The Dean’s List Page 3

  “Yes. I like sex. I think an orgasm is the biggest ego boost. I love how sated I feel afterward. How the release can liberate my soul.” Every word I said was the truth. I’d always loved sex. I wasn’t sure if I’d been blessed with talented partners or if I had a receptive body, but I couldn’t remember a time I didn’t enjoy it.

  “I’m sure Jade has explained what it is we do here. I want to emphasize the fact that we’re dealing with important people who have a lot to lose should their ‘philanthropic’ work get out.” She leaned forward as if she might tell me a secret. I leaned toward her, not wanting to miss a word.

  Silence.

  She appeared to be waiting for me to acknowledge her statement.

  “I assure you I can keep a secret. I’ve been privy to people’s darkest secrets living in a home attached to a church. I’ve never uttered a word. Secrets are like vampires—they can suck the life out of you, but they can only survive in darkness. I will never lie, Sandra, but I won’t tell someone else’s story either. It’s not my job to bring people’s secrets into the light.”

  I think I may have surprised her. I looked at Jade and saw her biting her lip. Had I said something wrong?

  “I like you, River. I like your intelligence and your candor. If you’re anything like Jade, you know when to be a lady and when to be a…I don’t have to finish that sentence, do I?”

  She stood up in front of me, held out her hand, and helped me up. She inspected my hands and tsked. Her mouth pinched. It was a look I never wanted to see again. Disgust covered her face like bad foundation. Unfortunately, I was sure my toes would disappoint her further.

  Something had changed in that moment. I wanted to please this woman. I wanted her to choose me. “I apologize for the condition of my manicure, or lack thereof. My hands are in water all day. I can remedy this immediately.” I couldn’t afford a manicure, but I would figure out how to get one.

  “We have resources for that.” She turned me around and pulled the zipper of my dress down. My heart plummeted at the same time. “I’ll need you to remove your clothes so I can see what I’m working with.” She gently nudged me forward, giving me the impression that I should stand several feet from her, as if on display. “Leave the heels on, they’ll make your legs look fabulous.” I’d never stripped for a woman. When I’d stripped for a man, it was always a joint effort. We would race to see who was the first to get naked.

  Was it weird that I was excited about making the cut as a whore? No. I was excited about being able to eat, I told myself. I was also relieved she was allowing me to keep a piece of my self-esteem intact by permitting me to keep my shoes on.

  Most days I would have tossed the dress to the floor and kicked it to the side, but this was an interview, so I walked away from her, letting one side of the dress fall off my shoulder. How would I strip for a client? Seductively. With a sway to my hips, I took three steps and looked over my shoulder. Jade was barely containing her laughter. As I turned slowly to face them, the dress fell to a soft puddle at my feet. One foot stepped to the right, and the other to the left. I straddled the pink material.

  My lace undergarments hugged my body. Tightness gripped my nipples as they puckered under the lace demi bra. I wasn’t aroused. I was simply cold standing in the middle of an air-conditioned room in next to nothing. Thankfully, I had always rewarded myself with nice undergarments. Feeling pretty started with the basics.

  “Turn around.” Sandra’s voice was calm but commanding.

  A shift of my feet had me rotating three hundred sixty degrees in front of her shrewd hawk-like eyes. I wondered if she could see my knees quake.

  “Do you exercise, River?” Her eyes traveled down my body. “You are in fine shape, but I wonder about stamina. Some girls are blessed with good genes. Are you one of those?”

  Blessed with an athlete’s body and a pretty face, I’d never had to work hard to stay in shape, but I did walk a lot, and I took care of myself by eating healthily when I could afford to eat.

  “Yes, I have good genes, but I exercise and eat right. I try to sit in on a yoga class a couple times a week to stretch and maintain flexibility.”

  She didn’t actually smile, but there was a hint of something pleasant in the upturn of her lip. “Yoga is an excellent way to stay in shape. I recommend you keep that up.”

  Yoga classes could put me in the poor farm if I quit The Grind. I traded coffee for classes. However, I would imagine I’d make enough to pay for classes if I were working for Concierge Services. Sandra was the boss, and if she said yoga was a good idea, then I’d do my best to participate.

  “Can I ask you some questions, Sandra?”

  “I would hope you would. Get dressed and come back to the sitting area. We’ll discuss the details there.”

  She walked over to the wall and pressed the panel, and another hidden door opened. This one concealed a built-in bar and beverage center. There were lots of secrets in this building. This was a woman whose lifestyle depended on hiding the obvious.

  Jade helped me back into the dress and gave me a hug. “Are you doing okay?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Yes, but I don’t know if I’m more excited or nervous. I think nervous. Who gets excited about something like this?”

  This was overwhelming, but it was good to have her near. I now knew why she had been distant during the last few months. She’d been living a life she couldn’t share. It must have been a relief for her when I agreed to the interview. At least now she would have someone who could share her secrets.

  Sandra had placed a tray of beverages and snacks on the table and then took her original position.

  I sat on the edge of the sofa and waited for her to begin the conversation.

