Page 45 of A Good Girl's Guide to Dominance
I start to reply, but Rome cuts me off. “Good afternoon. Rome Giovanni and Nia Washington, here for a meeting with Mr. Nix Malone.”
The pale man’s smile slowly drops, revealing a much more sinister side as he steps behind a black podium and lifts a blackphone to his ear. He stares at us without saying a word before hanging up, his smile returning in a flash.
“Mr. Malone is expecting you,” he says, just as jovially as when we first entered. “Right this way, please.” The host turns on his heel and begins walking into the dining area, and Rome and I follow.
The VP is much fancier than I expected. I’m not sure what I thought I’d see, but the elegant black and gold decor is quite beautiful. Black leather booths line the perimeter of the establishment, with circular tables scattered throughout the middle. Each table is covered with a white cloth and gold decorations. Even the salt and pepper shakers are golden and look extremely expensive. The customers dining today are all dressed well, lifting decorative crystal wine glasses to their lips and eating steaks that look like they were prepared by Gordon Ramsey. Clearly this place has done very well for itself, but the main dining area doesn't compare to the section Rome and I are led to.
The host takes us to the back of the restaurant, where black and gold doors block off the VIP section of the establishment. We watch as he places a hand on each door and slides them apart, revealing a lavish room draped in gold and white. The walls are adorned with bright pictures of Philly lit up at night and housed in gaudy gold frames. There are lush green plants in each corner of the room, and a long table at the far end, at which a gargantuan figure sits in the furthest seat. When we walk in, he stands up and I feel a sudden urge to turn around and run back to the car.
“Rome Giovanni and Nia Washington,” the host says to Nix, extending his arm to guide us to the table.
“Thanks, Jeffrey,” Nix says in a voice so deep it makes the room rumble. The host nods, turns around, and walks out, closing the sliding doors behind him.
Nix Malone is larger than life. He has to be at least six-foot-four, and I'd be surprised if he weighs less than two-hundred-fifty pounds, but each pound is made of thick, round muscle that looks built to kill. His shoulders look like two globes next to his head, and his arms and chest stretch the short sleeves of his black button-up. The man is a bear standing on its back legs, waiting for someone to get close so he can pounce and tear flesh apart with his bare hands. His beard is thick and long but very well kept, as is his compact black hair that is highlighted by a wide part on one side. I can see tattoos of what look to be angels and demons clawing up both of his arms, but the stretched sleeves cover everything above the elbow. If there was an image in the dictionary next to the word gangster, it would be exactly what I'm looking at right now.
While I stand back with a racing heart, Rome steps forward with his hand extended.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Malone,” he says as Nix shakes his hand. “I’m Rome Giovanni, the owner of Sandcastle, and this is Nia Washington. She crafted today’s pitch for us.”
Nix’s eyes shift over to me, pinning me in place until he extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Nia.”
I swallow my fear and step forward. It’s game time. “Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Malone. This is a beautiful restaurant. I've never been here, but it looks like I’ll have to make my way back for a nice dinner.”
Nix’s smile breaks through his iron demeanor. “Oh, absolutely you should. Tell your boyfriend or husband that he needs to take you out. A beautiful woman like you deserves to be treated to the absolute best, and The VP is exactly that.”
I giggle quietly. “I’ll be sure to tell him that once I finally meet him.”
“No husband or boyfriend?” Nix says, still holding onto my hand, but no longer shaking it. “I’m shocked to hear that. In thatcase, maybe I should treat you myself. Everything would be on the house.”
“Wow, on the house? I might have to take you up on that,” I reply with wide eyes.
I'm surprised by two things: how quickly Nix has unarmed me with his personality, and the brooding anger on Rome’s face as he watches us interact.
Nix chuckles before showing me to the seat closest to his, and we all sit down. He orders water from a server who comes from a hidden door somewhere in the back, and it is brought to us immediately. It’s clear that this section of The VP is not like the front. These servers are specific to the VIP section, and there is no waiting when Nix asks for something.
“Can I get either of you anything else while you're here?” Nix asks, eyeing us both.
