The Finest Line (11 page)

She watched Kylie return. “Tell
me it’s him.”

Kylie nodded but had lost some
enthusiasm. “It’s him. Miranda is one hundred percent positive but
Mairead... “

“What?”

“He has a woman with him.”

Mairead nodded. “That will be
Vanessa, his friend. She’s not his girlfriend. He told me. They’re
just friends.”

Kylie wasn’t convinced. “Are you
sure?”

“James has no reason to lie to
me.” Mairead grinned at Kylie and put her arms around her waist.
“You look more nervous than I am but you mustn’t worry. I’m ready
for this. If it doesn’t happen the way I hope, then so be it, but
if I don’t do this then I’m going to go mad.”

Her dearest friend sighed and
nodded, looking around at the crowd gathered about them. “Well what
are you bitches gawking at? I need a show of hands. Who thinks that
Mairead should make a declaration of her totally weird and fucking
unbelievably romantic love for James?”

Hands shot in the air with
cheers of approval. The verdict was unanimous.

Silver Dreams
was
appropriately named with its mirror balls, mirrored walls, silver
streamers and three chromed poles set into a silver stage. The
decor complimented the sparkling colourful costumes of three girls
who were entwining their bodies around the poles.

Mairead was amazed at their
talent, having never thought of pole dancing as anything more than
some sleazy entertainment. Yet she could see how much strength and
co-ordination was needed to allow the girls to suspend and twist
gracefully at various angles and poses.

Their beautiful toned bodies
were evidence of disciplined fitness and Mairead marvelled at how
liberated they must feel with their bare breasts and thongs giving
them a freedom her gymnastics costume had never afforded her.

How much prettier they looked
with their long flowing hair than the tight bun Mairead wore during
routines. One girl had a jewelled and feathered headdress while
another wore a Venetian half mask that added mystique.

“That’s Gina,” Kylie told her.
“Her husband thinks she cleans office buildings at night.”

“She’s married?” Mairead was
stunned.

“These girls are dancers not
whores, completely different kettle of fish.”

They sat at a table towards the
back where it was mostly shadowed. Mairead looked about the crowded
venue whose patrons were mainly men. Some sat at tables and in
booths along the side of one wall, whilst others milled about the
stage, waving money. The dancers would work their routine to leave
their poles and slide along the stage where the money could be
tucked into their thongs or collected from the stage.

“I don’t see him.”

Kylie sat up. “Here comes
Miranda. She does the choreography here and trains up the new
girls.”

Miranda was tall, bleach blond
and pretty with an enormous smile and a very short robe tied about
her. She greeted Kylie with a kiss and immediately did the same to
Mairead, before sitting down with them.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I am
sitting with Mairead Kavanagh.” Miranda squealed. “I am like one of
your greatest fans. You are so fucking amazing.”

Mairead smiled humbly. “No
different from the girls up there, except I do it horizontally,
rather than vertically and don’t look half as good.”

“Honey, I don’t think you’re
going to see any of them in the Olympics.” Miranda laughed and
pondered. “Pole dancing in the Olympics... I believe that could
catch on.”

Mairead was sure she had
sabotaged any hope of Olympic glory. If there was still any chance
she would certainly try but nothing could be achieved until she
knew where she stood with James.

As if Kylie had read her
thoughts she took Miranda’s hand. “Miranda, the girl is dying here.
Where is her man?”

Miranda smiled weakly and
indicated a booth near the front of the stage. The high back kept
its occupants hidden from them. “They’ve been there for a while.”
She reached across and grasped Mairead’s hands. “Honey, are you
sure that’s not his girlfriend. She’s a bit of a sensation
herself.”

Mairead felt a little uneasy.
“How do you mean?”

Miranda shot a concerned look to
Kylie before turning back to Mairead. “Look, I’m going to take you
down the front there on the other side. You’ll be able to see them
clearly then without being noticed.”

Mairead and Kylie followed
Miranda through the crowd on the far side that preferred to lurk in
a much darker area. Whilst navigating through tables, chairs and
people, Mairead glanced at the booth that was becoming angled for a
better view. When they were finally at the front, she pushed gently
through some people and looked across the room.

