Chapter Two: Behind the Screen:

You want to know about that black and red screen over in the corner? Alright. We get all sorts of guests to come over to the house. Some of them wealthy enough to buy small unknown islands in the ocean. They don’t want their dirty laundry to be aired to the public. Privilege will buy you discretion.  We had to remain hush-hush every time they came for a visit. They can afford the silence.

Anyway, you want to know about that red screen. There was a client who came from a rich family in the North. We can’t tell you their real name. If we did, you would know who we’re talking about. We’re going to call them the Gold Family.

The oldest son of the Gold Family would come here once a month on the last Friday. No matter what the weather was, he was there. It rained the first time he came to Lotus House. Back in those days, we rarely got guests. We don’t do large advertisements. We preferred to keep things quiet. He must had heard it from his father. At first, our receptionist thought he was Mr. Gold. If you saw the oldest son, you could understand the confusion. Quite a beautiful family, if you ask me.

What was the first time you met him like?

Ah, yes. The oldest son came here alone. His body guard waited in the car. Our receptionist thought she was looking at his father. She greeted him as such. You can imagine how awkward that turned out when he gave her a confused look. The young man had to tell her that he wasn’t his father. That little dear’s cheeks turned a bright red.

How long ago was this?

Let me see. Hm… I want to say that this was back in 1997 or 1998?

Wow.

We’ve been around for a long time.

So what happened next?

Right. After that awkward exchange, our receptionist walked the eldest son through what we do here.

What was his mood? How did he like the house?

At first, he looked disgusted.

Why is that?

From what we later learned, the son suspected his father of cheating on his mother. So one night, he followed him all the way out here. That time, he didn’t go inside. It took him a few weeks before he worked up the nerve to come here.

What was he expecting to find here?

To tell you the truth, I don’t even think he knew himself. But he didn’t leave.

He stayed? What compelled him to do so?

The son was looking for a woman in particular. His father had been seeing China Rose every week. He just had to see who she was and why. What he planned to do after that, we didn’t ask.

Discretion.

Yes. China Rose had been working that night. She didn’t have a client with her at the time. The son demanded that he see her.

Was he angry or anything?

No. That was the strangest thing. He looked disgusted, but calm at the same time. Now that I think about it, he was so much like his father. Our receptionist and the rest of the staff looked like they were in a panic. Did he have a weapon on him? What were his intentions with China Rose? We wondered if we should call the police?

What did he do?

It took a while, but China Rose agreed to meet with him. The other girls wondered if that was a good idea. It was like she knew this was going to happen. From what I figured, she thought that she might as well get this over with. China Rose didn’t flinch the whole time.

So what happened?

They met in one of the rooms down the hall. We braced ourselves for the worst. But surprisingly, all China Rose and the son did was talk. They talked for hours. From what I heard, he did most of the talking on the first night. She sat on the bed, listening.

Wait… First night?

That’s right.

So, he kept coming back to her once a month on the last Friday?

Yes.

Wow. Did they…?

Not at first, no.

Wait, wait, wait. So, the son ended up sleeping with the mistress of his father later on down the road?

Yes. Don’t look at me like that. This sort of thing still happens in this house. We don’t allow judging here.

I’m not.

Good.

What happened after the first night?

After she heard him out, China Rose kept calm and told the truth.

Just like that?

Yes. She didn’t have anything to hide.

And how did he take it?

He seemed fine. The son was quiet as she spoke with her soft voice. He left without incident. And that was it for the first night. Everyone rushed in to check on her. China Rose sat on the bed, shivering. She looked like she was about to cry. I don’t think I had ever seen her like that before. We thought that was the end of that. You can imagine how surprised we were to see him again the next month. This time, he still seemed cold, but not disgusted or hostile. China Rose took him back to the same room and they just talked. This kept up for quite some time.

Before they started sleeping together?

Yes.

Wow. And no one said a thing for a while?

Not a word.

And privilege kept it all hidden?

Yes.