Choices

by Galia Ryan

  The previous week, against all odds, Martin finally got a signed contract on the properties. The deal earned him enough to send his wife and kids on a trip to see her sister in Vancouver as well as ensuring his own mortgage payments were secure for the next six months.

  So now he was celebrating.

  * * *

  Anna met Martin at a hotel on the edge of the CBD. He’d opened a bottle of whiskey and was waving a tumbler, offering to pour her one as well.

  “Martin, I only drink champagne,” she purred.

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” He picked up the phone.

  “Won’t be long. I told him to make sure it was cold. You want to sit here next to me?” He patted the bed invitingly.

  Anna plumped up the pillows and made herself comfortable.

  “Do you want to know something?” Martin didn’t wait for her to reply. “Today I closed my biggest real estate deal in three years.”

  “That’s wonderful!”

  “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe it’s a sign that things are on their way up again,” Anna suggested.

  “I’d like to think so, but you know I’m not putting money on it.”

  “Tell me about this deal.” Anna gave him her full attention.

  “Well,” Martin must have felt confident, for he eased aside her blouse in order to see her breasts, “you don’t really want to know, do you?”

  “Of course I do. Tell me all about it while we wait for the champagne.” She took his hand and put it exactly where she knew he wanted it.

  This time she really was interested in what her client had to say. She listened carefully and asked the odd question or two when a point needed clarification. By the time the champagne arrived she was starting to get an understanding of the market in which she was looking to invest.

  Then Martin decided it was her turn to talk. But not about herself.

  “I want you to talk dirty to me. My wife won’t do that, makes her uncomfortable. But I know you can.”

  “How dirty do you want me to be?” Anna teased as she turned her attention to unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Very.”

  She moved up to whisper in his ear. “Do you want to know how fucking horny I am right now?”

  “Oh yes.” He reached for her breast again, fumbling for her nipple.

  “My aching pussy needs a cock. And I want it so big and so hard I won’t be able to sit down for a week.”

  Martin swallowed. “Yeah,” he breathed. “Christ you’re hot.”

  His hand found its way into her briefs. Feeling his fingers probing about, she parted her legs to accommodate him.

  “Is that nice?” He was rubbing her inexpertly.

  “Oh yes, honey, give me what I want.”

  But it appeared Martin was in no hurry. Instead he pulled the other breast from her bra and began squeezing and moulding. Each time she tried to reach for his cock he pulled her hand away.

  “Plenty of time. Get your clothes off and let me see those tits of yours. Then I’ll give you just what you need.”

  He couldn’t get enough of her, and she knew it wouldn’t take much to make him cum once he was inside her.

  “Okay, here’s what we are going to do,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed, his cock hard and rigid against his belly. He rolled on a condom and, with his hands on her hips, guided her down until he was well and truly inside her.

  “There you go. You get yourself off, and then we’ll start again and do it properly.”

  Realising he wouldn’t know a fake orgasm from the real thing she worked his cock expertly, moaning and groaning and playing with her tits. His eyes were like saucers.

  “Fuck, I’m going to cum,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Of course you are, she thought with satisfaction.

  Chapter 15.

  With two or three bookings every week, it was not long until Anna was able to start making deposits into her savings account again. Almost from the beginning Anna’s focus had been to clear her debts. But she was also able at last to indulge in guilt-free shopping trips—her way of rewarding herself for the socially unacceptable side of what she was doing.

  Not that she wasted much energy on guilt or regret these days. Other than the two evenings with Adam, she was finding the role of an escort to be fairly undemanding. However, those experiences had been enough to make her realise that Anna was a luxury she could no longer afford if she were to be successful. Chloe, on the other hand, was a woman who knew exactly how to create a fantasy that made her clients crazy with desire, even while she held them at arm’s length.

  Anna had been living in her new apartment—corner position, two bedrooms, with views over the city to the harbour—for a little over a week when Stephanie announced it was time they caught up with each other.

  * * *

  For her meeting with Anna, Stephanie chose Oscar’s, one of the city’s most exclusive wine bars. She instructed Maddie to request a table with a good view of the entrance, and to ensure a bottle of Krug Grand Cuvee was chilling in the ice bucket. She had high standards, after all.

  Watching her protégée’s arrival, Stephanie couldn’t help but be impressed. Anna radiated confidence and was gaining admiring looks not only from the men in the room, but also the women. Her critical eye took in the the outfit she was wearing, and she wondered which designer had created it. No one at the top end—the fit gave that away—but perhaps she was being petty. There was no question that the look worked, and along with the perfectly applied makeup and lightly tanned skin, she couldn’t help but approve the transformation.

  “My God, you look fabulous!”

  “Thank you,” Anna laughed. “I feel I’ve come a long way.”

  “Indeed you have. And how do you feel about it all now?”

  A waiter was discreetly filling their glasses.

  “Much more accepting.”

  “To you.” Stephanie raised her glass. “But tell me first, your shoes. They’re gorgeous. Where did you get them?”

