Hi again. I promise to get a chapter up for Love is a song soon but I had to put this story up, it just wouldn't leave my head. I was inspired by both GeneHuntress and Lifeinthe80's when reading their fics Broken trust and broken hearts and Casablanca. I came up with this idea while listening to some rhythm and blues music. I hope you enjoy and some reviews would be good. Tell me what you think of it.

The woman's got rhythm

"Lex! Come on girl, you need to wake up; the club will be opening in just under an hour! We need the place ready by then; we are sold out tonight!"

Alex moaned while she stretched her body leisurely. She was getting use to sleeping into the late hours of the afternoon. Everything in her life was going well since resigning from the force and losing Molly. For once in her life Alex Drake felt at peace with herself. She felt content; she was at a place where she could accept everything that had happened to her, from Gene breaking her heart and running off with a WPC named Miranda Curtain, to Keats's betrayal. However there were times when she wondered what Gene was doing and whether or not he ever thought of her. It was her fault anyway she did break his trust by requesting those stupid files; she knew that Gene would never hurt Sam. She had no one to blame for her bust up with Gene but herself. No use in dragging back up the past, that was gone and dusted.

Alex shook her head, that time in her life was done and dusted along with her name; she was not longer Alex Drake, she was now known as Lexis Madison or "Lex" as her friends called her. Her intimate family had either called her Lex, Lexi or Lexis so she decided to change her named to Lexis while she relied on her family's middle name to change her identity. On top of that she chopped off nearly all of her long curly hair and styled it so that it now looked like a short side swept pixie cut. She had put on weight and now had a fully shaped body that made her look like a sex bomb while her hazel eyes shone with enthusiasm that hadn't been felt in a long time. In short she felt like she was sitting on top of the world. She smiled to herself but her musings were then interrupted by another screech.

'Lex! Come on! Get ready already! People are starting to arrive!" yelled Tess

"I'll be down in a minute Tess!" yelled Alex as she started to put her clothes on that she had chosen for the night. She decided to go for a long flowing black laced dress that covered her body while still showing a hint of leg through the long slit that went up to her hips. She matched that with silver stilettos and silver diamond earrings while her makeup consisted of a smoky black and gold colour. Simple but elegant. She then picked up her coat and headed down stairs to ensure that the club would be ready for their sold out guest.

"There you are Lex, I was getting worried." Sighed Tess, her best friend and her fellow manager of the club.

"You never have to worry about me Tess." Said Alex

'Sometimes I do wonder about that."

"Has the singer and the musician's arrived?" asked Alex

"Setting up on stage now, got to hand it to ya Alex, this idea of having a band or a couple of singers perform every night was a corker of an idea, so many people are coming in and now we have offers from international bands and singers who want to play down here." Beamed Tess.

"Yes, I am in talks to get The Clash to perform here next fortnight' nodded Alex

"You are kidding? The Clash!" The place will be flooded; we might have to make extensions to the place.

"Already on it with the councils. I have sent in the proposal that we discussed the other day." Said Alex.

'Things are going our way then eh?" said Tess

"Well after all the crap that has happened to me I deserve some bloody success and happiness in my life!' said Alex

"Amen to that." Agreed Tess

"We better get the foods and drinks prepared, staff arrived?" asked Alex

"Waitresses already here now, there are a couple of people here with me in the bar and the Chef's kitchen is buzzing away with the food now." Responded Tess.

"Bodyguards and bouncers?"

"Check"

"VIP rooms?"

"Check"

"Dinner reservations for everyone else?"

"Check, Lexi, everything will be fine. We have been doing this for over a year now, nothing has gone wrong and nothing will happen tonight. Stop stressing ok? Reassured Tess

"Yes, but this time we have got the legendary B.B King performing tonight and this is the first time we are opening up to the regular public, only members and their families were allowed in and now we have people from all walks of life coming in,anything can happen." Sighed Alex

"We had to expand and we had so many offers from international and local singers, all of them willing to pay us some good money and we are getting great profit returns. So with great risk come great rewards."

"That is such a 80s saying Tess."

"But oh so true, come on Lex, you have worked hard for this, this is your moment!"

"If only my private life can be as good as my professional one right now." Sighed Alex

"Well you never know, you might meet someone and that will only happen if you take a chance. Now let's go set everything up."

Alex can only smile and nod while she followed Tess to the front of the club to have a word with the technical people who were setting up the lighting and the sound. After everything was set up Tess then turned to Alex.

"Oh and by the way I have to show you something, come on"

Tess dragged Alex to the front, both nodding at security who nodded back, both men recognising the women as the owners of the club. Tess turned her around and showed her the new sign which lit up in neon lights against the evening sky with two ways inscribed on it."

"Bolly's Place"

Tears started to appear in Alex's eyes as she hugged Tess.

"It's beautiful."

"I know that your past is painful Alex but rhythm and blues music is associated to that sort of stuff and this is a tribute to you." Explained Tess.

"I love it, but it your place too."

"Yeah, but if it wasn't for you I will be still in an abusive relationship and I wouldn't be here running this great club with you."

Alex just smiled and the two women shared a hug once more.

"This is what women should be doing, banding together and not fighting over men."

"Men, huh, who needs them, sisters are doing it for themselves eh?" sniggered Tess

"Damn straight we are." Smiled Alex.

Both women went back to the club, both preparing for the big night.

The night was going well, people were up and dancing on the dance floor to the blues and rhythm of B.B King while people in the VIP rooms and tables with the best views in the club swayed, clapped and tapped their hands and feet to the beat. Families were there having a great time with their kids, couples were dancing, men and women were chatting to one another, the booze was flowing and the grub was being eaten while Alex and Tess basked in the glory of their success.

