~Expose`~

[BLACK BART]

Expose`for Caela & I​

A Glitter & Grit Publication, first Published eight years ago by the Grimme Brothers

It has since become a well publicized periodical that has successfully used the adage “Sex Sells”, building it’s base to the respectable number of ten million, and peaking on several occasions to double that.

The main offices are located in Los Angeles, of course. The physical location being that of a 69 room, 3 story mansion previously owned by another once well known publicized magazine, “Play Me”, who has since quietly faded out of business.

The Expose` facilities, equipment and procedures are all high tech, computers link everything, eliminating unwanted down times and waiting periods for photographs or columns, making communication between the brothers and co-workers instantaneous when needed. There is an office staff, of course, a highly trained and motivated staff of whom making the printing and legal processes possible, and often do it on a 3-hour notice.

Despite the expense it has proved to be an effective and profitable approach, enabling the reporters to transfer valuable photographs and fast breaking stories from the sites, and allowing them the freedom away from the usual “office routine”.

Expose`, of course makes its money on exposing the seedier side of the stars and star makers, the seedier the affair, the better, the greater the scandal, the higher the sales.

It pays on commission to the men and women brave enough to find those stories and send then home, making a huge story can make those reporters filthy rich, failing to make them consistently often drove them to the poor farm.

Two brothers, named David and Damian Grimme, who have found a balance in splitting the responsibilities, and rewards, run the entire affair…

David oversees the day to day affairs of putting together the periodical and has final say so over each story that finds its way there, he is a public figure and is often found at the very clubs the stars and his reporters frequent, usually with a gorgeous woman on each arm.

Damian is the opposite, his responsibilities are strictly in the photograph and video departments, tied to the legal department out of necessity, and making sure each and every scandal is reported perfectly legal, or not at all. Though known by the more prominent star makers and money movers he is rarely found at the clubs, and if on rare occasion is seen is with the quieter, more powerful faces who front the money for the multi-million dollar films.

Together they make the perfect team. Each tending to their own business, blending it together profitably, and only allowing the occasional woman to get between them when pleasure was permitting.

Both knew what the other was up to, and both approved, never letting their conscience or personal values get in the way of making a dollar or selling a magazine.

****** ****** ******​

“Package that one, she’s ready for shipping”

Damian Grimme instructed and pointed to the case number on the screen, then spun his chair to look at the clock on the wall.

“Time to go meet my brother, he’s concerned about…something, you can reach me on my cell”

Later, on the fourth floor the two men sat facing each other and sipped at their individual drinks, and as Damian looked over the file David had handed to him he raised an eyebrow,

“She is a looker, and I was impressed with her article last month on “Hookers in Hollywood” she got right into the issue and brought Expose` some credible facts”

”And good numbers”

David agreed and drained his gin and tonic, then pushed the sales reports over to his twin.

“So what’s the problem?”

Damian finished his Bacardi and rocks and set the glass aside as he lifted the second file.

“She came to me this morning wanting to do a special on white slavery, seems she found some good leads in her last piece and thinks it’s worth following up on.

“And you told her…what?”

”No, of course, and that I wouldn’t finance it”

“So?”

”Jesus Damian, she took down the Mayor with that last piece, do you think she will listen? She has enough cash to back her own investigation and enough backbone to do it…”

“So call her back in and tell her you changed your mind, point out she’s a cash cow right now and rather then lose her you’ll concede. She’ll accept that and at least you’ll be privy to her daily log-ins right? You can even insist on extra security measures sighting how dangerous her investigation and maybe insist on attaching an assistant that can be our mole?”

”Done and Done, all that remains is to give her a lead that will steer her your way.”

Damian rose and slapped his brother’s shoulder fondly, then grinned.

“As always it’s a pleasure doing business with you, brother”

 

[caela]

Autumn Sinclair flipped through her mail with a sigh. The only think she was really interested in was her bank statement. All her bills were caught up and her debt cleared thanks to the generous commissions she'd been earning from the Grimme brothers. She busted her ass for those stories though and had had a few closer calls than she liked to remember. The newest story she wanted to do would probably result in a few more close calls but it would be worth it if it panned out.

Of course the Brother's Grimme (yes she liked the literary nature of their name) were making things difficult. First it was "no" then it was "well o.k. but..." and it was the "but" that was driving her crazy. She didn't need or want an assitant damnit! Especially not one that would be reporting back to the bosses. Her daily logs she could fudge but an assitant would be likely to tell them the truth about what she did in a day even when she didn't want them to.

