Page 19 of Ensnared
As she read the email, her mouth dropped open with each line she read. Styled in the Elysium's pretty gold and black design sprinkled with hints of red here and there, the email looked like a formal letter to royalty, not one to an ex-employee. It explained she had won an employee appreciation raffle and she was entitled to a full spa treatment.
The burning feeling in her throat cooled as she read everything the treatment included.
"This can't be real," she murmured.
Everything from a pedicure to a full Brazilian wax was included in the long list of treatments. Stopping at the bottom, she read today's date as the use-by date. Hurriedly, she clicked on the number and waited as the line rang on the other end.
A lady answered the phone.
"Hi…umm My name is Eve Thomas and I got an email saying-"
"Oh yes, Miss Thomas, we have been expecting your call," the lady announced with excited relief in her voice. "I have an opening for you at two today."
Running a hand over her tangled hair, Eve glanced at the clock by her bed. It was currently twelve twenty-eight. "Is today really the only day I can use it? My car broke yesterday and I didn’t even know there was a raffle since I no longer work there and-"
The lady cut off her nervous rattling with an apology. "Yes, I'm sorry but it does expire today, so you would need to come in today."
"Oh, okay then," Eve agreed without much choice. The spa package was easily worth over a grand, she reasoned. She would be a fool to turn it down. Besides, she thought morosely as her eyes glided back to the sparkling cat mask, she really needed something to take her mind off of last night. "Please put me down for two," she confirmed.
Eve got dressed and brushed her teeth. Some energy returned to her at the thought of the spa. She had never been inside the spa at the Elysium and rarely had reason to be on that side of the hotel but she did see the double red doors once and saw pictures of what it looked like online. She was more than a little excited. She just hoped they didn't have her come all the way down there and realize they made a mistake by letting an ex-employee win the raffle.
Kissing Mochi between the eyes, Eve closed the door of her empty house and stepped outside. She eyed her car and looked down at the ride-share app she had open on her phone. She had yet to confirm the eighteen-dollar ride. Yeah, she was up fifteen hundred dollars from last night but she was more than reluctant to just use the money on any old thing.
"That money was hard-earned with my body," she grumbled as she walked around the car. Careful not to touch the hot metal, she got into the driver's seat. "Might as well give you one last try," she said, sticking the key into the ignition.
The car purred to life without a single hitch.
Eve wasn't sure if she wanted to cry or laugh. To be honest she wanted to do both. "I can't believe I showed my tits and ass for you," she groaned.
She was still a little early by the time she got to the hotel. It was odd parking in the visitor parking and taking the main visitor entrances instead of the various employee ones. With her jeans, sneakers, and tank top, she kind of felt like a tourist as she followed a crowd through the main lobby. She almost stopped and looked at her old bar, somewhat hoping to see and not see a certain blond bartender. It still hurt when she thought of him ignoring her desperate texts.
Asshole.
Not wasting another thought on him, she kept walking with her head up and her eyes straight until she made it to the quiet hallway with the spa.
Inside was a different world from the casino. No talking, no laughter, no constant rings and bells of slot machines echoing across the game floor, just soothing peace. Something soft and tranquil played quietly over the hidden speakers infusing the perfumed air with its soft lulling notes. The décor exuded elegant sophistication, with plush furnishings and rich, earthy tones that invited relaxation and escape from the outside world. Every detail was meticulously designed to pamper the senses. Eve could already feel the tension in her shoulders release just standing here.
The lady behind the high counter smiled at her. Dressed in khaki-colored scrubs, she came around the counter to greet Eve. "Hi, you must be Eve Thomas, right?"
Eve nodded. "Yes, I won the raffle."
The lady nodded and started to direct Eve down the hall. The place was lit so low it felt like she was walking down a candle-lit hall in a castle. The attendant showed her to the dressing room and directed her to the provided sandals and robe. Changing into the attire, she stepped out of the dressing room ready to immerse herself in the lavish offerings of the high-end spa.
Guiding her through the facilities, the attendant directed Eve to a double set of glass doors that led to two rooms. One housed a hot tub surrounded by candles and drizzled in rose petals and the other room to a soothing steam room that smelled of eucalyptus and jasmine.
Time seemed to blur as Eve indulged herself in a series of pampering treatments. First, the Brazilian wax, an embarrassing and painful treatment that left her all too ready to sink down into the plush chair for her manicure and pedicure. Choosing a soft pink color for her toes and nails, Eve had to bite her lip to hold back a cry of relief as an attendant gently massaged and polished her feet to perfection. After that, she was led to another dimly lit room with soft flute music filling the space. Here she was given a vigorous yet revitalizing body scrub that left her skin glowing. By the time they finished her hair and facial and led her to the massage table, Eve felt like a cup of pudding. The blissful escape into serenity at the masseuse’s skilled hands melted away every bit of tension in her body making her fall asleep.
"Ma'am?"
Eve woke up with a start. Still on the massage table staring down through the hole, she blinked a few times to get her bearings. Oh right, she was getting a massage. Careful due to the rollers still in her hair, Eve pushed herself up and smiled sleepily at the main attendant who was giving her a bemused smile.
"I just wanted to inform you that your session is over and I hope you enjoyed your time with us."
Careful to keep the sheet against her, Eve covered a yawn and nodded eagerly. "I loved every moment of it."
"That's wonderful to hear. Since this was all paid by your voucher, there is nothing for you to pay. Gratuity was already included with the voucher," she explained as she draped Eve's robe over her shoulders. "Just take your time getting dressed and have a great rest of your day. We hope to see you back."
Still a little out of it from her hard sleep, Eve nodded and followed the woman back down the hall to the dressing room. It was odd. This whole time she never saw anyone else here other than staff. Maybe weekdays weren't popular.
