A/N: Don't now, never will, wish I did. A very special thank you to purplangel for her support, encouragement and tutelage in helping get me through the pangs of a new endeavor. Thank You.
The edits of his latest book in the Storm series are done and in and accepted by the editor and publisher so he is preparing for the introduction galas for the launch of the book. This year the primary launch party is to be held in L.A. since the book is set mostly in Hollywood. The parties are designed to be extravagant to ensure the success of the book launch and to cement Rick's reputation as a world class writer and a first rate playboy. All the press from the entertainment world and most of the daily periodicals will be in attendance, as well as most of the Hollywood elite.
Rick has never had a launch party this elaborate and is becoming more and more excited to attend. He enjoys the attention his fame and notoriety brings and wants to fully explore the entire experience. Hollywood plays right into his image and he will fit into the crowd seamlessly. No one is as good at working a crowd or schmoozing with the society types as he is. He walks into the room and if the party is not in full swing, it soon will be.
He has the natural charm and relaxed attitude that immediately puts all those he encounters at ease. He could sell ice cubes to a polar bear when he is in the zone. He plans to be 110% in the zone with these parties. Since his divorce proceedings, he has been in a dark place, not the most conducive environment for his happiness or that of his 5 year old daughter. He has brooded long enough about his divorce with Meredith and now needs to get back on the horse, so to speak. He needs to bring himself out of the funk and back in to the arena of laser tag and corner ice cream store with his daughter. He has been sad long enough. This series of launch parties will be just what he needs to rise again.
In this same time frame, Kate has been enjoying the good life the modeling success allows her. She is working as many as six days a week, but is becoming more selective in her gigs, taking only the top jobs for the best photographers. Along with all of this, she has been having the time of her life in the side world of Hollywood and L.A. nightlife. She and her friends are becoming well known in the nightclub circuit and never have to wait for entrance into any chosen club or for recognition or attention once in the club. She is living the whirlwind of Hollywood and has attracted a lot of "fame" and popularity in the short amount of time she has been out west.
She walks into a club after a particularly trying day and week and is met with the hard driving bass beat of the club music, being spun by one of the top DJ's in the city. The DJ is 26 years old, once a music major at UCLA and is one of the top female music celebrities in the circuit. She knows all the major players in the club scene and most of those that attend the clubs religiously. Kate is no stranger to her. During a break, the DJ seeks Kate out for a private talk.
The DJ knows about Kate's success as a model and how she looks in clothes that are quite revealing. She takes notice of the abandon that Kate exudes when she is in the club, dancing to every song and grinding out the bass on whichever dance partner she happens to be with at the time. She never lacks for a partner, attracting the cream of the crop with her good looks, short tight dresses and stripper heels. She is the choice of anyone looking for a dance or might desperately be hoping for more. Kate is not the type though to go home with any creep she meets at a club. She likes a good time, but still controls her own destiny. With this in mind, the DJ, Dani, starts her conversation and her proposal.
Dani sits down to talk with Kate and compliments her on her dance prowess and on the way she both looks and moves. The classical dance training and her modeling experience both enhance the allure she has on the dance floor. She moves with the grace and confidence of a prima ballerina, but still exudes the sexiness and allure and just a little of the naughtiness of a down and dirty street dancer. Kate is the complete package as a club dancer, and Dani recognizes the potential in her.
"Kate, I have something I want to talk to you about", Dani begins. "I have a friend that is in the entertainment business and he owns several clubs in the L.A. and Sacramento area. I understand you are going to Stanford this fall and because of that I have a proposition for you. A few of the clubs my friend owns are high class exotic dance clubs. These are not the average strip club, but are true Gentlemen's Clubs. The clientele is admitted by reference and by membership only. These are not the "grab you every time you pass" type of crass mouth-breather. Most are professionals such as lawyers or doctors or other similar profession. Many profit from owning their own businesses or on-line ventures. These are the cream of the crop of eligible men in their respective areas. I think you could do quite well as a dancer in one of his clubs. If you are interested, I can make the introductions, and then after that, it is all on you."
Kate is taken by surprise at both the accolades that Dani is heaping on her and by the suddenness and the somewhat bizarre offer. She is literally without words, not knowing how to respond to Dani's comments. "Take your time to think about it, Kate", Dani returns, "and get back to me by this next Friday with your answer. I can make the arrangements with him, but the offer does have a time limit. His openings do not stay vacant for long. I do not profit from this offer except in the delight of seeing someone as talented as you get the opportunity to excel as a dancer. You will be a natural and, Oh, by the way, the pay would be awesome."
Kate went back to the dance floor after her conversation with Dani and immediately was surrounded by guys wanting to snuggle up with her on the floor. However, she was in sort of a daze thinking back to what Dani had said. She wondered about 'The pay would be awesome' and just what that meant. Guess she could always check it out to determine what Dani was referring. She would need all the money she could get to lead a relaxed life while in college, even though her parents were paying for her education.
