Masterson

ELIZABETH

CLUB LOTUS HAS CHANGED significantly in the last few weeks. The intricate details which made the club beautiful are even more noticeable now that the club has been cleaned from top to bottom. I love the curves and swirls of the crown molding in the club. It makes me imagine a time in history when visiting the bank was obviously a luxurious experience. Something only reserved for the wealthiest of Philadelphia society. Nothing like the cold, sterile banks we use today.

Then there are the contemporary touches that make The Lotus just as beautiful. The modern crystal chandeliers which hang like sparkling pendulums from the twenty foot high ceilings are a happy marriage of old world meets twenty first century. They have been polished to a clear sparkle, and the exotic mahogany wood bars have been buffed to a spit shine. A simplistic, pared down stage has been built by the south wall, and I notice how even the lighting is softer on the dance floor now. No more eye squinting strobe lighting.

There doesn't seem to be that same homogeneous group of middle class corporate types dancing their cares away either; ordering bottles like they're planning on getting good and wasted on the finest liquor money can buy, because they hate their bosses. Instead I notice that there is a more eclectic group of people, sitting, talking, drinking and having a good time, and I swear that I can recognize several faces chatting at a table near the DJ booth. I'm just not sure from where.

After taking a good look at my new and improved surroundings, I notice that there is a new elevated seating area at the top of a large curved staircase which features a large, oblong wooden coffee table and several plush chairs surrounding it. These are definitely new and they're all colored blood red. It's from that area that an attractive petite woman with shredded jeans and a tight graphic tee on whistles down to Roman through her teeth to get his attention. Roman responds with a nonchalant head nod to her and the two men she's sitting with. Then he starts moving in their direction.

He doesn't say much to me, in fact he's only grunted a few words to me since we left home, and his silence makes me feel simultaneously embarrassed and ashamed of what's happened between us. I suppose he regrets what's occurred as much as I do which would explain the whole I'm not saying shit to you Elizabeth thing. Maybe this is how he treats all the women that he's been intimate with. Which would pretty much explain why that pretty bank manager threw water in my face today.

Now I'm looking to see if Sloan has made it here yet, because I don't know if she'll see me seated in this section. It's pretty dimly lit, and I don't want to be stuck by myself with Roman and his friends all night. I'm sick of him being all hot and cold. He was in a bad mood when he came to my room tonight, then he expertly got me off twice, and now he's moody again. Unfortunately eating Juliette's scrumptious chicken pot pie and giving me two orgasms didn't solve his bad-ass mood. Like I said, I'm assuming that his crappy disposition has something to do with the regret that he feels about what we did earlier. I feel the same way, but you don't see me taking it out on him. The jackass.

When we arrive to our seats, I'm struck by how attractive the two men are that are waiting for us. They look very much alike, so I assume they must be related, and they're both staring at me like they already know exactly what I'm wearing underneath my clothes. The woman extends her hand and speaks to me first.

"Hi, I'm Jade. This is Cutter and Camden. You must be the new cousin."

Interesting that he's mentioned me, but I don't know one single thing about them.

"That's me. It's nice to meet you all. I'm Elizabeth."

Roman sits down next to Jade and across from me. Maybe that's why he's so on edge all of a sudden. Maybe she's his girlfriend or at least another one of his friends with benefits. The guy named Camden is watching me carefully, and I blush because he's making me a bit uncomfortable on top of the fact that he's so good looking.