The second I walk into this place, even through the silk screen dividers and smoky haze of atmosphere, I can feel the eyes on me. I know, they know, that I, don't belong here. They can see it in my strut, they can see it the firm set of my eyes, resting upon one person. That person is Derek Chambers.

He sits there proud and arrogant, fiddling with a white gloved hand and his glass of amber liquid. The clubs ladies of the night, with their tight corsets and short little skirts, fawn over him as he pays them no attention. He seems bored with it all, but soon I hope to wipe that look off his face. Because I have a deal to make with him, if he's man enough.

Walking confidently with my ivory skirts sashaying, like a bell from the waist of my embroidered brown leather corset, I approach him. My metal filigree studded leather boots clicked against the graphemnium floors, heard by all those I passed. My curly hair was pinned up tightly under my laced top hat. My face covered behind by my lace mask, adorned with wheels and cogs, so only my eyes could be seen. As usual, I was not the only one wearing a mask. The scarred from disease and accidents would wear them, the Gilded class would also wear masks, or those who wish to not be noticed while being down here.

As I took the empty seat at his table, the first sign of amusement crossed his face. My face was the mirror of disgust as I could smell, liquor, smoke, opium, and the scent of heavily perfumed, unwashed bodies still bathed in sex sweat.

"Lady, I think you have the wrong table." One of the girls stated looking like I had just torn what was left of her ruffles from her barely there skirt.

"Mr. Chambers, should I send them on their way?" I raised my chin and looked away, aloof and uncaring of what the harlot said.

"Leave, you all are boring anyways." He waved them off and leans forward once they've left out of hearing range.

"You're not a lady of the night and you know who I am. You must have something you want to ask of me?" His grin informs me that I will not be disappointed.

"Mr. Chambers, it's not really I, that has a proposition for you. My associates think you may be the man of the hour, if your TONGUE isn't loose, and your coin jingles right."

This makes him perk up and he immediately knocks back his glass of alcohol. Placing it on the table, he makes a card suddenly appear from nowhere. A simple slide of hand, that I'm sure he used to try and impress me. I sit there staring, not amused at his cheap tricks. He chuckles at my lack of response and slides it over to me. I take it in my gloved hand, looking it over quickly.

"This is all well and good, for you, Mr. Chambers. However, my colleagues have more than the normal amount ready for processing. They were very clear on the the fact, that other than you and one of ours, will be there for the process. No more, no less. You'll make more off this one transaction, than you've made in the past two years. So this price is out of the question."

I tear the card in two and set fire to it with the oil lantern at the table, setting it in the ashtray as it quickly fades to ash.

"I have no doubt, lady, that I will become a rich man from this. The more to make, the higher the stakes of being caught and thrown in prison. I want to know if the risk we're both taking is truly worth it." He sits back and crosses his legs holding onto them with his hands interlaced.

"Very well. We can always find a new associate to work with. Good day, Mr. Chambers." I get up to leave and he grabs my arm. My blade is at his throat in a flash.

"Now, now. We can come to an agreement, civil and proper. I just was trying to get your attention."

"Release me or I will have your attention, Mr. Chambers."

He lets go to let me step back. "Thirty percent instead of the normal twenty five. That's all we will give you. Take it or leave it." I spit out, ready to leave this disgusting establishment.

"Very well, Lady Cog. My apologies for offending your proper disposition." He bows his head.

"Someone will be in touch, enjoy the rest of your evening, Mr. Chambers." I leave head held high, and not paying attention to the vile acts on display around me.

I'm nearing the entrance and as I'm about to take my leave by the door, a sight catches my eye. My heart skips a beat and I quickly shake my head, taking a step back behind a dividing screen. Hoping I am seeing this incorrectly.

Mr. Fairchild is walking in with another man. His companion looks drunk, but Mr. Fairchild seems annoyed. Mr. Fairchild looks around and shakes his head in disgust.

"Good night Archibald, I shall leave you here. This place does not suit my ideas of a pleasant evening."

"Oh, come on man! Don't tell me you're going to go and think of that beautiful woman you keep mentioning? Have some fun with a woman that knows how to please a man!"

'Beautiful woman? Is that me? Fun with a woman?'

Shaking my head at the nonsense, ' I knew better than that', I scold myself inwardly. I make my way past them both not bothering to look their way at all as I leave.

Once outside, I take a deep steadying breath of the cool night air.

"It's a cool night, is it not?" It's Mr. Fairchild.

I make an agreeing noise, and begin to walk in haste to the lift area.

"You don't seem like the type of woman that should be seen in an establishment such as that. I believe that is why you hide your face?"

'He's following me! What in the world!'

I make another agreeing noise as he catches up to my stride.

"It's not safe for a lady to be walking around without a chaperone, especially in a place like this. May I see you safely to your home?" He questions me.

'Is he like this with every woman?'

Doing my best to change my voice, I ask him gruffly, sounding closer to a person who's smoked all their life. "Do you offer every woman you see walking alone, to be an escort to their place of residence?"

He laughs short and sharply, "No, only to the ones that interest me."

We arrive at the lift and I stop him with a gloved hand, making sure that my blade flashed evidently in my hand. "I'll not be taking your interest to my home, Mr. Fairchild. Good night."

I enter the lift and quickly close the door.

"Shit!" I squeal as the lift takes me up....

'I said his name! Damn it!'

