HUDSON'S CHOICE

6.

Pulling on her skirt and making sure that her thin leather belt was tight, Nadia glanced at her hairstyle, mascara, and lipstick in the mirror that covered the elevator wall while it rose to the 36th floor.

Her hair, which reached her shoulders, had responded well to its smoothing session, and she was satisfied with the result. This gave her a look she liked, and she wondered why she had never thought of smoothing her hair before. She felt, and she was... transformed.

Oh, my God! Am I doing this? Seriously? she thought as she tugged nervously on her skirt to adjust the fall before smoothing it with her damp and nervous hand.

Looking down, she noted that her high-heeled shoes were immaculate and her transparent tights in the style of Kate Middleton were impeccable, ready to make a good impression for her first job.

My very first client. Oh, wow! It’s happening. I’m doing it. I’m not dreaming. I’m no longer counting the days, hours, and minutes until it’s time. No, I’m here and I’m doing it.

Nadia had spent several years wondering what this particular moment was going to look like. None of the books she had read or any of the television documentaries she’d seen had prepared her for it, though. Turning to face the closed doors of the elevator, she looked at the digital panel to see the numbers of the floors scroll, one after the other as if to tease her. Was it going to stop at floor 36 or was it going to the top? Anxiety increased at every floor that passed.

Part of her wanted to hear the ding stop signal that would bring another passenger, delaying the journey in the hope that she would have time to recover her courage. Another part of her wanted everything to be finished so she would no longer be sick with apprehension. And at the same time, she wanted to be at home, enjoying a good book and fantasizing about this moment, knowing that it was never really going to happen.

And here I am.

She looked again at the digital panel, having checked that her skirt was properly buttoned, for the tenth time since she had entered the elevator.

21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. OK. Ten more. You can do it, Nadia. You’re ready. You’re going to be perfect. You know.

Finally, the ding announced the arrival of her destination and when the elevator stopped gently, ready to open its doors, Nadia’s heart skipped a beat and she felt her stomach contract. Taking her courage in both hands, she stepped out of the elevator as surely as she could at the moment when the doors opened. She had the look of someone who felt at ease here. As if she knew exactly where she was going and what she was doing.

Room 3620. Ok, check the instructions and see where to go. To the left and then along the corridor. Easy.

She took stock of the list she had made in her mind. How she had to dress, what she had to say, and how she had been advised to act. Everything was under control. They had given her a week to prepare. They had been generous, but it was her first time. She knew it, and she also knew she would never get another opportunity like this.

3617. 3618. She counted room numbers on the right before suddenly stopping to face the door of room 3620.

Unable to manage her nervousness any longer, she knocked firmly on the door and waited. Seeing that the peephole was darkening, she knew she was being watched. Examined. Evaluated. It only made her more nervous not to hear the door unlock or to see the handle turn.

Finally, the lock clicked, and the door began to open, softly, until the occupant of the luxurious hotel suite was visible to her eyes.

Oh... That’s not what I expected. Not at all.

Plunging his gaze into hers, with captivating hazelnut colour eyes, it took a moment for Nadia to recover. He was not at all as she expected. Salt and pepper hair cut short gave him the contained elegance that complemented his handsome tanned face and highlighted his jawline.

Is he real? This dream man needed to pay for an escort? Seriously? What is the flaw? There should be one, right? If it sounds too good to be true, it’s certainly false. This is how it works, right? God, let him not be a p*****t with messed up cravings...

“Nadia?” he asked, taking a step back and gesturing to invite her to enter.

“Yes, that’s me. And you’re Max, aren’t you?” she said, approaching him and giving him an affectionate hug and a peck on the cheek.

“That’s right,” confirmed Max as he picked up an envelope on his desk near the door. “I think I’m supposed to give it to you like this to avoid that embarrassing moment where you check the amount in front of me.”

Taking the envelope that was extended to her, Nadia made it discreetly slip into her purse. “Thank you. Yes, it’s perfect.”

Now that he was no longer obscured by the shadow of the hotel room door, she could examine her client closer. Observing him from top to bottom, she was pleasantly surprised to find that he was not just a pretty face. For a mature man, he was in great shape, and he stood in a way she usually associated with younger and more athletic guys.

“So, I pass the test?” Max asked, keenly aware that his overnight partner watched him with as much intensity as he had done with her.

“Sorry. I should not be so indiscreet. To be quite honest, I’m curious as to why a man like you would pay for me to be with him. You could surely find better?”

“A man like me?” he asked with a mischievous smile and a funny look in his eyes. “And who said I could do better?”

“Oh, what beautiful talk. Is there a chance we can have something to drink while we get acquainted?”

“I’m sorry. Where are my manners? What would you like to drink? I have an open bottle of gin if you want a gin and tonic, or I can call room service if you would like something more exotic?”

“A gin and tonic is perfect, thank you,” she said, grateful for anything that might ease her nerves.

“Please, get comfortable on the couch and I’ll prepare it for us.”

Then, as he turned and walked to the bar, she noticed that he had a light and graceful gait that made her think of one of her idols, Sean Connery, on whom she had fantasized as a girl, in his dangerously elegant James Bond role.

Okay, so this isn't an old pudgy with bad breath as I expected. It could be really interesting.

