Black: Part 1 by Kelly Harper Page B

And my presence there is like a painter’s mark on his masterpiece.
    It’s mid-evening when I make my second round through the club. My heart is still beating hard after having just fucked Charlotte on my desk, and a tingling sensation is making its way up and down my legs. But, mostly, the encounter with Charlotte is already a distant memory. It wasn’t the first time I’d fucked her, and it probably won’t be the last. She enjoys our random hookups as much as I do—probably even more than I do—and that means that, no matter what she says, they’ll likely continue. For now, my focus is on greeting my guests, and checking to see if there are any VIPs that deserve, or expect, even more special attention.  
    The lounges with their varying styles of music and ambiances are all beginning to fill up. I stop by a few of the tables and shake hands with both those I recognize as returning guests along with new faces that I’ve never seen before. As is typical, there are more than a couple hot twenty-somethings that make it obvious they’re willing to do whatever it takes to spend a little more time with me, and if I hadn’t just emptied myself with Charlotte, I’d be tempted to take one or two of them up on those unspoken offers.
    It takes the better part of twenty minutes to clear my way through the club before I end up outside of the Parlor. Darren, one of the more senior members of my security team, is standing just outside of the room. The visible security so near-at-hand gives my special guests a sense of comfort. These are powerful men of privilege, and they like to know that they’re being taken care of—and that they’re properly segregated from the “commoners” that avail themselves to some of Club Addictions other amenities.
    Having a trusted man nearby at all times also makes it easier for me to know what is going on in my club. And whether or not there are any matters of which I should be aware.
    “Good evening, Darren. How’s the night coming along?”
    “Mr. Black,” he says, nodding his head in acknowledgement. “Pretty quiet night so far. Only a few guests have been through here.”
    “Anyone I should be aware of?”
    He nods his head once.
    “Mr. Cross is here right now. With a date.”
    He adds the last part almost as an afterthought. Its meaning and significance doesn’t need further clarification.
    “Glad to hear it. Then I shouldn’t be here long.”
    Darren nods his head in understanding and then pulls back the purple privacy curtain that separates the Parlor from the hallway outside. Stepping beyond the curtains transports me into a much quieter and much more elegant world. The lighting in the Parlor is kept low, and the tables are spread far enough apart that the VIPs don’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping.
    Giving a cursory glance around the room, I note that a few of the tables in the Parlor are occupied. I disregard all of the others when I see the man I’m looking for sitting in his usual spot. He’s displaying that level of charm that seems to work on most of the women in his life. Across from him is a girl with curly auburn hair. She doesn’t look like the usual type of girl I see him here with—but I’m not one to judge.
    Declan Cross was one of the first investors in Club Addiction , and he was also one of the first VIP members—a perk of his contributions to our ongoing success. I’ve known him for a few years, and he’s quickly become one of my most trusted confidantes in the city.
    A smile brightens his face when he sees me drawing near. He rises out of his seat just as I come to a stop at their table.
    “Calvin Black, the one and only,” he says, thrusting his hand out to me.
    I grasp it and give it a strong shake.
    “Declan, it’s good to see you.” I turn my smile to the girl—she’s even more attractive up close. “I see you’ve brought a friend…”
    “Calvin this is Annabelle.” To her he adds, “Annabelle, Calvin is the owner of this