Love in the Dark

by 12 Book Boxed Set (epub)

  * * *

  Olivia Lucas needs a job, and if that means working at a club that specializes in making members' wildest fantasies come true, then that's what she'll do. A girl's got to pay the rent, right? She never expected to fall for the gorgeous owner of Club X, though, but a man like him would never go for someone like her. Or would he?

  1

  Olivia

  * * *

  The large, manila envelope sat on the coffee table with the ticket to the next chapter in my life. After nearly six months of being unemployed, it was time to join the ranks of the working again. I knew that. But after being out of commission for so long, all that was running through my mind was pure, unmitigated fear.

  Whoever said a degree meant a sure job must have been living in a different century. I'd done everything right. After four years of college, I'd graduated magna cum laude from a good school with a degree in management in hand ready to conquer the world. Unfortunately, I hadn't realized thousands of others just like me had the same plans, many of whom had attended even better schools and had a jumpstart on me with even better internships than mine.

  So after five years dedicating myself day and night to climbing the corporate ladder at the nation's newest sports apparel company, the fine folks who sat in cushy corner offices at Premier Sports decided to promote the other guy to regional sales manager of the northeast and gave me a pink slip. "You know how it is, Olivia. The economy just isn't what we hoped it would be. Best of luck."

  Best of luck. Nice. So Tony Galente and his lovely wife and three kids moved to Boston while I got a weak excuse for being fired and stayed right there in Tampa. Picking up the envelope, I thought about the frigid New England winters and muttered, "I hope he freezes his ass off up there."

  Printed in big letters, the name of my new employer stared up from the envelope at me. March Enterprises. The real name on the envelope should have said Club X. I'd lived in Tampa all my life and never once had I heard of any club named that, and I'd spent my fair share of nights celebrating everything from birthdays to bachelorette parties to my friends' promotions. But my friend Jake had and thinking he was helping me one night while he was on a partying binge had mentioned my name to one of the owners who was looking for an assistant to the main owner. That he was entirely too vague on the particulars of Club X made me uneasy, but he'd assured me this was a job I'd be perfect for. All I had to do was find a way to be okay that Club X was, as Jake termed it, "the kind of place I was in desperate need of," whatever that meant.

  Well, as they say, beggars can't be choosers, and this beggar had just about depleted the last of her savings. Whatever Club X might be, I needed this job.

  So I sat there with a potential job offer in my hands, unsure of what exactly the owner at Club X would want me to do but sure I couldn't turn it down. Slowly, I slid the lone piece of paper out to again see merely a paragraph telling me that if I desired, the job of executive assistant was available. All I had to do was interview at two that afternoon. Reading between the lines, I knew they wanted to see if my in-person style was as impressive as my qualifications on paper.

  "So they want to see you, Olivia. Time to show them what you got."

  Standing on shaky legs, I walked into my bedroom and checked out my interview look in the mirror. A navy blue business suit, white blouse, and navy three inch pumps said I was a confident businesswoman, even if my insides were shaking like jelly. I smoothed a few stray red hairs back into my bun and took a deep breath. I could do this.

  I had to do this.

  * * *

  Arriving much earlier than I'd planned, I parked my 2005 Subaru Impreza across the street from an enormous warehouse and checked the address on the paper, sure I'd made a mistake. Jake had told me Club X was a bar and entertainment complex. Looking out my driver's side window, all I saw was a huge building that resembled an old factory. My GPS said I was in the right place, though, so I sat back and listened to music for ten minutes, hoping my interview jitters would calm themselves soon.

  As Katy Perry's Roar played like an anthem for my interview, I watched for any sign of life in the building I was supposed to enter in just minutes but saw no one. The warehouse was five floors and took up half an entire city block. Unlike other factories, though, this building had few windows. In addition, there was no neon sign alerting potential patrons that Club X even existed there. Perhaps that was why they were looking for an executive assistant to the owner. Someone needed to clue these people in on basic marketing techniques.

