She lifted the teacup and took a sip. “Our clients aren’t looking for normal women. Boring women. Stupid women. These are wealthy men, powerful and decisive. They’re the movers and shakers of the world. They thrive on success and challenges. They buy eight hundred-dollar bottles of Barolo they don’t even finish. They have private art collections that rival the world’s best museums and yet have never been seen by the public, and on and on. Why? Because they can.”
Genevieve’s gaze scanned me from head to toe, cataloguing me again. “You’re hot headed and repulsed by what we do. It’s written all over your face. Girls like you normally don’t even make it through my front door.” She leaned toward me as if to ensure I didn’t miss what she said next. “But as I mentioned before, I owe Tiffany. You have bravado, I’ll give you that, but I can see the fear in your eyes. I’ll give you a new identity, but nothing in life is free. To earn it, you must become a Rex girl and have skin in the game.”
“I speak three languages fluently and—”
“Even better. Our clients are from all over the world.”
“No, I meant—”
“I know what you meant, but I don’t care,” she said, her tone hard as she interrupted me for a second time. “You want a regular job in an office cubicle. I’m not offering you that. You’d be wasted in an office. If you become a Rex girl, you’ll be given every luxury you can imagine by the men you spend time with. Gifts, jewelry, clothes. You’ll be able to travel and spend time on private estates. You’ll experience places that most of the population don’t even know exist as you see the world in first-class style. Are your morals so unwavering that you can’t be tempted by those things?”
“It’s not about morals.”
“It’s not? Then what’s the problem?”
My heart pounded so loudly in my ears that it drowned out everything else. I wasn’t sure why I was so shocked. My best friend had been doing this for years and seemed no worse for wear. Not only did she have every luxury she wanted, but she didn’t seem jaded. She didn’t seem…broken.
Genevieve’s gaze was unwavering. “You have a choice, Sterling. We all have a choice. But you have to ask yourself if your pronouncement still stands. What are you willing to do to be safe?”
Genevieve paused, waiting for my answer.
An answer I didn’t know if I was ready to give.
There was a knock on the door. Annika popped her head in, her hand still on the knob. “Sorry to disturb you,” she said. “Ramsey is on the phone for you.”
“Tell him I’ll be right with him.”
Annika nodded and then closed the door. I turned my attention back to Genevieve.
“I have to take this call, but we’re not finished with this discussion,” Genevieve said finally. “I’m willing to give you some time to think over what I’ve just told you. Please wait in the restaurant in the lobby. Have lunch and I’ll be in touch with you shortly.”
I tamped down an audible sigh of relief as I went to the door, ready to escape the room.
“And Sterling…” Gen called from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder.
“Give it some serious thought,” she said. “There are far worse things in life than becoming a Rex girl.”
Chapter Five
The lobby wasn’t as busy as it had been when I’d arrived for my interview, yet the few people present still moved about with purpose. The Rex suddenly reminded me of a hive of insects all united toward a common goal.
I headed to the restaurant. A young man dressed in a white button-down shirt, a charcoal gray vest, and a skinny red tie stood at the host stand. His brown hair was parted and styled like a 1950s businessman and he welcomed me with an authentic smile.
“Hello,” he said. “Do you have a reservation?”
I shook my head. “I just had an interview with Genevieve and—”
“Enough said. Right this way, please.”
He picked up a menu and led me to a two-top in the corner of the room and then went to one of the chairs to pull it out for me.
“Do you mind if I sit at the bar?” I asked.
“Not at all.” He pushed the chair back in and gestured toward the bar.
When I was settled on a stool with a menu in front of me, I was able to turn and survey the restaurant.