Club Nadir Read online

  Praise for Club Nadir

  "You will love Brett Williams new book Club Nadir. It's hot and will keep you wanting more."

  —Jodi Olson, author of Cooper Stud Ranch

  A SeX Files Book

  SeX Files Electronic Edition, December 2014

  SeX Files is the erotica imprint of Comet Press

  Club Nadir copyright © 2014

  by Brett Williams

  All Rights Reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Visit SeX Files on the web at: sexfiles.cometpress.us

  Visit Comet Press on the web at: cometpress.us

  Also by Brett Williams

  Family Business

  High Octane Damnation

  Third Eye High

  Legend of Kill Creek Woods

  From Murky Depths

  Anthologies:

  Long Distance Drunks: A Tribute to Charles Bukowski

  Fifty Shades of Decay

  Horrorwired Vol. 1

  Thuglit

  About the Author

  Brett Williams is the author of High Octane Damnation, Family Business, Third Eye High, and From Murky Depths. This multi-genre author writes horror, crime, erotica, and anything else he damn well pleases. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association. His short stories have appeared in Long Distance Drunks: A Tribute to Charles Bukowski, Thuglit, Delirium Books' Horrorwired Vol. 1, and Fifty Shades of Decay. He lives in Kansas with his Jack Russell terrier, Eddie Blue. They occasionally fight flying monkeys in an alternate universe.

  Find out more at BrettWilliamsFiction.com.

  Chapter One

  * * *

  A stench of burnt popcorn wafted through the air, hovering over the cubicle farm like an obnoxious cloud. The afternoon snack didn’t taste much better than it smelled, so Audrey Adams twisted open a cold bottle of orange soda. A quick slug washed away the salty aftertaste. A glance at the desktop of her personal computer apprised her of the time. 3:43 PM. Less than an hour of her workday remained.

  It had been a usual boring day: filing receipts, running reports, preparing for a secondary accounts payable check run. Audrey, working quietly and efficiently as always, had completed all her primary tasks for the day. She still needed to tweak a few cells in an Excel spreadsheet for Martha Tyson, senior Accounts Payable Clerk, but any lackey could do that. Besides, Martha wouldn’t be back in the office until Monday. Audrey still had plenty of time. A little popcorn was no big deal. Besides, she had worked straight through until lunch. Then she had only taken enough time to get a salad from the cafeteria. Of course she ate at her desk while working. She always did.

  So Audrey ate popcorn, blocking out random complaints from co-workers about the smell. She was busy munching a mouthful when one voice rose above the din of office noise.

  “Audrey Adams, there you are. Boy have I got a bone to pick with you.”

  Audrey swiveled around in her chair to see who had invaded her little domain. Rarely did she need to interact with co-workers. Usually she kept to herself, doing her job, minding her own business. Let the other Zalwert Corporation employees attend meetings, hang out at the water cooler, mingle in each other’s cubicles. “What?” she mumbled, popcorn spraying from her lips.

  Standing in the mock doorway of her cubicle waited a sharply dressed handsome man. The man was leaning against the wall, as if posing for a magazine cover. He had a boyish face with a dimpled grin. Although neat and clean in a crisp white shirt, gray slacks, and red power tie, his sun-bleached blond hair could use a trim. His face was bronze. Audrey imagined he surfed every weekend, if not daily. Of course that could not be the case. The nearest beach was over a thousand miles away. Maybe he had recently relocated from California.

  Embarrassed, Audrey swallowed hard. She took a quick sip to clear her throat. Her voice nearly locked when she asked, “How may I help you?”

  “I’ll tell you how you can help me.” He stepped into the cubicle. “When I submit a reimbursement request for travel expenses, I expect to be reimbursed.”

  “Well,” Audrey sat up straight, “as long as everything is in order, reimbursement is not a problem.”

