THE WIDOWED CEO’S PROSTITUTE

CHAPTER 4

Anne Moore

The day finally arrived for me to go with Valentina to the nightclub where she works as an escort. It had been days of intense training to meet their requirements. Valentina kept insisting that I wasn't cut out for this life, but who is? What woman deserves such a fate?

We need to pay for the place where she lives. Unfortunately, the landlord isn’t kidding around and will kick us out at any moment, so we need to act quickly, and that’s what I’m doing.

We left home an hour early to reach New York City, taking a bus this time to avoid the hour and a half walk.

When we arrived in front of the nightclub, I saw a huge line of men and even women waiting to get in. I wondered how a place could be so packed.

"This way, Anne," Valentina called to me, as I was distracted by the crowd.

We entered through the back of the nightclub, and I soon saw several girls walking around. Valentina took me to a man who looked about 60 years old. He looked at me with a confused expression, smoking a cigarette. His yellow smile gave me the creeps.

"Bruce, she needs a job," Valentina said.

He looked me up and down and smiled. I was genuinely scared by that smile but kept my composure and waited for Valentina to talk to him.

"How old is this kid?" he asked curiously, stroking his chin.

"She’s not a kid, she’s 19 and needs a break in life."

"As an escort?" he asked.

"Bruce, the girl needs to get on her feet. She doesn’t need to sleep with the guys, you can find her a spot to dance. Anne learns quickly, and I trained her myself," Valentina said, and he looked at me with interest.

He approached me and smiled—a smile that terrified me, and involuntarily, I took a step back. He stopped and then smiled in a way that made me wonder if this was a good idea.

"Do you want to do a test, girl?" he asked.

Valentina looked at me, and I sighed.

"I do," I said.

Valentina shook her head in a negative gesture. I saw a smile on his lips.

"Come with me," he said, and walked away.

Valentina led me to where he was asking, and we arrived in front of a stage. Bruce turned his attention back to me.

"I don’t know if you’ll be profitable, but I’ll warn you that this life is complicated. If you want to be an escort here, you’re not obligated to anything. I’ll let you dance just once, but if you mess up, you won’t have a job at my nightclub," he said quickly and straightforwardly.

"Do we understand each other?" he asked.

I swallowed hard but agreed.

"Yes," I said.

Valentina went to the sound system and turned it on while I climbed onto the stage. I saw a pole in the middle of the stage, but since I didn’t know how to use it, I would just do a simple dance.

Valentina played the same song she taught me, "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé. I closed my eyes and prayed to the heavens to help me with this choice.

"Start whenever you’re ready, princess," Bruce said, sitting in a chair in front of me.

The music began, and I started dancing, my eyes closed, feeling the music within me, just as Valentina had taught me. I danced as if no one else was there—just me and the music. When I finished, Bruce stood up and came onto the stage. He held my chin and, looking into my eyes, said:

"We have a golden goose," he said, smiling. "You’re hired."

Bruce looked at Valentina.

"Get the girl sorted out, she looks like a virgin in these clothes. Well, or maybe she is," he said, giving me an inquisitive look.

"No, I’m not a virgin anymore," I said.

"Great."

Bruce left us alone and walked away.

"Let’s go, Anne. We’ll start the show soon."

I agreed, and we went back to where we had been the first time. I saw more girls than I could count, and all of them looked at me with inquisitive stares.

"Are they now hiring kids?" a blonde woman with black eyes said.

"I don’t think it’s any of your business, Scarlett," Valentina said harshly.

"And there’s a protective mother too," the woman said again.

"Scarlett, why don’t you mind your own business? I believe you’ll have plenty of work today, so you won’t have time to concern yourself with others," a light-eyed blonde woman said to Scarlett.

"Wow! You don’t know how to have fun, but fine, I’m leaving because the show is about to start. And Valentina, Bruce should deduct from your pay; you might set a bad example for the newcomers," the woman threw her venom and left with another woman.

"Ugh, she’s unbearable!" Valentina said. "Thanks, Madson."

"Don’t mention it, but now tell me why Bruce is hiring a kid?" Madson asked, amused, and Valentina laughed. I couldn’t help but laugh too.

"Nice to meet you, I’m Madson," she said, extending her hand, and I shook it.

"Nice to meet you, I’m Anne," I said.

She smiled. "She needs money, and since we couldn’t find a job or anything to help her get back on her feet, you know the rest," Valentina explained.

Madson looked at me and smiled.

"First rule, Anne, know how to respond to people. You’re either classy or you’re a slut; you need to understand that you can’t bow down to anyone. In our world, the quiet ones are devoured alive by snakes like Scarlett. So the sooner you learn that, the better," Madson said, and Valentina agreed.

"That's right, Anne. You can't let anyone intimidate you. Either you learn to use your claws now, girl, or you won't last a week here," Valentina said.

"Alright, everything is different for me, but I'll learn," I replied.

"Perfect! Now let's make a statement," Valentina said. "Sit here, girl, let's get that childish look off your face."

I sat in the chair, and the two of them began to get me ready. They let my hair down and add volume. After that, they handed me an extremely short, sensual black sequin dress with a straight neckline at the bust and a deep cut in the back, along with black stiletto heels, Gisele-style. I glance at it and sigh.

