“Yes, it’s always about money,” Blake said with a smile. “I will pay triple.”
After writing out a check and slapping it down on the counter, he walked directly out of the building. He was done with negotiations. He had found what he didn’t even know he was looking for, and for the first time in quite a while, he was more than ready to play. Training Jewell, pushing her, finding what her limits were — that was bringing him excitement unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
Chapter Six
She wasn’t ready for this. There was no way she could pull it off. Ms. Beaumont had assured her that her training was nowhere near complete, that she wouldn’t be asked to be an active escort for at least two months.
She had planned to collect her paycheck during the training period, and then sneak out before she ever had to go out with a client. Yes, she would sell her very soul for her brother, but if she could just jump through hoops and get out before she had to sell her body, that would be ideal. No such luck. The fates were against her, and it wasn’t going to happen now.
Because one man happened to walk through the doors, one man who wasn’t even supposed to have seen her yet, her boss tells her that she has one hour to get ready, and that if the client is in any way disappointed, it will be the last paycheck she’ll collect. Yes, she’d get paid for this job, as he’d paid up front, but if he returned her early, she’d be tossed out on the street. It was a lot of money, but she knew how difficult it was to find work. She needed more to ensure custody.
The money was good — so good. One week with this man — that’s all the time he had requested — and she could pay the rent on a place for her and her brother for three months. She could do anything for one week, she thought in desperation. But if she kept at it longer, it would be even better. She did the math quickly in her head. If she went with this man for one week, and then another man for a week, and so on, by the time she went to court, she’d have the bills paid for a year. And she’d be free.
The best part was that the paycheck didn’t show what she did. The judge couldn’t use it against her. It just showed she had a well-paying job. She could do this. Of course the judge would ask how she’d earned the money, and that would be difficult to explain, but she had time to come up with something. The courts wouldn’t find her a suitable guardian for her little brother if they knew she’d been working as an escort — an exclusive escort who wasn’t allowed to use the word no.
Looking in the mirror at a woman her mother would no longer recognize, she had to fight the tears that wanted to break free. Shape up, Jewell! This was just another day in her life, a day she would soon forget.
“Your body is just a tool to use. It’s not sacred. It’s not important. All that’s important is Justin,” she whispered to her image.
“It’s time, Jewell. Your ride is here.”
Looking through the mirror, she made eye contact with Ms. Beaumont. If she showed fear, the woman would send her on her way, and she’d have nothing to show the judge. So, with great effort, she swallowed her doubts and masked her emotions.
“I’m ready.” That was a lie — she would never be ready. She’d never be able to forget this day or what she had to do.
“Don’t screw this up. I’ve taken a chance on you. I know you aren’t properly trained, but this is a good job and there’s nothing to feel ashamed of. However we must survive, we do it. There’s honor in that.” For a brief moment pain flashed in Ms. Beaumont’s eyes, but she quickly covered it and gave Jewell her usual stern look.
“I won’t disappoint you,” Jewell told her.
“I have my doubts. Just remember that if he is unsatisfied, this will be your last job with us, and I can be a cruel woman. I can make sure you don’t find another job; after all, you will have to use me as a reference and I can ruin your chances.” Ms. Beaumont ushered Jewell out of the room.
Jewell shivered in fear as they made their way to the back of the building, to the area where escorts were picked up discreetly. A man couldn’t just walk out the front doors with a new girl on his arm every week. Someone might catch on to what this place was all about.
A large black SUV was parked behind the building. The driver’s door opened and a man with an expressionless face stepped out, moved to the back, and opened the door for her without saying a word. With one final, confident glance at Ms. Beaumont, Jewell stepped up to the door and climbed inside onto the dark leather. When the door closed solidly, she felt as if it were sealing her into a plush coffin.
Surprised to find herself alone, she let out the breath she’d been unwittingly holding, and leaned back, tugging on the hem of her short skirt as the vehicle began on its journey. Never in her life had she worn such expensive clothing as now. It was all provided by Relinquish Control. The agency had an image of sophistication and class to maintain, and their escorts could go out only when looking their best.
Not that she’d be able to maintain the complete image when the next morning came around. Yes, they’d given her lessons in how to apply her makeup, but she’d always just thrown on a couple of layers of mascara and some lip gloss and called it good. The paint they’d applied to her face had been an ordeal, taking most of the time she’d been allotted to get ready. There was no way she could make herself up as beautifully as they had. She’d have needed the full two months of training and more to get up to speed.
It would be heaven to remove the pasty film of makeup, but then she’d have to apply the paint herself the next morning — or die trying. Ms. Beaumont had told her to not come from the bathroom until she was in full gear, makeup, sexy lingerie, jewelry. The props actually helped her. She looked at it like she was an actress and this was a role she was playing. So she would do her best to think herself into character and try to be the woman he wanted. It was all just so damn overwhelming.
At the end of the week, the director would yell cut, and then she’d be back to the escort agency, ready to audition for another script. Yes, she could do this, and she would give it her all. Making zero mistakes was the only way to survive until the custody hearing.
The SUV pulled away from Relinquish Control. As much as she loathed all this, she had to do what she was doing — this was no sign of weakness or moral frailty, no real reflection on her character, she told herself several times.
They hadn’t driven far when the vehicle stopped. Jewell just sat there. Should she open the door or wait? As obedience had been drilled into her head for the past week, she chose to wait. If she was supposed to get out, the driver would come around and open the door.