“Who’s Belladonna?”
“He’ll know.”
Eyeing me suspiciously, Shalimar took her phone out and typed in it. “I need to know everything, Eden. You can’t keep anything back. I’m your pimp.”
“You’re my manager. And Jean-Pierre used to play violin, and he actually used the one that I play now. He called the instrument, Belladonna.”
“But, how do you have it?” She finished typing and put the phone up.
“I got it from my conductor at the symphony.”
“Belladonna Symphony?”
“Yes.”
“Hmmm.” She tapped her thigh. “Jean-Pierre always went to the symphony when he visited here. He handled accounting for them too. I think that’s an odd coincidence.”
“Why?”
“Jean-Pierre is a very clever man. I would keep my eyes open around him. He must’ve known that you were using his violin the many times he went.”
“Definitely.”
“Then, he’d seen you before you stepped into the brothel.”
“Probably.”
“I wouldn’t do probably, with Jean-Pierre.”
“You’re scaring me. What are you trying to say?”
“Jean-Pierre is odd. I just don’t like coincidences with him. Do you remember seeing him before this?”
“No.”
“Okay. Then, maybe I’m thinking too deeply about this.” Her phone beeped. She turned it over and read the message. “He agreed. 100k and you can have Belladonna on loan for a year.”
I jumped up. “Holy shit. Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Could this be my new reality? Everything would change with the money? But having Belladonna/Eros for a year would ease my anxiety. I would have time to practice and do interviews with other symphonies. It would buy me more time to find a better position. Maybe I would get to borrow the violin longer. Or perhaps, I would get my own.
Fuck. I can do this. I really can make this happen.
“Okay. Hold on. We haven’t accepted yet.” Shalimar set the phone on the coffee table. “We have to think about this.”
“Do we?”
“I just don’t want your aunt to kill me. I need you to keep me out of this, if she ever finds out. She won’t kill you.”
“Of course. I’ll say that it was just Jean-Pierre and me.”
Shalimar still appeared worried. “We’ll have to get Buggy in on this too.”
“Who’s Buggy?”
“He used to be the Candy Shop’s head of security. Now he does a little bodyguarding on the side. You should have someone with you. I’m nervous about this.”
“Okay, so Buggy will be my personal guard?”
“That comes out of your cut.”
“No.” I shook my head. “We split it.”
She nodded. “You always keep your phone on and tell me where you’re at. We check in three times a day.”
“Okay.”
“And I walk you through everything. Call me anytime. That’s why I’m getting the commission. I’m your bitch for these thirty days. You want to cry or complain, come to me. Don’t take it to him.”
“Wait, when is this going to start?”
Shalimar frowned. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. He doesn’t want to wait.”
“Shit.”
“Shit is right.” She glanced at her watch. “If you agree, he wants you to shop at Zhalar’s Boutique. You’re to use his account at the store. We have to get you the essentials.”
“Like what?”
“You won’t be clothed much, but when you are, it must be sensual and sexy. The fabric has to appeal to his eyes and feel good under his touch. It has to be as soft as your skin.”
I felt completely lost, but ready to learn.
She gazed down at my legs and then my crotch. “Are you waxed?”
“No.”
“Well, that has to be taken care of.”
“No. I heard waxing hurts.” I stepped back. “I could snip a little.”
“You’re waxing that jungle down there.”
“Some guys like it natural.”
“Not when they’re paying a 100k, so deal with it.”
“Fine.” I walked off to the room. “I’m going to get dressed.”
“And that onesie must not come out in these thirty days.”
“Of course not.”
“And you’re a confident woman!” she called after me. “Yes. These men love confidence. They’re paying for you not to be a whiny, little, insecure female, worrying about if they love you or not.”
I continued to my room.
She followed. “Exude confidence. You’re not desperate.”
“Okay. Not desperate.”
Although I’m taking money for this, but we’ll forget about that part.
“Walk and act as if you could take or leave it, and his desire to chase you will kick in. You’re confident. Funny. Smart.”
Am I?
“You don’t need him, but you definitely want him.”
“I really do.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I’m getting into character.”
She sighed.
“Everything will be fine, Shalimar.”
“When you’re with him, hold your shoulders back.” She showed me what she meant. “If you have your shoulders slumped forward, it says you’re insecure.”
“That sucks.”
“Such is life. However, if you hold your shoulders back, it says that you dominate the room.”
I shifted my shoulders.
She clapped. “Body language is everything.”
“Okay.”
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to the stylist and get you waxed too. I’ll help you pack and stay with you until he sends the car to pick you up.”
My hands shook.
“This will be easy. You won’t have any regrets.”
I pushed my flaring nerves away. “No regrets.”