Some things were better left no known by until the story came out.

Finally fed up she called the offices and got ahold of David's secretary, "Hello there Miss Sinclair, how can I help you today?"

Autumn really wanted to snap at the woman but her annoyance was with her boss not the secretary so she kept her mouth shut. After all the lady was just being polite.

"You can set me up an appointment with one of the bosses please Darlene. I don't care which one, just let them know I'm not happy with the conditions they're trying to put on my next job and we need to talk about it. Call me back and let me know when they can see me please."

"No problem Miss Sinclair, I'll get right back to you."

Hanging up Autumn sighed and waited knowing that Darlene would have her work cut out for her to arrange the meeting but that with as much money as she'd been bringing in the magazine lately eventually the bossmen would make the time to see her.

 

[BLACK BART]

"Send her to Damian, I've got to make todays deadline or I'll lose a hundred thousand copies"

David never looked up from his monitor as he rearranged the front page to the newest scoop of a very frumpy Britney with a baby sitting on her lap as she was being ticketed.

"OOPS SHE DID IT AGAIN"​

"He knows what she wants"

****** ****** ******​

Groaning Damian rolled over to grab his cell, the blond under him glaring at him as she was cut off mid orgasm by his pulling out...

"Tell her noon at Davie's Locker, and to bring her running suit"

He replied and slid from the bed to head for the shower.

"What about me?

The frustrated blond called out to his backside.

"Bottom drawer left side"

His reply came without breaking a step.

Showered and shaved he dressed into running shorts, shoes and muscle shirt, looking over half interested as the woman brought herself to her second orgasm.

"Now get out, I've an appointment"

Ten minutes later he pulled his car out of the garage and punched the accelrator, his curly brown hair drying in the breeze the convertible top created.

"Time to start a new game"

He smiled and looked forward to his meeting...and doing just that...

 

[caela]

Autumn snatched up her phone on the first ring and quickly wrote down the information that Darlene gave her. She knew the name of the health club David wanted to meet at and rolled her eyes. Couldn't these guys just ever have a nice sit down at the office? Packing a gym back she threw on a pair of running shorts and a tank top along with her sneakers and pulled her thick chestnut mane back into a ponytail.

Sliding into her car she careened through the city streets with a reckless abandon that would have mad and Indy driver proud and had more than one horn honking at her - all of which she ignored - as she sped her way through the streets to Davie's Locker.

Climbing out of her car she closed the door just in time to see David's convertable pulling up.

"Hey Bossman!" she called and jogged over to him. "So do we get to do this quietly or are you actually going to make me run?" she asked, her liquid brough eyes sparkling with mirth as she looked up at her boss.

 

[BLACK BART]

"If you can't run with the big dogs"

Damian grinned and deposited his phone and keys into his lockbox, then offered it's use to his "appointment"

"Get out of the way of the pack"

Stretching his legs and back he grinned as Autum quickly deposited her own gear and closed the door, then joined him on the padded floor.

"What about my assistant,or should I call her"my spy?"

"After"

Damian rose from the floor and began to jog in place, his eyes admiring the chestnut haired womans backside as she stretched her own muscles.

"After? After what?"

"We run!"

Damian tossed over his shoulder and moved onto the quarter mile track, setting a slow pace that would get his blood pumping and ready for what was going to come.

 

[caela]

"We run!"

Autumn growled softly as her boss took off around the track. Pushing up from her own stretches she easily caught up to and kept pace with him. Being tall for a woman came in handy at such time. He was only an inch or two taller than her so she was able to match his pace without wearing herself out to do it. As he gradually sped up she was glad that running was a part of her normal routine as she agilely kept pace with him, never missing a step until at last they started to slow into a cool down and finally stopped.

"There, we've run...now we need to talk. I'm not taking on an assisstant. Your brother is utterly mad if he thinks I am. I work alone Damien. If you want to keep tabs on me I have to look and you both and wonder why...my reporters insticts insist you must have something to hide but the part of me that likes my paychecks would like to think it's because you don't want your cash cow getting hurt on the job."

All right she knew she shouldn't lay it out like that for him but damnit she was hot, sweaty and cranky and in no mood to play games. They could either fund her research and get the scoop for their magazine or she'd fund it herself and sell it to the highest bidder.