  Anna stretched out her foot. “Aren’t they stunning? Christian Louboutin.”

  “You’re buying Louboutin shoes?”

  “They’re a gift. From me to me.”

  “And why not?” Stephanie laughed. “You really are a woman after my own heart.”

  Their flute rims touched, the note perfect.

  “So, Anna,” she deliberately placed her glass down on the table, “I thought it was time we got together. I believe that the reason you first came to us has all been taken care of?”

  “Yes. Now I just need to learn a different type of control.”

  Stephanie raised an enquiring eyebrow.

  “Am I really the only one who feels you can never have too many pairs of shoes?”

  “No, you’re not. So what else can’t you resist?”

  “Beautiful underwear.” She laughed. “And while we’re on the subject of spending money, I took your advice and moved to a larger apartment.”

  “With a water view?”

  “Yes. You were right, there’s something inherently relaxing about watching the activity on the harbour. Not to mention the gorgeous sunsets.”

  “I’m really pleased for you.”

  Her response was genuine. She had seen promise in Anna right from the beginning and it was reassuring to know she still had the ability to spot genuine talent. She passed over a menu.

  “Let’s order tapas. So, where to from here?”

  “Are you telling me you no longer want me at the agency?”

  She noted Anna’s shock with satisfaction. She had indeed come a long way.

  “Gracious, no. Let me rephrase the question. Have you any thoughts for your future?”

  “At the moment they change every day.”

  “And why not? You are still young and there’s a big world out there. Any preference as to what we should order? The goat cheese sounds intriguing. Did I hear that you have left the bank?”

  �
�Almost. I gave notice three weeks ago. I finish next Friday.”

  “Will you miss it?”

  “Probably not as much as I thought. I think we outgrew each other.”

  “So what will you do instead? Give more time to the agency?”

  Anna was still available for the three evenings she had originally offered, but Stephanie had recently pointed out how lucrative the daytime hours could be, when it was perhaps easier for a client to arrange his schedule around an hour or two of pleasure without arousing the suspicions of his wife or partner.

  “That’s my plan for now. I’m still keen to get back on the career ladder but I’ve been thinking that once I have enough capital I also want to be able to look at investment or business opportunities. So I definitely intend to stay with you a while longer. What I need to do first is offset the loss of my salary.”

  “Excellent! You know how popular you are with our clients.”

  Stephanie knew Anna really didn’t care about her clients; she just over-delivered, as she had been advised to do, and it had paid off. But with her original reason for applying to the agency no longer valid, Stephanie needed to ensure Anna was focused on a new commitment.

  “Have you thought about investing in property?”

  “You mean a residential portfolio? I have been considering that.”

  “Not necessarily. You could look at the broader picture and include commercial investing. Perhaps even buy into an existing portfolio run by a management company.”

  “Hmm. That might be a place to start.”

  Stephanie toyed with her glass.

  “If that’s the direction you wish to go in, then the more capital you have the more opportunities you can consider. How long do you think it will take to put together enough for your first venture?”

  “Heavens! At least another three or four months.”

  “Then why not reconsider the clients who would like to book you for more than just a few hours? Let me finish.” Stephanie noted the change in Anna’s body language. “If you are serious about creating a stable future for yourself, why not at least think about it? It would only need to be short term, after all.”

  “I’m still not sure I want to go down that route.”

  “It’s not too different from what you do now. I believe you know that occasionally we get asked to fly one of our ladies offshore. Or it might be a request for a very private party. The rewards can be considerable. Look, you don’t have to decide now. Think about it. You can always let me know if you would like me to include you in such arrangements.”

  Stephanie turned her attention back to the menu.

  “Let’s order,” she said. “By the way, I’m having a little get-together next week. You haven’t met any of the other girls yet, have you?”

  “No.”

  “Well, it’s time you did. I’ll get Maddie to call you with the details.”

  Chapter 16.

  Anna had no idea what to wear to Stephanie’s gathering, so when Maddie called to give her the time and place, she took the opportunity to ask.

  “Well, it goes without saying that Stephanie’s idea of casual may not be everyone else’s.”

  “You’re not helping me here!”

  “Okay. Well, jeans and trainers are out.”

  “I think that’s a given.”

  “Unless they are designer, of course.”

  “Oh.”

  “Just imagine you have been invited onto a billionaire’s yacht, and dress accordingly.”

  “Great. Except I’ve never been on a billionaire’s yacht in my life.”

  “Really?”

  “You should know! So, how many other girls will be there?”

  “About a dozen. Look at it as a sort of reward. Stephanie only invites her favourites.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Don’t be paranoid,” Maddie laughed. “It’s a compliment.”

  In the end Anna settled for white trousers, a green jacket, a pair of Manolo Blahniks and a Salvatore Ferragamo tote bag—drawing on her mother’s advice that you could get away with anything provided you had the right accessories. The venue was a good hour’s drive from the city—a vineyard so exclusive that while Anna was aware of its reputation for fine dining, she had never expected to go there. Even a lunch booking required considerable notice.

  “Anna! Come and meet the others.”

