Price of Love (#1 Price of Love) ebook

PRICE OF LOVE

PAPERBACK ISBN 978-1-7398983-0-4

EBOOK ISBN 978-1-7398983-1-1

Copyright © Sandra Robins 2022

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without

the publisher’s prior written permission.

To my parents.

Thank you for your support and vast depths of love.

I love you!

Sarah

The pink neon sign shimmered and flashed. I stood there, paralysed with fear, though I knew I didn’t have the luxury of choice. Any alternative had vanished two jobs and two loans ago. One thought kept slipping through my mind: If I do this, If I do this, my grandmother can stay in her private care home, receiving the best care in town.

As a child, I lost my parents in a car accident. I only remember them vaguely. My grandmother is all I have left; she raised me on her own, as best as she could, for which I am forever grateful. I was thinking of her, standing on the threshold of a place I would never, ever, consider entering of my own free will, not to mention what I was about to do. I must have searched the entire internet until I found a place called Lotus Flower. I knew from the reviews I could make a lot of money working there; that’s why I wanted to do it. It was about money and time – the time my grandmother had left.

Feeling the tension, I pressed the handle, and opened the door. The room was less dingy than I had imagined. The mild tones reminded me more of a relaxation and massage studio than a brothel.

The young girl at the front desk measured me with her eyes, assessing my qualities. She wore a blouse with a plunging neckline, which made me wish I had bigger boobs, and a tiny pair of short shorts that made me just as self-conscious about my legs.

‘May I help you?’ she said, sending a sweet corporate smile in my direction.

‘I have an appointment with the owner of the premises. I’m looking for a job.’ Phew! I did it. I wasn’t sure how I managed to get the words out of my mouth; the mere thought of what I was about to do made my palms sweat.

‘Last door on the left, please knock three times and enter. The boss is waiting for you.’

‘Thank you,’ I answered and rushed to the door. If I was going to turn back, this would be the moment to do so. Nevertheless, I knocked three times, and on a polite ‘Come in’, I walked through the door.

I was greeted by a man in his sixties, reminiscent of a friendly uncle, who handed me some documents to fill out as I sat opposite him at the desk. He looked at me curiously, asking me one simple question: ‘Why?’

‘Why do I want to work in a place like this? I need money,’ I answered truthfully.

‘Everyone needs money, but there are other ways to earn it. You seem nice and, no offence, quite innocent. I’m not sure if this place is what you’re looking for.’ He studied me closely.

‘Stand up,’ he asked gently.

I did so immediately.

‘Put your hands up.’

I did as he asked.

‘Stand on one leg.’

Again, I fulfilled his request.

‘Good,’ he said softly.

He stood up and walked towards me, circling around me like a hawk stalking its prey. I was wrong in thinking I was dealing with a friendly uncle.

‘You’re cute,’ he murmured. He took a lock of my hair and sniffed it, sending chills down my spine. What am I doing here? Money, I need money! The determination returned.

‘Good, very good.’ He was still talking to himself. ‘Take off your shirt.’

I looked at him in disbelief.

He noticed the defiance on my part. ‘Take off your shirt,’ he repeated harshly, ‘and your bra, too,’ he added with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

It was good to know the situation amused him. I, unlike him, was terrified. I had two choices: do what he said or run away. Like a robot, I removed my T-shirt, hesitantly reaching for the clasp of my bra. The clothing landed on the floor. I stood, undressed from the waist up in front of a stranger.

He came up to me, placing a big cold hand on my chest. I shuddered at the foreign touch on my body. A part of my mind protested vigorously, and I had the urge to remove his paw, spit on him and run away. What was I doing? I counted to ten in my head, focusing on my goal. This wouldn’t take long. At least, that was my hope.

The man twisted my nipple and began sliding his hand down my trousers. Then he sniffed his hand. Frankly speaking, sniffing was an understatement. He inhaled the scent.

The phone rang. The conversation was short and to the point. Only a few remarks like ‘yes’, and ‘I understand’, as he focused all his attention on me, or rather, on my bare breasts.

‘I have the perfect girl for this job. The rate’s the same as always.’ He grinned at me, showing his teeth, and hung up the phone.

