The Secret Lounge Challenge
An Unexpected Invitation
In early November, an envelope comes in the mail with no return address. I figure it is just junk mail but I open it anyway because I open all of our mail. Inside, is a business card printed on fancy textured cardstock. One side is embossed and reads "The Secret Lounge." Underneath this it says "Admit Two." I flip it over and on the back it has next Saturday's date and includes a time of arrival of 11pm. In the corner is a little circle with a black tie in it. When Claire gets home from work, I show it to her, and we agree to go.
The Secret Lounge is a bar in town that also has a large back room which serves as a live sex showroom. Claire and I went once but since it was so expensive, we haven't been back. We've talked about it a lot, but we've never actually done it. I'm a little confused as to how someone there got our address. Jack was the one who had recommended it to us in the first place, so maybe it was from him. The card and black tie icon suggests that this is more than just a coupon to get in for free. It has all the indication of being some sort of event, but we have to wait to find out.
The week crawls by as we eagerly anticipate the weekend, but final we reach Saturday night. We dress up in our finest clothes. I wear my best suit and tie. Claire wears a classy long black dress. It truly is an evening gown and she looks gorgeous and sexy in it. We arrive at The Secret Lounge a little bit early as we are unsure if the event starts at 11 or if we are supposed to get there at that time. The sign is unlit and the building looks dark, but by the light of a streetlamp I see that there is a man standing at the door. The parking lot is full of cars as well. As we drive by, I see a couple hand the man a card and he lets them in.
We park and head toward the entrance. Claire's heels click on the sidewalk as we walk through the crisp night air. The man accepts are card and lets us in where another staff member guides us the dark and empty main bar area and through the door in the back. We walk down hallway and then into the large room in the back. Last time we were here, there was a large stage in the middle and six couches around it. Now, the stage and couches are gone and instead there are five tables prepared for fine dining. The staff member leads us to one of the tables and pulls two chairs out for us. Once we sit down he takes the pitcher of water from the table and fills are drinks. He hands us both two small menus and then glides away.
I look around the room and see that each table has six chairs and over half of them are full. There is only one other couple at our table and they're sitting across from us. They look to be close to 50. He's a tall man with a bald head and she's a round faced black woman with a kind smile. In a few minutes the waiter comes back and takes our order. Claire asks for the steak and a glass of wine. I order the salmon and a beer. The other couple both orders the steak and wine as well. Once the waiter has slid away again, the other couple takes notice of us.
"My, you two are young," the woman exclaims rather loudly. "But, I bet you've been married for...five years. I'm a bit of a psychic you see."
"Ignore her," the man says and rolls his eyes. "She doesn't actually think she's psychic."
"Yes I am, Frank," she replies and slaps him lightly on the hand.
"No you're not. You're just too smart for your own good."
"How long have you been married?" she asks us ignoring Frank.
"Four years next January," Claire answers.
"See, I was close wasn't I? I'm Patricia by the way."
We introduce ourselves and they chat very friendly with us. When another couple sits down they bring them into the conversation as well. Through the conversation, I discover that no one knows what the event is for. Like us, they attend at least one event here in the past and received an envelope in the mail earlier in the week. I check the time on my phone and it has just struck 11. I look around the room again and it is almost completely full. It looks like maybe two or three pairs of chairs are empty. The one and only door to the room opens and five waiters and waitresses emerge pushing carts of our food and drink. Our waiter delivers our food and then tells us to enjoy our meal and that an announcement will be made at 11:30.
We eat and socialize, and I continue to be put at ease by the fact that no one seems to know what is going on. I'm not a fine dining person, but I do like getting dressed up. Claire and I have very little occasion to dress like this, so I enjoy the opportunity as does she. The food is very good as is the beer. Our waiter does an excellent job of keeping our drinks filled and clears our plates as we finish. Just before 11:30 the waiters and waitresses leave the room. A few minutes later, the door in the back opens again. I turn to look and see a woman walk in. She walks between the tables stopping and talking with a few couples.
As she walks by our table, I realize she is the same woman who was our waitress the first time we came. It was her who had brought us into the room the first time we came here. She seems to be the one who runs the place. I didn't recognize her right away because her hair is no longer blond but dyed red. Her figure seems a little fuller now but she is still petite with a hint of an hour glass figure. Like before, her dress is elegant and covers her completely but still leaves nothing to the imagination. I can't help but appreciate her sex appeal and confidence. She doesn't stop at our table but instead walks into the open area on the other side of where the tables are set up. She stops and then turns around so that she is facing the rest of us.
"Welcome to The Secret Lounge," she announces and several people clap. She nods her head in recognition before continuing, "I know you are all wondering what this event is for, but before I tell you, enjoy a taste of dessert."
She gestures with a flourish toward the door that has now sprung open. Out of the door strut the five young waiters and waitresses each carrying a tray high in their left hand. However, what causes us gathered to collectively intake our breath is the fact that all five of them are completely and unashamedly naked. They go to their respective tables and deliver the tray full of what I know see is small ramekins of crème brûlée. After they've delivered the desert, they walk to the front of the room and stand in a straight line next to the woman. They hold their trays in front of them covering their nakedness but exposing enough flesh to titillate those of us gathered there. After we start eating, the woman begins to speak again.
"On Monday," she announces. "You will all receive an envelope in the mail. In it will be your first clue. This clue will task you with going somewhere else in town and finding someone there. Once you have, you must complete their task. They will then give you the next clue. There are five clues and tasks in all. The first couple who manages to complete all five challenges has their pick of the entertainment." She extends her hand toward the people standing line next to her and they all bow. "The second couple who finishes will have their pick of the remaining four. Only five couples will win. The remaining seven will be out of luck. You only have a week to finish the challenges. Enjoy your evening and good luck to all of you."
"Mmhm, I got ideas already about what we're going to do when we win," Patricia says and laughs. "You all better watch out because I'm psychic."
Frank rolls his eyes and shakes his head again. We finish our desserts and notice that couples are beginning to leave. I look at the wait staff again as they walk around naked beginning to pick up the room. I'm pretty sure two of them were the performers in the sex show that we watched. I tell Claire this on our drive home and she agrees. I ask her if she plans on doing the challenges and she emphatically says yes. She says she wants to more out of the thrill of it and of curiosity than for the prize.