❝We're chasing shadows of a feeling
Out in the middle of it all
Find out we're bigger than our demons
Into the wild❞

Chapter One:
A Plan of Action

"It'll be a quick job, she said. A get-in, get-out operation, she called it. Well fuck you, Deborah. Fuck you and your company."

"That sounds like my policy on one-night stands," Helena's voice giggled from my iPad. I paused, mid-way through unceremoniously dumping my clothes into my suitcase to give her a murderous glare.

"Are you even listening to me?" I snapped at the image of my best friend's rather amused face as she hovered on screen. She was twisting her finger around a stray brown curl, all the while biting down on her lip to keep from laughing.

"Yes, yes. Continue bitching about your marriage to your job and how your boss is screwing you in the least convenient way." Helena waved her hand dismissively at the screen. "Speaking of which, there was this article about sexual positions in Cosmo I think you might be interested in."

"You know what? Fuck you too."

"I know you'd love to," Helena whispered saucily, with an overly seductive wink. I would have laughed if not for the crisis I had landed myself in. Helena's implicit comments on her wild sexcapades with her exceptionally beautiful girlfriend, Jade, were the least of my concerns right now.

"Listen, honey. All I can say is that you need to suck it up and just go do it. It's your job, after all." Helena gave me one of her sweet, soul-enlightening smiles. She had this way of making me calm even when the situation required me to feel the exact opposite; and her smile played one of the biggest roles in doing just that. "Also, I suggest you wear that dress and toss the one in your hand right now."

"Right." I did as she told me and continued talking all the while, occasionally glancing at the bed where the screen sat, propped up against a pillow. "It's just that I never signed up for traveling halfway across the country to pretend to be someone I'm not."

"How long did you say the flight was?"

I scrunched my nose as I answered, "Nearly five hours."

Helena let out a long whistle, smiling immediately afterward. She could be useless sometimes, just there to mock my misery further. "Sounds like a blast. At least you get to travel First Class. Perks of working for a big-shot firm, huh?"

"I got stuck in Economy cause I booked super late."

"Ah-ah!" Helena held a finger up in the air to stop me from speaking. "I'll say it for you." She took a deep breath and then in a lower, more annoyed tone that was the worst impression of me yet... "Fuck you, Deborah."

**

I meet all kinds of people, doing what I do. The marketing world isn't all that easy to navigate around. Pitching ideas to clients can sometimes equate to voluntary suicide, especially when they choose to threaten to sue you and generations of your offspring for all eternity, just for making a mere suggestion (true story). Yet, having had all that experience with over-grown corporate babies, I'd never felt as anxious and wary as I did taking that plane to Washington. It didn't help that I was seated next to an old man with a serious gas problem.

I had a knack for negotiations but it had always been on friendly territories. It would be meeting with clients in closed conference rooms, patiently discussing their options with them and essentially mind-numbing them into accepting the one that would be most profitable for our company, simultaneously meeting their minimal requirements.

It would be representing our different client companies in front of the press and becoming a face in a crowd that didn't always like you but using persuasion and suave to get them on your side.

Marketing was a cut-throat business at times, but I had mastered it. From shy intern to fearful Tris; I had climbed the hierarchical ladder of corporate evil till I was right there next to Deborah, her right-hand henchman. Which, in her head, must translate to her bitch. I had no say in doing this stupid assignment, and come to think of it, I never really do. I just do whatever she instructs me to. I do my job. But for the first time, things just didn't feel right. The initial dread I had dealt with in being part of this company had crept in and conquered the confidence that had taken years to build. All because of this one assignment.

The landing and settling in wasn't a problem at all. Deborah had made arrangements with a friend to have me picked up and escorted to a hotel where I would get an hour to freshen up before being briefed about the party.

I was told that I'd be 'filling in' (at this point, her friend had winked ever so subtly) for a woman named Rae Williams. Rae, another distant relative of Deborah's, had been invited to the party to go in place of her boss, a business magnate. But unlike myself, Rae had made it a point to avoid stepping into the limelight and stuck to pure secretarial duties. That gave us the advantage of her invisibility and the fact that she wouldn't be known by most everyone at the party. The mere mention of Mrs. Beaumont however, Rae's distinguished boss, would give me enough credibility to spark relevant conversation and get the information I needed.

It only took thirty minutes of briefing me on this but the manner in which Deborah's friend did so made me feel like I was being prepared for taking the front lines of a civil war. She even gave me a couple of business cards of Rae's to hand out in case people asked.

"What do I do if someone asks me something personal? Something only Rae would know? Or about Mrs. Beaumont?"

My adviser had snorted at that. "Don't you worry. A conversation about Mrs. Beaumont is rarely held unless it's to her face."

I smiled a little, slightly relieved. "That fierce, is she?"

"A minion of the anti-Christ, more like. That's exactly why it doesn't bother Rae much that we're doing this. She's planning on quitting, or getting herself fired anyway."

And with an encouraging pat on the back, my instructor wished me the best for the party and left the hotel premises. Her last words were to dress up for the part. People deem one worthy to talk to at such parties on the basis of two things; who you work for, and how you look. The latter part of the job was left up to me, and I always made it a point to deliver.

For the evening, Helena had helped me choose what to wear; a simple, white cocktail dress with deep v neck that, as she stated, "left enough to the imagination to be elegant". It was tight enough to bring out my curves in an obvious yet classy way. Matched with a golden belt, clutch purse and white low heel pumps, I was party-ready.

