I’d just finished up a lucrative day at the office. I’d signed a major client, the latest in a string of successes. I was just 34, but I’d brought more money to the company in the last 2 years than any other consultant.

Nobody was in a rush to celebrate with me. My colleagues resented me. I was the tall, leggy young woman that was making them all look bad. They knew as well as I did that they weren’t on my level.

My haters said I was only successful because of my appearance. At 5 foot 9 without heels, I found it easy to intimidate most women, while most men lost themselves during business meetings as they gazed at my various assets. My sparkling blue eyes. My dark, luscious hair. My full, supple breasts. My tight waist. My unblemished porcelain skin.

But I knew my looks were only part of my success. I was incredibly intelligent, with a quick wit and a razor sharp tongue. I was in my element in a boardroom. I always emerged victorious.

And so I found myself here, in a bar, alone.

“Cheers, Tanya,” I smiled to myself as I enjoyed a celebratory glass of wine before heading home.

I glanced around the bar, and my eyes fell upon an unusual couple.

The man was in his 50s, unshaven, a big beer-belly. The girl ... breathtaking! I never felt envy - frankly, I just knew I was better than everyone. But this young woman! She was clearly the most attractive woman at the bar ... and I guessed she’d be the most attractive woman in any bar she walked into.

She was short, maybe 5 foot 3 at a stretch. Her dark hair gathered around the most stunning face. Her eyes were deep, deep brown ... almost black. Her breasts weren’t as big as mine, but she was perfectly proportioned. She wore a boob tube, showing off the flattest, most toned stomach. She was flawlessly tanned, and while I considered my legs one of my best features, hers screamed cheerleader. Soft and feminine, but with an obvious power in her shapely thighs. She wore a black denim skirt and black heels. She looked almost unreal, like an AI crafted model. She would have been 22, and she already had the whole package.

Best of all, she had the angriest, most menacing scowl on her face that surprisingly sent a chill down even my spine! Whatever the old man was saying to her, she obviously did NOT like it.

She growled something at him in a low voice, rose, and marched right past me towards the exit.

That’s when he got up.

“Get back here, you little bitch,” he croaked as he started after her.

I don’t know what came over me, but I stood, coming to the young woman’s defense, blocking his path. In my 3 inch heels, I was 6 foot, and this chubby old man barely came to my chin.

“Move,” he snarled.

“Make me.”

It was a standoff. All of a sudden, security was on the scene, escorted him away, him screaming “I want my money back!”

I shook my head, quickly finished my last sip of wine, and headed to the door. As soon as I tasted the cool air, I heard a voice.

“That was pretty cool,” she said. “Never had my own bodyguard.”

I turned to see her. She was standing with her back to the wall, one leg bent, her black heel against the wall. She puffed on a cigarette.

“I’m Chloe,” she said.

I walked over to her, shaking her hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Tanya.”

She held my hand in hers, long, red manicured nails against my skin. She slowly released my hand, dragging her nails lightly along the top of my hand.

“What was that all about with that guy?” I asked.

She giggled. “I mean ... he paid a deposit. But when I saw him ... I mean, eww right! I demanded more...”

Oh! She was a prostitute. And she’d just duped the old guy - taken his money and given him nothing. I smiled - we took advantage of men in different ways but achieving the same outcome.

“Well stay safe out here,” I said, turning to leave.

Just then, a car pulled up.

“How much, baby-girl?” a male voice came.

“$200 an hour,” she called back.

I heard a debate from within the car. There were 4 men in there, debating on “think the bitch will be worth it?”

One of them said, “Alright hunny, get in.”

Chloe stomped out her cigarette and headed towards the car.

“You’re not going to get in there, are you?” I asked.

She shrugged. “A girl’s gotta get paid.”

I watched the car door open, one of the men saying “Oh fuck yeah. Bitch, we gunna have some fun with you”.

I couldn’t bear to think of what those men were going to do with Chloe. “Why would I care?” said the rational part of my mind. But the alcohol in my blood didn’t give any chance to act rationally.

“Stop,” I said, Chloe pausing right at the car door. “I’ll hire you.”

She looked at me, flashing the most beautiful smile you could ever imagine.

“Sorry boys,” she said, “Looks like I’m already engaged.”

They serenaded her with a barrage of insults before speeding away. Chloe strutted up to me.

“I actually don’t have cash on me...” I said.

She looked me up and down, eyes resting on my designer handbag.

“I can see you’re good for it,” she smiled, “But I don’t do ‘I owe you’ situations. You’ll have to take me to an ATM and get the money for me. There’s one a few blocks from here.”

I nodded, and we walked towards my silver Lexus.

“Damn girl! Nice,” she said as she got in.

She directed me to the ATM, and I said “so $200 right?”

She smiled that flawless smile.

“Mmhm. But for $500 you can have me for the night.”

I laughed. “I think an hour is more than enough.”

She waited while I walked over to the ATM, entering my pin. My mind started to race. In an hour, our time would be up, and Chloe would be climbing into the next car of men that pulled up and flashed some cash. If I hired her for the night, she’d be safe for the night at least, and it would give me time to convince her that she didn’t need this profession. That it was unsafe and she could make just as much money if not more working in an office!

I withdrew $500, getting back into my car and handing it to Chloe.

“Never been hired for the night by a woman before,” she said. “Miss high and mighty business woman got a thing for young hookers, huh?”

I shook my head furiously.

“No, absolutely not,” I said. “And besides, I’m straight. I’m hiring you for the night to make sure you’re safe.”

Chloe laughed, the sweetest, most melodic laugh.

“So what ... we’re just going to sit around and talk all night?”

I nodded. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

So I took Chloe to an upscale bar near my house, where we had a couple of drinks and chatted for hours. We talked about my work, Chloe sweetly commenting that it was amazing to see a young woman earning so much money in a male-dominated field. I started to encourage her to consider following my lead and establishing a real career instead of prostitution.