Sapphire Beautiful (3 page)

Pointing to it she says, “I have a special case that you may be right for.”

A glimmer of hope.

“This is a unique situation,” she continues. “He’s already interviewed two of my girls and unfortunately they both declined an arrangement. He’s getting a bit anxious to find someone, so this time he’d like a contract signed before you meet him.”

I swallow, hard, as I wonder what could possibly be wrong with the guy for two girls to decline him.

“He will be your only offer for an arrangement.” Claudia pushes the file towards me. “With so many
much
younger girls to choose from the likelihood that anyone else would select you is slim.”

My mind races with all of the possible reasons this man could have been rejected. Is he ancient? Does he have personal hygiene issues? Is it some kind of physical deformity? Maybe all of the above?

My chest tightens. This is someone I’m going to have to have sex with. A lot. How far am I willing to go for the money?

You want to keep your house
, I tell myself.
This is probably your only option.

When Claudia thumps her index finger on the desk expectantly I know she’s waiting for me to make a decision.

“Okay,” I try not to sound as uncertain about it as I feel.

“He did not request a photo. He gave me certain parameters for the type of girl he likes and you fit the bill. He was extremely disappointed that the two women he chose didn’t work out so he’s leaving this selection to my discretion.”

I know I should be grateful that I’m getting any arrangement at all, but I can’t help but feel like the last girl asked to the prom.

Claudia opens the file. It looks like a contract. “You’ll need to sign this document. It gives me permission to share your information with Mr. McNally. We do a complete background check as well as a full medical examination. I’ll need your driver’s license and Social Security numbers.”

She opens her top drawer again, removes a sleek black pen and hands it to me. 

I gulp. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I need the money and I need it fast. I lift up the pen and fill in my personal information. Then I sign my name to the contract.

Claudia’s face contorts in what I can only assume is her version of a smile.

“Will I get a copy of these documents?” 

“You can ask Mr. McNally about that.”

That seems a bit odd until I realize that I didn’t see a photocopy machine anywhere.

She reaches into her desk and pulls out a small card which she slides across the desk. “This is an account set up for your arrangement. It’s our version of PayPal. Memorize the account number and log-in information then destroy the card. As soon as Mr. McNally places money into the account it’s yours to keep. He will no longer have access to it. And you’re free to leave it there or transfer it into another account of your choice.

“He’s already placed your first payment into the account. Quite generous, I might add, but I’m sure he’ll expect you to be equally generous in return. He’s anticipating an exclusive arrangement. That means no other men while you’re under contract.” She looks up at me. “And just so we’re clear, the exclusivity does not extend to him.”

I immediately think about my husband. It sounds like his idea of exclusivity too. I just didn’t know it. I remained faithful while he was with as many co-eds as he had time to screw.

I remind myself that this arrangement is a financial and not an emotional one. I’ll be exchanging access to my body for money. That doesn’t mean I have to give him access to my mind or heart.

“I assume you use birth control.”

When I shake my head she looks puzzled. This isn’t something I like to talk about, but I can tell by the disgusted expression on her face that it’s going to be necessary to discuss.

“We like to pride ourselves on providing a safe environment for our clients. One in which unwanted pregnancy is never an issue.”

“I have some medical issues.” I explain. “I can’t use oral birth control methods. But I’m not able to have children either.”

Her gaze narrows as she seems to consider what I’ve just shared.

“I’ve been sexually active for fifteen years,” I tell her. “I’ve never been pregnant and I’ve never been on the pill.”

“We normally require all of our girls to use birth control. Provide documentation from your personal physician to our staff physician so he can approve an exemption. We’ll also need to provide Mr. McNally with documentation that you’re disease free.”

She slides another card across the table. “This is the address for our staff physician. He’s extremely discreet. All of your test results will come directly to me and I’ll make sure they get to Mr. McNally. I’ve already scheduled an appointment for you in one hour. Mr. McNally is quite anxious to meet you and begin your arrangement.”

