The Gold Room

The following is written in 3rd Person POV following Paige

“Hi.” Paige cheerfully greets the bartender.

“Good evening. Are you a member of this establishment?” the bartender asks, as he cleans a tulip glass with a cloth.

“Member? Oh. Uh~... is this a members only… pub? Wait. What kind of ‘pub’ is for members only? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of being a pub?” Paige asks him, incredulous at the information she’s been given.

“I didn’t say the Gold Room is for members only, madame. I only asked if you were a member of this establishment.” the bartender corrects her on the technicality with a wry smile, getting Paige to realize her mistake, and blush in embarrassment.

“Oh. Okay. Sorry.” Paige apologizes, tucking her hair behind her ear. “No. I’m not a member.” Paige informs him.

“I deduced that.” the bartender smugly replies.

“Wow. Wonderful hospitality there.” Paige sarcastically replies.

“So I’ve been told.” the bartender dryly replies. “Would you like a drink?” he then asks Paige, not giving her the opportunity to continue the back-and-forth of sarcasm.

“Whatever you have on tap.” Paige answers him.

“Before I pour you a pint, be warned that our establishment has considerable mark-up for non-members.” the bartender replies.

“How much is the mark-up?” Paige asks.

“A pint of the beer we have on tap is $150.” the bartender replies, getting Paige to react in obvious shock, slamming the bar with her hands and leaning forward with bulging eyes.

“A HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS!?” Paige shouts, “What kind of mark-up is that?” she adds, more offended than shocked at this point.

“I do not set the prices, Madame. I’m only the bartender.” he replies calmly.

“Yeah. I get that. What I can’t understand is how anybody thinks that’s a reasonable price for tap beer.” Paige says, her tone one of confusion now. “Is it some kind of rare craft beer that has gold flakes in it? What?” Paige asks, unable to hide her intrigue.

“No, Madame. The beer we have on tap is an Irish dry stout, originating from the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland, in 1759.” the bartender informs Paige with erudite precision. Still, Paige doesn’t fail to catch the tiny detail from the bartender's answer.

“So it’s Guinness.” Paige concludes, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

“Precisely, Madame.” the bartender replies with a condescending pride that Paige figured it out.

“No wonder this place is always empty.” Paige returns his smugness with her sharp observation.

“Quite an astute observation.” the bartender backhandedly compliments Paige.

“If you guys are always empty, how are you not bleeding money?” Paige asks, no longer able to hide her true purpose of visiting the Gold Room.

“I don’t understand what you mean, madame.” the bartender replies.

“I mean, what’s the secret? What is this? A money laundering scheme? A tourist trap? What?” Paige asks a lot more directly.

“It would seem you have not been briefed on what kind of establishment it is you just entered.” the bartender replies.

“I wonder how you deduced that.” Paige sarcastically replies, getting another wry smile from the bartender.

“Members pay a premium for exclusivity and top tier service, madame. There is no secret to our establishment's profit model.” the bartender answers Paige, unable to hide a hint of knowing something more in his tone.

“Oh, yeah? What are the benefits of becoming a member then?” Paige asks.

“Members and their guests drink for free in any Gold Room across the country.” the bartender answers her.

“That’s it?” Paige asks dumbfounded.

“Other perks of being a member will have to be discussed by our sister establishment.” the bartender answers.

“Sister establishment? Which sister establishment? Pho Hoa? Cafe Digne? Xiu?(…)* Sarsa?” Paige asks, before listing all of Becca’s owned establishments to the bartender.

“None of those, Madame.” the bartender calmly replies.

“How is it none of them when that’s all of Ms. Hoffman’s businesses under her LLC?” Paige asks the bartender.

“Oh? How did you come by that information, may I ask?” the bartender asks Paige, him being the curious one this time.

“I’m her new executive assistant under her LLC. Well, I start tomorrow so technically I’m not that yet officially, but I have been hired already.” Paige explains to the bartender.

“I see.” the bartender replies calmly. “If you can give me proof of your employment with Mistress Hoffman, then you can drink for free, Madame.” the bartender tells Paige, his tone a lot more respectful this time.

“What kind of proof do you… wait… Mistress Hoffman?” Paige asks.

“An ID would suffice, but I assume you have not been given that yet or you would not need to ask.” the bartender answers. “You may call her if you wish, so she can assure me that the information you gave is factual.” the bartender adds.

“You’re not at all going to address that you called her Mistress?” Paige asks the bartender.

“It is her preferred honorific, Madame; and as the owner of this establishment, I do not question Mistress Hoffman’s orders.” the bartender calmly replies.

“Oh. Right.” Paige reacts in defeat, as the bartender makes a believable point. “Fine. I’ll call her.” Paige tells him, before taking her phone out.

