Authors note: This is my first time posting and I'm super nervous! Read, review and enjoy!
I do not own anything to do with OITNB.
Chapter one.
Alex Vause wandered aimlessly, weaving past groups of adults, young and old, all of which seemed to be having in depth conversations or abruptly laughing over some remark that's been made. Many of these people flagged by a younger male or female dangling off of their arm or draping a wandering hand onto their waist. Alex assumed that a lot of them we're what she called in this particular business their 'main mules'. Alex shuddered slightly whilst looking at all the fresh, youthful, innocent faces. The idea of getting attached to someone that carries drugs or money through customs for her so that she could make thousands, scratch that, millions, just didn't sit right in her mind. She spotted a tray of champagne being carried by a waiter and hurriedly grabbed two glasses, both for herself of course.
She made her way to the side of the room that she'd been heading toward, not stopping at all to chat to anyone. She really couldn't find it in herself to stand and talk to anyone whilst wearing her ridiculously high heels that she'd felt obliged to wear ever since the first time she'd came to one of these parties and she'd arrived in boots. She didn't care what people thought of her any more, but she was eighteen back then and fresh into the business. She gracefully placed herself onto one of the deluxe leather sofas and positioned her remaining glass of Champaign onto the glass table top beside her. She'd finished her first glass whilst walking through the herds of bodies.
Alex had always hated these "business parties", but she knew exactly how crucial it was that she attend them, considering that she was actually on the higher end of the food chain that was made up of drug lords, drug dealers and all the other labels that were put upon all the members that made up the drug cartel. The way she saw it, they were just a room full of criminals. Filthy rich criminals. Whilst trying to sip her champagne rather than gulp it, she took a moment to appreciate the fact that she was on the higher end of the scale. It meant that there was a lot less chance of her getting arrested. Or killed.
A few minutes passed before she gave in to her urges and checked the time on her phone for the 5th time that evening. She'd only been here for an hour and a half and already she couldn't wait to leave. She'd spoken to Fahri and Kubra upon arriving, both had been pretty brief conversations and both were filled with positive feedback on how much Alex was benefiting the empire. She sincerely didn't see what else she needed to do. Everybody was aware of Alex Vauses' existence. Many praised her. Some feared her. But every single face in that room knew exactly who she was. And with that thought fresh in her mind, she proceeded to check her phone.
7:45pm
Nicky (1)
Alex unlocked her phone upon seeing her best friends name illuminated across the screen.
Nicky: Vause, how long 'til you get outta that fancy ass party? It's FRIDAY. Come to my apartment when you're done so that we can go out, I'm dying over here. OH, AND WRAP ME UP SOME OF THOSE LITTLE CRAB CAKES THAT THEY SERVE AT THOSE THINGS.
Alex let out a low raspy chuckle under her breath and muttered to herself about crab cakes before tapping out a reply.
Alex: Isn't it about time you stop being such a free-loader? Buy your own crab cakes! I'll be there in fifteen minutes, I can't stand another second of this!
Alex put her phone back into the pocket of leather jacket and zipped it up. Getting to her feet, she straightened out her black revealing-yet-elegant dress out and left quickly, abandoning her half a glass of champagne and entering the coat room to grab a bag with her boots in, she'd brought it along because she'd hoped Nicky would text her. She waved her goodbyes to anyone that noticed that she was leaving. She hovered at the food table briefly before her departure, grabbing herself one last fruit skewer. Outside she got into one of the awaiting cars that had been hired for the night to drive those attending to their desired locations.
After giving the driver the address, Alex changed into her boots in the back of the car, then proceeded to watch the city fly past her, pedestrians dotted along the street, many of them looked as if they we're going out for the night. It made Alex's mind wander to what would be in store for her and Nicky tonight. She played with blue tints that lined the bottoms of her jet black hair.
Eventually they reached the destination and Alex exited the car with no more than a smile and a thank you, knowing that she didn't have to pay for the service. She took long flowing strides towards the doors of the apartment building that Nicky lived in. She pressed the buzzer that would gain her entrance to the top floor and Nicky buzzed her in. The apartment building was modern yet very sophisticated. Nicky came from a family that had a lot of money and therefore she could afford to live in a very swanky apartment, despite having a poor relationship with her mother. Alex tapped on the door and Nicky answered within a matter of seconds.
"Hey, you're lookin'… expensive!" Nicky greeted, running a hand through her undomesticated locks of hair.
"Was that a compliment? I can't tell with you." Alex mused. She placed the bag that contained her heels on Nicky's kitchen counter, giving her apartment a once over. It wasn't quite as big as Alex's apartment, but at this current moment in time it was cleaner, which wasn't common for Nicky's apartment. "Why's it so clean in here Nichols? It doesn't smell of smoke or vagina and I can't see any clothes thrown over any furniture?"
"Ahhh, my mom came over this morning so I cleaned up last night… Y'know, so she doesn't revoke my fuckin' livin' privileges or anything." She rolled her eyes, remembering the time her mother stopped by one morning after Nicky had thrown a wild party and started lecturing her about cleanliness and how she 'doesn't pay for her to live here to make a mess' she 'pay's for her live here to keep her out of trouble'. Nicky shook the words from her mind like she was shaking a badly drawn picture from an etcher-sketch.
Ale debated for a moment whether or not she should ask Nicky about how this particular meeting with her mother went, but she decided against it. If Nicky wanted to talk about it, she would. Instead Alex reached into her pocket and remembered the small amount of crab cakes that she's foraged before leaving. "Hey, I got you these… My pocket smells like a fishing boat now" Alex crumpled her nose at the smell.
"Ahhhhh Vause, you got 'em!"
"I'm pretty sure that I bring you back more food from those parties than I actually consume myself." Alex noted, smirking. Nicky mulled this over for no more than two seconds before biting into her crab cake. Alex watched her, eyebrows raised as Nicky finished all three in under a minute. They we're only bite sized, but nevertheless she was still surprised. The taller woman cleared her throat to get Nicky's attention before making her inquiry.
"Where are we going tonight anyway? And before you suggest it, no, I do not wanna hang out in that bar we went to last week. That band that we're playing were awful and I'm pretty sure that a cockroach crawled outta that tray of nuts…" Alex trailed off, nauseated at the thought.
"Hey, ain't nothin' wrong with Side Boob!" Nicky half-heartedly defended the band before proceeding "there's this new joint opened up downtown, real classy."
"Yeah? What is it, a strip bar?" Alex chuckled.
"Well, not exactly... But you're close Vause. Very close." Nicky's eyes twinkled with what Alex could only guess was mischief Nicky grabbed her wallet, phone and keys before strolling towards her front door.
"Wait, what? Oh god, it's not a brothel is it? Because I've told you like, a hundred times; I don't do brothels!" Nicky locked the front door behind them and buzzed for the elevator.
"Jheez Vause, calm down! It's not a brothel!"
"Then what is it?" Alex questioned with genuine curiosity, beginning to wonder if she was going to be over-dressed. She lost her cool for a minute, looking down at her boots and worrying if they'd be suitable for this 'real classy' place. She then shifted her eyes over to Nicky and realised that she was also wearing boots, she regained her composure
They waited a few moments for the elevator to reach the top floor and both stepped inside as the doors opened neatly and Nicky thumbed the black button with the golden G on it. Alex adjusted her glasses before turning to Nicky and raising her eyebrows, demanding an answer. Without looking at Alex, a grin spread across her face before revealing their destination.
"It's a burlesque house!"