City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 233: Shimmering Lily

Carla 
 
 
“Can you do that, Miss Carla?” asked the middle-aged man in front of me, trying but failing to hide the lust in his eyes.
 
“We can do that; if you want, we can provide you with 42% things you want immediately,” I said and slid the list toward him, which made his eyes light up as he looked down.
 
Two weeks ago, we had brought a huge load from Navr. It was not an order for any client but for ourselves. Though it was brought to sell to the client; it makes the process a lot smoother.
 
Now, we don’t have to take the order and deliver it in a few days; we can deliver their order immediately.
 
We can do that, with some of their orders and plan to do with the whole in the near future.
 
We wanted to do that from the beginning, but most of our money was to be poured into the circle and the establishment. Two weeks ago, we had accumulated enough to bring a large order.
 
Currently, we are only having the bestsellers, but we are planning to expand to more brands.
 
I have already placed another large order yesterday and it will be coming by tomorrow night. I planned to have our warehouses filled with every type of liquor produced in the Navr in the next few months.
 
I want to do it, despite the expansion that will occur, and I will be able to do it.
 
As of now, the establishment has also started to earn and its earnings are really good. They are increasing every day. Especially during the day, when we are receiving more and more patrons.
 
“That would be great. We really need this,” he said with a big smile. “It won’t be a problem, Mr. Coal,” I said, and we finalized the deal and signed the contract.
 
Click!
 
He left, and I laid back on the chair with a smile; another successful deal. Though it couldn’t be compared to the one I had lost three days ago.
 
If I had succeeded, it would have been the biggest deal made by me. 
 
I cursed that bastard for the prejudice. We would have given him the best price, but the old bastard clearly stated that he didn’t deal with a woman like me.
 
I wonder how the old bastard would have reacted if I had told him his son visits the establishment every time he is in the city.
 
Of course, I didn’t. Privacy of the patrons is extremely important; Remus had forbidden us from the first day to discuss the patrons, anyone who is not part of the establishment.
 
Knock Knock!
 
I was working when a knock rang out on my door, and a second later; the door opened. 
 
Margaux walked in with her, Mena following behind her.
 
“Did you forget where we have to go today?” asked Margaux, and immediately remembered.
 
“I nearly forgot,” I said, with my cheeks flooding. 
 
“Give me ten minutes; I will come back, changing the clothes,” I said and quickly walked out of the office. 
 
Click!
 
I went to the upper floor of Remus’s office before opening the door to the room behind it. 
 
There, I quickly undressed and freshened up before opening the closet. It is filled with clothes. There are more of my clothes here than of Remus. I had used this room more than him and slept here a few times a week.
 
I have an apartment within walking distance and a suite in the circle, but sometimes, after a long day of work. A ride from my carriage to my apartment or the circle becomes unbearable.
 
I looked at the clothes before taking out a shirt. It is Remus’s shirt; I took it to my nose and breathed in deeply.
 
I miss him a lot and wish he was with me. He makes every day more vibrant and beautiful.
 
A minute later, I put his shirt back in its place rather unwillingly and turned on my clothes before choosing the dress to wear.
 
I wore a simple black dress that reached near my collarbone and went below my knees. 
 
I looked at the shoes and decided to wear the red high hills. I didn’t wear any jewelry, just fixed my hair and applied some light makeup, which took some time, before activating my skill.
 
Immediately, the changes appeared; I looked more appealing.
 
Unlike Remus’s skill, which made him presentable, mine enhanced everything I did. Like now, it had made my hair slightly vibrant, fixed the flaws in make-up that I didn’t notice, and adjusted the dress, making it fit better.
 
After looking at the mirror one last time, I walked through the room and soon entered the second floor, where I saw Margaux and Carla talking to the staff.
 
There were eight of them. Five had come from the mainland, and three were girls. Two of them are teenagers, while the third one is a woman in her late twenties.
 
She is one of the women we have gotten from Oksall. One of the few who were not chosen to work after their training.
 
A few days ago, I posted the notice in the circle for the jobs in the office. These three applied; they will serve their contracts by working here, instead of in the establishment.
 
However, that doesn’t mean we will not pay them. We will pay them.
 
