Page 2 of The Cost of a Bride
Eric’s nods become more enthusiastic. “Some just dance – others, well…”
I hear a commotion behind us and turn to see Jim, Nate, and Tyler waving their hands in my direction, clearly wanting me to join them and get back to putting on a display of picking up girls for them. I hold up my index finger and turn back to Eric.
“So high priced escorts?” I say.
“Basically, yeah,” Eric replies. “The highest of the high. I’m talking ex-models, actresses. I had to sign an NDA when I took the job.”
“You’re screwing with me,” I laugh, shoving him in the shoulder. But Eric just shakes his head in reply.
“I’m dead serious, bro. In fact, I’m on my way there tonight. If you wanted me to get you in for old time’s sake…”
Suddenly my heart rate is rising, and the boring evening I saw in front of me seems not so boring. If what Eric is saying is true, this could be a once in a lifetime chance to see behind the curtain of a part of society that people speak about but I never actually believed existed. Something that you only ever see represented in movies.
I’ve come to this same dive bar a million times with the boys, and if I say no to Eric and stick around, I know I’m just going to end up going over to some poor girl and giving her some dumb pickup line to see how she responds just so the boys can laugh about it. And even if shedoesend up giving me her number – which I doubt – I won’t end up calling her anyway, as I’m never in the dating mood since Cheryl ran off on me with Barry.
I guess after that happened, I kind of put women on the backburner for a while. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel like going to a party filled with ex-models and actresses and the highest priced escorts in the world who serve the elite just to take a look. Even a man who isn’t hungry doesn’t mind watching a world-class chef cook a Michelin-star meal, right?
“All right, Eric,” I say with a smile. “You’re on.”
I arriveat the house a half-an-hour after Eric, who had to get there before me because it’s his job, and also because I had to go home and get the nicest suit I own, which I only bring out for special occasions. The boys weren’t too happy about me bailing on them, but I lied and told them my stomach was suddenly feeling bad, and I’d catch up with them later.
The house is an enormous stone mansion out in the middle of the Connecticut woods that looks like it was built by master masons when America was first being founded. Parked inside the fenced-in courtyard are expensive cars that I can barely even begin to name, and I pull up in my old beat-up Corolla that the men at the door clearly glance at as I get out and walk up.
“Evening,” I say. “I’m Ru-Russell. Eric’s friend.”
They glance at me, each other, then back at me. Then one of them produces a tablet. “NDA,” he says simply. “Sign it.”
Part of me wants to read over it and be sure of what it is I’m signing, but I’m also pretty sure that if Idon’tsign this, or if I make a big stink out of reading over it, I’m just not going to get in. So I run my finger across the signature line at the bottom as I’m told.
This seems to satisfy the man, who claps the case shut on the tablet and moves aside as the other man opens the door for me. The sound of classical music emanates from within, and the soft glow of warm light spills out onto the steps.
“Enjoy your evening, sir,” the man says.
“Thank you,” I reply.
As I step into the house, I realize that everything Eric told me back at the bar was true. It’s as though I’m stepping into a completely different world.
There are gorgeous womeneverywhere. Some of them are clothed, some of them are not. The ones that are are wearing incredible lingerie, stockings and garters, and all of them have heels. It’s like someone rounded up all of the Victoria’s Secret models, the Miss Universes, and all the pageant winners from every state and brought them here.
There are men in suits walking around too, some of them with a girl on their arm, and some just sitting with a drink in their hand. I feel instantly out of place, just in the way my car was out front with the rest of the incredible supercars and luxury cruisers. I hand my coat to a man standing beside me and head into the room on my right, hoping to find Eric.
I end up in a lounge style room with couches and recliners and a man at a grand piano playing soft jazz. Seated are many kingly men with half-naked women on their laps, and spread across the room are couples dancing to the music.
I move through it and several other similar rooms filled with other beautiful, half-naked women until I find the bar. Eric spots me and raises his hand. He’s dressed a lot more dapper than earlier, in a suit and a bow tie, and is just finishing up serving a man with a model hanging from his shoulder.
“Hey, you made it!” He smiles.
“This is nuts,” I whisper. “How does this exist?”
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” he chuckles.
“What do you mean?” I ask. I already feel as though I’ve been teleported into another world. I can’t even imagine there being more to this place.
“You’ve seen the dancers, right?” Eric asks. I nod. “Well, they’ve got girls who will go all the way with ya for the right price. They’ve even got girls selling off their v-cards here, bro.”
“What!?” I exclaim. Eric quickly motions for me to keep my voice down. I lean in and speak softly. “Are you serious?”
Eric nods, his eyes blazing. “I sure am. If I had a bit more cash like you, maybe I’d partake.”