Chapter One: The Struggles
Noah Carter was running on fumes.
The late afternoon sun burned against his skin as he rushed out of Luxe Boutique, stuffing his tips into his pocket. His shift had ended later than expected, and he barely had enough time to grab food before heading to his next job.
His stomach twisted painfully. He hadn’t eaten since morning, but there was no time.
This was his life now constant work, no rest.
Being a student at Parsons School of Design, one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the country, wasn’t cheap. Most of his classmates came from wealthy families, flaunting designer clothes and talking about their upcoming internships at top brands.
Noah didn’t have that luxury.
His parents died in a car accident when he was ten, leaving him alone in the world. No family, no trust fund, just a childhood spent bouncing between foster homes.
By the time he was eighteen, he was completely on his own.
If he wanted something, he had to fight for it.
That’s why he worked non-stop.
Noah juggled three jobs just to keep himself afloat. Mornings were spent at Luxe Boutique, where he folded designer clothes and helped rich customers pick outfits he could never afford.
Afternoons, he delivered food, weaving through New York traffic on his beat up bike, dodging taxis and pedestrians, praying for big tips.
Nights, he bartended at Midnight Luxe, a high-end club where celebrities and billionaires came to drink, dance, and indulge.
Sometimes modeling gigs but they weren’t as steady as he had hoped. Sure, he had the looks, tall, lean, sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes but the industry was tough. Agencies promised callbacks that never came, and brands wanted faces they had already worked with.
And despite all that he was still drowning in debt. Rent was overdue. Tuition fees were piling up. His credit card was maxed out.
He needed more money. Fast.
Noah wiped sweat from his forehead as he balanced a tray of drinks in one hand and took cash from a customer with the other. The nightclub was packed, music booming, and the scent of alcohol and sweat lingered in the air. It was his third shift this week, and exhaustion clawed at him, but he had no choice.
“Hey, hurry up with those drinks!” his manager barked.
Noah gritted his teeth, forcing a smile as he rushed back to the bar. This job wasn’t glamorous, but it paid. And right now, he needed every dollar.
By the time his shift ended at four in the morning, his feet ached, and his head pounded. He dragged himself back to his tiny apartment, barely bigger than a closet, and collapsed onto his mattress and decided to scroll through job listings on his phone.
His eyes burned from exhaustion, his muscles ached, and his bank account balance made his chest tighten.
He saw an ADVERTISEMENT
"Elite Private Companion Service. High-Paying Clients. Discretion Guaranteed. Apply Now.”
Noah stared at the ad, his heart pounding. He knew what it was. Escorting. s*x work.
Rich men and women paying for more than just company.
His hand hovered over the screen. It was a lot of money for one night
Before he could talk himself out of it, he clicked apply. After that Sleep came quickly, but morning arrived too soon.
His first class was at eight, and he barely had time to shower before rushing to campus.
The day passed in a blur of lectures and project deadlines, and as the afternoon rolled around, he walked around school with his hands in his pockets as he walked exhausted.
He had an appointment with Mr. Hargrove, his academic counselor.
Getting there, he sat down, Mr. Hargrove sighed. “Noah, you’re incredibly talented. But you’re missing too many classes.”
“I know,” Noah muttered.
“You’re working too much.”
Noah clenched his jaw. “I don’t have a choice.”
Mr. Hargrove’s expression softened. “That’s why I sent your portfolio to a fashion brand. They’re looking for new models.
If they’re interested, they will call you.
Noah’s breath caught. “Wait… you did what?”
They’ll contact you soon. But you need to be available. No missing appointments, no late responses.”
Noah nodded, heart racing. A real modeling job.
A week later, he was sitting across from a sleek-looking woman named Madeline, the agency’s manager.
She slid a contract across the table. “No real names. No personal details. You set your limits, and the clients follow them.”
Noah gripped the pen tightly. His body felt hot, his heart pounding.
He had never done something like this before. But he was broke.
The rules were simple, always be available when you're called for to attend a client. The agency had rules, no violence, no forced clients, complete anonymity.
And this was easy money, He signed.
There were no response from the company Mr Hargover told him about.
At first, he hated himself for even doing it. Selling his body felt like giving up, but when his landlord threatened eviction and his tuition fees loomed, pride became a luxury he couldn’t afford.
His first time had been awkward. A middle-aged businessman who just wanted company and a warm body in his bed. It wasn’t terrible, just transactional. After that, it got easier. He learned to turn off his mind, to become what they wanted a fantasy. Some were gentle, others rough, some wanted control, others wanted to be controlled, some younger, all of them wealthy enough to throw thousands at a single night of pleasure.
Men. Women. He didn’t care. As long as they paid.
A politician’s wife who wanted to feel young again. A finance bro who liked being worshiped. A bored socialite who liked the thrill of hiring an escort. He learned to fake pleasure, to moan when expected, to let them take what they wanted. He showered after every encounter, scrubbing his skin raw, but the guilt never fully washed away.
There had been a married couple, both in their late thirties, who had requested him together. The wife had been delicate, eager, her husband more dominant but generous.
Noah had let himself get lost in their hands, in the weight of their bodies, in the raw, breathless pleasure that had drowned out the shame.
He had f****d strangers in sleek hotel rooms, in the backseat of luxury cars.
And he had walked away each time, telling himself it was just another paycheck, a business.
Some nights were a blur of hands, lips, and sweat, his body moving on autopilot. Others stuck with him like the night with a high-profile lawyer who liked it rough, leaving bruises in places no one would see. Or the woman who wanted him to whisper sweet nothings in her ear as she pretended he was someone else.
He learned their desires, their kinks, their loneliness. They paid for his body, but sometimes, they just wanted someone to listen. He never judged. He wasn’t even in a position to.
He had played different roles, submissive, dominant, passionate, detached, whatever the client wanted.
Something that he started out of desperation is now a means to survive. He's been working there for a year now. The cycle never ends, whenever he wants to leave or stop another expenses comes up. He got fired from the boutique and the afternoon delivery job. He was left with just the club and the escort company.
Noah was at Midnight Luxe, mixing drinks for rich club-goers.
The music loud, he bass thumped, the air thick with alcohol and sweat.
His phone buzzed again. A message from his boss at the club.
Boss: Got a client asking for something special. $10,000. One night. You in?
Ten thousand. More than a month’s rent. More than his tuition fees. More than he could refuse.
Noah exhaled slowly. He needed the money. And if the modeling thing didn’t work out, he’d still have bills to pay.
He typed back: I’ll do it.
His boss responded immediately.
Come to the club tonight. I’ll give you the details.