Currently, they are learning. So, they will only get a stipend, when they will work, they will receive salaries.
 
Seeing them, a smile couldn’t help but appear on my face. 
 
If they learned, then whatever happens to the business, they would be able to make a living anywhere and wouldn’t have to go back to the profession they want to leave behind.
 
Over 95% of the girls in the establishment who have been there for six months have gained enough experience, class, and skills; that they could work a respectful job without any problem.
 
Most of them had taken those classes over Lv. 10, passing the initial hurdle. It is enough for them to go find a job that will sustain them and wouldn’t have to work in a brothel if they didn’t want to.
 
“Don’t stay a minute above five,” I said to the staff and walked out with Margaux and Mena.
 
Soon, we sat in the carriage and it began to move. Fifteen minutes later, the carriage entered the red-light district before moving into the nicer part of it, a place where high-class and mid-class brothels are.
 
While there is permission for high-class brothels in the entertainment district, not all are able to get it.
 
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the red-three-story building. We stepped out and walked toward the building.
 
We had just entered through the door when a middle-aged bald man with a blond mustache appeared in front of us.
 
“Mad…Miss Carla, Madam Margaux, Madam Mena, welcome to shimmering lily,” said the man.
 
“Thank you, for your invite, Mr. Hershel,” I thanked the man. He is Julo Hershel, owner of this brothel, who is selling the contract of the girls. 
 
I heard the building had been sold to Normal Lucas, who will open another brothel. Lucas is expanding rapidly, if what I heard is really true, then it will be his seventh brothel in the city.
 
“To be honest, I had not thought you would come,” he said as he let us inside. “How can I not, when you had invited us, so graciously,” I replied and the man smiled.
 
Soon, we entered the area where the girls wearing barely anything were standing while the men were browsing them like goods.
 
“These are girls. You can see them and interact. If you are interested in them, take the card and submit it in your name.”
 
“If more than one person bids for the same person, then there will be an auction,” he said, explaining the rules.
 
“Are the girls on the first floor or other floors, too?” I asked, “All three floors, some of the people of the other mid-class brothel had also sent the girls, whose contracts, they want to sell,” he answered.
 
There seemed to be too many girls on the first floor, more than a hundred and twenty, that Hershel was supposed to have.
 
He left soon, while we walked toward the girls, who had turned to us, along with men browsing them.
 
We are the only group made wholly of women. Most of the people who have come here are men; only a few have a woman with them, who are madams of the brothel they run.
 
Many of them are familiar; I had met them in official and unofficial meetings of business, which I attend as Remus’s representative.
 
I nodded and smiled at the people before stopping in front of the woman, who looked to be in her mid-twenties. She is a beautiful woman, plump with blond hair and vibrant green eyes 
 
Her name is Arna Mads, according to the board in front of her. She has a Prostitute Class at Lv. 14 and her three skills are also mentioned.
 
They are nothing rare. I only glanced at them before turning to the woman, who was also looking at us.
 
“Are you from the velvet garden?” she asked, as I was about to speak to her. “Yes, I am Carla. This is Margaux and Mena,” I introduced ourselves to the girl.
 
As I confirmed, her face lit up blindingly and her eyes blazed like a bulb. I thought she would leap at me, but thankfully, she controlled herself.
 
“Do you really pay, your whore's massive money?” she asked, barely able to contain her curiosity.
 
“We do not pay girls; only madams are paid. The girls earn a commission, which is currently at 25%,” answered Mena, which widened her eyes that they looked like saucers.
 
“Though it is through gifts and tips, through which the girls earn most,” she added.
 
I glared at Mena, and her cheeks flooded. The poor girl was barely able to digest the news earlier, but the second one, had nearly made her faint and she would have, if not for Margaux, stopping her by grabbing her hand.
 
“Thank you,” said Arna as she got control of her emotions, but a moment later, a question appeared on her face.
 
“Isn’t the commission 10%?” she asked and a surprise couldn’t help but appear on our face.
 
“Many of our patrons talk about the velvet garden a lot,” she explained, and a hint of sadness flashed through her face for a moment.
 
The girls didn’t hide their commission. If they want to tell the clients, they are free to do it. It had turned beneficial for them.
 
