Re: She wanted you to text so that she can match it to the cell phone # you gave

Also, she probably senses that you are a newbie, or you have told her that in a previous email, and she is trying to work with you by agreeing to meet you for a drink.  However, unless she has already given you the address, you will probably find that there will be a three or four call system directing you to the apartment when you get to the general location.

This is sometimes used for further security so that she can watch you arrive and see if you arrive alone.  Don't sweat it if it happens, as it is not uncommon when the lady works out of an apartment instead of a hotel.

If she has already given you the address, then she has verified you to her satisfaction and is willing to have you come in for a drink for your own comfort.

The overwhelming odds are that she is legitimate if she is well reviewed on TER (multiple reviews, not just good scores); and the only possible risk is that she has somehow been co-opted by LE.  That risk is slim to none, but there are no guarantees.  Ultimately, you will have to go for it or not depending on your comfort level, but what you have described so far does not raise any red flags IMHO.

BTW, never assume that it is off of the clock and bring the donation with you because you will more than likely be jumping her bones if you have that drink.  She knows that as well, which is one of the reasons she is agreeing to it.

Good luck

In your OP you stated "I thought it would be good for me and her to meet over a drink..."  

I would hazard a guess that she does not consider it to be off the clock.  You asked for some of her time.  Clothed or naked; her time is what she sells. So be careful, if you are interested in her, you don't want to start off on the wrong foot.

I'm not really sure why you think you need to have drinks beforehand.  If you want to get to know her a bit better then schedule a longer appointment.  Realize though that she is probably not going to share much personal info.  Except for the sex talk, it'll probably be even less revealing than the conversation you would get from the person in the seat next to you on your airline flight.  Most ladies keep a line between their work and personal lives.  Some don't, but most do.

Best of luck to you.

Hi Jon54, I pride myself on being very careful and thinking things through, forcing myself to confront everything that could go wrong and developing plans for any contingency.

In your case however, I think you are over-analyzing the situation. This hobby, as with just about any other activity in life, is based on probabilities. In any game of chance, the further you can swing the odds in your favor the better, but you will start to experience diminishing returns at some point. You'll never make yourself 100% safe or even 99% safe. You'll get to the point where you're putting in large amounts of time and effort to bump it from 96.5% to 96.6%, that's what I mean by diminishing returns. Being in the financial industry I'm sure you get this.

This is a risky hobby but it's not rocket science.  

I think you're afraid of doing this and are finding ways to avoid taking the plunge by continuing to gather more information and advice. It's colloquially called paralysis by analysis.

I also think that in your caution you're actually making yourself more vulnerable. Now you're talking about walking into a situation where you might have sex with a provider on the spur of the moment, after drinks. You're just meeting for drinks right? As soon as you do that you'll be thinking with your little head and all your careful planning will be out the window. Not to mention the fact that you've been texting back and forth with this provider for a while now. Does your SO see the bill? That's what I mean about being so careful that you're actually leaving more clues laying around for your SO to find.

Find a well reviewed provider who has explicit instructions about appointment making and donation protocol, set up a time with her and go. When you get there try your best to make sure you're not walking into a mugging. Do everything covered, even BJ. If you're clean, respectful and have a envelope full of money she is going to be fine with you. This isn't dating. Get this thing done and then tell us how it went.

I have, of course, considered the fact that you're a troll. If that's the case, nice troll, but the advice everyone on TER has provided will be helpful to other n00bs as well.

Peace,

Astucious