  “Trust me,” he smiled, “I’ve been doing this for a while. Everything is in order. You’ll take care of me, won’t you, Audrey. I’d really appreciate it. My name’s Mark. Mark Wilder.” He offered his hand. They shook.

  “Mark Wilder … Mark Wilder … Let’s see how I can help.” The name did not ring a bell. The man, however, seemed quite pleasant. Audrey found herself truly wanting to help him out. Perhaps even make an impression on him. Not that anyone as obviously successful as himself would have any interest in her. She wondered where he had traveled. He was likely a sales representative. Or in marketing. Those were the only Zalwert Corporation employees who traveled on a regular basis. Judging by his comments she assumed he traveled a lot. Fingers flying across her keyboard, she accessed his most recent reimbursement request. A request in the amount of $595 for entertainment expenses. The submitted receipt stated the original payment had been made to Orion Escort Service.

  An escort service? Audrey imagined Mark had no problem with the ladies. Had he hooked up a client? If so, that made it a bit unorthodox, but a business expense nonetheless. She wasn’t sure how she should handle this.

  “Well?” Mark asked.

  “Well … Honestly, I’ve never come across such an expense. I’ll have to check into this.”

  “Look, I don’t know if it was you, or someone else, but someone denied my reimbursement. I want you to take care of it right away.”

  Audrey didn’t recall seeing the request. Her counterpart, Carolyn, must have handled it. “I will look into this for you.”

  Mark’s features softened. “I would appreciate prompt resolution. Hey, believe me, I know how this may look. However, I flew to Dallas to give a pitch to Plattco, which they signed, by the way. As it turns out, there was a corporate event the evening I was there. The senior V.P. insisted I attend. He suggested I bring someone, if possible. It’s all on the up-and-up, Audrey.”

  “Of course. Never said it wasn’t.”

  “Well, that’s the impression a denial for reimbursement gives.”

  Audrey shrugged. “Sorry, Mark. Sometimes we don’t have enough information to go on. Although I can’t make any promises, I should be able to get this taken care of for you.” Audrey thrust out her hand.

  Mark took it, gave it another firm shake. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary. Then he whispered, “I can imagine what you might be thinking.”

  Audrey played coy with another shrug.

  “Besides, escort services don’t bill you for sex,” Mark explained. “They bill for companionship only.”

  “Oh-kay …”

  “Sex is a separate transaction between escort and client, just so you know.”

  “Um … thanks.” An image of Mark in a hotel room, slipping it to some beautiful woman who charged hundreds of dollars an hour flashed through Audrey’s mind. A man so handsome he needed to seek out women as gorgeous as himself to have sex with. Suddenly the cubicle felt hot, stuffy. Audrey wanted Mark to leave before she became too uncomfortable. She needed a cooling sip of orange soda.

  “No problemo. Hey Audrey, I’m really counting on you to take care of me.” Mark winked.
With a chick-chick sound he shot a finger at her, giving her his trust.

  “Okay then.”

  Mark turned away. Before Audrey could return to her popcorn, though, he doubled back.

  “Hey, Audrey, do you like steak?”

  “Um, sure. Why?”

  “I know a place that serves the best. And believe me, I’ve been treated to some of the best steaks at the finest steakhouses by some of the largest companies around the country. So when I say they have great steak, I’m not jerking your chain.”

  Audrey’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe what he was asking, the direction the conversation was going. In fact, Audrey had never been hit on by anyone in Mark’s league before. Perhaps in high school, but only as a joke. She couldn’t even remember her last date. A couple years ago, at least. Sometime before turning thirty.

  Stammering, Audrey replied, “Yes. Steak. Who doesn’t like it?”

  “Thatta girl.” Mark stepped closer, spoke softer. “You don’t get out much, do you, Audrey?”

  Instinctively, Audrey lowered her voice, too. “Now and then. I’m pretty busy.”

  “Sure you are. You ever seek a little companionship? Everyone does, right?”

