It was a Wednesday, about a month since she'd been unemployed and Kamea was at home doing nothing. She'd done all the work Sarah had asked of her and her resume had been sent out to be added amongst the growing piles at many different agencies and or companies. So when her phone rang she ran for it with very high hopes. It was Mr. Compels. He'd called her twice a week since closing the company to check on how she was doing. Sometimes she called him before he called her.

"Hey Kamea, how you doing?"

"I'm doing fine Mr. Compels. You need to stop checking up on me and concentrate on enjoying your retirement. You've earned it."

"I'm trying to but you know I have these one or two pools that I'm servicing until the contract runs out in a few weeks."

"Oh yes, that's right. Well you'll be finished shortly."

"Yeah...Kamea, I'm coming from Madame Horn's and well she was telling me that she wants someone else to take a look at her books and well...I recommended you. I figure you could use the extra cash and its tax free. She doesn't want her regular accountant to know...just wants to make sure everything is on the up and up. What do you think? Something you want to do?"

Kamea knew what type of woman Madame Horn was. She was in the escort service and her girls were very well paid. Her books had to be crooked and Kamea really didn't want to have anything to do with that type of business not even their books. Once you got involved, you were in. But she needed the money and every little bit helped.

"Kamea, all she wants is to meet with you. If you don't want to, you don't have to."

Kamea felt torn. She knew Mr. Compels felt guilty and was trying to help and she also had to come up with $600 per month to keep her insurance which she would need for the infertility coverage it provided. She stomped her feet twice and squeezed the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah....I'll go see her. Thanks for recommending me Mr. Compels,"

"Oh good. I'm sure it's something easy and the money is good...."

"Mr. Compels, stop worrying. I'll be fine..."

"Kamea, I'm just sorry that I had to close earlier than expected..."

"...And we've been through this before. I understand. Now please stop worrying and feeling bad and go home to your wife. That's what retirement means....to spend time with the ones you love."

Mr. Compels sighed, "Yeah Kamea, you're right. I'm going."

"Good and thanks again Mr. Compels."

"Goodbye Kamea."

"Goodbye."

Kamea sat by her window and looked out nothing to distract her.

At the very least, it would get her out of the apartment for a few hours and that would be great since she was beginning to feel like a prisoner.

((~~!~~))


Kamea called Madame Horn and set up a time for the meeting but requested they meet somewhere else other than her place of business. So here she was at one of the wealthiest country clubs in Palm Beach Fl, and she felt like a warm water fish in the middle of the Arctic Sea. Looking around nervously, she kept fidgeting with the table cloth, wanting and willing Madame Horn to show up immediately so this meeting could be over with as soon as possible.

The commotion at the door way to the dining room drew her attention from where she was looking to almost behind her and she turned to see a fashionably dressed woman exchange a lot of 'darlings' with several people as she made her way to the table.

Madame Horn was dressed in a casual but expensive peach colored linen pant suit. Her Prada sun glasses shielded her eyes and were removed with ruby red colored fingernails as she descended upon the table. Accompanying her was a big man in a suit and a very beautiful, young white girl.

"Kamea....it's so nice to meet you finally," Madame Horn said as she reached her hand out to Kamea. Kamea stood and shook her hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you also," she replied.

"Sit, sit everyone," Madame Horn instructed and everyone complied.

A waiter came over to the table and Madame Horn began relating to him her request.

"I'll have a sparkling water," and he nodded his understanding.

He turned to the girl to Madame Horn's right, took her order then Kamea's then the man's. A menu had already been given to them and while they looked that over he went to complete their drink order. At Kamea's simply request of just plain water, Madame Horn informed her that she could have anything she wanted to on the menu. Kamea smiled and said thanks.

"Well Kamea, this is Sally," she introduced the brunette with a friendly smile, "and this is Roger. He sorts of watch over everyone and well you know me already. Did you order?"

"No....No...I was..."

