Hey everyone - sorry it took so long to update! Life has been absolutely crazy around here. Full time university and a 30 hour work week on top of that. Phew...Anyway, maybe I forgot to mention it, but most of you know by now that I am VERY motivated by reviews. The more you review, the more I am reminded of this story and the fact that it exists and therefore I need to add to it. So review! And let's see how fast I can be motivated to get the next chapter up! xo
What the hell was that? The question remained in both of their eyes as they played up to the crowd.
Olivia was escorted back to Sergei's table by one of his men and the older man grinned up at her, gold teeth gleaming dully in the smoky fluorescent light. l
"Very good – she leaves them wanting more, ah? So you want the job here? As one of my girls?"
Olivia nodded, knowing that after tonight she would never be back here other than as an investigating detective; "yes, sir".
"Ah, no sir, no sir – just Sergei" he flirted idly back. But although his voice and mannerisms remained casual and friendly; the black glint in his eyes told Olivia with no uncertainty that this man could kill.
"Good. Now you are mine. The rules are simple: you vill dance whenever and for whoever I say – no excuses. All the money and tips you might receive from the men comes to me and I will make sure you have a monthly allowance for clothes and such. You will live in the house with the rest of the girls. If you are successful enough to get a sponsor, you are his. You may dance onstage but not privately with any other man or there will be consequences. And if you don't please me, or my customers, you will be dealt with… as I see fit. Pack your things and be at this address at 11 o'clock tomorrow".
Olivia nodded subserviently, backing up a few steps before she turned her back and hurried to the dressing room and away from the ogling eyes of the men, and the guilty looking eyes of Elliot.
"Not bad for a first timer!" Val congratulated her from the couch as she walked back into the dressing room. "You sure this was your first time on the stage?"
Olivia laughed, almost giddy with the adrenaline rushing through her; "Yes…I can definitely say that my job has never had me do anything quite like this".
She froze suddenly – but none of the other girls or Val seemed to notice her mentioning her job, seeing as she wasn't supposed to have one now that she was a 'matryoshka'.
Before this night was over, she had to find out everything she could about the girls who had been murdered.
"So what is being a matryoshka like, how is it working for Sergei. He doesn't seem like the friendliest guy?" Olivia asked as she wiped off her makeup, using copious amounts of Kleenex and toner to scrub the heavy mask off her face until she felt like herself again.
Val grabbed her arm, shaking her head almost indiscernibly from side to side.
"Look, you're new here so I know you don't know all the rules. But one you need to know absolutely is that no one talks about Sergei's business. We dance, we entertain the men, and in turn we're taken care of".
She gestured around the room. "Most of these girls are either off the streets, or are illegals from Moscow. Your business is your own business and you don't go talking about anyone else's unless you want to lose a lot more than your job…the moment you accepted Sergei's offer you became his property; and Sergei does not let go of what he thinks to be his easily. None of them do" she gazed ruefully down at her belly.
"I wanted to leave when I found out I was pregnant…I didn't want to bring a child into this world". She threw her hand out when she said this, meaning the club and her job.
"But where else would I go? On the streets? Sergei's men would find me. And besides, Pavel claimed me as his so he knows this is his baby…I'm just lucky he didn't insist on an abortion, I don't know what I would have done".
"They can do that?" Olivia hissed, "Val, you know a woman has full rights over her body and reproduction right?"
"Maybe in the outside world" the younger girl said, smiling sadly.
"But most girls are so scared of losing their jobs that they get abortions before anyone else knows – it is mandatory unless the child belongs to one of the Vednaya" she added, naming the sector of the Russian mob Sergei controlled.
"Whoops! I'm up again" she heaved herself up off of the couch, "see you later Olivia".
When Olivia came out of the dressing room, her heart froze. Elliot was standing talking with Sergei and another one of his men Val had identified as Andrei – and for a moment she thought they had been caught and their cover blown.
Sergei noticed her out of the corner of his leering eyes and motioned for her to come over by snapping thick, meaty fingers together.
She forced a simpering smile on her face and walked over to the men, careful to keep her steps short and her hips swaying like she'd been instructed by the girls backstage.
"Svetlana, Olivia, dorogaya moya" he started, using a Russian endearment to call her 'my dear'. "I would like you to meet Elliot Vodorov. He is Andrei here's cousin and American businessman. He runs shipping business for inport/export".
Confused and more than a bit wary of the change in plans, Olivia ducked her head submissively and whispered something suitably insipid and flattering.
"Elliot here has very generously claimed you for his own matryoshka. This is great honor for you being one of the newer dancers. I trust the girls have told you the rules – you belong to him now. And you answer only to him and me".
He turned back to Elliot, who was now scowling slightly and Olivia begged him with her eyes not to lose his temper. But Elliot Stabler was in control of himself, "I don't want your typical submissive shy crap – you show me the fire you showed everyone onstage or the deal is off".
Although she still held Elliot's eyes with her own, Olivia could feel Sergei's cold gaze on her back. Eyes flashing and mouth twitching to hide a smile Olivia moved towards Elliot quickly, sinuously – sliding a hand inside the collar of his dress shirt and loosening his tie as she pulled his head closer, kissing and biting him with gentle but hungry pleasure.
"Well then why don't we get out of here daddy and you can show me just how big your guns are".
The men roared with laughter, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into with this one. We will discuss business tomorrow eh? After everyone is a bit more rested, or unrested as it may be" Sergei bit down on his cigar and elbowed Elliot in the ribs before turning back to his table and Andrei, summarily dismissing them.
"Your cousin's company will benefit the family greatly Andrei, you did good to bring him to us".
The men finished with a shot of straight vodka to cement the deal and Elliot slid his arm around Olivia and escorted her out.
Cragen pulled up in a black limousine this time, and Elliot and Olivia got in – what they didn't expect was Andrei to get in with them.
Elliot pulled his gun immediately as the stranger closed the car door, but 'Andrei' held a hand up, signaling for silence as he peered out the tinted windows before pulling out a silver shield from a hidden compartment of his jacket.
"Gregory Evans, FBI".
"You're with the Feds?" Olivia asked disbelievingly, but she didn't receive an answer. What she did receive was a scornful glare from the agent before he let loose a string of muttered curses.
"What the hell do you think you were playing at in there?" the man snapped, running a faintly scarred hand through his hair. "You could have blown a yearlong investigation not to mention get us all killed with that amateur shit".
"No one informed us of any police activity" Cragen cut in from the driver's seat, calmly holding up a hand to keep his two best detectives from exploding at the Fed in the backseat. "Lucky for you this was a one night stand, no pun intended, so we're out of your hair as of now".
"Oh no you don't…You're not getting off that easy. Your detectives here are going to keep up this little charade for at least the next two months for us. And before you tell me that you don't answer to me I suggest you think about the fact that I have express permission from the police commissioner to pull you for this".
Elliot and Olivia were seething by now, and Elliot wanted nothing more than to deck the younger man sitting in front of him, barely more than a kid, telling him how to do his job".
"Pack up your lives, this weekend detectives – or shall I say, the newest admissions to the Vednaya".
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