Trust Me

by Paul Slatter

  She wasn’t. Daltrey said, “No, I’m from Victoria.”

  She looked at the man, seeing him closer in the multi-colored light. He had shaved but was obviously having trouble with his razor around the sweaty, fatty flesh under his chin. He said, “I’ve not been in here before, I like it.”

  “Good!”

  “You’re really pretty.”

  “Thanks.”

  Daltrey looked away; it had been a while since someone had told her that. Except for Sebastian, and he was probably just saying that to make her feel better. Then she heard him say it again, “I’m not just saying it, you really are.”

  Daltrey smiled at the man. From what she could tell he must have been in about his mid-forties, but it was hard to tell. He looked lonely. She said, “You’re very kind.”

  “Thanks, you’ve nice tits.”

  “So have you,” Daltrey snapped back as quick as a flash. Then followed it up with, “You could work here.”

  The man looked back at her, not sure what to say or if he had heard her correctly in the noise from the speakers as they blared out a song he could not remember but liked.

  “Sorry?”

  “You should be.”

  “No, sorry I didn’t hear you properly.”

  Daltrey leaned in, so he could, then said, “If you started talking to women properly then maybe you wouldn’t need to come here to get your dick sucked.”

  Then she stood and smiled, held out her hand, took his and carried on with, “Baths have taps, give yours a turn.”

  With that she was off again, moving around the floor, wiggling her little ass as she went, searching for her next victim, looking pretty. She hit the end of the club where the bar was and sat herself down. Fucking guy, giving her a compliment like that, nice tits, she thought. She looked down at them. Yeah, they were nice, but sometimes she couldn’t help herself. Then from behind she heard a male voice say, “Yeah they’re nice.”

  Fuck, here we go again, Daltrey thought as a man in his fifties sat down a little too close next to her. He said, “Yeah they’re lovely, I bet they feel great.”

  Fuck off, Daltrey thought as she looked up and over at the man with the sport coat and shirt and tie. She said, “Go see the guy over there, his are bigger—the two of you will probably get along.”

  “Oh?” The man said looking surprised at the response from this woman in lingerie when usually they’d have been all over him for a lap dance upstairs. He then said, “You’re new?”

  Daltrey asked, “Did I ask you to sit here?”

  She hadn’t.

  “No, I was just trying to be sociable.”

  “Oh, so your tits are lovely, I bet they feel great, is a normal social interaction, is it? Go to the supermarket and say that at the till and see how far you get purchasing your frozen fucking dinner.”

  Without waiting for an answer Daltrey half stood, shifting her weight to the side quickly, and wacked the man out of the way with her ass. She carried on walking around the club, her nice tits in her lace bra jiggling as she went. Who’s next? she thought as guys caught her eye. Turning his head as he saw her out of the corner of his eye, a man sitting on G-row along the stage looked away from the girl bending down with her ass out in front of him and said, “Hey?” as Daltrey came along next to him.

  “Fuck off.”

  Then said it again as she heard another guy call out, “Hey Baby,” unseen from one of the small booths to the side.

  This was becoming fun, Daltrey thought as she carried on, passing the fat guy who’d started the trouble as she did. Who’s next? she thought as she sat down at a spare seat at the end of the stage as a man with a cowboy hat left for the washroom. Looking up she caught the eye of a passing waitress in a short skirt and asked for a beer.

  She looked at the stage, the girl up there smiling at her as she twirled around. The girl had nice legs—and ‘tits’ for that matter. Her hair cut short in a bob. How the hell does she get her legs that smooth? Daltrey thought as she stared up at her and wondered what it would be like to be up there twirling on the stage, spinning around in a pair of tiny knickers that were about to come off. Fair play to her, she thought as she smiled back. The girl still smiling as she walked away, ignoring the lewd comments as she moved about the stage, when Daltrey knew herself that if she was up there and someone had said, ‘get ya clam out’ it would only have ended in a fight.

  Daltrey’s beer came at the same time as the drunk in a cowboy hat came back to his seat at the end of the stage and, using his silence, asked for it back as he waited.

