Chapter 12

ASHER

I dive headfirst into creating believable profiles, populating them with friends before adding the person of interest. But for the past few days, there’s been no activity. Not a single blip on the radar.

Today’s Friday, and I spend the day sleeping in until late afternoon. I need to recover from two days of monotonous work with Daniel. As the sun sets, I find myself eating breakfast cereal from a mixing bowl, accompanied by my trusty friend, coffee, in my favorite blue mug.

Tonight, I have plans. Plans that churn my stomach, but I need to know. I need to see.

So, I’m heading upstairs to the club during its operating hours for the first time. My fathers have shown me around, hoping to spark some interest in me to run it, but that spark never ignites.

The club gives me the creeps. It makes me question if my mother was one of the people they sold. Don’t get me wrong, I know the story of my parents’ union.

My mother has always been open about meeting my fathers through a surrogacy deal. She initially planned to give them our older brother, Matthew, and then return home.

But the way she says ~home~, devoid of any emotion, reveals the truth. My fathers saved her from a situation similar to this girl Anastasia’s. And I think that’s why I feel compelled to save this girl.

She has a future, one that could be bright and happy. But not if she’s left in the hands of men who exploit her.

I don’t put much effort into dressing up—just a pair of black suit trousers, a white shirt, and my hair a tousled mess. I don’t bother with socks or shoes, even though I probably should.

I plan to return to my apartment once I’ve determined if there are any men or women there against their will. The elevator ride is too quick, matching the rapid pace of my heart.

The anxiety of visiting such a place fills my head with nightmares, wreaking havoc on my emotions. Then, the doors open.

Soft classical music is playing, and a few members are already seated in various parts of what my parents call the common room. I have to force myself to breathe in order to step over the threshold.

Why the fuck am I doing this again? Oh, right. Those girls.

I try to shake off the negative thoughts and head to the bar, ordering a whiskey on ice. Dutch courage—that’s all I need.

“Asher?” Atty’s voice catches me off guard.

“Atty. What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Business meeting ran late,” he replies, glancing over his shoulder.

I notice some of the club’s management staff leaving one of the offices, all smiles and friendly chatter.

“Oh, did it go okay?” I ask, feigning interest in the club’s affairs. But my brother is here, and he might be the deciding factor in whether I stay to complete this self-imposed mission.

“It went well; we integrated a few up-to-date protocols. John, can I have a water with a slice of lemon, please?” he asks the bartender.

“Do you enjoy running this place?” I ask him, sipping my drink. It’s strange how we can feel worlds apart even when we’re sitting right next to each other—especially when we should be inseparable.

“It’s okay. I like the people. I seem to fit in here better than anywhere else,” he answers.

That’s great, isn’t it? My brother finally fits in somewhere. It’s just unfortunate that it’s a place like this.

But it’s not surprising; he’s never navigated society in a conventional way. I wonder if that’s his thing. Does he prefer pets over girlfriends?

“How do you know everyone’s here willingly?” I ask, trying to sound casual. Maybe Atty is the one I can get answers from.

“It’s simple; anyone who comes up here must have their own unique membership. And they have to go through rigorous testing with nurses and psychologists beforehand.”

“Isn’t that more trouble than it’s worth?” I ask, swiveling the bar stool to face the growing crowd.

There are men and women alike, most dressed in leather, bustiers, and thongs. And then there are a few dressed like me, in plain old trousers and a shirt.

Atty and I are dressed alike, even though we didn’t plan it.

“The business is doing well, but no matter the expense, we prioritize the safety and happiness of our members.”

“Really?” I question, taken aback.

I’m not sure if I buy that. Wouldn’t they overlook certain things for the sake of profit? After all, people don’t become billionaires by being honest and trustworthy, right?

“Why do you seem so shocked? The company’s main focus is the people who use it. Our fathers have poured their hearts and souls into this place. Ever since they found Mom, they’ve made it their mission to create a safe space for like-minded individuals.”

I can tell I’ve struck a nerve. Is it because I’m questioning our fathers, or because Atty is annoyed that I’m not walking in step with him as he tries to learn all the tricks of the trade to become just like them?

“So, what brings you here?” he asks, turning his attention back to the bar and his water.

I watch as he downs it, seemingly unbothered by being in this club. I find it amusing how different we are.

While he aspires to be a world-dominating businessman and run this empire, I’d rather sleep in until the afternoon, find missing girls I’ve never spent time with, and get high on as many drugs as I can find.

“Just looking. Wanted to see what this is all about…what our fathers want me to help you run,” I fib.

I regret lying because it gets him all excited.

“You were?” he asks, grabbing my arm to pull me up.

“Where are your shoes?” he inquires.

“Downstairs in my apartment,” I respond with a laugh.

“Do you realize how dirty these floors are?” he whispers.

“Should you be saying that out loud when you’re practically running the place?” I tease.

“Probably not, but you’re my brother, and I don’t want to think about all the germs that are now on your feet. Come on, let me show you around. I think you might actually like some of the rooms here.”

Like? I highly doubt it, but I won’t turn down the chance to spend time with Atty while he’s in a good mood, so I follow him.

I raise my eyebrows as we enter the first room. A couple is having sex in the middle of a group of spectators.

After the initial shock of seeing a girl being fucked doggy style over a table, I find myself enjoying the view. It’s like live porn right in front of me.

Atty seems to pick up on this, tapping me on the shoulder to lead me to the next room—and then the next, and the one after that.

Each room is filled with people having sex and people watching.

The most surprising part of all this is that no one seems unhappy to be here, despite everything that’s happening around them.