'Deep breaths Aileen, you can do this.' I had said this to myself about a dozen times before and I still didn't have the courage to knock on my Dad's door. How long had I even been standing here? This was getting ridiculous. If I didn't have the courage to even knock on his door to talk to him, how was I going to have the conversation I wanted with him? My shoulders sagged as I admitted defeat. I turned to go back home, or maybe call my friend, I don't know. At the last minute I got really angry with myself and without thinking it through I turned and put my knuckles to his door. While in my mind I had this big plan to knock on the door with force my actual knock hit the door so pitifully that I wasn't even sure if my dad would hear it on the other end. I was assured that he had when his deep voice could be heard on the other side welcoming me in. Very hesitantly I opened the door peeking just my head in first. My dad looked up and gave me a warm smile.
"Baby girl, what brings you here? You don't usually come down to my office." I gulped knowing that now I had done it and had to follow through with it.
"Last night...I know I'm not supposed to. But my friends and I, we came to the club." His face turned sour. My Dad owned a night club. I thought it was a regular club, that's what mom, dad and my brother always told me. All my life, I just thought it was a regular night club that catered to VIP clientele. I had no idea what it actually was. My family always insisted I was too young to go to a nightclub. I never questioned them, they were my family I trusted them. But last night, my friends dragged me there and made me use my connection so they could get it. That's when I found out the reality of this place. It was a sex club! I was totally mortified, but I knew I couldn't keep it from my dad. Not after seeing what was going on. I can still picture it.
~Last Night~
When we came in we expected blaring music, strobe lights and dancing everywhere. We came in to a quiet room, people on couches, facing a stage. The lights came up like a show was about to start and my dad came from behind the curtain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting. We will begin our show momentarily. For our regulars I again apologize but I must go over the basics for any newcomers in the audience this evening. Here at The Rose Palace we welcome you to be with your partners during and after our show. We do not encourage distractions to our performers however, so we ask that you turn off your cell phones and keep noise to a minimal if you do become intimate. Any persons wishing to leave at any time during the performance can press the button in the center of your tables and someone will come to assist you." My friends and I didn't know what to do so we quickly ducked over to the bar to sit down at the stools. Our main goal, especially mine was to remain completely incognito.
My Dad left the stage and moments later the curtain went up. If I hadn't been expecting everything up to now, I was expecting what I saw even less. There was my mother, on a bed on the stage, riding a man I had never seen before. My friends tapped my leg to get my attention. They had the same dumbfounded expressions on their faces that I did. I did not stick around for a moment longer after that. When I got home that night I laid in my bed contemplating what I saw. My friends and I made an unspoken pact never to speak about what we saw, at least not with me around. So I was left to try and piece everything together on my own. The more I thought about it the more curious I got. I thought about it to the point that I was imagining myself in my mother's position. It turned me on. It made me want the same thing. So I decided to confront the owner, my father, about my curiosity.
~Today~
"Dad I want to know about the family business." I just came right out and said it. Like a faucet that couldn't be stop my thoughts rambled out. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. I thought for sure I was about to get an earful for not listening to him about not going to the club. To my utter surprise that wasn't the case.
"What do you want to know?" He was very calm sounding. But just from years of knowing him I knew he was anything but.
"It's not a normal night club is it?"
"It is an elite sex club where members that pay their fees and pass background checks are free to fulfill fantasies. We provide entertainment shows nightly as well as provide companionship for those seeking it. There are three main components but I will show you instead of talking about them." He got up and started walking out the door. For a moment I was confused but figured I was supposed to follow him. He walked down the corridor into the main lounge of the club. I had been here during the day to see my dad in his office many times. During the day you could never guess what happened here as soon as the sun went down. It looked like you would imagine a close nightclub to look. An empty bar, chairs turned upside down on tables so the floors could be cleaned. Even the stage was completely hidden by what I now knew had to be a fake wall. My dad ignored me as he took two chairs down from one of the tables to sit. I sat down across from him. For the life of me I could not figure out what was going through his mind. When I was situated in my chair he started to speak.
"This is what we call the main floor. We have a show here every night. We have an array of scenes that we run through. The way it typically works is we welcome guests; they mingle, dance a little and get some drinks. Then towards the end of the night couches, loungers and booths are brought out for guests to call dibs on. They enjoy the show then if they like they are welcome to retire to their own homes or use one of our rooms." He stood up and put his chair back up. Just like before he started walking off without a word. This time I didn't hesitate to follow. This time he talked to me while he walked to a different part of the building.
"Any questions so far?"
"No, not yet. I think I'll wait until you finish showing me everything." He never even turned back to look at me. My father's cold demeanor was actually starting to make me regret my decision to confront him about his business. My dad walked through a doorway that led to a long hallway. One either side of the hallway were pairs of doors. It looked like the hallway would never end. My father walked up to the first door he could reach and opened it. He stood just in the frame and nodded his head for me to look inside. Warily I looked inside. It was just a very well decorated bedroom, though I could assume it was a little bit more than that.
"These are the entertainment rooms. Guests are welcome to rent one to use with the companion that they may have met here or brought with them. We also provide services where members can spend time with a companion from the club."
"So, prostitutes?" He raised his eyebrow at me.
"I thought you were going to save your questions for after the grand tour?" I bit my lip thinking I was in trouble. He chuckled and closed the door. Dad started walking across the hall to the second closest door. He opened it and again leaned against the frame. "The girls that work the entertainment rooms are high priced courtesans. The women that work this room are prostitutes." After he said that I was a little frightened to look at this room. Against my better judgment I looked inside. The first thing that caught my attention was all the holes in the walls, different sizes and heights away from the floor. This room was literally a high class glory hole. Dad didn't say anything else and closed the door. He ushered me back to his office where we sat down. My dad could look like such a king when he wanted to. Just the way he folded his arms made you feel like you were powerless against him.
"So, what are these questions that you wanted to wait until later to ask me?" I gulped, what was I even supposed to say to him? Like it did earlier my mouth just dropped open and whatever was on my mind came out.
