Conflicted

The following chapter is written in 3rd Person POV following Viv

After Viv helped close her restaurant with her staff…

Viv stands in front of an all too familiar red door. The same eight panel red door that has a hidden sliding peephole on the second row of the right column when facing it from the outside.

It may not be in the same zip code, it’s not even in the same state, but every main entrance to a Red Rum VIP Lounge is the same red door, inside the same looking Gold Room pub, inside a building that they can’t legally call The Overlook since it’s not even a hotel, but the bargoers and members of every city call it that anyway.

The Gold Room is the front and public facing business venture of every Red Rum, and the part of the business partnership with the Stanleys that Becca owns and runs. The Red Rum, on the other hand, was founded and still managed exclusively by the Stanleys; and is the more secretive half of the business that caters exclusively to its members from across the country.

The Stanley’s Gold Room is nothing like it was in The Shining. At least, aesthetically speaking. In terms of the number of its patrons even on a weekend, it is somewhat similar. Empty. A detail that Becca and the Stanleys don’t really lose sleep over since it’s basically a glorified waiting room for non-members who don’t wish to partake in the festivities in the Red Rum.

Viv closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath to gather courage.

*Knock. Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock.*

“Password?” the guy on the other side of the door asks, after the hidden peephole of the door slides open.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Viv answers him, before handing the bouncer on the other side her member’s card. The door immediately swings open to reveal the bouncer that asked Viv the question.

“Welcome back to the Red Rum, Ms. Nguyen.” The bouncer greets her, before stepping aside to let her in.

“Yeah… thanks.” Viv tells him, then does what she did before knocking on the door, before finally stepping into her old world.

The entrance of every Red Rum is the Red Hallway that leads to the main club itself. Before you make it there though, there are two locker rooms that members can use to change their outfits. The unique thing about these locker rooms is that they’re not separated by gender, but by the person’s preferred role. Each member has a locker in the Red Rum where they became a member, but there are always free lockers for members from different cities.

Viv contemplates if she should go to management to transfer her locker here, but she shakes the thought off since she’s not sure how frequently she’ll be able to come back, or even if she’d ever come back after tomorrow… or if she ever wants to come back ever.

‘I don’t need the Red Rum anymore.’ Her mantra for so many months pops up in her head.

‘What a fucking drama queen.’ Immediately followed by a thought reprimanding her for wallowing in her past.

‘You’re here for a reason. Get it over with.’ Viv then reminds herself, before finally making her way to the main club area.

Viv surveys this city’s Red Rum, and immediately feels like she’s being transported back to the Red Rum back in her hometown. A lot of it is similar.

There’s a live demonstration on stage. Seems like a show about ‘pet play’, with the domme instructing her male and female pets to do tricks like they’re in a dog show. Both of her pets, one man and one woman, are both naked from the neck down, except for their ‘tails’; with leather dog masks that cover their entire head as their only piece of clothing. The tables in front of the stage are full of people watching the show intently, while all the private booths that line the walls all seem to be occupied.

“Would you like a drink, mistress?” One of the hired subs in maid outfits asks Viv. She’s not used to having the hired subs address her, and address her as mistress at that, since she usually came to the Red Rum with… a dom.

“Oh, no thanks. I’m good.” She politely answers, her practiced bubbly smile on full display. “Is Madame Stanley in tonight?” Viv asks her.

“Unfortunately, the masters aren’t here tonight.” the sub answers her.

‘Shit. Why did I assume Lia would be here tonight just because I saw her last night? You should have called her first.’ Viv mentally reprimands herself.

“Can I ask what this is about? If it’s about finding a domme, the club has many—” the sub asks.

“No, no. I’m good. Just wanted to see a familiar face. It’s my first time in this city’s Red Rum.” Viv admits to her.

“Can I ask which branch you became a member of? We can crosscheck with the doorman if any of the visiting members are from your—” the sub suggested, before she gets cut off by a gorgeous woman in an oversized double-breasted jacket, and basically nothing else, except for her lingerie panties and leggings.

“There’s no need for that.” the woman says. “I will take it from here.” She tells the maid.

“Also, she’ll have a Hibiki 17, and I’ll have my usual. Have it prepared in the office. Thank you.” the woman orders the sub, who respectfully bows towards Viv and the woman, before walking away to leave.

“First of all… wow.” Viv compliments her, gesturing towards the woman’s body as the ‘wow’ she was referring to. “Second of all, great drink choice, and great way to introduce yourself as a domme. Third of all, great taste in targets because, yes, I am a catch.” Viv continues to compliment her, before switching to complimenting herself.

“Unfortunately, I’m - wait… why am I saying unfortunately? Very fortunately for me, and… oh! Unfortunately for you! That’s what I meant.” Viv then chuckles, playing it off as a joke to try and hide the anxiety she’s feeling rejecting a domme for the first time in this setting. Hal and Celeste usually do it for her back at home.

“I just got into a very happy and loving relationship with someone who’s not into sharing… Well, that’s not totally accurate. He does actually share, but just within his girlfriend circle… oof, why am I explaining it like that? What I’m saying is—” Viv starts rambling again, before she course-corrects herself.

“I’m only here to spectate.” Viv finally explains.

“But if we met a month ago? Yes. A hundred percent, yes.” Viv unnecessarily adds on, making the woman just smile at her amusedly.

“Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Nguyen; but I’m not here to domme you.” The woman responds, taking Viv by surprise that she knows who she is. “My name is Mercy. I’m the deputy headmistress of this city’s Red Rum.” Mercy formally introduces herself, and Viv realizes she skipped on a detail in Mercy’s introduction.

Right.

She mentioned ‘the office’.

She works here.

“Let me guess, Becca told you I was coming.” Viv guesses.

“You would be correct, Mistress Nguyen. Although, she may have gotten her dates wrong as I was told to prepare for you tomorrow and not tonight.” Mercy informs her.

“Prepare?” Viv asks, not sure if she heard Mercy right, who only nods in response. “Prepare for what?” Viv then asks.

“For yours and Master Craig’s session.” Mercy answers.

“Of course Becca called in advance. Right.” Viv just sighs, knowing she should have thought that would be the case. “I guess there’s no point in me scouting for a possible sub if Becca already had someone prepared.” Viv voices out her regret.

“I’m sure Mistress Hoffman would not be pleased to find out if who we chose are not up to your Master’s standards.” Mercy comments. “You may inspect them to see if they’ll be to your Master’s liking.” Mercy informs Viv.

“Oof. You’re really treating me like a domme here, and I’m not into it.” Viv says in a joking manner, trying to hide how uncomfortable she really is to the current situation. The discomfort isn’t because Viv’s not used to being dominant or in control.

Viv’s used to being in control, she’s the Head Chef of a restaurant, so that’s a given. She’s even had times where she tried being a domme, either as a joke or just to try something different. Even if she hasn’t done both in a long time, she’s confident she can pull it off when necessary.

What she finds uncomfortable is this place in general.

This club.

Viv suddenly gets flashes of her doing Hal or Celeste’s bidding running through her mind, and how this was a space she could just let go. Just… be.

‘I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE! IT’S HER OR ME, HAL!’

“Is everything alright, Ms. Nguyen?” Mercy asks her, after Viv tries to physically shake the memory from her mind.

“Oh! Yeah. Yeah.” Viv dismissively answers. “Just trying to switch on my domme persona, y’know? The switch is a little rusty. Needed a little shake.” Viv jokingly adds, before intentionally shaking her head this time and switching to a more serious demeanor.

“Lead the way.”