A Change in Direction: Chapter Five

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Chapter Five

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I slept like a log that evening, though it may have been because of the couple of drinks I had. I wasn’t even tipsy, but they made me so tired. Or it could have been the fact that I hadn’t slept well the night before. 

When I woke up around seven, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and a shower before I got myself ready for the day. I had a mental list of all the stores I wanted to hit for my slutty wear, along with everything else I needed. I figured if he was paying me to have sex with him, I might as well give him the best wrapping paper possible. 

Usually, I would have felt guilty for using another person’s money to get myself... well, anything. Yet, for some reason, I didn’t. Actually, I kind of felt I deserved it. If he was going to put me in this position, why shouldn’t I? I would give him exactly what he wanted. 

The first store I hit was Victoria’s Secret, where I bought five matching bras and panty sets, in many shades and fabrics. I also purchased some nice stockings and body spray. The twigs that worked the register stared at me, not used to seeing someone who was at the higher end of the scale coming in. They didn’t even bother trying to come over to help, probably hoping I would leave.

Fuck them, I thought. The things fit me, so it wasn’t as if I was too big or anything. Maybe they were just mad they couldn’t fill out a DD. 

I nearly gagged when the total was three hundred dollars, though. I decided it would be for the best to ignore them in the future. Honestly, I didn’t care but didn’t want to keep a mental tally either. I would worry even more about it if I did. And if there was anything I was done with, for at least a little while, it was that. I had done enough in the past two years for an entire lifetime. 

Next, I visited a shoe store that was in the same shopping area and got a decent selection. Sandals, boots, pumps, sneakers, and a killer pair of three-inch high black heels. I would have to practice walking in them, but I liked how tall I felt. I considered buying more, but I had to meet Alice for our lunch. She picked a place by the salon, a steakhouse on the main drag. 

“So, what’s he got planned for you this week?” Alice asked after we ordered our meals. I knew she meant it as an innocent enough question, but it had been something I was wondering about myself. I really had no idea what the future would bring. But I could tell her what I knew.

“Um… Well, he asked me to pick a restaurant and something for us to do, so we can get to know each other better on Friday,” I explained. “I guess it’s just sort of a ‘meet and greet,’ you know?”

Alice quickly nodded her head in understanding. “That’s nice. What do you have planned then?” She sipped her water, playing with the straw as she did. The sounds of the clinking ice against the glass were rather loud. 

Gingerly, I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. “I don’t have a clue,” I admitted.

“Hm,” she hummed for a moment. “Do something that you haven’t done in forever. Something that screams ‘you.’ Did he give you any additional guidelines or whatever?” She stirred the straw in another direction then shook the cup to make the ice shift so that she could get more to drink. It banged on the tabletop.

“None.”

“That’s helpful.”

“I know,” I agreed, eyeing her fingers around the glass. Maybe I could distract her. “I don’t know. What do you suggest?”

“When’s the last time you had Japanese?” Alice asked, finally pushing it away from her. It was a good thing because she was driving me crazy with it. Perhaps I was just slightly on edge. I wasn’t sure. It wouldn’t have been nice to snap about a cup of ice water, though.

“Forever. What do you think, Tokyo?” I mused out loud, trying to think up all the Japanese restaurants in town. There wasn’t that many, sadly. 

Scrunching up her face, she shook her head hastily. “Too cliché. It’s cheesy. Sake’s better, anyway.” She thought about it for a moment. “Or something like that. Everyone likes Chinese and Japanese. I don’t think you could go wrong with either of those. Imperial Cathay is good, too.”

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “Sounds good. Okay, what about our ‘activity’?” I continued, using my fingers for quotations. “What the hell is there to do in Shreveport? I don’t like the casinos all that much, and I’m not a big drinker. None of the clubs are really that nice either. I don’t think I can take him to play pool.”

Alice nibbled on her finger for a moment before she shrugged. “Well, you want to get to know each other. Do something quiet. Just go for a walk,” she replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You could go along the river on that walking path. Gosh, that sounds romantic. Do you think it’ll give off the wrong vibe?”

“No,” I smirked to myself. “No, I think it’s a good idea. Thanks. You have some decent ones sometimes.”

