The Club

by Mandasue Heller

  Following her down the stairs, Fabian was conscious that his legs were shaking. He hadn’t liked Tony Allen from the off, but he’d sensed something dangerous about him just now, and he was sure the threat had been aimed at him. But whether or not it had been, there was no mistaking what it had meant: if any man – Fabian included – stepped out of line with his woman, Tony Allen would take it very, very personally.

  Melody’s mood changed as soon as she and Fabian hit the dance floor. Smiling now, she thrust her breasts at him and yelled, ‘That was fun, wasn’t it?’

  ‘What was?’ Fabian yelled back, glancing around self-consciously.

  ‘Getting you alone without raising suspicion,’ Melody told him, raising her arms above her head and throwing her hair back sexily as she twirled around to a remix of Chic’s ‘Freak Out’. ‘Course, he only let you come with me because you’re gay.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ Fabian gasped, not sure he’d heard right.

  ‘Why else would he trust me with such a good-looking guy?’ she teased, bumping him with her shapely hip. ‘Unless he thinks you’d be more interested in his bits than mine. You’re not gay, though, are you, Babe?’

  ‘Absolutely not!’

  ‘Didn’t think so.’ Looking up at him through her lashes, Melody bit her lip seductively. ‘You really are gorgeous, though. Bet you’re hot as hell in the sack.’

  Jerking back when she moved even closer and pressed herself against him, Fabian shot a nervous glance up to the VIP lounge, where, he was glad to see, Tony had his back to them.

  ‘Jeezus!’ he squawked when Melody suddenly slid her hands over his buttocks. ‘Are you trying to get me shot?’

  ‘Aw, now that’s not nice,’ she scolded when he pushed her away. ‘I thought Tony told you to look after me.’

  ‘I doubt he meant like that,’ Fabian protested. ‘Look, why don’t I go and get you a nice cup of coffee?’

  ‘Rather have something stronger.’ Melody gave him a knowing look.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Sure you do.’ Raising a finger to her nose, she said, ‘You really should check yourself in the mirror when you’re finished.’

  Realising what she was getting at, Fabian quickly wiped the coke traces away. Christ! If she’d noticed, who else had? Jenna? Oh, God! He’d lose his job. Then he’d lose his apartment, because he wouldn’t be able to afford it. And his car. And—

  Interrupting his racing thoughts, Melody said, ‘Chill, Babe. I won’t tell if you don’t.’

  Exhaling nervously, Fabian ran his hands through his hair and gave her a sheepish smile. ‘Pretty careless, huh? But thanks for the warning. I would have been in real shit if anyone else had seen it.’

  ‘No problem,’ Melody drawled, a glint of something steely sparking in her eyes. ‘All you have to do is give me some, and I’ll never mention it again.’

  ‘Yeah, right!’ Fabian grinned, sure that she was joking.

  ‘I’m serious,’ she retorted icily. ‘Give me some, or I’ll tell Tony you were trying it on with me. And you know he’d believe me.’

  ‘Ah, but he thinks I’m gay,’ Fabian reminded her, still grinning – still sure it was a joke.

  ‘Only because I told him you were so he’d let me dance with you,’ Melody countered smoothly. ‘But I could have made a mistake, couldn’t I? It’s easily done. So, how about it, Mr Manager? You going to make your new favourite customer happy. Or . . .’

  Gazing down into her lovely face, Fabian realised that it wasn’t a joke. The bitch was actually trying to blackmail him. And what the hell was he supposed to do about it? If he didn’t do what she wanted, she’d drop him in it with her bad-ass boyfriend. But if he did, and got caught, he’d lose his job.

  ‘Well?’ Melody said, still managing to dance – although Fabian didn’t know how, because his limbs felt like lead weights.

  ‘Look, I only had a bit,’ he lied, hoping that she would back off. ‘If I’d known you were into it, I’d have saved you some, but I didn’t.’

  Narrowing her eyes, Melody pursed her lips petulantly. He was lying, she could tell, and she hated being lied to.

  ‘Aw, now, you wouldn’t be fibbing, would you?’ she drawled with a mean edge to her voice. ‘That’s not very nice when I’m trying to be friendly.’

