“So many lights there! Night or day, it’s always so bright! My favorite is the old Golden Nugget sign downtown. The Strip is cool, I guess. But I always like the older parts. More history and personality. Know what I mean?
“Anyway, I worked for a company called Vegas Property Management, LLC. I know, it’s not a very imaginative name. Like they weren’t even trying when they started it.Theybeing the big bosses and owners—Adrian Coletti and Dante Russo. Everyone thinks they are wizzes when it comes to investments and getting good returns and all that.”
She could tell Ace wanted to say something, so she paused.
“Are they investors?”
“Not like Wall Street guys,” she replied.
Ace nodded. “The name of their company doesn’t sound like that’s the line of work they’re in. I’m guessing they, well… manage properties.”
Trixie smiled. “See? The company’s name isn’t very clever or anything. Just states what they do. Or what they claim to do. A good name reflects your values as well as implies bold direction and innovative leadership.
“But yeah, some of these smaller casinos hire them to run operations for them. They don’t just manage the property itself, but even the gaming and the day-to-day operations. But people love them because their casinos and hotels and whatever make so much money. Like profits triple sometimes!”
Jack, who’d been taking notes on a yellow legal pad in front of him, looked up and asked, “As in, they draw more people in?”
“That’s just the thing…” Trixie took another pull from her glass of lemonade and opened her mouth to explain further, but a group of Littles zoomed into the kitchen, laughing loudly as one threw open the fridge and began to rummage inside.
“Juice boxes for everyone!” the woman shouted.
Her four friends cheered and laughed some more. It was obvious the gang was having a good time. Trixie was a tad jealous. She’d love to go play. But this was important stuff she was doing. If she didn’t get this handled, well… she might not be around to play with anyone ever again!
A chill traced her spine.
Don’t worry. This is the whole reason you came to LA. You’re with the Daddy Guard now. They’ll help you.
“Sweeties,” a matronly voice called out. “You know Auntie doesn’t mind you helping yourself to whatever you want. But they are having a discussion in here. Perhaps you can do it just a bit quieter.”
The gentle admonishment came from Auntie Athena, who stood in the doorway that led from the kitchen to the back den.
From directly across the room, Trixie had a good look at her.
She was so beautiful! Curvy and slightly vampish, the raven-haired woman was absolutely stunning. She almost looked as if she’d stepped out of an old silent movie or something, which was fitting. The mansion they were now in—the one that was Auntie Athena’s West Hollywood Nursery, the fabled Hollywood Haven for Littles—used to belong to an actress back when the movie industry was just firing up.
“We’re sorry, Auntie,” the Little getting in the fridge said.
She was about thirty, had brown hair fashioned into pigtails, and wore a short pink and white gingham dress that didn’t do a very good job covering the bulky diaper she wore.
Looking to her right, she smiled across the room at Trixie. “Hi! Want to come play with us? We’re going to see how high we can jump on the trampoline in the backyard.”
That sure sounded like a good time to Trixie. It was hard being at Auntie Athena’s and not taking part in the fun. But she had to focus here. Now wasn’t the time to let her mind wander.
It was a hard feat. Her mind loved wandering for some reason.
“I’d love to. But I have to talk to Jack and Ace right now. They’re helping me out.”
“We’ll be finished soon enough,” Jack offered with a smile. He shifted in his seat and cast a glance over his shoulder at theLittles. “We won’t keep her long. But this is pretty important stuff.”
“Daddy Guard business?” one of the other Littles asked.
Jack chuckled. “Yeah. Daddy Guard business, honey.”
“You heard the man,” Athena said. “Run along and play. Have fun. Just give Little Trixie and the guys some space to take care of all this.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” the Little in the lead said, grabbing the juice boxes for her friends. “Bye, Trixie. We’ll see you soon!”
Trixie waved at the bunch. She didn’t know any of them. The only Littles she knew were Iris and Lana—Jack and Ace’s Littles, respectively—and the other women they lived with at the Guard’s mansion. But everyone else at the Nursery seemed so friendly and she was eager to play.