"...That's fine. We'll discuss business then have a lovely lunch. The food here is divine."

The waiter returned with their beverages and Madame Horn requested more time to look over their menus. He left and everyone at the table followed her lead and began studying their menus only Madame Horn kept glancing back at Kamea. The waiter returned a few minutes later and took their order and alone again, they settled down to the business of the meeting.

"Well Kamea, lets get down to business," Madame Horn began. "I wanted to meet with you because I need to have my books checked over and Mr. Compels assured me not only of your precision but your diligence to detail."

"Thank you." Her mouth was dry even thought she'd drank a good portion of her water.

"You see Kamea, my girls work a lot of money and I can't have anyone swindling them out of their hard days' work. So I need you to tell me if that's happening."

"How much are we talking about and how far back do you want me to go?"

"Definitely several thousands...possibly a few hundred thousands. I want you to go back a few months to about a year or two."

Kamea drank the rest of her water and the waiter returned to refill her glass. She said her thanks and he returned her smile but when she turned back, she noticed the intense steadfast look Madame Horn was bestowing on her. The smile on Madame Horn's lips seemed to grow.

"Is there something wrong?" Kamea asked.

She looked around at Roger then Sally before quickly glancing behind her. Everyone was busy conversing with their party. She returned her gaze to Madame Horn.

"You're a very beautiful girl Kamea, very....exotic."

Kamea frowned. "Thank...you..."

Madame Horn laughed modestly. "You're welcome Kamea. How much did you used to make while working for Mr. Compels?"

"I made enough." Kamea was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

"You pay rent don't you?"

"Yes,"

"Wouldn't you like to own your own home instead? Own outright, not have mortgage but have the title in your hands?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"How long do you think you would have to work to get that type of money?"

"I'm sure like everyone else who has a job and 30 year mortgage. If you don't mind Madame Horn, can we please get on with why you wanted to see me?"

Kamea was getting annoyed with the questions especially since all she'd been thinking about lately was how much money she could have had if she hadn't had to pay off the debts her ex-boyfriend had left on her.

"Yes, yes I will but I have another question for you. Did you notice the men in here who were looking at you while you sat here waiting?"

Self consciously Kamea looked around at the people in the restaurant and for the first time she saw the eyes of many men looking at her and smiling. 'They're just being friendly.' She smiled back barely but did look back at Madame Horn who was smiling at her.

"They're interested in you."

Kamea looked around again this time with dread and apprehension before looking back at Madame Horn whose smile had gotten larger if that was possible.

"You're a very beautiful girl Kamea and you should think about coming to work for me but," she looked away before continuing, "that's for another time, today were here to discuss you looking at some number for me. I'll pay you $1000 dollar and I need it back by Friday. Can you do it?"

Kamea was stunned silent. '$1000? Shit! That's more than my whole rent.' "Yes, I'll do it. If you just put it on a flash drive, I'll do the work, save it on it and return it to you."

"Good...Here it is." Madame Horn reached into her Prada handbag and took out a flash drive and handed it to Kamea.

Kamea hesitated before taking it. She got up to leave.

"Kamea please stay for lunch. It's the least."

"No...Thank you. If you want this back by Friday, I have to get started immediately." She turned away to leave but turned back. "This is the last time I'll do anything like this for you. I'm only doing it because of Mr. Compels...I'm just not comfortable."

"That's fine Kamea. Thank you."

Kamea left.

((~~!!~~))


"Yes Dr. Robinson, I've been thinking about it but I lost my job sooner than I thought...I just don't have the money right now."

"I understand Kamea just keep me abreast of any changes. I don't want you to miss out on any opportunities which maybe helpful."

"Thank you Dr. Robinson, I will."

Kamea looked at the phone in her hand and her mind went back to what Madame Horn had said about her in the restaurant. While going over the books, she was stumped for a good hour before she could continue. The money these girls made was like nothing she'd ever seen before and made Mr. Compel's book look like her checking account.

