Call Girl Confidential (23 page)

“If it goes one way and she drops my name, there are relationships in my life that I will have to talk with. Not to be cliché, but I will not be open and trusting of someone who presents themselves one way and are not that way at all. It was bad judgment.”

The power player said that he had had several “dates” with the pretty young decorator, yet he denied paying for sex. But in the very next breath he admitted that he had paid for her to fly home to see her family, and that he had helped pay her rent.

But as generically as Weiss had described the mystery man, New York cognoscenti soon figured out who the wealthy man with a well-known family was after a series of angry rants were posted by a commenter identified as “Anna Christina-Gorr.” I clicked on the posts, and they linked back to Anna's usual Facebook page. In her rants she said the client's attorney was megalawyer Ben Brafman, and she knew that Weiss knew Brafman. She knew the client had made political donations, and why he made them.

One post read like a populist rallying cry: “And suddenly the Scared Mogul with all his Billions . . . now he is taking the ‘I-knew-nothing' road. ‘I'm a victim.' REALLY N.Y. do you believe that? People of N.Y., ask why he never came forward . . . to tell his story of events and how innocent everything was. I'd have had all charges dropped if he did come forward . . . and do the proper legal thing to clear my name since it was all SO INNOCENT on his part. But instead [I] sat for 4.5 months in Rikers.”

An hour later, “Anna Christina-Gorr” posted this: “Really, it looks a lot like he is trying to worm out of any legal and moral responsibility due to his Billionaire lifestyle. . . . This is damage control in case I do a book with names. Well, let's look at his history in both coasts with paper trails, texts, phone records, voice messages and emails, and let him be the first to stand and be tried as a man involved in this, and I will be happy to bring forth women who may have a very different story than his ‘poor-me' version. MONEY WON'T BUY YOU OUT OF THIS ONE, as I plan on sitting in the Bonnie Island of Scotland where I will have total freedom with solid verifiable facts to write all I have uncovered.”

The comments were taken down by DNAinfo.com almost immediately.

J
udge Merchan gave Anna permission to fly out to LA to tape her second appearance on the
Dr. Phil
show, which aired in February 2013. Dr. Phil McGraw was not happy that she had denied during her first appearance in September that she'd ever promoted prostitution, only to plead guilty to doing so not two weeks later.

“You were either lying then, or you're lying now,” Dr. Phil
said. “You can't say ‘yes' then and ‘no' now. There are not versions of the truth. You're insulting my intelligence.”

Anna then had the nerve to say, “I've never owned an ‘escort service.' That's below the level of what I was comfortable doing. . . . But, yes, older men met with younger, beautiful women with the expectation of having sex. . . . I knew it was going on, but it was not something anyone ever talked about.”

Dr. Phil: “What's the most money you ever made in a month off of this?”

Anna: “I think a bumper of a month was like Super Bowl weekend. It was amazing. I made a lot of money.”

Dr. Phil: “So for weekends, this doesn't sound like people test-driving girls for a long- term relationship, it sounds to me like they come in for a weekend and you hook them up with a hooker.”

Anna: “Yeah.”

Dr. Phil: “So you were a pimp?”

Anna: “If that's the way you want to call it, yeah.”

Anna admitted to having a “global roster of fifty to one hundred girls,” but said she had an “active database” of ten to fifteen girls at any one time.

Dr. Phil brought up her claim that she was going to name some of her clients on his show. He said he wasn't interested in divulging any names, since “I don't think you have credible information.”

Anna claimed she took the plea deal to protect people who had enemies in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

She said there was a man who “was like a father to me.” She said that, even though she had pleaded guilty to protect him, he
wouldn't talk to her now. She started to cry. Dr. Phil wasn't having any of it. He said, “You're trying to make yourself out to be a
victim
?”

I have my suspicions as to who that is, and I will say that, yes, if it is that person and he did leave her stranded, I do feel badly for her. I knew him, and I know how very close they were. I would be equally hurt.

A
s for me, I continue to fight for my daughter, though it's really just down to legal technicalities now. She is with me a lot of the time, and her father and I have begun talking again, for her sake.

