The Girlfriend Experience Ch. 07

“Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here, will you?” Kenzie was ready to captivate in a pair of dangerously short denim cutoffs that were rolled up even higher and a pink tank top with the telltale sign of a bikini strap tied around her neck. Overhead, the blazing sun roasted her like caramelized vegetables in an oven. After pulling the elastic band from her obsidian-black tresses and shaking them free, Kenzie lowered her oversized sunglasses and regarded Lindsay as the eighteen-year-old, scuffing her shoe, meandered on to the back porch. “You’re up early, girl.”

It may have only been ten o’clock, but the temperature was ninety-four degrees, and the forecast called for it to reach triple digits by noontime. Prepared, Kenzie sipped an ice-cold bottled water and nibbled on a protein bar.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lindsay huffed and stomped a foot for theatrical effect. “Tell me about it.”

She woke up forty-five minutes ago and had already taken care of her hair and make-up. If a customer stopped by and requested a lineup, all Lindsay would have to do is change into her “hooker garb” (her term) and wait by the kitchen for Jim to give the cue to proceed to the lap dance room. She could switch outfits in less than three minutes – she had been practicing – and wouldn’t be late.

“That guy was a real jerk last night.” Lindsay choked back a sob and blinked through yet another round of tears. “I’ve never met anyone like him before.”

Kenzie motioned toward the chair across the way. “Sit down, hon. I agree, he was. Want to talk about it?” She adjusted her shades to combat the intense glare. “I felt sorry for having to leave you with him.”

Emotions thickening her chest, Lindsay plopped down with an audible thud. She wished every client was as fun and exciting as Sammy but learned a harsh lesson last evening: they’re not. “Eric wasn’t in a good mood from the outset.” A lump had grown in Lindsay’s throat, her voice a whisper. “And it never improved.”

“He was an asshole. You’ll meet plenty of them working here, trust me. It comes with the territory.” Kenzie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged the incident off like it was nothing. She’d dealt with her share of dickheads over the years both in and out of the house. “Don’t let it affect you, okay?” Kenzie reached for Lindsay’s hand. “It’s over. My God, Kayleigh. You let everything bother you here. You got paid for your time. Let it go and move on. What’s done is done.”

“Five hundred and ten dollars.” A cold shudder wracked Lindsay’s body. I hope every customer from here on out isn’t like him. Perhaps the party with Sammy was an anomaly? God, I hope not. I’ll go back to Citronelle if so. “I was hoping for more like six or seven hundred.” I refuse to be dehumanized like that ever again.

“Fuck that asshole!” Kenzie slipped off the sunglasses and shielded her eyes. “Worrying like this isn’t worth your time.”

Lindsay grabbed a clump of hair and gazed heavenward. I don’t belong here. I’m in way over my head. “What if he leaves me a horrible review on the website?” The thread Sammy started yesterday stood at twenty-seven responses and everything about it was positive. Six people claimed they wanted to party with Lindsay because of Sammy’s praise. But if Eric, the trick from last night, left a negative review, would it offset all the positives?

“You don’t need to worry about Eric posting something nasty and others seeing it. Colt or Jim would take it down. If they miss it or are busy, Colt has a webmaster who monitors the site day and night, and he removes anything negative. You’ll never read a negative review of any girl on the site.”

“That’s good to know, I guess.” This wasn’t the time for an emotional breakdown, even if Lindsay was justified in having one. I opened myself up to evil men like Eric by wanting to work here. I’m just as much to blame for what happened as he is, if not more. “But what if the customer bitched about me during the exit interview with Jim?” Her gaze was pained, watery. “I know he did. He had to. He said he was going to.”

The expression on Kenzie’s face was somewhere between annoyance and empathy. To her, Lindsay was a whiner and refused to let things go. “Kayleigh, honey, don’t worry. That guy was a fucking loser. Jim listened in during your party and knows things got off to a rocky start because of the negotiations. He also knows what an inconsiderate prick he was for the entire hour too. Stop worrying!” Kenzie again snatched Lindsay’s hand and swept her thumb over it. “Colt will listen to what happened once he and Pamela return from their day out, I’m sure. Everything gets recorded, you know, right? They won’t hold it against you if the guy showed up in a horrible mood and left in a horrible mood. It’s not your fault. Nothing you could have done would have made him happy.”