"Told you Lexi, this is a good as it gets. Now all you need now is a man to pleasure you throughout the night."

Alex just laughed a full light hearted laugh as she bounced to the music with a champagne glass in one hand.

"You are so right Tess but first I better chat to the business people upstairs. See if I can get more money from them."

"Did I tell you that some local politicians and a few coppers from the MET are here?"

"Oh really? Asked Alex.

"Yeah, people are putting in big bucks, we have already made a profit of several thousand pounds. This is our night Lexi.

"I will drink to that, but as manager and owner of this joint I better present myself to them." Said Alex.

"As all good owners should do." Nodded Tess.

Alex gracefully flowed in and out of the crowds, chatting to everyone, always receiving grand reviews from the booze to the music, to the food. All of the major critics of the city were all giving her praise for the great food, the entertainment and the general atmosphere. Alex felt like she was floating on air. She proceeded to move on to the upper rooms where all the pollies, doctors, upper class finacial wankers, lawyers and coppers were present. It was the same as the feedback from downstairs, all praise and enjoyment of her fine food, booze and entertainment.

After chatting with several supers along with the commissioner of the Met Alex breathed a sigh of relief, she didn't meet him tonight. She had been nervous that she would bump into him tonight. That had been her greatest fear since she had decided to name her club after the nickname he had used for her and after deciding to expand the club but she hadn't seen him all night. So far so good. She had seen Chris and Shaz, all snuggled up in the corner, making eyes at each other and she had seen Ray with his date. Both married which made Alex smile, she knew that someone would get to Ray one day but instead of going up to say hello she ducked behind a few people and hightailed it back to the bar downstairs.

"What's wrong?" asked Tess

"Saw Chris, Ray and Shaz"

"Oh dear, did they see you?"

"No, I ducked behind a few people and came back here, they didn't see me though, too engrossed with their dates particularly Ray.

"Heard his married." Said Tess

"Yep."

"Well I'll be damned" said Tess

"Yep."

"So you didn't see HIM then?"

"No, I don't want to, too many memories."

"Heard he had another bust up with that sheila, what is her name?"

"WPC Curtain, Miranda Curtain."

"Yeah, her, they are still together, but they are on and off, they have been on the rocks for a while, think he has been sleeping around behind her back. Shows that all men are the same, you dodged a bullet there girl." Said Tess as she smoked her fag.

"I did betray him by going behind his back and getting those files on Sam,"

"That is nothing compared to what she did to him and him to her. A pair of bloody hypercrites if you ask me. You made a mistake; you wanted to know something that he wouldn't tell you so you went to find out for yourself. Relationships are a two way street, you have to be honest with each other, he wasn't straight up with you so why should you be to him?" argued Tess.

"But he claimed that he always told me the truth."

"Bullshit, all men say that, just trying to make you feel guilty. You showed him though, look at you now.

"Yeah, I did." Smiled Alex as both women clinked their glasses together and listened to the last song for the night.

When the evening, the evening sun goes down
You gonna find me somewhere hanging around
The night life, people, it ain't no good life
But it's my life, yeah All the people just like you and me

Everybody's dreaming
Dreaming about their old used to be
The night life, hey, it ain't no good life, people
Oh but it's my life

Yes listen to the blues, people
Listen to what they're saying
Yes listen to the blues, people
Listen to the way they're playing

Heaven please send to all mankind
Understanding and peace of mind
If it's not asking too much

Please send me someone to love, someone to love

Show the world, show them how to get along
Peace will enter when hate is gone

If it's not asking too much
Please send me someone to love
Please send me someone to love

Nights I lay awake and ponder world's troubles
And my answer is always the same
Unless man put an end to this damnable sin
Hate will put the world in a flame, what a shame

Just because I'm, because I'm in misery
Oh I don't beg, I don't beg for no sympathy
But if it's not asking too much

Please send me someone to love, yeah

Oh the night life, people it ain't no good life
But it's my life, yeah
So please, please, please, please, please, please
Please send me someone to love
Someone to love

After B.B King had finished playing everyone got on their feet to cheer him off the stage. Alex came up to the stage and hugged the singer and thanked him for officially opening their club for the night.

"Ladies and Gentleman the legendary B.B King!" Yelled Alex

Alex than turned to her audience and said her speech.

"First of all, I would like to thank everyone for coming here tonight, I really appreciate it. To all the members who went out there to advertise the club, thank you. I owe you big time. To all of our staff members, waitresses, bouncers and bodyguards, chiefs, bartenders, musicians, and our electricians and technical staff, a huge thank you, you have made this night a special night for everyone. I have to thank my co manager, Tess for being my best friend and for helping me take this small humble club to a power mega house tonight, I couldn't have done it without you. However, I have to thank everyone here for coming tonight, the massive turnout has been outstanding and I hope you keep on coming!"

Everyone cheered and whistled, some yelling out sexual comments which made Alex just laugh.

"Thank you. We have got The Clash coming up next fortnight but this week on Thursday we have got some local bands coming in along with a guest performance by David Bowie and Tina Turner on a Friday!"

Everyone just cheered to that.

"So until then, hope you get home safe and we hope to see you again!"

After everyone had gone and the bars and tables had been cleaned up and packed up for the night the place was empty except for one man who decided to hang around after the night had ended. He was staring at Alex with his piercing blue eyes and a look of shock with a hint of anger and resentment on his face.

Alex was laughing with Tess and celebrating their well earned profits and success with the rest of the staff but when she turned around to head to her room upstairs she came face to face with the one man that she strived all night to avoid.

"Gene."

"Long time no see Drake or should I call you Madison now?"

Her night of contentment and success just turned into disaster.

Well that is the first chapter off and running. Please review and tell me what you think of it.