Meg was standing in front of a modern looking building. She pressed the intercom next to the door.
“Yes?” a female voice answered and Meg recognized it.
“Good evening, …ma’am” Meg said. Politeness was something new to her. “We met this afternoon, outside the temp job office. You said you might have work for me”
A short silence followed.
“Of course” the woman said slowly. “Why don’t you come in? Just up the stairs” The woman hung up and a buzzing sound was heard. Meg pushed the door open and walked up the white stairs which was right in front of her.
Upstairs the woman was waiting for her. She looked a lot classier in her white cocktail dress and her hair tied up tightly. She was wearing high heels, makeup and her nails were polished. She wore a pearl necklace around her and golden earrings and three rings on each hand.
“Welcome” she said with a big smile whereby she revealed a row of snow white teeth. “Claudia!” she shouted and an older woman appeared. She was wearing an apron and held a duster in her hand. She walked to the door and opened it.
“Thank you, Claudia” the woman said and she walked inside. Meg followed her and wanted to shut the door. “No, no, no, we don’t do that” the woman stopped Meg and Claudia started to close the door. “Claudia, before you continue your cleaning I want you to bring me some green tea”
“Yes, ma’am” Claudia said and she closed the door.
The woman walked to the couch and signed at Meg to do the same.
“I just realized we haven’t officially met yet” the woman said. “My name is Dorothy Cooper”
“Meg…Masters” Meg mumbled. She felt rather uncomfortable inside the fancy apartment.
“Let’s get to business, shall we?” Dorothy suggested. She stood and walked to the antique, chestnut armoire and opened it. She pulled out a folder, closed the armoire and walked back to the couch. In the meantime Claudia had come back with the tea which she now poured into two cups.
“Thank you, Claudia” Dorothy said. “Go back to your work now”
Claudia left and Dorothy handed the folder to Meg. “Everything you have to know is in here”
Meg opened the folder and took out the papers that were in it. She tried to read it fast, but careful.
“You want me to work as a call girl?” she asked rather disgusted. “So, that’s why you said I looked pretty”
“I know it’s scary. You’re afraid of what you’re family and friends will think of you. But no one has to know. You’ll get a codename, appointments are made by phone, by me, and you meet the clients at their house” Dorothy pleaded. “Besides, it pays really well and you can keep all the money”
Meg considered it. She really wanted to get her own place, to get away from Cas, who apparently couldn’t take no for an answer.
“Where do I have to sign?” she asked determined.
Dorothy smiled and gave her a pen. She browsed to the final page and pointed at the bottom. “Right there, darling”
Meg took the pen, placed it on the paper and wrote her name. She gave the pen back to Dorothy and Dorothy accepted it while she put the papers back inside the folder.
“When do I start?” Meg wanted to know.
“I’ll call you” Dorothy said and she gave Meg a notebook. “Write your phone number down, please” and she reached the pen to Meg.
Meg hesitated. Cas was the only one who had her number and she wasn’t sure she wanted that to change. She reproached herself and accepted the pen and noted her number.
“Can’t wait to get started” she said serious.