"You'll be meeting with him in two minutes. Fuck this up and you're out." Austin, my boss, grips my arm tight, placing more importance on his words.

The job of an escort is to provide companionship and to boost up the image of the person they are accompanying. Many unmarried men have had me as an escort to join them at business events because they believe having a women on their arm gives them a higher status. I've also accompanied many married men who just want someone new for the night.

Usually an escort doesn't come with the promise of sex, seeing as that would make me up to be more of a prostitute than an escort. But I work for Austin and all of his clients are quietly promised some sort of sexual favour by the end of the night. Usually it's unpleasant and it's not something I'd prefer to happen. I accept it as a part of the job and sometimes the guys don't even ask by the end of the night. Still, I have a feeling tonight might be one of the nights that a little less pleasant.

Austin has told me this is a big client, someone who's paying him a lot of money for someone to accompany him to a business dinner. He told me to do everything he asks. Yes, there are few boundaries he puts up for me but tonight he said all of those lines can be crossed and I fear the worst.

"His car is outside, go into his apartment and introduce yourself as Vivienne. Only speak to him once you've been spoken to and, as I said before, what he says goes. Got it?"

I nod. "Yes."

"This could be good for us. Don't fuck it up."

He lets go of my arm and sends me out the front door of the apartment where an SUV is waiting for me. The driver kindly opens the door for me to which I nod and say thanks before getting in.

I'm done up in a silky red dress and a fluffy fur coat. I think it's quite obnoxious but I guess that's what he wanted.

        AFTER A SHORT DRIVE across the main part of the city, we arrive outside of KINGSLEY'S, an upstate hotel building. This is on the nice side of town and I've been in this hotel for clients before.

I was told to go up to the top floor and go into the penthouse suite. I get up to the floor and quickly find the room I was searching for and knock gently.

I wait a few moments only to see a handsome gentleman on the other side of the door.

Long curls fall over his shoulders covered in a satin suit. He looks expensive. His lips part open as his sharp jaw wags when he sees me, he looks pissed off.

I'm on time, I'm dressed and ready. I look good despite my lack of choice in outfit and makeup.

"Hello, I'm Vivienne." I nod to him.

"Fuck... what did he do to you?" He looks me up and down with a look of disapproval.

I've never had that reaction before.

"I—"

"Come in." He steps out of the doorway, motioning for me to come inside.

I step inside the spacious room complete with a full living room and huge bright windows. I attempt to pull my curious eyes away from the room and bring them back to him since my purpose for being here is to focus on him.

"Did you dress yourself?" His tone just assured me that he's displeased with the way I look.

"No, sir."

"Good. Take that stupid coat off." He flicks his wrist at me, motioning to toss the coat aside.

I slip it off and drape it over the back of the chair. I can't lose it or else that'll be out of my own paycheck and I'm not paying for that ugly ass coat.

"Did you do your... your face up?" He looks at me quizzically. I'm guessing he means makeup?

"Yes... I was told to do it this way." I have never seen a client complain so much about the way I look. Normally, I'm complimented or at least glanced at with a pleased look.

"This is not an event where you need such... bold makeup."

I try not to take offence to his comments. It's not like any of this was my choice and I don't really disagree with any of his remarks. This makeup makes me look like I'm trying to make a statement, I'm not.

"I don't have anything to take it off with."

"I'll get the hotel to bring up something." He reaches for the hotel phone.

While he calls down, I look around the place. This is strange compared to my normal appointments. He's very particular, I can tell by the way he pats down his suit as he speaks on the phone. Maybe it's stress from whatever event we're going to. I've found most of the men are more pleasant after the event... that is until we get back to the hotel.

Some men have been kind. Offered me wine and room service while we chatted until it was time for me to go. Others look at me like a tool. I guess when I'm advertised as such, that's what I should expect to be seen as.

"They'll be up in a moment," he says after he hangs up the phone.

He walks over to me, inspecting me further while he does so.

"Austin always does far too much. The last girl he sent was shaking when she came in. She looked like a doll... much like you look right now."

I guess he paid Austin quite a bit last time. That would explain Austin's insistence on me being perfect for him. Then again, it seems I'm far from it already.

"I want you to relax. I can see you're tense, I'm not going to bite." His face is deadpan while he looks down at me.

I've been passed around many intimidating men but he has to be at the top of that list.

"We're just going for dinner and drinks at the same restaurant that my partner is at with a client. We won't be at the same table as them, we're only there to make an appearance and I have to pass something off to my partner. It won't be a late night out."

I nod even though I'm so completely confused by the entire situation. I don't question it, I'm not allowed to.

Room service knocks and hands off a package of makeup wipes to him when he opens the door. He hands them to me and I'm still unsure of what he wants.

"You want it all off?"

He gives me another look and then says, "yeah, just go clean-faced."

It's a strange request for this type of situation but I don't care. If I can take off this heavy makeup and these irritating lashes, I most certainly will.

I go to the washroom and it takes about five wipes to get it all off. I look in the mirror at my bare face and suddenly feel a little uncomfortable. That makeup was like a mask, now he can see me for who I am outside of this job. I don't think I like that much.

I come back out to meet him and he looks a little more satisfied.

"Good. Alright, we should get going. Anything more you need before we leave?" He stands by the door, waiting for me.

"No, sir."

"Call me Hanes."

"Yes, of course, Hanes."

"Good. Let's go then."

THE CAR RIDE there is rather silent and he seems quite removed from me. I'm just glad he isn't grabbing at me as that sometimes happens in these rides.

