Chapter 9

“And for the last time sir, no.” All courtesy is gone from my tone.

After saying no five other times, I think it’s fair. At this point, if I spoke the old tongue I would switch to that.

“I’m telling you to get your Mistress. If she’s not available, then I’m leaving the girl here and come back later.”

Oh no he doesn’t. Do I look like an idiot? “Do I look like an idiot?” As soon as the words are out, I realize that I accidentally voiced that thought.

Whoops. That was supposed to be an inside thought.

Clearing my throat, I press on. “As I told you, if you want to have an audience with the lady of the house then you need to come back later. If you leave her here, I’ll have her arrested for unlicensed soliciting.”

“What?!” The man steps closer leaving only a few inches distance between us. “Try and repeat that girl.”

I open my mouth to do just that when Cyra walks in with Ty and Fawn trailing behind her. “Why in the name of the Divinities are you making such a scene during business hours?” Her sharp tone slices through tension of the room.

Internally, I’m grinning ear to ear as the man steps away from me. Let’s see you try and bully her.

“My lady, I scheduled an appointment with the owner of this shop. However, this crude girl won’t allow us to even enter the front door.” His tone is friendlier when he speaks to Cyra, the jerk.

He shoots a look my way and scrunches up his face as if he’s been wronged. I would love to cuss him out, but since Cyra would turn her anger towards me if I do that, I shut up and stay where I am.

The only hint of irritation from Cyra as the man weaves his tale of lies, comes from the twitch of her brow. Thanks to this man not having volume control, I’m sure Cyra already knows why he’s here and the scheme he’s playing at.

She cuts him off when he gets to the part about his wife abandoning him. “Then allow me to provide you an answer so that you can be on your way. We are not taking in any new workers at this time.”

Cyra turns to leave, but the man grabs her wrist to stop her. Seeing that this man has the audacity to cross the line, I take another step back removing myself from the room as well as the situation. Cyra’s only reaction is to raises a hand to stop Ty and Fawn approaching the man.

I see the doubt that trails across his features as he watches our reactions to him touching her, but his pride doesn’t allow him to step down now.

“Since you’re only a worker, you shouldn’t be making such important decisions on your own. I know for a fact that a lady from this shop just left. You need a new employee to fill her empty spot and I’m telling you my girl would be a perfect addition.” He placates.

“I doubt that.” Autumn’s voice isn’t loud, but the moment she chooses to speak is when silence falls upon our conversation. One sharp glance from Cyra sends her scampering upstairs.

Autumn isn’t wrong though. There’s no reason for him to make the girl wear a veil if they aren’t hiding something.

Cyra shakes off the man’s hand before bringing the, discussion, to an uneventful ending. “If you know all that, then I’m sure you know about our career mandate. As is customary, Snow left her daughter behind. Once she comes of age, she will take her mother’s place and work here. So, as I said, we don’t need any other workers.”

Not knowing when to quit, the man mumbles under his breath, “Who made you the Queen here?”

Cyra turns back around and walks towards him with a steady gait. When she locks eyes with the man, he flinches.

“Allow me to answer that question. No one made me anything, I am the Queen here. Everything that happens in this shop is based on my say. Whether workers can survive here, or whether this place consumes them bones and all, it all depends on me.

“My word is the only one that matters. So, here’s me giving you my word. If I ever see you anywhere in Wirra again, I’ll kill you and feed your corpse to the stray dogs in the alley. Or maybe I’ll feed you to them while you’re still alive? We’ll see what mood I’m in.”

A small shudder works up my spine at her threat. It wasn’t meant for me, but still. Cyra is without question more terrifying than anyone in Wirra.

I watch the man step back until he’s out the door. Then, he makes a run for it. The girl that he bought with him only lingers for a moment before she gives chase. Something tells me that they won’t be back anytime soon.

Before she leaves, Cyra tells me to give the customer in the lobby that had to witness that entire fiasco to Autumn. Turning to the man, Cyra offers an extra half an hour as an apology. The man beams at the news, and there’s nothing I can do but follow my orders. Sorry Autumn, you did this to yourself.

It’s almost lunch time. I repeat this over and over again as I try to lure the man in front of me to the back while simultaneously, ensure to the other man that Kitten doesn’t hate him.

