Taste (H.S. / A.U.)

Chapter 3

ELOISE DUPONT

The chunky red sweater I had paired with plain black dress slacks today was proving to be a little too warm, but I was three-quarters of the way to The Cellar and not willing to be late by turning around.

I find myself a few minutes early when I turn into the parking lot, mentally preparing for some quality father-daughter time. When you are forced at a young age to become a daddy's girl whether you want to or not at a young age, you end up forming either a great bond or a terrible one that you later regret. Luckily, dad and I had enough in common. We saw eye to eye about most things and our relationship was a healthy one.

The only strain, dad loved Chase. Dad thought that maybe part of Chase's and my turmoil was caused by me not being at home more and needing so desperately to 'have a career' when Chase was well off enough to take care of me.

That was not my goal though.

I make my way to the entrance of the speakeasy lounge, which was named correctly in some aspects. It looked like a cellar because of the way they planned the building out. Unlike a normal building where you would assume the restaurant was on the ground floor and your stock items to keep the business afloat may be put into a basement of sorts, this was the opposite.

You walked in through the heavy arched double wood doors to pretty much come face to face with a spiral staircase leading you downward and into the actual place you would be dining or drinking at. The main entry room was dark and the only thing that let you know you were here was a painting of a wine cellar on the wall with an arrow pointing at the staircase.

There were no signs outside, no website, nothing to let you know you were here besides the rules that were in a framed space outside the front doors.

No cell phones

No photos

No smoking

No loud noises, enter quietly and leave silently

Men must wear a jacket, women must wear dress attire

Never bring your work past the front door

Three drink minimum per party

Once you finally make it to the bottom of the staircase you aren't disappointed because dad and Ruby took decorating into the highest regards and the entire building screamed high class.

The walls were deep brown and tan tones, and behind the bar they were entirely remodeled into bookshelves featuring all sorts of novels that spanned different languages and decades. Nothing on the shelves was published in the past thirty years and all were worn heavily through the spines, creating a beautiful vintage vibe. The bar itself was a thick slab of mahogany that glistened due to the amount of lacquer on it, along with plush bar stools that were fastened to the ground, featuring a dark rich green velvet top and all golden metal base. The lights were low hanging and unique throughout the entire building, with only small fixtures that made the entire place a bit dim and sultry, matching the aesthetic you would assume a speakeasy cafe bar would have.

A few corners of the building were fitted with plush couches, chairs, or lounges that sported large leather euro pillows and glass end tables that held plants within them. One of the small end tables dad had acquired from an estate sale to add to the building was designed to look like a postage stamp from Berlin circa the 1940's. Estate sales were a great way for dad or Ruby to find hidden treasures for The Cellar, like the thick velvet curtains in gold, sapphire, and granite that draped around the corners, door frames, and halls of the building. Sometimes they were tied back to give you more of a look into the building, and sometimes they were not so that there was an air of mystery about what else lingered behind the space.