Where their bubble of bliss bursts…
"Mr. Grey, there are some things we need to discuss in person."
I glance out of the corner of my eye at Ana who's having breakfast in my kitchen.
"Right. I'll be at the office in half an hour."
"Thank you Sir." We hang up. Whatever Welch has found out, it must be really bad, there was no other occasion where he insisted to speak with me in person.
"Work again?" Ana asks while finishing her cereal. Why isn't she eating something more nutritious? Just carbs and sugar.. Great start to a day.
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I know I promised we'd go hiking today."
"It's alright, I'm just sad I won't see you as much today. Its Saturday! What work do you have on the weekend anyway."
Yeah, she doesn't sound sad that hiking is cancelled. Also skipping on her fitness? Thank the lord we reestablished those punishment session.
Ana is the center of my universe now. I'll do anything for her to be safe and get her out of her contract. Even if that means that I have to keep secrets from her from time to time. For her own good.
"I know, babe. For some countries Saturday is also a weekday which collides with our schedule on occasion." I feel bad for lying to her but this is important and I don't want to freak her out. "I'll be back soon." I kiss her temple and make my way to the door.
When I arrive at the office, Welch is already waiting for me in the conference room. He looks tired.
"What is it Welch?" I blurt. The car ride here didn't help at all with my nervosity. It only made it worse. What had Ana gotten herself into that made even Welch nervous?
"Sir. I'll try to make it short. Finally I've been able to get my hands on some names. Ms. Steeles roommate Sheila Clifford whereabouts are still unknown."
"Welch, I hope you didn't ask me to come here to tell me only this."
"No. But through her I was able to track other Escorts, their real names, addresses and all. It was like pulling out a fishing net.. Hundreds of names, not just Seattle, all over the US. The more I looked the bigger this thing became."
Well, at least he's got something. After months of waiting I was starting to loose hope.
"As you've wanted I had a closer look on those that might have had relationships with their customers. Let me tell you that was a hell of a job to find that out.. "
Yeah, I get it. You're great at what you're doing.
"I tried to find who had quit the agency in the last few years."
"Why?" I ask.
"Maybe if any of them was willing to talk." Talk? More like… bribe them with money.
"And guess what.. I couldn't find anyone. Either they are still working there or.. I couldn't find their whereabouts."
"How do you even know they are still working for them?"
"Money transactions, tracking of calls and emails. Some of them I had traced their location."
Jesus, this man hasn't left anything untouched to find out what's going on.
"What do you mean.. Couldn't find their whereabouts?" I mean, he seems to have hacked almost every database in this county. Surely just finding someone wouldn't be a big deal?
"It's like they were swallowed by the ground the moment they quit EE."
That doesn't sound good. No. That sounds really bad.
"What a coincidence.." I murmur.
"At this point in my investigations I don't believe in coincidences anymore."
"So what are you saying? They just murder all their illoyal employees because they decide to date their clients?!"
"No. Abduction would be more profitable to them."
Human trafficking then. I remember having a feeling in the gut when Ana told me about those clauses. How much does Ana know? Does she realize in what kind of danger she is?
"Except one."
"Who is she?"
"Leila Williams."
What? For a moment I feel like I'm frozen in place, unable to move or speak.
"Sorry.. Did you say…Leila Williams?"
"Yes. The same Leila we did a background check on years ago."
Welch doesn't know what kind of relationships I had with women back then. He just did his job and didn't ask questions.
Shit. How the hell did Leila end up in EE. She surely wasn't a sex worker when we met. As far as I remember she studied art history at the community college.
"She is the only one I could find that had a relationship with her client and is still.. around."
I just can't believe it.
"So no one else quit EE and is available to talk?"
"Actually no, Sir. After that I looked into the profiles of women who acted according to their contracts.. It seems like they are more or less stuck with EE."
Welch clears his throat, definitely questioning my reaction at this point. I normally am very composed and this wasn't me at all. I need to get a grip on myself.
"What is it Welch. Just spit it out."
"Ms. Williams. She married her client. Joseph Rothbury from Rothbury and Maxwell." I know who he is, rich banker from an old money family. Married? Why does that ring a bell? Wait a minute..
"She's in a rehab center close to San Diego at the moment." Rehab? San Diego? What the fuck. This is getting worse any minute.
"It seems Rothbury married her to be his trophy wife. Their feelings weren't mutual or for whatever reason, their marriage is only pretend. I have information of him booking other Escorts after their marriage. Williams became addicted to drugs, has been in and out of several withdrawal therapies and lastly attempted suicide. As far as I know he has washed his hands clear from her. "
What the fuck. Suicide?
