Ob-Knox-ious.”
“You’re all set to go?”
“I leave at eleven p.m. so I can make the morning meetings.”
“I don’t envy you the red-eye flight. I used to take that one home when I was on leave.
I figured I’d rather sleep on the plane than lose time with my family.”
“You never talk about your family.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “We can’t act civilized to each other long enough to
have a conversation about anything.”
“That’s a fact.”
“But when you get back, we need to talk.” Shit. That sounded like he wanted to revisit
their discussion from yesterday. “AboutBlack Arts. We need to revamp the MMA program, and we’ve got a chance to hire the
premier MMA trainer.”
“Why is he available?”
“He needs a change. I have a rough idea of Black Arts financials. This guy won’t be
cheap, but hiring him could actually solve half a dozen of our problems with the programs.
Problems that Ronin hasn’t wanted to face.”
“I’m in agreement that changes need to be made. After I get back, bring me the guy’s
name, his salary needs, his qualifications, and we’ll hammer it out.”
“Sounds good. Safe travels.” He turned and started to leave.
She said, “Knox?” as he reached the door.
“Yeah?”
“Black Arts isn’t all we need to talk about.”
He couldn’t look at her when he said, “I know.” Before he said something stupid, he
walked out.
CHAPTER FIVE
TWISTED was dead Saturday night.
Knox was in his rotation as bartender. Due to low attendance, he had plenty of time
to watch the dozen members who had the lounge area to themselves. Jake and Ginny and
were deep in a negotiation. Bill and Joe were facing the fireplace, and the way Joe’s
head kept bobbing, Bill was enjoying more than a glass of wine. Master Kirk had Patsy
wrapped in a blanket after a scene. Leanne sat on the floor by Mistress Annabelle,
rubbing her feet. Two new female submissives were chatting in the corner, sending
pointed looks to two Doms who looked like they were discussing sports.
Master Merrick slid into a seat at the bar. “Knox.”
“What can I get you tonight, sir?”
“Tanqueray and tonic.”
After Knox got Merrick’s approval on the drink, he rested his elbows on the bar. “Slow
night.”
“It happens. My bottom line doesn’t change if members show up or not. It’s nice to
have a break once in a while. Which suits you tonight, since bartending isn’t your
thing.”
Knox grinned. “I’m a beer guy, so I’m great at popping tops and pulling drafts.”
“With mixed drinks, it’s all about taking the time to get the ratios right.” Merrick
ran his hand through his hair. “I haven’t talked to you in a while. How’ve you been?”
“Good. Busy at the dojo since Ronin is out of the country. I always think he walks
around like lord of his domain . . . until I actually have to do his job. Then I remember
how much it sucks to be the big boss. How much pressure there is.”
“It’s not as easy as some assume, being the lord of your own domain,” he said dryly.
“I swear the majority of my time is spent dealing with privacy and security issues.
Doesn’t leave free time to enjoy the fruits of my labors.”
“I haven’t seen you in here much lately.”
Merrick poked the ice cubes in his drink with his straw. “The Friday night crew is
in need of my presence. Not the staff, but the members who decide to test their limits
or try something new. It can be entertaining. I was here last Saturday, just briefly,
to meet with a new Domme to the club.” He glanced up. “You were here, right?”
He nodded. “I was booked in the back.”
“Did you meet Mistress B?” he asked casually.
Knox leaned in. “Yes. And because I work with that woman every goddamn day, I recognized
her right away. The mask and the platinum wig didn’t fool me. She was as surprised
to see me as I was to see her.”
“I’ll bet. I found
“You’re all set to go?”
“I leave at eleven p.m. so I can make the morning meetings.”
“I don’t envy you the red-eye flight. I used to take that one home when I was on leave.
I figured I’d rather sleep on the plane than lose time with my family.”
“You never talk about your family.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “We can’t act civilized to each other long enough to
have a conversation about anything.”
“That’s a fact.”
“But when you get back, we need to talk.” Shit. That sounded like he wanted to revisit
their discussion from yesterday. “AboutBlack Arts. We need to revamp the MMA program, and we’ve got a chance to hire the
premier MMA trainer.”
“Why is he available?”
“He needs a change. I have a rough idea of Black Arts financials. This guy won’t be
cheap, but hiring him could actually solve half a dozen of our problems with the programs.
Problems that Ronin hasn’t wanted to face.”
“I’m in agreement that changes need to be made. After I get back, bring me the guy’s
name, his salary needs, his qualifications, and we’ll hammer it out.”
“Sounds good. Safe travels.” He turned and started to leave.
She said, “Knox?” as he reached the door.
“Yeah?”
“Black Arts isn’t all we need to talk about.”
He couldn’t look at her when he said, “I know.” Before he said something stupid, he
walked out.
CHAPTER FIVE
TWISTED was dead Saturday night.
Knox was in his rotation as bartender. Due to low attendance, he had plenty of time
to watch the dozen members who had the lounge area to themselves. Jake and Ginny and
were deep in a negotiation. Bill and Joe were facing the fireplace, and the way Joe’s
head kept bobbing, Bill was enjoying more than a glass of wine. Master Kirk had Patsy
wrapped in a blanket after a scene. Leanne sat on the floor by Mistress Annabelle,
rubbing her feet. Two new female submissives were chatting in the corner, sending
pointed looks to two Doms who looked like they were discussing sports.
Master Merrick slid into a seat at the bar. “Knox.”
“What can I get you tonight, sir?”
“Tanqueray and tonic.”
After Knox got Merrick’s approval on the drink, he rested his elbows on the bar. “Slow
night.”
“It happens. My bottom line doesn’t change if members show up or not. It’s nice to
have a break once in a while. Which suits you tonight, since bartending isn’t your
thing.”
Knox grinned. “I’m a beer guy, so I’m great at popping tops and pulling drafts.”
“With mixed drinks, it’s all about taking the time to get the ratios right.” Merrick
ran his hand through his hair. “I haven’t talked to you in a while. How’ve you been?”
“Good. Busy at the dojo since Ronin is out of the country. I always think he walks
around like lord of his domain . . . until I actually have to do his job. Then I remember
how much it sucks to be the big boss. How much pressure there is.”
“It’s not as easy as some assume, being the lord of your own domain,” he said dryly.
“I swear the majority of my time is spent dealing with privacy and security issues.
Doesn’t leave free time to enjoy the fruits of my labors.”
“I haven’t seen you in here much lately.”
Merrick poked the ice cubes in his drink with his straw. “The Friday night crew is
in need of my presence. Not the staff, but the members who decide to test their limits
or try something new. It can be entertaining. I was here last Saturday, just briefly,
to meet with a new Domme to the club.” He glanced up. “You were here, right?”
He nodded. “I was booked in the back.”
“Did you meet Mistress B?” he asked casually.
Knox leaned in. “Yes. And because I work with that woman every goddamn day, I recognized
her right away. The mask and the platinum wig didn’t fool me. She was as surprised
to see me as I was to see her.”
“I’ll bet. I found
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