The Doctor's Fake Nanny: Contemporary BWWM Romance

by Tiana Cole

  Cassidy looked around the room. The walls of the small office were strewn with blow up photos of women in various poses. Even the small table was littered with photo prints. Cassidy was familiar with this environment. This woman’s job was to screen the girls who worked as escorts. The photos were part of every escort’s portfolio, which was used for publicity shots or posted on the internet.

  Maybe the agency is hiring me to assist in profiling the girls, Cassidy thought. She was elated with the idea. She could do that very efficiently. She drew out the resume she had prepared and showed it to the woman behind the desk who barely glanced at it.

  “If you’re not ready with your portfolio, it’s alright. I can dispense with that one for now. Just hand it over to me when you’re ready. When do you think you can start?”

  Cassidy was momentarily puzzled. Portfolio? The woman must be confusing her with someone else.

  “I can start right away if you need me to,” she replied, excited over the prospect of immediate work.

  It was the woman’s turn to look surprised. “Um… that would be great, except… I don’t think you’re quite ready. I mean… you’re not dressed properly for the job,” she retorted, giving Cassidy the same probing look the girl at the reception gave her when she entered.

  Cassidy was confused. “Oh… you mean you require a uniform for the staff?” The girl at the reception didn’t seem to have a uniform on.

  “Staff? What staff? Wait a minute. There seems to be a mix-up here somewhere. We’re not hiring staff. We are looking for girls applying to be escorts for our clientele.”

  “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry… when I called earlier and was told of an opening, I assumed it was for the office. And since I’ve worked in an agency before, I just thought…”

  Cassidy trailed off. She suddenly realized the misunderstanding. She was so excited about the job that she'd hardly asked any questions when she'd made the call. The girl who answered must have been busy as well, and failed to make it clear what the opening was for.

  Dejected, she made a faltering move to gather her resume. Her disappointment was written all over her face. So much for starting with the first step of her plan.

  “Wait…” the woman stopped her.

  Cassidy was taken by surprise. She was ready to leave, already looking ahead to the phone calls and appointments she needed to make

  “Look… I understand there was a mistake somewhere. I see from your face that you are disappointed. That only tells me one thing. You need a job badly.”

  She looked Cassidy up and down and continued, “Why don’t you give it a try? You’re young and very pretty, I see that. If you don’t take it you’ll probably end up waitressing somewhere, and while I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, I think the money you’ll earn here may be worth taking a risk. What do you say?”

  “But I… err… I mean… I’ve never done this before,” Cassidy replied. Once more she thought back to her conversation with Kim. Even if she did become an escort, she just could keep it at that. She didn’t need to provide the extra services. She knew how to hold a conversation and with a little help, especially from a different wardrobe, she could look quite stunning. She had a flash of all the times Tristan had told her how beautiful she was. A very selfish thought quickly followed: her pregnancy with Dee had been good to her body. Her stomach was once again flat, and her breast were firm, perky, and proportioned.

  “There’s always a first time for everyone. You’ll learn.” The woman gave Cassidy another once-over and nodded her head in approval. “We’re looking for someone just like you. We have a lot of calls for just your… qualifications.”

  “You don’t understand. I know what the girls have to do to earn more. I mean… it’s not something I think I can do.”

  “Miss Johnson, let me be frank with you. Upfront, we are an escort agency. The girls provide companionship, intelligent conversation, and amusement to the men who hire them. They get paid for that. What happens beyond that is none of our business, so long as the client is happy. The agency cannot force you to do something you don’t want to do. That’s between you and the client, you know what I’m saying? As long as you are classy and respectful, we’ll take you in.”

  Cassidy realized that was true. Most of the girls in the former agency she worked for pocketed the money they earned beyond providing companionship. Nobody was forcing them to have sex, but most of them did anyway of their own volition.

