Cultured, page 16
Jonathon and Rhea had a strong marketing program. Fill the room with rich and happy folks and the rest simply flows. There was no hard sell, but the pressure was palpable. Many flattered me with my baseball career and Nicole with her looks and movie success. If I had a buck for every time someone said we’d be great assets for TLM, I’d have enough money to join, or maybe to feed Pancake. Not completely, but it would’ve made a dent in his tab.
Around midnight, the party began to wind down. Many of the guests headed to their rooms, while some congregated in the bar. Nicole and I, along with Robin, Shane, and Sara, grabbed seats around one of the two firepits on the patio. The other one also blazed but was unoccupied.
Beth took our drink orders and headed toward the bar. Did she work every day, and night? Had she been on duty for the past twelve hours, or did she have some downtime between lunch and now? She certainly didn’t appear tired, or stressed, or anything but friendly and energetic. That was probably in the TLM manual.
Through the windows that looked into the bar, I noticed Lorie snuggled against Gordon Buchanan. He had one arm around her and a drink in his other hand. She laughed at something he said. Gordon was a real charmer. Or was he shooting “fish” in a barrel? As if to confirm the thoughts that formed in my head, they turned and headed toward the lobby. Where the stairs led to the upstairs suites. Circle of life at TLM.
“I’m sorry Lorie’s tied up and not here with us,” Robin said.
Was she ever. Maybe literally. Gordon Buchanan had more money than many small cities, a red Ferrari, and could afford to be as weird and kinky as he wanted to be. Particularly with the hired help. Maybe I was being too cynical but I had a growing feeling that TLM provided any and all distractions for its members, including young and willing entertainment.
“Don’t you hate it when work interferes with fun?” Shane said.
Our drinks arrived.
“Did everyone have a good time at the party?” Robin asked.
“We did,” Nicole said. “Impressively done and we met several interesting people.”
“I hope interesting enough for you to join.”
“We just might,” I said.
“Jonathon and Rhea would welcome that,” Robin said, then to Shane and Sara, “What about you girls? Having fun?”
“It’s amazing,” Sara said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been around so many successful people.”
“They were all so friendly,” Shane added.
“Could you see yourselves working here?” Robin asked.
Shane nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely.”
“You’d love it,” Robin said. “All us girls do. It’s sort of like a little sorority. We look after each other.”
Until one of you goes missing, I thought.
“What do you like best about it?” Sara asked.
“There’s so much,” Robin said. “I get to work here in this amazing place.” She waved a hand. “A place I could never afford to stay at, but here it’s all free. The work is fairly easy. These parties can be hectic but mostly it’s low key and fun.”
“Are you here often?” Shane asked. “For work?”
“I more or less live here now. I do have an apartment with a roommate down on the Gulf, but I spend less time there than I do here.”
“Do all the girls do that?” Sara asked. “We have school to consider.”
“That’s not a problem. Lorie and I do more than just PR and parties. We’ve worked with Rhea on marketing strategies and programs for the past year. Before, I was in school, like you, and that worked fine. I’d be here a couple of weekends a month. And Jonathon and Rhea even helped pay for my school.”
“She told us the same thing,” Shane said. “I wasn’t sure that was true or not.”
“It is. They want you educated and cultured and happy and successful. Part of the job here is building your own future. It’s part of the TLM way. Anyway, for the last year Lorie and I have been more involved in the day-to-day stuff so we are here more often than not. Rhea is a dream to work with. She’s so smart.”
“Sounds too good to be true,” Sara said,
“It does, doesn’t it?” Robin said. “But it’s all true and I love it here.”
“Do you travel much?” Nicole asked.
“As much as I want. It’s part of marketing and recruitment.” She glanced at Shane, then Sara. “But it’s not all work. TLM has frequent retreats just for the members and staff. This is a recruiting weekend.” She glanced at Nicole. “The hope is to attract new members.” Back to Shane and Sara. “But the retreats are for fun. As Rhea says, they’re for bonding and stress reduction, which makes for better communication among all of us. During those, we are treated more like guests and have few work duties.”