  “It may be easier for me to explain who our clients are and what they expect. If you have additional questions, I’ll be happy to answer everything, but first I’ll need you to sign a confidentiality agreement acknowledging anything you hear or talk about can’t be discussed outside this room.”

  So much for the candid conversations with Jade. She handed me a clipboard and the agreement. I scrawled my name across the bottom of the page and looked at her with anticipation. It felt like the day I’d found a Penthouse Forum under one of the pews. I hid it under my shirt and snuck it into my room. All night, I’d read the titillating articles. They were naughty and forbidden, and that made reading them so alluring. Was that how the mentors would see me? Naughty? Forbidden? Alluring, even?

  I’d always been attracted to living on the edge, but on my terms. It was why I had such a tough time embracing religion. The rules were too confining. Too rigid.

  Sandra picked up the phone and told her receptionist she needed some paperwork processed. She took the clipboard and my courage when she exited the room. Jade and I sat in silence as Sandra disappeared into the foyer.

  Chapter 3

  A manila envelope was pressed against Sandra’s chest when she entered the room. Like a scarlet letter displayed against her bosom. My eyes followed the parcel while she sat down and placed it on the table. Not knowing what it contained was torture.

  “River, we will always refer to our clientele as mentors, sponsors, advisors, or friends. After today, we will never discuss money, and you will never discuss money with your mentor. When our clients come to Concierge Services, they are looking for a wide variety of services.” She gave me a glance as if to make sure I was following her line of thinking. I nodded my head. “Most of them are looking for companionship—a girlfriend experience. These men run Fortune 500 corporations. That should be of great interest to you since you are a business major with an emphasis in finance.”

  She reached toward the tray and picked up a bottle of sparkling water. Once she poured it into the small crystal glass, she brought it to her lips. Jade and I were offered a drink with a silent push of the tray. Diet soda was my choice, Jade selected apple juice—her favorite.

  Sandra waited for us to pour our drinks. “Ma
ny students are excited to spend their time with men who are at the top of their fields. It’s a very stimulating experience to be with such talented peers.” She readjusted her position and leaned in toward me. “This is how it works. We are an exclusive club. I would liken us to a country club. We have rules, we have dues, and we have an exclusive client list. We offer a range of services. Most importantly, we guarantee anonymity if desired. Not all of our clients seek that. Many are happy to flaunt what they purchase around town. Honestly, River, who doesn’t like to show off their fancy new acquisition?”

  It was odd to think of myself as a purchase, but when it came down to it, wasn’t I already selling a peek of myself at the coffee shop? Here, I would offer an expanded menu.

  “I understand.”

  Jade leaned back into the cushions. She was readying herself for a long conversation. I followed her lead and sat back gracefully, letting the sofa support my body.

  “Most of the mentors are single. They never made time for relationships. Work took precedence, and still does, but they have needs that must be met. That’s where you come in. You would be a companion to help your mentor fill those needs. In return, they will help you meet yours. Sometimes, it’s merely a dinner. Sometimes, it’s more.”

  Was I supposed to respond in some way?

  After an uncomfortable silence, she pressed on. “Some of the mentors are married. Is that a problem for you?”

  I answered honestly. “I don’t know. I’ve never been the other woman. How does a person handle that situation?”

  She sipped her water and placed it on the table. Shifting her knees, she looked directly at me and answered in a tone much like my professors used when they were trying to steer me to a neutral position.

  “If a married man came to your place of employment, would you deny him service?” I processed the information under her watchful eye.

  “No, I make coffee for a living. If he wanted a coffee, I would serve him.”

  “Exactly. Once you know you’re selling a commodity, whether it’s time, coffee, or something else, it’s easier to blur the lines. However, if that’s a hard limit for you, then you can remove that from the list. Think about it. I have to say the married clients require less and are often more grateful. That is something to keep in mind.”

  I wasn’t sure I could live with being the other woman. If I were married, I wouldn’t mind if my husband bought coffee at a coffee shop, but I would mind if he bought a female, especially if he had sex with her. That would break the very essence of our marriage. It would break the vow of fidelity. Jade said she didn’t ask, but I would always wonder.

  “How would I know what my client is looking for as far as services go?” Did they pick you up with a prepaid invoice in their hand? One blowjob paid in full.

  “First of all, our process is streamlined. It’s very much like going out with someone for the first time. Both parties are on even footing. If one party doesn’t feel comfortable or the meeting isn’t mutually beneficial, you go your separate ways. What we do differently is set up every first encounter as a dining experience. That meeting lasts a maximum of two hours and is free to the client. If it turns into something more, then it’s up to both of you to take it further. I’m not selling sex here. If that’s where the date takes you, then that’s your call.” She sipped her sparkling water. “The women who are open-minded tend to get more dates. Most importantly, our clients are looking for an authentic experience. They want to have dinner with a woman who is smart, articulate, and has something in common with them. They expect to be entertained.”

  Sandra was a master at mincing words. She would never come out and say I received money for sex, but that was exactly what she was selling.

  “How exactly do I get the help I need?” I was trying to find a nice way to ask how I would get paid.

