VIP (26 page)

            “I
do know Alejandro. I don’t think I would call him my friend. I didn’t know he
would speak of me to you. I’m caught a little off guard by that.”

            “Darling,
there is nothing to worry about. My business tailors by referrals. All clients
know this, and they also know not to refer unless they know the person can keep
the upmost anonymity. Alejandro just let me know that he gave you a business
card.”

            “Right.
Listen…I don’t even know why I’m calling. I’m sorry I wasted your time.” I said,
as I was about to hang up.

            “Sebastian…may
I call you Sebastian?” She asked.

            “Umm…yes.”

            “Great.
Sebastian I can sense your nervousness over the phone. You’re not doing
anything wrong Darling. Just relax. We’re two consenting adults talking. Now
let me begin by telling you how excited I am that you called. I heard you were
quite taken by my Ysabelle. She is a beautiful thing isn’t she?”

            “Yes.”
I whispered as she chuckled.

            “Ysabelle
is my prized possession, Sebastian, she is very special to me. Do you
understand that?”

            “I
do. Can I speak freely?”

            “Of
course.”

            “I’m
not quite sure what you mean. She belongs to you? I don’t understand.”

            “Oh
yes…I have gotten a bit ahead of myself, haven’t I? Please excuse my
carelessness. Ysabelle works for me, Sebastian. She’s my girl, she’s an escort.”
My mouth dropped open. I didn’t know what to say. I had just called a
whorehouse. Ysabelle was a prostitute.

            “Are
you there?”

            “I’m
sorry to have wasted your time. I had no idea. I’m a happily married man. I
just thought…I – I don’t know what I thought.” I stuttered.

            “It’s
alright Darling. I keep my business discrete for several reasons. You have
nothing to be ashamed of Sebastian, you haven’t done anything wrong. Ysabelle
provides several different forms of companionship. This isn’t what you think it
is. My girls are not prostitutes, they are prized jewels and not just any man
can be with them.”

            “With
all due respect I am fully aware of what an escort entails Madam.”

            “Really?
Well then Sebastian why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? You’re
obviously taken with my Ysabelle, or else you wouldn’t be calling a month and a
half later. You could have Ysabelle for an evening and you could do with her as
you please. I promise you won’t regret it.”

            “There
would be no need for sex?” I hesitated.

            “Sex
is not a need it’s a want. Unless you want it then no, you can talk, and just
enjoy one another’s company. There is no harm in that now is there?

            “How
much?” I couldn’t believe I had just said that. I felt sick to my stomach.

            “My
girls aren’t rented by the hour Sebastian. Since I can feel your hesitation I
will allow it this time. How about $5,000 for two hours?”

            “$2,500
an hour to talk to someone?” I blurted.

            “I
never said my girls were cheap, Sebastian. My girls are ladies and expect to be
treated as so.”

            “Whatever.
When can I see her?”

            “Well…that’s
up to you. How fast can you come in to see me?”

            “I
don’t follow.”

            “I
know you’re not planning on being intimate with Ysabelle, however there is
still a process that needs to take place before you can have her.”

            “Which
is?”

            “You
would need to come in and have a physical, and be tested for any discrepancies.
Also, I would need your social and fingerprints to run a background check. I
also need to keep a card on file. I protect what’s mine, Sebastian, I’m sure
you can understand that.” She proclaimed.

            “I
understand. I can come in tomorrow afternoon, let’s say around noon.”

            “Perfect,
it won’t take long for the results. If everything clears you could see her this
Friday. Her appointment for that night canceled. His loss is your gain. I can
tell her once everything comes back clear and put you on the schedule. Now
where would you like her?”

            “I’m
not quite sure. I’m married and I don’t think my wife would appreciate what the
hell I’m even doing, this will be a one-time thing I just need to see her this once
and I will be done. I won’t need more time with her.”

            “Of
course,” I could feel her smiling on the other end as if she could predict that
it wouldn’t be. “Well because, of the hitches that you may have, may I suggest
a hotel room? There’s privacy and the indiscretion that you need.”

            I
didn’t want to meet at a hotel, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

            “Have
her meet me at The W at 6 p.m., I will confirm the room number as soon as it’s
booked.” I replied, not waiting for my uncertainty to creep in.

“Have a
great evening, good bye.” I heard the dial tone and hung up. I couldn’t believe
I was doing this. This was it. I just needed to see her. After that I would
forget about her forever.

<>*<>
Y
<>*<>

They say
that everything happens for a reason. I’ll never forget the phone call that
changed my life. It all started with that damn phone call. I should have known
better. I should have passed. I should have done a lot of things other then
meet with him.

I
didn’t.

I
answered the phone.

I
accepted the date.

And I
changed the course of my life.

I met
with Sebastian Vanwell.

<>*<>
S
<>*<>

I was a
nervous wreck for the rest of the week; my results had come back clean, as I
knew they would. I didn’t know if I should have been thankful that she had an opening
so soon. I should have given myself more time, maybe even some time to talk
myself out of it.

I knew
in my heart that it didn’t matter, I was destined to meet Ysabelle. We were
meant to cross paths. For whatever fucked up reason she came into my life, I
couldn’t let her go. As much as I repeated to myself that I would only see her that
one time, I knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn’t be the last. I
couldn’t admit that to myself, because if I did I wouldn’t be able to look in
the mirror.

