Page 20 of Unspoken Lies

Just because we’ve skirted the line of consent before, doesn’t mean anyone else is allowed to. This club will all be above board, and drugs are not allowed within it either. There’s a lot that goes into this, and we are hiring a psychiatrist to do the screenings as well.

That’s one of the many interviews that Theo is conducting from home today.

The waitlist is already long, as I’ve been doing videos teasing what is coming. By dropping content that excites people, we’ve been building our clientele. It doesn’t matter that we’re still in the process of creating our business and the club, this place will be filled with the right people when we open our doors.

I project that’ll take at least three months before we’re ready, but that’s okay.

Roger shows me everything they’ve been able to get done, and his cheeks redden a little at the BDSM walls. It doesn’t bother me at all, obviously. It’ll hold a person’s body in place while the dom gets to work. The hooks on the shelving next to it will have whips, paddles, and more.

I’m very happy with the progress of it all.

“This was great, thanks,” I tell him as I get ready to leave. “Any idea on how long it’ll take for everything to be done?”

“I’m actually thinking it’ll be another two months,” he says honestly. “The basement conversion will take the longest amount of time.”

“No, that’s fine,” I say with a nod. “The private rooms are looking good, man. Your crew is making miracles happen.”

The fact that they’ve been at this for two weeks and already have most of this main area done is incredible.

“Your dad and his partners are eager," he says. “I don’t blame them one bit. I saw a video about this place online, and it looks exciting. This area will benefit from a place like this that is discreet.”

The fact that he saw one of my videos makes me break into a rare grin. I’m glad they’re getting traction.

“He’ll like to hear that. Take care,” I say, stepping out of the club and into the store that’ll hide it.

A part of me is tickled that people will come to shop here without ever knowing what’s on the other side of the wall. The contractors are ensuring that the insulation will make the walls soundproof.

Who said adulting would be completely boring? I suppose it helps that I have Theo and Jared for these wild adventures.

Letting myself out of the building, I look around as I lock up. There are other businesses that are opened around here that offer enough traffic without it being overwhelming. There’s also a decent amount of parking around the back of the building, and since we own it, it’s ours.

Feeling proud of the direction of things, I begin walking toward the pizza shop. Montecito is safe, and there’s still light in the sky since it’s only four in the afternoon. It also doesn’t appear as if the dinner rush has hit yet either.

My stomach rumbles to remind me that I’m hungry after my workout earlier today, and I roll my eyes at myself. There’snothing worse than being slapped in the face with the delicious smells of pizza while being hungry.

Glancing back and forth as I get ready to cross, I begin walking across the street, only to find a car is speeding up. Gasping, I begin to run, twisting around to see who is driving as they pass me. She’s driving an SUV, and has long dark hair that’s partially covering her face.

Again, I feel as if someone stepped on my grave, and I shake my head.

“Fuck, this is getting weird,” I mutter. “Who are you?”

The car disappears around the corner, and I rub my chest uncomfortably.

“Are you okay?” someone asks. Glancing over, I see it’s an older man with what may be his daughter.

This is a family friendly neighborhood, which means we’ll ensure that everyone is well covered when they come into the club. It’s the perfect hidey hole for it.

“Yes, I think so,” I say. “She scared me.”

“Are you sure you didn’t piss her off somehow? It looked like she accelerated as she got closer.” The woman with the older man appears to be holding back a smile since I’m clearly fine, outside of having a silent panic attack.

The dead can’t drive and they can’t come back from the great beyond.

So who the fuck just tried to run me over?

CHAPTER 6

LILIANA