“Awesome,” Shane said.
“Where do these retreats usually take place?” I asked.
“Let’s see, we went to the Bahamas once. Another time to Aspen, during ski season. Once to New Orleans, which was insanely fun. But I have to say my favorite is when we go down to Tampa. You met Gordon Buchanan,” she said. Nicole and I nodded. “He has a great home down there. But best of all, he has this friend, also a TLM member, Andrew Heche. I think he and Mr. Buchanan and Jonathon do a lot of business together. Anyway, he has a home on the Gulf near St. Pete. Home doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like a boutique hotel. I have no idea how many rooms it is, but it’s laid out like a Spanish castle. Totally amazing.”
“Sounds dreamy,” Shane said.
“He has a huge yacht and we take that out for day cruises and parties.”
“All that’s part of the job?” Sara asked.
“It is. I mean, you don’t have to go on the retreats, but why wouldn’t you? Four or five days of fun and it really does bring the staff and the members more closely together.”
I wondered about how close members and staff came together on these adventures. Actually, from what I had seen, I knew the answer. I wanted to pump Robin for details but couldn’t think of a way to do so comfortably. I did notice the excitement in the eyes of the sisters. No doubt they were sold and would sign on before the weekend was over.
“I don’t know what your goals are,” Robin said, “but if you two are looking for a special guy, some of these retreats are perfect. Most are for all members but some are restricted to the single members. It’s sort of crazy then. But in a good way. Mr. Heche seems to be a matchmaker. He’s made some amazing introductions. I know several girls found a successful guy and moved on. One now lives on a huge estate in Switzerland.”
“Where in Switzerland?” Nicole asked.
Robin considered that. “I can’t remember for sure. Maybe Lucern. Or Gstaad. I can’t remember. I never met her. She was before my time, but I’ve heard she’s very happy.”
“I could go for that,” Shane said. She glanced at her sister. “There aren’t those kinds of choices where we live.”
“Not even close,” Sara added.
“My advice would be to find a good guy, not necessarily a rich one,” Nicole said.
“Like Jake?” Robin said with a smile.
Nicole laid a hand on my arm. “Exactly.”
That’s me—the perfect boyfriend.
“Well, we have both here at TLM,” Robin said.
CHAPTER 29
AROUND ONE A.M., Shane and Sara began to fade, eyelids drooping, shoulders down. Finally, Shane said, “I need to go crash.”
“Right with you,” Sara said. They stood.
“I’d better too,” Robin added. “It’ll be a busy day tomorrow.”
The three girls left. Nicole and I remained seated near the firepit. The night was cool but with little breeze so the flames warmed the air.
“Want a nightcap?” I asked.
“Maybe a cognac?” Nicole said.
I walked into the bar where Peter was putting things away and shutting down for the night.
“How about a couple of cognacs before you fold your tent?” I asked.
“You got it.”
I carried the two snifters back outside, handed one to Nicole, and sat. She took a sip.
“Excellent,” she said.
We enjoyed the warming burn of the cognac for a few minutes.
“I like this place,” Nicole said.
“It is special.”
“I should get Uncle Charles to buy it.”
“He could afford it,” I said. “It would be a good place for a retreat. Maybe a cool filming location.”
“Much cheaper away from Hollywood, for sure.”
“Unions?”
“Yep,” Nicole said. “They drive up the budget and the bullshit.”
I saw Lorie exit the back door of the bar. She appeared tired and slightly disheveled, still wearing the clothes she had worn to the party. I guessed she had completed her duties with Gordon Buchanan. She turned toward the parking area, the building where she lived beyond.
“Lorie,” I said.
She jerked to a stop and turned toward us. “Oh. I didn’t see you.”
“We’re enjoying the fire,” Nicole said. “Join us.”
Lorie hesitated, glanced toward the trail that led to her condo, then said, “Sure.”