  Go find another horse to ride cowboy, Daltrey thought but instead said, “Oh sorry were you sitting here?”

  He smiled, he was.

  The guy standing there expecting the girl sitting in his seat in all her glory to show some manners and get up whilst a naked lady watched from above. He heard Daltrey say, “Well, go tell someone who gives a shit.”

  Daltrey looked back at the stage and then found Suzy who had only just stood and was leading the man she’d been talking to towards the stairs. Daltrey looked back at the Cowboy who she now noticed had a mullet as she heard him say, “Maybe then you would be kind enough to join me, perhaps on one of those chairs they have upstairs instead?”

  Daltrey looked away to the girl on the stage, then back to him. This Cowboy standing there smiling, the man had a kind manner, she couldn’t deny that, he had asked nicely, he was polite, not sexually predatory in anyway and he was requesting if she would be kind enough to join him, as he’d put it, upstairs, so she could provide the service she was there to do and he was happy to pay her legally to do. So Daltrey said, “It’s half price if you go on your own. So why don’t you just do that? And when you’re done, use the money you saved and go get a proper haircut.”

  It was going to be a long night.

  ************

  Two hours later, no one dared go near her, not even the doormen, who after the third complaint had come over to ask her to settle down with the attitude. Daltrey sat there at the edge of the bar, still half naked in her high heels and on her fourth beer. The girl with her hair cut in a bob was back up on the stage and they’d been making eye contact again. She’d give her a lap dance, she thought as she watched the girl strut about the stage in her white shoes. Fucking Chendrill, getting her to come here like this.

  She looked around for Suzy. The last time she’d seen her she was popping upstairs to make another $50, but now she was surprisingly back down earlier than she usually was. Then suddenly Suzy turned, caught her eye and held her stare as she crossed the club smiling till she reached Daltrey and sat down next to her in the one place no man would dare to go.

  Suzy said, “How about that, two semi-naked women together at a bar and not one gentleman in the vicinity.”

  Daltrey smiled, the door was open. She said, “Yeah how about that?”

  Suzy looked at the barman and asked for an ice water. Then looking at Daltrey asked, “You want another beer?”

  “Sure.”

  “I don’t drink, not through choice though, but when I did I kept it to vodka when I was here so these types couldn’t smell it on me.” Then she held out her hand and said, “Suzy.”

  Daltrey shook her hand and smiled and said, “Belle.”

  Keeping a hold of Daltrey’s hand, Suzy looked at her and said, “Belle?”

  Apologizing with a smile, Daltrey said, “Maggie.”

  Suzy let go and took the water and handed Daltrey’s beer over to her. She said, “You’re creating quite the scene here. You got the manager in a tizz.”

  “He sent you over to calm me down?”

  Suzy laughed and shook her head. Then said, “No—I love it, I couldn’t give a shit what he thinks.”

  Neither could Daltrey. She said, “If he’s unhappy and all stressed because of me he can go suck his own dick and take Monday off.”

  Suzy laughed; she liked this girl with the lovely figure and wig who shouldn’t be here. She replied,
“He’s already been on to you as well has he?”

  Daltrey smiled. Then heard Suzy say, “Well for the record, I work Mondays, and if I ever don’t, then I can guarantee the only dick I’ve been sucking is my man’s.”

  Which was who—your loser husband’s or your loser boyfriend who lives off drug addicts? Daltrey thought as she looked at the woman’s legs, which were longer than hers. Then Suzy said, “As sleazy as the man is, it seems to work for him as there’s a few here that just get the primo shifts.”

  Good for them, Daltrey thought as she looked around wondering which of the girls working the room liked to sleep in after the weekend. She said, “Your guy, he comes here does he?”

  “Seems to.”

  “Lucky you.”

  Suzy asked, “What about you? I see you like Shannon? She’s hypnotic though.”

  “Oh, yeah well, yes, she has something about her definitely,” said Daltrey, suddenly feeling even more naked and transparent than ever and wondering if the beers were making her that obvious.