  The song ended, and I checked my phone for the time. 1:48. Time to head in. One last quick look in the rearview mirror to check that I didn't have lipstick on my teeth and I was ready to go. Stepping out into the warm May sun, I took a deep breath and made my way to the building.

  Unsure of which door to enter through since all the doors looked like the basic industrial strength steel variety, I turned the doorknob on the one closest to the left side of the building and hoped I wouldn't have to try too many and end up being late for the interview. Luck was with me and the door opened into Club X.

  I tried to calm my shaking legs, stepped inside, and stared with wide eyes at the scene in front of me. Open to the ceiling two floors above, the room was enormous. A solid glass bar ran the entire length of the far wall on the main floor, along with tables and chairs that took up most of the room. At the opposite end of the room was a huge space, I suspected for a dance floor. Craning my neck, I slowly turned around and tried to see the floors above but in the dim light I could only see walkways and staircases leading from level to level.

  "Ms. Lucas?"

  I turned at the sound of a deep voice saying my name and saw a man coming toward me. Over six foot, he was well-built yet lean, like every muscle in his body was trained to work at peak performance. His hair was dark brown and short, and as he came closer I saw his eyes, a brilliant blue color framed by dark lashes. His grey business suit was obviously expensive and tailor made to fit his well-proportioned body. In fact, everything about him screamed money. And sex. Definitely sex. Like the kind of sex that left you boneless on his silk sheets with him still inside you after fucking you better than you'd ever been fucked before.

  Extending my hand to shake his, I smiled and tried to keep myself composed as I introduced myself. "I'm Olivia Lucas. It's very nice to meet you, Mr...?" I left my statement hanging because there hadn't been a name on the letter they'd sent.

  His piercing eyes studied me intensely before he spoke and his voice flowed over me like silk. "March. Cassian March. Welcome to Club X."

  He surprised me by pronouncing the Roman numeral ten for X. "Oh, I hadn't realized the X was the Roman numeral. My friend had called it Club X, as in the letter x," I admitted, feeling a blush cover my cheeks at the mention of Jake's mistake.

  He studied me again, his gaze unwavering as it held mine. "That happens a lot. The club's secretive nature lends itself to the x name, but I originally opened it up with the intent of calling it Club Ten but with the Roman numeral. You'll find many of our patrons think like your friend does. Perhaps it's time I did the same."

  His voice dropped, and I hoped he wasn't already disappointed in me even before I had the chance to show him I was as good in person as my qualifications were on paper. Pressing a smile onto his very kissable lips, he held his arm out to lead me to his office and I followed him, enjoying the view from behind even as I silently scolded myself for not focusing on what was important. Checking out my new boss's incredible ass wasn't keeping my eye on the prize, no matter how hot he looked in that suit.

  Guiding me into his office at the very back of the building, he sat down behind an enormous glass desk and extended his arm once again, this time to offer me a seat. As I tried to relax, he picked up the phone and called someone to alert them I'd arrived. Instantly, my anxiety ratcheted up more than a few notches as I hadn't realized this would be a group interview. He shuffled papers around on his desk, seeming to look for something, and I tol
d myself I could handle this. An interview with five or even ten owners was the same as an interview with one owner, right?

  As I looked around at his minimalist designed office, a younger man responded to his call, and I guessed he was in his mid-twenties. He took his place next to Cassian and began to talk to him, and I noticed my potential new boss looked similar to this second man, even though this younger man had lighter hair and brown eyes.

  "We're just waiting for Kane. He's the third owner of Club X," Cassian explained in a voice that signaled his impatience at the fact that this other man hadn't appeared yet. "While we're waiting for him, let me introduce you two. Stefan, this is Olivia Lucas. She's here for the job as my assistant. Olivia, this is my brother, Stefan March."

