Chapter 2

The guard escorted her inside to the Reception desk situated in the center of the room, where a pretty young woman with long red hair and ample bust was just getting off the phone. Her name plate said “Miss Jessica” and in smaller letters “New York”.

“I’m here to see Miss Ellen. I’m Gay.”

“Honey, your lifestyle is really your own business,” replied Jessica. Then, pointing towards a door with the number 404 on it, continued, “You can wait for Miss Ellen in there.”

The room was somewhat stark and impersonal with minimalist decor. There was a chair opposite a large mahogany desk, so she took a seat, and waited.

A few minutes later a door at the end of the room opened and in walked Miss Ellen. Decked out in blue Carlos Miele dress, short heels, and what looked like a fortune in diamonds around her neck, wrist and adorning her ears, Miss Ellen moved with the confidence of her years. A startlingly attractive woman, Gay suspected she was in her mid-40s.

“You must be Gay,” she said, moving around the desk and extending her hand, “it’s so good to see you again, my dear.”

“We’ve met before?” asked Gay, and taking a closer look at her.

“I was at all of your birthday parties when you were a child. Your mom, God bless her soul, and I were, well, good friends. In fact, it’s because of your mom that you were invited to come here.”

“I don’t understand. What does my mom have to do with all of this, and, what is all of this?”

“All in good time. You must be thirsty or perhaps hungry?” Without waiting for an answer, Miss Ellen pressed a button on her phone. “W.S.? Yes, bring in two glasses of sweet tea and some of those finger sandwiches.”

“Miss Ellen, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m very much in the dark,” started Gay, then pausing as Miss Ellen raised her hand in the universal “stop” sign.

“Gay, you’ve come a long way from Florida, so relax a bit and let me explain.”

Just then the door opened again and in walked a man carrying a tray of sandwiches and two glasses. He put them on the desk. Gay noticed his name tag: W.S. Fun, then below it, Northeast in smaller letters.

“Miss Ellen”, he nodded and acknowledged, then turned to Gay, his eye appraising her body.

“I’m Gay.”

He nodded at her, then went to leave the room, muttering “what a shame” under his breath.

Miss Ellen continued with her explanation.

“When your mom passed, a letter was given to me by the family lawyer. It was from her. She said that she hoped that I would keep an eye on you, and that if I was able to help you in the future, to please do so. Now, I know that you have run into some financial troubles, Gay, and that you’ve been seeing men as an escort to pay off your debts to the loan shark...” Miss Ellen paused as Gay simultaneously choked on a piece of sandwich and nearly dropped her drink.

“I don’t ... how do you...”

“Gay, it’s okay. You were foolish to go to the Boss for money, but that’s all over now. I paid off your balance.”

“You did?” said Gay, astonished.

“Do you know what your mom did for a living?”

“No.”

“She worked here, under my supervision, many, many years ago. Long before this place was built. It was a brothel, Gay, called The Chicken Ranch. And your mom was the best. She had a regular list of clientele who swore that she could suck a golf ball through a garden hose!” Miss Ellen stopped when she realized what she had said, and when she looked at Gay’s eyes, wide with surprise.