Walking up to the front desk, I'm greeted by the creepily kind receptionist from the first day.
"Hello, Danna."
"Graves, an unexpected visitor? How can I help the virginity slayer?"
There's a pause as I stare at her.
"...The what?"
"Cmon, there's no need to be bashful. I've seen the platoon of women going back and forth to the 78th floor."
"They are my tenets. You said it yourself, I needed to find my own."
"Yes, tenets. Tenets that pay a hefty price! You really do take after your grandfather; any woman who dares cross your path shall lose that which she once had."
I shake my head, trying to rid the image of my grandpa.
"So... howre yuh doing with the mucho money mula?"
"So far, so bad."
"Too busy putting out fires to make any money."
"N- actually, yeah, that's accurate in every respect."
"I haven't been billed for utilities or any of the other costs, what's usually the cost?"
"Hmm... pretty sure your gramps got you yet another good deal. The offical owner of the other 77 floors pays for electricity and heating. That means you've just gotta pay for water and trash."
"Really?!" My old man really did set me up perfectly. Now I feel for always bad mouthing him. "$1,500 times 6 equals $9,000. Water and trash probably cost $100 per room, times three, then plus an extra hundred for Cafuné and I."
She smirks. "Hmm? You have one that doesn't pay? I wonder how she truly pays?"
"She doesn't; she just lives with me."
Her eyes widen as she aggressively pats my shoulder. "DAMN! You've even got a personal one for whenever you're in the mood."
"Shush, I'm trying to think."
"Even your old man couldn't pull that off."
"$8,600," I groan.
"What are you bitching about? Its free money."
"Yes, but they are literal penthouses. I should be diving into a pile of gold coins right now."
"Eh." She shrugs. "You seem pretty content right now."
I suppose she's right; I shouldn't be ungrateful. It's only thanks to this bulletin board phenomenon that I have any tenets at all.
"Did my grandpa say anything before he died?"
She looks up with an expression of pondering. "Hmm... I guess he did say one thing."
"Yes?" My voice full of hope. This may finally clear up this whole confusing situation.
"I remember it like it was yesterday. We were 2 hours into it, even so, that man never slowed down. He called me his bitch, slapped my ass, then he-"
"OKAY!" I cut her off angrily. "I meant about me."
"Ohhh... why didn't you say so. He told me to warn you not to go into room 7852."
Okay, well, now that's exactly what I want to do. "I see..."
"Oh! He also said this funny riddle... rhythm? what would you call it?"
"Just tell me."
"Jeez, so impatient, unlike your grand-"
"Tell...me..."
"Fine, fine. He said: It starts like a kiss in candlelight—soft, sweet, and slow—but before they know it, the wax is burning, and they're too in love to notice the flame."
...
"He... said that? That sounds uncharacteristically poetic of him. Here I was thinking he was just an old perv."
She scoffs. "Ohh, he was very poetic, everytim-"
"Goodnight Danna... or don't; I don't think I care."
With a wave, I make my way back to the room.
"Bye, bye, Virgin Slayer!" She announces loudly enough for everyone in the lobby to hear.