Chapter 12

12

H adley | Sacramento, California | Early 2000s

The security guard grew visibly annoyed at her slow pace before turning his back on Hadley to check in the next guest. She was two steps into the mansion, her heels clicking onto the black, glittery tile floors covering the large, open entryway.

There was a round, lacquered wooden table in the center that held at least one hundred crystal champagne glasses. To the side of the table was another attendant, pouring expensive sparkling wine into one of these glasses before holding it out to her.

Hadley took the glass, noticing that the skylight above the table was shaped like a pentagram. Upon a quick second glance, she realized it wasn't a skylight but an opening in the ceiling where a large chandelier from the second story came down, intersecting with the star.

"That's wild," she said, breathlessly .

"This must be your first time." The attendant looked at her earnestly. "Good luck."

He gestured to one of the four doors leading into different quarters of the house, all connecting from the entryway at which she stood.

A man and woman came inside and stood behind Hadley, accepting a glass from the table.

"Well," the woman's voice hissed into her ear, "don't you look delicious. The three of us should all reserve a private room for later. If you have brought a partner, they can join, of course."

A shiver ran up Hadley's spine as she turned to face the couple behind her. The woman, blonde and in her mid-forties, wore a sexy cowgirl costume that featured black leather chaps that were cut to show off the nearly nonexistent lingerie she wore underneath it. Hadley found the man who was with her rather unremarkable. He was in a black cape with costume makeup to give the illusion that he was a vampire who had just had a snack.

"Possibly," Hadley replied. "I am eager to explore this party first."

The couple did not bother to hide their disappointment as they nodded and walked through the first interior door on the right. All the hallways to other corridors were dark. Hadley did not find a single direction that looked more inviting than the other.

"May I suggest that way?" the attendant said to her, pointing to the corridor behind him, directly across from the entryway.

Hadley nodded and did her best to walk confidently, not allowing herself to stumble in her heels. Her phone chimed, and she pulled it out of her handbag, realizing that she had forgotten to text Grant that she was okay.

Are you alive in there? I know it's not the typical hour-long job but I still expected to hear from you.

She typed her reply, one-handed with her left leg crossed in front of her right, wobbling in mid-step.

I don't know what I'm doing, but so far, I don't feel threatened.

Grant sent a thumbs-up emoticon before she put the phone back in her handbag. More guests and vendors had passed through the entryway, all going in various directions. A younger brunette passed in front of her, going in the direction that the attendant suggested, so she followed, feeling more powerful with another person around.

Once through the dark hallway, Hadley was relieved to find herself in a bright, welcoming kitchen. Four or five chefs were running around in formal cooking robes, and servers hustled in and out, picking up plates of appetizers and taking them out to a connecting room on the right side.

"You're in the wrong room, doll." The woman Hadley followed moved to stand before her. She wore nothing but black lingerie, thigh-highs adorned with bows, and a red mask similar in shape to hers. The woman put her hands on Hadley's back, guiding her in the direction the servers went.

"If you're looking for food, it will be in the next room," she instructed. "This area is for staff and hired vendors only."

"What kind of vendor are you?" Hadley blurted out.

"You can think of me as hired entertainment. I'll go through the private rooms later, offering my particular services. Feel free to come find me." She winked at Hadley.

Hadley let herself move in the direction the woman pushed her towards, hearing slow, burning music with a steady beat. Her shoulders had relaxed, knowing that she wasn't the only escort there. The champagne began to hit her bloodstream, and she felt like she could breathe with more ease.

"Thanks," Hadley said, walking onward towards the music in the next room over, trying to hold her head up high and project confidence even if it wasn't there. She stepped into an open room with blue lights used to illuminate but keep a mysterious allure. There was a wide, buffet-style table backed against the far corner of the room and a large rounded staircase with a red carpet ending right at her feet.

She took a few more steps in as partygoers were trying to move past her on their journeys to the second floor. She watched as the couples and groups that climbed the steps were kissing, touching, and moving intimately with each other.

"Do you want me to take you upstairs?" a man's voice whispered into Hadley's ear.

Hadley jumped, feeling the stranger's breath on her skin, and turned around, startled. She stood in front of one of the most beautiful men that she had ever seen, with medium-length silky blond hair that curved into his face and light stubble that she could imagine enjoying as his tongue worked its way up her thighs.

"What's upstairs?" she asked breathlessly.

The man was dressed vaguely as a pirate, in tight jeans and a canvas shirt, and a long plastic sword hung from his belt.

"There are ten private bedrooms upstairs. There's a larger entertainment room, of course, for the exhibitionists."

"I see," Hadley said vaguely, her attention moving back up the steps. "So the real party is up there, then."

"I can take you," he offered again, "and show my sword." He smiled at her, dimples indenting his cheeks. Hadley couldn't help but flutter her eyelashes instinctually.

