Nilesh brings the four ladies their name badges. They had been offered other choices but ever the high class prostitutes, they all chose a simple 18 carat gold necklace with their preferred name as the pendant. Emily removes her necklace and pops it into her clutch bag, then with a smile puts on her name necklace in its place. Sushila jokes that at least the name pendants will lift the mens' eyes for a moment and they giggle, knowing exactly what she means. From their position in the lounge, the ladies can see the chauffeur driven cars arriving at the foot of the gangway. Many of the cars look expensive and some impressively so, their occupants are mainly male. Taxis are also arriving and their occupants are exclusively female. Amy whispers: "At least we won't have to pleasure all 30 men with just the four of us... and every day!" They all laugh.
After the new arrivals have checked into their cabins, refreshed themselves and in most cases changed their clothes, they make their way to the lounge. The ladies stand and go to the bar to welcome them on board and introduce themselves. Everyone looks relaxed and the sound of chatter increases as more arrive in the lounge. The ladies naturally take longer in their cabins before proceeding to the lounge. Each of the four ladies becomes detached from the others and surrounded by a group of men. Emily is kissed on the cheek as she welcomes newcomers. She is a little surprised at the restraint of the men, due to the absence of any gropes, there's plenty of time for that! She had expected to address the men as "Sir", but concludes anyone wearing their name badge will expect their name to be used, accordingly she makes a point of using their names. If it is an error, no doubt someone will tell her.
As the ladies circulate, eventually Emily meets the Delhi branch Chairman, she asks if he is aware of the recruits progress and he says that the supervisor had sent copies of their reports to every branch. He adds that Delhi is very interested in acquiring them as 'registered ladies'. Emily is delighted and suggests an early meeting with them, especially Achara, a lady that she herself wishes to employ as her confidential executive assistant. He tells Emily that several members of the Delhi executive committee are on the first week of the cruise and will make it their priority to meet all 6 ladies, he himself will meet Achara immediately if possible. Emily says she will take him to meet her now but asks that he says nothing about her job offer which is dependent on her joining the Delhi branch as a 'registered lady'. He understands and Emily leads him to the brothel, introduces him to Achara and then returns to the lounge.
Other members of the Delhi branch see her return and after making all the introductions, ask Emily to forgive their haste but they have a duty to perform. Emily asks if it involves certain recommendations regarding recruiting 'registered ladies' and they confirm that it is. She says that the Delhi Chairman informed her of their mission and she will show them to the brothel if they wish. They thank her profusely and hope for the opportunity to socialise with her later. She says that she will look forward to such a pleasure and in the brothel she introduces them to the remaining 5 recruits. She returns to the lounge, pleased to have been of assistance to Delhi branch.
Back in the lounge, Sansa beckons Emily to join her group of gentlemen who are looking forward to meet her. After the initial introductions they tell her how delighted they are with her grand plan and congratulate her on bringing it to fruition. Emily smiles modestly and tells them how it all came about and how much help she received. They insist that she accept 'some of the blame', for did she not organise a trip to every branch of the club? She laughs and says that she will share the blame with the support of her closest friends Sansa and Lady Serendipity. More of the gentlemen join the group, those she had met excuse themselves and look forward to socialising with her again.
The cycle of gentlemen joining and leaving the group continues until the 'registered ladies' start to arrive in the lounge and a new cycle commences as Emily and Amy welcome them to Bangkok Girl until they have all been introduced. They are equally complimentary about the sex cruise scheme and what they have seen and experienced so far. Some reveal how fast everyone, men and women, were moving to secure a booking on the first cruise, adding how lucky they feel to be on board for the first week. All the 'registered ladies' ask how the idea came about and between them, Emily relates how she and Sansa came to meet Amy and how they quickly bonded with her. They show a keen interest in the point where Emily & Sansa accepted their new lives after being sold into prostitution. Emily didn't at any time reveal to anyone any information on how she acquired her wealth and everyone assumed it came through prostitution and allied activities. In a certain light, that assumption would be correct.