  Folding her arms together, hugging her non-existent breasts, Audrey answered, “Companionship. Sure, I suppose.”

  “Good. I know a private club. I think you’d enjoy it.” Mark withdrew a business card from a small leather case. “I’ll be there Thursday evening. Here.” He offered her the card. Out of courtesy, she accepted it. It read:

  Club Nadir

  For Discreet Gentlemen and Guests

  A Lasting Tradition

  By Invitation Only

  Embossed on the card was a silhouette of the female form, along with an address and suite number. The card looked simple, elegant. Highly professional.

  Audrey, taken aback, didn’t know what to make of it. “Is this some kind of, um …”

  “Private strip club?” Mark chuckled slightly. “No. It’s steak, aged scotch, fine wine … A cigar club, if you will. The club is a lot of things, to a lot of different people. If nothing else, it’s the chance to have an extravagant meal, one you will never forget.”

  Mark had the most beautiful blue eyes, Audrey noticed. She didn’t know what to say. Before she could reply, he said, “Don’t worry. The only expectation I have, is that you will consider my invitation. If you come, be sure to bring the card. It’s the only way you’ll be let inside.”

  Mark winked again.

  “Remember, get my reimbursement taken care of.” Mark spun her around in her office chair, facing her at her computer screen. “I’ll see you Thursday—I don’t take no for an answer. Gotta jet, Audrey. Things to see, people to do …” Mark, massaging her shoulders, whispered in her ear. “You won’t have to put out if you don’t want to.” With a final shoulder squeeze, he left Audrey flustered at her desk.

  All Audrey could do for the next half hour was stare at the business card. She didn’t even touch her popcorn or orange soda.

  Chapter Two

  * * *

  The cat, a tabby, greeted Audrey with a gentle rub against her leg.

  “Missed you too, Leo.”

  Leo purred.

  After work Audrey had swung by the store to pick up a few things, including a stack of microwave dinners to keep on hand. She set the groceries on the kitchen counter. Later she planned to have a turkey sandwich with dill pickle. A frozen dinner just didn’t sound good tonight. Not with thoughts of juicy steak and fresh salad tempting her palate.

  Audrey quickly put away the groceries, kicked off her shoes. She took them into her bedroom, placed them in the closet. When she slid shut the closet door, she stopped to admire herself in the full-length mirror that comprised its surface.

  Before her stood a short, petite woman of thirty-one years. The woman frowned. She seemed so blah, so plain. As plain as any woman could be without being outright ugly. Frizzy curls of baby-shit brown touched her shoulders. Thin lips, pointy nose. Mother Nature had gone overboard with freckles covering her face. The freckles didn’t stop there. Audrey knew they blotched her shoulders and made her fair complexion that much worse in areas that never experienced sunlight. Her tiny nipples were twin dark bumps on a flat white chest.

  At least she wasn’t fat. She had that going for her. Plus she still looked to be in her twenties. She dressed cute, tried to project a pleasant, easy-going attitude. She stayed professional, at least at work, the primary place she went, besides the grocery store. With Netflix, Audrey didn’t even need to visit the video rental store anymore. The only place she ever went was the drive-thru at one of many fast-food restaurants between her apartment and work.

  All-in-all, the woman looking back at Audrey in the mirror wasn’t bad. But also, she was nowhere near Mark Wilder’s league. He no doubt dated beautiful blonde bombshells. Or flight attendants. Perhaps he had one waiting in most major cities. At least the cities he frequented. What did he want with a Plain Jane like her?

  Audrey felt like Carrie at the prom. Perhaps it was all a big joke. Then again, maybe Mark had seen something within her that he liked. Her personality? Or he had tired of high-maintenance Barbies. Perhaps he had been screwed-over one too many times.

  Yeah, right. If that were the case, he would be out shagging as many hotties as he could, then never calling them again.

  Someone like an escort?

  No, not like that.

  Maybe he had a wife. Audrey hadn’t noticed a wedding band. Of course she hadn’t checked, either.

