"Tell me something embarrassing."
I glanced away and gave a coy smile. I circled the opening of my rock glass with the tip of my middle-ifinger.
"It's not embarrassing... For me anyway." I sighed and nodded to the bartender. As he poured I sighed again and stared at the brown liquid. It's aroma was sweet and acidic. The taste was a bit bitter.
Don turned on the stool but placed both elbows on the wooden counter and his head between them, his closed fists mushing his cheeks as he stared at me intently. I laughed whole-heartedly and shook me head.
"Silly," I mumbled.
"A few years ago, before I started my current job, I was new to the city. I came here with $10 and a dream to be a dancer."
"Why didn't you go to California? Hollywood and such. Why chose the big apple?"
I stopped twirling and looked at him.
"Because my biological father was out there. I decided the streets New York City were safer for this country girl with no connections."
He watched me with a curious expression. I rolled my eyes and continued.
"When I first got here it was 11:30 at night in Chinatown. I was found wandering around main-street when a woman approached me. She must have been in her late 70's or early 80's because she seems so fragile holding the wool basket she was carrying.
"I merely stared at her as she approached me. With a toothless smile she asked if I had a place to stay. Her accent was heavy, but understandable.
"I shook my head and she hooked a little arm around me, and lead me to a nearby restaurant that was closed for the night. She went up to the side door and pushed it open. Inside she flicked on the light in a dim hallway and walked toward the back. I followed until she stopped at a door. She turned to me and gave me a key and gestured to the door.
"I nodded and unlocked the door, pushing it open. Inside was a large room, fully furnished with a bed, a writing desk, a TV, a medium-sized window and a closet.
"When I turned to her she nodded. She told me her daughter once lived with her, but when she got married, she left the room and clothing behind. She also offered me a job as a waiter in the restaurant below. I had looked back at the room then."
I paused. I noticed Don was wrapped up in this tale I had conjured up to entertain my first time clients. I was amused at how interested he seemed, staring at me intensely for me to finish.
"I must be boring you with an old memory," I said softly.
"Not at all. It's a great story, but I was hoping for a memory that was real. Not something you made up to keep men interested." He smirked at the shocked look on my face.
"Tell me a true story. At least something you haven't tweaked?"
My brain was still recovering from the shock. He couldn't know about my past could he? He couldn't know about HIM? As I silently fought with my thoughts, Don ordered a shot for us both and poked at the crease forming between my brows.
"Any more and you'll get wrinkles," he joked.
I frowned when I realized that telling him a truth would throw him off. I breathed and grabbed the shot glass of dark liquid, clinked his, and downed it quickly. It burned as I'm streamed down my throat. It was strong and bitter. But good. I stared at him and smiled.
"I wanted to be an exotic dancer."
He smiled at he and shook his head.
"I said a truth."
"That is a truth!" I retorted. I glared at him, but softened my gaze and looked away. "I never made it. I was too good that I was followed home one night after a shift. He was waiting for me to open the door to my apartment so he could attack me."
I glanced at Don and noticed he was shaking his head.
"I'm sorry."
I shrugged.
"It's in the past. After searching for a better opportunity, I realized I was good at it."
"What do you mean?"
The alcohol was taking effect. I was getting wet and light-headed.
"Well, my date never showed, I'm a bit tipsy, and I could use to company for a little longer."
He smiled and nodded. Rising from his stool he looked at me as I tried to get up. I noticed too late I was falling backward. The floor came so close, but something caught my back.
"A bit tipsy, my ass," he mumbled.
The guests in the lobby were oblivious of our little encounter at the bar. I felt my arm go around a neck and a hand at my waist. I was hoisted off the stool and supported to an elevator near the back of the lounge. I heard a ping. Everything was so blurry.
The elevator pinged again, and I was carried to a door. It was white with a fancy white frame and a golden knocker. A gold doorknob and electronic key slot was visible. Moments later the door was opened and I felt an arm scoop up my legs and carry me princess-style across the foyer.
I felt the softness of a bed as I was gently placed on the covers. My shoes, and dress were taken off, but I was lifted only to be tucked in.
Was this a dream?
_______________________________
I stared at Mr. Kingsley with a tight smile. Flashes of last night creeping to the forefront of my mind.
I remembered waking up slightly light-headed in an exquisite canopy bed with nothing but my undergarments, and seeing a half-naked man fast asleep next to me.
Feverish and horny, I initiated a blowjob to which startled him awake. And here we are... my feeling betrayed for letting him in a little, and realizing he was the date that "stood me up" when in fact he was with me the whole time.
What is this? I haven't felt this in a long time. I started to feel emotions I couldn't control.
As he stared at my face with a confused look on his own, I could only feel frustration bubble in my gut.
This cunning Mother Fucker. This is going to be good.