A girl could make a few hundred for a date to several thousands for services rendered. Based on the figures some girls made upwards of $3000 per night and they only worked for certain clients and only a few days per week or the month.

Kamea took a shaky breathe and released it very slowly. Looked at the phone again and took another breathe before dialing Madame Horn's number. The phone rang three times and just as she was about to disconnect Madame Horn answered. After all it was her personal line.

"Hello..." Madame Horn said smoothly.

"Hel...Hel..." Kamea cleared her throat. "Hello?"

"Well hello there Kamea. What can I do for you?" Madame Horn smiled.

((~~!~~))


Kamea was standing at the bar with a beautiful black girl named Donette and Sally, the girl she'd met with Madame Horn at the country club. They were waiting at the bar of a very nice restaurant for the clients who'd requested their company. The clients had specifically requested one black and one white girl. She was tagging along for the 'lesson'. Swallowing audibly hard she asked herself for the thousandth time why was she here? Donette smiled, and told her to relax.

The dress code for Madame Horn's girls was business chick or sexy unless otherwise specified. The girls didn't leave their premises unless they were properly attired as no one was to know the nature of their work.

Donette wore a spaghetti strapped dress with a form fitting dinner jacket which was opened to show her form fitting dress. Sally was dressed similar only her dress was strapless with a jacket. Kamea had opted for the best business dress skirt she had and a white shirt along with black jacket and her new black BCBG heels. Her mind rolled as she remembered purchasing the shoe on sale for $40, and here she was listening to these girls speak so casually of shoe that they'd purchased costing $300 and $400, prices which were way out of her budget.

Sally touched her arm and jarred her out of her thoughts, mentioning she should follow. Their dates had arrived. Kamea looked at Sally who turned to follow the men into the dining room and then to Donette who smiled and gently nudged her along. She took one step then froze.

'What the hell am I doing? Oh God what am I doing?'

Tears blurred Kamea's vision and she couldn't get her legs to move. Donette who had gone ahead of her looked back when she noticed she wasn't behind her. Sally did also. Then Donette smiled and nodded. Kamea returned her smile weakly, the apology in her eyes before she turned and left. She ran as fast as she could from the building, as fast as her high heeled feet could carry her.

((~~!!~~))


Joshua sat at the bar of the hotel and ordered another brandy. He wasn't feeling too happy at the moment. His meeting with David earlier this afternoon had managed to get him down even further than he'd thought possible. He had to take out a mortgage on his home and after that cut his staff if things didn't turn around. The problem with that was he'd already borrowed money from the equity. Perry had thrown one or two little campaigns here and there for him but nothing substantial. This last one had paid only $5000.

Home was the last place he wanted to be right now so there he sat drinking away his sorrows when suddenly a blur of black raced past him only to stop in front of the bartender breathing heavily.

"Something...Something strong please," she said gasping for breathe.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" the bartender asked and Josh listened for her answer.

Both he and the bartender looked at the door she'd entered through from the street outside to see if there was anyone waiting or watching for her.

"Yes....Yes...I just...need...something...strong...to drink...Please?" She sat down and Josh nodded to the bartender to give her the drink.

"Are you okay? Do you want us to call the police?" Josh asked.

The bartender put a shot of bourbon in front of her and she took the shot in one swoop. Kamea gasped and sputtered a bit but asked for another. The bartender looked at her with raised eyebrows before pouring another round.

Kamea looked at Josh and replied rapidly, "No...No, I don't need the police. I just had to get away from...I just had to leave where I was and....Oh its nothing. I just need to relax and regroup."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Josh replied.

Kamea drank down the cool liquor again. This one went down a bit smoother, the golden liquid seemed to have put her body back in order as she began to relax. She sat looking at the empty glass between her fingers. A very relaxed feeling came over her.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked the bartender.

"He paid for them," the bartender replied and pointed to Josh.

Kamea turned to look at Josh who smiled and waved at her. "Thank you. How much do I owe you?"

