“Let’s take it one step at a time,” Audrey said.
“Good plan. You don’t want to scare him off.”
“Mother.”
“Someone has to look out for my baby girl.”
“Okay, I should be going. I haven’t had dinner. I really should wash a load of clothes.”
“Pick out something nice for tomorrow night—or a little naughty.”
“Okay, I’m going now. Talk to you later.”
“Let me know how the date goes.”
“Good-bye now.”
Audrey started a load of laundry then made a sandwich for dinner, fed Leo, and started another soap on television. When the buzzer went off, she paused the show to toss the clothes into the dryer. Leo hung tight, her sole companion. Her fur baby. Once upon a time Audrey had wanted kids. But now, she didn’t.
Audrey, once the devoted girlfriend, had spent six months in her mid-twenties cooking, cleaning, doting on her boyfriend’s daughter. Audrey had loved Lori, loved Bill even more. For most of their time together she had practically lived at their place, a small ranch house in the suburbs. However, when she found out he had been cheating on her while she sat at home babysitting his little girl, her heart shattered.
It had been her longest relationship ever. Still was. Never again would she set herself up to be hurt like that. Most of all, she felt bad for Lori—they had grown so close. So now, Audrey spent her time watching television, reading books, entertaining herself. Just she and Leo, all the way, baby.
However, she still craved companionship. Her desire, obviously repressed for years, had been awakened, she realized, as she sat watching the romances of fictional characters on-screen. Contradictory, yes. But contradiction was a woman’s right.
It didn’t matter, she thought, current events and past history swirling through her head. As a grown woman asked to dinner by a handsome man, she had nothing to lose. Not like she had something better to do. Besides, Mark had insisted. And now her mother knew. If she didn’t go, she would worry about showing her face at work. Hillary would ring the phone off the hook until she answered. When Audrey fessed up about not meeting Mark she would never hear the end of it.
As the soap opera ended with a romantic kiss, Audrey’s worries became painfully apparent. Mark Wilder should be asking out someone as beautiful as the women on television. Not someone like Audrey Adams, thirty-something office worker.
Audrey switched off the television, headed down the hall to the bedroom, planning to read a book. She picked up the paperback of Leigh Riley’s Seductive Secrets from her nightstand. She took it into the bathroom, where she lit a vanilla-scented candle, started drawing herself a bath. Then she turned to face the mirror.
The woman staring back remained the same, nondescript woman as before. Audrey pouted demurely, batted her eyes. She pivoted left, then right, trying to determine her best profile. What she lacked in looks, perhaps she made up for in charisma.
“Yeah, right.” Many women were more charismatic. They didn’t shun the world, or hide away reading books or watching television. But, Audrey realized, a chance like this, with someone like Mark, didn’t happen every day. “Sometimes, you just gotta take a chance,” Audrey murmured.
Pulling back her hair, Audrey debated how she might wear it tomorrow. Music started to play in her head. She began to strut, small movements—she wasn’t comfortable letting loose. As she began to dance, she slowly undressed. Soon, she stood before the mirror, pale thin frame mocking her. She tried squishing her breasts together for more cleavage. The result, negligible.
“Maybe you’re just looking for a good time. Is that it? Are you looking for a little fun?” Audrey flashed a smile. “I’m up for whatever. Care to join me?”
Chuckling, Audrey turned to shut off the water. Paperback in hand, she tested the water with a toe. Toasty warm. Just right. She stepped in, immersing herself in soothing goodness. She resumed reading the novel. Before the bathwater could cool, the book heated up. Audrey soon found herself imagining herself as the heroine, Mark as her love interest.
She slipped a hand into the water. Its gentle ripple lapped against her breasts. Chilly air teased erect nipples. Audrey reached out of the tub to lay the book face down, mentally noting the page number just in case. Then she began to pluck at a nipple as a finger eased between her legs.
Audrey lay back her head, eyes closed, and fantasized about a handsome, confident man making her feel like a woman. A feeling she had not truly felt in far too long.
