It had been six years since the accident that claimed the lives of her parents and left her brother Juan bedridden. Ximena had taken on the responsibility of caring for him, as her aunts paid little attention to their existence. A nursing student, she struggled to juggle work, studies, and her brother’s needs. The past few days had been more stressful than usual. She’d been desperately searching for a job that could fit around her responsibilities. She’d even tried her hand at modeling, webcamming, and OnlyFans, but none of it worked out. Shyness held her back, and despite her best efforts, she saw no results. It was the same story with the countless resumes she’d sent out to endless companies—none ever called her back.
The few job offers she did receive left her with no time to care for Juan, who depended on her. Living with her aunts, who barely looked after him as they should, made things even harder. A part-time job was what she needed, but finding one seemed impossible.
Exhausted by the situation and unable to find a solution, she decided to become an escort. One of her classmates did it, and though she often complained about having to deal with unpleasant men—usually the most frequent and highest-paying clients—it seemed like an option.
Between caring for her brother and completing her nursing practicums, Ximena’s life grew more complicated by the day. She owed a lot of money to her classmates and could barely afford to eat. Juan was her priority, and she had to pay her aunt and cousin to look after him when she wasn’t around. Determined to change her circumstances, she mustered her courage. She’d spent her last savings on medicine, but a glimmer of hope appeared when the owner of the place where her friend worked accepted her. It was an exclusive venue, not just anyone was hired. They had their biases—she wasn’t the prettiest, but clearly, what she had was enough.
—“Twenty-three years old, nursing student, a great figure, and a sweet face,” said Faver, the owner, eyeing her with a sleazy gaze. “You’re not a virgin, are you?”
—“No, no, sir, I’m not a virgin, but I’m healthy,” Ximena replied nervously.
—“Good, you’re hired. We’ve gone over everything, and you said you had no questions. Your first client is a Russian. He’s not looking for sex, but he’s very particular. He hasn’t been around in a while, but he’s back tonight. He’s generous, so behave yourself.”
She could barely nod before her friend pulled her aside. Ximena asked for details about the man, but her friend advised against knowing too much—better to avoid disappointment. She assured her, though, that safety wasn’t a concern. Her friend started doing her makeup. Even though sex wasn’t mandatory unless mutually agreed upon, Ximena felt uneasy about what she was about to do. But when she thought of Juan, her brother, it all seemed worth the risk. She looked stunning after the makeover—so much so that she surprised herself. Dressed in tight clothing and wearing makeup, she felt like a different person.
She was told her client was waiting. She walked slowly; though she knew how to wear heels, her nerves could betray her. She spotted a luxurious SUV and swallowed hard. As she approached, the driver signaled for her to get in. Ximena hesitated, tempted to turn back when she saw a man who could’ve been her father, a bit heavier than she’d imagined. She sighed, gathered her courage, and hid her nerves. She wasn’t the type to judge people by their appearance, but this man left her speechless.
—“What’s your name?” the man asked.
—“I’m Ximena. And yours, sir?”
—“Germán,” he replied with little more than a forced smile.
Ximena shrugged, unsure of what to say. She just looked at him, wondering why he wanted her there. Faver hadn’t given her enough information, and she had no idea what her role was in this fancy SUV. She asked a couple of questions, which he answered with disinterest and a strained smile. After a few minutes of driving through the city, the SUV stopped.
The driver approached and helped Germán out. Ximena put on her best fake smile, preparing to step out of the vehicle.
—“You don’t need to get out, miss,” the driver instructed.
—“But I… I’m with the gentleman,” she said, pointing at Germán.
—“No, you’re not with him. You’re with me. I’ll take you to my boss,” he said, barely hiding his amusement at the mix-up.
—“I’m sorry, I thought that man was my date.”
The driver got back in. Ximena had questions, but he spoke only when necessary. She sighed and sat up straight, relieved that the previous man wasn’t her client. Beyond his appearance, which had left her at a loss for words, he seemed arrogant. She didn’t know how to handle people like that.
After a few minutes, the driver stopped again. A tall, strikingly handsome man got in. Unlike the last one, he immediately caught her attention. His physique was perfection personified.
—“I hope they’ve told you about me,” he said without even glancing at her.
—“No, actually, they haven’t said anything about you, sir,” she replied, looking at the man who seemed uninterested in her.
They sat in silence, but she couldn’t take her eyes off his flawless features. Even though she hadn’t seen his face straight on, she sensed it was even better than she imagined.
«God, he smells amazing» Ximena thought with a deep sigh.
—“Alright, busy day today. What’s your name?” the man asked, finally turning toward her.
—“Xi-Ximena, sir,” she stammered, struck by how attractive he was.
—“Are you new to this?” he asked, locking eyes with her, seeming surprised. “And for starters, don’t call me ‘sir.’ Just speak casually.”
—“Yes, sir—sorry, I’m nervous. It’s my first day,” she added, noticing his mocking smile.
—“You say they didn’t tell you about me. I’m Adler Ritzer Braun. I suppose that’s all you need to know for now.”
—“I’d like to know more, sir. I’m completely in the dark here. Could you tell me what my role is? What exactly are you paying for?”
—“I’m Adler. You must be kidding. The women Faver sends me are always briefed. He knows exactly what services I pay for.”
He started to complain, making a phone call. From what she could gather, Ximena had been sent to the wrong client. It was confirmed when she heard him say he’d keep her anyway.