Kate had never been shy about her figure. She knew she was attractive and a lot of that was due to her supermodel body. Could she actually strip in a club, displaying her body to a bunch of men, no matter how exclusive the club was? First of all, she would have to be certain the club was safe and no illicit drug or prostitution trade was taking place. She was not a prude, but she absolutely not getting involved in a police bust. The next was to determine what the demands of the job might be. Did she only dance on the stage; was there a real stage; how many nights a week would she be required to dance; how long each evening would she be required to be there? The list goes on. And last, but definitely not least, what would be the expected pay?
Kate pondered on these questions over the next week along with reconciling the fact that she would be dancing at least partially naked in front of strangers. She was pretty sure she could dance nude after her current stint as a model, sometimes modeling lingerie or less. She was proud of her figure and her haunting, sultry good looks and had worked hard over the years to achieve and maintain her rock hard body. She also knew that she could use her good looks to her advantage, pretty much getting anything she could possibly desire.
Another aspect she was considering was how this "opportunity" would work into her search for wild child experiences and how it might affect her future as an attorney. Since the club was top shelf and secure (so she thought), she felt that if she used a pseudonym for her act, she could be protected from undue notoriety.
She could always ask when she checked out the club after talking to Dani again. She made arrangements to meet with her at her nightclub the next week. To be truthful, she was getting excited about the prospects of being a high end exotic dancer. She was not a drug addled stripper working for her next hit; she was a proud attractive dancer who could prove that class could exist in these clubs.
She would definitely pursue the next steps with Dani and then maybe visit the club.
Meanwhile, Castle was preparing to embark on the book launch tour on the West Coast. He had arranged for his mother to stay at his loft to watch over Alexis while he was gone on the tour. He was scheduled by Black Pawn, his publishing company to be on an initial three week tour, hitting all the main cities on the West Coast before making his way back home, stopping at many large cities for book signings. All told, he would be gone four and half weeks. He did not like to leave Alexis for that long, but sometimes the job demanded his absence. He would still miss his little girl though since she was the light of his life, bringing the only joy to his daily routine other than writing. He knew he had to make these pilgrimages to maintain his career and to ensure that Alexis had the future he had only dreamed of as a child.
He considered himself very lucky that he had fallen into the success he was now experiencing. His childhood was not one that would be considered normal. He was the son of an actress and had no idea who his father was or where he was. His mother was a great actress, but even then, the life was grueling. He spent most of his young life either killing time backstage or reading in the local libraries of whatever small hamlet they might be in at the time. He would find himself lost in an adventure that could only be experienced through the universe of the book he was reading. He could spin the tale as rich and wonderful as he could imagine. The time he spent in libraries instilled in him the love of the written word and fostered his desire to become a writer. He was good at it and loved the fact he could express himself on the page as he did.
He worked himself from an almost penniless, almost orphan to a man who had taken the center spotlight as a best-selling author. Because of this, he was secure financially and could work from home and spend time with Alexis. Having this life, it was difficult to leave and travel for as long as he was being asked this time. He would make sure he called Alexis often while he was on the road and send her little gifts to brighten her days during his absence. He thought he was ready to go, having spoken to Alexis about why he had to leave and when he would be back.
He left the next day for L.A.
The day Rick left for L.A. was the day Kate went back to speak to Dani at the club She had most of her questions outlined in her mind and knew what answers she needed before deciding to go ahead with the adventure.
Tonight would be the night that her future, unbeknownst to her, would be set in motion. Talk about shadowy tangled webs being woven.
Dani had arranged for the owner of the clubs to meet with Kate at midnight on that Friday. He was a tall slim man in his late 50's, dressed impeccably. He wore a crisp burgundy shirt under a black tailored suit that exuded wealth and privilege. He answered Kate's questions without hesitation and without pretense. His manner was one of ease and confidence in the dealings of his work and his life. He explained to Kate that his dream when he was younger was to develop and own a chain of high class clubs that would bring back some of the mystery and glory of the days of the exotic dancer. He specifically mentioned individuals as Gypsy Rose Lee, Tempest Storm and Lili St. Cyr, among others. These were dancers first and foremost with an air of aloofness that stirred the yearnings and imagination of the audience. They were a myth, a mystery that could not be solved, a goal that would not be obtained, the apex of their art. This dream was what he had imagined and managed to fulfill with the clubs he had founded. His were true Gentlemen's Clubs.
Kate was at once entranced with the dream and the description of his club. She asked what she would be required to do if she decided to audition at the club. The owner indicated that she would be asked to dance for him and the top dancers in the local home club to determine her actual dance qualifications and also her stage presence as she moved through her dance routine. Did she have the persona and ambiance demanded in the elite club? Kate was sure she could meet these requirements so long as the club was as Dani and the owner had described. So, she set a date for an audition and went about getting her outfits ready for her dance before the owner and other dancers. She would dance for them next week in a private setting.
Rick was on his way to the West Coast and Kate was putting the final touches on a dance routine she had done in modern dance (with her clothes on then) and felt she could perform flawlessly in the new setting.
The wheels of destiny had been set in motion, providence was waiting, Kismet was about to be fulfilled.
A/N: Thanks to all who have taken the time to review and/ or comment on my first chapter. All were extremely helpful and I thank you again for the reviews.