Chapter Three
* * *
Luckily, Thursday flew by, as busy as ever. Audrey barely had a chance to take a break due to a V.P. who needed to push a special manual check run-through, spur of the moment. But Audrey didn’t mind. Otherwise, her workday would have been one extended wait. That would have driven her crazy. However, it would have been nice if Mark had stopped by her cubicle to say hello. He didn’t and now Audrey was getting cold feet. Having a hard time locating the address to Club Nadir didn’t help matters.
The address didn’t appear to exist—building numbers skipped from 13212 to 13216. She needed 13214-B. All the buildings located in old downtown had been turned into lofts, warehouses, art galleries, a couple start-up tech companies. Audrey doubled back just in case she had missed it. No, that couldn’t be right, could it? An alley cut between the two buildings. Slightly flustered, Audrey steered her VW into the alley. Although bumpy, the alleyway was fairly clear of debris. She followed it around to the back of the buildings, where she discovered a small strip of parking spaces. A black awning covered a sidewalk leading to a gray metal door. On the door a sign simply read CN 13214-B. She had finally located Club Nadir.
Audrey pulled her car in between a Mercedes and Jaguar. It seemed totally out of place, like a bug begging to be shooed away. Staring at the entrance, she shut off the engine.
The place, grand yet somewhat hidden, provoked an aura of mystery, an alluring mystique. It urged her to come hither. However, Audrey felt very uncomfortable going in alone. Sure, she knew Mark, if only somewhat. Her mother knew of her plans but didn’t know where her daughter was going. What if something happened?
Like anything would happen.
Had the place been some dump with winos hanging around, or broken-down cars parked all around, things might have been different. But Audrey came expecting a private club, and that is exactly what she had found. Her mother would never let her live it down if she failed to follow through. Besides, Audrey wanted to see Mark Wilder again. She had nothing to lose. Worst case scenario: she wouldn’t stay long.
With a deep breath, Audrey exited her car, locked its doors. Before she could change her mind, she marched up the sidewalk to the door. A small sign beside a buzzer read Members Only. She removed the business card Mark had given her from her purse, pressed the buzzer. No sound escaped the fortress.
Audrey waited. She shifted from one foot to the other. She looked around. The area behind the building was still. A siren sounded in the distance. Then a small window in the door slid open. A man’s face appeared. He stated gruffly, “Private club, member’s only.”
“Hi. Um, I’m meeting Mark Wilder.” Audrey displayed the business card for the man to see.
The window slid shut. She heard a lock turn. The door opened.
“Please, come in. Welcome to Club Nadir.”
“Thank you.”
Audrey stepped through the doorway into a small foyer. Black painted walls closed in around her. A chandelier, hanging high above, cast a dim glow. Sconces lit the way along a deep corridor.
“Guests must sign in.” The muscular bald man, sharply dressed in a black suit, gestured to an open book and quill pen sitting on a table.
Audrey quickly scribbled her name on the third line of the open page, beneath the names of two other women.
“Are you meeting for dinner or drinks?” the man asked.
“Yes. Dinner.”
“Follow me.”
He led the way
deeper into the building, past a small study filled wall-to-wall with books and elegant Victorian furniture. A man wearing a smoking jacket and puffing a pipe looked up from his book as Audrey walked past. The next room, across the hall, contained a long conference table. It sat vacant. Audrey imagined a cabal of businessmen making closed-door deals in that very room. Obviously, the entire club stank of excess power, money, and secrecy. What was she, a lowly accounting clerk, doing here? Why had she been given a backstage pass to something such as this?
Perhaps Mark Wilder had simply wanted to show off, impress her.
Audrey didn’t know what to make of it.
The doorman, or goon, or whatever he was, led her into a private dining area. Several mahogany tables filled the small room. A well-stocked bar, complete with requisite mirror stretching across the back wall, awaited. Each candlelit table stood unoccupied, as if reserved solely for her. Mark Wilder had yet to arrive.
“Please, take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”
Before Audrey could reply, the man left the room, leaving her all alone.
