Mine (The Club Wonderland)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

G erald Montgomery strode into the restaurant. He met eyes with Annabel and nodded. She smiled and nodded back. “How does he always know.” Ryan saw Annabel’s smile go from genuine to stiff.

“Someone’s feeding him my schedule,” Annabel said.

“We can go,’ Andrew said.

“Then he wins,” Annabel said.

“It’s better than sitting here watching you calculating what each movement and gesture means,” Andrew said. “Why won’t you fight back?”

“Fighting isn’t always the answer,” Annabel closed her eyes. She wanted to walk over to the table and tip a pitcher of anything over Gerald Montgomery’s smug head.

“Laying down and letting him trash you isn’t either,” Andrew said. “We can put out a statement. We need to do something.”

“No. I won’t feed into his bull,” Annabel put a calming hand on his.

“He’s not the only one who feels this way,” Ryan said. “You know he’s recording.”

“He always does,” Annabel said.

“This makes eight days in a row,” Ryan said. “We’ve spoken to our staff and they aren’t sharing.”

“As far as you know,” Annabel said. “He pays well for tips. It’s how he’s become so big.”

“You think it’s someone on our staff,” Andrew frowned.

“No. I don’t mean that,” Annabel said. “I’m annoyed he’s here and spoiling another of our outings. Maybe it’s time for me to go into hiding again.”

“You can’t hide from him,” Ryan squeezed her hand.

“I’m tired of his harassment but my lawyers say if I try to get a restraining order, I’m not likely to get one,” Annabel said. “He’s not threatening me.”

“It’s got to fall under harassment,” Andrew said.

“Let’s just finish our meal and go,” Annabel said. “I’d say we shouldn’t let him spoil things but it’s too late.”

“Why are you reading his crap,” Andrew asked.

“Every time,” Ryan muttered. “Do you think it’s one of our people?”

“Let’s stop putting it in as an appointment with her,” Andrew said. “Maybe then people won’t know what we’re doing.”

“Class,” Ryan said. “I’ll put my time with her in as class.”

“Good idea,” Andrew said. “I’ll put mine in as gym.”

“We could switch it up,” Ryan suggested.

“Yes, otherwise people will figure it out. We also can’t change anything that’s currently on our schedule as her,” Andrew agreed. “Without upsetting Annabel, how do we get him to stop?”

“No idea,” Ryan said. “This is bullshit.”

“Agreed,” Andrew said. “He’s smart. He keeps it on the side of legal. He doesn’t quite slander her. He isn’t quite libelous in his statements but he insinuates a lot.”

“He targets specific people,” Ryan noted. “There’s a half dozen he does a smear job on regularly.”

“Do you think if we offered him money he’d stop,” Andrew asked.

“Not likely,” Ryan said. “He’s a bully. They stop when they want to.”

“A statement might get him to back off,” Charles said.

“Doubtful,” Annabel said. “It’s better to just stay above his vitriol.”

“Maybe the three of you could donate to the same cause to throw out some good PR,” Charles said.

“I won’t commenting. No one needs to know about my sex life. I won’t release a statement. Why should I? Whose business is it if I have two lovers? No one’s.”

“I know you’re right but I hate seeing him rip you up this way,” Charles said.

“Our charity program is as public as it gets and I don’t know how Andrew or Ryan will feel about making our lives public.”

“Have you asked them,” Charles asked.

“How would that sound? Hey, this asshole is beating me up on his blog, can we please make a statement about how we’re living a polyamorous lifestyle? How does that sound to you?”

“Miserable. Have you told them how you feel?”

“I make arrangements and start to but then we get interrupted,” Annabel sighed. “Can we do some actual work? I’m over the personal crap.”

“Maybe you should tell them how you feel and then it won’t matter as much that you’re getting hammered by the weasel.”

“Let it go,” Annabel warned.

“Yes, ma’am,” Charles recognized her tone as having no more patience for the topic.

“I thought you planned to tell them last week,” Olivia said.

“I did but then Gerry showed up,” Annabel admitted. “I had this whole thing planned and his arrival made us all tense and annoyed. They want me to fight back.”

