Page 75 of Delicious Surrender
“I couldn’t sleep with the storm, so I was scanning the news on my phone. There’s a goddamned story about the club. Not only does it reveal your name as the owner, but it lists key members, including John, Martin, Dimitri, Judge Marchand, two members of Parliament, and a member of the House of Lords. My email has blown up in the last half hour. The print edition is landing on people’s doorsteps as we speak.”
“How is this possible? Who the fuck wrote it?” Gage was up and fishing his tablet out so he could read it.
Garrick swore. “B. Larimore. Oh my god. Brynne?!”
A million thoughts warred for supremacy in Gage’s brain. “That conniving little bitch. She disappeared just in time. In fact, I would bet there was no death in her family.”How could I be so wrong? So stupid?
“Gage, this doesn’t seem right. Why?”
“To get a promotion, to get famous. Who the fuck knows! But when I’m done with her, she will be lucky to get a job washing dishes in this city.”
“Fuck.” Garrick sighed heavily into the phone.
“Get in touch with everyone who is named and let them know we are working on a retraction. I need to speak to theowner of that rag they call a newspaper. They have no idea the powerful people they have pissed off. It will cost them some serious advertising revenue.”
Gage pulled up the article and swore.
Club Dominus: Who is behind London’s kinky private men’s club for affluent misogynists?
Gage MacLeod, Scottish club owner, runs this hideaway for the immoral. Members of this exclusive men-only club include high-ranking officials from Scotland Yard and London’s Parliament. Inside this den of iniquity, you might run across judges, CEOs, and the sons of London’s wealthiest families. So, what goes on in the unassuming Georgian in London’s West End? All kinds of kinky sex games. Just last week, they put on a racy Arabian nights party, with sexy harem girls wearing collars and chains. If you want to paddle your partner, you need only go upstairs to access the punishment room. Head to the top floor if you want to hire a themed room to have sex with a male or female slave. It’s London’s best kept secret brothel.
She listed six members by name and had the audacity to suggest the place be shut down.
“I’ll meet you at the club in an hour. Send an email to all our members to say the club will be closed for a couple of days. And add that we’ll be in touch as soon as possible with more information. I’ll ask John to meet us there as soon as he can. We need to discredit her and the paper.”
“Got it. See you there.” Garrick rang off and Gage jumped in the shower.
Thirty minutes later, his driver passed in front of the club where several paparazzi were staking out the main entrance. Gage was glad he had an underground garage linked to anotherbuilding, so no one would know when he entered or exited.
His mother had tried him three times, but he ignored the calls. Until he had a plan, he wouldn’t speak to her. John answered on the first ring and Gage worked to calm him down.
An idea took shape while he was getting ready. John could tell his superiors that Gage asked for his advice about a member he suspected of dirty deals, and they met to discuss it in the lounge. Hopefully, Brynne knew little more than his name and that she’d seen him. Since the article mentioned nothing about the private party, he hoped it was safe from exposure. Especially since her best friend was the star attraction. The worst-case scenario would be the exposure of John’s sexuality when he had not come out to anyone, including his family. Gage needed to call her friend Jared and warn him to keep his mouth shut.
Once in his office, he called the editor of theMirror. Garrick gave him Jared’s cell, and he called him too. Gage expected the voicemail message would scare the shit out of him.
“Jared, if you value your business and reputation, you will speak to no one about my club. Ever. You can, however, tell your friend that her career as a journalist is over. She has crossed the wrong person, and so have you. You’re both fired.”
Next, he crafted an email to the members he surmised had large ad budgets and gave them instructions to threaten full withdrawal if the paper did not retract the story.
The editor called him back within the hour. Nigel Linkletter sounded like a complete wimp. He spent ten minutes apologizing, and Gage had the distinct impression he didn’t know about the article before it landed on his front page.
Gage used his scariest Dom’s voice. “Listen Linkletter, I expect a full retraction of this story. This woman got a job in my club under false pretenses. She collected information about some of the most influential people in this city. By now, I imagine you have received multiple emails demanding a retraction and an apology. Unless, of course, you and the paper’s owners don’t care that your ad revenue is disintegrating as we speak.”
Nigel cleared his throat, but Gage kept going. “Furthermore, what happens in my club is nobody’s business. Nothing illegal goes on at Dominus, and we practice safe, consensual activities in complete privacy. You should also know that my next call is to the CEO of theMirror’s parent company. I am sure Mr. Knight will be interested in knowing you published a story that embarrassed his father and several of his close friends.”
Gage heard a choking sound through the phone. Linkletter cleared his throat. “Mr. MacLeod, I am very sorry for this. Give me until this afternoon. I need to speak to my superiors about a retraction and get back to you.”
“When you see the ramifications of this ridiculous story, you’ll see that is youronlycourse of action. Expect to hear from my lawyers before noon today.”
Gage hung up and threw his phone down on his desk. Garrick did some digging and found out that theMirror’sowner was none other than Roger Knight. His father, Douglas, was one of the first members of the club. That little discovery might turn the tide in their favor.
Now his mother was texting him. She never texted.
Mother:Where are you? Call me ASAP. Have you seen the news??
Gage needed a coffee before he rang her back. He made an espresso and sat down at his desk.
She picked up before it had the chance to ring. “It’s about time! Would you care to explain what the hell happened, son? The only thing that saved us is them not knowing your real name or your relationship to me.”