by Rye Hart
Marie couldn’t help but laugh, nodding in agreement, “Well, that’s why I’m here, I suppose,” she said, looking around the room.
Madame Osei nodded and glanced at the door she had come through, “You understand the nature of this business?” she asked, watching Marie with a stern gaze.
Marie was impressed at how quickly this woman’s moods seemed to change. She nodded.
“Then you understand that there are rules that will be followed. I have to keep my employees and my own welfare protected,” she explained.
“Of course,” Marie said quickly.
Marie understood that there was a lot of risk that went into a business like this. No one was going to take that much of a leap without having safeguards in place. Marie couldn’t imagine what those might be, but she was sure that they were thorough.
Madame Osei nodded and stepped forward, putting a finger to Marie’s forehead, “If you break my trust, there will be a curse upon you, do you understand?”
The threat made Marie shiver even though she wasn’t very religious. Madame Osei seemed to believe in it and that was all it took to make Marie nervous. She nodded in response to the threat and her eyes darted to Marco as Madame Osei addressed him.
“I’m going to the back, Marco. Do you think you can handle things up here?”
“Of course, Ma’am.”
Madame Osei grinned at Marie and took a step back, “Follow me,” she said, her voice flowing back into the same sing-song tone she’d used before.
Chapter Eight
Marie was hesitant to follow Madame Osei but did so anyway. They walked through the back of the shop that led out to a separate building. She’d hardly noticed the abandoned looking warehouse next to the cafe.
This was what she’d expected when Rachel had first handed the card over to her; a shady warehouse where she was probably going to be murdered. She was seconds away from turning and bolting when the heavy monstrosity of a door seemed to open on its own.
Marie looked inside and was instantly impressed. The inside was nothing like the outside. Two handsome men were standing near the door, opening and closing it as needed.
The building that the true Mystique was housed in was a dingy warehouse with windows tinted so dark you couldn’t see inside. For those who did make it inside the doors, there was a wonderful surprise waiting for them.
The tall ceiling was decorated with various silks that hung down amongst intricate Middle Eastern and African tapestries. Despite the dark tint on the windows, sun flooded through and lit the room with natural light. The corners that the light couldn’t seem to reach were lit with candles that smelled of faraway lands and spices.
When they first entered the room they were greeted by a large fountain that trickled with the clearest water, Marie had ever seen. As they got closer she noticed that the water smelled like roses.
“One of my boys enjoys experimenting with oils and lotions. He puts oils in the water every day to make it smell so fragrant,” Madame explained with a smile.
Marie nodded and tucked hair behind her ear, trying to stay calm. This was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. There were gold accents everywhere and women in sheer harem pants, no top and veils were cleaning and adjusting the many foreign trinkets that were scattered throughout the room.
The women were gorgeous and seemed to be every age from eighteen to fifty, and all of them had the confidence to run around naked. Marie envied them, honestly.
Just past the fountain were a few lounging areas that held comfy looking pads big enough to hold four or five full grown people. They had pillows all around and curtains that could be pulled closed for privacy.
“There are various ways to go about this. We don’t restrict our clients in what they can and cannot do. This is our common area where you can get to know the men and enjoy a meal with them. The food is on us, of course. You don’t pay for that. I have cooks, handmaids and other people willing to make your experience here one of a kind,” Madame explained, waving her hand as if to draw attention to the women.
Marie nodded, feeling a little numb as she looked around. There was so much to look at, she was having a hard time taking it all in. Just as she began to feel overwhelmed, Madame Osei spoke again, “You will often hear people refer to my business as a service. To me, you aren’t paying for a service. You are paying for time,” she explained, “All of my men have various skills that are not limited to the bedroom. I have one who gives excellent massages, one who sings, another who enjoys the gardens. They’re all unique and have their talents. They are also gifted lovers, as you’d expect.”
Marie blushed at the comment as she followed Madame Osei to a back room that was past the lounge areas. Madame Osei pulled back heavy curtains, allowing Marie to enter the long hallway. There was no natural lighting here. A strange, calming blue glow lit the completely black hall, indicating five doors on each side.
Madame Osei began to walk down the hall, toward an eleventh door at the very end of the corridor. “When you pay for their time, you are not limited in what you may do with them as long as it is within the guidelines of our facility,” she said, stepping through the door at the end of the hall.
“The guidelines?” Marie asked as they stepped into the room. This room was much brighter than the others. There were murals painted in a traditional African manner. The art was intricate and awe-inspiring. Marie couldn’t take her eyes off of it. There was a low table in the middle of the room with pillows spread out on either side.
Madame Osei sat on the far side of the table and put her hands flat on the smooth wood, watching Marie. Every time she got that look in her eyes it made Marie nervous. She couldn’t help but feel as if she were being judged.
“The guidelines will be explained to you before you leave today. That’s why we came back here,” she said, motioning to the room around her.