‘It’s your lucky day. Get dressed, I have something better for you. You want to make more than you could here? I’m talking about really big money and classy clients.’

I looked at him, having no idea what he was talking about. I reached for my bra and put it on hastily. ‘Same as here’ – he indicated the room with a swish of his fingers, for added effect – ‘but more exclusive.’

The door opened, and an elegant woman entered, well dressed, about fifty, perhaps older. She looked at me, and a wide grin came to her lips.

‘Is that the one?’ She motioned at me.

I picked up my shirt in a hurry and put it on.

‘I’ll take her. She’s pretty.’

She placed an envelope on the table, which the man swiftly put into his desk drawer.

The only thing my mind registered was that I had been sold.

* * *

A black limousine was parked in front of the building. Leaning against the car was the driver, who upon seeing us straightened up and opened the door to the luxurious interior.

‘There’s no need, Marco,’ said the lady. ‘I know a café at the end of the street, I think we can talk there.’ She looked at me expectantly.

I nodded gently, permitting what was to come. We walked on for a while in complete silence. She opened the café door and let me pass.

‘What coffee would you like?’ she asked politely, looking at me with a smile.

‘I’ll have a latte,’ I mumbled.

She turned towards the waitress at the counter and ordered. I had a brief moment to look at her. The well-tailored coat seemed expensive. She wore a pair of flat front trousers and high-heeled shoes. She was holding a leather briefcase in her hand. The café wasn’t busy, they were going to close soon, bearing in mind the late hour of the day. Soon, two aromatic drinks were placed in front of us, and we seated ourselves at the end of the café. I took a sip of my latte and hugged the cup tightly with my hands. To any outsider, we looked like two acquaintances having a cup of coffee. However, I was aware of my situation, and could not control the trembling of my hands. I gripped the cup even tighter, finding it hard to act confident with my whole body shaking.

The woman reached into her leather briefcase and handed me a bundle of documents.

‘Before we start, you have to sign this. It’s a confidentiality agreement.’

She handed me a pen. The hesitation on my face must have been visible, because she explained, as if she’d had this conversation hundreds of times before, ‘Signing these papers does not obligate you to work for me. I need to make sure that the details of our operation stay between us. If you decide to work for me, you will be given a contract. Our contracts cover six months, and when each one ends, you can either renew it or leave. However, keeping everything you come to know secret is binding for the rest of your life.’

I looked at the folder; it sounded like a deal with the devil. I pulled out the papers in one confident motion and read them through to the end.

In a fit of madness, I signed two copies of the document. I left one for myself, putting it in the folder, and handed the other to the woman.

‘I’m Suzanne,’ she finally introduced herself. ‘Most people call me Sue.’ She smiled gently, packing her copy into her briefcase. ‘Let’s get down to specifics. The money you can make with me is huge. Our clients treat the girls with respect. They’re rich and influential men or women, depending on your preference. You might need to work at different times of the day. Are you studying?’

I nodded in confirmation and gripped my coffee mug tightly again

‘That’s a good thing. I respect ambitious girls with plans. If you have a job, you have to take a leave of absence for the duration or give it up altogether. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to balance everything, and I know from experience that a “regular” job no longer seems worthwhile in this situation. Every girl works five days a week. All weekends are mandatory. You can choose which weekdays you want to work. Meetings usually consist of dinners or banquets. Your job is to make our clients’ time pleasant. Sometimes it’s just about providing company at parties: smile, look good and speak as little as possible. More often, it’s dining with the client, relaxing and satisfying their needs as much as possible. You know what I mean, don’t you? Sometimes you will have to satisfy two customers at once, but don’t worry about that for now. Everything, I repeat, everything, must take place with your permission. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, I think I understand what I’m agreeing to.’

‘Alright, then. Think about this again,’ she said and handed me the latest Samsung phone. ‘I’ve saved my contact number in here. Please, text me your address when you’re ready. My driver will pick you up tomorrow at ten in the morning, and you’ll meet the other girls. Then we’ll discuss the details of the contract.’

She stood up and hugged me. It took me completely by surprise. She said I was cute, and left.

I sat down wearily in my chair, thinking about what I had got myself into. I could still back out. I probably came off as a total idiot in this meeting. I had so many questions, and I didn’t ask a single one. I sipped my already cold coffee, glancing distrustfully at the phone I got from her. After considering the pros and cons, I wrote her a text message with my address and sent it.

