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“Thank you, I appreciate it,” I said slowly. “But I’m happy to pay it back, you don’t have to give me a gift. I’m a hard worker, I can earn my keep.”
And Maria cut me off with a look of kindness that almost made me cry.
“No Becky, it’s okay,” she said gently. “The Club helps all its girls, and you’re one of girls now. So take it and buy what you need, it’s not a big deal, the members can afford it. Now go home and get some rest, your flight leaves early tomorrow morning.”
And gulping heavily, I’d nodded, eyes stinging with tears. For someone who hasn’t had a lot of breaks in life, this was the first time I felt that someone cared about me, even if it was a group of men thousands of miles away who didn’t know I even existed yet. The money was a generous gesture, like manna falling from the sky, literally food for desperate people.
“Thank you,” I nodded, putting the envelope in my purse with trembling fingers. “Thank you Maria, please tell the Club members I appreciate it.”
And with that, the older woman escorted me to the door.
“Now no more tears, okay?” she said with a comforting pat on the back as the elevator dinged open.
I sniffled wryly. Although I wasn’t crying per se, I have the kind of face that gives away my emotions, I’m an open book all the time, for anyone to see.
“Thanks Maria,” I said softly, ducking my head. “I appreciate it.”
And with that, I was whisked back to the first floor and into the sunny lobby, busy-looking professionals buzzing by on all sides. But for once, I was on my own little island. People strode past, so close they almost knocked me over, and I didn’t notice, just standing there, absorbing everything for a moment.
Because it had really happened. I’d signed up to be an escort, I was going to sell myself, sell my body to a man for an ungodly amount of money. I had no idea who he was, the billionaire could be young, old, fat, thin, cruel, kind or any combination of factors. The only thing for sure was that he was wealthy as sin, and that was no comfort. Oh god, oh god, what had I gotten myself into?
But there was no going back. In fact, I didn’t want to go back. My actions were buying time for my loved ones, Mattie and Nana would be okay for a long while with the money I made. Even though I was nothing more than a teen girl, I was putting food on the table, providing for my loved ones, and I was proud of that, determined to do my best. So with a sense of resolve, my shoulders straightened and I took a deep breath. You can do it Becky, the voice in my head went. You’re a fighter, you can make this work. But the truth was that I had to make it work … because the Club was my only option.
CHAPTER TWO
Becky
Nobody had told me that I’d be flying private to Las Vegas. After taking the bus to the airport, I’d rolled my wheelie up to the information desk at the sidewalk.
“I’m sorry,” I shook my head, confused. “Where’s Carrier Air?”
The woman squinted at my tickets, clearly annoyed at the interruption. I could see that she’d been playing Candy Crush on her phone, and I’d probably prevented her from advancing to the next level.
“Girl, you’re not even in the right terminal,” she guffawed. “Carrier Air is Terminal Three. Take a cab and tell the driver to follow the signs.”
I paused, dismayed.
“A cab?” I said weakly. I couldn’t afford a cab, I’d taken a combination of buses to the airport, and that was already straining my meager budget.
“A cab,” confirmed the woman, already engrossed in her game once more. “No other way.”
And opening my wallet, I looked at the sad sight within. A measly five dollars. It was supposed to be for a small breakfast, but what the hell, this wasn’t going to be the first breakfast I’d ever missed. So with a wave of dread, I hailed the first yellow cab outside and heaved my stuff in the backseat with a command of “Terminal Three, please.”
The driver looked at me skeptically.
“Really?” he asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. I admit, I was a little wet and messy, I’d had to take three buses and stand outside in the rain during the transfers, but still, that was no reason to think I couldn’t afford the ride. It was just a trip around the airport! So I fixed him with my best glare.
“Really,” I said firmly, trying to come off like an adult.
And with a shrug from the driver, we were off. But the ride wasn’t what I expected. Instead of bumping along with the other cars, narrowly avoiding accidents, the cabbie pulled the car onto a narrow road that ran alongside the airport with no other vehicles in sight. I sat up, alarmed. Holy shit, was I being kidnapped? What was going on? Mustering my courage, I blurted in a loud voice, one hand on the door handle, ready to throw myself out of the speeding car if need be.
