Her Redemption

Chapter 7 – Her sister

She did think she must act a little hesitant and show a little distress over her current situation. But then… she knew some people actually like working this way. She’d met a few of them in her previous life.

They say it’s easy money. You do something pleasurable with your body and share it with another person. She can’t fathom how some women don’t mind doing it with just about anyone. She doesn’t want to sound discriminating, but she really can’t bring herself to have s*x with old men or the scary looking ones. Some girls can stomach such customers. Not Nia. You could say she’s picky and she has no reason to be, but she would like to.

Jeremy Hill, she could let her feelings for him go but he would always have a special place in her heart. If her clients were like him, she would actually be happy with her job. Could she hope to fall in love? Jeremy told her not to have feelings for any of her client. She would do well to guard her heart or she’ll mess up this brand-new chance.

Her first client is a few years younger than Jeremy. He’s in his early thirties and he has a brooding personality. He doesn’t like to talk so their conversations are very short.

Nia didn’t mind. She could guard her heart alright. He makes it easy for her.

But why are they mostly handsome? The men she’d seen in the club are mostly good-looking. There were ordinary looking ones but they have their charms as well. There’s something about their aura, the way they carry themselves. They exude so much confidence, you feel like you can depend on them. You get drawn to them for some reason.

One thing is true, though. They’re only there for the pleasure. They’re not looking for love. They’re not looking for a relationship. They’re only here to address their physical needs. To lust after a woman’s body. To take pleasure in the bedroom.

Her clients have their own issues. One doesn’t like her talking. One likes to vent about his problems on her. She would say that one’s the worst because she absorbs his negativity every time they meet. She had to endure him for three months. Thankfully, none of them ever hurts her physically and none are verbally abusive. They don’t play with your psyche. They might say a lot of negative things, but it’s not about you. It’s about their business, their partners, they clients, their competitors… sometimes their own families. Life isn’t easy for everyone.

Sometimes Nia would feel like her simple life is better than theirs.

She was able to work without major issues for over a year. Aside from Jeremy, she’d had five clients. A couple of them didn’t last the maximum three-month period. They prefer new women every month. Well, Nia couldn’t argue. It’s good that the line of clients doesn’t run out. She’s got a new one after only a few days.

She’d never met Joshua again. She would normally see Desiree once a week to chat and to get her payment.

In the last year, she’s been able to transfer her mom to a new hospital. She’d finished high school and is now contemplating how to go about college. She’s still looking for a college that would suit her needs. Her savings is growing and she could start feeling at ease. For now, that is. Soon, her brother would enter college as well. There’s still a year. She could prepare for that, right?

Her conflict with Lara came earlier than she expected. She doesn’t know how they knew. Did they see her going into the club? Do they know the truth about the club? As far as she’s told, what happens in the club is not something the general public knows. Perhaps they have seen her going to a hotel with her client? That’s a possibility. They don’t always service them in the club. Some would ask to go to hotels. Some would even invite them to their private homes.

She didn’t think that working in the club would expose her around the same time as in her previous life. She thought she would be able to hide it longer.

She arrived at the hospital just in time to hear Lara talking about her to their mom.

“That’s not true. Your sister’s an assistant.” Her mother was saying.

“Stop spouting nonsense. You shouldn’t spread such rumors about your sister.”

Lara rolled her eyes. She’s done being compared to her older sister. What’s so good about being a prostitute? Just because she’s getting the money and providing for the family, that doesn’t mean she gets to be praised all the time. She’s not that good.

She’s ashamed of her sister. Her classmates knew what she does for a living. They’d seen her with different men in the last few months. She’d been teased and mocked because of it. Some guys at school are even asking her how much for a night. It makes her sick to her stomach. She’s not her sister and she won’t be like Nia. She promised herself that.

Nia would be relieved to know. She’s worried Lara would go astray since she kept going against her. Her mere advice to study well isn’t being taken seriously. She hoped her sister would know how lucky she is that they’re able to afford school at this point. In her previous life, she hated her more because she decided to support Mark first and Lara had to stop schooling for a year.

Nia took a deep breath before entering the room.

“Mom.” She tried to greet her with her usual cheerfulness. “I brought fruits.”

“Here she is. Why don’t you ask her directly? I’ll be going.”

“Lara, let’s talk first. Come with me outside.” She gave her a stern look. Why can’t this kid ever cooperate with her? Is she that hateful?

She feels that Lara didn’t like her because she refuses to give her more allowance. As a freshman in a public high school, she doesn’t need much so she’s only giving her enough. Why did she have to befriend those kids who spend money like there’s no tomorrow? They’re rich, Lara’s family is not. How she managed to join their circle is beyond Nia.

“There’s no need to talk. Just give me my allowance for this week.”

“I don’t have the money right now. I’ll give it to Mark later. You get it from him.” Nia replied as she studied her sister.

She snorted before walking out and muttering, “Always Mark…”

“Nia…” Her mother called out. If there’s any improvement, it’s that her mother seems stronger. Maybe the transfer to a better hospital is paying off. In her previous life, her mother couldn’t even confront her and only cried.

“Mom…” As Nia sat on a chair, the caregiver she hired was sensitive enough to exit the room for a while. She knew what Nia does.

“What Lara said about you… is that true?” Her mom’s tone contains a certain hardness. Nia understands that her mom couldn’t accept it.

She took another deep breath, “Yes, mom. But please don’t think I’m having a hard time. I decided it myself. It’s not too bad.”

“How can it be not too bad? You… My dear daughter… how could I have let this happen to you? You deserve better than this. This isn’t something that you should be doing. Tell me, is it because of me? My bills are expensive, aren’t they? Why did you even transfer me to this hospital? It’s more expensive here, right? You even got me a personal caregiver. The money… did you really earn it by….?” She couldn’t even say it.

Nia watched as her mom cried. Her eyes burned as well. It’s really not too bad. Compared to her previous experience, this is a hundred times better.

Before long, her mom’s cry turned into wailing. She couldn’t bear the sound and moved to sit on the bed.

“Mom, don’t cry. Please. I’m doing well.”

“How could it be well? Didn’t you say you’re going to college? Didn’t you say you’re an assistant? Didn’t you say all you have to do is buy clothes and stuff for them because they don’t have time to?” Her daughter even showed her articles about how it’s the trend among the wealthy. They get assistants to do errands for them. She lied and deceived her. She even believed her. How could she do that to her? Her own daughter… How could she face her? She failed her as a mother. She couldn’t protect her. She was a burden. Maybe if she died earlier, she wouldn’t have thought of working that way to earn the money they needed.

“It’s because of me, isn’t it?”

“Mom, please. You have to calm down.” Nia couldn’t bear seeing her like this. She hugged her mom as they both cried.

She could hear the pity in her mom’s voice as she kept saying “my poor daughter”.

“Oh, what should I do?”

“How could it be like this?”

“What have I done?”

Nia hasn’t felt this bad in so long. She’s really fine, but her mom’s reaction is breaking her heart. Her words as well. She knew she’s blaming herself for her daughter’s situation.

“I’m alright, mom.”

“You don’t need to feel bad.”

“It’s not so bad.”

“Should I tell you about the club?”

“I don’t work on the streets. It’s quite safe.”

“It’s a high-class private club.”

“The clients are all rich and good-looking.”

“They don’t abuse women.”

“They’re quite caring.”

“The pay’s very good, too.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

With every sentence she says, Nia tightens her hold on her mother.

Oh, but her mother knew how it would affect her dignity. No woman would not feel bad about it in the beginning. It’s still selling yourself for money.