"It was nothing. You looked like you needed them anyway." He moved over to the seat closest to her and asked. "Wanna talk about it?"

He didn't know why he asked. Maybe it was to get away form his own problems, he was so sick of them anyway or maybe it was the way she looked at him, a cross between innocence and fear. All he knew was that for tonight, he wanted to forget. Forget he had a crumbling business, that he had bills to pay, employees who depended on him for their lively hood. He just wanted to forget for one night.

((~~!~~))


A sharp beam of light penetrated behind the tight shield of her eyelids stirring her brain from its slumber. After many, many commands form her brain to her optical nerves to find out about the intruder, her eyelid began to move in an upward motion. But the beam of light that penetrated her eyes, made her close them immediately and turn her head away. The turning of her head caused a throbbing in her temples and frontal lobe that she'd never experienced before and she winced at the sharp pain.

After many more minutes, she gently opened her eyes again and this time allowed them to adjust to the darkness of the room. The tiny beam of light which had found its way thought a crack between the drapes lightened the heaviness of the darkness, if only a little. She dared not move her head again for fear of the pain with still lingered but only slightly. Her eyes moved over the shaped closest to her. Smooth. It was smooth and moving? Pillows don't move. But it moved again, up and down as if it was breathing? She closed her eyes again. She was dreaming. But she reopened them again and that's when she noticed the heavy weight on her waist. Glancing down, it was an arm and she followed it to where it was attached to the shoulder that was broad enough where she had to till her head to the side to see it. Her eyes followed the shoulder to the neck and then to the face that was resting on a pillow above her head. All she could see was the underside of a chin. She was in bed with a man and she didn't know who he was.

Kamea decided she needed to get out of the bed. She gently removed the arm resting on her waist and writhe slowly and carefully from both the man and the bed. She sat at the edge of the bed and waited for the wave of dizziness to pass, but her stomach heaved. Placing her hand over her mouth, she quickly made her way to the bathroom as her stomach decided it wanted to be empty. Kamea didn't know how long she knelt over the toilet but when she finally had the strength to move, she stood and slowly made her way to the face basin. Standing in front of the mirror, she finally realized she was naked.

She flipped on the bathroom lights and waited for her eyes to adjust to the light. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed her puffy face and eyes which didn't look like hers. She closed them and willed herself to remember what happened last night. Nothing came to mind, every thing was a blur. Maybe seeing the guy would trigger some memory. She opened the bathroom door and allowed some of the light to illuminate the bedroom to allow her a better look at the sleeping man.

She couldn't tell if his hair was short or long nor the colour, but he did seem very large lying there. Her stomach churned again and she rushed to the toilet but this time, nothing came up.

'What did I drink last night and what happened afterwards? How did I get up here? Oh my God, was I raped? No! A man doesn't rape a woman and remains sleeping beside her.'

Her stomach heaved again. This bitter taste from the heaving was something she never wanted to experience again.

She stood and washed out her mouth. She needed her toothbrush but she made due with a wash clothe instead. She wanted to have a shower but felt it best that she left for home before the man awoke. Yes, it would be best that she left as soon as possible, she could feel the residue of what happened last night on the inside of her thighs and she was a bit sore.

Silently she came out of the bathroom and with what little light that was provided, went around the room gathering what she though was her clothes. She found her skirt and lacy tank and put them on but she couldn't find her underwear. She found one foot of her shoe but just as she was about to pick up what she thought was her shirt, he moved.

She stopped, frozen in mid-movement, her hand reaching for her shirt and her breath held as she looked over at him. He was handsome, the very handsome man from the bar last night, the one who paid for her drinks. Suddenly a memory of her laughing came to mind then another of her ravenously kissing him back. She shook her head to clear the thoughts and he moved again. This time she scooped up what she thought was her clothes along with her shoe, ran to the door, threw it open and left.

The slamming of the door started Joshua out of his sleep and he sat up immediately in the empty bed, alone in the hotel suite.