Black: Part 1 (7 page)
Authors: Kelly Harper
The lounges with their varying styles of music and ambiances are all beginning to fill up. I stop by a few of the tables and shake hands with both those I recognize as returning guests along with new faces that I’ve never seen before. As is typical, there are more than a couple hot twenty-somethings that make it obvious they’re willing to do whatever it takes to spend a little more time with me, and if I hadn’t just emptied myself with Charlotte, I’d be tempted to take one or two of them up on those unspoken offers.
It takes the better part of twenty minutes to clear my way through the club before I end up outside of the Parlor. Darren, one of the more senior members of my security team, is standing just outside of the room. The visible security so near-at-hand gives my special guests a sense of comfort. These are powerful men of privilege, and they like to know that they’re being taken care of—and that they’re properly segregated from the “commoners” that avail themselves to some of
Club Addictions
other amenities.
Having a trusted man nearby at all times also makes it easier for me to know what is going on in my club. And whether or not there are any matters of which I should be aware.
“Good evening, Darren. How’s the night coming along?”
“Mr. Black,” he says, nodding his head in acknowledgement. “Pretty quiet night so far. Only a few guests have been through here.”
“Anyone I should be aware of?”
He nods his head once.
“Mr. Cross is here right now. With a date.”
He adds the last part almost as an afterthought. Its meaning and significance doesn’t need further clarification.
“Glad to hear it. Then I shouldn’t be here long.”
Darren nods his head in understanding and then pulls back the purple privacy curtain that separates the Parlor from the hallway outside. Stepping beyond the curtains transports me into a much quieter and much more elegant world. The lighting in the Parlor is kept low, and the tables are spread far enough apart that the VIPs don’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping.
Giving a cursory glance around the room, I note that a few of the tables in the Parlor are occupied. I disregard all of the others when I see the man I’m looking for sitting in his usual spot. He’s displaying that level of charm that seems to work on most of the women in his life. Across from him is a girl with curly auburn hair. She doesn’t look like the usual type of girl I see him here with—but I’m not one to judge.
Declan Cross was one of the first investors in
Club Addiction
, and he was also one of the first VIP members—a perk of his contributions to our ongoing success. I’ve known him for a few years, and he’s quickly become one of my most trusted confidantes in the city.
A smile brightens his face when he sees me drawing near. He rises out of his seat just as I come to a stop at their table.
“Calvin Black, the one and only,” he says, thrusting his hand out to me.
I grasp it and give it a strong shake.
“Declan, it’s good to see you.” I turn my smile to the girl—she’s even more attractive up close. “I see you’ve brought a friend…”
“Calvin this is Annabelle.” To her he adds, “Annabelle, Calvin is the owner of this fine place, and a dear friend.”
“It’s good to meet you… Mr. Black, was it?”
She holds her hand out to me and I cup it in mine, ever so gently.
“To you, it’s Calvin,” I say, lifting the back of her palm to my lips and pressing a soft kiss into it. “And believe me, the pleasure is all mine.”
She’s quick to mask it, but I catch the beginnings of an embarrassed blush showing on her cheeks.
“Easy there, cowboy. This one is staying with me tonight,” Declan says, only half jokingly.
She cocks an eyebrow at him.
“So much confidence…” she teases. “What if I like Calvin, here, better?”
For a split second Declan actually looks concerned, but it disappears just as fast, replaced by one of his cocky, smug looks.
“Then it would be your loss,” he promises.
The trickiest part about glad-handing with the VIPs is knowing when to excuse yourself. This playful flirting between the two of them, at my expense, is the perfect opportunity.
I grin and clap Declan on the back, keeping my eyes locked on his beautiful date.
“I can promise that what he says is true,” I tell her. “Unfortunately, I’m too busy to be much fun to anybody, tonight.”
Her head tilts in a mildly dissatisfied way and she diverts her attention back to Declan.
“Looks like you’ll get more time to impress me, after all.”
“I can assure you he won’t disappoint,” I say, confidently, then turn to face my friend. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything you need, yes?”
We grip hands one more time and he jerks his head in agreement.
“Your people know just how to take care of me.”
“Good. Let’s get together soon and catch up, it’s been too long.”
He agrees that we will, and I take my leave. It won’t be long before the club really starts filling up, and I need to put in some more face time out in the primary rooms. It’s my job to make sure that my guests have a memorable experience at
Club Addiction
, and I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to make that happen is for the owner to be present and willing to impress.
Call me a kiss-ass if you want, but business is good.
But I’m not even able to make it out of the Parlor before I hear something that stops me dead in my tracks.
My heart is suddenly pounding furiously in my chest. It feels like I just finished sprinting a marathon. That laugh, coming from the corner of the room…
I take a couple slow, deep breaths before turning my head toward the table at the far end of the room. Sitting there is a couple that I’d first noted when I came in, but I hadn’t thought anything special of them, at the time. Now, I think differently.
The rest of the world seems to melt away as I focus on that one, single table.
I recognize the VIP sitting there, facing the center of the room. His name is Wade Foster and he’s one of my newest VIPs. He’s got a smug, little smile on his face, not completely unlike Declan’s. I know that kind of smile. I’ve
used
that kind of smile.
The smile is directed at the girl sitting across from him with her back to me. But I don’t need to see her face to know who she is.
It’s the laugh that gave her away.
She’s the girl from all those years ago that still dances through my dreams every night. The only girl I’ve ever really loved. And the reason I’ll never love anyone else again.
Sofie Bennett… What the fuck are you doing in my club?
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Books by Kelly Harper
The Professor Series
The By You Series
The Power Play Series
The Black Series
Black: Part 1
Black: Part 2 (coming soon)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Like for many, my life didn’t really begin until my 30th birthday. That was when I decided I was done with the corporate ladder and was going to start publishing some of my stories to see if people liked them. Fast forward a couple of years, and I’m still amazed that I’m able to spend my time doing something I’ve loved doing since I was a little kid.
Most of my free time is spent working in front of the computer at various coffee shops around Houston. But when I’m not working on my next book, I’m probably sitting in front of the TV with my eyes glued to whatever Netflix show I’m currently binge watching. Do we really have to wait this long for the next season of Orange Is The New Black?!
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