Returning with a gin and tonic in each hand, Max sat on the couch beside Nadia and offered her one of the glasses. “To health, us, and our one amusing night,” he said, looking at her directly in the eyes and raising his glass.

“Health.”

There is no turning back now. Here we are. You can do it. You can succeed. Just remind yourself of the keyword: Assurance. With a capital A.

Taking a deeply needed sip of her drink Nadia set the glass on the table and leaned toward Max.

“You don’t look quite at your ease. Should we fix that?” she asked, catching the knot of his impeccable tie and undoing it, before deciding to take it off completely.

“By all means,” Max said, turning to her to make things easier.

Nadia’s displayed confidence seemed to break the ice, and she continued on the same path. Undoing the top two buttons of his shirt, she continued on his jacket which she slid down his shoulders then removed.

Initially worried that leading the dance would not be welcome for a distinguished and also confident man, her fears disappeared quickly when she saw the expression on his face. He seemed to enjoy the attention and made no move to intervene.

So far, so good.

“Tell me about yourself,” she said in the most casual way she could, despite her nervousness.

“What do you do? What brings you here? Work?”

“Not much to say,” he replied sheepishly. “It’s a bit annoying. Maybe I should invent something to seem more, I don’t know...” he paused, “interesting or in tune with the times, or something like that.”

Nadia laughed. Okay, so he has a special sense of humour, too. His capital has just climbed a few points again, for sure.

“You’re so droll. Okay, if you don’t want to tell me what you do, what do you think about inventing a story for me, to amuse me and take time to get to know each other better.”

“Okay, I’ll play,” Max said as he stroked his chin while thinking, “I’m a scientist. Specifically, a virologist.”

“Nerd alert,” Nadia interrupted with a chuckle.

“Okay, what do you think of this,” Max continued after taking another sip, “I’m the CEO of a privately held biotechnology company about to go public. I have to keep my business and my travel itineraries secret because we are on a development project that could revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry in cancer research. If the wrong people find out who I meet, they will realize what is happening and will derail our IPO.”

“That’s already more serious. It looks much more interesting than the story of the scientist. I just love it.” Nadia raised her glass as a greeting to this story. “Still, I’m not sure of the part about in tune with the times.”

“Oh, did I not mention I’m also a mountaineer, and I climbed six of the Seven Summits? When I make Everest next year, I’ll be part of a small group of people in the world able to claim the Seven Summits Club. Is that enough in tune with the times for you?”

“Well played! I just love it. I could almost believe you, too. You look athletic enough to be credible and you invented that part quickly.”

“How do you know it’s not true?” he asked.

“Hmm, I guess I don’t know. Maybe I’ll do some research on the internet when I get home to find out the truth.”

“I’ll get us another drink,” Max said as he stood with their glasses in his hands. “How do we proceed? I have no idea how you like to do things. I was counting on you to give orders. Is that okay?”

“Of course. Anything you want. I had assumed orders were something you’re more comfortable with. You seem very relaxed as if you were used to being in charge.”

“You’re making fun of me?” Max came around the bar as he spoke. “Not at all. I’ll not go into details, but this isn’t something I do all that often. Not that there’s any harm in it. I do hope that didn’t sound too amiss?”

“Don’t worry. Do you want us to finish our drinks and I can start by giving you a good massage to relax you and break the ice? Is that what you’d like?”

“That’s OK. I’d love a good massage. Finish these drinks and let’s go to the bedroom. What do you think?” he asked, giving her a full glass again.

“That’s perfect.”

Lying his head on the pillows on the enormous king-size bed, arms crossed in front of his head, Max sighed as Nadia traced gentle zigzags with her fingers tips along his spine. She did this to give some respite to her fingers, which had given him a deep massage.

“I would believe I’m in paradise. You have the hands of a fairy. I hope you have not used all your magic for what you have to make them do.”

“Insolent,” she said, smacking his bare buttocks playfully. “Turn around. I haven’t finished with you yet.”

Before she could add anything, he turned between her legs. For the first time, Nadia had an unobstructed view of his broad chest and realized that Max had not lied speaking of mountaineering. She confirmed his upper body was lean and muscular when she began to massage his chest and shoulders.

“What’s this?” she asked, curiously touching a scar he had above his right n****e.

“Accident from an ice-ax. It can be nasty when it bounces on hard ice in your direction.”

“Are you serious?”

“It’s for you to find out. If I told the truth every time, there would be no game, would there?”

“I can say that it’s not surgical,” she said, stroking his scar. “It had to hurt like a b***h, whatever it was.”

“That part, I can assure you, is the truth. On a scale of one to ten, this one was well worth a twenty.”

“This one? There are others?” she said, scrutinizing his body thoroughly, looking for other scars.

“If there are others, you’ll find them soon enough. So while you work your magic hands why not tell me why you do what you do?”

“For the money. It’s as simple as that,” she replied quickly. Almost too quickly.

“There must be something else. Surely.”

“Not really. I have bills and a mortgage to pay, like everyone else. I’m a...” she hesitated before continuing, “I’m a single girl and it’s not always easy. It pays well and I can work when it suits me. That’s about all.”

“Okay, I’ll not force you. It’s not my business, anyway. I should not have asked. I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry,” she said as she twisted one of his n*****s firmly but playfully.

“Ouch, I guess I deserved that.”