When she stares at me it takes me a moment to realize I’ve been dismissed. Rising from the chair I feel a little dizzy. I’m actually going through with his. I’m actually going to have sex with a man I don’t know in exchange for money. I worked so hard most of my adult life to make sure I could use my mind and intellect to earn a living. Now I’m probably going to make just as much selling my body as I do using my brain as a college professor.

***

“Y
ou’re more mature than most of the women Claudia refers to our office.” Dr. Wilson has thick hair and his forehead has permanent worry lines. If I had to guess I’d say he was in his mid-fifties. 

“And by mature you mean old.”

He doesn’t reply. Not even a change of expression. He seems to be all business.

Physicians have always made me nervous. Even when I was a kid I’d beg my mother not to make me go for my yearly check-ups. Their offices have always felt like cold and sterile places. Dr. Wilson’s office is no exception. 

I pull the ridiculously small paper hospital gown closer in a futile attempt to feel warmer.

“Claudia mentioned that you’re unable to conceive.” He stares at me expectantly.

“I—um—have a congenital uterine anomaly. I also have hormonal issues. My physician told me the risk of serious side effects from the use of oral contraceptives was higher than my chances of getting pregnant, so he recommended not using them.”

He raises a bushy eyebrow. “And you signed a release form so I can have access to those records?”

I nod. His receptionist had me sign what seemed like a mountain of paperwork when I arrived.

“You’ve already given urine and blood samples.” He snaps on a pair of latex gloves. “I’m also going to give you a brief physical examination. If you would lie back and place your feet in the stirrups for me.”

He motions for the nurse who had been observing from the sidelines to step in closer for the examination.

I take in a deep breath and hold it for as long as I can while he pokes around my private parts.

“Just try to relax,” he urges. Easy for him to say. He’s not the one who’s being invaded with a speculum. He’s the one who’s doing the invading.

I try to think of anything else except the two pairs of eyes now inspecting my vagina.

“Okay,” Dr. Wilson says as he removes his probing device. “That’s all we need. You can get dressed now.” 

***

T
he moment I get home I log into the account Claudia mentioned. My eyes go wide when I see the amount that’s already placed in there. It’s a lot more than the five thousand dollars I was expecting.

He’s already given me ten thousand dollars.

My heart pounds when I think about the implications of that much money. Claudia already told me he was turned down by two girls. That amount of money could mean that there’s something so disturbing about him that he needs to pay more just so I won’t reject him as well.

Claudia said he was generous. She also said that I should be generous in return. Ten thousand dollars buys a lot of generosity. My stomach knots thinking about the things he might ask me to do for that kind of money. There are a lot of very kinky people in the world. 

Not that I have too much of a choice. I already signed the contract and took the money. It’s not like I can say no now.

And it’s enough money for me to get completely caught up on the delinquent mortgage payments.

I quickly transfer the money to my bank. My two figure checking account is miraculously transformed into a five figure one.

“Don’t get used to it,” I remind myself as I pay the nine thousand plus dollars I owe in overdue mortgage payments.

That’s one albatross off my back.

I decide to do a Google search of
McNally
just to see what I can find.

There’s a McNally Enterprises that’s a Fortune 500 company known for aerospace manufacturing and defense contracting. The company was founded by William McNally in 1916, almost a hundred years ago, and is still controlled by the McNally family. The company’s headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.

Sounds like we have a winner.

But which of the McNally’s is the one who made the arrangement? According to a Wikipedia article on the family, William McNally had five children, all of whom are billionaires in their sixties and seventies. Each of those heirs to the McNally fortune has children who range in age from their early thirties to their mid-fifties.

The Mr. McNally who made the arrangement could be any one of them.

I
t’s Salad Bar Wednesday in the student cafeteria. The university allows faculty and staff members to eat on Wednesdays for half price. Lucy and I always take advantage of the cheap meal.

