"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," asked Henry, "but I wondered how you got into this business."
Abigail was growing used to a little pillow talk before starting their day but Henry had never asked about this and she never offered. To her it was irrelevant, she loved him and he loved her. Even so, she expected his inquisitive nature to eventually ask the question.
"Well...I was 19 and out on my own for the first time so I went to work as a grocery clerk. At the store I met Ginger and Candy and we became close friends. We'd goof around at the store on our breaks but then we still hung out after work. Eventually we moved in together to save money.
"We sorta became each other's family and looked out for each other. We had to because we were three pretty girls and men were constantly hitting on us and that included the store manager, Frank, who liked to get one of us alone in his office thinking he might get lucky.
"He'd start talking like 'I'm looking for an assistant manager to help run things, which means a big raise for someone...maybe you.' Of course, the whole time he's talking he's got a hand on your knee. It wasn't subtle. He knew we needed money.
"Since we all got the same pitch we knew there was only one thing he was interested in and so we kept a general awareness of each other so when one of us got called into his office, one of the other two could knock on his door with some made up question and interrupt his bullshit.
"This went on constantly because he was obsessed with us. One night after work we were talking about the problem when Candy said, 'We oughta charge him just to look at us.' She didn't mean it but the more we talked about it the better an idea it became.
"We worked out a plan where the next time one of us got called in we tried it. Sure enough it was me and when he got handsy I said, 'Frank, if you want to see me naked it'll cost you $20. You wanna see me naked, right?' Of course, he said yes because it's all he ever wanted.
"He handed me the twenty and I said, 'Look but you can't touch.' Again, he agreed since he couldn't believe he was getting this far. I went to the other side of his office and stripped down while he jerked off.
"Candy and Ginger did the same and, as you might guess, things took off from there. We started giving him blowjobs for fifty and in short time he was fucking us for a hundred. We were making way more than our minimum wage job and then Frank bought our services to impress the regional manager and word of mouth went from there. And, as it turned out, the three of us loved having sex so we had a job we liked and not everyone can say that."
Henry was riveted to the story and when it was over he added, "And then you met the love of your life."
"And then I met the love of my life...I hope," she said in all seriousness. "You only baffle me on one thing. All these men are doing sexually to me anything they want and instead of being horribly jealous you get turned on and more than that you never pass judgment on me, why?"
"Simple," he said, "True number two is way stronger than sex. I can truthfully say I've never experienced this before."
"What about Lana?"
"I will always love Lana. She has a permanent place in my heart but what I feel for you is an unconditional love that, frankly, I didn't think existed. It's weird but I'm happy when I see you enjoying sex even if it's not with me."
"Yup, you're a weirdo alright...but you never get jealous?
"Well I can't say I don't have my moments of envy but they seem to pass when I'm with you."
"I number two you, baby."
"I number two you too."
***
When Abigail and Henry got to the cathouse Lana was sitting at his desk, "I'm sorry, Abby, but I need to speak with Henry alone."
"Sure," she said, turning to kiss Henry and off to her bedroom.
"What's going on?" he asked
"I told him."
"Told who, what?"
"I told Jim what I was doing to make a living."
"Oh..."
"You were right, I had to tell him sometime but once I told him he immediately felt far away. I kept you and the cathouse out of the conversation. I just told him the basics and he sat there staring at me and all he said was, 'I'll have to think about this,' and he left the restaurant."
"I'm sorry, Lana."
"Why did I think he was going to scoop me up in his arms and tell me he loved me no matter what?"
"Because we all seek love that sees through to the essence of who we are but Jim got stuck on the prostitution. I think that's human nature. Most men have some idyllic picture of the girl they'd like to marry. Life, as you and I know, can be way more complicated than that."
"I know, I just..."
"Well he hasn't rejected you..."
"Yet."
"He wants to think about it. Maybe he'll surprise you. By the way, how do you manage dates? Does he pick you up here?"
"So far, I've met him somewhere for every date and I've followed him back to his place a couple times. I'm sure he wonders where I live."
Standing next to the desk Henry extended his arms to her, "Come here, girl."
She came to his embrace and he held her while she sobbed. "You're gonna be alright and you know that. If it's not Jim it will be someone who appreciates what a wonderful person you are."
She cried harder but little by little she calmed and looked at him, "Thanks, Henry."
"You're welcome, now get in there and fuck somebody's brains out!"
She laughed and left to her bedroom.
While Henry got his desk in order Edgar appeared silently at the hallway entrance and stood with his hands clasped in front of him. Noticing but ignoring him, Henry answered some calls and texts, generally getting the day's customers in order.
Edgar stood there like a palace guard for about 15 minutes before Henry said, "What do you need, Edgar?"
"Just waiting assignment, sir."
"Your assignment is the same as yesterday, you sit by the backdoor and greet customers and bring them to me. After that, help out whenever asked by me or the girls."
"So if, like yesterday, sir, a customer wants me to watch or participate then I should do that?"
"Ahhhh......ya, I heard about that. Yes, I suppose so but only if one of the girls says it's okay. And by the way, relax, this isn't the army and you don't have to call me sir."
"Yes sir. Just want to keep this a top notch operation."
"Okay, sure, whatever..."
Candy popped in the room, "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I've got these guys, four of them in their early twenties, that want to start their bachelor party here by buying their buddy an hour and then finishing the night at a strip club. They want to stay in the room and cheer him on which is a little weird but they don't have enough money for a gangbang. They described the bride and she sounds physically a little like you so I'm asking if you'd be interested?"
"When?"
"Tomorrow night at seven and either me or Edgar will be here to watch over things. Good thing is they won't be drunk yet and they agreed to doubling your fee since they're technically voyeurs. What do you think?"
"Sure, as long as I'm not here alone."
"I really want to," said a saddened Edgar, "but I don't think Jean will let me stay over here that late without a good excuse. Plumbing emergency?"
"No, don't worry about it I'm the one who should be here," said a reluctant but stoic Henry. "Abby and I can start our Friday date night a little later. I'll remind you tomorrow, Candy, but the groom's name is Charlie."
I'll wear my 'just married' negligée," she said giggling.
"Sounds perfectly wholesome, Candy."
She began laughing harder and it got louder as she went upstairs. Lana came bolting out of her room, "Could you mood killers knock it off! I'm riding my customer to a beautiful finish then the cackling starts and he says, 'Wonder what's so funny.'"
"Sorry, Lana, Edgar gets a little loud."