Whatever game this was supposed to be -and Damien was famous for the games he played around town- she wasn't going to play.

 

[BLACK BART]

Damian grinned and sipped his water.

"Beat me to this finish line and we do it your way, I win and it's yours...all the way, agreed?"

He could see the challenge rise in her, and the doubt in her eyes, wondering just WHAT he was up to...and why.

"I'll give you ten yards and start on your mark, even run it backwards..."

He taunted softly and watched her eyes burn, knowing her reply before she spoke it...

"Let's do this...and I'll take 15"

Nodding Damian crouched beside her and as he promised let her call the start, watching her run like the wind as she took off...and tore around the first corner...

"Mark"

Her voice called out clearly and Damian smiled, then stepped backwards to the finish line and placed a foot firmly on it.

To stand there and wait until the blazing fast figure of Autumn came around the last corner and then slowed....her face a mask of mixed emotions.

"You cheated....you said RACE..."

"No, I said beat me to this finish line"

He corrected and watched her breathless form bend over in a state of near exhaustion.

"But we bet?"

"And I won, and hope you'll learn a lesson from this, or you are finished before you even start..."

He returned and moved to the showers, aware Autumn was still angry and STILL behind him as he stood inside the mens side and began to strip off his shirt and shorts...

"And that lesson is?"

She demanded as he straightened, her eyes trying to burn through him.

"After"

Damian replied with a grin and moved to walk away...

"After WHAT?"

Came the now familiar retort...

"After I shower, unless you want to join me?"

 

[caela]

"After I shower, unless you want to join me?"

Rolling her eyes she stepped back away from the men's locker room door and waver heand dismissively, "Not bloody likely. I'll go take my own shower and meet you back here."

Spinning on her heel she grumbled under her breath about men and their underhanded tactics as she grabbed her duffel back and disappeared into the woman's locker room. Her shower was quick and perfunctory taking her less than five minutes and less than ten for her to be changed into a pair of form fitting jeans and a clean, white, tank top. The hair was once more pulled into a ponytail and she plopped down into a chair near the men's locker room to wait for Damien.

While she waited she pulled out a palm pilot and started clicking away at it. She was going through the notes she already had on her next story. Interviews and contacts from her last story that would pertain to this one. Every now and then she'd glance up at the clock and wonder just how long it took him to shower and swearing he spent more time getting clean and pretty than a girl.

 

[BLACK BART]

Damian took his time and enjoyed the shower, soaking and scrubbing as he traded ribald and lewd remarks about his female "intruder" with the other men, and laughed as they described in detail how they wanted to "intrude her"

He dressed in black pants and a matching pull over shirt, then made two calls to the BaySide Dock and a couple of men he knew quite well before walking out of the shower rooms.

"Thanks for waiting"

He spoke as he saw the fidgeting woman in a nearby chair.

"You cheated"

Came the fighting words even as she stood and Damian stopped to face her.

"Yes, I did, But I won, didn't I?"

"But you cheated!"

Damain stood at arms length and eyed the woman, then stepped toe to toe with her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"The people in your story, would they listen to you if you called them cheaters if you were found out?"

"No, but what does that..."

"Have you ever dealt with them before, or do you even have a clue as to what they're capable of?"

He cut her off and pressed his next point.

"No, But what does that have to do with you cheating me?"

"Of what? I'm trying to help you, just as where I'm going to take you next will be trying to help you"

"I've got places to go, leads to follow up on"

"Do it then"

Damian replied and backed away.

"But not with my blessing,or my brothers...you're fired...neither of us want someone working for us who is so dense she can't see whne she needs help...or too stubborn to ask for it if she does know it."

 

[caela]

Autumn watched Damien come out of the locker room and had to wrap her anger around her. She hated to admit it but the man was handsome. Under different circumstance she might have even considered taking him to bed for a night or two - she wasn't stupid enough to expect a relationship from a man like Damien. Hell he never appeared twice with the same woman anywhere. Still he had a reputation for knowing what he was doing with a woman's body. If he wasn't her boss (and if she were the super model type he seemed to like so much ) she'd have taken him for a spin.

Shaking her head she pushed those thoughts aside and growled at him about cheating. She had to keep her mind on the objective...getting rid of the damned assitant they were trying to saddle her with! Sleeping with Damien was never going to happen even if it did make a nice fantasy.

