Chapter 01- The Client
"I've already said I want the red one," the tall, formal man, who must have been about forty, said. His tone of voice was loud and serious, almost impolite as if he were impatient.
"We don't have any red available at the moment," I replied politely, as my profession dictated. Patience was a virtue I usually maintained at night, not at that time of the morning, with relatively high traffic in the store. "I can leave your name down if you like," I offered, to ensure that he lowered his voice and treated me politely. It didn't work. I looked back to where Dorian was standing behind the counter, staring at me as if waiting for the right moment to go and resolve the situation. Axel, another salesman, was also staring at me, waiting for the same opportunity.
"I'm not talking about the dress," the man said, now lowering his voice as if he had now remembered his manners. "I'm talking about EVE," he said, staring at me. "I was instructed that way," he mentioned, staring at me and moving closer. Then it all made sense.
"Go to the cashier, and you'll get what you want," I said, taking the dress from his hands and smiling. "Thank you for choosing us, please take a coupon," I said, pointing to the cashier. The man then turned his gaze to Dorian, who signaled his availability. I sensed that the man was going to ask something, so I got out of his sight at the first opportunity. Work aside.
As the man approached Dorian's till, Axel came closer. "What did he want?" he asked, interested, still staring at the man. I replied that I was a customer. "A customer?" he asked, confused, seeing that the boy wasn't carrying any products.
"EVE," I said, moving away from the clothes that were there. "Customer," I repeated. Axel nodded, getting the message. At that moment, we could see Dorian handing the man the store coupons and the others. As he left, he looked at me, smiling in a way that was so different from before that I knew I would see him later.
"That's not usually the protocol, Amelie," Dorian told me as I passed the cashier. "I almost didn't do the job," he said. "You have to follow protocol," he warned me. Dorian was great. An apartment neighbor, a former college classmate, a cashier in the morning, and a bartender at night. "Don't mess with the job."
"I follow protocol. I thought I was making a normal sale until he mentioned what he really wanted. He said he was instructed that way," I told Dorian. Our business requires us to know everything at all times. There were protocols for what we did, and we always followed them. "I think someone referred him to the service. Maybe they wanted to screw him over along the way, I don't know," I said.
"Anyway. Today's list has changed completely," Dorian said. "He paid for a long time, Amelie. It was irrefutable," he said. "I think you'd better be careful because it's been a long time since a client like that came along," he informed me. Dorian was a tall man, as tall as the boy. We were only four years apart in age, he was older, but we were the same.
"It's not as if I need help, Dorian. EVE can handle herself. And how she does," I said, turning my face towards him and showing him who I was. Amelie and EVE weren't the same person, and I loved that. I had two lives—a nightlife and a day life. "Besides, you and Axel will be there," I said, watching Axel approach us.
"Are they already talking about work at this hour?" he asked, handing coupons to Dorian. "More EVE customers for today," he said.
"Cancel it, it's full. No schedules," Dorian replied. "That guy paid a lot for the whole night," he said. Axel stared at me, and I knew he would use the same arguments as Dorian. Axel was even taller than Dorian, more muscular, and a big man. He was six years older than me and had an enviable masculinity. They were both beautiful, but Axel's beauty attracted all kinds of audiences, which is why he was a salesman, and at night, as well as being a security guard twice a week, he worked with me in the evenings. Dorian had the same opportunity, but he didn't want to take it. At the time we opened the business, I was happy with the refusal because the idea of knowing that Dorian would receive and be with other women haunted me. At the time, I was wrapped up in too many personal feelings. He didn't know, he never knew. With Axel it was different, I didn't care, but only because there were privileges with him in the same corridor as me. Axel was my date, a secret to the world, except for Dorian, who knew everything. Axel could handle EVE. Only Axel could handle it.
"It's been a while since someone like this has shown up," he said, repeating Dorian's line. "I'll be on security today, will everything be all right?" he wanted to know. Again, I said yes, and that EVE could handle everything. After the incident with a client, they had become too protective.
"What about Amelie? Can she handle it?" Dorian asked. They knew how much I hated being treated like two different people, but he still dared to ask. I just stared at him, hoping he'd realize what a fuckup he'd made, but he didn't care. "Come on, Amelie. Can you do it?" he repeated. I stared at him even more, but I was already turning away. Axel had the same question mark on his face, wanting to know. I huffed at them both and went to the back of the store to stock up. I couldn't believe they trusted me so little. We'd been in the business for at least three years, and just one incident was enough to change everything. In fact, a lot had changed after the violence...
Later, with Lowe's finally closing and Dorian having to explain to six men that EVE wouldn't be there that night, we closed. The store had about a dozen employees, but everyone was let go early. I, as the owner of the store, closed it every day. We actually started Lowe's about four years ago. Dorian, Axel, and I were each other's partners, including in the OWeLL's Club. We worked discreetly. The club wasn't in New York City, where we lived, but in New Heaven, a town about two hours away. It was just right. Customers were coming from all over, meaning that OWE — as we liked to abbreviate it — was gaining momentum. EVE was giving strength to the business. Of course, she wasn't the only one who was successful, but she was definitely the heavyweight.
"Good evening, Miss EVE," Axel said, as he wooed me at the entrance to OWE. From everyone's point of view, it was all work. My relationship with Dorian and Axel was purely professional for them. "Your room is ready as usual," he said, opening the door. I answered everything politely and discreetly as I entered. Seconds later, Axel approached my ear. "Be careful," he whispered. And then I went in, and the door closed.
When I got to my room, I found Dorian in the hallway. "I know I shouldn't be here, but I felt obliged to warn you, EVE," he said as soon as he saw me. "But he asked for the red room. And he didn't ask for an hour or two. He asked for the whole room," he said, shocked. Nobody did that, nobody asked for a theme room for so long. "EVE?" he called out, but I was already in a trance, remembering...