I’d spent the last week at The Dallas Rex, The Manhattan Rex felt like its own entity, the queen bee of the hive.
“The original,” a woman said, approaching me. “There’s nothing like the original. Even if we copied the exact floor plan and decor and put it in another city, The Manhattan Rex is one of a kind. Iconic.”
I looked at her. She’d apparently been watching me take it all in, noting my expression.
“Elodie?” I asked.
She smiled. “Yes.” She held out her hand to shake mine. “Don’t lose that,” she warned.
“Lose what?”
“Your ability to get lost in a time and place. It’s good to have that in your arsenal.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means that there’s still an innocence about you. A naive wonderment. Hold onto it as long as you can. In our industry, it’s easy to become jaded.”
I didn’t know what to say in response, so I said nothing.
“Come on, I’ll show you to your suite.” We strode across the immaculate lobby toward the elevators. She was a stunning woman, with elegant caramel highlights in her perfectly styled light brown hair. Only average in height—a little shorter than me—there was something about her that drew the eye. Confidence, no doubt. She walked with regal grace and I wondered if it was her natural gait or if it had been taught.
Elodie pressed the “up” button on the elevator.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
She glanced at me. “Sure.”
“Is this usual? Contracts, I mean. Does this happen at The Rex often?”
She paused and then said, “No. It’s not the norm. It happens from time to time. But usually our girls stay with The Rex.”
I pondered why Hadrian would want me for an exclusive contract. Sure, we’d spent the night together. An incredible night. But was that enough to make him want me again? And if so, why not come to another event and ask me for my key? Or did he think that was too much trouble?
As my thoughts swirled, the elevator arrived, and we stepped in. The carriage was empty save for an operator. When we reached the twelfth floor, we got out and Elodie started talking again. “There will be a car waiting for you at eight to take you to the restaurant where you will meet Mr. Rhys.” She headed to the door of my suite and opened it for me, and I went inside. “If you need anything, call the front desk. Otherwise, I’ll see you at six to bring you your clothes for the night.”
She turned to leave. The door clicked shut and I was alone.
I lay down with the intention of taking a quick catnap. It seemed like I was only asleep for a few minutes when my phone jarred me awake with a buzz. I cracked an eye open and reached for it on the bedside table. It was a text from Tiffany telling me to enjoy my night.
I’d been asleep a lot longer than I thought. Early evening sunlight streamed through the gauze curtains. It was just past five, and I still had more than enough time to get ready, but I needed to get moving. I took a shower and blew my hair dry. The suite had been supplied with makeup, hair products, and other styling tools. While the heating wand was warming up, there was a knock on my suite door.
I went to the front room and looked through the peephole. Opening the door, my eyes immediately went to the garment bag slung over Elodie’s arm. In her other hand, she carried a brown shopping bag.
“Your dress,” she said, brushing past me and entering the suite.
I closed the door and then turned around. She placed the garment bag on the couch and unzipped it. Elodie pulled out a black beaded dress and held it up for my inspection.
“Elodie, if you’re the New York version of Gen, why are you bringing me my dress in person?”
“You have no idea who Hadrian Rhys is, do you?”
“Should I?”
“It’s short,” she explained as she ignored me, twirling the hanger to show me the gown. “But it has a high neckline with long sleeves and also conceals your back.”
I took a step closer so I could reach out and touch the exquisite dress. “Are those pearls?”
She nodded. “Black seed pearls.”
“It’s stunning.”
Elodie’s gaze bored into me. “It doesn’t take long.”
“What doesn’t?”
“Getting used to this lifestyle.” She shrugged and then let out a laugh. “You’ll come to expect it eventually. And you won’t ever want to go