  She sat undecided. She desperately needed a job, and the woman was right. How much could she possibly earn being a waitress or whatever else she landed? She had enough self-assurance and poise to fend off demands for extra services. She just couldn’t do that. She could, however, spend an evening or an afternoon being charming and gracious.

  “Look, Cassidy, I don’t have all day to wait for your decision, but here’s one thing I can assure you: as soon as you step out that door, someone else will come in and snap up the job. It’s your call.”

  "Alright… I-I’ll take it,” Cassidy heard herself say.

  She couldn’t believe she’d done that. She thought about Dee and realized she could do anything to give her baby a comfortable life. She’d have to explain to mom and dad at some point, but they would understand her ultimate goal.

  An hour later, Cassidy found herself walking the streets with one thousand dollars in her pocket. The manager, Ms. Tillie, said it was advance money to buy new clothes if she wanted to start work that night. She thumbed down the black skirt and blazer, joking that Cassidy looked as if she were attending a funeral. The older woman suggested Cassidy visit a boutique on the Lower East Side that sold reasonably priced sexy clothes.

  “Remember, Cassidy, sexy does not mean cheap or vulgar. Go for classy and chic clothes. A few accessories in the right place can make you look like a million dollars.”

  “Yeah… thanks,” a bewildered Cassidy had replied. She felt disembodied, like she was sleep walking. How did she end up saying yes to being an escort? Dee. Dee’s future was the answer. A mother’s heart would do anything for her child. Agree she did, and now here she was in the boutique that Ms. Tillie recommended, going through clothes that were supposed to be sexy, but not vulgar; chic, but not expensive.

  “Fuck…” Cassidy muttered, looking helplessly at the wide selection.

  She was more of the jeans and t-shirt type, and never had to deal with this kind of problem before. She thought of the one red silk dress she owned, but that was still back with mom and dad.

  A young saleslady with a very friendly smile approached her.

  “Hi, I’m Sheena. Can I help you?"

  “I-I-don’t know which of these dresses are supposed to be… err… um… classy, not vulgar… but sophisticated…” Cassidy stammered helplessly.

  “I see you have picked out a few. Why don’t you try them on and see which one feels ‘it’ to you,” Sheena replied as she ushered her to a changing room.

  The first dress was red with a low-cut neckline and hem that ended just below her crotch. The material hugged her body like a second skin.

  “Ho” was the word that screamed in her ear as she hurriedly stepped out of it. It was like an unspoken invitation for extra services. The next dress was zebra print that fit perfectly, but the colors made her looked washed out. The dress joined the heap on the floor.

  Cassidy didn’t have much luck with the next couple of dresses, either. She may not have known much about clothes, but she knew enough to understand that none of them looked good on her. She was almost ready to give up when Sheena knocked just outside the changing room door. She held a garment bag in her hand.

  “Here, try this. I have a feeling you’ll look fabulous in this one,” the saleslady said, removing the dress from the bag.

  It was a silk and chiffon combo wrap dress, but it was the color that took Cassidy’s breath away. The dress was made in an ethnic collage of deep and vibrant colors, and as soon as she saw it she knew it was perfect for her mahogany sk
in tone. She put it on eagerly and sighed with relief as it fit perfectly.

  “This is it,” Cassidy gushed as she stepped out of the changing room to show the saleslady how she looked.

  Sheena clapped her hands in delight. “You look so pretty. No man will resist you tonight.”

  Cassidy was stunned. “Is it that obvious? I mean… that I work for an escort agency?”

  “No. But the girls who come here are often referred by Ms. Tillie. Most of them know what they want. But you looked so unsure of yourself. I figured you’re new.”

  “Yeah…” Cassidy admitted, “and I’m scared shitless. I went in looking for a job doing clerical work, and I came out an escort. And now here I am.”

  “Maybe I can do your hair and makeup for you? I’ve been taking some classes.”

  “You’d do that for me?” Cassidy asked, awed by the girl’s generosity.