“No, thank you,” Rome answers for us. “As this is a business meeting, I'd like to get right to it if that’s okay with you.”
I see a twitch in Nix’s eye as he looks at Rome, but his amiable demeanor doesn't change. “Ah, right down to business. Okay. I can get down with that. So, you want to be the company that helps Golden Diamond get its feet off the ground with your marketing and advertising. I've listened to three other pitches before today, and Sandcastle will be the last because I don't like dragging my feet. I'm a very busy man, and we need this ad campaign to begin soon so that people know exactly what’s coming and what to expect when it gets here. So, if you’d like toget right to it, then there’s no need to stretch it out. What’s your pitch?”
The ice in Nix’s voice nearly freezes me in place. As charming as he is, there is no denying that he clearly has a side of him that does not mess around. Now that the greeting is over, all smiles have vanished and we’re faced with a demeanor of cold steel. With Nix, business is business, and it's not a game to him.
I have to look over my shoulder to see Rome—which brings back far too many memories of how I did the same thing yesterday while he peppered my shoulder and neck with kisses—and he nods at me, my cue to begin. Each beat of my heart hits like a hammer striking a nail as I am engulfed by nerves. I've been preparing for this for a while, but nothing compares to being in the moment. I’m a woman sitting between two men, awaiting their judgment. Rome and I had sex just yesterday, and Nix looks at me like he would love to take Rome’s place today. They see me as a prize to be won, decoration to adorn their arm when they walk into a place as the center of attention. Well, I refuse to allow myself to be reduced to that. I'm a submissive when I choose to be, and even when I submit, I’m still a powerful woman that is not to be taken lightly.
“Our pitch for the Golden Diamond is simple,” I start after clearing my throat and sitting up straight. All playfulness is removed from my voice and thoughts of returning to The VP for dinner with Nix are erased. They aren't the only ones who can be all about their business. “The casino and hotel of your dreams is all about the most important person in the place—you. Now, when I say you, Mr. Malone, I don't mean you, the owner. I’m talking about you, the customer. When you walk into any other casino in Philly, the experience is set up to be shared by all in attendance. But at Golden Diamond, you are the king of the casino floor. Each and every amenity in the building is tailor made for your pleasure. Every server treats you like the owner. Every dealer looks at you like you’re the only one at the table. Every meal is cooked to your precise liking. Every arrival is fit for red carpet treatment.”
As Nix leans back in his seat, I focus on the words I crafted for this pitch with Jeremiah, repeating them from memory with the exact enthusiasm as the first time I spoke it in front of Rome and Sierra.
“The two thousand, top of the line slot machines are jaw-dropping, but they are nothing compared to winningyourfirst jackpot. The one hundred TVs to watch games and track the bets you've made are awe-inspiring, but they dwindle in comparison to the feeling of watchingyourbet payout, makingyouthe winner and center of attention as if standing in the middle of your own living room. There are thousands of luxurious rooms in the hotel, but the only one that matters isyours. In Golden Diamond,youare the monarch to which the rest of the world kneels.
“The world’s biggest acts will grace the grandiose stage and entertain the masses, but nothing is more exciting thanyourfirst experience in the grand hall, feeling up close and personal no matter which seatyouchoose. Fifteen fine dining restaurants awaityourarrival, ready to treat you with the utmost respect and care, serving you the most mouth-watering meals you've ever tasted.Youare their number one customer and you will be treated as such every time you visit as if you were the owner, becauseyouare the leader.Youare the VIP. At Golden Diamond, you are royalty.”
I maintain eye contact with Nix as I finish, worried by hesitation as he stares back. He doesn't speak, choosing only to blink and keep me on the edge of my lavish black leather seat. While the wheels spin in his mind, I turn around to look at Rome, who only nods at me to let me know that it’s okay. We don't know Nix. We have no idea how he’ll respond to this, so all we can do is wait, while the pounding of my heart drowns out all other sounds until the moment Nix speaks.
His eyebrows raise and he blinks quickly as if in disbelief.
“Wow,” he exclaims, leaning forward in his chair. “You know what you're doing. I'm impressed.”
