Steven's Pov:

"Alright gentlemen let's get down to business. All three of the clubs are doing really well despite the down turn the economy has taken. Julian you've increased revenue by 13 % which is amazing considering it's just your everyday run of the mill dance club. Have the renovations interfered with business any? I've directed my brother in law's firm to keep interference to a minimum when possible."

Julian smiled and looked smugly at the other two club manager's before he answered. "Thank you sir and no Patrick's men have had no trouble working section by section. However when they get to the main dance floor they estimate it'll be at least four days when we won't be able to be operational."

I merely nodded and addressed my next manager. "Sean I've had it on good authority that the Flaming Banana has been quite busy. However I have my suspicions as to why. Let me be perfectly clear, this is a liquor and dancing business not a brothel. I want more security for the alcoves and most especially the restrooms. Anywhere people may be hooking up. On top -"

Sean blushed but tried to defend himself. "Sir let me assure you that nothing like that is happening. Sure we occasionally get a rowdy couple but those people are escorted out before anything untoward can happen."

I drummed my fingers on my conference table. "How about you let me finish before you try to cover your ass. Now as I was saying before you interrupted. On top of men hooking up and having sex in my club's bathrooms, your bartenders are serving alcohol to minors. I won't tolerate that. If TABC comes in and sees this shit the club will be fined or worse closed down. So I suggest you address these issues real quick and in a hurry or I'll come in and do it and no one wants that."

He nodded vigorously. "I'll have it all fixed tonight sir. I had no idea we were serving underage guys. Are you sure about this? Not that I'm saying you're not or-"

I waved it away but answered truthfully. "I have a friend that is not yet 21 and though he didn't outright say it was the Flaming Banana he went to, yes I'm fairly certain it was. It's the only Vanilla Gay club in a fifty mile radius. Following that logic, he got black-out drunk and had sex there with multiple people in one night. He's going through a bit of a rough patch and apparently that coupled with our bartenders serving him enough alcohol that he has no recollection of how he got home made him do things he normally wouldn't and could quite possibly come back and bite him on the ass. I want no other instances like that with any of our patrons. They want to drink and fuck, more power to them. We'll serve them as long as they're legal. But they can spend the coin for a hotel or take their hook up to their own houses, cars, hell the alley for all I care but not in my club. Are we clear."

"Yes sir, I'll make sure security gets tighter."

I turned to my last manager and smirked. "Deborah darling, as usual things have been going well and you're running Leather and Lace top notch. How are the plans for the up coming auction going?"

She opened up a file on her tablet and being the efficient woman that she is, ran through the details.

"Of course because the nature of our club and the exclusivity of it we haven't advertised. However we have sent out emails to all our VIP Members and already it's gotten quite a bit of buzz. The auction will take place in a months time at midnight on Friday. We'll be sending out the details to all of our members this week. It's invite only if you're going to bid but not if you're going to participate in the auction itself." She stated then looked up from her tablet and produced a pen and small note pad for any notes I had to give her.

"How is that going to work? Our main goal was keeping this low key. Our VIP members are some of the country's most recognizable figures and we've assured them anonymity." I inquired curiously.

She nodded but continued undaunted. "And we aim to keep it that way. The only way to get in is through invite or in the case of the auctionees they have to be brought in by a member. As it's word of mouth and the type of club is still considered taboo in the main stream we wont have to worry about random people stumbling in for a chance of illicit adventure. Don't worry sir it's all been taken care of. We've had your lawyers look at any legal ramifications and we've covered all our bases. Even if we were to have a swat team bust through mid-auction no charges could be brought. All participants have been informed we are selling an illusion of a power exchange, not sex. After they leave our club the participants are in no way obligated to have sex or anything of that nature unless they so desire."

"Excellent. How many are up for auction and are we taking any other precautions in terms of keeping both buyers and sellers identities concealed? The last thing we need is a reporter going undercover and being bought by a senator or hell presidential candidate even."

"As of now we have almost thirty up for auction and yes we've been tossing around ideas about partial masquerade masks. It's a bit over done but until we come up with something more original that's what we've got."

I drummed my fingers. "No that'll be fine but we'll provided the masks. Make them upscale and if possible each one unique for the bidders. We'll hand them out once they've come through the entrance. The men and women that have put themselves up for auction should all have the same mask, uniformed and seeing as it's an S&M club their attire should reflect that but nothing cheesy or overboard. Keep it tasteful and simple. Our bidders aren't going to care whether they have leather cuffs or any of the dressings. It's a dominance thing."

She looked up from jotting down her notes and tapped her pen to her lip. "We could do simple black boy-shorts for both the men and women and perhaps a black form fitting vest to cover the essentials for the women. When they come up on stage we'll have them walk the length and then they can drop down in 'rest' pose. Kneeling down and sitting back on their feet, hands clasped behind their backs." She suggested looking at me for my approval.

"Sounds good, keep me posted."

"Will do. Are you going to be attending sir? This is a very big event and many of our VIP members would like to meet the owner."

I shrugged. "I'll let you know. That'll be all." I I dismissed them all and dropped down into my desk to look over next quarter's projections. An hour later my business line was ringing.

