"Come on in," A deep feminine voice called out from behind the deep mahogany door, and Elodie did as she was asked.

Cold air from an unseen Air-con enveloped her immediately she crossed the threshold and shut the door behind her.

The office was way too big for one person. And just like every room in this building, it had a large floor-to-ceiling window, and a dark wood desk that could sit six people sat in front of it. An L-shaped couch and a round coffee table occupied the west side of the room. Then, everything else was a dark blue—ceiling, floors, and walls with the exception of the wall by the door, where a neat row of abstract hung, seven of them to be exact arranged in a square. They were nothing if separated, but together it was exquisite.

Behind the desk sat a woman that spearheaded the whole operations of the Agency. Simply known as Boss, she's tall, dark, and beautiful. Her dark copper hair was twisted into a chignon at her nape, showing off her graceful neck which was adorned with a thin silver chain with a dark stone pendant. She was dressed in a deep pink camisole that complimented the deep melanin of her skin, making her glow. A pair of tear drop earrings dangled from her ears. Boss looked almost like one of those people who belonged in a bank, working as the manager, of course, but the tattoo snaking up her left bicep said otherwise. Beneath all that polish was a woman who wasn't afraid to fight dirty.

Boss didn't take nonsense from either her clients or Angels. And anyone would think twice about double crossing her, because she always knew, and the consequences were always dire.

"Angel E," Boss said, not looking up from her PC. "Would you like to sit?" She waved toward the sofa.

It wasn't a question so as much as a request. She was expected to sit.

Elodie walked over to the sofa to sit, taking care not to wrinkle her outfit, and waited for the other woman. While waiting, she gave another look around. There was no personal belongings in sight, not even a picture. The space felt cold, clean and almost clinical. She'd been to this place just once, and that was the day she'd met Boss for the second time, so she exactly hadn't been in the right frame of mind to do a little gazing.

Boss finally got up from behind her desk, and walked over to sink gracefully into one of the blue chairs across from her.

"How have you been, Angel E?" She asked, dark eyes cool, giving nothing away. Meanwhile, Elodie's heart felt as though it'll spill through her lips any moment now.

"Good." She pressed her fingers against the clothes of her bag. "And you?"

Her gaze remained a blank canvas. "I've been better."

"Oh." Because what was there to say?

"How have the clients been with you?"

Elodie's eyes flared momentarily in surprise. Boss wasn't one to call an Angel into her office to ask about a client, that was what the work phone was for. If any problem arose, they had the Agency number on speedial  and help was sent instantly. It was one of the many reasons why they had minimal contact with Boss.

"They've been great," she replied, swallowing. "D-did anyone complain about me?"

Boss titled her head slightly, lips transitioning into a moue. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"No. No," she rushed to assure her, cursing her inability to filter her words carefully. "I am just surprised that you asked to see me."

Boss regarded her for a few minutes in silence, and it took all Elodie had not to squirm, fearing that she might appear guilty if she did. Then, the other woman nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"I have just two questions for you," she began, tapping her index finger against the leathered arm of the chair. "To begin with, Alice reported that you had dark circles under your eyes when you arrived earlier." Her shrewd gaze roamed all over Elodie's face, looking for the said circles, but she wouldn't find them because of the generous amount of concealer she'd worked to hide it."You haven't been sleeping. Any reason for that?"

The truth or lie?

"I work during the day, too." The truth it was, then. "But it hasn't affected my work here and that isn't about to change now."

"Good." She nodded, although she didn't look happy with that answer. "Which brings me to my second question. Would you be interested in an upgrade?"

Okay, that had her sitting upright, all traces of nervousness gone in an instant. "An upgrade?"

Boss nodded.

"Are we talking about a level up from being an Escort to a Business Angel?"

"No. I'm talking about the one that has the highest pay."

Dark Angels.

She didn't say it, but it hung there between them like a thick blanket of cloud.

That was only the category that paid the highest in the Agency and it came with its own terms and conditions, one she wasn't sure she was willing to take on just yet. It was easy to pretend that she wasn't doing anything wrong by escorting people with enough more than sense to wherever they chose as their location for the night; after all, nothing happened during their time out. But Boss's offer was another ballgame entirely. This would be stepping out of her comfort zone and into shark infested waters. She'd either swim or get mauled. Elodie didn't think she had the strength to swim.