James was sitting with his arm
around the most stunning woman Mairead had ever seen.

CHAPTER TEN

Kylie and Miranda watched
Mairead drain another glass of scotch before Kylie grasped her
hand. “Let’s just go home Mairead. Or get out of here at
least.”

Mairead grinned and shook her
head. “I love it here. Those girls are fucking amazing.” She swayed
along to the music as she watched the dancers and then turned to
Miranda. “What time do you go on?”

“In about half an hour,” Miranda
looked at her sadly. “I’m so sorry Mairead.”

Mairead laughed and shook her
head. “I’m great Miranda. I achieved something tonight. In fact I
achieved a few things tonight. I now know James doesn’t love me so
that saves me making a complete douche bag of myself. I also know
that he’s a fucking liar and a complete arsehole. Never would have
thought he was into the whole blonde with big tits thing but what’s
there not to be in to? She’s fucking hot.”

Even from a distance there was
no denying that the woman with James was beautiful. The lights had
reflected off her white blonde hair and showed clearly the olive
skin of a flawless face. Her large breasts were cleaved together by
a tight dark brown dress that narrowed to a silver belt around a
small waist. The rest of her was hidden under a low table but with
her head resting against James’ shoulder it was easy to see that
she matched his height.

Mairead continued. “I also made
a startling discovery about myself tonight. I want to be a pole
dancer.”

Her friends laughed and Mairead
frowned at them. “I would thank you ladies to take me seriously.
I’ve been studying those girls up there and while I’m totally
amazed at their talent, I believe there are a couple of moves I
could add to their choreography.”

Miranda laughed and clapped her
hands. “I would give my entire night’s wages to see that. Mairead
Kavanagh, champion gymnast turned pole dancer.”

Mairead grinned wickedly.
“You’re on, but not the wages thingy. I’ll do it for free.”

Kylie could see where this was
leading. “Mairead Kavanagh, you stop this right now. One journalist
in this place and you would be on the front page of every paper in
this country.”

“She could wear a mask.” Miranda
was caught up in the fun.

“I could wear a mask,” Mairead
giggled.

Miranda started bouncing up and
down in her seat. “Oh my god, you could wear my brand new costume.
Haven’t even taken it out of the plastic yet but it’s fucking
stunning.”

Kylie was furious. “Fuck up
Miranda. She is not fucking doing it.”

Miranda ignored her. “Oh my god,
I even know the perfect song for you to dance to.” She paused for
dramatic effect. “
Nobody does it better
.”

“I love that song!” Mairead
could feel the adrenaline beginning to course through her body.

“Right, that’s it.” Kylie got up
and took Mairead’s hand.”Get your purse girlfriend. We’re getting
out of here.”

Mairead snatched her hand back.
“No I’m not going.”

“You’re going girl, if I have to
carry you out of here.”

Mairead sat back wounded and
looked up at Kylie tearfully. “Not you Kylie, not you telling me
what to do, like everyone else.”

Kylie could see the pain in her
face and sat down defeated. “I just don’t want to see you get
hurt.”

Mairead shrugged. “Too late,
James sorted that out already, but you... you’re my partner in
crime. I need someone who doesn’t always think I’m wrong.”

“Thelma and Louise,” Kylie
nodded and smiled. “He’s going to be watching you, him and his
bitch.”

“And he won’t even know that
it’s me.” Mairead grinned. “Imagine his face when I tell him about
it six months from now. I’ll be sure to be wearing my
seatbelt.”

“Oh my god you are evil,” Kylie
awed.

Miranda had watched them and now
ventured tentatively, “So are we really going to do this?”

Kylie fixed a stare on her.
“First I want to know just how this is going to happen. I would
hate to have to come and smash up some bitches because they put my
friend’s image all over the internet.”

“Oh god,” Miranda looked at
Mairead. “I’d never do that to you. We can get you masked and
costumed out back and I’ll tell everyone that I’m trying out a new
girl. Give me a name.”

Mairead thought and her wicked
smile returned. “Vanessa.”

Kylie and Miranda dissolved in
fits of laughter. As Kylie wiped tears from her face she shook her
head at Mairead. “Girl I don’t even know you.

