Chapter 2: Peach

"What kinda movies? Splash shots?" Christian's curiosity got the better of him once his body's needs were suppressed for the time being and he was buttoning his shirt back up.

"I prefer the name pornographic film," Ashley stated, leaning onto the back of the sofa with her elbow, watching him getting dressed, "there are lots of women who's acting skills and professionalism made the genre respectable these days."

"Huh? Like who? Kimber Henry?" He snorted.

"Oh, yes, she is one of them. If I could reach her heights, I would be pleased with myself. You know her work?"

"Sweetheart, I made Kimber Henry."

"What do you mean made her? Meaning plastic surgeonwise?. Did she have some work done, that kinda thing?"

"Work? Like a ton, sweetie. Not to mention some sex education."

"Did she pay? I mean, how did she pay? Any chance we could work out the same deal? You seem to really like my services?"

Christian stood, towering over her, while searching for his trousers he didn't remember where he'd put, "you can sense power can't you Ashley? Watch it girl. Watch it you don't pretend to be someone else you're not, it doesn't usually turn out well."

"Oho! So she's got something to do with why you're here? With why your mind was somewhere else the whole time? With why you're sad?"

"No, it hasn't and it's none of your business."

"Tell me! Why did you come here?" She asked quietly, "what's wrong, baby? I get that sometimes, people coming to the club, paying me for dancing, when all they want is talk, sometimes just having somebody talking to them. So easy spilling everything out for a stranger. You talk or no trousers," she pointed out she was sitting on them.

He laughed uneasily, "I like you Ashley, you're fun, don't push it, you don't know where that takes me! I've got a lot going on!"

Ashley recognized and responded to a threat the right way if she knew it, with her customers, sometimes her life could've depended on it. She handed him the trousers, "take your time, whatever. Call me if you need me."

Christian sat down beside her, suddenly feeling guilty. It was always the same, his temper would get the better of him and spoil his relationships, "look I'm sorry, it's...my business partner just left me. My best friend. My brother. My other half."

"Wow, you love that guy, Sean, is it? He was so pissed off to see me at the practice. Strange you call him your brother. Why did he leave?"

"He wanted to try to be somebody else, his wife and kids left him and he said there was nothing there for him anymore. I didn't try to stop him. How? He thinks there's nothing here when I'm here?"

"Maybe he didn't think you were there for him. You sure as hell seemed to argue a lot while I was around."

"I wasn't there for him I guess. I was too involved with...somebody I'm breaking up with tomorrow."

"So what's the problem then? You can be there for Sean again. I would go tell him that. If he's that important you have to go after him."

"Ashley, for once in your life, you're right! Why didn't I thinka that? There's nothing to keep me here now," he headed towards the door, "just one thing before I set things up for LA. What's your real name? I wanna have the chance of catching you one day?"

The End.