Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
I blinked.
“Yes, Mountain Master.” Yong turned my way and bowed. “I am the butler here and I will always be at your service. By the way, I am excited to learn the leaves that you chose for the blend, Mountain Mistress.”
Oh shit. He’s still calling me Mountain Mistress.
Lei sighed again.
“Thank you.” I smiled and gave him a half bow. “I have no problem giving you the leaves I used for the blend. The ingredients for the tea are—”
“No.” Lei shook his head. “That’s my tea. No one else will be drinking it.”
I pursed my lips.
It’s tea, Lei. Relax.
I would have to discuss that with him later. For now, I would let him get that ridiculousness off.
Still, Yong widened his eyes. “I understand, sir.”
A woman chuckled and then quickly quieted herself. Soon she came right over as Yong headed back in line.
Lei tensed at my side.
“Welcome, Mountain Mistress.” She bowed and then held out her hand. “I am Janice, the head of cleaning. Anything you need, please pick up the phone and press 0. It will go directly to me and even if you are not at the Mirage and somewhere else, I will come to you, wherever you are, and not only clean, but help—”
Lei loudly cleared his throat.
“Sorry, Mountain Master.” She gave him a sad smile and returned her view to me. “I just want you to know that I and the East welcome you.”
“Thank you so much.” I took her hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Janice. I’ll be sure to dial you whenever I need you.”
“Please do.” She looked at our hands touching and I swear on everything—I mean absolutely everything—that she looked like she was about to burst into happy tears. Her hand even trembled slightly against mine and when I let go of her hand. . .she did not let go of mine.
O-kay.
Like. . .she wasn’t going to ever let go at all.
She just stayed right there, holding my hand.
And for a few seconds, I saw us glued together—Janice and me—for the rest of our lives—my walking and her on my side, my bathing and her right there in the bathroom with me, my fucking Lei and her sitting next to me on the bed cheering us on.
Lei frowned. “Janice, let go of her hand.”
“Oh.” She blinked, squeezed my hand a little and then finally released it. “I’m so sorry, Mountain Mistress.”
“That’s fine.” I kept an awkward smile plastered on my face.
What the hell is going on here?
At Lotus Blossom and even the Palace, the staff had been chill and working around me. Here, they acted like they were fans and I was a big celebrity.
“Again,” Lei slightly raised his voice. “You can call her Monique.”
I didn’t think they heard him that second time because as the rest greeted me one by one, they boldly said Mountain Mistress over and over.
And I had to admit that there was this great amount of warmth and respect in their pronunciation.
By the time the introductions were complete, my hand felt sore and my mind was buzzing with names. Each new introduction carried with it a promise of respect and more than a few enthusiastic exclamations of clear loyalty.
Plus, I realized I was smiling so much my cheeks hurt.
Yet, I'd never felt so appreciated, so important. It was as if I'd stepped into a fairy tale, transformed from an ordinary girl into someone’s truly special queen.
I was Belle from Beauty and the Beast and the Mirage’s staff was damn near singing the lines from the song, Be Our Guest.
And damn it if I wasn’t super happy to be their guest.
When all the introductions were done, Lei took my arm and led me away and they remained there watching us, with those happy smiles on their faces.
I grinned. “Wow.”
Lei kept his view forward.
“This staff is different than the others. They were beyond happy to see me.”
“It’s not the difference in staff. It’s the tea ceremony.”
I widened my eyes. “What?”
He frowned. “From now on, it’s going to be like that everywhere.”
“No?”
“Yes.” He gazed at me. “You’re going to have to get used to it. The East accepts you.”
“Well. . .we don’t know if all of the East does.”
“The Mirage has a tough staff. They are weary of others and while I don’t bring many women here. The few that I have, they have never regarded them with more than a glance.” He stopped us in front of the door. “They weren’t rude. They just didn’t. . .speak to them at all.”
I knew I should have focused on the main part of what he was saying, but a bit of jealousy hit me. “Who else did you bring here?”
“What?”
“The other women.”
He blinked. “Well. . .the harem of course.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “Of course.”
“And. . .Chanel.”
That stung, but I wouldn’t let it ruin this moment. “She’s been here.”