I left the escort business for good a long time ago. I went back to school to become a forensic psychologist. I became a student at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I decided to work on the right side of the law instead of the wrong side. I want my daughter to be proud of me.

I've been in compromising situations. I understand the
low end and the high end of the business. I understand the madams—and the clients. I understand the young women who turn to prostitution for whatever reasons they have, and then want to get out.

Forensic psychologists are often called in to decide whether defendants are of sound mind, and whether they're telling the truth. I found that a lot of girls in this business lie so much. I guess that's how they cope. And sometimes you have to lie in order to keep that part of your life a secret. Regardless of the reason, it is very stressful.

I have gotten very involved with my community and was even elected to the Community Education Council, and then the council elected me first vice president. I have lobbied in Albany against budget cuts for public education in New York City. I have stood in front of numerous groups, whether at a press conference at the courthouse or meetings within the community discussing land use, new schools, budget allocation, or school rezoning. I took chances that I would be recognized and somebody would say, “You are that girl who is a prostitute!”

I took that chance because I am not that girl for life. It was a short period of time in my life that certainly changed it forever. Some people will never be able to handle my truth. It doesn't matter how good a person you are—there will always be someone who judges you, and it is that person for whom I feel sorry. I learned along the way that those who judge are the ones with the biggest secrets and the most fearful that they will come out.

I am often asked by those who don't know me very well why I chose to tell my story. The question always brings to mind a simple line from the movie
Cloud Atlas
. When asked why she
embarked on her chosen path, the main character, Sonmi-451 states, “If I had remained invisible, the truth would have stayed hidden. I couldn't allow that to happen.”

There are so many truths that had to be told, yet one thing inspired them all: my beautiful Isabella.

I
t would be impossible to thank and express appreciation to each person who has influenced my journey and reminded me to “keep my chin up,” as my Pop would say, during the difficult times and celebrate life's incredible moments.

My deepest gratitude to my incredible literary agent, Frank Weimann, who sat down at a table with me one day and listened to my story, and from that moment on had faith in me and in this project. Thank you for getting me through this!

My sincerest thanks to my editor, Emilia Pisani of Gallery Books, who has patiently dealt with me during every stage of this project and, more importantly, worked closely with me on writing subject matter that was difficult on many levels. Also, to my publicist, Stephanie DeLuca of Gallery Books, for making sure
Call Girl Confidential
has a future once released. And
to Simon & Schuster for working with me for these many long months.

To my family, thank you for your support and love and understanding. I have never been the easiest one to decipher, but I have always had my reasons for what I do. Mom, you are an amazing grandmother, and it has been wonderful to watch my daughter grow up so happy visiting with you. Thank you for creating those memorable moments. Aunt ML, our special bond is something I value deeply and never take for granted. To Saint Bridget, who loves gentle round barrel-makers, the thought of writing anything to thank you makes me cry. You are my everything: my parent, my sister, my best friend, and the most incredible person. Your brilliance is not lost on me, and I am glad the rest of the world has caught up and sees it too. To say thank you would be but a drop in the bucket of what I owe you. My heart will always be so full of love and gratitude.

Thank you, Timmy, for being the brother I never had. We have always been able to count on you for anything and everything, but most of all for your unconditional love. You inspire, you love, you give, you teach, yet you ask for nothing in return.

Oh, Shahana. I don't think there will ever be enough room to thank you for all you are and have done for me and my daughter. Our souls were connected long before we met, and the place you hold in my heart is so deep and powerful that nothing I can say here will be good enough to honor and justify the friendship we have. So, simply put: thank you for your constant love and support. I am . . . because of you.

Steve Caton, long before the days chat rooms ever existed, you were one of my dearest friends in college and the person I knew I could confide in without any judgment. This still holds
true today. My life could be a complete disaster if you were not a constant support. I may never be able to cheer for your college team, but I will love you forever!

