Page 36 of Peasants and Kings
“Hey girl,” Tiffany said from the doorway of my suite. “Just wanted to check in on you.”
I waved her inside. “That was thoughtful. Come on in.”
She wore a pair of black yoga pants and a faded T-shirt that hung off her shoulder and revealed a red bra strap. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun and her face was free of heavy makeup.
She crossed the threshold and took a seat on the couch. Tiffany ran a finger across the leather binder.
“It’s not completely altruistic of me to visit,” she said. “Genevieve told me to give you a run down. Basic rules, that sort of thing. She also asked me to help you learn the names and faces of the girls.”
I let out an exhale. “I thought I wanted to be alone. You know, to process everything in silence, but I think it’s better that you’re here.”
“Have you eaten?”
“Annika said dinner will be sent up at seven,” I said, moving toward the bedroom. “I’m not that hungry right now, but I could use a drink.”
“Ah, one of the rules I have to tell you about. We’re not allowed to drink the night before an event. We need to get a good night’s rest, and alcohol…well, we all know what that can do.”
“I don’t even know how I’m supposed to sleep tonight.” I left the door of the bedroom cracked so I could hear Tiffany speak while I changed.
“There’s a light sedative in a medicine bottle by the sink. The same one I gave you the night before your interview. You should take it in a few hours. It’ll conk you out, let you rest, but you won’t feel hungover in the morning.”
I quickly kicked off my shoes and then slid out of my jeans. The satin pajamas were cool against my skin, and I breathed in the soothing scent of lavender as I adjusted the shirt collar.
When I came back into the living room, I saw that Tiffany had flipped open the binder and she was looking at the first page. She glanced up when I joined her.
“What do you want to do first? Memorize? Or get the run down?”
“Let me look at the photos first. Let them sink in. Then we can talk. I’ll review the photos later again tonight before bed.”
“It won’t be difficult to learn them all.”
“Will they all be there at the party tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
“Is that standard? Every girl works every event?”
Tiffany shook her head indicating it wasn’t. She picked up the binder and handed it to me. I took it and sat down in the chair, tucking my feet underneath me.
“There are some events—events of the season, if you will—where every girl works. It’s non-negotiable. Elite or not. The Mansion party is one of them. Other events are more intimate. Depending on what the client is looking for, The Rex might only send gold and platinum girls. Or even just platinum. Very special requests, they send only Elites, or just a select few girls of the client’s choosing.”
“What about emotional attachments?”
“Emotions are messy, and in this business we can’t afford messy. The Rex won’t let you be with a client more than twice in a year. That way no one gets attached. It’s important that we keep the clients happy so they keep returning.”
I thought about her words and tried to shut out the knowledge that I would be entertaining many different men.
I’d besleepingwith many different men.
Gen and The Rex could call us whatever they wanted. They could dress it—and us—however they wanted.
But I knew what I really was.
Tiffany gently squeezed my hand. “Look through the binder. We’ll talk more later.”
Chapter Nine
I was a stranger to luxury.
