Chapter 317

A menu?

Blinking, Natalie accepted the small chalkboard. It hadn’t been cleaned well since the last use; the black surface was smudged white, with the new menu written over top the smears.

Vanetta’s service list was brief, with prices listed after each item. Her handwriting surprised Natalie; it was cutesy and neat, with loopy letters, the opposite of Natalie’s own near-illegible scrawl that had earned her so many reprimands in school. The bubbly script was so feminine that heart-dotted i’s wouldn’t have looked out of place—but of course there weren’t any.

“That’s it?” Natalie asked, amused, when she’d read the entirety of her offerings.

Vanetta’s glare appeared in full effect, arms crossing in a way that Natalie rather appreciated—propping her already nicely framed chest up.

“What do you mean, that’s it?”

“A handie’s the best I can buy?”

“What did you expect?”

Honestly? She hadn’t thought about it. The lack of options did make sense. Even if the girl had only intended on having one customer from the start.

“Is there a friends discount? A loyalty rewards program? Any secret menu I can order from?”

“You aren’t funny, you know that, right?”

“Not even a bit?”

“No.”

Natalie met the glare evenly, then, to Vanetta’s clear outrage, laughed. She brought her attention back to the chalkboard and made a show of considering her options, taking her time to mull her decision over.

Vanetta huffed, loudly, part-way through.

“Sit,” she ordered. “And do you—do you want anything?”

“Want anything?” Natalie echoed.

“To drink. Or eat. There’s stuff in this room. I’m supposed to be your hostess,” she grumbled. “That’s where half the tokens come from, it’s not just about the—other stuff.”

“Oh?” Natalie’s grin slowly widened. “You’re telling me you’re contractually obligated to put me in a good mood? To be a sweet, polite hostess?”

She glowered. “It’s part of the assignment. Don’t get any ideas.”

“I’m definitely getting ideas,” Natalie said. “There’s food?”

“Sliced fruit, for one. Snacks. And liquor, as I’m sure you saw.” She gestured at the nightstand, where the bottle of amber liquid and crystal glasses were laid out.

“Sliced fruit?” Natalie repeated. “Ooh. Can you feed them to me? Is that part of the experience?”

“Feed you?”

“It’s every girl’s dream to have a scantily clad woman sit on her lap and feed her, don’t you know?”

“Speak for yourself, pervert.”

“You’ve been using that word a lot.”

“I wonder why.”

“You’re lucky I like girls with attitude, otherwise I’d say you’re not being a very good hostess.”

Vanetta glared, but it shifted a moment later into vague amusement. Snorting, she turned and walked over to the nightstand and crouched down. Inside was a tray with an assortment of fruit, as promised, and she pulled it out and walked over to her.

“Sit, then.” Vanetta pointed at the chaise lounge chair. “But I’m not getting on your lap.”

“Aw. That’s the whole point. What if I pay you?”

Vanetta almost bit off a second denial, but she hesitated. Probably realizing she was offering much more than sitting on a girl’s lap through her menu, and that this was the whole point of the Bordello.

Her cheeks colored, and to Natalie’s delight, she growled out, “Fifty tokens, and I’ll think about it.”

“Deal.”

“What?”

“Fifty tokens, to fulfill a life-long dream? Sounds worth it to me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She hesitated. “ ... Five is fine.”

“Pretty sure you’re supposed to barter up, not down,” Natalie said, amused.

“You’re not paying me fifty tokens just to sit on your lap.” She grumbled, “The whole paying part of this is weird, anyway.”

“I’ll take it for free, too, if you want.”

“You wish.” She sniffed, then, with some reluctance, settled onto Natalie’s lap, who had lounged out on the comfy chair. She sat sideways, across her thighs, legs dangling off.

Vanetta blinked as she settled in.

“Wait, I can feel your armor.”