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The sultry, jazz music in the background is fitting for how cosy the setting is. It also means I have all the time in the world to be a shoulder to cry on. If that’s what this is.
“This job can’t pay that great, right?”
I’m surprised, but also a little relieved. I don’t want to piss any customers off, not in this economic climate — or worse — have someone disgruntled enough to complain about me. “It pays okay.” Why does she want to know that?
“Can I let you in on a little secret?” Her voice lowers.
I move closer, intrigued by whatever it is she’s going to say. “I’m all ears,” I whisper.
Her lips twitch as she leans forward slightly. “I’m not really here on a date.”
I frown. What does that mean? “Oh?” I can’t think of anything else to say. I mean, she’s here in a bar, looking gorgeous — a million dollars to be perfectly honest — waiting for a man. It screams date to me.
“I’m being paid.”
I let that sink in. Blinking once. Twice. My throat thickening as I catch on. “Oh,” I say again.
She sits back in her chair. “Shocked?”
My eyes are a little wide when I nod my head. “A little, if I’m being honest… I mean, you don’t look like a… uh…”
“Lady of the night?” She laughs. “You can say it, it’s alright. I’m an escort, Charli.” She says it like we’re discussing the weather, or what olives do to a martini.
I shake my head. “No. I mean… you look so… glamorous.”
“Well, thank you. Trust me, I don’t usually go around advertising it, but I couldn’t help noticing how regal you are, Charli. You’re beautiful. Men would go ga-ga over you at the club.”I’m so intrigued by this woman that I’m tongue tied, which isn’t like me.
“Thank you. I obviously don’t go around advertising it. And Élégance is exclusive. There are rules the men have to follow in order to be a member.”
“The club?”
She smiles. “Yes. I work for Élégance. You may have heard of it. It’s a high-class escort agency.”
Of course, I’m no stranger to escort agencies. Me and my best friend Ariana bought our other best friend Imogen a magical night with her dream escort at a club in Seattle. She had the time of her life and they ended up falling in love.
“Really?” I move closer, playing a little dumb. “Well, I mean, I think that’s a good thing, for your safety and all.” But I have a burning question on my lips. “So, on nights like tonight, when you’re not at the club, is that like, free-lance?” There is no other way to say it.
Her dainty laugh sounds across the room. “Freelance? Oh, Charli. You really are something.” She also doesn’t answer the question. “The men I meet here are from Élégance. They’re my regulars.”
Regulars?
I always thought prostitution was so sordid and women only did it when they were desperate for cash. They certainly didn’t look like Neve. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock for way too long.
“Regulars? Wow, so that’s a thing?”
“Yes. I mean, the lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but it pays well. The men I see are men that I trust, otherwise I wouldn’t be meeting them outside of the club. Some of my friends used to do it in college, but it was nothing like this.” She lowers her voice. “In fact, I’m not going to glamorise it. It can be dangerous, especially if you go it alone or worse, have a pimp. But at Élégance, to be a member not only does it cost a lot of money…”
“How much money?” I’m a nosy bitch, after all.
She whispers, “A hundred thousand is the starting membership fee.”
“Holy shit!” I whisper-shout. “So for that, do the guys expect…”
“The whole hog?” She laughs. “Of course, but you get to choose what you will and won’t do. And if the client likes you, then it can be a regular thing.”
The words are on my lips before I can even stop them. “How much do you get paid… for one night?” My mind reels as we talk about prostitution, pimps and sordid clubs where men pay ridiculous amounts of money to just be a member.
“A full night starts around three thousand, and they pay for dinner and gifts on top.”
