Chapter 1: TBM!!![ Part 1]
Full Title - Client One: Total body massage for the stressed Vicki Vale!!!
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Heroes… Villains… no matter the title everyone has problems. Whether it's stress from work, hiding your identity, or finding love, no one is an exception, not even the gods.
From a young age, I idolized heroes. They were brave and cool, always beating the bad guys and saving the day. My admiration knew no bounds, especially when I discovered my mother was one of those heroes.
It was an accident that led to this revelation, but once I knew, I couldn't contain my gler and excitement. My own mother was among the heroes I looked up to so much. I never told her I knew; I didn't want her to worry about her little boy watching her fight and get injured.
Not long after my discovery, a tragic accident struck. I was hit by a car and slipped into a coma, a deep, dreamless sleep that lasted nearly ten years.
Ten years where I couldn't move, see, or do anything. But I could hear. I heard my mother crying night she visited me. I heard how her life unraveled day by day, how she lost her will to live.
There was no support, no help from her fellow heroes. She felt utterly alone. The only solace she found was in fighting, but that too became her downfall.
She faced a criminal far beyond her abilities and met a horrifying end. I was trapped in my coma, screaming silently as I heard the news of her death. Even without waking, I shed tears that day, tears for the mother I lost and the hero who was no more.
When I finally woke up, the world was a different place. Ten years had passed, and I felt like a stranger in a strange land. My mother was gone, and I was alone.
Discharged from the hospital, I wandered aimlessly, unsure of what to do next. But then, memories of my mother's struggles flooded back. I remembered every word she said, every tear she shed. I saw a purpose, a light in the darkness.
I vowed never to let anyone go through what my mother did. I wanted to be there for every woman who was struggling.
My idea might not have been the most conventional or ethical, but it was the only thing I could think of.
Over the next couple of years, I rebuilt my life from scratch. I studied, learned, practiced, made money, and eventually opened my own business.
On the surface, it seemed like a peculiar service, something rarely seen nowadays. I was among the first to bring it into practice: the business of renting people. More specifically, renting myself.
Whether someone needed a lawyer for a case, a friend to go out with, a shoulder to cry on, a masseur, or even a temporary lover—whatever the client needed, I would provide. My business model focused solely on women, women like my mother. Finding clients was the next challenge. But I had a plan.
I already sent out an encrypted email designed to find women who might need my services. Now, all I had to do was wait.
After ten years in darkness, if I've leaned one thing, it was patience.
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"Sigh! No clients today…"
It had been over a month since Arlo sent out that email, and not a single client had come. He guessed he was too eager. Not to mention, most people just saw unfamiliar emails as spam and ignored them. Maybe he should change his tactics.
As he pondered a change in business strategy, the buzzer at his front door went off, surprising him. He almost fell out of his chair but luckily caught himself.
Looking at the camera on the side, he saw a female figure standing underneath the rain with an umbrella. It was raining today, which was rare in this city.
After checking the camera, he answered the buzzer. "Hello, how can I help you?" he asked, a bit hopefully, that his prayers had been answered.
And it seemed they had, as the woman looked at the camera, finally showing her angular face, ginger long hair, and serious expression.
"Are you Arlo, and is this Arlo's Rental Services?" she asked, her voice carrying a tone of both curiosity and skepticism.
Arlo was silent for a moment before immediately replying in a professional tone. "Yes, it is. It's nice to meet you. Hold on a moment; I'll come to the door."
Arlo quickly put on his shoes, did a breath check, and sprinted to the door. After hyping himself up, he opened the door and smiled. "Good afternoon, miss. Please, come inside. Let's get you out of the rain."
She stepped inside, shaking off the umbrella and glancing around the modest office. "Thanks. It's really coming down out there," she remarked, her voice warmer now.
Arlo nodded. "Rare weather for this city. Can I get you something to drink? Tea, perhaps?"
"Tea would be great, thanks," she replied, taking a seat and looking around with interest.
Arlo quickly returned with tea, which she tasted and was amazed at how good it was. "This is delicious. Did you make this?"
Arlo smiled. "I did. It's a special blend I like to make for my clients. Helps set a calm atmosphere."
She nodded appreciatively, setting her cup down. "So, I have to ask—is this really legit? You're not a scammer or some trafficker, are you?"
Arlo chuckled, not at all fazed by the woman's inquiries. "I assure you, miss, everything is above board. Here, let me show you."
He pulled out all his legal documentation, PDFs, doctrines, and everything she needed to see to relax a bit.