“I think it’s beautiful, like a jewel box in the heart of Las Vegas.”
A group of men in hard hats were already in the midst of dismantling the jewel box, ripping out upholstery and furniture. Marissa grabbed two hard hats, handed one to Alex, and they put them on.
“It is beautiful, just not what I had in mind. It doesn’t exactly scream ‘nightclub.’ Decadence is ethereal. I want Covet to be a place of primal energy.”
“Ah. You’ve landed on a name for your nightclub, I see.” She hummed in appreciation. “Covet, as in wanting what you can’t have.”
“And that’s exactly how people will feel if they don’t get in. We’re going to keep them coming back. Covet will be the ultimate escape, a place of total excess. I want my customers to be transported, taken out of themselves for a few hours. I want them to forget their troubles. Hell, I want to make them forget their names.”
“No concerns with my design?”
“No. It’s brilliant.”
When Marissa had first shown him her plans for the club, it had taken him all of two minutes to buy into the idea. With sleek furnishings and rich colors throughout, it was welcoming without being quaint. Metallic fittings gave it an edge. Heavy stone plinths and columns stood around the room, balancing out the industrial feel with a touch of antiquity. Red velvet curtains would hang near some booths, transforming them into private nooks. Reproductions of religious icons would hang on the walls. Blasphemous, but he liked it. State-of-the-art LED lighting would create hypnotizing effects, tempting revelers onto the massive dancefloor and toward the swimming pool outside. The outdoor area would be stocked with its own bar and cabanas, and guests could swim if they wanted.
Total excess.
“Are we still on track to open in a month’s time?”
“Absolutely. I had less time to turn around that old steakhouse in Miami.”
“I knew you were the right person for the job.”
“Thank you.” A flash of color brightened Marissa’s cheeks. “I assume you still want to host a big opening night party.”
“Of course.”
“You don’t have to host it yourself, you know.”
“And disappoint all my friends?”
“I’m sureyour friendswould deal with their disappointment.”
Alex was taken aback. Marissa had never questioned his choices before. There was a certain pinch around her eyes, a tightness that was all too familiar.
He’d seen it in Shannon’s face a hundred times.
These people aren’t your friends, Alex. They’re using you. Maybe you should spend less time catering to them and more time with the people who actually care about you.
He bit back the response on his tongue. “What’s going on here?”
“You’ve been through a lot this past year. You told me you wanted to start over in Vegas. If this is a fresh start for you, then why not hire someone to host your parties?”
“There are VIPs who come to my events, people who pay a premium for our services and unique touch. There are expectations, and one of those expectations is that I’ll be there to welcome them.”
She took a moment to choose her next words. “Alex, your VIP customers are wealthy people. They can snap their fingers and someone will amuse them. I know you like to think they rely on you for their entertainment needs, but they can easily find entertainment elsewhere.”
“Exactly. I don’t want them to find entertainment elsewhere. I want them to spend their money in my clubs. If that means I have to cater to them, then I will. They provide a lot of free buzz for me and all I have to do is take selfies with them so they can say they partied with Alex Markov. Without them, I wouldn’t be as successful. They’re my bread and butter.”
“That’s a crock of shit and you know it. You just bought three casino hotels. You’re doing all right.”
Once more, she took him off guard. Their working relationship had evolved into a good friendship but Marissa had never been this blunt before. He wasn’t sure he liked it.
“Besides, you’re not personally hosting events at Champagne and Liberty anymore. You have people to do that now that you’re in Vegas. You can’t be expected to attend all your events. You’ll be a vampire, living at night. How are you supposed to function? How will you handle the other demands of the business? Alex, I’m going to be honest with you. Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen this lifestyle wear you down. This job, it used to energize you. Little by little, you’ve grown jaded and tired and stressed.”
“It’s just the press.”
“It’s not just them. It’s the grind. I’ve seen you work all hours of the night and then show up again in the morning. It’s not healthy. Besides, you don’t even enjoy your own parties. I know you’re not happy. Not really.”
