by York, Mattie
“Play?” Ahmed laughed, “That sounds more like it. Play what?”
“You know, play sex. That’s how come I know so much about the love hotels in Japan. I told you already. How can you forget? Remember? I sold my panties for $100?”
“Oh yeah,” Ahmed chuckled. “I remember now, you naughty girl.”
“Not naughty, but it’s true. I only had to wear them one day, and then I gave them to the store. They took my picture and put it in a plastic bag and sold them to old men. The old men are the naughty ones.”
“So this guy,” Ahmed asked, “what, was he Japanese too? Did he buy your underwear?”
“No,” Chieko shook her head, “not Japanese. He was from Canada. He wouldn’t buy my underwear,” She was horrified at the thought. “The underwear was just for old men. You want to know the whole story? Fine. One night, I was waiting outside one of the love hotels and he walked by. He was lost. He couldn’t speak Japanese so I helped him. He was an English teacher. The first night we met, he bought me coffee and we sat in Starbucks in Shibuya and talked for hours. He was so different from any man I had met before. He asked me questions. And then he listened to my answers. He was really interesting.”
“And so you fell in love with this guy?”
“Ok, yes. I guess so. I thought I was. He said he was in love with me. He had to leave his job. His company wasn’t very nice to him and so he had to come back to Canada. I didn’t want him to leave me alone. And so when he asked me to come to Canada with him, I came. At that time, it sounded like a big adventure. I didn’t tell my parents. They would not understand. I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend. When I finished the Academy I was supposed to go to Tokyo University. It was all planned. My test scores were very high. I got accepted early. You probably don’t know but that’s really important in Japan.”
“But you didn’t stay? Right? You came here with this guy, right?”
“Yes, John. That’s his name. I came with him. I climbed out of my bedroom window at night. John bought me a ticket on the airplane and we came here together.”
“So, what happened? Where is he now?”
“I don’t know,” Chieko shrugged and looked out of the window. “He changed when he came back to Canada. He got weird. And rude. One night he got angry at me. I wanted him to stop his drugs. We didn’t have any money and he didn’t have a job. So why do the drugs? We had a big fight,” she paused, “I just had to get out of there.”
“What do you mean? Did he kick you out? He left you all alone with no money?”
Chieko stared out of the window.
“Bastard,” Ahmed muttered. He screeched the tires as he pulled around to the front entrance of the hotel, then slammed on the brakes. “Now, just wait a minute,” Ahmed leaned over and grabbed Chieko’s arm as she opened the door. “Look at me. You are beautiful. Just because one guy is a complete asshole and too stupid to know any better. Forget about him. He is not worth the dirt on this street. You are gold. Really. And now, look at how strong you are. Making your own money. I wish my wife was like you. I’d be a very happy man. Seriously.” Ahmed let her arm go and winked at her. “Now go up there and have some fun!”
“Thank you,” Chieko bowed her head as she closed the car door. She pulled out a tissue and blotted under her eyes and then walked into the hotel.
53
“Good morning, my darling,” Joseph placed a steaming mug on the bedside table.
Alex yawned and stretched out like a cat in the early morning sunshine, “Is it morning already?”
“Yes it is and I have to talk to you, before I go,” He sat down on the edge of the bed and nudged her gently.
“Ok, ok,” Alex rolled over and rested her sleepy head on his lap, “Last night was incredible.”
Joseph straightened his back and looked straight ahead, taking a sip of his coffee. Not getting the response she was hoping for, Alex rubbed her eyes and sat up, “Ok, I’m awake. What is so important?”
“I wanted to tell you last night,” Joseph began slowly, “but I didn’t, I couldn’t. I, how you say, chickened out. You were so beautiful, and last night, it was so romantic,” He twirled a strand of her hair around on his fingers. “You are so beautiful, so special to me. You can’t imagine.”
Alex smiled up at him, “You are special to me too,”
“Yes,” Joseph cleared his throat, “well, you see, the reason I got so upset when you asked to see my family was because, well”, he looked up at the ceiling, “I’m actually, well, I am married.”
