Next, Madam Jade led me across the hall into a small office. The room was modestly furnished, with a large desk dominating the space. Madam Jade sat behind the desk, her eyes studying me with a mix of professionalism and curiosity.

"So," she began, folding her hands on the desk, "let's talk."

She gestured for me to take a seat, which I did. I sat down across from her. The chair’s fabric was old and worn out, giving me an itchy feeling against the bare skin of my butt and thighs. I squirmed for a moment, thinking about how many women before me must have sat in this chair during their interviews.

Madam Jade clicked a few keys on her computer, and suddenly, the nude pictures I had sent appeared on the screen. My face flushed with embarrassment. Seeing myself laid bare like that in front of her felt surreal, a mix of vulnerability and discomfort. While in person I was barely covered, these photos showed Madam Jade everything she couldn’t see. Madam Jade examined the images with a critical eye, then looked up at me.

"So, Nina," she began, "why are you here?"

I took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. 

"My boyfriend and I are on a trip around the world," I explained, "But we've realized that we're burning through our savings faster than we expected. We need to earn money, or we'll have to go home early."

Madam Jade nodded, a hint of admiration in her expression. 

"That's quite a story," she said, seemingly impressed, "Where are you from originally?"

"Portland, Oregon," I replied.

She squinted at the pictures on the computer screen, scrutinizing them. "I don't see your skin color very often. What's your nationality?"

"My father was white, and my mother is from Mexico," I explained.

Madam Jade seemed intrigued, her expression thoughtful. 

"I normally don't hire women over 21," she said, "because our clients tend to prefer younger women. But I was intrigued by your skin tone. I think it might make you very popular with our clients."

A small smile crept onto my face, a sudden surge of confidence warming me. It was strange, feeling flattered in such an unexpected situation.

“You can go anywhere in this country and find an aussie lass to bone.” she explained, “But, an American? Plus, one that is a latina? That’s more rare.”

Her logic made sense, but it also made me wonder if I was in over my head. I just wanted to have sex with a few guys and then leave. I didn’t want to become the star attraction. 

"So, how does the pay work?" I asked, eager to shift the focus.

"The house charges $100 for 20 minutes, $140 for 30 minutes, or $200 for 60 minutes," she explained. "The house takes 50% to cover supplies, rent, utilities, etc. We also provide an apartment for our employees across the street. It's not that nice, but it's free."

The idea of a free apartment piqued my interest. 

"That’s a big deal," I said. "Considering we're trying to save money, it could help us out a lot."

Madam Jade leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. 

"What about your boyfriend?" she asked. "Does he know about this? How does he feel about it?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of the question. 

"He's… apprehensive," I admitted. "But he's willing to give it a try."

Madam Jade nodded, considering my words. "How many guys have you had sex with?"

I hesitated, then answered, "Four."

"Were they boyfriends or one-night stands?" she inquired, her voice calm and clinical.

"Two were boyfriends," I explained. "One was a one-night stand, and the other was a long-term friends-with-benefits situation."

Madam Jade continued, her questions unflinching. "Have you ever sucked a dick before?"

I nodded, quietly saying, "Yes."

"Ever had anal sex?"

I shook my head. "No, I haven't. But... I'm not opposed to it. I think I haven’t tried it because I’m just afraid it’s going to hurt a lot."

Madam Jade leaned back in her chair, seeming to evaluate my answers. "Can you pass a health screening?"

"As far as I know, I'm clean," I replied, hoping my recent checkup was still valid.

She leaned forward, her expression serious. "How long do you think you'll need to work here to save up enough money?"

I winced, unsure how to answer. "A few weeks," I finally said, hoping it sounded reasonable.

Madam Jade sat back, thinking for a moment. Then she nodded. "You have the job if you can pass the health screening," she said. "Go home and discuss this with your boyfriend. Make sure you’re both okay with this. Not all of them are. If you accept the job, go to this clinic and get a health screening. Bring it back, and we'll figure out when your first shift will be."

Madam Jade's words hung in the air as I sat there, processing the gravity of what she had just told me. As she finished speaking, I felt a puzzled look forming on my face. Something didn't quite add up. Sensing my confusion, Madam Jade tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

I hesitated, trying to find the right words. Finally, I mustered the courage to voice my concern. "Is… This it? Is the interview over?" I asked, my throat felt dry from my anxiousness.

Madam Jade nodded her head, confirming my question. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension slowly release from my body.

Madam Jade noticed my reaction and leaned forward, her expression curious. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

I took a deep breath, feeling a little embarrassed. "I... I thought I might have to have sex as part of the interview," I admitted, my cheeks flushing with a mix of shame and awkwardness.

To my surprise, Madam Jade giggled softly and shook her head. "No, dear, that's not necessary," she reassured me with a warm smile. "While we do require it for some interviewees, it won't be necessary with you."

Her words brought a wave of relief crashing over me. I couldn't help but let out a small, nervous laugh, feeling foolish for having thought the worst.

