Candy nodded. “Yes, I’d dress up for the occasion and would essentially be shown off on their arm. Fathers sometimes hired escorts for their sons. A slightly older, good looking woman. It is often for show but some of the guys were genuinely lonely. I sometimes spent evenings playing chess or just talking or sharing a meal.”

Torrent smiled. “You are good company, Candy, I can understand that these men would pay good money to have you spend time with them.”

She tried to smile back but there was a huge lump inside her throat. “That’s what I did for the first year or so that I worked at Kitty’s. I went out on a couple of dates a week, got myself my own small apartment and managed to start a savings account. Even back then, I had this dream of proving myself, of doing something with my life. I could see that it was going to take too long though. I didn’t want to be an escort for years and years. Some of the girls at Kitty’s were making bags of money.”

Torrent frowned. “They were doing the same thing as you and yet making more, that is not fair I hope that you spoke to this male… What is his name again?”

“Ellis.” She grit her teeth, just saying his name made her angry. “It was around that time that Ellis approached me. Those women that were making more money than me, they weren’t just simply going on dates. They were offering more to their clients.”

Torrent’s frown deepened. He picked up his glass of wine and took a big glug.

“They often granted their dates sexual favors in return for more money. Lots of money.”

“Did your boss know about this?” Torrent’s eyes were so pale that they practically glowed. His voice was low and evenly delivered but his body radiated tension.

She nodded and swallowed hard. “Oh yeah, he knew all about it. He encouraged it. Ellis took a big cut of all of the income. I had become accustomed to being independent. I had big dreams. I realized that I was never going to get out of the hole I found myself in, that I was never going to be able to study or further myself unless I did something drastic. Something short term that would bring in good money. When Ellis approached me…”

“You had sex with males for money?” His voice was hard as flint. “Is that what you’re going to tell me?”

“You promised to hear me out,” she whispered.

Torrents eyes were definitely lighter, they even seemed to be glowing a little. He reached out and picked up his wineglass, and then drained the contents. “Go on. I will listen to all you have to say.” His eyes stayed on the glass in his hand.