* * *

I woke up before my alarm and, even though I had plenty of time, I was almost late for my meeting. I took a shower and thoroughly applied lotion all over my body. My long red hair decided to rebel and curled itself more than usual. After many unsuccessful attempts at styling into an elaborate hairstyle, I pinned it up into a loose bun. Everything was going wrong. I spilled coffee on my favourite T-shirt, meaning I had to change into a green blouse, jeans and black suede stilettos. I was used to wearing trainers every day, so I decided to give myself a boost with sexy shoes.

The driver who came to pick me up turned out to be the man I saw outside Sue’s limo. This time he came in a black SUV with tinted windows. I hoped that no one I knew saw me get into it because I didn’t want the gossip to start. The driver, named Marco, was very polite. However, he was unwilling, or unable, to answer most of my questions. Probably, like me, he had signed an agreement to remain silent. The conversation wasn’t going too well, so I gave up and decided to use these moments to relax as much as I could. We passed the town where I lived, entering a road between fields with grazing sheep and horses. The wooden fence turned into a grey, high wall of stones; finally, we drove up to a gate with a guard, followed by a gravel road leading to an enormous building. It crossed my mind that it would be difficult to escape from here. The property looked very impressive, like an old mansion with the building arranged in a U-shape. The grey stone glistened in the sunlight. I wondered how many rooms there could be. The building was majestic.

Marco led me into the giant lobby where Sue was waiting. Once again, I was amazed by her beauty. Just like last time, her hair was up in a bun, and she was wearing stiletto heels.

I’m glad you’re here,’ she hugged me gently in greeting. ‘First you’ll meet the girls, and then we’ll deal with the contract, unless you’ve changed your mind.’ She walked over to the front desk and pressed a button. After a while, girls started approaching me from all directions, introducing themselves. I counted fifteen.

Each had a different type of beauty. The last one ran down the stairs and quickly came up to me.

‘She’s a redhead! We don’t have a ginger one yet,’ she said with excitement as if I was some valuable acquisition and not another excuse for a whore.

‘I’m Amy! Nice to meet you,’ said the petite brunette.

Sue clapped her hands, focusing everyone’s attention on her. ‘I’d like to invite you for a meeting on Friday, when we’ll arrange the weekend’s schedule.’

‘I’m going to have a cigarette,’ declared a pretty brunette. ‘I need one before I have to listen to how to give a blowjob again.’

‘Oh, Olivia,’ another girl said, and started pretending to give a guy head, provoking the rest of the girls into laughter.

Sue just rolled her eyes. ‘That’s terrible technique, Katrina. Clearly you all need the reminder. You have seven minutes.’ She turned to me and said, ‘Come on.’

I followed her into the other wing of the building, and we took our seats in a large room with a massive table in the middle. Amy, the only girl whose name I remembered, sat down next to me. She handed me a cup of coffee.

‘Is it okay with milk?’ she asked.

‘Yes. Perfect!’ At least I had something to keep my hands busy.

‘Sugar’s over there,’ she pointed to a table in the corner of the room, where I spotted coffee in a thermos, sugar, milk and cookies.

The rest of the girls were watching me with evident curiosity. I felt like it was my first day of school, silly and foreign. I focused my attention on Sue handing out folders to each of us.

‘Inside, you have a schedule. If you have any questions, you know where to find me.’

‘I’m going to Greece for a week!’ One girl was happy, looking through the contents of the folder.

‘Yes, the client’s decided to take you with him. If you have any problems, call me. And this time, wear UV sunscreen. I don’t want you coming back burnt like last time and looking like one big disaster.’

‘Alright,’ answered the girl, lowering her gaze while the rest cheerfully started to comment.

‘Remember that we have an open show for the gentlemen today,’ Sue continued. ‘I hope you’re ready for tonight. If you decide to stay with us,’ she said in my direction, ‘you can help hand out drinks. That’s enough work for your first day.’

‘We gather at the club at eight o’clock and please don’t be late. That’s all for now.’

The girls started to leave the room obediently.

‘Come into my office and we can discuss your contract,’ said Sue.

