Chapter 4. But It's Better If You Do

Isn't this exactly where you like me

I'm exactly where you like me you know

Praying for love in a lap dance

And paying in naivety

It was early evening.  She walked into the freshly opened club proudly, an air of sophistication following her footsteps. Although modest and peasant like compared to the other women who came to the club layered in exotic furs and diamond jewelry you could tell she had money by the high-end fabric and precise stitching of her simplistic dress and the red bottoms of her basic bone colored heels. She was very different than the usual Funhouse lovely. She neither an old woman in her mid fifties who came from old money and desperately clinging to youth or a very young one who funded her fancy lifestyle by forms of prostitution and stripping. Instead she was a women in her mid-forties who had the appearance of a woman in her early thirties.  Her makeup as usual, was light and natural and unlike most women she only came twice a month in comparison to the old faithfuls that came everyday.

"Hello Ms. Accardi. It's good to see you again. Your usual table is ready." Said the young woman at the front desk.

"Thank you."  Her voice was soft and quiet.

Ascending the stairs Ms. Accardi gracefully perched herself at her usual seat, a private booth costing  100 dollars per hour.
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"There she is man. Told ya she was cute." Kelly flashed a wide toothy grin Ava's direction. She didn't notice as she was tending to her lovely Mr Dean's needs.

"Yeah she's beautiful...... I guess." Todd said trying not to pay to much attention to her.

"You guess? Are you kidding me bro! She's a total knockout. I mean she makes Eliza look like Godzilla and she's an adult star."

Todd glared at Kelly. That was a sensitive subject.  Kelly twisted his words.

"Look man all I got to say is.... get over her! She's nothing but a gold digging super slut who uses her fake boobs, injected lips, and porn star notoriety to get what she wants. You can do so much better than that thing."

Todd adverted his gaze. "Look dude you don't think I know that? You don't understand. You've never been in love and had it crash around your feet."

 Kelly felt sympathetic. Here was Todd, his best friend, a love sick fool mopping over a heartless bitch who could a shit about his feeling.

However that didn't stop him from poking fun at the situation.

"Think about it this way dude. You talk to the girl see if you like her. If you do, you do. If you don't, well than I don't know what's wrong with you."

"Well.."

"Well nothing man go talk to her. All your lovelies can wait. Their practically obsessed with you. I strongly doubt they'll leave."

"I guess your right." Todd turned to go speak to her but she was gone.

Todd turned to Kelly who simply replied "Better luck next time bro. Perhaps you'll be quicker next time."  Damn Kelly. Was it even possible to both like and hate someone some much at the same time?

Todd proceeded ahead to the stairs when he heard screaming from the storage room. No one was suppose to be in their unauthorized plus it was part of his job clause that he was not allowed to get into anyone elses business. But the screams; they were so loud he had to see what it was. He was shocked at what he found.

There she was; Adora, the girl Kelly had tried to get him to talk to. She was slumped over on the ground. Her eyes were black and tears streaked her face. It was obvious what had happened. Mr. Dean had tried to force himself on her. Even though sex was legal in the club, highly common, and a good chunk of the income the Lovelies still shouldn't force themselves on the Playthings. Even though he shouldn't have. Even though he could get fired for it he stepped in.

"Excuse me Mr. Dean but I believe your time is up. You should leave before I call security, have you removed, you involved in a scandal, and your big ol' company defunct."

Realizing the severity of the situation he left without a word. Todd helped the young girl to her feet, holding her and telling her it would be alright.

"I think you should go home for the night... Adora. It would be better if you do." She nodded in between tears.

"Thank you..."

"The stage name's Romeo but you can call me Todd."

"Thanks Todd and my name's Ava."

"Alright Ava catch ya whenever I catch ya." Todd watched as the young woman walked away. For some reason he couldn't stop smiling.  Remembering he still had work to do he walked swiftly up the stairs preparing himself for Ms. Accardi.

