Enid's story.
I want to start off by saying I was more than a little annoyed when I first found out about this. The girls asked to see me one day and they came in like a delegation. Silvie, as the most senior, had obviously been chosen to speak on their behalf and she presented me with three folders. I was shocked and slightly concerned when she told me what they contained. She tried to assure me that there was nothing detrimental in them but that they'd like me to read them. They had a sort of vague plan of putting them on some website but wanted me to approve them first.
They were, all three of them, very sweet girls and I often felt very motherly towards them. I think they also saw me as some sort of mother figure. They were all very pretty and, most importantly, all very popular among my clients. Silvie had worked for me the longest, and Angel, as I had renamed her, was her friend and housemate. Jewel, another of my re-brandings, used to be my receptionist until I recently promoted her after much nagging on her part. But, of course, you will already know this if you have read their stories.
Perhaps I should tell you something about the business I run. First, let me state quite clearly that it is both legitimate and legal. I declare all my income to the tax people and I'm up to date with the local business taxes. I'm even a member of the local chamber of commerce, an organisation of local business people and I'm accepted and respected within it. How the girls get paid is really no concern of mine but, of course, I have a good idea. It is up to them to sort out any fees with the clients, but I have already made suggestions during the client interviews. I hope that they all declare their earnings, although I suspect that any cash payments might disappear quietly. However, that is nothing to do with me.
It all started about a year ago almost by accident. I was having dinner one night with a friend who ran a clothing wholesale warehouse and somehow the conversation turned to her lack of a sex life. How we got onto the subject I don't recall but I immediately found myself sympathising with her and realising that I too felt the same. Our discussion set me scheming. In an ideal world what I would like would be to have a nice dinner with a young girl and then maybe more. Not every night but as the occasional treat. I could imagine other women with similar needs. I had another friend with a daughter that I had met several times and who I'd always got on with. I could remember her saying to me one day that she hated her job and wished she could find something more fun. That remark, coupled with the fact that she had recently come out as gay, set my mind thinking.
At the time I was struggling to make ends meet as an accountant and was not happy by any stretch of the imagination. After trying to formulate some sort of business plan over the next couple of days, I was finally ready to phone my friend's daughter. I invited her to dinner the next day and asked if she had a friend she could bring along as well. I told her we would be joined by one of my friends. She was understandably mystified by this request, but I refused to elaborate any further. In the end she said she had a friend that she would bring with her. This was ideal as I could now test my idea to a wider audience. After telling her where and when to meet me the next evening I rang off. I knew she'd google the name of the restaurant I'd mentioned, and I hoped she'd be suitably impressed. I had just suggested the most expensive restaurant in town and one with a great reputation as well as two Michelin stars.
I then phoned Marjorie and invited her to dinner. I refused to be drawn as to the reason, just that we would be joined by two others and I hinted at a nice surprise. In the end I had to put the phone down to stop her asking so many questions. Next, I phoned the restaurant and asked to speak to the owner. He was an old friend and another prominent businessman, and also a member of the chamber of commerce. Bless him, but he managed to squeeze in a table for four to a restaurant that is booked up at least six months into the future. It's what friends are for. Now all was set.
I made sure I got there early, and I sat at one of the tables set out on the pavement, cradling a glass of wine. I knew the girls would be nervous about coming to somewhere quite so posh and I wanted to set them at their ease. When they arrived on time, Fleur, my friend's daughter, saw me immediately and came over and gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek. She then turned to introduce her friend, who was loitering in the background, unsure about what was happening.
"This is Crystal," she said, and her friend smiled sweetly and offered her hand which I ignored, pulling her to me and giving her a hug as well. She seemed to accept my friendly greeting which I took to be a good sign. I gestured for them to sit down and signalled to the waiter to bring two more glasses of wine and a refill for me. I'd arranged for my friend Marjorie to be here in half an hour which gave me a little time with the two girls to start to explain my proposition. I raised my glass in a toast. The two girls looked stunning and I was sure they'd turn a few heads during the meal. They'd both made an effort to glam up, Fleur in dark red which went well with her dark skin and Crystal in a very eye-catching electric blue, both dresses only just on the right side of decency and decorum.
"To you two and to lesbians everywhere," I declaimed, then stopped and feigned embarrassment, turning to Crystal as I did so, "I'm so sorry, my dear, I should have checked."
Luckily Fleur butted in to save my blushes. "I thought you knew, Mrs.B, Crystal and I have been a couple for about a year."
"I wasn't sure," I lied. In fact, I'd known all the time from things both Fleur and her mother had said in the past. It was just a pity that it had taken until now to meet her, as she was stunning. They had both gone to some trouble to wear their best dresses. I felt quite privileged for them to be my companions. I suddenly had visions of how well my idea could go with local business and professional women.
"My friend, who will be joining us shortly, is also gay so that will be nice. I've asked her to come after you two as I want to make you ... a business proposition first."
Fleur took a sip of her wine and leaned forward, eager to hear more, whereas Crystal simply looked puzzled. I took a deep breath before continuing.