  Stephanie had intercepted her in the foyer and led her out on to the terrace.

  “What a beautiful place.”

  “It is, isn’t it? We’ll be eating outside today, but it is just as lovely inside, especially in winter. All flagstones and ceiling beams.”

  “Oh!” Anna couldn’t help herself. They had rounded the corner, and fabulous views stretched as far as the eye could see. Perched on an outcrop of land high above the ocean, the vineyard grew not only grapes but olives, too, and the alternating blocks formed a textured and lush patchwork. No wonder this place is so exclusive, she thought.

  “Ladies, this is Anna.”

  Stephanie led her to a group of women who were chatting happily in twos and threes. There was an immediate chorus of “Hi!” and “Nice to meet you”. Unused to being the centre of attention, Anna was a little overwhelmed.

  “I’m not going to introduce you one by one; I’ll let you all take care of that individually.” Stephanie turned to the waiter, who had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

  “Two glasses of Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque. The Rosé.”

  Anna nodded her thanks. She was feeling surprisingly nervous in the presence of so many attractive and stylishly dressed women. Could they really all be escorts? she wondered. Most looked more like the wives or girlfriends of wealthy men.

  “Hi, I’m Leah and this is Sabine. Welcome to our little gathering.”

  “You make it sound like we’re Alcoholics Anonymous or something!” Sabine cut in.

  “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  “There are times I wonder if it might be true though. Except that we haven’t given anything up.”

  Sabine rolled her eyes and Anna laughed. Not knowing what to expect, she had been worried that she might not fit in and was relieved to find that her fellow escorts were not only friendly, but that some, like Leah and Sabine, were no more than a year or two older than she was.

  “Anyway, come and join us,” Leah took her arm, “we were just talking about Abbey. She used to be with Elite but bought herself a place in France and is now, to all intents and purposes, a farmer.”

  “Hardly a farmer!” This from one of the others, “she may have the odd animal but it’s really a very upmarket B & B.”

  “Anyone been to see her?”

  “I have,” another voice cut in, “and it’s gorgeous. It’s in the Dordogne, just outside a tiny village.”

  They all murmured appreciatively.

  Anna would have liked to know more about Abbey—after all, she had been an escort and presumably a successful one if she now owned a place in France—but was not sure whether it was polite to ask.

  “So how are you finding it?”

  “It’s good.”

  Sabine gave her a knowing look.

  “Okay, it was hard at first and I was way out of my depth.”

  “Weren’t we all?”

  Others nodded.

  “But I’m getting there.”

  “Good. All you have to do is treat it like a business.”

  “And if you have any problems, let us know. Any one of us would be glad to help.”

  “Especially as there’s a chance we’ve already been there.”

  “Thanks. I will,” Anna replied happily.

  “So how was lunch?” Maddie asked later. “Fabulous! Oh my God, the food was to die for. I’ve eaten far too much.”

  “And how did you find the other girls?”

  “They were great!”

  “I knew you’d get on with them. Anyway, that’s not why I called. Well, it is, as I wanted to catch
up on the gossip, but you have a booking for tonight if you want it?”

  “Oh!” Anna hesitated. What she really wanted was a long soak in the bath and the DVD she’d been promising herself. “Not sure.”

  “I can always recommend someone else.”

  “Is he a regular?” Anna wondered if it was a client who simply wanted sex rather than one who wished to spend the entire evening with her.

  “You’ve seen him before. His name’s Adam.”

  She sat up straight; her immediate thought that she had nothing to wear.

  “Okay, I’ll do it. When and where?”

  Despite herself, her clit tingled, and she decided to indulge in a little relief. If this encounter were to be anything like their previous ones, she would not be cumming later. She walked into the bedroom and stopped. Perhaps she had better not. Insane as it was, she was already putting his pleasure before her own.

  She had no idea where they were to meet, but was quite happy when the taxi Maddie had ordered turned onto the familiar road. However, after pulling up outside the house, the taxi driver turned to her and requested she remain where she was; he had been instructed that the gentleman would be joining her.

  A moment later the cab door opened and Adam was beside her.

  Her heart skipped a beat. Not for the first time she wondered about his private life. Was he married? Did he have a family? He reached for her hand—the gesture of a lover—and she was lost. All he had to do was ask, and she knew she would do whatever he required.

  He gave no directions to the driver and so she was uneasy when they pulled up in a seedier part of town.

  Grateful that he offered her his arm as she got out of the cab, she was even more relieved to have his protection as he led her down a service alley between two buildings towards the flashing neon sign of a strip joint. As they approached the entrance, two doormen standing underneath openly weighed them up before nodding their approval and stepping politely to one side. Anna caught the look that passed between them as she stepped through the doorway, but she held her head high and tried to shrug it off.

  Inside the décor was tacky. Depressing. She was confused as to why they were there and very conscious of being one of the few women in the place. Adam led her straight to the bar and asked what she would like to drink. That he even knew where the bar was made her realise that he had been there before. More disconcerting was that he seemed quite at ease.