“I’m on their team,” Olivia snorted. “You should fight back. Hey… there’s an idea. Who’s his biggest competitor? Go give that person an exclusive.”

“I hate the idea of telling anyone about my private life,” Annabel said. “How is it anyone’s business?”

“Because you’re in the news. Because you have money, people look askance at you. They want to know who you are,” Olivia echoed Annabel’s own words back at her.

“Stop quoting me,” Annabel growled.

“Mom, this is bothering you,” Olivia reminded her. “They’ll feel it and wonder at the cause of it. You should be honest with them.”

Annabel closed her eyes. “I know you’re right. I could plan something.”

“Valentine’s Day is around the corner,” Olivia reminded her. “I know it’s a bit cliché but with your guys, it would be a nice restart to things.”

“Huh,” Annabel said. “I’ve always hated the plans the men in my life made for holidays.”

“Yes, but you’ll be in control of this,” Olivia said.

“There’s a play,” Annabel scrolled through a list of events.

“Go out somewhere nice,” Olivia encouraged. “Then back to your place for candles and your confession.”

“I can do this,” Annabel muttered.

“You go, mom,” Olivia grinned over the phone.

“They had a box left,” Charles said. “It seats six. Who do you want to invite?”

“Excellent,” Annabel grinned. “We’ll go to the theater and then out to the Midnight Lounge after. Did you get the delivery from the jeweler?”

“It hasn’t come in yet,” Charles said. “He was having a messenger send it over this afternoon.”

“Good,’ Annabel leaned back in her chair. “It’s all coming together now.”

“What are you planning,” Charles asked.

“Valentine’s Day,” Annabel said. “We’ll go out to the theater, then have a meal at the Midnight Lounge, and then back to my place.”

“You don’t like Valentine’s Day,” Charles reminded her. “You swore after the last one you allowed someone to talk you into, you’d never do anything on it again.”

“Don’t remind me,” Annabel said. “I know it’s cheesy. I want to tell them. I want to make a big deal out of telling them. So, I made plans. I want everything to be perfect. Then at some point in the evening, I’ll tell them I love them.”

“Have you asked them to keep the night clear for you,” Charles asked.

“I will. It’s a week away,” Annabel said.

“Most people have their plans already set,” Charles warned her.

“They aren’t most people. Besides, we spend every night together anyway. I’ll ask them soon. I just want everything in place.”

“Don’t wait too long,” Charles said.

“She doesn’t like holidays and she doesn’t like us to take control,” Ryan reminded him.

“How do we get her to go then,” Andrew asked. “I want to tell her. We need to tell her how we feel.”

“Yeah. I want to know how she feels. We spend all this time together. It can’t be just the sex.”

“Which is fabulous,” Andrew grinned. “Over the top and better than anything. She’s key. I want her to know.”

“Do you think she’ll be willing to move forward?” Ryan asked. “I don’t need a legally binding thing but I want a commitment.”

“Me too,” Andrew said. “We’ve got the necklaces Olivia gave us. I want a commitment and I want us to officially live together. All three of us.”

“I’ve never felt this way for anyone else,” Ryan admitted. “It’s been fun to play the field and explore what we like.”

“But now we’ve found who we fit with,” Andrew nodded. “Valentine’s Day. Let’s look for something to do on that day.”

“It’s getting late in the season. I’ve checked several restaurants. They’re booked up,” Ryan said.

“We may have to do something different,” Andrew said. “Let’s think on it.”

“I’ll start a list of ideas,” Ryan said. “We need to lock this down in the next day or so.”

“It’s four days until Valentine’s Day,” Andrew said. “We need to figure it out ASAP.”

“Crap it’s coming down,” Charles said. “Aren’t you going to Ryan’s tonight?”

“Yes, if the weather allows it,” Annabel packed up her briefcase. “You go on and head out. I won’t be far behind you.”

“I go when you go,” Charles said.

“What are you and Michael doing for V Day?”

“We have kids. We’ll likely take care of them for the night before we grab a glass of wine or two and fall into bed exhausted.”

“That does not sound very romantic,” Annabel said.

