Diamond in the Rough
Chapter 6: Making an Entrance
Nick splashed the water on his face, careful not to get his suit and tie wet. Ok, you're good. You're cool. Chill. She's your partner. Yeah, maybe you like her a bit. Ok A LOT. But you're just friends, close friends. You're down with that. Well, you'd be down with much more. No, stop! She thinks of you as a friend! Now get your tail back out there and pretend nothing happened. You can do this. You're Nick Wilde, no, you're Nathaniel Padden. Nick shook the remaining water out of his fur and exited the bathroom. He put on a cool air and acted like he was totally fine. Judy was waiting for him; Bogo had already left.
"Bogo explained to me that I'd be set up in a hotel across from the club, but he said your living arrangements were taken care of. Where are you staying?" Judy asked Nick, placing a mini camera in his tie. Nick wanted to put his paws on her perfectly curved hips.
"I'm staying at my apartment, it's only 2 blocks away." Nick answered shrugging his shoulders. Judy met his eyes. Her eyes held something in them that didn't match her look. They were shining with well; they were shining with something. Nick couldn't read the emotion this time.
"Isn't that a little risky? If someone follows you, you'd lead them right to your home!" Now Nick realized what Judy was thinking. The murders. He tried to put her at ease.
"I'm pretty good at losing whoever is following me, Carrots. Besides, it's a risk I'm willing to take, plus my building's got some pretty good security." Nick said, patting her shoulder. "Now give me your camera." Judy looked at Nick and giggled.
"Ok, but keep in mind, the locations to put it were limited," Judy said handing him the camera. "The garter." Nick gulped as Judy stuck out her nicely toned leg. He crouched, and carefully placed a paw on Judy's upper thigh as his other paw carefully removed the black lace from her thigh. He carefully situated the camera, and took another deep breath. He removed the shoe from her foot, and closed his eyes taking a deep breath.
"Nick?" Nick opened his eyes. Judy was looking at him confused. Nick shook himself. He was still holding the garter in one hand and her foot in the other. I can't believe I was just picturing going down on my partner! Nick that's not ok! In order to save face, Nick quickly slid the garter back up her leg, and replaced her shoe on her foot. He stood up taking a deep breath.
"Well then, Isobel Forester, shall we go?" Nick offered her his arm. Judy shrugged and took it.
"Ok, you can walk me out of the precinct, but we have to take separate cabs, we can't show up together." Judy reminded Nick. Good. He thought. I don't think I'd survive an enclosed space with her right now. Nick walked out with Judy, hailed her a cab, and waved her off. He began walking in the direction her cab went, just to ensure they'd arrive at different times. He'd hail one in a few minutes.
...
Judy was super nervous by the time the cab driver pulled up to the address. She stepped out and looked up. There was a lit sign above a luxe building reading THE VIXEN DEN in gold letters. A red carpet lead from where she was standing to the doors. The ornate doors were a made from a thick wood and were quite heavy. As Judy opened the door her senses were bombarded. She stepped inside, immersing herself in a different world from her quiet country home. Judy had expected a gentlemen's club to smell like sweat, beer, and smoke. She couldn't have been more wrong. The club smelled faintly of flowers, and fruits. Not the light and cheery scents, but the sensual scents of roses and lilies, and pomegranates and plums. The lighting was low, except for the lights on the stage. There were a few scantily clad dancers mingling among the crowd, but there was only one on the stage. Judy averted her eyes from the leopard who was dancing to the loud, mood-setting music. The bass was at the perfect level to make one feel completely separate from the world outside the doors. Judy weaved her way through shiny black tables, and red cushioned chairs and booths until she got to the bar. As she was weaving she noticed a V.I.P section in the corner, fenced off with red velvet ropes, and a large bull. Judy finally got to the bar and flagged down the bartending wolf.
"Can I help you?" The wolf looked Judy up and down. Judy resisted the urge to cover herself. She mustered up what she could and channeled Isobel Forester.
"I'm looking for a job, I'm new in town, and my old pole was just too far away to go back." Judy said, sounding like a natural.