“Want a cognac?” I asked.
“You know, that would be nice.”
I walked inside where Peter was wiping down the bar, most of the lights now off.
“Maybe one more?” I asked.
“No problem.” He poured the drink and handed it to me. “I’m out of here, but if you need more or anything else, help yourself. I believe you know your way around a bar.”
“I think this will do it, but thanks.”
Back on the patio, I handed Lorie her drink.
She took a sip. “That’s nice. I take it you two are night owls.”
“Sometimes,” Nicole said. “Especially with a place like this. I want to soak it all in.”
“It is special, isn’t it?” Lorie asked.
“We were just talking about how it would make a good filming locale,” I said.
“Do I get a part?” Lorie asked with a slight smile.
“You do,” Nicole said.
“Cool. I’d love to do some acting.”
“Why don’t you?” Nicole asked.
“I wouldn’t know where to start.” She took a sip of cognac.
“Acting lessons, community theater, build a foundation and see if it’s really for you. Trust me, it appears more glamorous than it is.”
“If I had the time, I just might.” She sighed. “This place keeps me busy.” She cocked her head slightly. “Not that I’m complaining. I do love it here.”
“Easy place to like,” I said.
“You should join,” Lorie said. “Then you can come here whenever you want.”
“That’s a big perk,” Nicole said. “TLM seems to have a bunch of those.”
“Robin told us about the retreats for members and employees,” I said. “Those sound incredible.”
“Oh my god, are they ever. I’ve been all over. Even the Bahamas. But the best ones are down in Tampa. Mr. Buchanan and his friend Andrew Heche have places down there that simply boggle your mind. Especially Andrew.”
That name again. Andrew Heche. I wondered where he sat in the hierarchy of TLM. Obviously near the top if he was tight with Gordon and Jonathon.
“That’s what Robin told us,” Nicole said.
“Andrew’s place is great for parties or just to chill by his pool. It doesn’t hurt that it’s right on the beach. Plus he has a crazy cool yacht.”
“How many times have you been there?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Five or six.”
“With Gordon Buchanan?” Nicole asked.
Lorie’s shoulders elevated and a hint of discomfort fell across her face.
Nicole reached over and touched her arm. “No judgment here. It’s obvious you and he have a connection.”
Lorie nodded. “He’s nice. And, actually, a cool guy. I like spending time with him.”
“Can I be straight up with you?” Nicole asked.
“Sure.”
“Is that part of your job here? Again, no judgment, but is spending quality time with members and prospective members encouraged?”
Lorie stared at her and then me. She blinked but didn’t respond.
“Look,” Nicole said, “Robin told us she had been in the sugar baby world before she came here. She said this was similar but better. A higher class of people and, who knows, the opportunity to meet someone who can give you a lucky life.”
Lorie stared at the flames, obviously gathering her thoughts. “That sounds awful, doesn’t it?”
“Not really,” Nicole said. “I grew up in Hollywood where the casting couch still operates. Sometimes it works out for the girls who go that route, sometimes it doesn’t, but in the end, it’s their choice.”
Lorie swirled her cognac, took a sip, and leaned back in her chair. “Yes, I did do that back when I was in school. I had two men I saw regularly. Both were married. For some reason that seemed safer. They wouldn’t likely talk or make trouble. It helped pay the bills and they were both good guys.”
“That’s what Robin said about her situation back then.”
“At first, I felt uncomfortable with the whole arrangement. I mean, it felt like prostitution. I believe most people would agree that it was. But ultimately, I rationalized it, I guess, by considering it simply a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“Which it was,” I said. “Nothing wrong with that.”
Lorie shrugged but said nothing.
“How’d you get into that world?”
