyone around us. I rolled my eyes, ignored all those curious gazes now shifting our way.
