Atonement (Heart of Stone) (17 page)

“With pleasure” she breathed against my lips.

The desk took a good beating and I was silently impressed
with the workmanship. Whoever built it, built it solidly. Ava and I can vouch
for that.

“Okay girls” Mason started, “This is Ava, my wife.” He
addressed the ladies of Allure.

A round of shocked gasps floated around the room and a
few scowls were directed at me. This helped; I now knew who wanted to fuck my
husband and therefore who was going to be an arse to work with.

“She is taking over from Rebecca, but not only that, you
will now answer to her instead of me. You do what she says and things work
better for all of us. Anybody that has a problem can leave now.”

Nobody moved which was a good sign.

 I scanned the girls, my eyes moving from one female to
another, taking in their dress, their style of make-up and hair, and their
expressions. Most held easy faces and body stances, especially two who caught
my attention.

I smiled at the first woman, she looked to be late twenties,
her blonde hair was pulled back into a bun so severe it strained the skin
beside her eyes and her make-up was just as stern; dark, moody and intense. Her
body was clad in full tight black leather, the tight material straining over
her tiny bottom as her breasts heaved behind a body-hugging Basque. In her hand
she held a large custom made gold and black quirt whip, her long fingers
rubbing the ribbed handle as though she was nervous with my inspection.

“Hi hun, what’s your name?”

She smiled back warmly, “My real is Rachel, but I’m known
as Madam Raquel.”

I nodded before turning to her friend beside her, “And
you?”

The small woman about the same age as Rachel had long
black hair that was pulled into little pigtails, but it was a harsh contrast
against the rest of her. She was covered head to toe in white; white hair bands,
white lace top with no bra, her boobs large and visible through the material.
Her pert backside was only just covered by the tiny white skirt and her legs
were encased in white fish nets stockings as her feet donned a pair of six inch
white heels, which I fell in love with. “My name’s Angela, but I’m known as
Angel.”

I nodded in confirmation, “Can you both wait in the
office for me, please?”

They cast a quick glance at each other but shrugged and
nodded before they left me with the other girls in the ‘staff room’.

I perused the décor of the room and grimaced, “Mason,
this room is bloody awful.”

He shrugged at me, entirely oblivious with the cheap and
tacky feel to the room. “You want high class? Get onto the decorators, I need
an overhaul, the girls shouldn’t have to sit in here whilst they relax.” I
scolded with a stern gaze.

He nodded to Gabe, passing the order to him and I rolled
my eyes before I turned back to the girls. “Right, I hope we’re gonna get
along. I’m an easy going person and I’ll support any ideas, problems or
grievances you have, and I want you to feel that you can come to me with any
problems you have. I know things have been shitty around here for a while, but
that’s why I’m here; I won’t put up with smelly men, never mind aggressive
ones, so I’ll be doing an overhaul of the client list. If you have any problems
with any of your clients, then I want you to let me know. I’m fair but I’ll say
this once, cross me and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”

My eyes swept to Olga, who seemed pissed at my presence,
her body language tight as her jaw clenched and her teeth ground together with
my words.

She didn’t give me any acknowledgement that she had
understood my words. I knew she thought she was top dog around here, her fierce
and muscly frame made her feel powerful, but then again she didn’t know me, I
would knock her down if need be but I wouldn’t put up with the way she looked
at my husband. Her eyes practically relayed a porn movie as she stared at him,
her hopes of fucking him displayed openly in her eyes.

Mason looked a little uncomfortable, he knew women looked
at him like that and I secretly wondered if he’d ever had a thing with this
woman, the way she possessively looked at him and her open shock that Mason had
a wife had her instantly disliking me.

I unconsciously leant towards my glorious bastard, my
possessiveness inclining my body towards what was mine in an open display of
ownership.

“I’ll need to see each one of you alone but just keep
doing what you normally do, and I need you to put down on here what you want in
this room.” I told them as I placed a piece of paper and a pen on the table,
“Anything goes, if you need stuff to relax, put it down. If you need stuff to
boost your adrenaline, put it down.”

