It was early morning when the alarm buzzed, jolting me awake. I looked around, but Rita wasn't beside me. Had she left the apartment last night? If so, did she come back? Relieved, I found Rita sleeping on the couch in the living room.
"Good morning. Sorry for waking you, but we never talked about my schedule..."
"Uhhh...aha..." mumbled Rita.
"...I have school every day. These are my final months before exams, so I can't skip. If you'd rather I don't wake you next time, could you give me the keys?"
"Oh, the keys... I only have one copy. But I'll go down the block today and make another one for you. You just go..." Rita trailed off and drifted back to sleep.
Our conversation was brief and uncertain, but I needed to start getting ready.I went to the bathroom to make myself look presentable. I didn't want anyone at school to know I was, in a way, homeless.
Normally, I'd never do this, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I opened Rita's drawer and borrowed her skincare-maybe even some makeup.She saw me walking with a little backpack, that's all I have! I promised to myself that as soon as I get my own money, I will return to Rita everything I borrowed.
Rita's bathroom was overflowing with cans and tubes. I applied a thin layer of some cream to my face-only God knows which one, as I'd never seen such products before. I wished I had even half as much self-care.
Leaving the apartment building, I headed straight for the subway. The red-light district seemed dull and lifeless in the morning light.
When I turned the corner, I saw it-the business district of New York. It looked busy, chaotic, and...rich? I watched crowds of busy, serious-looking men rushing past, all intent on their destinations.
I paused and questioned myself for a moment: "Are these men Rita's clients? Surely, someone among them uses the services of the red-light district."
"Don't stand still here! Move!" barked a man rushing past me, clearly late for work.
He said it with such rudeness, but he clearly didn't notice who he was talking to.
I doubted men were usually this abrupt with young women.If you look at history, it's clear that younger women have always been preferred by men. Kings arranged marriages with queens much younger than themselves. Rita said she had older men protecting her-at least, that's what she claimed. I couldn't prove it.
Snapping back to reality, I hurried toward the subway.
When I reached school, no one seemed to notice anything unusual. I didn't see Chester either-he's often absent anyway. The school day passed uneventfully; I spent most of it in the library, as usual, reading history books.
But this time, I wasn't just skimming random chapters about world history. Instead, I deliberately searched for information about sex workers-both in modern times and, maybe, in ancient history too.
Sex was never a taboo subject for me. With access to books and the internet at school, I'd learned a lot already. And whether I liked it or not, I heard constant gossip from classmates in the bathroom. Still, after meeting Rita, I wanted to understand her world more deeply.
Where did it all start? Were these women ever praised, or only judged by society? Did any of them go on to become wives, mothers, or find success after leaving prostitution?
So many questions, so few answers. This history project might not get me into college, but at least I could try to understand their perspective.
Why am I becoming so interested in all this?What is wrong with me?
After school, I went straight back to my new home. I was actually excited to see Rita-we hadn't talked much that morning. Still, I knew I needed to look for a job soon. I couldn't stay at her place like a parasite forever.I've always had a strong sense of responsibility. Now, though, I was struggling with imposter syndrome-something I'd never experienced before. It only started after a young woman let me move in minutes after meeting me for the first time.
When I arrived at the apartment, the door was slightly open, so I went in without knocking.
"Hey Charlotte, how was your day? I just woke up! Tonight's a busy one-I'm meeting an old client. He's very generous, so I hope I'll be back with a bag!"
"A bag as in an actual bag? Or do you mean something else?"
"Haha, 'bag' means a lot of money. See this bag?" Rita pointed to her tote, big enough to fit a medium-sized dog.
"Yes" I said.
"This bag better be stuffed with cash by tomorrow morning!" she laughed.
Rita lives in a world I never imagined existed. She doesn't focus on sex; she focuses on the aftermath-money. Then again, maybe this client is handsome, and she enjoys both the process and the outcome.
"What exactly are you doing with him?" I couldn't resist asking.
"Of course he isn't paying me for my eyes. Well, maybe for these eyes!" Rita laughed, pulling up her T-shirt and flashing her bare chest.
"Eww, Jesus!" I wasn't prepared for that.
Still, I liked how open and free she was. Once upon a time, our ancestors weren't ashamed to be naked-she was just being herself.
"On a serious note, I can tell you a bit about my work. I'm not the typical sex worker you're probably imagining. Sit down, I'll explain..."
I sat on the couch while Rita moved to the kitchen island to make coffee, continuing her explanation.
"...I used to have a private, discreet relationship with one man. I was his only one. He'd pay me after every meeting, and we had an agreement: he could see whoever he wanted, but I wasn't allowed to see other men. That's how I got all the money for my closet."
"Where is he now?"
"His wife found out about me. We genuinely had fun together-he watched me grow from a girl just out of high school to the woman I am now. He had his reputation to protect, so he broke it off. That's how I ended up working like the other girls in the red-light district."
"So you were a private sex worker? And now?"
"I was a sugar baby, Charlotte. It's way more chill and respectful than having multiple men a night. It's like having a relationship where you get a girlfriend salary-but feelings aren't involved, and that's for the best.
You give sugar and you receive sugar, all mutual and beneficial"
"I can't imagine falling for an old man..." I said with distaste.
"You don't have to! You can fake it-I did, for a while, until I fell for him. My first client. Then things went downhill."
"I get it. You said your work is a cheat code for getting money. But if you catch feelings, you lose the cheat code?"
"Oh, Charlotte, you'll go far. Keep that mindset. By the way, when do you turn 18?"