She grinned widely. “Glad to help. Now,” pausing, she rubbed her hands together, “tell me about Mr. Masen. What’s he like? What does he look like? Is he some old geezer with bad hair and a gut or what? All the Eagle guys I’ve seen look the same.”

I laughed in surprise at her words. “No! Not at all, actually. No... he’s- He’s handsome.” I continued awkwardly. He was more than that. “He’s tall. Probably six foot four. He’s not exactly built, but he’s not fat either. From what I can tell in a suit. He’s pale with these pretty emerald green eyes. I guess he’s... oh, maybe mid-thirties?” I continued to think about him. “He has the most elegant nose. And a nice smile. It changes his entire face when he does.”

“Oh! Dreamy!” She sighed as if we were back in high school again. “So, you work for eye candy, then?” Alice leaned in some so she could whisper. “Do you think there will be any sexual tension?!” Her eyes got wider. “Oh! Oh! Is there a Mrs. Masen?” Alice asked in a spitfire manner. She was a little too excited about her line of questioning.

“No, there isn’t,” I answered, ignoring her other questions in the process. There was no way I would answer them because he was, and there was already enough tension to cut with a knife. For him. Only him. I kind of doubt there would be for me. It was, after all, a job. 

Just a job.

Yes, I knew I was lying to myself, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t at least try to pretend otherwise. We hadn’t even started yet, and I had the right to be delusional like everyone else in the world. I would cling to it as long as I could. 

“I wonder why a good-looking man with loads of money is single?” She mused as she reached for her glass again. Thankfully, she only took a quick sip. 

I had pondered the same.

Shrugging, I sat back against the seat. “He’s busy. It’s not easy to find your soul mate. Most of us don’t meet them in high school,” I teased. Alice smiled, a slight flush coming to her cheeks as she thought about Jasper. It was sweet to know that they were still so in love. I was extremely jealous.

After lunch, we had our nails done, and our hair styled. I only had two inches snipped off to cut off the split ends, but I liked the length of my locks. Few women had it nearly as long as mine without it looking damaged, frizzy, and wild. I had the cold water to thank for that. Mine was silky, healthy, and practically frizz-free. 

When we finished with our waxing, we spent the rest of the evening at the mall. I bought more clothing at one time than I ever had before. Alice was a bad influence on me, though. We closed down the place. It was crazy. We made several trips back to the car to put it all away. 

Well, at least he would cover my ass for the rest of winter and beyond. I may have needed different pieces when the spring came, but I think I had enough of the shopping experience for a while. Doing so without a single care was a great deal of fun but exhausting. It wasn’t something I could do every day. Alice lived for it. It should have been her job.

When the Friday sun rose into the sky, I watched it from my bed. I couldn’t fall back asleep after waking at five. I gazed out my window from under the covers, my heart beating harder and harder as it got brighter outside. My fun time was over, and I was paying for it. I had put off my freaking out over what might come, and it was all rushing forward at once. I should have known it wouldn’t have worked.

So, the questions came flooding in.

What if sex was all he wanted?

Would he ask me to do horrible things?

What was my limit?

Did I have one?

Would everyone know what I was doing?

Was I a bad person for taking it in the first place?

Was this just a job?

Would I ever be able to get another after this?

Did I really have a choice? And did all my questions and worries matter when I looked it that way?

No, they didn’t. The benefits far outweighed the negatives for the moment. I guess I would find my limit and figure out how desperate I truly was.

I wasted much of the day in bed reading or playing stupid little flash games on the computer. When it was two, I showered and did my hair. I put it up in a clip, nothing fancy. I wore one of my new outfits, a lovely retro satin red sleeveless dress with a black band right underneath my breasts. It made them nearly jump out of it, but that was kind of the point. Next, I applied some of my brand-new makeup. 

Cosmetics were a little beyond me. I had never bought anything that hadn’t been something cheap from the drugstore. The foundation matched my tone perfectly, and the eye shadow glided on like silk. I put on a dramatic liquid liner on my top lid, making my eyes look smokier, darker. A bright heavy red lipstick topped it off. I never wore it like that in my daily life, but for the evening I had planned, it seemed appropriate. 

I put on the only real jewelry I owned, an amber ring, on my right pointer finger to finish up the outfit. 

