AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Check with Tab. I’m not sure what my calendar looks like, to be honest.”
Rich mahogany panelinglines the walls, casting a deep, lustrous glow under the lustrous glow under the soft light of antique chandeliers. From floor to ceiling, the other wall is adorned with bottles of amber-colored liquid, with a bar conveniently situated in front.
The interior of the bar area exudes an air of refined elegance and old-world charm. When members enter the heavy oak doors, a cozy and elegant ambiance filled with tradition and refinement welcomes them.
Plush leather armchairs and high-backed bar stools beckon its members to sink into their embrace, offering a sense of comfort and exclusivity. Intricately carved tables, adorned with brass accents and crystal decanters, provide the perfect setting for relaxed camaraderie, and the secrets of many of its members.
In one corner of the bar area, a crackling fireplace casts a flickering light across the room, infusing the space with a cozy warmth. Above the large mantle, a collection of antique hunting trophies and mounted heads serves as a reminder of the club’s storied past and the connection to the surrounding wilderness that the club hides away from prying eyes.
A sense of rustic charm pervades the space, blending seamlessly with the club’s atmosphere of refined luxury.
Members of this club hail from all luxuries of life, from medicine to athletes to musicians. Men often speak in hushed tones and in some ways, many secrets are divulged. The elite of the elite belong to this club, and most people don’t know it exists as it’s nestled deep into the woods just outside of a small town an hour away from Empire Bay.
I am here twice a week, at the most. A group of us, ten of us, have been having drinks and sharing secrets with one another for the past few years. We started as three, and then we grew.
I sit across from the fireplace with a drink in my hand, staring into the flames. My mind raced through different projects happening at work and the woman who I couldn’t get out of my head.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Asher Knight sits beside me, asking.
I look at him and hold my cup up.
“Is it women’s problems or is it work?” he asks.
“Full honesty? For the first time, I’m not thinking about work.”
“That’s a first. Normally, you’ve got a million things going through your mind. Sometimes, it’s a little distracting. Especially when you talk about computer code and microchips. So, what’s up with you? You sick?”
“I met someone. And I’m distracted.”
Denise
We couldn’t be moredifferent from each other. I’m employed as a waitress, while he holds a prestigious position in a downtown skyscraper.
But when we were hanging out together, I felt like his equal. He didn’t talk down to me; he didn’t make me feel like a smaller person, and he talked to me like I was just as smart as him.
Which, of course, I am. Just in different ways. While he may be smarter in one area, he may be a total tool in another. And the same goes for me.
Last night, I took a chance and hang out with an unbelievably gorgeous man. It’s been months since I broke up with Thom. I wasn’t actively seeking a relationship, but I won’t let a good opportunity pass me by.
We watched one of the Escape Room movies, and I need to rewatch it again since we did more talking, joking, and laughing - rather than watching.
He comes from the life of silver spoons up your ass, but he acts like any other guy that I’ve met. He must be pretty high on the ladder at his work since he was at a charity function where table costs are in the thousands. He is down to Earth, but you can tell that he has money. His intriguing nature makes me eager to learn more about him. But then there is the insecure part of me that wants to hide away in my small one bedroom apartment and knows that whatever I do will not measure up to whatever it is that he does.
Today is a whirlwind of activity. My day started early, despite having a late night. When I should have been working on my notes from this week’s reading in my lit class, I hung out with Miller instead. I’m dragging ass this morning rushing from one side of the campus to the other to make it in time for my next lecture, not like all the other students here at EBU, especially since I’m probably the oldest student in any of my classes. I check my watch as I open the large door to the hall and rush half-way down the stairs to the center and scoot through the aisle to a seat with a center view. I pull out my laptop and get ready for class to begin.
In that moment, my thoughts begin to wander.
The clatter of dishes,the hum of conversations, and the steady flow of hungry customers create a vibrant atmosphere that demands my full attention. With my hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and my apron securely fastened around my waist, I move with purpose between tables, delivering orders and ensuring that every guest along my path receives my attention. Tonight is just like any other night as I weave my way through the crowded dining room, balancing trays of food with practiced ease. I’m completely focused on the tasks that need to be done. From taking orders to refilling drinks, my key priority is meeting the demands of the job.
Lost in the rhythm of my work, I hardly notice the door swinging open, admitting a tall figure dressed in a fitted suit. It’s Miller. Even though he has a commanding presence, I don’t have the time to spare him a second glance as I go about my work, enveloped in the hustle and bustle of the diner.
“I just seated this hot guy, but he’s asking for you,” Monica tells me.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath and turn around from the counter.
Pausing to catch my breath, I glance around the room and find Miller sitting at a table near the back, his gaze filled with desire and curiosity fixed on me. I feel a pang of embarrassment wash over me as I realize how frazzled I look, and how I didn’t greet him when he walked in, allowing Monica to direct him to a table.
Walking over to his table, I offer him a sheepish smile.
