Hidden Desire (Silk Grove part one) by Aurora Dupree Page A

the main vestibule, and
their eyes widened.
    “ Wow, would you look at
that!”
    There was an enormous fountain in the main
hallway, a pair of naked cherubs spraying water from their mouths.
The whole fountain was backlit with low mood lighting, and some
tinkling music played from speakers in the walls. The walls and
floor were constructed from a shiny marble, and the whole place had
the sheen of elegance. A host in a suit was there to greet them
immediately.
    “ Welcome to the Silk Grove,”
he said, betraying just a hint of a French accent. “The bar is
straight ahead. The dance floor is to your right. Parlor and
relaxation rooms to your left. If you need anything, please let me
or another host know. My name is Elan, and it will be our pleasure
to serve you.”
    “ Thank you,” Naomi said,
unable to suppress a giggle. “This is insane,” she whispered to
Cherish. “This must be where all the sports stars and celebrities
hang out.”
    “ Come on, let's hit up the
bar,” Cherish said. “I could do with a nice
screwdriver.”
    They went forward. The bar was massive,
taking up yards of the back wall. Beside the long rows of booze was
an enormous aquarium, full of bright tropical fish. The bar was
crowded, but not overly so. Naomi was wrong—these definitely
weren't the douchey fratboy types. She saw very elegant men and
women, the men dressed in tuxedos and cummerbunds, and the women in
some of the most fabulous, expensive dresses she had ever seen. For
a moment she felt like her own outfit was inadequate, but it seemed
like simply being inside the Silk Grove afforded them an aura of
privilege. No one was questioning their worth. They slid into seats
at the bar, where a handsome bartender quickly came and took their
orders.
    “ Expensive,” Cherish said.
“But I guess that's the price you pay for luxury.”
    “ It's worth it,” Naomi
agreed. “I don't think I've ever been in a place this nice in my
life.”
    They'd been sitting there for little more
than five minutes before two men came strolling over, introducing
themselves as investment bankers. Naomi and Cherish talked to them
for a while, enjoying the conversation, and although they were
nice, they weren't really Naomi's type. Too concerned with money
and their careers. Cherish, however, seemed to be in seventh heaven
flirting with them. Naomi let them talk at each other for a while,
then excused herself.
    “ I'm going to check out the
rest of the place,” she said, with Cherish barely acknowledging
her. “I'll catch up with you guys later.”
    Finishing the rest of her vodka, Naomi walked
through the rest of the bar, deciding to see what the dance floor
was all about. There were a few finely attired people shaking a
move on the lacquered floor, but most people were milling around,
talking. Although Naomi liked to dance, she wasn't about to go
parading around out there by herself. At least, not before she had
a few more drinks. Instead, she made a slow traverse of the dance
floor, finally setting herself down at a table near the edge and
people watching.
    It was hard to discern the demographics of
the crowd. Most of them looked either rich or connected into some
scene, be it music, movies, or the like. She felt out of place and
a little shy. She felt as if she should talk to someone, but it
wasn't like her to go and start making random conversation. If only
she were as bold as Cherish, then maybe things wouldn't be so hard
for her. She ordered another drink, her head in the clouds, lost in
her own thoughts, when a man sat down across from her at the
table.
    “ Having a good
night?”
    She turned. Unlike most of the club's
patron's, the man was dressed relatively casually, in a designer
shirt and slacks. He was exceptionally tall, close to six and a
half feet, and he had short dark hair combed to the side. He had a
look on his face that suggested he wasn't entirely enamored with
the silk Grove, either.
    “ It's fine,” Naomi said,
blushing a bit.