“Of course.” Viola smiled and turned on her heel like a model on the catwalk. “You’re more than welcome to have fun here in the club, but Mr. Markov asked me to bring you to the VIP suite first. He’d like to say hello. I’ll be your personal concierge tonight. If there’s anything you need, please let me know.”
As they followed, the bouncer smiled at Dana. “Have a sinful night.”
Jessica and Bea squealed.
Dana didn’t know where to look as they walked through Covet. Plenty of people mingled and danced, and each one looked more dazzling than the one before. Although she’d never considered herself a slouch in the looks department, suddenly she felt a need to touch up her makeup for the hundredth time.
Don’t be dumb. She knew how these gigs worked. Nightclub owners routinely hired dozens of models to entice guests. No doubt, it also made the regular folk feel as if they were part of a chosen few.
The club itself was stunning. Although the focal point was a huge dance floor, there were lots of cozy alcoves for sitting, all partitioned off with red velvet curtains. Gorgeous men and women circulated, dressed similarly to Viola, distributing colorful cocktails and flutes of champagne. The red walls provided a sumptuous background to the many works of art. A lot of the pictures on the walls had religious themes. Some even looked like gold icons of saints. It made the place feel like an art gallery.
Only she’d never been in any art gallery with a soundtrack. The lighting scheme pulsed in time with the EDM, in an energetic show of illumination. The music itself was orchestrated by a familiar DJ. Although Dana couldn’t place her name, she’d seen her in entertainment magazines. The tattooed woman stood on a dais, whipping the crowd into a frenzy on the dance floor. Everyone standing near it swayed in time to the groove. Wherever Dana looked, she saw flashes of silver and gold, and happy, sweaty faces.
There was something psychedelic about the place. It made her head swim but she was more than happy to dive into those waters. Her body was already begging to move to the beat of the music.
At the far end of the room, the space opened onto an elaborate pool deck. It was lit by soft light, so flattering most people wouldn’t hesitate to don a bikini. Outside, partiers swam and relaxed on teak deck chairs, surrounded by palm trees and cabanas. Staff members in designer swimsuits encouraged guests to take a dip or lounge on floaties built for two.
There was something decadent about laying on a floatie, listening to dance music and sipping champagne.
After crossing what felt like an expanse, Viola steered them away from the main part of the club and turned a corner into a darkened hallway lined with more religious icons. Saints and martyrs watched their progress, as if in judgment.
Viola knocked on a closed door at the end of the hallway. A man opened it. “Mr. Markov’s guests are here.”
He held the door open. “Welcome, ladies. Please come in.”
Trading looks, Dana and the others headed inside.
When Viola had mentioned the VIP suite, Dana had expected some sort of stuffy back room. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
Where the rest of Covet was opulent and rich, the VIP suite was airy and light. Beige leather couches extended across each wall. Partiers sat and lounged on them, sipping cocktails from filigreed goblets. The great room was subdivided into smaller sections by enormous glass panel artwork that hung in various places throughout the space. The floor-to-ceiling glass partitions made each nook feel private, but still allowed one to see everything on the other side.
The lighting here was soft and neutral, unlike the brighter color display in the main part of the club. Although one could still hear the music, it was muted in this sanctuary and people could talk to one another without having to yell.
As a carryover from the other part of the club, the VIP suite also boasted private booths along each wall. These too featured red velvet curtains that could be closed if guests wanted some privacy. Dana could only imagine what some people got up to in those nooks.
An enormous bar lined one wall, staffed by more employees with perfect skin and perfect hair. This room opened onto the pool deck as well, but had its own separate entrance and private cabanas.
She had no doubt VIP guests paid a premium for the exclusivity. Bouncers stood guard on the pool deck, ready in case any of the regular guests tried to enter the private area from outside.
Anise grabbed Dana’s arm and whispered. “Look. Isn’t that Adam Maxwell?”
Dana did a double take. Another A-list movie star. “Yeah, that’s him.”
“The woman he’s talking to,” said Bea. “That’s Sheree Tucker.”
Sure enough, the Hollywood star was in deep conversation with the famous country singer.
And they weren’t the only celebrities in the room. Everywhere Dana looked, she spied familiar faces, even if she couldn’t place them all.
Alex had some powerful friends. She’d already known it, but it was something altogether different to be surrounded by them.
Where was Alex?
Her heart in her throat for reasons she didn’t want to admit, Dana followed Viola.
She looked all around, needing to see him. Needing to have some sort of assurance that she hadn’t just walked out of her regular world into some other sort of bizarre existence. Her pulse quickening, Dana suddenly felt adrift.
Untethered.
