I’m well into the second half now and the tale is shaping up nicely. I love it when the characters take over the story and I’m just typing like mad. Here’s another (very rough draft) excerpt from this work in progress:
Crimson Sun
The owner of the upscale topless club was enjoying a medium-rare steak with red potatoes and a lager, while sitting at his desk. Out the slanted and mirrored window, he had a clear view of the main floor, with two island bars. Each bar had a dance runway with a brass pole on each end and a stairway in the middle that led up to the dressing room and cat walk to the other runway. Since it was later in the evening, the place was full, four girls were dancing the runways and two more were on the oval stage over by the private party booths.
He pressed the intercom button.
“Yeah, boss?”
“When Tina and Dahlia finish their set, tell them to stop by my office.”
“You got it.”
This club was Tony’s favorite of the five he owned. It just had a real good ambiance and he like the laid-back, West Palm Beach atmosphere better than the glitz down on South Beach or all the over-the-hill tourists in Ybor City.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on his door. “Come in!”
“Good evening, Mr. Khale.” Dahlia was Latina with a petite natural beauty and outgoing personality that just blew you away. She was also all business woman and could tell you to the dollar, how much she earned in any given night. She had confessed one evening, that she was planning on retiring by the time she turned thirty. From what he had heard of her investments and frugality, it just might be possible.
“Hi, Boss!” The blond goddess following her through the door was tall, slender and sporting the best tits money could buy. Too many people tended to underestimate her, because of her appearance. In the year he had known her, she had been juggling dancing at the club with bit parts in two movies and more than a dozen modeling gigs.
Both of them were wearing what they had left the stage with… That is, glittering g-strings, a garter on one thigh and clear plastic platforms with 6” heels.
“I know it’s your break time ladies, so I won’t keep you too long.”
“No problem, Boss. What’s up?”
“The Hottest Dancer contest that has been going on between all the clubs for the past six months ended last week. I just got the final count of all those dance tokens that your customers have been using to vote. Just to refresh your memories… the woman with the most tokens is, by definition, the most popular in that club. The woman with the highest number among all the clubs is the hottest in Florida. Since I have five clubs, in the club with the Hottest lady, the second place winner is also included.”
Tina clapped her hands in excitemen. “Did one of us win?”
“Actually Tina, according to all the numbers I’ve seen, you are the Hottest Lady in Florida.”
“Wow! That is just great!” She was jubilant.
“And you, Dahlia, are the runner up in this club, so you are going with us as well.”
“That is great! But, what do you mean? Going where?”
“You’ll recall there are two prizes for each of the six winners. There is a substantial cash bonus award…”
Both ladies became visibly more excited at that idea.
“But the really important prize is the modeling contract and fringe benefits.” He smiled as he saw the questions start to come over their faces.
He held up a hand. “This year, instead of the usual Club Newsletter and PoleDanz Magazine photospread, we’re adding something extra.” He handed each of them several 8×10 photos of a luxury yacht at sea and tied up to a pier.
“The corporation has been doing well the last few years, so we invested in a new publicity vehicle.” He was smiling. “Next month, the Mammon is going to take a leisurely three-day cruise to the Virgin Islands. Once there, we will have a four-day photo shoot with you two and the winners from each of the other clubs. We’ve negotiated a deal with PoleDanz Magazine to release a “Year of Dance” calendar and you ladies are each going to have a month. The magazine has had its own contest for the other six months. After the shoot, we are going to spend three more days cruising the islands and then a four-day run up to Baltimore, where you are all going to be in a bikini fashion show that is designed to brighten up a dull winter weekend. It’s being sponsored by a group of local clubs, the magazine and the swimsuit designer.”
Dahlia cut right to the meat of the issue. “How much are we going to make and what about airfare, travel expenses, meals and all the rest?”
“That is what I meant by fringe benefits. Not only are you going to get your normal modeling fees for the photo shoot, but you are also getting paid a generous per diem while traveling. We’re treating this as a vacation holiday. The Mammon has eight, double-occupancy guest cabins and a crew of six. We’re going to video tape the entire trip as well as the bikini show and that is going to be made into a one hour ‘Insider’s Special’. Within six months, it will be sold both from our website and from the each of the bars. You are not only going to be Video Vixens, but your contracts includes royalties.”
Dahlia’s grin grew even larger. “Very nice! Thank you, Sir. When do we leave?”
Anthony Stevens' Weblog 