The Doctor's Fake Nanny(52)

"Here, try this. I have a feeling you'll look fabulous in this one," the saleslady said, removing the dress from the bag.

It was a silk and chiffon combo wrap dress, but it was the color that  took Cassidy's breath away. The dress was made in an ethnic collage of  deep and vibrant colors, and as soon as she saw it she knew it was  perfect for her mahogany skin tone. She put it on eagerly and sighed  with relief as it fit perfectly.

"This is it," Cassidy gushed as she stepped out of the changing room to show the saleslady how she looked.

Sheena clapped her hands in delight. "You look so pretty. No man will resist you tonight."

Cassidy was stunned. "Is it that obvious? I mean …  that I work for an escort agency?"

"No. But the girls who come here are often referred by Ms. Tillie. Most  of them know what they want. But you looked so unsure of yourself. I  figured you're new."

"Yeah … " Cassidy admitted, "and I'm scared shitless. I went in looking  for a job doing clerical work, and I came out an escort. And now here I  am."

"Maybe I can do your hair and makeup for you? I've been taking some classes."

"You'd do that for me?" Cassidy asked, awed by the girl's generosity.

"Yeah, sure! We can keep in touch and you can tell me how things go with  you. I've been thinking I want to be an escort, too. Just don't know if  I'm pretty enough like you."

Cassidy couldn't believe her luck. She was relatively clueless when it  came to make-up, and here was someone offering to do it for her. On top  of that, she didn't have any friends in the city and was thrilled by the  prospect of adding one to her life.

"I didn't bring any make-up with me, really. Just lipstick, rouge, and  some powder," Cassidy said, hating to admit that was all she ever used.

"Oh, don't worry about that. There's tons of free make-up lying around.  I'll go find something that will blend nicely with your dark skin. You  will glow, I promise!"

A few minutes later, Cassidy was seated in the back room of the  boutique, looking askance at the oodles of stuff Sheena brought back  with her. She was tempted to comment that she didn't want to end up  looking like a drag queen, but thought otherwise. It wasn't something  that was nice to say to someone who would be in charge of your face for  the next few minutes. Besides, Sheena was doing this for free.

"Don't worry," Sheena giggled, reading her mind, "I was one of the best in my class."

Seconds later, Sheena was busy working on her face. Cassidy watched as  she mixed color palettes, dabbing the makeup on and then wiping off the  excess. She would frown when she wasn't happy with the result, wipe it  off gently with a wet sponge, then re-apply again.

Cassidy had no mirror to check the progress. She knew she was leaving  her fate in the hands of a random but seemingly kind woman she'd just  met. However, just like the dress Sheena said would look fabulous on  her, Cassidy knew things would be alright.

She was right in putting her faith in Sheena. When her newfound friend  finally allowed her to see the results of her work, Cassidy couldn't  believe she was looking at her own reflection. It was still her face  that she saw, but she looked different somehow. Her eyebrows were  thicker and perfectly arched, her lashes fanned out over eyes lined in  smoky colors, the apples of her cheeks seemed more prominent, and her  lips more luscious than ever.

"Oh my, Sheena, I hardly recognize myself. I look … "

" … Sophisticated?" Sheena volunteered.

"Yes, like a movie star on a Vogue cover. You're really good! You should open your own salon. You'd be famous in no time."

"You think so?" Sheena asked, gushing from the compliment, and then  added, "Hope someone gets to appreciate all my effort on you, because  you look absolutely stunning."                       
       
           



       

Cassidy remembered that this was her first day of work as an escort, and  that she'd likely sit out the night. Suddenly the pretty dress and the  make-up all felt like a waste of time. Surely nobody would ask for her.  Not tonight. She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed.

Sheena saw the play of emotions on her face. "It's alright, you know.  You can wear the dress again some other time, and I can always redo your  make-up whenever you want. I'll give you my number. I'll start teaching  you the tricks. Once you get the hang of how to enhance your face,  you'll have the confidence to do it yourself."

Cassidy felt a surge of affection for this woman who had been so very  helpful. Even if things didn't work out at the agency, somehow she had a  feeling she had found a good friend. She hugged her and whispered thank  you before leaving the boutique with Sheena‘s number. Dusk had fallen  over the sky as she made her way to the bus stop. The looks that  followed her confirmed that Sheena was right: she did look stunning with  the new dress and the make-up. She felt confidence that she'd never had  before. Cassidy had no idea that clothes and make-up could bring such a  change to her self-assurance. She managed to negotiate the crowded  sidewalks in her sky-high heels without breaking an ankle.

Back at her room at the Y, Cassidy finally had a moment to collect  herself before her first night of work. She took off her new dress and  hung it carefully. She slipped out of the stilettos and padded to the  bed. She picked up the travel robe her mom had given her made out of  some fibers that didn't wrinkle no matter what. She plopped down on the  bed and lay back, her head on the pillow. If she stayed like this she  wouldn't make a mess of the beautiful artistry Sheena had painted on her  face.

She reached into her bag, pulled out her wallet, and thumbed to the  picture of Dee. "Well, baby, this is it," she talked to the photo.

She imagined Dee happy and making those baby sounds, playing on her  dad's lap with mom busy doing something in the kitchen. This was her  start to making a life for herself and Dee. She knew she was missing  precious moments as her daughter changed every day. Babies grew so  quickly, and Dee was no exception. She looked into her grey-green eyes  in the photo. I'm doing this for you, Dee. Soon we'll be together.

She'd never imagined herself …  ever …  as an escort. This was just the  beginning until she found something she could tell Dee about. Now it was  time to fulfill every part of her plan. She took one more look at the  photo, kissed it tenderly, and then folded up her wallet and tucked it  away. She pulled out her notebook and started writing.

Look, Cassidy, I don't have all day to wait for your decision, but  here's one thing I can assure you: as soon as you step out that door,  someone else will come in and snap up the job. It's your call.

It was the first time she'd ever included herself in her notebook.  Before she had always written about other people. She copied down their  patterns of speech, or a joke, or a question phrased in a way she  wouldn't have thought of. That, or she'd write physical descriptions and  then gone on to create personality traits. Here, for the first time,  she'd written about herself.

She started writing all the confusing feelings she'd had that day. She'd  seen Tristan and felt the physical surge of desire and the stark pain  of betrayal. She'd found a job, then discovered it wasn't what she had  thought, and now she was waiting for her first night as an escort. Was  she sophisticated enough to carry it off? Could she be playful, pert,  and intelligent with a complete stranger even if she didn't particularly  like him as a person? She put down her pen and stopped writing.

She drifted off to a swirl of questions and was awoken by a knock on the door.

"Yes?"

"Hey, it's Fred. Fred from the front desk."

She'd paid for a week. What could he want? She got up and fastened the  robe tightly around her body. She crossed the small room and opened the  door.

"Hey, Fred. What is it?"

Fred was in his early twenties. He was the kind of guy who looked  scruffy even when he was straight from the shower and wearing clean  clothes, which he appeared to be right now.

"I saw you come in a while back. You looked hot. I mean really hot,  baby." He paused for a second searching for the next words. "I thought  we could …  you know … "

"No," Cassidy stated emphatically. "I appreciate the compliment, but  you've got the wrong idea, Fred. I paid for the room. We'll leave it at  that. No interpersonal fraternization …  of any kind. Okay? Got it?"                       
       
           



       

Fred, looking mildly disappointed and nodded his head.

"Okay, then," Cassidy said as she shut the door and turned the flimsy lock.