“Hey… aren’t you the one who always says this is a made up holiday?”

“Doesn’t mean the day doesn’t come with expectations.”

“Speaking of expectations, have you asked them yet?”

Annabel rolled her eyes. “Tonight. I have plans for them and then after, I’ll ask them.”

“You always have plans for them,” Charles said. “Do you want to share some of these plans?”

“When have I ever told you details about my sex life,” Annabel asked.

“Never but now it’s not vanilla, I want to know more,” Charles teased her.

“It’s definitely not vanilla,” Annabel grinned.

“You are such a tease. You’ll just leave me with that and no details, won’t you?”

“Yes. Now. Come on. Let’s get you out of here before this snow turns from annoying to blizzard.”

Annabel arrived hours earlier. They ate dinner and settled in front of the fireplace. Andrew fed more wood into it.

“Do you see this,” Ryan asked as he read his email and held it up for her to see.

“What is it,” Annabel leaned over as they lay in front of the fire. Snow swirled around outside with nearly blizzard conditions.

“It’s an invitation to an un-Valentine’s Day party,” Ryan grinned.

“Yet another fake holiday,” Annabel rolled her eyes.

“Is it at the new club,” Andrew rubbed his hand over his jaw.

“Yes. It looks like a castle. I’ve heard fun things about it,” Ryan said.

“It might be fun to go out,” Andrew said. “It would be like thumbing our noses at the ‘fake holiday’ you’re grumbling about.”

“It’s a sex club,” Annabel said. “Geared towards making all men happy. I’m not interested in looking at a bunch of skimpily dressed women.”

“It’s not all skimpy clad women,” Ryan said. “It says here there are dungeons and other activities in there.”

“We could check out what they have and see if we want to add to our own,” Andrew suggested.

Annabel didn’t want to go. She thought of men getting lap dances and women stripping for men. It felt demeaning to women. “If you want to go to a strip club, go.”

“It’s not a strip club,” Andrew replied. “It’s classy but they have themes. They did an Alice in Wonderland theme.”

“It’s fun and adult,” Ryan said. “Look. There’s a requirement everyone wears a mask. This will keep it anonymous. We dress up in black tie. We can bring a date or not.”

“No commitments,” Andrew glanced from Ryan to Annabel. “We could just go, see what it’s about, and go if you hate it.”

“It’s not my type of thing,” Annabel said. “You’re welcome to go if you want.”

“We want to go with you,” Ryan insisted.

“I appreciate that,” Annabel said. “It’s not my thing.”

“You haven’t been to this type of club before,” Andrew said. He saw her stiffen. She picked up the debris from making love in front of the fire. “Annabel?”

“Huh…” Annabel returned the dirty dishes to the kitchen. Ryan rose to help her but she shook her head.

“What?” Andrew asked.

“Every time a man has said that to me, it’s because I wasn’t doing what they wanted,” Annabel said. “In the past, I’d let them goad me into doing something I didn’t want to do.”

“We’re not trying to make you do something you don’t want to do,” Andrew said.

“Feels like it,” Annabel said. “I’m not interested. If you want to go, you’re adults and are perfectly able to go on your own. It’s three days away. Go. See if you can find someone you like better.”

“We’re not looking to find someone better. We already have who we want. We want to go out in public as a trio,” Ryan said.

“Out. Like people know the three of us are together,” Andrew said.

“We go out in public all the time,” Annabel said.

“As business associates,” Andrew reminded her. “You have every right to control the narrative of your life through your PR.”

“No one’s ever asked me to define our relationship,” Annabel said.

“How would you define our relationship,” Andrew pushed.

“We’re together,” Annabel said.

“For sex,” Andrew said. “You like bossing us around.”

“Is that what you think,” Annabel asked.

“He didn’t mean it in a bad way,” Ryan tried to sooth over the heated words.

“I’ve been clear. I’m not interested in another alphahole,” Annabel said.

“We’re not alphaholes,” Andrew bit back.

“Edging into one,” Annabel noted.

“Let’s take a step back,” Ryan covered Andrew’s mouth with his hand.

