"Ashley's father had an affair with my mother."
Maia said it causally but Xanthe noticed the way her shoulders stiffened and the way her fingers tightened around the mug she was holding. For a moment, she simply stared into space and let out a tired sigh before continuing,
"My mother used to be a model, but that was really just a cover for what she actually did." She looked directed at Xanthe. "She was a call girl."
Color drained from Xanthe's face immediately. "Oh."
"Yeah." Maia nodded. "And she was in 'class of her own'... as she loved to say. She only accepted wealthy clients— Elites, business magnates, politicians... men with power." She shook her head. "Unfortunately for me, one of those clients happened to be Ashley's father and that's how I ended up here."
