Troy paid the fee at the door to get into the club, it was past the first act and a blond was on stage singing about diamonds. People we're laughing and eating, having a good time. Troy however had a particular brunette to find. Then he saw a woman dress in a Skippy cop outfit walk behind a curtain, he followed.
Backstage Gabriella sat at her mirror with her trash bags filled with her belonging beneath it. She was dressed up in costume ready to go in a moment. She still hadn't figured out her next move, Gabriella leaned into the mirror as she applied her eyeliner when suddenly a familiar face was in it.
"What are you doing back here?" Gabriella turned around to face him as he stood there sorely out of place in his trench coat and scarf, with briefcase in hand.
"Health inspector's here!" someone called out and Gabriella eyes opened wide as she looked over at him. "You're going to get kicked out of here."
"I need you," Troy said.
"No thanks," Gabriella put on her sailor hat and made her way to the stage. "I don't do repeats."
"I'll pay extra." Troy said coming around to her side.
"Look I'm sure you're a nice guy and all but I just don't do repeats. As far as I'm concerned I came over last night I did what you asked and I left. Transaction is done."
"Georgia please?"
She was beginning to hate that name. "Mr. Bolton-"
"I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend and meet my mom."
"Meet your mom!" Gabriella mouth dropped. "Are you out of your damn mind?"
"Look I know this seems odd."
"Your damn right it does and I am no one's pet, this is why I don't do repeats." Gabriella was just about to approach the stairs for the stage when Troy pulled on her arm.
"I need a date for a wedding; I'll pay for the dress, the expenses I'll even give you two grand. Please?"
Gabriella ears perked at the price and this time she came to him more willingly, "three grand."
"What?"
"I got kicked out of my apartment. I'm down on my luck, if I'm helping you, you gotta help me," she said in soft voice as she placed her hands on the collar of his coat. "I'm good at acting. I can be the perfect girlfriend?"
"All I need is a date."
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders "all I need is a time and place?"
"I pick you up after your shift."
"What?" Gabriella let go of him and took a step back "When is the wedding?"
"This weekend,"
"Who gets married two weeks before Christmas?" Gabriella shook her head and just rolled her eyes. "This is short notice I could have other plans you know."
Troy rolled his eyes. "Four grand,"
"Sold to the man with the checkbook!" Gabriella jumped into his arms and Troy nervously and quickly wrapped his arm around to hold her. Her outfit was small it was barely even there and her legs wrapped around his waist; Troy felt the heat rush to his face. "You packing or just very happy to see me?" she said with a giggle.
Troy quickly pulled her off of him and set her down on the ground. "This is strictly business; I'm not in it for the sex."
"Well," Gabriella pushed opened his coat to slip her hands into his belt loop. "You sure Mr. Bolton Jr. got that message?"
Troy pulled her hands away and he let out a small breath. "I'll send a car at midnight."
"Call me Cinderella," with that she gave him a small wave and walked up the stairs onto the stage. Troy lifted a hand to his brow and rubbed as he thought of his recent predicament.
As he left the club Victoria eyes followed him out the door and then wondered onto the stage where Georgia was singing her heart out. "Follow him," she said to man standing next to her. "I want to know what the lawyer wants."
She went backstage to wait for the end of Georgia's performance. Her black painted nails placed on her pristine arms as she crossed them. Standing in her power suit of leather and lace she smiled as Georgia came off the stage.
"Hey something up?" she said as she came down the steps and removed her hat.
"What did the lawyer want?"
"He's giving me gig," Gabriella walked over to her mirror Victoria on her heals. "No big deal really," sometimes a lie was safer to tell than the truth.
"What does he want from you, you don't do repeats," she said with a suspicious glaze.
"He wants a date for his friend's wedding, no sex." Gabriella removed her hat. "Don't worry I'm giving you half the money."
"Just remember that I still own you for the next two years, and while you're an important asset to me I also happen to know that no one is going to come looking for you if you think your getting away without paying me back on my investment."
"You're going to get all the money I swear. "
"When is the wedding?"
"This weekend,"
"Good. I expect you back on Monday night," Victoria began to walk away, "And Georgia?"
"Yes Victoria."
"Don't ever do business like that behind my back." Gabriella nodded and Victoria disappeared.
Gabriella let out a grunt as she turned back to the mirror and let her head fall onto her dresser top. She needed to get out of here.
Troy was in his home office with a ear piece on as he hammered out a few details with another lawyer. "My client doesn't want the furniture she wants the house." He placed the file down and walked over o his desk to retrieve the file of documented appraisals on the house. "Either we sell and split or he can have his things and leave her the house."