Chapter 3. 99 Problems

If you having girl problems

I feel bad for you son

I got 99 problems

But a chick ain't one

Alone. All alone. Todd rolled over onto his back staring into nothing as he tried to pinpoint the reason he was sleeping alone. The bitter cold of the immaculate silence bit the air as he tried to gather his hopeful dreams and bleak thoughts. I could get any girl I ever wanted but I can't keep you.  One small quiet tear fell from his pale gray eye as he tried to figure out what the hell went wrong.

"Ruff ruff..... ruff!" Lazy charged at his owner barking and yelping until he finally got up.

"Hey boy! Where's your momma? You don't know? Don't worry I don't either." Todd patted the pit on the head. Lazy whimpered and licked his owner almost empathetically.

Todd stumbled into the bathroom drawing the bathwater at his light a match for his cigarette and spent some alone time with one of his favorite girls: Vodka. Finally once it was ready Todd eased into the tube. The scorching heat settled onto his skin causing steam to rise and his body to sweat. Todd rejoiced in the feel of burning heat. That was the way he liked it. Burn away the skin, Burn away the worries.

Why? Why did you have to be so damn perfect.  Todd pulled from under the sink cabinet the new issue of Body Magazine. The one he had been hiding from himself for weeks to keep to from going insane. Along with it he pulled out a small bag. Inside it contained only three things. An engagment ring and two love letters, both from her. Todd looked at the Mag again. There she was; his Eliza. His dream girl. His beloved. The one who left him with out a goodbye. He hated her so much he could feel the fire corse through his veins! Yet he loved her.

He couldn't keep doing this. He was truly going crazy. Taking his phone off the bathroom counter he called Kelly. That was only person he knew he could always talk to.

The rain pelts crashed onto the car like mini rocket launchers blasting into space.  Todd left the sunroof down letting the rain hit him as if it was some form of punishment.  Yet again he was alone. Only thing was he couldn't comprehend why this bothered him so much. Hell! He had been alone his entire life. Maybe he mom was right. Maybe he was cured. Maybe he was a demon seed coming straight from a bastard ass father who's good for nothing like him. Maybe just maybe.

The rain had started to let up when he got to the Bistro. He could spot Kelly right away. The Ginger head was actually easy to find.

"Hey Romeo! What's up with you! Still making all the Juliets drop like flies."  Kelly laughed at his own joke.

"Yeah Blaze just like you set all the girls on fire!" Both men laughed poking fun at their work names.

"Yea man, but for real what's up? Got any new news? Your married? Got a new girlfriend? Got somebody pregnant?" A sarcastic smirk played on his lips.

 Todd pondered over the question for a few moments. Should he tell him? Kells was his bestfriend after all? But than again he knew that Kelly was probably tired of hearing about her.  

 "Nothing much man. Same old, same old you?"

"I'm glad you asked! Did you see the new girl yet?"

"Who? Whats-her-name? Adella? Aurora?"

"Adora?"

"Not yet. What about her?"

"Man her name sure does fit her. She's a real cutie if you no what I mean." Kelly gave a sly look.

"No I don't" Todd joked around. It was good talking to his bestfriend.  

"So anyway I was......" Kelly stop talking mid word his gaze fixed on something. Todd looked. He could not believe what he saw.

 There she was. Eliza. And she was with another man. Todd's blood boiled in his veins and his face tensed.

"Bye Kells. Catch ya at work tommorrow. "

Todd stormed pass them staring Eliza dead in the eye as she remained shocked and speechless.

That night she stopped by. He tried to refuse her. He tried resist but he couldn't.

That night they made love. She told she loved him. She was sorry. She would stay. How was he supposed to know it was all a lie?

The next morning Todd awoke to a cold unmade bed and a note that said "Sorry. Can't stay. Found something better. Gone for good. Love you.

Todd felt queasy and heartbroken. Seating on the couch in front of his bed he rose from it to head for the kitchen to get some more of his favorite girl.....