They each smiled and nodded before I turned to Gabe and
tilted my head towards the corridor outside, “Can I have a word, Gabe?”

He gave me a warm smiled and nodded as he followed me
out. I could hear the girl’s whispers before I even left the room and smiled to
myself as most of them approved of me but Olga was already trying to dish the
dirt. I shook my head but chuckled as I palmed Mason’s arse when we walked
across the room towards the door. He reciprocated and slipped a hand around my hip
and pulled me into him, planting a soft kiss in my hair “That seemed to go
okay.”

I nodded and eyed Gabe as he hovered beside us in the
corridor, “I just wanted to apologise, Gabe, for the last time we met. I was
angry and shouldn’t have hurt you; you were just doing your job.”

He shook his head firmly, “That’s no problem, Mrs Fox.”

“Call me Ava, please. What’s the low down on the two
girls I sent to my office?”

He pursed his lips and gave me a single nod, “They’re
good girls, never seem to complain unless it’s a legitimate problem, always
turn up for work. Two of our most loyal girls to be honest.”

I nodded, “Yeah, I got that vibe from them, thank you.”

“What would like me to do first, Ava?” he asked with a
gentle smile and eager eyes. His large soft frame was relaxed and at ease with
both himself and me. He was naturally comforting, his personality and demeanour
seemed to wrap around you and soothe you, knowing that any trust you put in him
would be reciprocated tenfold.

“If you could get onto a decorator and make an
appointment. Then I need you to rally the security staff for me, I need a
word.”

He nodded with a happy wide smile, turned and I watched
his huge form slip through another door at the bottom of the hallway. “He’s a
good guy” Mason said beside me and I smiled up at him.

“Yeah, I got that. Seems a bit slow but he seems loyal
and easy going.”

“Spot on.” Mason praised as he pulled me against him and
rested his lips on the crown of my head, “What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing, go sort out what you need to do, I got this.”

He lifted an eyebrow, “You sure you can handle them this
early?”

I smirked at him, my lips twisting at the corner as I
raised a brow of my own. He laughed, kissed my forehead and cupped both my
cheeks, “Love you, baby.”

“And me, you.”

I gave the two women a huge smile as I walked into the
office and gestured to the large sofa for them to sit as I sat beside them. The
image of the two girls fucking on here jumped into my head and I made a mental
note to replace the thing as soon as possible whilst I kept my hands in my lap
and away from the leather material of the probably diseased sofa.

“I want to ask a favour,” I said as I cast them both a
glance. Rachel nodded as Angela told me to go ahead, “Would it disturb you if I
came in whilst you are with a customer and take notes on the room security and
set-up whilst you’re entertaining?”

Both shook their heads immediately and replied with a no.

“Thank you. Have either of you noticed anything funny
going on around here?”

They both thought it over but shook their heads yet
Angela held something in her eyes, a question eager to be voiced and I nodded
in encouragement to her.

“Uhh, how long have you been married to Mr Fox?”

“Four years” I told her openly, I needed these women to
be open with me so I returned the favour.

“Wow” Rachel breathed, “We had no idea he was even
married. I don’t think Rebecca did either” she said with a grimaced warning in
her tone.

“Oh, she knew.”

They both exchanged a glance and I smiled at them, “I’m
well aware of Rebecca’s relentless push on my husband. Don’t worry, she’s gone…
for good.”

They both sighed and nodded, “Thank God, hated her, nasty
bitch.”

I laughed and nodded, “I’ve called her worse. Is there
anything else I need to know, Olga for instance.”

They both flinched and I narrowed my eyes on them,
“What?”

“Well she… she kinda has a thing for your husband” Rachel
divulged and I smiled slyly.

“Yeah, I picked that up. Don’t worry, I can handle Olga.”

Angela cringed, “She’s kind of a… big woman, Ava. Offensive
cow when she starts.”

“Does she bully you?” I asked bluntly, needing all the
information I could get.

“Well, not really but, well she likes to boss everyone
around, just took the position of top girl without being allocated it.”

