3- Let's Do This

I threw myself on the couch, just wearing a towel, hoping my roommate wouldn’t come barging in any minute. My mind was racing, having the whole range of thoughts, emotions. I can do this, I can do this. There’s no sex … I can do this. 

I’m perfectly charming and capable of being fake, right? Jeez. It’s just acting, surely I can manage that. It’s a job dude, just a job, think of it that way, right? 

I forced myself to get up and get dressed, and look halfway decent. My phone chimed and I ran to it, “Chris has offered you a date.” 

Oh snap, here we go! 

I clicked on the message and it said, “Business dinner with four others, 7 pm tomorrow at Kinship. Would like to call you at 3 pm to discuss further details.” 

Okay girlie, this is it! I clicked to accept it. There was a call feature in the app kind of like Facebook has, so he could call me and I would not have to give him my real number. 

I immediately looked up the restaurant, I had heard of it but it was way outside my budget. 

I could barely sleep that night, my mind was all over the place. I made an appointment to get my hair and make up done at 5, luckily the salon wasn’t too far from the restaurant and I hoped to just grab a cab from there. 

I breezed through my morning classes, barely retaining anything that was said. I didn’t want to be home for my date’s call, just in case my roommate was there. We were not really all that close but it was going to be near impossible to keep this a secret. 

I found a bench on campus with little to no one around, and I waited. I was lost flipping through social media when his call popped up. I took a deep breath and answered, “hello?” 

“Hi, Eve, my name is Chris, how are you?” 

Hmm, sounded hot, professional and hot. “I’m great, and you,” I tried not to sound too eager or cheerful. Keep it casual dude, it’s just dinner … calm down. 

“I’m a little hectic but that’s how it always is … anyhow I wanted to just touch base and create a little story about how we met and all that so we are on the same page. I mentioned to someone that the date I was bringing I met at a coffee shop one morning by chance, and we’ve only seen each other for two dates.

But I figured I better learn a bit about you, where you are from and all that so I don’t look stupid.” I relaxed, okay yeah that made sense. He sounded sooo sexy ... wait how do you sound sexy over the phone? 

I could tell I needed to keep my body in check ... this is a job.

We talked for about ten minutes until he had to go, and we agreed to meet at quarter of seven at a bar across the street so it would look like we arrived together. He seemed nice but straight to the point which I found refreshing. He seemed to be all about business so I hoped that meant there was no expectation of something more.  

I was grateful for the brief conversation, it relaxed me and I wasn’t quite as nervous. I was having a bit of the realization like … how did I get here? Was this really happening and would it be on the up and up like it should be? 

There had to be some other girls I could talk to, since I was only allowed to talk to other escorts. I hoped I could pry around while at the salon, and maybe talk to another girl to get the low down. 

I showered and very carefully shaved my legs as thoroughly as possible, the last thing I needed was for anyone to see some stubble. I don’t date so I really don’t shave all that often, I mean who would even notice? 

I made my way to the salon about ten minutes early and just to my dismay, each station was isolated, almost like a small closet. Talking to someone else would prove tricky, so I hoped the stylist might be chatty. 

“I’m Renee, I’ll be taking care of you,” said a girl who barely looked 18. “I received a ticket that your date has already chosen your outfit and style. Minimum make-up and perfectly flat ironed hair, and your outfit will be delivered while I work on you. What time do you need to leave by?” 

I looked at the clock on the wall, “I need to leave by 6:15, 6:20 at the latest, I’ll have an Uber waiting,” I said. 

“Ohh, cutting it close eh.” she said, pushing me into her chair. My hair was very thick and long, and I knew how taxing it was to flat iron it. 

She immediately went to work, after putting in earbuds … so much for conversation. I guess I understood, it’s not like I was going to give her direction or tell her my preferences. 

While Renee was busy a woman popped in with shoes, slipped off my flats and tried on a heel. I smiled because no one had ever put shoes on for me before. 

“Good,” she questioned, cocking her head to the side. 

“Good,” I said, smiling. 

“Don’t worry the shoes are cleaned and disinfected every time they are returned,” she said walking away.

After having my lip waxed, eyebrows waxed, hair ironed and a light make-up painted on, I found myself standing in the closet of every woman’s wet dream. I only had 15 minutes so I knew I needed to hustle.

 The girl that had brought me the shoes popped up out of nowhere with a garment bag, “right this way I have you set up in room 2. There is a bag in the room for the clothing you have on, bring it with you to the desk once you are dressed.” 

Dang, it didn't seem like I was really going to be able to talk to her either.

I went into the dressing room to find the shoes, a clutch and a gorgeous silver diamond necklace. I immediately wondered how much these guys made off each date. I dressed quickly and when I turned to see myself in the mirror, my jaw fell. 

Damn, I didn’t even look like myself! If Violet could see me now, she’d probably call me the 2018 version of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman … that’s what I felt like.  Chris even picked out the coat, talk about details!