  “We pay our student interns through PayPal. You do have an account, right? You log on and submit your hours, along with the client’s name, and we issue payment every Friday. Of course, the client also fills out a form. We charge them for consulting fees. We rarely have a discrepancy in reporting, but if there is one, we almost always side with the client. We would hate to lose a mentor haggling over fifteen minutes.”

  “Tell me about the wages an intern can make.” I was curious if this would be worth my time. Jade mentioned something about making in a day or week the amount I would make in a month at The Grind. That was hard to believe.

  “We have a flat rate. It’s three hundred fifty an hour, or fourteen hundred a night. It’s actually a bit on the low end of the scale, but our interns are getting more than money. They are often getting a foot in the door of a prestigious company. Most of you girls, and a few men we have on contract, have more opportunities than they know what to do with. We feel the benefits package makes up for the cut in wages.” There was a smugness to her answer, like she was telling me you’re one lucky lady.

  Did she just say three hundred fifty dollars an hour? That was what I averaged working five days a week between tips and my salary.

  I tried to remain calm. I didn’t want to sound overly eager, but my financial brain began to do the math. If I could book six hours a week, I would make over eight thousand dollars a month. I could be debt free in eighteen months and still live ten times better than I did now. I felt a twitch between my legs. It was telling me to get on board fast.

  “You mentioned a benefits package. Does that include more than connections?” God, if she told me I would get full medical and dental, I was going to come right here, right now.

  “We don’t have a traditional medical or dental package.”

  Damn it, too good to be true.

  “What do you offer?” How weird was it to be negotiating benefits for the sale of sexual favors?

  “We take care of all your medical needs. We have an exclusive agreement with an MD who sees to our interns. We understand how busy your schedules can be, so he makes house calls. We don’t offer dental. We do offer weekly spa maintenance, which you are in sore need of. You need a good manicure, pedicure, and a waxing. We don’t shave our nether regions. We wax—every four weeks—on schedule. No excuses. You will also have access to the Athletic Club to keep in shape. No one wants to rent a Lamborghini and have a Kia show up.”

  The Athletic Club was a state-of-the-art facility that catered to the rich and famous. It offered any service you would expect a health spa to provide. Just a membership to the Athletic Club alone would be worth signing on for.

  “I’m impressed. So, if the client is not paying for the first encounter, is the intern required to donate that time?” How many first dates would I have to endure before I saw a dime?

  “That’s an excellent question. As I mentioned earlier, our clients pay a hefty sum to belong. The first two hours are paid by Concierge Services. You are paid as a consultant. You will always be paid. Without you, we have no service.”

  It was nice she recognized that fact. In all honesty, she was just a pimp in a designer suit. I wondered what her cut was.

  “How do you get money from me?”

  She eyed me as if I’d just broken a rule. Maybe I shouldn’t be talking about payment, but honestly, money was the only consideration when taking on this kind of job. She said after today she wouldn’t discuss money, so this was my only shot at clearing up my questions.

  “Concierge Services makes their money from the client in dues. We never pass on costs to our interns. Our clients also send us lots of business in other ventures, like hotel and dinner reservations and entertainment packages. We are a full concierge service provider. It’s what we do. This,” she pointed between the three of us, “is a small portion of our business, but it’s probably one of the most important aspects of our services. It’s all about making our clients happy. Happy clients are return clients.”

  “How does the school benefit?” Her scowl made it obvious she wasn’t keen on my questions, but I did sign a non-disclosure agreement, and I needed informatio
n to make an educated decision.

  “The university has one of the highest placement records of any school its size. Charitable donations are at an all-time high. The more successful the school is, the more valuable your degree. Our mentors are alumni of the university. They are part of what we refer to as The Dean’s List. It’s a group of men and women who are loyal to their Alma Mater. In exchange for their loyalty, they’re rewarded with certain benefits. We are not dealing with small wealth here, River. We’re dealing with more money than you know what to do with. A two-hour block of time is a rounding error for these people. A fourteen-hundred-dollar evening is a normal night out.”

  Jade started laughing as my mouth nearly hit the floor. I looked down at her Louboutins and said, “I’m definitely keeping these.” I’d have every color in her closet if she continued to have fun at my expense.

  “Well, River, it looks like I’ve given you enough to think about for a night. I have another interviewee arriving in a few minutes.” By her move-along tone, I believed we’d just been dismissed.

  The mention of another interview made me nervous. It was that damn competitive edge I had. If someone were holding a contest, I wanted to win. I didn’t care if it were a wet T-shirt or a pie-eating contest, I would do my best to come out on top.

  Sandra pulled the manila envelope from the table and handed it to me.

  “In here you’ll find a contract of sorts. It’s really just a list of things you’re willing to do. There is also the address of a spa. Merilee, my assistant, has scheduled you an appointment for ten o’clock tomorrow morning. If you don’t show, we understand you’ve opted to not accept the position. Should you decide to come on board, call me at this number tomorrow morning. There are other details that need to be addressed, such as current employment and wardrobe.” She handed me a business card that simply said Sandra, and a phone number was written under the name. “This isn’t for everyone. Take the night to think it over. You have my permission to ask Jade anything. She can help you understand the details better than I. I’m simply the coordinator.”