Blue Room Confidentials: Vol. 1 Read online

  Blue Room Confidentials

  Blue Room Confidentials

  VOL. 1

  Kailin Gow

  Blue Room Confidentials (Blue Room Confidentials Vol I)

  Published by Kailin Gow Books

  Copyright © 2015 Kailin Gow

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  For information, please contact:

  Kailingowbooks(at)aol(dot)com.

  First Edition.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Note

  If you haven’t read The Blue Room Series, this series may contain some spoilers.

  Although this series can be read separately from The Blue Room, it is highly recommended that you also read The Blue Room Series which can be found here on Amazon:

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013XRVS48

  DEDICATION

  To My Readers, Betas, and Kailin Krusaders, Thank You for All Your Love, Support, and Encouragement.

  Prologue

  Xander Blue

  I'm trying to get my life back together. One step at a time, I tell myself. One step at a time.

  Not that it's easy. When you've had your heart broken by the woman you thought was the love of your life, you can't go on acting like nothing has happened. As much as you may want to. When the woman you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with decides that the person she really wants to be with is your slightly younger, but much less mature and callow nephew – a playboy barely old enough to drink – it takes a hell of a lot more than a stiff drink, a Xanax, and a good night's sleep to be able to put yourself back together again.

  All the king's horses – isn't that how the nursery rhyme goes? – all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Xander Blue back together again.

  I hope it isn't true. But ever since Staci Atussi left me for Terrence, I feel just like Humpty Dumpty. Cracked in two.

  It's crazy, I tell myself. I'm Xander Blue, one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, one of the captains of Blue Industries. A billionaire barely 30 years old. Inherited and earned. I have everything a man could ever want. I could have any woman in LA falling at my feet within moments.

  Except one.

  Except the one I want.

  That's always the way, isn't it?

  I feel sick thinking about the way Staci left me, about how much I miss her, about how missing her kills me. It makes my gorge rise and makes me wake up in a sweat. I thought we were going to be together, forever. She was more than just a Blue Girl to me – more than just a working girl. Her flesh, her skin, her smile – they were overwhelming. They drove me insane. But it wasn't just about sex, either. There was something about Staci's mind, her spirit – I loved her.

  She made me vulnerable. She made me turned away from my promise to my Godmother, to defy her order to “get rid of” her.

  Damn it, I loved her.

  And now she's gone.

  But I can't focus on that now. I have to be Xander Blue again. Compartmentalize. Play the role of the big businessman. Someone who is successful, powerful, never once doubting my capacity to get whatever I want, whenever I want it.

  I have to focus on something bigger than myself and my broken heart. I have to solve the mystery of what is truly going on at the Blue Room.

  Last night I made a discovery that blew my mind. There's something wrong at the Blue Room – that much I had known for a while. But I hadn't been able to guess at the extent – not until I'd taken a look at Mrs. Walters' timesheets. And what I saw there horrified me. Some of the Blues Girls were bringing in substitutes for themselves – impersonators, even. They wanted to maximize their hours but didn't want to do all the work, so they'd hire other girls – subcontracted workers. They weren't girls the Blue Room had picked out, vetted for any serious problems as well as their discretion. The Blue Room was the most exclusive, highest end gentlemen’s club around where the standards were impeccable. My much older half-brother Clarence Blue’s vision of the ideal pleasure club for very powerful, rich, and influential men to engage in their fantasies. He was in a coma, and the boys, Danny Blue, who was Clarence’s rock star son who played with the Never Knights band had to take over. But Danny passed part of the reins to his half-brother Terrence. When they figured out they needed someone with more business sense and experience, they asked me, their young uncle to come in to help manage. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate managing and running my own companies. But I was intrigued by The Blue Room, and even drawn to it.

  The Blue Room was known throughout the billionaire gentlemen’s circle like the secrets of the best of the best wines, vacation spots, and places to get your finest cigars.

  The Blue Girls were exquisite.

  All the Blue Girls were vetted, handpicked and groomed with classes, beauty treatments, workout sessions, and the arts of pleasure before they could receive their first patron, as the clients were called. Confidentiality of each patron because of who and what they were had to be of utmost importance so each patron was given a letter for their name. A Mr. B or Mr. V, W, Z, etc. Our system here at the Blue Room ran smoothly because of the strict adherence to the rules. Now finding out the Blue Girls who were supposed to be with a certain patron weren’t the girls they were, was a major problem.

  Those substitute Blue Girls for the regular ones could be anyone – undocumented workers or drug users or criminals or, God forbid, even minors! It didn't matter who they were, though. The point was that they shouldn't be here at the Blue Room. Already the operation is dangerous enough. This is only making it worse. And –damn – if any of the clients found out, we'd be in a bigger mess still. We'd have some serious repercussions.

  I figure I need to handle this situation as soon as possible. Leaving this unchecked will do nobody any favors.

