Viewing Room

by L. P. Dover

  His smile grows wider. “Exactly.”

  The day drags on and I’ve managed to stay in my office to avoid seeing Hunter. I’m not ready to talk to him yet. I have no clue if he’s left since it’s closing in on five o’clock, but I have a strange feeling he’s going to stick around until I leave. If he’s going to work in my firm, he has to watch the way he acts around me … and vice versa. Ground rules need to be set and followed.

  “Kennedy?” Sara calls out over the speaker on my phone.

  “Yes?”

  “Mrs. Bates stopped by. She wants to know if you have time to see her.”

  I press the intercom button. “Of course. Please send her back.” I was just about to call her anyway to see if she knows when her husband’s going to be at Society X.

  “Yes, ma’am. She’s on her way.”

  I finish up my paperwork and stack it on the corner of my desk. The day’s been busy but I welcomed it. I have a lot of court dates coming up, and thankfully, it’s nothing that requires a lot of energy. I’ve had cases before where I had to fight tooth and nail for my clients; it’s exhausting.

  A soft knock raps on my door. “Come in,” I call out.

  Jennifer opens the door and smiles. “Hey.”

  I wave her in. “Hey, I was just about to call you.”

  She shuts the door and sits down across from me. “Good timing, then. I thought I’d come by and give you these.” Opening her purse, she pulls out a set of papers and hands them to me.

  Looking down at them, I gasp in shock. “Wow. Your husband’s a busy boy.”

  Her face turns green. “You’re telling me. Makes me sick.” In my hands are copies of her husband’s datebook entries. Apparently, he’s starting to spend more and more time in the viewing room.

  “Have you asked him where he’s going at night?” I ask. I feel sick for her. If I was her, I probably would’ve already kicked her worthless, lying husband to the curb. But I understand her need to catch him cheating on her. She was going to need proof to take a man down like Chad Bates.

  She drops her gaze down to her purse, her hands shaking as she holds it tight. “He says he’s working late or meeting with a client. I want to punch the shit out of him every time I see him.” I can’t imagine what it must be like to be stuck with a man you pledged your loyalty to and find out he’s cheating on you with different people every week.

  I glance down at today’s date in his notebook and there are the initials DR scribbled in his handwriting. “I’m assuming he’s in the dark room tonight?”

  Her jaw clenches. “So it appears.” If he’s in that room, it means he’s having sex with someone he can’t see. It’s the thrill of using your bodies to guide you. The thought’s intriguing but it’s not something I’d be interested in. The rest of the dates for the next month are all in the viewing room; I can handle that.

  “Thank you for bringing me this. You have no idea how much it helps.”

  “Have you had any luck at the club?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet, but I have someone who might be able to help. He’s on the inside.”

  Hope blossoms on her face and I pray I can keep it there. “That’s great,” she sighs in relief. “I just wish I didn’t have to go home. I don’t know how long I can handle being near that bastard.”

  “Why don’t you tell him you want to go away for a while? With what he’s doing, I don’t see him caring about what you do. Use his money and stay somewhere nice.”

  She bites her lip. “You know what? I think that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. I’m gonna do it.” If she didn’t get away from Chad, there’s no doubt she’ll lose her cool at some point and give everything away. There’s only so much anger a person can take. Getting to her feet, I mirror her and she hugs me. “Thanks, Kennedy. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now get out of here and take a break. I’ll handle it from here.”

  As soon as she leaves, I glance down at the clock. Unfortunately, I can’t avoid Hunter forever. I shut my computer down and grab my purse. When I walk out into the hall, all the other offices are dark except for Hunter’s. Heart racing, I take a deep breath and stop at his door. He’s in there with his head down, examining the documents lying on this desk. I knock gently and he looks up, his expression serious. I haven’t ever seen him look like that before.

  “How was your first day?”

  He laughs once. “You mean my last? I know you’re here to let me go, Kennedy. I’ve been waiting to get the boot all day.”

