“We’re here now. There’s no need to doubt ourselves,” Audrey says, patting my hand. “I’ll grab us some of the forms to fill out. Did you bring a pen?”
“Yeah,” I say, patting my bag.
She walks over and grabs two files, bringing them back with her. I thank her and we chat while we fill out the paperwork. It’s an hour later when a young woman enters and collects the paperwork then leaves without a word. Several minutes later, a middle-aged woman with mink-colored hair neatly swept back and perfectly tailored sky-blue suit enters, sending the room into a dead silence.
“Ladies.” Her voice is smooth as butter but her eyes appear serious, perhaps even a little cold, as she takes in everyone in the room. "My name is Clara and I am the manager of all the club’s escorts. For those new to the term, it means I am responsible for interviewing clients and matching them with escorts who meet their desires.” Those eyes take another sweep of the room. “I make sure the escorts are taken care of and have everything they need and that the clients are happy.”
The room is silent, not even a cough interrupts her speech and I can tell she has the same command over men. “I am certain you all understand the need for discretion and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to protect the privacy of our clients.” She waits for us all to nod before carrying on. “Alright then. That said, you’re all going to sign NDAs before theinterview. If you don’t want to sign that, then you are welcome to leave.”
When no one makes a move for the door, she opens the file she came in with and takes out sheets of paper before passing them to each one of us. My hand is trembling as I grab my pen back from the bag and sign without reading through the document as I see the other girls do.
Does it matter?I wonder. I'm probably not going to get the job. What use is there in reading through the NDA?
Positive thoughts only.
The door opens once more as Clara is collecting the NDAs and all eyes turn as a man enters the room and I feel the air struck from my lungs with the weight of his presence. It seems I'm not the only one as another woman makes an audible gasp. Can I even blame her?
The man is tall and muscular with the most intense blue eyes I have ever seen in my life. They’re like pools of the deepest ocean with the kind of cool I can only imagine exists in those depths. I take him in as he does with the rest of us. His dark brown hair is styled perfectly, shaved neatly on the sides but kept longer at the top. His hair matches the dark scruff framing his face, giving him a rugged look, the kind that sends my heart skipping a beat. And the way he moves, it's with such ease and confidence of someone who is used to people falling over their feet to serve his every need before he can voice it.
“Mr. Cassidy,” Clara says with such respect in her tone that I force my eyes from the incredibly handsome man and to her. “Ladies, this is Mr. Cassidy and he is the president of the Steel Sinners, the MC that owns and operates Elysium.”
“Hello” the man says in a deep husky voice, forcing all attention on him as he turns to make eye contact with us. I noticesome of the ladies’ flush and I can’t tell whether it’s with fear, nerves or arousal. Perhaps it’s a mix of all three for some and I can’t say I understand until those eyes land on mine.
It's like being struck by lightning.. There is a weight in his gaze that sends every inch of my skin coming alive with a sensation I’ve never felt in my life before. His gaze is piercing and it does just that to my senses, pierces through them; it's almost like a physical force.
The look lasts for all of five seconds but it feels like an eternity and when he moves his eyes, I am overwhelmed by a sense of disappointment, but there's also relief. I feel like I can almost breathe again.
Without another word to us, Mr. Cassidy leans down to whisper something to Clara to which she nods. And then he's gone. Clara finishes collecting the NDAs and instructs us to get back to our seats, but stops me before I can walk back to Audrey.
“Miss Ford, a moment please.” I turn to her, alarmed. Terrified I am about to be sent away and the nerves only double when she pulls me out of the conference room. “Mr. Cassidy wants to see you privately in his office about a different position he believes you’ll be better suited for.”
My brows arch in confusion. I had no idea there was another opening at the casino and if there was, how would he know what suits me when I’ve never met or spoken to the man before today? I start to question her when another man appears and after exchanging a nod with Clara, she leaves.
Okay, this is not a good sign.
Yet, when this tall quiet man with dirty blond hair and intense brown eyes turns to me, I don’t run off. “My name isGhost,” he says, and that name doesn’t exactly make me feel better. “I’ll show you to Mr. Cassidy’s office.”
He’s walking away before I can ask follow-up questions so I run after him, careful not to trip in my heels. I've probably seen a horror movie or two with an exact scenario and I would be proving the dumb-blond stereotype correct by ignoring all the warnings and following this strange new man to wherever it is he's taking me. Best-case scenario, they offer me a job. The worst case, well, I leave the building without a liver or something. I ought to run screaming bloody murder toward the elevators and hope to make it out without anyone stopping me and yet…he stops in front of a large mahogany door and after one knock, pushes it open, motioning for me to enter. I glance up at him with uncertainty before stepping inside and when he closes the door ominously behind me, I feel my heart jump to my throat.
Okay, I’m here anyway. No need to overthink it.
Slowly, I turn around. The office is spacious, decorated in black and red colors with modern but cozy furniture. Three large floor-to-ceiling windows offer a magnificent view of the city, but I don’t stop to take any of it in as my eyes track to the man standing by a window with his back turned toward me. He turns when the door closes and I am once again struck by those eyes, beautiful as they seem. Intense. A little scary too.
“Ms. Ford,” he says in a deep voice that warms my insides. “Have a seat.”
I nod, afraid that if I speak, I’ll say something to reveal just how nervous I am. So I walk to one of the leather chairs and slowly lower myself down to it, folding my hands neatly over my lap and waiting for the man to speak. It’s no secret what I came here for today. To become an escort. I came here to be hired assomeone meant to please a man for a price and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what Mr. Cassidy is going to ask me to do.
Is he going to ask me to prove that I have what it takes to be an escort by pleasing him? Is this a test? Am I failing by not doing…something?
Oh God, has the interview already begun?
Chapter Two
Pope
She’s nervous. I notice the way she seems to shrink into herself, almost disappearing into the big leather chair.
I don’t claim to have a type but I’ve always found myself drawn toward women with a little more confidence and ambition. Hard to find meek and shy people in this business, hell, in a city filled with sin like this one. Isn’t that why I chose to find a bride from a group of escorts? Figured I’d find someone ambitious enough to want the money I would pay them to be my wife but also someone a little discreet.
