But now it’s time to go. I grab my purse and begin mincing to the door, but my panties are oddly scratchy tonight. Did I leave the tag on? I pull up my skirt and twist around awkwardly to look, but no, everything looks fine.
Yet I can’t go out like this because I’ll be fishing the string out of my butt every few seconds! As a result, I reach below the hem of my skirt and then pull off the g-string altogether before kicking the lace into the corner of my living room. There. Whoever meets me tonight is going to get a surprise, but at least it’ll be the kind they like.
But as I’m grabbing my jacket and purse again, my phone rings.
“This better not be my manager,” I mumble as I fish out my phone. But it’s actually Hadley’s name lighting up my screen. She’s video chatting me, and I answer right away.
“Hey Hads, how’s it going? You’re going to tonight’s event, aren’t you?”
My older cousin shakes her head and points to her nose, which looks red and enlarged.
“No way, girlfriend. I’m basically Pinocchio right now and Nicole would kill me if I showed up looking like this. You’re going, I take it?” she asks, eyeing my perfectly done make-up and hair.
I nod.
“Yeah, definitely. I’m really looking forward to it too! Word is that some European soccer players recently applied for membership, although I don’t know if Clay and Casper approved them.”
Hadley grins.
“Oh yeah, those guys are hot and totally fit too because they’re professional athletes. But you know they call them ‘footballers’ in Europe and not soccer players, right?”
I shake my head while stepping out of my apartment and onto the streets of New York.
“No, I had no idea.”
Hadley nods before sneezing loudly.
“Well, they do,” she sniffles while wiping at her nose. “I hope you meet a gorgeous one, Linds, so have fun!”
I giggle.
“You know I will!”
But then my older cousin goes serious, little lines appearing on her forehead.
“You know, I’m glad you’re enjoying the job, Lindy. I worry about you sometimes because I got you into this life.”
I roll my eyes. “No need to worry. I’m a big girl now, and not the kid in diapers who was always following you around.”
Hads nods and bites her lip, a concerned look still in those blue eyes.
“I know. But still, you know you can always call me if you need anything, right? Don’t feel like you have to hold back.”
I narrow my eyes, puzzled, while getting into a black town car.
“What do you mean, Hads?”
My older cousin sighs a bit.
“Well, you’ve always been more emotional than most folks, Lindy. That’s all. I love that about you, and actually everyone loves that about you because you wear your heart on your sleeve and you’d give the coat off your back to a homeless person if it came to that. But hon, you know the biggest pitfall in this business, right?”
I stare into the video screen.
“I think I do,” I say slowly.
Hadley nods again.
“You can’t fall in love, Lindy,” she says in a low tone. “These men are powerful, wealthy and handsome, but you absolutely cannot fall in love with them. There’s no space for girls like us in their regular lives. They’re just here to enjoy themselves in the confines of the club, and then they go back to wherever they come from. Board rooms. Conference calls. Their estates in the South of France. It’s different for them, and you’ve got to protect your heart.”
Oh, is that all? That’s easy. I lean back and laugh into the darkness of the car.
“I know, Hads. Trust me, I know. I’ve been with Club Z for a year and it hasn’t happened yet. Heck, not even close, so I’ll be okay.”
But still, my cousin bites her lip worriedly.
“Just make sure, Lindy,” she warns again. “Protect yourself at all costs.”
“I will, I will,” I laugh while flapping my hand at her. “Don’t worry! Go make yourself some tea and take some Nyquil, okay? We’ll talk again soon.”
With that, Hadley lets out another huge ah-choo before hanging up, leaving me in the silence of the town car. The streets of Manhattan roll by and I stare out the window, but my gaze is blank. After all, my cousin’s warning is true: the hostesses exist to provide a service, and we don’t belong in our clients’ real lives. But what I said is true too: I’m a professional and I know how to protect my heart, especially after a year on the job.
With that, I turn to face forward and smile sassily. Tonight’s going to be a great night, and I know I can handle myself no matter what Club Z throws my way.
2
Lindy
* * *
From the outside, Club Z resembles any other large building in New York City. It’s made of solid grey granite with ornate wrought-iron gates in front, and even a small garden in front of the massive double doors. Slitted windows greet visitors, and inside is a marble lobby done in hushed tones of cream, tan, and gold.