Afterwards, the agency pulled both of us aside into a room. “Do you two know each other?”

“No,” we both said in sullen unison. She was a bit darker of hair and skin than I was, definitely more delicate.

“So, what’s with the glaring?”

“She…”

I sighed. “I don’t know. It’s not the first time we’ve bumped into each other and I have no clue…”

“…exactly. She’s going to tell everyone.”

I shrugged. “That you’re an escort? Are you that ashamed of it?” I rather thought she shouldn’t be. Maybe her customers should be ashamed.

She shot daggers at me.

“Oh, is that it. Jane, please don’t tell people.”

I shrugged again. “Alright.”

“Marya. Please stop looking at Jane like you scraped her off your shoe.”

I thought it would be better if we didn’t work together.

“In fact, I’m going to leave you two to work it out.” She stood up and left.

I sighed. “I really don’t care.”

“That I’m…”

“I don’t. I don’t understand it, I don’t understand the need for it. I have a perfectly good girlfriend.”

Apparently that was a wrong move. “You’re a lesbian?” she hissed at me, as if that was far worse a thing than being a hooker.

“Not exactly. But I’m not ashamed of it. No need for that.” Then I lowered my voice. “You’re in out of your depth with the Flowers, Marya.”

“No. I’m finally somewhere I want to be. I have a family.”

Family. Something so intangible. “You’re being used.”

“What do you know about it?”

“About being used? A lot. About family…let’s just say mine is delightfully dysfunctional.”

She managed a laugh at that. “At least your dad didn’t kill your mom,” she suddenly burst out.

No, I thought, only cheats on her regularly. “And she promised you, what? Love? Happiness? Revenge?”

“All of those things.”

I thought she was beyond saving. And probably beyond backing out. But, well, nobody could say I hadn’t tried. “Revenge doesn’t bring happiness, Marya.”

“It brings satisfaction.”

I couldn’t argue with that.