Chapter 2

“We both know that you can’t afford it right now,” I reminded her, “I’ll let you pay for the next one.”

“That’s what you said last time,” she frowned at me and made to get her purse out again.

“Don’t worry about it,” I rolled my eyes, “We both know I’m good for it.”

I pushed myself to my feet and adjusted the waist band on my high-waisted jeans.

“Fine, but I am paying for our next lunch no matter what you say,” Sammy insisted.

I walked over to her in my thigh high heeled boots and leaned down to kiss her cheek as I always did in farewell.

“You keep telling yourself that,” I whispered into her ear. I was a running game we’d always played no matter what our finances were. I knew it bugged her when I paid for everything, and so I always did whenever I got the chance.

“You are infuriating sometimes,” Sammy was beginning to look furious.

“Careful, or you’ll get frown lines,” I warned her and she quickly released her tense expression, “I’ll call you later.”

“Make sure you do,” she took on her mother bear expression now, “You know how I worry.”

“There’s really no need,” I shook my head, “I have everything under control.”

“That’s what every woman says right before something goes wrong,” Sammy had always been overbearing and over protective and I loved her for it.

“Take care of yourself,” I gave her a squeeze on the shoulder, “I promise I’ll call you later.”

With that I turned and began to make my way down the street towards my apartment a couple of blocks away. There had been a time when I couldn’t walk a few steps in heels but now, after so many years doing my job, I could run miles in them. Something else Sammy could never understand.

I waved her goodbye as I turned my attention back to my mobile to plug in my ear plugs and pop on some music for the walk home. With my handbag strap resting in the crook of my arm I walked as though everyone was watching. One never knew when a client might walk past. I always kept the front up in public.

It wasn’t until I had walked the few streets to my apartment and shut the door firmly behind me that I finally let my hair down. It cascaded in loose red curls around my heart shaped face, and I realized instantly that I needed to wash it. That was just one more thing to add to my list of things to do before my clients arrived.

“Darwin!” I yelled as I dropped my handbag, keys and phone on the side table in the hallway and peeled off my boots.

The little Chihuahua came running with his favourite stuffed teddy bear in his mouth. The toy was practically the same size as him and he tripped over it several times before reaching me.

“Oh, thank you, good boy,” I told him as I picked both him and the toy up to give him a cuddle. The little cream dog lapped at my face and wagged his tail doing his usual Chihuahua shake, “Now are you going to be a good boy for me tonight, Mister?”

Many of my clients weren’t fond of dogs and that meant that I usually shut him away in the kitchen whenever I had company. He preferred it that way too. He wasn’t a very big people person.

He barked at me in response although I knew it was really him telling me that his food bowl was empty.

“Come on then, let’s get you something to eat,” I smiled as I set him back down on the floor and he proceeded to pull his teddy along with him into the kitchen.

As soon as his food bowl was filled it was time to get on with the arduous process of getting ready for my job. 2

This was the hardest part of my job. Picking out my outfit, choosing the right makeup and underwear, even what perfume to wear. Everything had to be just perfect. I mean, if you were paying five thousand pounds for something, you’d want it to be perfect too, wouldn’t you?

I jumped in the shower, washed my hair, and exfoliated every inch of my body before I double checked that everywhere that should be hairless, was. Then, fresh as a new-born babe and feeling like I’d scrubbed my skin off, I headed into the bedroom to dry my hair.

The mirror was my best friend. I couldn’t live without one. There were mirrors in every room of my apartment. Not because I was vain, but because I had to always look my best for my clients. You didn’t get paid the amount of money that I did if you weren’t willing to put in one hundred and ten per cent. I’d often had a few of the other girls asking me for advice knowing they’d never really take it. For most girls this job was just a way of earning some quick cash before moving onto bigger things. For me, it was a lifestyle.