The New Girl – Whatever you do, don’t fall in love, part two.
Click here for part one.
“Whatever you do, don’t fall in love.”
I remember the words Nell, a woman I met at the agency, had told me when I had signed up. I was about to leave the agency, when she came up to me, gave me a big hug and welcomed me to the community. I was not in this to make any friends, so the gesture surprised me. Nell, twenty-five in body, forty-five in mind, had been in the industry for four years and spoke like someone who had been there her whole life. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was what it felt like when you chose this career path. Did it consume you?
The thought of falling in love didn’t concern me. After Mick, I had no intention of falling in love again. Especially not with a client. In my previous professional career, I’d had plenty of propositions, but I was always able to separate my working life from my personal one. Anyway, why would I fall in love with someone who was paying me?
I had chosen an intimate bar for a reason. It wasn’t that I hoped the dimmed lights would create a more ethereal version of me, although that was a bonus, but more to provide a place where we could both be comfortable. The bar wasn’t too loud, but it also wasn’t too quiet. I could hear the chatter around me but even if I listened carefully, I couldn’t quite make out what anyone was saying. Perfect.
I knew it was him the moment he walked in. Thankfully, he looked exactly like the photo he’d provided of himself which was an instant relief for me. Working in marketing for such a long time had turned me into a bit of a research girl and I had possibly done a little too much research into what becoming an escort would be like. In some ways, it had excited me, in other ways it had terrified me. But what job didn’t come without risks?
“Brianna?” he asked as he walked up to me.
Matthew was tall, a lot taller than I was used to, despite me wearing heels. He was a nice-looking man, nothing that would make you spot him in a crowd, but the sort of man who you wouldn’t turn down for a date, either.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Matthew,” I said, completely forgetting to lower the tone of my voice. Possibly a good thing in the long run as trying to keep up a husky voice might’ve proven far too difficult.
He looked around. “Great place. Oh, and you look… beautiful.”
He was nervous. Was this the first time he was using an escort? I wanted to ask. A million questions ran through my head, but I stopped myself. Another thing Nell had told me was to play it cool. Not to give away too much. Not to act too eager. I had to pretend as if I had done this many times before. A part of me wished he had done this many times. Then again, if he had no expectations, I could do whatever I wanted, and he would have no idea if this was the way an escort usually acted.
“Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself,” I said.
My voice was steady, which surprised me.
He smiled again and I could see him visibly relax. We ordered a drink and he admitted that it was his first time.
“There’s a first time for everything in life,” I said. “So, let’s make this a good one.”
I wasn’t sure what I expected from my first client date. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted. Skip the bar and head right to the apartment for a night of pure passion? Maybe. But that wasn’t what this was. I tried not to drink too much, desperate to keep my wits about me, and spent a solid hour simply getting to know Matthew. The more I spoke to him the more I saw him for who he was. He wasn’t a creep. Or a sex maniac. Or a control freak. He was…
Lonely.
Well, lonely and horny, as it turned out. Matthew, thankfully, got over his nerves enough to have sex with me. The no underwear under my dress turned out to be a great idea. No fiddling with bras or waiting to see which one of us would take it off. I took his clothes off, only because he stood for a full minute just staring at me. After years with a man who barely saw me anymore, it was nice to finally be noticed. To feel wanted. Matthew was good in bed, although I kept it quite tame. Nell had warned me that every client was different and that everything I offered had to be for their benefit, not my own. Matthew wanted sex, that was for sure, but after, when he held me and stroked my arm, I knew he simply wanted what I had been craving, too. Acceptance.
“You’re incredibly sexy,” he said to me as he kissed me goodbye at the door.
I smiled. Who wouldn’t smile at that? “Thank you.”
“Thank you for making this easy for me,” he said. “I hope…”
“I had a great time,” I said, assuming I knew what his question was going to be.
“Could I see you again?”
“Of course,” I said. “Just book it through the agency.”
“Oh right. The agency. Yes, I’ll do that.”
I closed the door and fell to the ground. That was it. My first client. My very first escort experience. After some of the awful stories I’d read, I knew I had hit the jackpot with the lovely Matthew. There was no fear of me falling in love with him. But I did want to see him again. I thought of the handcuffs in my closet, still in their box. I smiled at the thought of them. Next time we’ll have even more fun.