  I walk inside and sit across from him. “Then you’ll be waiting for a long time. I’m not getting rid of you.”

  An audible sigh escapes his lips. “Thank you. I’ve been thinking about what I said to you this morning. It was out of line and I’m sorry.”

  I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. However, if you’re going to be staying here the next few months, we’re going to have to lay down some ground rules.” His whole demeanor is so serious it’s hard to imagine he’s the same Hunter.

  He nods. “I’ll do anything. This internship means everything to me.”

  “First off, you have to address me as Ms. Vaughn around the others; especially your classmates. My co-workers already know who you are and they’re not going to say anything.”

  “I can do that,” he agrees.

  “And you have to keep your hands to yourself,” I warn. “This is a professional place so make sure to act like it.”

  He nods again. “Anything else?”

  Sighing, I close my eyes and all I can think about is the time we’ve spent together. I hate that all we’ve done is lie to each other. “Yes,” I murmur, opening my eyes. “From this day forward, there’s to be no more lying. I promise to be honest with you if you’re honest with me.”

  “Okay,” he says softly. We stare at each other for a moment and I’m the first one to break away. “Does this mean we’re still seeing each other or have I lost my chance? I don’t want to lose what we have, Kennedy. I want this to work, even if I have to wait until my internship is over.”

  His voice is so genuine I can’t help but smile. “I want it to work, too. For now, let’s just take it one step at a time.” He smiles in return and I’m so happy to see it again. “What does Chris have you doing?”

  He shrugs. “Nothing much right now.”

  “Good, because there’s something I need your help on. I don’t even know if you can or if you’d get in trouble, but I’ll be right there with you. It’s kind of an undercover type of thing.”

  His brows furrow. “What is it?”

  I lick my dry lips. “I have to find someone who likes to perform in the viewing room with other women. He’s a client, not an employee.”

  “And what are you going to do when we find him?”

  I scoff. “Rip off his balls.” I can think of a million things I’d like to do, but all of them will land me in jail.

  “This isn’t your ex-husband, is it?”

  “No,” I exclaim. “Aaron would never do such a thing. It’s for a close client of mine. She needs my help. And I’m hoping with you by my side we’ll be able to do it.”

  Sighing, he runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t think I can do it, Kennedy. The money I make at the club is what helps me pay for law school. Without that income, I’m fucked. I want to help you, but finishing my schooling is more important.”

  Even though he turned me down, I can see the determination in his gaze; he’s serious about being a lawyer and I like that. It shows his commitment to his future.

  “Then let me compromise,” I say, catching his attention. “If you get fired, I’ll offer you a job here so you can pay for school. It’s the least I can do for your help.”

  By the expression on his face, he ponders the idea, but I can see the turmoil in his brown gaze. I don’t want him to get in trouble, but I can use his help.

  For a moment, I lose all hope, but then he holds out his hand. “All
right, I’ll do it. But I want it all in writing. You will offer me a job if I lose mine at SX. Deal?”

  Not thinking twice, I shake his hand. “Agreed. I’ll draw up the papers tomorrow.” He releases my hand and I can feel the tingles all the way up my arm. “Now how about we talk about the details over dinner? We can order take out.”

  That sexy smirk of his is back. “My place or yours?”

  The decision is easy on where we’re going to eat. What I’m not set on is whether I can do what she’s asking. Society X has paid my way through law school. The money I earn is enough to pay rent, my bills, and tuition. Kennedy is asking me to go against my employment contract and spy for her. After dinner, her and I have to sit down and work out a contract. There is no way I can put my job on the line.

  I follow Kennedy back to her house and pull my car in behind hers in her driveway. It almost seems like a surreal moment, almost like we’re sharing a house and life, and coming home at the same time from the office. I try not to let my thoughts get the best of me, except I can’t help it. Kennedy is in front of me with her pencil skirt accentuating her perfect ass as she climbs the stairs to her house and all I can think about is gripping it in my hands while I pump into her.

