Moving Day?

Nick and Tommy catch a cab over to the hotel that evening, not sure what to expect. When they pull up, it's obvious work is in progress. The first floor has been torn out and construction equipment is all over the place, painters and electricians working to get everything done. Kate is waiting outside on the curb; she smiles at them, sweeping her arm around toward the front of the building. "Welcome to the future hottest club in the city," she says, theatrically. "We open in a month, and hopefully we'll have lights and power by then."

"That would help," Nick agrees. He peeks in through one of the tinted front windows, sees a massive bar and multi-level dance floor, two different stages, lots of lights and speakers. "You said this is for the non-lifestyle types, right?"

"It's the honeytrap to get people in the door who might not normally feel comfortable visiting a bondage club," Kate explains, producing an ornate key ring, fitted up like a Victorian door key. She uses it to unlock the club's front door, then pauses to point toward the front doors of the hotel. They're fully restored, still mostly oak and brass, but with much more ornate trim; the old plaque has been replaced with a tasteful brass mount which says THE PHOENIX is gold and red enamel. There are white drapes in the windows, and from the outside a passer-by would have no clue what they were walking by. "You can se we're using the same member's entrance, just made it a little bolder. Members will have their own key to the front door so they can come and go during our normal working hours." Kate pauses, then shrugs. "I haven't figured those out quite yet. I'm trying to get the ideal balance between staffing expense and potential profit."

"I'm sure you'll work it out." Nick looks in through the open club door, and Kate reaches in past him to flip on the lights. The inside space is even bigger than he had imagined, and he steps in, Tommy sweeping past him to walk directly into the center of the place.

"Dance floor, bar, private rooms, stages," Kate runs it down, pointing to various parts of the place. "Tara and I were tossing around the name 'Wayward.' We haven't quite decided. We have another week before we want to start advertising, so we have to get something good soon." She walks back toward Tommy, who is slowly spinning in place, eyes wide with excitement. "Over there's the back offices for the club. We have liquor and adult entertainment licenses already lined up and paid for, courtesy of Lazlo and your generous patronage."

Tommy laughs. "Adult entertainment? You're going to have strippers?"

"Of all types, dear," Kate points out. "Like I said, the goal is to draw crowds of party people who might want to take a little trip upstairs to see what the fuss is about."

"How many people will be working both the club and the hotel?" Nick asks, thinking of the security issues.

"None." Kate leads them back toward a pair of imposing chrome-doored elevators. Above them, a huge sign announces this is the way to the Phoenix, and exclusive adult entertainment club for members and guests only. "I have it set up so only a very few people involved with the club are working for the Phoenix also. This is a money-maker; the Phoenix is our baby. Down here for profit, up there for fun."

She inserts the key into a slot at the elevator, and then pushes the up button. The elevator doors open, and they see the insides chased with white tracery art, another sign warning again that the elevator is going someplace more explicit. Kate holds up the key as they enter. "Each member will get a key just like this, digitally serialized with a secure code so only members can use them. And don't worry, Elizabeth made sure we set the whole system up with fire safety lock-outs and automated overrides, so we don't have any trouble getting people out in the event something bad happens."

The door opens to the lobby of the Phoenix, and it's immediately obvious this has been getting the majority of the attention. Everything is new, elegant, clean, organized. The front desk is a beautiful long mahogany, and there are tasteful paintings and prints along the walls. The carpets are a lovely plush cream, the chasing on the walls white, the walls a deep and rich brown panelling. "I decided to play up the Victorian theme the original builder had. We did some research, and went back to the original floorplans and design, as far as we could."

"It's beautiful," Tommy breathes, running her hand along the desktop. "Is everything still colour-coded?"

"Absolutely," Kate answers. "This whole area is the public area, open for visitors and non-lifestyle guests. We converted the old dining room so it's now a Victorian-style tea room available for people who want to bring vanilla guests. Tara has planned out a full Victorian manor-house staff plan. We've got pretty maids, male and female, a Michelin-star chef I know who happens to be a sub, housekeeping staff who are all also lifestyle types. Tara even has the employees colour-coded. They all have collars; white collars are regular staff, but some of our freakier workers are wearing red or even black collars, so the members know who might be down to play. If the staff members are busy or on special duties that can't be interrupted, they wear a green tag to let people know they're not playing."

"That's going to be an HR nightmare," Nick points out.