“Have you gone to this place before,” Annabel asked.

“We’ve been. It’s classy and fun,” Ryan admitted. “We want to share the experience with you.”

“No need,” Annabel said. “If that’s how you want to spend Valentine’s Day, go and spend it there. I don’t want to.”

“Maybe we will,” Andrew said.

“You do that,” Annabel said. “I’m heading home.”

“You can’t drive through this storm,” Ryan said.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Annabel said as she gathered her belongings and headed for the door.

“Wait,” Andrew called as he realized she was serious. He grabbed her arm. “Don’t go in this weather. It’s not safe.”

“I’m capable of taking care of myself,” Annabel jerked her arm out of his grip.

“Annabel,” Ryan called as she stepped out the door. Snow swirled around her as she walked to his garage for her car.

“Shit,” Andrew groused as he watched her taillights move down the driveway.

“Should we follow her,” Ryan asked. “It’s nasty out there.”

“It will only piss her off,” Andrew closed the door.

“I thought you were staying at Ryan’s tonight. Why are you driving? They have warnings out about staying off the roads,” Olivia sat up in bed when she answered her mother’s call.

“I... can you just talk to me,” Annabel asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“We had a fight.”

“Do you need… mom?”

“Not like before. Just disagreed.” She explained about why she drove through the snow.

“Did you feel threatened?”

“No… maybe a little. Andrew was tense all night. It’s like he waited for something bad to happen.”

Olivia closed her eyes. “Okay. You drive carefully. I need a second.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you.”

“Mom. Answer my questions and if you want to hang up then, I’ll let you.”

“It’s all right,” Annabel started to sooth. Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Okay. Ask.”

“You argued but you’re not hurt and no one needs medical. Did you tell them you made plans and wanted to surprise them?”

“No. I planned to and then Ryan brought up Club Wonderland. I’ve read about it. I don’t want to go. I’m not their parent. They can do what they want.”

“But you didn’t tell them about your plans,” Olivia reminded her. “What are you feeling?”

“Like they want a new Domme and I’m not enough for them,” Annabel confessed.

“Oh mom,” Olivia soothed. “I’m sure that’s not the case.”

“Shit. The roads are bad. I have to hang up.” Annabel hung up as the tears blurred her vision and she fought to keep her car on the slippery roads.

“Strong women still have doubts,” Olivia murmured as she stared at her phone.

Did you make it home okay?

Ryan typed it into his phone and pressed send. He tried calling thirty minutes earlier but she hadn’t answered.

He saw Andrew on his phone. Was he texting her?

“Why do you think she got so upset,” Andrew asked. “I was too demanding.”

Please let me know when you get home.

Andrew typed in the message. If she were mad at him, would she respond? She hadn’t responded to any of his phone calls.

“You weren’t demanding,” Ryan said. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. She probably thinks we’re like the ex who always notified the blogger.”

“But we aren’t,” Andrew said. “I want more than…fuck.”

“We’ve talked this over,” Ryan reminded him. “She’s man shy. With all the bad press men have brought her, she’s apprehensive about relationships.”

“I know. I want to tell her how I feel. I was hoping we could go to this thing and…”

“Yeah. I thought we were heading in that direction, too.”

“It offers anonymity to some degree.”

“Maybe not enough for her. It’s been almost three hours; do you think we should go after her?”

“It’s an hour drive,” Andrew chewed his lip. “What if she was in an accident?”

“I’ll try calling again.” Ryan picked up his phone.

I’m home.

I think it best we spend Valentine’s Day apart.

You have my permission to go to Club Wonderland

Enjoy your time there

We’ll talk after Valentine’s Day.

“Well fuck,” Ryan read the message.

“I fucked up,” Andrew rubbed his hand over his chin as he considered how to fix this.

“You’ve been in early every day this week,” Charles said. “What’s the deal?”

“No deal. Lots of work and I need to dig out.” Annabel stood staring out at the snow covered landscape.

“You know I know when you’re lying,” Charles reminded her.

“On my desk are some tickets to the play tomorrow night,” Annabel said. “I’ve arranged for you to have a sitter. There’s a reservation at the Midnight Lounge for a late dinner afterwards. You and Michael should enjoy both of those.”

