Chapter Two
CORA
"What do you mean you're evicting me? Surely there's a process. This is not right. You can't do this." I'm barely holding back the tears. I missed one payment and my landlord wants to throw me out on the streets. Actually, he is throwing me out on the street. He's given me two hours to pack my stuff and leave. "What the fuck?"
"Next time you rent somewhere make sure you pay your rent on time." The landlord is a cruel man, he sits on the couch and waits while I pack my shit up into boxes that he brought with him.
As I'm packing I call my best friend, Louisa. "Lou, can I stay with you tonight, my landlord has thrown me out of my apartment."
"What the fuck, Cora? Of course, you can. I'll come over and help you pack up, you can put it in my car. You can stay as long as you like."
As I'm putting my clothes into two suitcases I have, Louisa walks in. I can hear her shouting at the landlord. "You're a fucking prick? You could have asked her to pay in installments or something, you don't need to throw her out. She has nowhere to go."
"I don't care. This is my apartment. She didn't pay for one month so I have someone who is moving in today who has paid six months in advance. That's business."
"Well, you're an asshole and I hope they burn the place down and you have to pay the money back to them." She storms into my room. He's an asshole. She sits down on the bed, "Right what do we need to do?"
"I've packed most of my clothes and put them in the suitcases. I need the toiletries and then my food and crockery that I bought myself. Thank you for doing this, Louisa. I can't thank you enough." I hug her and she hugs me back. Our arms tightly wrapped around both of us.
"What about work? Did you ring them to tell them you need the day off or just a few hours?" she asks as she grabs some more clothes and stuffs them in the suitcase.
"I'm going to do that next."
I pick up my cell and dial the number for my boss, Georgina. She is a bitch, but hopefully she will let me off with just talking down.
"Hey Georgina, it's Cora. Look, I've been thrown out of my apartment and I have three hours to pack up or he is throwing everything I own out on the street. I need a few hours to get organized, or if I can have the day that would be great. I can be back tomorrow, no problem."
"Cora, you think that calling me on a Monday morning and telling me that you are being evicted is going to let me give you the time off. You know that no one is allowed to call in sick on a Monday."
"But Georgina, I'm not calling in sick. I can be there in a few hours, I just can't be there on time this morning. Do you understand what is happening right now?"
"How do I know that you are telling the truth, Cora? This could just be a plan to stay home and nurse a hangover."
"I don't drink on Sundays because I have to go to work. I'm being evicted, right now, Georgina. Please."
She's quiet for a moment and I think I've wormed my way into her heart. But then she says, "Cora, if you are not in work on time this morning, then you're fired." She hangs up.
I slip down the wall to the floor. What is happening to my life? I cry, big sobs and I feel the moment Louisa comes into the room and sits on the floor next to me.
"I take it that didn't go well either?"
"You're right there. If I don't get into work on time then I'm fired."
She hugs me. "I can finish packing everything up if you want to go into work."
"I'm not going to make it on time now. It's too late." I work on the other side of town and it can take up to two hours to get to work and get home again. Shit, that means I am now homeless AND unemployed. "What am I going to do, Louisa?"
"Look, you can stay with me as long as you need to. We can look for jobs later today and see what is out there. Come on, let's pack up and get out of this place." She hugs me again and gets up off the floor, holding out her hand to help me up. I take it and then we finish packing the apartment up.
"Fuck you and your stupid apartment," I shout at the landlord who is just sitting on the couch smiling. I turn to Louisa. "Come on, let's get out of this hell hole."
We turn and grab suitcases, boxes and anything we can carry down to Louisa's car.
We get in the car and I don't look back. Life is for living and nothing else.
We unpack everything at Louisa's. She has plenty of storage in the garage and then I take my two suitcases to the spare room. "Thanks Louisa, I don't know what I would have done if you weren't in my life."
"Come on, don't think about that, we are in this together. I will be there for you all the way."
She helps me hang everything up and when the suitcases are empty she smiles. Come on, let's take you out for lunch."
"I can't afford to eat out, Louisa."
"It's my treat. You deserve it, it's been a bitch of a day. Let's have a few margaritas and let down our hair."
"Only if you're sure."
"Of course I am. Get changed and then I'll get Thomas to take us." Thomas is her driver. Did I say she is rich? Not her husband, Neil, but her. He works hard at his job, he doesn't want to give it up, even though she told him that she will provide for him.
"See you in twenty." I close the door and throw myself on the bed. I don't want to think about what has happened today, or what will happen in the next few days. I'm just going to take each day as it comes and hopefully I'll come out smelling of roses.
Twenty minutes later I'm dressed and ready to go for lunch.
"That was delicious and the margaritas have loosened my ball of nerves in my stomach." I say looking at Louisa. We've been laughing and chatting through dinner and now we are relaxed in our seats.
"What do you think you are going to do for work, Cora?" Louisa asks.
"I don't know. I need to try and find somewhere which isn't too far from wherever I get an apartment. The travel time was killing me. Why?"
"I'm just thinking if I know anyone who is hiring at the moment." She thinks and then her eyes open wide. "Did I ever tell you about my friend May?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think so. Who is she?"
"I've known May since she was a youngster. We hung around together for a while and then we both met men and fell in love. You know the usual. I might see her once a year now at a function. But that's irrelevant. Molly has her own business and I think it would be perfect for you."
