Chapter 5

“Here is our dining room where you can catch breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and before you ask, the meals are included in all the packages. We also have brunch on Sundays. If we stick with our tour without minimal interruptions, then I might be able to get you back here for lunch. There are always a few choices for each meal. We like to be mindful of all of our members and guests and their dietary needs. We offer a vegan, diabetic, low-sodium meal and a non-restrictive option. Today, the options are a robust Mediterranean chickpea salad or Mediterranean grilled chicken with a side of couscous and grilled vegetables. One thing I do want to touch upon before we continue is our guest policy. You can bring a guest with you as part of your membership. A guest is considered as anyone who is not living in your residential home; however, they can only attend on "guest days" and special events.”

“That sounds alright. We get it. If you bring a guest daily, they might as well purchase a membership.”

“Spot on, Mr. White.”

“Please call me Pierce.”

“As you wish, Pierce. We’re moving again...do keep up,” Arianna teased.

“Ari, don’t let my age fool you. It’ll be you that can’t keep up with me.”

“So you say. Next on our agenda is the tea room, right next door. Our ladies and some of our gentlemen love to take their tea here in the afternoon. They especially enjoy the large windows that allow an abundance of natural sunlight to come in. There is a set of double doors you see right there leading out to the botanical garden. Some of our members and guests love to picnic out in the garden or the lawn. If that is something you would like to do, then let me know, and I’ll make the arrangements. Let’s move onto something a little more exciting. We’re on the main floor at the moment, but there is another level downstairs. I hate to call it a basement, but you get the idea.”

Arianna punched the elevator and patiently waited for it to descend from the third floor. “What’s in the basement?” Pierce curiously asked.

“That’s where our sex club is. Most of our members enjoy participating in light to intense bondage and other kinks.”

Pierce’s mouth dropped, and he almost tapped Patrick to have him scoop it off the ground for him.

“Oh my God, I’m just kidding!” Arianna exclaimed, doubling over from laughter.

Patrick began laughing along with her, but Pierce was still in la-la land, picturing Arianna in a black latex leather bodysuit with matching gloves. She’d be wearing fishnets and knee-high boots with spiked heels. “I’m sorry,” Pierce heard her apologize. “I can get carried away sometimes, and I apologize if I made either one of you uncomfortable.”

“Oh no! Your humor is quite refreshing, and I feel we’ll fit in here just fine,” Patrick replied.

“That's good to hear. Pierce, are you still with me? You look like you’ve gone into shock. Oh, that reminds me. We do have a medical bay down here with a physician on staff whenever we are open, including special events and the weekends. Do we need to make a trip for you, Pierce?” Arianna purred.

“Naw, I’m just fine, sweetheart.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, my favorite part,” Arianna announced, clapping her hands together. “Down here we have...how should I say it? Your guilty pleasures, if you will. There is a wine cellar, complete with a wine bar. The owner, Mr. Vanderbilt, owns a couple of vineyards and produces his own wines.”

“I know you’re a tour guide, but do you also serve wine in the bar?” Pierce slyly asked. It was the perfect way to find out her age without outright asking.

“Smooth,” Patrick whispered to him.

“I’m not the official tour guide. I’m the receptionist, but I do a little bit of everything when needed. I can’t serve at the bars yet because I’m not 21.”

“Oh, really?”

“That’s correct. I am 18. Legally, I can serve; however, Mr. Vanderbilt has his rules.”

“Sounds like you have a little ways to go. Don’t worry. It’ll fly by.”

“I’m not in a rush to grow up. Here, we have our smokeasy, where you’ll find cigars and tobacco products galore. Many of our members like to sit and smoke it up in here while they shoot the breeze or watch sports. I tend to avoid this area as much as possible, so I’ll stand outside the door if you guys want to take a quick peek.”

“Why is that?” Pierce curiously asked.

“The smoke can be overwhelming, and I don’t want my hair or clothes to smell like it afterward.”

“That’s understandable.”

Pierce and Patrick popped in and took a quick gander at the room. “So, what do you think so far?” Patrick asked.

“I like everything I’m seeing so far, and I feel like we’re barely scratching the surface," Pierce admitted.

“Uh-huh, I’m sure that Arianna has everything to do with that.”

“What can I say? She’s a great tour guide,” Pierce said with a smirk on his lips.

“You sound sooooo proud of yourself. I just hope this doesn’t all blow up in your face.”

“Chill out. You’re acting like I want to make her Mrs. White. I don’t see myself ever getting married again.”

“That’s a good reason why you shouldn’t pursue this girl. She has her whole life ahead of her, and she probably wants to settle down, get married, and have kids. It would be selfish of you to want a relationship with her and waste her time like that knowing you would never be willing to give her that.”

“Okay, calm down, Pat. I think you’re jumping the gun here. We’re just doing some shameless flirting. I’m very attracted to her, and from what I can tell, she’s equally attracted to me. One day at a time, right?”

“Whatever you say. Let’s go. I do want to make it for lunch.”

“Was everything to your liking, gentlemen?”

“Absolutely. What’s next?” Pierce asked enthusiastically.