Marie nodded and cleared her throat as Madame Osei leaned back a little, “But before we go any further, I want to know more about you. At Mystique we try and craft an experience that is tailored to each client. Everyone is different and everyone has their own life experiences. You will be given choices through the whole process, of course, but knowing who you are helps us steer you in the right direction.”
Marie nodded and stared at her hands, trying to decide how much to tell Madame Osei. In the end, she told her everything. Madame Osei had a look that could kill and a stern voice, but Marie felt safe around her somehow. Marie told the woman everything about her life. Her upbringing, her divorce, her regrets, and her son. She didn’t sweep anything under the rug. If this experience was meant to be as therapeutic as Rachel led her to believe, then she needed Madame Osei to know everything.
When Marie finished her sad story, she saw something that looked like understanding in Madame Osei’s eyes. The dark skinned woman smiled a little and turned to pull out a folder from a stack of papers behind her. She wrote Marie’s name at the top of the manila folder and slid it across the table with a pen.
“Let’s get started.”
Chapter Nine
Marie looked down at the folder, unsure of how she felt about her name being on it. As if reading her mind, Madame Osei spoke up on the issue, “When and if you return, you’ll be given a code name that will go on all of your documents from here on out. What is in the folder is a non-disclosure agreement. You are legally agreeing that anything you see, hear or do doesn’t leave this building. If you fail to adhere to this agreement, you are liable to be taken to court and your contract with us will be terminated.”
The confused look on Marie’s face made Madame Osei laugh, “I know what you’re thinking. How can I take you to court if I’m running an illegal business?” she mused.
She’d guessed right. Marie was very confused as to why any of this was necessary in a business based on something highly illegal. Madame Osei leaned forward and smiled, “As far as the city knows, where an alternative therapy service, which isn’t entirely a lie,�
� she stated.
Marie nodded and let Madame Osei continue, “Anyway, Mystique is a registered business. It’s just a little different than what we have listed on our forms at the county office.”
Madame Osei flipped the folder open and pointed out the main points of the nondisclosure agreement. Marie signed where she was told to and Madame took the pen back, snapping the folder closed. “Very good. This also acts as our contract,” she said, pulling out a second folder.
This one was pure black and the pages inside were white with simple font. She pushed it across the table and opened it for Marie, taking out the first page, making sure that Marie could see it clearly.
“These are the guidelines we spoke about earlier.”
Marie picked it up and read through the list, though Madame Osei stopped her, “Read them out loud, love. I want to make sure you understand and read every sentence.”
After a moment, Marie’s eyes wandered back up to the top and she read out loud, “One. Silence. You will not speak of this place to anyone. You will be given three recommendation cards to use at your discretion. You may tell that person the nature of the business but nothing more.” That explained Rachel’s silence on the subject, “Two. Consent. All parties must consent to any and all activities. No one may touch you without your consent and you may not touch others without their consent. Your existence in this space does not mean you are consenting. Three. You may leave the premise to go on ‘dates’ but you are not allowed to take your escorts home or give them any of your personal contact information. Four. You may not pursue relationships with the escorts outside of this facility. Any contact made must be done within the facility and its owners. Five. Anyone who attempts to break these rules must be reported immediately, even if the accused is an escort or employee.” She finished reading the rules and set them down.
The serious look that made Marie so nervous came across Madame Osei’s face again, “Do you understand the rules?”
Marie nodded but Madame Osei shook her head again, “Say it.”
“I understand the rules.”
“Very good. Now, in that packet there is also a handbook that details each of my employee’s specialties, inside and outside the bedroom,” she said, putting her hand on a glossy book. “This is for your eyes only and may not be shared with anyone, including other clients of Mystique.
“I understand,” Marie confirmed again, starting to feel like Madame Osei wanted everything verbalized.
Madame Osei nodded again and stood, heading toward the door, she swept her arm out to open the door and lead Marie back out into the main area with the girls who had been cleaning were now lazing around on the many pillows.
They came to the main doors of the warehouse and Marie had the folder tucked under her arm safely. She wasn’t going to lose it before she even got out of the facility. Madame Osei put a hand on her shoulder.
“I have done everything that I can do. The rest is on you. Take that packet home and review it. You will meet all of the escorts when you come back and receive your codename,” she said with a soft smile, “I know that you came here seeking something, Marie, and I promise you will find it. We all grow in different ways and at different paces. This is just another step in your journey.” She cupped Marie’s cheeks and kissed her forehead gently before two large, beautiful men in charge of the heavy door opened the door and closed it behind her once she exited.
There was a fluttering in her chest as she held the folder close. She was unsure if it was due to excitement or nervousness. She knew she wanted to return as soon as possible but she also knew that she needed to take some time to let all the information sink in. This was a big deal.
Chapter Ten
Marie was grinning from ear to ear as she walked through the cafe. Her mind was spinning pleasantly and she was already excited to come back and meet the escorts. There weren’t any pictures of them in the pamphlet and they were described like menu items. They book used words like ‘spicy’ and ‘exotic’ and it painted a better picture in her mind that she would have ever guessed.