"But not with my blessing,or my brothers...you're fired...neither of us want someone working for us who is so dense she can't see whne she needs help...or too stubborn to ask for it if she does know it."

Slipping her palm pilot back into her bag she med his gaze evenly. He didn't have enough height on her to intimidate her with his size - though he could probably snap her in half if he wanted, he was stronger than her - and even if he could have she wouldn't have let on. She was stubborn all right and more than once it was sheer stubborness that had gotten her out of a jam.

"I'm not looking to get fired Damien. If you think you can honestly help me, or know someone that can that's great and I'll go wherever you want. That wasn't the impression David gave me when he saddled me with an assitant. He gave the impression that he wanted someone around to keep tabs on me and I don't need a babysitter.

I'm a big girl and can handle myself."

 

[BLACK BART]

"Maybe you can...."

Damian let the words hang there unfinished, his eyes studying her face and how she returned his gaze without flinching.

"We'll see, let's go"

Turning to the front entrance he stopped, seeing Autumn not moving and studying him, her face suddenly unreadable.

"I said lets go, I'll drive"

"I have a car and a license, Mister Grimme"

"Do you know where we're going?"

"No"

"Do the people waiting know you...or your car?"

"No"

"Then this time....I'll drive, ok?"

She moved to his side and they walked side by side to his parked Ferrari, where he held the door open and watched her slide down and into the seats.Sliding into his own he grinned as the engine came to life and he backed out, then gunned the accelerator to feel the car surge ahead.

"How old are you Miss Sinclair and do you have a fiance or boyfreind?"

He spoke casually as he ran the first red light and powered through the intersection, then swerved around several cars in his way.

 

[caela]

"Then this time....I'll drive, ok?"

Autumn hesitated but finally nodded her head. Something about this felt wrong. She didn't trust him in the least but she wanted to know what was going on and her curiosity outweighed her trepidation. Besides, she'd told him she could take care of herself and she meant it. She was in good shape, knew how to fight and had gotten herself out of more than a few scrapes.

She wasn't going to let her boss scare her.

At least that was her though before he flew through a red light and wove around cars worse than she did. Suddenly she was laughing and she grinned over at him while she settled deeper into the seat, her body stretching against the leather as if it were a lovers body.

"If I didn't think I'd lose my license I'd so buy one of these!!"

 

[BLACK BART]

Damian grinned and knew she felt just as much alive as he did in that very moment.

"Make this story for us and I'll buy you one"

He laughed just as she did, for the sheer pleasure of it.

Gunning the motor he wove through the traffic easily, using it's handling and power to wind though the cars ahead until they found themselves on the freeway that seemed deserted in comparison.

"I promise. But you have to learn how to trust the right people."

The car moved smoothly to 140, then to 150...and Damian grinned as he watched it hit the 160 mark next...

"And when not to"

Snapping the wheel the cars tire squealed in protest and then caught, and in seconds they were sitting at the end of a long off ramp that led to the Bay Side Docks.

"This way Autumn"

Damain opened the door and admired the flushed face and heaving bosum of his passenger as she took his hand and stepped out and he held that hand as he walked towards a large warehouse and two men in front of it.

"Gentlemen, this is the reporter who works for me, she wants to do a story on white slavery and expose the industry. Do either of you have any leads that might help her?"

The burly, three hundred pound men exchanged glances and then nodded to Damain, turning to push open the wooden doors behind them and step aside to let them in.

"Trust or not to trust Autumn? In or out?"

Damian questioned the woman he still held the hand of

And smiled as she answered.

"Lead the way gentlemen"

Inside they moved, the darkness of the creaking warehouse not diminshing it's feeling of being immense, until they found a coner of it that was lit with one tiny bulb...

"Autumn, I want you to meet Lana Ray, she was like this when we found her and were just about to go to the police....But then you burst into my life and I thought you might want to examine her first, seeing as you both think you cure the world of this cancer."

And under the dim light a once beautiful and now quite dead woman sat, her nude body bound to the wooden chair and her features twisted in gruesome distortion, the marks on her body telling of the suffering she had felt before she had died.

"This is the kind of people you will be dealing with, and what they're capable of doing"

 

[caela]

Autumn laughed brightly when he promised to buy her a car if she made this story for them. She figured he was joking but it was a nice dream for a moment as he sped down the Freeway. When she glanced over at his speedometer and say it nearing 160 she purred and arched against the leather seat feeling a rush of need pouring through her body along with a wash of adrenaline. It was the rush she loved, and a part of the reason she went after dangerous stories.

