A Christmas to Remember

3: Jack

I didn’t really know what to expect from the meeting with Fiona. She had completely floored me with her statement from last night's party, but I was still intrigued. The decision to call her didn’t take much, neither did it take much for me to make reservations for us at a nice restaurant for lunch on Monday midday. I had made sure to clear my schedule for the rest of the day - or Sarah, my assistant, had.

But when I was seated at that table, I couldn’t help but think about the things she had said. It sounded almost too good to be true. That someone out there could find me exactly what I needed, that I could find a woman to spend my time with, who had everything I wanted and didn’t expect me to get on one knee by the end of it.

I was what you could call a high-profile man. If I had a stamp on my resume it would say eligible bachelor. Being a rather handsome looking man, I had a perfectly fine physique for someone in their late thirties. I had been in the Navy, serving my nation and still had some good workout routines I stuck with. I had the typical brown hair, styled carefully and intricately, I had brown eyes and pearly whites. On top of all that, I was the sole heir to Hudson Corporation, which pretty much guaranteed an incredible income for the rest of my life and a legacy I could pass on to my children too. On top of all that, I had gone into politics too, wanting to create a better life for the common man and especially for the veterans coming home from war areas, and making sure they got the proper help they so desperately needed. In other words, I was a very busy man.

Between events, meetings, both work and politics, with my own routine and my thirst for trying new things, I didn’t have much spare time. Let alone to date. Dating in the position I was in was practically impossible. Everyone knew everyone. I always had to be perfect, always had to do the right thing, and when dating some of the women in this society, I never had the time to just unwind after a long day and not be the charming and self-assured man they expected me to be.

“Jackson,” Fiona greeted me with a smile as she came up to our table, led by the maître d'.

I stood, smiling right back at her and greeting her with a small kiss on her cheek, nothing out of the ordinary in this part of town. “Fiona, thanks for meeting me here.”

“No problem at all,” she smiled, ever the graceful woman as she sat down in front of me and started perusing the menu. “Last time Bradley took me here we had the duck, and I must tell you, it was divine.”

I nodded at her words, as my own gaze looked over the different courses. “I’ve tried it once, and yes, I must agree. However, their fish course is what they are famous for.”

“Then I must try it,” she smiled, still being the ever classy woman.

“Then that’s what we’ll have.”

After I had waved down the waiter, and we had ordered, I couldn’t help but take her in. Most women would probably not be as comfortable in this type of place, but Fiona had swooped in like she belonged there even more than I did. Her class and posture made it impossible to see any flaw within her. She was graceful and well-spoken, and that must have been what Bradley had fallen for.

“Now,” she smiled, as she folded the napkin in her lap, “I’m sure you want to get down to business.” She had a sneaky grin on her lips, like she had a secret and was dying to share it with me.

“I would love to, seeing as you surprised me yesterday with your statement.”

The waiter came over and filled our wine glasses with the bottle of white wine I had ordered to go with the fish. He put down the bottle and gave me a little nod before stepping away again.

“I could see that,” she answered, squaring her shoulders as if she was trying to brace herself for what was to come. “Bradley’s and I’s relationship isn’t what you think it is,” she started, but her brows furrowed, “or it didn’t start out that way.”

I leaned back in my chair, showing her that she could go on, and that she had my full attention.

“I work with a company called Disclosure, which is not known to many, and only a few are privy to get a look inside it,” she explained.

“I’ve never heard of it,” I revealed. “When I came home yesterday I must admit I googled it, but what I saw was definitely not what I expected.”

The website was like an all-in-one for couples. Different links would take you on different types of journeys. One was for experiencing new things in the bedroom, mostly if you wanted to add toys, or you could buy games that promised one you would get closer to your partner both sexually and mentally. Another one listed the best couples getaways, both if you wanted the cold cuddling in a faraway cabin or if you wanted a reclusive spa in Bora Bora. Another one was if you needed council to get through the troubles or the stalement in your relationship.

