12. The Vagina Sniper
Chapter twelve
The Vagina Sniper
Moni
My heart pounded against my chest as Lei guided me towards the line of smiling staff members.
Each one wore the same sky-blue uniforms—loose sleeved tops and flowy trousers with soft-looking slip-on shoes. The fabric seemed light and airy. Something perfect for the warm, coastal climate.
These interesting wavy patterns adorned their shoulders.
I wasn’t sure if it was just a regular design? Or if it was supposed to mimic the ocean’s waves?
Meanwhile, delicate silver embroidery traced along the edges of their sleeves and collars, depicted seashells and coral motifs.
I took in all of their expressions which were bright, welcoming, and perhaps. . .eager. It was odd to think, but they all looked like they wanted to not only shake my hand but perhaps hug me. . .for a very long time.
Alright. Relax. You’re just bugging out. They don’t want to hug you. They’re just being nice.
But the closer we got to them, the more this nervousness rose within me.
Their smiles were wide, almost too wide, as if they were trying to contain their excitement. Some of them were practically bouncing on their toes, their hands clasped in front of them as if restraining themselves from reaching out too soon.
And a few of them exchanged glances with each other, as if silently communicating their shared enthusiasm.
I caught a glimpse of one woman wringing her hands nervously.
The woman next to her began shifting her weight from foot to foot, with her gaze never leaving me.
O-kay.
The very tall man next to them had a gentle yet intense look. However, he kept smoothing his hands over his uniform as if preparing for a grand occasion.
Well. . .they look just as nervous as I feel.
Once we got six feet from them, another man puffed his chest out in pride and cleared his throat.
Lei stopped us.
Okay, Moni. Breathe. This is just a welcome.
Lei spoke, “Good afternoon, everyone.”
A few of them nodded his way.
The rest continued to watch me.
Then, the man with the puffed-out chest stepped forward. “Welcome, Mountain Master. We hoped to. . .welcome the Mountain Mistress too.”
Someone nervously giggled at the end of the line.
I widened my eyes.
Lei had this weird expression as he took them all in. He didn’t smile or frown, but he did seem a bit. . .taken aback. Maybe, even a little displeased.
Then, Lei spoke, “Yong, we have not officially given her the Mountain Mistress title.”
Yong nodded. “Sorry, sir.”
“No. It’s fine.” Lei sighed. “Her name is Monique. You can call her that.”
“Okay, sir.”
“Just. . .” With his free hand, Lei ran his fingers through his hair as if exasperated. “We came here to relax and get some alone time. There’s no need for extra formalities or. . .well. . .just don’t scare her.”
I blinked.
“Yes, Mountain Master.” Yong turned my way and bowed. “I am the butler here and I will always be at your service. By the way, I am excited to learn the leaves that you chose for the blend, Mountain Mistress.”
Oh shit. He’s still calling me Mountain Mistress.
Lei sighed again.
“Thank you.” I smiled and gave him a half bow. “I have no problem giving you the leaves I used for the blend. The ingredients for the tea are—”
“No.” Lei shook his head. “That’s my tea. No one else will be drinking it.”
I pursed my lips.
It’s tea, Lei. Relax.
I would have to discuss that with him later. For now, I would let him get that ridiculousness off.
Still, Yong widened his eyes. “I understand, sir.”
A woman chuckled and then quickly quieted herself. Soon she came right over as Yong headed back in line.
Lei tensed at my side.
“Welcome, Mountain Mistress.” She bowed and then held out her hand. “I am Janice, the head of cleaning. Anything you need, please pick up the phone and press 0. It will go directly to me and even if you are not at the Mirage and somewhere else, I will come to you, wherever you are, and not only clean, but help—”
Lei loudly cleared his throat.
“Sorry, Mountain Master.” She gave him a sad smile and returned her view to me. “I just want you to know that I and the East welcome you.”
“Thank you so much.” I took her hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Janice. I’ll be sure to dial you whenever I need you.”
“Please do.” She looked at our hands touching and I swear on everything—I mean absolutely everything—that she looked like she was about to burst into happy tears. Her hand even trembled slightly against mine and when I let go of her hand. . .she did not let go of mine.
O-kay.
Like. . .she wasn’t going to ever let go at all.
She just stayed right there, holding my hand.
And for a few seconds, I saw us glued together—Janice and me—for the rest of our lives—my walking and her on my side, my bathing and her right there in the bathroom with me, my fucking Lei and her sitting next to me on the bed cheering us on.
Lei frowned. “Janice, let go of her hand.”
“Oh.” She blinked, squeezed my hand a little and then finally released it. “I’m so sorry, Mountain Mistress.”
“That’s fine.” I kept an awkward smile plastered on my face.
What the hell is going on here?
At Lotus Blossom and even the Palace, the staff had been chill and working around me. Here, they acted like they were fans and I was a big celebrity.
“Again,” Lei slightly raised his voice. “You can call her Monique.”
I didn’t think they heard him that second time because as the rest greeted me one by one, they boldly said Mountain Mistress over and over.
And I had to admit that there was this great amount of warmth and respect in their pronunciation.
By the time the introductions were complete, my hand felt sore and my mind was buzzing with names. Each new introduction carried with it a promise of respect and more than a few enthusiastic exclamations of clear loyalty.
Plus, I realized I was smiling so much my cheeks hurt.
Yet, I'd never felt so appreciated, so important. It was as if I'd stepped into a fairy tale, transformed from an ordinary girl into someone’s truly special queen.
I was Belle from Beauty and the Beast and the Mirage’s staff was damn near singing the lines from the song, Be Our Guest .
