The sound of overpowering music made the floor of the vip booth vibrate with every bass note. James sat with a whiskey glass neatly rested on his suited up knee, his knees were spread out, first three buttons of his suit undone showing off his tattoos, no tie. The suit jacket was abandoned a little while ago, as the club became busier with alcohol induced bodies. Half naked dancers on the poles and money at their feet.
Scarlett sat across from James, with her usual gingery hair pinned and curled in the most perfect magazine cover worthy waves. Her red lipstick adored her thin lips, leaving a mark on her champagne flute. She was in her mid to late forties but not a single wrinkle adored her face.
''I'm glad you came James. I wanted you to see first hand how well the club is doing'' Scarlet smiled and looked out of the VIP booth.
''I never doubted you Scarlett, why do you think I invest so much'' James grinned and took a sip of his drink.
''Well you are one of my biggest investors. Of course along Fallon, but you already know that'' She nodded and smiled proudly. Scarlett was the best in business when it came to clubs and she knew it. Catching the big sharks was also her speciality.
James gulped down at the mention of Fallons name. It has been couple of weeks since everything has gone down. And he truly believed he was going through withdrawal from not seeing her. ''Yes, Fallon is a very clever when it comes to business. A lot of us could learn from her''
''That I do agree. I haven't seen you two pop up on any magazine covers lately'' Scarlett chirped. ''I really thought she would have come with you''
James was about to answer as Scarletts phone started ringing.
''Oh!'' Scarlett exclaimed after looking at her phone. ''Speak of the devil!'' She chuckled and showed the called ID to James. ''You don't mind if I answer do you?''
''Go ahead'' He motioned with his glass and downed the rest of his drink. Staring at the empty glass like it was going to suck him right in.
''Fallon darling, so good to hear from you'' Scarlett chatted down the phone. ''I have James here with me, I really thought you will come down with him''
''Hi Scarlett'' Fallon frowned as she stared at her cigarette. ''Thats great'' The sarcasm was dripping off her voice. Just the mention of his name made Fallon want to clench her thighs. She wasn't really sure that was healthy, that a man who wanted to destroy everything she stood for and yet all she could remember when she thought of him, was his beautiful ocean eyes and mind blowing orgasms he summoned out of her. Fallon shook her head suddenly as if that will make all the thoughts fall out.
''I'm calling with a request. '' Fallon suddenly said, wanting to get straight to the point and get off the conversation about James. The last thing she needed was for the tabloids to be printing about her and James break up.
''Ohh on another business venture already?'' Scarlett chuckled and leant back into the booth and lit a cigarette. ''I'm all ears darling''
James spotted a waitress walking by with a tray and motioned for her. He raised his empty glass and mouthed a please. He really needed another drink after hearing Fallons name. The waitress smiled at him, and blew a little kiss. Her little skimpy outfit doing very little to conceal what was underneath. After all this is a strip club.
''What like buy a whole building and do it up for a brand new club?'' Scarlett pondered after listening to Fallons proposal. ''I think we need to set up a meeting to go over the details''
James perked up at the mention of new business and watched Scarlett puff on her cigarette. Moments later the same waitress came back, she walked into the booth holding a very large whiskey with couple of ice cubes inside. She strutted over swaying her hips in a seductive manner, she placed his drink down on the table in front. James watched her figure move in front of him. She lowered herself onto his lap, her hips grinding against his crotch.
Scarletts eyes slowly moved to watch James and the dancer. She kept them on James and the girl for a moment and then averted her gaze. She decided that it was none of her business, plus what happens in the club stays in the club.
James breathed in heavily and ran his hand up her naked back, it felt strange and unfamiliar. He missed the feeling of Fallons skin, her scent, the sound of her voice. He felt like a sinner searching for a proof of God that he can no longer hear. The girl leant into his touch and smirked at him, the girl continued her hip movements searching for the reaction that she desperately wanted.
James slid his hand into her hair and suddenly grasped it, yanking her head back. The movement was harsh. The girl gasped, her body stiffened and she let out a whimper. Her little body started to tremble, the girl turned to look at him, her eyes were round with fear and she suddenly averted her gaze, not being able to move her head.
Fallon would have enjoyed it.
A tut escaped James lips and he let go of her hair. He was not one to torment, hurt or scare women. What the girl wanted he couldn't provide, or maybe it was the other way around. What he wanted the girl couldn't provide. He was too fucked up inside to pretend.
''Run along'' He whispered in her ear and helped her up.
The girl quickly padded out of the VIP booth and James sighed. He adjusted himself and reached over for his drink. Taking a large gulp of it, enjoying the sting of whiskey down his throat.
His vision of the club became blocked as the massive frame of Steve appeared in front of him. Cladded in a beautiful light grey suit, with a chocolate coloured shirt.
