Blaze walked into my office and slouched on the corner of the desk. His stare was intense as I continued to work.
"It's about time for us to leave for that appointment you set up, Tundra."
"Us", I replied?
"Why do you have be so stubborn? I have been over this with you. There is no way you are meeting with this man alone," Blaze said firmly.
"I can take care of myself, no need for a babysitter," I replied.
"This is not up for debate.I am going with you," he told me.
"Fine but you take your car. Who knows what will happen if he sees me drive up with you riding shotgun," I said to Blaze.
"Tell me something I don't know. Remember, I hired you. Here is the plan, I'm going to get there ahead of you. I'll find a table and wait for you to sit nearby. If you get into trouble or this guy starts acting strange, get up and get out of there. I will make sure he does not follow. If everything goes alright make sure you let him leave first. That way he does not know what you're driving and he can't follow you home." Blaze explained to me.
"Yes, Dad, I'll be sure to look both ways before crossing the street and make sure I wash my hand be for lunch." I huffed as I walked toward the front door.
Blaze blocked my path with his large frame and eyed me sternly.
"Look Tundra, this ain't the time for you to play the smart-aleck! I need you to get serious. This guy could be dangerous, Stephanie," Blaze warned.
"Dangerous men are nothing new to me. I'll be alright," I said.
"Sometimes I wonder if you have good sense," Blaze huffed as he held the door open for me.
I had chosen a restaurant that was a good distance from both my home and job. Blaze entered first and I waited in my car for fifteen minutes before going inside. He had selected a table in a quiet section located in the far corner of the restaurant. I sat three tables away.
It was not long before my lunch date had arrived. Today Radolfo Escobar was dressed down, but still every bit as fashionably expensive. He was wearing tailored dress slacks a crisp short sleeve button down shirt accessorized with a leather belt and designer shoes.
As Radolfo strolled to the table he reached out and took my hand gently lifting me out of my seat. He gave me a twirl then kissed my hand.
"So nice to see you again," he told me as flashed a magnetic smile.
Showtime I said to myself.
"Tell me about this business opportunity you mentioned on the phone, Handsome, " I said as I brushed his hand with mine.
"Slow down sexy. We can talk over lunch. How about we order and then I'll give you all the details," Escobar said with a wink.
Once our food arrived he started to eat and relax. I could not help but notice the way Radolfo's eyes would linger over to my side of the table as a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Wanna a bite," I offered as I caught him mid-glance? I knew it was not what was on my plate that had his attention. He gave me a half smile and shook his head no.
"No need to be shy. I see how you keep looking over here." Then I fed him a bite off of my fork. He caught my hand before I could pull away. Gently he caressed my wrist while looking into my eyes.
"You have the potential to bring the heat," I like that Escobar said seductively.
"Tell me about how you manage entertainer like myself."
"I manage dancer, but none quite like you," Radolfo flirted.
"Is the money good," I asked?
"No, the money is great! So are the clients and the hours are even better."
"So what's in for you? How do you make money?" Or are you running a program for wayward strippers,"I teased?
Escobar let out a chuckled. "Oh yeah, I like you. We are going work well together."
"How do you know I'll accept your employment offer," I said playfully?
"Because you are a smart woman."
"So I have been told. But you are going to have to give me details if you want me to sign on the dotted line."
"Oh no, I don't do contracts. Paper trails can get messy," he laughed.
"High profile clients hire me to provide dancers for their private events. I get paid an upfront fee and then the talent, pays me a small percentage of what they earn. In exchange, you get bookings, bodyguards, and transportation."
"Sounds great, what's the catch," I asked?
"No, catch. You like it, you keep working with me. If not there is no contract to worry about," he informed me.
"So when can I start?"
"See, I knew you were a smart chica. But first I gotta check you out and make sure ain't wilding out on the internet. The entertainers I work with got to keep it classy and discreet. Give me the names to all your social media accounts."
"Sorry can't do that," I told him.
"Then I can't work with you."
"I don't do social media."
"For real ?"
I shook my head and he winked at me again.
Escobar paid the check and offered to walk me to my car. I faked a phone called and stayed behind until I saw him drive off.
~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?" he said.
'No, I was told to come alone. But it will be fine. All the girls are meeting at the hotel, then we will leave together," I explained.
"Did you text me the details, just in case?"
"Well duh," I said with a smile. Now come on, its time for me to go. You don't want me to be late," I said as I ushered Blaze out the door with me.
When I arrived at the five-star hotel I stopped at the front desk and gave the name. The concierge smiled at me then had someone escort me to the hotel suite.
"Hey, you are right on time this is Mya she is going to style you. After that, you are going to see Ryan for hair and makeup," I was told before he walked away.
Mya was a pretty girl. I would place her somewhere in her late teens to her early twenties.
"This looks about right," she said as she took a dress from the closet and handed to me.
"Where do I change," I asked?
The girl looked at me and laughed. "Right here like everybody else."