After Madam Jade handed me the business card with the clinic's address on it, she told me I could go back to the changing rooms and get dressed. I took my backpack and headed across the hall, my mind buzzing with everything that had just happened. Once inside the changing room, I removed the thong and camisole, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

As I stood there in front of my reflection, a wave of introspection washed over me. I thought back on my life, particularly my sexual experiences. I had always considered myself experienced, but being here, in a place where sex was a commodity, made me realize how naive I had been. The memory of Madam Jade’s hands inspecting my body flashed in my mind. It had felt invasive, unsettling. If a simple touch from another woman made me feel this way, how would it feel when it was a strange man, someone I had only known for a few minutes?

Doubt began to creep in. Could I really handle this? The idea of having sex with multiple strangers daily, some possibly much older than I, was daunting. I wasn't sure if I was strong enough for this, but I also knew that this might be our only chance to keep our dream alive. 

It’s just sex. I kept telling myself. 

The conflict within me was intense.

I slowly pulled on my jeans and tank top, feeling the comfort of my regular clothes wrapping around me. It was a small solace amidst the turmoil in my mind. I took a deep breath and exited the changing room, where Madam Jade was waiting to escort me out.

As we walked through the second floor, a young blonde woman passed us. She couldn't have been more than 18, her youthful face a stark contrast to the man trailing behind her. He was large and heavyset, easily 20 years older than her. They stopped at one of the rooms, and as they entered, the door closed behind them.

It hit me then, the reality of this place. That girl was about to have sex with a man who could have been her father. The thought was jarring. Could I do that? Could I bring myself to have sex with someone like him? The image lingered in my mind as we continued walking. Madam Jade chatted casually, but I barely heard her. My thoughts were consumed with the young woman and the large man. The gravity of what I was considering settled heavily on my shoulders.

As we reached the exit, Madam Jade smiled and wished me luck, her demeanor warm but professional. I thanked her and stepped out onto the street, the cool air a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere inside. My heart was pounding, my mind racing with questions and doubts. This was it. I had to decide whether I could go through with this.

When I walked back into the hotel room, Eric's eyes were glued to me, a mix of anxiety and hope in his gaze. He had been waiting anxiously, and I could see he was desperate for news. “So?” he asked, his voice barely concealing his nerves.

I bit my bottom lip, feeling the weight of the situation. “I got the job,” I finally said, trying to sound as upbeat as possible.

Eric exhaled a breath he had been holding, a sigh that was part relief, part disappointment. “When do you start?” he asked, his tone cautious.

“I’m not sure yet,” I replied. “I need to get a health screening first. They won’t finalize anything until that’s done.”

He nodded, but an awkward silence followed. I could sense he had more on his mind. “What’s up?” I asked, wanting to get it all out in the open.

Eric hesitated, looking almost afraid to ask. “Did you… did you have to fuck anyone?” he finally blurted out, his voice tinged with apprehension.

I shook my head, relieved to put that worry to rest. “No, I change into lingerie and let the woman who owns the brothel feel me up and inspect my body.”

Eric seemed to relax a little, but I could see he was still troubled. “Did she say how many men you’d be with each day?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, recalling Madam Jade’s words. I thought about lying, but quickly decided that was a bad idea. If this was going to work, we needed to be honest with each other. 

“She said it could be up to 20 men on a busy night,” I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady.

Eric's expression changed, a look of shock and disbelief crossing his face. He knew I had only been with three men before him, and the idea of me having sex with up to 20 men in one night was a gut punch. 

“Twenty men,” he muttered, doing the math in his head, “If it’s for a couple of weeks, that’s nearly 200 men.”

The realization hit me as well, and I felt a mix of mortification and a strange, unsettling thrill. I tried to reassure him, though my own voice wavered. “This might be our only chance to travel the world while we’re young. When we go back home, we’ll have jobs, responsibilities… life will get in the way. If this is what it takes to keep our dream alive, then maybe it’s worth it.”

A silence fell between us.

"There's another thing Madam Jade mentioned that might help us save even more money." I said, breaking the silence.

Eric raised an eyebrow, curiosity mixed with concern. "What is it?"

Nina hesitated for a moment, then said, "She said they provide an apartment for their employees across the street. It's not fancy or anything, but it's free."

Eric's eyes widened in surprise. "Free? So, we wouldn't have to pay for the hotel?"

Nina nodded. "Exactly. It would save us a lot of money, which means we can get through this faster."

Eric looked thoughtful, processing the information. The idea of free accommodation was tempting, especially considering how quickly they were burning through their savings. "That does sound like a good deal," he admitted, though his voice was still tinged with uncertainty.

Nina sensed his hesitation and tried to reassure him. 

"I know this is all really weird and uncomfortable, but it would only be for a couple of weeks. We could save so much money and then get back to exploring without worrying about our budget."

Eric nodded slowly. "Yeah, I get it. It's just... a lot to take in."

Nina reached out and squeezed his hand. "I know, and if you're not okay with it, we don't have to do it. But it could really help us make the most of this trip."

Eric looked at me, struggling to maintain his composure. He took a deep breath, trying to sound strong. 

“It’s only a couple of weeks,” he said, as much to convince himself as me. “Then we can put this all behind us.”

I nodded, knowing that this was the only way forward, even if it was fraught with uncertainty and potential heartbreak. We stood there in the quiet of the hotel room, both of us grappling with the reality of what lay ahead.