  So I do what I have to do. I call up Danny and Terrence and leave messages telling them that there's a situation that has to be handled as quickly as possible. Believe me – that's the absolute last thing I want to do right now. All I want is to lose myself in my regrets and my loneliness – not to sit face to face with the boy who stole the woman I fell in love with at the Blue Room, away from me. But I'm a businessman, after all. Not some callow youth. Not some lovelorn boy. And I have to act accordingly.

  I head into the Patrons' Lounge to await their arrival when I spy a slim, blonde figure. I recognize her: a girl called Beth, one of our most senior girls. She was here even before Rita and Roz – at least that's what I remember of the profile of hers I perused in the database. After Staci started finding herself in danger from the Blue Room's mysteries, I was more assiduous than ever when it came to remembering every name, every face, every detail of anyone who ever worked here. I want to solve the mystery of who killed Roz and Rita, and why. I want to make sure Staci is safe – even now, even though I'm suffering with love and loss and desire for her still. I want to make it all up to Staci – for my part in the Tannenbaum scheme, for my part in everything that put her in danger. I want to clean up the Blue Room.

  I take a look at Beth. She's gorgeous, but clearly much older than the others – in her mid-thirties. Her doll-like face and wavy blonde hair reveal a mature, sophisticated look. But unfortunately in this business, youth is money, and age is a professional liability. Doubtless Beth won't be around here forever. Which makes her a valuable ally. She'll be looking for an out – they all do, at this point. And I can
give her one. Maybe this way I'll be able to sit down with her and talk about what she knows. Maybe it will help me weed out the perpetrators and find out what's going on.

  “Hello,” I say. “Beth, right? It is Beth, isn't it?”

  She looks up at me, startled. I can't say I'm surprised. She's alone in the lounge at 5 in the morning: not exactly a place you go when you're expecting a conversation.

  “Uh....yes...” she says, looking confused. She takes me in: my silver-blue cufflinks seem to alleviate her confusion. “Oh...” she says. “You're one of the Blues, right? I've been on sabbatical, but I heard that one of you guys were taking over now that Mr. Blue is ill. Are you Terrence or Danny?”

  3 months sabbatical, huh? I could smile to myself. This woman sure has missed a whole lot. She doesn't know a thing about Staci or my relationship with her – and for now it's probably better that we keep it that way.

  “Neither,” I say. “But you're half-right. The Blues did take over this place when Clarence got sick. But I'm not Terrence or Danny. I'm their uncle, Clarence's Blue's brother. Xander.”

  “Brother?” She looks confused... “But you're so...”

  “Young?” I laugh. “I know. I'm his half-brother. I’m closer in age to Danny than Clarence. I'm new here, too. But neither Danny nor Terrence have much experience running a business, so I'm stepping in to shore up the financial side of things a little.”

  “I see,” she says, still looking wary. She's unsure what I want from her: and with good reason. It's not like this place has been safe for Blue Girls lately. Then I see a gleam of approval flicker over her face – a flirtatious smile as her deep green eyes take me all in. “Wise decision,” she says.

  I peer into her eyes. There's something different about her, I think. She doesn't seem like a Blue Girl. She's more mature, more sophisticated. A woman of the world, not a girl.

  “Do you mind coming into my office?” I ask her. “I know it's late – but I'm trying to get a sense of conditions around here – how workers are being treated. My and I are doing everything we can to make sure that this place is the best possible working environment for all our colleagues.”

  Beth smiles perkily. “Oh certainly,” she says. “I'd love to help.” She tosses her blonde bob, and for a minute I find myself growing aroused. I can certainly see why Beth is one of the most longstanding girls here – she has an incredible, controlled appeal. But then Staci's body, her face, appear before me...memories of sensual pleasure and the purest ecstasy.

  My mind begins to cloud with regret as I remember all that Staci and I did...

  “What is it?” Beth looks concerned. “Is everything ok? Did I do something to upset you?”

  “No...” I sigh. “I just remembered something – melancholy, that's all. Anyway, let's move on. I don't like to dwell on bygones. How about that interview? Do you want to meet me in a few hours, say 10 o'clock at the common room? 4th floor. Or are you booked?”

  “Booked?” Beth gives a sad little smile and a laugh. “I'm afraid my schedule is wide open these days. The new girls – they're all so busy. I don't know how they do it. They're booked back to back – and meanwhile I'm completely empty. I guess I've been out of the game for too long.”

  “I'm sorry,” I say, patting her on the shoulder. “I guess your heart's not into it much any longer. But why did you come back – if you left?”

  Beth sighs. “I'm...” She turns red. “I thought I could be normal. I thought I could try to be a normal person. But...nothing I could do matches this place. The benefits, the lifestyle I was used to gifts and jewelry. Now...now I have a kid to take care of....I can't afford on waiting tables.”

  My mouth almost drops open. Beth has a child? What? When? How can she be at the Blue Room with a kid to take care of?

  “A kid...? Not with one of our...”

  Beth's eyes begin to well up with tears. “I didn't know what to do. I know who it is – I was only with one client at the time. But he's married – and he's powerful – and in politics. I couldn't ask him for help. I know how strict the Blue Room is about this sort of thing – they'd throw me out if I ever let it slip that I'd had his kid. But I did what I had to do.”

