11. Darcy

Alchemy still hits me every time I show up here. I have to hand it to my sister and her mates—they've walked the line between classy and debauched to perfection.

I've danced in dive bars on the Gold Coast, but when I walk up the immaculate sandstone steps of this stunning townhouse on a fancy street in Mayfair, and ring the bell on the glossy black front door, and step into the entrance hallway, with its shiny black-and-white tiled floors and discreet lighting, it feels nothing like walking into a sex club and a lot like entering a smart hotel or members' club.

No wonder they attract so many rich, powerful people here.

It's Maddy who answers the door. I haven't seen her since we got back from France a few days ago, and we both squeal as we hug each other in an excited little dance. I love this chick, and I adored getting some lounger time with her before and after the wedding.

‘What are you still doing here?' I ask her. It's seven o'clock, an hour before our doors open and two hours before I go onstage. She's usually long gone by the time I get here, but I'm glad she's around to let me in because the huge, scary-looking doormen haven't arrived yet.

‘Shooting this one,' she says with a bright smile, stepping aside. ‘Ta-da!'

This oneis Natalie, one of the club's hosts. I've met her a few times, but we haven't chatted much. She's stunning and seems very sweet. It's her job to greet members when they arrive, and let me just say that she is every bit as expensive and classy-looking as every other first impression this establishment makes.

‘Wow!' I say, my eyes wide. ‘You look amazing. I mean, you always look great, but this is another level.'

‘Thanks,' she says with a smile that's quietly assured. She's not the most obvious candidate to be a sex club host, but I'm sure that's precisely why my clever sister hired her. She's always beautifully dressed in all-black, her hair, which is a few shades darker brown than Maddy's, hanging in a sleek curtain. Her colouring is a bit darker than Maddy's all-round, actually. She has a perfect, even tan and big brown eyes and the kind of petite frame and fragile bone structure that I can't help but envy sometimes, even if I love my curves.

And never has she showcased any of it more than tonight. As she steps out from behind her host's lectern, I get the full effect.

Wow.

She's in a strapless black jumpsuit with a fitted bodice and flared trousers. The bodice is embroidered with a swirly pattern in gazillions of tiny jet beads, and the effect is beautiful. The outfit fits her like a glove.

She looks a million dollars.

I whistle. ‘Holy cow, you are a smoke show, woman! This is so gorgeous.' I lean forward to admire the intricate beadwork. Alchemy must be paying her very well to keep her in threads like this.

‘Guess what?' Maddy asks. ‘She made it herself.'

‘What the hell?' I ask in disbelief. ‘There's no way, right?'

Natalie flushes. ‘I have a fashion label—it's tiny, really. I just do private clients. It's demi-couture, so between couture and ready-to-wear. But I've been working on this one for months, and when Maddy asked to feature me on Alchemy's social channels, I figured I'd give it an outing.'

‘Damn right,' I say, still taking her in. It's blowing my mind that sweet, quiet Natalie is a ninja with a needle and thread behind closed doors. ‘So you're running a fashion brand by day and doing this by night? Hopefully you'll get lots of interest in your brand from the members.'

‘It's more like building than running a brand at this point, and I really don't want to push my own agenda,' she protests, swiping a shiny sheet of hair over her shoulder. ‘But your sister's been so encouraging, and she even says she wants to order a jacket, which is amazing. Even if I'm kind of terrified that I'll mess it up.'

‘You won't,' Maddy says firmly. ‘Honestly, I have a strong feeling this is your time, Nat. You're so talented it blows my mind.'

‘This is super cute,' I say, pointing to the little black patch on her upper arm that I know, from being around plenty of health nuts, covers a blood glucose monitor. Except this one is fancy. It has a circle of tiny crystals around the edge, and the swirly Alchemy A picked out in crystals, too. ‘Biohacking, Alchemy style.'

She laughs. ‘Sadly it's not by choice. I have type 1 diabetes, but I figured I may as well try to glam my patch up. So I bedazzled a few of them for when my outfits are sleeveless.'

‘Well, it looks amazing,' I tell her.

‘Chic as fuck,' Maddy pronounces. ‘And look at these photos.'

She puts her phone down on the lectern. I crane my neck so I can see as she swipes. Yeah, these are great. Natalie's standing beside the lectern, one elbow resting on it and the other hand on her hip.

‘You look like a model,' I say. ‘You're the perfect ambassador for your brand. I suspect your main issue tonight will be keeping the members' hands off you—they'll go crazy for you.'

‘I don't fraternise, actually,' she tells me.

‘Really? I didn't know that,' I say. ‘That makes two of us. So you're there to fluff them, just like me?'

She goes bright red. For someone who comes over as poised and seemingly assured, clearly sex-talk is way outside her comfort zone. It makes her an even more interesting hire by my sister.

‘Haha, definitely not like you,' she says, fiddling with the simple bangle on her wrist. ‘I've heard your dancing is amazing. I'm here to greet, and welcome, and flirt gently, and cross absolutely no lines. I'm a totally different type of host from the hosts in the club. It's my choice—I honestly feel more comfortable that way.'

I get it. The hosts in the main bar and in The Playroom are salaried members, but they have carte blanche to have whatever fun they want to have with the members, if you get my meaning, and most of them go for it. Gladly. The female hosts wear white to help them stand out more easily among the patrons.

Meanwhile, the angel in black is untouchable, by her own choice.

Unlike yours truly.