Epilogue
Catarina
My heart pounds in my chest and my feet come to an abrupt stop on the sidewalk as I walk toward the entrance of my destination.
I blink a few times before realizing it was all in my head.
It’s been two years since I ran. Two years since I saw his brown eyes.
I’ve started to see him in strangers’ faces more than normal now.
I brush the sudden onset of nausea away and push through the heavy glass doors just as the elevator dings. The sound kicks my movements in gear. I start running so I don’t miss the ride up and I catch it just in time, pressing the button before the doors shut, sliding open with a soft hiss.
Ashley’s waiting for me when I step out, whispering, “She’s with a client, so we have to be quiet.”
“And you’re laughing, why?”
“Because you’re never quiet,” she answers. We tiptoe over and I raise my finger to my lips, shushing her. I stop at the door, hoping I can catch a piece of the show. We both press listen to Charlotte speak on the other side.
“I think politicians who introduce bills they know will catch the attention of the media, do it just to rile people up because they’ve got a degradation kink. Don’t you? You little slut.” A wet sound follows, and I’m pretty sure it’s spit.
My eyes widen and I look at Ashley. “Who the hell is in there?”
She lifts her shoulders. “Virtual client.”
“You’re not a leader.” Her voice is loud, even through the door.
“You’re a toilet in a suit. Isn’t that right, you little shit stain?
” I put my hand over my mouth but it’s not enough.
We both head out the balcony before I blow our cover.
When the session ends, she steps outside to join us.
Her red hair is pulled back from her face.
I turn when I hear the doors glide open. “So, who was the lucky recipient?”
She smirks. “No one important, just another politician with a humiliation fetish.”
I don’t know how she does it. “How’d you even find him?”
She lifts her shoulders, shrugging. “I posted something online.”
Ashley gets excited and pulls out her phone.
“Let me read it to you.” She looks at a smirking Charlotte who now sits in a plastic patio chair, propping her feet up on the railing.
“Genuine question, and I promise not to bully you. What’s your party approved answer when asked about our state's election scheme?”
Charlotte stands and walks to the kitchen, yelling over her shoulder, “It worked. He replied, ‘What if I want you to bully me?’ So I did some digging. Found out who he was. Told him my rate was astronomical and that I’d only tolerate one session. He still agreed and paid up front.”
“What’d you do with the money?” She walks back out with a brown paper bag.
“I donated every cent to Planned Parenthood.”
“And if he finds out?” I question.
“Oh, he knows.”
Ash raises a brow. “That doesn’t worry you?”
Charlotte starts unwrapping a sandwich. “It was the cherry on top. I told him right before I ended the call. I got to watch the realization on his face in real-time. I mean, how would he even spin that?” She starts to mimic a deep voice.
“Honey, it’s nothing. I just paid a super-hot Dominatrix twenty-five K to call me a pathetic little pig.
” She takes a bite. “The best part? I refused to sign an NDA. And he still went through with it.” Ashley laughs and leans against the railing looking at the tourists walking below us on the street.
I stretch, already ready to be off from work even though my shift doesn’t start for a few more hours.
“Since she works until eleven”—Charlotte gestures to me—“maybe we could go to the overlook after? I doubt the leafers will be out at midnight.” I feel her elbow digging into my side.
“Maybe Rylan can come.” I roll my eyes. “What?” Charlotte tilts her head.
“He owes us. We did most of the work last time.”
Ashley starts fanning herself dramatically, and I look at her. “You know, she could always offer you a turn.”
Ashley scrunches her face in distaste. “Absolutely not. I get nervous making eye contact, and I know she’s into some weird shit.”
Charlotte scoffs. “Like what?”
“Hm, I don’t know. The brotherly love glove?” Ashley answers.
Charlotte laughs, “Oh come on, I washed it beforehand!”
I hope one of them will fill me in. “Excuse me?”
Ashley leans against the table. “One time Charlotte found a pocket pussy—”
Charlotte interrupts, her mouth over half full. “Double open-ended pocket pussy.”
Ash waves her hand. “Whatever, anyway she had these brothers and she used it on them. At the same time.”
Charlotte finishes pushing the last bite of sandwich in her mouth. “Not brothers.” She swallows. “Just best friends.”
“Still pretty kinky,” I say while bringing both fists up, trying to gauge how hard it would be. Would you grip it over or under? Ash interrupts my movements.
“One came before the other and she used his, ya know, to jerk the other off.”
As if Ashley didn’t just tell a story about one of her sexcapades, Charlotte looks back at me, completely unfazed. “Soooo, tonight?”
I plop into a chair. “Maybe.”
I hear Ashley laugh. “That’s not a no.”
Charlotte wiggles her eyebrows in my direction. “No, it’s not.”