''Aren't you a sore sight for the eyes'' Steve laughed with Natasha attached to his hip. Natasha wore a beautiful form fitting dress, accentuating the killer hips that she possessed.
''Says the giant blocking my view of the dancers'' James bickered back. Even though he wasn't looking at the dancers in the first place.
Fallon always said that Natasha was like a ray of sunshine parting the clouds and he could really see what she meant. Her smile was beaming adored by a beautiful nude lipstick. Scarlett stood up, she was still on the phone with Fallon. She mentioned to the phone and excused herself after saying hello to both Natasha and Steve.
''I'll go get us some drinks'' Steve kissed Natasha as she sat down in the booth next to James. Steve disappeared into the crowd.
Natasha cleared her throat and placed her handbag in front of her. Fiddling with the strap to keep herself occupied.
"How is she?" James turned to face Natasha and ran his fingers over the glass that he was cradling in his grasp. The ice cubes and cold alcohol created condensation on the glass.
"Gone off the rails" Natasha shrugged. She wasn't lying. All Fallon has been doing is working, drinking and drinking some more. In couple of weeks she doubled the cocaine shipments.
"What do you mean gone off the rails?" James asked with a concerned tone. He straightened out his posture and leaned into Natasha.
"Just Fallon things" Natasha shrugged again.
James sighed and titled his head. "That's not really an answer"
"I'm sorry James I'm already betraying Fallon by staying with Steve. I am not going to be friends with you until you guys sort whatever it is that you have going on between the two of you"
''Fallon hasn't said?''
''No, I feel like I am the only one in the dark here. And Fallon has been very distant with me, and I still don't know how the hell I am involved in your mess''
James frowned as he studied Natasha, figuring out if she was telling the truth. Natasha was Fallons best friend, why would she not tell her? James looked away, the scowl still adoring his features. He figured that Fallon must be weighing up who is still on her side. Or she doesn't want to jeopardise what Natasha has with Steve. Fear and selflessness is a dangerous mixture to live with.
Steve came back with the drinks a moment later and placed them down. He plonked himself down next to Natasha and looked between them two.
''I can feel some tension here'' He raised an eyebrow.
''James was just asking about Fallon'' Natasha said straight up and took her drink.
Steve sighed. '' Just go and talk to her man''
''I don't know how much I feel like being shot in the head'' James muttered into his glass, and Steve laughed.
♠️♠️♠️
- Couple days later -
''Sam!'' Fallon chirped down the phone.
''Fallon! What do I owe this pleasure to?'' Sam's sweet voice echoed through the phone.
''I would like to take you up on that offer to take me to the Casino Night'' Fallon spoke sweetly on the phone. She was leaning on her dining room table.
''I offered?'' He asked confused and chuckled down the phone.
Sam was a great guy. Too good for Fallon, and she always knew it. Every time he tried it on with her she gently turned him down. Not because she didn't like him. She really did, but he deserved someone who is less fucked up. Someone who can bring warmth into his life, because he deserved the best. Sam was a gentleman in all ways, tall, handsome, polite and caring. Every girls dream. But Fallon liked them a little bit rougher around the edges. Not so polished up with a side of psychotisim.
She wondered if that's what pulled her to James like a magnet.
''Yes, you did'' She lied. Sam knew it, but pretended to play along and laugh it off.
''Of course, it would be my pleasure to accompany you'' She could tell he was smiling on the other side of the phone.
Poker night was invite only night, for big bad men to waste their money that they didn't know what to do with. Fallon was not on the invite list. Not that she was there to play poker. She was there to settle a score.
''You're the best Sam'' Fallon tapped her lighter on the table.
''I'll pick you up at 7?'' He asked.
''Would be perfect'' Fallon closed her eyes. ''I'll see you later Sam''
''See you later Fallon''
She hung up the phone and picked up her cigarette packet, tapping one out and lit it. Taking a drag, her lungs filling with smoke.
''What are you doing Fallon?'' Natasha asked extremely confused. Sitting across from Fallon in her dinging room.
''Sorting out our rotten egg aka Ricky Eagle''
''What does Sam have to do with it?'' Natashas eyebrows were so furrowed that Fallon worried they might stay there forever.
''Nothing. He's just getting me to the right place at the right time''
''In what way? Poor Sam will have a cardiac arrest if you shoot someone in front of him'' Natasha huffed and took a sip of her coffee.
''I won't... That scum likes to play with the big boys in the back room. With my money'' Fallon pinched the filter on the cigarette and twisted it in her fingers. ''Cant let him enjoy that any longer''
''You want me to come along?'' Natasha asked.
''No, I will handle this on my own.'' Fallon watched the smoke of her cigarette disappear into the air.