“Yes, you must have been surprised,” Fiona chuckled. “However, that is not what my job description is. I’m what you call a companion,” she answered, taking a sip of her wine. “A part of Disclosure helps high-profile men and women find a partner or a companion if you will. That means for me, that I get assigned to a client. In my case, it was Bradley, where I helped in his private life, whatever that entails. In Bradley’s case, that meant he needed one to take to functions and events, someone to help talk to clients’ wives and keep them company. We signed a year-long contract and at the end of that, we either renew it or we break it off.”

Yet again, Fiona Stevens stunned me. Over the course of the last four months, I had believed wholeheartedly that her and Bradley were madly in love. I genuinely thought he had found the woman he wanted to settle down with, the woman that would be the mother of his children.

“I thought-”

She cut me off by raising her hand. “But it developed into much more, and what you saw yesterday was definitely not a lie. However, I’m still contracted by Disclosure until the end of June next year. When that time comes, we’ll continue our relationship until we don’t want to anymore.”

The waiter came by with our dishes, which meant Fiona stopped talking. It made me feel like this was some kind of secret intelligence, like I was conspiring against the federal government or something to that order.

“But the great thing about Disclosure is the guarantee.” Her eyes caught mine across the table. “You have a full year with the woman you are paired with, which means neither you nor her can annul the agreement. It makes you fight to get through your differences, and if you don’t end up with love, you end up with an incredible friendship that you cannot just break.”

“But what do you get out of the agreement? I mean it seems like Bradley gets to have the cake and eat it too.”

“I’m paid,” she answered. “Very handsomely might I add. I chose to get into Disclosure to help settle family debt, which after a year I was able to do.”

“So you sold your body?” I couldn’t help the question. But it only made Fiona smile at me, giving me that charming smile that nobody could resist.

“No, Jackson, I’m not a prostitute,” she answered, not even a waver in her voice. “I sell my companionship. Some companions do it for s*x. Sure, you can find that if that’s what you want, but others do it simply because it helps us. Some are, like me, college students who want to make connections in high society, and the client helps us make those connections. Others do it because it gives them purpose, something to do, is the simple answer.”

“Don’t you feel bad being paid by Bradley like that?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “Disclosure pays me, Bradley has nothing to do with my accounts. Yes, there is a big difference between finding a woman on the street and wanting to date her, but with Disclosure you pay for quality. Whatever kind of woman you want, they’ll be able to find her for you. And that’s what you pay for.”

“So you do have a doppelgänger?” I tried making the mood a little lighter.

She rewarded me with a laugh. “I guess I do, if that’s what you want.”

“Do I have to sign onto a complete year?” I asked her, not really sure if I wanted to be locked with a woman I didn’t know for a complete year.

“I’m not sure about that, but I can take you to my boss, and she can discuss the particulars with you,” she answered. “But I can only take you to her, if this is what you want. Disclosure is a very exclusive business, and they take good care of their employees. They won’t match you with someone if you’re not in it for the long haul.”

“Don’t I get to choose one?” I asked her, confused about the matching part.

The teasing glint came forward again in her eyes. “I thought that was what you didn’t want to do?” She leaned forward, resting her weight on her elbows on the table. “Disclosure is the exact opposite of their name, Jackson, everything is secretive, and you don’t know any of the employees just as I don’t know of any other clients.

“This whole thing is for the protection of both you and the employees. It would set both you and the other part in an unfortunate light if that information came forth. We specialize in secrecy, which means no one will ever find out about you using Disclosure. All everyone will know is that you found a wonderful woman that you want to spend your time with.”

Did I want that? Did I want a woman who would be with me, who wouldn’t question me and my motives, but would shine on my arm and lure off the vultures at parties? Then I thought about the many, many, parties I had to attend during this holiday and the holiday spent with my family in Vermont. If I had a woman on my arm, then I could just focus on making connections and just focus on my work.

Making the decision right then and there, I nodded at Fiona. “I want to do this.”