She listened as he talked about trusting people, and when not to and found herself glancing at him with some trepidation once more. She didn't like where this was going but she was trapped now. She had to follow it through and so she said nothing as he pulled up to a warehouse and told two thugs outside who she was.

Following them inside her instincts were setting off every warning bell she knew and when they led her to the body of a dead woman she couldn't help but to scream and quickly covered her mouth as she fought down the urge to puke.

"Autumn, I want you to meet Lana Ray, she was like this when we found her and were just about to go to the police....But then you burst into my life and I thought you might want to examine her first, seeing as you both think you cure the world of this cancer."..."This is the kind of people you will be dealing with, and what they're capable of doing"

"bastard!" she hissed, taking a moment to glare at Damien before turning on her heel and sprinting out of the warehouse. Outside she leaned against it, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath and not puke at the same time.

 

[BLACK BART]

The ride back was silent and sedate, Damian taking his time as he made a call and informed the police of the body discovered in his warehouse and the implications it might have.

"Thank You Captain, I'll be over to see you as soon as I tend to one business matter."

He promised and broke the connection, then looked over to the "business matter"

"This is the only thing she had on her, she had it in her mouth the entire time and whoever killed her missed it as they cleaned up"

Dropping a badly distorted business card on the console he concentrated on driving, and with Autumns instructions pulled up behind her car.

"Don't bother"

Her words stopped him as he moved to get up and open her door, and he leaned back to study her instead.

"Don't go out on this one alone Autumn, you don't need a babysitter, but you might want a bodyguard, the Club Lana Ray was dancing in was known for it's reputation of having "anything" a man desires..."

He pulled away slowly, watching her in his rear veiw mirror until he turned onto the street and into traffic, gunning the engine to clear his mind and take him out of sight from her as he made another call.

"She bought it, and is more determined than ever. No, I don't think she'll make use of that assitant, it wouldn't surprise me if she trys to pull a lone wolf on this one...Watch out for her at Diego's Cluband call me when she shows up, will you?"

 

[caela]

"Don't go out on this one alone Autumn, you don't need a babysitter, but you might want a bodyguard, the Club Lana Ray was dancing in was known for it's reputation of having "anything" a man desires..."

Not bothering to reply Autumn dropped the card he'd handed her into her duffle bag and slid out of his car. She knew if she opened her mouth to speak to him she was going to start ranting so she said nothing as she shut the door to the car and climbed into her own.

It was good to be in her own car, the scent and feel of it familiar as she gunned her way through the city streets with even more abandon than usual, as if she could outrun the sight of that woman that still filled her head. How Damien could think she wouldn't follow up on this she didn know. That woman deserved to be avenged, or justice at the very least and it was unlikely the cops would be able to get it for her.

Turning into her house she slipped inside and started flipping through the various id packets she had until she came to the one she wanted. "Jessica Marie Thompson," she breathed softly under her breath as she pulled out the wallet and purse that went with the name.

Grabbing her keys she slid back into her car and called the contact that made her id's. The conversation was quick as she let him know which one she needed activated and a small smile quirked her lips as she heard a keyboard clicking away before she'd hung up her cell. In 20 minutes James would have all her information switched over to the new name for her so if they ran the plates on her car they'd come up as Jessica's and a coursory background search would reveal a few speeding tickets but nothing major.

If they dug too deep it wouldn't hold but James was good at keep track of her ID's and keeping them tight enough that people didn't feel the need to dig too deep.

Speeding through the city she had no problem finding the club listed on the card that Damien had given her and wasn't surprised to see a help wanted sign in the door. Putting a smile on her face she bounded up to the door and knocked asking for an application.

 

[BLACK BART]

"Applications?"

The woman looked at Jessica Ray and smiled, then showed her the door to her "office"

"You got any references honey? In our line of business you need references...before we take your "application", are you sure you want to work here...when you still look like that?"

Closing the door behind her she listened to the buxom beauty and nodded as she heard the usual "down on my luck" story...then jotted down the names on a slip of paper and the phone numbers...

"Okay, you need the job...bad, I'm sorry for ya already" She offered and slid another sheet of paper over to her with only three lines on it.

Name, phone number and place of residence....

