Distraction (Club Destiny #8)(57)

Dylan looked up to see a man wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap shrugging out of his jacket before tossing it onto the seat. Trent was evidently in disguise. Not that Dylan was surprised by that. The man was one of the most famous people in the world. With his starring role in an extremely popular action movie series, the disguise was likely necessary, even in the small café where Trent had suggested they meet.

“It’s been a hectic morning,” Trent went on to say as he dropped into the booth, casually reaching over the table to shake Dylan’s hand. “Did you order yet?”

Dylan shook his head. “Haven’t been here long. Just wanted to make sure we got a seat. Didn’t know how long this would take.”

“I say we eat while we talk. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Okay then.

Ten minutes later, after they’d ordered food and received their coffee, Trent launched right into his spiel about this new club he was envisioning.

“I’m comfortable with the way Luke runs Devotion,” Trent explained, “but I’m interested in something a little more … hip. I know that sounds strange, but I preferred his previous club to this one.”

“By hip … I assume you’re not talking open to the public.”

Trent shook his head. “Absolutely not. But I am interested in something a little darker, more in the realm of bondage and discipline.”

“BDSM,” Dylan mused.

“Exactly. And right now, there isn’t a club in the Dallas area that caters to it the way I want.”

“So, you’re into that?” Dylan wasn’t judging, he was simply trying to get a feel for who this man was. “BDSM?”

“Yes.” Trent apparently wasn’t going to elaborate.

“What about your … career?” Surely the man considered the repercussions of owning a BDSM club and the impact it could have on his acting career.

Trent leaned back, resting one hand on the table, the other along the back of the booth. He looked completely casual, not at all put off by Dylan’s line of questioning.

“I was just offered a leading role in another movie. After some serious negotiations, I took it. That’s going to eat up a lot of my time. So, if you’re asking whether or not acting is a priority for me, then yes, it is. It pays the bills, and as long as the roles are still coming, I’m still taking them. But this endeavor is equally important. A lot of actors dabble in producing and directing. That’s not my thing. This is.”

Good point.

“So what is it you’re looking for from me?” Dylan asked, leaning back when the waiter returned to deliver their food.

“Thanks,” Trent said to the waiter. “I’ve got financial backing although it wasn’t necessarily needed. I’ve got more than enough to finance this endeavor, but I was looking for some silent partners who were familiar with the industry. I’m venturing into an area that’s outside of a lot of people’s comfort zones. I want to have input other than my own. If you’re interested in that aspect … as a partner … I can have my lawyer present the information to you.” Trent picked up his coffee. “I’m also looking for someone to manage the club. From the highest level. As much as I want to do that, it’s not going to be possible. Luke will tell you that I tend to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, so I need someone strong enough to push back when necessary.”

Dylan grinned. He could totally see that from Trent.

“If you’re interested, you’d be responsible for hiring people and managing the day-to-day. We will have to vet the clients and work diligently to ensure their safety and anonymity while they’re in attendance. I’ll get you anything you need.”

“You said you’re looking for something different from Devotion. Are you modeling it after another club?”

“Have you heard of Devil’s Playground?”

Trent shook his head.

“It’s an establishment owned by Maximillian Adorite. He resides here in Dallas, but his most successful clubs are in Las Vegas and New York. He does have one here, but it’s a basic nightclub. The other two have similar clubs within the walls, but they’ve also got expansion clubs, which are in the realm of what I’m looking for.”

Las Vegas and New York.

“I’m not at all interested in the nightclub aspect. Too many of those to contend with.”

“So, a standalone fetish club is what you’re looking for?”

“Exactly. And so you’re familiar, I think you should go visit one of the other two,” Trent stated after chewing. “Get a feel for it. I’m breaking ground in two months. It would be ideal if you were up to speed. Things are going to move fast.”

Of course they were. Dylan suspected Trent Ramsey did everything at warp speed. At thirty-four, the guy was young, definitely still a hot commodity.

“I assume since you’re breaking ground, you’ve already got a location in mind?”

Trent nodded, then took a sip of his coffee. “I do. It was critical that I put a little distance between my new club and Devotion. I’m not looking to be in competition with Devotion. After all, I own a stake in it as well.”

Dylan understood that. “That’s good information to have.”