She bites her bottom lip then sighs. “Paige, you can’t think about James. It’s sweet of him, though, to try to find out what sent an angel like you to a dark place like the club. I wish I’d had a better idea for you. I wish I had the money myself to give to you. But I don’t have either of those things. All I can say is, you have to forget him in every sense of the word. Forget him.”
It’s good advice.
* * *
Forget him.
I try.
I’m trying.
I put it in my head to try. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
I make it to the club again for night two and dress in a red baby doll negligee with lace trimmings. I don’t have to go topless tonight. Tonight, I’m working the first-floor VIP lounge.
I just took the drinks order for the guys who’ve hired it out. There wasn’t one among them who didn’t have his eyes glued to my breasts.
I make my way to the bar and try to keep my composure. This is the first night that I’ve been immersed in all the sex. It’s all around me, and I’m so hot my throat feels dry, like I’ve been stuffing it with sand.
I can’t say I’m not bothered by it because I guess in a way I am. I’m not a prude. It’s just that it’s all too much to take in at once. I’m not sure who can watch people having sex and not get aroused, yet all the people around me seem to be talking and laughing like they’re in the park discussing the weather.
All the sex that’s happening around me is so distracting I can’t even admire the stunning décor of the interior of the club. This is the first time that I’ve been outside here in the main section at night. It’s so different to my tour. It’s like the place has come alive from a dormant state.
The endless gold ceiling above me was already breathtaking during the day, tonight it’s enhanced by the strobe lights bouncing off it. The place even looks bigger too. It’s a multilevel complex that goes up for six floors with different fantasies on every floor. To me the lights and the activity make it seem wider.
I’ve heard the club itself and the surrounding land is bigger than what I’ve seen. It’s fascinating and I have to admit that if the circumstances were different I’d want to know more. I’d want to go exploring maybe if only to satisfy my curiosity.
Like this, I feel like someone shoved me in the deep end and I’m expected to swim and stay afloat.
Staying afloat is exactly what I think of as I take one step at a time.
The bar is right near the orgy room. I can’t believe they have an actual orgy room here. And, every time the music drops to a low beat to change to the next song I can hear the sounds of ecstasy coming from inside the room.
At least that’s just the sound. All along the sidelines across from me there are couples fucking, having actual sex right out in the open.
It’s all happening closer than I think too, because the couple ahead of me just stripped naked, crawled onto the padded sofa and started having sex right there.
Just like that, with no consideration of what they’re doing. Like most people they’re wearing masks so I don’t know if they just met which I heard is the usual scenario, or if they came here together.
The mask is supposed to hide your identity and give you confidence. It makes it all mysterious and alluring. I doubt, however, that would make it easier for me to have sex with a complete stranger. As waitresses, we’re given a choice. Last night, I didn’t wear a mask because of where I worked. If you sign up to do anything, the men in the Playboy Lounge don’t expect you to be wearing a mask.
Tonight, I opted for one because being out in the open means more exposure. If there’s one thing last night taught me, it’s to be more mindful. If I could run into James, then maybe I could run into anyone. I don’t want anyone else knowing I work here.
I get to the bar and place the drinks order. When I turn back to walk the way I came, my breath hitches when I look up to the balcony of the atrium and see James watching me while he smokes a cigar.
He stares at me, making me see that he knows I see him watching, and even with my mask on, he knows it’s me.