  She turns and sizes me up. I smile, knowing she can figure out what’s on my mind. I can’t help it. There’s something about her that I can’t put my finger on, but have a feeling that she’s going to be someone in my life for a long time.

  “I’ll grab the take out menus,” she says after dumping her briefcase on the table by her door. I set mine there as well and place my keys next to hers.

  The thoughts running through my mind should have me running for the hills, but seeing our keys side by side really makes me think that I should start thinking about settling down. I know my grandmother would like to see me married before she dies. As she always reminds me, she’s no spring chicken.

  “What would you like to eat?” She walks down the hallway with her hand full of menus and her ‘come fuck me, Hunter’ heels tapping against her wood floor. I thought I ate out a lot, but damn she has me beat. She fans the menus out and looks at me, silently asking me to draw blindly from her pile.

  “You,” I say as I pull her to me. She giggles and drops the menus on the floor as my lips find her neck.

  “We can’t have sex, Hunter.”

  “Why not?”

  Squirming out of my arms, Kennedy slaps my shoulder. “I’m hungry and we have work to do. I was serious about what I said at the office. I need your help with this case.” She doesn’t say anything about the contract and I know it’s going to be up to me to bring it up. The problem is I don’t want things to be awkward. I mean, how the fuck do you ask your new boss—who also happens to be the woman you’re sleeping with—to guarantee your future? It’s not even a pleasant thought, me having to ask Kennedy to do me a solid and protect me. Makes me look fucking weak, but I can’t show her. Hell, I don’t even want to see it myself.

  “Okay, let’s order.” Grasping her hand, I lead her into the kitchen where she has a small table. We spread out the menus and decide on Italian. She calls in our order while I grab our briefcases and bring them back into the kitchen.

  “Do you want a glass of wine?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take one if you’re having one.” I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I don’t want to assume she has beer in her refrigerator either.

  While Kennedy pours our wine, I set up my laptop. Working is the last thing I want to do right now. I’d rather sit on the sofa with her next to me with the lights dimmed and the television on just for the background lighting. I may be a stripper, but do have a romantic side, and working through dinner is not romantic.

  But I get it. She has an important case and I’m her intern. Technically, I’m Chris’, but I still work for the firm. Kennedy places my wine glass down and sits across from me. Her legs instantly rub against mine and a smile spreads across my face.

  “How do you not have a girlfriend?”

  “Excuse me?” I ask, looking over the top of my laptop. “I thought you were my girlfriend.”

  Kennedy is unable to hide her smile even though she’s trying to be serious. “I’m not talking about now, but before …”

  “Are you saying that I’m good looking?”

  She pulls out her laptop and opens it, hiding behind her screen. “All I’m saying is that your glasses distract me.”

  It’s not the first time I’ve been given a compliment about my glasses, but I never knew they were a distraction. Kennedy telling me this is something I’m going to use in my advantage. The next time we fuck I’ll wear them and make sure she’s on top. We’ll see how distracted she’ll be then.

  “Do you want me to take them off?”

  “Can you see without them?”

  I shrug noncommittally, not really giving her an answer. I can see without them, but I like that I can make her squirm. If I’m not mistaken I hear her groan, but before I can say anything she’s taking a folder full of papers out of her bag and placing them in the middle of the table.

  “Let’s talk about the case.”

  When she goes to open the file, I put my hand down on it. “Before I take this step I need the contract, Kennedy. I can’t risk my job like this.”

  She nods, returns to her laptop, and starts typing. The doorbell rings and I offer to grab dinner. When I return to the kitchen, she’s gone, only to come back in carrying a set of papers.

  “Here’s your contract,” she states, handing it to me.

