2 - Curiosity Killed The Cat

“Please have a seat,” Haven said, gesturing to the two chairs in front of her desk. She closed her office door and we both sat down. 

“Now I’m sure you have a lot of questions for me, especially since you didn't call right away. I’m not sure what you were expecting exactly but I will just come right out with what I do here. I am essentially a high-end matchmaker, I find dates for those with means, those who may need a date for a business dinner, or a gala-type event. I think you are a beautiful young lady, with a mind of her own that could surely hold a good conversation, do you think that is something you would be interested in?” 

My jaw fell open but I promptly shut it. What the hell … was she … a madam? Was this for real? 

“Uhm, I don’t quite know what to say honestly, I thought you were like a modeling agency, which is kind of why I was confused, I’m really not model material.” 

“Oh Eve, the people who come to me, they don’t want an airhead ... they need someone that can look and act the part. Well, I think you are the best of both worlds." 

I sat back in my chair and gave her a stare, well maybe a glare. “A date … just a date? You expect me to believe the guy isn’t going to expect more? They aren’t going to want me to … finish the night off shall we say?” 

I made air quotes with my hands. 

“Well of course I would never expect anything more, and more is never part of the arrangement but there are times the couple hits it off and more may take place, but that is entirely up to you. Hell they have professional cuddlers now that make hundreds for their time. Some men want arm candy, some are just lonely. It's not uncommon, there are tons of companies like mine where sex isn't part of the deal."

She took some papers out of her drawer and put them into a packet. “Here is our standard agreement, and our rates. You start out at a certain rate and if you become, shall we say 'in demand' or highly desired we will up the rate and you will make more as well. There is no minimum or maximum number of dates a month or anything like that, but of course you get out of it what you put into it. It is a great way to put your name and face out there, to make contacts.” 

I flipped open the agreement and my eyes fell right to the rate section, $300.00 for a four hour date. Holy shit! I shook my head and laughed. 

“I’m sorry I’m just having a hard time believing someone would pay hundreds of dollars for a date that doesn’t result in sex,” I said obviously. 

“Well, like I said sometimes more can result, but there is no extra fee there, I mean if they slip you cash I can hardly do anything about that. 

We rigorously screen all applicants, whether it’s the escort or the date, we are very thorough. Both parties are drug tested and have regular STD testing as well … and yes I know that sounds weird considering what I’ve said but there can sometimes be kissing or other light activity and I never want to be the reason someone gets herpes on their lips,” she said laughing.

She changed her demeanor and got serious. "That brings me to a question I'm afraid I have to ask, while sex isn't part of the date, I don't hire virgins. You need to know your way around a man, how to be sexy, but how to compose yourself, and it's just my preferred way of doing business. Virgins get attached, they can be a liability far more than someone with experience." 

I gaped at her, but mulled over her point. "I've had two long term boyfriends so yeah that went out the window a few years ago," I said.

She continued, "you would fill out a lengthy questionnaire about your likes, dislikes, how far you are willing to take things, if hugging, touching, etc is allowed. Whatever both parties agree to for each date is all that will be expected. 

Sometimes the date might want to speak to you on the phone ahead of time, to kind of get to know you, or set the pace. Sometimes you are being hired to look like a girlfriend so you need to know a little bit about each other. 

We also have a large closet here with clothes, shoes, bags. You can check things out, or buy them at a significant discount. Everything is thoroughly cleaned when returned. We need our escorts to look … a certain way and your date may have preferences. If there is a large scale event, such as a gala where a gown is required, the date will be responsible for buying the ensemble and you would get to keep it. 

Some girls have gotten lavish gifts, jewelry and handbags from their dates. We do not take pictures of the date or the escort, we match solely based on your questionnaire responses so it is important that you are as honest as possible. 

I know this is a lot to take in, and you will likely have a hundred questions, so how about you take this packet home, and see what you think. There are instructions on there to go online to take the questionnaire. 

One last thing, you have to sign a strict NDA that you discuss nothing about Talent Illusion with anyone outside of an employee or a date. No friends, no family, etc. The date signs one too.” I stared off into space. Just a date, no sex? I was highly skeptical. 

I left Haven’s office, trying to keep all an open mind, but desperate to ask a million questions.  

My curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to check out the questionnaire website. I created a profile and answered the basic questions, age, hair and eye color, race, height and weight, etc. 

Next was actually a series of pictures of clothing asking about my preference for dress length, showing cleavage, etc. I had to fill in my measurements, which I didn’t even know so I had to dig around for a measuring tape. 