  “Yeah, sure! We can keep in touch and you can tell me how things go with you. I’ve been thinking I want to be an escort, too. Just don’t know if I’m pretty enough like you.”

  Cassidy couldn’t believe her luck. She was relatively clueless when it came to make-up, and here was someone offering to do it for her. On top of that, she didn’t have any friends in the city and was thrilled by the prospect of adding one to her life.

  “I didn’t bring any make-up with me, really. Just lipstick, rouge, and some powder,” Cassidy said, hating to admit that was all she ever used.

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. There’s tons of free make-up lying around. I’ll go find something that will blend nicely with your dark skin. You will glow, I promise!”

  A few minutes later, Cassidy was seated in the back room of the boutique, looking askance at the oodles of stuff Sheena brought back with her. She was tempted to comment that she didn’t want to end up looking like a drag queen, but thought otherwise. It wasn’t something that was nice to say to someone who would be in charge of your face for the next few minutes. Besides, Sheena was doing this for free.

  “Don’t worry,” Sheena giggled, reading her mind, “I was one of the best in my class.”

  Seconds later, Sheena was busy working on her face. Cassidy watched as she mixed color palettes, dabbing the makeup on and then wiping off the excess. She would frown when she wasn’t happy with the result, wipe it off gently with a wet sponge, then re-apply again.

  Cassidy had no mirror to check the progress. She knew she was leaving her fate in the hands of a random but seemingly kind woman she'd just met. However, just like the dress Sheena said would look fabulous on her, Cassidy knew things would be alright.

  She was right in putting her faith in Sheena. When her newfound friend finally allowed her to see the results of her work, Cassidy couldn’t believe she was looking at her own reflection. It was still her face that she saw, but she looked different somehow. Her eyebrows were thicker and perfectly arched, her lashes fanned out over eyes lined in smoky colors, the apples of her cheeks seemed more prominent, and her lips more luscious than ever.

  “Oh my, Sheena, I hardly recognize myself. I look…”

  “…Sophisticated?” Sheena volunteered.

  “Yes, like a movie star on a Vogue cover. You’re really good! You should open your own salon. You’d be famous in no time.”

  “You think so?” Sheena asked, gushing from the compliment, and then added, “Hope someone gets to appreciate all my effort on you, because you look absolutely stunning.”

  Cassidy remembered that this was her first day of work as an escort, and that she’d likely sit out the night. Suddenly the pretty dress and the make-up all felt like a waste of time. Surely nobody would ask for her. Not tonight. She didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed.

  Sheena saw the play of emotions on her face. “It’s alright, you know. You can wear the dress again some other time, and I can always redo your make-up whenever you want. I’ll give you my number. I’ll start teaching you the tricks. Once you get the hang of how to enhance your face, you’ll have the confidence to do it yourself.”

  Cassidy felt a surge of affection for this woman who had been so very helpful. Even if things didn’t work out at the agency, somehow she had a feeling she had found a good friend. She hugged her and whispered thank you before leaving the boutique with Sheena‘s number. Dusk had fallen over the sky as she made her way to the bus stop. The looks that followed her confirmed that Sheena was right: she did look stunning with the new dress and the make-up. She felt confidence that she’d never had before. Cassidy had no idea that clothes and make-up could bring such a change to her self-assurance. She managed to negotiate the crowded sidewalks in her sky-high heels without breaking an ankle.

  Back at her room at the Y, Cassidy finally had a moment to collect herself before her first night of work. She took off her new dress and hung it carefully. She slipped out of the stilettos and padded to the bed. She picked up the travel robe her mom had given her made out of some fibers that didn’t wrinkle no matter what. She plopped down on the bed and lay back, her head on the pillow. If she stayed like this she wouldn’t make a mess of the beautiful artistry Sheena had painted on her face.

  She reached into her bag, pulled out her wallet, and thumbed to the picture of Dee. “Well, baby, this is it,” she talked to the photo.