  We swap; I take the paper in her hand and she takes the food. Kennedy filters around the kitchen while I read. She’s offering me a one-year position at full salary in the event I lose my job as a part of this case. In exchange I work for her twenty-four-seven until the case is solved. The clause at the ends says I must reapply for this job after one year, assuming I have satisfactorily passed the bar exam. Kennedy has already signed it, leaving a space for my signature next to hers. I read it over again before adding my name to the solid black line. The one-year salary is more than I make at Society X and I’d be foolish to pass this up.

  By the time I’ve read and signed the contract, my dinner is waiting for me on the table. My wine glass has been refilled even though I’ve barely taken a sip. If I’m thinking this is going to be a romantic dinner for two, I’m mistaken—the file is open and pictures are spread out on the table.

  “You were sure I was going to sign?”

  Kennedy glances up at me as I hand her the paper. “You’re a smart man, Hunter. What I’m offering has to be more than what you make at the club. If not, I’ll make sure it is.”

  “It’s plenty,” I tell her. Any of the other guys, if given this chance, would’ve asked for more. Working this closely with Kennedy not only gives me the chance to learn from her, but to be with her more. Both are bonuses in my book.

  Society X is an elite club that allows you to explore your sexual fantasies, be someone you’re not anonymously and find ways to take your encounters with your partner to a whole new level. I’ve never thought of it any differently until now.

  As soon as I step in the back door my stomach starts to roll. Everything that Kennedy told me the night before sits heavily with me. So much so that I passed up a night of being buried between Kennedy’s legs to just hold her.

  I knew people came to Society X to cheat on their spouses, it’s a given. Sex clubs, strip joints, they all have the same stigma and it’s not going to be any different because of status. I suppose deep down I didn’t want to know it was happening here, or that my co-workers were involved. But then again, why wouldn’t we be at the center of the issue? We can’t get into trouble here. We aren’t the cause of the underlying marital issues.

  However, we aren’t the answer either. I suppose working at a place like this you become numb. It’s not like we’re asking questions before we get down and dirty. We’re paid to bring others pleasure and right about now that sounds sick.

 
; The schedule for tonight hangs on the wall. I reach for it and pray that I am not in any of the rooms. Last night, as Kennedy was telling me about her client, Jennifer, and how devastated she is, I saw a look in Kennedy’s eyes that told me the same thing … she would be hurt if I were with someone else, job or not.

  I let out a huge sigh when I see that I’m only dancing. Easy. I won’t have to decline any rooms and draw suspicion to myself. Before I get to work, I walk over to the female side and survey the crowd of men in attendance. The room is packed, making it difficult to see each and every face there.

  Anger boils within, making me want to grab each guy by the lapels and ask them if they’re married, and if so, do their wives know they’re here? But I realize I’m not any better than the men sitting here, watching my co-workers take off their clothes or partaking in a lap dance. I’ve seduced countless women and never batted an eyelash about doing it because they were paying me. I was giving them what they wanted and enjoyed every single second of it.

  I give up after three or four walks through the crowd. From the picture Kennedy showed me, the one I focused on memorizing, the man I’m looking for is blond, medium build, and average. There wasn’t anything striking about him, except I could see in his eyes that he doesn’t give a shit, which unfortunately are half the men here.

  Most of the men are ignoring the fact that I’m looking right at them. They move to the side so they can see better—some even give me a dirty look, silently asking me why I’m blocking them from seeing the stage. Unless Jennifer’s husband, Chad, is in this room with a sign that says ‘I’m using the viewing room to cheat on my wife’, I’m never going to find him.

  I go back to the schedule and scan the rooms to see who is performing a threesome tonight. Donnie has three of the four scheduled and I fume at the thought that Kennedy may be watching any of them. Watching. She’s only watching and not for pleasure … except it’s impossible not to be affected by that shit.

  “What’s up, Hunter?” Donnie pats me on the shoulder as he passes by. His dick is hanging out of his underwear, seemingly forgotten that he didn’t cover back up before exiting the stage.