  As friendly as a rattlesnake! Fabian thought incredulously, wondering how he’d managed to get himself caught up in this.

  Softening her tone suddenly, Melody moved closer, whispering, ‘I’ll make it worth your while. Babe. I know you want me – I can see it in your eyes.’

  Fabian glanced at the people surrounding them, terrified that someone might have heard. Under normal circumstances, if a gorgeous woman came on strong like this he’d go for it good style. But these were not normal circumstances, and he had too much to lose if anybody got hold of the wrong end of the stick. Tony Allen, for example.

  ‘Look, I swear I haven’t got any left,’ he whispered back, praying that she believed him. ‘If I did, I’d give it to you.’

  ‘Fine,’ Melody snapped, losing patience. ‘I’ll just have to go and tell Tony what you’ve been doing, then, won’t I? And he hates it when anybody upsets me.’ Blinking rapidly now, making her huge eyes swim with tears, she quivered her bottom lip and whimpered – loudly, ‘No . . . please don’t . . . I don’t want to.’

  Fabian’s heart sank. If he hadn’t seen and heard it for himself, he’d never have believed that anybody could switch it on so fast – and so convincingly. Glancing around for witnesses to verify that he hadn’t touched Melody should he need to prove it, he was dismayed to see that none of the sweaty, drunken dancers were paying him the slightest attention. It would be his word against hers.

  ‘All right,’ he hissed when she started to back away with a terrified expression on her face. ‘Over here.’

  Motioning with his head for her to follow, he walked off the dance floor and found a quiet corner in the shade of a potted palm tree.

  ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said when she joined him seconds later. ‘There’s a guy I know who might have something, but you’ll have to give me time to find him. See that door?’ he said then, nodding at the door to the offices. ‘I’ll leave it on the latch. My room’s on the first floor, halfway down the corridor.’

  Smiling slyly, Melody reached up and stroked his cheek. Laughing softly when he jerked back, she waggled her fingers at him. ‘See you in ten, then. And make sure you’ve got it, or I won’t be a happy bunny.’

  Rushing to his office when she’d gone, Fabian took out his stash and chopped two thick lines on the mirror. Snorting one quickly, he cursed her under his breath. He hadn’t intended to do any more tonight, but his nerves were shot to pieces thanks to her.

  Tapping on the door a few minutes later, Melody let herself in without waiting for an answer. Seeing the line he’d left for her on the mirror, she gave a triumphant smile.

  ‘I see you managed to find your friend, then?’

  ‘Yeah, but I nearly got caught,’ Fabian lied, giving her a resentful look. ‘Do you know how much trouble I could get into for this?’

  Sighing remorsefully now, Melody flopped down on the visitor’s chair and crossed her legs, giving Fabian a flash of sheer black panties.

  ‘Sorry, Babe, I didn’t mean to heavy you like that, but I was desperate. I’m having the shittiest night ever. When Tony gets on a roll, he just goes on and on, and I might as well be invisible for all the attention he gives me. We’ve been here two weeks now, and all he’s done is . . .’

  Listening as she poured out her woes, Fabian felt the anger that had been holding him rigid melt away. It sounded like she’d been having a rough time of it, and she was only kicking out at him because she couldn’t kick out at her boyfriend. She looked so vulnerable – he felt a wave of protective indignation wash over him. Tony Allen must be some kind of idiot if he couldn’t see that bagging himself a prize like Melody Fisher came at a price. Stars needed more att
ention than normal people – and there were thousands of men out there who would gladly give Melody Fisher the attention she was craving. If Tony Allen wasn’t careful, it would be nobody’s fault but his own when Melody found what she was looking for in somebody else’s arms.

  Fabian’s, maybe.

  Well, why not? What man in his right mind would refuse if she was offering it on a plate?

  ‘Am I forgiven?’ Melody peered up at him with little-girl-lost eyes.

  ‘Yeah, sure, forget it.’ Smiling, he handed her the rolled-up twenty note he’d been using as a straw.

  Snorting her line, Melody leaned her head back and inhaled deeply as Fabian’s gaze slid over her body. He’d had more women than the average teenage boy had had hot wanks, and most had been way up there in the looks department, but this one was something else. With the added bonus that she was almost really famous. How cool was that?