"It pays triple of what you're earning now, and you don't have to spend more than five hours with each client," Boss continued, sensing her inner turmoil. "You could quit your day job, finally start taking the private time you so desperately need. Think about how much savings you'd have in a week."

It sounded amazing. It was like being offered that first batch of cookies few minutes after it came out of the oven; nothing compared to having that first, yummy bite. Yet, everyone knew that the last cookie was always the best.

Being a Dark Angel sounded appealing, attractive even, what with its pay, perks and benefits. Maybe she could finally save up enough to move Mace into a better home just like he deserved. She could also move to Offshore or Oceanside, both of which were better than Aqualine Bay. And, maybe, just like Jean, she could apply to the Community College and take up her love for literature.

"What do you say?" asked Boss. She sounded impatient now, and a line became visible between her finely plucked brows.

"Can I think about it some more?"

"Of course. But do make it quick."

Elodie nodded. "I will. Thank you for the opportunity."

Boss nodded. "You may leave now."

She sprang to her feet, feeling as though a match had been lit under her, and beat a hasty retreat to the door.

"El?"

Elodie paused, her hand on the doorknob, and slowly turned around to face her. "Yes, Boss?"

"Try to get yourself enough rest."

She nodded. "I will."

Then, Elodie slipped out of the office, closing the door quietly behind her. As she made her way to the elevator, all she could think about was the offer Boss made.

Could she really become a Dark Angel?

*

Dark strobe lights in shades of pink, blue and red bathed the dance floor and the people currently occupying it in an eerie kaleidoscope of colors. Mass of bodies swayed, and grinded on the dance floor as the DJ suspended above his loyal subjects on a platform smoothly segued from one song to another.

On the other side of the dance floor were rows of plastic tables and chairs all of which were occupied by people laughing over drinks while watching the TV mounted on the wall behind the bar. Two bartenders, male and female, worked fluidly, mixing, shaking and stirring drinks as an influx of customers gravitated toward the promise of that high that obliterated all sense of reasoning, leaving in its place a stress-free, fun-filled evening. Servers bearing trays of drinks in glasses weaved in between tables, taking orders and delivering them.

Elodie watched all these from her perch in the VIP section, located few feet away from the bar, and which also required the journey up a flight of stairs in order to get access to it. A long, red velvet rope was used to block off that part of the club so that no rando could walk into that section.

They'd arrived at the club by eleven p.m. because the client wanted to stop at a store to get somethings. There was hardly any traffic during this time of the night, so the drive down here had been fairly easy.

The Rave was a club located in Little Bay, which was about an hour away from Bayview, and it provided anonymity for those who liked to indulge in their pleasures in private. She'd been forced to drop her phone at the door just like everyone else, something that made her gut churn with unease. They were never to leave their phones, Boss had warned times without number. Elodie figured that he couldn't hurt her in a public space and get away with it, no matter who he was.

Speaking of him, Elodie turned to look at her client. Even though clients had been adviced not to tell the Angels their names during their interaction, some of them broke the rules time and again, and far be it from her that she would report them to Boss. She did not want to be seen as loose-lipped. Some of her clients from when she started still used her when needed because of that one fact.

He'd introduced himself to her as Luke. And she knew he was telling the truth because she'd glimpsed his full name when he handed their waitress his Amex card. Luke Dowell. He was probably some numbers man, or one of those hard-assed corporate drone.

He certainly spoke like one.

"Say, my dear Angel," he said, words slurring. He was currently on his sixth shot of cognac, and was in the middle of ordering a seventh. "What will you be having, too?"

Elodie's stomach gurgled, reminding her that save for that piece pie she had during her lunch break, she hadn't eaten anything that would absorb the alcohol if she dared to partake. "A glass of water will be fine. If it's not too much of a bother?" She directed her question to the waitress who was watching them patiently.

"Of course not." The woman smiled at her. "Anything else?"

Elodie shook her head.

Luke thought for a minute, then shook his head, too.

"I'll be back with your drinks."

Elodie waited until she was gone before placing a hand on his thigh, just above the knee. "I couldn't help but notice how hard you've been on the alcohol tonight. Is everything okay?"

No matter how much she didn't like this part of her, giving a listening ear to clients made it a bit easier. As an Escort, it was one of the things that was required of her.

