Success!

So there I was, once again in Lauren's car and being driven to my second hotel of the day. Over the years I have become quite knowledgeable about the various hotels in my area, but at the time, was so sure that as we walked in, that the front desk person knew exactly what we were there for.

Rest assured, the hotel front desk people simply do not care who you are or why you're walking through the front door. Most nights, you're lucky if they bother to look up with a friendly hello.

In the elevator, Lauren gives me a few more details. If I'm not comfortable, just look at her and tell her I left something in the car and she'll get me out of there immediately. Otherwise, try to pretend she's not there. She knows this guy, "Bill", well and according to her, he's a great guy to break me in with.

Oh, I was shaking like you would not believe as I knocked on room 224 (yes, I remember that still!). Part of me wanted to throw up, but somehow I managed to remain calm and stand there smiling. The door opened almost immediately and we both walked in.

Fact: You never know what the person on the other side of the door is going to look like, and even if they are 80 years old with sagging wrinkled skin and liver spots, you still have to treat them as though they are the sexiest man you ever seen. (Hardest hour of my life, that one was...)

Thankfully, Bill appeared normal. He looked to be about mid-30s, clean cut, average build. He was smiling, and immediately I felt a little more at ease. He welcomed me to the club, looked over at Lauren and said I looked like a keeper already, and handed me the money.

Lauren just smiled at both of us, told us to pretend she wasn't there, and perched herself on a chair in the corner of the room. Oh yeah, she was going to be present for the entire hour.

Every nerve came back. I found myself giggling nervously and asking Bill if he'd like to get more comfortable, and if he wanted me to use oil for the massage or not. He said yes, and he asked me what my terms on tipping were.

It was like a test! I had no idea what the answer was, but I smiled back at him and asked him what he had in mind. Bill loved a girl in lingerie, and he offered me an additional $75 dollars to take my top off and do the massage in my jeans and in my bra.

Well hell, I could do that. Off came the shirt and we got down to business. Bill truly just wanted a massage and some conversation. I'm not sure if that's because Lauren was sitting 10 feet away or not, but I didn't care, I doubted I would have been able to do more than I was anyway. I worked on his back, his legs, his shoulders; all the while listening as he talked about the game of golf he had played earlier that day and how he was anxious to send his son off on his first sleepaway camp trip later that week. He asked me about myself, and I before I knew it, I found myself creating Casey's life story.

Casey was originally from Chicago, an art history major, and had just moved to the area because her boyfriend had accepted a job here and we were young and in love so of course she followed him here. Natrually, two months later they had broken up, and not being financially stable on her own, poor Casey was left to fend for herself.

It was a story I would tell endlessly, sometimes changing a few details here and there, but I quickly learned it was wise to keep the same story. I'm horrible with remembering faces, and if I saw someone once and then again three months later and told them a different story than before...well that's not good!

Bill loved my story, but Bill wasn't stupid either. He just laughed and told me with that story and with my big blue eyes, I was sure to be able to work the whole package for additional tips from the older guys who always felt the need to take care of younger girls. He then told me I had done exceptionally well for a first timer, that I didn't seem nervous at all, and then he thanked me for the massage.

On our way out the door, he handed me another $40 dollars and told me he'd definitely be interested in seeing me again...without the chaperone. Then he handed Lauren $50 dollars and told her not to let me get away. We said good night and Lauren and I were on our way.

Once in the car, I was stunned. The appointment had lasted, if most, 35 minutes and I had just made $180. Lauren had pocketed $115. In less time than it would take to watch an episode of Law and Order.

Oh yeah, I was hooked.