Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The City’s Love Pearl.
“The Love Pearl is one of the most infamous brothels in Olympus; it has been up for many years and will be for many more. From the most beautiful women to the most charming men, it has everything for everyone. The clientele includes…”
Ariadne sighed at the information written down in her phone —a gift from Andromeda—. Medea can be detailed with the most inappropriate topics. But she couldn’t deny it looked better than any nightclub of this kind.
The pristine white walls radiated a lustrous glow that resembled the shimmer of pure gold. The delicate waves painted in shades of blue and pink appeared to be rippling like ocean waves, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a luxurious beach club. The sign that hung above the doors was designed to be remarkable and eye-catching, refusing to be lost amidst the commotion of the busy buildings that surrounded it. Its bold and eccentric style made it impossible to ignore.
The twenty-five-year-old woman didn’t expect anything else from the greediest woman in Olympus and owner of the establishment.
“…Ms. Aphrodite Areia is the most beautiful woman in Olympus, also known as a complicated business owner of many nightclubs and under-the-radar prostitution dealings. She is a great boss, of what my contacts have told me, and she is protective of her image so don’t mess up that…”
‘Easier said than done, Medea’, Ariadne thought.
At the massive guard, she showed the filled document her questionable friend sent her, and he let her in; as she expected, the inside was as majestic as the outside: white, gold and blue dominated over the leather sits that circled the main stage and the small private rooms.
The guard showed her around the backroom until they arrived at a dark door.
“Ms. Areia is inside”, the rude man told her before returning to his post.
“Rude”, she managed to muster while the guard left.
When she was left alone, she felt overwhelmed. At first glance, the hallway appeared to be a typical corridor with plain doors and fluorescent lights, but Ariadne couldn’t help but notice an eerie sensation. There was an inexplicable force emanating from the walls and ceiling, almost as if something was commanding its way through them. Despite attempts to shake off the feeling, the energy continued to pour, sending shivers down her body.
With no other option, she knocks on the black door; small and soft touches from her knuckles make eco. Soft murmurs came from the other side, one a mature female and another of a male with a gentler tone than his opposite.
“Come in, dear!”, the female voice called to her. It was of authority and seduction, opposites of the same controlling spectrum.
With a little hesitation, she opens the door. The office was as majestic as the building, gold and red overwhelmed with the images of sea, seashells, and dolphins. Inside the two owners of the voices awaited her with warmth and power. Both of them were beyond beautiful and handsome, they were something above and beyond.
The woman who caught her eye was a sight to behold. Her body-hugging dress accentuated her tall and slim figure, while her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and back in delicate curls. The sun had kissed her skin, giving it a golden hue that was simply breathtaking. Her eyes were like polished blue pearls that sparkled in the light, and her smile was warm and inviting. Despite not having the typical skinny model figure as she was a little chubby, b her broad hips and medium-sized chest were perfectly proportioned, adding to her mature allure. She was a true vision of femininity and grace.
The gentleman positioned adjacent to the lady appeared to be younger, yet older than her. He flaunted a set of lustrous, coiled blonde locks and eyes that shone like black pearls; however, his hair was comparatively shorter than the woman beside him. His eyes were visible through a pair of glasses that seemed worth more than her monthly rent. He was in good shape, enough to exhibit a toned physique without appearing overly bulky. His body was slim to the point of being able to grace the pages of any modeling magazine with ease.
“Nice to meet you,” Ariadne stuttered “I’m Ariadne Labrys, Ms. Chrysos must have told you about me”.
“Ah, yes! She had told me about you,” the woman came to the younger one with excitement, “I’m Aphrodite or Ms. Areia, how you prefer to address me, I don’t mind either”.
The man came closer too and held her hand with softness.
“I’m Eros, I’ll be here to supervise your work over the next months”.
“Wait,” she stopped the conversation “Do I have a job like that? No interview?”
