Hotel CJ

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:29:55 GMT

Can You Keep A Secret?

Hotel CJ

Chapter One

Secrets and Roaches

Jamon leaned on the counter, “So how did you find me then?” he asked.

“It was pretty easy” Nate replied, waving his hands at Jamon’s elbow on the counter. Jamon stood up straight and Nate took out a cloth and wiped the counter.

“Wow, someone is anal, it’s not even clean down here,” said Jamon.

“I would appreciate it, if you didn't make fun of my OCD. I’m sensitive” Nate said with a straight face.

Jamon did not know whether or not he was serious so decided to get back to the subject. “So why was it so easy?”

“You go to a lot of concerts. Specifically Lewis Miller though”

“Okay…?” Jamon was getting impatient.

“You went to every date on his tour this year” said Nate.

Jamon laughed. “What can I say I love his music, plus he has a nice ass.”

“That's almost twelve concerts. And you were requested to go backstage at eight of these shows-why didn't you?”

Jamon looked at Nate in amazement. This guy obviously knew his stuff. “They say never meet your idols, so I just chose not to go-plus I know what happens backstage. You think I’m gonna go and meet Lewis and act like a total Stan and then he’ll take me to a hotel, fuck me and then go back to his wife. No thankyou”

Nate smiled. “I knew I liked you. Well okay that's it you’re in”

Jamon looked around at the dusty lobby looking like something straight out of Room 1408. “In where exactly, not this roach motel?”

“Of course not. This is just our façade to passers-by. We wouldn't want anyone seeing what we really look like.” Nate said walking behind the counter.

There was a big locker that was surrounded by other small lockers. He took a key out of his pocket and opened the large locker and looked at Jamon. “Well don't just stand there. Come on and lets get you inducted”.

Jamon followed Nate through the big door and was almost blinded by the sudden light. He was now in the lobby of a very high-end hotel. Bathed in golden light with a grand staircase that you could enter from left or right. Beautiful people were all over the place and he could hear ‘Take Five’ being played from a live band that was not visible. Jamon followed Nate to the desk and his eye caught a white-haired man kissing a very young woman’s neck.

“Hey isn’t that?”

“Yes it is” replied Nate.

Jamon’s wandering eye began to notice that almost all the clients were famous people, most who were married and who were definitely not with their partners. The ball dropped instantly and realized what this place was.

“Nate, this place is a creep-joint!” Jamon whispered trying not to stare at the obvious violation of commandment no7.

“In layman’s terms yes, that's what we are.” He said pressing the bell on the counter.

A short black girl turned around from filing papers. She looked at Nate and Jamon with a deep frown.

“Nate, you always ring the bell when you see me standing here, what’s wrong with you?” she said looking him up and down, she spoke with a clipped London accent.

“Jamon this is Riley, Riley this is Jamon. He’ll be taking over as of today”

Riley’s frown disappeared instantly and she held out her hand to Jamon smiling.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was beginning to wonder whether they’d find anyone as it’s been three months since my so called promotion and they got me doing two jobs!” Riley spoke so fast it was hard to keep up.

“Okay girl, I’ma need you to slow down if you’re gonna be inducting me today-that is what’s happening right?” Jamon said looking at Nate, who was looking at Riley’s cleavage.

“Oh, yes of course. Riley get out the welcome pack and induct him asap please. I have to go now.” He walked off in the direction of some women dressed as Geisha’s.

Riley hummed the chorus of ‘single ladies’ as she got out the welcome pack from the shelves under the counter. As she pottered around gathering files a tall caramel skinned man appeared next to Jamon and rang the bell causing Riley to bump her head lightly on the top shelf.

“Oh My gosh, I’m sorry!” he said touching Riley’s head to see if she was all right.

Jamon eyed him up. He was was gorgeous and definitely his type. With wavy brown hair, an athletic build and a voice like silk. He also had a distinctive south London accent.

Riley rubbed her head. “Oh, don’t worry its me, I can’t go a day without bumping my head. I have some serious issues I swear.”

He laughed. “I’m here to collect my keys, I apologize for being late-I had trouble finding the place by myself”

“Langley the real problem would be if you could find this place easily. So don’t worry. Here is your room key. Please enjoy your stay at Hotel CJ, where everyday is Friday” said Riley, sounding like an airline commercial.

Jamon, waited until Langley was clear out of earshot before talking. “Girl who is that?” he said watching Langley walk up the stairs.

“Oh that's just Langley, he’s a British Football player. Y’know England won last week right?” Riley said matter-of-factly.

“Oh so what he’s come here to celebrate?” Jamon asked.

“The whole English football team is here to celebrate, they usually share one room. But Langley has his own room. He always has his own room”

“Why?”

