Lexi
There's nothing I don't love about my job. I wake up every morning excited to go to work. Never in a million years could anyone convince me I should quit my job.
What's my job you ask? I’m a call girl. No, not the type that you call to have sex with. In my job, sex is a big no-no.
I work for a company called One Call Cleaners. To the outside world, we look like a cleaning company, but on the inside, we are a group of five girls who work for Ms. Jackie.
If you're important, well known, or are willing to spend a small fortune on appearances, then your name is probably on Ms. Jackie's list.
Most of these men call Ms. Jackie for a girl to take to an event of some sort. If you have a charity event, class reunion, club opening, or a business dinner with the company VIP’s and you want a pretty girl on your arm, then Ms. Jackie is the woman to call.
If you want to stay on Ms. Jackie’s good side as an employee, you only have one rule to follow. Never, no matter what, ever have sex with a client. In return, she takes good care of us and makes sure our safety is her first priority. She runs every background check known on all clients. She interviews them extensively, and makes one hundred percent sure there's nothing in their past that may cause concern. She also never books us with a man who lives in the same town as us. She says it’s because you’re more likely to run into someone you saw at the event or wherever they took you. Plus, it saves us having to make up a lie. When taking on new clients, Ms. Jackie makes sure paths never cross with our regular customers. Some men tend to be a little territorial with their girls, and it would be bad to get into a predicament that could cause hard feelings. That could make for an embarrassing tension-filled night all the way around.
I have three regular clients and have worked with them long enough to know what they like and don’t. I also know exactly what part to play when I accompany them to the selected venue for the night. I play the best girlfriend in the world. I’m so good at it that they're always giving me gifts on top of the fee Ms. Jackie charges.
Walking into work, I go to the lounge to meet up with the rest of the girls so we can talk about our weekend events. I’ve just gotten back from France. Paris est magnifique. My client, Mr. Williams, is in his mid-forties and he lost his wife to cancer two years ago. He was so heartbroken and just needed a shoulder to cry on, or someone to listen to him talk about his wife. This was how things began with him and me. He told me how they met and all the little things they did for each other. You could tell she was his everything. Over time, he started asking me to attend events with him, and since then he has been happy with me. When he has an event of some sort, I’m the first call he makes.
“Hey Lexi, how was France?” Samantha asks.
She has been here the longest—four years now. She was Ms. Jackie’s first girl and gives the best advice when I've no idea what I'm doing. She has eight clients and refuses to add any more to them.
“Amazing! Mr. Williams is so sweet. He even took me to some beautiful cafes because he knows how much I love different foods. How was your weekend?” I ask, joining the other girls as we wait for Ms. Jackie to walk in.
“It was okay. David had this family charity event that he wanted me to come to. It was so boring.” She chuckles. “At least he pays well.” Samantha gives me a sly smile, and all I can do is shake my head at her as I sit down on the couch next to her. “New Jimmy’s?” she asks, pointing to my shoes.
“I had to treat myself.” I smile, looking at them. I work hard to please my men, so I try to buy everything on my wish list when I get the chance. You know what they say, 'you only live once,' so I'm living it up while I can. There are still a few things I haven't gotten, but one day I will.
“Ladies, I hope you enjoyed your weekend.” Ms. Jackie's fiery red hair falls loosely in soft, springy curls. You would think the tight red dress she's wearing would clash, but it doesn't. It shows off her striking figure and complements her spirited personality. She's in her early forties and married, with two boys. Her husband knows about the business, the real business, and he comes by to help now and again. “Any trouble I need to know about?” she asks.
Everyone but Helen shakes their head. “I won’t work with Clark again,” Helen starts. “He just won’t stop trying to take it further with me. He went as far as pushing me up against the wall and forcing me to kiss him last night.” Helen looks over at all of us.
I can already feel the heat of anger coming from Ms. Jackie as she taps away on her computer. “You, nor any other girl, will have to. I'll email the other companies so they know as well. Are you okay?” Ms. Jackie asks Helen.
“Yeah, was a little shaken last night, but I got the first available flight back,” Helen tells her. God, shaken doesn't come close to what I would have felt. I think I would have shit my pants.
“I wish you had called me last night. If any of you have a problem, you call me, no matter what time.” She looks at each one of us. “You’re my girls. As far as I'm concerned, you are the daughters I didn't have and you'll always come first.”
We all nod in understanding.