I looked around the room and there were other ladies in various stages of dress. Without further hesitation, I took off my clothes and changed into a floor length designer gown.
"You're what a size 7," Mya asked as she handed me a pair matching shoes? I put them on and she looked me up and down. "Okay good, now hurry and get over to hair and make-up. Lineup is in less than a half hour."
Maya shoved me toward another room in the suite.
"Come on honey sit down. Here put this over your dress," another young woman told me as she handed me a robe. As soon as I hit the chair she started to apply make-up. When she had finished I was sent over to the hair stylist.
"Fifteen minutes to line up," Mya announced.
"You are the new girl, right? Hi, I am Ryan. He wants your hair in an up-do tonight."
"Two minutes to line up," Mya announced.
"Uh oh, we have to hurry. He does not like it when the girls are late to line up." Ryan finished my hair then took my robe and hurried me out to the main room. I noticed all of the young ladies were standing in a line facing the door. Quickly I followed their lead.
Radolfo Escobar walked through the door and started at the head of the line without saying a word. Meticulously he scanned every woman's appearance pointing out the tiniest details that needed to be fixed. Escabar gave me a slow lingering glance and nodded.
"Now that's what class looks like," he said pulling me out of line.
"Ladies this is Blanca. She is our newest fawn," Radolfo announced.
"Before we go, I'm gonna need everyone to hand over their cell phones." The whole room let out a frustrated sigh. "You know the rules. Don't worry, you get them back at the end of the night." Once he had everyone's phone, we all filed out the door and went to the parking garage. There was a small fleet of Limousines waiting.
"Alright, ladies remember this is just a party. You are window dressing. Smile and look pretty. Try to be interesting and keep up your end of the conversation. Keep it classy and covered up, it not that kinda of a party. You are going to be in a room full of multi- millionaires. Show them that you are more than just a pretty face. Tonight you will be on the dance floor with a partner doing the tango, fox trot, maybe even a waltz. Remember to keep your clothes on" he laughed.
All the girls got into the cars. Escabar pulled me into a nearby Limo with him and a few other girls.
"I figured we could talk on the way," he told me.
"What's with the cell phone thing," I asked casually?
"They put the girls off balance. When you are at work ,I need you to be focused not checking your twitter feed. I can't have people live streaming parties or taking photos. It's simpler if everyone just hands them over. That way I don't have to worry about it. The phones get locked up and nobody goes through them," he explained.
Radolfo's cell phone buzzed and he took the call. I surveyed the woman I was riding with. They each varied in races, height, body type, and age. All of them were beautiful.
"So I'm Blanca now?"
" You are as long as you on the clock with me. I name all of my girls."
The car stopped. When the door opened we were parked in a long winding driveway of a plush estate. Inside the opulent mansion, a full-scale Gala was in full swing. The live music ensemble played as waiter served hor devours and cocktails. Within minutes of arriving, I was whisk to the dance floor by distinguished man. After several dances, he announced he needed a drink. I spent the rest of the night floating around the party chatting up rich men and dancing. At the end of the night, he sauntered to the dance floor took and me in his arms. He seemed to glide on his feet in perfect rhythm to the beat.
"You are an impressive dancer," I said.
Escobar took a step back twirled me. After a dip, he pulled me close to him and whispered in my ear.
" I'm impressed with how well you handled yourself tonight."
He looped his arm through mine and walked me outside to the Limo.
The car ride back was quiet. The buzz of chatter that accompanied us earlier that night was gone. Like myself the rest of the girls were tired. I tried to suppress a yawn and he looked at me and smiled.
"You must be the only woman in here who is not sleeping. Relax, kick your shoes off."
I stretched, took off my shoes, then tucked my legs under me.
Radolfo patted his shoulder, gesturing for me to place my head on his arm.
"I'm cool," I yawned.
His cell phone rang and a woman's picture flashed across the screen. I stretched and rested my head on his chest so I could sneak a peek at his phone. He looked up me smiled and then answered the call. I listened to him take the call in Spanish.
As soon we were back in the hotel room, everyone started to get out of their formal wear. Ryan and Mya began to hand out bags with everyone's names written on them. When I got mine I looked inside to find my clothes and a thick envelope. I saw it was stacked with a ten hundred dollar bills along with several fifty's.
He walked back into the suite with his phone to his ear. Then he opened the safe and began to hand out the cell phones. He finished up his call and sat his phone on the table. Once everyone had retrieved their cell phones, the ladies left. Mine was the last one to handed back, leaving just me and him in the room.
"I need to see you," Mya called from another room in the suite.
"Be right back, don't go anywhere," he told me.
As soon as he stepped out of the room his phone started to ring. The same picture of the woman came up on the screen. Quickly I snapped a photo of the woman with my phone. Then I sat down in a chair and waited.
"So will you be working with us again Blanca," Escobar asked?
"What do you think?" I said with a coy smile.
"See you later Chica," he said.
As soon as I got to my car I checked my phone. There were over a dozen missed calls from Blaze. I sent him a text of the picture from the woman on the phone.