One Day (The Private Club #3)(4)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“You just told them you were going to do laundry tonight.” Brandon shook his head. “And then you slipped up and asked me to a movie. They most probably think you’re a jerk now.”

“That wasn’t a slip-up.” I gave him my ‘who do you think you’re with’ glance. “That was my don’t-swim-in-the-ocean-if-you-don’t-like-sharks lesson to them.”

“You didn’t have to be mean.”

“I wasn’t being mean. I was being real. They’re sluts.”

“Greyson!” Brandon hurriedly looked around the room to see if anyone was listening.

“Come on now. We could have had a foursome tonight and they don’t even really know us.”

“I’d rather a threesome and you stay in your room.” Brandon grinned and I laughed.

“You know it’s true.”

“Well, they were a bit obvious.”

“I don’t want those types of girls at the club. Women should know their place.”

“What do you mean?”

“All women do is bring men down. Men lose their shit over women. And for what? For some pu**y? Gimme a break.”

“You’ve heard of the power of the pu**y, bro.”

“Only because we give it to them. Everyone knows men run the world. But that’s strong men only—weak men crumble.” My mind fell to my brother. “Women try to make you love them and then they leave with either your money or your heart.”

“Not all women.”

“What women do you know who give a shit about you?”

“I dunno.” Brandon shrugged, and I slammed my hands on the table.

“Exactly. There’s no point trying to lie to ourselves or even go down that road. We can get what we want from women who know the deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, as long as we keep our hearts out of our pants, we’re cool.”

“So we’re going to have girls at the club then?” Brandon said after a few minutes. “What will the girls be doing?”

“Whatever we want them to do.” I raised an eyebrow. “There will be no request too big or small.”

“So it’ll be like a private, no-questions-asked strip club?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Strip clubs are sleazy.”

“Sex club?” Brandon’s eyes widened.

“There will be sex. And plenty of it. But no. It’s not just about being a sex club either. It’s not anything we have to define. It’s what we want it to be. It’s just the private club. No one will really know what goes on there. That will be part of the allure.”

“So we’re just going to call it the private club?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “And only you and I will know what’s going on.”

“You’re f**ked up, you know that, Greyson?” Brandon shook his head at me and grabbed his books as the professor came into the room.

“Every single day of my life,” I whispered as I pulled out my pen.

I saw the blond girl walk back into the room with a tissue in her hands. She was rubbing the corners of her eyes, and I could see she’d been crying. She avoided eye contact with me, and I stared at the front of the room, trying to ignore the guilt in my heart. I’m preparing her for the real wolves out there, I told myself. Better to learn the harsh realities about men now.

The professor started talking, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying above the throbbing in my ears. As averse as I was to love, I still didn’t want to hurt anyone. That wasn’t my goal.

I stared down at my desk and thought back to my life before my mom had died. I thought back to the joy and the laughter and I missed it. But then I remembered the man my father had become since her death and I knew that I couldn’t break my vow to myself. I was never going to allow a woman to break me down like my father had been broken.

Chapter 3

Meg

Present Day

“Brandon is not to blame for anything.” Greyson’s voice was firm. “I was the one who is responsible for what happened and what continues to happen. Ultimately, I make all of the decisions at the club.”

“So you’re saying that all the shit that goes on here is you?” Katie’s face was void of emotion, but I could tell she was hopeful.

“Everything that’s gone on here is all me. Brandon didn’t even know about it until it was too late.”

“Greyson,” Brandon spoke, and Greyson shook his head.

“You’re right, Brandon. You have a new life now. Leave.”

“Let’s go, Meg.” Katie looked at me. “Let’s just go.”

“I don’t know.” I hesitated. “I don’t think I should go.”

“You don’t need this job. Brandon got you fired.” She glared at him. “And he’ll help you get your job back.”

“I don’t want my job back.”

“Then he’ll help you get a job at a new firm.”

“I don’t want that.” I looked at the confusion in her eyes. “I need to see this through.”

“See what through?” She sounded mad. “Please, just leave with me.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”

“You should go, Meg.” Greyson joined the discussion, and I looked at him with hurt eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere until I find out what happened to Nancy and exactly what’s going on here.”

“You think you’re going to save all these girls?” Greyson’s tone sent a chill down my spine. “You think you can—”

“Just tell her, Greyson,” Brandon pleaded. “Please, let’s just get it out in the open.”

“I don’t think so.” Greyson sat back down. “I want you to leave now.”

“You think that I’m just going to leave and—”

“Brandon.” Greyson’s voice was cold. “This isn’t your problem. You and Katie need to leave.”

I stood there as a warm feeling spread through me. He hadn’t asked for me to leave this time.

“I’m not going without Meg.” Katie stood her ground. “There’s no way I’m leaving her with this maniac in this place.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I wouldn’t count on that, Meg.” It was Greyson’s turn to speak up. “I’ve told you before that I’m no angel.”