AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What a cute place!” she says, looking around. “I love your style.”
“Thanks,” I say even though I’m sure she’s just making small talk to be polite. I grab the kettle off the stove, desperately trying to get out of this.
What’s the protocol for a high school dreamboat’s girlfriend doing a wellness check on you?
“Tea?” I offer with a bright smile, to show just how stable and fine I am. “I have gunpowder green, green jasmine, orange blossom—”
I pray for her to pick something before I recite the entire collection. There are thirty-eight varieties in here, but thankfully, she cuts me off.
“Green jasmine sounds great, thanks.” She settles into a thrifted kitchen chair. “So, how long have you lived here?”
“A year.” I select the nicest teacup I have and set it next to my own. “It was supposed to be a crash-pad after a surprise breakup, but… Here I am. Still.”
Why not fling open the door of overshares? The woman already saw one of my lowest moments.
“Oh, no,” Olivia says, sincerely. “That’sworst. Are you dating anyone now?”
I laugh. “Oh, I’m dating half the city, it feels like. One at a time, horrifying first date after horrifying first date.”
Olivia grimaces. “I get it. It can be tough out there.”
For her? I doubt it. I set down her tea and shrug, trying to seem breezy. “What are you gonna do?”
She sits forward, down to business. “So, I want to say that I’m beyond sorry for last night. Charlie feels terrible. Can I please put in a call to your employer and take responsibility?”
“Thanks for the offer,” I say. “But there’s nothing you can do. It’s a done deal.”
“Actually, maybe there is something I could do. Or, rather, something you could do for me.”
I look up, surprised.
“I run an… Agency,” Olivia continues carefully. “A matchmaking business, of sorts. And… I think I have a job that might suit your particular personality.”
I blink. She sounds awfully cagey.
“We do a lot of wedding dates, galas, fundraisers,” she continues. “My clients are looking for professional plus-ones for the occasion. And I think you might be perfect for a current client.”
Wait… Am I being recruited for an escort agency?
I don’t know whether to be horrified, or flattered, but I have absolutely no idea how to politely ask if I’m being recruited for fancy sex work. “When you say… Professional… ?” I venture.
“Yes?” Olivia smiles. I gulp.
“Do you mean… ? You know,” I blush. “The oldest profession in the world?”
“HA!” Olivia laughs out loud.
“No, no. Nothing like that, I promise. It’s unconventional, but basically provides my clients with the fake date they need for whatever situation… Let me give you an example,” she explains. “Say a client is attending a function where she’ll be seated by a potential investor, in from Germany. She needs to impress him, so I find her a date for the evening who speaks German. He’ll be briefed on details about her and her business, so he can charm the guy and help get her that good impression.”
“Okay. Sure.” I nod, but I’m still not convinced. “I’m afraid I don’t speak German.”
She smiles. “Yes, but you have a number of other valuable skills.”
I blink. “I do?”
“You stay calm under pressure; you seem very resourceful. And you don’t seem intimidated by people with power and money.
I have a client who needs a date for a string of weddings this month,” she adds, “And I think you could be the perfect fit.”
