The Cafe Au Lait is distinctly upmarket and normally well beyond Charlotte’s budget. A single latte costs two hours’ worth of Charlotte’s modest wages.
But needs must….
Barbara arrives and at first, Charlotte does not recognise her. Wearing practical jeans and a plain white blouse, her face wiped clean of make-up and the spiked heels replaced by trainers, she is a moderately attractive, but by no means outstanding woman. As she walks in and gives her order, no-one looks at her twice.
Her eyes travel the coffee shop, settling on Charlotte. She smiles as she takes the seat opposite. “You look quite different,” she says, “out of uniform.”
“So do you.”
Barbara bursts out laughing. “I suppose I walked into that with my eyes open.” She looks down at Charlotte’s plain black coffee. “I’ve ordered waffles. Want some? It’s on me. My treat.”
“Um….”
“I’ve ordered for two, so you’d better eat them, otherwise I will. The calories will land straight onto my ass and I’ll sue you for loss of earnings.”
Charlotte looks away. Jenny didn’t like knowing she was taking charity. Charlotte doesn’t either. But the waffles when they arrive are fragrant and tempting, scented deliciously of caramel and cinnamon. Her resolve withers.
As she forks in through cream and syrup to a crisp outer and a soft steaming centre, her appetite returns, and she attacks the food with her usual gusto.
“So, Charlotte. How can I help you? I’m guessing you’re tired of cleaning urinals.”
“Um, not exactly. I mean, it’s not exactly fun, but I don’t mind working hard. The thing is, I need to raise a lot of money to go to college….”
Barbara snaps in. “Gotcha. You want to earn the real money, you go to the top of the market. Basic market economics. People will pay more for what’s hard to get. And by charging more, you make yourself hard to get. You know. Exclusive.” She eyes the girl, assessing. “And you’re a looker, though it wasn’t easy to see when you were pushing that cleaning trolley around.” Barbara gives her a sharp look. “Any jealous boyfriends out there? Husband?”
“No, nothing like that. I…. I’ve….” Charlotte’s words jam in her throat. This woman is a stranger.
The older woman’s face softens. “Come on, talk to me. You sought me out. What is it you want?” Then her expression and tone sharpens again. “I’m not looking for a partner if that’s what you had in mind? I work alone.”
understand that. And I think I have something to
you have something to sell. Like I said, you’re a looker. But you know
lucky, but it’s not what I meant.
“You’ve never…. What?” She measures the girl’s expression. “You never…. had sex? You’re
The girl nods miserably.
slowly, as though absorbing the information. “Rare, certainly.
Charlotte nods again.
in her cheeks, considering. “Well, if
I’m
it right.” She raises a finger to the girl. “You need to be careful, you've only
The sort of thing that is likely to be asked of you? For the sort of money you’re talking about, you will be expected to do anything, and I do mean anything, the guy,
talked about it a lot. What I was wondering is, how to get the most for it? How
on the internet that would do it for you. But that’s dangerous. You’d have no idea who you were dealing
realise that anyone runs this kind of service is going to take a charge. Probably
long as I come
I’ll see what I can find out for you. In the meantime, try not to hang around me too much. You have
*****
James
around her plate, shoving it from one side to the
back her food like it's
His
on, spit it
drops her
both see something’s bothering you,” I comment. “Get it