“You had more muscle when you got here. Firm that up immediately. Our girls don’t have droopy cheeks.”
I glance down at my ass. It’s not droopy. I want to argue with her, but I don’t. Gabe’s warning is in my mind, so I nod and agree with her. “I’ll fix it.”
“You will or I’ll fix it for you, set you up with some men who will firm it up due to their particular preferences, if you catch my meaning.”
I nod. “Whatever you think, Miss Black.” I despise this part. I wish it was over, but Black stands there with her ruler like she wants to beat me with it.
She snaps at me. “Get dressed. I’m tired of looking at you.”
As I pull on my dress, I ask, “Do you have more work for me?”
Miss Black looks at me and laughs, like I’m asking for something crazy. “You want more work? You haven’t had sex with two clients yet and you’re asking for more?”
I nod as I zip up my dress. “I’ll take care of Mr. Thomas.”
“You will or I’ll give you to one of the mindless security thugs as a plaything.” Miss Black is shifting through papers on her desk as she speaks. “Since you’re so determined, here is a new client. I don’t have his papers completed yet and I’m still waiting on pictures, but he wanted to book you for next weekend.”
“Me? He specifically asked for me?”
“Yes, although I don’t see why.” She shoves a blank contract at me. “Sign this and I’ll get the rest filled in later.” I take the pen and sign. She shoves a preferences sheet at me. “Update this as well.”
I flip the paper around and look up at her. “I get paid more if it’s blank, right?” She nods. Her dark eyes hold mine for a moment, like she thinks I’m weak. It pisses me off. I’m not weak. I’ve put up with more crap than she has, I’m sure of it. Besides, after what Sean did to me, I don’t see how anything could be worse. I push the paper back to her, blank.
“Do you expect me to be impressed? You play these games, Avery, but can you honestly perform when a client wants to have anal sex with you? What if he wants to use beads? Clamps? Or other things that frighten you? You’re all talk, and I know it. Check off the things you won’t do on the sheet.”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, I’m in this up to my neck. I don’t care what he wants to do, I’ll do it.”
“This client specifically requested some odd things. Last chance, little girl. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, because he will demand it, and have every right to take it from you.” It feels like she’s trying to scare me off, but I don’t let her.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Can I go now?”
She grins triumphantly and I realize that I was played. Her tactics are making me keep that sheet blank. “Yes, dear. Go and make sure Mr. Thomas comes begging for more.”
CHAPTER 7
My stomach is twisting in knots as Gabe drives me closer to the hotel. I fish my bracelet out of my bag and put it on. My hand is shaking so much that I have trouble getting the clasp to lock. When Gabe hits a pothole, I fumble and drop it.
“Sorry about that. The streets haven’t been the same since Sandy.” They really haven’t. That damn hurricane literally ate half the seashore, along with Ocean Parkway and a ton of houses. There are parts of Long Island that look abandoned with houses that look like skeleton’s covered in black mold. Tattered tarps have been shredded to ruins like the building beneath.
“It’s okay. I’m just nervous, I guess.”
Gabe is uncharacteristically silent. It drives me nuts, so I blurt out, “Just say it. Yell at me for not wearing a coat and agreeing to sleep with half of New York. Go ahead and say it. It won’t make any difference now anyway.”
“Which is why I’m not saying nothing.” Gabe’s old eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. The car dips again as it moves over uneven pavement. A car cuts off someone in front of us and horns blare before the telltale sound of a collision.
“Awh, Jesus Christ—” Gabe lurches the car to the side while I try to get my bracelet around my wrist. It catches just as the old guy takes a less conventional route around the accident with two tires up on the sidewalk. He leans on his horn and the pedestrians jump out of the way.
I glance behind us to see a wake of angry people flipping us the bird with extra enthusiasm. I hold onto my ‘oh shit’ strap and try not to scream. Gabe goes down half a city block on the curb before getting around the accident. “Sorry, if we’re late, Black will skin me. She’s in a foul mood.”