The Upward Ripple

Cynthia took a series of long, deep breaths.

“What I am about to tell you is going to make you look at me differently and I understand that… I will understand if you never want to see me again after that,” she said, and Nate shook his head.

“Nothing would ever make me look at you any different,” he promised, and she bit her lower lip. She shook her head and forced a smile.

“Just save your opinion until I say what I have to say,” she said, and Nate took a deep breath.

“My grandmother was the only parent I knew growing up and she did everything to make sure that I was okay and that I had an education but when she got sick, money was strained, and I had to get creative… bills were piling up. My grandmother needed medical attention and I needed to stay in school…. I moved back home and tried getting a few jobs here and there. Some waitressing and cleaning but I barely scratched the surface with all the bills that needed payment.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I tried to keep up with my schoolwork by enrolling in online classes but there was so much to be taken care of. I couldn’t keep up especially with my grandmother’s medical bills. I was getting desperate…and then, a friend told me about a website I could register on. I was a little skeptical at first… I mean, I live in a modern world. I know that those ‘companionship’ services are really just brothels, but my friend took me to one of those parties. It was just a bunch of old guys, venture capitalists, politicians, CEOs… just having fun. Having wine, dancing and having conversations… there was nothing inappropriate and at the end of the day, I got a good chunk of change. After that, I joined the service and I was set up on a date with one of the Johns. As it turned out, the man I was set up with wanted more than just dinner and conversation. He…” her voice trailed off and Nate noticed her eyes welling up.

“He wanted to sleep with me, and I didn’t want to… I did not want my first time to be with someone I barely knew… I tried to leave but he wouldn’t let me. So, he forced himself on me.” She bit her lip again. “He assaulted me. It was an ordeal that seemed to carry on for hours… he then got dressed and left the room.”

“Oh, Cynthia,” Nate said under his breath. “I’m so sorry.”

“Needless to say, I never went back to that service. That was when I decided to get into real estate and I never looked back.”

“That man… the man who took advantage of you,” Nate started. “It was Alistair Vale, wasn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Yeah,” she said in a whisper and Nate felt a rage come over him like he had never felt before. “And it is like every man that I have met since then has been almost cut from the same cloth. It is like I am cursed.” A tear rolled down her cheek and he leaned forward to gently wipe it away.

“Don’t say that,” he said in a soft voice.

“Are you disgusted by me now?” she asked, and he shook her head.

“I would never be disgusted by you,” he said before he pulled her into his arms. “Not ever.”