We walked along the corridor to her office, where I sat down at the desk. Documents were waiting for me to sign, and I glanced at the large file of papers.

‘Read it first. It has everything you need to know. I’ll leave you alone. If you want something stronger, help yourself. The bar’s over there.’ She smiled, pleased with her own joke. ‘I’ll check on you in a bit. I’m glad you decided to join us.’ She put her hand on my shoulder in encouragement.

I probably looked like I wanted to run away. I focused on the documents. First adding basic information, such as my first name, last name and place of birth. Then there were a few questions about my music preferences, sports from my childhood and the present, and whether I was familiar with pole dancing. That’s interesting. A few questions about favourite places, dishes, my day-to-day routines. I felt like there was a question that applied to every part of my life. Then I moved on to the next part of the survey. It began by asking whether I was a virgin. And that was the moment I decided I needed a drink. I poured whisky into a glass and, taking a big sip, smiled at the thought that she must have known, by offering me an alcoholic endorsement, that I would have a hard time. I returned to the questionnaire, booze in my hand. It got worse with each successive question. Whether I was okay with anal sex, what toys I enjoyed, what I didn’t want to do in bed? Would I allow sexual intercourse in public places, such as the restroom at a restaurant? I took another sip of alcohol. It felt like an emotional rollercoaster. Finally, I read the information on the possibility of me getting pregnant. I had no right to seek proof of paternity or ask for alimony. I drained my whisky.

This was not an ordinary contract. I didn’t expect to have to sign something like this. I topped up the drink and reviewed my situation. I still needed money. The girls I met did not look worried or upset. Each of them looked immaculate and happy. The contract was for six months, not my whole life, but I knew nothing would be the same after that. I had no choice. I signed the documents.

* * *

I flitted between the tables with my tray, careful not to kill myself in the high heels I’d chosen to wear, or should I say, was made to wear. All the girls looked very elegant and defiant, all wearing high heels. I, on the contrary, was working as a waitress. I was dressed in black mini shorts and an open back top. Thanks to the white and black cuffs on my wrists, I was supposed to look more like a waitress. I found myself smiling at the thought. This whole day seemed so surreal. It had only been a few hours since I’d arrived.

I was walking to the bar when a guy grabbed my arm.

‘Honey, can you get me another scotch on the rocks?’ He set the empty glass down on the tray, which I almost dropped. He grabbed my hand so unexpectedly that I flinched slightly.

I walked over to the bar and placed my order with the bartender, Niko. Apart from a few security guards, he was one of the few men working here. He looked very handsome and had a boyish charm about him. I knew from rumours that he was one hundred per cent gay. He knew most of the guests and various facts about their lives, a veritable mine of knowledge.

Some men were frequent guests, but some came only once, as a birthday present or a bachelor party. Everyone was carefully checked, and their names and credit cards were entered into a special database.

After another run between the tables, I began feeling tired. I slumped slightly on a stool at the bar to give my legs a rest, if only for a moment. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to high heels, I thought bitterly.

‘A long night?’ the blond guy on the stool next to me asked. ‘May I buy you a drink?’ He smiled sympathetically.

‘I don’t think I should drink.’ I tried to decline politely. Tonight, I was just a waitress. I didn’t have to entertain the guests.

‘You should celebrate your first day on the job.’ He summoned the bartender.

‘How do you know it’s my first day? Is it that obvious?’ I gasped with a whine and hid my face in my hands.

He began to laugh. ‘Pour the lady a Prosecco,’ he asked the waiter and placed a glass of bubbly in front of me. ‘Drink it. It will help you loosen up,’ he encouraged.

I took a big gulp and felt the alcohol flowing right into my stomach. I knew I could drink while working here, but not enough to get drunk – everything in moderation.

‘Shall I tell you a secret?’ he asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

‘Go ahead!’ I whispered back.

‘You look very professional. I know all the girls, so that’s how I know it’s your first day. I just wanted to get to know you, to have a drink with you.’

He raised his glass in a gesture of toast. I felt relaxed for the first time in hours.

