Page 31 of Stanton Adore
“Are you sure you read the email right?”
She nods. “Yes, what do you think? I just thought this shit up?”
Jeremy accidentally left his email open last night and Bridget snooped. Apparently, he is going to an upmarket strip club tonight with his work friends and we are going to sneak into the joint to bust him in the act.
“What time does it open?”
“Half an hour,” she replies. “We had better get going.”
An hour later we are sitting at a table in the back corner of what is probably the classiest nightclub I have been in. The walls are a deep smoky gray and the lounges and pendant lights are all in black velvet. Huge silver-gilded mirrors hang on the walls and giant palm trees are in massive ceramic pots surrounding the perimeter. Whoever the interior designer was hit the target. It can only be described as sensual. I have never been in a space like this before, it screams opulence and fantasy. The sound system is amazing, and the music seems to be surrounding us.
“This wig is itchy.” I scratch my scalp.
“Why did you wear it then?”
“Because I don’t want to run into one of my patients. I’m in disguise.”
“Oh phooey, you look like Natasha with a long blond wig on.”
I nod as I sip my margarita. “Yeah I know. Mmm, this is good, it’s super icy. Do you see him?” We all look around.
“No, it’s pretty empty actually.” We all relax.
A cute blond bartender comes over. “Can I get you beautiful ladies anything to drink?”
“Sure, three more margaritas. Thanks.” He smiles and nods. “What’s upstairs?” I ask as if interested.
“Just more booths with views to the stage.” We all nod, trying our best to look cool and uncaring. “Is anyone up there?” I ask.
He smiles and shakes his head—he is so onto us. “No one yet.” He gives me a wink. We all nod, a little more than relieved. At the end of the bar there is a second set of stairs and there is a large red velvet rope across the bottom of the stairwell.
“What’s up there?” I ask.
“That’s the VIP room for private parties.”
Abbie frowns. “Private parties?”
He nods and smiles. “Yes, only one group at a time.”
“What goes on up there?” Bridget asks.
He shakes his head and smiles. “You don’t want to know.” We are all shocked to silence.
“Is anyone up there now?” Abbie asks.
“No, it costs five thousand dollars just to get up there.” We all look at each other.
“Do people really pay that?” I question.
“You would be surprised. It’s used every night.”
“What do you get for five grand?” Bridget asks.
He smiles as he walks off. “Anything you want, pretty much. But mostly sex and cocaine.”
“Wow,” I mouth to the girls, and they nod in agreement.
“Shit, anything you want.” I chew my ice. “This place is a high-class brothel.” Oh shit, a disturbing thought enters my brain. Panic sets in.
