Chapter 21 #2
“There are a couple of members on that end of the bar who I haven’t gotten to yet,” Rita says with a friendly smile. “Jump on in, honey. Also, you look scorching in that dress.”
“Thanks,” I say with a grin as I tie the apron around my waist, then walk down the bar to my first customer.
“Hey there, handsome,” I say with a grin as I approach the member. “What can I get for you?”
His eyes skim over the black tank dress I’m wearing, pausing at my exposed cleavage. Sure, I’m showing off more of myself than I normally would, but this is a freaking sex club, and I’m completely covered.
“One hour in a privacy room.” His response makes me grin but also feel on edge. There’s something about this guy that I don’t like.
“Sorry, I’m working,” I reply, deciding to forgo any more flirtation with him. “Pick your poison.”
“Whiskey, neat,” he replies and leans on the bar, still watching me closely. “Rita, give—I’m sorry, what’s your name, gorgeous?”
“Lulu,” I reply, starting to feel uncomfortable.
“Give Lulu an hour off,” he says, but Rita shakes her head.
“Not happening,” Rita says, and then she turns her gaze to me and says only loud enough for me to hear, “Watch yourself, Lu.”
Flirting with customers is normal. Build a light, friendly camaraderie with them, and they tip well.
But I only have eyes for Rome, and I suddenly feel like I crossed a line I shouldn’t have.
Except I didn’t.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I murmur back to her.
“Didn’t say you did. But that guy is rich, powerful, and doesn’t take no for an answer. Be careful.”
I nod and deliver his drink to him. “Have a good evening.”
He nods, slaps a hundred on the bar, then walks away. I let out a long breath.
“I barely flirted with him,” I say to Max as he stops by me to fill a glass with water. “And that was only because I was in a good mood.”
“Babe, flirting is the name of our game. But some of the customers take it a little far. That guy, Aaron Pierce, is one of them. Have you heard that name, or are you too new to Vegas?”
“Too new.”
Max nods. “He’s the mayor.”
My eyes just about bulge out of my head. “Of the city?”
“Yep.” Max gives me a stern look. “Smile, say hi, ask what they’d like to drink. Be cautious with compliments unless you’d like to go to the playroom at some point.”
“I’m not here for that,” I reply, shaking my head.
Something tells me that would be a hard no from Rome, and unless it’s with him, it doesn’t interest me.
“That’s a good boundary to set right away.” Max nods.
“Do you play? On your nights off?”
“Fuck yes,” he says with a laugh. “But it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. If you were into it, I’d invite you in.”
I blink at him in shock.
“I hate to break it to you, but you’re sexy as fuck, Lu,” Max growls next to my ear. “So if you ever change your mind, the offer stands.”
I lick my lips and offer him a smile. “Good to know.”
He winks and walks away to take another order.
Max thinks I’m sexy as fuck. Hmm. Can’t say that doesn’t give me confidence. However, I have a strong feeling that Rome would not like that one bit.
The night gets busy, and I’m starting to feel more self-assured with each order that comes in. Rita is definitely right about the clientele. They’re all loaded and know what they want. A few hours in, I turn around and see that Scarlett has sidled up to the bar.
“Well, hey! Do you want a drink?”
Scarlett wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “No, thanks. Mr. Alexander asked me to come take you on an official tour since you haven’t seen everything yet.”
I glance over at Rita, who nods. “You’re good to go.”
Excitement courses through me. I admit, I’m curious to see the playroom, just to see what all the fuss is about. I’ve heard so much about it.
But when Scarlett loops her arm through mine, she leads me to an elevator.
“Aren’t we going to the playroom?”
She winks as the doors open for us and leads me inside. “Abso-fucking-lutely. But first, we’re going up. We’ll work our way down.”
“I’ve been to the penthouse,” I reply.
“What?” Her voice screeches at a decibel only dogs and aliens can hear. “You what?”
“I’ve been to the penthouse,” I say again. Scarlett starts to jump up and down, still holding my arm, jostling me.
“Girl, you’d better start talking. Mr. Alexander never lets anyone on that floor. Ever. It’s forbidden. It’s even part of our on-boarding paperwork. Even though you need to have your palm programmed in to get up there, it’s outlined just so no one tries. Did you get in trouble or something?”
