(A very special thanks to Shiree for making this a better read)
The train trip was uneventful. During the journey she kept rehearsing what she had planned to say on meeting Eva. It was important to win her trust. Nikki looked out of the window, watching the green fields flash by. She felt nervous. Had she taken the right decision? She was risking a lot, her life, her marriage, her Tom.
Time passed by, and her destination finally arrived. As the train rolled into the station, Nikki stood up, smoothened up her dress and stepped down.
The cab ride was uneventful. The place was at one end of the town, in fact at a slight distance from it. Nikki stood briefly looking at the exterior of the Greenwood Country Club. It was a one broad, two storied stone mansion, with smooth stones, solid lines, grand windows and broad flight of steps leading up to the entrance. It had a Victorian style about it.
She took a deep breath and began climbing up the stairs. The doorman opened the door and she stepped in. Across the main door was a reception desk. She walked over and mentioned her name.
The girl behind the counter gave her a quick once over and nodded. Nikki looked at the girl. She must have been in her late twenties and was smartly dressed in a three piece business suit.
"I wonder if she doubles up as a bordello girl in the evenings," thought Nikki to herself as she placed her bag on the floor.
The girl spoke over the intercom for a few minutes and then motioned Nikki to go to the door marked as "Office."
Nikki thanked her walked briskly over to the office, her heart beat quickening with each step she took.
She knocked briefly, then opened the door and stepped in.
For an office, the room was fairly large with a thick carpet covering the floor. Behind an oversized rosewood desk in the richly appointed study that served as her office, Eva was having her usual late breakfast while waiting for visitors. The furnishing was a French Revival style. The high ceiling was gilt, paneled with elaborate swirling leaves designs.
"Come on in dear," said Eva in a throaty voice waving towards one of the chairs in front of her. "Just give me a minute will you," she said as she continued with her breakfast, at the same going thru some papers on her table.
"Our mornings start late, for reasons very clear to all, so this is the only time when I have a what you may call a quick brunch, with about just enough time for going thru the previous days collections, requisitions for repairs, up gradations, foodstuff for the kitchen etc. Then by late afternoon I have to get down to supervising for the evening," she said without once taking her eyes off the reports she was going thru.
Nikki looked at her intently. She seemed to be in her mid forties, dark haired, medium built but with a well maintained body. Her blue, round eyes, were evenly set apart on her oval face with high cheek bones. Eva was wearing a silk blouse, blended jacket and a blended cotton skirt, a perfect professional outfit.
"You have a very well maintained set up," she said truthfully.
Eva nodded, pushing aside her breakfast tray.
"There is no dearth of entertainment houses," she replied euphemistically. "When I thought of setting up a house, I decided on providing some real good services to my clients. I travelled across the country, visiting some of the better known bordellos to get some ideas. And then I went about setting this place up. No rough, uncouth style for me, no short changing the customers," she said with a vigorous shake of her head.
"We ransacked the country for the most attractive, sexually skilled ladies. We dress them up in good clothes and manners. Every girl must be healthy, be polite and have the gift of being amusing. She must be ready to learn how to use make up, how to dress well, how to have good Southern manners, and how to stay well informed. I encourage the girls to read the books in the library. Above all, I teach each girl to give sex, but give it interestingly and with mystery," she continued.
"You have been referred to me by some good contacts of mine. This is your first time?"
"Sort of," replied Nikki hesitantly.
"Meaning?"
"Well, I planned to become a journalist, joined a course for the same but then the acting bug bit me," replied Nikki. "I dropped out of college. I did get some roles but then I began to realise that my career was going nowhere"
"The road from the casting couch to stardom just didn't seem to be materializing," she continued demurely.
"And that's when you decided that going all out would be a better option to the unending rounds of casting couch sessions," ended Eva for her with an understanding nod of her head.
Nikki remained silent, thankful that Eva had accepted her story without a doubt.
Eva stared at her thoughtfully, seizing her up.
"You speak well and seemed to be well mannered too," she said finally.
"I was brought up in the blue grass country of Kentucky," replied Nikki, which was, in fact, the truth.
"Nikki dear, stand up so that I can have a better look at you," said Eva.
Leaden legged; Nikki brought herself to the centre of the study room, and then stood still.
Eva sat unmoving, staring at her. Then she gave a slow nod of her head, liking what she saw.
"Remove your clothes," she then said in a matter of fact tone.
Nikki looked startled, color rising to her cheeks.
"Look dear I would very much like to know what I am offering to my customers. And this isn't the first time you have undressed before someone isn't it?"
