by Nolon King
I’d asked Bennett, but she answered, just like I hoped that she would.
“I dragged him there first. Raw oysters sound good. With my schedule, the closest I’ve come to fish lately is sticks.” She laughed. “At home I can dress whatever with my sauce, it’s the best you’ve ever tasted, but here you don’t need to. Everything is so fresh.”
“What’s in your sauce?” I asked, not because I cared, but the woman lit up at the mention.
“A little mayo, ketchup and brandy. Tiny bit of mustard.” Another smile that looked like a wink, followed by a swipe of her hand. “And, of course, a little bit of me.”
I couldn’t have written myself a better opening.
“I get the feeling that you put at least a little of yourself into everything you do, is that right, Elle?”
She blushed like a good girl, stealing the slightest glance at Bennett beside her, a flash of her eyes and nothing more. “I try to. Otherwise, why do it?”
Bennett put his hand on her back. “Elle is one of those people who cares.”
“I can see that,” I said. “Tell me Elle, if it isn’t too gauche to be interrogating you at a party.”
“Bennett said that he wanted me to meet someone. I’m assuming that was you, and I trust him.” Another glance at her dream date. “So go ahead and ask, what is it you want to know?”
“The same thing from you that I always want to know about everyone else: What are you best at?”
It wasn’t what Elle expected. She pursed her lips, thinking, appearing to give my query some serious thought.
Then finally she said, “Listening.”
“Lots of people listen,” I nudged her. “Why is that special?”
“I mean listening. Because people don’t do that. Not nearly enough. I always know what people need.”
“Be specific,” I had to keep pressing. “Which people?”
The first time Elle looked uncomfortable, but then she said it anyway. “My children. My husband, when he’s not being a lying asshole. Everyone at school.”
“What are you worst at?” I asked.
“Making time for it all,” she admitted.
It was hard not to like her, and I was looking for reasons.
“Are you organized?”
“Oh yes, but flexible.” Then, “Excuse me, but is this a job interview?”
Yes.
“Not at all. Just curious.”
I kept my questions light after that, observing her with Bennett, and feeling better and better about Blush. Every instinct was telling me that Bennett was right, this girl would be great; I had to capitalize on this opportunity.
Like always, I was willing to spend. But first I had to know what I was buying.
Elle, or whatever her name was, because it sure as hell wasn’t that, would need a full evaluation. Whether or not Ryan agreed to a full-time position, I would make this job worth his while. A detailed write-up on this woman — similar to the one he’d provided for Lindley, albeit for an entirely different role in the new company — would give me the green light required to get Dominic fully on board. Even if he didn’t necessarily believe that Ryan should be part of the permanent team, he had never questioned the quality of the man’s recommendations.
Bennett gave me a knowing smile and whispered, “I told you,” into my ear before escorting her back over to the bar.
I walked over to a quiet spot on the far side of the tennis courts and dialed Ryan.
“Hello?” He answered on the second ring, children laughing in the background. In the distance I heard, “Shhh … I’m on the phone.” Then louder, “Hi, Melinda. Sorry, I’m with my kids right now. What’s up? I still have until tomorrow to decide about the job, right?”
“I have something else for you, if you’re interested. A special psych assessment. High priority. Are you interested?”
“Maybe? Do you have any details?”
“Absolutely. And that’s the prize for telling me that you’re interested. You say yes, then I get back to you with the specifics as soon as I have them. Right now, I just need to know if you’re in.”
So on cue he said, “Then consider me in.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Sunday Evening …
JADE
Last night’s party was the worst so far.
Not to say that they’ve all been bad, because they haven’t at all. Some are fun, and they all paid me really well for my time, even the ones that are sorta hard to stay excited for because the guys are yelling at me or telling me to do things I don’t wanna do, which Victor told me at first that I wouldn’t have to do because this was a better class of gentlemen and all, but now he’s telling me that I should just roll with it.
That’s what I kept telling myself during my time with Nelson Bragg. He maybe had the most appropriate last name of any guy I ever knew, and for sure anyone I ever had to sleep with. He was lucky his stupid show, Out of My Mind was still on the air. I only saw it once, but it was dumb, even though it was hard to follow. I didn’t know anyone who watched it. Critics said it was boring, tone-deaf, and tried too hard.
I’d looked it up after leaving Nelson because reading how much everyone hated him made me feel a little bit better. I didn’t know much about Out of My Mind, but the review sounded like a critique of Nelson himself.
Nelson talked like he was more successful than God, but he spent like a parishioner on the dole. Instead of springing for the penthouse like a lot of actors — it hadn’t happened yet for me, but I kept hearing the stories — he dragged me into a dingy motel on the wrong side of the hills.
Some of the guys like to make small talk ahead of time, or at least try to be nice to me. They’re paying and all, so they don’t have to, but still, it’s not hard to know that if you get a girl in the mood, it’s probably gonna be better for you.
Unless you’re a guy like Nelson Bragg -- then that’s not what you want at all.