A sharp handbell rang on the other side of the room. An attendant dressed as a member of a king's royal court made her way to the middle of the room.

"Attention, attention, Sheng is ready to commence this party with a speech," she announced as a man wearing a full tuxedo and a black half-curved mask walked up behind her. The room filled with guests who all clapped and celebrated as this man, Sheng, raised his champagne glass to the room.

"Who is Sheng?" she asked, craning her neck to bring her lips close enough to his ear.

"Sheng Bau is the main event. He owns this house, the largest shipping container business and a few office buildings, too. He is a true billionaire, living in squalor compared to what numbers exist in his bank account. He has most of the state lobbyists wrapped around his finger. Now, what was your answer about being escorted upstairs?"

"Maybe later," Hadley answered the blond pirate, one of his feet on the bottom step and his arm outstretched to her. Hadley walked in closer to join the crowd as even more people began to push in behind her.

"I want to thank you all for attending this event every year and bringing this simple town up a notch. Please make yourselves at home and enjoy your every fantasy tonight. Now, put your hands together for the show," Sheng said, turning his attention to three performers pushing the crowd back to give them more space.

The music changed into a track with scattered drums and whispered melodic moans as the two female performers, dressed in golden bracelets and slit skirts, began moving into dramatic backbends, kicking their legs up so that they were in headstands.

A man, dark with a muscular chest, walked in between the women, a golden helmet shaped like ram horns on his head and a knee-length dark green and gold skirt hanging loosely from his hips. He began running his fingers down the right side of the woman's leg, her feet opening, letting her skirt fall, exposing her bottom half in the nude. His fingers lingered as she exposed her clit to the ceiling, but then moved on to repeat the same movement to the second female performer on the left side.

"Holy shit," a few of the partygoers exclaimed, while others cheered and clapped. The three performers continued their erotic circus act, ending with the three of them contorting their bodies in impossible positions around one another. The music ended, the crowd roared, and the performers took a bow after untangling themselves.

Hadley felt like a deflated suction bag beginning to take in air while the room began to slowly thin out, everyone moving away in groups, gossiping with one another in dark corners of the house.

What am I supposed to do?

She stood paralyzed in the same spot she watched the performance from. The guests walking by did not approach her, though she got many smiles, stares, and bitten lips from anyone she made eye contact with.

I'm never wearing heels again .

Hadley looked around, trying to find another waiter serving champagne, as her phone started vibrating. She took her phone out of her bag while her feet throbbed.

I might need to take off for a bit to pick up a stranded girl. Are you good?

Grant's text graced her phone screen.

Right after she replied telling him to go, another notification came in, this one from Hector. It was a picture of him in their apartment, whipped cream and vodka being poured into his mouth straight from the bottle by a small crowd of people she recognized from his dance performances.

I wish you were here.

Hector's words followed the picture.

"I thought phones were not allowed at this party?" a familiar voice tickled her ear as the blond pirate stood behind her.

"No one has told me that," Hadley said, eyes wide with worry about breaking a rule she didn't know about. She was working, after all.

"Do you see them? Everyone is staring at you, the dangerous-looking vixen who stands in the center of the room, alone," the pirate asked her, putting his hands around her waist and pulling her closer to him. "They've all been watching you, wanting you. But they can't have you, can they?"

"They can't?" Hadley answered with a question.

"No, because tonight, you're mine," he declared. "That one there, he's been staring at you since he made his speech. Let's show that rich bastard that he can't have you," he said, pulling her arm and leading Hadley towards the stairs.

Hadley looked over her shoulder and saw the man in the tuxedo sitting in a corner, casually talking to a particularly busty woman. The pirate, however, was right; he was staring directly at her, smiling.

"What is your name?" the pirate asked. "You can call me Captain tonight,"

"Hailey," she replied, and he wrapped his arm around her midsection and began walking towards the staircase.

"Well, Hailey, is it later yet?" he asked, playful behind his mask.

Hadley nodded and let him lead her to the second floor, the red carpet extending down the long hallway. A few steps to the left were French doors purposely left open, leading to a large room with a circular bed in the middle. A long pink canopy covered it but was transparent enough to see the three people engaging each other within it. A woman was on her hands and knees while a man wearing a black bunny mask thrust into her.

Another woman was using her mouth, kissing around both bodies, participating however she could. Other couples sat in the armchairs and loveseats placed in the corners of the room, all kissing or riding one another.

The pirate led Hadley past the exhibitionists, passing a few closed doors before finding one that was cracked enough to see that it was empty. The pirate pulled her inside, closing and locking the door behind him.

"After you," he said to her, gesturing for Hadley to sit on the bed.

At least I get to take my heels off.

Hadley followed his orders and immediately began to undo the strap on her shoe.