“He took me,” I reply and bite my lip. How much do I tell her? I don’t think I should tell her about my father or the guy who came to take me back to him. Or being drugged.
“He took you to his penthouse,” she echoes softly as we reach the tenth floor and the doors open. She takes my hand and pulls me out of the elevator before the doors can shut on us. Sure enough, just like Rome said, a big guy dressed in all black stands next to the elevator.
Scarlett pulls me to the side and turns to face me. “Did he fuck you?”
“No. But he slept with me.”
Her blue eyes widen, and she’s watching me like I’m a mythical creature.
“And he had personal shoppers come in with racks of clothes for me.”
Her eyes skim down my body and back up again.
“Was this dress one of them?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“It’s killer. Shows your curves off perfectly. I’d kill for your tits.”
I smirk and check hers out. She’s in red leather tonight. “I thought the same about you the first time I saw you.”
“Aw, you’re sweet. But let’s circle back. You slept with Mr. Alexander in his penthouse.”
“I think I’m living there now.”
Scarlett lets go of me and backs away two steps as if she’s afraid to touch me.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Holy. Jesus. Christ.” She shakes her head.
“Wow. I’m so happy for him. And for you.
This is awesome. I’m totally jealous because he’s hot as fuck, and so …
mysterious. And I’ll bet that man can do amazing things in the bedroom.
Also, he’s always been so kind to everyone on staff but never too kind, if you know what I mean. ”
Scarlett has diarrhea of the mouth. It’s amazing.
“And I know he’s into some shady shit that is none of my business, but who cares? He’s the best boss, and I love you to death. We’re already besties. I want you guys to work out.”
Besties.
I’ve never had a bestie.
“Um, thanks. It’s really new.”
“Obviously,” she says with a laugh and takes my arm again. “You just got here. But sometimes, when it’s right, you just know.”
I nod because that’s exactly what it was.
What it is.
And I love that she gets it, and she’s happy for me, and she’s not asking weird questions.
Scarlett is one of the most genuine girls I’ve ever met, so I don’t doubt her sentiments at all.
And knowing she considers us besties is awesome.
I haven’t had many friends growing up, and her enthusiasm is infectious.
But the most telling is that she’s happy that Rome is happy.
That speaks volumes about the man. Rita and Max show him the utmost respect, as do his men.
So I’m with Scarlett. I hope that this will be right because even though I’ve only known him for such a short time, he’s been nothing but kind and … respectful.
“Where are we?” The color scheme up here is different. Soothing, with blues and greens and glittery ceilings that look like diamonds.
“The spa,” she says with a grin as she leads me into a lobby with water features that tinkle in the air, and when I look in the pond, huge koi fish are swimming around.
It’s magical. “So in addition to this whole building being Mr. Alexander’s home and the club, it’s also a full-service hotel with apartments.
There’s a west and an east wing. The west side is mostly the hotel, the restaurant, and a casino over there that Mr. St. James owns called King of Spades. ”
“Who’s Mr. St. James?” I ask her.
“Carson? He’s around a lot.”
“I’ve met him,” I confirm, and she nods and keeps talking.
“We have clients from all over the world, and when they come to Vegas to play at the club, they stay here on-site. Well, most do. They don’t have to, but it’s so fancy and nice that most take advantage of it.”
I nod, enjoying the way it smells of jasmine and orange blossoms. Just being here in the lobby is relaxing. The two women behind the reception desk smile at us.
“The spa is open all the time?”
“This is Vegas,” Scarlett reminds me. “Everything is open all the time. Okay, so the floors between this one and the penthouse are all apartments. A few of the staff live here on-site, too. Like Rita, Loveland, um, some of Mr. Alexander’s security.
People like that. The east side, which is connected by the coolest sky bridge in Vegas, is the hotel.
You don’t have to be a member to stay there, but you do have to be a member to come to the west side.
The hotel has its own spa and workout center over there. ”
“Interesting,” I murmur.
“Plus, as part of our membership package, we can take advantage of the spa and the gym, which I’ll also show you.
We get a killer discount on services. You have to get a massage from Kathy.
You’ll never be the same. And we have some of the best aestheticians in the country.
My skin doesn’t glow like this all on its own. We’ll have a girl day up here soon.”
Just the thought of that excites me.
“I’ve had plenty of massages, but I’ve never been pampered with a whole girl day. I’m in.”