of her, and the guest list where people had been signing in their names. A fountain pen still laid on top of the paper. I looked at Alexis. This was definitely not what she described. She shrugged at me, and walked up to the desk.
“Hi, um, we’re here for the audition.”
The girl had a black corset on, but I couldn't see what she was wearing on the bottom. Her long brown hair went down past her chest, and was cut straight across her forehead. She looked like a model.
“Audition? Oh, did you get our information from Club Zero?”
Alexis nodded. “A guy gave me the card, and said the audition was here. Are we in the right place?”
She looked Alexis up-and-down, and then did the same to me. “I think there's something that we can do with you. Follow me upstairs; that's where the girls get ready. The Madame will meet with you after that.”
I was confused. “I'm sorry, Madame? Is that what you call the woman who hires everyone?”
She smiled at me, and cocked her head. “That's what everyone calls her. She owns the Buyer’s Club.”
“But I thought this was for Club Zero?”
She walked up the stairs and beckoned for us to follow her, but ignored my question. Without anything else better to do, we followed her. I think out of sheer curiosity.
We could barely hear her soft footballs on the red velvet carpet as she ascended the stairs. She continued to talk as she walked in front of us. “We use Club Zero to field potential girls for our operations here. This is the Boston Buyer’s Club. Welcome.” With that, we were at the top of the stairs and we had entered a large room with dozens of girls lying around on sofas, and sitting in oversized armchairs. They all had on similar outfits as our hostess: corsets with little boy shorts and ruffles on the ass. And they were all just as beautiful as she was. Many of them had their shoes off, and were putting on makeup or curling their hair. But some were ready to go at a backdoor, standing in clusters whispering excitedly.
As the woman continued to walk, I grabbed Alexis’s arm. “What the hell is this? These girls are not go-go dancers.”
I could tell she didn't know what to say, and that she was just as shocked as I was. “I don't know, Calla. This isn't what they told me, I swear.”
A beautiful African-American girl walked up to us. She had long black hair that went past her shoulders, with a blond streak right in front. Her skin was smooth, and it look like she had hardly any makeup on; she was just naturally beautiful. “They didn't tell you honey? I swear, getting these girls off the streets is just not going to work out for us.” She turned around to address the tall brunette who had brought us upstairs. “Jessica, you have got to talk to the Madame about this. These girls are going to tell everybody about us. And you know that is not how it works here.” She moved her hands as she talked, and then turned back to us. “I mean you’d be stupid to tell, though. Girls who tell don’t get far.” I shuddered. She added, “We don't need any virgins in the Buyer’s Club.”
I made a face. “I'm not a virgin. But thanks anyway.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Feisty. Maybe you do belong here. But your little sidekick… Girl, you should head on home.”
I addressed her again. “She stays. She's with me.” I held onto Alexis’s hand tightly, afraid that they might rip her from me. Many of the other girls were now watching our altercation. They'd stopped chatting in the corner, and the girls who had been putting their makeup on had frozen in place. They all looked like mannequins at a department store.
“Fine. It's not my decision anyway. The Madame will have your ass out in a second. Just stay away from my Buyers.”
I shook my head. “Not a problem.”
She walked away, and I looked at Alexis again. “Do you realize where we are?”
Alexis shook her head, clearly still terrified that the black girl was going to kick our