“Eden!” She headed my way and glanced at the case. “I can’t believe Celina has you working here.”
“Me too.”
“I love the mask.”
“Thanks. Aunt Celina wanted me to be mysterious.”
“Of course. You can see that you’re beautiful, but your features can’t be memories.” She extended her hand and grinned. “Welcome to the Candy Shop. You know what? I’ve never seen you here. Have you been here before?”
“No, she wouldn’t let me come by.”
“Too many hoes?”
I parted my lips in shock. “Uh. . .no. My dad is—”
“It was a joke.”
“Oh yeah.” I gave a nervous laugh. “Either way I’m excited to play here.”
“Sure you are.” She gestured for me to follow her. “That enthusiasm may change after a night of playing here. If half of the guys don’t try to fuck you, the other half will tell you to stop playing.”
I followed. She led me past more women. We stopped at the red door she’d come out of. “You know what? I’m sorry. I’m in a shitty mood.”
“I get it. Bad work day?”
“That’s one way to look at it. A blast from my past returned and I’m in a sour mood.” She opened the door and led me through. “And you can’t take sick days with your aunt.”
“That sucks.”
“Sucks like a toothless whore.”
I had no response.
“Whatever. So, take your time and ask as much as you want here. I’ve been at the Candy Shop the longest.”
I wasn’t sure I should’ve asked, but I wondered aloud. “How did you start here?”
Shalimar shrugged. “I was doing the Toppy app first.”
“Toppy?”
“It’s like Uber, but for prostitutes. Worst mistake of my life. My adopted parents kicked me out of the house. I was young and stupid. Homeless, of course. No high school diploma. No relatives. It was a desperate moment. One day, I made peace with the fact that I’d have to sleep with strangers.”
Her raw truth rocked me.
She continued, “I ended up Googling© how to be a hooker and found the app. Celina’s recruiter found me months later, auditioned, and hired me.”
“Oh.” I’d figured she’d only been management. “Do you like it here?”
“After three years of working, Celina told me I was too smart to get paid for fucking. She paid for me to go to college. Of course, I had to pay her back, but she gave me a chance when no other would. During my sophomore year, she promoted me to management and retired my room.” Shalimar led me down a hallway. “Next semester I graduate.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
I had no plans to jump into prostitution, but Shalimar’s story was inspiring. She’d taken lemons and made lemonade.
Aunt Celina argued that high-end brothels were slowly becoming a thing of the past. Sex working had migrated online. Apps and escort sites replaced streetwalkers in torn fishnet stockings. These web sites provided client reviews and user ratings.
“You’ll be playing in the VIP section,” Shalimar said. “There’s four levels in this building.”
We passed a few.
“How much are the rooms?” I asked.
“$3,000 for the lower rooms. The VIP levels vary in price.”
Shocked, I asked. “$3,000 for a room?”
“Yep. Not counting the two thousand to even enter the building.”
“$2,000 to only come inside?”
“Yes, but the price includes alcohol and food.”
That’s still a lot of money.
Shalimar smiled. “But if a man wants to spend more time with a woman that he likes, then he gets a room.”
“So, $5,000 altogether?”
“That’s only to get her in the room. He still has to pay her, and she decides the price. It’s all handled between the customer and me. He picks the girl. I set it up and charge his card. Once everything is paid, I give him a key as well as notify security.”
“Are cameras in the rooms?”
“Only on the first three levels. The fourth level has no cameras.”
“So those rooms cost more?”
“A lot more.”
I had no idea Aunt Celina was bringing in that much money. I knew big names swarmed around her with huge pockets, but these prices shocked me.
One room had the door open. Inside, diamonds covered the necks of four naked women as they surrounded one fat man on the floor. They giggled and poured champagne into his open mouth.
“Some of the men like to keep the door open. They’re exhibitionists.” Shalimar eyed me. “Starting to think about a new career huh?”
“Oh, no.” I shook my head. “I’m not crazy enough to think being a prostitute is easy. There’s seduction, and a psychological foreplay that I’m not that skilled in. I’d be stumbling all over the place, trying to make some change.”
“I could always show you the ropes.”
I laughed again as we passed another room with an open door.
Shalimar stopped at the opening and gestured. “Sex is being sold for high prices. You would make more from what’s between your thighs, than that violin.”
“After those numbers, I believe you.” I felt weird looking inside, but my curiosity wouldn’t let me stop myself from checking it out.