It’s not like me to give a shit where someone else is concerned as long as I get paid, yet it hits a nerve and Alexi sees it too. ‘‘Watch it, London, soon you’ll be burning your bra and making poster boards. You might have to rethink the company you keep and where you work.’’ Sarcasm at its finest and I just exhale heavily at him.
‘’Anything else?’’ I gloss over it, not willing to be picked apart or give him more fuel for the fire he started under me. I’m in no mood to fight with someone who doesn’t let you win, EVER.
‘‘Room seven. We ordered a specific brand of champagne for it, make sure it’s the only room served with it and keep it topped up. Five grand a pop, so keep it's exclusive and bill him on top of his member rates for what he consumes. He’s also bringing a guest.’’
‘‘Okay, so we have fifteen members and five male guests, twenty-five girls on the floor and however many four is bringing to play with himself. I’ll call in a few reserves to bump up the number of women available and make sure every man has his choice of multiples. Servers will be picked accordingly for your family to make sure I send up the most efficient.’’ I rattle it off like a checklist and Alexi looks pleased.
‘‘For everything you are, London, I never regretted making you the hostess of my club. Efficient and beautiful, a perfect little package. You look nice today, just make sure you keep your distance and watch Santagato tonight. He’s booked in too, let Joanne deal with him as she has the skill in which you lack.’’ He raises that arrogant brow at me and I literally have to claw myself inside out to not react. So many veiled digs in such a short statement after softening me with a compliment.
He never fucking changes.
Fucking wanker!
‘’Am I going to meet my competition any time soon?’’ I sound bitter, stupidly so, and I can’t help the bite of tears that hit me. I swear this crying thing is getting ridiculous.
‘‘Soon. I’m taking her with me for a lunch date, I need an escort.’’ He seems to smile through his words as his eyes bore into me with intensity, picking me apart and looking for that reaction. It’s like the deathly blow to my soul. I swallow hard, trying to curb the shooting pain of bitter jealousy, and he just looks satisfied at my subtle reaction, testing out his new weapon I guess. Seeing if my reaction at the house was a one-off.
‘’Have fun.’’ I practically choke the words out and turn on my heel to get the fuck away from him before I start bawling like a child. He knows how to wound me and I hate him for it. If ever I found moments of weakness concerning him, forgetting what a bastard he is for a stupid insane second, then I can be rest assured he will always find ways to keep reminding me.
* * *
I don’t meet the imposter until the club is starting to fill up.
Music filling every dark nook and men filing in with wandering hands and smarmy smiles. I’ll give Carrero his due, his club is never empty and his client list grows still.
Give a man his basic carnal needs and you own him. All these rich powerful suits and here they are, wagging their tails like puppy dogs because Alexi lets them unwind, let loose and practice their perversions with minimal restraint. The club has its skill where secrecy is concerned, and these men have faith in the Carrero ability to keep it under the cover of darkness and hidden from the outside world.
He is the king of the party and not one guest since we opened has had a bad night or a bad trip on his grade ‘’A’’ product he keeps dishing out. From what I hear his sales in his magical white powder has quadrupled as his members get a little bit adoring for it outside of their visits.
Tall and narrow, nestled in a row of other run down and some derelict buildings, it’s obvious he chose this with the idea of making it inconspicuous and easy to bypass. From the outside, he has made this building look closed off and unused. Blacked out and sealed with no signage or anything that would suggest its interior purpose and in a back alley with only two entrances, both heavily guarded, and you have no way of getting in without an access card or pin. It is soundproofed to the hilt, so you can be standing outside while the music blares and you will hear nothing. It’s like an alternate secret universe nestled so innocently in the poorer streets of New York. He even runs a car service to pick up and deposit his patrons, so no vehicles sit outside bringing attention to the building. He really did plan this down to every little minute detail.
Standing in the midst of the room as it starts to warm up, Alexi appears with a tall brunette in tow by the side door he tends to use so his car can be kept nearby. Only staff can use that door as it’s accessed from almost behind the club, and a necessary fire exit should we need it.
I try not to feel anything, pushing it all down as she wanders in, holding onto his arm like a fucking queen.