Irving Wallace - The Golden Room

'It is going to be difficult for you at first, I know, no matter how much experience you've had previously. Don't rush anyone and don't consider rolling them. We will permit no monkeyshines, no knockout drops, no robberies, no crudity of any kind whatsoever. Our task will be to supply the clients. Your task will be to amuse them in a way that they've never been amused before. Give, but give interestingly and with mystery. Karen, I want you to be proud you are in the Ever-leigh Club. An hour from now, after I introduce you to your first client, you'll know you belong here.'

Throughout this recital, and especially Minna's last reminder that shortly she would be alone with a strange man, Karen had been quivering with fright. Soon, she would be cornered by a customer and expected to perform as a prostitute. There was plenty of verbal evidence, from Minna, that the Everleigh Club was still a brothel, but Karen did not possess the substantial evidence that would enable the mayor to shut the place down. The real evidence would come when a paying guest would strip off his clothes and get into bed with her. The thought was horrifying.

Karen hardly listened as Minna continued to speak. 'In addition to what I've told you, there are a few minor things you should know about your conduct in the Club. One of these is that -'

Minna was interrupted by a sharp rapping on the door. The door opened and Aida came in, carrying a note, her countenance ashen.

'Minna, I've got to speak to you at once,' Aida began. 'It's urgent.'

'Can't it wait a few minutes?'

'No,' said Aida firmly. 'Do you know who just walked in with their luggage and are waiting downstairs? Cathleen and Bruce!'

'Who?' asked Minna, bewildered.

'Cathleen and Bruce Lester, our niece and nephew from Kentucky. Charlie's children.'

Minna was more bewildered than ever. 'What are they doing here?'

'They've come to move in with us for two weeks. Until Cathleen is married to Harold T. Armbruster's son, Alan.'

Minna was aghast. 'But they can't stay here -'

'I know they can't – but they're going to. We knew about it some time ago. That the Armbrusters had been down in Kentucky, and their son had met Cathleen and fallen in love with her, and that they were going to be married. Their father asked if we'd stand up for the kids -'

'I remember,' said Minna. 'I wrote Charlie a quick note saying, "Send them along." But I only meant we'd stand up for Cathleen at the wedding. God, I didn't mean for them to stay with us here.'

Aida waved a letter in her hand. 'Their father sent this along with Cathleen. He wants his daughter and son to live with their wealthy socialite aunts in Chicago until the wedding. A hotel won't do. Even though their family in Kentucky is church mouse poor, they must give evidence of being well-off and respectable. All through the years we used to tell our brother we were rich socialites living in a huge mansion. Well, Charlie took us at our word, and now he's sent his children to stay in the mansion with their aunts. They're here now, Minna, and they can't be sent away. We have to live with this pretext for two weeks, until the wedding is over and Cathleen and Bruce are out of our hair. What should we do?'

Minna stood between Aida and Karen, lost in thought.

'We're trapped with our lie,' said Minna. 'We've got to play being their wealthy, respectable aunts, and we have to give them the hospitality of our mansion. Let me think -' She thought further. Then she addressed Aida. 'First things first. Have Edmund immediately post a sign on the front door announcing that our restaurant is open for business. A

floor show will be provided for diners, but other services will be unavailable until further notice. The parlours themselves are closed for two weeks for remodelling. No men are to be permitted upstairs for the length of Cathleen and Bruce's stay.'

'But our girls?'

'They can remain as part of a restaurant floor show. Nothing more. Send two of them away on vacation and turn their bedrooms over to Cathleen and Bruce. Aida, you round up the girls at once and explain the situation. I want them to be sure there is not one word alluding to what they truly do here. They are dancers and singers entertaining supper guests – period. Do you have that straight? And get that sign on the front door.'

'Can I tell the girls they'll be paid?'

'We must pay them their usual income,' said Minna, 'no matter what the financial loss to ourselves. The main thing is to keep Cathleen and Bruce believing we are actually respected socialites and this is our fancy home. We'll tell them that we conduct a fashionable high-class restaurant to keep ourselves busy. Now off you go, at once. Gather the girls and tell them the truth and what we expect of them. I'll go down and greet Cathleen and Bruce.'

Aida darted to the door and raced away.

About to follow her from the room, Minna stopped, suddenly aware that Karen was in the boudoir. 'You heard it all, Karen, so you know what's going on. I know you expected your first customer to come to you in a little while. I'm sorry, but no man tonight or any night for two weeks. Get dressed, and come downstairs and join the other girls while Aida organizes you into some semblance of a floor show.' She held the doorknob. 'I am sorry about this turn of events, Karen. Even though you're new, you'll be well paid. You'll be better paid later. But for now, keep your chin up – and your bloomers too.'

When Minna came down the stairs to the foyer, she saw the two of them waiting, suitcases beside them. Minna had not seen the pair since they were children, but she knew at once that these grown-ups were her niece and nephew, Cathleen and Bruce Lester.

Approaching them, Minna saw that Cathleen looked as she herself had looked not many years ago. The girl was no taller than herself- meaning Cathleen was small, with blonde hair, luminous eyes, and a button nose set nicely in an innocent, smooth face. She was small-bosomed, slender, composed, not more than nineteen years old. The boy was older, probably twenty-two, with a shock of chestnut hair, brown eyes, pug nose, and a square jaw. He was quite tall, maybe six feet, and trim but obviously muscular.

'Cathleen!' Minna called out.

The girl smiled nervously.

Minna went straight to her and hugged her. 'I'm your Aunt Minna. How wonderful to see you at last and to have you in our home.'

Disengaging herself from Cathleen, Minna moved to her nephew and embraced him too. 'Bruce, you've grown – I don't know how many feet – since I last saw you in Louisville. Welcome to Lester House.'

'It's hospitable of you to have us in,' said Bruce.

'And what a joy for us. Now, you two, come along with me,' said Minna, taking each by a hand. 'Don't worry about your bags. I'll have a servant take them to your rooms, but first we'll have a little talk in the parlour. I want to get better acquainted with both of you.'

Minna led them into the Gold Room, which Minna described as her favourite parlour, and one that she had decorated entirely by herself.

Entering the dazzling room, Cathleen held back for a moment, stunned by the glitter. 'It's – it's magnificent,' she whispered. 'That gold piano. I've never seen another like it.'

'I had it made in Paris some years ago,' said Minna.

Bruce went into the room more easily, less stunned than curious. 'Forgive me, Aunt Minna. Father told me you lived well, but I expected nothing like this.'

'I wish your father could see our place for himself,' said Minna, 'but he's never been to Chicago in all the time we've lived here.'

'You know he's not been ambulatory since his stroke,' said Bruce. 'Besides, he couldn't afford the trip.'

'Well, I intend to rectify that in the near future,' said Minna, leading the pair to a gold sofa. 'Do sit down, and let me sit where I can face both of you.'