The white dress had always been one of my favorites. It contrasted well with my tan skin, tall frame, and long, flowing black hair. Admittedly, I need a damn hair cut, judging by the fact my hair almost reached my lower waist...but that was besides the point. Dabbing on a rosy shade of lipstick, I checked my reflection one last time in the mirror before nodding in approval.

Bring it on, Innovus.

Just as I was about to step out, my phone went off in my clutch. Fishing it out, I let out an immediate sigh at the name on screen. I picked up.

"Yes, Deborah?"

"You could sound a little more enthused," she teased. "You sound like you've given up already."

"I told you I'd let you know how it went after I got back from the party."

"It's not about that. I forgot to tell you, you need a male escort for the party."

My eyebrows raised. That I was not expecting. "Why?"

"Tris, honey, you know how these parties go. They're official hunting grounds for most single corporate men to find a good fling."

"Deborah, you know I won't give in so easily to someone like that."

"You won't but knowing how attractive you look all dolled up, you'll garner unnecessary attention. Get a man by your side, and people won't even bother to look."

"But I-"

"Stop fishing for compliments," Deborah snapped. "I'm sending you the number of an escort service that Rae's familiar with. Call 'em up and they'll send you your driver. When you get to the party, your date for the night will be waiting for you."

"An escort service?" I stumbled back from the door, and soon the back of my knees made contact with the bed. I plopped down in shock, wondering if this was just Deborah's try at a joke.

"Relax. Just tell them it's for a business party and nothing more. You don't have to ask them to perform any...services."

"This is the single, most degrading moment of my professional career. I can't do this."

"Too bad you have to. You know what the stakes are, otherwise."

Bitch.

"Good luck.""

The line went dead the next second and I was left, sitting there, wondering if I should chuck my phone into the bin, call it a night and catch the next plane to Seattle, or do the stupid thing. I can't believe she was actually threatening to fire me if I didn't do this. I knew Deborah well enough to assume she was under her own pressure to push me to this extent, yet...an escort? After vowing off sex, was I really ready to voluntarily dangle delicious bait in front of me and not give in? What beautiful torture that would make for...

Bzzt!

Here's their number. Don't screw it up. - Deborah

Staring at the screen, I clenched my jaw and went through my options. This was a one-time thing, and as long as I made my conditions clear, I'd be safe. Otherwise, I'd be facing a possible deal of unemployment tomorrow. Jeez, why couldn't I just pick a random bell-boy at the hotel? With Deborah, things always took a nasty turn.

After much internal warfare and indecision, I decided to do the stupid thing and hit 'dial'.

It rang only once before someone instantly picked up.

"Prestige Services, how may we help?"

I paused before speaking, puzzling at what I was hearing. The irony in running an escort service under the name 'prestige' wasn't lost on me. Not to mention, the laughter in the background and the fact that the deep baritone of the man speaking was tinted with a great deal of amusement made me question how professional this escort agency could be.

"Good evening," I forced out through a tight throat. "I'd like an escort for a party tonight."

"And how would you like him to service you?"

Jesus! I scrambled for words, meanwhile hearing what sounded like an argument break out on the other side.

"Relax man, I've got it, back off," the man muttered through a muffled tone, no doubt having tried to block the receiver with his hand. "Sorry madame, you were saying?"

"I...need him for purely social purposes. I'm not looking for anything else but a mere date for the sake of the party. That is all."

The emphasis on my one and only condition did not go missed as a heavy silence hung in the air, spare for the crackle of the phone line. The man muttered something about this being a rare request to his friend, or whoever was with him before asking, "Can you give me your name, address and the details of the party please?"

That sounded simple enough. I started filling him in with the details and flicked through my phone to find the address for the party which I, surprisingly, hadn't bothered to go through before.

"It's being held at the Hilton, in the lobby." After a quick pause, I added, "I would appreciate if the date you provided me is dressed for this purpose. He can't be a complete dunderhead either. It's a corporate event. I can't afford to look like a fool because of the man I'm with."

"Is that why you're arranging for this so called 'date' in the first place? And to an Innovus event, no less?"

I sat up, more alarmed by how he knew what this event was for than the clear show of rudeness. Before I got the chance to tell the ass-hat off, he chuckled and explained himself, not sounding sorry at all for his mockery.

"You're not the first call we've had for this party. What did you say your name was, sweetheart?

Annoyed, I answered in a snipped tone, "Tr- Rae. Rae Williams."

"Rae?" I thought I sensed a hint of surprise in the man's tone, all traces of humor gone. Trying to cover up for the fact that I had almost spilled my real name, I spoke confidently. "Yes. Rae Williams."

"Alright Rae, we'll have a driver at your door in ten to fifteen minutes. Your escort - pardon me, date for the night will be waiting for you in the Hilton lobby."

"Thank you." I let out my breath.

"And, just to confirm...are you sure you don't require any services? Not even a lap dance, at the least? We've got a lot to offer you, Ms. Williams."

The guy's laugh was cut off by an angry grunt from whoever was next to him, followed by a hasty voice of another saying, "Thank you for choosing Prestige Services". Then, the line went dead.

I sat still on the bed, still reeling from one of the strangest phone calls I'd ever had in my life but more so from the dread that started to slither into my heart. Something told me that this night was going to end badly. Frankly, at this point, I would much rather a lap dance from a handsome stranger than the bullshit of an adventure I was about to embark upon as Rae fucking Williams.

I couldn't wait. 

_____

Song: Into the Wild by Wrabel

Up there is a picture of the dress she wore (that isn't Tris btw). Pretty, isn't it? 

Dedicated to SpaceBoundOwl for being one of the first people to encourage me to publish The Closer on Wattpad. Thank you so much and I truly hope you enjoy the story. <3