The front door slammed, and Anjanette stuck her head out of the parlor in time to see Vanessa run up the stairs. She then turned back into the room to finish making her inspection. The madam liked to make sure everything was perfect before she opened her doors to her customers. She knew that a man was likely to spend more time and therefore more money in an establishment that was not only clean but also comfortable. With that in mind her parlor was decorated like most homes, just on a larger scale. There were none of the tacky paintings and harsh colored furniture that one might find in a brothel of lower class. Anjanette preferred softer colors and lush accents to her rooms. She expected nothing less of her girls as well, each of their rooms were decorated to match their personalities.

Vanessa's was very much a girl's room, with lots of lace and frills. Anjanette assumed that Vanessa's bedroom in her life before the bordello was decorated much the same way. Elena's room was much more suited to fantasy and was decorated to keep the men who preferred her interested in seduction. Decorated elegantly it reminded Anjanette of a room more suited to a concubine than a run of the mill harlot, but the men liked it and they kept coming back so that's all that mattered.

Dean entered the room a few minutes later and dropped himself into a plush chair. "Vanessa's home." He said dully.

"I saw that." Anjanette said as she dusted an end table off and readjusted one of the lamps.

"No, I mean for good."

The madam's eyebrows shot up. "Well good, now Elena will stop complaining." She saw the young man's downcast features and sighed sadly. "She didn't move out of the territory, Dean."

The bodyguard's head shot up in surprise. "Who?"

Anjanette snorted and sat on the arm of the chair. "Who indeed. You know who I'm talking about."

He frowned. "No I don't." He lied.

"Corey."

Dean exhaled loudly. "Is it that obvious?"

The woman giggled. "I'm just surprised I didn't figure it out sooner. I'm sure if Vanessa were here, and I wasn't so worried about the business I would've gotten it the first week."

"If Nessa were here, I would've never met Corey." He said softly.

"Well, what are you gonna do about it?" Anjanette asked. She had never seen him so smitten with someone before. It had always been short relationships, usually with women whose reputations were no better than the girls in her house, but this was different. Corey was a proper young woman, her best friend was the daughter and wife of some of the town's most upstanding citizens.

"I don't know." Dean's thoughts were running in the same direction as Anjanette's, and the more he thought about it, the more depressed he became. He knew he didn't have a chance where Corinne Nelson was concerned. She wasn't like the other women in his life. Dean was sure she wouldn't want to associate with a man who ran a casino in a bordello. It would make her an outcast, and he couldn't bear it if she was shunned because of him.

"Well, you could always try to convince her to come and work here."

"No!" He shook his head and frowned at Anjanette. "I won't have her working here. She's too good to be working in a bordello."

"She's too good? What does that make me? Or Elena? Or nice little Vanessa? I guess we're trash."

"That's not what I meant."

Anjanette rolled her eyes "Sure."

"No, I meant that Corey would never make it here. She hasn't got it in her to be a whore."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Who said anything about working upstairs? I was thinking she could work for you in the casino."

Dean sighed. "No I don't think she would. It's not good for her reputation."

The sound of a full out argument crashed into the serenity of the parlor, and they both glanced up at the ceiling and laughed. "Looks like Elena just found out Vanessa's back." Dean said.

"Just another day at the Chateau." Anjanette replied.

"I'm gonna go inspect the bar and casino. I'll see you later."

Anjanette grabbed the young man's arm. "If you have some feelings for her, then don't let her get away Dean. Do whatever you have to do so that you can get a chance with her."

Dean smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thanks. I'll think on it."

"That's all I can ask you to do." Another loud yell pierced the air, and Anjanette winced. "That, and could you put an end to whatever that argument is about please?"