Succulence (Succulent Trilogy #1) (11 page)

CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE

I was a mixed bag of nerves. It was 7:30 PM Friday evening, which I referred to privately as The Million Dollar Evening. I had received my first $25,000 deposit already and transferred the funds to my account, safe and sound.

I also received a list of things I was to do in preparation for this event. Acceptance of the deposit required I buy 5 new outfits from Faire Frou Frou, a premiere luxury lingerie boutique based in Los Angeles, including a Monarch Butterfly romper, a Lemon Cello chemise, a Dita von Teese Madam X body con and an open breast bra with matching panties and heels.

I also had to be fully waxed. Any sign of body hair would forfeit my bonus, and potentially mean cancellation of my services. I’d be forced to remit 50 percent of my $25,000 pay for the evening. The company was at least decent enough to offer reimbursement of the body wax and lingerie expenses in the final wire if I had everything I was required to have on hand at the time I arrived.

Don’t bring toiletries. Just bring yourself and your outfits. You may bring your favorite makeup, but it’s unnecessary. We’ll have everything you need available when you arrive. You may feel free to bring your phone and charger. They are only to be answered for emergencies. If you’re reported as being on your phone when you’re supposed to be taking care of the client, this will forfeit your bonus and immediately causes a $5,000 reduction in your fee.

I rolled my eyes. This was crazy and high maintenance, but for $100,000 who was I to complain? I was going to eat humble pie, curb my sassy thoughts and do my job.

I’d never heard of such a thing, but when I called my consultant, she informed me that sometimes corporations had high level executives to please, and millions of dollars were made based upon the level of pleasure provided on the company’s tab.

“Go with the flow and listen to everything you’re told to do,” she advised. “This is one of the high points of your career as an escort. Having a man pay you the equivalent of an annual six figure salary within the span of hours is something every woman dreams of. Your ability to bring unprecedented pleasure combined with your intellect, wit and looks makes you a goddess among mortals.”

Taking her advice, I listened to everything I was told. She had never steered me wrong before. So I spent my day off getting last minute touches finalized.

By the time this weekend was over, I would be richer and ready to go home and see my baby
, I thought to myself.

****

I would meet
with the client at 8:00 PM in one of the Rosewood’s Terrace Suites. I wasn’t to make a scene, but simply head to elevator and make my way up. From what I was told, the client’s assistants would be there. I would give them a thumbs up and say, “Isn’t the weather great this evening?” to be let in.

Crazy, I know.

A small Asian woman greeted me when I knocked. Once I gave her the passphrase, she smiled and quickly ushered me in.

“Greetings,” she said. “I’m Lea. Hurry, let’s get you in the chair. We don’t have much time.”

The suite was 1,350 square feet of palatial living, but I didn’t get to look at much. I was able to take in the crew of ladies, all wearing black on black with red or nude lips going through various boxes of props and items. They were spread throughout the indoor living space, dining room and kitchen, all of which I walked past as she ushered me directly to the bedroom.

“Put on the Monarch butterfly suit,” Lea instructed. Her face was pleasant but her direction was stern.

“In front of you?”

“Yes,” she said flatly.

Tossing my nervousness aside, I obliged. Lea wasn’t anyone to worry about, especially if she was part of the glam squad. Her job was probably to make me look as good as possible to ensure the situation went smoothly.

The lingerie looked amazing on my body. Lea smiled in approval. Handing me a robe, she directed me to put it on and directed me to a chair.

Pulling my hair out of its ponytail, she tousled it, commenting on its thickness and shine, and called one of the women over to do my hair. Speaking to her in another language, Lea made movements and gestures demonstrating how she wanted my hair to look. From what I could tell, she wanted me to have a hairstyle with lots of curl and body.

“Our clients will arrive after dinner,” she told me in English. “I’ve contacted my supervisor, and your second payment has been wired. We’re going to do your hair, then your makeup. What size shoe do you wear?”

“Seven,” I replied, scrunching my face, wondering if there were some kind of freaky foot play involved in the night’s festivities.

Lea nodded silently, then walked away.

Forty-five minutes later, my hair and makeup were complete. My blonde locks were smoothed into big, romantic curls that framed my face. My makeup was nude and angelic, with a slight hint of bronzer for an illuminated, sun-kissed glow.

I looked like every bit of the dirty angel I was contracted to be.

“Sit on the couch, please,” Lea instructed. “We’re just finishing up with our other girl. When we’re ready, you’ll be escorted to the room with our clients. Do you have any questions?”

By then, I had realized it was better not to ask anything.
Just smile and nod your way through,
I coached myself.

She smiled, waiting for my response.

“I’m fine, thanks,” I said, smiling in return. “I’m just excited.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Lea handed me a pearl masquerade mask. It was accentuated with gold accents, crystals and cream feathers. Giving a look of approval once it was on, she instructed me to close my eyes.

“We blindfold you for security reasons. It’s in your contract,” she reminded me as I grabbed my purse and put my phone and wallet inside of it. I guess the shocked look on my face alerted her to the fact that I hadn’t read that part. “Only take your phone and wallet for now. If you need anything else, I’ll text you my number and have someone bring it to the room.”

“Oh yes, of course,” I laughed in an attempt to play it off. “I remember.”

My heart beat loudly as I allowed her to blindfold me. I tried to open my eyes and see if the fabric allowed for any visibility; unfortunately it didn’t.

