"Good evening Miss Taylor, if you would." The Chauffer was tall and handsome and was smiling at Alexia as he stood beside the black limo and held the door for her, waiting patiently for her to get inside. The limo was long and sleek, with tinted windows and from where Alexia was standing she saw that the interior was a light grey and looked very elegant. Being a lawyer at an up and coming law firm meant that she was doing well for herself, but no where near this well. Alexia smiled back at him and climbed into the limo, not really knowing what to expect of the evening, but she could feel her heart beating a bit faster with anticipation. No matter what happened tonight, she knew she would have an experience to keep with her for a lifetime.
For Alexia, this night actually started for her several weeks prior to her getting into that limousine. Alexia had worked in the legal field for several years before finally becoming a lawyer herself. She was young, attractive, smart, and had ambition. Those qualities got her several offers from law firms around the country, but her choice landed her in the city where she grew up and where she could live in the hustle and bustle of the every day world. She was a workaholic and truly enjoyed her work. Unfortunately her work and her passion for her work left her very little room for actually being able to have fun, let alone have a social life. She had been dating a guy she met in law school but their paths faded as her pursuit of the fast track did not include him. She had hooked up with a guy now and then, but that was few and far between.
One night, while she was at home eating a take out supper and studying the briefs for her next case her phone rang and she saw it was her old friend Carmen. Carmen and Alexia grew up together and were practically sisters. Holding her salad in one hand Alexia picked up the phone with her other hand.
"Carmen! What up with you." Alexia heard a laugh on the other end. She knew Carmen way too well, and knew that laugh meant that Carmen was up to no good.
"Alexia sweetie, how are you?" Alexia set her salad down and laughed herself.
"Ok baby girl, I know that laugh, what have you gotten me into now?" Carmen laughed again, and the game was on.
Carmen, through her adventures, had met up with some people that lived, as they say, an alternative lifestyle. Carmen was into experimenting and trying all kinds of new things and while Alexia always enjoyed hearing Carmen's stories, never really got into that lifestyle herself.
"Ok Alexia, I know you aren't getting out as much as you should be, and I know for a fact that you have not getting enough attention in all the right areas, if you know what I mean." Alexia blushed slightly.
"You know me, I have been busy!" Carmen clicked her tongue.
"No excuse girl, and I have set something up for you that I know you are going to love." Alexia sighed.
"Not another blind date, please? You know how much I hate..." Carmen cut off Alexia before she could finish that thought.
"Blind date? Please. You know me better than that old boring crap. Nope, I have something way, way better planned for you. Consider it a gift from me to you, Your birthday is in three weeks, is it not?"
"Why yes, yes it is." Alexia's head was spinning. What was Carmen up to?
"Excellent! Keep your birthday night open. I have plans for you. I know you don't have plans for yourself, so trust me on this one. You will receive information about your night shortly. Just remember to call me and thank me when it's all done. And you will be thanking me."
"But I ..." Alexia had tried to protest but Carmen had just laughed again and hung up quickly. Alexia put the phone down in frustration. Damn that Carmen! She was dead right about Alexia not having plans, and to be honest she had forgotten her birthday was coming up that quickly. She picked her salad up and wondered just what exactly she was getting into.
"Here we go ma'am, you are all set." The driver of the limo had lowered the black screen between them to tell her that they had arrived. She looked out the window and saw that they had arrived at the D'Armand De La Guirdo. It was only the most expensive and exclusive hotel in the entire city. Everyone called it "The Guirdo" for short, but she had never really been inside it herself. She did know that a lot of her clients, when they were in town, stayed here and they always raved about it. She was still staring at the dΓ©cor of the front of the hotel when the chauffer opened the door and extended a hand to help her out of the limo. She felt like she was in some dream fantasyland, and wasn't really sure what to believe.
The chauffer helped her out of the limo and nodded to the bell attendant who ran out to the limo to greet them. The chauffer closed the door behind her and told the bell attendant that Ms. Taylor had arrived. The bell attendant nodded and ran back inside. The chauffer then smiled to Alexia and nodded his head, and then went back to the driver's side of the limo, got in, and then slowly drove away. Alexia was standing in front of the hotel feeling rather confused and disoriented. People were going in and around her and she didn't notice them and they didn't seem to notice her. She took a deep breath and pulled a card out of her purse. It simple said:
"D'Armand De La Guirdo. 1407."
Alexia entered the hotel and saw the most extravagant lobby in a hotel she had ever seen in her life. Part of her mind refused to believe that she was even in a hotel. As she was studying one of the many grand fountains that would put casinos in Las Vegas to shame, an older man in a fine suit approached her.
"Miss Taylor?" He was smiling and she nodded to him, not able to really speak at this point. He didn't seem to mind her not responding and he bowed to her. "I am Fernando, if you would be so kind as to follow me." Without looking back Fernando turned and began to walk away from Alexia. Her mind wanted her to ask him where they were going, but her body took over and her legs began to move forward and she found herself following him. They went to an elevator that he used a key to unlock and he ushered her inside. He did not look at her or speak to her on the ride up, and she was grateful for that. She saw the numbers of the floors go by and she knew that they would stop on the 14th floor.
Once they go to the 14th floor, Fernando got off the elevator and turned to his left, again without looking back. Alexia followed and saw Fernando go to a door and use another key to get in. Only, there was something odd about all this. As Alexia was walking to the door that Fernando had opened and was waiting for her she realized something. That door was the only door on the entire floor. She had never seen a hotel floor with only one door. Alexia had always considered herself usually pretty fearless, and very few thing intimidated her in life. She had to be honest with herself in that she was a bit intimidated now. Fernando stood smiling at the door and she entered the room. The room was larger than her apartment, larger than most houses that she had been in. Fernando pointed to an expensive looking mahogany desk that was by the entrance to the room, and on the desk was a large, white envelope with the word "Alexia" in fine black print on it. Alexia turned back to Fernando to ask him what was going on but the door already had been closed behind her. She frowned at this and thought "well, I have come this far" so she picked up the envelope and pulled out a card from inside. The card read:
Welcome Alexia, to my humble abode. I trust you will find everything to you liking here. You will find some champagne in a bucket with some ice by the foyer, please help yourself. That is also where you will find the next note.
Alexia read the note and walked down a few steps and saw a bottle of champagne with a crystal glass in front of it on a display table also made of crystal. The champagne had been recently opened and was steaming slightly from its mouth, as champagne likes to do when served properly. She shrugged and poured herself a glass. The amber liquid filled the glass and the bubbles began to dance and swirl around, teasing each other with their games. She carefully took a sip and was not surprised that it was very good. As she was taking another sip she noticed another card lying by the bucket of ice for the champage. She read this card and it simply said:
"Enjoy a glass. Next comes the powder room."