Rick faithfully performs his writer's duties the next day, nervously watching the clock for his appointed quitting time. When he is finished, he goes back to the hotel for dinner and then makes his way to the Gentlemen's Club where he is greeted by Mr. Haverson, "Good day, Mr. Castle. How are you this fine evening?"

"I had a very good day today. My book sales are off the charts and I have not been arrested. All in all, a very good day", Rick laughs.

Mr. Haverson laughs heartily and without shame at the antics of Rick. He respects Rick and his accomplishments as a writer, especially for someone so young. Rick has many best sellers and is still only 28 years old. He can tell by the ease of his character and the relaxed manner of his conversations Rick is a good gentle man. However, he also sees an ornery streak in him that reminds him of who he was in his younger years. He saw the attraction he had for Emerald yesterday evening and wonders if that is the only reason he is back at his club. He will not tolerate any adverse advances toward any of his dancers, especially the new young ones such as Emerald.

He confides in Rick, "I noticed just how enamored you were of Emerald last night. She is quite extraordinary, isn't she? Do I need to remind you of the rules of deportment in my establishment? I certainly hope not because I remember what I read in the newspapers about you and some of your, shall I say, exploits."

Rick immediately counters, "I know what they write in those rags and much of it is pure hype to help sell my books. There is a definitive difference between my person and my persona. What you read is not who I am. My greatest triumph and joy is my daughter and the quiet time I spend with her. And yes you're correct; Emerald is truly extraordinary in every sense of the word. I admit I am attracted to Emerald, who wouldn't be? But I assure you I am not possessed of a nature to harm her in any way. She is so fascinating I would like to get to know her personally so I can understand who she is behind the persona of Emerald. I actually might base a book character or even a series off of her, so intriguing an individual she is".

Mr. Haverson understands Rick completely and believes he is telling him the truth. However, he will not relax his earlier statements about discretion. The discretion at his clubs is a two way street. He protects the member clientele but also his employees, especially his entertainers. Since he has the cream of the crop in dancers, he recognizes how desirable they are and how easily they could be put in jeopardy. He lets Rick know that he does not set Emerald's schedule, realizing she has commitments outside of his club. He respects all his employees and the private lives they lead. He is not the type to demand the dancers sleep with him to keep their job or position of status in his club. Neither will he allow that type of conduct from his membership. Any relationship between his entertainers will be at the sole preference of the entertainer. He also does not tolerate outside illicit activities by any of his entertainers. If Emerald is in tonight, Rick will be able to talk with her if she is willing to do so. Other than that, Mr. Haverson will not make any further promises.

Rick waits patiently for the rest of the evening anxiously perusing the club and the stage as each performer enters. However, Emerald does not show for the remainder of the night. Mr. Haverson informs Rick he will let Emerald know he was there all evening waiting for her, but will not give her any further information than that. He will not allow Rick to leave his contact information with him or anyone in the club. It is truly a protected environment.

Two days later, Emerald comes in to dance for her one dance of the evening. It is a different routine than the one for Rick and the writers, but nevertheless equally as captivating. She leaves the audience wanting more, which is exactly her intent. Leaving them wanting more is the ambition and purpose of a good entertainer. And she is the personification of good.

Mr. Haverson intercepts her back stage after she is redressed and tells her of Rick's visit. He knows that Emerald knows of his first name, so he is giving nothing away. Emerald asks, "Did he leave any way I can contact him outside of work?" Mr. Haverson replies that type of information transaction is not allowed, so unless Rick returns to the club, Emerald will not be able to find him. Emerald, or is it Kate, is disappointed since she would really like to meet up with him outside of the club. She wants to explore the feelings he summoned in her while she danced. No one else has evoked those feelings and she might want to explore exactly what could become of them. However, it looks like that meeting will not take place or even be possible at all. Mr. Haverson tells her he thinks Rick left town on his book tour the day before her latest performance and isn't sure if or when he might return. Emerald is disheartened with the knowledge she may never see Rick again. She knew he was not from L.A. by the lack of California accent, but could not determine from where he might hail.

Rick had continued his book tour the day before, leaving for Seattle and then Texas after a stopover in Denver. He was on his way back to Alexis and was excited as ever to see his little girl again. However, he could not shake the thought of Emerald and the effect she had on him. He was still mesmerized with the mystery and sorcery of this courtesan of the stage. He was completely swept up in the dominion she held over him. He was sure she would haunt him in his dreams for many years to come, so completely had she ensnared him in her web of beauty, elegance and charm. She may actually be the 'One that got away'. Would he ever find another to bewitch him the way Emerald had? Were they just two ships passing in the night, never to make the journey back to each other?

The summer was over and Kate was headed back to NYC for two weeks with her parents before on to Stanford. She had been questioned what she did while she was in L.A. and she was relieved since she felt her mom and especially her dad would have had a cow if they found out she was dancing in a high end nude club. However, they did ask about her modeling career and Kate found herself under the microscope about some of her, shall we say, more revealing assignments. In the end though, she had a very relaxing and comfortable two weeks with her parents. When it was time to head back to Stanford, she left with her father to make the journey to her dorm. He helped her move in and get settled and then hugged and kissed her goodbye until Christmas.

Once settled into Stanford, she contacted the manager of Mr. Haverson's club in San Francisco and worked out a similar arrangement with her as she had with Mr. Haverson. The manager's name was Florence (Flo, for short) and she ran just as tight a ship as Mr. Haverson. The drive to the club from Stanford was about 45-90 minutes, depending on the traffic and the fog around S.F. Emerald was excited to get back to her dancing, but only in a club where she could feel safe and secure, with no outside interferences. Her fame rapidly grew within the confines of the club, but no mention of her was ever made outside the ivy covered barrier of the brick walls of the club.

Her first dance at the new club was her favorite Bolero one. She was just as great a sensation as when she performed it in L.A. She had total control over the audience as she had back in the summer. The thrill had not diminished in the least from her very first dance in L.A. She wrote to Dani and let her know how she was doing and Dani was thrilled for her and for her success. Since Dani was instrumental in the first tryouts for Emerald, she felt a kinship with her and in how well she was doing. Because of the closeness of her feelings for Kate/Emerald, she maintained her silence and kept Kate's anonymity secure. Kate had developed some good friendships from both her modeling career and her club employment. In addition, she had a very healthy bank account due to her success at both modeling and dancing. She could work when and only if she needed or wanted to and she wanted to nearly every night, being so captivated with the empowerment the dancing afforded her. She had no issues with her studies, either, having been admitted to Stanford on an academic scholarship, being the top of her class in one of the best high schools in NYC.

After returning from her Christmas holiday trip back to New York, Kate's life was on a roll, but still, on occasion, she thought of the L.A. 'Rick whoever' and wondered who he really was, where he was and if he had found someone who made him feel like she has since the one time they had met him in L.A. Who was this mystery man and would she ever see him again? She could only wonder if fate would drive them together again, or sentence them to a destiny of drifting from one second best relationship to another. Only providence knew for sure.

. . .

Thoughts?

And thanks again to purplangel for her continued guidance in my writing of this story. Her direction has been extremely insightful.