Yes, I am a manipulative bitch. I've used my sexuality most of my adult life to get what I want. However, you shouldn't blame me completely. Guys just make it so fucking easy. To say that the average male thinks with his dick instead of his brain is probably the understatement of the millennia. Scientific studies have proven that when a man is around a woman that he finds attractive his is more prone to take risks (not just in card games, but in life), to discount the future when making economic decisions, and to spend on conspicuous luxury items. I just use those qualities to my advantage. I didn't make men that way β no more than did I give myself a flawless complexion, perky tits, sculptured thighs, a round ass, or a tight pussy.
If someone is born a genius, does anyone begrudge him or her the right to become a top notch famous scientist? If someone is born with business acumen does anyone criticize them for making lots of money? If someone is born with great athleticism does anyone disparage them for playing a professional sport? The answer to all of these is "Of course not." So don't give me shit for using the talents that I was born with, and developed, to live the life that I want to.
While I've used my sexuality most of my adult life, it didn't start out that way. From the time that I was eighteen until about my 20th birthday I was used and abused by guys. I was treated like a sex object, never respected, and asked to do more and more degrading things. I had an epiphany β with help β shortly after my 20th birthday.
I was in a bar with a dirtbag who passed for my boyfriend at the time and who wasn't treating me well when something he said to me β I don't even remember exactly what it was β caused this older guy nearby to go off. He confronted my "boyfriend" and told him what he thought of him. The "boyfriend" looked to me for salvation because the older guy was six inches taller and thirty pounds heavier than he was, but instead a lightbulb went off inside my head.
"Why do you always have to treat me like shit? This guy is absolutely right; I deserve to be treated like a lady, not a piece of meat."
"Boyfriend" made the mistake of slapping me when I said that. I swear that I saw a few of his teeth fly out of his mouth and the big older guy hit him with his sledgehammer-like right fist.
"Thanks," I said with a big smile holding out my hand to the big older guy. "I'm Amy; no one has ever stood up for me before."
"I'm Jack," the big older guy said taking my small hand in his large one. "Someone as beautiful as you are doesn't need to associate with shit like him. Get a different life."
"Easier said than done," I replied. "I don't have a security blanket to fall back on, and only a High School education."
Without releasing my hand he stared into my eyes for the longest time β I just stared back. Finally he released my hand and reached into his interior sport jacket pocket and handed me a card. "You'll make a great before and after case," he chuckled as I looked at the card. It read "Madame Bovary's Charm School," with the name and phone number of "Madame Estelle Bovary's" phone number on it. With a disgusted look on my face I asked "Is this a cat house or something β I'm not that low yet."
"I assure you that it's not," he said with a very stern face. "You call that number sometime tomorrow and ask for her β if your interview goes well you'll get a job out of it, and a future. Now, do you have your own place to stay or do you need one for the night?"
"Here goes," I thought to myself, "although nicer than normal just another guy who wants to get his rocks off."
Apparently Jack saw and correctly interpreted the look on my face. "Not in my apartment, Amy, not all guys are pigs, just most of them." With that he pulled two $100 bills out of his wallet and handed them to me. "Get a cab, get your stuff, go stay in a hotel, and call Estelle tomorrow. This is opportunity knocking β answer the door!"
I started to well up with emotion. I instinctively flipped my long auburn hair off my left shoulder, got a tear in my eye, and bit my lip. "Holy shit, you're a natural," Jack chuckled. "Now get the hell out of here before this asshole," he said pointing to my ex lying on the ground moaning and still not cognizant, "wakes up and I have to punch him out again."
I jumped off my stool, gave Jack a big smooch on the lips which obviously embarrassed him, said "Thanks again," put the $200 in my small purse, and lit out of the bar with most of the eyes there following me.
I had the cab wait for me as I took my only worthwhile possessions β two suitcases worth β out of my ex's apartment, and then to a motel that with the $200 Jack gave me, and another $276 of my own, that I could afford for at least a week or two but that was in a reasonably safe neighborhood.
When I was in the motel's old and worn but functional shower stall the next morning I started thinking about the "Madame Bovary" card. I still thought that it was likely a high end whorehouse; at the time I wasn't aware of the renowned novel by Gustave Flaubert but even if I had been the story of Madame Bovary in literature would not have led me to another conclusion. But then what Jack said made me think β "Is opportunity knocking and can I afford not to answer?"
I still had a couple of hours left on my prepaid cell phone so I called Madame Estelle Bovary at the number on the card. A woman with a French accent, which I won't attempt to imitate, answered: "Madame Bovary's Charm School, Estelle speaking."
"Uh, hi...my name's Amy Baxter and a guy by the name of Jack..." I hesitantly started out.
"Ah yes; Mr. O'Brien said that you might be calling. When can you come in for an interview?"
"Uh,...well...is sometime today OK?"
"Excellent; I'll see you at 2:00 p. m. sharp then. You have our address," Estelle replied in a happy yet firm voice.
"Yeah β it's on the card; OK, well catch your act at two, then," I responded.
I heard Estelle chuckling just as she hung up.
I took a cab to the address of the charm school and got there just a couple of minutes before two. The charm school was in an old Victorian mansion that had been converted, with oversized front windows, a solid three inch thick oak front door, and fresh landscaping. Although the building could have used a little work it was nicer than anyplace that I had ever lived or worked in.
A young woman receptionist led me into Estelle's office exactly at two. She rose to greet me, her French accent even more pronounced in person than on the phone. Estelle was a tall classy slender woman with high cheek bones, and a regal yet somehow warm air. I assumed that she was in her early forties but was very impressed when I found out later that she was in her late fifties. She was impeccably dressed, not a hair or bit of makeup out of place, and had a genuine and comforting smile on her face. "You must be Amy," she said extending her hand while she looked me over without being too obvious about it.
"Uh...yeah, Amy Baxter," I said as I shook her hand. "You must be Estelle Bovary."
"No," she replied with a smile after giving me a firm handshake and releasing her grip. "Jack just talked me into using that name because it has 'panache' and people who are well read will conjure up Monsieur Flaubert's famous novel although no one except a literature major will remember its depressing details and tragic ending. My real name is Mademoiselle Estelle Dubuc, although if we work together I will want you to call me 'Madame Bovary.'"
"Cool," I replied, getting me a grin from Estelle.
Estelle proceeded to interview me. I just acted normally. After we talked for about fifteen minutes she asked me to stand, walk, and then viewed me in a number of different types of light, both natural and man-made, in several of the mansion's rooms. Finally after about a half an hour she got right to the point.