After breakfast Emily asks Nilesh to arrange a private meeting for herself and Achara in the Captain's day cabin. When a group of club members gather round Emily's table, Chandranath tells her that he suspects they want to book a week with her on the next cruise, the nods from the smiling faces confirms his suspicions. He thanks her for a wonderful date and takes his leave.
The first gentleman is Caidya, Chairman of the Itanagar branch in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. She tells him that week 4 is her first available week on the next cruise. He smiles handing her his card in acceptance of the booking, she inserts it into the card payment terminal, enters US$250,000 and then hands it back to him to confirm the transaction with his PIN code. He does so and hands the terminal back to her. After a minute or so she informs him that the transaction, and therefore the booking, are confirmed then hands him his card with a smile and her thanks.
The same happens for each booking: Week 5, Kahemankar the Chairman of the Patna branch in the state of Bihar; Week 6, Padvaya, Chairman of the Lucknow branch in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Week 7, Thavanesh, Chairman of the Delhi branch in the National Capital Territory. Week 8, Vagindra, Chairman of the Visakhapatnam branch in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Week 9, Ganapathi, Chairman of the Dispur branch in the state of Assam. Week 10, Quantran, Chairman of the Agatarla branch in the state of Tripura. Week 11, Raghavendra, Chairman of the Aizawl branch in the state of Mizoram. Week 12, Madanjeet, Chairman of the Imphal branch in the state of Manipur.
As Madanjeet's booking is processed and confirmed, the remaining 14 gentlemen look disappointed but ask to book their place on the first leg of next cruise. Emily apologises for any disappointment caused but she is not accepting bookings so far in advance. She doesn't reveal her plan for her and Sansa to take frequent holidays, while Amy & Sushila manage things during their absence, so they can ensure some quality time together. As the men move away, even the temptation of earning so much on a cruise cannot compete with her love and yearning to be with Sansa.
Achara arrives and Emily takes her to the lounge in her cabin suite for morning coffee. As they enjoy their coffee, Emily tells her, in confidence, of the plan she wishes to discuss with the Captain and because of her important central role as Emily's deputy where the brothel is concerned. She hopes to have the size of the brothel doubled so that it can become a centre for refresher training of jaded 'registered ladies' from branches of the club. To reflect this, she offers her the permanent use of a cabin suite near to her own. Achara is delighted to be honoured in such a way, particularly when Emily tells her that she hopes to expand the brothel to have 20 entertainment suites, each of which, out of brothel business hours, will be the home for two brothel ladies.
At the appointed time, Nilesh comes to escort Emily and Achara to the Captain's day cabin for their private meeting. Emily explains: "I wish to discuss expanding the brothel from the current 10 entertainment suites to 20. Outside business hours, two ladies are planned to share each entertainment suite as their cabin and home on board. This would mean a maximum total of 40 ladies working in two alternating shifts, one shift entertaining for the hour and then resting, while the other shift works. The 'resting hour' to be in a new private lounge for brothel ladies where their meals and refreshments would be served.
Emily summarises that there are 44 guest cabins, 5 of which are suites and only available to herself, Sansa, Achara, Amy and Sushila. This leaves 39 cabins for the use of paying male guests. Bangkok Girl's paperwork specifies a total of 72 guests and this plan totals 83. My question is whether, after refurbishment of the brothel deck, could this plan be made to work?" The Captain smiles to both ladies then replies to Emily: "To be honest, I have rather been expecting an enquiry such as this since you got the first cruise fully booked and organised very quickly, and even with certain challenges, which if I may say, have been met effectively with professionalism and excellent leadership".
He produces a plan of what Emily calls the brothel deck, pointing out an area directly adjacent to the brothel and almost twice the size of it: "This area is unused and I think might suit your purpose. The walls surrounding that area and the current brothel are structural, meaning they are constructed in steel as part of the vessel. This means that the whole area, including the current brothel, could be gutted into one space and restructured according to your requirements". Emily and Achara exchange smiles and say that they are absolutely delighted.
The Captain tells them that the extra numbers can be simply accommodated by the purchase and deployment of extra Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) safety and life saving equipment around the vessel, to ensure that Bangkok Girl continues to comply with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations. He recommends the first step is to have his friend, a Marine Architect, to visit Bangkok Girl in order to discuss the project, this can be done when they stop the next day at Visakhapatnam. Emily asks if he has any idea how long such a project might take and the Captain can only make a rough guess of a few weeks, but his friend will provide better insight.
Emily takes Achara to see her suite. It has a private balcony accessed through patio doors from the lounge. Although not so large as the owner's suite it still seems palatial to Achara, particularly since it boasts ocean views from lounge and bedroom. The bathroom has a walk-in shower and the bedroom has plenty of wardrobe and shelf space. The dressing table doubles as a desk and the bed is a king size double. Emily tells her that like her own cabin and those of Sansa, Amy and Sushila, it will not be allowed for anyone else's use so it is to be her home at sea. Achara hugs Emily in delight and thanks her profusely. Emily says it will also be her sanctuary from the affairs of the brothel.
Emily and Achara go to the dining room for lunch, they are the first there and have the pick of the best. Emily chooses a peeled tiger prawn salad, and Achara chooses a lobster salad. As they sit down, Chandranath asks if he may join them. Emily introduces Achara as her permanent and full-time Confidential Executive Assistant and as the Brothel Manager. Emily asks if she would like to tell him their latest news about the brothel. Achara is delighted to be Emily's trusted confidant and being asked to give a confidential briefing on her behalf is a great honour for her. She tells him about their meeting with the Captain, the discovery that there is a large unused space adjacent to the brothel and that a Marine Architect will be coming on board when they dock to be briefed and make some initial sketches for their consideration.
Chandranath congratulates them on their discovery and the speed at which they have got the project feasibility completed and arranged for specialist assistance. Achara has to make her excuses in order to ensure the brothel is in good order and prepared to open at 2 p.m. sharp. They wish her a successful day and she takes her leave. Now in private he tells Emily that the agreement in principal, to fund the refurbishment and refurnishing of the brothel has now become fully agreed. The funders are convinced that Emily's excellent taste in such matters will ensure that the brothel is decorated and furnished to the highest standards, in which even a Maharajah would feel at home. He asks if she would like him to enter his contact details into her phone so she can use him as her club contact for the project and with her assent he does so.
Their business completed for the present, Chandranath takes his leave so that Emily is available for the 16 gentlemen waiting to speak with her. It turns out that they have heard she is fully booked for the next cruise and that if they are on board during the first week, they will be able to make personal bookings with her on the third cruise. She explains that her personal bookings are only for Branch Chairman for the present. They understand and look forward to having the opportunity to make a booking in the future.
Amy tells Emily that, now she has acquired a large enough fortune she wishes to retire from active prostitution as soon as conveniently possible. Emily expresses her understanding and says she will make things as easy for her as she can. On that note she asks what she plans to do about her personal bookings for the current cruise. Amy says that she would like to complete the current cruise and fulfil all her obligations regarding confirmed personal bookings with club members. Amy thanks Emily and awkwardly takes her leave. Once on her own, she cannot hold back any longer and bursts into tears.