Soon, we arrive inside the restaurant. The dim-lighting creates the kind of ambiance I'd expected for a business dinner environment. Gold accents brighten the room and although most of the noise comes from soft chatter, altogether it's quite loud.

Hanes looks around, clearly seeking out his partner.

"Good evening, how may I help you?" A hostess arrives at the front booth.

"Reservation for Bates."

She searches through the computer before smiling and nodding.

"Right this way, Mr. Bates." She leads us through the restaurant to a booth in the back.

We take a seat and she lets us know that our waiter will be with us in a moment.

Hanes seems distracted while he looks around at the different diners, seeking for that familiar face. Then he peers down at his phone.

I have no idea how to act so I stay quiet. Normally, I'm asked to entertain co-workers or just hang off their arm quietly but I'm not normally asked to such an intimate dinner setting. No one else seems to care that we're here. It's as if he asked me on a date but here we are as strangers completely uninterested in the other's presence.

"Come with me," he slides out of the booth. "We're meeting someone and going to hand this off to him."

This sounds so sketchy but "no" isn't not a word I can use tonight so I guess I have to.

I follow closely behind him since he doesn't offer me his arm to take. We walk past numerous tables and then end up at one with two older gentlemen, one who looks up with a smile when he sees Hanes.

"Hanes Bates, how have you been?!" The one gentleman stands up excitedly, holding out a hand to Hanes.

Hanes shakes his hand. "Pleasure seeing you again, Tom. How's the wife?"

"She's lovely. Who have you got beside you there?" He looks to me.

"This is Vivienne, Vivienne this is the handsome Mr. Tom Jones." He introduces us.

A very plain name — I think to myself. Perhaps a plain name is rather good. There's no way for people to search you with a name as unsearchable as that.

"Oh, Bates, don't patronize me. I know I'm old and furrowed." He chuckles. "It's lovely to meet you, Ms. Vivienne." He holds out his hand for me to shake it. "You know, that was my first wife's name."

"Was it? I've never heard of anyone having the same name as me!" I try to sound invested in the conversation, something I'm quite used to faking. At least now I see why he wanted me to use the name Vivienne.

"She was a beautiful woman, much like yourself." He compliments, sitting back down. "Hanes you are a very lucky man to be seen with such a beautiful girl."

"That she is." Hanes nods. "And this is Jackson, my partner." He motions towards the other gentleman who turns and shakes my hand.

"Nice to meet you." He nods.

"You as well."

Without missing another beat, Hanes reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope and hands it to his partner, Jackson.

"This is from Terry Wild. He says he's very excited to be working with us."

"Did you say Terry Wild?" Mr. Jones perks up in interest.

"Yes, he's decided to invest in us as of this weekend. We are very excited to have him on board."

Mr. Jones gives Hanes a sympathetic look.

"Listen boys, I know what you're doing and I'm impressed if you really did get Terry on board with this project but I just don't think your numbers are high enough for me to have faith in this company."

"We can understand your concern, Mr. Jones but I assure you this is not an opportunity you will want to miss." Hanes assures him.

"Perhaps I can reevaluate my decision after speaking to Terry."

Hanes smiles. "Of course, well, we best get back to our dinner. Do enjoy the rest of your evening."

"You two as well. It was nice to meet you, Vivienne." Mr. Jones remarks as we begin to move away.

"It was nice to meet you both too." I nod before Hanes offers me his arm, clearly insisting that we move away.

We walk back to the table and take a seat. Hanes looks back down at his phone for a moment before mentally returning to the table. He stares at me for a moment or two, as if he expects me to say something.

"You don't say much, do you?"

"I'm not really supposed to talk unless I'm spoken to."

"Well, that's bullshit. Talk all you want. If you couldn't tell already, I don't give much of a shit about your boss' rules."

I can't help but smile a little. It's refreshing to meet someone who also thinks Austin is as much of a dickhead as I do.

"If I can ask, what just happened?" I'm so confused but too curious.

"To spare you the details, Mr. Jones is a potential investor who's quite stubborn and is hard to convince. He golfs twice a week with Terry Wild, the man who wrote the letter to my partner. We convinced him about a week ago to make a small investment in our next project. We're hoping that Mr. Jones' need for superiority will push him to invest even more than his friend did. That should be enough to get the project off the ground."

"Wow, that's pretty smart."

"I know your real name isn't Vivienne but I guess now you can see why I asked that you call yourself that for the evening."

I nod. "Yes, that makes a lot more sense now."

"You played along quite well. I'm impressed." He looks down at his menu as he speaks. "What is your real name, if you don't mind me asking?"

I don't normally give out my real name. Most often, I'll use a fake name anyway, even if I'm not given one.

"I'd prefer not to say." I admit.

"Keeping your anonymity." He nods, "alright, I guess I'll be calling you Vivienne for the rest of the night."

"You can call me Viv." I wink.

"Viv it is." He grins.

WE ORDER DINNER and drinks while we chat. I mostly let him discuss his work although all of it goes over my head. From what I've gathered, he manages several different branches of this company with his partner but I still can't figure out what they sell or do.

Regardless of the conversation, the food was lovely and, all in all, Hanes was quite pleasant to talk to. Perhaps it's the fact that he finished what he needed to do tonight or maybe it's the drinks, but he's become a lot less tense himself.

What was initially not going to be a "late night out" has quickly become just that. It's ten p.m. before he gets the bill and decides to go back to the apartment. Let's hope he's as pleasant there as he was here tonight.