The Interview pt. 1

*** Chapter 1

“I don’t know what I’m doing here. This Crag, Mr. Leon Crag wants to ‘give…’ me an interview. Shit. I’m so nervous I’m shaking; I’ll bet I’m white as a sheet, I can’t even open the door. Three hundred dollars a day; it has to be illegal. I can still here Mom’s words screaming from her bed room, “He’s either going to rape and murder you or sale you to the black marketers, you’ll be gone and I’ll never see you again. I remember shouting back as I ran out the door; “He called ‘me’ in for the interview I’ll be safe I’ll make the cabby watch me go in. I ‘need!’ work!” Hell, I still hear the echoes of the slamming door after mom and I fought. My mom is sick; my little brother isn’t old enough to work, and they need somewhere to live, and mom’s disability isn’t enough to starve on much less pay the rent. I ‘want…’ them to have more than that. I want my Mom to have her medicine, a good doctor, and my brother Jeff to have his computer, games, and a college education. Mostly I want away from the dead end café jobs, and three hundred dollars is a start. Well here goes.”

“Come on in darlin’, have a seat please,” Leon Crag said smoothly, “What can I do for you?”

“Well, Mr. Crag, I saw your ad in the paper; you remember we did talk about it over the phone last week, and you called me yesterday for an interview. I was just wondering if the position is still the same?” Rachel asked.

“You mean the ad in the Underground Times, or The Times, and or the internet personals?” he asked casually adding, “Please excuse me I talk to a lot of people about a lot of jobs every day.”

“Yes, the one in the Times want ads” She replied softly, hesitantly, “Is the job still available? You did call me, saying something about an interview, and the appointment was for two-thirty and it is two-thirty now. I hope being punctual counts.” Rachel added earnestly.

“That job and several others, are always available,” Leon replied dryly, “I run that same ad everyday of the year! Yes, I called you in for an interview, for this afternoon. I thought you might back out quietly, or if you did come it would be of your own free will.”

“Really?” Rachel questioned and then pried further, “You mean you have that high of a turn-over for jobs that pay three hundred dollars a day?”

“Honey, this is the big city.” He said gently, “There ‘is…’ a high turn-over for three-thousand dollars a-day jobs, there are no free lunches. There is always some one quitting; or some one undercutting, or just waiting to take someone’s place, do not ever forget it! If you decide to stay; go through with the interview and then take the job, you’ll earn every penny!”

“Then how, what do I have to do?” Rachel stammered, “I guess I don’t understand.”

“Listen. I am sure, where you are from jobs like this do not exist.” he pointed out and asked, “Where are…you from? Remind me please.”

“Iowa, I’m from Platteville Iowa, it is a very small town and there are still a lot of different jobs,” she responded quickly sounding secure.

“And how old are you?” Mr. Crag questioned.

“I just turned eighteen two months ago.” she replied proudly, “Why, does it matter?”

“Oh yeah, I remember now,” he replied softly, and scoldingly added, “You bet your sweet little bottom it matters.” Then his face softened, as did his voice, “Do yourself a big favor get back on the bus, and go home, like you say there are a lot of jobs there you’ll find one.”

“I can’t. Your ad said females eighteen to twenty-four make $300 or more per day.” She whined, and stared stubbornly, “I’m eighteen. I’m female and need to earn a lot of money in a short time.”

“Do you have any idea what we do here?” Leon asked pointedly.

“I-it’s not illegal is it Mr. Crag?” Rachel asked warily, “I promised my mom I’d never break the law on purpose.”

“Not at all,” he shot back quickly and chuckled.

Rachel stared stubbornly her arms crossed, and demanded, “Now! Mr. Crag, it isn’t fair not to consider me for this job or any other job you may have. I’m a high school graduate, and I really need a job! I have references from two of my former employers.”

Leon leaned back in his chair hands inner laced behind his head. With a whimsical smile on his face, he looked at Rachel, the wall, back at her, and the door. He closed his eyes, wiped his face and hair; opened his eyes and drummed the desk with his fingers, fumbled through some papers and looked at Rachel for a few seconds more then Leon asked, “Tell me your name again.”

“Rachel, Rachel McAndrews.” she responded a little puzzled.

“Well Rachel… Rachel McAndrews let me start out easy. What kind of job are you looking for?” Leon asked frankly as he peered over the top of one of the papers.

“Full time employment. I’ll work any hours, over time no problem. I have problems in my family we owe a lot of money, and $300 a day would clear them up in a couple of years.” Rachel excited exclaimed.

“Sorry to hear that, but you still haven’t told me what ‘kind…’ of work you are looking for?” Leon asked impatiently as he organized a pile of papers as if he were putting them in numeric order.

Rachel in a quavering voice answered, “I’m willing to do any thing. I know how to type, file, and take dictation. I’ve done some cooking, and…”

“Whoa…! ‘What!’ wait a minute, back up a bit! You are talking minimum wage work here, unskilled labor.” Leon interrupted impatiently, and continued, “You can’t earn $300 in a day at those kinds of jobs much less get paid $300.00 for the interview!”

“W-what are you talking about?” Rachel stammered.

Leon said, “I’m interested in giving you the $300 interview, I told you about on the phone, but you got to be thinking that there must be strings attached to this money. Right?”

Hesitantly Rachel nodded casting glances allover the room, and stammeringly asked, “What is the $300 interview? I strip and have sex with you?”

