Me and my big mouth. I always thought the whole taboo about nudity was silly, and I didn't mind saying so. When I take a shower, I walk back to the bedroom wearing a towel around my hair and nothing else. If my roommates see me, so what? And if they've got guests, no big deal. At least, that was the theory, but I guess I never really put it to the test until all this happened.
One Friday night last summer we were all at the local watering hole after work. Kathy said a big shot in her company was looking for a cocktail waitress who would work at his party the next weekend. The only thing unusual about that was, he wanted her to serve his guests in the nude.
I'd had two quick gin and tonics on an empty stomach (the perpetual diet), and my mouth was running a little ahead of my brain. "What's the big deal," I said. "It's just a different uniform. After 10 minutes, who will even notice?"
Kathy winked at the others. "Yeah, but who'd have the guts to walk into a roomful of strangers stark naked and start taking orders for drinks? I don't think he's going to find anyone."
They had all heard me spout off on the subject of nudity. I had to challenge Kathy on that. "I don't see why not. There must be plenty of girls that would do it for the right money."
"Well, if you're so open-minded, why don't you give him a call and volunteer?" Kathy suggested, and she gave me a slip of paper with a name and number on it.
"Maybe I will," I said, rising to her obvious challenge. But I was already looking for a way to back down. My brain was starting to catch up. The thought of such public exposure was starting to sober me up, but it was a little late.
"We dare you," the other girls said, almost in unison. They all laughed, thinking they had made me choke on all my big talk.
Well, the only thing bigger than my mouth is my pride. I heard their laughter and I saw their victory smirks, and I saw red. I was so angry I said, "Alright, I'll do it."
I took the slip of paper and punched the numbers into my cell phone. Before I could think about it, someone answered, "Hello."
I was so flustered, it took me a moment to remember who I was talking to. I looked at the slip of paper. "Hello, Mr. Edmunds?"
"Yes?"
I could hang up and listen to my roommates' laughter, or I could tell him I would do it and make the first commitment. I couldn't do either, so I tried to stall. "I'm a friend of Kathy Poole. She mentioned that you were looking for a waitress for a private party next week." Maybe he would make the first proposition.
"That's right," he said calmly. "Are you interested?"
"Could you describe my duties a little more," I asked politely.
"Sure. I need a young woman to serve drinks in the nude from 6:30 Friday night till around 2:00 the next morning. It would be both bartending and cocktail waitress work."
"That's a long shift," I said. "What does it pay?"
"What would you ask?" He put it back to me.
I tried to come up with something that would be just beyond what he'd be willing to pay. "Two thousand dollars," I blurted. It seemed like a lot, since it was more than I took home in 3 weeks at the boutique. Then I remembered taxes. "In cash, under the table. Right?"
"Of course. But let me suggest a different way to pay you. If you'll take $1,000 straight pay - under the table cash, I'll make it clear to my guests that generous tipping is expected. There will be 30 to 40 guests, all with substantial incomes and many with significant wealth. I will guarantee that you will get more than $2,000 in tips alone - all, of course, under the table cash. What do you say?"
I froze. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't back down. For one thing, the money was almost unbelievable, and with the tips it looked like a springboard to the heavens. The idea was so arousing I felt a flush creeping over my breasts and wetness gathering in my panties. On the other hand, could I really do it? Would I have the nerve?
I stalled one last time. "What do you mean 'guarantee'? Do you mean that if my tips don't come to $2,000, you will make up the difference?"
"That's what I mean," he agreed.
"Alright," I said, breathlessly. "I'll do it."
It wasn't quite that easy. He wanted to see me, first. He called it an interview, and set it for 2:00 the next day. If he liked what he saw, we would have a deal, and I would be a cocktail hostess in the raw the next Friday night.
When I hung up, the girls couldn't believe it. They were sure I wouldn't go through with it. But eventually, Kathy shook her head in disbelief. "You're crazy, Kim. You just might do it."
It felt good to make them eat their words, but the hard part was still ahead. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach the next day when I drove over to Mr. Edmunds' place out by the lake. The whole way I was debating with myself: should I do it or shouldn't I. I hadn't decided anything when I got there, but the Edmunds estate kind of gave me a nudge.
You couldn't even see the house from the road. It was at the end of a long drive, sitting on a hillside with a spectacular view of the lake. The house was huge, three floors around three sides of a courtyard terrace with a large swimming pool, all of it looking out to the picturesque lake. I was quite intimidated when I parked on the circular drive, walked up to the massive front door, and rang the bell. But I have to admit I was also thinking greedily of getting my hands on just a tiny piece of all the wealth that would be assembled at Mr. Edmunds' party.
A uniformed butler took me through the house and out to the terrace by the pool. Everything about the house was grand, with 12-foot ceilings and a lot of expensive-looking antiques everywhere I looked. The terrace was wide enough to include a 50-foot pool, a bunch of tables, chairs and lounges, and still room for a couple dozen people to dance. Mr. Edmunds was sitting beside one of the tables, reading the Wall Street Journal. He put the paper down and smiled at me when the butler announced me.
"Thank you, Arthur. Won't you sit down, Miss Johnson," he said.
He was probably in his fifties, not fat, not bald, and not bad looking for his age. He wore khaki pants and a polo shirt. He seemed relaxed and confident, which helped a little to steady my nerves.
"Well, you're very attractive," he said, getting right down to business. "That's important. How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-three?" I was embarrassed that my voice was so weak and quavery.
"Really," he said. "You don't look it. I wonder if I could see your driver's license. Unfortunately, your age is rather important, too."
I showed him my license, and he seemed satisfied.