Ten grand? Like, the number ten with three zeros behind it? My jaw drops open, and I have to tell myself to close it.
Holy shit, that’s a lot of green. Is that what I could be making? I mean, I’m sure they take a cut or something, but… but still.
She finishes her call and hangs up. Standing, she smooths her sleek white pencil skirt and holds out her hand. “Emmeline?”
“Yes, that’s me.” I shake her hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, sweetie. My name is Sam. Let me take you back to Miranda.” I follow her, trying to emulate the swish of her hips as she expertly walks across the room in her heels. She waves to the open doorway. “Emmeline, this is Miranda.”
Behind a smaller white desk sits Miranda. I’ve known her since I was a teen, but she’s Lexi’s older sister and was already in college when Lexi and I met. She’s a beautiful woman with ice blonde hair that’s pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She wears a teal colored dress that matches the Sugar Daddies sign on the wall behind her. She holds out her hand, a massive rock glittering from her finger as she gestures to the open seat across the desk. “Welcome. Lexi told me you were coming. Have a seat.”
“Thank you.” I smooth the fabric of my dress beneath me as I slide into the leather chair.
She gets right down to business, cutting the small talk. “My sister Lexi tells me you guys have been friends for a long time. I’m surprised our paths never crossed back home.”
“Oh. I didn’t get out much. We mostly hung out at school.” What I don’t tell her is that I took care of my elderly grandmother most weekends and after school. Caring for Nana was what made me want to become a doctor. “I was glad when I heard Lexi had moved to Nevada.”
“Sorry to bombard you, but we have little time.” She chews on the pen. “Tell me. What’s your sign, your personality type, your sexual hang-ups?”
“Ah...let’s see. I'm Aries so I’m a fire sign, you know, passionate, motivated, a little intense.” I give a nervous laugh.
She flashes a wink. “That’s how we like them.”
“My personality, um...I’m a really hard worker. When I set a goal for myself, I do whatever I have to do to accomplish it.” Including signing up to be an escort to pay for med school. “I love focusing on my career.”
“Same.”
“And sexual hang-ups?” I scan my mind trying to think of anything that might be out of bounds. Hmm...I love sex and I’m kinda up for anything. “I, uh, don’t really have any.”
She grills me on confidentiality and discretion. I answer her questions, one after the other and I think I’m doing okay.
Then, her eyebrows furrow and she leans her elbows on the desk. Is this a bad sign? “Lexi tells me you’re in med school and that you’re looking for a one night contract to make ends meet, hold you over until you can finish med school?”
“Yes, that’s right. I have a hectic schedule and I’m not sure I could do more than one night.” Please, please, please, let me do this one date, help me fill my bank account up! I offer a persuasive smile.
“Hmm…” She looks off into the distance, tapping her chin with the end of her pen as she thinks. “I’ve never done this before. We really don’t do such limited contracts. We like to work for lengthier times with our hires...” Her voice trails off as she thinks this over. I have to think fast.
How can I convince her? I just need this one job. I give a little laugh. “Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”
Sam appears in the doorway. “Miranda. Don’t forget we have that one client…you know who? He was only looking for a one-time deal.”
Miranda rolls her eyes. “Ah, yes. I forgot he’d called in this morning.” The pen tapping starts back up.
Sam gives me an encouraging smile and a wink. “You know, Miranda, Emmeline here is free tonight. You could get him off your schedule lickety split, and be done with it.”
Miranda looks me over. “One and done. Hmm…you sure you’re up for this? I usually require extensive training, vetting, etcetera, but I know the client well, and Lexi knows you well, so if you’re up for a short rundown from Sam, and you think you got this…” her voice trails off. She blows out a breath. “I’ll let you take tonight. The job is for twenty-four hours and it pays ten grand to you after our fees.”
Ten grand! More than enough to get me through the rest of my school year with the free housing I have lined up. I hold back the permagrin that’s creeping onto my face. I calculate the timing in my head. It’s Friday afternoon and I don’t have class until Monday morning…this could work.