My face shows the horror I feel. “This is human trafficking! You pick girls up to fuck, and call it a business!” I shout. I clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from saying more.
Before I can despair and spiral from my offensive outburst, possibly firing me from the restaurant, Mr. North gives a hearty chuckle, coughing a couple of times before maintaining his composure.
“Oh, that's good,” he says. "Now, this is NOT human trafficking. Human trafficking is where they steal people and sell them. I'm not stealing shit. You get paid more than you can probably even count. We don't force you to do anything you don't want to do. And I don’t fuck the help. I certainly wouldn’t fuck the likes of you. You aren’t that special.”
Fuck him. I want nothing more than to throat punch the prick.
He runs his large hands through his hair, exasperated with me. “During the initial training, they stay at the manor. That is, only the most beautiful and sexually capable women stay. I keep a small select number of trainees at a time. Your room and board, meals, and clothing, anything needed is provided. In exchange, they get physically and mentally trained. I’ll be upfront. You sign away essentially all of your freedom for a limited time. It is only during your training. And then you walk away with a generous sum. You may leave at any given point for whatever reason. We do not force you to do anything you don’t want.”
Mr. North’s breath hitches before he continues, “And sometimes you don’t make the cut. Of course, you still get paid for your troubles. But I keep only the best for future work.”
His long fingers thrum the table cloth, “I thoroughly vet all the gentlemen who use our services. We’re talking background checks, STDs or STIs screened. For everyone’s safety. The girls only pick from their own chosen list of men.”
Jesus, He's so cocky and a glorified pimp.
“You've wasted more than enough of my time. I was here recruiting a special employee named Charlotte. You're not her. So that's my mistake. Or rather, that's the Nest’s blunder. Of course, my oldest friend would screw me over just for a laugh.”
“Charlotte would never be interested in something like this,” I tell him earnestly. “She is too proud. She'd never resort to this.”
“Have you asked yourself how I would know about Charlotte? Why would I be interested in your friend in the first place?”
I shake my head. “No, Sir.”
His blue eyes roll to the side as he sighs, “She has applied for a position at one of the companies I own. So, as a result, I do my background checks a little differently than most.”
“Charlotte would never apply for something like this.”
He laughs. “You’d be surprised to learn that Charlotte has not only applied for a position at my company but has also secured it.”
Chapter 11
There’s no way. He must be lying. “She would never do this.”
He raises an eyebrow, “And you would?”
I nod my head, “My mom died.”
His eyebrow drops, “Now, why would you tell me something like that?” He still shows no emotion behind his perfect face or that cruel voice.
“I need the money for her funeral expenses. My rent has increased. I can barely afford even my cheap dinners or my tuition. Everything raised in price. I’ve been taking up extra shifts where I can. It’s never going to be enough.”
“Why would I care about any of this?” he asks, suddenly bored with me again.
“Charlotte would never do this, but I would. Use me instead. Please,” I plead.
He smiles like a cat holding a prized canary, “You've got the pleading down.”
His eyes dance, “And I must admit that I love how you sound when you beg.”
He takes a bite of a steak as I stand awkwardly by the table, waiting to see what he decides.
“I’m drowning,” I tell him, meaning every word, showing him what I don’t dare show anyone else.
My eyes glisten as I stand on the precipice of what could change everything for me. My future rests in Mr. North’s hands. My tears don’t go unnoticed. Something I haven’t seen before registers on Mr. North’s face. Pity.
He sighs. “Tonight would be Charlotte's audition, but since I'm already here… I suppose I can let you fill her place. Of course, that doesn't mean you have the position yet,” he tells me as soon as my face lights up at the possibilities.
“Yes!” I bounce with too much exuberance as my hands wipe away my tears.