  Audrey sighed. Psychoanalyzing it ad nauseam would do her no good.

  Within minutes she sat stretched out on the couch, a glass of lightly sweetened iced tea nearby. Using the DVR remote she navigated the onscreen menu to select the first of the daytime soaps she planned to watch. She never missed an episode.

  Audrey, twenty minutes into the first episode, was sipping tea when the telephone chirped. The ringtone identified her mother as the caller.

  Instinctively, Audrey cringed. She loathed talking to her mother. Besides, she was watching Days of our Lives. After a few more chirps the answering machine picked up. She didn’t check the message until after the episode ended. Her mother’s voice simply asked to be called back. Audrey complied.

  “Hello, dear,” Hilary Adams answered.

  “What’s up, mother?”

  “Well,” Hilary chuckled, “I didn’t know if I’d catch you or not. Thought you might have plans.”

  Audrey rolled her eyes. Her mother knew she rarely left her apartment. This was going to be one of those calls. They drove Audrey crazy.

  “No, not tonight.”

  “Why not? A young woman such as yourself. You should be going out. Meeting men. Isn’t there a ladies’ night somewhere?”

  “Probably so.”

  “You should go. Grab a couple girls from work, hit the town, paint it red for once.”

  Audrey sighed. “Everyone I work with is married. Besides, we have nothing in common.”

  “Sure you do. You just don’t know it yet. That’s why you go out. So you find things you have in common. Married women like going out, getting a drink. Besides, if you made more friends, you might get fixed up more often.”

  “Mother …”

  “I’m serious, Aud.” Audrey hated that nickname. “You should get out. Do something.”

  “I do things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Go to bookstores, get coffee, that kind of stuff.”

  “Yes, honey, by yourself. You know, we could do something together sometime.”

  So this was why her mother was calling. She was bored, and wanted someone to do something with. Plus, Audrey knew, she didn’t want her only daughter becoming a spinster.

  “I don’t know, mother. Maybe so. This weekend, or the next.”

  “We’ve got to find you a man.”

  There, she said it. Find you a man.

  Audrey blurted, “I found a man.
There, no need to worry.”

  “Really?” Hillary sounded skeptical, yet intrigued. She paused, obviously allowing Audrey to elaborate.

  “His name is Mark Wilder.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Where does he work?”

  “Mark works at Zalwert. Sales department.”

  “Tell me everything, don’t spare any details.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. I met him today, he sorta asked me out.”

  “Sorta? What do you mean?”

  Audrey exaggerated, “I mean, he asked me out to dinner tomorrow.”

  “Dinner? You haven’t been taken to dinner since …”

  “It’s been a while. You know that. But he’s taking me for steak, the best in town, he says.”

  “He’s taking you to the Longhorn?”

  “Oh no, somewhere better. He says it’s the best. And he’s been everywhere.”

  “I don’t know of any place with better steaks than the Longhorn.”

  “Mother, there are plenty of places with better steaks than the Longhorn. Look, I can’t recall the name. All I know is, Mark said it was a private club with great food. It sounds like a topnotch place. Exclusive.”

  “Aud, this is so exciting! Are you excited?”

  “Well, of course.”

  “Is he cute, this Mark fellow?”

  “Gorgeous. He’s got beautiful blond hair, bright blue eyes. He is fit, trim, and totally scrumptious.”

  “Oh really?” Disbelief rang in Hillary’s voice. It stabbed Audrey just hearing it. “Is he older? Divorced? Tell me more.”

  “I really don’t know much more. I think he’s a couple years younger, but you know how hard it is to tell sometimes. But Mark seems like a great guy. He asked me out and I said yes, end of story.”

  “Perhaps the beginning of a story.” Hillary laughed. Her laughter caused Audrey to laugh. Audrey’s stress began to dissolve. She didn’t like lying, however, and she really didn’t like her mother’s line of questioning, or help.