And damn it if I wasn’t super happy to be their guest.
When all the introductions were done, Lei took my arm and led me away and they remained there watching us, with those happy smiles on their faces.
I grinned. “Wow.”
Lei kept his view forward.
“This staff is different than the others. They were beyond happy to see me.”
“It’s not the difference in staff. It’s the tea ceremony.”
I widened my eyes. “What?”
He frowned. “From now on, it’s going to be like that everywhere.”
“No?”
“Yes.” He gazed at me. “You’re going to have to get used to it. The East accepts you.”
“Well. . .we don’t know if all of the East does.”
“The Mirage has a tough staff. They are weary of others and while I don’t bring many women here. The few that I have, they have never regarded them with more than a glance.” He stopped us in front of the door. “They weren’t rude. They just didn’t. . .speak to them at all.”
I knew I should have focused on the main part of what he was saying, but a bit of jealousy hit me. “Who else did you bring here?”
“What?”
“The other women.”
He blinked. “Well. . .the harem of course.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “Of course.”
“And. . .Chanel.”
That stung, but I wouldn’t let it ruin this moment. “She’s been here.”
“Many times.” Lei's posture shifted, his shoulders tensed and his free hand fidgeted with his pocket. “We grew up together so. . .she’s been to many of my properties.”
“Yeah. That makes sense—”
“But they never greeted Chanel in this way. They simply served her like any other guest.”
I looked away.
His words hung in the air, creating a mix of emotions inside me. Jealousy, relief, confusion. Yet, I couldn't deny the overwhelming sense of satisfaction—of victory.
It was stupid, but sometimes I unnecessarily felt like I was competing with a dead woman. Of course I would be winning, since she was dead, but that didn’t stop me from feeling a little bit triumphant.
You can’t keep doing that, girl. She is his past. Move on.
“Anyway, let’s get away from here, before they try to kidnap you from me.” Lei had us step up to the large, double blue doors and they opened on their own, displaying the grand foyer that was the size of two huge rooms for absolutely no damn reason.
Yet, the space was breathtaking—high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers that sparkled like captured starlight. The floor was a polished blue marble. Rich tapestries hung on the walls, depicting serene coastal scenes that complemented the view outside.
Unlike Lotus Blossom or the Palace, it felt more like a relaxing vacation home.
As we moved further into the mansion, I couldn't help but replay Lei's words about Chanel in my head.
The idea that I was somehow different, that I was being welcomed in a way that no other woman had been, filled me with pride.
But beneath that pride, a darker emotion still simmered; jealousy. It was ridiculous, really.
Chanel was part of Lei's past and she was gone now.
Yet, I couldn't shake the sting of knowing she had been here, in this beautiful place, with him. And even more, I couldn’t stop wanting to compete with this ghost from his past.
Why do we get jealous? I hate it.
It was such an annoying emotion, born from insecurity and fear.
Completely irrational.
Petty even.
I wished I could be the type of woman who never got jealous, who could rise above such base emotions. But here I was, feeling the burn of jealousy over a woman who wasn't even alive anymore.
I wanted to be better than that.
I wanted to be someone who could hear about Lei's past and feel nothing but understanding.
Who cares? Let it go.
As we continued walking, I glanced at Lei.
He was deep in thought, his jaw set in a way that told me he was also dealing with his own emotions.
What’s on his mind?
I didn’t even dare consider the fact that he might be thinking about her.
Instead, I took a deep breath and calmed the turmoil inside me. While jealousy was a natural part of being human, I wouldn't let it define me or my actions.
Fuck you, jealousy.
We walked on and the foyer opened into a large living area with expansive windows that offered a panoramic view of the ocean. The furniture was elegant yet comfortable, with plush sofas and chairs probably arranged to encourage relaxation and conversation. Surely, my ladies-in-waiting agreed because they lounged there with Duck, Chen and Hu hanging on to their every word.
I had to hold back my grin as I whispered to Lei, “I don’t know which two it will be, but. . .somebody is going to be fucking by the end of this month.”
Lei took them in. “My bet’s on Hu. He’s silent, but we have a nickname for him.”
“What is it?”
“The Vagina Sniper.”
I frowned. “No.”
“Yes.” Lei shrugged. “Once Hu wants a woman in his bed, he gets her fast.”
“Hold up now. He’s not sniping any of my ladies, but he can have a romantic, passionate night with one of them if she chooses, but no sniping.”
Lei chuckled.
I looked at Hu with a new perspective, his stoic face not betraying any of the playful pimp menace that Lei attributed to him. “But, what an interesting nickname.”
Alright, Vagina Sniper. Don’t you play with their hearts.
On the couch, Hu leaned in slightly towards Fen, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh. It was strange to hear, being that Fen tended to be super shy and almost always quiet.
Lei followed my gaze. “See what I mean?”
“Hmmm.”
Lan spotted us, stopped her conversation with Chen, rose, and hurried over.
Lei waved his hand. “Enjoy yourselves. We’re just being nosy.”
She stopped and looked at me.
I nodded. “Yeah. We’re fine.”
Chen stood and headed over.
“No.” Lei shook his head. “I’m taking Moni upstairs and we’re going to be alone until it is time for the cookout, so go back over there.”
“I understand, but I must tell you something.” Chen rushed up to us with his phone clutched tightly in his hand. “Lei, Monique, you need to see this.”
Lei scowled. “See what?”
Chen got to us and handed his phone to Lei. “Uncle Leo made a big speech before ending the tea ceremony himself.”
What?