Chapter 3: The Offer
The café was cozy, a quiet escape from the hustle of the cosplay event. The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the soft murmur of conversation. Celeste felt at ease here, her initial hesitation fading with every sip of her iced latte. The food had been good — not too fancy, but satisfying enough for someone who didn’t often indulge in café meals.
The conversation flowed easily, and Celeste was starting to feel comfortable. He had been pleasant, friendly, and upfront with his intentions. As they finished their meal, he set his empty cup down and looked at her with a thoughtful expression.
"I really appreciate you meeting up like this," he said. "So, about that private shoot I mentioned — would you be interested? I’d pay you $100 for about 20 to 30 minutes of your time."
Celeste blinked, a little surprised at the directness of the offer. She had been expecting more casual talk, but this was serious. The money was tempting. She looked away, unsure of how to respond.
"I’m not sure," she said, her voice soft. "I’m not really comfortable with going to a stranger’s house."
He paused for a moment, then leaned in slightly, his expression thoughtful but understanding.
"I get it. But honestly, I live in a really nice place — lots of space, and I think it’s perfect for something like this. It’s quiet, no distractions, and I promise it’s totally safe. Plus, no awkward hotel vibes, you know?"
Celeste hesitated. She had enough to worry about already, but the idea of $100 for just 30 minutes was hard to ignore. And even if it felt strange at first, she could always leave if she felt uncomfortable. The thought of the money was difficult to push aside.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her cup. “It’s just… I’ve never done something like this before.”
He nodded, his gaze soft but insistent. "I get that. You can think about it. No rush. If you change your mind, I’m here, and we can set something up." He smiled. "Just take your time to decide. No pressure at all."
Later That Night
Celeste sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone. Her bank account was in the red, with only $10 left after spending most of her funds on materials for her cosplay and the things she had picked up from the event. Her cosplay had cost more than she expected, and now she was barely scraping by.
Her cosplay sat neatly folded in the corner of her room, its vibrant colors a reminder of all the effort she had put in — the late nights, the cutting, the stitching, the meticulous details — only to realize she had practically drained her wallet for it. The event had been fun, but in the end, it had cost her more than she had anticipated. All that work, and now she was barely getting by.
She sighed and glanced at her bank account once more. $10. That was the last of her cosplay budget, spent on materials and impulsive event purchases. She frowned as she thought about the long hours she’d need to put in at a part-time job — at $7 to $8 an hour — just to make that $100.
And then, she thought about the offer: 30 minutes, $100, plus transport covered. It seemed almost too good to be true. Maybe she could finally get ahead, at least for a little while. A part-time job would take forever to earn that much.
She stared at the screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. Thoughts raced through her mind, a whirlwind of uncertainty. Was this a good idea? Was she making a mistake? But then, the thought of making some extra money to fund her cosplay—the one thing she truly enjoyed—made her feel a small sense of relief. Maybe this was the break she needed.
With a deep breath, she pressed send.
Celeste:
Okay, I’ll do it. Send me the details.
She set the phone down on the bed and lay back, her mind still buzzing with a mix of excitement and doubt. If this went well, maybe it would mean more cosplay materials, more events, and more opportunities to indulge in something she loved. But if it didn’t work out… well, at least she’d tried.
For now, though, she couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. Maybe, just maybe, this could be a good thing.
To be Continued