Karen stared at the colourful business card on her coffee table. It showed a naked woman from the waist up with a rapturous look on her face. The woman behind her was also naked, her breasts were hidden by the woman in front, she had her hands over the other woman's breasts as she stared at the camera. The card was titled Satin Dreams and Karen focused on the tag line. Gay, Bi, Curious? Our gentlemen and ladies will help you decide. The phone number was a local Melbourne one, not one of those 900 numbers.
Karen stroked her throat as she contemplated the card, her eyes flickered to the iPhone next to it. The card had been given to her by a junior lawyer. Mandy was gay but lived with her girlfriend in Brunswick so she was out of reach but when Karen admitted she was curious about the lifestyle Mandy at first suggested she go to a club.
"I'm not into clubs," Karen's eyes shifted, "I'm thirty eight, the last time I walked into one of those King Street clubs half the people thought I was someone's mother."
"But you're curious."
"Yeah," she loosened the black tie, "but just the sexual part, I mean even if some woman did take me home I'm not even sure it would work out. I'm straight but have thought about doing it with a woman, it doesn't mean I'm going to come out."
"Then call an escort," Mandy handed her the card, "they do house calls, everything is strictly professional, you pay cash and they're very discreet."
"A prostitute," she frowned.
"Sex worker," Mandy corrected her, "my partner was working for an agency before she got together with me, she had applied for this agency because the pay rate was higher and the hours were better, but then she got together with me and got out of the business altogether."
Karen picked up the card. It had been tucked into her purse for the last three months and now and then she took it out and looked at it. She'd called the number once but hung up while it was still ringing. Two days ago after a routine briefing with a female detective from C.I.D she accidentally pulled out the card before realising her mistake and taking out the card for a computer technician instead.
"I've used that one before," Simone flicked at her hair.
"Oh," Karen made to put the card back in her purse.
"No, that one," Simone took out the other card, "they're very good and above board, I ran their name through the police database before I called them and they're clean."
"I haven't called the number yet."
"Well it's not illegal," Simone's eyes twinkled, "all work and no play as they say."
Karen picked up her iPhone and tapped in the number as she recalled Simone's parting comment three days ago.
"On the other matter, call me and let me know how you got on."
"Good morning, Satin Dreams, how can I help you?"
Karen's eyes widened. The woman's accent was Australian and she could have been answering the phone in an office.
The woman repeated herself and Karen coughed.
"Hi, I'm um, making an inquiry."
"Of course, madam, what kind of inquiry?"
"About your services," Karen fiddled with the top button of her blouse.
"Certainly," she replied breezily, "we supply escort services to clients in the LBGT community. All our staff are discreet and very professional. We cater to all needs but some services cost extra."
"What are these certain services?"
"BDSM and certain fetishes."
"Oh," she laughed nervously, "I'm certainly not into the first one and the second I'm not even sure it's in my dictionary."
"Not a problem, madam, and I take it you're looking for female company?"
"Yes," she stroked her front, "and these women are mature?"
"All our women are above the age of consent, it's a legal requirement."
"I see," she leaned back into a cream-coloured couch, "look I'll be honest with you, I've never even called one of these places before. I was given the card by a colleague."
"That's not a problem madam, we deal with first time customers all the time. Once we know what kind of lady you want we'll call her and give her your address. You can pay in cash or with a credit card, but the name on your statement is D and L Consulting to avoid potential embarrassment. Once the lady arrives at your house she will discuss your needs and then perform the service. Whether you're paying by credit card or cash you always pay in advance, but if you want her to stay longer then she needs to make a call to her driver."
Karen stared at the television on her wall. It sounded so normal it was almost disgusting.
"That all sounds so, normal. Like buying a television."
"That's a very good analogy," the woman replied, "but unlike a television, we can fulfil your fantasies, for a price."
"I have lots of fantasies," she chuckled, "in fact it's all I have left after my husband left."
"So what would you like to do, madam?"
"I'll take it," she pinched her nose, "sorry, I'll book one of your ladies."
"Excellent. What age range are you looking at?"
Karen frowned, "maybe between twenty five and thirty five?"
"Let me see," she paused, "I have four ladies on call right now, all are between twenty five and thirty five, would you prefer blonde or brunette?"
"Brunette," she ran a hand through her brown hair.
"Any special needs?"
"Special needs?"
"Any special fantasy? Some women fantasize about doing it in an office, so the escort would dress in office attire, others want a fifties look, some even specify a certain outfit, others want the schoolmistress or schoolgirl look. We can accommodate most needs."
"There was this girl when I was in high school once," she mused.
"We can provide that and it's just ordinary sexual services?"
"Yes," she fixed her eyes on the television again.
"We have Adrianna on call now. She's twenty five years old, slim build with long brown hair."
"That sounds fine," she looked down.
"How long would you like with Adrianna?"
"I um, I have to be at work by one, I'm on flexitime."
"That will be three hundred dollars in cash or credit card," the woman replied.
"Cash," she replied a moment later.
"Not a problem, all right. Can I take your name and address please?"
Karen gave out her address and there was a momentary pause.
"Bundoora, let me check first. Just hold the line, Karen."
Karen waited for the better part of a minute and then the woman came back on the line.
"Sorry about that. I had to check first. Yes, Adrianna can be there in half an hour. Would you like me to book her?"
"Please," Karen felt a tingle of excitement, "do you have any advice for a first time customer?"
"Just enjoy yourself," the woman replied, "we do ask you take a shower first though."
"I only just showered an hour ago," Karen replied.
"That's fine, well thank you for your inquiry and I hope Adrianna fulfils your fantasy. Have a nice day, Karen."
Fulfil my fantasy?
Karen stared at herself in the bathroom mirror a few minutes later. When was the last time anyone had ever fulfilled her fantasy let alone ask about it? She closed her eyes briefly.
Never!
Karen opened her eyes and looked at herself. Her straight brown hair framed an oval shaped face but her jawline was a little squarish. The rouge and eye makeup softened her look somewhat. She puckered her lips and winced.
What am I doing?
She fingered the collar of the blue satin blouse tucked into black trousers.
I should change out of this,
she rested thumb and finger on the top button and then dropped her hand and rested her hands on the vanity. She didn't have the hourglass figure although her breasts were normal size, Karen thought her arse was too big. She'd taken out a gym membership six months ago and had only been twice, citing tiredness and other excuses.