Nikki nodded dumbly and began undressing.
At last Eva rose. She approached Nikki, examining her more closely, from her face to her breasts, to her abdomen, to her mound, to her thighs and legs.
"Turn around Nikki, let me see how you look from behind."
Nikki pirouetted as gracefully as possible, and could hear Eva behind her clucking softly.
"Nice shoulders and back," said Eva. "Very nice ass. All right, you can turn towards me once more."
"Er ... are you satisfied?"
"You'll do. Of course subject to the clearance given by our physician."
"I have nothing of that sort ..."
"Nikki, I provide some of the finest, refined services to my clientele. They go back fully satisfied and spread the word around. And that my dear is the secret of my success."
"Our house physician examines my girls every week. He will be making his call today. I will get in touch with you then."
Eva picked up her intercom and called for Rita. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," called Eva.
A brown hair, brown eyed girl with an hour glass figure entered the room. They were more or less of the same height.
"You called for me Eva?"
She nodded and waved her hand towards Nikki.
"Rita this is Nikki. She will be joining us from today. Show her to her boudoir."
Rita gave her a friendly smile and beckoned her to follow her.
Nikki took a liking to her instantly.
"This is your first time?" she asked as they walked down the corridor.
She nodded then said, "Unless you count the casting couch sessions with some producers and directors," she replied lying glibly once gain. Nikki knew whatever she told Rita would eventually reach the ears of all the girls and perhaps some of the customers too, so it was better to maintain a steady story line about her past.
"What brings you to the Greenwood Country Club?" she queried with a twinkle in her eyes.
Nikki told her about how one of her friends knew Eva and had a word with her for her. They were now in the main hall with thickly carpeted staircase leading up from both sides of the hall to the first floor.
"What about you?" asked Nikki.
Rita made a wry face, "Nothing so exciting like in your case. I married young, left school to run off with the guy. A couple of years went by. It's always difficult when one doesn't have a proper education. We were just about scrapping thru. Then my man upped and ran off with a girl working in the same factory. Seems the night shifts he was doing were more of a screwing session with that girl," she said with a snort.
"Anyway that left me high and dry. Didn't want to go back home. I started working in a bar and well, I used to get hit upon regularly and one thing led to another ... then one of the guys referred me to Eva ... and well that's that I suppose," she ended rubbing away her tears.
"The money is good, nobody is forcing me into anything, and a girl also gets some variety every night," she said as an afterthought. "Maybe I will save some money and join some course, but for now this is my home."
Nikki nodded sympathetically.
She looked around, observing the décor. Everything had a touch of class, as though they were in one of the better hotels. There were some expensive looking couches set around which Rita explained were for the men who wished to wait for a particular girl who happens to be entertaining a customer and would be free later on.
Then there was the Lounge. This was where the girls gathered in the evening. It had a bar set at one end and a dance floor with strobe lights in the middle. There were tables set across the floor and also at the corners where the customers could sit and enjoy the company of the girls before moving over to their boudoir. The woodwork was of polished mahogany, with heavy interlined curtains with fringe on the edges, draped swags and tails. After the customer had had his "session," a lady from the accounts would present him with his bill. All classy, polite stuff.
"Then there is the Conference Room and a restaurant too," said Rita, "But first let me show you your room," she continued and the two took to the stairs.
There were five rooms on each side of the two halls at either end of the staircase. The halls turned to the right and had another similar set up of rooms. Rita opened the second door on the right and ushered her in.
"This," she said with a flourish, "is your boudoir."
Nikki saw a king size bed at the centre of the room with a finely engraved headboard. There were two wardrobes with sliding doors. A mirror stood in a corner with a stand containing make up kit, creams and lotions. The room had true elegance. There was a fireplace, its white veined marble mantle bearing a miniature bronze statue of Minerva, a vase overflowing with yellow daffodils, a tall clock of the darkest, richest oak. On either side were bay windows. The curtains were of fine quality, with lace under curtains and muslin roller shades. There were two comfortable chairs and a mahogany sofa with spiral arms.
"Well, like it?" asked Rita as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Real classy," replied Nikki truthfully.
"The chamber maid comes around midday to clean up the room. As the girls get up late, most of the house job takes place around that time. There's an intercom for calling up for anything you need. Of course, then there's a gym and a beauty parlor too. The charges are nominal. Eva expects us to stay fit and attractive. There's a library too as Eva like us girls to be properly read and all that," said Rita with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yeah, she did mention that to me," said Nikki.
"Now I must rush as it's time for our dear doctors weekly check up. Cheerio," said Rita and made way for the door.
