Sam moved into the Club. It didn’t take his eyes long to adjust, as the inside was as dark as the night outside. Dim lights were set on each table and booths were arranged on the outer rim of what appeared to be a dance floor. People were milling around talking, drinking, smoking and making contacts. Sam recognized a few faces as movie and TV personalities, but was not impressed. He had had a few encounters with those types, and found the characters they portrayed were much more interesting then the real thing. Still he did not judge all at the expense of some.
He made his way slowly towards the bar, swinging one black clad leg over a stool and leaning down on one elbow until the bartender came for his order. She was a good-looking, young woman who like most, was probably trying to break into the entertainment business. A job like this could get her noticed by the right people, could get her “discovered”. Long blonde hair was pulled back from a delicate face, where big blue eyes were busy roaming over the handsome man before her. He could see the calculation going on behind them, trying to size him up as being someone who could help her in her quest for advancement, or just some guy looking to rub elbows with the rich and famous.
He must not have looked like the movie type, for when she smiled at him it was not forced, plastic or hungry. It was relaxed and easy, showing him she liked what she saw. “Hey good looking, what will it be tonight?” Her voice was husky and completely at odds with her innocent peaches and cream looks.
Sam let a little heat creep into his voice as he said, “What would you recommend?”
Her lids drooped a little over her eyes and she licked her lips before answering. “Depends on what you’re looking for. You want a buzz hard and fast, slow and easy, sweet, or just dirty and cheap?”
Sam did not miss the double meaning behind the words and smiled a little wider. Bartenders were information just waiting to be tapped. They saw and heard everything, and were told more secrets then a priest. Still Sam did not want to lead her on, and he did not want her remembering too much about him. With a sigh of regret Sam straightened up from the bar and said, “Just a beer for now, on the rocks.”
She shrugged her shoulders as if to say, “no harm in trying.” She got the beer and poured it over the ice with a flourish. She sat it on the bar in front of him and leaned in a little closer. “My name is Becca if you need anything while you’re here. Just let me know.”
Sam put a couple of bills on the bar and winked at the lovely barmaid. “Thanks Becca, I’ll keep that in mind,” he told her as her turned toward the gyrating crowd on the dance floor. He let his gaze roam over the shadowy room, finding an empty table a short distance from the floor. He made his way over to it, settling into the chair with his back up against the wall. He lifted his glass and drank, letting his eyes roam freely over the room. The music was loud, the beat heavy and deep, and bodies close as they leaned in to hear what was being said.
He made mental notes of the people there, noticing those who were looking at him. Not only women but men as well were checking him out. He did not roll that way and was careful not to make eye contact with any of them. The person he was looking for had yet to make an appearance, so Sam settled in with his beer to wait.
He didn’t have long to wait, as the door opened and in walked Jared James. As usual, he had a girl on each arm and his two bodyguards following him like trained dogs on a leash. He made his way across the floor, snapping his fingers at the bartenders as he went. He sat down with a flourish and looked around the room to see who had noticed his entrance. Sam watched as people began to flock to his table. James sat as if holding court. He laughed, smiled, and lapped up the attention as if it were his God given right. He rudely dismissed some who came to his table as if they were of no importance and did not merit his time. The bodyguards stood, one on each side of his chair, arms folded across their chests, and waited for instructions from the pompous ass they guarded. Even the most famous of celebrities in the club did not have the entourage that James sported.
The night wore on and Sam watched, never letting his guard down as he gathered information. He noted the guards did not leave James alone at any time. If one left, the other moved to stand directly behind James’ chair, keeping an eye on the crowd coming and going. He also noticed that James liked to drink, and the more he drank the louder he got, becoming more careless as the night wore on. He did not stick with only the girls he came in with, but moved his attentions elsewhere and often. He tended to grab onto any nice butt moving past him, and more than once pulled a woman onto his lap to grope and fondle her in public. These girls giggled and took it all in stride, giving James miniature lap dances before getting off.
Sam also noticed that the big named stars did not come over to the table, casting disapproving glances in the direction of the spectacle taking place. Jared seemed to preen with all of the attention paid to him, but once or twice Sam noticed him casting furtive glances in the direction of the patrons that snubbed his presence. So, Sam, he wants to be accepted by the elite group and no matter what he tries, he’s still on the outside. Sam bet that that really burned his butt. His money could not buy him a way into that tight group.
Sam studied those in the elite group, a mixture of politicians, movie stars, and executives, and wondered who Jared was trying to impress. He bet that if he tuned in to Jared’s room tonight he would get a name. Jared and his cronies would be rehashing the night when they got back to their suite, and he was sure to gather some useful information that he would be able to use to his advantage. A plan was beginning to form in Sam’s head, and it was looking better by the minute. Oh yeah, he thought, this just might be what I’ve been waiting for.
Sam gave his attention one last time to Jared, and noticed him making his way to the bar. He motioned Becca over and was giving her a line of crap about being able to get her into the movies. He stroked her arm and whispered in her ear. Becca had a plastic smile pasted on her mouth, and didn’t seem as relaxed as when Sam had talked to her. She nodded her head and took something from Jared’s hand, some piece of paper.
Sam decided he had seen enough for one outing, and got up to leave. On his way out he made a detour to the bar and caught Becca’s attention. She still had the paper in her hand, and was studying it, trying to figure out what to do with it. Sam looked her in the eye, reached across the bar, took the piece of paper out of her hand, looked at it, and crumpling it up, threw it away. It had been Jared’s hotel and room number. “Don’t,” Sam said to Becca. “Don’t even consider it. He’s trouble and nothing that he says he is.”
Sam took out a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote a name and number on it. “Call this guy,” he said as he handed it over the bar. “Tell him I said to give you a shot. This is legit, and he won’t expect you to sleep with him for it either.” His dark eyes held sincerity, something not often seen in this kind of place.
Becca took the number, looking puzzled as she said, “I don’t even know your name to tell him. Who are you, anyway?”
Sam did some quick thinking and chose a code name his buddy would recognize. “Tell him Sharp sent you. He’ll know it’s for real.” He touched her fingertips and gave her a genuine smile. “Good luck, kid.”
With that Sam walked out leaving Becca smiling widely at this turn of luck. He’d given her an important push in the right direction, but it was up to her from now on. Sam felt pleased at snatching one away from Jared. Smiling as he made his way out into the night, Sam figured it was Sam one, Jared nothing.