  She imagined Dee happy and making those baby sounds, playing on her dad’s lap with mom busy doing something in the kitchen. This was her start to making a life for herself and Dee. She knew she was missing precious moments as her daughter changed every day. Babies grew so quickly, and Dee was no exception. She looked into her grey-green eyes in the photo. I’m doing this for you, Dee. Soon we’ll be together.

  She’d never imagined herself… ever… as an escort. This was just the beginning until she found something she could tell Dee about. Now it was time to fulfill every part of her plan. She took one more look at the photo, kissed it tenderly, and then folded up her wallet and tucked it away. She pulled out her notebook and started writing.

  Look, Cassidy, I don’t have all day to wait for your decision, but here’s one thing I can assure you: as soon as you step out that door, someone else will come in and snap up the job. It’s your call.

  It was the first time she’d ever included herself in her notebook. Before she had always written about other people. She copied down their patterns of speech, or a joke, or a question phrased in a way she wouldn’t have thought of. That, or she’d write physical descriptions and then gone on to create personality traits. Here, for the first time, she’d written about herself.

  She started writing all the confusing feelings she’d had that day. She’d seen Tristan and felt the physical surge of desire and the stark pain of betrayal. She’d found a job, then discovered it wasn’t what she had thought, and now she was waiting for her first night as an escort. Was she sophisticated enough to carry it off? Could she be playful, pert, and intelligent with a complete stranger even if she didn’t particularly like him as a person? She put down her pen and stopped writing.

  She drifted off to a swirl of questions and was awoken by a knock on the door.

  “Yes?”

  “Hey, it’s Fred. Fred from the front desk.”

  She’d paid for a week. What could he want? She got up and fastened the robe tightly around her body. She crossed the small room and opened the door.

  “Hey, Fred. What is it?”

  Fred was in his early twenties. He was the kind of guy who looked scruffy even when he was straight from the shower and wearing clean clothes, which he appeared to be right now.

  “I saw you come in a while back. You looked hot. I mean really hot, baby.” He paused for a second searching for the next words. “I thought we could… you know…”

  “No,” Cassidy stated emphatically. “I appreciate the compliment, but you’ve got the wrong idea, Fred. I paid for the room. We’ll leave it at that. No interpersonal fraternization… of any kind. Okay? Got it?”

  Fred, looking mildly disappointed and n
odded his head.

  “Okay, then,” Cassidy said as she shut the door and turned the flimsy lock.

  Whew! Life in the city. She decided she’d be very careful about separating her new job and anything else that happened in her life. Coming or going, she’d be in low heels with a coat concealing whatever she was wearing. She had to see about getting a locker at the agency. She never wanted this to happen again… ever.

  She looked at the time and realized she needed to get ready for her first night of work as an escort. She slipped off the robe, carefully removed her new dress from the hanger, and slipped it over her head. In the room’s tiny mirror, she adjusted the dress around her body. She turned around and looked over her shoulder. Yes, she looked good. She turned back and brought her face close to the mirror.

  Her dark curls were full and framed her face with her new haircut. She fluffed her hair. She studied the lines of the make-up Sheena had applied with such skill. The arched eyebrows, the shaded lids, the dark mascara framing her brown eyes. Somehow the blush on her cheeks highlighted her bone structure without looking as though she had painted cheeks. The dark ruby lipstick brought out the fullness of her lips. She’d never realized before what a difference make-up could make.

  After all the work Sheena had done, she didn’t look painted. The make-up enhanced her features without being noticeable as make-up. She had to admit she looked good. Sheena had given her a small compact of the lipstick and a retractable lip brush. She pulled them out and refreshed her lips.

  She took one more good look in the mirror and liked what she saw, then retrieved a long coat from the closet. She looked around the tiny, grim room. One glance was motivation enough to get out of there as soon as possible. Fred just added to that motivation.

  She took a breath and whispered to Dee. Okay, here we go, baby child.