I followed her instructions to a tee and just as she’d said, she swiftly pulled up right in front of me in a blue car. We sat in the car and she gave me her spiel about what she expected and how much she charged. Her prices were very fair but her cut was a lot higher than Mrs Chen’s.
Vivian was a very polished woman, but there was something not quite right about her. I suspected that she was on speed. She threw all these details at me so fast that it was impossible to take them all in. There was one number to call from the client’s room, another to call her directly on, yet another to return pager messages on, and she expected me to absorb all this without being able to write it all down. She showed me a book that listed all the jobs her girl had taken that day, and at first glance it looked very convincing. It appeared that the girls in her employ were making a serious amount of money. So reluctantly I invested my $200 with her. She reminded me that she had said $300. I decided to test her. I knew I was attractive, well-spoken and multilingual, and she needed me. I knew she wouldn’t let me walk for a mere $100.
‘Sorry, Vivian, that’s all I have. If it’s not good enough, I’m sorry for wasting your time. I’ll try my luck with the other agencies.’
She gave me a serious frown, like she knew I was testing her and did not appreciate it. She stared so intently into my eyes I could almost hear her brain ticking over. I couldn’t stand her stare any longer, so I put the $200 in my purse and went to leave, but she grabbed my arm and said, ‘I will give you a go, but don’t try fucking me around. Believe me, I am not someone who likes to be fucked around or played. You got it?’
Casually I answered, ‘Sure, no prob.’ We exchanged money and I left.
It only took Vivian two hours to get me a booking; coincidentally, it was in the same hotel as I was staying in. I had already gone to sleep but had left my make-up on just in case this happened. She had told me to collect $300, $200 of which was for me. I was not impressed as she had told me that for white girls she never quoted below $350, but I wasn’t game to argue on my first job. I made my way up to my client’s room. He was rapt with me, so instantly a plan came to mind.
‘Well let’s get the business out of the way then we can have some fun, I need to collect $350 from you.’
‘I was told $300,’ he stammered.
‘Yes, $300 for me but there is a booking fee of $50.’ He was not happy but the thought of me leaving for a mere $50 seemed to make him even more miserable.
‘I tell you what, between you and me, I actually live right here in this hotel, so tomorrow why don’t we do this again but just come and knock on my door. That way you don’t involve my boss and save yourself $50.’ He gladly parted with the $350, of which I took $250.
The next day I took another $300 from him, and Vivian had no idea. It was so sweet getting one up on Vivian, because I knew I was never going to see my deposit again.
I did this with every client she sent me. I either gave them my hotel room number or pager number. I loved the way men could be so predictable and easily swayed by money or a nice cleavage. All I had to do was tell the men I was with that this was my last three days in Singapore and I wasn’t coming back because business had been so slow. Their response was the same every time: ‘Oh no, I was hoping to see you again.’
‘Yes, that would have been nice but I have to return my pager to my boss this afternoon. But I’m sure the agency will have someone else just as nice for you.’
‘Would you allow me to contact you at your hotel, or can we arrange something now for tomorrow?’
Signed, sealed and delivered. They even gave me huge tips because they thought it was my last night. Of course you only pulled that stunt with the out-of-towners.
On about my third night in town, Mrs Chen sent me to a job in one of the swankiest hotels in all of Singapore. The hotel was so prim and proper that any non-key holding visitors had to have their passport photocopied before they were allowed to enter the elevator and they had to be escorted up by a security man.
When I entered the room there were two men, one on the bed and one on a chair beside the bed. The gentleman on the bed was sitting with a girl, a very pretty girl. He told her to leave but thanked her for her time. She stood up very elegantly and gave me the most beautiful, knowing grin.
He patted the bed indicating that he expected me to sit beside him.
‘Now, who sent you, my sweet, we have called so many girls tonight I forget who is who?’
‘My agency has so many ads in the Yellow Pages that I lose track, tonight is my first night so please excuse me for being a little ignorant,’ I lied. I figured that if he couldn’t remember the agency he may forget what price he was quoted.
‘So, my sweet, what price are you going to charge me to share some time with you?’ This room had to be costing him over a thousand a night. I decided to dig a little more before I quoted him any rate.
‘Where is your gorgeous accent from?’