“You see,” Aphrodite never left her smile, “I have been short of staff, so we have been a little desperate in this building. I owe a favor to Medea and when she told me about you, I decided to give you the position immediately”.
‘Kill two birds with one stone’, she thought at the words.
“Eros, darling, could you show dear Labrys the place,” The mature woman continues to talk, “I have to talk with your father in a few minutes”.
Ariadne saw Eros roll his eyes, the small distortion of his lips and the tougher grip in her hand made her feel destain.
“Always doing your job, dear mother of mine,” he walked out of the office with her at those words, “Sorry for my mother’s bluntness and laziness; she is in a surprising, good mood”.
“I came in a good time, then,”.
Eros chuckled. “Yes, you have, Ms. Labrys”.
The man showed her the club. With his soft voice, he explains everything with patience, from the bar’s inner workings to the stage and furniture cleaning. After the tour, they went to the bar; Eros took the whiskey from the bar and made two drinks.
Ariadne is not much of a drinker, but she needs something strong after moving into the small apartment.
“Your job is simple for now,” he extended her a drink. “You will clean for this night so you can familiarize yourself with the place; it is Monday, so it will be a slow night”. His hands played with the glass. “From tomorrow you will start your training for the bar and waiter, Ganymede is our mixer master, and they volunteered their free time to teach you; also, Atalanta will help you with during your first night, she is our toughest guard inside the building so that you can trust her”.
“Will I have to dance or—”.
He shook his head. “Unless you want to learn, we’ll have you on the floor attending the tables and nothing more,” he gestures to the main stage, “The dancers do have a higher salary than the waiters, but it is a tougher job, if you ask me. But don’t use my words as your standard, I’ve never been in that position, so it’s better if you ask the ladies that go to the stage this Friday”.
She takes a sip from her glass. “Will I have a uniform?”.
“Yes,” he said, “there is a uniform, but it is something you can create at home: a simple shirt, and a black skirt; you will also be required to wear makeup and have your hair tied up. Heels are demanded while you work, but I recommend bringing some sandals or flat shoes to walk in before and after your shift, you will get tired here”.
Eros looked at her with this courteous stare; his eyes made her feel like a puddle and his smile could charm even the coldest heart.
“Any other question, Ms. Labrys?”
“No” Ariadne finished her drink. “You made everything clear”.
“Good,” Eros drank his whiskey in one go, “if anything comes, you can ask me”.
The woman nodded and thanked him again for the tour. She took her glass and left it at the bar before leaving the place. The blonde refilled his drink.
As Eros thought about Ariadne, he was captivated by her striking beauty. Her short brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders in gentle waves, framing her fair skin and sharp, piercing eyes. Despite her youth, Ariadne exuded an air of maturity that was impossible to ignore. Her intelligence and elegance shone through in every aspect of her being, from her perfect posture to her impeccable manners, making her a prime candidate for any position that required the utmost professionalism and grace.
“Isn’t she a gem?”, he looked back to meet his mother. “She could be a good daughter-in-law”.
“Who paid you, Mother?” Eros questioned with his drink in hand. “I know you don’t give jobs like that, even the most secretive ones”.
“Orcus motivated me to find a partner for Baccus,” the woman smiled. “He could settle down finally after the incident in Thebes”.
“I bet Prosepina is also involved”.
“You be right,” Aphrodite giggles, “all of us are taking bets on who is the best matchmaker, and I think I’ll win this one with Ariadne under my care”.
“Ariadne is a great girl, I won’t lie.” Eros laughed at his mother’s excitement. “She and Baccus could make a great match, but there is something in this that is not…good”.
“Again, with you ‘six sense’?” she scoffs. “What is it this time?”.
“Have you ever wondered why someone as sophisticated and refined as Ariadne would choose to work behind the scenes? It’s quite an intriguing question, don’t you think??”.
Silence…
“Something doesn’t seem right here. I’ll have the guys investigate and get to the bottom of this”.
