Twenty Years Ago
Renee had a short childhood. Her mother died bringing her into the world, leaving Matthew to raise her alone in the only manner he knew how, to the best of his abilities. For the most part, Renee was a typical, happy child who laughed and played as she began to learn how her world would work. She spent more time with nannies and women who worked for Matthew, but spent as much time as possible with her father. Always a curious and diligent child, she was loved and praised by many, either because she actually was a well-behaved child or because she was Matthew’s daughter, and it was clearly obvious that she was fiercely loyal to her father.
By the time Renee was ten, she had seen and heard things that no child should ever know. She never questioned her father and was never fazed by what she witnessed; she grew stronger because of it. Renee devoted herself to her father and the Family, the only exception being Evan Crescent. He was cold and contemptuous to her and she would return the feeling every chance she got. Out of respect for her father, they treated each other with polite indifference, usually shooting daggers out of their eyes when they had to speak to each other. If she never saw him again, she wouldn’t care.
When she wasn’t in school, she spent most of her time with Sasha Wheeler, the madam for the New England Family. Sasha was young and beautiful, generous and patient, and helped Renee grow from child to young woman. Renee would often imagine her mother when Sasha talked to her about the plethora of choices life would have to offer instead of fully committing herself to the Family. But just like her father, Renee was stubborn and dedicated to getting what she wanted. What Renee wanted most in the world was to make her father proud.
With slight reluctance from Sasha, before and after school for almost a year, Renee would meet with Sasha to discuss work and life. Renee always focused on work—whether it was preparing contracts, scheduling clients, or arranging deliveries—and was quickly accepted by the girls servicing Matthew’s clientele by being understanding and direct. Just like everything else she touched, Renee took to the job she was given with focus and determination. Nobody, especially her father, would be let down.
“You seem to be enjoying your work,” Sasha said over a private dinner with Renee one night. “I’m surprised. I thought with your excellence for numbers you would want to go straight to bookkeeping.”
“I can do that too,” Renee replied after swallowing her food. Talking with food in her mouth was the number one rule she would never break. “I already do.”
“I meant for more than just what we do.”
“What, you mean like for the hotel?”
“I think your father would be pleasantly surprised with the work you could do downstairs.”
Renee slightly narrowed her eyes at Sasha. “Why would you want me downstairs? Am I doing something wrong?”
“No,” Sasha said with a defeated sigh. “No, you’re not.”
“Then why would you want me downstairs?”
“Renee, you’re fourteen years old. Girls your age are thinking about proms and shopping, hoping the captain of the football team wants to take them out for pizza.” Sasha put her hand up before Renee could interrupt. “I am fully aware that you are not like other girls your age and I absolutely love you for who you are. But I have to wonder, do you really want to work in this hotel, upstairs, for the rest of your life?”
“I know my father has other jobs that I would be good at, but I want to be with you and the girls. I’m good at my job. You said so yourself.”
“I did,” Sasha agreed. “What I don’t understand is why.”
“Because I love you and the girls are my friends. I can’t leave you guys.”
There was no emotion in Renee’s features or tone when she spoke. After all, she was right. All she knew was the life she had. She had no friends her own age outside of the hotel and had become closer to the girls than Sasha ever thought she would. On top of that, Renee knew Sasha loved her as much as she loved Sasha.
Sasha smiled at Renee with a mother’s love and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “It’s getting late and we have to get back upstairs. We have a client in less than an hour.”
“Why haven’t I been marked yet?”
All of the girls who worked for Matthew had a mark—a black rose tattoo that adorned the back of their right shoulder with a blood red P dangling from the green stem.
Curious, Sasha asked, “Why do you want one?”
Renee looked at Sasha like it was the most obvious question she had ever asked. “I’m a member of this Family and I should have my mark.”
Sasha couldn’t argue the logic. “Ask your father. If he says yes, I’ll make the arrangements.”
***
“You’re a little young to get marked, Renee,” Matthew said without taking his eyes off the newspaper.
“Don’t you think I have earned my mark, Father?”
“The responsibility that comes with the mark is heavy, Renee. Are you sure you’re ready for it?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t feel I was ready for it.”
Matthew cocked an eyebrow at her over his newspaper. “I don’t care. Do what you want.”
The next day, Renee’s back was adorned with the black rose tattoo that she wore as a symbol of pride and loyalty to her Family. Her tattoo differed from the others only in that she was marked with the letter D for daughter. Once the ink was done there was no question that she would now and forever be a permanent fixture in every aspect of the business.