Chapter 2

Kaitlin

"What is it?" I ask.

"How about we take a seat?" Bianca asks, pointing at an empty bench.

"Now, you're scaring me," I say as we sit and anxiously wait for her to talk.

"First of all, you have to promise me that you're not going to judge," Bianca sticks out her pinky finger, and I curl mine around it. It's something we always do when we're about to make a promise to each other.

"Pinky swear," I say.

Bianca takes a deep breath. "You know how I always tell you I have gigs to waitress at parties?"

"Yeah?" Bianca is a waitress at a diner, but her job doesn't pay well, so she's always doing extra shifts or going for one of her gigs.

"Well…the thing is, I work for an escort agency, Passion Palace. They provide escort services for the Elite, and I'm one of the escorts," she says in a low tone.

"What?" The word slips from my lips, my mouth widening in shock. "You're joking, right?" I ask, chuckling in disbelief.

"No, I'm not. How else do you think I've been able to afford my Mama's diabetic drugs and pay for my brother's college tuition?"

I open my mouth, but words fail me. I wouldn't have believed it if someone else had told me Bianca was working as an escort. Even now that I hear her say it, I still can't believe it. "You're an escort?" I ask, still in disbelief.

"How about you pick up a megaphone and announce it to the whole world?" I sense a hint of anger in Bianca's voice, and I immediately feel sorry.

"I'm sorry, I just find it hard to believe."

"You promised not to judge," she reminds me.

"I had no idea it was… was this."

"Passion Palace pays well," she says, her tone a little persuasive. "You earn an average of three thousand dollars every week, or even more. Depending on the services you offer."

My mouth falls open at the mention of that amount. "You earn that much?" I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.

"And even more, girl," she says with pride, leaning back in her seat.

"Wow! That's a lot of money." Compared to the meager salary I earn monthly as an office assistant, my salary pales in comparison.

"Now, if you join, you'll be able to save money for Andrew's transplant and add it to whatever financial aid you guys might get."

I'm quiet as I contemplate what she said; I can't believe I'm even thinking about it. "No." I shake my head. "I can't do it. It's against my moral beliefs. My Mama would have a heart attack if she learned about it."

"And you think she won't have a heart attack if your brother isn't able to get the transplant because of lack of funds?"

I become silent as I brood on her words. She does have a point. Should I join? I'll make a lot of money and be able to afford Andrew's surgery. But this stands against everything I believe in. And everything my Mama has taught me. My family are devout Catholic, and Mama would be totally disappointed in me if she found out.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Bianca says softly. "But think about what's at stake. Andrew needs you."

Tears well up, and I look away, trying to collect my thoughts. My heart aches with the weight of the decision. Joining Passion Palace would provide the funds we desperately need, but at what cost to my morals and my family's trust?

"I don't know if I can do this, Bianca," I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.

Bianca reaches out and takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "Just think about it, okay? No one can make this decision for you. But whatever you decide, I'm here for you. We'll find a way to get through this."

I nod, the internal battle raging within me. The thought of losing Andrew is unbearable, but so is the thought of betraying my values and disappointing my Mama. The stakes have never been higher, and the future has never seemed more unclear.

***

Later that night, I'm lying in bed tossing from one side to the other, unable to sleep; Bianca's words keep running through my mind. I think about Andrew's smile and carefree spirit. I picture him healthy and happy. He deserves a chance to be happy again, a chance at life.

Sighing, I sit up on my bed. I reach for my phone and type Passion Palace into the Google search bar, but nothing related to what Bianca said comes up.

So, I decide to text her. — tell me more about this Passion Palace.—

She responds almost immediately how about you come to see for yourself? We have a waitressing service on Sunday evening. How about I talk to the boss and have him put you in?—

I contemplate her suggestion for a while before I finally respond. — all right, let's do it.—

The moment I hit send, Bianca's response comes in. — Yes! You are so going to have fun, you'll see.—

Sunday arrives, and I feel so apprehensive as I stand in the intimidating building of Passion Palace. It's a huge structure outside of town, unmarked by any signage.

I've been here all day, after hours of a grueling interview with Joel, the manager of the establishment. He's a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor, assessing if I'm a good fit. Now, I'm waiting to fill out the NDA forms.

The test results to ascertain if Mama and I are a good match to donate bone marrow to Andrew already came out, and we're both not qualified. Mama's arthritis makes her unable to be a donor, and I have hemophilia, so I can't donate either.

Now, we have to find a donor and also find the money for the transplant. Last night, I heard Mama crying and praying to God for help in her bedroom. Her cries broke my heart, and it's the reason I have a stronger resolve to do this.

"You have to fill out these forms," the receptionist says, handing me some forms attached to a clipboard and a pen.

"Thanks," I murmur.

"Let's go into the conference room; no one is in there," Bianca says, reminding me of her presence beside me.

I follow her, my mind racing. The conference room's walls are lined with elegant artwork and plush furniture, exuding an aura of sophistication. I take a seat and start filling out the forms. And as I write, I think about Andrew and Mama. I tell myself that I'm doing this for them.

After talking to Joel and from all Bianca told me, I discovered this isn't as bad as I'd thought. I just have to escort these men to events as their dates. I don't have to sleep with them if I don't want to. "It's totally up to you," were Joel's words. And if I decide to add that to the service, I would be paid extra.

My mind drifts to some of the things Joel said to me.

***

"Your first trial would be tonight," Joel said. "You'll join some of our girls in waitressing at an exclusive party. If you do well, I can assign you to a bigger project."

"Thanks, I was once a waitress," I said with a nervous smile.

"Yeah, I saw that in your CV, but this waitressing differs from what you're used to. I'm a little skeptical about bringing you on board, but Bianca is one of my favorite girls, and she says you're capable, so I'm taking her word for it."

"Thank you. You won't be disappointed," I said, feeling grateful.

***

"Are you all right?" Bianca asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah," I respond with a sigh, turning to look at her.

"Don't worry. If you still don't feel like doing this after today's party, you can back out, and you'll get paid."

"Yeah, I read that in the form. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"Do you have sex with the men you escort?"

Bianca is silent for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "Yeah, sometimes."

"Really? Isn't that prostitution?" I ask, unable to hide my surprise.

Bianca shakes her head, her expression thoughtful. "You can call it whatever you want. But we have sex all the time. So why not get paid for it? I've had one-night stands in the past, and I've never seen them again. The only difference between a one-night stand and this is that I'm getting paid for it, and I'm not going to feel bad about it."

I sit back, processing her words. "I never thought about it that way."

Bianca's eyes soften with understanding. "It's not for everyone, Kate. But for me, it's a way to make ends meet and support my family. And it could do the same for you and Andrew. Just remember, you're in control. You decide what you're comfortable with."

Her words resonate with me, but I still can't picture myself having sex with a man for money. I'll just stick to being their date.

"What are we going to be wearing to this party? Do I need to go shopping?"

"Nah, you don't have to worry about that; Joel provides us with the lingerie we need," Bianca responds, smiling.

"Lingerie? Why?"

"Because that's the only thing we'll be wearing at the party."

"What?"