Next was a series of shoes, different styles and different heights. I wondered if these were samples of the clothes they had available or does the date get to pick what I wear? I was intrigued but also worried I'd be stuck wearing something I wasn't comfortable with and someone I knew would see me. 

Next was a series of questions about foods … any allergies, likes and dislikes, etc. 

Then things took a different turn and moved onto political preferences, religion and some poking around about how you were raised … medical background, history of any mental illnesses, etc. Wow, this was pretty thorough! 

I guess you needed to be able to adapt to any situation, but at the same time, you were being paid to be a present body, not to have an opinion. I was easily an hour into this thing and I had no idea it would take this long. 

Finally ... I came onto the good stuff.  

Do you consent to hand holding? Do you consent to touching while dancing? Do you consent to a hand on your shoulder, on your arm, thigh, in your hair, etc.? Is touching only acceptable over clothing, please describe in detail. Would you be willing to touch your date’s body, if so please list all acceptable places. 

Are you open to kissing your date, is this something you would agree to ahead of time, or have to decide in the moment? Are you comfortable kissing someone you are not attracted to?

Some dates may be in a group setting, others may be one on one, is that acceptable? If asked, would you be willing to spend the night/sleep over at your date’s request … please elaborate if you would be willing to share a bed, what your dress code would be. Please specify what you feel is a fair hourly rate for your time in a date setting, including a rate for an overnight stay.  

Woof! This was wild. 

I felt like I’d been on a roller coaster, my body felt hot but my hands were freezing, it was like I was nervous yet excited. This all seemed too good to be true though, did I really believe I could make money just strictly going out with a guy, and him not expect actual sex? 

I felt like I could handle some light petting. I was highly intrigued but also not totally convinced. Despite my reservations, I finished the questionnaire and hit submit. A message popped up that said someone would contact me in the next 48 hours. 

So shit … what if someone likes my answers and wants to take me out?! Was I really ready for this? What if I did in fact see someone I knew while I was out, how the hell would I explain things? 

What if one of my professors wanted to date me?! I wouldn’t get to see their face until the moment we met so, anything was possible.  

The next two days just dragged on, every single little blip of my phone had me lunging for it, hoping it was Haven calling to let me know the next step. I decided I would give it a chance, I desperately needed the money and I had no other prospects. Nothing that would even remotely give me a chance at meeting my tuition like this could. 

I had just gotten out of the shower and I heard my phone from the next room, and I ran like my life depended on it. It was a blocked number, “hello?” 

“Hey this is Drew, I work with Haven. I have reviewed your questionnaire and feel that I have several good matches for you. I actually have a gentleman in need of a date for a business dinner tomorrow night. He’s a regular, nice guy, never had any complaints. He does like to review his girls beforehand though. If you are up for it, I can send him the profile I’ve created from your responses and see if he’s interested.” 

I exhaled slowly, “it’s JUST dinner, no going home, nothing else?” “No, nothing else, he’s always very straightforward, he has many business meetings as dinners and the others bring dates so he doesn’t like to be alone,” Drew explained. 

“Sure, send him my profile,” I responded. “So, if he likes me, then what, what happens next,” I added. I was freaking out, was I really going through with this?! 

“Well, the date will complete a short questionnaire about how they want you dressed, hair done, etc., if they have a preference anyhow depending on the venue. We try to give you that information at least six to eight hours prior, via the app. We have a full closet and salon at your disposal and we highly encourage you to use it, I mean you are stupid not to, we make the same cut whether you utilize it or not. 

We also offer waxing and other services, as part of your employment. We encourage you to always look your best. At the time we contact you with the date’s preferences you can decide if you want an appointment. 

Just know, there is a $250 charge for making an appointment and not showing, we take that pretty seriously,” he said, sounding annoyed like he has to constantly give out the same explanation.

Drew continued, “everything from here on out is now generally done through the app, if you have questions, you can send us a message. I will forward on your profile to the date, if he likes it, you’ll get a notification with the details of the date and start/end time from him. 

Your profile will now be active, so dates can look at it all, and drop a request if they are interested. You’ll review their request, and accept it or deny it. We ask that all requests be reviewed for a response in 6-8 hours as we do not like to keep our clients waiting. You will get a reminder every hour that you have a request for a date pending. 

You get a final confirmation notice an hour before the date where you must confirm or explain why you have to cancel. But just understand, no one ever really cancels, we expect you to follow through with your commitments. 

We absolutely insist that while on your date, you give the client your full attention and do NOT have your phone on. If you are on a date or have some personal issue, there is an unavailable status that you can use on your profile. 

I suggest you make yourself comfortable with the app and all of its features, enjoy.” 

Without a good-bye, he hung up.