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?"
"That would be the norm under these circumstances, yes." I said.
"Mmm. You've done this before, then?"
"Exactly this? No" I answered truthfully, "this is my first long-term freeuse contract."
"But you are... experienced?"