"I am already, and in a few months I will be 19. My mom put to school year later than others."
"Perfect! I have an idea, but I can't tell you yet. Give me a day... Okay, I should get ready for my exciting evening."
"Rita...? Can I ask you something?"
"Yes"
"Do you know anywhere nearby-or even a few stations away-where I could get a job? Coffee shop? Library?"
"Don't ask me those questions, you know who you're talking to! But I can help you with money-don't worry, nothing crazy."
"You're not talking about sex work, are you? I can't and I don't want to! I've never even kissed a guy before!"
"Silly, of course I'm not talking about that. But your virginity could be very valuable... Anyway, see you later and study hard!" Rita quickly disappeared from the room, leaving her coffee mug half empty.
"The keys are on the counter!" she shouted from the bathroom.
How am I supposed to study now, knowing Rita clearly has some plan for me?
It's evening now. Rita has left the apartment. I'm doing my homework and listening to "The Big Bang" by Rock Mafia, but I can't focus on anything.
Suddenly my eyes focus on Rita's closet. I remember how beautiful her clothes are, and how shiny and exotic shoes are. Don't even let me start on bags. She really is a collector of those. Her closet is a jackpot for thieves.
I walk over and stand by the closet door. Should I open it? I've never had the chance to look closely at her things, and my curiosity is killing me. Rita's at work anyway-maybe I should just take a peek.
I open the closet door. The same bright, colorful, expensive clothes stare back at me. The whole apartment has a slightly moldy smell, but the closet smells like expensive perfume-clean and confident. Rita keeps her daily outfits separate from her night work clothes, and even the perfumes are different for day and night.
Without noticing it, I caught myself touching one sparkly dress. She won't notice it , right? I am just going to try it on.
I slip easily into Rita's Yves Saint Laurent dress. Our measurements are almost identical, so her clothes fit me perfectly-at least in my dreams.
Playlist song switched to "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry.
Standing in front of the mirror in a couture dress, with the music playing, I feel completely different. I barely recognize myself. Gone is the plain, unremarkable Charlotte who lived with her mom and brother in a ratty apartment. In her place stands a seductive, confident, fearless Charlotte.
The longer I stare at my reflection, the faster my heart beats. My pupils are huge, like I've just smoked a joint.
"This is who Rita saw in you. You are a..."
"...bad girl! Why didn't you ask me before playing with my clothes?" Rita interrupted my spotlight moment.
She came back early, carrying with her an intense smell of smoke and liquor-not from herself, but from her client. In her hands was a bag that looked unusually full.
"Rita! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I just... I couldn't stop thinking about your closet and dresses! And since we're the same size, I just had the urge to try it on..."
"Calm down, I'm just kidding! Of course you can try it on. I know you're tidy and I can trust you with my clothes. I know you'll put everything back just the way you found it."
"Thank you for trusting me. I wasn't expecting you to be home so soon. Sorry again..."I started to change out of Rita's amazing dress and back into my usual pajamas.
"Wait! I want to tell you something. Keep the dress on!"
Rita came closer and turned me to face the mirror.
"You remember, yesterday when we met I said we will talk later about your job? So I have one deal for you..."
"What is it?"
We both were looking at my mirror reflection and couldn't stop staring at it.
"My client, who was especially generous today... anyway, he has a friend. This man is very, very prestigious in New York. He owns a company on the top floor of a building on Main Street-I forget the name, but he's a big shark here. He's looking for a young woman to accompany him to dinners after work. Just dinners. No sex."
With each sentence Rita was speaking slower and slower, waiting for my response.
"You mean me?! Why don't you go? You're almost the same age as me."
"I can't! Not this young like you! I am out of his bracket already. Sugar baby job has a strict age requirement, especially for a man like him. When my client told me about it, I took it as a sign from above to tell this to you! You should go!"
"Rita...I can't! I..."
"What do you mean, you can't? You can't have dinner with a man? Listen, Charlotte, we need to pay rent. And you're almost 19, you could've started it for a year already, but that's not the point. You'll have dinner with a respectable man and learn a lot from him. Also, remember what you told me today? "
"This work is a cheat code to getting money fast?"
"Yes! But I liked the part where you said that as soon as you involve feelings, you lose! That's why you're perfect for this. You clearly have no feelings for him. You'll be a beast-and you'll get money for your life!"
"Rita... I..." I was stunned.
"Think about money. It is your freedom , your future. Also, you haven't see him yet, please give it a try! No one will know, dinner will be very private. And I will be on the phone the whole time!" She continues,
"Look at you in that dress, standing here! You're a supermodel. Your potential is insane. You're not a sex worker type-you're clearly a future trophy wife."
"What is it?"
"Basically the same as a sugar baby, but with the legal status of a wife. Haha-everyone's dream!"
"Who's everyone? Well... okay, I'll go to just one dinner with him. But you have to teach me some tricks so I don't die from fear and awkwardness!"
"YES, CHARLOTTE! YAY! You're the best! I promise, after this evening your life will never be the same! By the way, when does college start for you?"
"I want to take a little break, so in about eight months from now."
"By then, you'll have triple the money for your degree! Mark my words."
I kept looking at myself in the mirror, and maybe the liquor and cigar smell from Rita made me dazed, or it was the money talk...but I felt incredible. She is right, I can make a lot of money for my college and finally be independent.
Also, just dinner ? That sounds to good to be true, but Rita doesn't seem to lie to me. I should take a chance.
Starting tonight, I have a new part-time job-my first day is tomorrow.