She gave a soft laugh. “It’s actually pretty funny. I met this guy in a bar. He was married but handsome and charming and, well, I ended up going to a hotel with him. A nice hotel. He was of means as they say. Anyway, we had a fun night and the next morning as we had room service coffee, he said he wanted to make it a regular thing. I wasn’t sure since he was married and all. He said he wanted to help me with my college. I asked how.” She gave a headshake. “Was I ever naive! He said he could help with my tuition and books and spending money and my apartment. I wasn’t sure what to do. But he pulled out five crisp hundred-dollar bills and that was that. At first, I refused but he said not to get all freaky. That’s the word he used. Freaky. He reminded me that we had ended up in his room by mutual consent, not by some pay for play arrangement. Which was true since we hadn’t arranged a money for sex thing but rather he and I had simply hooked up.” She looked at Nicole. “Rationalization at its finest, huh?”
“Not on your end,” Nicole said. “He might’ve had an agenda from the beginning but you simply ran into a good guy and took it to the next level.”
She gave a slight nod. “That’s what I told myself. Anyway, he said he liked me and wanted to help and wanted to see more of me.” She pushed her hair back from her forehead. “That made sense to me. He had the means and I could use the help, and like I said, he was a fun guy.” She looked a me, then Nicole. “That’s how it started.”
“You said you saw a couple of guys,” Nicole said.
“Yeah. That relationship lasted about six months and then he moved on. I was down for a while. Like I had been rejected. Needless to say, my finances took a hit. I had worked odd jobs here and there but when he came into the picture that wasn’t necessary. I guess I got used to his help. I didn’t want to go back to waitressing or pouring coffee at Starbucks so I joined one of those sugar sites and met a couple of other guys that way. I ended it with them when I came here. It’s hard to believe but that was over a year ago.”
“Did Rhea know about your past when she hired you?” I asked.
“I don’t think I should talk about that,” Lorie said.
“It’s a completely private conversation.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “She said it was a good thing that I had experience.”
Well, well. Experience in the money-for-sex world was an asset in Rhea’s mind. No surprise since everything I had heard since arriving here smelled that way, but hearing it stated out loud made it very real.
I could tell that Lorie was becoming uncomfortable with the conversation. She became fidgety and her eyes darted from place to place. Nicole obviously felt it too and broke the tension.
“Your current situation sounds like a great gig,” Nicole said. “A comfortable place to live, good pay, and the chance to meet some very interesting people. Who really cares about the rest of it?”
“Do you really mean that?” Lorie asked.
“Absolutely. You’re young and adventurous. Why not enjoy the ride?”
Lorie exhaled a slow breath as if releasing a bubble of tension. “I’m still wrestling with it but I’m glad you understand. I like you guys, so that means a lot.”
“We like you too,” I said. “What do you see down the road?”
“Best-case scenario is to meet the right guy. Maybe someone like you.” She smiled at me. “Not just rich but a good dude.”
That’s me. The good dude.
“Others have, from what I understand,” Nicole said.
“That’s true. Stephanie Deluca for sure, and now, hopefully, April.”
“When did you see them last?” I asked.
“Stephanie was months ago when she and her new husband came back for a weekend. April and Robin and I were together at Andrew’s place down in St. Pete, just a few weeks ago. After the weekend, Robin and I came back here, but April stayed. She said Andrew was going to introduce her to someone he felt she’d like. Apparently, she did because I heard she took off somewhere with him.”
That confirmed what Robin had said earlier.
“Any idea who or where?” Nicole asked.
Lorie shook her head. “I never heard the guy’s name, but the rumor is that they are somewhere in Europe. At least I think so but I don’t know for sure.”
“Who told you that?” I asked.
“Rhea.”
CHAPTER 30
APRIL AWOKE, HER legs tangled in the sheet, her face buried in her pillow. Momentarily disoriented, she rolled over searching the darkness for something recognizable. Her eyes adjusted and she saw the ornate bedside lamp and the open door to the bathroom. The master suite of After Hours. No light pushed against the curtained window. What time was it? She glanced to her left. No Andrew. She raised up on one elbow so she could see the clock on the nightstand. The digital face showed a pale blue 4:33.
