date.
A cab pulled up. I opened the door and helped her in. After nestling in against her and giving the driver instructions, I spoke softly. "What about an hour?"
" Sorry, I don't do hours."
" Is Amber a…"
" Courtesan? Yes, Amber is one, too."
" Is that what you call yourselves?"
" Yes, we know we're prostitutes, but we're so vain, we like to think we're at the top of the echelon."
" Humph! With your looks and the kind of money you make I'd say you are at the top."
The cab pulled up to the curb. "That'll be ten-seventy-five,"
We exited and I handed the driver a twenty. "Keep it."
" Thanks buddy. You have a good time with your lady friend."
Ginger smiled and spoke through the open window. "Don't worry, he will."
I smiled and sidled up to Ginger. I felt like a million dollars wi th her on my arm as we entered de Vinci's. The way the maître'd catered to us, you'd think Ginger was at least a movie star. "Yes, Mr. Fairchild, I have a lovely private booth available. Right this way, please."
The booth, around a corner from the main dining room, was quieter and more private than the rest. I d idn't know who I was trying to impress, but I ordered a two hundred dollar bottle of wine. Perhaps in my mind I'd decided to go for a night to remember. I knew I wanted to wake up with Ginger, so being willing to part with three thou plus a five hundred dollar tip for her, the idea of spending another six or seven hundred didn't seem outlandish. I hope my raise will be a big one.
I bristled with questions, so after the waiter took our order, I started in, "If I were to retain your services for a period of time or the night, where would we go to…"
She snickered. "Do it?"
I nodded. "Ah-huh. Where would we go?"
She took a sip of the wine. "Mmm, this wine is out of this world." Facing me, she explained, "Out of town dates usually have a room. Local dates get a hotel room."
I took a sip. It was good. "Couldn't we go to my place or yours?"
She shook her head. "No. I don't know you and nothing personal, but I wouldn't want you to know where I live."
" So, I need to get a hotel room."
I loved her angelic smile. "That would be best."
" Okay, the next question is a bit personal. Is that all right?"
She flicked her wrist. "Go ahead. I'll either answer or I won't."
" Fair enough. How did you get into the…?"
" Business of entertaining men?" she prompted me.
" Ah-huh."
She broke a roll in half and buttered it. "I started during my second year of college. Have you checked on the cost of college lately? Trying to keep up with the bills, rent, tuition and books, I worked two jobs. Juggling work and going to classes was next to impossible, but I managed, until the economy collapsed."
" What happened?"
She sighed. "My world collapsed with it. One employer laid me off and the other cut my hours in half. I was sinking fast and had to do something drastic, so I signed up with an escort service that one of the girls recommended. They screened and provided the dates and were very good at making sure I was safe.
" After my first date, I threw up. I didn't like what I did, but what choice did I have. I either do it or give up college. After several dates, when money wasn't a problem any more, I really thought about what I did to earn it and it didn't seem that bad. I was living a glamorous life and men literally fawned over me." She paused and smiled at me. "I've even had Johns propose."
I laughed. "I'll bet. What made you decide to continue after you finished college?"
We paused when the waiter served our salads.
Ginger picked up her fork and dug in. "Who said I did?"
I started to respond, but she waved me off and continued, "After graduating at the head of my class, with a degree in business administration from Columbia, I depleted half the money I'd saved, while spending six months looking for that elusive job. Finally, Amber and I got together and went back in the trade."
" So you've stopped looking for work?"
She squirmed
A cab pulled up. I opened the door and helped her in. After nestling in against her and giving the driver instructions, I spoke softly. "What about an hour?"
" Sorry, I don't do hours."
" Is Amber a…"
" Courtesan? Yes, Amber is one, too."
" Is that what you call yourselves?"
" Yes, we know we're prostitutes, but we're so vain, we like to think we're at the top of the echelon."
" Humph! With your looks and the kind of money you make I'd say you are at the top."
The cab pulled up to the curb. "That'll be ten-seventy-five,"
We exited and I handed the driver a twenty. "Keep it."
" Thanks buddy. You have a good time with your lady friend."
Ginger smiled and spoke through the open window. "Don't worry, he will."
I smiled and sidled up to Ginger. I felt like a million dollars wi th her on my arm as we entered de Vinci's. The way the maître'd catered to us, you'd think Ginger was at least a movie star. "Yes, Mr. Fairchild, I have a lovely private booth available. Right this way, please."
The booth, around a corner from the main dining room, was quieter and more private than the rest. I d idn't know who I was trying to impress, but I ordered a two hundred dollar bottle of wine. Perhaps in my mind I'd decided to go for a night to remember. I knew I wanted to wake up with Ginger, so being willing to part with three thou plus a five hundred dollar tip for her, the idea of spending another six or seven hundred didn't seem outlandish. I hope my raise will be a big one.
I bristled with questions, so after the waiter took our order, I started in, "If I were to retain your services for a period of time or the night, where would we go to…"
She snickered. "Do it?"
I nodded. "Ah-huh. Where would we go?"
She took a sip of the wine. "Mmm, this wine is out of this world." Facing me, she explained, "Out of town dates usually have a room. Local dates get a hotel room."
I took a sip. It was good. "Couldn't we go to my place or yours?"
She shook her head. "No. I don't know you and nothing personal, but I wouldn't want you to know where I live."
" So, I need to get a hotel room."
I loved her angelic smile. "That would be best."
" Okay, the next question is a bit personal. Is that all right?"
She flicked her wrist. "Go ahead. I'll either answer or I won't."
" Fair enough. How did you get into the…?"
" Business of entertaining men?" she prompted me.
" Ah-huh."
She broke a roll in half and buttered it. "I started during my second year of college. Have you checked on the cost of college lately? Trying to keep up with the bills, rent, tuition and books, I worked two jobs. Juggling work and going to classes was next to impossible, but I managed, until the economy collapsed."
" What happened?"
She sighed. "My world collapsed with it. One employer laid me off and the other cut my hours in half. I was sinking fast and had to do something drastic, so I signed up with an escort service that one of the girls recommended. They screened and provided the dates and were very good at making sure I was safe.
" After my first date, I threw up. I didn't like what I did, but what choice did I have. I either do it or give up college. After several dates, when money wasn't a problem any more, I really thought about what I did to earn it and it didn't seem that bad. I was living a glamorous life and men literally fawned over me." She paused and smiled at me. "I've even had Johns propose."
I laughed. "I'll bet. What made you decide to continue after you finished college?"
We paused when the waiter served our salads.
Ginger picked up her fork and dug in. "Who said I did?"
I started to respond, but she waved me off and continued, "After graduating at the head of my class, with a degree in business administration from Columbia, I depleted half the money I'd saved, while spending six months looking for that elusive job. Finally, Amber and I got together and went back in the trade."
" So you've stopped looking for work?"
She squirmed
Similar Books
Message from a Mistress
Niobia Bryant
You're All Alone (illustrated)
Fritz Leiber
I'm in Love With a Stripper
Michelle Marola
Fated Folly
Elizabeth Bailey
Circle of Danger
Carla Swafford
First a Dream (Dreams Come True #1)
Emma Nichols
Embroidering Shrouds
Priscilla Masters
Wild Horses
D'Ann Lindun
One Handsome Devil
Robert Preece