Obedience.
Loyalty.
And sacrifice.
Worship the three, and, as Daddy promised, all would be well.
Ava turned sharply onto a city street. Just ahead of us on the right was a neon marquee that read “Dante’s Inferno.” There was a small crowd of young men trying to get in and obviously failing. We could hear their protests and pleadings.
“This is it?” I asked. “Dante’s Inferno?”
She laughed. “Yes. They toy with the idea of being in hell. Little do they know how easily we can take them to it.”
Her comment made me wince, but I guessed that was what we did.
“Now, listen to me, Lorelei. When we get inside and the men start to approach us, let me do all the talking first. In fact, you want to get used to letting them do most of the talking. Volunteer no information. Act as if you’re a secret agent, undercover or something. Wrap your mystery around you like armor. Most men will be nervous, too, no matter how they act or try to impress you with their savoir faire. You’ll learn quickly that it’s the quieter ones, the confident ones, who are more impressive and in some ways more dangerous for us.”
“Dangerous? Why?”
“It’s like any competition. They’ll be more qualified to play the game. The danger for us is they might sense danger and pull back. You can spend just about all evening with such a man and come home empty-handed, and you don’t ever want to come home empty-handed. That’s a disappointment Daddy can’t tolerate. I have never returned empty-handed, and neither did Brianna, but both of us wondered, and you will wonder, what would happen if we did.”
“What would happen?”
She just looked at me, and in that look, every possible nightmare seemed to show its ugly head. What if Ava’s subtle accusations about me were right? What if I was too different? What if I could
n’t do what she and Brianna could do? What if I failed the first time I was on my own? Would Daddy send me away? Should I fear something even worse?
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, as if she could read my thoughts. “You’ll be a success. Daddy and Mrs. Fennel don’t choose girls who won’t be.”
“How do you know that?”
“Mrs. Fennel told me, and you know Mrs. Fennel. She doesn’t make excuses for us or for herself. There’s no ‘Oh, you’ll do better next time,’ or ‘Don’t worry, you’ll understand next time.’ None of us is ever coddled, Lorelei, and we’re stronger for it. You’re stronger than you realize you are right now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now, remember, let them talk more. Use your eyes, your shoulders, and your whole body to speak to them. It’s enough.”
“What do we tell them about ourselves?”
“Nothing, Lorelei. We’re not looking for a relationship. There’s no reason for us to tell them anything.”
“Not even our names?”
“Oh, you can tell them your name.”
“I can?”
“Let’s see. Tonight your name is Diane. No last name.”
“Diane?”
“Right. And I’m Elsa. I haven’t used that one recently. Elsa. Okay, Diane, here we go,” she said, pulling up to the entrance.
The valet stepped forward eagerly to take our car. Ava seized my left arm when I opened the door before the valet had a chance to get to it.
“You’re being too anxious. Don’t step out awkwardly like some high school teenager, Lorelei. Slowly, slowly, always move as if there are a hundred pairs of eyes on you. Sex and grace go together well. The men will see immediately that you have some class, experience. Think about your posture. Concentrate on your figure. Always be aware of yourself. Do nothing by accident, no matter how small and insignificant you might think it is.”
“Okay,” I said, but let her get out first so I could mimic how she moved, turned, paused, and started toward the entrance to the club.