  Smiling as if she could read his mind, Melody passed the note back to him and stood up. Putting a hand on his cheek, she kissed him softly on the lips.

  ‘Thanks, Babe, I really needed that. You’re a star.’

  Reaching for her, Fabian’s hands hit empty air when she backed towards the door, biting her lip and waving her fingers at him. He had a hard-on to die for – and another attack of paranoia coming on. Now that she’d had what she wanted, she’d have nothing to lose by dropping him in it. It might be her idea of fun.

  ‘Hey, you’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?’ he asked, panic rich in his voice.

  ‘Would I?’ Melody teased. Then, shaking her head, she said, ‘Course not, Babe. He’d kill you. And where would that leave me? I could be stuck in this stinking place for months the way he’s going on, and I’m going to need you to keep me sane.’ Blowing him a kiss then, she opened the door and slipped out, whispering, ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be our little secret.’

  Locking the door behind her, Fabian leaned back against it. She’d said that Tony would kill him if he found out – and he had no doubt that the man was more than capable of it.

  But, no, come on. This was England. That kind of thing might happen every day in America, but Allen couldn’t be crazy enough to think he’d get away with it over here – could he?

  Whether or not he could, one thing was sure: Fabian would have to tread very carefully until he knew that Melody could be trusted.

  Looking down when his dick gave a plaintive throb, he shook his head disbelievingly. Scary as it was to think of the trouble she could cause him, he had to admit that the hard-to-get act was a turn-on. But it was a very rare woman who could resist him for too long once he’d set his sights on her, so he wasn’t worried about that. And, who knew – if their little secret stayed secret, Fabian might get to see a fair bit more of her than Allen had bargained for when he’d told him to keep an eye on her.

  Avril Drake was bored, and becoming increasingly irritated. So much for Leonard’s belief that he was as well known and popular as ever: nobody had so much as said hello to them since they’d arrived, apart from the gushing manager and the pretty young owner. And Leonard had a face like a wet weekend in Wigan. But at least it should make him think twice about dragging her back here in a hurry.

  Sighing heavily, she stared wistfully down at the smiling dancers below. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy music and parties, because she did. In fact, she’d been quite the life and soul – once upon a very long time ago. But Leonard had soon stopped that, because he didn’t do dancing and partying, claiming that it didn’t suit his image. So, apart from the occasional waltz at some stuffy political do or other, she hadn’t had the pleasure in a good long time.

  She resented Leonard for robbing her of her best years, but there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it now because she was far too old to start again. Too settled with her life – such as it was – to face the upheaval.

  Glaring at her when she released yet another heavy sigh, Leonard hissed through clenched teeth, ‘Are you just going to sit there pulling that miserable bloody face all night?’

  ‘Why?’ she retorted sarcastically. ‘Are you worried it’ll outdo yours?’

  Tutting loudly, he shook his head.

  ‘Careful,’ Avril muttered. ‘You’ll have people thinking that we’re not quite as together as you’d have them believe.’

  ‘I don’t care what anybody thinks,’ he grunted – blatantly lying, because that was all he’d ever cared about.

  ‘If you’re not enjoying yourself, why don’t we just go home?’ Avril suggested hopefully, feeling a sudden longing for the warm, cosy solitude of her bed.

  ‘And make myself look a complete idiot?’ Leonard snapped. ‘I’m not going anywhere, so give me a break and make like you’re having fun, for God’s sake.’

  ‘Fine,’ she replied, a hint of hurt in her eyes. ‘If you’re sure that’s what you want?’

  ‘I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t,’ he said, folding his arms over his belly.

  ‘Right!’ Pushing her chair back, Avril stood up. ‘I’m going to dance.’

  ‘On your own?’ Leonard looked at her as if she’d gone mad. ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

  ‘You told me to have fun.’

  ‘With me.’

  ‘Is that possible?’ Avril replied coldly.

  But who was she kidding? She’d no more dance alone than Leonard would walk into a room full of strangers without her, and they both knew it.

  Shoulders slumping, she pushed her chair under the table, saying resignedly, ‘I’m going to the toilet – if that’s all right with you?’

  ‘Fine,’ Leonard grunted with satisfaction. Then, looking around for a waiter, he said, ‘I shall have to have words with that Jenny girl. Let her know that her staff have been neglecting her guests.’

