Chapter 74

Maria Mendoza, née Díaz, had a naturally aloof manner which turned some guys off, intimidated others, but attracted most of them. Consuela told her, “Don’t change a thing, you have that ‘it’ factor. In fact, turn down a guy now and then — that’ll add to your mystique.”

Maria was a tall, stately woman with impeccable posture and a somewhat haughty manner, all natural. She moved with an easy, stately grace that drew the eye.

She picked her own music to strip to — a riff on lush tangoes, the dance that had originated in Argentina.

Consuela knew that $1,000 would be too much to charge for her, but $500 would still please Miss S. Before she sent Maria her first customer, she said, “There are hidden cameras in the bedrooms. We sell fuck tapes of the hottest sessions.”

“Good.”

Maria, even more than the Tasty Trio, drew men out. Or, more accurately, she listened to men pour their hearts out. Something about her — her maturity, her aloofness, something, made many of her customers talk about themselves. Their insecurities, their dreams, often their mothers, all became familiar topics of conversation.

Claire was pleased with this development. Bonnie and her video team noted the intimate details of many of Mara’s customers. So far it was only file material, background, but someday, something worth some money might crop up.

The new bungalow had only three bedrooms, but the four special whores never felt crowded. At their prices, the house was rarely filled.

One pleasant surprise — Maria gave all of her tip money to the Tasty Trio. She told them, “I like that men are paying Claire to fuck me — it’s a delicious feeling. But Eduardo gives me such a large allowance, I can’t begin to spend it.”

As Consuela predicted, the more men Maria turned down, the demand for her services grew and grew.