"There's one more thing Mr. Grey." Welch becomes suspiciously quiet. What else is there. This already is a shit show.
"Around a year ago she tried to reach out to you. She was rather persistent…It was shortly after her marriage. Taylor and I intercepted any form of communication."
"What? Why would you do that?!"
"I mean.." Welch is beginning to tremble and I'm fucking furious. "She wasn't the first woman that wanted to contact you. According to our protocol we cannot just let anyone through just because they somehow know you.." He's actually embarrassed.
As I am. Of course I instructed that myself. I never was interested in any further contact with my former subs after our contract was done. In hindsight I was a cold hearted bastard. Me and my fucking instructions!
"Welch, I need to talk to her." I can't wrap my head around how all of this happened to her. She was such a kind and lively person. I do remember that.
"I understand. I'll see what I can do to arrange a meeting." Meeting? I was more thinking of a call…
Grey. That woman just attempted suicide after trying to reach out to you, you better show up!
"Welch, this is a real fuck up."
What does all of this mean? Ana seems to be stuck with EE. Relationship or not. And if they do find out.. They would go after her? All of those woman got in serious trouble.. Except Leila. Because she married the guy?
Marriage. A thought had crossed my mind earlier but Welch's revelations had interrupted my train of thoughts. Something Elena said.
"Sandra! From Esclava. I gave you her information to dig into EE. She knows something!" Back then Welch had reached a dead end with investigations by using Sandra's information.
I jump up and take my phone but stop in my tracks. I don't want Elena involved in this. I better go see Sandra in person, I hope she's in the salon today.
"Welch, I want you to continue digging. We have to find Sheila."
With that I storm out of the office, Taylor looks slightly surprised.
"Esclava. Now." I say.
"Which one?" he asks, unfazed.
"The same one as always."
The salon is full of customers when I enter. It's a healthy business. To my luck I spot Sandra standing at the reception, talking to her coworker.
"Mr. Grey." She smiles, a little taken aback.
"Is Elena here?" I ask just to be sure.
"No. Sorry. She never comes in on the weekends."
Good.
"Sandra, I need a word with you. Would you be so kind to accompany me?" She looks delighted and scared at the same time. Maybe she thinks I'm going to fire her or ask her out? Both of these scenarios highly unlikely. Her coworker gives me a frightened glance.
"I just want to see if you could arrange some private appointments. For my girlfriend." Two flies with one hit.
"Oh! Yes, of course. Let me just grab our schedule." With an ipad in hand she walks with me to the back office.
"Sandra. What I'm about to say will stay between the two of us. Understood?"
Her eyes get big in fright. Normally I'd have her sign an NDA. No time for that.
"No one and I mean it. Even Elena. No one will know we talked about this."
She nods again.
"You're working for Elite Escorts."
"Mr.Grey, I.. " she gets all red in the face. I hold my hand up to indicate that I'm not finished yet.
"I just want to know. You're not in trouble."
"Yes… I do."
"What if you decide to quit?"
"I guess I could." She says bewildered by my non cohesive questions.
"You guess or you know?"
"I know for a fact because I've done that once." Well, this is news. Seems like Welch didn't do a proper job then. Still, this wouldn't help Ana and my situation due to those clauses.
"You did?! Why start again then?"
"You quickly get used to a certain living standard." She simply says.
"What if you decided to break your contract. What happens then?"
She looks at me curiously.
"Well.. There might be consequences."
"What kind of consequences?"
"I've heard some things. I mean you'd be stupid to break the rules anyway. There aren't even that many in the first place." I didn't come here to ask for her judgement.
"So what consequences, Sandra." I repeat and she flinches slightly at my voice.
"I've heard that some girls got fined."
"That's it?" I know first hand from Ana that this isn't true.
"Well. The fines sometimes exceed the income which leaves you in debt. Weirdly the longer you stay the more debt you seem to accumulate."
"So they owe them at some point?" They. As if Sandra wasn't one of them. Although I don't want her to feel I'm interrogating her personally. So I stick with the narrative.
"Mr. Grey, I don't know what you want to hear."
"Just tell me everything you know."
Sandra is quiet for a moment. Surely overwhelmed by me. I try again.
"What did they do wrong in the first place?"
"Sometimes just small things. Ditching an arrangement or being drunk or high while being at work. One got a breast reduction due to back pain. The guy she was seeing wanted his money back because she didn't update her pictures. Keeping your information up to date is important so EE fined her for that."