She moved through the cafe and noticed that Marco was still behind the counter, rolling dough out onto a chilled slab. He slammed it onto the counter with a strength that made her giddy. Marie felt like a high school girl again and as much as it felt silly, she felt good about it. She didn’t feel guilty for wanting this anymore. Madame Osei had somehow alleviated all of her worries and now all she felt was excitement.
Marco noticed her watching him and smiled at her from behind the counter. He moved to one of the many cases and started to pull out the plate of caramels again. He offered her another piece, though she looked at it cautiously. He laughed, knowing why she was so hesitant, “Don’t worry about Madame. She just acts strict. She’s a huge sweetheart. But don’t tell her I said that,” he said with a serious look on his face.
Marie smiled but stepped forward and took the candy from him, settling it on her tongue with a sigh. It was the strangest mix of sweet and salty and it drove her wild. If her men were half as good as her caramels, Marie was in for a treat.
Marco smiled and watched her curiously, resting his chin in his hands, “I’m guessing it went well then? You seem much more relaxed than when you first came here,” he mused.
She smiled and nodded, licking what was left of the candy off her fingers. “Oh yes. I feel so much better. I guess I just didn’t know what to expect,” she said, pulling out some money to hand it over to him, motioning toward the caramels, “Can I have some to go?”
“Of course.”
He pushed off the counter and started packing the candies up, wrapping them in pretty wax paper and handing them over to her. “Most people are like that,” he admitted with a smile. “When you explain the nature of our business, no one knows what to expect. The idea is so foreign to people. Especially since it’s all about the women.”
Marie nodded and scoffed, “Yeah. Female sexuality wasn’t really encouraged where I was from,” she said with a sigh.
“It isn’t most places. Madame Osei knows that better than most people,” his voice sounded almost sad and she was about to ask when he changed the subject, smiling brightly, “But that’s why you’re here! To discover yourself all over again. The women who come here always seem to change for the better. That’s why we give out so few of the recommendation cards. She only wants the people who need to be here to come here.”
“Who are the people who need to be here?”
“People like you. People who need guidance to find themselves,” he said with a gentle smile that made her heart flutter.
She blushed and nodded, smiling as she took the candies, “Thank you, Marco. I’ll see you again,” she said, heading toward the door. He waved at her, his bright eyes crinkling in the corners when he gave her that boyish smile.
Marie settled into her car and leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes and trying to calm her racing heart. This was incredible. It was probably better that clients weren’t allowed to talk about this place. Even if Rachel had told her about the wondrous place, she wouldn’t have believed her. How could she? She’d never seen anything like this before.
Her eyes opened slowly and she couldn’t help but to think back to all the people who had told her she wasn’t going to amount to anything. They’d all told her she would be stuck in that tiny town and no one but her husband would love her.
All the cruel words that had stung so badly we're rolling off her like water now. She hadn’t even been there more than an hour and she was already feeling stronger. She tossed her head back and let out a laugh that had been bubbling up within her since she’d left the warehouse. She couldn’t explain why but she was happy for the first time in a long time.
All of the pain she’d suffered at her husband’s hands was draining out of her body. She sank against the seat of her car, relief washing over her. She stared out her window, trying to figure out if this was really real. Was this actually happening? Or was she going to wa
ke up and find herself miserable and alone in her own bed? She didn’t want to wake up. She wanted this to be real and so she finally decided to stop questioning it. The universe had brought her hear for a reason and she needed to be happy about it.
Now all she needed to figure out was when she could go back and start her ‘journey’.
Chapter Eleven
Marie sighed as she settled in for the night. It had been a busy day, but she was more than a little eager to go back to Mystique. Richard was still gone, though she couldn’t say that she was too upset about that. This wasn’t abnormal for him. He would often disappear for days at a time when they had a fight. He would go hole up with his friends and ignore her until his friends kicked him out or he needed money. It was the same story every time, and somehow she always fell for it.
She knew she let him get away with things that she shouldn’t have and she let him take advantage of her, but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t enjoy it, but at the end of the day, he was her baby boy and she loved him dearly. What did any parent in her situation do? How could any parent just turn their child away even if they were a drug addict with no redeeming qualities? No parent wanted to admit that their child was a lost cause, but sometimes in the lonely nights when there was nothing to distract her, Marie felt those very things and it broke her heart.
Her hand shook a little as she wiped away the tears that were starting to pool in the corners of her eyes. She’d been in such a good mood after leaving Mystique and now here she was crying again. She took a deep breath and shook her head, laying down for the night. She wanted to fall asleep with good thoughts, not thoughts of how she might be a failure as a parent.
The silk sheets settled over her pale, nude skin and she sighed at the feeling. She’d always enjoyed sleeping naked, but when she and Robert started living together she’d stopped since he took her nudity as a sign of arousal, which was far from the truth. It had been nice to return to her old self over the last few years, even if it was something as stupid as being able to sleep naked.