Gazing at myself in the mirror for a long time, I wondered if it was enough. Would he change his mind? What the hell would I do if he did?

“Stop it,” I spoke to the reflection. “You’re just freaking yourself out for no reason. You can’t worry about this shit right now. There isn’t anything you can do but be the best you possible.”

My scarlet lips frowned at my cheesy line, but it was the best pep talk I could give myself. Quickly, I looked away.

I slipped on a pair of black ballet flats since we would be walking and wrapped myself in the black opera cape that I had gotten for my fancier dresses.

It was five minutes until four when the driver of a beautiful black Cadillac arrived. With my new red clutch purse in hand, I headed out of my run-down trailer, looking like a million dollars. Or at least one hundred thousand. The chauffeur, a tall, dark-skinned man who I had seen at the office on Wednesday, opened the back door for me. 

“Good evening, ma’am,” he declared, a blindingly white smile spread across his face. He couldn’t have been over twenty-two. He was so baby faced. 

“Hello,” I whispered nervously as I slipped inside.

We were backed out of my driveway and on our way before he spoke again. “Mr. Masen requested that we pick him up at the office first.”

“Okay.” I had figured since he wasn’t in the car already.

He glanced at me from the rearview mirror. “I’m Seth, by the way, if you need anything.”

I nodded quickly, smiling back at him. I could see myself in the reflection. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Ms. Swan. Mr. Masen said you were picking the restaurant tonight. Any idea of where you two are going?” He asked as he turned onto the interstate. I guess he knew a quicker way to get to Eagle Gas than I did. 

“Sake Sushi, on Youree drive. Do you know it?” If he could find the street, I could give him directions from there.

Seth got visibly excited. “Oh, yeah! That place is fantastic! The Smash Burger is better, though. The one right beside it. Though I guess you’re not dressed for cheeseburgers and milkshakes.” He frowned as if he was mentally scolding himself for talking too much. 

I laughed lightly. “Mm, I love them. Maybe we’ll try that next time,” I said, trying to make him feel better. I hadn’t eaten there before, but I wasn’t sure that was the type of place Mr. Masen- Edward- would like to go. Honestly, there weren’t that many higher class eateries in the area. 

Perhaps it was something I needed to research. 

We were quiet for a long while after that. I was so deep in my own thoughts. Since I couldn’t chew on my lips or nails, I spun my ring around my finger as I fidgeted in place. My eyes never left the window, watching the trees and water rush by.  

We were driving along the River Park when he finally spoke up again. “You seem nervous.”

“Is it that obvious?” I mused quietly. 

He looked at me in the mirror, trying to give me a reassuring smile. “I’ve been driving for Mr. Masen for almost three months now, on and off, and he seems like a nice guy. I have to admit that you’re the first lady I’ve seen him with, though. He seems kind of lonely.”

“Really?” I questioned in surprise. I figured there would have been at least one other.

By then, we were pulling in at the front of the building. “All he does is work. I think he needs to relax more. But I know he’ll have a good time tonight.” Smiling brilliantly, he turned around to look at me. “How could he not with such lovely company?” Then he slipped out of the car. I barely had time to respond. 

Though my face had time to break out into a heavy pink blush that was impossible to miss. 

The door opened, and Edward slid in beside me with a leather briefcase in his hands. It was more like a backpack a woman would wear for a purse. It didn’t really seem like his style, but I wouldn’t say anything about it. I didn’t keep up with current fashion trends.

“Good evening,” he remarked before he even looked over at me. He was too busy getting himself arranged in the seat. When he was finally buckled up and settled, he glanced up at me, and an expression of astonishment came over his face. Blinking several times, his mouth hung open just a little. “Oh, wow.”

“What? Too much?” I blurted out, touching my cheek in automatic embarrassment and worry. “Is it that bad?” I quickly looked away in shame.

He swiftly reached for my hand, taking it into his. “No. I was just so stunned because I didn’t realize it was possible for you to look even more beautiful than you did before, but…” He trailed off with a little sigh. “You look...” He examined me, smiling a small crooked one to himself. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

Once again, I looked away as my blush impossibly increased. As I did, I glimpsed Seth’s white smile beaming back at our exchange in the mirror. I realized then that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

It would be an interesting night. 

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