Chapter One
Sienna
“Here you go, honey.”
I glance down at the silver dollar shoved into my hand—I didn’t know they made those anymore—then back at the kind and weathered face of a sweet old lady smiling up at me.
There is something innocent about those eyes that feels uncorrupted despite the many years she’s spent on earth.
I question once more if she’s only ever known a happy life or if the dementia somehow wiped away all the bad memories and with them, the scars.
Whichever the case, it doesn’t erase the fact that she looks incredibly happy to give me her dollar coin so I offer her a smile of my own.
“Thank you for the tip, Gretchen,” I say, slipping it into my pocket. “That is very generous of you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she waves it off but I read pleasure in her eyes. “My daughter is a waitress too, you know. She’s working to raise money to go to college. Her pa and I told her we would pay for her tuition but the stubborn girl was insistent about paying her own way.”
There is such love and admiration in her voice that I don’t have the heart to tell her that her daughter hasn’t been a waitress, or even alive, in nearly twenty years so I let her narrate the lovely memory as I wipe down her table.
I listen, as I do every day, as she talks about her family and only move briefly to another table when another customer walks in.
By the time Gretchen's grandson comes to pick her up and the customers dwindle, everything hurts. My legs are sore and there’s a painful headache at the back of my head slowly creeping to the front.
With a sigh, I settle down on one of the tables and take out my tips to count them, wincing inwardly when I realize I’ve barely collected ten bucks today. Well, ten bucks and a silver dollar.
“Ouch.”
I don’t glance up when Audrey takes the seat across from mine and fingers through the crumpled bills scattered on the table.
I don’t need to look up to read the pity in her eyes.
I imagine she hasn’t made any more than I have, but, in all fairness, she isn't drowning in debt like I am and if she is, then she’s kept it quiet.
I should know better than to bring personal issues to work but there are days, like today, when it all boils over and I just can't hold it in anymore.
“At this rate, I’ll never pay off my family's medical bills," I whisper, running a hand over my face into my hair, fisting it. "I got another notice yesterday.”
“Ouch,” she says again, reaching across the table to take my hands. “How much was it this time?"
“A lot.” Finally, I lift my eyes to hers and indeed, there is pity written on her face. “Do you happen to have twenty thousand dollars lying around somewhere I could borrow?"
“Ouch.” This time, she makes me laugh, however brittle the sound is. “How is your brother doing?”
The smile falls as I think of my little brother battling an illness that’s taken so much from him.
When he was diagnosed with a severe case of Lupus a year ago, it felt like the world was crumbling around us but we were certain we’d hold.
But then, misfortunes followed one after the other.
A workplace accident stole our father from us only six months after Jude was diagnosed.
We lost our health insurance after Dad’s accident so the settlement from his death went into Jude’s care.
My mother had to quit work to homeschool Jude and care for him, and I was forced to take as many jobs as I could find to support our family of three.
Even with Dad’s social security and pension benefits, we’re still falling under the weight of debt.
“I have to find another job,” I tell Audrey, lifting my tired eyes to hers. "You don't happen to know anyone who's hiring, do you?"
“You’re already working so many shifts, Sienna—”
“I can do more.” I have to.
“I mean…” her eyes drop back to the crumpled bills on the table and another wave of pity crosses her expression. “Um…this could be nothing, but I heard something about an opening at the Elysium casino. You know it, right?”
There isn't a soul in Vegas that doesn't know about the members-only casino run by the Steel Sinners. A very dangerous and scary MC that everyone tries to steer clear of. Still, I swallow down my fear. "What kind of opening?"
“Well, you know…I mean they’re hiring women to…”
My eyes widen when I realize what she’s saying, or rather, trying not to say.
“An escort,” I whisper, mortified by the idea.
Escorting is a big business in Vegas and I've heard tales of girls who made crazy numbers by working as escorts, but I've also heard scarier stories of ladies who lost themselves in the business. With some even losing their lives.
