My Deadly Escort

1

   I groan inwardly as I'm once again dragged from my thoughts of work and forced into the present and my most recent problem I can't seem to escape. I save my document I'm working on and look up from my laptop, pulling my cup of hazelnut coffee to my lips as I go. I was far too tired for this today, and Caity knew it. Hit me while I'm at my weakest.
   "So have you got a date for the monthly company party?" she asks, raising a dark eyebrow at me; piercing me with her bright blue eyes. I roll my eyes and my shoulders drop. Each month at the end our magazine company held little dress up parties, inviting our customers and sponsors.   
   Our logo was 'the more you know, the more you're at home' which makes them more than just a party, our company Lovesick is a big deal, especially to our bosses. I hadn't attended in the last few months; my bad break up has left me out of the game. Which was over a year ago.
   Caity's bright blonde hair is held back in a ponytail, exposing multiple silver earrings in each ear and the small delicate red rose tattoo outlined behind her left ear. I had a few tattoos as well; I kept them covered most of the time with how unpredictable the weather in Manhattan has been.
   "You ask as though you think I do." I say, holding the cup between my cold hands and savouring its warmth. I was no stranger from the cold, especially coming from Banff.
   "Well I'm sick of seeing you come to these things alone, it's depressing." she types on her phone rapidly, rings gleaming from the morning sun streaming through the office window. It was only eight, we weren't meant to start until eight thirty but I always came in earlier; I had too much to do and not enough time or coffee. I'd met Caity when I'd first started here, we were both new and although we're completely different we clicked perfectly together. On our first day I'd called her by the wrong last name, its Straton not Saton.
   We'd been friends ever since.
   She was a tad shorter than me, with curves that I could only dream of having with flowing, long blonde hair that shone cream gold in the sun. While I was taller, I had curves in the wrong places and shoulder length dark chocolate brown hair which I could never control. I pulled it back into a low messy bun this morning, not bothering to attempt to brush it.
   "Wow thanks, I'll take note." I raise my eyebrows and make a stupid face; she sighs and puts her phone back into the pocket of her black skirt. I loved our uniforms, the white blouse and the knee high black pencil skirt was just like I'd dreamed.
   "I'm serious, why don't you take one of Mack's friends? I'm sure I can set you up." she offers, fiddling with her silver necklace as she watches me. Mack was her boyfriend of two years and continuing, although I'd met him a few times I knew I wouldn't be interested in his friends.
   "No, that's embarrassing." I laugh at the idea; at least I knew she'd have my back. She puffs out her lips, which are plump and round; I'd been surprised when she'd told me they were injections. I run my tongue over my lips; they'd begun to dry out from the heater in the office.
   "Well you're coming this year and you're bringing a date. I won't take no as an answer." She stands up and yawns, I sit my cup back down and lean back in my chair.
   "I literally have one day to do that, it's tomorrow night." I moan again, not wanting to go. No one would miss me, I wasn't exactly a social butterfly and I doubted anyone would notice if I didn't come again this month.
   "You just need to get someone to escort you; it doesn't have to be a date. Duh. They're always advertising that stuff." She flicks her ponytail over her shoulder and adjusts her white handbag. I could always just ask someone in my apartment building to take me.
   "That's it! Oh my god I'm a genius." she brightens, pulling her phone back out. She passes me it and bounces up and down clapping her hands. I take the phone and read over the website she's pulled up.
   "Escort. Anytime, anywhere, any occasion." I raise an eyebrow and scroll down; I read the details that are available to me.
   Need a date at the last minute, or someone to keep you company? I'm perfect for the job. Late notice costs a small fee extra, although the maximum hours at one time is only four hours. If you want further details shoot me an email in the link below.
   I look up at her. She's grinning ear to ear.
   "No. No. No. I can't do that!" I pass her phone back and shiver, I'd always heard stories of escorts and they were never bad ones but... is that really my only option? Am I that desperate for someone to go with me I'm going to pay money for company? I'd rather stay home in my pj's with my cat and watch Netflix.
   "Yes you can! Oh my god yes! Please." She whines as she comes closer to my desk, she reaches over and squishes my cheeks together. I frown up at her; she knocks the photo of me and my family over. It'd been taken on Christmas day, my two grandparents stood beside me while my little brother was standing in front of me with my arms wrapped around him.
   "Come on what have you got to lose! Let me live vigorously through you and your adventures, you only have to do it once and then it's over. Can you imagine how annoyed Mahlia is going to be? I can't wait to see the smug look wiped off her face." I sigh at the mention of Mahlia's name.       She was our boss, although she's only a few years older than us she acted like we were children. As if being summoned by her name alone I watch as she strides through the corridors outside my glass wall office. Her black hair is pulled up into a high neat bun; she sways her hips as walks towards her office. Which is opposite of mine.