“Because” she leaned in so she was literally touching Jamon’s ear with her lips. “The England team are a bunch of trifling ho’s who have orgies with under-age girls. Well at least they think they are. No one here is under 21. Langley is gay, and not into that stuff. He just comes here as it would look very strange if he didn't come to the hotel.’

“So, if he’s not into that shit, how does he avoid going?”

“He makes sure that he gets ‘held up’ at the bar. There’s a big rumor that he’s an alcoholic now”

“But he’s not right?”

“Of course not, Langley is a sweet guy and just drinks water. He just puts on the drunkard act so the other guys don't question him when he ‘stumbles’ back to his room”. Riley finished putting together the pack and handed it to Jamon.

“The Shadow Pack?” he read aloud.

“Yeah, basically for the next few weeks you will be shadowing someone on each floor. First thing to learn is that there are thirteen floors. Each floor has a specific purpose. Check your schedule everyday to see where you will be.”

Riley handed Jamon an electric card. “This is your ID card. You will need this at ALL times. You cannot enter without out it, k?”

Jamon looked at the card. “Hey how did you get my drivers license photo?”

“Soon, grasshopper you will learn” she said mysteriously.

“Girl you are a mess” Jamon said putting the card in his pocket. He opened his pack. It read:

Shadow Pack for Jamon Dominique

Welcome J.D. to Hotel CJ. The worlds best kept secret.

We chose you because you know how to keep a secret, no matter how juicy that secret may be. Please go to the lower basement, which are the staff quarters. Once you arrive go to page two.

Jamon, followed the pack and stepped into the golden lift. He looked at all the numbers and did not see B or LB as displayed in the book. To the left of the panel he saw a black square that looked like a scanner. He took out his card and placed it on the square. A gold panel under the numbers slid down revealing hidden floors. He pressed LB and had to hold on because the lift was so damn fast.

He stepped out and looked at the narrow corridor with gold walls. It was well-kept and the red carpet was so plush that he felt bad stepping on it with his outside shoes. He took out his pack and turned to page two:

Okay, assuming you are in the long corridor. I must ask you to take off your shoes and wear the slippers provided in the pack.

Jamon looked at the back and found some soft black shoes attached to the back of the pack. He took them out and put them on, tying his sneaker laces together and slinging it over his shoulder. He turned back to page two:

Good. CJ wants this place to feel like home, as you will be sleeping here most work nights.

You will find that the doors on the left are Black and the doors on the right are Purple. Black=Male Purple=Female. Please remember this, as this is important coding and failing to remember this could result in dire consequences.

Your room is Black 232

Jamon looked up at the black door in front of him. It was room 232.

“Aint that lucky” he said to himself whilst swiping his card on the door. The door released with a click. Jamon pushed the door and felt the wall for a light switch. There was nothing. Using his common sense he clapped twice and the lights came on. He had a clap light at home. Jamon was taken aback at his room, He honestly didn't expect much for hotel staff quarters. But his room was nice!

“Damn” he breathed. “If this is the staff quarters I don't wanna see the rooms for clients!”

“Trust me” said a voice. “You will simply perish at the sight of them!”

Jamon looked up to see a tall thin white guy dressed in military garb.

“Hey I’m Jason,” he said shaking Jamon’s hand. “I’m guessing you’re Jamon?”

“Yeah, so are you my roommate?”

“Yes, that is I” replied Jason polishing his faux medals.

“I never knew I had a roomie-although now thinking back that was blatantly obvious”

“Didn’t you read page three of the shadow pack?”

“Y’know what I never got that far. I’m still in awe of this damn room.”

“Yea it is nice” Jason agreed. “I think you better read page three. Just in case”

Jamon opened the pack and scanned page three. “It says I’m due to shadow you on the fourth floor”

Jason smiled. “I thought it would. Well you need to get ready real soon, as I’m due in fifteen minutes.

“Okay what am I wearing?”

Jason showed Jamon the walk in closet. “The right side is mine. The left is yours. Top shelf is for hats only-and trust me you will acquire a plethora. Here are all the costumes you will need this month on the bottom rack-this empty rack here is for your personal day off clothes.”

Jamon was looking at the vast closet of clothes trying to take everything in. Jason picked up a similar lower ranking military outfit.

“This is what you’ll be wearing today,” he said fixing his hair in the mirror. “Quick get ready, or else you’ll get a warning from CJ on your first day and you don’t want that.”

“Alrighty!” said Jamon changing into the costume as fast as he could. “Hey Jason tell me, what happens on the fourth floor”.

Jason smiled the same mysterious smile that Riley did earlier.

“Just wait and see”.

Bare-Foot Kid's Notebook

Hotel CJ