I head to the bathroom and put on the outfit. After looking at myself in the mirror, fully made-up and dressed like a call girl, I don’t even recognize my own reflection. But this is the choice I made, and I have to live with it. I’m going to start dancing, but Valentina herself said the real money comes from nights with clients. I know sooner or later, I won’t be able to refuse that.

I walk out of the bathroom dressed, and Valentina and Madson look at me and both smile.

"You look beautiful, Anne. You really look like a working girl," Madson said.

"Are you sure, Anne?" Valentina tries once more to make me change my mind, but that won't happen.

"I'm sure."

"Then let's slay, girl," Madson said.

The three of us leave the dressing room, and I see the other girls watching me. I can already tell they don’t like me.

"If you show fear, you'll be devoured by snakes before the week is over," Valentina whispers in my ear.

I looked and understood what she meant.

"Alright, let's get started," I said.

We see Bruce talking to a few people, and soon he goes up on stage. The place is packed. When I arrived, everyone was outside, but now they’re all inside.

I notice some girls sitting on the laps of a few men. Some of them glance at me, and I try to stand tall, just like Valentina told me.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Bruce begins a short speech. "The house is officially open, and our finest girls are going to put on a little show for you. Tonight, we have a special performance. Let’s say a girl worth her weight in gold, the epitome of perfection, one who seems born with the gift of dance. I'm sure that when she gets on stage, you'll know exactly who I'm talking about," Bruce says. "Let the show begin, girls."

Valentina gives me the signal to join the others on stage. We danced that night, as we did the following nights, but as I had already expected, the money from dancing wasn’t enough. Now we have two days to leave Valentina’s apartment, so tonight, I won’t just be dancing—I’ll be giving myself to some random man.

We arrive at the club, and Madson is already waiting for us to get ready.

"Girls, you're late again," she said.

"We’re here, and we're ready for the show," Valentina said, spinning around.

We’re both wearing short dresses—mine is red satin, and hers is navy blue with lots of glitter and stiletto heels.

Madson smiles, and we just touch up our makeup.

We head to the main room of the club, and I go to speak with Bruce.

"Bruce, I need to talk to you," I said.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I need more money. What I’m making isn’t enough to keep things going," I said, feeling a knot in my chest. But I don’t have any other choice at the moment.

"Are you sure, Anne? This is a path of no return," he said. Bruce isn’t what he first appeared to be. In the days I’ve been here, I’ve noticed he’s a bit different.

"I’m sure," I said without thinking.

"There are several clients wanting to be with you, but since you were only here to dance, I kept them on hold. Now, I’ll let them loose," he said, and I see a smile form on his lips. "Now I’m really going to make money with you, girl."

Bruce said and walked away.

Valentina and Madson come over to me.

"Are you sure, Anne?" Valentina asked.

"You know what?" I say. "I’m already in this. Look at my clothes and the way I dress, Valentina. Now, I’m just going to take another step. It might be hard, but I’ll get used to it. From where I came to where I am now, I’d say I’m ahead," I said.

Valentina gives a sideways smile, and Madson nods in agreement.

"Anne, it’s often a path of no return, but we’re here to support you because we’re all living the same life," Madson said, and I smiled.

"You’re an adult, Anne. If this is what you want, let’s go," Valentina said.

We go up on stage, and the music starts playing. Today, I know it's going to be a different day, but I’ll get through it.

We begin to dance, and as the music plays, it enters my soul, and I move to its rhythm. I always dance with my eyes closed, but today, for a brief second, I open my eyes and spot the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He looks at me, and I feel something strange. I can’t explain it, but it’s as if both a good and bad sensation floods into me. I get lost, involuntarily trapped in his cold, icy gaze. Suddenly, it feels like it's just me and him in this place. I’ve never seen him here before. Well, if I had, I didn’t notice. But now, I can’t stop looking at him. Every time I turn, I look back at him. I end up giving a small smile, and he stands up. I watch as he goes over to Bruce and then heads down a hallway. The song ends, and I step down from the stage with the other girls, as other women are now going to dance.

"Anne, today’s your lucky day. You’ve been chosen for your first client, and he's one of the best," Bruce says excitedly. "I hope you don’t waste this opportunity I’m giving you to make more money," he warns me.

"I won’t," I said.

"Great. Now go to the dressing room and take a shower. You’ve got five minutes. The client doesn’t like to wait, nor to sleep with sweaty women," he said and left.

"You know it’s a path of no return," Madson said.

"I know. Now, I’ll go meet my client."

I quickly get ready and go to the room Bruce indicated. When I get there, I knock on the door, but no one answers, so I decide to open it. As soon as I did, I saw the same man who had been watching me dance. Those blue, cold, and piercing eyes look at me, and I freeze in the doorway until he speaks.

"I hope you know how to please, because that’s why you’re here—to be f**ked hard, not to stand there like some i***t in the damn doorway. Do your job as a prostitute well, or I’ll have to complain to your boss, and I won’t pay a dime for a woman with no appeal. I don’t like to wait!" he says harshly and intimidatingly.

At that moment, a chill runs down my spine at his rough demeanor, but I feel like something irreparable is about to happen tonight.