The lights went out, and the room suddenly filled with darkness. The buzz of conversation quieted down, and the tuneful music was replaced with Rihanna’s song ‘Umbrella’. I would never choose such a song for my performance. It’s not really my thing, but seeing the girl on stage moving to this music made me understand her choice. This song was made for her. Her movements were perfectly in tune with the melody. It was the first time I had ever seen someone dance like that live. She moved lightly and looked seductive and sexy. She had everything that attracted men to places like this and made them pay a lot for an ordinary drink.

I caught a glimpse of the man next to me. Instead of watching the performance, he was watching me with interest. The song came to an end, and the room grew brighter again. Sue was stepping quickly towards us. I stood up and waited for her to tell me to get back to work. She, on the other hand, greeted the blond-haired man effusively, and they left together. Before he left, he looked at me and said, ‘See you later, Sarah.’

I was perplexed because, after all, I hadn’t introduced myself to him, yet he knew my name. I, on the other hand, had no idea who he was. As time passed, more and more girls were leaving with customers. After a while, only a few guests and bar staff were left. I cleaned up the last glasses. I was glad the evening had come to an end. At that moment, I dreamt only of going to bed and taking off my shoes. I didn’t care if it was my bed or my room at the mansion.

The blond guy showed up at the bar again. He offered to drive me home. I agreed with slight hesitation, but was happy to get to fall asleep in my bed. We went together to the car where Marco was already waiting to take us home. During the trip, I found out the mysterious guy’s name was Alex. Despite being tired, we had a pleasant talk. When we got back to my house, I hurriedly said goodbye and ran towards the front door. I wanted to fall asleep as soon as possible. It was almost 4am, and I didn’t want to look like a zombie the next day.

I woke up around noon to three missed calls from Sue on my company mobile, as well as a message saying she didn’t need me today and I would see her again on Sunday afternoon. I put the phone back on the table and snuggled back under the covers, falling into a shallow sleep.

The next day, I spent the entire afternoon at my grandma’s place. She was having one of those days and didn’t recognise me. The disease was progressing, and I couldn’t handle it. The only thing I could do for her was to give her the best care I could afford. In the beginning, I’d reacted with disgust and aggression when I heard about a special clinic for people with progressive dementia. Ironically, I looked at my granny and thought it was a joke. After all, she wasn’t that old yet. At the time, I thought this problem only affected much older people. I knew absolutely nothing about this disease and did my best to keep my grandma with me.

It started with small things, like asking about things I’d already bought or hiding objects in odd places. Unfortunately, her dementia progressed rapidly. It got to the point where she didn’t recognise me. Even worse, she began acting aggressively. She thought I was just a stranger trying to rob or kill her. I waited as long as I could before I decided to place her in a specialised institution.

Today she was having a weaker day. She looked at me like I was an intruder and not her beloved granddaughter. I looked at her, and all I wanted was to become a little girl again and cuddle with my granny. I left her favourite cake on the table and kissed her forehead gently, to which she shooed me away like an intrusive fly and I left in a hurry. On my way out, I wiped away a flowing tear.

I’d fallen behind in my payments to the clinic. Unfortunately, these services were costly and beyond my financial capabilities. I hoped that working for Sue would change things.

In the hallway, the manager caught up with me. ‘Sarah, I’m sorry to have to remind you that you’re behind on your payments.’

‘Yes, I know. By the end of the week, I’ll pay off some of the debt, I promise.’

I have to ask Sue for an advance, I noted in my mind. I saw the relief on the manager’s face. I was unable to count the number of times she had asked me about money. The last time she told me I would have to take my grandmother home, though she knew it was impossible. That was when I started looking for a quick solution to get the money.

I picked up a coffee to go and strolled around the city. I was doing absolutely everything to avoid going home, where another tough conversation awaited.

When did my life become so complicated? To cover the hole in my budget, I rented one room. My friend’s cousin was looking for an flat, and I was looking for a tenant. At the very first meeting, I liked this boy, who became my best friend.

‘Do you think something’s wrong with me?’ I asked him.

We were sitting together on the sofa in the living room.

‘You’re smart, kind, pretty, slim and red-headed. What could be wrong with you?’ Alan looked at me closely. ‘What’s more, you have a sexy ass. Sexy asses are… sexy!’ He patted his thigh for effect.

I started laughing. The way he said things made them all sound so simple. There was nothing wrong with me. I kept myself in good shape, so why were guys running away from me? What the hell was it about me that no one wanted?