“As I said sir, Kitten would love to see you next time you visit. Unfortunately, she is fully booked for the day. If you just give me one moment, I’ll be right back with you.

The customer that I’m trying to guide back to the rooms explains for the fifth time, “I-I’m sorry, it’s just that I…I don’t normally do things like this.”

“But Kitten always sees me,” the man at the front counter cries.

“Just one moment sir.”

It’s like moving a mountain, but I manage to get the panicked customer to the room in the back. “Please wait in here. Honey will be with you shortly.”

He pauses for a moment examining the room and I can only wait patiently for him to go inside.

It’s almost lunch time. It’s almost lunch time.

“If, I mean…let’s say by chance there are some,” —he makes a show of scanning his surroundings before speaking so soft I have to ask him to repeat the last part of his question— “noises.”

“No need to worry sir. All the rooms on this floor are completely soundproof so please just focus on enjoying your time here.” When I shut the door, I see Autumn dragging herself out of one of the rooms.

I stop her and say in a hushed tone, “Hey, can you tell Honey she has about four minutes before this customer runs away?”

When she nods in confirmation and heads up stair, I fix the strained smile on my face and head back out to finish playing therapist. To my utter relief though, the man from earlier is gone. However, my joy is short lived.

Without even making eye contact, another customer walks in. He scans over the decorations and somehow, he looks as if he’s been insulted. Great, nothing like a stream of bad customers to make me forget the other bad customers I’ve had to this point.

“Hello sir, how can I help you?”

He makes his way to the countertop and reads over the pricing chart. His features turn into a grimace, and he huffs out a breath.

“Your prices at this shop are entirely too high in comparison to the other shops. Just down the street they only charge ten silvers for two hours.”

I keep the smile on my face not letting on that I know he’s lying. All the prices for every shop are the same. It’s the first topic of business when all the shop owners get together at the end of each season. Only fools would be willing to fight over pricing in an area with an oversaturated market.

“I’m sorry sir, our prices are a bit high, but I assure you that you will not find more beautiful or skilled workers than our shop.” His frown deepens at my claim, and I can feel an argument coming on.

“I doubt that.”

It’s not personal Blue. This is a job. Just a job. Lunch. Almost there.

“Then I would like the one called Flame,” he pompously declares.

These men and their audacity tonight. He said her name as if he just happened to recall it from the pricing book. She’s not even in there!

Now I know he came in with the intention of trying to spend an evening with Flame. “I apologize sir, but Flame is already booked six months out. She requires a special reservation and isn’t available for walk-in customers.”

I hold back telling him that the minimum price for Flame is ten gold coins. That’s just for an hour. Also, simply making a reservation costs a gold coin. If he’s freaking out over ten silver coins, I wonder how he’ll react when he sees the prices for the top earners in Wirra.

The man recoils at my answer as if I’ve inflicted some type of physical wound. I’m not sure why this is surprising him. Unfortunately, instead of giving up, he redirects his efforts.

“Then what about you?”

And there it is. My smile lessens, but to my credit, it doesn’t break.

“Unfortunately, sir, I’m just a counter girl. I’m afraid I won’t be able to provide a satisfactory service for you. Let me show some of the other ladies that will be more than able to—”

“I’m sure you can do well enough. I’ll pay for an hour.”

My polite business tone in place as I hold my ground. “I’m sorry sir, it would be disrespectful of me to waste any of your time or money.”

“Fine. I’ll pay for two hours.” His voice gets louder and his tone shows that he’s getting impatient.

Well, old man, looks like the feeling is mutual. “I’m sorry sir, but I must refuse for your sake.”

I walk behind the counter, but before I hit the panic button to call Ty and Fawn, he steps in front of me blocking my access. He must know exactly what I intend to do. The way he looms over me in an effort to intimidate me into submission makes me want to kick him down south. I don’t, but I really want to.

“Please excuse me sir.”

“Do you think you’re too good for me whore?” He spits out.

It’s clear that he just wants a negative reaction from me. If I lose my temper now, it’ll only be giving him what he wants. So I just hold eye contact and smile.

