“They got Mexicans there?”
“I don’t know. I’m not saying I’m Mexican.”
“It don’t matter.” He pulled out a pack of loose tobacco and started rolling himself a cigarette. Before he even lit it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stomach the smell. I was about ready to puke already. He flicked his lighter and inhaled. The smoke hit my nose, and I almost ran out the door. “You’re gonna be dealing with one of my high-rollers. This guy don’t fuck around. He got a sweet ass mansion, tons of cars, everything. Personally, I think he’s a little too flashy about it. I like to keep my shit on the down low, but he’s my boy, so I don’t say nothing.” I was relieved when Tony got up to open a dented filing cabinet in the dining room. “Got some shit for you to sign.” He handed me a badly copied packet and a pen.
“What is it?”
“It just says you’ll keep your mouth shut and you won’t say nothing about what you see. I gotta make sure. This guy’s special. Can’t see him without signing it.”
“Okay.” I scanned over the pages, line by line. It looked like Tony had taken it off the internet. The headline said, ‘Sarah’s Parlor.’ I signed it and handed it over to him. He shoved it into the filing cabinet and walked back.
“So, what you into?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“What do you like to do?”
“You mean, like my hobbies?”
He grinned, showing a filthy set of teeth. “If that’s what you wanna call it. I’m asking how you like to fuck, lady.”
“That is none of your damn business,” I said.
“Hello? It’s totally my business. I need to know what you like to do, what you won’t do, and what’s negotiable.” He thrust his hips forward lewdly. “You like riding it? You wanna be on top?”
“I—I don’t know.” I had no idea why he asked me these questions. This was far from a normal job interview to begin with, but this was crossing some serious lines. It wasn’t like I was going to have sex with him. Still, I guess it couldn’t hurt to answer his questions.
“Come on, baby. You know. Don’t be shy. I won’t hurt you. You like to do it from behind?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever done that.”
“Wha-a-at? You’ve never taken it from behind? Come on; you ain’t no virgin.”
“No, but I’m not that experienced.”
He sucked in air sharply through his teeth. “The client is gonna love you. Goddamn.”
I braced myself to get up, then caught a flash of my father’s face. He was pale, with his cheekbones sticking out, and his eyes bulged out of his sockets. The cancer ate him from the inside out. If I didn’t do something, he was going to die. I didn’t have a choice. I had to take this job.
Tony hadn’t noticed my doubts. He just kept on going. “You like anal?”
“I’m open to new things.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure,” I said, nodding my head and biting my bottom lip so I didn’t scream.
“Nice; you’re gonna do just fine.”
He was just trying to get his cock hard. I didn’t have to worry. He wouldn’t try anything. If he was dangerous, Loren wouldn’t have sent me to him. So, I let him ask his little, perverted questions. A man like that probably didn’t get much.
“You’re all set, Maria Jensen,” he said with a wink. “My rich friend will be waiting for you to deliver the package.”
“When does he need me?”
“Tomorrow at 6. Don’t be late. I’ll take it out of your check.”
“I thought it was cash only.”