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BRANDI VIDRINE RAN one of the most elite party planning companies in Stewart, maybe all of the south. Thankfully, the hospitality business community here was relatively small, therefore, she stayed in constant demand. Few people knew about her other lucrative side business. Brandi ran one of the most successful escort businesses in Louisiana. Her clientele included some prominent people from all across the country.
She stepped out of her office for a breath of fresh air. She was fortunate to work from home. Her reprieve from her stressful life was the back porch. She found it so relaxing out here. The back of the house overlooked the mighty Mississippi River. She had always dreamed of having a house on the water, and now her dreams have finally come true. It had been a struggle at first, which was why she started her side business. She learned real quick that having a solid business plan, didn’t mean you would be successful from the very beginning. It was a dog eat dog world out there, and if she wanted to be more successful than anyone else, she had to be the coup de resistance. Now with both businesses successful, she could indulge herself.
She started out as an escort in the company, but when Chrissie retired, Brandi asked to take over the business. She seldom entertained anymore, but she thoroughly enjoyed her position as madam. She taught all of her young charges to treat each man as if they were a sugar daddy. The escort business helped her land some of her most prominent clients.
At twenty-three, she made more money than she ever dreamed she would. It didn’t bother her that most of the men she “entertained” were twice her age. They knew how to treat a woman. The escort business gave her the opportunity of a lifetime, as she had traveled across the globe on several “business trips.” She learned quickly that the money was in traveling dates. These men paid quite generously for their traveling companion. She also learned never to mix business with pleasure and to keep the two lives separate.
Brandi had been lucky that Chrissie saw potential in her and trained her well. She learned how to scout girls for the service, pick up payments, and the most important lesson was learning how to put out any fires that were started.
Brandi has to terminate one of her girls today. Amber had played with fire last night and decided to venture out on her on. She managed to get arrested while soliciting an undercover cop. How many times have I told these girls they were high class; they don’t walk the streets. It was her own damn fault for being so greedy. She had it good, but she broke the one cardinal rules, do not get caught. Her prominent clientele would know if one of her girls went to jail, even for a short period of time. As soon as a client found out anything like that, the girl lost all credibility. Some of her clients included; judges, politicians, lawyers, actors and musicians. In this business, referrals were important and one bad statement could ruin you.
When she built this house, a lot of thought and consideration went into the plans. The entryway was large and airy. The back of the entryway was a huge window that overlooked the Mississippi River. The kitchen was a gourmet chef’s dream with top of the line appliances. The master bedroom was downstairs, and upstairs had several bedrooms for guests, each with their own bathroom. Each room was nice and roomy. The master bedroom was her retreat from the world. It was spacious with a king-size, four poster bed. The bathroom had a whirlpool tub and a walk in shower. Her closet was as spacious as one of the upstairs bedrooms. It was big enough to house her handbag and shoe collection, as well as all of her clothes. She even made sure she had an area designated for her sunglasses. A girl could never have too many accessories in her opinion.
In the back, massive oak trees canopied the yard. The branches dripped with Spanish moss. Snowy white egrets and great blue herons flew over the brackish water, dragging their feet. Near the river bank, a few giant cypress trees remained, their gnarled knees rising out of the shallow water. She kept a careful lookout for alligators and snakes, as they tend to be on the move during this time of the year.
So far, nothing has gone as planned today. She grabbed her glass of Pinot Grigio and took a sip of the wine. It had a nice flavor, light and clean, with just a hint of apples. The air blowing off of the Mississippi River today was hot and thick, carrying with it the pungent smell the river carried. The sunshine weighed down on her like a hot towel. Dark, ominous clouds began to form to the south. Hopefully, the rain would bring some relief to the early heat wave they were having. Suddenly, thunder crackled in the distance. The sky darkened as a bolt of lightning flashed across the gray sky. The storm moved in faster than she anticipated. Grabbing her now empty glass of wine, she moved back to the house to get ready for her date.