Chapter 1
"And now… Let the sight of our very own sparkling diamond grace your eyes for our Finale" The lights shone on Isabelle's white glittering pigment as the curtain drew up. She could feel the searing heat of the room. Men, fat, rich, up their own arse men, who were willing to pay extortionate prices to see her dance. Isabelle was something of a Star in the high end Florida prostitution chains- thanks to her parents of course. She had been dancing in her parents club ever since she had a decent ass and pair of tits. What sort of Burlesque dancer didn't have Tits and Asses? Anyway, the curtain was up and the room was filled with the sickening scent of sweat, cigars and expensive aftershave! However now was not the time for Isabelle to grimace in disgust, oh no, it was time for Isabelle to flash a seductive smile and roll her hips. The music roared in her ears and Isabelle moved. The dance seemed to take forever as several men in leather pants surrounded her and groped her in ways that was surely illegal. She hated every moment of, seething every beat, every step of this life. That was on the inside. On the outside Isabelle was glamorous, seductive and beautiful and most importantly, radiating sex appeal.
After what seemed an eternity the dance was over. The boys removed their hands from Isabelle so she was able to stand and take her bows. The crowd roared and cheered as she stood and took her position. Dance number two was with several other girls and required lip sinking something Isabelle had grown to appreciate over the years. This dance was always left until last, it was the closing "shebang" everyone wanted. This was what the "Punters" (as her father called them) cam for. It was spicy, saucy and sexy! Again not exactly how any girl would want to spend her Saturday evenings. The worst part of it was is that Izzy would then be sold onto the highest bidder later that night, like she was some of fusty vase or something. All Isabelle wanted was to dance, but not like this, not for someone else's…. convenience. The music from the live band was blaring and the lip sinking was going to plan as usual. Every well rehearsed step placed exactly where it should and every body on stage groomed to protection. This wasn't life this was slavery to the unfortunate people who possessed little but natural beauty and curves.
It, really, was a slaughter house… They picked up the innocent "animals" and stuck them on a stage to plump them up and slowly drained them of everything they had, that was worth living for! A life no one should ever want. This wasn't a career, it was an act of desperation… for most that was. For Isabelle and her brother too, it was a type of parental control that neither of them could ever be rid of. They were puppets to the master puppeteers.
The dance ended quicker than expected. Isabelle again walked to the front of thee stage a smiled. She batted her eyelashes and winked a few times then stalked off stage. Now she could be herself, finally herself. Pulling pin after pin from her hair she stomped to her dressing room. Her shoes were killing her feet so she threw them off at the door and slammed it shut; effectively waking her brother who was sleeping on her couch, dribbling, and clutching a bottle of whiskey.
"Fuck! What was that for?"
"You were asleep and I figure I need a cuddle from my big brother!" She opened her arms. Alec, being the fluff monster he was stumbled over to her and held her close. Isabelle thought it best that she shed her concealed tears now, rather than later.
"Hey, hey Izz don't cry!" Soothed her brother stroking her raven hair. Izzy sniffed and stopped.
"It'll all be ok I know!" She mumbled before her brother could say it again.
"Yhea, you got it!" He smiled and kissed her cheeks- his unshaven mess scraped them. Izzy winced and Alec slapped her back enthusiastically.
"Time to dress!" Izzy rolled her eyes and took the red underwear from him.
"Can't you take my place?" She asked jokingly as she disappeared behind the screen to change.
"Nah" Alec slurred "I got me some real nice guys to please tonight" Izzy could hear him slump back down on her sofa. She shimmied out of the black lace leotard and slipped on the red outfit.
"So dad finally came round to the idea of you and your… sexual tendencies?" Isabelle appeared from the screen covered in a Chinese silk dressing gown and sat in her chair in front of the mirror.
"Ish, I'm just the extra money maker now, I do both!" he took another gulp and burped "Want some?" He offered the bottle to Isabelle, who shook her head. She understood why Alec drank so much. She couldn't blame him really. Being drunk and facing their shit hole lives was better than being sober and facing them. Isabelle, unfortunately, couldn't keep alcohol down, much to her disappointment. She simply coped by playing pretend- whenever the opportunity arose she would transport herself somewhere nicer, cleaner and purer, somewhere where she could be at peace and happy. That is what made her pain bearable.
Isabelle pinned her raven hair up loosely on her hair and applied minimal make up, but just enough dark eye shadow to make black orbs smoulder. She looked at her brother through her mirror and gave him a chaste smile. To this he simply nodded (an odd reply, or so Isabelle thought) and he continued to drink.
"You working tonight?
"Yhea, I'm a man pleaser now!" Alec slurred.
Both Robert and Maryse used him as a joke, a big joke. Somewhere deep inside Isabelle pitied her brother yet somewhere else deep inside she was glad he was finally being treat like she had been for years.
"Oh" was her only reply. The buzzer in Isabelle's dressing room sounded notifying her that there was some grubby, gross old man waiting for her.
"Good luck!" Alec smiled slyly as he rose from the sofa and crossed the dim room, to the door.
"You too" Isabelle replied "You'll need it!"
Okay, so here is an improved version of All That Jazz. Please reveiw, i love to know what you guys think- Love you always, Gee!