The small lift was not enough room for the pacing that I was trying to do.  When the lift opened up, I quickly made my way through the darker city streets.  My boots are still clicking as I hurry for fear of Mr. Fairchild possibly attempting to take the next lift up to follow me.

Sweat beads on my face underneath the mask, as I enter my shop through the back door. I'm hopping up the stairs, two at a time, as I quickly undress and hop into my claw foot, copper tub. As I sit in the warm water, I fill it with scented soaps and oils to wash the stench of the clubs atmosphere off my skin.

I'm drying off when my talking tube rings.

Throwing on my satin dressing gown, I sprint to answer it.

"Hello?" I pick up a little breathlessly.

"Rakara, how are you doing girl?" The gruff voice of Leonard, the district head of the Cogs, greets me.

"Leo, I'm doing alright. I did thirty today, they were trying for 50! I informed them, that was outrageous! You can't expect a woman, such as my self, to allow such a demand."

Our coded talk ensued on over the deal for the the refining of the Tungsten ore. They were pleased with my capabilities of coercing the percentage down.

"Well my dear, we're pleased you stood your ground. We will be sure to reward you, for your spine. I should say... give us five days and we will have a little get together."

'five days... but that's saturday.'NJ

"Leo, I'm sorry but I can't this Saturday. I have a prior engagement that I have already set."

Leo pauses, confusion in his tone.

"Oh? I was unaware of this."

Reassuring him I let him know, "It's not like that Leo, I am invited to the Theater and it's in the Gilded district."

" A date?! Well.... How did you charm a Gilded into inviting you to that? Don't tell me that piece of filth Wheelwright invited you?!."

"Oh dear sweet elements NO. No, I told Mr. Wheelwright that I was not interested in his attentions. I was invited by another man."

"Oh? Please tell me a little something about this man." Leo sounds genuinely interested.

I begin to tell him the little things, trying to not blush as I do.

"Leo, he's a business man who deals with imports and exports, and, he's not even a citizen of Lagford. Mr. Wellsew directed him to my shop and he seems to have taken a liking to me over the past month and asked me to join him."

I play with the lit candle absentmindedly, sticking my finger into the flame and make it dance around my finger, before pulling it out again.

"My dear, I can hear the smile on your face right now. Are YOU actually smitten with this fellow? Remember what Doris would tell you. 'They'll tell you whatever they think you need to..."

I join him to finish the phrase, " hear, to get you naked on your rear.' Yes. Yes. Leo, I am very well aware of that. I do admit, he has been very much the gentleman so far.... Which causes me to have my reservations. Especially since I saw him tonight, where I was leaving. He dropped another man off and left, but he may just have been not wanting to be there tonight."

I snuff out the candle with my fingers, letting the smoke rise from my fingers.

"Or my dear, he could be a gentleman. I'm not saying he is, but they are out there, so make sure your investigation is thorough before you jump to conclusions. Now, my dear. You'll be needing a mighty fine dress for the theater, even renting it will not be cheap. How are you going to manage that and have enough to buy the shop next door? You must have the down payment for the bank on Friday, to secure the purchase deed. Even with your recent deals and steady business, I don't see you having much left for the rental." He voices his concern.

I inform him of my thoughts on the matter. as I wipe the candle soot off my fingers.

"I am well aware of that. I was thinking of speaking to Mr. Wellsew and discussing if he would take some of the jewelry pieces that Mrs. Vathy left me as collateral until I was able to pay him back for the rental. If I'm careful, I believe my income will cover the loan payment for the building next door, the necessary items, for the shops expenses and still be able to pay Mr. Wellsew payments each week for the rental."

He scoffs, chuckling out.

"Do you plan on eating during that time my dear? You forget, I am your accountant come tax time."

Disheartened by his discouragement I huff, "I will manage Leo. Even if that means eating the left over pastry's from days prior. This is an opportunity that many can only dream of. Also, it gets my foot in the door and face seen among the Gilded. I entertained the idea that I may be able to use this as an opening for a later time."

Leo is quick to placate my temper when he knows my fuse has been sparked.

"Rakara, my dear, you are sharp as a new blade with that intuition and future planned out thoughts. I am just an old man that looks at you as a niece. I am only concerned for your well being. I know you are more than capable of handling your self, I'm sure you'll do just fine. Mr. Wellsew adores you and will most likely agree to the situation. Now, back to the purpose of this ring. I shall come by tomorrow and take care of our transaction books and make the necessary notes and finish our checks and balances, around ten in the morning. Does this sound agreeable to you my dear?"

I sigh a breath of relief and confirm. "Yes, Leo. Of course. I'll see you in the morning at ten then."

"Good night, Rakara."

"Good night, Leo."

I hang up the talking tube and head over to my window I had left open to let out the steam from my bath water. I take a deep breath of the nights cool, crisp air. Grateful that it doesn't smell of sewage and garbage like it would have in the Undercarriage. The breeze that runs through the area loosens my hair from my hasty and poorly pins, making my half of my dark curls spring free.

Sighing I pull the windows in and lock the bars into place and closing the curtains.

****

A male figure rests against the dark shadows of the wood and metal building, listening to the conversation that echos out into the alley. Watching as the dark haired and honeyed skin woman leans against the windows ledge with her eyes closed, before shutting them and letting the light go dark in the apartment. After waiting a few more minutes, the male figure disappears, like he was never there at all.