Work Text:
Lacey had had a client, who went only by M. That was not so unusual, for many of her clients, especially the women, avoided using their names. It hardly bothered her. At last M gave her something to call her. Not all of them did. So, there was M, and she was a decent enough client. Paid well, laid her expectations out clearly, listened to the many things Lacey was offering, and didn’t push her and ask for what she was unwilling to give. It was good, as these things went. She rarely felt fondness for her clients. It wasn’t that kind of relationship, and the rare exceptions had to be unusual in some way. So, she wasn’t fond of M, but that didn’t mean she disliked her. She was certainly preferable to many of her clients.
Except, then, M grew fond of her. Too fond. Many of her clients felt some kind of fondness, and that was fine. Thinking fondly of the service she provided was one thing. M thought she knew her. Began to spout all these flowery things, about love and romance. She didn’t understand. That wasn’t what this was. It never could be. What M thought she saw was nothing but a thing built on transactions. Lacey couldn’t even say she was fond of her. She certainly didn’t love her. She didn’t even know the woman’s name. How could M profess to love her, when she wouldn’t tell her that?