‘Fuck.’ Paige thinks to herself as soon as she confirms a call to Becca on her phone. ‘I hope she doesn’t find me annoying because of this call.’ Paige continues to think in panic. The call connects and rings once before it’s immediately declined by Becca.

‘OH-SHIT-OH-SHIT-OH-SHIT-OH-SHIT-OH-SHIT’ Paige immediately thinks in fear, as she realizes she probably should have messaged Becca first or something.

“I’m so sorry, Becca! You’re probably busy!” Paige immediately messages Becca.

“Busy.” Becca simultaneously replies as Paige sends her message.

“Uh~, she’s busy.” Paige informs the bartender.

“If you cannot prove your affiliation with Mistress Hoffman, or any member for that matter, then I cannot allow you to drink for free, madame.” The bartender informs Paige. “Would you still like what’s on tap?” he then asks her.

“Uh~, no. I’ll just come back once I have ID that proves I’m Becca’s assistant.” Paige says, before standing up from the bar stool to leave.

Just as she stands up from the bar stool to leave, the bartender hurriedly places the glass he was cleaning with his cloth on the bar, before rushing past the bar and Paige to open the door.

“Oh! Thanks. You didn’t have to.” Paige thanks the bartender, mistaking his gesture as a courtesy towards her.

“Excuse me, Madame; but please step aside.” the bartender tells Paige, who he blocks from exiting with his arm and gestures to her to stand next to him. An elderly man and a much younger woman compared to him then enter the pub.

“For the last time, that’s their family drama! We shouldn’t get involved!” the woman shouts to the elderly man as they enter the Gold Room and take off their coats.

“We shouldn’t just brush aside that kind of offer, that’s all I’m saying. I love her like my own daughter, but her father’s offer—” the elderly man continues to argue but he’s interrupted by the woman.

“If that were true, you wouldn’t even consider it.” the woman tells him, as she hands her and the elderly man’s coat to the bartender.

“Thank you, Sam.” the woman tells the bartender.

“I’m glad to be of service, Madame Lia, Master Torrance.” Sam, the bartender, tells them with a deep bow; and his tone of reverence is one that takes Paige by surprise. The lack of acknowledgement from Paige does take Lia by surprise though.

“Oh? Who’s this Sam?” Lia asks Sam, as she checks out Paige from head to cleavage, back to head then to toe.

“She purports to be Mistress Hoffman’s new executive assistant for her LLC.” Sam answers her.

“Ah! I remember you! You were at the Gala with Becca weren’t you?” Torrance says in recognition.

“Yes! Yes I was!” Paige answers him.

“I knew it. I never forget a face.” Torrance replies, giving her a friendly smile.

“You mean you’ll never forget a pair of tits like that.” Lia corrects him.

“Well, that too.” Torrance agrees, his smile turning into a more perverted one; and Paige can’t help but place her arms to cover her cleavage in modesty.

“Oh? You’re in the wrong place to be modest, girl.” Lia tells Paige. Paige tries to mutter a response, but Lia stops her from her stumbling. “Are you sure you're Becca’s assistant? She’s not one to be patient with this kind of behavior.” Lia comments.

“Maybe she’s more patient since they share that boyfriend.” Torrance argues.

“Oh no! I’m not… um… I’m not part of Mr. Craig’s girlfriends.” Paige corrects them.

“His loss. You are quite the specimen, young lady.” Torrance says jokingly.

“Dial it back, Torrance. Your future ex-wife can hear you.” Lia jokingly threatens him, as they both chuckle at her joke.

“Master Torrance, Madame Lia, I’m so glad you came to grace this Red Rum with your presence once again.” A woman in an all black ensemble consisting of a sports jacket with seemingly no top, a short skirt, stockings, and high heels welcome the Stanleys from the red door that Paige thought was the restroom.

“Good evening, Mercy.” Lia greets her.

“Mercy? Mercy Richards? You’re Mercy Richards?” Paige reacts after hearing the name.

“You would be correct, Paige. Although, Mistress Hoffman failed to inform me you were coming tonight.” Mercy replies, taking Paige by surprise.

“You know who I am?” Paige asks her.

“She sent me your file. Mistress Hoffman informed me she might ask you to drop by sometime this week so you can formally introduce yourself as her assistant.” Mercy answers.

“Well then, we’ll have you two get acquainted then.” Lia interrupts the conversation. “Come, Torrance. You need to be punished for even considering that offer.” Lia tells Torrance, before she walks ahead of him confidently, while Torrance follows her like a dutiful servant. Lia and Torrance pass Mercy through the red door, and Paige notices a bouncer behind Mercy that greets the Stanleys.

“Oh~...” Paige finally realizes what’s going on. “This place is connected to the BDSM club Becca goes to, isn’t it?” Paige says in realization.

“That would be correct.” Mercy confirms for her.

“Would you like a tour?”

Author’s Note: (...) was to indicate that Paige listed off more names, and not as pause.