Ireland was a world away from London. Having been raised in a super religious family, Erin had known she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
The first opportunity came when applying for university. She had made sure she studied hard and chose a subject which would make her parents proud. It was best chance of gaining their support for her move. She applied to five universities, all in the UK and today was the day she got her wish.
Erin was the only one who knew Erin. Ask any of her friends and family and she was the quiet, obedient, book smart girl who was always polite and never wanted a thing. She had it all planned out. As soon as her mother and father were back in Ireland, the real Erin would be born and the old one would be stored away until she had to go back home.
It was exciting yet a scary time. All these ideas, hopes and dreams were so close to being a reality, but she wanted to do it alone in a strange country. Sure, Ireland seemed not that dissimilar to England, but for Erin it may as well have been Australia. A completely different way of life, different expectations, more liberal views, no oppressive Catholic Church breathing down her neck and a total freedom to be her true authentic self.
Imperial College London was the true grace of God. Their acceptance of her application was her ticket to freedom. Saint Marys campus had seen the likes of the great Alexander Fleming, one of her father's hero's. He was that excited at the prospect of his daughter attending the same campus that he had secured Erin a semi decent bedsit in Marylebone all for herself, paid in full as recognition of her devotion, hard work and success.
Little did he know, Erin had a few other plans for her time in London. As soon as the bedsit was secured, she pinpointed it on her map. She had spent months devouring the street names, the locality of one area to another, the tube map, bus map, all the free things to do, see and visit -- 'Not that you'll have much time now, Erin' -- her father reminded her.
He was right. The course was long and intense. Erin had smiled sweetly at her father in reply. "I know Daddy. Studies will continue to come first." She had lied.
Serendipity was a funny thing. Although of all the Universities she had applied to, dotted all over the UK, it was Imperial College which was closest to one of the main attractions for Erin. Soho. When realising how close Marylebone was to Soho, she had internally jumped for joy.
Erin's lust for a full and varied sexual existence had been an urge since she hit puberty. The constrained religious upbringing had meant that not only had she had to supress her curiosity, but she was also extremely inexperienced, and had a lot of catching up to do. This was the plan. Deep dive the world in which she craved so much, catch up and then enjoy a normal, healthy existence which included accepting and embracing that sex was not just for procreation.
After finally waving her mother and father away from her modest bedsit, she watched as their cab slowly navigated the traffic, and away to the airport. Her excitement was palpable. She had spent years thinking about this moment and months planning it. Yet now it was here, she didn't know where to start.
"Soho!" She thought, throwing on her green dowdy coat, and braving the chilly autumn air. As already researched, it took Erin a 20 minutes' walk to reach the well photographed streets she had come to be so obsessed with. Sex shops, bars and advertisements for shows lined the streets. She pinched herself. 'I did it. I'm here. '
She walked past a shop with a huge window, lingerie, bondage gear, sex toys and strange looking furniture were all displayed proudly. 'Definitely wouldn't see this in Cork!' she thought to herself.
She stood at the window for a good 15 minutes taking it all in and as the light started to fade, the neon's looks warmer and more inviting. A fleeting moment of embarrassment soon passed as she remembered she was completely alone now able to be who she wanted to be. And with that she stepped inside, welcomed by an alternative looking girl who was about her age.
"Hey, welcome to Simple Pleasures! Have you shopped with us before?" she greeted.
"Hello, I haven't no. I was hoping you could help me..."
***
Mike smeared the dust from his face. Another embassy renovation job, dusty, dirty, very awkward but very lucrative. It had never been his plan, but his parents had been right. Being a professional footballer had always been his dream but no matter how hard he wished for it, it never happened. He would be forever thankful to them for pushing him to learn a trade, and now he reaped the benefits.
Quality and trustworthy electricians were scarce in London. It had taken him some time to get the good jobs but the last couple of months had seen him make more money than he did in the last entire year. However, he earned it. Most sparkies would only touch new buildings, and there wasn't a shortage of them. Brand new office blocks, apartments, and skyscrapers needed thousands of electricians and they paid well. However, London was an extremely old city and one which had a huge aging wiring issue in a lot of listed buildings. A short course during the hottest summer months a few years ago meant he was one of very few electricians qualified and trusted to work on listed buildings. Since then, Mike could name his price and they very rarely went elsewhere.
There were a few interesting items he had found in some of the most historic buildings in London, but nothing to rewrite history. However, it was dirty, dusty work and his bulky gym-going frame struggled navigating the crawl spaces.
Half day Friday as always and today he was ready for that pint and more so the weekend. One the joys of single life in the city was the nightlife and those looking for one night of excitement. He had never not been successful; this weekend was to be no different.
"I'm done mate. Pint in the usual in 30?" Mike text his friend and weekend wingman.
"Abso-fucking-lutely. Just on a showing on Nine Elms though. I may be more like 2 hours." His friend replied.
"No worries, I'll pop the gym and get showered. I need it. Won't stop me starting our weekend plans tonight then lol."
Mike packed away his tools, signed out of the embassy and looked up the closest gym of his chain. 'Moral of the story, always have a spare set of pulling gear in the van'.
***
Ben could only dream of living somewhere like this. Dressed in his sharp suit he gently led the young professional couple around one of the many available units. As he provided all the charges and costs, which in his opinion were astronomical, they nodded acceptingly and continued to gaze around the huge airy penthouse.
The view from up here was breath-taking and that's what usually sells it. Nothing he could say would make much difference, so he let them float at their own pace, staying not far behind in case they needed him.
A silent buzz in his suit jacket pocket and Ben checked his phone.
"I'm done mate. Pint in the usual in 30?" his friend had text.
"Abso-fucking-lutely. Just on a showing on Nine Elms though. I may be more like 2 hours." Ben replied.
"No worries, I'll pop the gym and get showered. I need it. Won't stop me starting our weekend plans tonight then lol"
Ben grinned as he returned his phone to his pocket then quickly returned is face to its neutral position in case his clients thought it inappropriate.
Mike had been Ben's best friend since school and although they shared some obvious differences, they had always been as thick as thieves when they went 'hunting' as Mike has coined it.
Friday and Saturday nights were open season and Ben had watched his friend sweet talk himself into bed with half of the female population of London. However, that was the beauty of the city; there were always new woman either visiting or just arrived to seek out and try. Although Ben was a little more reserved than his friend, his success rate wasn't bad.
"Thank you, Ben, I really like this place, but I am going to have a think on it. Mind if I call you next week?" the male of the couple said, as he shook his hand and walked away before Ben could answer.
'Another waste of time.' Ben thought to himself as he secured the empty unit and called the elevator.
An hour and a half later, Ben arrived at The Haston in Soho. Mike was insistent that this was their local even if it was nowhere close to where either of them lived. Mikes theory was that Soho attracted a certain type of woman, and a certain type of tourist, "and when the two meet, Ben, what do you get?" Mike had asked one night when Ben was trying to convince him that a pub actually closer to home would be more appropriately considered a 'local'.
"Horny, freaky women who are looking for one night of excitement!" Mike proclaimed.
"And here we will be, local guides more than willing to show them the real London."