A couple of hours after going to the brothel, the Delhi executive committee members return to the lounge. The Chairman approaches Emily and asks if the Delhi group may enjoy her company privately over afternoon tea. She excuses herself and with Sushila joins them at a table in a quiet corner. The staff see where she is and serve tea, sandwiches and cakes to them and then leave them with their privacy. The Chairman apologises for monopolising her, but it is on a matter of business on which they have already talked. Emily asks how she may help them. As they drink their tea the Chairman explains that they have all met all 6 ladies in the brothel and each experienced the service of two of them. He pauses to sip his tea and continues to tell her that they are absolutely charmed by all 6 ladies and totally impressed with the highest possible quality of the service they provide. He says that the Delhi branch would very much like to offer them all employment, at $5,000 per night, on the same monthly meeting basis that Emily knows so well.
Emily tells the gentlemen that she is delighted at their decision and asks whether, on those terms, that Achara would be permitted to be employed on a permanent basis by herself and whether all 6 ladies would be permitted to complete the 12 week cruise on board Bangkok Girl. The Chairman is delighted to confirm these points, leaving only the question of the payment due to Emily for the recruitment, training, board and lodging, taking account of port fees, skeleton crew pay while in port, a share of a year of depreciation costs of the vessel and finally, Emily's valuable time in planning, managing and promoting the whole project. He offers a sum of US$500,000. Emily smiles and says for the purpose of not adversely effecting future negotiations of this type, that her accountant calculates using source costs, the account has to be US$100,000 per recruit required. The Chairman smiles and looks to each of his colleagues who nod agreement, then looking to Emily he agrees US$600,000 to be paid before the day ends.
Emily smiles and thanks them for their agreement and says there only remains 2 points to be settled. The first is completely within their control and is about the status of the 6 ladies. The point is this, and was covered at each branch during the tour: the 6 ladies are free women and in no way being sold, trafficked or having their freedom encumbered. She asks if this point is fully understood and accepted. All agree with a smile. Emily continues with the second point, that, with her, they all proceed to the brothel and, without revealing anything financial, ensure that all the ladies freely and truly desire to become 'registered ladies' of the Delhi branch, as she and Sushila are, and will become such immediately on expressing their freely made decision. Again, the gentlemen smile and agree and the Chairman expresses his admiration and appreciation for the friendly and yet business like manner in which the whole matter has been conducted.
After tea they go to the brothel and sit with the 6 ladies in the brothel lounge. The Chairman relates exactly what has been agreed and starting with Achara, invites each of the ladies, without any encumbrance and by their own free will, to accept the offer of the executive committee of the Delhi branch to join the branch as 'registered ladies'. In turn they all accept and the Chairman asks Emily if the ladies may sign the register so that they immediately become 'registered ladies', but will remain on board until Bangkok Girl returns from the first cruise to the dock at Kolkata. Emily agrees and the ladies sign the register. Emily indicates to Achara that she will shortly return to speak privately with her. Achara nods with a smile and the visiting group leaves the brothel.
In the lounge the Chairman asks Emily if she has a Grindlays bank special card and she confirms that she does. He tells her it should be fine as he has used the same method for larger amounts. Emily says she will collect her card payment terminal and smartphone then meet him in the lounge. It isn't long before she rejoins the Chairman and Sushila. She has rung the bank manager to inform him of the imminent transaction and requested the full amount be immediately transferred to her high interest savings account, they agree codewords that he will use to confirm the transaction was successful. The Chairman's card is inserted, the card finds a signal and displays a 'ready' message. She enters US$600,000 and passes the terminal to the Chairman. He enters his pin number and after a short time the transaction is completed. A few minutes pass and her phone rings, the display shows it is the bank manager. She answers and hears the first correct codeword confirming receipt of US$600,000 and the second codeword confirming its transfer to her high interest account. She thanks the manager and hangs up. They shake hands smiling, both satisfied with the deal and the way it was handled.
Emily returns to the brothel and takes Achara into one of the entertainment suites. She tells her that everything has now been finalised. Emily says that she wants to offer Achara a permanent job as her Confidential Executive Assistant, starting at the end of the 12 week cruise. The busy times of the past week: taking bookings, updating lists, packing and unpacking etc. have demonstrated how much she needs reliable & confidential assistance and in her opinion Achara is the best possible choice. It means that they will work together all of the time, Achara travelling wherever Emily goes.