“Baby Blue, how are you?” The booming voice of Sir Vincent echoes in the shop’s reception area.

“Very well sir, thank you for coming back to visit us.” I give a small nod of my head in greeting.

Sir Vincent’s steps stop short at my response causing his two retainers, Marble and Rey, to almost run into his back. Generally, I’m never this formal around Sir Vincent, but I’m not sure if the man in front of me is a noble, so I choose to play it safe.

Sir Vincent observes me and the man. I see the moment he catches the meaning behind my actions, and his gaze turns into a glower. Directed at the man of course, not me. With Sir Vincent’s support, I decide it’s a good time to start my counterattack.

“I apologize sir. As I was saying my services are not available, however; please take your time to look at some of the other lady’s information.”

The man takes some unbalanced steps backwards and for the first time, he has nothing to say. Now that someone else, particularly a man is here to witness his behavior, he’s lost that arrogance he just had. Typical.

“I…well I—,” he tries to stammer out a response, but Sir Vincent cuts him off.

“So, you were trying to force our Blue to service you?” Sir Vincent emphasizes the word you, showing his disgust at the man’s suggestion.

This time, my smile isn’t forced. Sir Vincent has been coming here for years and has always been courteous and reliable. He’s barely over one hundred, but he acts years above his age.

“Well, she does work at a whore house. She surely performs similar services as the other girls that work here,” the man provides in a feeble attempt to defend himself.

“Do not refer to these women in such a disrespectful manner.” Sir Vincent’s tone makes the man take a step back. “They are skilled workers in their trade and as far as I’m concerned, you are not even worthy of glancing upon them.”

Sir Vincent walks over to me and holds his hand out for me to grab. The man scurries out of the way and towards the door. After taking Sir Vincent’s hand, I allow him to escort me so that I’m behind the counter and inches away from the panic button.

“Blue is a gorgeous young lady who has yet to have her maiden ceremony marking the start of her career as a pleasure worker. Do you see her face? Her bid will start at a minimum of forty crystals. Do not treat her so cheaply.”

The old man with nothing left to say turns around and makes a hasty retreat

“Creep.” I say under my breath, but it’s loud enough for Sir Vincent to hear.

He lets out a loud hardy laugh that fills the shop’s front entrance. After stroking his beard a few times as if contemplating something, he turns his attention back to me.

“Glad to be of assistance. Rey, find out who that man is and get him on the blacklist for Wirra. I don’t need people like that hanging around affecting my mood.”

“Yes, my lord,” Rey replies.

“Flower?” I ask.

Sir Vincent only ever requests two ladies here. Flower who matches his type exactly. Long brown hair, thick hips and big breasts, and quiet. The other person is Flame. She’s the opposite, but spending a night with her is more of a status symbol than anything. Since I know he’s not on the schedule for Flame tonight, it has to be Flower.

“Nh. I want a private room. Put me down for the whole night.” I turn and mark a private room as occupied for the entire night on the board.

“Celebrating?” I ask.

Sir Vincent doesn’t often stay out all night, so this is likely a special occasion.

“Yes. My wife’s pregnant again and I’m told by the doctor that this one should be a boy,” he explains with a proud smile.

Sir Vincent’s first child from two years ago is a girl, and just like every noble and royal in Estain, he needs a son to inherit the title.

“Congratulations! Tell your wife I hope she’s feeling well.”

After a minute more of friendly conversation, Sir Vincent heads back to his room. I mark the second private room as occupied before giving the two attendants a little wink that they return with a grateful head tilt.

Most nobles bring their attendants with them when they visit as Sir Vincent does. Since they can’t leave the shop until their masters are done, it isn’t strange to see attendants standing on the street whether it’s snowing or raining. So, allowing them to stay in a room that will likely remain empty for the rest of the night, especially for our regular customers, is the least I can do.

Then, as if it knew I needed it, the clock tower chimes signaling lunch and an end to a rough first half of my workday.

When the door opens, I’m about to let the new customer know that were closed, but I don’t get the chance.

“Who put that expression on your face?”

A smile lights up my face replacing the frown I had moments ago. This kid. What did I tell him about going to bed early?

Instead of scolding him like I probably should, I head over for a hug. “Hi Sai.”