..Alisha was used to pain. She was determined. But she was also in recovery; she had a long history of serious drug use, going back to her early teens... That history of substance use suggested a person who would seek immediate relief from distress. She would try once, but she would submit after that, he thought.“I’ll be conditioning each of you to serve me. You’ll each be responsible for cleaning, laundry, and cooking. You’ll be sexually available to me at all times. You don’t need to pretend to. We had chatted online a couple of times and that was it."Sorry, I'm late." She said. She pulled a chair opposite to me and sat down, trying to recover her breath. Then, She crossed her legs at knees, took out an old nokia from her faded chocolate-colored purse and hunched over it and said, "just a sec, hon ... I'm switching off the phone." A momentary smile. Well, that eased a lot of tension. I also switched my phone off.So began my first date with Miss A. The manager of the restaurant came and. David and Anya were there of course. And Scott and Holly, a couple that I’d played with on occasion and had kept in touch with. And a third couple – Kari and Charles - who I’d met a few times back when people were still able to visit without spending two weeks in quarantine. And me, the third wheel. The girl without any attachments.The basement had been set up like a club. There was already a wet bar and a big screen tv with a sound system. Some couches, too. David has put up a small disco. At first, I thought this was because of China’s gender disparity.But scanning around, examining closer, I observed how all the guys were buff or at least in decent shape.They were mostly young, too, with well-trimmed hair, and dressed quite stylishly.Gazing over at the walls, I saw posters of Madonna, Lady Gaga, Queen, Jason Momoa, and then, yes, a rainbow flag.It was a gay bar.Ah shit, I thought to myself. Probably wouldn’t meet a lady at this place.I was surprised Denny had invited me here..