Page 64 of Fallen Angel

“That’s surprising,” says Justin.

“How unfortunate,” says Martha. “She’s probably losing money. It’s a tough business.”

The notion of losing money, of the club being a bad business model, is not a good start to their pitch. But Agnes didn’t create a sex toy empire by neglecting thoughts of the bottom line.

“I don’t think Agnes would sell solely for financial reasons,” Mallory says. “She’s devoted too much of herself to that place. It means something to her. And it means something to us. And we’re afraid the buyer will destroy it.”

“Who’s the buyer?”

“The newest performer. Violet Offender,” Mallory says.

“The dominatrix?” Justin says. Of course he knows about that.

“Yes. And Billy Barton is bankrolling her.”

Justin and Martha process this silently.

“Well, this is surprising,” Martha finally says. “But again, it must be a sort of sinking-ship situation.”

“I disagree,” Mallory says. “I think she’s become disillusioned with the scene. We’ve all let her down.” She turns to Alec for help.

“Regardless of Agnes’s motivation in selling—and we can all agree she wouldn’t do so without a personal reason—this is a bad move,” he says. “Violet will ruin the Blue Angel. She’s been so damaging and disruptive just as an employee, never mind as a boss. We don’t want to let that happen.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear all this,” Justin says. “We’ll reach out to Agnes and see if she needs anything.”

Alec nods. “We were hoping you’d feel that way. Because Mallory and I know how you two feel about burlesque—”

“And art in general,” Mallory adds.

Martha looks at them more closely, eyes narrowed. “You two didn’t come here just to give us this news, did you?”

Mallory knows it’s Alec’s cue to talk, to give them his pitch. But then she thinks of the resigned look on Agnes’s face when she quit, and she thinks back to the first night she stepped inside the front door of the Blue Angel. She’d felt so free that night. It was the tiniest crack that allowed a whole new version of herself to break through. And she says, “That’s true. We didn’t come here just to deliver the news: we’re here to do something about it. We want to know if you’ll make a counteroffer. Buy it out from under Violet.”

Justin turns to Martha, deferring to her. It is, after all, her fortune.

Martha stands gingerly, bad hip be damned. She walks to one of the windows and looks down below at Bond Street. With every second that ticks by, Mallory feels more certain the answer will be no. They’ve overstepped; partying with the Baxters is one thing but a financial investment, a business venture, is a whole other relationship.

Martha turns, leaning on the cane that makes her look much older than her years.

“It’s an interesting proposition. But I’m about to launch Prom Night Deux and I simply don’t have the time for another endeavor.”

Justin nods, standing up to join her and help her back to her seat.

“Mallory, Alec, thank you for thinking of us,” he says. “But you know, it’s not always a good thing to turn play into work.”

Mallory tries not to show her disappointment; she’d hoped that even if Martha didn’t jump at the idea, Justin would.

“On the other hand,” Alec says. “If you do what you love you never work a day in your life. Isn’t that the saying? You two throw the best parties in town. Why not make some money off that flare for nightlife?”

“I’ll do all the work,” Mallory says quickly. “I’ll run the whole operation.

Justin and Martha look at one another.

“You’d be willing to make it your full-time job?” Martha says.

“If I was paid a salary, yes.” She hadn’t thought this part through entirely, but now that it was presented to her, she thinks it sounds like a dream. She’d rather be managing a burlesque club than a law office.

“What about you, Alec? What would be your role in all this?”