When I joined this company, I wasn’t sure what I was doing. At the time, I was in desperate need of a job that paid better than the waitressing job I had. I still remember the day Ms. Jackie came to me and offered me the job.
“Well, aren’t you just stunning.” I turn around and look at the woman leisurely perusing my body. “I think I have an excellent opportunity for you, if you’re interested.” She hands me a card, with only a time and location printed on it. I look up from the card to question her, but she’s already walking away.
I take a second to contemplate what just happened then put the card in my pocket and return to cleaning the table.
Standing outside the address, I see the name One Call Cleaners on the building. I look at myself through the mirrored glass and wonder if this is the right thing to do or not. Looking at my watch, I decide I've nothing to lose by showing up and seeing what they have to offer.
I take the plunge and open the door. I walk down the corridor until I see the lady that approached me behind a desk with a sparkle of appreciation in her eyes. I hesitate, not sure of what to do next until she points to a chair across from her. Looking around her office, I can't imagine what the job entails.
“I'm delighted you came. I was hoping you would like to work for me.” She stacks some papers together then taps them on the table to even them all out.
“Ummm, what’s the pay? I already have a part-time job,” I ask in a tiny voice. I need the money.
“Seven hundred dollars an hour,” she tells me. My jaw drops open involuntarily. I must look amusing as I try to determine if I heard her correctly. There's no way anyone can make that much money unless…
“No, I won’t sleep with anyone for money,” I say, and she full-on belly laughs.
“I would never ask you to.” She tells me what will be expected of me, the hours I would work and how much I could expect to bring in each week.
I was sold. I had my first client three weeks later, and I've never looked back.
“Girls, other than an event Helen would like you to assist with, you're all free this week.” Ms. Jackie passes Helen a file with the details of where to go and what to wear and so on. “The rest of you don’t have anything yet, but keep your phones with you in case something comes up. Lexi, could you stay back for a minute, please?” The rest of the girls pack their belongings and leave.
“I have a new client who needs you to attend an event with him tonight. You have to be at his apartment by five this evening, so you can meet and get to know each other.” I look down at my watch and see I only have 4 hours to prepare.
“It’s a little late for me to catch a flight to meet him, isn't it?” I'm not sure what Ms. Jackie has planned because she never allows local clients.
A look of uncertainty crosses her face as she taps her pen on the table. “That’s the thing, he lives here.” She pauses for a moment as my eyes reach hers. She knows what I’m going to say before I even say a word. “I know I’m breaking my own rules, but he called because his date had to cancel at the last minute and he needed someone for a one-time event.” She looks at me as I try to process the real meaning behind her words. “His name’s Ethan Knight, and he’s a big player here in the business world.”
“Why does that name sound so familiar?” I ask. I know I’ve heard that name before.
“He owns the high-end shopping mall here, and around the country. He must attend this event tonight and needs a plus-one. He’s paying twice our asking price. If I didn't agree, he said he would tell everyone what we actually do here.” She hands me a file that contains the client’s information and what to expect from and how to prepare for the event.
“So, he’s blackmailing you?” I ask. What type of person does that?
“Yes. Well, not really. I just don’t want to get on his wrong side. So, what do you say?” I’m at a loss for words.
“I best start reading.” I smile at her as I leave the room. Ethan hasn't made a friend in me. He's a dick for blackmailing Ms. Jackie and the company into doing this.
As soon as I get home, I pour a glass of wine and look through the event file. Well, at least he’s hot. I mean drool-worthy hot. He has the whole Brad Pitt look going on. Knowing I'll get to stare at him while he shows me off brings a smile to my face.
Skimming through the file, I see the scheduled event is a formal ball that raises money for charities around the area. There's a bit of detail about the attendees and what they represent, but I don’t see anything about what to wear or how I am to be presented.
Thinking I might have missed something, I give Ms. Jackie a call.
“Hey, I’ve read through the file and see it’s a ball, but it doesn't have anything about what I should wear,” I say.
“Mr. Knight said everything will be there when you arrive and can choose from what he has picked.”
“Okay, then. I best hurry up and shower, shave and do a mini facial, so I can get there on time,” I say with a chuckle.
“Have fun tonight.” Ms. Jackie says, ending the call.
I pack my makeup and hair products so I can get ready there since I don’t really know what he's expecting. I drink the last sip of wine from my glass then walk into my bedroom and start my self-pampering routine.