"You have Becker, go." I barked.

"You sound like a dick." Was the greeting.

I chuckled and leaned back. "Del why are you calling my business line?"

"Cause you didn't answer your private line. Sooo how's everything because you sound snippy."

I ran my hand over my face and rolled my eyes.

"No I sounded like a very busy man working and not at all happy about being bothered by one of my employees when I just had a meeting with them." I reasoned.

"Hmmm maybe you should take a break and go for a run. That usually calms you. Take Eric with you, he's been a little off lately." She suggested with a hint of a laugh.

Shit she doesn't know does she? No of course not, she's talking about the articles in the paper and the issues with his asshole parents.

"You have no idea just how right about that you are but we already ran and it didn't help. In fact I think it pissed both of us off more." I said truthfully.

"Uhh-oooh, I know that tone. What happened? Shit... Steven...." Her tone wavered between worried and pissed. Ughh women, they're always so dramatic.

"What and what's with the attitude?" I asked innocently, there is no way she could know. I've made damn sure to keep it all under wraps.

"Please tell me you two are keeping things friendly not... You know what? Never mind because as the Dean I seriously cannot know if you two are bumping uglies. Grrr you're putting me in a very difficult position." She whined.

"Woooah hold up woman! I don't know how you made the leap from both of us being pissed off to us fuckin but relax. Nothing like that is happening sis. In fact he's... I think he and John got together. So back off with all that crap."

I still have to grit my teeth because I did not like the picture of them both in his bed. Even if they did sleep together it couldn't have been that serious right? Since he'd slept with other people last night? Then again they are friends and friendship mixed with sex that's what a relationship is right? Shit! Stop thinking about that, it's none of your damn business! He's not mine....

"Ooooohhhh, hmmmm. Are you sure? Cause there doesn't seem to be any chemistry between those two."

"No I'm not sure but it looked like it. Anyway it's not my business or your's so lets drop it." I growled out.

"Huh I kind of thought he had a thing for you but whatever. I'm leaving it alone and staying out of it.... After I say this, Yes he's a good looking guy and technically he is legally an adult BUT if the school found out about you two having an affair it'd end your teaching career. Mine too if they found out I had first hand knowledge about it."

I gave a frustrated huff. "Not gonna happen cause we're just friends." I reiterated to her stubborn ass. But she just ignored it and kept on talking.

"Sooooo on the off chance you and Eric do get together I need to be left out of the loop. At least until graduation... If it lasts that long. As your sister I'm not saying I'm for it but I'm not saying I'm against it either."

"What the hell do you mean by that. In fact for the last two weeks you've been making little comments here and there. I've told you NOTHING is going on so why the persistence. Fuck, you're the one that wanted me to get to know him and be his friend. Now that we are or at least headed that way you start all these warnings. What gives Del?" I demanded at the end of my patients with this topic.

She sighed and then spoke seriously. "I told you before school even started that I'm fond of Eric and I love you and I don't want either of you getting hurt. I thought you two becoming friends would be good for both of y'all but I can't help wondering if it was all that wise because even if you deny it I can see the sparks."

I laughed and kicked my feet up on my desk. "Del you worry too much. I'll admit I think he's attractive and I do enjoy his goofy ass but that doesn't mean anything. I've made sure to keep things only platonic with him. He's young and still somewhat naive and I wouldn't take advantage of that. Hell as far as he's concerned I'm straight. That should keep things the way they are and besides he doesn't have any feelings for me." I reasoned calmly even though the truth of it hurt more then I'd like to admit.

She giggled for a second then calmed down and spoke normally.

"I call bullshit cause I think you both got it bad for each other but whatever. I'm not going to tell you what to do or how to handle it. But I'm warning you as your sister to be careful. IF y'all were to start something and got busted then you'd lose your job but, that's not really that big of a deal considering all your other businesses but Eric would most likely be booted out of this school for it and he loves it here. Even then it's not that bad. The big problems here are he's only seen you at school and at home. How would he feel when he found out you have a whole double life? Plus he's been in the media spot light recently and though I have no doubt that bitch of a mom of his has made it clear to the papers he's off limits. That doesn't mean it'll keep them at bay for long and I know how much you value your privacy. So my advice is IF you do proceed with something, be straight with him. He needs to know exactly what he's signing up for before hand and then obviously keep it on the down low until the end of school. I'm serious, I can't know."

"Thanks for the advice but I assure you Dean Becker nothing like that will come up." I mocked.

She laughed and shot back. "Don't Dean Becker me jack ass! That was me speaking as a sister not the Dean. The Dean would be telling you to run! Now I gotta scoot I've got to get the girls to soccer practice."

"Bye Del give the girls a kiss from me." I hung up and stared at the phone.

It's times like this that I love and hate my sister. I love her for her concern and empathy but hate that she's one of the few people that can see through my bullshit. I thought I was keeping it well hidden just how much I care about Eric but I guess I'll need to stay even more alert around her.

I can only be thankful that Eric and his friends haven't guessed that my lame ass is crushing on him.