“I thought you planned to take your guys,” Charles asked.

“They’re going to Club Wonderland,” Annabel informed.

“But you’re not,” Charles said.

“It’s an un-Valentine’s Day event,” Annabel said.

“I know,” Charles said. “I’ve heard about it. Why aren’t you going with them?”

“It’s not my type of thing,” Annabel used the same reason she did with Andrew and Ryan.

“Uh huh,” Charles walked up next to her. He stared at her face for several moments. He saw the tight lines of her jaw and the sadness. He turned to the window. “We’ve dug out from the storm. Driving should be easier.”

“Better than driving through the storm,” Annabel said.

“You put yourself at risk,” Charles scolded again. “What exactly was the fight about? Did you end things?”

“No. I… they pushed things they shouldn’t have,” Annabel said. “We’ll see how things go after today.”

“Or you’ll freeze them out,” Charles said. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you dodging their calls. You haven’t seen them since the storm hit and you disagreed.”

“I won’t stop them from doing what they want,” Annabel said.

“No? They wanted to go to Club Wonderland. Why aren’t you going with them?”

“I told you,” Annabel bit the words out.

“No. You’ve said it’s not your type of thing. But it could be. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid.” She snapped the words out.

“Oh, you are too,” Charles knew the tone.

“Shut up.”

“No. Not this time. Tell me what makes the great Annabel Rouch afraid?”

“I’m not that… you make me sound…”

“Fierce? Determined? Take charge? Do you really need me to tell you that you’re all those things?”

“I fuck up with men all the time. I’ve made mistake after mistake.”

“Are Andrew and Ryan mistakes?”

“No, heavens no.”

“Then what’s the mistake?”

She glared at him before turning to stare out the window.

“Well fuck,” Charles sat down. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when you chickened out.”

“What if… what if they go there and find someone better than me? I’m not a Domme. I mean I don’t feel like I know how to be a Femme Domme. I know what I want and I’ve been doing all of that with them. But officially, I’m not a Domme in the way people think of Dommes.”

“How do people think of Dommes,” Charles asked.

“Well the black leather, with whips and such,” Annabel said. “What if that’s what they want?”

“You don’t want that. You don’t want to whip your men because men have hurt you and you don’t find it sexy.”

Annabel said nothing but shrugged.

“You told me the three of you talked about how you wanted to be together. What makes you think that will change?”

“Isn’t this place all about finding more,” Annabel asked. “Isn’t that why they want to go? What am I not doing or giving them that they want to have more?”

“Huh. I’ve never seen you like this. No. I have. The last time I saw you like this was when your first husband beat the shit out of you and you spewed all this stupid shit about it being your fault for being more than him,” Charles said. “Who’s hurt you?”

“No one,” Annabel sighed. “Fuck. If I tell them my feelings, it gives them power over me.”

“No. Not over you,” Charles said. “Well yes with alphaholes it gives them power over but are Andrew and Ryan alphaholes?”

“No but I don’t want to lose them,” Annabel whispered.

“Wow… well the all powerful Annabel Rouch is too scared to take a risk. Pack it in folks. It’s time to close the doors.”

“I am not,” Annabel asserted but she wrapped her arms around herself. “Business is just business. This is personal.”

“Ahhh. Yeah, it sucks when you have to risk something important,” Charles rose and put his arms around her. “Do you see your life without them?”

“No. No, that’s what scares me,” Annabel whispered.

“Are they worth the personal risk you have to take?”

“Olivia and you are the only two I let in,” Annabel confessed. “Telling them how I feel means I have to let them in too.”

“It sure does. I get it. Assholes have banged up your heart but are Andrew and Ryan assholes?”

“No. They aren’t and I want them in my life. I want more.”

“Then get your ass home, change into your sexy Domme outfit, and go claim your men. The rest of the world can fuck off.”

Annabel sniffled and then laughed. “Can you get me a car this late in the game?”

“Already had one on standby,” Charles kissed her cheek. “Michael and I will enjoy the adult time. You go be fierce.”