“Ah,” she interrupted her thoughts with a smile to the woman entering the VIP room. “There she is. So nice of you to accept my invitation, Mrs. Warner.”
The woman, who stepped into the minute light with a wariness only Alicia could appreciate, kept her short stature straight and her polished pink lips up. She doesn’t look like she belongs here. For one, she wore a conservative red dress that covered everything but the bottom half of her legs. For another? Her bobbed haircut and the classical way she did her makeup spoke more of the country club type than someone who would be caught alive in a sex club.
The only thing giving her away was a black choker wrapped around her throat. Before, Alicia would have never thought twice about it. The leather choker blended in seamlessly with Mrs. Warner’s outfit. Now, though? Alicia knew better.
“Ms. Moreau,” the woman said with a firm voice. She turned her attention to Alicia. “I don’t believe we have met.”
Before Alicia could introduce herself, Danica spoke. “Allow me to reveal to you my girlfriend, Alicia Colbert.”
“Oh, yes. I remember now. You look quite different in this getup than you did in the Senator’s Ball photographs on Page 6.” Her wry smile was the only thing keeping Alicia from thinking about harsh judgment.Remember, Danica said to take any judgment and turn it into something else. Easier said than done. “Either way, you are quite the lovely woman, Ms. Colbert. Pleasure.” Mrs. Warner did not extend her hand, choosing to stand on the other side of the table.
“Alicia, this is Mrs. Monique Warner. She’s a legend around these parts.” Danica cocked her head. “Suppose you could say we have a friendly rivalry.”
“We’re in the same line of business.”
“More specifically, she keeps poaching my employees to work at her… what are we calling it these days? A pleasure house?”
“Why, yes.” Monique Warner brushed some lint off her arm. “You really should come by sometime, Ms. Moreau. It’s been much too long.”
“I came by to make sure June had a smooth transition from working here to working there. I did my part. Thought I was quite cordial, considering you snatched one of my biggest moneymakers around here.”
Alicia had no idea what was going on or what they were talking about. All she had gathered so far was that there was a business rivalry between her girlfriend and this woman. Did they use to be lovers? Did they use to work together? Why were tinges of jealousy warming Alicia’s body? Was this what it felt like to be so protective of her girlfriend?
Someone caught the sour look on her face. “I assure you, Ms. Colbert,” Monique Warner said with lightness to her voice, “there is no hanky-panky in our background here.” She sniffed. “Ms. Moreau’s not quite my type.”
“Speaking of which, didn’t you just have a baby? I’m both pleasantly surprised and slightly concerned that you’re here tonight, Mrs. Warner.”
“Yes, and it’s not swell spending so much time away from home right now. Yet when your wife demands your first date night in weeks, you are inclined to agree for an evening.” Monique shrugged. “I don’t quite feel like I’m surviving, but I appreciate this distraction you are providing, Ms. Moreau.”
“Well, I did not mean to disrupt your well-deserved date night. Send your wife my sincerest apologies.”
“I will. When she found out who had requested my counsel, she was not… impressed.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I do any business with your wife.”
“Do that.”
Alicia had whiplash from this exchange. Both her girlfriend and their guest glanced at her, Danica wrapping her arm around her, and Monique casually shifting her weight. “Anyway, do pardon our intrusion on your evening, Mrs. Warner,” Danicabegan. “But I wanted to introduce you to Alicia. She could use some friends in our sinful world.”
Monique pursed her lips in curiosity. “Is that so? I admit, your unexpected romance has been the trendy topic as of late. We were listening to a conversation about it in the other room. When you’re in such a public relationship, the world takes notice… apparently.”
“Why, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” She put her hand on the small of Alicia’s bare back. “So will she.”
Monique focused her attention on Alicia’s mask – and her collar and leash. “I may be no stranger to this kind of kink, Ms. Moreau, but I’ve got a feeling that your new… girlfriend… is.”
“You would be correct. I was hoping that you could make room in your endlessly busy schedule for my precious Alicia. She needs guidance.”
Alicia bristled at this consultation. Guidance? What is she talking about? She had never heard of Monique Warner before, or any pleasure houses, or poaching employees, or some woman named June.Wait, did someone mention a June when I worked here?Alicia couldn’t keep up anymore.
“I’m sure something can be arranged.” Monique kept her gaze on Alicia. “If that’s what Ms. Colbert would like.”
Alicia took a chance interrupting her girlfriend when she went to speak in her place. “I would appreciate it, ma’am.” She didn’t know what she agreed to.
“Very well, then. I’m spending most of my time at the Warner Estate these days. I’ll send an invitation for the most auspicious day I can arrange.” She turned. “Have a pleasant evening, Danica. Ms. Colbert.”
“What was that about?” Alicia asked Danica, who motioned for Sarah to find Susan. She wanted to make sure the Warners were extra pampered tonight. “Does that woman know me?”
“That woman happens to be one of the most well-respected lifestyle submissives on this side of the country. I can’t teach you everything. You’ll need some outside guidance, too.”
