The Russian's Tender Lover (The Sisterhood)

Chapter 1

Darcy watched it all as if it were a movie. The only way to get through the evening was to pretend like she wasn’t here. It was the only way to get through the night so the flashing lights didn’t make her dizzy, the painfully loud music, which could be felt by the thumping vibrations as well as heard, didn’t give her a splitting headache and the four inch heels she was wearing didn’t make her feet ache as if the bones themselves were rebelling against the abuse. Instead of being in the middle of the dance floor as she was now, she pretended that she was sitting in a comfortable theatre seat watching the scene. In her movie, the people moving to the heavy beat of the music, laughing and flirting, were all actors, all playing their parts.

As was she. She was only an actress playing a part, Darcy reminded herself. She’d developed this part, this character, coming up with the props, choreographing not just the movements but also the entrance and exits of the main players in each scene, the accessories, the clothing. She’d even written the script. It had taken her years to perfect this scene, years of sweat and aching feet, cheeks sore from smiling and laughing, sleep deprived nights, exhausting, draining flights zipping across the globe to wherever the next scene needed to be played. She had worked to ensure that the correct “audience” was watching too. It wasn’t all about the place, props and the costumes. Any director will admit that the audience is key. Play to the audience and everything works out exactly as planned.

Smothering a yawn because there as always someone watching, Darcy continued moving, swinging, laughing. All in an effort to play to the audience. Every time she wanted to just toss everything to the wind, she reminded herself of Fred and Ginger. They needed her. She was all they had and she couldn’t let them or any of the others down.

“I need a drink,” she yelled out above the music. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her already indignant toes and glided off the dance floor heading straight to the bar. Uncaring if her dance partner was with her or had even heard her, she slipped between the tightly packed bodies until she reached the bar, her eyes rapidly surveying the group of bartenders working diligently to mix all the drinks for the other patrons, slipping their tips into pockets, ringing up credit cards and flashing smiles to whoever was the highest bidder. It was all so cumbersome, she thought, smiling as seductively as possible to Jim, another actor who was playing his part perfectly.

Stepping up onto the stool’s wooden foot rest next to her, she was able to get her whole upper body above the bar. Leaning over at the exact angle so that her dress titillated those behind her, hoping to get a flash of more than simply skin, she also purposely looked like she was flashing the bartender, who ogled on cue, and then smiled his gratitude as he leaned in as Darcy whispered something in his ear. Right on time, she felt rather than saw, the flash out of the corner of her eye.

Perfect, she thought with relish. The cameras had been smuggled in somehow, as they always were. Those paparazzi were ingenious at stalking their prey.

Nodding, the bartender moved back, winked and proceeded to mix her “special”. A few moments later, two large martini glasses were placed in front of her, just as her dance partner managed to make his way to her side. Her partner apparently wasn’t as agile at sneaking through hot, sweaty bodies as she was, but since this was her profession, she’d refined her skill so she was especially adept at maneuvering through the throngs.

Leaning against him slightly, she smiled up at him, winked and downed the contents of the first glass in one smooth movement. With a walk that started to falter, she reached out to hand the martini glass back to the bartender with a nod to fill it up again. “More of the same!” she called out, being heard by several other patrons nearby. Her dance partner wasn’t as smooth and was only able to sip his martini. She felt a bit sorry for him since his was straight gin with only a breath of vermouth but there was no time for sympathy in this drama. The play had to go on!

When the next martini arrived with great fanfare, she drank half of that one as well, then pressed against her date, smiling seductively up at him, winked, then moved back through the crowd, all of whom recognized her by now and moved out of the way, eager to see what antics she’d be up to tonight.

Chapter 2

Just a few more minutes, Darcy told herself, trying to encourage her feet to keep moving despite the painful throb each time she stepped onto the hard concrete surface of the sidewalk. She and her “date” had just left the night club and the limousine was within reach so she only had a few more steps and she’d be okay. George, her driver, stood beside the back door, holding it open as she and her date made their way from the last nightclub of the evening to the car. Just a few more steps and she’d be done for the night, she told herself. Smile, look up at the guy adoringly, three steps, avoid looking at the flashes of cameras, she told herself, stumble a bit more to make the ten “martinis” more believable. It was all choreographed perfectly and she had to maintain her character for only a few more moments.

At the open doorway of the limousine, she stopped and looked up at her date as if she were in love, making sure the name of the nightclub was in the background.

Not that she’d know what being in love felt like, she thought disdainfully as her date helped her into the waiting back seat. As a bonus, because this guy was so nice and considerate, she leaned up and touched his cheek with her hand, looking into his eyes, seduction evident in every movement. And Jeremy, sweet, considerate, kind Jeremy, moments before he too dove into the back of the limousine, howled like a wolf in heat. She heard the chuckles of the papparazi a moment before Jeremy slammed the door closed as the engine pulled the long, sleek car away from the curb. Away from the flashes of cameras that made the wee hours of the morning light up like it was mid-day on a hot beach.

Darcy laughed as Jeremy chuckled and messed up his hair.

“Good job, Jeremy,” she said without even a trace of an inebriated slur.

He ruffled his already messed up hair and sighed, sinking into the soft leather of the luxurious seats. “That was fun,” he replied. “You’re very good at this.”

