The Blue Room Vol. 2: The Blue Room Series by Kailin Gow Read Free Book Online Page A

client.”
                “That's
part of the job, though,” says Ben. “Thinking fast. Shifting from client to
client – personality to personality. Being head over heels for one guy, then
falling for someone totally new the very next day – or even the same night.”
                “I
wanted to be an actress once,” I say. “I guess that means I thought doing that
would be pretty easy.”
                “Let's
face it,” says Ben. “When we started out, it all seemed pretty easy.”
                “And
look at us now.”
                I'm
feeling a little woozy from the Valium, but it's a good kind of high. It's
soft, warm, a slow-burning feeling. Like all my muscles are relaxed. My mind is
still sharp – or at least, it mostly is – but my cares seem to be receding.
                “You
feeling it?” Ben asks me.
                “Yeah,
I'm feeling it.”
                “I
take some when I'm nervous,” Ben says. “I know I shouldn't – I mean – I know
it's bad – but sometimes when this place gets to you, when it's more than you
can take, you need to numb yourself somehow.”
                His
eyes, so hollow, so sad, get to me. More than anybody else I've met here, Ben
seems broken by this place. Like an addict. Hating, despising every minute of
his time here, but unwilling or unable to escape. Is it the money that keeps
him here, I wonder? Or is there something else? Does the Blue Room have
something on him?
                “You're
lucky,” he says. “The fact that you're nervous. It means you haven't been here
long enough for the degradation to get routine.” He inhaled sharply “I’m sorry,”
he says. “I didn't mean to upset you. I know you're nervous enough
already...It's just...”
                “It's
OK,” I say.
                My
alarm goes off. 7:45. Almost time for dinner.
                “I'd
better be going down,” I say. “I don't want to be late for Mr. S.”
                “Good
luck,” Ben says.
                “I'll
need it, won't I? But, it's not so bad,” I say. “At least there's no sex
involved. Yet.”
                “Make
sure you keep it that way,” Ben says. “You can always say no. Remember that.”
                We
hug goodbye – gingerly, so I don't rumple my dress – and then I head for the
hotel restaurant: the Azure.
                I
arrive and at once I'm overwhelmed by the sumptuousness of the atmosphere. From
its tall Neo-classical columns to its stained glass dome to its trailing vines
and the enormous cascading water fountain in the center of the room, the whole
place spells luxury, excess.
                “Miss
Atussi,” a bartender approaches me, one I recognize but whose name I don't
know. “Compliments of Mr. Terrence Blue.” He slides a drink over to me. “Our
signature cocktail here. It's called “Blue Moon.”
                “Of
course it is,” I say. Is anything here not named after the Blue family?
                I
remember Ben's warning, but tell myself I'll only take a sip. It's delicious –
grenadine and blueberry and something dark and almost bitter I can't identify
but which tastes surprisingly familiar.
                With
a start I realize it. The musk of the drink tastes almost like Terrence
himself.
                I
blush, and out of fear of my own nerves I take another sip.
                I
take another look around the Azure. It's moderately full, but I don't see
anyone that strikes me as obviously Mr. S. I have a picture of him in my head.
Handsome, fit, rich-looking – those go without saying. And a cynical look in
his eyes: the jaded look of a man who has seen and done it all - - and has had
it all done to him in return.
                I
catch sight of a couple holding hands