Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) Nicole Edwards (classic english novels TXT) 📖

take more than one at a time. And there’s a time restriction in their contract.”

“What’s to stop them from going somewhere else and finding one? I mean, I’m sure there’s somewhere people go to find this sort of … relationship. You know, if they can’t come here.”

“There’s nothing to stop them. However, it’s a violation of their contract. If they go against the rules, I terminate our agreement, and they’re not welcome to do business with me again. We have no desire to work with people who are merely interested in hoarding people.”

Wow. He was really serious about this.

“So you don’t consider having seven hoarding?” I asked, curious.

“It took me six years to acquire them.”

“That doesn’t change the fact you have seven.”

“No, it doesn’t. But I assure you, it’s not about quantity. It’s quality that matters.”

“Do you keep tabs on the possessions once they leave here?”

“Yes. To a degree. We have a team designated to following up, keeping Tiegan apprised of any who need or request direct contact. The Owners agree to remain active on the app, to provide updates when we ask for them. Once we’re satisfied there’s no ill will, we part ways if that’s what they want. Otherwise, the Owners continue to pay their yearly dues and peruse the app for another.”

“Is that normal? For an Owner to want more than one possession?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the norm, no. The majority are satisfied with one, sometimes two. Rarely more than that.”

“Yet you have seven?” I teased.

Talon smiled, his eyes scanning the room. “I have seven.”

“So not much repeat business? It’s a revenue stream that’s untapped?”

“For the most part, yes.”

I nodded, a few ideas coming to mind. But since he hadn’t asked me for my thoughts, I went in a different direction.

Feeling bold as well as inquisitive, I decided to ask the question I couldn’t get out of my head. “Do you have sex with all of your possessions?”

“I do.” There was no shame in his response.

“Do they sleep in your bed?”

“Rarely.”

I noticed that didn’t exactly answer my question, but I let it go. “You said the fourth floor is theirs. Do they have bedrooms?”

He peered down at me once more. “Yes. They’re well taken care of.”

“Yet you consider them possessions.”

“I do. As do they.”

I decided to let it go, not wanting to risk a replay of last night’s argument, once again scanning the room. I noticed Ransom had arrived, as well as Jasper and Cody. All three of them were dressed similarly to Talon, dark suits, white shirts, looking rather handsome in the formal attire.

“Is there another Owner who’s been here more than once?”

“Hershel Broome. The blond man speaking to Zion. This is his second visit to the island.”

“And he hasn’t selected a possession?”

“He’s here to make a decision between two he’s spent time with previously. It’s rare that the possession they originally considered will still be here, but these happen to be.”

“He’s married, isn’t he?”

“He is. His wife’s his submissive and he treats her like a princess. He likes to see her with his potential possessions.”

Interesting.

“Do you ever take bets on which one they’ll pick?”

Talon laughed. “No. No bets. Doesn’t mean I don’t have an idea of my own.”

“Are you usually right?”

“Always.”

I could see that. Especially since he seemed so involved. “It’s safe to say you get to know the Owners as well as the possessions?”

“I make it a point to, yes.” Once more he looked down at me. “This is something that’s important to me. I understand the needs because I have them myself.”

Another thing I liked about Talon. His conviction.

“Was Mr. A going to join the party?” I asked, looking around but not seeing him.

“He’s outside on the patio.”

There was something in his tone that had my curiosity piquing, but I didn’t ask for details. I figured there would be plenty of time to observe everything that went on at one of these events.

Eventually.

*

TALON

I found it interesting to watch Braelyn interact with the various people in attendance. At times it was difficult to remember she was only twenty-four years old, a fact I’d had a hard time wrapping my head around when I’d first found myself infatuated with her, although she’d been a year younger at the time. Being that I was thirty-six, that was quite an age gap.

Then again, age was merely a number as far as I was concerned. I’d learned that when selecting my possessions. Auberon was thirty-one—making him twenty-five at acquisition—while Sim was the youngest at twenty-three, twenty upon arrival. Initially, I’d been concerned age would be a serious factor but had learned as I went along that it didn’t matter provided they were legal. At a point, maturity developed naturally, based on one’s upbringing. And though I didn’t have all the factors related to Braelyn’s upbringing, I knew enough to realize she’d been forced to grow up early.

She certainly carried herself well, could talk about most anything, and all the while she maintained a pleasant smile, even when I detected she wasn’t keen on the topic. For example, Laura Dunbar’s insensitive way of referring to her potential possessions. Based on our background checks, the woman was well respected in her community, was held in high esteem as the CEO of a major conglomerate, and even had a penchant for donating to charities for the underprivileged. On the other hand, she had a harsh method of communication and seemed to have no filter.

Then again, Braelyn had asked the woman why she was interested in acquiring a possession in the first place. Sometimes it was better not knowing.

“I’m a highly sexual creature,” Laura was saying. “And I find that dating is an impossibility. Not only because I’m married to my job but also because it’s difficult to find a man who understands some women simply need to fuck. Sometimes multiple times a day.”

Braelyn’s gaze bounced over my face before returning to Laura. “Why not invest in a dildo?”

Laura’s harsh laugh rang in the open space. “Oh,