  The one I pegged as the younger brother wore jeans and a white T-shirt with the club's logo, which showed off his arms full of tattoos that covered from his wrists all the way up to where his shirt began and a bigger, more muscular body than his brother's. The man clearly saw the inside of a gym and often. He carried himself far more casually than his brother too. And if Cassian screamed sex, this man oozed it, like the sweetest honey drizzled on the tip of your tongue. Sandy brown hair slightly longer than his brother's shorter, more professional haircut gave him a carefree look, but there was no escaping the fact that he was as intense as his brother, just in a different way.

  With a gorgeous smile, he slid his dark brown gaze over me and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Olivia. I manage the day-to-day operations of the club, unlike Cash, who spends all his time in this office dressed in suits meant to smother a man."

  "It's nice to meet you, Stefan," I said with a smile, unable to remain purely businesslike in his presence. In just seconds, I'd warmed up to him more than I imagined I'd ever warm up to his brother.

  "You're going to love it here," Stefan continued. "And I promise if my brother works you too hard, all you have to do is come find me. I'll make sure this doesn't become a nine to five grind."

  Something in the way his eyes continued to focus on everything below my neck told me he would live up to that promise if I let him. I tried not to look too enchanted by him, even if I instantly felt attracted to him and his warm personality, because even as we began to get to know one another, I sensed disapproval in Cassian's face.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone approach the office, and turning my head, I saw a third man much bigger than either Cassian or Stefan but practically Cassian's twin, except for his very short hair. Dressed in black pants and a long sleeve black Henley that only accentuated the darkness of his cropped hair, he instantly intimidated me. The polar opposite to Stefan, this man said nothing and appeared unhappy at the prospect of meeting me at all.

  "Kane, this is Olivia Lucas. She's here for the assistant job. Olivia, this is my brother, Kane."

  Extending my hand, I shook the third man's hand and said hello, but he said nothing back. His jet black hair and blue eyes gave him a striking look, much like his brother's, but Kane's demeanor frightened me with its coldness. Backing away from me, he seemed happy to have the introductions over, and I felt pretty much the same about him.

  I also noticed how Cassian's voice caught slightly when he said Kane was his brother. They looked around the same age, but they weren't twins, so what were they if calling him brother was so awkward?

  "So Olivia, maybe I should tell you about who we are and what we do here at Club X," Cassian said with a smile, using the letter x for the first time in the name. "I handle the business of running this place, while Stefan handles the operations. Kane handles the security and performers. Together, we own the biggest private club in the city."

  He stopped talking, and I sat waiting for him to continue, my gaze focused on his very attractive face. Chiseled features with masculine lines, his look was very much one of a man of power. He merely stared back at me and appeared to wait for me to speak, creating an odd silence I was sure wasn't going to bode well for my chances at getting the assistant job.

  Thankfully, Stefan spoke up. Pushing on his brother's arm, he said with a broad smile that made my uneasiness disappear, "Cash, Jake obviously didn't tell her what we do here. I think you may have to be a bit more detailed."

  Detailed? Cassian grimaced at his brother's suggestion, but with a slow nod, he agreed with Stefan and continued, this time explaining more about what exactly Club X was.

  "Club X is a private club that serves as a nightclub and a place that caters to our members' fantasies. People pay to join and have the choice of merely coming here to enjoy the best nightlife the city has to offer or, if they choose, having us provide the necessary requirements to fulfill their fantasies."

  He said those words as if he were describing how to water down patrons' drinks. Fulfill fantasies? Was he talking about sexual fantasies?

  "I can see by your expression that you're a bit surprised. Please feel free to ask whatever questions you may have," Cassian said in a deep, reassuring voice I already liked hearing.

  Struggling to form an intelligent thought, I asked the first question that came to me. "Are we talking BDSM? I know it's all the rage these days."

  A slow smile spread across his gorgeous mouth, but it was Stefan who spoke up to answer my question. With a chuckle, he said, "No. There are dozens of places on the West Coast that handle that. We're more unique here at Club X. Imagine this. A woman wants to be wined and dined, but her husband has no interest. She comes to us for a night she'll remember for the rest of her life. We give our members what they want."