‘Maybe I’ll dye my hair, and it’ll give me a serious look. Maybe I’ll go for a nice bronze. Guys like brunettes,’ I thought out loud.

‘Don’t even dare to touch it, or I’ll cut your fingers off. You have the most beautiful, coppery hair colour I’ve ever seen, and you want to change it? It’s perfect. Every guy dreams of having a ginger like you in his bed. Well, maybe not every guy,’ he corrected himself hastily. ‘Actually, I don’t count.’ He waved his hand as if he wanted to push away unwanted thoughts.

That’s what I loved about him endlessly. He could always lift my spirits, give me good advice in any situation. If only he knew what was on my mind…

I poured us some more wine and gave him a glass. The plan was simple. If we were slightly drunk, it would be easier for me to ask him for a favour. I knew he was the only person I trusted completely. We had just watched a movie, and I couldn’t remember a single scene because I was so stressed.

I set the popcorn bowl down on the table and looked at him shyly.

‘What’s going through that beautiful head?’

He noticed I was up to something. He knew me too well.

‘Well, I have a certain problem, and I think you can help me.’

Alan knew my story and supported me as much as he could. I owed him already, and even if he insisted, I wouldn’t take a penny more from him.

‘I know how to make a lot of money in a short time, but there’s one detail that bothers me.’

‘Let it all out,’ he said with a bit of amusement.

‘My virginity,’ I said without thinking.

He raised his hands in protest. ‘Oh no, you can forget about it! You’ll have to deal with this on your own.’

‘Don’t leave me like this, please! I know you don’t do this with women, but why don’t you make an exception for me?’ I looked at him with my most pleading eyes.

‘No way. This is… this is… inappropriate. Don’t look at me like that! I’m not going to do it!’

‘You just push, and that’s it. I don’t expect anything else.’

He looked at me like I was an alien, ‘Just? Do you know what that means? Where are the butterflies in your stomach? Where are the feelings? You can’t treat it that way. That first time should be memorable, magical!’ He pressed his hands to his heart with dreamy eyes. ‘It should be perfect. And me?’ He looked at me reprovingly. ‘I’m gay, have you forgotten? No way. It would be easier for you to seduce some guy in a club. Wait, what did you say? Why do you want to get rid of your virginity, and why right now?’

‘I’m twenty-one years old! At this age you can’t say it’s too soon.’

‘Don’t change the subject.’ He threatened me with his finger. ‘I have to pour us some wine. I can’t be sober for a conversation like this.’

He went to get another bottle.

I explained the proposition I had received. I had to admit, he was not enthusiastic. He sat quietly for a while.

‘I’m not going to say I support what you’re going to do, but I am your friend. Friends support each other. Tonight, we’re going to find you some horny sucker and solve your problem. It’s Saturday night. Go, take a shower. Do all those magical things women do, and we’re going to the club. It’s hunting time!’ he said, pushing me gently towards the bathroom.

I got ready faster than usual. I still had a condom I got from a friend, which I placed safely inside my bra. I was wearing a dress that was far too short. I’d bought it on a whim but never worn it: it was hardly suitable for walking on the street, but for the club it was perfect. It barely covered my butt. Before I knew it, we were there. Today the place was unimaginably crowded. Some famous DJ was playing music.

We had two shots and a cocktail for courage. Alan took me to the middle of the dance floor, and after a few moments, I was enjoying myself. I discreetly looked around for the perfect guy, or at least someone close to it. If I didn’t love him, at least let him be handsome. I smiled at the thought of this ridiculous plan. A few guys hung around me during the dance, but none were good enough. After a few tunes, I went to the bar for another drink. Alan had gone to the restroom, so I was alone.

‘Where’s your friend?’ a man queuing next to me asked.

‘I think he’s lost.’ I assessed him from head to toe. He must have been watching me, too. He knew I wasn’t alone here.

‘My friend owns this club.’

He tried to impress me with cheap talk. I wondered if I should let him off the hook. But I had to admit that he could pass for handsome. All his features were in the perfect place. Unfortunately for me, he was too fancy. I didn’t like that kind of man, but it was enough for tonight.

‘Would you like to dance?’ he offered.

