Walter pulled into the parking lot at Short Leash a few moments after I did and parked beside me. I smiled at him when he stepped out of a silver Mercedes and carefully picked an invisible piece of lint from the front of his coat. His hair was perfectly styled, mouth in a straight line as he regarded me with a cool stare.
“New car?” I asked.
He shook his head. “It’s a service loaner.”
“No chance of anyone recognizing your car and asking you why you were here,” I teased, though my heart wasn’t in it.
As usual, Walter’s reaction was calm and measured. “Let’s get this over with, shall we?” he retorted with an expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
I shook my head, Walter’s overly formal personality pulling the first genuine smile from me since I’d first heard the news. “Lead the way,” I said, but he was already opening the door.
The lighting was dim inside, the music just loud enough that I could make out the words, but not so loud that it would overwhelm a conversation. I made a beeline straight for the back of the club, then knocked on one of two office doors. When Keith opened the door, the smile slid off his face and he waved me and Walter inside. “I thought I’d see you today,” he said as he gestured to the couch across from his desk.
Walter took one look at the velour sofa, a slight raise of his eyebrow the only sign of his disdain. I took a seat and Walter stood near the door. Keith looked from me to Walter, then back to me again. “He’s not a lawyer, is he?”
I shook my head. “I guess you know why I’m here?”
“I saw,” Keith said with a heavy sigh. “Caine, I need you to know that I didn’t say anything to anyone. I don’t know how it ended up in that article.”
“I didn’t think you did, but I had to ask.”
“I’ve been racking my brain since I first read the news, but damnit, I don’t think anyone was close enough to our table to hear what you told me.” He sighed again, then bit his lip. “I hate to ask, but how bad is it?”
“I haven’t lost any speaking engagements yet, but it’s only a matter of time before the cancellations start.”
“Do you really think people care that much? You’re human. You can’t be expected to be upbeat and positive all the time. This isn’t a fairytale.”
“Except that is my business, and I have quite a few high-profile clients that absolutely care. Even if they aren’t concerned about what I said, the fact that I was having a drink and a candid conversation with the manager of a BDSM club will cause a stir.”
“Let me see if I understand this correctly,” Keith began. “You’re worried that your clients are going to start canceling speaking engagements because of what you said, not where you were when you said it?”
“A valid worry,” Walter said.
Keith nodded, hands folded in front of him, brooding. “So they can’t handle that you might not be that happy-go-lucky guy they thought you were, but they can overlook your personal relationships, and ignore you being in a legal, upscale BDSM club?”
“Being in a BDSM club doesn’t help matters when I was caught complaining about my client base and their rigid, unattainable standards of perfection. They bought into my wholesome image and honestly, it’s all a shock for them.” I let out another heavy sigh, though I tried to push through, pasting my trademark, dazzling smile on my lips to hide my inner turmoil. “I keep my personal relationships to myself at all times.” I continued. “Honestly, I think most clients assume that Jenna and I are partners, but it’s really none of their business. Part of my method involves setting firm boundaries and keeping work and personal life separate.”
Keith nodded. “And now that your secrets are out, you’re worried that people aren’t going to be satisfied with minding their own business.”
“Would you?” I asked.
“No,” Keith said, shaking his head. “But I don’t know what else to tell you. I don’t know who could’ve overheard us, and I don’t know who would have a reason to spill your secrets anyway. The bigger question is, why?”
I furrowed my brow. “I’m not following.”
“Think about it. Who would even make that leap? Most of us know who you are, but at no point during our conversations have I ever thought what you’re saying would ruin you if it got out.”
Walter straightened. “He’s right. It would take someone close to know that your personal life could affect your business so profoundly. Whoever it was, they didn’t just overhear you talking. This seems intentional.” Walter took a breath, then let it out through clenched teeth. “This isn’t someone who jumped on an opportunity. I would wager they were waiting for you to say something incriminating for quite some time.”
“But who would do something like that?” I wondered aloud.
Keith and Walter just shook their heads.
My chest swelled as I took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. “I’m nowhere closer to figuring out who did this,” I mumbled, then I stuck my hand out and gave Keith’s hand an affectionate squeeze in place of a handshake. “I’d appreciate it if you kept this meeting between us.”
“Of course,” Keith said, then he pulled me forward and gave me a hug. “This is going to blow over and everything will be just fine.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said as we walked out the door and back into the main room.
Walter and I hurried out to the parking lot and we leaned against our cars. “What do you think?” I asked Walter, watching a couple eagerly rush into the club.
“About Keith, or?”
“About any of it.”
He sighed. “I think Keith is right. It’s going to blow over, eventually. But it will be rocky for a time, and you might lose some big-name clients.”
“Might is being generous,” I countered. “So many of my clients are more conservative, or at least married to the idea that happy workers are upbeat and eager to please at all times.”
“It’s exhausting wearing that façade for so long, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but-” I stopped, then narrowed my eyes when I realized he was really talking about me. “I see what you did there.”
“More importantly; do you see what you did there? Even knowing that I know who you really are, you still hid yourself. You pasted that Crafted Image smile in place so completely by habit that it looks natural. But I know you, and I can see through it.”
“It’s business. My image relies on my positive, likeable personality.”
He chuckled. “You’re cynical and moody, and sarcastic more often than not. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re likeable in your own way and an excellent businessman. I don’t see why you work so hard to hide who you are. If you’d been yourself all along, this whole thing would be a non-issue.”
“Except for the BDSM thing,” I laughed.
He shrugged one shoulder, his smile mischievous. “There is that, but Short Leash isn’t the only way to feed those urges.”
“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow. “Dare I ask where you’re going with this?”