So I lied
to myself and proceeded my week as if it were just any other. I drove myself to
the hotel that Friday evening, parked my car, and rode the elevator four
stories high.

I took
off my jacket, loosened my tie some, and served myself a Scotch. After my second
drink there was a knock at the door. I knew the moment I opened the door that everything
I believed in would change. That didn’t stop me from doing so. I walked to the
door and opened it with welcome arms.

<><>
Y
<><>

He
opened the door and I was once again greeted with the same gaze that I had not
allowed myself to think about.

            “Good
evening, Sebastian.” I said, as I stood on the tips of my toes to kiss him on
the cheek. He wasn’t as caught off guard with it as last time. I felt his arms
go around me and he pulled me in to a tight hug, with his face buried in my
neck.

            Now
I was the one who was caught off guard. I could feel myself stiffen in his
embrace. He hugged me like he knew me, like he hadn’t seen me in years. I had
never been embraced like that and I began to feel uncomfortable. I didn’t do
emotions; I didn’t know how to handle them. I couldn’t deny that it felt
riveting. I felt cherished. His strong arms felt comforting and safe. I found
myself closing my eyes and breathing him in.

           
Fuck…what
am I doing?

            I
eased myself away from him and he looked me right in the eyes. His eyes were
moist, like he was stopping himself from crying.

            “Are
you alright?” I asked.

            “Yes,
I’m more than alright. I’m so happy to see you again. Please, come in.” He
gestured towards an open living room. I walked in and set my purse on the
counter.

            “Would
you like a drink?”  

            “Sure.”
I replied.

            “What
would you like?”

            “What
are you having?”

            “Scotch.”

            “Straight?”

            “Yes.”

            “I’ll
have the same.” My answer intrigued him I could see it in his face. He poured
our drinks and handed me mine. I took my second sip and he was already pouring
himself another glass.

“Are you
nervous?” I taunted.

He looked
up from his drink, “Why would you say that?”

I
smirked, “because, you’re drinking like a lush and you look sort of flushed.” His
demeanor changed from the man who opened the door. Something was up; I quickly
glanced at his left hand. I didn’t get the opportunity to do it at the bar.

“Are you
married?” He quickly took another sip of his drink.

 “No,
now why would you ask that?”

I
smiled, “hmmm…well that one’s easy, there’s a tan line where your wedding ring
should be.”
Interesting…he was married.
Now talk about a game changer
and here I was thinking this man was different. Damn me for letting my guard
down for even a second. I swear the married ones were always so clueless, I mean
I could sense the apprehension from a mile away. The shame in his eyes was
undeniable and the way he kept drinking just told me he was trying to calm his
nerves.

I smiled
again, I felt bad for him but that didn’t take away the want to fuck with him a
little bit. I was a little shit like that.

“It’s
alright, Sebastian,” he looked back up at me and caught me smirking again, “the
real question you should be asking yourself, is if you took your wedding ring
off for me, or if you took it off for yourself, because I don’t care whether
you’re married, single, divorced, or widowed…”

I walked
closer to him, close enough to start playing with his tie, “does it make it a
little easier for you with the ring off? Does it make it not so real?”

I
stopped playing with tie and we stared into each other’s eyes. I had stared
into the eyes of lots of men throughout the years. Most of the time they were
the same; always lust, want, need, or desire. His were different. They were
sad. It was like looking at me was causing him pain, and even though it was
painful he couldn’t turn away.

The air
between us started to feel thick and I could sense the tension. I didn’t want
the night to proceed like that so I decided to lighten the mood with some
teasing.

“You
know Sebby-“

“Don’t
call me that.” He asserted with caution. I cocked my left eyebrow in intrigue.

“Hmmm…ok…what
would you like me to call you?”

“Sebastian.”
He demanded

“Interesting.
Okay…I’ll play, you know Sebastian, I actually prefer the married ones.” I lured.

“Why is
that?” He questioned confused.

“Because,
you’re all looking for the same thing, you want a change, want to spice it up,
maybe it’s a fantasy that you want to perform that you can’t do with your wife,
or you’re just over the routine of being with the same woman.

Sometimes
you want to sow some wild oats that you didn’t get to do, because you were
either married young, or you just weren’t that kind of guy. There really isn’t
anything to be ashamed of, were human beings and like animals were not born to
be monogamous.”

He
smiled and it felt as though he was more relaxed, not sure if it was the
conversation or the whisky. I would have guessed both.

“You’re
very sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Am I
right?...Wait let me guess, you’re a little bit of all of the above.” I said
with a shit-eating grin.

“Wait…Hold
on a second…if I remember correctly, you called me something else that night on
the yacht and you told me I look like someone. What was it? Oh! I remember now,
you called me Olivia.” He immediately flinched, it was fast and I saw it.

“Huh…Sebastian,
you’re keeping secrets. What kind of relationship are we going to have, that is
based on lies, love? This Olivia, is she your long lost love? Do I remind you of
her? Is that why you’re here? Wait, is that why I’m here…am I supposed to play
a part? Madam didn’t tell me.”

“I don’t
want to talk about that, Ysabelle.”