“March will be here shortly.Have a personal concierge ready at the pull-up for him,” I tell one of my assistants.
“I will.”
I have three assistants to make sure every high roller is taken care of, either by me or by one of them.I arrange their stay and all the major details, and my staff handles the smaller ones.My job is to make sure the whales feel special and get access to the exclusive spots and hard-to-get tickets the general public can only dream about.
I drop my designer bag on my desk.That’s another thing that has changed in my life now that I can afford nicer things.Mother and I never struggled financially because my uncle made sure we had enough, but we were still careful.I studied business management at a local community college while I danced.
Most of the dancers in the company have second jobs to supplement their income.The association can’t pay us enough to survive on dance alone.Only one or two dancers in our troupe don’t work.They come from rich families who take care of their every need.When I auditioned, people assumed I would be one of the rich girls because of my brother’s reputation, but I work just as hard as the rest of them.My mother ingrained in me since I was little that hard work is what pays off in the long run.
As I sit down, I stare at the pictures of my family and me on stage.I lean back and think about all the hard work I’ve poured into my career.My personal life is lacking, though.I want something more.I don’t know what, but I’m trying to figure it out.
My phone rings with “Rewrite the Stars” fromThe Greatest Showman, and I pull it up to my ear.
“Hello,Mamma.”
“Hello, baby.I was wondering if you were going to be home for dinner tonight.How was rehearsal?”
“No, I’m going to stay in our suite here tonight.I have an early rehearsal tomorrow.It was good.Mypas de deuxwas on point.They only suggested a few tweaks I need to make.”
“I can’t wait to see you.My baby is the Sugar Plum Fairy.It’s a dream come true for you.I’m going to my Bunko club tonight, so I’ll see you when you come home.”
“It is a dream,Mamma.Well, I have to go.Work calls.”
We hang up, and I rise from my seat.I slide my phone into my pocket, grab my tablet, and head to the elevator.
Sometimes it hurts my heart thatMammais fitting into our new life better than I am.I don’t know what I’m missing.I know I want a family of my own someday.I want to be like the wives in the neighborhood.My sister-in-law, Lyric, and her sisters are all married.They have men to take care of them, someone to come home to every day.I have my mom, but it’s not the same.
When I reach the lobby, Mr.March is walking in.His eyes drag up and down my body as I step forward to greet him.It’s so hard not to cringe.Something about him gives me the creeps, but I hide it behind a smile as I walk alongside him to the guest elevators.His dark brown hair is streaked with gray, but it’s his personality and eyes that give me pause.His eyes always have this wild kind of look to them.
“I sent your room key to your phone.You have a reservation at the Strat restaurant this evening at eight, and your game starts tomorrow promptly at five.I’ve also arranged a massage and booked the spa for your wife, who will be arriving before dinner tonight.”
“What would I do without you, Daria?Have you decided to leave this place and become my mistress?”He’s not joking, but I laugh it off.He propositions me every time he’s here.
“You’re very sweet, but I don’t mix business with pleasure.Besides, your wife is a sweetheart.I wouldn’t do that to her.”
It grates on my nerves that he flirts so openly around her.I can’t understand how such a sweet woman ended up with him.
He reaches out to put an arm around me, but I expertly sidestep, keeping space between us.I glance up at the camera with a knowing look and lift my brow.I know my brother is watching and that he will get upset.
“No touching.”I repeat the rule for Mr.March.
I have to set strict boundaries, just like Alek does.The word on the floor is that every whale who works with me knows they will get the best service, but anyone who oversteps will be banned from the Lucky Dice for life.My brother takes his duties as the big brother very seriously.
Mr.March grits his teeth and mumbles something under his breath I can’t make out.
“Did you say something?”I ask.
He turns to look at me.His cold, crazy eyes lock onto mine.He’s at least thirty years older than me, and I’m not into him at all.Maybe it’s because he isn’t handsome, but mostly it’s the way he treats people.Two of my three assistants refuse to work with him because he was rude to them.He can be cruel when someone makes a mistake, except with me.
“I said let’s run away together.”He tries to joke, but I can see the seriousness in his eyes.
“No.”I try to make light of it, but it’s so hard.
The doors open, and he signals for me to step out first.We stop at the suite I arranged for him.
“What?Don’t I get the same suite as last time?”
“I set up this one because your wife is joining you this time.”His last reservation was just below the executive owner’s floor.This time, he’s a floor below that in one of our largest suites.He’ll have a private butler again.