Alex sat up and stared at him.
“Yes, I know, I should have told you sooner.”
Alex inched away from Joseph, until she felt the head board flat and hard against her back.
“It’s not so happy a marriage. Of course, you know, I am here. She is in Tunisia. It was what you call an arranged marriage. But, I will not divorce. That would go against my family.”
“Do you have kids?”
“I have two boys.”
“When do you see them?”
“I visit them, sometimes, they visit me,” he shrugged. “Now my children are older, they go to boarding school in Paris, so I go there to see them too. And they visit me here.”
“Why don’t you like your wife?”
Joseph sat in silence for a while and then sighed. “She doesn’t understand me, she doesn’t listen.” He stared at the coffee cup in his hands. “She is beautiful. Oh, so beautiful. At first we were so happy. I tried very hard to give her everything she wanted and we had two children. Two beautiful children.” Joseph looked up. “But then, she didn’t want to stay home and look after the children and the house. You know, in Tunisia, I told you already, the women are meant to keep the house and look after the children. Not like here. I explained this to you, yes? It’s different, so this is what is expected. But, my wife, she wouldn’t listen to me. She kept leaving the house, joining clubs and trying to get jobs. I told her she was making a fool of me. I worked hard to give her enough money. We had enough money. She didn’t have to work. But she wouldn’t listen.”
He paused and straightened the sheet beside him. “I tried to fix it. I talked to my mother about it and my mother talked to my wife’s mother. This made it worse. My wife was angry at me and then she became cold. Sometimes, she wouldn’t even let me touch her. She said she wouldn’t give me any more children, until I gave her freedom. Can you believe it?”
Alex didn’t know what to say.
“Oh, Alex,” Joseph dropped his head onto his hands, “you can’t imagine, it was so difficult.”
Alex watched as Joseph ran his fingers through his hair still disheveled from the night before. He was wearing a crisp white Oxford shirt, but he hadn’t tucked it in yet. He looked like he was dressed for work, but he hadn’t shaved or done his hair. She had never seen him look so undone.
“Freedom?” Joseph put the coffee cup down and walked towards the window. “What did she know about freedom? It’s the women’s job to look after me” He slammed his fist into his hand. “Why? Why didn’t she understand that?” He looked back at Alex, “She called me awful names, you know, even in front of the children. But she is their mother,” Joseph shrugged, “so what can I do? Finally, I had to leave. I couldn’t stay in Tunis. All my friends and my family, they knew what happened. They laughed at me. They said I was not strong enough, I cannot control my wife.”
Joseph looked back at Alex, “I know, what you will say. You will say try again. Give her the freedom. I know,” he laughed. “Last year, I went home to visit again. It was very nice. She was very nice. And we had a good talk. We tried to, what you say, reunite? She is still very beautiful,” he looked wistfully out the window to the clear morning sky. “But we have different ideas; her and me. It is better, at least for now, I stay here and only visit her a few times a year,” Joseph paused and looked at Alex. “I must try. She is mine. My wife. My property. But, I do not think I will ever be able to love her again.”
Alex loo
ked down at her hands, trying to focus her eyes on something, but she could feel her eyes begin to well up. She blinked and looked up, swallowing hard. She did not want him to see her cry.
Joseph stepped away from the window and cleared his throat. “Maybe now, I realize I was stupid. I was young and stubborn and thought that was the way things were done. I know it’s different now. You, Alex,” Joseph sat down on the bed and reached out for her hand, “You taught me so much. I can understand what my wife is thinking now. I do not think I can fix what happened but I can still support her. I will always support her. I know you would want me to. Because of the way you think. But, now you see, that is why we can never go to Tunisia. It is not fair to her, to my family. It would cause too much trouble.”
Alex kept her eyes fixed on the ceiling and furiously chewed on her thumb nail. She could feel Joseph watching her, wanting her to turn to him and tell him it was ok, that she understood. Her cheeks flushed and her body trembled, but she refused to look at him. Finally, Joseph leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head, then he stood up. “I will call you later, my beautiful Alexandria.” He traced the curve of her face, the warmth of his touch making Alex’s bottom lip tremble. She leaned her cheek into his warm palm. It was so soft and gentle. Finally Joseph took his hand away and Alex dropped her head to her knees, her blonde hair cascading down to hide her face.