"We pay cash at the end of every week. You keep your tips from each night and there aint NO medical, understood? This Club takes care of it's customers...and IF you can't...or won't, you're fired, so don't come in on those days of the month, kapeesh? Good...Now take your clothes off and show me your goods..."

 

[caela]

"We pay cash at the end of every week. You keep your tips from each night and there aint NO medical, understood? This Club takes care of it's customers...and IF you can't...or won't, you're fired, so don't come in on those days of the month, kapeesh? Good...Now take your clothes off and show me your goods..."

Takes care of their customers? Autumn already didn't like the sound of this place. The woman before her was brusque and to the poit however leaving Autumn little choice but to simply nod and do as she was instructed. She felt no shame in her bare body and stripped down without flinching or blushing. Of course it was a little easier to do in front of a woman since she considered it no different really than changing or showering in a locker room.

Standing in front of the woman she at last lais her bra and panties over a her clothes that she'd tossed across the back of a chair and she spun slowly for her. As she turned she revealed clear smooth skin that was paler than most of the tanned flesh in LA making it clear that she either used plenty of sunscreen or didn't go outside much and there wasn't a tan line on her. Her body was trim and fit with a firm ass, gently flared hips, a narrow waist, flat stomach and breasts that weren't large but were firm and high and capped with dusky nipples that peaked easily in the slightly chill club.

"I'd make a better waitress than a dancer," she said honestly while the woman was looking her over. The simple fact was she didn't dance well but she could weave through a crowd and flirt and smile with an easy grace and she had no shame in explaining that to this woman. She was already looking for a job on false pretenses, she wasn't going to try and get it based on skills she didn't have.

 

[BLACK BART]

"Waitresses don't shake thier asses or strip on stage, and they don't draw the big tips, I thought you was "hard up"?"

The woman grunted and moved to Jessica, blocking the door as she cupped a breast and toyed with the nipple...

"And if you can't strut your "stuff" the bigger customers don't want to fuck ya as often, so whathca want to do?"

Hands all over Jessica now the bigger woman smiled and pushed her into the lone chair.

"Don't be scared honey I got my Billy at home, I just made sure your tits are real is all....If you want to waitress we'll hire ya too,maybe if we dress you hot and naughty it might work, but you'll make less money and the same rules apply, if a man wants to take you downstairs for a private dance, you let them...or you're fired"

Lifting a camera she flashed several pictures and nodded as she downloaded them.

"Get dressed honey, and come back tonight at seven, I'll show you the ropes then"

 

[caela]

"And if you can't strut your "stuff" the bigger customers don't want to fuck ya as often, so whathca want to do?"

Autumn's eyes flared wide with a sudden burst of fear as the larger woman blocked her way and she felt her hands moving knowingly over her body. Damnit she was in over her head and she hadn't even started working! Damien might have been right, she was going to need help.

"Don't be scared honey I got my Billy at home, I just made sure your tits are real is all....If you want to waitress we'll hire ya too,maybe if we dress you hot and naughty it might work, but you'll make less money and the same rules apply, if a man wants to take you downstairs for a private dance, you let them...or you're fired"

She nodded her head slowly as the woman took pictures of her body sprawled in the chair and felt a fresh shiver of fear. She'd hoped the waitresses wouldn't have to fuck the customers but apparently they were still expected to. Shit! She didn't know that she was willing to whore herself out for this story. There had to be a way to do this. She'd think of something, she just didn't like the path her mind was going down.

"Get dressed honey, and come back tonight at seven, I'll show you the ropes then"

"Yes Ma'am," she said softly and quickly got dressed once more. "I'll start as a waitress, if it's not enough..." she said quietly letting her voice trail off and her eyes drop to the floor making it clear she'd dance if she had to but she'd need to build up to it. "I'll be here at seven sharp."

She almost ran out of the club and out in her car she gripped the steering wheel tightly drawing deep breaths. Anyone that saw her would think she was just a girl down on her luck trying to come to grip with how low she'd sunk but the truth was she was trying to get up the nerve to drive away and call Damien.

She hated the thought of having to tell him he was right.

Finally she put the car into gear and called the office. No one that she knew of actually had Damien or David's direct numbers so she told Darlene it was urgent and for Damien to call her back on her cell. When he did she sighed softly.

"You were right damnit. I'm going to need help."

 

[BLACK BART]

"You were right damnit. I'm going to need help."

Damian listened to the words and realized despite his warnings Autumnn had struck out on her own after all.

