Unwanted Heat

“I’ll back up… if you agree to my services one of the first things I would do is provide you with a profile of a woman that I think would be a good match for you. This is someone that I think would fit the look you want in the public eye but also that I think you could talk to. While it seems trivial since we’re not talking about love and romance, having a common ground to talk to someone about is important, seeing that events are sometimes long and boring.” I nod in agreement.

“Assuming you were interested in the profile I provide you, I would schedule a private date for the two of you to meet. I recommend, especially with you being in the media’s eye right now, that this date occur somewhere private and away from the press. Think of the dinner as a get-to-know-you meeting. You are not charged for this first meeting. If you find that this woman is someone you could see yourself attending events with, then I would recommend you insist on an exclusivity agreement. Essentially this means that this woman would not be available to any other clients. This would prevent her from being seen with someone else at other events, which would of course reflect negatively on you in the press.” “Mr. Parker, your nine o’clock is here-” Melody interrupts us.

“Ask Alex to meet with them,” I quickly dismiss her.

“What type of women does this sort of thing? How do I know I can trust them not to run to the press?”

“All staff sign the same NDA you signed; if they dare say a word to the press, I will destroy them legally and personally. They are paid very well for their silence. In the twenty years I have been running this business I have never had a staff member go to the press with a story. As for the type of women who do this, you would be surprised. I have college students in graduate school, students in medical or law school, I have single parents and I have a few who are down on their luck and just want to better their lives. They all go through a very extensive background check including information that comes with a very hefty price tag. They will stand up to any media scrutiny, so if you are concerned that the skeletons in their

closets would be found out, don’t be. If I can’t find the skeletons, no one can.”

“I would insist on my own background check.”

“Prior to the first meeting, I will release only very basic information to protect their personal information from being known to anyone who requests a first meet with them. If you both decided this arrangement would work for you, I would then provide you with the full background checks that I completed; most clients find my checks to be more than they need.”

“I would need to have my security team review your information, I may still need to run my own checks.”

“If mine are not sufficient, we can discuss it at that time. There is protected information in the background check that my clients usually prefer their clients not have access.”

“What sort of protected information? If the press can obtain the information then I need to be able to.”

“Mostly, their address and contact information include emergency contact information. Most of my staff prefer this information to be kept confidential so they have some privacy. It also keeps this arrangement more formal and prevents clients from being able to see or contact them outside of the agreed upon times.”Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“That wouldn’t be an issue with me, I guarantee that. I can agree that if I need to run my own background checks, my security team will exclude her address and contact information in the final report that I receive.”

“I think I can agree to that.”

“What are the expectations at the end of the… evening if we attend an event together?”

“The end of the evening?” she looks confused. I do really not want to spell it out to her but if I have to, I will. “OH! There is a clause in the contract that both parties sign indicating there will be no intimacy between the client and staff member. Any physical signs of affection, such as hand holding, kissing, dancing, etc… are agreed upon and noted in the contract. It is expected those signs of affection would only be shown when other people are present, since this would likely be for appearances only.”

“So how would this work? I would pick her up at her house, bring her to dinner then drop her off at the curb at the end of the night?” I can’t help but think it all seems rather cold, but at the same time I find myself considering the proposition.

“You would never pick her up at home or drop her off. Assuming you needed to show up together at an event, you would have a prearranged meeting location where you would pick her up. This could be my office, your office or any other public place. You would drop her off at the same location at the end of the night. If arriving together is not as important, she could meet you there.”

“I see.”

“The arrangements don’t have to only include charity events and business dinners: if you wanted companionship-”

“That won’t be necessary,” I interrupt quickly.

“I understand. This is a sample contract including a price list for your review. As I stated, any clothing and accessories that are required for an event are at your expense. I would send you a bill which would include the receipt from the store where everything was purchased. These items do not come cheap, as anyone seen with you would be expected to wear certain things-”

“The cost wouldn’t be an issue,” I get what she’s trying to say and I know she’s right. The media expects that if I’m seen in a high end designer tux, then my date for the evening is also seen in a high end gown.

“Do you have any other questions, Nicholas?”

“How would the women not be tied to you if the press dug into them? Certainly their financial history would show you as their employer? How would they not tie me to you? I would expect questions would be raised.”