Page 63 of Devil's Riches

13

Alexis

I tookone of the keys from Victoria and turned it over in my palm. “Thank you,” I said. “What do I do with it?”

She smiled and handed the other key to Nate. “These keys open our front door, which goes into the main lobby,” she explained. “But you’re already in the building now, so you can just go through that hall over there if you want to check everything out.”

She pointed to a long hall on the other side of the foyer, lined with golden sconces. I glanced at Nate. “What do you think? Should we stay and have a look around, or are you too tired?”

Nate scratched his chin, pretending to think about it. “Let’s look around.”

“There’s a lot for you to see,” Victoria said, smile broadening. “I won’t be surprised if I catch you here every day for the next month.”

“That might actually happen,” I replied, returning her smile. I wasn’t sucking up to her. It was just the truth—if we didn’t spot members from the seven remaining Golden Circle families here tonight, we’d return on other evenings until we finally had every single one.

“Well, have fun,” she said. “I better head back to my office. Lots of paperwork to get through.”

Nate put an arm around my shoulder and said goodbye to Victoria before leading me over to the hall she’d pointed at earlier.

As we reached the entryway, I briefly turned my head over my shoulder, and I was surprised to see Victoria still standing in the middle of the foyer, staring at us. My stomach lurched. Did she suspect something? If so, why? How could she possibly know anything?

I gave her a smile and a wave, figuring I’d seem less suspicious if I acknowledged her instead of coldly ignoring her even though it was obvious that I’d spotted her. She gave me a small smile in return before turning away and striding toward the hall that led to her office.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back around.

Nate and I headed through the long passageway, passing smiling staff members on our way. There was an arched double doorway at the end, and I could hear the buzz of activity from beyond.

“Here we are,” Nate said, finally leading me out into the Mayfair’s main lobby.

My eyes widened as I took it all in. It was a massive atrium, lit by warm light from tiered chandeliers and golden sconces. The ceiling rose five stories high, and a grand staircase lay on the north side, sweeping up to landings with observation balconies on the upper floors. It was lined with intricate wood railings and carpeted with deep crimson velvet patterned by gold threadwork.

A reception area stood on the eastern side, presumably for staff to check in members who wished to book one of the private suites or dining rooms for the evening. Right near that were several plush baroque-style lounges for people to sit on while they waited.

Several yards beyond that was an elevator bank with a large map next to it. The elevator doors were plated with gold, and when one of them opened to take in some guests, I saw that they were paneled with dark wood and carpeted with the same lavish crimson and gold carpet from the stairs.

“This place is unbelievable,” I said to Nate in a hushed tone, turning in a slow circle. “Did you see the gold-plated elevators over there?

“Yeah.” He cast his gaze over to the tall Greek statues that decorated either side of the atrium’s main entryway. “We really should’ve guessed that the Ellesmere family was part of the Golden Circle.”

I raised a brow. “How?”

“That website you found said Gerald Ellesmere bought this place in 1979, right?” he asked. I nodded, and he went on. “Greg said the Golden Circle started turning a profit by the early seventies, so by 1979, the Ellesmeres would’ve had enough money from that to add this place to their real estate portfolio. I doubt many other people could afford it.”

I nodded slowly. “That makes sense,” I said. “You know, I’m actually glad they’re part of the Golden Circle.”

“Why?”

“Because it means the others in the organization are definitely members,” I said with a thin smile. “I mean, they wouldn’t create a place like this and not invite all their buddies to join it, would they?”

“True. Speaking of that, where do you think we should start looking for them?”

“Hm.” I bit my bottom lip as I considered it. “Let’s go and look at the map.”

Nate glanced at his watch as we headed across the lobby. “It’s only eight, so we can probably skip the nightclubs for now. I doubt anyone’s hitting them this early.”

“Yeah. We’re looking for older members, anyway, and they probably don’t even like the nightclubs,” I replied. I peered at the Mayfair map on the wall. “I’d say they’re more likely to stick to the bars, restaurants, casino, cigar lounge, or jazz bar. Or the private suites on the top two floors.”

“Or the sex dungeon, if those rumors are true,” Nate said with a wicked glint in his eyes.

---