#goldroomkeys

[small-fortunes]

The Keys to Our Rooms

Sable knew the truth. He was the first to review the security footage and show it to Jeremy. The Prince of Rome was hitting on the girl in Room 509. Her meal that night had been paid for by his cheque. One less to the bill for Mistress Clayton care of The Tower of London Miss DeMentriento had fine taste. Her plate was expensive. Seafood always was. Mr. D'Antonio was seemingly made of money. Powerful Italian. And spending it on luxurious food for a pretty lady as a means of impressing her was always on his charter. That was the way of things at The Continental London. Sable was busy reconciling the day's trading takings in order to process his paperwork for the bank. It was his business to know these things. What the guests ordered in the dining room. How many times they requested room service, laundry fees, parking charges, weapons acquirements, medical services, adult entertainment, night club access, private dancers, high class escorts. Accounts Payable, Administration. Everything went through his computers, through his records, though his ledgers, through his books.

And these room keys he handed his guests: They had a chip in them that unlocked doors the world never knew existed. Just like those gold coins that formed a silent currency in exchange for services rendered. Blood Money. Body Removal. Blood Money.

It became common knowledge, soon thereafter; that Mr. D'Antonio had proposed possible Camorra employment to Miss. DeMentriento. That was an exciting proposition for someone so young and so displaced from the world. The White Women, their new female initiates were bought and sold, traded like livestock. They were livestock. Expendable. Their purpose was to fight, breed, kill and die. But not here. Not in his house. Not in Jeremy's house. This hotel was a neutral ground.  House rules were simple. 'No Business Allowed' And their motto: 'An Oasis of Calm and Civility' Those were the words of The Continental London. The exact same as New York City, Rome, Barcelona, Morocco and Sydney. No matter where in the world you went. If you were part of the Gold Class Standard. Seven Stars of immaculate class and infinite style... If you wanted the Continental Experience. Then you paid the price. And you put your weapons away. And you did exactly as you were told. In exchange you got a luxurious room, as many meals as you could desire, a magnificent bar, gardens and hire cars. You got safety, security, peace of mind. You had bell hops, valets, maids, waiters, personal assistants, state of the art technology and the greatest underground entertainment anywhere in the world. It all came for a price. You wanted that gold card? You wanted the high rolling luxury? Black suits, diamonds and gold? Then yes, you paid in Blood Money.

Now only prime staff knew the truth. Sir Jeremy, the Owner/Manager. The Iris twins, reception officers and night club hostesses. And he... the Concierge. Sable.

He could gather from the records and security footage that he'd reviewed; extra footage that the High Guard exchanged for coin... exactly what was going on between the guests in Room 768 and Room 509. Mr. D'Antonio had taken a new employee to the D'Antonio Family. A new member for the Camorra High Guard. Everyone was very happy that Miss. DeMentriento, a complete underworld unknown; was secured into such a powerful house name. It would do her good. But Sable knew the truth. As did the Iris Twins. As did Sir Jeremy. That the Italian Prince was hitting on the girl in Room 509.