Pressure: A Diamond Doms Novel Read online

  Pressure

  Diamond Doms

  Book 8

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 by Ivy Nelson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  For more information, address: [email protected].

  First edition July 2020

  ASIN: B088GJDBTB

  www.ivynelsonbooks.com

  ALSO BY IVY NELSON

  D.C. Power Games Series

  Power Desired

  Power Reclaimed

  Power Relinquished

  Diamond Doms Series

  Blood

  Heist

  Bling

  Pressure

  Visit Ivy’s website at www.ivynelsonbooks.com to join her newsletter and get a free Diamond Doms novella!

  Table of Contents

  ALSO BY IVY NELSON

  A Note From The Author

  Pressure

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  About the Author

  A Note From The Author

  Pressure contains depictions of BDSM. This book is the author’s interpretation of BDSM fantasies and is not intended to be an educational tool. BDSM is different for everyone and this is just one perspective. Everything in this book is fictitious and should be read as such. If you choose to participate in BDSM, please remember consent above all else and please do educate yourself with something that isn’t a work of fiction.

  I hope you enjoy this creation.

  Ivy Nelson

  Pressure

  1

  “We have to come to a decision about a statement tonight,” Austin Yates said to the rest of the Solitaire board. Her gaze was on Lance Moss while she spoke. “I’m getting questions from some of the members about the upped security measures, and I’m running out of ways to answer them without telling them anything.”

  Lance tried not to glare at his friends, but he knew he looked to be in a foul mood. That’s because he was. Someone was gaining access to private Solitaire information, and it was happening on his watch. He was in charge of cyber and data security for the club. If anyone got hurt, it was going to be his fault.

  “I understand the desire to be transparent, Austin. I do. But I don’t see how telling them we have a problem when we don’t know what it is or how to fix it is going to do anything but cause chaos.”

  Elijah cleared his throat at the far end of the table. “If you would stop dragging your feet about bringing someone in, we might be on our way to solutions. I don’t understand why you’re being stubborn about this, Lance.”

  He slammed his laptop shut and pushed away from the table. “It’s my fucking system, and I don’t want just anyone putting their hands on it.”

  Everyone tensed as he shouted. He knew they didn’t deserve it, but he was spiraling, and he couldn’t tell them everything. Solitaire wasn’t the only one of his systems having issues.

  “Master Lance,” a quiet voice said from one of the chairs along the wall. “I know you’re frustrated, and you don’t want anyone touching your baby, but I think those of us who have actually been threatened are trying to tell you that it’s time. You’re too close to this.”

  “Would you be speaking so boldly to me like that if your Dom were here, Isabelle?” he growled.

  The poor girl shrank back in her chair and he knew it had been a dick thing to say.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, I promise, Master Lance. Please don’t be mad at me.”

  “You forget that I am here, Lance, and I’ll thank you not to be a bastard to Isabelle just because you’re pissed at something you can’t identify.” Garrett’s voice crackled through the speakerphone in the middle of the table. He was currently in Philadelphia on business and hadn’t been able to join them. He’d sent his sub, Isabelle, to the board meeting because of her role at the club and the fact that someone had recently outed her.

  Lance swore under his breath. “Sorry, Garrett,” he muttered.

  “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the person you were rude to.”

  He turned to Isabelle and gave her a tight smile. “I’m sorry, Isabelle. I was out of line. You’re absolutely right.”

  Isabelle’s smile was kind. “It’s OK, Master Lance. I know you’re in a tough spot.”

  “It’s clear to me that you’ve got blinders on when it comes to your work, Lance. Let Eli or Garrett or Russell find someone. We understand that nobody will ever be good enough for you, but you act like we’re trying to replace you when we’re not.”

  He leaned on the table, palms flat against the smooth surface. “I know Dakota. I’m just under a lot of pressure right now. I’m still not on board with bringing a stranger in, but the board voted on this weeks ago and I know there’s nothing I can do.”

  “I’m heading to Canada for a few days after I leave here,” Eli said. “If you haven’t given me any suggestions by the time I get back, I’ll just find someone from the list of names Russell gave me.”

  Lance nodded and picked up his laptop, shoving it in his bag. “I need to head to Chicago. You guys are right. I’m too close to this. I can’t help it. Let me know what everyone decides about the statement.”

  Without waiting for a response, he picked up his tech bag and walked out of Solitaire.

  ♦♦♦♦

  “I’m taking my business elsewhere, Moss. I almost lost a lot of money thanks to your lax security measures. I’m paying you to keep my data safe, and you failed.”

  Lance clenched his fists under his desk in his Chicago office and did his best not to scowl at the man on his computer screen.

  “I completely understand your frustration, Mr. Dalton. I apologize for the security breach and I assure you we’re looking into it.”