Fuckhead. I can't believe how some men can be this disgusting.
"There were a few girls who didn't use protection. Got pregnant. On purpose or not, I don't know. Maybe they thought they could bag a man this way. EE took care of that."
Took care of that? I hope she didn't mean they forced those women to get an abortion.
"I've heard of some who went on to have a relationship with the guy. Outside of business. Most of them stopped doing that after EE interfered."
"Most of them? What about the rest?"
"I heard one girl got lucky and married him." Leila. Lucky wouldn't be what I call her situation.
"There was a lot of drama around one girl where she was dating a married man. Somehow his wife found out and threatened to expose the whole agency if they didn't stop her from seeing him. I mean all of this isn't a hundred percent legal. So I think they terminated her contract. After that they added a explicit clause that no dating outside of arrangements was allowed."
"Just terminate her contract? That's it?" Does she even believe herself. Sandra only shrugs.
"Do you know who that was? Where she is?"
"Yeah.. Her name was Sheila. I didn't know her personally, I haven't heard from her in ages."
That's what I thought.
"Who did she meet? Didn't he have a say in all of this."
"I don't know. We normally don't mention names. Comes with the business… Discretion."
I just nod.
"But I'm not surprised he didn't do anything about it. Most of the men that… enjoy our company aren't really in for the long run. Why even bother with so much hassle when you can have a better, more beautiful woman with a simple call?"
I feel bile rising in my throat. How can this woman be so cold? Holy shit.
"Sandra, please help me understand. If all EE does is fine you why not quit and date the guy? Surely working off that debt in another way won't be so hard?" Well. In hindsight it's a stupid question. It definitely depends on what numbers we are talking. As it seems most girls do end up owing EE. These methods reek of human slavery.
"The best option is to marry the guy, honestly." She says after a while. Evasive answer. So there is more than just financial consequences. Sandra just doesn't want to tell me. Or is she afraid?
"Which is what you're looking for?" I ask. She just stares at me.
"Why wouldn't I?" Great. Another evasive answer. I have to admit to myself that this is all I will be able to squeeze out of her.
"Thank you for being so forthcoming with me." I say and stand up.
"Who is she?" she asks out of nowhere.
"Excuse me?" I say.
"The reason you asked me all of this. It's a woman, so who is she to you?"
Everything. She's my everything.
"Someone I know got herself in trouble. I'm trying to find a way to help her." That should be more than enough. I wonder if Sandra knows Ana. She knew Sheila after all and seems to be well connected.
"So you don't want to book the appointment for your girlfriend now?" she asks when I'm about to leave.
"Sandra, please." I say and close the door behind me. Why act like she's stupid?
Putting my emotions aside I have to admit that Sandra has given me a lot of information. I want to slap myself for not asking her sooner. But yes, there's Elena and the risk of her interfering. And I had too much trust in Welch's abilities.
For once I have to admit that Welch did a horrible job. Not only wasting my time but also giving me a completely wrong picture of what is going on with EE.
At this point I'm sure that I haven't even gotten close to the bottom of it. Neither Welch's results nor Sandra's words have portrayed what EE is really doing. Both of them have just given me their version of the truth… whatever EE was willing to let them know. Which makes all of this even worse.
If someone like Welch is unable to find out what all of this is about then this must be bad. Really bad.
A few days later Welch has arranged for me to go see Leila. I contemplate telling Ana everything, I have to admit that since Saturday my thoughts were tumbling over themselves. Even Ross said I acted more weird than normal. She's lucky she's so freaking good at her job. No chance in hell I'd let anyone at work talk to me like that.
Friday comes faster than expected, I tell Ana I'll be in San Diego for some business I need to attend in person. She doesn't question me any further. I hate myself for doing this. Trust has been the foundation to any of my past relationships, even more so with Ana. Now, I'm the one breaking it. Even for her own sake it is nothing I'd want to repeat in the future. Her safety and well being is more important at this point.
The flight and drive to the clinic is unspectacular. The weather is in my favor at least, sunny with a light breeze. San Diego is as hospitable as ever.
An older woman at the reception shows me the way to Leila's room. She tells me that Leila didn't have any visitors in weeks. I'm dreading who I am going to find in her room. Whoever she is now, she surely isn't who I used to know.
Tentatively I knock. No answer. With a creak I open the door to find Leila sitting in an armchair, staring out the window. She has headphones in.
The second she sees me, her blank expression gets even more pale. She looks like a wax figure of her past self.
