It's probably safe

* quick author note before the story starts. I have entered a new story (Navigating mating as a human (werewolf) into the Webnovel Spirity contest. I would appreciate if you would please check it out. I will be updating it fairly regularly. I may have some spotty days, but I will try not to let that impact my updating this or my other story (arranged marriage). As always, I appreciate feedback. Now to the story*

Juliet tried not to let what Richard had said get to her as she tried to locate where her friend. Of course Maria was so absorbed with enjoying the club that she hadn't heard her friend try to ping her with her friend so that she didn't have to weave through the tight packed crowd that was on the dance floor.

She had only been trying to help him feel more comfortable and he had to go off on her about. Of course, she could understand where he was coming from, he was obviously a guy who didn't like his personal space being violated without permission. But, he didn't have to be so sharp about it, especially since it wasn't like her intentions were bad or anything.

She tried to regain her temper as she continued to look for her friend. She was never easy to find in a club that she was familiar with, much less now that she was in one that she didn't know that well.

"MARIA! I Swear that if you don't hear me calling you and come over right now, I will never bring you to this club again with me!" Juliet tried to raise her voice just enough that she knew her friend would be able to hear her over the music if she was near by but not so much that she would end up attracting too many looks.

"You called?" Maria offered her her sweetest smile as she tapped her friend on the shoulder. It was evident that she hadn't been completely unaware that he friend had been looking for her.

"Always with you and the dancing. I know you want to have fun, but Daniel is back and waiting for us so that we can get this over with." Juliet scolded her friend as she grabbed her arm to make sure that she wouldn't lose her again on her way through the crowd back over to the bar. Maria complained a bit about it on the way, but did her best to keep up with the friend.

Somehow the scene back at the club bar helped to ease Juliet's temper. Richard still had the baseball cap on and while she couldn't see his face, she could tell by the way that he was holding himself that he wasn't too please. Either because Daniel or Melissa must've said something about it. She was actually happy to see that Melissa was joining them as well. She had mentioned that she might be there if she could finish work and some errands ahead of time, but made no promise.

Even though she didn't know Daniel or Melissa that well, she preferred their company and talking to them far more than she did dealing with Richard.

"Who's the other woman there?" Maria whispered the question as they got closer.

"She's with Daniel. I'm not quite sure what their relationship is, but they're together in some capacity. She's nice enough herself." Juliet replied, waving her hand in response to the wave and smile that Daniel did to let them know that he saw them.

"Sorry, I had to go fetch my friend. She was too busy enjoying herself that she didn't hear me when I told her you were waiting." Juliet apologized once she was back over by the bar.

"No worries, it can be forgiven considering I rather like the makeover that you did over here." Melissa replied with a grin. She had meant the apologize for Daniel, but since the club owner didn't seem bothered, she assumed that her response spoke for both of them.

"Sorry for the trouble." Maria apologized before she was introduced to the other two.

"Once we get the paperwork and everything done, you can spend as much time as you like in the club. I just need you to sign some stuff because what you will be sitting in on is a pilot project here that hasn't been disclosed to the public yet and won't be for quite some time yet." Daniel explained.

"Let's get this over with then, I have work tomorrow and I want to be able to leave here sooner rather than later tonight." Richard told them as he pushed his glass back to let the bartender know he was drinking before standing up. Juliet was surprised that he hadn't yet taken the baseball cap off, but the look in his eyes when he glanced at her told that he was no more thrilled about than he had been when she left to go find Maria.

"Of course, if you follow me this way, I already had Walter setup the room ahead of time. I hope none of you will mind but because we will be going over something rather important, I didn't ask for drinks to be provided this time." Juliet didn't miss the look that passed between him and Richard when he said this. There must've been something going, but she would wait to ask at a different point in time.

Walter gave them his typical polite bow and welcome as they walked past to go into the VIP area. Richard stopped behind everyone else to say something that Juliet tried to strain her ears to hear but failed to do so.

The office that Daniel had setup for them was similar in style to his own office that

Juliet had been in the night before, except this one had more space which was necessary since there were now five people in the space instead of just three.

"Please sit down while I get the paperwork ready." Daniel encouraged as left the room presumably to go back to his office where he had everything already put together.

"Did you remember to bring the contract I gave you with you as well?" Richard asked Juliet as he took a seat opposite of where he was sitting, now that they were away from other people, he took the cap off.

"I have it right here." Juliet replied as he she pulled the folded up papers out of her purse and put them on the table.

"You should wear baseball caps more often, it gives your hair and image a more approachable style." Melissa teased as she took the seat on the sofa next time.

"That's exactly why I won't wear them again." He replied as he ran a hand through his hair in order to help fix it back to a more tamed look. His hair was not made to be hidden under a hat, that was why he never wore them in the first place.

"It's not so bad." she wanted to say more but stopped when she saw the look that Richard gave her. He was certainly more stoic and intimidating than she believed that he would.

"Did she go over the contract with you, Maria?" Richard asked as he unfolded the papers and put them back on the table over on her side.

"Yes. I have a bit more experience with my friend on this type of stuff, but I was curious what work you two would be doing and if you're serious about the no sexual aspect. The contract seems pretty straight forward, but I want to hear your reasons for myself." She replied as she adjusted her glasses, looking over the contract again.

"I will explain the first part once Daniel is back and you sign the paperwork. But I am wanting a non-sexual work contract exactly because this work and I don't like to mix the two. I want a work partner who understands those boundaries and won't let attachment cloud our work or end up having expectations that things will go further than just a working relationship. Ember seems to be a good fit I felt based upon her personality." Maria nodded her head as he listened to his response, he sounded genuine enough to her, but she still wanted to wait and see what they would be doing. Rarely ever did any type of relationship in the BDMS lifestyle ever not have a sexual component in it, even when it seemed like it stated the agreement was completely non-sexual.

Before they had a chance to continue the conversation Daniel came back into the room with an apology and a black folder in his hand.

"You can go over this and make sure that you agree with everything and what the requirements of non-disclosure are. Of course this document is only temporarily binding until we release the program for the public to know about and it officially becomes a part of the club.

Maria read over the papers carefully with Juliet reading over her shoulder. Once she got to the explanation of what she wasn't allowed to talk about, her eyes light up. Apparently whatever it was that Juliet didn't understand made her friend excited.

"I'll agree to sign this and won't say anything, but I can already tell you I have friends who would be thrilled to come to this place once this type of program is officially off the ground." Maria told Daniel, the excitement in her tone was something that she couldn't hide as she signed the agreement and handed the pen and folder back to Daniel.

"Well we are always looking for members to expand our club to." Daniel replied as he looked over everything to make sure that it was signed correctly. "So what's your first impression of everything?" He then asked her, looking between her and Juliet.

"I want to talk over everything more, but I think it's probably a safe contract. We can talk here, but I also will talk with her more about certain things on our own. It's not like it's something that someone can get tossed into and be expected to know how to understand everything. They need an adjustment time." Juliet felt slightly better that her friend didn't seem to think that there was anything to worry about, but she did want to know more about what she was getting into before everything was finished being signed.