“I’msorry,Tiny,butmy hands are tied.He paid upfront, and with Elise falling ill, you’re my last hope.”Madame Madelin cupped Tiny’s hand.
The implants in her fingertips told her more, flickering information across a neural pathway.
“Drink more water, Maddy,” she said, sensing dehydration through the pliancy of her skin.“Now why are you worried?Who’s the client?Is he a troublemaker?”
“He can be a little exuberant.I’ll have Mother on guard, just in case.”
Tiny grimaced.An antique AI bot dominating the unused corner didn’t create a calm atmosphere for her clients.But for Maddy to offer, that told Tiny what to expect.
“Have Mother stand outside the door.I’ll scream if I need its help.”She squared her shoulders then tidied the towel draped over the bed’s headrest.Everything around her was a white blur, but she prepped the room after every session and did it by rote now.As long as no one moved anything, she was fine.
“Thanks, Tiny.I owe you one.”Maddy left, her delicate tread recognizable.‘Mr.Emerson, please, this way.”
“About damn time.”A man huffed when he entered, his feet thumping like his balls were too big and he had to compensate with wild leg swings.
His smell hit Tiny first: a mixture of sweat, overcooked onions, and lack of hygiene.
Her fingers twitched in protest.She pasted on a smile and gestured to the bed.“Make yourself comfortable, Mr.Emerson,” she said.
“What—?”He growled.“You gave me a blind girl?”
Maddy cleared her throat.“Tiny’s one of our best masseuses.I can, of course, refund your payment, if you prefer.”
“As long as she’s good, I’m willing to forgive and forget.”He popped something that sounded like a boot strap or his pant fastenings.The stench of unwashed feet almost made Tiny gag.
“Well, enjoy,” Maddy said and beat a hasty retreat.
Tiny gazed at the door, wishing she, too, could leave.Instead, she tried to breathe through her mouth while she waited for her client to strip and sprawl over the bed.
“Been a tough day?”she asked from the list of boring questions she kept on hand.
“You have no idea,” he muttered, his voice garbled with his face pressed into the bed.
Covering her implants spared her from diagnosing any ailments he might suffer with.She scooped up gloves and slid them on while standing near his feet, then with two pumps from the oil dispenser, she set to work, massaging every inch of his body.Classical music filled the room, almost masking his heavy breathing.
“Youaregood,” he mumbled.
She didn’t let his compliment go to her head.With the number of clients she saw daily, their opinions didn’t matter.This was a job, nothing more.Not what she wanted to do, that’s for damn sure, but it was far better than working at C.C.A.Massage, dance, sleep, and repeat, just so she could eat.No way would she meet a man, settle down, and have a kid.Chances of that were zero.Not on her schedule.
Dad called often, begging her to come home.“A woman of thirty should be married and giving us grandbabies.”
She always responded with, “No man wants a blind wife.”Though it shut Dad up, his silence lasted about a month before he’d call for the same reason.
A squeak escaped her when she realized Mr.Emerson was no longer on the bed.She angled her head to listen, then focused on his panting no more than a meter to her left.Which put him between her and the door.
“Sir,” she said, keeping her voice calm.“Are you dissatisfied with my service?”
Lord, she prayed he was so he would leave.Her stomach grumbled, blaming her for skipping lunch.She’d have to grab a meal before changing for her shift at the bar downstairs.
“I consider you a boon,” he said, his stench closer.
She frowned.Like a lucky charm?“Please return to the bed so I may finish.”She patted the foot end for good measure.
“I offer you a little something extra for, well, a little something extra.”He chuckled.“If you’re interested, that is.”
She blinked at him, unsure she understood him correctly.And if he meant what she thought he did, that was all manner of ‘ew.’Instead of revealing her revulsion, she went with fake ignorance.“I’m sorry.It’s been a long day.If you wish to extend the package you purchased, it will mean another session.Only thirty minutes has been allotted to you for today.”
She didn’t expect the hand on her throat.Nor could she prevent being thrown onto the floor, hard enough to wind her.Every inch of her pinged in complaint.Had she wanted to call for Mother, she wouldn’t have been able to, gasping for air like she did.All this was made worse when Mr.Emerson layered his sweaty, stench-riddled body over her, pinning her in place.