“But …”

“Were you courteous to him? Did you do everything he asked during the party? Were you gracious, responsive? Did you thank him afterward and ask him to please come visit the ranch again? That’s all you can do.” Kenzie unwound and gazed at Lindsay with a heavy heart. “I talked to Jim after the fact and he told me nothing you said or did was wrong. Everything you said was right and by-the-book. You. Can’t. Please. Everyone!”

Lindsay looked down at her Chuck Taylors. “I’m a failure.” She glanced up and again made eye contact with Kenzie. I shouldn’t be here right now. But I am, and I’m screwed.

“You are not a failure. You’re a good girl, Kayleigh. You have drive, ambition, goals, and a loving spirit.” A soft breeze picked up Kenzie’s hair, stirring the strands around her cheeks. “You want to work hard, please others, and be successful at your job. And best of all, you’re sweet as candy – a little cutie pie. You have a bright future in this business but need to work on the mental side of things.” Kenzie patted her thigh. “Stop antagonizing yourself.”

“I don’t want any trouble or for Colt or Pamela to have any bad thoughts about me.” A size or two too small, Lindsay’s nightshirt with the cookie monster designs stretched tight across her breasts. “You know I’m still the new girl here. I mean, I need this job!” Even if I’m not ready or deserving of it.

“Fuck that guy, baby. Forget him. How many times do I have to tell you?” Kenzie waved a dismissive hand. “Colt, Jim, or Pamela won’t be upset. Trust me, I’ve been here for years. I know how they think.”

“And what happens if Eric ever comes back and, God forbid, wants to party with me again?” Lindsay rolled her face, her expression shadowed.

“Decline his ass. Tell him no.” After his act last night, Kenzie doubted Colt or Jim would let Eric through the front door again. They’d refuse him before he had the chance to ask for another party with Lindsay, or anyone else.

For as wonderful of a time as she had with Sammy on Tuesday evening, last night was the exact opposite for Lindsay. Pamela was away at the hotel in Ambridge, so yet another opportunity to lose her lesbian cherry slipped away. Customers passed Lindsay over during the first seven lineups of the day – a real bummer – but she got chosen in the eighth. That should have ended the night on a high note, but Eric, a client visiting from Arizona, had a sour attitude from the outset.

With Kenzie chaperoning the conversation at the bar as Lindsay’s fill-in Big Sister, Eric admitted to having a “shitty day” and was looking to relieve some stress. He was obnoxious, arrogant, and a complete jerk, but Lindsay was intent on making money and agreed to escort him back to her bedroom to discuss pricing.

Things tumbled downhill in a hurry.

Kenzie took care of the negotiations and Eric flat-out laughed when she mentioned Lindsay’s prices were $700 an hour for a GFE. It was a high quote, yes, but also fully negotiable. Kenzie said $700 because she wanted to maximize the profit for both Lindsay and the house. Personally, she refused to sell herself for anything less than $600 for a one-hour GFE. Kenzie had her standards, lofty as they might be.

Eric shot back that was a rip-off and refused to go any higher than $400. “Ain’t no piece of pussy worth seven hundred bucks. I can go up north and pay four hundred for the same damn thing. Hell, for seven hundred, I should get to fuck her in the ass, too, without a condom, and make her clean my dick off with her mouth.”

“Anal sex is prohibited here, sir,” Kenzie said in a calm, businesslike tone, though she was seething with rage inside, “and if you’d like to drive three-and-a-half or four hours north in the middle of the night to pay a lesser price, by all means, be our guest.” Kenzie wanted to rip this man a new one, but since he was a customer, she couldn’t. “We don’t want you to go elsewhere, but you’re more than welcome to. It’s your decision.”

“We can go lower than seven hundred, baby.” Lindsay should have declined the party after his comment but was determined to have one before bedtime. All the other girls had at least one party throughout the day. “I’d like to show you a good time and put a smile on your face.”

Lindsay asked Kenzie to continue the negotiations. She agreed, but also motioned for Lindsay to zip her mouth and let her do all the talking.

After a contentious back and forth, Eric agreed to $510 for one hour. Just ten bucks above the house minimum, Kenzie equated the negotiations to trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip. The issue wasn’t that Eric was looking for the lowest price and wanted to save money. Kenzie never blamed a monger for that. Instead, it was more about the way he presented himself. Eric was rude and disrespectful – one of the worst clients she had ever dealt with – and it stunned her that Lindsay agreed to party with him at all.

Because they couldn’t agree on at least $600, though, Lindsay’s room and board fee for the day didn’t get waived. That sucks, but at least I’ll make some decent cheddar tonight, was her train of thought. It’s better than nothing.