“I heard Elysium pays well and takes care of their girls,” she hurries to say when she sees the fear in my eyes and I can't tell if it's me she's trying to convince or herself. “You should definitely go in for an interview. I'm sure they pay more in a day than you make here in a month.”
I chew on my lips, contemplating her words.
I've never considered taking this route before. What do I know about escorting other than the crazy stories I hear online? Heck, I wouldn’t know what to do.
These men would want an experienced girl, right?
They’d probably turn me away if they found out I’m a virgin who doesn’t know the first thing about pleasing a man.
“Oh God!” I bury my face in my hands, hating myself a little for considering this option. “They’ll probably take one look at me and kick me out.”
“Are you insane?” Audrey tugs at my hands, pulling them from my face. “You are exactly the type rich guys pay top dollar to spend an evening with. One look from your big brown doe eyes and they'll be begging to be with you.”
I don’t mind the little ego scratching as it gives me a boost. “Do you really think I should give it a shot?”
“I do,” she says, her eyes dropping back to my measly tips. “It's rare for the casino to have open positions and it’s even more unusual for the casino to have interviews like this. It’s a long shot, I know, but you have to try. For your family.”
For my family.
A part of me feared I’d resort to something like this to make anything close to the money needed for my brother’s care, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself or acknowledge that little voice.
But this is what I have to do. For a few months, maybe longer, then I’ll quit. I’ll leave before I lose myself in a world that I never intended to set foot in.
***
I’m nervous, trembling in my heels as I climb out of the taxi and make my way to the casino. I’ve never been to one before. Spent my entire life in Vegas but never once set foot in a casino, and to think that I’m about to enter one and interview for a position as an escort…
Push it out. Don’t think about it, Sienna.
The bouncers at the entrance are boulders, huge mountains of men with scowls that nearly send me running back the way I came but I fiercely twist my mother’s wedding ring that I wear on my right index finger.
The simple gold band reminds me of my family, of the reason I’m doing all of this.
I don’t know how much luck it’ll give me, or that I necessarily believe in that kind of thing, but I could use all the luck I can get.
The casino is intimidating. All twelve floors of it.
I've seen it before, passed by it frequently but never once given it a single thought and to think I'm about to seek employment with them. All the intensive research indicated that escorts just offer men companionship but I am not naive enough to believe that will come without offering sexual favors. And I’ll have to learn on the job how to do all that.
I have to do this…
I wobble in my heels toward the bouncers.
One of them runs a metal scanner over me, his face a mask of steel as he does so and doesn’t once touch me.
The other scans my ID and once they’re both certain I am indeed of legal age, they ask me what I am here for and they let me through, directing me in a cool voice to head up to the conference room on the fifth floor.
I don't breathe until I’m in the elevator, leaning back against the cool walls and forcing myself not to keel over on the floor. It would be humiliating to pass out on my way to an interview.
“Slow deep breaths. Count one, two, three…” I murmur to myself, repeating the instructions I give Jude when he wakes up in pain.
Jude. Just the mental image of my seventeen-year-old brother with his sad eyes and guilty look on his face is enough to kick away some of the nerves.
I'm barely trembling when the elevator doors open on the fifth floor.
I make my way to the conference room as instructed and when I get to the open door, I freeze.
It shouldn’t surprise me that there are other women here but the sheer number gives me a sinking feeling that I might not get the job after all.
The room smells of expensive perfumes and the women are all drop-dead gorgeous with legs for days and the kind of boobs I used to dream of having when I had time to worry about my looks.
Objectively, I’ve always known of my appeal.
Hard to be blind to it when my own mother is stunning with features she gave to me.
Still, I can't help but feel inadequate in a room with women who probably spent a ton of money on grooming themselves for the day.
Shiny hair, nails done, and outfits that probably cost a pretty buck.
And I, well…I wore one of my old dresses with heels a little worn at the soles, but barely anyone will notice unless they take a closer look.
I question if I should’ve invested more in my looks today but I shake my head; every penny counts to take care of my brother and besides, there is no need to waste money on a job I might not get.
Think positive thoughts, Sienna. Only positive thoughts.