Of course most of the students tend to use their meal cards in the food court rather than the cafeteria. I guess when you’re young the allure of burgers and pizzas is much greater than kale and tofu.

“Looks like we’ve got the place to ourselves,” Lucy comments as we enter the deserted cafeteria.

“But the line for Pizza Time was almost out the door,” I observe.

“We did the same thing when we were undergrads,” she reminds me. “I’m not sure how you avoided gaining the freshman fifteen.”

“I blame it on good genes.”

When I feel my cellphone buzz in my purse I think it might be my sister phoning to confirm the Saturday night babysitting arrangements.

Grabbing my cell I’m surprised to see it’s from an unknown caller. “I’d better take this.”

I hurry out of the cafeteria and answer the call as soon as I’m outside. “This is Mary.”

“You passed your physical examination. All clean. You’ll be receiving a call from Mr. McNally to give you further instructions about your arrangement.”

That’s all Claudia says before she hangs up on me.

“Is everything okay?” Lucy asks when I reenter the cafeteria.

“Yea, sure. Why do you ask?”

She places a hand on her hip and gives me a look that clearly says she doesn’t believe me. “You’re normally pale, but right now you look as white as a sheet. What’s going on?”

I know I can’t lie to Lucy. She’ll see right through that. But I don’t know enough about the arrangement myself yet to be able to give her any details, so I decide to give her some half-truths. 

“Doug stopped paying the bills, including our mortgage, after the sex scandal was exposed. He also wiped out our bank accounts. So I decided to get a part-time job as a way to get out of the financial hole I’ve found myself in.”

“Doing what?”

“Sales,” I tell her, because it’s sort of true. In a way I’m selling my body.

Looking around the still empty cafeteria she says quietly, “Just make sure you don’t get caught. You know it’s against faculty policy to engage in employment outside of the university without permission from the Dean. And he never gives anyone permission.”

“I’ll be very discreet,” I assure her. “Now let’s get our feed on. I hear the lettuce and tomatoes calling our names.

***

B
y the time I get home I’m wiped out. The first week of the term is always hard. It’s especially hard after a long summer break.

My cellphone has been silent all day, which surprises me. I thought Mr. McNally would have phoned by now. Claudia told me he was anxious to make an arrangement.

Maybe he’s one of those businessmen who have to work all hours of the day. Perhaps that’s why he needed to make an arrangement. He doesn’t have time to have a real relationship. 

I’m startled by a knock on the front door. I rarely have visitors, or even solicitors for that matter. When I open the door I’m surprised to see a delivery person.

“Mary Pine?”

I nod.

“Sign here.”

He hands me an electronic pad and pen that I use to scribble my signature. He shoves a small package at me before he hurries away.

My hands are shaking as I open the padded envelope. Inside is a cellphone. That’s it. I turn the parcel upside down and shake it just to be sure, but nothing else comes out.

When I turn the phone on there’s already a text message. There’s no name associated with the text, just a number:
Are you available tomorrow night?

I text back:
Of course
.

The reply comes almost immediately:
Good. See you then
.

***

H
e didn’t tell me what time he would be coming over and in my mind “night” could mean almost anything. I make sure to hurry home before five o’clock just in case. Plus that gives me time to get ready, although I’m not sure exactly what I should be wearing.

I vacillate between dressing in something sexy and being a bit more subtle in my approach. One thing I know for sure though is that I want to wear something that makes me look as young as possible.

I opt for some skinny jeans that show off my figure and a white sweater that I almost got rid of because I thought it was a bit too tight.

Then I wait. And pace. And wait some more.

I stare at the phone he sent hoping I’d hear something, but the same three texts from the day before stare back at me. I feel like they’re taunting me.

I consider doing some additional digging into the McNally family online, but without a first name there’s not a whole lot more I can do. It makes me wonder if Claudia neglected to provide any details, like a first name, on purpose.