A sense of unease swept through her. Audrey didn’t like Mark not being here waiting for her. Her cold feet were quickly becoming blocks of ice. Immediately, Audrey considered retracing her steps out of the building—what was she doing here anyway? However, she feared drawing attention to herself. Instead, she wandered around the room.
Hardwood flooring, deep and dark like the rich fixtures, reached wall to wall. An unnerving sense of being watched flooded her. Probably just the animal heads mounted on the walls, she assumed. A grizzly, elk, lion. A stuffed eagle spreading its wings perched above the bar. Only top-shelf liquor could be seen.
Audrey, not sure what to do, took a seat at a table in a far corner. A menu lay on the table, so she opened it.
Filet Mignon, Peking Roast Duck, Shark’s Fin Stew caught her attention. The menu read like that of an International fine-dining establishment, not that of an exclusive private club. Audrey no longer doubted the quality of food Mark had raved about. Legs crossed, she nervously twitched a foot.
Although she had dressed nice, Audrey felt somewhat under-dressed. She had expected very nice food, of course. However, she hadn’t expected this ambiance. She had simply worn gray slacks and white blouse. She wished she had worn her black skirt, at the very least.
Oh well, it wouldn’t matter unless Mark showed up soon. Checking her watch, Audrey saw it was well past seven.
At the sound of footsteps, Audrey looked up, hopeful. A tall, slim man entered not from the entryway, but from behind the bar.
“May I get you a drink?” His voice carried well in the still room.
“Sure, okay. Red wine?”
“Right away. What vintage?”
“I’ll trust your judgment.”
As the bartender poured the drink another man entered. A tall, distinguished man in his early forties. He wore a silk robe with matching royal blue silk pants. His hair was graying at the temples. The man reminded Audrey of Hugh Heffner in his casual attire. He ordered scotch neat, said, “I’ll take her the drink.”
The man approached Audrey’s table.
“Good evening, young lady. I do believe this drink belongs to you.” He set the drink on her table.”
“Thank you.”
“The name is Jefferson. You must be Audrey.”
Audrey was taken aback. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
“Mind if I join you, Audrey?”
“I’m sort of meeting someone here. Mark Wilder.”
“Yes, Mark Wilder. He’ll be notoriously late, if he shows at all.”
Audrey’s heart sank at the notion of being stood up.
“Besides, Mark won’t mind. In fact, he wouldn’t want you to dine alone, I can assure you.”
“Well …”
Jefferson took the seat across from her. “That Mark Wilder—what a character. He’s quite the guy.” Audrey simply nodded. When Jefferson sipped his scotch, Audrey sipped her wine. The man seemed friendly enough; Audrey didn’t mind the company, so long as the man drove the conversation. He did.
“The food here is superb. It truly is.”
“That is what Mark said, although I didn’t quite believe him at the time.”
Jefferson smiled. He mentioned the chef’s pedigree: the chef had attended culinary school in London. Then Jefferson changed the subject. “How did you meet Mark, if you don’t mind my asking.”
Audrey stated they both had the same employer. She briefly explained how they met, failing to mention the escort service, and slightly exaggerating how Mark asked her out, much like she had with her mother. Only this time she did not pour it on so thick. The man simply listened intently, which helped Audrey to relax. Her drink didn’t hurt in that regard, its warmth quickly spreading in her empty stomach. She made a mental note to pace herself until she had eaten.
As if reading her mind, Jefferson returned the conversation to food. “We mustn’t wait for our good friend Mark or we shall go hungry. I do believe I’ll have the swordfish.”
“After the good things I’ve heard about the steak, I’d better try it.”
“Suit yourself, Audrey, my dear.” Finishing his drink, Jefferson signaled the bartender. “We are ready to order.”
Audrey opted for the Filet Mignon, salad, and new potatoes. Jefferson rounded off his entree with steamed vegetables. He ordered another round of drinks for them both.
“So,” said Audrey, “tell me more about Club Nadir.”
A smirk crossed Jefferson’s face. He quickly replaced it with an innocent-looking smile. The response had a playful, if somewhat bold, air to it. Jefferson replied, “It’s just a private club where guys hang out.”