  Suzy said, “Don’t worry, it’s normal round here—you can get sick of men. And for your info, I’ve never seen Shannon work a Monday… Or a Tuesday for that matter. But don’t be making assumptions; I think it’s because she gets her kid those days, so you know?”

  Daltrey wouldn’t be making assumptions. In fact, she wouldn’t be making anything at the moment, especially a trip back here on Monday morning. Then she heard Suzy say, trying to be kind, “If you’re nervous about going upstairs with one of these guys, then you can do one together with me if you want so you can get used to it.”

  How kind of you. Now put your tits away, she thought but instead said, “Thanks, that’s really nice. I’ll stay here though. Unless I see someone special—you know.”

  Then through the crowd she saw Williams coming in the door, all dressed up in a nice white shirt and shoes. Looking at what Daltrey was watching, Suzy spotted him too in the crowd, the lights from the stage making him stand out even more. Suzy said, “Cop.”

  Daltrey turned to her and smiled, “Really?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  Daltrey looked back to Williams as he wandered around looking through the crowd. She said, “Why do you say that?”

  Suzy looked back to her and said, “We never miss them, they’re easy to spot.”

  Well you’re sitting next to one, Daltrey thought, as she watched Williams look around some more then spot her sitting there at the bar. Making one more quick tour of the stage he came up the short steps and squeezed his way through a small huddle of people and sat himself down next to Daltrey and ordered a beer.

  Looking at him, Daltrey said, “I thought you guys hung out in Starbucks.”

  Williams turned to her and said, “Sorry?”

  Daltrey watched as Williams looked at her, the guy staring her in the eye then eyeing up her stockinged legs and naked stomach as he heard her carry on saying, “What’re you ordering, a hot latte?”

  Williams looked up. What the fuck, he thought, what was she doing? He said, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’

  Daltrey said, “What are you doing in here? You look like a kid, how old are you, 16?”

  Williams said, “I’m 24 actually.”

  “Really, you a cop?”

  Williams stared at her, not knowing what to say. Then Suzy leaned over and holding out her hand with a smile, said, “Hi, my name’s Lucy. It’s ok we like cops too, please excuse my friend.”

  Daltrey then said, “Would you like a lap dance?”

  Williams looked Daltrey in the eye and smiled, this was great, Daltrey playing the part of the hard ass, but why she’d outed him as a cop he didn’t know. What he’d do is ask her when he got her upstairs and they were alone, maybe he’d whisper it in her ear while she was riding that nice ass of hers on his dick. It was going to be a tough one this one, he thought as he looked at her legs and those lovely breasts she had. He’d need to summon every bit of control he had of his body to not allow the perfectly normal male reaction to occur down in his loins. Be professional, he told himself, go through the motions—pretend you’re enjoying it, but no hard on—no hard on. He said, “I’d love one thank you.”

  “Great, Lucy can give you one, and watch out because if you blow your load, it’s double.”

  And with that, before Williams could say another word, Suzy was off her stool and clonking in her big high heels as she led him breasts first by the hand towards the stairway to heaven.

  Daltrey watched him go and smiled. Yes, she was feeling better and it was great to be a bitch.

  *************

  Charles Chuck Chendrill made it to Dan’s mother’s home and let himself in. He found Tricia sitting in the kitchen looking at high-end properties for sale on her computer. Standing, she held him and kissed him, rubbed her hands through his hair and said, “I’ve been looking—these realtors want a fortune if I buy a house then sell it.”

  Chendrill let his woman go and looked at the old mansion house on the screen. The asking price boldly stating, ‘Offers in the range of fifty-five million dollars.’

  Chendrill said, “What about Dan—is there room in the basement for him.”

  Sitting back down again, Tricia said, “Dan’s going to live in that penthouse, Chuck. Besides I’m just looking—I can buy this place, but I’d be in debt with the property taxes.”

  Chendrill leaned in and looked again, the place was nice with a huge stone deck, pool, and a huge garden with steps which went down to the ocean. It was crazy that he could buy it tomorrow and still have millions in the bank. He said, “I think Sebastian said he was picking up the taxes.”

