Chapter 9:

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I put on my dress for the grand opening of our new show. The outfit was all red and gold glitter pizzazz, with netted tights and high heels. All of the others were already performing onstage, the audience cheering and the music raging. I was to make my debut in mere moments. I powdered the sweat on my brow, the large puff in my hand shaking from nervousness. Snyder was out there, to keep an eye on his investment, I supposed. Then surely, I would be expected to meet him in a private room upstairs afterward.

I stared at myself in the mirror, Spot's words replaying in my head over and over again:

You're just going to take this from him? Let him have his way with you taking it lying down? Literally…?

The fact is, that you can't handle being a whore…!

He was right, as always, and I couldn't stand it. My breath ran away from me, and I clutched the sides of my vanity desk in an attempt to get it back. I had to let this infatuation for Spot go. I had to not care what he said. I had to forget everything.

"Hey," said a voice from the doorway. I looked up at my mirror, and saw Spot leaning on my doorframe. He was dressed in his nice tux, his hair slicked back to where he was almost unrecognizable again.

I was on my feet in an instant.

"Spot!" I said with more joy than I could control. "What are you doing here? I'm about to go on…"

"I know, but uh…"

"I've been so worried, with the territory wars going on in Brooklyn, I was wondering how you were…"

"I'm fine, but listen…"

I saw a strange look in his eyes. His seriousness was natural, but there was a sense of discomfort about him that I hadn't seen before.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

Spot rolled his eyes in frustration and glanced at the wall to his left.

"Look, I, uh… I guess I'm sorry. About, you know, yesterday. Sayin' those things. I know I hurt ya."

I was floored.

"You came to tell me that you're… sorry?"

"But that's not all the reason why I came… I…"

He shifted in his stance and still refused to look me in the eye. This was very difficult for him, though I knew he must have rehearsed it to exhaustion from the way he spoke. His words, though fumbled by his treacherous tongue, were very precise and practiced.

"I came to tell you that…"

"Jade, you're on!" Charlotte called from the hall.

"Just a moment, Charlie!" I called back. "Go on, Spot, please."

"Just that…"

"Jade, really, you have to go…!" Charlotte seemed wavering in her voice, almost frightened.

"Spot, please, say what you were going to say," I begged.

Spot seemed to have lost his nerve.

"Nothin'. Good luck on your show."

He turned to leave. And he ran straight into Head Maid.

"WHO IS THIS?" Head Maid bellowed. I gasped. Spot stiffened.

"Head Maid, I can explain…" I said quickly.

"A boy! In your dressing room?!" Head Maid was livid.

"I'm sorry for any confusion," Spot said with a high-pitched, snooty voice, straightening his tie and holding out his hand. "Please, let me to introduce myself. My name is Joseph Pulitzer… Junior. I've seen Jade onstage before and she invited me back to discuss an… investment. Maybe even a story in the World."

Head Maid's face softened, slowly but surely, as she digested these words.

"Mr… Pulitzer!" she exclaimed, grabbing his hand and shaking vigorously. "How could I be so rude, yes… I'm afraid Jade is needed onstage for now, but I'm sure she would be happy to further discuss this with you… later."

"Yes, of course," Spot nodded his agreement. "Though, if I'm to stay, I'll be needing a private box, you understand. Too many people might recognize me."

Or Snyder would, I realized. What a smart boy.

"Of course, of course, anything you require," Head Maid said with assurance, leading him off. He took a last look at me over his shoulder and winked with a smirk. I could only smile back at his flaunting cleverness.

I entered the show from stage right, atop a wagon that was being pulled by a stagehand costumed like a tiger. I sang in my native language, to the music of twanging sitars. My glamorous joke of a Chinese robe was reflecting off every spotlight on me, so I was a blinding sight. When the timing called for it, I shed the robe as rehearsed, letting the tiny red glitter dress show underneath. The crowd hooted and hollered at the display, a sure hit.

But I only cared about one audience member, and he was sitting in a box to the left. I glanced up at Spot as I danced. I could see his grin very clearly. It made my heart miss a beat, though I managed to keep my feet on time. I grinned back. He saw, and it only made his smile grow.

Snyder sat in the box directly below him, and I noticed him smiling at me like he thought my affectionate gazes were directed at him. I could only play along.

As I posed for the finale, the music ceased immediately. Men threw flowers and money at me, even diamonds. I was a success. I looked up to Spot to see if he was clapping, but he was already gone. My moment of glory and happiness was over. As I saw Snyder was clapping violently in approval, my mind came back down from the clouds. Back to business. It was time to sleep with the Warden.

Back in my dressing room, I got into my best lingerie, an emerald corseted number with black stockings. I slipped on a sheer robe for effect, and made my way to the stairs.

My room was at the end of the hall. I dreaded it with everything in me, knowing what lay beyond it. I was glad that Spot would never witness this. I would find him as soon as this was all over, and have him finish what he was so determined to tell me before. I could imagine what heavenly words he would tell me. Could it be possible he had feelings for me? It was a fantasy I was glad to keep in the forefront of my mind. It was sure to help me through what I was about to do.

I took a deep breath and reached for the door.

Only to see… Spot.

For the second time tonight, I was astounded by his unexpected presence. He came up to me and pulled me in the room quickly, closing the door behind me.

"What was it you wanted to say?" I asked, assuming that's why he was here. Instead, he put his mouth to mine, proceeding to slowly devour it. He let go to only to let us breathe for a moment, perhaps waiting for a reaction from me.

"Oh," I replied with an understanding nod.

"I had Charlotte direct the Warden to the wrong room," Spot explained, holding my round cheeks in his palms firmly.

"But Head Maid listens in from the room across the hall…" I warned. "She'll be expecting to hear some… noise… from in here."

Spot smirked at this.

"I think we can arrange that."

His cold, stern face returned, and he took a step away from me.

"That is, if your offer still stands… I know you have sex all the time, and it's not that spectacular a thing to you… and I'm not saying it is for me, or that seeing the show made me want you or anything… or that it will make us even, because it won't…"

I cleared the space between us, tilting my head to lean for another kiss. He took the offer gladly.

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Signed,
--RedRogue