   Her large lips are set in a neutral line, bright pink today. Her oval face is under-proportioned with her beady brown eyes and narrow small nose. She looks over towards us and smiles smugly before heading into her office. Her hourglass shaped is hugged by her uniform and a lot of the guys here drooled over her, Caity turns to see her shut the door.
   At the start Mahlia had been nice, friendly even. Once she got wind of who my ex-boyfriend was she had snared him in her trap, they'd only lasted a few months and they were the most miserable months of my life.
   "I guess..." I hesitate; I would like to wipe the smug look off her face. I knew it was petty and a new low for even myself, but damn the satisfaction would be a nice feeling.
   "Think about it yeah? I'll see you for our break, we'll go out and have a smoke and plan it." She blows me a kiss as she leaves my office and heads into the multiple cubicles that sit outside of it, since we'd worked our way to just below the top we'd managed to snag our own office. I do not miss my cubicle days.
   I get up and shut the door; it was wooden and blocked my view to Mahlia's room. I look around my small office with admiration, I had a small bookcase to the right beside my filling cabinet and a plant sitting in the back left corner. Homey.
   I walk past my glass desk and look out the glass wall over Manhattan, the traffic is ridiculous in the city and I was lucky to get an apartment that didn't cost me my life insurance close by. I turn back to my desk and pull up my emails; I had two columns to work on and a photo shoot to organise by Monday. I'd made it to Friday, I could do this.
   As I'm flicking through my mind wanders back to the escort... I type in the website and look through again, there were no photos but there were reviews. I flick over them, all five stars.
Maybe I could just do this once, get my satisfaction and then leave it at that. That wouldn't be a bad thing, right? All humans stooped to some sort of low level to fill some void.
   I pick up my phone and my finger hovers over the phone button, I could call now and get the embarrassment out of the way without Caity having to hear. I give in and quickly type in the websites number.
   "Hello, Kayden speaking." A low, deep voice answers. Butterflies light up in my stomach and I contemplate hanging up.
   "Um, hi. Shay speaking, I need to be...escorted." I squeak the last word, my cheeks are flaming and I'd broken out in a cold sweat. I could barely do phone calls on a good day and now I was doing this.
   "Ah yes, of course. What are the details?" He asks, I hear faint typing in the background. I swallow my pride.
   "I have a formal dinner party tomorrow night and need company for it. It starts at seven but I'd like to be there a bit earlier as I will most likely have to set up a few things before the other guests arrive." I close down the website tab and stare at the two columns I'd started; I jot down a few more points in the one about this month's latest leopard print trend.
   "Is six thirty okay for a pick up time? Also, how long did you need my services for?" I begin to try and picture what he'd look like, if his voice is this sensual I could only imagine how good looking he'd be.
   "Yes that works well. Um three hours?" I take another sip of my coffee and spot Mahlia coming my way, her hips swinging a ridiculous amount. Uh oh I was in trouble.
   "Okay, could you please text me your address and other additional requests. Also, can I grab your full name?"
   "Shay Alexander." I hang up before he has a chance to reply, just as Mahlia walks into the room. She raises a plucked eyebrow at me, tapping her blood red nails on the handle of the door.
   "Come in." I put my phone on my desk and watch as she walks in, she doesn't sit in the chair; opting to stand over me. I supress an eye roll. Her perfume of sweet flowers fills my small space, I'd have to open a window later.
   "Ah yes Shay, just who I was looking for. Did you go over those articles I sent you Monday?" She queries, narrowing her eyes on me. I would give her one thing; she was damn good at makeup.
   "Oh yes, I did find a few errors but I haven't had a chance to finalise them yet." I bring up the articles she's talking about; a travel columnist had requested to have her few pieces in the next addition.
   "Yes well I need them done before five this afternoon, I trust you can have them finished and submitted by then?" She hums, drumming her fingers along her lips. I take a deep breath; I was up to my shoulders with work that needed to be done. She knew very well one of the others could do this. Caity could.
   "The cut-off date is next Wednesday though, why do they need to be done today?" I question, frowning. I was going to have to skip lunch to get all of my jobs plus this done today. I'd be lucky to leave on time like everyone else.
   "I've moved it to today. I thought you received the email I sent out Tuesday?" She asks innocently, I check my emails and press refresh; scrolling through. Nothing. She must see my face fall.
   "Oh, I'm sorry. It mustn't have sent. That's a shame. Oh well, I know you'll get it done, you always do." She twirls and begins to leave, much to my delight. She pauses and smirks over her shoulder at me.
   "Are you coming to tomorrow night's dinner? It would be just lovely to have you there, it's a pity you always come alone darling." She gives me a fake look of sympathy and I feel myself begin to anger. I hadn't forgiven her for what she'd done, I don't think I ever would. She enjoys getting under my skin and I wish she didn't.
   "Actually I have a date for tomorrow night's dinner, sorry but you won't be able to steal this one off me." It's my turn to smile smugly as she rolls her eyes at me, she shuts the door harder than needed as she prowls through the cubicles.
   I needed that damn smoke.