I was nervous to walk in such a high shoe but there was no time to stress about it. I grabbed the bag with my t-shirt and leggings and walked as quick as I could in my big girl shoes. “Sign here,” the girl said, pointing to a line in a book. 

“The numbers listed correspond to your clutch, garment bag, necklace and shoe box. Everything must be returned within 48 hours. Do NOT clean it or have it cleaned, we will do that. If anything is stained or broken, you will be charged up to 75% of the item’s cost. You get back your bag of clothes when you return.” Wow, these guys really had it all together. I was admiring their organization when I had to snap myself back to reality, it was go time.

In a way I felt like being all dressed up and looking like someone else just really helped to play into the “acting” part of things, so I told myself. It was all just a show, for which I would get paid very well. 

Still, if I saw anyone I knew I would die. I looked like I was going for a job interview but with heels that were too high. Maybe this guy was really tall? I was grateful there was a bit of a chill in the air, I was already sweating more than necessary. 

My Uber ride went by too quickly and I found myself in front of the bar. It was 6:38pm so I had a minute to breathe. 

“Everything okay,” the driver asked. 

“Yes, just kind of a blind date thing, little nervous,” I said. 

“Oh, been there done that, trust your gut, if it says he’s a weirdo, go to the bathroom and leave,” he said. 

I laughed, “oh my god really, have you done that?” 

“Heck yeah, done it twice, no regrets. Both women seemed like psychos, one date … I even left before we ordered. Both times I caught the waitress on the way out and slipped her some cash, I might run off, but I’m not an asshole.” 

I laughed again, “well thanks for that, it helped calm me down a bit.” He handed me his card and I slipped in my bag. 

I walked toward the entrance of the bar we were meeting at and a taller guy with jet black hair in a black suit stared at me, “I seriously hope you are Eve.” 

Shoot I hope I am too! “Yes, I am,” I said, giving my best smile. Here we go and ... damn he's fine! This guy looked like a damn GQ model, perfect hair, teeth, suit looked like it cost more than three times my whole wardrobe. 

“Great, I’m Chris … I picked out the dress so I’d recognize you.” 

“Well you have excellent taste,” I said, shyly. 

He got right to business. “So one of these couples … the guy works with me, his girlfriend is well … she is exceptionally annoying. The other couple is an account we’re trying to land, oh … I’m in advertising. I hate these dinners, it’s basically just all so fake, trying to act interested. 

My last girlfriend would refuse to go to these things, and they’re an evil necessity I’m afraid. If this works out I’d like to make a regular thing, maybe a couple nights a week. The last girl I hired to come with me, I don’t know … something was off about her like she was on something, it was a mess. I had to leave and excuse ourselves after an hour.” 

“Oh wow! I can promise you I’m only high on life,” I said, smiling. 

“What is your drink, so I can order for you and not have you hate me,” he asked. 

“I’m not sure what the vibe is but Heineken for beer and Tequila Sunrise for a mixed drink,” I said. 

“Good, good, well shall we?” He held out his arm and I looped mine through it. He was warm, and damn he smelled good. 

“My firm always reserves the same table, it's back there,” Chris said, leading the way. He dropped his arm and took my hand as it was ridiculously crowded and I am guessing he sensed I didn’t want to get lost. My feet were already killing me in these shoes and I couldn’t wait to sit down. 

“Hey, hey there he is,” an equally hot guy beamed. 

“What, I’m not late,” Chris protested. 

Chris made the introductions and ordered us two beers. Before I knew it, more than an hour passed and everyone was caught up in chit chat ... I had little idea what they were talking about but Chris seemed to be having a good time. I however, definitely noticed the daggers being shot my way by a girl across the table by a girl introduced as Ashley.

“Well I’m happy Chris found someone normal, not like that weirdo last time,” his co-worker, Seth said. I looked down at my plate, unsure what to say. 

“Yeah yeah, well we can’t all be blessed with the perfect girl who has daddy’s money,” Chris said.

“Ohhhhh, ouch, well okay okay,” Seth replied, laughing. 

“So Eve, tell us a bit about yourself,” Seth asked, after pretending to be offended. 

“Well I’m from upstate New York, came down here for school, I’m majoring in international relations. I’m still trying to decide if I want to jump into getting my masters or wait, but I have time to decide,” I said. 

The client they were entertaining chimed in, “don’t do it, it’s a waste of a hundred grand, you’ll be fine with only a bachelors if you can get the right internship. Everything in D.C. ... it’s all who you know,” he explained.

“Yeah it sure seems that way,” I smiled, looking at Chris who smiled back and put his arm around my shoulder. In turn, I rested my head against his shoulder. 

“Aww look at you two, already stupid for each other,” Seth’s girlfriend Ashley said, sarcastically. 

“Don’t be jealous Ashley, we actually like each other, how terrible is that,” Chris said. Everyone laughed and the waiter came at just the right time to bring more drinks. 

I excused myself to visit the ladies’ room and Ashley followed me. I immediately put my guard up, ready for an interrogation.