Alex wasn’t sure how long Joseph stood and waited by the side of the bed, but finally she heard his footsteps recede. At the door, he stopped, and turned back around. “You know, I don’t understand, why are you so upset? I mean, what can you be thinking? Did you think I would marry you? That I would fall in love with you? How could I? I paid for you.”
54
Chieko watched her feet step out of the elevator.
“I know, it’s your day off darling,” Angela had pleaded, “but, he only wants you. I just had to call and ask because I know how worried you are about money. And you did say you wanted to work as much as possible. And, Mr. Forrester said he would pay double the fee for short notice. Isn’t that nice of him?
Chieko wasn’t sure how to respond. After the last appointment, she had promised herself that she would never take any more calls from Saul Forester. It just wasn’t worth the money.
“Honey,” Angela crooned, “he said he had to see you. I don’t understand. You must work some magic on your clients, Chieko. You really do know how to draw in the regulars. Do you know, you are one of my most popular girls, maybe the most popular with the amount you’ve been working recently. I was just thinking about you yesterday. Oh well, I might as well ask you now that I have you on the phone. I was thinking of creating a new feature. Something special. Call it something like ‘Girl of the Month.’ Would you be interested in being one?” Angela didn’t wait for an answer. “You would be our first; you know, like what Marilyn Monroe did for Playboy,” Angela laughed. “Of course, you would have to come in for more photos. And I was thinking this time we should take a few shots of you using toys? Only for our paying customers of course, you know the VIP site. Yes, that would drive the men wild. Of course, it’s up to you, honey. But, we can talk about it later. Now,” Angela’s voice faded and Chieko heard paper rustling. “I’m just looking at your schedule, dear, and yes, I think I can re-arrange it a little bit and give you a completely free day next Tuesday? Oh wait and a late appointment on Wednesday, so that’s like a day and a half all to yourself. Would that work for you?”
“Ok,” Chieko had said slowly, “I can do it today,” She turned off the TV. “What time?”
“Oh, Chieko you are a doll,” Angela had gushed, “Ok, I’ll arrange it all. Ahmed will pick you up in one hour.”
Chieko stood and looked at the slightly open door to room 404. She took a deep breath, straightened her hair, walked quickly down the hall and pushed the door open.
“My, my,” Saul sneered as Chieko closed the door behind her, “getting brave are we, my little geisha? I don’t scare you then? We may have to change that. Undress!”
Chieko kept her eyes on Saul as she slipped out of her clothes. She sensed something was different this time. Saul usually sat motionless and stared at her, but this time, he seemed agitated. His eyes darted around the room and he kept taping the floor with his foot. He didn’t even notice that she had undressed and was standing naked waiting for his commands. In the past, he had ordered Chieko to stand in front of him. Assuming he was a man of habit, Chieko, walked slowly towards his chair, turned and waited for him to caress her leg.
But Saul didn’t touch her. Instead, he stood up and circled around the room until he was standing face to face with her. He glared at her, his eyes dark and menacing. “Damn women,” he snarled. “Damn whores. Everything is always for them. No!” he shouted, making Chieko jump. She tried to step back but the chair was behind her.
Saul stepped closer to Chieko, so close she could feel his hot breath against her cheek. He reached behind her neck and wrapped her hair around his hands, pulling it tight as he growled in her ear, “Women are here for me. You are here for me,” He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “You will serve me.” He growled as he pushed her down onto her knees.
Chieko reached down to steady herself but Saul pulled her hair tight. “Now!” he shouted and slapped her across the top of her head.
Trembling, Chieko unzipped his pants, pulled out his erect penis and took it in her mouth.
“No,” Saul bellowed, “not that way. Do it slowly.”
