I looked around in alarm –
“She’s not here,” Luna said. “My sister keeps her when I’m seeing clients, and I pay her a little something for helping me out.
“The money you’re offering? I make that in one month, easily.
“Five grand isn’t much. Itmightkeep me afloat for two months. Three, if Ireallystretched it.
“But what am I supposed to do in three months? Go back to school? Learn a trade? I can’t get a normal job. Nobody’s going to hire me. No bank or store would ever give me a second look. What am I supposed to put on a résumé? The most I could hope for is maybe bartending, and even then, I doubtthat.”
“What are you going to do when you can’t get customers anymore?” I asked gently.
She smiled flirtatiously. “If they were all as handsome as you, I think I could do this forever.”
I gave her a polite smile back. “Thank you, but I’m serious. What about the future?”
She settled back in her chair and sighed. “I don’t know. Mostly I don’t think about it. I’ve got a while before I have to.
“But what Idoknow is, 5000 euros is not enough to start a new life. So, please tell your boss ‘thank you,’ but I can’t take his offer. And I don’t think anybody who’s being honest with youwouldtake his deal. Not unless they’re young and can start over.
“I’m not. And I can’t. If your boss really wants to help women like me, he needs to figure out another way to do it. With all due respect.”
I sat there in silence and thought for a minute.
Everything she said explained a lot. It was the same exact vibe I’d gotten from 99% of the other women I’d talked to – although none of them had told mewhythey weren’t interested.
And I couldn’t dispute anything Luna had said. It made perfect sense.
All that was left was for me to ask, “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Well… thank you for your time. I’ll tell my boss what you said – ”
“Please let him know I meant it with all due respect,” she interrupted, a quiver of fear in her voice.
“I will,” I assured her. “Like I said, you have nothing to fear from my employer. I promise.”
She nodded like she wanted to believe me, but couldn’t. She’d seen far too much to ever trust anyone ever again.
“Well… I guess I should see you out,” she said flatly.
“Okay.”
She walked me over to the door and unchained the lock.
As I was walking out, she said, “Maybe you guysaredifferent.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Agrellas would’ve never offered any money in the first place. They would’ve just threatened us until we did what they wanted.”
“I’m telling you the truth: my boss is different.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said, then smiled sadly as she closed the door.
7
As I left Luna’s apartment, I felt depressed.
