Within a week, Lina began to understand something about the Velvet Room.
Nothing stayed secret for long.
Especially success.
The club was already alive when Lina arrived that evening. The air smelled of perfume, whiskey, and expensive cigars. Music vibrated through the velvet-lined walls while laughter rose from crowded tables.
But the moment Lina walked inside, several heads turned.
Some men recognized her.
Some women did too.
Bianca appeared beside her almost instantly, folding her arms with a smirk.
"Well," she said, "the star of the week has arrived."
Lina frowned slightly.
"I'm not a star."
Bianca raised an eyebrow.
"You've had the same client three nights in a row."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"Oh, it means a lot in this place."
Bianca leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Do you know how many girls here would kill for a regular client like that?"
Lina looked around the room.
For the first time, she noticed the way some of the women watched her.
Some curious.
Some friendly.
Others… not so friendly.
Jealousy was a quiet but constant presence in the Velvet Room.
The manager stepped out of his office just then.
His eyes landed on Lina immediately.
"Perfect timing."
He gestured for her to come closer.
"I have good news."
Lina followed him toward the quieter hallway.
"What kind of news?"
The manager smiled slightly.
"Your value just went up."
She blinked.
"My what?"
"Your price."
Lina stared at him.
"You raised it?"
"Yes."
"Without asking me?"
He chuckled.
"That's how business works."
He leaned against the wall, studying her.
"Your client has spent more money in three nights than most of our regulars spend in a month."
"That doesn't mean...."
"It means demand."
His tone was calm but firm.
"And when demand rises… so does the price."
Lina felt a strange mixture of emotions.
Part of her felt uncomfortable hearing herself discussed like a luxury item.
But another part…
The practical part…
Understood exactly what he meant.
"How much?" she asked quietly.
The manager told her.
Lina's eyes widened.
"That's ridiculous."
"That's business."
He straightened his jacket.
"And tonight might be even better."
"What do you mean?"
Before he could answer, a staff member approached him quickly.
"The VIP guest just arrived."
The manager's expression changed immediately.
"Already?"
"Yes."
He nodded once and turned back to Lina.
"Stay nearby tonight."
"Why?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he glanced toward the main lounge.
"Because someone important is here."
The Velvet Room had a special section near the back.
A private VIP lounge separated from the rest of the club by velvet curtains and low lighting.
Only the wealthiest guests sat there.
Lina had noticed it before but had never entered.
Tonight, the curtains were slightly open.
And inside sat a man she had never seen before.
He was older.
Much older.
His hair was silver, neatly combed back. He wore a dark suit that looked far more expensive than anything Lina had ever seen.
Two bodyguards stood discreetly nearby.
But what caught Lina's attention wasn't his wealth.
It was the way he was watching the room.
Not drinking.
Not laughing.
Just observing.
The man's eyes slowly moved across the lounge…
And stopped on her.
Lina felt the moment instantly.
Their eyes met.
Something about his gaze made her uncomfortable.
Not in the same way as other men.
Other men looked at her with desire.
This man looked at her like he was studying a puzzle.
After several seconds, Lina looked away.
Bianca noticed.
"You saw him?"
"Yes."
"Everyone sees him."
"Who is he?"
Bianca shrugged.
"No idea."
"But the manager nearly lost his mind when he arrived."
"Why?"
"Because men like him don't come here often."
Lina glanced back toward the VIP area.
The man was still watching her.
Her skin prickled slightly.
"Why is he staring?"
Bianca smirked.
"Maybe he likes what he sees."
But Lina wasn't sure that was it.
There was something different about his expression.
Something calculating.
An hour passed.
Lina spent time entertaining other guests in the lounge. Conversations, drinks, laughter. The usual routine of the Velvet Room.
But every now and then…
She felt it.
That gaze.
Watching her.
Patient.
Unmoving.
Eventually the manager appeared beside her again.
His voice was quiet.
"Lina."
"Yes?"
He nodded toward the VIP lounge.
"That man has been watching you all night."
"I noticed."
"He asked about you."
Her heartbeat skipped slightly.
"What did you tell him?"
"The truth."
"What truth?"
"That you're new."
"And?"
"That you're the most requested girl in the club right now."
Lina exhaled slowly.
"And what did he say?"
The manager's expression became thoughtful.
"He said he wasn't surprised."
Lina frowned.
"Why?"
The manager shrugged slightly.
"His exact words were…"
He paused.
"'She doesn't belong in a place like this.'"
Lina looked toward the VIP lounge again.
The old man was still sitting there.
Still watching.
Still silent.
A strange feeling crept through her chest.
Curiosity.
Unease.
Something else she couldn't quite explain.
"Does he want to meet me?" Lina asked.
The manager nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"When?"
He looked back toward the VIP lounge.
"Right now."
Lina's heart began beating faster again.
Something about this moment felt different from all the others.
This wasn't just another client.
This man carried an aura of power that filled the room without effort.
The manager leaned closer.
"Be careful with this one."
Lina raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The manager's voice dropped.
"Because men like him…"
He glanced once more at the VIP lounge.
"…can change a person's life."
Lina swallowed slowly.
Then she straightened her dress and began walking toward the velvet curtains.
Inside the VIP lounge…
The old man was waiting.
And neither of them knew yet that this meeting would begin a story far more dangerous than either of them expected.
A story that would one day become known as…