1. Let's get it over with
"A little tacky, don't you think?" Stacie was commenting, wrinkling her nose at the black piece.
He felt really akward. And he bet that she wasn't so comfortable either. When Danny had pulled the lingerie out of the bag, he didn't know what to think. He only knew that he didn't like it and that he didn't want Danny ogling her dressed in it.
But what came next was a real chock. "Right, Ash. Time to get your kit off, me old mate." Danny said, before continuing to tell them his plan.
With every word that came out of his mouth, Ash and Stacie grew even more horrified.
Albert was his usual calm self while Danny told them his plan. He didn't seem to think it was anything out of the ordinary. But Albert was up for anything, as long as it didn't include putting them at unnessecary risk. Hell, Albert wasn't the one that had to do it.
Ash felt very self-concious and felt a blush coming on. He tried to argue with Danny to come up with another plan. "No way. What would it gain that can't be done any other way?"
Stacie chipped in. "Yeah, you're just gonna have to come up with another plan" she said, pouting.
"Come on, gang. It's brilliant plan, if I may say so myself, ..." Danny started.
He was cut off by Stacie "No, Danny, you may not. Even if it might work, we're not doing it. There has to be a limit to what stupid things you put us through."
"Yeah. Even grifters have integrity. Right, Albert?" Ash asked, looking at the older man.
"Listen, nobody is going to make either of you do anything that you do not want to do. But I do think that it's a good plan and that it's our best shot at convincing the mark of the story." Albert replied.
"Alby, there has to be another way" Stacie was pleading.
But this time her wide eyes had no effect on the American. "If you won't do it, then you won't. But I think we should trust in Danny." he said. He had always prided himself in having the best crew of grifters. And grifters do whatever it takes once the con is on. He would have understood a slight unease, but not expected them to turn it right down.
"Albert's right. You can trust me, I'm a genius" Danny said, looking expectantly at the pair.
Stacie threw a glance at Ash, who was looking down at the leather seat, and back up at Danny and Albert. She slumped her shoulders in defeat. Ash looked up at her and shrugged. "I guess, if you are willing to do it, Stace, then I'll just have to give in" he said drawing out the words.
"Excellent! Stacie, here you go" Danny exclaimed, pulling up a camera from a bag on the floor and turning it on.
"No, no, no. If we are to do this, and I say if, then we'll do it alone. You get out, Danny."
"You have to be in the pictures, so you can't take them yourselves. Perks of being the boss, this" Danny said, winking at Stacie.
"You're not boss!" the three of them argued back at him.
"Yeah, well ... whatever. I will bee soon. For now, though, I'll be the photographer."
"No you won't" Ash chipped in. "You 'eard the lady, we'll take the photos ourselves. We'll just press the timer button."
Danny gave them a few last minute orders and then unwillingly followed Albert out of the car.
"I think I need a drink" Stacie said and grabbed two of the small champagne bottles from the small fridge in the front part of the Hummer limousine. She handed one to Ash and they downed them in a matter of minutes. Neither of them said anything or looked directly at the other. Ash took the camera and turned on the timer setting, mindful to turn his back to let her undress in privacy.
He couldn't wait to get a glimpse of her, but at the same time he dreaded unbuttoned his belt and his jeans before pulling his boxers even higher up. He could hear her rummage around, getting ready for the deed.
"Okay. Let's get it over with" she finally said.
***
Danny and Albert were still out and about, trying to convince their mark. Stacie and Ash were left to themselves in the hotel suite. She was slouched over a sofa, reading a magazine and sipping away at a coctail. He sat in front of his computer in a corner of the living room and concentrated on putting the final touches to a document they might need later on.
His eyes were getting weary from staring at the screen for so long. After finishing the document, he printed it out and put it in a holdall on the table. He looked at his watch. Almost seven o'clock. "Dou you fancy going down for a bite?" he asked her.
They had barely spoken more than two words since getting out of the limousine earlier in the day. She was glad that someone finaly broke the akward silence. "Sure" she said, giving him one of her famous flashing smiles.
They swiftly hid all documents that could connect them to the case and locked the room. Once out in the corridor both traced the patterins in the red carpet with theyr eyes, all the way to the elevator.
"How do you think Danny and Albie are doing?" she asked as she hit the button for the right floor.
He thought for a bit before answering. "I'm a bit concerned about Danny. I know he'll pull it off eventually, but he always seems to spin himself into a web on the way. And then we have to run around like fools to unspin it."
"Yeah, he is still a bit green at times. But Albie's there to keep him on the straight and narrow." Stacie said as they got out of the elevator and stepped over to the bar.
He signed at the nearest waitress to get them a table for two and ordered in their drinks from the bar tender at the same time. She was always impressed with how he was able to do so many things at once and make it seem so effortless.
"Yeah. Albie is a gem." he said, looking back at her.
She just nodded in agreement. They took their drinks off the bar counter and sat down at the table the waitress showed them to. They were silent for a few moments and he lethis mind wonder through the events of the day. "You know, you looked good today." he finally said as he kept looking down at his drink.
"It was tacky." she exclaimed, cheeks starting to get slightly pink.
"Yeah. But you made it look good." he persisted.
"You don't have to ..." she trailed off. They both seemed consumed with staring at their drinks.
"I'm just giving you the facts." he said, looking questioningly over at her and then down again. "Okay?"
"Okay." she sighed. She covered his hand on the table with her own and looked at him. "Thank you."
He glanced nervously up at her and she took her hand away. A smile was tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You know, I'm glad it was you and not Danny." she said with a laugh.
He scoffed at her comment but looked very pleased with himself when the waitress came over to hand them their menus.