Gabriella leaned on the door fame, a driver just dropped her off and a maid answered the door. Gabriella shook her head as he continued to talk to the person on the other line. Her trash bags were in the hall the maid on a second glance snuffed her nose up and Gabriella flipped the bird. She'd never been in an actually office that hadn't belong to Victoria. Walking in she looked around at all the diploma's and basketball trophies.
"No, I don't think you get it. Your client was cheating and not just random cheating either, your client may I remind you was caught on the kitchen counter with my client's mother. Not only is that emotionally damaging but it's also going to put her on a couch so unless your client want to pay on a level of the emotional trauma that he has cause my client he will sign over the house."
Gabriella smiled and lifted herself so she was sitting on his oak desk her legs crossed underneath her short white skirt. He looked over at her and he stopped dead in his tracks. Gabriella tilted her head and smiled in a cocky away. "Hello,"
"Look a client of mine just walked in, Monday my office we'll hammer this out." Troy nodded for a moment then said "Sure noon sounds perfect see you then." He pressed a button and removed the head piece. "Hello Georgia."
"You know because I like you, I'll let you know that's not my real name," she said leaning back on her hands.
"What is your real name then?" he asked as he placed the headsets down.
"If I told you I'd have to kill you." Gabriella smiled a sly grin. "So," she said sitting up and reaching for his tie. "When do the festivities begin?" he voice was soft as she pulled him by the tie closer to her. Wrapping one leg around him she held him close and undid his tie.
"I got you a dress, one that I deem appropriate," He said as he watched her pull the tie from around his neck.
"Is it pretty?"
"It should be?"
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "How can I ever thank you?" she said wrapping the other leg behind him.
"Georgia, I already told you I don't want sex." Troy pulled away and began to walk away from the room. "We leave tomorrow at 7am, the dress is in your room please do not make us late I expect your professionalism."
Gabriella rolled her eyes and jumped off the desk. "God you're boring," she mumbled as she walked past him into the hallway.
"You can use my bathroom tonight if you like to get ready."
"Thanks," She said as she disappeared up the stairs.
Troy stood at the bottom of the staircase, for a moment he closed his eyes and thought about her curves. His eyes saw her sitting on his desk leg open and his body between them, than reality came crashing all around him.
"Mr. Bolton you got a fax from the machine," His maid handed him the paper.
He smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Rosa." Troy walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee and looked over the information. It seems that Georgia was not her name indeed; in fact Georgia was where she was from. Troy did his own research knowing that this woman would be meeting his family and in his house for the weekend. It made him curious to know who she was. So he sent a picture of her to a few foster centers and finally something came up. "Gabriella Montez."
"I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me," Gabriella slowly got into the giant tub filled with warm water. Her muscles seemed to melt at the touch her body she closed her eyes and continued to sing. "Please have snow and Mistletoe and presents under the tree."
Her laying her head back she didn't even notice the man standing in the doorway. His blue eyes in surprise, he'd been on his way to change out of his work clothes and did not expect the bathroom door to be open. For the lights to be dimed and for the most beautiful sight he ever saw to be sitting in his tub with bubbles.
At the feel of someone staring she opened her eyes and looked up at him, "Hello again,"
"I'll just close the door," he said reaching for the knob.
"No need, tell you what," Gabriella lean up a little, "Do you want to play a game?"
"I already told you-"
"Yeah I know this is different," Gabriella smirked. "Believe it or not my every objection isn't to get into your pants."
Troy blushed a little and then nodded. "What's the game?"
"For every statement I make about you that's right you take a step towards the tub. For everything I say that's wrong to take a step towards the door."
"What happens when I reach the tub?"
Gabriella brought her knee up out of the water and leaned on it. "You stay and we talk."
"And if I reach the door?"
"You're free to go?"
Troy shrugged his shoulder. "Alright,"
"You find me attractive." She lean back in the water her breast floating in the bubbles.
Troy took a step forward.
Gabriella smiled. "You don't like baths you prefer showers," she said pointing at the shower behind her.
Troy took a step forward.
"Figures," Gabriella suddenly became more serious. "You still love her."
Troy paused for a moment looking at her as she sat there looking up at him, then he took a step forward. He was one step away from the tub.
"You're the kind of guy who doesn't want kids," she tilting her head to the side.
Troy took a step back.
"Interesting, how many?" she asked grabbing a sponge to clean her arms.
"3,"
Gabriella smiled. "You want to sleep with me but you won't allow yourself to move on."
Troy took a step back. "I have moved on, I don't pay for sexual favors."
"Only pretend girlfriends." Gabriella responded with a naughty smile. "You hate your job?"
Troy reached the door. "Good night Georgia"
"Night," Gabriella nodded and leaned back. "Shut the door please."
Gabriella watched as the door shut and she was enveloped in silence and the dim lights. "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams." She sang softy.