When the clients begin to know, the establishment doesn’t touch their gifts and tips given to the girls. They begin to give gifts and tips to girls more often and they are more expensive.
 
It is the same with the commission, when they found out that a quarter of what they are paying is going to girls directly. There is greater satisfaction in them.
 
“It was 10% before, but Master Silver hiked it to 25% at the start of this month,” replied Mena. 
 
The girl sighed before turning her eyes to us with full focus.
 
“Can you take me? I will not ask much, I will even work with a 5% commission, no 1%. You can even keep all the gifts and tips I will receive,” she asked with such hope that it felt painful to look at.
 
“It doesn’t work like that, Arna,” I said with a sigh and disappointment appeared on her face and tears in her eyes.
 
“Miss Carla isn’t saying we can’t take you. It is just that, we are looking specific and we only take those girls to fall in that,” explained Carla, and the girl turned even sadder.
 
“Do I have a chance?” she asked, with a small voice with barely any hope, in those which are blazing with not long ago. 
 
“Of course, just answer the questions truthfully. We will see whether you have what needs to be a member of the velvet garden,” answered Margaux, and hope lit up in her eyes again.
 
She is much better at dealing with girls than I am. It was a wise decision for her to take over the circle, despite it seeming like a demotion.
 
There she can not only take care of the girls better but also focus on magic and painting. 
 
Which she had started to do.
 
“Arna, we are going to ask you some questions and I hope you will answer them truthfully,” I said to her, bringing out my madam's voice.
 
“I will not lie, madam,” she replied, and we began with our questions.
 
I like this girl; I have a good feeling about her, but that alone isn’t enough. Though, it is the most important part.
 
Soon, we finished with our questions.
 
“Thank you, Arna,” I said, and the girl looked at me with hope. “Are you taking me?” she asked, with hope and hesitation.
 
“You will know in a few hours,” I replied and walked toward the next girl. We went to girl after girl and soon, we finished with all the girls on the first floor and climbed to the second floor.
 
Hun!
 
We just reached there, when we came across a group, walking toward the third floor.
 
“Mr. Chase, it’s nice to see you here,” I greeted to man in a suit. He is the man of Normal Lucas; he comes to deal with us when they poach our girls.
 
Speaking of which; the first girl, they poached, is standing beside him.
 
“Likewise, Miss Carla, Headmistress Margaux, Madam Lena,” he replied with a smile.
 
If anyone knows about us more and is not part of the establishment, then it would be this man
 
“Madam Francesca, you look great. Donna, it's been a while,” I greeted the two women, beside him.
 
Donna nodded and looked away, looked away with cheeks flushed. While Madam Francesca is an average-looking woman; she is a madam of red fragrance.
 
An intelligent woman, whom I couldn’t help but respect, despite being a competitor.
 
Her contract is ending in around half a year and I had hinted to her that we might be interested in her. 
 
Though there was no reply from her; there was still time.
 
I didn’t tell Remus and it would take some effort to make him agree. He wouldn’t trust a woman who had worked for Norman Lucas for so many years, but she would be worth the risk.
 
“You are looking as beautiful as always, Miss Carla,” she replied, before turning her head. 
 
“You too Madam Margaux, Madam Mena,” she added. “Thank you, Madam Francesca,” said Margaux.
 
“Let’s hope we don’t choose the same girls,” said Chase with a smile. “Nothing could be said, Mr. Chase,” I replied.
 
He walked to the third floor, and we entered the second.
 
We looked at each and every girl, asking them questions, and getting their feeling, before going to the third floor.
 
There are only twenty-eight girls here, including the former madam of this place. He is even selling her contract and I am sure many will be bid; madams are usually in demand due to their experience and levels.
 
She doesn’t fit in our vision. We want someone from Lv. 16 and below, but if we find her interesting enough, we can make an exception.
 
Chase and others were present on the floor as well; they seemed to have finished looking at the girls and now talking to the people.
 
Hershel was also present here, talking to a beautiful girl in a wheelchair. There was a board beside her, which rubbed me the wrong way.
 
Saying, her contract will be free for those who will buy the highest number of contracts.

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