We left our glasses, and he told the bartender to keep an eye on them. They seemed to know each other. We danced to two songs. I had to admit, he knew how to move on the dance floor. The dance felt like foreplay. I got goosebumps just thinking about what I was going to do. He gently brushed his hand over my shoulder, his blue eyes glinting humorously.

‘Shall I show you the rest of the club?’

I nodded my head as a sign of agreement.

He grabbed my hand and led me towards the back room. I caught sight of Alan, whose flash of his eyes indicated he was waiting for me. A door closed behind us with a sign ‘Admission for staff only’, and it immediately felt quieter around us. We found ourselves in a small office. The next thing I registered, were his lips on my mouth. I tried to keep up with his pace. It was obvious that he often invited his friends here from the dance floor. I could feel his insistent tongue, as I tried to return the kisses with the same intensity. His hands gently, deliberately roamed my body. When I felt my ass stop against the edge of the desk, I came to my senses. I evidently hadn’t drunk enough to go through with it in this way. My partner sensed I was pulling back gently, and stopped kissing me.

‘What’s going on? You don’t want to?’ He looked at me with a lusty gaze.

‘It’s too fast,’ I responded.

The man took a deep, calming breath.

‘Okay.’ He ran his hands through his hair, ruffling his perfect hairstyle. ‘I’m Mick. Can I take you out for coffee?’

I looked at him in disbelief.

‘I’m Sarah. I’d love to go for a coffee with you.’ I started laughing.

‘Mick, man, I need the documents from my desk.’ The door opened, and a man walked in. He looked at Mick, then shifted his focus to me. He assessed my dress, which made my legs appear twice as long as they were. Looking into my eyes, he held my gaze until I broke it off. A knowing smile appeared on his lips.

‘We’re leaving now,’ answered Mick, ‘We’re going dancing.’

Just like last time, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the dance floor. That’s when it dawned on me.

I waved to Alan that I was okay. I continued dancing for another hour. I noticed that my friend had a few pretty girls hanging around, but he turned them all away. My head was buzzing by the end of the evening, and my feet felt sore from the high heels, but I was having fun and didn’t want to go home yet. I’m not sure when I would have the opportunity to go to a party for fun and not for work. By the end, Mick and I exchanged phone numbers so we could arrange that coffee date.

* * *

I made it to the mansion in my blue Volkswagen Polo. I hoped it wouldn’t break down on the way there. Lately, I’d been hearing disturbing sounds from under the bonnet, and it was yet another thing in my life that needed to be fixed. I parked by the ‘For staff only’ sign and entered through a side entrance. This was my second time here, and I still felt in awe about the size and luxury of the mansion. I carried a bag, which contained my most necessary things in case I had to spend the night. I greeted the girls in a friendly manner and went to my room, where I would temporarily live. The room was quite big. There was a huge bed in the middle with a bedside table next to it, a dressing table on the side and two armchairs with a table in the centre.

I put my toiletries in the bathroom adjacent to the room and hung my clothes in the closet.

A few minutes later, Sue knocked on my door and introduced me to the gynaecologist. I was relieved that she was a woman. We had talked earlier about the necessary blood tests to rule out any diseases. I also decided to start taking birth control pills. The doctor took my blood sample, handed me the pills and said goodbye. The results were to be ready the next day by noon, sent by email. After that, I could officially go out with clients. There was only one small detail left to be agreed upon.

I asked Sue about the advance payment, because I could no longer pretend I didn’t need money urgently. She smiled gently and wrote a cheque. Seeing the amount, I was surprised.

‘That’s too much. I haven’t earned anything yet.’

‘Relax. This is just the beginning.’ She laughed, seeing my confusion. ‘I told you there’s a lot of money at stake. For that, you need at least ten sets of new lingerie, stockings, stilettos, and of course, dresses. Let me ask someone to take you to the boutique and help you pick something. How about Amy? I’ve seen you get along with her.’

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Nothing escaped her attention in this place.

‘Tomorrow, after breakfast, the dance instructor will come. You’ll take some lessons. You need to learn how to be confident on stage. Stage familiarity is fundamental. You did well at the bar, several customers were asking about you.’

Her words gave me confidence. I saw it coming, but I was still surprised. I felt even more disappointed that nothing had worked out from my Saturday hook-up.