“You say that so casually. It’s obviously more than just a private club.”
“Well, of course. It is very exclusive.”
“So I gathered.” Audrey, although nervous, found herself loosening up. Probably an effect of the wine. Besides, she felt compelled to keep up the conversation, lest she grow more nervous.
“Only very rich, well-connected men are invited to join. Sure, there are many, many members. But only a small number frequent the club.”
“Wow. Makes me wonder how Mark got in. I mean, Zalwert doesn’t pay that well.”
“You might be surprised,” Jefferson said. “Ask Mark about the Dinex contract sometime. That kid—one hell of a salesman. Doesn’t hurt having an uncle as a member, either.”
“Really?” Audrey finished her wine as the bartender brought more drinks. He left with their empty glasses.
“Oh yes. That kid does all right.”
“What about yourself?”
Jefferson laughed. “I like you, Audrey. Let’s just say I did all right myself. Now I’m semi-retired. People such as myself never truly retire. We simply get money managers. We network until an opportunity presents itself.”
“Voila. Club Nadir, huh?”
“Precisely. I would be lying if I didn’t state that I had been on the ground floor of opportunities I’d learned of within these very walls.”
“Wow.”
“Wow indeed. So, Audrey, tell me a little more about yourself.”
“Well, there isn’t much to say, really. I live a very humdrum life. I’m an accounts payable clerk. I’m single. I’m past the age of going out to meet people.”
“You are out tonight. You met me.”
“Point taken.” Audrey couldn’t believe what she had said. She glanced around the room again, eager for Mark to show. Or the food. She noticed the wedding band Jefferson wore. The way he, a powerfully rich man, seemed so interested in her made her uncomfortable. She had come to meet someone her own age for some kind of date. Jefferson, to network. Here she sat talking to someone rich and powerful, waiting for an expensive dinner. She hoped she wasn’t expected to pay her own way. After all, she was a guest. However, Mark wasn’t here, nor had she seen prices listed on the menu. She suddenly wondered what membership to Club Nadir cost
.
“I’m very glad to have met you. You are such a beautiful young lady.” Audrey, taken aback, felt herself blushing. She didn’t know what to do or say. “Thank you” slipped out.
Before anything else could be said, the click-clack of high heels on hardwood caught Audrey’s attention. In walked a blonde nearly ten years younger than she. The woman ordered an apple martini like she owned the place, before taking a seat near the bar. She wore a skin-tight summer dress that barely contained her enormous breasts. Implants, of course. The dress barely covered her tight ass. Her bronze skin looked polished. Her hair cascaded over shoulders in loose curls. What a knockout, Audrey thought. Except for the face. The woman had a horse face. It scowled at Audrey until she looked back at Jefferson.
They made small-talk until the food arrived, Audrey glancing occasionally at the younger woman. Audrey had caught her staring back several times, as if she found Audrey intimidating. The blonde soon left with a sharp-dressed gentleman, leaving Jefferson and herself alone to dine.
Their food carried a delightful aroma that filled the room. When Audrey cut into her steak, its juices broke free, intermingling with the thick, creamy sauce covering it. She swirled a bite around her plate, covering it with sauce before tasting it. The meat, so very tender, practically melted in her mouth. It, quite simply, lived up to Mark’s promise. Even the salad was so fresh, so crisp, she couldn’t imagine a salad tasting any better. The new potatoes proved equally savory with just the right blend of butter and herbs.
As they ate Audrey let their conversation stall, instead focusing on her food. Jefferson seemed content watching her enjoy the meal.
Toward the end of the meal the bartender brought them fresh drinks.
“May I get you anything else?” the bartender asked Jefferson.
“Yes. The young lady will have dessert. Pecan brownie a la mode, with fudge drizzle—it is my favorite.”
“I don’t think I could eat another bite,” Audrey said, pushing away her plate. She had finished the steak, but had been unable to finish the rest of her meal. She wanted to ask for a take-out box but didn’t dare. Not in a place such as this.
Club Nadir Page 2