I nodded, knowing this kind of woman. “Don’t worry, she
won’t for long. Anything else?”

They both shook their heads as they glanced at each
other. “Okay, I’ll be in your rooms in a while. I will check with your clients
first, just to make sure they’re okay with a voyeur but I need you to make a
list of any of your clients you don’t like, for whatever reason, we’ll get
rid.”

They both sighed heavily as if relieved they would no
longer have to entertain the smelly gits. “I can’t believe Mason lets anything
other than class into his establishment.”

“To be blunt, Ava, it’s not Mr Fox fucking them, he isn’t
aware of any
undesirables
.”

“Well he should.” I answered, thoroughly pissed with
Mason for letting these girls deal with anything less than clean; totally
unacceptable.

They each laughed and left me to log onto the system, the
images from the cameras firing up and I realised only the corridors and
reception room were covered, none from the private rooms, or other areas where
sex occurred.

This place needed a complete overhaul, safety wise, the
security of the girls was the main priority. Anything could happen in those
rooms, which had been doing, and nobody would be any the wiser.

A knock sounded on the door and Gabe entered, followed by
two sturdy looking men. “Security” he told me and I frowned at him.

“Where are the others?”

“This is the others.”

“What the hell? How many girls work here?” I asked,
totally astounded that this was the extent of the protection the girls
received.

“Approximately forty - fifty” the short bald guy
answered, his expression knowing exactly what was going through my head.

“Mason brought in extra guys when Yvonne… died, but they
have gone now it has calmed down.”

I nodded and scoffed as I sucked on my lips in thought,
“Any of you have friends in this business?”

“A couple, Mrs Fox, but can I be blunt?”

I nodded as I encouraged him. He twisted his lips “Since
Ginny died as well…”

“What the hell?” I barked as Gabe elbowed him in the ribs
in warning. I pointed a finger at Gabe, my annoyance shining through my
features as he shrank back a little from me. “
I
am now your boss Gabe, I
need to know every little thing, no matter how big or small, then you make sure
I know it. You get me?”

He cringed slightly but nodded as I turned back to the
tall guy, “You have anything to say?”

He twisted his lips, his eyes dark and condemning as he
glared at me, “Or even a problem with me?” I added as I regarded his hatred.

“Nope.” The simple word was laced with vehemence and I
tilted my head in question at him.

“You have a problem, then let’s deal with it…” I paused,
requesting his name but his eyes narrowed further.

“Carl, but what I don’t seem to comprehend is where you
have been for the last god knows how many years then you turn up, barking
orders at people, causing turmoil with the girls and condemning how Mr Fox
works, he aint gonna be pleased you’re belittling him in front of his staff.”

I couldn’t hold back the bark of laughter at his
disapproval of me, completely without warrant as he didn’t know me, but then
again, I didn’t know him so I held back and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“Carl, let’s get one thing straight,” I stood up and
walked round the desk to him as he stood firm, his glare piercing straight
through me. I could tell he was an alpha male the way he held himself and his
little regard for other people’s opinions and feelings. To him, his wants came
first, foremost and above all.

He squared up to me and hell, if that didn’t fucking irritate
the fuck out of me, obnoxious prick. He was a six foot something giant, whereas
I was a five foot two little woman. His utter abhorrence with women shone
through in his expression and I knew I needed to bring him down a peg or two.
Working with women and hating them was a recipe for disaster.

“I’ll be telling Mason exactly how shit this
establishment is run. I’ll be telling him how disrespectful he has been to his
girls. I will be telling him how utter bullshit his security is and I’ll be
sure to tell him how fucking stupid he has been. You understand me, Carl?
Because unlike you, I’m not afraid of Mason. He hurts me; I hurt him right
fucking back, harder. I will
not
having him disrespecting these girls
the way he has been doing and I will
not
have any -
any
of
my
staff look at me like I just stepped off the shit train with twat written on my
forehead.
I
run this place from now on Carl, and if you don’t like that,
then you can take your hateful opinions and your deep-seated anger out of
my
fucking door. Understood?”