Boys For Hire!!

???

A light glints in my eye, it's harsh and only gives me a mere second to recoil. 

It's foggy, mist from the smoke leeching out of long burnt out cigarettes poisoning the air like a foul plague. It's dark enough for the corners of the room to be out of sight's reach, yet not dark enough for my hand to be invisible in front of my eyes. Each step is followed by a crinkle of plastic, no doubt some chip packet crunching under my heel.

"I can't wait to get out of here..."

"What was that?" 

A harsh tongue-lashing snaps me out of the resentful stupor I'd be stewing in for the past half an hour or so. My attention is brought about once again by the harsh light that glints in my eye with a menacing attitude. 

And that attitude belongs to--

"Ilse, could you quit it." I grunt, shying away from the blinding glint of her ring. "I get it, your hirer is rich. No need to, literally, shove it in my face."

"My bad, it's hard being the most beloved Girl for Hire." Ilse smiles. 

"If only that were true, number two." I smile back.

She flinches, shying her ringed finger away. Ilse was a petite figure with ringlets of blonde hair that cascaded neatly past gently molded shoulders. Half Japanese and half German, she encumbered delicate features that would make you second guess the snake-like personality she kept hidden inside. 

Seemingly hidden to everyone but me.

"Number one spot will be mine this year, for sure." She snarls. "That bitch really thinks she can cozy up to the CEO all handy dandy just because she sold her life away for a 'good' cause. What-fucking-ever."

"No one knows what she sold herself for." I correct. "How would you know?"

Ilse smirks at me, hiding something away behind gaunt eyes. She crosses one leg over the other, the fabric of her long, gossamer skirt rustling at the motion. She brings her elbow up towards her chest, stroking her cheek.

"Whatever. I can't believe I got saddled with chaperoning the newbie on my day off. I was going to perm my hair for my date with my hirer tomorrow." She sulks.

"It's not like I'm happy about this either."

Well, that wasn't 100% true.

I knew what I'd been called into the sleazy waiting room for. It was the processing room before seeing the Promoter about a promotion. 

The more Hirers that were interesting in booking you out for dates or events, the more the Promoter will take notice of you. Life is easier in this industry when your ranking is smaller than three digits. 

I'm currently at 101. 

"Mai." Ilse calls me out of my daze once again. "Are you nervous?"

"Since when did you care?"

"I'm not a square." She rolls her eyes, placing her long fingers on her neck. "I know what you give up to have that pretty little collar around your neck. We happen to be matching."

There's a sudden weight on my neck that I'd grown all too familiar with feeling.

"You're either too selfish, or too selfless, to be wearing this." Ilse stands, striding over to me in one step. "You want to know how I know number one sold herself for a good reason?"

Before Ilse can finish, the door opens at the end of the room, a warm light emanating throughout the darkness. A shadow appears in the frame, not too tall and not to short, it reaches towards us with a poise I'd never been quite able to grasp.

A woman looks out, a stoniness to her complexion matched by a grace in her step. She opens up the door, revealing a plain looking office inside. 

"It's nice to meet you, Promoter..." I let out meekly, allowing the nerves to catch up to me.

Ilse only bursts out laughing. "You hear that, number one?" 

The woman doesn't join in on the fun, only firmly outstretches her hand towards me. I move to grab it, a light flush rising to my cheeks. 

"It's fine," She starts. "If I had a dime for every time Ilse was cruel, I may be able to purchase a ring only half as ugly as hers."

I hold back a chuckle. 

"Hey now," Ilse begins slyly. "No need to be like that, I even took today off to bring the fresh meat right to your door."

"Watch that mouth, Ilse." The woman strikes back firmly. "If you start dehumanizing the others, you'll be just as bad as the people who put that collar on you."

Ilse shrinks back. 

"Now," She smiles at me, bring her other hand up to clasp mine. "What was your name?"

"101." 

"Your actual name." She smiles again. 

I pause. "Mai."

"Mai, that's a cute name."

She brings her hands to herself before gesturing toward the room.

"The Promoter will be here soon, but I'll be here to keep you company. My name is Arian, but you can call me Chi." 

***

Author's note

Hello everyone :)

I thought it'd be fun to trial a new idea. Everyone has been asking for me what happens to Chi... 

What if I were to continue the story? Let me know in the comments~