  “Looking into it isn’t good enough. I like you, Lance, but I think you have a problem, and you need to get it fixed before you continue taking new clients.”

  The call ended and Lance dragged a hand through his hair. It was the third client he’d lost this week because of a breach in one of his data security systems. So far no one seemed to have suffered any damage because of the intrusion. But people heard security breach and they got scared.

  Not that he blamed them. He definitely had a problem. He just wasn’t sure how to sort it out. His mind drifted to his argument with Elijah and the board last weekend over bringing someone in to examine Club Solitaire’s system. It would suck to tuck his tail and go back and say his friends were right. But the more he looked at what was happening around him, the more it looked like that’s exactly what he needed to do. These attacks on his systems were starting to feel personal.

  With a sigh, he picked up the phone and dialed Elijah’s office.

  “Barrett Corporation, Emilia speaking.”

  �
�Emilia, is Elijah in? It’s Lance Moss.”

  “Sorry, Mr. Moss. He’s in New York all week. Mrs. Barrett is in her office if that helps.”

  He started to say no thank you but thought better of it. Holly was easy to talk to.

  “I’ll say hello to her,” he said.

  The phone started ringing again and he waited for Holly to answer.

  “Lance, what’s up?” she asked, a smile in her voice. “I hear I’m second to my husband, I should be offended.”

  He chuckled. “Not at all, Holly. I was calling to tell your husband he was right. But since he’s not in, I thought maybe you could help me. I’m having some more security breaches here that aren’t making sense, and I’m losing clients. Got any pointers for how to talk to them?”

  She was quiet for a moment. “Could it be associated with the potential leaks at Solitaire? Is this personal?”

  She’d caught on quick. “I’m starting to think so, but I’m not sure. I just need to stop the bleeding so I don’t start losing investors.”

  “I can send you over some bullet points if you want. I can’t promise they’ll work, but it’s worth a shot.”

  “Thanks.”

  When he ended the call, he tried Elijah’s cellphone. He didn’t answer, so Lance turned back to his three-monitor computer set up and began running through strings of code.

  An hour later, his phone ringing brought him out of the trance that only code, and a beautiful woman tied to his bed could put him in.

  “My wife says you’re looking for me and told me not to gloat. I have no idea what she’s talking about,” Elijah said when he answered.

  Lance chuckled. “I like her. Listen, I just wanted to apologize for my stubbornness. If you still want to hire an outsider to look at my system at Solitaire, I won’t argue anymore.”

  “That’s good, Lance. I’ve got a meeting scheduled with someone on Thursday in Colorado if you want to be there.”

  “Do I want to know who you’ve hired or how you found them?” he asked warily. His security systems were like his children, and he hated the idea of someone he considered inferior in skill coming in to tell him his babies were ugly.

  Elijah just laughed. “Show up on Thursday and you’ll find out. Don’t worry, Russell vetted them personally, and they come highly recommended.”

  Lance ran a hand through his hair and paced his office. “I’m feeling vulnerable here, Eli. It’s not a thing I’m used to.”

  “That’s what family is for, Lance. You’re allowed to feel vulnerable around us.”

  It sounded good on the surface, but Lance had always found that it wasn’t that easy. He didn’t correct him though.

  “I need to get back into a meeting, but we’ll talk on Thursday.”

  As he set the phone down, his assistant opened his door looking apprehensive.

  “What is it, Kimberly?”

  “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Mr. Holcomb called and is asking about transferring his data security to another company.”

  He sat back in his chair and slumped. “It’s fine, Kimberly. If he wants to talk to me first, I’ll take the call. Otherwise just let him out of his contract.”

  When she shut the door, he buried his face in his hands.

  ♦♦♦♦

  “Thank you so much, Mr. Adler. I’m excited for an excuse to hang around people in the community again.”

  “Marissa, what do I have to do to get you to call me Russell?”

  Marissa Sullivan giggled at Russell Adler’s stern tone. The man couldn’t help it.

  “Sorry. I’ve been in corporate America for too long. I’m desperate to get back to a grassroots tech company. Doing this job will be exciting.”

  “You’ve done excellent work for me in the past. I was happy to refer you to Elijah.”

  Elijah Barrett, another billionaire. Russell told her she would be working with Garrett Oliver and Patrick Sutton, too. An in with a group of billionaires was good for her goals.

  When she got off the phone with Russell, she called her sister.

  “Hey Daphne, I’ll be in Colorado for some work soon. I could make a trip there first if you want some girl time,” she said when she answered.

  “Yes please. And Ice cream time. And a movie date, and maybe a trip to Vegas?”

  Marissa laughed at her sister’s list. “I’m only going to have a day or two. Yes, to Ice cream and a movie but we’ll have to wait on Vegas.”

