Page 50 of Never Tell Secrets

“I’m Lola O’Connell. It’s good to meet you.Finally.” I gave Alfie a look. He barely hid a smile.

“Fuck me, he’s smiling,” the beautiful, dark haired man lounging on the couch said, taking a puff of his cigar.

Ignoring him, Alfie continued. “These are her friends, Keira Larson and Maia Hyde.”

“Well,” Mr Marx said, “welcome to our humble abode. I’m Damien Marx, Chief Teller. The stunning blonde over there is Kal Strauss.” Kal tipped his tumbler to us, and Damien waved a hand at the other dark haired man. “This handsome prince is Cassius Nova and that stern-looking fucker,” he pointed at the man sitting behind the desk, “is Eli West.” I gave them all a smile, then paused.

“Wait…Cassius Nova?”

The man smiled at me. He might have been the prettiest man I’d ever seen. “Call me Cas.”

“Cas Nova? As in Casanova? You’re kidding, right?”

“No and before you ask, yes, I live up to my name.” He winked at me and I smiled at his audacity.

“Fuck off, Cas,” Alfie grumbled next to me but Cas just chuckled.

“Alright,” the ‘stern-looking fucker’ said, “let’s get on with it, shall we?” In front of him were four sets of paperwork, each with one of our names on it. “Mr Tell, you agree to act as sponsor for Miss O’Connell, Miss Larson, and Miss Hyde. If they cause any damages you will cover all costs etc.”

“I remember the drill.” Alfie bent and signed like a pro. I picked up my own documents.

“You’re a lawyer?” I asked, glancing up at Eli.

“Yes.”

“A good one?”

Eli raised an eyebrow at me. “I own one of the most prestigious law firms in Europe.” Damn. I guess Alfie wasn’t the only overachiever in the room.

“That’ll do, I guess.” A chuckle echoed around the men as I sat down to read through the paperwork.

“It’s an NDA as well as a?—”

“I can read, darlin’,” I told Eli without looking up. The legal jargon was fairly straightforward.

I hereby agree to keeping everything I see within the Never Tell Clubhouse confidential. I understand that I am a guest of Mr Tell. I am not required to participate in any activities, sexual or otherwise. I am not permitted use of any drugs whilst on the property. I am not permitted entry to the Onyx rooms whilst on the property. I am not permitted to engage in activities, sexual or otherwise, with black-collared members...

And on and on and on it went. I read the whole thing and when I was done I looked over at Keira, who hadn’t bothered picking hers up but was busy throwing eyes at Damien Marx.

“What are the Onyx rooms?” I asked, looking to Alfie to fill in the blanks.

“They’re on the underground level. Rooms where members can engage in more intense experiences.”

“So…kinky fuckery?” I asked and he stifled a smile. Turning back to my contract I took the pen from the desk and signed. “You hear that, Keira?” I said over my shoulder. “You aren’t allowed in the Onyx rooms.”

“I heard. Can we go now?”

“You need to read and sign your papers first.” Damien held them out to her. She gave him a withering look before snatching the contract and casting an eye over it. Damien lifted an eyebrow at her and so did I.

“Don’t take it personally,” Alfie said to Damien, “it’s me she’s pissed at.”

“Well, she’s pretty when she’s pissed.” Damien ran his gaze over my friend and she jerked her eyes up to meet his.

“I’malwayspretty.” With that, she signed on the dotted line, all the while Damien was watching her with acute interest. I had a feeling those two were an explosion waiting to happen. Maia quietly signed her contract as the room watched on.

My nerves jangled in my tummy. As if he could sense it, I felt Alfie take a step closer to me. Not touching, but allowing his presence to comfort me. I gave him a small nod, letting him know I was okay.

“Alright, ladies. Just one more thing.” Mr West opened a drawer and placed three jewellery boxes on the table in front of us. He opened one to reveal a simple white collar with anNTCpendant. On the back the letter ‘T’ was engraved. “You’ll wear these from now until the moment you leave the grounds. As club rules state, the keys to your collars have to be carried by a neutral party, in this case, a Teller that you didn’t come with. So, Mr Strauss, you can take Miss O’Connell’s.” I watched as he handed my key off to Kal. I wasn’t sure how I felt about some stranger having the key but Alfie gave me a reassuring smile. “I’ll take Miss Hyde’s.” Eli pocketed Maia’s key and I didn’t miss the heat in her eyes. Perhaps I’d underestimated little Maia Hyde. “And Miss Larson, your key can go with?—”