Chapter 1 - Les' POV
The first time I met Charlie and his brothers was on my first day in the service of his father, Deputy-Chancellor Larken. I arrived at Sixentia Tower by tube car and took the elevator to the 98th floor where I found my way to the Larken residence, plopped my bag down by the door in order to produce a small mirror to check my makeup before I rang the door. Larken answered the door himself, which did surprise me.
I knew the house had a small staff: A cook and a head of security, and apparently Larken's personal assistant spent most her working time on the property. I would later find out that the Deputy-Chancellor had taken a very hands-on approach to hiring me and was probably expecting me that day.
Larken's first action was to run his eyes over me from head to toe. I had dressed professionally, as per guild standards when introducing yourself to a new client, but I could tell from his expression that he liked what he saw.
"Well, you're as pretty as advertised." he said, his voice smooth as butter, just like on the broadcasts. I politely thanked him and curtsied. "Come on in." I stepped through the door.
I'd worked for wealthy clients before and been in some beautiful homes, but even so my first impression of the Larken residence left me absolutely stunned. I didn't think you could get a house that big inside the city-shield: It took up at least three levels and had twelve bedrooms and three bathrooms -- hell, it even had two kitchens. The outside wall curved along the exterior of Sixentia Tower and every floor featured at least one massive window which gave you a stunning view of the rest of the city; other towers reached from the Fransisco Plateau towards the sky while trains and cars zipped about in the travel-tubes, visible only through the windows in those tubes.
Far above the city-shield tinted the afternoon sun a very faint shade of blue. Larken must have noticed, even though I tried to mask how impressed I was, because he smiled and asked me if I'd never been in the city before. I politely replied that actually I'd grown up in the city, though practically on the bottom level, and had had several clients in various places in the city -- but I admitted to him I'd never sat foot in a home as luxurious as this. He grunted something in reply, clearly unsatisfied with my answer, to which I merely smiled and he motioned for me to follow him. He briefly showed me the downstairs kitchen and dining room first.
"I understand you'll be expecting to dine with us?"