Also, random trivia! The girl's name is Charlotte. Is it relevant to the story? No, not really. Just wanted to share.
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It was strange, seeing her without her glamour. Well, of
course she did carry her own aura of it, but now that she was just in a simple
dress and flats, she looked more human. I found that more appealing, somehow.
“And I suppose you’re the fine gentleman that’s been dying for a meeting with me?” Her laugh
was gentle, and her hair fell just right. But I wasn’t going to let her control
me. I readjusted my necktie. Suits always make me more powerful. I stood up to
shake her hand, before pulling her chair back and reseating myself.
“Your performance last night was…exquisite.”
“…Exquisite? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone
use that term for what I do.”
“You have a different way of executing it, from the others.
They do it out of desperation, for money… for you, it’s artistic. There’s life
to your dances.”
“Hmm. A client who thinks.” She took a sip from the coffee
they had served, and crossed her legs. “So you’re more than just a good suit
and what’s between your legs. That’s good to know.”
“And you’re more than just well-treated hair and an excellent body. I’ve gotten bored of the automated routines most clubs have.” I noticed
her staring at my watch. It’s my favorite watch, leather with a dark, red face.
I wonder what she thinks of it.
“So, why exactly did you talk to my boss just to meet me
here, today? I don’t accept offers for other services, I only perform. Professionally.”
In all honesty, I don’t quite know why I invited her today
for coffee. Sure, she was attractive, and yes I would have very much liked to
make her writhe under me after watching her last night. But that wasn’t why I
was talking to her right now.
“Because you’re fascinating. And I don’t want to buy you, I
have more pride than that. I’ve decided I want to get to know you better.”
“And in the end you’ll want to sleep with me. Or am I being
too direct for you?”
“…Well, admittedly, that would be part of the plan.” Plan?
What plan. I have no plan. “But I’m hoping for more than that.”
Her expression was a mix between disbelief and laughter. “More
than that? And may I ask, what basis do you have for wanting something a little
more serious than physical contact? You’ve only seen me once, and that one time
I… wasn’t exactly meant for anything personal. You know my name, you know my
line of work. That’s all.”
Arrogance. Cynicism. I liked that about this girl. I met her
mocking gaze with a calculated one, and spoke slowly. “People reveal more about
themselves in their art than they realize.”
“You seem awfully sure of yourself. Then tell me, what
exactly do you know about me?”
“You’re broken hearted. Recovering from…something, I’m not
entirely sure what.” I noticed her hand slow down the stirring of her coffee, and
she let a lock of hair fall across her cheek.
“You’re a dreamer,
and I suppose that even though you don’t need this job, you do it because it’s
the closest you have ever gotten to a Broadway show.”
She raised one of her perfectly groomed eyebrows, and
smirked. “…Not bad. I’m impressed. But that might have just been lucky guesses.
Is that all?”
“Before I answer, I want to know. Why did you agree to meet
me? I’m sure you were just expecting me to attempt to buy you.”
She winked and raised the mug to her lips, and took a long
sip of the coffee. I think she enjoyed the little squirm of impatience I couldn’t
help but show. This woman is used to manipulating people this way. This is a
fun game. “I always like to personalize my rejections. Although to be fair, I
wasn’t expecting you to be intelligent. Most businessmen, even though they are successful,
are only good with books and figures. Your colleagues last night, I’m assuming.
Their drunken laughter got on my nerves.”
“Oh, they get on my nerves everyday.” I realized we were
leaning against the table, closer to each other now than we were when we had
first started. I took in her scent. Spicy.
“So, for someone like yourself who can appreciate art, why
are you in a corporate job?”
The neckline of her dress had lowered slightly, giving me a
clear view of red lace underneath, but I quickly looked back up. “Excuse me?”
“Doesn’t it get dull for you? Going through the figures, all
your life? You’re someone who can understand art as more than just display, it
seems. Surely you can’t tell me you do it all just for the money.”
“The money is what makes sure I have no hindrance to
enjoying fine art. If I wasn’t rich, I wouldn’t have been able to go to your
club, I would have had to settle for a far cheaper one, to fill my needs.”
We were both done with our coffee. “Touché. So, I go back to
my original question. Is there anything else you’ve figured out about me?”
“I also figure you’ve got a bit of an exhibitionist streak,
but that’s pretty obvious.” Okay, so I tried for a joke, and I’m not very
funny. Oh well. Now for the serious bit. I looked her straight in the eyes, and
lowered my head. “And you’re afraid. Of something, I’m not sure what. But
dancing is your escape. It gives you courage. I’m also assuming you’re lying a
lot about who you are, to your superiors at work. I’ve seen your so-called
public biography. I don’t believe any of it. I think you’re running from your
past. I’m not sure what it is, but you’re ashamed of it.”
“…An hour’s worth of a routine and you’ve got me figured out
better than most of the people I’ve known for years. You’re smarter than I gave you credit for.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “I think I
might take you up on your offer.”
I noticed that her eyelashes were long and thick, and her
breath smelled just like the coffee we were just drinking. She was trying to
turn the tables, the best way she knew how. Luckily, I’m experienced too. I
quieted down to meet the volume of her voice.
“Which offer are we talking about? I thought you only
performed professionally.”
She chuckled and shook her head.
“Are you trying to tease me? It won’t work.” I felt her leg
brush against mine for a brief moment as she uncrossed her legs.
“I’m going to be straightforward with you. You’re an attractive
man, and your intelligence only adds to that. I’ve got a few things to do for
now, so I’ll have to go. But I get off work later at midnight.” She leaned back
and stood up gracefully enough that I could have sworn she was trying to do a
little dance right then.
“Maybe you can catch another one of my shows. I’m
center stage for tonight.”
I stood up and she reached out her hand as if to shake mine
again, but I gently took it and raised it to my lips instead.
“Thank you for seeing me today. I’ve had a lovely time. Rest
assured, I’ll be there at your show.”
We held each others’ eyes for a while, before going off in
our own directions.
***
I woke up in bed the next day, feeling alive. That was
amazing.
She had gone off early to finish some things at her
workplace. That’s one advantage to being one of the heads at the company – I didn’t
have to get up so early.
I reached for my bedside table to put my watch on-but I
couldn’t find it.
And then I realized it.
Damn it. How could I
have been so stupid.
I had tried to call the club again for several days after,
but they told me she was gone.
That girl was clever. I can’t deny that. But I was right.
She was a coward. Always running away from her past.
And it was strange, seeing her without her glamour.