  “Where is the child now?”

  “W-w-w-ith my mother,” Beth cries. “I didn't do anything wrong. I wanted to keep the baby, but I know that it's against the rules to ever contact the clients. They contact us when they want us – that's all. That's where I was when I had my sabbatical.” She looks scared all of a sudden. “Am I going to get fired for this?”

  I shake my head. “No, Beth. That would be cruel. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this by yourself.”

  Beth shakes her head sadly. “So, what happens now?”

  “Do you still want this job?”

  “I need this job,” Beth says. “That's more important than wanting it.”

  I feel awful for her. Not only did Beth's work as a Blue Girl get her knocked up, our strict policies mean that the father of this child will never know he has another kid.

  “What if we could get you another job?” I ask her. “In the same institution. Different skill set. Different routine.”

  “You mean...”

  “Hotel staff. Managing. Something good, with benefits – paying higher than a job outside the Blue Room would pay. No escort work. I mean, it won't be quite as luxurious or lavish as your work here...”

  “No,” sighs Beth. “Nothing ever is. That's what makes leaving so hard. But I have to do it.”

  “Then it's settled,” I say. “I'll transfer you first thing tomorrow. You can remain working here. Send me a resume of your more...conventional skills and we'll find you a position at the hotel that's a bit easier to maintain a family with.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Blue,” Beth's eyes shine with tears. “Thank you so much”

  “No need to thank me,” I say. “Just make sure you do a great job in your new position.

  “I will,” Beth says. “I promise.”

  With that, I rise. It's time for me to go to sleep. “And don't worry about our meeting,” I say. “Tomorrow, why don't you start fresh?”

  “Okay!” Beth chirps happily.

  I smile. At least one good deed done today. I leave the lounge and head into the hotel side of the Blue Room. I draft an email on my phone to the General Manager, telling him to take care of this. Then I head to the gym. The place I first met Staci, I remember – I feel a pang – but now I have to forget. I have to move on.

  Staci: the lost heir to the Tannenbaum fortune. My lost woman. The heir I was supposed to get rid of for Gloria Tannenbaum. Instead, I fell in love with her.

  I work out on the treadmill, hoping adrenaline will push out the pain.

  Then I see her through the glass door: walking along the corridor.

  From behind. Long blonde hair. Slender waist. Curvy, shapely ass.

  My heart stops.

  “Staci?”

  Chapter 1

  My heart's pounding. What the hell is Staci here? I'm torn between wondering whether I should run after her and grab her in my arms or whether I should stay the hell away. I want to see her, be with her, be of her, hold her, own her...

  Then my phone rings. I look down.

  Shit. Terrence.

  I'm about to ignore it, but by the time I look up again, the girl is gone. I blink, rub my eyes, and look again. Was it just a lack of sleep? Am I just imagining things, hallucinating because of my love of Staci? Wanting to see her so badly she magically appears? I wouldn't put it past mysef lately. My obsession with Staci has driven me to so many sleepless nights that I've started half-hallucinating all sorts of things during daylight hours.

  Anyway, I don't have time to dwell on that strange apparition. My phone is still ringing, and as much as I don't want to talk to him I know I have to for the good of the Blue Room.

  “Hello Terrence,” my voice is dry and cold. I can't help it. My self-restraint only goes so far. Knowing that Staci is with him dr
ives me absolutely wild.

  “Hi Xander,” Terrence's voice is bright and cheery: the kindness and graciousness of the victor. “Sorry, I'm not around. I know you want to have that meeting at 10 but I just can't do it.”

  I roll my eyes and sigh. Typical Terrence behavior, I think. “Well, I'm afraid you'll just have to find a way,” I say. “After all, this is your company. If you'd run this place properly in the beginning, I wouldn't have had to step in as Chairman or get involved in the first place – goodness knows I don't want to. I have my own companies to run. But the Blue Room is in serious trouble and I need you to get in line...”

  “Ouch,” says Terrence, his voice as cocksure and carefree as ever. “Sorry, man. Listen, I'll make it work if it's that important. How about I meet with you now instead of 10? I've been up all night anyway. Meet me in the Hotel.”

  “You're here?” I ask.

  “Yup,” says Terrence. “Your message sounded pretty urgent, so I hurried back. Dropped everything in Vegas, where I've been settling up some stuff with Staci's mom, and came all the way here.

  “Oh,” I say. I know he isn't bringing up Staci to hurt me but the sound of her name is still galling nonetheless. “You could have just flown, you know.”

  “There's been a lot of back and forth,” Terrence says. “Staci had to get some stuff form Vegas. Her mom finally sold that old house there and is now ready to start her new life as a Tanenbaum. Staci and I have been using the car to get some of her old stuff back and forth.”

  I can't help it. Even though I know it'll hurt me, I need to know how she's doing. “How is she?” I ask. “Is she here with you at the hotel? Where are you?”

  “I'm just getting through the lobby now, making my way to the conference room. Should we meet there?”

  “At the Blue Towers side,” I say. “Not the hotel. I'm on the hotel side now...I'll cross over....”