When my wife talks about getting laid, I know exactly what she means. But when her boss mentioned the L-word, it came with a wholly different meaning: laid off.
That's what happened when the Vegas casino she worked for decided that business was slow. And she wasn't alone. Thousands of her workers around the city were also laid off, making the prospects of her getting a new job bleak.
My job could pay most of the bills, but after several months, our budget was a bust. Marcy knew we were getting deep into trouble with little hope of keeping up with the bills while the credit card limits edged ever closer.
To earn a few bucks, Marcy babysat the kids of a few of her work friends who were lucky enough to keep their jobs. Maria is a nice girl; a little on the plump side, but that's fine for her waitress job in a casino coffee shop. Maria's husband Steve is a man on the prowl, always hustling a buck, which is fine for his job as a valet for high rollers. I would have to be blind to see that he has also always had an eye for my wife.
One Thursday night, while Steve and Maria were over to pick up their baby girl, the two women were inside talking while Steve and I sat outside on the patio drinking the last of my beers. Johnny, he said, you've got problems. Obviously an understatement, but I was too depressed to do anything but sit and listen. I can help you two to get back on your feet, if you can convince Marcy to take a job that I've offered her.
It took 20 minutes for Steve to explain everything, during which time, I just sat there and listened with my mouth open. But before we could go any farther, Maria opened the door, called her husband and led him to their car.
Later that night as Marcy and I lay in bed, I put my hand between her legs and casually stroked her pussy lips just to keep her interested.
Honey, you never mentioned Steve's job offer? That caught her by surprise and she stopped my hand, just looking into my eyes.
Marcy whispered, he talked to you about it? Geez, I'll kill him and tell his wife. If he needs a whore, why doesn't Maria do it?
That sort of summed it up. Steve needed a girl to handle the "special requests" he frequently got from his clients. I can understand why he approached my wife. Besides needing the money, Marcy has a body to keep any guy hard. No, she's not a supermodel. But at 5'4", 105 pounds with 33C breasts and long flowing hair, Marcy is the epitome of a shy and quiet China Doll. There is a great deal to be said about Asian sexual mystique. At least that's what Steve thinks. To me, Marcy is simply my gorgeous wife.
Steve told me he tried to get Marcy to work for him as soon as she got laid off, but she told him a definite no and nothing more was said. But now, with money getting scarce, Steve probably figured it was time to raise the subject again.
His proposal was straightforward. When high rollers needed an escort for a night, they called Steve. He had that reputation. It might just be for company at the gambling table, at the dinner table, or for a special "dessert" in a private suite. These were men who thought nothing of dropping $50,000 or $60,000 at the tables every night. And when they tipped, it was by the thousands.
John, I can't believe he told you that. He's insane, I could never be a hooker.
Honey, it's okay, but why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want you to get mad.
I wasn't mad, but she was brooding. She quickly turned her back to me, pulled the covers up and went to sleep.
On Saturday, I was trying to balance the checkbook, and it was clear we weren't going to meet all the bills this month. A loan was out of the question. Even if we could cut our budget back a little bit more, it wouldn't get us the money we needed in time. Something had to give.
John, what did you think when Steve brought up his proposition.
I told her I was stunned and didn't know what to say. Of course, ever since then I'd been thinking about my wife having sex with some rich guy for money, but I couldn't admit that to her. Instead, I assured her we would find some way to pay the bills.
John, I can read our bank statement as well as you, and I know we're screwed.