We’d been in the shithole for about five minutes when I realized that he wasn’t just being cheap, that was part of the turn-on for him. And I was okay with that, until he refused to wear a condom. That was my one thing. I didn’t want to end up pregnant, or with something nasty that I’d have for the rest of my life, and maybe even pass onto my babies. I heard that could happen. It was one of the first things I asked Victor, too.
I don’t have to go bareback ever, right?
And he promised me that I wouldn’t.
But Nelson wasn’t listening when I told him that I wasn’t gonna do that, unless he only wanted me to use my mouth.
“I paid for your pussy or your asshole or wherever else I want to fuck you!” I could see him all hard through his pants.
I said no, so he started to rough me up. First grabbing me hard by the arm, then shoving me onto the bed after I said no even louder.
He took off his pants and his cock was throbbing.
He ordered me to put it in my mouth and I did, even though I didn’t want to and I felt scared, my heart beating all fast and almost sorta violent. I kept doing that for a while, until I thought it was time to change, then I went to get a rubber.
He slapped it out of my hand, and then he slapped me.
“What did I say?” Nelson yelled at me, my spit still dangling down from his dick.
That’s when I realized this was how he got off. He wanted to watch me be hurt.
I’d been there before. I just didn’t expect it from the sort of gentlemen that Victor said would be better behaved.
I wanted the condom, but Nelson didn’t, and I’d been with men like him before. So I knew what to do, and did it while crying, both to let it all out and because that’s what he wanted.
I tried to tell Victor on the phone, but he said I was being hysterical, and that he didn’t want to discuss it over the phone. So now I was going to tell him, but he was surrounded by a handful of other girls. I wasn’t sure if that would make talking to Victor better or worse. Most of the girls were fine, but that MILF was t
here too, and I really didn’t want her in my business. She handed Victor an envelope, same as I was about to do. She wasn’t better than me, even if she thought she was.
Victor saw me, and started walking over.
I couldn’t help myself, and started right in, hoping that I’d emptied my tears onto the pillow in that shithole, while Nelson took me sans condom from behind.
“You said that—”
Victor shook his head. He already had my arm gently in my hand and was leading me over into a quiet corner.
The girls were all watching, especially the MILF.
“Nelson Bragg is an asshole!” I said, trying to keep my voice low, but knowing it was louder than it should be. “You can’t book me with him ever again.”
“Okay. But I need you to be quiet right now, and when this sort of thing happens in the future. You got it?” He stared into my eyes, releasing my arm only after I nodded.
“You promised me I wouldn’t have to wear a condom.”
“Bragg made you go bareback?”
I nodded, still trying not to cry, or notice all of the other girls watching.
“What’d you say?”
“I told him no. Then he shoved me … and he hit me. I was scared. And he liked that.”
“Okay, I’m sorry about that. I’ll take care of it. You’ll never have to see him again.”
But what did that mean?
Was Victor going to book him with another girl?
“Will he still be a client?”
“Probably,” Victor shrugged. “I’ll tell him what is and isn’t acceptable, but we got a lotta girls, and you’re all into different stuff.”
“No one would be into him.”
“You’d be surprised. But it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to see him again, isn’t that what you’re asking for?”
Not exactly. “What if someone else doesn’t want to use a condom, or wants to hurt me.”
Now he looked impatient. “You can do anything for an hour, especially for that amount of scratch. Just tell me when it’s over and I’ll take care of everything, okay?”
No. But if I told him that, would he fire me? “Okay.”
“Great.” Victor held out his hand and I filled it with money.
He counted the cash, gave me a smile, then slipped his cut into his pocket before handing the rest back to me.
I turned to go.
“One more thing,” he said.
I turned back around and he finished.
“Make sure this stuff just stays between you and me, you got it?”
“Of course.”
I had been keeping secrets, especially about stuff like this, for most of my life. What the hell, I could always keep more.
I left the common area and headed for my room, wondering if I should go inside or keep on walking and pretend I was going somewhere else. Because the MILF was behind me, and if she was like every other nagging busybody mom I’d ever known, I didn’t want to be anywhere near her, let alone be on the wrong side of what would surely be her conversation.
But by the time I reached my room I figured fuck her, so I unlocked the door, went inside, and closed it behind me.
A few moments later, she knocked.
“No one’s home!” I yelled, then picked up my tablet and started to draw, hoping that the MILF would give up and go away.
She waited another minute or so, it was almost sorta respectful. I even thought that maybe she had gone away, just a moment before I heard the second knock.
“Please, Jade. I’m a friend.”
Um, no, you’re not even close. We don’t even know each other’s real names. Besides, I only have a few friends in this world, and if any of them were over twenty years old, then it wasn’t by much.
“Go away.”
“Give me five minutes and I will. Otherwise, I’m camping out in the hall.”
I didn’t really think she’d do that; she’d probably have to go home and make mac and cheese for her stupid rug rats. But I wanted to draw in peace.
I went to the door, opened it, and said, “Five minutes,” then went back to my bed.
