Page 7 of House of Payne

I nod at him and move to the iPad on the side of the rope where members sign in and request rooms for shows with the women of their choice. I log into the admin panel, and it only takes me seconds to find what I’m looking for. When I do, I unclip the velvet rope, slip past, and walk down the hallway, examining everything to make sure it’s all in order.

This hallway has the same dim purple light and dark floor with several rooms lined up along both walls, each with a keypad lock. My steps are quiet, and I walk nearly to the end before reaching room 4.

I punch in my universal code, and the door unlocks as the monitor flashes green. I push the door open and glance over the three people in the room. It’s a simple room, one just with a bed in the middle and some toys in the corner.

A fairly good-looking guy is on top of a ginger girl while a redhead sits on the edge of the bed, watching and touching herself.

The man sits up and offers me a cocky, sideways smile. “I don’t know how you got into this room, buddy, and I’m not usually the type to share, but Ryn over there might like the company, so come on in.” The man doesn’t recognize me, but Ryn does, and she drops her hand and swallows.

“Playtime is over, girls,” I announce. “Get out. Keith and I need to have a little chat.”

The girl under Keith, Mona, slides away, and the women get dressed. Keith looks at them, confused and a little agitated. “Why are you leaving?” He’s got a thick Southern accent that I suspect is fairly dramatized because he thinks it’ll make him more attractive.

It doesn’t.

“Just because this bozo said something?”

“This bozo is the owner of the club,” I counter as the girls scurry from the room, no doubt to find their next assignment or call it a day and retire to their apartments.

Keith’s eyes widen, and he starts to get off the bed and search for his pants. I give him the time he needs and respect him enough not to watch as he gets dressed, almost as if he’s putting his dignity on.

Once he’s dressed, he walks toward me with his hand out and a cowboy hat on his head. His matching boots really push the southern image he’s selling. “I’m Keith, nice to meet you.”

I make it clear that I won’t be shaking his hand. “I know who you are, Madison.” I refer to him by his last name.

He nods and smiles. “Well, it’s a fine establishment that you run here, Mr.…”

I ignore his wordless request for my name. “As I’m sure you can guess, I’m a busy man, which means pop-ins are by far my least favorite thing to do. I’m not here to make small talk.”

“Whyareyou here?” He looks genuinely clueless.

“The membership contract you signed had a clause that states one of the biggest rules we have here, Mr. Madison. Do you remember that rule?”

He thinks about it for a second, and a knowing look passes in his eye before he shakes his head. “Aw, the contract was exceptionally long, and I can’t remember every detail.”

“Ignorance doesn’t permit you to break the rules.”

“I’m sorry?”

“A big rule we have here is that you don’t try to take the girls.”

He snorts. “She’s a human being. How could I take an entire person?” His drawl is a bit lighter now that his temper is growing.

“I looked into your activity, and you’ve requested her every time you come, at least five times a week. That’s not the issue. The problem is that you keep trying to get her to leave with you. Do you wish to pay off her debt?”

If he isn’t, he’s wasting everyone’s time.

I have eyes and ears everywhere, and I like to keep tabs on what’s happening. Realizing that one of my more popular girls is considering leaving because of this prick is a nuisance.

“I don’t understand what you’re…”

“She has a balance of almost two million dollars. Should I charge it to your account?”

His jaw drops, and he stares at me as if I’m a madman. I’m sure he’s overwhelmed, thinking of what he wants to say, but I don’t give him a chance. “Is that a yes or a no?”

“No,” he answers quickly.

“So you won’t be paying off Mona’s debt?”