  Daphne sighed dramatically. “Fine. Wanna go on a double date? My current plaything has a really hot cousin.”

  Marissa sighed. Her sister was forever trying to set her up. “No, Daph. How many times have I told you to stop playing matchmaker? I do not need a relationship mucking up my plans.”

  “Right, because a cubicle in Chicago is exactly where you want to be. I just think it’s time for you to move on. It’s been five years.”

  “Stop. I just called because I want to spend some time with my sister. Please don’t make me regret that. I’ll fly in tonight and we’ll spend the next couple days together.”

  “Party pooper. I’m excited though. I’ll just tell Chris he’ll have to wait until the weekend to get together with me.”

  She said goodbye to her sister and dialed the number Russell had given her.

  “Mr. Barrett, it’s Marissa Sullivan. Russell Adler says we can meet as soon as Thursday afternoon in Colorado. Does that still work for you?”

  “It does, Miss Sullivan. We’re excited to have you come on board. Russell tells me you’re not unfamiliar with what goes on at Solitaire. I’m assuming we can count on your discretion, but we’ll need you to sign an NDA since you’re not a member.”

  Marissa knew exactly what went on at Club Solitaire and would very much love to be part of it, but she’d walked away from the lifestyle five years ago—except for the occasional hookup on a dating app.

  “I’m well aware, Mr. Barrett. I’ve been a part of the community myself. I’m just not regularly active at the moment.”

  That was the understatement of the year.

  “Well perhaps once you’ve finished your work for us, you’ll consider becoming a member.”

  Highly unlikely. A thriving kink community would only stir up bad memories that she had long ago buried alongside her dreams of owning a tech startup. Though she was eyeing the potential to dig that dream out of the rubble and do something with it. Who knew, Elijah Barrett might be on to something. An elite club in the middle of Colorado was a long way from the Chicago scene where all her ghosts were.

  “I’ll think about it,” she promised. “Is there a chance I can get into the system before our meeting and familiarize myself with it?”

  He coughed. “I still need to introduce you to our cyber security expert. He’s protective of his code, so he’ll be the one to get you hooked up with everything you need. It’s all gibberish to me anyway.”

  “Is there a reason I’m not communicating directly with him?”

  Elijah laughed. “Let’s just say he’s hesitant to bring anyone else in. But the board outvoted him, so he’s going to play nice.”

  She sure hoped so. A reluctant partner could make things difficult.

  “I’m sure once he realizes how good I am, he’ll feel more comfortable. Programmers are notoriously protective of their work, and they usually have big egos.

  “That sounds about right, Miss Sullivan. Where will you be coming from? I can book you a flight.”

  “I’m actually leaving tonight to visit my sister in Arizona for a couple of days. I can just rent a car. The drive will be nice.”

  “Save your receipts and I’ll see that you’re reimbursed.”

  When she ended the call, she rubbed her hands together, feeling excited about the prospect of pouring through lines of code chasing down leaks and potential hackers. It was something she hadn’t done in a long time. Now she ran the IT department for a corporate law firm, and it was so dull. Some days, it felt like if she had to walk another
old guy through how to recover his password or do another lecture on not storing your nudes on the cloud, she would claw her eyes out.

  There was a knock on her door and a man stuck his head in looking sheepish. “Sorry Marissa. I did it again.”

  She sighed and motioned him in. “It’s OK, Mr. Thomas. I’ll unlock your computer in just a few minutes. How would you feel about setting up facial recognition? That way you don’t have to worry about remembering your password.”

  When Mr. Thomas left, she put in her PTO request and hoped this job with Elijah Barrett and the BDSM club was going to be enough to get her out of this hell hole.

  2

  Thursday morning, Marissa drove across the state border into Colorado feeling hopeful. After a few days with her sister relaxing, she was ready to face her meeting with Elijah Barrett and the cyber security expert at club Solitaire. She’d done some initial digging to see if she could breach their system on her own but hadn’t tried very hard. It seemed like a solid system, but she wouldn’t know what their problems were until she’d done a deep dive into the code and back end of it.

  As she drove up the mountain where the old ski resort sat, she felt some nerves begin to arise. Sure, she was just going to sit in an office and talk about next steps, but she hadn’t set foot in a BDSM club for five years. She hoped she got a chance to look around.

  When she pulled up in front of the massive structure, she put the car in park and closed her eyes. After a few minutes of deep breathing, the butterflies settled, and she stepped out of the vehicle.

  A man she recognized to be Elijah Barrett stepped onto the porch.

  “Miss Sullivan?” he asked.

  She gave him a nod and a bright smile. “That’s me. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Barrett.”

  “Come on in. Russell says you’re good at what you do and fixed some issues for him a while back.”

  “I helped him out with a few things. We met when I was volunteering as an instructor for a summer coding camp.”