Page 2 of Rotanev
There’s no other choice. If you don’t get Corban the money…
I shook off the thought, unwilling to think of him tonight. It would only make all of this worse. He already owned my soul. Nothing could hurt more than that. Including selling my body.
“Wrist,” the man beside me requested after he finished.
I held it up mutely, uncertain of what to say while he fastened the cuff around my skin. It clicked with a finality that seemed to seal my fate.
“See this button here?” He gestured to the tiny indent on the side of the metal. “Press it if someone steps over the line. Miss Black believes in consensual arrangements, not forced ones.” His gray eyes peered down into mine with those words, a kindness lurking in the depths of his irises. “You’ll be fine.”
Easy for him to say, but I appreciated the vote of confidence anyway. “Thank you.”
He nodded and pressed another button on the elevator, sending us upward. “Any final questions?” he asked.
About a million. But “No” was all I said in reply.
“Just mingle, have a good time, and if someone propositions you, negotiate.” He winked at that last bit of advice.
The doors opened before I could reply, and his palm found my lower back again, urging me forward into another lobby of sorts. “Liani is here,” he said to the petite blonde behind the desk.
“Just in time.” She gave me a once-over, her nod signifying she approved of my dress. Considering the agency had sent it for me to wear, sheshouldapprove.
“Enjoy,” my bodyguard-like companion murmured before leaving me in the lobby with the pristinely dressed woman.
She stood with a clipboard and walked around the white desk. “Oliver explained the cuff?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Perfect. Then all you need to do is enter and socialize. The party ends at two, but you’re free to leave anytime—on your own, or with a client. Just make sure to check out with me before you go.” She smiled. “Miss Black will be in touch early next week with results. Just be advised there are twenty of you auditioning and only two available positions on our staff.”
My stomach churned.Twenty candidates? All competing beyond those smoked glass doors? Damn…
“If you’ll just sign this final waiver, I can grant your entry, and the evening may begin.”
Another waiver?I thought, accepting the clipboard and pen. I’d already signed my life away to this agency without even being hired. What could this one possibly say?
“It explains how booking works. Feel free to read it over,” she said as if hearing my thoughts.
I didn’t reply, my eyes too busy absorbing the words.
Rules.
It wasn’t an explanation, like she’d claimed, but a list of what I was allowed to do with the clients. Many would want to talk to me, something I wasn’t allowed to charge for. They may even indulge in a few touches—also allowed without payment. But if anyone requested alone time in one of the bedrooms or elsewhere, then a negotiation could occur.
Hard limits were to be addressed prior to engaging in any acts.
Key performance objectives were to be mutually agreed upon.
And once the session started, I couldn’t stop it unless the client broke a previously negotiated item. Changing objectives or limits during the session was strictly prohibited. While JBI required consent, it did not allow its escorts to function as teases who reneged on certain requests.
Each statement curled in my gut. I’d expected to be looked at tonight—the dress guaranteed it. But I hadn’t anticipatedthis.
Alas, the final stipulations of the document taunted me.
Another one thousand dollars will be deposited once the shift is completed. Failure to stay until the requisite hour forfeits any and all bonuses.
Meaning, if I didn’t remain, I’d lose half the money for this audition. And I couldn’t afford that. Ineededthose funds. It would serve as a healthy down payment to Corban, a show of good faith that would hopefully be enough.
I had no choice.