A fun night would never be complete without my daughter, Twizzlers, a good movie, and you, Jason Baron. Jason, I will forever be grateful that I met you at your own birthday party all those many years ago. You redefine friendship. You continue to surprise me with your fierce loyalty and love, and it continues to grow with us. Whenever we're at a party and there's a piano bench, you can be sure I'll be saving that spot next to me only for you! I truly love you, and your support while writing this book has been absolutely essential to its completion. Thank you for being family.

Living in solitude all those years to keep my secret safe meant being alone on holidays when I didn't have my daughter. But, Virgina Reiff, letting me spend Thanksgiving with you and your family was the most impressive gesture a friend has ever made. Who knew you would end up reading draft after draft of this manuscript, helping me and giving me advice on how to make it better? You are an amazing writer, a fantastic friend, an incredible party host, and the best doggy mom ever!

Andrew Arora, you always tell it like it is, and you always let me cry on your shoulder when my heart has been broken. Our conversations are priceless, and I have never been more grateful for ex's and roommates than I am now. And whenever you are ready for season two of
Hannibal,
wait for me! (Wait,
is
there a season two?)

To Bruce and Victor, having you in my life taking care of me during the most physically challenging times ever, I could never thank you enough. I started out as just another client
you represented. Now you are both my family, and I love you dearly. I just want to know, though . . . when ARE we going to the Bahamas?

Friends show up when we least expect it, and Lauren Testa, it doesn't matter if I need to talk about relationships, I need a last-minute tan, I want to just text, or whatever, you never ever let me down. How you can always be there for everyone else is inspiring. And thank you for sitting in that hospital room for hours on end. Thank you for showing up for everything. You are the friend everyone can depend on for a favor, yet probably rarely has the favor returned, and I have never heard you complain. You simply ask, “What else can I do? Is there anything you need?” Happiness is possible because of you.

During the most horrible period of our lives, from the bottom of my soul and heart I love you, Laura and Randy, for taking care of my daughter. To trust someone with my child is the most difficult thing someone could ask of me, but you became family. I'm grateful you didn't look at her as a job, and I am forever in debt to you for that.

To Jason Y, a thank-you that you are not expecting, since we no longer speak to each other, but one you deserve. I won't say that either of us was great relationship material for the other. However, your companionship during the most tumultuous period of my life gave me a source of stability each day, and I looked forward to cooking dinner, watching our favorite TV shows, and of course, going on fantastic vacations. Hopefully this book will provide some answers to a lot of questions you probably had back then. Thank you.

To my personal team, Joseph Ungoco, Stephen Ciuccoli, William Miranda, and Yuki Yamazaki: thank you for “fixing
me up” and pulling off miracles in Connecticut. Stephen, your work is outrageously amazing. Joseph, who knew that teaching a few people about poll sites would lead us here? To be able to trust is nearly impossible for me; however, you are the most fun, laid-back, stylish, and incredibly smart friend that I am so lucky to spend so much of my time with now. Having you by my side makes it all seem so easy. Thank you for taking away the stress from the entire project.

And to those precious souls who have passed on . . .

I praise God for the friendship I had with Nancy Ann. Nancy, you were one of the most loyal friends I have ever had, and it is because of you I was blessed with the most important relationship in life, my daughter. You always believed in me, even when I didn't. And to Christian Myler, an elite Special Operations Marine who proudly served this country in Iraq during combat and tragically passed away just sixteen days before Nancy. You were and always will be the true love of my life. I have felt your disappointment in my actions and also your praise for finally doing the right thing. You are a constant guide in my heart. More recently, I miss my amazing grandfather. I am grateful for all the love and support you gave my daughter, her father, and me. Everyone would have the most incredible life if they had a grandfather like you. Again, unconditional love and no judgment for a young, scared, unwed pregnant girl is like winning the lottery, and I kept winning with you every single day. Your support helped raise her to become the most beautiful, talented, smart, and caring person I know. And lastly, to my father: although childhood may have been very strict, spending the last couple of weeks of your life with you are moments I would not trade for anything. Talking about the past, even though I don't think you heard me, somehow
seemed to set everything straight and make everything better. Thank you for those last moments, and thank you for letting me hold your hand while you left this life and went to the next. I love you, Daddy.