Pinned against the cold cement wall of the back stairwell, Lauren wrestled with her conflicting reactions to Junior kneeling behind her. Despite his confessions about Kelly and Principal Michaels, his raw, repeated apologies and pleas to touch her broke down her resistance. She spread her legs and gave him permission, and Junior brought her to a swift, intense orgasm with his fingers, then pulled her into his lap to feel the aftershocks while continuing to stimulate her toward a second climax.

The moment was interrupted when Lauren's roommates, Ryan and Taylor, burst into the stairwell looking for her. After confirming Lauren was safe and consenting, they relayed that Sylvia had called an urgent meeting. Ryan dragged a teasing Taylor away. Junior, his mask now off, licked his fingers clean and offered Lauren his shirt to cover the dirt on her dress. Lauren noticed a bloodstain on his side, which he dismissed. He offered an ambiguous threat about her bullies' names, then sent her off with a quiet "Enjoy the rest of your night, Lo."

Upstairs in Sylvia's office, Lauren joined the Velvet ownership group as Sylvia announced their landlord, Patrick McKinney, was raising the rent to an astronomical fifty dollars per square foot. Because vice laws prevent the club from owning property or selling liquor, they are trapped renting from exploitative landlords. The group brainstormed options including expanding ownership, a Kickstarter, and finding new venues.

Lauren, Ryan, and Taylor volunteered to scout new locations and research alternatives. Lauren reflected on Velvet's importance as the city's only play club and a safe space for sexual exploration, resolving to do whatever it takes to save it from McKinney's greed.