Chapter 3 Nerthus

NERTHUS

Of course, I never have to wait long in such an outfit at this hour.

I try to keep the conversation with my cabdriver to a minimum. Fortunately, he talks so much that I can keep my answers short. I really don't like conversing with men when I'm not getting paid for it.

He drives me across the buzzing city like he wants to establish a new record and I nearly get to re-taste my coffee.

Arrived at the beautiful office building near Madison Square Garden, I take the elevator to a floor at a dizzy high. As I step out of the elevator, I enter a bumbling world of its own. My high heels clack on the tiled floor as I reach the large and elegant reception. The massive desk reflects the sand-colored tiles of the floors and outshines it with incorporated embellishments in gold and brown. The letters of the agency name thrones on it prominently, following the color pattern.

Fabulous Companion

Putting my hands on the chilly surface of the reception desk, I clear my throat before speaking loudly.

"Amber for Luciana, por favor."

I flash a big smile to a petite woman at the reception who has her white hair tied into a strict bun and musters me above her glasses.

I know she doesn't like me. At all.

"She is still on a call. Please take a seat, Ms. Flannings. She will be with you in a moment."

"Thank you."

I shout out in a sing-sang and walk away to slump into a seat next to the reception, earning myself a disapproving look. As I sink into the pillowy seat cushions, I cross my legs and start browsing in one of the laid-out fashion magazines.

"Amber, Love."

"Hey, Luciana."

I risk getting caught in the flowing cushion-ground as my boss turns the corner to welcome me. She wears a tailored white dress and high heels matching her black belt wrapped around her waist. Her black curls dance around her face as she walks towards me, showing me her pearly whites in a gigantic smile. Her flawless dark skin has everybody fooled as nobody would think that she is way over 50 already. After being hugged tightly, I follow her to her spacious and light-flooded corner office.

On the way through the hallway, I look at the pictures of the escorts that are hanging on the clinical white walls. I notice a few new ones and stop in front of my photograph.

The memory of the moment it was taken has me smiling at myself.

It was a regular of mine who one day decided to want me as a companion at an elegant gala. I remember how excited but also scared I was by the new experience I was about to have. Also, I was very nervous as I looked for an adequate dress. Fortunately, it all went great, and I was introduced to Luciana, and, therefore to the world of escorts. I was just thinking about making a shitload of money with a few smiles and a good night-fuck while I was catapulted into an entirely different stratosphere, making me taste freedom for the very first time.

Luciana halts in her steps too and walks back to me slowly. I'm still staring at my picture, but I can hear the smile in her voice without seeing her. "Do you still like it?"

"A lot. Every single day." I turn my face to look at her and smile. "I guess I could never thank you enough."

"Oh, fiddlesticks." She throws her hands in the air and starts walking again. Turning the corner quickly, she is already talking to me as I follow her into her office.

"So, my dear. How are things going? Thank you for meeting me on such short notice."

"Oh, it's okay."

I take my seat before her slim glass desk and smile up at her.

"My client didn't stop crying, so I had to prolong the session he booked, but I was already prepared for that."

She sits down and leans back, crossing her hands on her belly.

"Oh, you are precious."

She laughs, her voice dancing around her room melodically.

"I was really skeptical at first as I engaged you, but you are so beautiful, I had to risk it."

She leans back forward, putting her hands on the border of the glass plate.

"And now look at you, you are one of my best girls."

I smile at her. I could never form the words to express how grateful I was that she took me in disregarding my background.

"Thank you so much, boss. I really appreciate working for you."

"Now, before I start getting emotional, I will get to the reason I asked you to meet me."

She puts her hand flatly on the table and looks at me concerned.

"Stacy is sick, and she would have had an appointment booked with one of our best clients. Now she has caught some nasty bug, and I can't risk standing him up. He is quite the influential type. He usually books another girl every time, so replacing her with you shouldn't be a problem."

I scrunch my nose at that.

"Another girl each time? Is he difficult?"

She laughs, leaning back again.

"Yeah, that's one way to put it. But let's be real. Things like this exist too, you know. Normally, the client wants intimacy and trust and is even looking for the girlfriend experience. But not every man is like that."

With a sigh she adds, "His assistant will contact you with the details. Do me a favor and behave your best with him. We don't want to scare him off, right?"

She winks at me, and I laugh. "Ay, ay, Boss."

Well, I'm looking forward to meeting that kind of man.