"I don't think so," Kate says. "First, we've really dug deep into the hiring process, made sure we're getting mature and reliable people who are fully into the whole idea. Second, the benefits and pay package are phenomenal. Anyone working here in the Phoenix is probably earning twice what they could anywhere else. And finally, the member rules, NDA and employment contracts are about as cast-iron as we could make them. I don't want any of our employees getting hurt, so the members will be held to a one-mistake policy. And I've laid aside a pretty serious amount of your money for retainers on both attorneys and HR pros."

Tommy points down the halls, where new doors have been installed. "What's down there?"

"Ah," Kate smiles. "That's where the private areas start. To the left side, we have the Gym, all renovated, with multiple locker rooms and shower areas. There's also an entrance to the Grotto, which we're still working on. It's going to be so much better than it was. And to the right, we've got several smaller themed rooms, keeping with the whole Victorian manor esthetic. The Drawing Room, of course, the Library, the Trophy Room, the new Dining Room, the Study, and so on. Sixteen rooms in all."

As she's been talking, she walks them back toward the center long hall. "Down here, we have the specialty rooms. To our left is the Viewing Room, where members and guests can watch either live shows or movies, depending on the night. On our left is the Exhibition Room, which is a treat for me. It's for our guests who want to play in groups, clothing and privacy optional. There's the Conservatory, which is a beautiful romantic garden space with lots of places to be private. And the Sitting Room, which is the only white-coded room in this area. It gives people a place to go and recover or relax in between scenes without having to change back to street clothes and head back out front."

She's reached the end of the hall and a t-intersection. Directly in front of her, the Spider's Garden doors have also been fully refurbished. Pointing left, Kate smiles. "That way is Security, staff break rooms and locker rooms, and all the other support facilities we need, including an on-site first-aid facility with two fully trained trauma specialists."

"Dear Lord," Nick gasps, shocked. "What the Hell is the salary cap here?"

"Thanks to you, since the entire place and the land it's on are now paid off, the salary is the major expense of operations. About a million a year up here, much less downstairs in the club. My total staffing up here is twenty-three people all told."

Tommy grins. "You better get a lot of members."

"Oh, we will, baby, we will," Kate says, confident. She's walked them down to the right, to another pair of elevators. "Your rent is a half-million a year, so I'm pretty confident."

"Wait a second." Nick stops and looks at Kate, confused. "My rent?"

Kate and Tommy laugh. "You really don't read anything I send you, do you?" Kate sighs.

"We have the top two floors to ourselves, baby," Tommy explains, shaking her head at his ignorance. "Kate's prospectus had ten pages in the back about it."

"What the Hell are we going to do with two whole floors?"

Kate smiles. "Whatever you want, dear. You have your own floor full of playrooms so you can be as creative as you want. And the top floor is a rich man's fantasy, ten bedrooms, your own private elevator to and from the underground garage, a pool, all the trimmings."

"So we can get a car and stop paying the salary of the entire city's cab fleet," Tommy laughs, entertained by Nick's total lack of awareness.

Kate holds out two of the ornate keys, these being gold instead of black. "Those give you full access to every space in the building, upstairs and down. And you and Tommy's pictures are up in the staff rooms already, to make sure the staff knows who you are."

"No," Nick stops her. "I don't want any attention or publicity."

"I know that, dear," Kate sighs. "Trust me. All the staff have been briefed fully that, unless we tell them otherwise, you are to be treated as a very important member, and your ownership isn't to be discussed in any non-staff area."

The monster picks up on a slight noise from down the hall, movement. He turns to see Graham and Elizabeth walking toward them, their footsteps quiet on the thick plush carpets. "Hey, Kate, we finished up runnin' all the security cable, n' Lizzie has the cameras up n' goin'." The two of them both look at Nick, appraising him. "Guess yer gettin' yer keys now, then."

"Which I will be giving right back-" Nick starts, annoyed.

"No, we will not," Tommy interrupts. "I want to live in our hotel. No arguments."

Kate and Elizabeth laugh, and Graham breaks a slight smile. "Guess that's you told."

Nick can't help but laugh as Tommy inserts her key into the elevator controls, anxious to go see their new digs. "I will make sure to stay well out of everybody's way. And I'm really glad to see both of you will be here running the place. I know you'll make it a success."

"C'mon," Tommy insists, her voice urgent. "We need to see what we need to do to decorate!"