“Yes. Anyway, because of her condition, she’s been home-schooled. I wasn’t going to submit her to any derision, even in a private school. I know how mean young girls can be to each other, especially girls who saw how beautiful she is.”
“You’re right about that,” I said.
“I know when I’m right. I don’t need to be assured of it,” she snapped. She could use words like a bullwhip, I thought.
“Sorry, I just . . .”
“Just listen.” Her eyes narrowed. “You had better start learning how to be quiet and listen. Don’t be so eager to let other people know what you’re thinking. That’s a weakness I want you to lose and lose fast.”
“Okay.”
“Where was I? Her mother was a drunk. Her father had spoiled my daughter rotten and made excuses for her constantly. She met someone not much better after they divorced, so I knew that relationship wouldn’t last, either. Anyway, she’s gone; he’s gone. I’m all Sheena has.”
“I understand.” I pressed my lips together and then in my defense quickly added, “I just meant, I know what it is like to feel abandoned.”
“Please, there is no comparison. You are a healthy young woman.”
I nodded. “Sorry.”
She didn’t change expression. “This is a great deal more information than I intended to give you, to give any of my girls, but as I said, Sheena saw something in you today that she liked, and goodness knows, I want that child to have some pleasure in her life.
“So, tread softly here,” she continued, her eyelids narrowing with threat again. “Be careful about what sorts of things you tell her. She’s been very protected and is therefore very vulnerable. Do you get my point?” she asked sternly. “Or do I have to make it even clearer?”
“It’s not necessary. I understand what you’re saying, Mrs. Brittany. I’m not someone from the gutter. I admit I have been rebellious and defiant, but I’ve never really gotten into serious drugs or some other things some of my so-called well-behaved classmates have gotten into, including pregnancies kept hush-hush. The truth is, they always bored me with their ideas of what was exciting and what wasn’t. I wasn’t going to end up in any group therapy,” I said.
She nearly smiled. “Yes, you were always a mile or so above them, I imagine. It’s what I see in you. Don’t prove me wrong,” she said, with the lead weight of a heavy threat coating the words.
“I don’t intend to.”
“We all have good intentions,” she muttered, and went to her office bathroom.
She kept the door open, and I watched her fix her lipstick and smooth some of her makeup on her cheek.
“It’s time to go to dinner,” she told me when she stepped out. “Don’t slouch,” she ordered when I stood up. “You do that when you feel nervous or insecure. You might as well announce it. The men you will be with want to see self-confidence in their escorts.”
I straightened up.
“When you look at someone, look directly into their eyes,” she continued. “Pull your shoulders back, and hold yourself as if you were a member of royalty. Men like that especially, even though they claim to be more comfortable with an airhead. That’s good for a ten-minute ride but not for the ride we give our clients. Men of distinction, wealth, and stature like to know the women they are with will give them a full ride for their money, and it’s significant money. Besides, it keeps them on their toes, challenges them, and makes them more competitive, and we all do better when we’re competitive, comprenez, ma chère?”
“Mais oui, madame. I am ready to compete. Even with you,” I said.
“Touché,” she said.
We left her office.
“Now for the business at hand,” she continued. “You are going to meet a man who is ridiculously wealthy. And too often ridiculous as well. You’ve heard the expression, ‘He was born on third base but thought he had hit a triple’?”
“Yes, I’ve heard my father use it about some of his clients,” I said.
“Well, Decker Farmingham was born on home plate and thought he had hit a grand slam. At the age of forty-one, he inherited seven hundred and fifty million dollars, much of it held in foreign banks. He’s invested in everything from commodities to precious metals to private security forces. His father left a cadre of brilliant financial managers at his disposal, and his net worth is now off the charts. He has so many shell companies that it’s impossible to determine how wealthy he really is. Somehow he’s been able to remain outside the sweep of the Fortune Five Hundred. He’s under the radar, as they say.”
She looked to see if I was following her, and I nodded.
“He’s like one of the medieval kings who married for either political or economic reasons and, of course, to have progeny. He’s fifty-two now and has three sons in various executive positions in his businesses. You will never meet anyone who has been to more places, met more powerful people, and lived in more beautiful homes.”
She paused to stress what she was going to say next.
“And who’s been with more beautiful women. He is my only business partner, a silent partner but a partner. When he’s available and I have a new girl to consider, such as yourself, I invite him to meet her. However, I wouldn’t tolerate anyone having veto power over any of my decisions. I do respect his opinions occasionally, and we’re very fond of each other, despite his obscene wealth,” she said with a small impish smile.