  Tricia looked at him; she must have missed that bit. Still too upset and in shock to take in what she’d been given even though she’d only met the man a handful of times. She said, “I can’t believe this is happening, Chuck.”

  Neither could Chendrill—the whole thing seeming surreal. As he closed the lid on Tricia’s computer, he said, “Truth is, I miss the guy. I genuinely mean that, I can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “It was his choice, Chuck.”

  It was, Chendrill knew that, the man had calculated everything he did all based on how long the dog had left. All for the sake of a promise made to a man who he loved but was probably about to run away with the loan shark’s brother until they’d played with the wrong gear stick and crashed the car. Fucking crazy, Chendrill thought, then said just that.

  “What is Chuck?”

  Lying, Chendrill said, “The fact we’re both rich.”

  “You are, I’m not.”

  “But you will be soon.” Then taking himself by surprise he said, “This house, this big old monster home with class, why don’t you have Patrick make a lowball offer and see if you get it. Tell them it’s cash and it’s tomorrow. Tell him he’ll have to sell it for free when you do decide to sell and you’ll only sell it when he’s found a buyer he brings to the table so as there’s no one else wanting their usual cut.”

  Tricia looked at him, then said, “Why would he agree to that? Come on.”

  “Because he’ll still get the fee when you buy it and if he does, tell him I’ll fund his movie for him.”

  Tricia stared at him. “Really?” she said.

  Chendrill, shrugged, and said, “Why not? I’ll get my money back eventually.”

  “You hope.”

  Chendrill shrugged again. What did it matter? He thought, the interest on the 100 million would cover it, and it would be a tax write off for Samuel since he was handling all that from now on. There were tax credits as well, Chendrill knowing all about those savings from just hanging around the office and ‘not listening’ for the last few weeks. Adalia would be back, but the other idiot could fuck off, he thought. He said, “Yeah why not, it’ll give me something to do instead of looking after Dan. Then maybe we can both live in that big house for a bit and see what happens?”

  Tricia sat there for a moment, unsure if she’d heard
him properly. How long had they been together now, she wondered? She stood again and then walked around the table, put her arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear, “Chuck, did I just hear what I thought I heard?”

  Chendrill didn’t answer. Instead, he stood and picked her up and took her to the bedroom, then laid her down on the bed. Climbing above her, he leaned down with his arms trapping her on either side of her body. He said, “You don’t think I’d let you get away with having the place to yourself, do you? Besides what would you do, that big house might have ghosts.”

  “It probably has… You never know. It could be fun, we could make love in there and they’d be watching… Have you ever made love to a ghost, Chuck?”

  “Yes.”

  Tricia looked up at him for a moment, then said, “Really, you’ve made love to a ghost?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Really? You made love to a ghost—how?”

  “I’m sorry, no,” Chendrill said back, “I thought you said a goat.”

  **************

  Daltrey was still sitting at the bar when Williams appeared at the bottom of the stairs looking all sweaty, with his hair ruffled and his shirt hanging out. He looked over to Daltrey who simply turned away. There’d been two other men who’d she’d told to fuck off after they’d come over and tried to sweet talk her during the four to five minutes it had taken Williams to get up the stairs, get ravaged by an older woman, come in his pants, and get back down again.

  The girl on the stage was almost done, and for the whole time Daltrey had been sitting there alone, the lady with the silky legs and bob cut had been looking her in the eye. The lady staring as she stripped completely naked and moved seductively across the stage floor until she was on her back with her legs apart giving the front row losers a glimpse of something they’d never get to taste. Then, still looking at Daltrey, she’d gotten dressed. Slowly pulling up her knickers as she bent down, she slipped on a small negligee she’d picked up at Victoria Secret, which hung perfect on her naked breasts and stopped at the top of her slender thighs. Then looking like a goddess, she made her way through the club, passing Williams, no longer interested and on his way out, and over to Daltrey at the bar. Reaching her, she sat down and said, “Did you enjoy the show? The last bit was for you.”