Page 97 of The Good Girl Effect
“I’m Camille.” I put my hand out to shake it, but with a coy smile, he lifts it to his mouth and kisses the back as he winks.
“Enchantée, Camille.”
“Are you French?” I ask, too curious to resist.
“Afraid not,” he replies. “J’ai grandi à Paris.”
He grew up in Paris. I wonder briefly if he is the man Jack has mentioned during our late-night talks when he complains about the son of his godfather, who often gives him trouble. This man looks like he gives a lot of people trouble.
“So,” he says as he extends his arm. “Would you like a tour?”
“A tour?” I ask.
“Yeah. We can give Jack his lunch, and you can have lunch with me.” When he smiles, it creates sharp dimples in his cheeks, so charming it’s like I’m getting sucked in by the spell he’s putting me under.
I mean…why can’t I let this handsome man give me a tour? Things with Jack are not real. He’s made that very clear. We have sex without commitment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t even speak to other men.
“A tour would be nice, but I’m afraid I have to get back to work before lunch.”
His smile grows wider. Then I notice his gaze dance upward to the second floor, where there’s a line of covered windows. It makes me wonder if Jack is up there.
But before I can ask, Julian puts out his arm, and I loop mine through. He smells divine, like rich cologne. Suddenly, I imagine myself marrying a wealthy man—never having to worry about anything again. No more work. A luxe apartment in the city. People to serve me instead of the other way around.
Is that what I want more than working for Jack and Bea? My head says yes, but my heart says no.
Julian gives me a comprehensive tour of the upstairs, showing me the new dance floor, bar, and VIP section. Then he shows me the speakeasy-style door that leads exclusive members downstairs to the adult club by way of elevator. As we both step inside, he presses the button and leans against the back wall.
“I’m sure you know by now that our parents had a club themselves, but ours will be better,” he says with a smug tone.
“How so?” I ask with a flirtatious smirk. Jack’s already told me everything, but I want to humor Julian. I want to get to know the man who has driven Jack so out of his mind.
“Well, first of all, we won’t only let in the wealthy.” He brushes a strand of blond hair from his forehead. “We plan to have a sliding scale fee system and vetted membership in order to be more inclusive and accessible. That wasmyidea.”
“Oh really?” I reply, pressing my lips into a grin.
That was totally Jack’s idea.
“And heightened security, of course. We want the club to be safe and welcoming toall.”
“That’s good,” I reply. I don’t tell him how I’ve already found my way inside without even trying.
The elevator doors open, and Julian leads me down the dark hall toward the club I’ve been in before. But this time, when I step through the curtain, a gasp slips through my lips.
“This…” he says as he waves a hand over the newly refurbished club, “is my pride and joy.”
My jaw drops as I glance around the room. It looks stunning down here. With the same classy, timeless ambience as upstairs, this section of the club screams youth and style. It’s not just luxurious in a way that’s intimidating. The walls are painted black with bright pink graffiti logos. The decor is all in jewel tones and minimalist. The dance floor is mirrored, and the booths around it are soft-looking and comfortable. Definitely room for…all sort of activities. If I were to come to a sex club, this is the kind of place I’d want to visit. Like some multisensory playground of pleasure.
Julian leans back against a low wall, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes rake over me.
“You’ll have to come see it when it’s open,” he says in a flirtatious tone.
“I don’t think my boss would allow that,” I reply with a smirk.
“Then you’ll come as my date. He can’t say no to that. He doesn’t own you.”
My expression falters as I bite my lip and look down.He doesn’t own me.
“You don’t even know me,” I reply with a tilt of my head. “You just want to bring me to hold something over Jack’s head.”