Clients shared with her what they couldn't tell the people in their lives, and she listened patiently, encouraging them to keep going until they felt light, and she threw in her two cents when needed. Some of them, in their state of euphoria, had tried to offer her extra money, which she refused even though some part of her called her all shades of fool there was.

Luke looked like a man in his early forties; graying temples, sagging jowls, his slightly rotund belly that pushed out his tailored silk shirt in the middle, and laugh lines bracketing his eyes. But, he was an attractive man. His green eyes were vibrant, and his nose and lips were a work of art. His dark brows arched over thin, straight nose. He must have been a women's man during his prime.

He shook his head, disturbing the  strands that had fallen across his brows. "Don't want to burden you."

She amped up her performance by shifting closer to him on the couch they shared, and began to make small circles around his knee, gaze locked with his. She softened hers, lips shifting into a pout. "I don't mind."

Luke swallowed. His Adam's apple bobbed with the effort. "Are you certain that you don't mind me offloading my shit on you?"

She shrugged. "Lay it all on me."

"Okay." He licked his lips, gaze breaking away from hers. "My wife's leaving me."

She hummed, gently petting his knees now. "Ah."

"I cheated on her, okay?" He swallowed again, fisting his hands against the sides of his thigh.

"I'm not judging you, Luke," Elodie said. "This is a free space. Besides, no one have never made mistakes."

"It was with her secretary," he continued, voice so far away. "It-it wasn't even my fault, though. My wife is barely around since our son went off to college, and I was craving that intimacy we once shared. Her secretary was there, bringing me gifts, always inquiring about me, and one thing led to another, and we're suddenly having an affair."

Their server returned with their drinks, and Luke paused to drink from his shot, wincing as it went down, then asked,"It's not my fault, right?"

"No, it's not."

He nodded, pleased with himself, and her response. "She caught us fucking in the kitchen, and flew off the rails. Now, she wants a divorce, despite me telling her that I wasn't going to do it again if she promised to carve out a time in her schedule for me. But she wouldn't listen. I was served the papers by her lawyer this afternoon."

Elodie took her hands off him, and reached for her water to disguise her disgust with the man. Cheaters would always find who to pin their blame on to make themselves feel better. And while she wanted to tell him she really thought of him, Elodie swallowed her water, ignoring the clog in her throat.

Boss did not pay her to be a Saint. There were times she had to lie in order to appease the client and this was one of those times.

After setting her glass down, she proceeded to do just that, albeit avoiding touching him this time around. She could bring herself to lie to him, but it didn't mean she would touch him. Luke Dowell didn't deserve to be touched by any woman, in fact.

It was almost three a.m. when she helped in into the back of his waiting car, seeing as he was already three sheets into the wind. He made murmured a promise to come back soon, and how he would generously tip her, but she didn't hold him to it. It'll be a miracle if he remembered their conversations tomorrow morning with the raging headache in his distant future.

The cab ride back to Bayview was short, and her clothes swap in her room was even faster. Busses had longed close, so she had no option but to call another cab, and during the ride back home, she wept internally about how much this was going to set her back. Halfway home, her phone chirped with an incoming alert from her bank.

$8,000.

It looked as though Luke followed through on his promise to tip her generously. Her standard pay was just five thousand, but he'd added three thousand to it.

Elodie clutched her phone to her chest.

This would go a long way into helping her with the bills this week, and also settling some of the debtors.

I just have to do this for a few months and I'm done. She promised herself, turning out to watch the world go by through the window.

The sidewalks of her apartment was littered with smokers, sex workers, and some thugs who whistled at anyone who walked by. Elodie kept her head down, and walked briskly until she was safely behind the door of her room. She twisted the five deadbolts she'd installed herself, and only then did she truly relax.

She took a quick shower, wincing at how cold it was; getting hot water here was a rare luxury, one she savored whenever she was lucky enough to get it.

Finally, around four a.m. just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Elodie slumped into bed, her whole body aching as though she'd been poked with nails and needles.

Before surrendering to the bewitching guiles of exhaustion, she allowed herself a deep, good, cleansing cry, that made her feel lighter for that morning.

A/N:

Now that we have a glimpse into Elodie's other life, what do we think?

Do you think that she should take up Boss's offer?

What do you think would happen next?

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Qotc: what's that one thing that's always scared you?