Walking to the table in the kitchen area, I set down my bag next to a stack of unopened mail and boxes, then make my way to the window, curious about the blue glow that seems to be the same color as the billboard sign outside the club. When I reach the glass, I look out to the club below and bite my lip. Around the entire perimeter of the room are different style bathrooms. One is a clear glass shower with white tile, another a glass claw-footed tub with antique-looking tiles on the floor. Each bathroom has a different vibe, each one with a woman putting on a show for the men seated on couches like the one in this office, while waitresses dressed in very skimpy robes or nighties walk around with trays of drinks. The lack of clothing makes it clear that this is a strip club, but it’s unlike any club I have ever seen in my life.
I feel Maxim get close, and his hand rests on my lower back as a light comes on down to the right of us. Even with glass between us, the room seems to hum with energy, and a moment later, a woman wearing heels and a tight business skirt and jacket enters what looks like a modern bathroom designed in all black and grays through a door and closes it. As she proceeds to sensuously undress down to a black bra, thong, and garter belt attached to thigh highs, the men in the room seem to become hyperaware of every move she makes. Like they are there in her home with her, waiting for the moment they can join her in the shower when she turns it on.
“This place is amazing,” I say quietly, and Maxim’s hand still on my lower back presses in. “Did you come up with this idea?”
“I did.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” I tip my head back to meet his gaze. “What made you think to do this?”
“He was once a teenage boy,” Malo says from behind us, and I twist around so I can roll my eyes at him. “What? It’s true.” He pulls out one of the stools at the table in the kitchen area and starts looking through the stack of boxes and mail.
“For once, he’s not wrong,” Maxim says, and I start to look up at him and smile but jump when Malo yells, “Yes, they finally came!”
“Fuck me,” Maxim mutters when Malo pulls out a pair of what looks like black yoga leggings from a large envelope.
“I would like you both to feast your eyes on the first ever pair of Panic Pants.” He holds them up with a wide, proud smile on his face.
“Panic Pants?” I repeat, sure that I’m missing something.
“Yes, Panic Pants.” He looks down at them, wraps his finger through a red plastic loop, then tugs.
“What is that?” I cover my ears when a blaring, screeching noise fills the room.
“Panic Pants.” He grins.
“Jesus, turn them off,” Maxim orders over the annoying sound.
“All right, all right.” He fiddles with the pants for a few seconds before the sound thankfully comes to an end.
“What exactly are they for?” I ask, stepping toward him.
“For anyone who works out alone outdoors.” He looks from the pants to me. “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy.” He carefully folds them up as he continues speaking. “Let’s say you’re running in the woods and some dude comes out of nowhere to attack you. All you do is pull the cord, and bam!” he shouts, pretending to pull an imaginary cord. “Just like that, you’ve startled them, and either they will run off or give you some time to get away. And I haven’t tested it, but I’m thinking that if you run into a bear or something, you could pull it, and it might startle them into leaving you alone.”
“That’s—” I try to think of the right word, because I’m both a mixture of surprised by how smart the idea is and doubtful that there is an actual market for something like Panic Pants. “—cool.”
“Right, and now that I have the first official pair, I can finally get my page set up and running on social media and submit these babies to the millionaires on Shark Tank.” He looks at his brother. “Mom is going to love this.”
“That’s doubtful,” Maxim mumbles just loud enough for me to hear, and I barely avoid smacking him in the chest for not being supportive of his brother, who is obviously proud of his invention.
“Well, I’m honored that I got to see them first. I hope they’re a hit.”
“I knew I liked you.” He smiles at me, then looks at Maxim. “Since you’re here, are you okay with me taking off for a bit?”
“Go for it.”