“I don’t blame you, I’d feel the same way if we ever accomplish with Serenity what you have with Amatory. I’m sorry, we haven’t had a formal introduction. I’m Evander Ledston. My husband and co-owner, Eli, is just handling a small problem with our wife, but he’ll be here shortly.” Evander gestured to the chairs in front of the desk. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
“No, don’t make yourself comfortable,” Violet said tersely. “Evander, this is a breach of security. We cannot allow guests to check in using false names. What good is a background check if people can weasel their way around it?”
“Either take a seat, Violet, or we can discuss what the housekeeping crew found in your cabin this morning.”
Hot, angry color leeched from her face slowly, her eyes going blank as she thought about whatever had been discovered. For a moment, Reaux thought she might faint, but she battled fiercely to recover.
Good girl, he thought with approval, then wondered, what was she hiding in her cabin that could provoke such a reaction?
“My cabin is my private space, Evander, and it is not open to public discussion. The issue at hand is him,” she continued with steel underlying her thickened accent, jerking her thumb at Reaux. “Guests are permitted to use alternative names within the club for privacy and safety reasons if they wish; they are not allowed to fabricate false identities for membership applications or to deliberately subvert security measures. He broke a fundamental rule.”
“Violet—”
“If you won’t deal with him appropriately, I’ll wait for Elias.”
“Violet,” the owner said again with a little less patience, “I can assure you no rules have been broken. Mr. Fontenot contacted us several weeks ago to set up his account and request permission to sign in using the alternative name.”
It took a moment for that to process, Reaux thought, then barely refrained from smirking when it dawned on her she’d been played.
Yes, little beignet, I’m always at least one step ahead of you.
She didn’t splutter, she didn’t rage or throw the nearest thing to hand—which was fortunate, given that the closest item was the desk lamp.
“Now that you’re on the premises,” Evander continued, speaking to Reaux now, “we considered your proposal and we’re prepared to accept it.”
“Excellent. That makes me very happy.” Reaux turned the smirk on Violet when she tried to murder him with the fire inher eyes. “I’ll have the funds transferred over immediately once I return to my cabin.”
“What the hell did you do, Boudreaux?” she demanded in a hiss.
“Simply ensured that your time is mine, Bennie. Mine is, as ever, yours without strings.”
“Over my dead body,” she proclaimed vehemently. “I’d rather spend time with roadkill. Rotten roadkill. I can refuse any guest requests—”
“Only if you have a genuine reason for doing so. Unless you believe Mr. Fontenot poses a risk to your health or personal safety, we can override the refusal. Considering you’ve already blocked one guest from your services without providing an adequate reason, I’m not inclined to allow a second within a week.”
Reaux swore he heard a tooth crack as she clenched her jaw.
“Then you’ll have my resignation on your desk by the end of the day.”
“Not a smart card to play,” a smooth, British voice said from the doorway. “Planning on leaving us in the lurch, Violet? I expected much more from you, I must admit.”
The stern admonishment brought color to her cheeks in a fresh wave, and an unbearable misery to her eyes. The soft heart of her was still alive, expertly hidden, and still susceptible to the emotions of others.
“The terms of your contract state that you are required to give us a month’s notice, Violet.”
“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“But for how long, I wonder. I don’t appreciate being informed of imminent departures by the housekeeping crew—and before you curse out the maid, she did the right thing.” Anger snapped in the new voice, seconds before a tall, dark-haired powerhouse of a man rounded the desk to stand beside Evander. He wasn’tas tall or broad as the blond Dom; his power came from within. “She wanted to know whether she should continue with her usual routine or wait until you’d left to do a deep clean ready for the next occupant. Can you imagine my surprise, Violet?”
The slight hesitation before she answered told Reaux she was lying. “I wouldn’t have left without honoring my obligations, Elias.”
“We both know that’s a lie. Why else would you pack up your entire cabin if you were planning on staying another month? My concern is what’s triggered your sudden unhappiness. Since the incident with Adrian, you’ve been curt and borderline rude, reclusive, fucking miserable.”
“She needs to be fucked,” Reaux stated simply.
Unamused blue eyes landed on him. “Oh? And who might you be?”
Evander stepped in. “Eli, this is Boudreaux Fontenot.”