‘Don’t worry. You’ll let me know when you’re ready.’

* * *

We waited for the instructor in the gym. The pole dancing class was about to start. I could feel the excitement, and even though the girls tried to engage me in conversation, I didn’t pay attention to them. I didn’t like to exercise, especially cardio. I was more the lazy type, but I knew that would not go over well here. It had already been pointed out in the introduction that I had to be able to move on stage. Dancing on demand is nothing special. I heard a story about one girl who got drunk and decided to dance on the table. She fell off, but thankfully nothing happened to her. She got over her fears, with only a few bruises. After this incident, though, Sue made a fuss. She reprimanded all the girls, telling them they had to know how to handle their drink. It wasn’t forbidden, but getting wasted was prohibited.

I was thinking about my first job. What will the first client be like? Will he be young or old? Will I be able to cope afterwards?

Just as I suspected, I had very weak leg and arm muscles, and struggled to stay on the pole. The other girls were doing it effortlessly, it didn’t look complicated. I agreed with the instructor that I would participate in the class just like the other girls. My goal was not to be discouraged and to train as much as I could. On top of that, he was going to teach me the basics of erotic dancing with props, which meant there would be no getting around it without regular training. At that point, I realised how much energy this would take. After my workout, I was tired and hungry. When I got to my room, I found an envelope on my bed containing my test results. The good news was that I was as fit as a fiddle. I also found iron supplement pills. I was deficient. ‘Take one a day,’ I read on the package.

The girls I took the pole dancing class with were eating lunch in the kitchen. I surveyed the fridge. After some consideration, I made myself toast with cheese and ham. Seeing what they were eating, I felt guilty for not choosing vegetables and chicken.

Amy ran into the kitchen. I was amazed at how energetic she was.

‘What’s good to eat here?’ She glanced at our plates. ‘Can you make me a piece of toast? I had a rough night.’

‘Night and afternoon,’ said the petite blonde.

‘Tell me about it,’ laughed Amy. ‘I’m only going to eat and sleep until tomorrow.’

‘We’re off tonight. Are you coming with us to the club?’ asked one of the girls.

She shook her head in despair. ‘I guess I’ll skip the lie-in after all. Wake me up early enough so I can get ready. You should come with us,’ she said to me.

‘I already promised to meet my friend in the evening.’

‘Bring him with you,’ the girl with blonde hair suggested enthusiastically.

‘I’ll ask him if he wants to.’

‘You have to come; you’re a member of the team now.’

‘Thanks!’ I reached for the toast and bit into it. I was lucky to inherit good genes from my parents, and I don’t put on much weight, regardless of what I eat.

I called Alan. He liked the idea of going out together. We both loved to dance. Since I got to the mansion, I’d had hardly any time for him. Even though I gave up my previous job, I was swamped. I visited my grandmother as often as I could, exercised regularly and helped out at the mansion.

The girls and I were taking a cab and would meet Alan at the club. The mansion was in uproar. It was rare all the girls could go out together. This time they had asked for a free Saturday evening. Everyone wanted to look perfect.

Amy was sitting on my bed. I browsed through my clothes while she helped me pick out an outfit for the evening. It was already my sixth outfit in a row.

‘I liked you best in leather trousers and a glossy top. Sexy, but not slutty.’

‘Thanks for the honesty.’ I sipped my ‘relaxation’ drink, as Amy called it. She had chosen to wear white jeans and a black corset. To me, it looked more like underwear than a T-shirt, but she looked pleased with her choice.

We arrived at the club before eleven, and I followed the girls to the VIP entrance. I saw the envious looks of the people in line. It was the best club in the city, so the queue was always gigantic. I knew this because not so long ago, I was standing in line myself. Somewhere in the distance, I heard my name. My friend ran up to me and kissed me on the cheek.

I introduced him to Amy, and he kissed her in greeting as well. Sometimes I forgot how direct he could be with women.

‘Come with us,’ Amy said, grabbing him under his arm; I did the same on the other side. At the entrance, the security guard stamped each of us on our wrists, and we went in.

‘I’m a VIP,’ Alan rejoiced. ‘What a coincidence, this is the same club we went to last time.’