"Oh, oh," I say as I sit up taller and lean into Louisa. "Tell me more."
Louisa looks around and catches the eye of the server. "Can we have two more margaritas please?"
"Certainly, ma'am." He leaves to fetch more for us.
"So," Louisa says, leaning in to me and looking out. That's a bit skeptical. "Miss May owns a Wife for Hire business."
"A what?"
"A Wife for Hire business. So, there are some rich men who need women to accompany them on dates..."
"You mean like escorts or prostitutes? I'm not pimping myself out, Louisa."
Louisa laughs. "Cora, I know that. Bear with me. So some rich men go to conferences or business events and when they are setting up deals, the buyer or seller would prefer them to be married rather than playboys. Are you with me so far?"
"I think so. Carry on. I'm intrigued." I take a sip of the new drink the server just put down.
"So, these men don't want to get married, it's not the right time for them or they've been burned. Remember when I met Neil, I didn't tell him I was rich. I wanted him to like me for me and not my money because I was sick of those losers trying to get me into bed with them. So her agency is a little like that. The business men are billionaires who need someone to act as their wife for a certain period of time. The money is great and the perks are even better. During the time of the 'fake marriage' you'll live in their house, and be treated like their wife. As long as you put on a good display when you're out with him, pretend that you are in love, then that's all you have to do. When it's over you get your money and you get to keep anything he bought you to make it seem real."
"Wow, okay. So I don't have to sleep with them?"
Louisa chuckles. "No, babe, you don't. But if you want to and they offer then I don't see a problem with that personally."
"Eww, Lou, they're probably all ugly men and I'm sure it will only be for a weekend or something like that."
"So, that should make it easier right, you won't have to stay too long and get your feelings hurt." She takes a sip of the margarita and smiles at me. "Apparently, the money is really good. And I mean, really really good."
I sit back in my chair and look at Louisa. This sounds like a great opportunity. Can I pretend to be someone's wife and then walk away after? If it's only a short gig then that shouldn't be a problem. No one would want anyone to pretend for longer than a week, surely?
"Okay, give me her details." I take out my phone to take down her number. "I'll call her tomorrow."
"Cora, you'll call her now."
"NOW?"
"Yes, go to the restroom and call her. I'll be waiting for you when you come back."
I stare at Louisa, knowing she won't let me back down. Standing I walk toward the back of the restaurant and find the restroom. Inside I check to see if there is anyone in the stalls, but they are empty. Thankfully. I'm not sure I could make this call with someone listening.
I press the button and listen to the dial tone. A part of me wants her not to answer and the other part of me is desperate because I need the money.
"Good afternoon, Wife for Hire, this is May, how can I help you?" I did not expect her to answer herself.
"Erm good afternoon. I was given your number from Louisa Bellington, she recommended I speak with you about being a wife for hire."
"Ah, how is Louisa doing? I've known her for years. Tell her we must get together for some drinks soon." May says and I’m instantly at ease, her voice is gentle and soothing.
"I will do. I'm a little nervous because I've never heard of such an agency before. I've just been made homeless and lost my job so I am desperate at the moment. Louisa thinks that this work would suit me and I have to say I'm intrigued." I'm also listening out for the bathroom door to see if someone comes in, but there's no one there. Thankfully.
"Not many people have heard of us and I'd prefer it that way. We like to stay exclusive. Our clientele are very rich men who don't trust women very much. They've usually been burned and just want someone on their arm to get them through a family event or wedding or even a business deal."
"How long has been the longest assignment?" I'm curious.
"The longest has been two or three weeks. Usually, the business deal has been completed by then or the family event is over. Some of my clients like the wife to stay for a few days after the event just in case someone decides to call and check if she is his wife or not. Does that make sense?"
"Absolutely. I'd love to know more about it and how can I join?"
"We have a policy that you have to come in and be interviewed. It's quite a vigorous meeting, we need to ask certain questions and see what your level of retention is. You will be given a file which you need to read, digest and recall at a moment's notice. I'd like to meet with you, let me check my schedule. Just hold on for one moment."
"No problem." I listen to the calming on hold music and close my eyes and lean against the wall. This all sounds so surreal. Who pays money for a woman to pretend to be a wife? They must all be ugly, because when I look in the tabloids and magazines, I see those young rich men with different women on their arms all the time.
It's a few minutes then I hear her say, "Super, I actually have an opening on Friday morning at ten if you want to come in then."
"That's fantastic, I'd love that. What do I need to bring with me?"
She laughs. "Just yourself, we don't need proof of qualifications, we are not that kind of place. I just want to get a chance to know you better so that I know what kind of man to pair you up with. There's no point in me pairing you up with a man with five dogs if you are allergic to dogs."
"Super, Friday at ten sounds perfect. Thank you for this opportunity, May and I'll tell Louisa to give you a call."
"Thanks Cora, I'll see you on Friday." She hangs up the phone.
I take a deep breath, run my fingers through my hair and ruffle it a bit. I put my hands down on the worktop and lean into the mirror. I have a big smile on my face, this could be what I need to get enough money to find my own place. I'm grateful to Louisa for letting me stay, but I only want it to be temporary, I don't want to overstay my welcome. Smiling at myself, I push off the worktop and open the door to go back to the table and Louisa.