“I’m going to hold your hand and gently escort you to the room,” she said. “Once you get there, your blindfold will be removed and you’ll be assessed by the client. If you’re not accepted, you’ll come back here, where you’ll change clothes and leave immediately. If you’re pleasing to his eyes, you’ll start working instantly.”

Lea took a gentle yet firm grip on my arm and guided me to the door. She began coaching me in low whispers. Don’t be too loud or aggressive, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s okay. Try not to do too much talking; if anything, smile, nod and affirm whatever they’re saying. Don’t tell them what agency you work for, if any. When all else fails, giving a blowjob always starts the mood, especially when the client appears to be cranky, annoyed or bored. If the client speaks badly about the host client (who I was working for), offer a massage or bath.

There were so many rules, but underneath it all the main point was simple: Be sexy, submissive, demure and eager to please. You know, like you would be any other time you were with a client.

I tried to feel my way around the hotel by foot since I couldn’t see. In case I needed to leave, I’d need to know what room the rest of my stuff was in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a handle on figuring out the exact room I was being led to. I just remember Lea giving me the notice that we’d arrived before she knocked four times on the door.

As we waited, my heartbeat sped up and I thought about what I was doing. After tomorrow night, I was pretty sure I’d be done with escorting. It had worn on me. Even though this $100,000 would be going to great use,  I was tired of spending so much free time using my body to cater to men’s fantasies because they were too shy or scared to demand or ask for them with their regular lovers.

I heard the door open. “Come on in, the water’s fine,” I heard a voice state, a chuckle attached to it.

Chills instantly crept down my spine. The voice was familiar, though I couldn’t place it.

“Is she to your liking?” I heard Lea ask.

“I love what I see.” I felt a rough hand palm my breast and swipe a thumb across the nipple. “Mmm. I love what I feel too. All natural?”

“Are you all natural, girl?” I nodded in response.

“I’m going to have so much fun with her,” I heard him say. “Bring her in.”

My heartbeat quickened. Something didn’t feel right. The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it among my clients or anyone I’d known over the past year being in business. As I stepped inside, I kept trying to figure out whose voice I was hearing and why this uneasy feeling kept growing the further inside I walked.

“Stand here. Don’t move,” Lea said. “I’ll remove the blindfold in a moment. I just have to get the other girl in here. You’ll be working together this weekend. She’s worked with us before, so she can show you the ropes if you get lost.” Patting my hand reassuringly, she stepped away, and I heard her say, “I’ll be back.”

After what felt like a million hours later, I heard a knock at the door. When it opened, the male voice said, “Welcome back ladies. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Likewise, sir.” I gulped hard. I wasn’t sure
what
was going on at the moment but her voice seemed all too familiar also.

I felt the warmth of the other woman’s body next to mine. Like me, she had also been sprayed with the same soft jasmine and musk cologne the stylists had sprayed on me. I wondered who she was, what she looked like and whether she was hairless in some kind of sex uniform they demanded of her also.

This is some weird and creepy shit,
I remember thinking. I gulped again as I realized working with another woman potentially meant I’d be performing sex acts with and on her body also. I’d never been with a woman, and I hadn’t ever been interested in trying. Regrettably, I had been hired for the next 48 hours, so if it came down to it, I’d have to suck it up and deal accordingly, especially if I hoped to get paid the full $100,000. I’m sure she felt the same.

“Alright ladies,” the male voice assumed attention right in front of us. “You both look amazing, and are exactly what I expected for the evening. I expect full compliance this and next evening as I hope to impress this client for the corporation.”

He took a moment to pause briefly before continuing. “You’ve been paid handsomely for tonight. I’m going to let you know now that this is your final opportunity to change your mind. If you decide you don’t want to continue, you’ll forfeit your fees and be asked to return $45,000 of the $50,000 you’ve been given.”

He chuckled, as if he were privy to an inside joke that only he knew about.

“Before I continue, yes, you will be expected to provide girl-on-girl entertainment, and be willing to allow access to every hole on your body. And I do mean
every
hole.”

I gasped, but didn’t speak. I needed that money. I was willing to do whatever it took at this point.

A long pause entered the space. Nobody spoke. You could hear a mouse piss on cotton.

“Okay. Nobody’s protested these conditions. Lea, would you do the honors, please?”

I heard the movements next to me as Let removed the blindfold of the woman next to me. Then, I felt the blindfold on my eyes loosened.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized this suite was another special terrace suite at the hotel. Same layout and all.

Blinking rapidly to bring my eyes into focus, I didn’t think much of the audible gasp to my left. I assumed the woman next to me was simply thrown off by the harsh and sudden reintroduction to light after several minutes blindfolded.

Peeling my mask off, I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

“Well, well, well,” said the man’s voice, coming from the side of the room. “What a special occasion. If it isn’t Miss Amy Michaels.”

Startled by the declaration of my name, I turned to look at the man who identified me and locked eyes with Dean. He was wearing a shit-eating grin, smiling like the cat that killed the canary with an erection raging through the seat of his pants.

Unlike his usual pleasant, gentle self, Dean seemed lecherous; I’d have trusted a used car salesman more than him at that particular moment. He sneered with an evil glint in his eye as he laughed at the irony of the situation and rubbed his crotch.

Feeling faint, I told myself this was an illusion or a cruel joke. I had to be dreaming. This wasn’t happening. Because if that was Dean on the couch this meant he was here with…

“Amy?!” I turned to see Stacy on the other side of me. Her eyes, wide as saucers, full of shock and disbelief, confirmed my worst nightmare: my cover as an escort was officially blown. 

My life would never be the same again.