"No, please leave your heels on," he requested. "You're not like the other prostitutes here," he said, pulling his prop sword from his belt and lightly pushing it into her chest. He moved the sword up, exploring her skin, stopping once he got to her lips.

Hadley did her best not to roll her eyes as she let the toy sword go into her mouth.

She let out a soft moan, to the pirate's delight .

I should go into acting.

"I would be willing to bet that most people here think you're a guest, but I know better."

The pirate pulled off his entire belt, touching it back to Hadley's skin, letting the feel of the leather ignite her senses. She closed her eyes, doing her best to seem enthralled.

Suddenly, the belt was tied around her wrists as the pirate unbuttoned his pants.

"Captain," she said, trying to pull her hands apart. "I don't like this."

"Just play into my fantasy," he said as he took off his shirt, revealing a hairy chest that did not at all match the color of his hair.

"No, I don't like this. Please untie me," Hadley asked, standing up too fast, twisting her foot in her heel and losing balance.

"I will get to enjoy fucking a prostitute like any other bastard at this party," he said, pushing her back onto the bed. Hadley let out a scream, and the next thing she knew, the pirate had folded up his shirt and laid on top of her, forcing the shirt into her mouth as a gag.

She continued to yell through the gag, muffled, staring up at the ceiling as the pirate backed up. Sitting on his knees in front of her, he began stroking himself, making her watch.

Hadley did her best to hide her emotions, her fear, while she was pinned down by his legs straddling her.

She heard the furious motion of someone turning the handle of the locked door.

"Go away!" the pirate yelled, seemingly unbothered.

The handle didn't stop turning initially, but after a few moments became suddenly still. A few seconds later, the door was kicked open, and small pieces of wood that were ripped apart by the lock flew across the room, nearly landing at the edge of the bed.

In walked the security guard who had checked Hadley into the party.

"Someone heard screaming, so I was sent to check it out," he reported, starting at the backside of the pirate and frowning.

"Fuck off," the pirate said, discounting what was happening. "This is a sex party; everyone here will be moaning and screaming all night."

"The lady is clearly in distress, Saul," said a new voice that Hadley recognized from the earlier speech.

"It's time to walk away. Just because someone's working doesn't mean you get to be an ass," Sheng said, his pearly white teeth sparkling under a smile. Hadley couldn't read his true expression since he still wore a mask, but the pirate shuffled off the bed at that moment, putting himself back together.

"I think you owe Hailey an apology here," Sheng said while blocking the pirate's exit from the room.

"I'm fucking sorry," he shouted, not even bothering to look back at Hadley, who was still on the bed tied up with his belt. Sheng moved to the side to let him pass and went to attend to Hadley, freeing her before aiding her up off the bed.

"We cultivate a culture of consent at these parties for everyone. I'm sorry this was your experience," he said to her, Hadley's hand lingering in his.

"Thank you," she said, the words choppy.

"Why don't we go and enjoy the rest of the night downstairs, away from locked doors? I'm really glad you came."

The two wandered into the hallway, with the security guard following behind.

"Did you . . . were you the one that hired me? I'm surprised you know my name," she said, looking over her shoulder at Sheng as he descended the stairs a few steps behind her. Hadley's sense of danger had not gone away. Every moan and pleasurable sound that hit her ears made the hair on her arms stand on end. Grant wasn't there. She had to take care of herself right now.

"I did hand select everyone that you see in attendance," Sheng answered her. "You, Miss Hailey, are the most glorious decoration here. Every person in the manor cannot stop staring at you. This is not only because of your beauty, but because they cannot figure out who you are in that show-stopping dress. You are the most alluring thing a person can be: a mystery. "

Sheng led Hadley through the hallway and back into the bright, bustling kitchen. He locked eyes with a spiky-haired waiter with frosted tips, who stiffened to acknowledge his presence. He had medium-sized black gauges in his ears, and Hadley half expected him to reveal that she was secretly on the set of a music video production.

"My man." Sheng winked at him. "Do you think you can get my friend and I something comforting to eat? Something not on our rotating appetizer menu?"

"I got you, dude," he responded and walked the few extra steps into the cooking line, mumbling something into one of the chef's ears.

"You think that I'm mysterious?" Hadley asked after Sheng turned to look back at her, filling the silence between the two.

"Even you asking that question seems to prove it." He smirked as the waiter brought the couple two glasses of ice water adorned with lemon. He set them down on the barstool countertop they were leaning against. Sheng had his left arm supporting his weight as Hadley turned towards the window before her, looking out into what looked like a lush backyard, hinted at by moonlight.

"Does that man follow you everywhere?" Hadley asked her next question, shrugging her shoulders to the opposite corner of the room where his security guard stood.