Elle closed the door behind her, and for a moment, the look on her face made me feel bad for thinking of her as a MILF. In that second, she looked like just another one of the girls.
I pressed the home button on my phone to light the screen, then showed her the time. “Your five minutes has started.”
She sat on the edge of my bed, filling me with déjà vu, watching me draw without saying a word.
“I’m serious about the five minutes,” I said to remind her that I wasn’t feeling especially social.
“I wanted to talk about what you and Victor were just discussing.”
I looked up from my drawing, more embarrassed than I expected or wanted to be. “You could hear that?”
“Not the whole thing, but I understood enough.”
“What do you understand?” I sounded like a bitch, but she was the one who wanted to sit on my bed.
“Some of the other girls have been coming to me, telling me about some of the awful jobs that Victor is sending them on.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So, it’s your body. I know you’re granting people access for an hour at a time, but that’s your choice, Jade. Do you understand the difference? You don’t ever have to take any job that you’re uncomfortable taking.”
“What makes you think I’m uncomfortable?”
“You sure looked bothered to me when you were giving Victor his cut. Did I misread that?”
“Maybe.”
She looked at me again with that pity in her eyes. I just couldn’t stand it.
“That’s all I wanted to say. Just please, take care of yourself.”
I laughed, hoping that it might make her feel stupid. “I’m not doing anything I don’t want to do.”
“Okay. I just wanted to make sure.”
“You don’t need to, and you shouldn’t. Hasn’t anyone ever told you to mind your own business?”
“All the time. But like I said, some of the other girls have been telling me some stories, and I wanted to reach out.”
“Consider me reached.” Then I rolled my eyes. “It’s not my fault if the other girls are taking parties that they don’t want. Victor promised to look out for me, and so far he has.”
She went from sad to angry, and I expected the MILF to maybe say something cruel — I guess I would have deserved it — but we were interrupted by a knock on my door.
“Jade?” I heard from the other side. “It’s Kristi. Can I come in?”
“Sure,” I called.
Kristi poked her head through the threshold, then smiled. “Elle! Perfect. Just who I was looking for. Angelica and I need your help.”
NATALIE
I can’t explain why I felt so desperate to help Jade. It broke my heart when she said she wanted to be an escort.
Maybe because I hated the idea that someday Lena might make the same decision.
But it wasn’t like she was going to listen, so I followed Kristi out of the room. Lately, some of the girls had been treating me almost like a den mother, asking for advice, and occasionally even looking to me for the resolution of small disputes. Probably because I’d stood up for Angelica when Victor had been giving her the lecture about enthusiasm.
I was back from my weekend with Bennett, but while I was gone, Ryan had dropped the kids off with his mother and disappeared. Probably pouting with one of his many mistresses about how I’d abandoned him. We’d had a huge fight before I left.
I told him that I was getting away for a well-deserved spa weekend.
“Money’s going to be tight for a while,” was his opening gambit.
“Olivia offered to foot the bill. She said that I really looked like I could use a break and that she’d be happy to help out, so I wouldn’t feel stretched thin with you being gone all the time.”
“I had plans for the four of us.”
“Reschedule. I
have to do that all the time. It’s part of being a parent, especially when your spouse is out of town.”
“What if work needs me?”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“You’re being selfish.”
I couldn’t believe that one. “Selfish? Because I want something for myself?”
He gestured around, apparently at the house and everything in it. “All of this isn’t enough?”
“Is it enough for you?” By that time we were both yelling, behind closed doors so the children could only hear an unintelligible rumble. “Because if it was, you probably wouldn’t be constantly gone.”
“I’m working.”
“Whatever, Ryan.”
“Everything I do is for you and the children. I’m not gone because I want to be; I’m gone because I’m supporting you.”
Right. I’m sure you’re sticking your dick into Jess Lindley for me and Alec and Lena. Thank you so much.
“Fine. I’ll try to be less selfish in the future. But I’m going to this. Everything is paid for and I already said yes.”
And fine was just what I meant. A switch had been flipped inside me.
I finally saw my relationship with Ryan for what it really was.
My husband was a client that I couldn’t afford to fire, not yet. I couldn’t call Victor and tell him to block Ryan, so he was the only party that made me feel trapped. It was a trial to realize that I had more freedom as an escort to choose what I did and didn’t want than I did in my own marriage.
I followed Kristi into a room where Angelica sat at a desk, watching something on her tablet. She looked up and took out her earbuds. “Hey Elle! I was just doing my French for the day.”
“She’s always learning a new language,” Kristi explained. “She just started French.”
“What else do you know?” I asked.
“Spanish and Italian,” Angelica said. “I’m starting with the romance languages. Farsi was too hard.”
Kristi closed the door and said to Angelica, “Tell her.”
Angelica look nervous.
“We’ve been noticing that a lot of the younger girls are coming back upset,” she said, “and we think it’s because they’re being sent out on parties with this one group of guys. Victor’s not doing anything about it.”