"Lets talk Autumn, face to face and you can fill me in on the entire thing, maybe we can work something out. Just DON'T go back there without someone backing you up from the inside, OK?"

Arranging a location at a small diner and hotel Damian smiled, then dialed his brothers private number and filled him in...

"Ten to one I nail her tonight brother, and put her in my private video before the week is up"

Update and bet made Damian made his way to the diner to wait, grimacing at the bad coffee and stale donuts as he waited for Autumn to arrive....

 

[caela]

"Lets talk Autumn, face to face and you can fill me in on the entire thing, maybe we can work something out. Just DON'T go back there without someone backing you up from the inside, OK?"

Autumn agreed and spun her car around to go flying off toward the address he gave her. Pulling up in front of the shabby hotel she shook her head and ordered a coffee as she walked into the diner. She needed caffiene. Spotting Damien she sidled over and slipped into a booth with him holding up one hand to stop him from lecturing her.

"If you're going to yell at me...don't, pretend you did. I called you for help not a lecture," she said her voice trailing off as the waitress brought her coffe. Sipping at it she slowly explained what she'd done and why she'd need help.

She had no intention of whoring herself out for a story so she was going to need someone to come in and play a customer that developed a fancy for her so that she would have an excuse to keep the hands of the other customers off her. How far she'd have to carry it she didn't know but she knew she'd need help and didn't know anyone better connected to get this kind of help for her than Damien.

When she was done she leaned back, still sipping her coffee and waited for him to yell at her.

 

[BLACK BART]

"OK"

Damian looked at his watch and then around the diner.

"Three problems. One the people in that Club won't be fooled by anything less than the real deal. Two there aren't any people I can find other my brother or myself who qualify in such a short time, and three...you are being watched the entire time while you're in that place, upstairs or down"

"Meaning?

Damian dropped his voice and leaned forward, knowing Autumn was a volatiale woman and his words were sure to ignite her fuse....

"Meaning if you want to live in Rome...you have to do what the romans...do, evenif you have an inside contact you're going to end up downstairs if you want to keep the "job", and when that happens they'll expect the real deal or will think you're a cop and kick your pretty little ass out of there."

Draining the last of the rotgut coffee Damian slid a bill out and tossed it on the tabletop.

"Lets get out of here before the coffee kills me...you can call me if you're going to go through with this...and I'll drop by the club an hour or so after you start..."

 

[caela]

"Meaning if you want to live in Rome...you have to do what the romans...do, evenif you have an inside contact you're going to end up downstairs if you want to keep the "job", and when that happens they'll expect the real deal or will think you're a cop and kick your pretty little ass out of there."

In her head Autumn was cursing a blue streak. She knew he was right but she didn't have to like it. For now she'd be waitressing and there'd be less attention on her than the strippers so she'd be able to play off not going downstairs for awhile but eventually someone was going to notice her and then she knew Damien was right...she was going to have to do this.

"Lets get out of here before the coffee kills me...you can call me if you're going to go through with this...and I'll drop by the club an hour or so after you start..."

"Fine," she said and dropped the money for her own coffee on the table before rising. Just because her boss was loaded didn't mean she expected him to buy her coffee. "I am going to do this. My shift starts at 7," she said before heading out the door and toward her own car. She needed to go "home" to the cheap hotel/apartment she'd left as an address and take a shower and change.

 

[BLACK BART]

Damian grimaced and headed for his home, then thought better of it and turned back to the Office and his brother.

"I need the cheekiest suit you own brother, and no questions asked!"

Using the dressing room he changed and by sliding on a pair of sunglasses saw a change in his own appearance.

"If you're going to the strip joints you better put a wad of fifty and hundreds in one pocket and a 38 in the other"

His brothers voice came from behind him and as he turned several objects were tossed at him....

"How the hell did you know already?"

Damian wondered out loud and stuffed the cash in his pocket and then with some thought, the gun in the other.

"Cell phones are trackable and open to anyone who owns the right equipment to listen to, I tracked Autumn to the club and by your words...."

Nodding Damian admitted he was bested on that point, but not the bet...and he grinned as he left the Office's and headed back for the club, arriving early despite his promise to come late, and begin to act like a well heeled regular looking for a "peice of sweet meat"

It quickly became obvious he wasn't the only one...and that if he didn't time his move right Autumn would be going downstairs not only faster than she thought, but with the wrong man....