As we all breakfast together, Lali describes their collective previous experience: "We had to live and work in a squalid portable building unit doing 15 minute tricks. We were available, without notice, at any time of the day. There was only a curtain separating each of the six dirty single mattresses and we occupied four of them. Each of us was only 5 feet from the next girl. Exhaustion was the only way to sleep. We received very low pay and were replaced after a year of hell by fresh younger girls. Goodness only knows how many men used each of us during that year".
Piti says: "We all agreed for Lali to speak for us, to show the contrast with our positive experiences on our first professional dates for Chelsea Exclusives. We were all rather apprehensive, but also fortified by the knowledge that Belle had a positive first experience and that our clients would always be female, the difference was stark. We all had pleasant, interesting and even considerate clients. The intimacy was enjoyable for us all. In no way do any of us feel diminished, demeaned or cheap. What is more, Alisa is honest about her 35% commission and the pay is beyond our dreams. On our first dates for Chelsea Exclusives alone, we will each be able to buy our fiancΓ©e her engagement ring!"
Alisa thanks them for their honesty: "Reminding yourselves of such a terrible time could not have been easy. But now for the nicer news; all four of your clients expressed total satisfaction with you and with your performance. They each also told me that she would like you personally to be her escort when she is in London. Congratulations on making that very good start. Would you like dates for tonight?"
There is no hesitation, they each say that they would and thereby become regular escorts for Chelsea Exclusives. Alisa hands an envelope containing details of our dates tonight to all five of us. For the four ladies it also contains their pay so that they can get their engagement rings.
The front doorbell rings and Sooni, expecting it to be the Electric Garage Doors & Entrance Gates Company, answers it. She is right and informs me. While Lali & Piti clean up after breakfast, Alisa, Riya and I join Sooni outside.
Sooni opens the garage door and the two men measure up for a substantial remote controlled garage door. They also measure up for a pair of remote controlled decorative wrought iron entry gates at the end of the drive, to fill the only gap in the 2 metre high boundary wall. We choose a simple, but substantial, design of roll-up garage door with remotes to be kept by the two drivers and a passcode switch inside the front doors of the house. For the gates we choose a pattern we both like agreeing not to have any gold or silver highlights. The design includes an intercom to the house and a secure postbox. The price seeming fair, we place the orders.
In the lounge I open my envelope to discover that my date is a beautiful lady in her late forties, named Amanda. She is an Australian businesswoman. She has previously enjoyed the company of ladies from Chelsea Exclusives and has become a regular client, making an appointment every three months. Amanda likes to be in charge so, she prefers ladies with a more submissive nature. The arrangement is to meet in the Rosebery Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge at 7:30 p.m.
Quite soon we are all together in the lounge. My ladies excitedly ask if they may take some time off to visit the jewellers to purchase the engagement rings for their partners (that they had previously chosen but were unable to buy). I shake my head trying to look sad: "No, my dearest ladies you may not take time off, because I want you, as part of your duties, to take me to see your engagement rings!" I smile and they realise that I was just joking.
Sooni & Riya go to get the cars out of the garage and then lock it. The rest of us follow. Sooni drives Alisa and me in the Phantom and Riya drives Lali & Piti in the BMW. On the way Sooni tells us that Rolls-Royce are about to launch their first electric vehicle, it is to be named the Silent Shadow. She adds that she has telephoned Rolls-Royce at 30, Millbank (between Vauxhall Bridge and Lambeth Bridge) and been told that they have just started talking to prospective buyers. I thank her and ask that she make a morning appointment for Alisa, herself, Riya and I to go and register our interest. Seeing the Phantom should persuade them of my viability as a potential buyer.
Arriving at the jewellers I am impressed to find that they have parking reserved for their patrons. We go to the door and, on the four ladies being recognised, we are admitted. The ring is produced for inspection and once again they love it. Lali asks if she may see the same ring with a larger diamond and two further rings are produced. The first is a quarter carat diamond costing Β£1,000 and the second is a third of a carat diamond costing Β£1,700. The ladies choose the smaller because they can afford it.
I ask the ladies to excuse my interference and ask what price could the rings be if six are purchased. He thinks for a moment and he says he can give a 25% discount on either of the two larger sizes, making the smaller Β£750 and the larger Β£1, 275. I produce my special debit card and he says that if they are purchased on that card he can give a further 10% discount, i.e. Β£675 on the smaller and Β£1,147.50 on the larger. The ladies change their minds and opt for the larger diamond. Alisa and I smile.
I take off my ring and show the engraving to him and he says that he can do the same for the 6 identical rings at no extra charge. The ladies are ecstatic and give the details for their partner's ring while their left ring finger is sized. While the rings are being engraved, we are each served with a cappuccino coffee accompanied by an amaretto biscuit. Alisa tells them that we received the same service on buying our engagement rings. The engraved rings arrive, are inspected and approved. I make the payment and each ring is boxed and put safely into their handbags.
Outside I ask Sooni & Riya to take us to what they consider to be the best Indian restaurant in London. There is no hesitation, they say that Veeraswamy's is, in their opinion, the best but being just off Regent Street, parking is very difficult. The solution is simple, we put the cars safely in the garage at home and use a pair of taxis. On the way home Alisa asks me in a whisper how much money I will actually accept from each lady. I simply answer that they wanted to pay Β£500, so that is what I will accept. Alisa laughs smiling broadly: "I thought as much!"
We enjoy a wonderful celebratory meal together where each lady has her engagement ring placed on her left ring finger by her fiancΓ©e. I say: "We are all officially engaged now, did I hear somewhere that Indian families take a long time to organise their weddings, perhaps you should get started soon".