"You're a dancer?" He asked skeptically. "Thought rabbits weren't into that sorta thing?" Judy gave him a condescending look.
"You never thought about why rabbits multiply so fast, did ya?" She raised an eyebrow, and imitated Nick's mischievous smile. The bartender raised both eyebrows, surprised.
"Well I'll be damned," he chuckled, then extended his paw across the bar. "The name's Daniel Grey. Call me Dan." Judy shook his paw.
"Isobel Forester, and I let ya know what to call me after I get the job." Judy said with a wink.
"In that case, you want to talk to Vivian. You'll know her when you see her. The place is named after her. She's the boss's wife." Dan said. "Anything to drink while you wait?"
"No thanks, I don't drink." Judy lied. She drinks, Isobel doesn't. Dan shrugged his shoulders and went to a new customer. Judy's eyes scanned the club. An arctic fox in a blood red dress was exiting the V.I.P section. That must be Vivian, she's a vixen. Judy weaved her way over to Vivian, unaware of all the eyes that were fixed on her. Judy casually approached Vivian. Vivian looked down her nose at the bombshell bunny standing in front of her.
"Let me guess, you need to support you're growing family and vant me to give you a job?" She said in a thick Russian accent. "Vell I'm sorry but ve don't hire amateurs."
"Good, cause I'm only supporting myself, and I dropped out of college to pursue dancing instead." Judy said, matter-of-factly, handing Vivian a résumé. Vivian briefly looked surprised, then played it off coolly.
"Vhy don't ve have a drink?" Vivian offered.
"I'm sorry, but I don't drink. But thank you for the offer."
"An exotic dancer who doesn't drink, aren't you an angel." Vivian mused. "Ok, I'm in a good mood, and we're down a girl so I'll give you a shot."
"Thank you so much! You won't re- "
"Not so fast, I said I'd give you a shot, I don't know how our customers vould react to a bunny. So you're going to have to prove yourself. Come vith me Angel, you're going out on that stage tonight, and I have just the thing for you to vear." Vivian beckoned Judy to follow her behind a red curtain which Judy hadn't noticed at first due to the red walls.
...
Nick looked down at his expensive watch. Shit! I lost track of time! Judy left a half hour ago! Nick quickly hailed himself a cab.
"The Vixen Den please!" Nick asked the driver. The driver started driving and looked at Nick in the rearview.
"I know same species get attracted to each other, but if you want to make it through the night buddy, don't hit on the lady fox. Her husband owns the joint, and he ain't the most savory character you'll meet."
"Thanks for the heads up pal, but I only have eyes for one lady, and she is not a fox." Nick chuckled.
"Then why are you going to a place like that? You should be going to your lady." The driver advised. Nick's heart jumped thinking of Judy as his lady.
"I am, I know it doesn't make sense, but I've gotta take care of some stuff first."
"Whatever man, I'm not paid to judge."
Nick paid the cab driver and entered the club. Victor was nowhere to be seen yet, so Nick needed to act like he was supposed to be there. He sat down at a table facing the stage. An arctic fox was walking out, probably Victor's wife.
"Ok, so tonight ve are doing something a little different. This next dancer approached me earlier, asking for a job. I decided I'd let the audience decide her fate. I'd like to introduce you to Angel." The fox stepped off stage and the entire room went dark. The music started. A spotlight shone. Nick's jaw dropped. Judy was hanging upside down, her back to the pole. She had a sheer and white lace bustier on. She had laced white panties on, and her black garter had been exchanged for a white one. Judy also had on angel wings. But the way she was moving had Nick frozen in his seat. Her hips swayed to the music and her body arched in time to the beat. Her face wore a look of temptation and lust. She was captivating. Nick did not need to go hide in the bathroom this time. And he greatly enjoyed Judy's performance. Especially when she blew a kiss in his direction before walking back stage. As she walked off, Nick could not help watching her ass. Her body was heavenly. And when the fox came back on stage, it was made clear that Angel was the newest addition to Victor's Vixens as they were called. But when the other men in the club marveled at the "slutty bunny" Nick had the strongest urge to punch someone's lights out.