Later she had to repeat her
words as she looked at the goddess standing before her. Even
Mairead was stunned as she looked at herself in the mirror. There
was very little to the white costume with its sparkling silver
thread interweaving it. A thin triangular strip ran from each
shoulder to firmly round her breasts and just barely cover her
nipples, gathering in the centre with a silver bow. The triangle of
the thong with its matching bow just covered her pubic mound and
thinned out to a silver thread which ran up between her buttocks.
The two pieces were connected by more stretchy silver threads which
were all held together by two bows, at the centre and small of her
back.

Miranda went to hand her a pair
of silver stilettos but Mairead shook her head. “I’m going to need
to practise in those. For now I’ll just use my feet.”

Her hair was swept up tightly
into a pony tail which hung from the top of her head. Long and
dangling diamante earrings were put in place and a silver and
diamante choker encircled her neck. Finally a silver half Venetian
mask was tied firmly to her face and sparkling lipstick applied to
her lips.

Kylie’s mouth hung open until
she could speak. “Hell Mairead, your own father wouldn’t recognise
you.”

Mairead giggled. “That would be
really awkward.”

“You’re telling me,” Kylie
grimaced. “And especially if he tried to stuff a twenty dollar note
into your thong.”

“Kylie!” Mairead swatted her and
then noticed Miranda was staring at her with tears in her eyes.

“You are beautiful.” Miranda
wiped at a tear. “I’m never going to be able to wear that costume
now, not without knowing that I’ll never look half as good.”

Mairead hugged her. “You are
gorgeous Miranda and I’m not going to look that great when I fall
flat on my arse out there.”

“Oh hell,” Miranda became
panicky. “Do you want to go through a routine quickly, get some
pointers, top up your health insurance, or maybe sign a disclaimer
not to sue me if you get hurt? What the hell am I doing?”

Kylie grunted. “Oh now you start
to see the flaws in this little scheme.”

“No one is getting sued.”
Mairead told her firmly. “This is mine. I want to do it and I’m
going to be fine, but if I do happen to break my neck out there
would you please get me off stage before someone finds out it’s
me.”

Miranda nodded grimly and
Mairead gave her a wide grin. “Let’s do this.”

Miranda took her backstage and
introduced her as Vanessa to the other dancers in various stages of
undress. Some were obviously astounded by her appearance and
stared, while others gave her a critical sneer and went about their
business. Yet when the call came, most wished her luck.

On the wings, Mairead trembled
with nerves. The courage of alcohol was long gone and the sobriety
brought clarity to what she was doing. She could see some of the
patrons near the stage and realised that this wasn’t her usual
audience.

This was a mob of inebriated and
lustful men that weren’t interested in her talent but in her body.
That was probably a good thing, Mairead thought considering she had
never danced a vertical pole before and was acting on an hour’s
observation and an intense desire for revenge.

A woman in a long red evening
gown walked up and down the stage, telling very lame jokes but
stirring the patrons to a mood of expectation, one that Mairead was
having serious doubts she could fill. Suddenly she was being
announced.

“Ladies and Gentleman, the only
thing I can tell you about our next lovely lady is she is making
her debut tonight so she is going to need lots of encouragement.
Tiny little thing that she is, we all know that there are often
exciting things in small packages and most of you guys would know
where I’m coming from.”

There was a ripple of laughter
and the introduction was made. “Ladies and Gentleman, please give
it up for... the lovely... Vanessa!”

Immediately the lights went down
on the audience and came up on the stage. The pole gleamed
threateningly. Mairead didn’t move.

“You’ve got to do this Mairead”
Miranda whispered. “My job is toast if this goes wrong.”

“Shut up Miranda.” Kylie grasped
Mairead’s hand. “This doesn’t even compare to your last stunt.”

Mairead said nothing but
trembled more as the first piano notes of the song began.

“It’s just another beam,” Kylie
told her firmly. “Just another routine and you’ve done it a
thousand times before. You can do this Mairead.”

Mairead nodded weakly and made
her first tentative steps out on stage. The audience was fogged by
darkness but their presence was tangible. She stopped halfway to
the pole. When she hadn’t moved for at least a minute, the music
died down adding silence to an uncomfortable situation.