Catherine hesitated as she handed me the check.
"I have a different ...task ...for you... if you're interested."
I'm a computer geek who looks like a biker. Clients frequently don't know what to expect from me, or what they can ask of me.
I've done a lot of "different" things for clients, from wiring a bedroom with video cameras to hacking a server to get company financials during a divorce. Cleaning up a person's computer is like being invited to snoop thru their bedroom drawers and read their diary.
It wasn't a question I hadn't heard before.
"I'll help if I can."
"I suspect that you have the knowledge and the experience for the task. If that offends you, I'm sorry. What I'm concerned about is...discretion."
"I feel I have always been so in the past."
"True. Allow me explain it this way. Lexi is going to Europe in the fall. I've secured her a position with a modeling agency. The one I worked for. I don't know if you knew that."
"I've seen some of the photos."
"She's going to encounter a different class of people. Both because they are European and because they are from the modeling world. They have a certain level of sophistication and a world view, an attitude, she has never encountered. I can teach her much of this. Some things I simply cannot."
"I haven't been to Europe in twenty years. I'm not sure what I have to contribute." I told her. She was losing me.
"The modeling profession requires a certain lack of modesty. Models must dress and undress in front of each other, designers, stage hands even. They must allow themselves to be touched as adjustments are made to the clothes. She can learn this part easily. The complication is the lifestyle that comes along with the lack of modesty. It leads to certain... behaviors not normally accepted in society, though they are almost required within the modeling subculture"
I nodded and waited.
"She's not completely inexperienced. I caught her with her boyfriend. Orally. I don't know about the other, though I have suspicions. She needs to learn control, of herself, of others. She needs to learn how to give and receive pleasure, more than just slobbering on someone. She needs to learn about pleasure and pain, how to give and receive them and the relationships between them. She needs to understand...fetishes...and to tolerate them. Tolerance may be the key. "
She stopped for a moment then looked me in the eye, "Does your discretion extend that far?"
I hesitated. Catherine was a valuable client. If I fumbled this, I might lose her business. "I understand the concepts, even the attitudes, actually. My understanding of the task requires...more concrete definition."
"I've written a list of ...well you'll see."
She handed me the list, and looked away as she sat back for me to look it over.
Casual nudity both sexes; casual fondling, both receiving and acting, both sexes; oral pleasure, receiving and acting, both sexes; use of contraception.
The list proceeded from there. I stopped reading when it progressed from the merely kinky to the verge of perverted. There were a few things I hadn't tried, lack of interest, not squeamishness.
I lowered the list to my lap, thinking through my first question. She beat me to it.
"We will of course require a physical with complete blood work before any contact. A nondisclosure agreement, and various other disclaimers."
I nodded, "I'll need to see the list of documents, but I don't foresee a problem. I think I'll need a few disclaimers of my own. Most important I will want a video statement from both Lexi and yourself that this is consensual."
That brought her head up with a start, "A video..." she considered it a moment, "all right. That will require an additional disclaimer."
"Her modeling career will have to be a success just to cover the lawyers fees." I said, trying to lighten the tone.
"It will still be cheaper than another year of boarding school." She answered smiling. Thinking back, it struck me that I couldn't remember her smiling before...ever. "speaking of fees..." she continued.
"I think we both understand this will not be a one day process. To be honest it may take a month to six weeks. Much of it will depend on her attitudes and aptitudes, tolerance, and I don't know what else. Do you have a firm date that she is supposed to be in Europe?"
"October first."
"Essentially twelve weeks, give or take doctors and lawyers."
"Name your price."
Now I was stuck. How much was enough for teaching an eighteen year old bitch, and I do mean bitch, you'll understand later, how to use her body, without overcharging and pissing away the gig, and without being a chump?
"I had a client downtown a while back. A PR firm. They had the job of convincing the city to pay for the new stadium. They hired a specialist too." Her eyes widened as she imagined what that specialist was worth. "I know I'm not in his league, and I expect to get as much pleasure from this task as I give. That has to be worth something. But so does that all important discretion. I'll set my rate at ¾ of his and call it seventy five hundred a week for six weeks. One week of unpaid time with the shysters and vampires. If it goes beyond six weeks, the only thing you pay is expenses."
