Chapter 11

Half an hour later, the door to the club swung open, and I stepped inside, the scent of leather and the faint hint of sweat greeting me like an old friend. I had dressed in the outfit Alex had provided for me—a short black dress that hugged my curves and a pair of heels that made me feel both powerful and vulnerable. The contrast of the weekday silence and the night's cacophony was stark, but I was ready to embrace the role of hostess.

The bar gleamed under the soft lights, and the bondage furniture that had been the center of so much drama was now shrouded in velvet covers, waiting patiently for the night's entertainment to begin. I took my place behind the counter, smoothing down my dress and checking my reflection in the mirror. The woman who stared back at me was a stranger, a mask hiding the confusion and anger that roiled within.

Members began to trickle in, the low murmur of their conversations filling the space. They greeted me with nods and smiles, and I returned the gestures