My Number One (001/Henry Creel/Vecna x Reader)

Employed

"That sounds...perfect," I said, smiling up at this man like he was an angel on Earth.

He smiled back, laughing, but still looking a little puzzled, "Well, yes it is quite splendid, at least for myself."

I didn't quite understand what he meant by that, but I let it fly over my head. "So, when can I go?" I asked.

"Well, I was on my way to get breakfast, so how about I take you and we can discuss things over it. It's on me."

"Yes, that would be lovely," I said.

"This place here will do," he said, turning into a building on the side of the street.

I followed him in and it was lovely inside. It smelled of something somewhat familiar...sort of like the laboratory guards' breath in the mornings. There were tables with little delicate chairs on each side all around the room. The man made his way to one and sat down. I took the seat opposite him. Right away, a lady came up to us and asked what we would like, to which the man said a 'fry up'. I was asked next, and said the same.

Once the lady left, the man said ,"Good choice. I'll never understand people who go out to get breakfast and choose something continental. You may as well stay at home in that case."

In stared blankly, but the man laughed, so then I did, too.

"I feel very impolite not having introduced myself," he said then. "My name is Walter Richardson. You might hear some call me Mr Richardson, but, to you, I'm simply Walter. What's your name?"

"Twelve."

Walter raised his eyebrows. "Interesting. Was there a meaning behind that name?"

"I'm not sure," I said.

"Well, I'm surprised you never asked! So, have you any experience in sex work? Either way, you certainly have the look for it, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

I hadn't a clue what 'sex work' meant, but I wasn't going to ask. I didn't want to risk losing this opportunity. I was sure I'd catch on soon enough. After all, I was used to playing along until I figured it out. Papa made me learn that trick. "No, I haven't," I said.

"Oh well! All is good, all is good. I do like a fresh, new girl, sometimes!"

I smiled.

"I'm sure the other girls will take you under their wing," he continued. "Mother you. Well, mother might not be the right word. I doubt many real mothers would teach their daughters the ways of the brothels."

He laughed again, so I did again.

He chatted away until our food arrived, and I continued to smile and laugh.

The food was the best I had ever tasted. There were so many different flavours, and each were exceptional. I genuinely couldn't believe I'd have access to these things for, hopefully, the rest of my life.

*

Once we had finished eating, Walter took me to his car. I only knew which way to get in from analysing other people while I was on the bench earlier. I was extremely curious as to what being in a moving car would feel like. When Walter began to drive, I found myself clutching the sides of my seat, and it was even worse when the cars began to fly past us in the other lane. My eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets, and I flinched at every sound.

Walter glanced over and laughed a little. "You one of those people who are scared of driving?"

"Yes," I said.

He shook his head and laughed again. "Well, we're nearly there, don't worry."

*

When we arrived and I got out of the car, my body felt kind of cold, and my legs like pure jelly. Now that it was over, though, I realised I had enjoyed the ride in some sort of way. I didn't know it at the time, but that was one of my first experiences with the good kind of adrenaline.

"Well, here we are," said Walter.

We were standing in front of another building on a street. It looked just like the rest, tall, and its external walls dark brown in colour. I followed Walter inside, which was filled with chairs in front or large mirrors, and people sat in those chairs having people behind them messing around with their hair.

"As you can tell, its disguised by a unisex hairdressing salon." Walter smiled proudly. I followed him to a door at the back of the room which led into another room which two sets of stairs were inside of. We took the ones that went downwards, below the rest of the building.

"Down here will be where your job is done. Of course, there can't be windows in a basement, so it's very closed off from the outside world," Walter said as we reached the bottom of the stairs. A deep red velvet curtain covered the bottom, and we passed through it.

On the other side was a massive, dark room, furnished with a large stage right at the back, two sets of velvet curtains along the left and right walls, couches, tables and a bar, but of course I didn't know what a bar was at that point. "This is the strip club. People can pay entry to just this area, or..." Walter said, walking to one of the curtains, "they can pay extra for VIP access...to the brothel."

He opened the curtain to reveal a large, dark hallway filled with even more curtains. He opened one to show me that they led into their own cubicles with their own grand double beds with layers and layers of rich, dark fabric.

"You liking it so far?" Walter prompted, grinning.

"Very much," I smiled. "Is this where I sleep?"

Walter laughed. "Don't be so modest, you don't have to sleep in the same beds you do your work in. There's a dormitory upstairs—I'll show you now."

So, we went back up the stairs onto the main floor, and up the other flight to the upstairs. It wasn't as presentable as the other floors...in fact, it was quite run down. Again, it was dark, but this time not decorated with fancy wallpaper and lamps and rugs, but it was more than enough for me. Compared to what I had lived in for years and years of my life, this was more than I could ever have wished for.

"This is your key, make sure you use it in a place like this. Sometimes we have wonderers who stray from the brothel." Walter took me to one door covered in chipped paint, unlocked it, and beckoned me in. "Voila! Your abode."

There it was, my own bed, my own wardrobe, my own dresser.

"The communal bathroom is outside of the room at the bottom of the hallway. You'll have to buy all of your toiletries, and any other belongings, I'm afraid, but, believe me, your pay will be more than enough."

"Thank you so much," I said, and I hugged him. It took a second for him to hug me back.

I couldn't believe this man had so much kindness in his heart. All of this he was providing me.

"When will I work?" I asked.

"Ah, eager to start, I see! I like a woman who is actually into the job! It opens at midnight, so it's best you get your sleep during the day. Life is quite nocturnal for the girls in this place. In fact, you better get all the sleep you can now for a good opening performance!"

"Will you wake me when it's time?"

"If you'd like. I'm sure you'll get into some sort of a routine by next week and you won't need to be woken. It'll be like second nature to you. It's probably best you get an alarm clock with your first day's wages."

I smiled. "Okay." I didn't know what an alarm clock was, but to whatever this wonderful man said, I agreed. I'd begetter get some sleep, and I was very sure I'd sleep well in this new bed of mine, and the curiosity and wonder of whatever job to come would fill my mind as I fell asleep.

*

I awoke to Walter standing above me. "It's time, starshine."