  "So, no sex? Just dinner and conversation?" I asked, pretty sure that's not what he meant.

  With a twinkle in his eye, Stefan cocked one eyebrow. Shaking his head, he said, "No. If that's all they want, that's fine, but we find that our members tend to want experiences that will stay with them forever, and that usually means sex."

  "Oh." I had no idea how I was supposed to respond to that. I was no prude, by any means. I got my freak on from time to time. It's just that I wasn't sure what I was getting into with the March brothers and Club X.

  I did need a job badly, though.

  "Think of us as matchmakers for very particular people," Cassian said with a smile, "matching them with experiences they've only dreamed of."

  "I don't mean to ask all the wrong questions, but is this legal?"

  Thankfully, my question didn't sound as silly spoken out loud as it did in my head. All three men smiled, even Kane, and Stefan answered, "Nothing wrong with that question, Olivia. Yes, it's entirely legal. It would only be illegal if we were providing men or women paid solely for sex. We're not doing prostitution. Just fantasy fulfillment."

  I wasn't sure fantasy fulfillment was strictly legal either, at least the way they did it, but I let that go for the moment. "Where does this all happen? I mean, this building is huge, but much of it seemed to be the nightclub I saw when I walked in."

  Cassian looked to his left. "I'll let Kane explain that part."

  His face serious once again, the biggest brother stared down at me, making me feel small and vulnerable. Something in his piercing blue eyes unnerved me, and as he spoke, I couldn't help but look away. His voice, even deeper than Cassian's, came out in a rasp. "The upper three floors have rooms to accommodate fifteen members in total. Most nights all the rooms are reserved well in advance. If a fantasy requires more than one room, then that's what we give them. For a price, of course."

  Looking at Cassian, who'd quickly become the only brother who didn't make me nervous, I asked, "May I ask how much all this costs?"

  "Basic membership is five thousand, with gold membership at ten. Platinum members pay twenty thousand, but with that membership comes a number of perks, such as top shelf liquor and the ability to jump ahead of other members in the reservation line. We also work very hard to accommodate platinum members'… wishes."

  The way he hesitated before saying the word wishes made me think there was much more to what those platinum members received for their twenty th
ousand dollars. My curiosity piqued, I continued with my questions. "How much does each fantasy fulfillment cost?"

  Cassian folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. "It depends on the type of fantasy the member wants to pursue. Just as with the memberships, there are basic, gold, and platinum level fantasy packages. Fantasies in the basic package level take less than two hours to stage and don't include anything sexual. They cost anywhere from two thousand and up, depending on the extras required. Gold level fantasy packages take between two and four hours to stage and can include sexual components. The gold package level costs from five thousand and up, again depending on the extras required, such as alcohol, costumes, and additional people. Platinum level fantasy packages require more time and preparation, so they're more expensive. Often, they need up to eight or even ten hours, and that level almost always involves sexual fantasies. The platinum package level starts at ten thousand and depending on the extras required, can cost twice or three times as much."

  As I struggled to keep my face from showing exactly how shocked I was at what I'd just heard, I mentally wondered who the hell Club X's members were and how they afforded these things. If what Kane had said was the truth, then there were a lot of people in my hometown living out their fantasies and paying through the nose to do so. No doubt Jake had paid with his father's money, but I had to wonder—which level membership did he have?

  "Wow. I've never heard of anything like this," I admitted quietly, sure I sounded like some sheltered soul who'd never truly lived a day in her life.

  Pleased with my response, Cassian smiled warmly and nodded his head. "We saw a niche we could fill and we've been lucky enough to find a receptive audience in the Tampa area. I want to assure you, Olivia, that your job would involve none of the actual operations of the club but merely assisting me in my part of running our business. Unfortunately for you, I'm the owner who has the least exotic part to deal with."