She waved her hand as she slipped off her strappy shoes, cringing painfully as the leather straps pulled way from her tender skin. Straightening her feet was the next best thing to heaven, she thought. Or at least right now. She’d soak her feet as soon as she could, easing the pain a bit more.

“It’s all in a night’s work,” she said once her shoes were off and she could straighten out again. A moment later, she pulled a bag off the opposite seat and unzipped the top. “You’re going to have to turn away for a moment.” She pulled out a pair of well worn jeans and a sweat shirt.

Jeremy did as she asked, even closing his eyes so he couldn’t see her reflection in the darkly tinted window. Not that he’d see anything. Her night clubbing costume came complete with a body stocking that was comfortable enough to wear underneath her sweatshirt while she could just slide her jeans up underneath her itsy bitsy dress. The body stocking covered everything underneath her dress and ensured that she could move around during these plays without any embarrassing photos showing up on the internet the following morning.

It took her less than sixty seconds to get out of her costume, at which time she tossed the dress onto the other seat. She didn’t care how it landed, she’d never be able to wear it again after tonight. It would go to a consignment shop for re-sale, but not quite yet. She had to wait until the photos of her in the dress showed up in the tabloids and sometimes that took a few weeks. Even her dress sales were carefully choreographed.

“Thanks, you can turn around now.”

Jeremy immediately turned, his eyes widening at her complete transformation. “Wow, you really hated that dress, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” Darcy replied with fervor. “They’re all pretty annoying but serve a higher purpose. Are they still following us, George?” she called to the driver.

“I think I lost them a few blocks back but give me a bit more time just to make sure,” he replied.

Darcy nodded her head and started pulling out pins from her hair. “Don’t you want to take off that tie? Relax a bit?”

Jeremy shook his head. “This is a bit too fascinating to ignore.” He watched as her long, brown tresses fell down around her shoulders, which were then quickly gathered back up and clamped together with an old scrunchy, complete with locks hanging down behind her and loosely hanging down about her neck and shoulders. At this point in the evening, she didn’t care if her hair looked neat and tidy or like a rat’s nest as long as nothing was poking her scalp.

Next came the makeup cloths. Darcy loved this process the most. As she wiped the already damp cloths against her skin, she could feel her pores start breathing once again. This process took significantly longer than the clothes and hair transformation, but when she was finished, Jeremy’s whistle of astonishment proved that she was completely transformed.

“You could pass for the girl next door,” he said, amazed at the before and after difference in the woman with whom he’d just spent the last several hours dancing.

“Bite your tongue!” she said, looking at him aghast.

He laughed and glanced back through the rear window. “Looks like we’re free.”

Darcy looked as well, her eyes scanning the buildings and corners, ensuring that they weren’t being followed. “I think you’re correct.” Calling out to George, “What do you think? Are we safe?”

“Think so!” he replied and immediately swung to the left, heading towards the rendezvous point. Thankfully it was only minutes away but Darcy was already packed up by the time the limousine pulled up next to the darkened Lincoln. Sticking out her hand, she smiled, “Jeremy, you were wonderful tonight. Let’s hope we both have good outcomes tomorrow.”

“You’re a real trip,” he commented back, taking her hand and shaking it firmly.

As soon as the limousine stopped, Darcy jumped out and dove into the passenger seat of the waiting Lincoln. As soon as both doors were closed, the black vehicles separated, splitting off and going in opposite directions.

“You’re right on time, Matt,” she sighed as the driver and her friend winked at her and turned up the heat, knowing how she felt the cold more than others. He always told her it was because she didn’t have enough body fat but she would just roll her eyes and shake her head.

Darcy looked out at the night, sighing wearily. The city lights flashed by but she didn’t see them anymore. She was tired of the lights, tired of the game. Tired of everything right at the moment.

As they traveled away from the city, slowly the city lights faded and became fewer but the Lincoln continued to travel west, heading into the rural areas beyond the city. Darcy wouldn’t know this since she was fast asleep, her legs tucked underneath her and her head resting on her bag as a pillow.

The sun was almost over the horizon when the Lincoln came to a gentle stop. Matt put the car into park then got out and came around to the side. “Darcy. You’re home,” he whispered.

From experience, he knew to wake her slowly. She was generally disoriented when she was out this completely and would need a bit of help.

Darcy sat up and looked around, not saying a word. There was only one light on outside the car but her mind slowly started to function. “We’re home,” she croaked out, her voice gone from all the shouting in the clubs, not to mention the smoke of the night clubs.

“Yep. Do you need help walking?” Matt asked.

Darcy shook her head and slid off the seat. Taking a tentative step, she pulled herself out of the car, grabbing the sides to steady herself. The walk from the car to her tiny cottage seemed like a mile but in reality it was only about twenty feet. “I’m fine,” she claimed, trying to reassure both herself as well as Matt who was hovering, looking concerned. “Don’t worry about me. Go ahead and let Dave know that you’re back. He always worries on these nights.”

“Dave knows the drill just as well as I do and I’m not leaving until you’re sitting on the side of your bed, darling.”

Dave and Matt were significant others who helped her on so many levels, not to mention just being very good friends. Matt was always there for her, knew the routine and no matter what Darcy said, he wouldn’t leave her until she was in her snug little cottage. There was a great deal of comfort knowing that someone was there to pick you up when you fall, she thought, smiling at his stubborn expression.