"Expenses? What kind of-"
"You've specified both genders several places on this sheet." I said interrupting. "I will require another woman. It will be better if I find a professional rather than some....bar pickup. We also need to consider location. I'm not sure this should be taking place in the vicinity of your 14 year old son."
Her mouth opened briefly then she nodded, "You are correct. I thought I had anticipated everything. Do you anticipate any other expenses than professional services and an apartment?"
"Minor things like lotions, ointments, toys, clothes. There is one other thing I want to propose that won't be a major expense but may stretch the discretion blanket."
She looked worried while she waited to hear. "She's going into modeling. She'll be around gay men. Maybe gay women, don't know. I think I should take her to a few clubs. Maybe even a bath house."
I waited for an explosion. She sat blinking her eyes trying to absorb the idea.
" Are you...?"
"Gay? No. But I've had clients from drug dealers to congressman, congresswoman actually, and about everything in between. I know where they are, and some of the culture. And I did agree to blood tests. Don't sweat it."
She thought about it for a moment, then nodded, "You're right. Gays are everywhere in the industry and the culture. But no sex. Not without tests. And that goes for the girls too."
"That makes sense. I hadn't considered tests for the girls. That'll take a little more planning, but that's OK. Before we go any further I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that both you and Lexi are OK with this."
"It wasn't Lexi's idea but I couldn't figure out any other way to answer her questions. When I suggested it, it took about two minutes for her to agree."
"Does she know its me?"
"That's part of the bonus for her. She thinks you're sleeping with me. She thinks she's borrowing her mothers lover,"
That surprised me. As I said, Catherine had never smiled at me before. Taken me to her bed? Foolishness.
"How should I handle her misconception?"
"For now, let it go. If she confronts you, stall her and contact me. I'll decide."
"Fair enough. What's the next step?"
"I'll have the doctors and lawyers contact you for appointments."
* * *
After a day of doctors and enough signatures that my hand cramped
and my eyes crossed I was handed a key to a condo and a credit card. There was no schedule or agenda. I let myself in and ordered Chinese. The condo was a 2 bedroom executive suite with very tasteful modern furnishings. The living room was decorated with a set of overstuffed black leather. The usual couch, loveseat stuff, but there was a recliner that fascinated me. I rearranged the living room to make that chair the center piece in front of the big screen. I decided one phase of Lexi's education would be by video. Interactive video of a sort but video.
I headed for an adult toy store for supplies. I'm pretty sure the guy at the store thought I was a major pervert. I got a variety of oils and lotions, a small collection of vibrators and dildos, a set of ben wa balls, a set of velvet restraints, and a virtual library of dvd's. I wasn't in a hurry. I didn't expect Lexi until the next day at the earliest.
I was wrong. I walked into the condo carrying four bags of toys, looking like I'd just gone grocery shopping, to find Lexi lounging in the recliner watching obnoxious music videos and looking pissed off.
I don't care if I pissed her off. I really don't. But I can't tolerate rap. I'd rather listen to a hard drive going bad.
By the time I'd plunked the bags on the bed and walked out to the living room. The music had put my last nerve on life support.
I unceremoniously took the remote from her and turned off the TV.
"Hey-" she started.
"Shut the fuck up. There will be very few rules while we do this. You've already broken the first two. There will be no rap. None. Not even over headphones. I'll tolerate almost any music. Not that. Second. While you are in this apartment you will wear no clothes unless directed. None. Not so much as a G string. If anyone comes over, you will answer the door. Nude. If I have guests or business clients you will greet them. Nude. If I decide to have a dinner party you will attend, and serve the guests. Nude."
I paused, "I'm to train you to tolerate skin. The nudity will do that. I'm also to train you in pleasure and its...variations. To that end, you will submit to me and to anyone I choose, in any fashion I choose, at anytime I choose."
"If any of that is unclear, or you can't abide by these terms, say so now and we'll end this."
She looked a little shocked. "I know all that. I did the video and agreed to everything. "