Chieko nodded and began to lick his penis slowly, up and down his shaft as Saul watched her carefully. “No!” he slapped her face and pushed his groin closer to her face, “don’t you know what to do? Take it all in your mouth, deep.” He yanked her hair and pushed her head back and forth. Chieko coughed and tried to open her mouth wide enough, but she wasn’t fast enough and she felt her teeth scratch against Saul’s skin. “Damn you.” Saul cursed her and slapped the back of her head.
Chieko tried to duck behind the chair but Saul grabbed and pulled her back. “Oh no, you are not finished.” Squeezing her left arm tight, Saul reached down and pinched her chin, pulling her face up to match his, “Why can’t you do a simple thing as suck my cock? Are you really that stupid?” Saul rubbed his thumb under Chieko’s eyes smearing her mascara. “What is this? Are you crying? Why are you crying? You are not the one paying to be satisfied. I should be crying. I am paying you to satisfy me. Do I look satisfied? DO I?” He roared and then slapped her again, across the face.
Chieko collapsed onto the ground.
“Whore,” Saul muttered, pacing back and forth across the empty hotel room. “You are nothing but a worthless bitch! You can’t even give a proper blow job. What am I paying you for? You want my money, bitch? You must work for it,” Saul picked up Chieko’s limp body up and flung her down on the bed.
Chieko barely had time to register what was happening before Saul had climbed on top of her and was spreading her legs. Terrified, Chieko covered her face with her hands, expecting another slap. But none came. Cautiously, she looked out between her fingers. Saul was sitting on top of her, glaring down at her with an oddly amused expression. “Stop crying you dirty whore.” He was holding his penis in his hands, stroking it fiercely, “I know you want it. You like it this way.”
“No, Nei,” she cried, trying to squeeze her legs together
“Yes,” he laughed at her struggling beneath her. He lifted his hand and slapped her hard across the face. “And keep quiet.”
Chieko cried out in pain and glared up at Saul. She reached her hands up and scratched her nails down his face.
“Bitch!” he roared and slammed his knee down hard pushing her legs apart.
“Damé,” she screamed, squirming beneath him. As she struggled, something snapped inside. She had had enough! All the hurt, the pain, the humiliation of the past few months, all her clients, all these men that ordered her around, did what they wanted to her and then threw her out, used her, insulted her, rap
ed her; all the anger that was boiling and churning inside of her exploded like a volcano of anger and vengeance. She felt a surge of ferocious power flowing through her veins unstoppable like the red hot lava gushing from a burning mountain. Suddenly everything was clear. “Nei,” she screamed and lifted her legs slamming both her knees as hard as she could into Saul’s groin. As he gasped and doubled over, she pulled her legs free and kicked him hard in the stomach. Using both her legs, she pummeled his shoulders and then his body until he rolled off the bed with a loud thud.
Chieko slid off the bed and pushed her hair back from her sweaty face. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she stood over Saul and stared at his limp body. Slowly, she lowered herself down till she was squatting beside his head. She waited until his eyes opened and focused on hers and then she grabbed his hair and lifted his head up off the floor. “Fuck you,” she said and slammed his head onto the floor. Saul’s body went limp.
55
Alex carried the steaming cups to the small table by the window. “So,” she handed one to Chieko, “what have you been up to?”
“Oh, not much.”
“Angela called me a few days ago looking for you.”
“Oh?” Chieko shrugged, “I quit.”
“Really? That’s good, right? Did you tell Angela?”
“No, but,” Chieko turned to look out the window.
“Did something happen?”
Chieko looked up at Alex. “It was a bad client.”
“Oh god! How bad?”
“Bad.” Alex waited while Chieko took a sip of her latte. After a long pause, Chieko sighed and told Alex about her last appointment with Saul. “And you know the crazy thing? The whole time, I was thinking, what did I do wrong? How can I fix it? But then, I don’t know, it was like somehow, finally, I woke up. It wasn’t me. I didn’t deserve that. I was letting this man beat me up, rape me, for what? I was letting all those men do this to me. For what? Just for money?” Chieko looked down at her shaking hands.