Living in Nevada has its drawbacks and Lucia Hagen had found one very fast. It isn't very hard to lose all your money fast. Especially if you're a gambling addict.
After her husband's death, Lucia had begun going to the Casinos as well as playing on-line poker just to alleviate her boredom. A few days a week, nothing serious.
In two years, "nothing serious" had escalated to a Quarter-Million dollar debt. She had taken out a second mortgage on her house. She had borrowed her last dime and maxed out her Credit Cards. She was still 50 thousand dollars in the hole and no way to get it with her job hostessing at a local diner. Lucia knew what she had to do and she dreaded having to do it.
She picked up the phone and called her daughter, Sandy. They hadn't talked much over the past 8 years. Sandy had left home at 17, she and her father hadn't gotten along and Sandy struck out on her own. She got a job in Vegas, banked most of her money, worked harder, banked more money and soon, was living nicely. She'd bought herself a large, 10-bedroom house which she rented out to College students. Lucia was pretty sure Sandy would be able to help her someway.
Sandy was surprisingly sympathetic. "Mom, Mom, Mom," Sandy sighed over the phone. "You have got yourself in a mess, haven't you? Okay, here's what you do. Put the house up for rent and use that money to pay off the second mortgage. Put most of your stuff in storage and come stay with me. We'll figure out a way you can pay off the rest of the debts." Sandy sent Lucia the money for a bus ticket when everything had been arranged, Lucia felt calm again for the first time in months.
Sandy gave her mother a hug, but there was an odd look in her eyes when Lucia arrived. All of the girls in Sandy's Boarding House were stunners, Lucia noticed, and all of them treated Sandy with the utmost respect.
"Come with me to the Den mother, that's my office. I have a few things to discuss with you," Sandy said in a cool tone.
Sandy sat behind a large, expensive-looking desk that Lucia believed was a good quality oak. She put her long, stiletto-clad legs on the desk and looked at her mother.
"Okay Mom, there is no way to sugar coat this or to hide the truth, it'll come out sooner or later. I'm going to pay off the remainder of your debt, I have more than enough and it's the least I can do for your keeping Daddy away from me all those years. What you saw in him I'll never know." Lucia wanted to say something, but Sandy continued. "You're going to pay me back Mom, every cent. You're going to earn it back, you might as well give up the other job, you won't have time."
Lucia had no idea what her daughter was talking about, before she could ask, Sandy filled her in.
"This isn't a Boarding House Mom; it's a Bordello, one of the better ones. It's known as Le Chat Noir and all the girls here work for me. I take 20% for their room and board and to insure their clientèle are good, respectable people. You're going to be one of my whores Mom; you're going to fuck your way out of debt."
Lucia's dark eyes went wide, she was horrified. Her blonde daughter went on. "Mom, don't worry ... all of my clients are interesting, sensual people. I screen them carefully, you won't get hurt."
Lucia found her voice, saying "Sandy, in addition to my thinking it's wrong, I've never been with another man since I married your father. I ..."
Sandy cut her off. "Don't sweat it, Mom ... you won't be with men. A great deal of my clients are women, I specialize in that area and I know a lot of them will flip for a dark, sensual bitch like you." The cool tone in which she said it sent shivers down Lucia's spine.
"Darling, at my age, I hardly think ..."
Sandy was in complete control. "Stop thinking so much Mother, you don't really have a choice. You have nowhere to live, no money, little education. What you DO have is maturity, a killer body and a sensuality my female clients will be unable to resist. I'll give you a couple of days to adjust to the thought -- your first client will be here Friday night, I've already made the arrangements. Your room is upstairs, first door on the left." Sandy left the room, leaving her mother in by herself, stupefied.
Lucia had never been with a woman, in the nearly 2 years since Jerome's death, she hadn't been with anyone. True, she was a sensual, earthy woman who at one time had enormous sexual appetites, Jerome had never truly sated them, but what Sandy was asking her to do was beyond the scope of her knowledge.
Friday afternoon came and she was going downstairs to tell Sandy there was no way she could go through with it when there came a knock at the door. When she opened the door, there was a cool-looking blonde holding some packages and smiling at her.
"My name is Marlena and I am here to help you prepare, I will help you with your makeup and you are to wear this dress and shoes. Damn, I wish we had more time, but the Miss says I am not to touch you. Some other time, nein, you are very beautiful."
The pretty German girl fussed over Lucia and when done, Lucia couldn't believe the transformation. Her jet-black hair had been brushed till it shone, her eyes were dusky and inviting and the dress clung to her every curve. She looked to be in her mid-30's, at best. Marlena took her hand and escorted her downstairs.
"Miss, is this to your approval?" Marlena said, showing her work to Sandy.
"Superb job, as always Marlena, you may choose your reward later tonight," Sandy's voice dropped to a purr. Lucia was trembling. Sandy walked over to her mother and took her hand.
"Don't be nervous mother, you're going to embark on a new life and it's one I think will suit you. Ah, here's Desiree now."
A beautiful black woman walked in, she had to be over 6' tall, perhaps 6'4" in the heels she was wearing. She had a presence to her and was dressed all in tight leather, vest, mini-skirt and boots, she was imposing looking.
"Here she is Des, did I lie?"
"You did not girl, she is gorgeous," Desiree grinned. Lucia would have bet the woman was in her early 30's. "When do you want her back?"
"You can have her as long as you need her Des, just call me if you're keeping her overnight, we like to lock up around 2," Sandy said. Lucia still couldn't believe this was happening to her.