Hard Luck

pinnacle of their lives. It isn’t simply laughing at their jokes and seeing to their needs, but your
success hinges on your ability to make our clients feel as if they’ve arrived at the inner sanctum,
as if the Earth turns with their every desire.
As I listen to Roger, I let my eyes move over the crowd.
“Make our clients feel like they’re the most interesting people you’ve ever met, as if
they’re each more exceptional than the last. You’ll be a player in their beautiful game.”
My eyes lock with an attractive Indian man. He holds my gaze for a beat before nodding to
Roger.
The man’s gaze follows me as he whispers to a beautiful Asian woman sitting next to him.
I note her delicate features as she looks to Roger, then locks my gaze.
The man gets up and he walks towards us, stopping in front of me.
“Hello, Roger,” the man says, “it’s good to see you.”
“Rahul,” Roger says. “Have you met Sienna?”
“No,” Rahul replies, his eyes on me and not Roger. “I’m sure I would have remembered.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” I say. I look up at him through my lashes and let my eyes linger
over his full lips. I extend my hand and he takes it.
This is part of the job.
This is what you chose.
These reminders do little to calm my fast-beating heart.
Rahul holds my hand a little longer than necessary as he rubs his thumb across my palm,
then finally lets it go.
“I hope I’ll see you soon,” he says to me.
“How is your night going?” Roger asks him. “I see you’re with Salma.”
“She’s lovely,” Rahul says, turning towards Roger.
Rahul looks at me again. “It was nice to meet you, Sienna. Welcome to the Sanctum.”
Salma and Rahul return to their table.
Roger seems pleased. Rahul, he tells me, is one of the wealthiest venture capitalists
working in Silicon Valley. It’s rumored he’ll be running for governor of California.
I wonder vaguely if Rahul knows my brother, Jax, Nevada’s junior U.S. senator.
It’s a good thing I chose to wear a disguise…Jax is already furious enough that I took this
job. If it became public knowledge…