said.
After he put down the walkie talkie device, he tapped the other guard on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Afterward, he turned back to me and pulled out a clipboard and piece of paper. He shoved it through the window with his right arm. âYouâll have to sign a waiver to come in. If you choose to sign, weâll need your real name,â he explained.
I read it over as I wondered what the waiver of liability was all about. My mind flashed back to craigslist. What could be inside of those gates that would require my full birth name and a few other details? Although I hesitated for a moment, I scribbled my John Hancock and then was directed to park on a sprawling lawn. All sorts of vehicles were lined up side by sideâHummers, luxury trucks, and a few exotic cars. As I walked up to the front door, I was greeted by two very attractive females.
âAre you a model?â one asked.
âMe?â I asked, half laughing. âNo, Iâm not.â
âWell welcome,â the black one said. The other woman placed a lei around my neck and opened the door for me to walk through. When I prepared to shut the door, I suddenly realized I was not alone. I looked back and noticed one of the guards towering over me. Apparently, he was escorting me to my final destination.
âTurn right,â he commanded.
When I did, I passed two more guards standing in front of a set of steps. I pretended not to notice them nodding, and continued walking down a long hallway with fluorescent blue lighting. After the guard commanded me to turn left, I stood in front of a large office with about twenty security cameras and a short Italian looking man with gray chest hair poking out of a black shirt.
âYou must be Innocence. Iâm Brian,â the man told me.
âYes I am. Nice to meet you, Brian,â I replied. Before I knew it, the guard closed the door, but I had a distinct feeling that he was standing on the other side of it.
âWeâre having a special party today. I thought you should come at a time like this so you can get a flavor of how things can be.â
I looked around and my eyes fell upon a large window that revealed a small poolâthe kind that was perfect for skinny dipping. Women of all races were walking around in bikinis and heels, sipping on drinks, and chatting with all sorts of men who ranged from corporate looking types to celebrities I could easily recognize. A few were sun bathing in solitude but I noticed that everyone had access to a cell phone.
âSo tell me about yourself, Innocence,â Brian said, interrupting my daze.
âThere really isnât much to tell. Iâm just your average girl, living an average life,â I answered, my eyes focusing on his Movado desk clock.
âYou donât look average to me. In fact, average is not what Iâm looking for. I donât like average women with average personalities or average bodies. I like the best because my clients pay to enjoy the best. The L.A. types with big implants who canât explain how a bill becomes a law, or who arenât aware of foreign policy and current events are not what Iâm after. An airhead who looks good on the outside but whose brain is empty on the inside is a dime a dozen. Now letâs try this conversation again. Tell me about yourself, Innocence.â
I suddenly felt like I was being interviewed to win the Miss America crown. Apparently, Brian wanted more than a whore. He wanted the appearance of a cultured ladyâat least on some level.
âHello, Brian. Itâs a pleasure to meet you. My given name is Leslie, but I prefer to call myself Innocence. Iâm thirty years of age, teach for a living, and am on my summer break. My favorite hobbies include studying history, fitness, traveling, and meeting new people. I prefer to regard myself as a new millennium woman with discerning taste. Donât let me fool youâIâm not