"Have you come to punish me, Sir?" she asks and I'm so confused by her greeting. What the hell. I'm not her dom, I haven't been for years and why would I even want to punish her in the first place?
"Hello Leila." I say with a grim smile. I'm at loss here. No denying that.
We stare at each other for a moment. Unable to hold my gaze she looks at the floor. I wonder what kind of feelings she still has for me, she's kind of acting like my submissive. I mean, she is still married after all. I note that she's not wearing a ring.
"How are you?" I ask to break the silence. Actually I don't have to ask. Seeing her state is answer enough.
"I'm fine, thank you, Sir." She says. Yeah, there definitely is some dom sub dynamic here. Maybe she'll open up to me this way?
"Leila, I want you to be honest with me. Do you understand?"
She blushes a little and shifts in her seat.
"Yes, Sir."
"I asked how you were."
"I've been lonely. No one comes and visits me."
"Where's your family?"
"I haven't told them I'm here. They think I'm still with my husband."
"You've been trying to reach me." Leila shifts uncomfortablely in her seat, avoiding my gaze.
"I thought you would help me. Maybe you would understand, Sir." At least she's honest with me.
"Why me?"
Leila only shrugs and looks away. Is she expecting me to understand this?
"Leila."I warn her. Actually I hate being the Dom right now.
"You were always good to me, Sir." She looks to the ground. "Joseph was very attentive too.. But he changed after we got married. I saw no way out.. "
"So you thought I would come and make you my sub again? Leila, you're a married woman." I say furiously. Haven't I always been clear that infidelity is a deal breaker for me.
"No, Sir. That's not what I meant." She stutters and I regret being so harsh with her in the first place. I should let this go, it doesn't matter now anyway.
"Why did you join EE?"
She looks up at me, eyes wide as if about to face utter humiliation. What is it? What horrible thing is she going to tell me?
And then it hits me like a fucking baseball bat.
Me? It has something to do with me. Oh please don't tell me she has the same reasons to join EE like Sandra… who am I fooling. Of course. It always comes down to the same thing.
Money. Money ruins people. Spoils them rotten. And I have plenty of that silent drug. I let Leila enjoy it with me without batting an eyelash. Cars. Clothes. Everything she liked. I got it for her as a reward. She was one of the women that stayed with me for he longest. Surely it's difficult to go back to a modest student life after that?
I ask her all about EE but am disappointed to find that she doesn't know much more than Sandra. We fall into a longer silence.
"Meeting you was the beginning of the end, Sir." She says after a while. She could have pushed a dagger in my gut right then and there, it would have been less painful.
Leila's eyes are framed by dark hollowed skin. Her hair is greasy. Does nobody take care of her personal hygiene in here? What are they even doing except giving her psychotic drugs? This place is not even trying to help.
I feel the guilt stab me, again and again.
"Who takes care of you here? Do they treat you well?" I ask. I notice her room is stuffy and dust is dancing in the sunlight that's coming from her gutted window.
She only shrugs. "They bring me food on schedule. The room is alright, I even have a TV." Just as I thought.. Her husband brought her to the shittiest place one could find.
"Where's your bathroom?" I ask and stand up. Of course there aren't many options where it might be, I ask mostly out of politeness.
"It's right there, Sir." She says. To my surprise there's a bathtub. I somehow expected a floor to ceiling tiled room where they'd spray her with a hose.
This is not a prison, Grey.
I open the faucet and let the bathtub fill almost halfway.
"Come." I gesture to the bathroom. Even though I'm not her Dom she does as told. I have to say it's a surprisingly foreign feeling. It's been almost a year since I had a submissive. My relationship with Ana is completely different.
We're sitting back in her room with Leila wrapped in her bathrobe and towel turban on her head. She looks a little better now. The warm water has given her cheeks a rosy colour.
"Leila, I'm going to make a phone call. You can't stay here. I'll arrange a relocation for you."
A smile plays around the corner of he lips.
"Thank you, Sir."
Then I call Flynn to arrange everything. Standing outside in front of her door I wonder if she misunderstood my acts of kindness. Could it be that she thinks there will be some kind of future for us?
I hope not. Today will be the last time we meet. I'll keep track on her through Flynn. Maybe I can find her a good divorce lawyer or something. Perhaps after all of this is gone for good, she can start anew.
But I have a different life now and the woman by my side is Ana. The past should stay in the past, I'll try my best at redemption but I cannot let it define my future. Our future. Ana will be heartbroken when she hears what I have been doing this week.
I better focus and brace myself for what is about to come. With that I leave. Without saying goodbye.