  ‘Don’t make waves,’ Avril cautioned wearily. ‘And while I’m gone, could you please think about going home, because neither of us is enjoying this.’

  Flicking her a dismissive glance, Leonard turned his head, his face all false smiles now as he nodded to the music and gazed around the room. He had no intention of slinking away like an unloved dog before the party was over.

  Shaking her head, Avril walked calmly away. She didn’t really need the toilet, she just needed a break from her husband’s miserable company. Tapping a waiter on the shoulder en route to the stairs, she pointed out their table and asked him to take a very large Scotch rocks over to Leonard, in the hope that he would get drunk and cheer up.

  Self-conscious by himself, Leonard agitatedly tapped his fingers on the table. He would never admit it to Avril, but she was right about him not enjoying himself. He didn’t know what he’d expected when he came here tonight, but it certainly hadn’t been to sit in virtual isolation. And while he knew a lot of the faces around him, having seen them on TV or in the papers, he found it quite wounding that they obviously didn’t recognise him.

  But, then, maybe they did, he told himself consolingly. Maybe they knew exactly who he was, but were put off approaching him because of Avril’s uninviting face.

  ‘Your drink, sir.’

  Glancing up in surprise when the young waiter placed a large Scotch on the table, Leonard said, ‘Oh, right . . . thank you. Just a moment.’ Pulling a ten-pound note out of his wallet, he placed it on the tray.

  ‘You don’t have to pay,’ the waiter told him, holding it out. ‘Everything’s complimentary for invited guests tonight.’

  ‘Yes, I know that,’ Leonard blustered, having completely forgotten. ‘It’s a tip.’

  ‘Oh, no, sir, I couldn’t.’

  ‘I insist.’ Leonard was smiling now. ‘I want you to have it.’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ Returning the smile, the waiter pocketed the note. ‘I’ll be around if you want anything else. Just give me a wave.’

  Watching as the boy walked away, Leonard shook his head, wondering how on Earth these kids managed to squeeze themselves into such tight clothing. Oh, to be young and fit again. He’d have given the
se boys a run for their money in his prime – before Avril got her claws into him and sucked all the joy out of his bones.

  Sighing wistfully for his lost youth, he sipped at his drink and let his gaze wander. The room was packed out, but there was a particularly large gathering at a table across the room where a loud American was holding court, making everybody laugh with stories that Leonard couldn’t hear.

  Pursing his lips thoughtfully, he peered at the man’s face. He must be very famous, judging by the way the other stars were hanging on to his every word, but Leonard couldn’t quite put his finger on where he’d seen him before.

  Clicking his fingers when it suddenly came to him, he thought, Of course! Lord Kimberley’s charity auction-cum-dinner at The Lowry last week. Tony Allen – that was his name.

  Feeling a small thrill of excitement when it occurred to him that it might break the ice with some of the other guests if he were to go and say hello to Allen, Leonard eased himself out of his seat and strolled over.

  Edging casually in among the people who were hanging about on the edge of the circle, he manoeuvred himself in until he was close to Allen – who was too busy telling a joke to notice him. Coughing to attract his attention, the blood rushed to Leonard’s cheeks when everybody turned and looked at him.

  Irritated by the interruption, Tony frowned up at him. ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Oh, sorry . . . didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Leonard said, suddenly nervous because Allen obviously didn’t recognise him. ‘I, er, just saw you and thought I’d best come and say hello.’ Grinning then, he added, ‘Wouldn’t want you thinking I was ignoring you, or anything.’

  ‘Do I know you?’ The frown deepened.

  ‘We met last week,’ Leonard reminded him. ‘Lord Kimberley’s do.’

  ‘Kimberley?’ Tony repeated slowly, narrowing his eyes.

  ‘At The Lowry,’ Leonard prompted, embarrassed now because people were beginning to smirk. ‘Auction and dinner in aid of the dialysis unit? Lord Kimberley introduced us.’

  ‘That the old dude with the horse-face wife?’

  ‘Maureen,’ Leonard affirmed, smiling again. ‘Yes, that’s them. I was sitting across from you on the long table at dinner. We discussed some of the lots.’