"Him?" Sheng asked. "That's just Amis; there's no need to worry about him. He's been my bodyguard for what feels like eternity. I owe that man my life in more ways than one but I'd be willing to bet that he'd say the same thing about me if you asked him." Sheng smiled down at his water before pushing Hadley's cup closer towards her.

"Please, drink." His eyes were large and brown behind the mask that he wore.

"Only if you tell me what your costume is supposed to be." She smiled softly up at him, grabbing her glass.

"I live at the bottom of a famous Parisian opera house," Sheng said, opening his arms wide in quick movements while beginning to mimic the famous keys of an organ's musical introduction.

"I see," she smirked, taking a deep drink from her frosted glass .

The waiter appeared again, this time holding a tray with two plates sitting underneath the most beautiful yet casual sandwiches Hadley had ever seen.

"Are these real?" she asked cautiously as the waiter set the food down before them.

"Of course, I present to you my comfort food of choice, a BLT." The waiter smiled triumphantly, waiting for Sheng's approval before leaving them alone. Sheng pulled a folded-up bill out of his inside coat pocket, handing it to him.

How am I supposed to keep my dress clean while eating this?

Hadley eyed the seeds covering the baguette-style bread that would surely fall off when she picked up the sandwich.

Sheng wasted no time, taking a large bite over his plate as a waterfall of seeds toppled off of the crust of the bread, just as Hadley predicted.

"No elegance required here." Sheng smiled at her, wiping a smidge of mayonnaise off of the corner of his lip. "It's good, and I promise it's not poisoned."

"I'm not sure if saying that is as comforting as you think it might be." Hadley beamed at him, feeling her courage start to build back up. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite with the same sloppy results, but closed her eyes and groaned from the salty, creamy combination sliding over her tongue.

"Usually, it's not the food that results in moans at these parties," Sheng teased while Hadley took a few more bites of her sandwich.

"I think you might be eating some of your lipstick with that sandwich," he added, handing her a napkin. "It's a bit smeared, you see, all over your face."

Hadley remembered that the clerk who did her makeup overlined her lips and suddenly felt horrified.

She wiped her mouth furiously with the napkin, pulling her phone out to use the camera as her mirror. After adding some water to the napkin, she looked more like herself. She took off her mask, feeling slightly more relaxed.

"This party is something," she said to Sheng, who was watching her with every curiosity now that her mask was off. "Is this your thing? Wild, sexy orgies?" She blushed, not realizing how ridiculous those words would feel to say out loud.

"I'm a spectator," he replied.

Hadley nodded, having plenty of clients that related to that somehow.

"I like to watch people, humans. I like seeing the darker side of their nature. What fantasies might pull them in, and what nightmares push them away?" he mused, smiling down at his feet.

"Hey, are you planning on eating that?" She gestured to Sheng's sandwich half, sitting now forgotten on his plate.

Sheng laughed, his face lighting up with amusement. "Please, be my guest."

He switched their plates and watched Hadley attack the extra food, no longer trying to play the part of a mature Halloween vixen.

Hadley heard the familiar buzz of her phone as it danced on the countertop. Grant's words flashed across the screen.

I'm back out front; their paid time is up.

"It was nice to meet you, Sheng, but it looks like it's time for me to go. I have to say that you might have given me the gift of the best BLT I've ever eaten in my life."

Sheng stood up from his barstool and adjusted his coat before fishing for something inside his pocket. He pulled out more cash and counted a few bills, handing them to her.

"I'm sorry it's not in a discreet envelope, but it's your tip for the night. Hailey, I do hope I can have you come back and eat another sandwich with me soon." He smiled, removing his mask for the first time.

Hadley took in how dazzling he was, with smooth, tan skin. His almond eyes were endearing, hiding behind separated, low eyelashes. His smile was sincere, taking up most of the bottom half of his face.

"I would like that, I think." She blushed .

Sheng took her hand in his, pressing his lips against it and bowing. The move made Hadley's stomach flutter.

"Goodbye," she said as Sheng guided her back to the entry room. She looked up at the pentagram in the ceiling as she walked towards the double doors. Faint sounds of pleasure whispered through from upstairs, accompanying her out of the mansion.

The cool night sky air pricked at Hadley's exposed skin as she walked down the driveway, locating Grant's car.

"How'd it go? Are we in the club? Is this our new life, girl?" he asked excitedly, pulling out the envelope he was handed at the beginning of the night and counting out bills.

"One thousand dollars for you, five hundred for me," he grinned, handing Hadley her cut. Between the tip and the hourly rate for attending the party, Hadley had fourteen hundred dollars of cash on her at that moment.

"I didn't have sex with anyone," she whispered, "so I'm not sure."

Grant looked mildly disappointed but shrugged, starting the car and gently hitting the gas pedal.

"I believe in you, darlin'," he said. "If that group is nothing but a bunch of fucking weirdos, then we are better off."