“No…” Leon replied calmly, walking to the filing cabinet pulling a key from his pants pocket. He looked at Rachel and continued, “You do ‘have…’ to have your clothes… taken off, but not by me, and no, no sex today. I don’t have sex with possible clients, does that help ease your fear some? You have something I need; I have something you need.” Leon pulled the money from a box in the top drawer, held it in his hand, and looked at Rachel smiling warmly added, “You still have to earn it and money like that isn’t easy to earn.”

“What kind of ‘interview’ am I here for?” Rachel hesitantly popped emphasizing the word interview.

“Well do you or don’t you want the interview?” Leon asked waving the money, adding, “You have a lot of personal questions to answer, and a written questionnaire with some very personal questions to fill out at your leisure. Rachel to put it simply, I sell flesh.” Leon paused to let the bomb land, took a short look at her and continued, “You won’t have any more monetary value to me, or earning potential than you have right now ‘because…’ of your youthful ‘innocence’.”

“Yes I do.” Rachel paused and her face flashed red as the last of Leon’s statement sank in. “My innocence?” Rachel queried, “I’ve been with a man.”

“Honey I think he was just a boyfriend and maybe only a time or two. Anyway, around here your as innocent as a new born babe.” Leon brayed and chuckled quietly, “I’ve been with a man.”

“I can’t be a prostitute!” Rachel chopped out her face bent in disgust.

“No, not a hooker, or call girl taking multiple Johns ‘no, no, no…!’” Leon snapped out sounding a little impatient paused for a moment then continued, “nothing so common place. I don’t think you would make a good one any way. Let me explain. I run a very special and very expensive service. I take care of my clients, and ‘My…’ girls and boys. I take ‘good…!’ care of them. I did a check-up on you, just to see if you were worth the time of a full interview. I have a private investigator on retainer, and he is thorough. He said I quote no suspicious behavior. No drugs no boy friends, just works hard and keeps the house clean.”

“I’m confused. I am sure the job is about sex but not being a hooker or call girl. What is it?” Rachel interjected nervously and then her eyes grew wide and she barked out, “You investigated me?!”

“Easy… settle down… I know a few things about you now, so I called you back, now let me finish.” He paused as he waited for her to settle down then started, “I run a special business; I got the idea for it, from when I was using and running hookers and call girls. I used to surf the online personals for fun. After receiving, a raft of complaints from my people, girls and clients I did some research. I went from polygamy, to sex slaves, from concubines to surrogates, to sex toys. To put it simply I rent live-in sex toys and or maids or to put it even simpler Rent-a-mate.’ Full time live-ins or if you prefer wives…‘domestics/lovers living sex toys.’” Leon smiled smugly and added, “They do it all, from the floor to giving birth. They go from cooking, washing clothes and dishes, to washing pussies and penises, to house keeping. Much like old-world Japan. I was surprised at how fast it took off, and at how successful I became, so much so I’ve become a multi-level incorporation. I’ve branched into banking, insurance, and real-estate.” With a prying eye Leon stared at Rachel and assertively added, “You work good for me and my clients I can be your one stop shopping mall for your family and all their needs.”

“I still don’t understand I feel so confused.” Rachel admitted in a puzzled tone.

“As I said, I did a check on you.” Leon said firmly, stopped shuffling through the papers, and put them down. “I’m satisfied your hard working, and honest. Young lady; you have a drive to thrive, and making efforts to better your self, and the people close to you. Your Mom is sick the rent is over due, and your brother’s tuition isn’t late yet but will be soon. I can help with all of that. Rachel… you have a very nice face, a good body, with all the right proportions. My clients will find you very attractive; actually, you are exactly what many of them are looking for. With a little coaching, I can get you headed in the right direction. I will… look out for you; and you can be ready to retire in five to six years, maybe sooner if you play your cards right.” Leon assured with loose smile, and continued, “Well we’re almost done. First question, will you do as you are told?”

“Y-Yes?” She hesitated, fidgeted, and glanced at the door as if she were going to run.

“You don’t sound to sure.” Leon pointed out and then asked, “Will you finish your assignment as long as you are treated O.K.?”

“I’m sure ‘Yes. Yes…!’, and yes...! If ‘you!’ set me up, I will do my part.” Rachel firmly claimed and with a trailing voice added, “I’m just afraid; this sounds like one of those things, where a person either wishes they died, or disappears never to be seen again.” Rachel’s face had a fearful expression.

“That is a reasonable fear, ‘but…’ I said I watch out for my people and you would be one of ‘my…’ people. That is how I have survived. The threehundred dollar interview is over, here’s the money.” Leon informed coolly and laid the money on the table in front of Rachel.

“Over! I don’t understand. Did I fail or what?” Rachel asked exasperatedly and stared at the money.

“Oh no, it’s time for the next level. Put that money in your pocket it’s you’res.” Leon said with a smile. “The thousand dollar interview is next.” Leon said as a wet smile beamed from his face.

“Oh sure. Is this where I strip and have sex with you?” Rachel said with disgust and stopped from putting the money in her purse.

“No! I told you I don’t have sex with my clients, or the people that work for me; but ‘you…’ will have your clothing removed, as I said earlier. You ‘will’ have sex with my girlfriend, but not right away, and yes people ‘will…!’ be watching, a lot of people will be watching.” Leon said sternly as he watched Rachel’s reaction to this new information and relaxed as he watched her put the money away.