POLE AND OBEDIENCE

EDDY

I had intentionally not told Lola about the menu for tonight.

For some reason, I felt like she would pull up another drama and draw everyone's attention to herself in a desperate bid to escape her fate.

I made sure her outfit was taunting enough, and didn't bother to listen to her excuses for a change.

As she sat there, on the other side of the stage, looking lost like a wet duck, my mind tingled with the excitement of what was about to unfold.

I had my eyes on her up until I had to look away, and by the time my eyes returned to where she was supposed to be still sat, she was gone.

For a second, the fear of missing out on the most fun that could ever come out of tonight's show rippled through my body.

My first instinct was to call Connor, but that motherf*cker was still in my books as yet to be taught a lesson.

I didn't want to give him a heads up especially if it was just that Lola took a rest room walk.

I decided to sit in my seat, and wait for the events of the evening to slowly unfold.

Soon after, my phone began to vibrate endlessly in my breast pocket.

Maintaining a calm smile, I pulled it out, my brain working for an answer as to why Connor was calling me just when the night was about to start.

My impatience piqued, but instead, I tucked the phone back into my pocket, adjusting in my seat to watch the night.

The stage remained busy with a lot of interesting performances, but Lola's empty chair had my most attention.

I drew in a huge sigh of relief when I saw her finally walk in, her eyes flickering with an uncertainty that could only be as a result of one thing — she already knew what the night would look like.

Of course, because I caught Connor walking in too, barely a minute after she did.

"Mr. Langford, you still admire your wife like that years after your marriage?"

I turned to face Honorable Timmy, the oldest shareholder yet in my father's company.

I was disgusted by what he had just said, but I tried to not let it show.

The old man was talkative, and indulging him was getting yourself signed up for a long session.

So, I just smiled, pulling my gaze away, hoping he gets the message.

"Tell me more about it," he insisted, leaning closer to me.

"I like to keep my family on the far end of work," I replied, gleaming widely into his face.

That did it, because he groaned mildly, pulling away to adjust well into his seat .

I watched as the guests, especially the females cheered loudly to the start of the main event.

Slowly, my gaze shifted to Lola. She looked uneasy. I watched how she tugged repeatedly at the band of the bright pink hermaphrodite pants I made her wear against a bra top of the same rubber material — she looked pathetic.

 A smile formed on my lips. I couldn't wait.

The cheering increased as the center of the stage opened up and the pole set-up emerged slowly until it was properly set for performance.

"This is going to be fun," I heard someone say from beside me, but I didn't pay much attention.

A brief introduction followed, the name of the only participant for the night's show called out with a taunting disrespect.

It was almost like being called out to embrace embarrassment.

I knew very much what the guests expected — a hired professional pole dancer — they were obviously disappointed when my wife's name was called as the entertainer for the section. 

The cheering died down, replaced by inaudible murmuring. People shifted in their seats and their expressions gave away their displeasure.

I sat back tight. This was going to be a great show.

Lola, on the other hand, had frozen as soon as she heard her name, her eyes locked on where I sat the entire time.

When I finally got the chance to look at her, her gaze was heavy, pleading to be saved from the ridicule that awaited her even knowing I could never go back on my decision.

I maintained a stern expression, which always worked, because she finally stood up, and began to walk up the stage slowly, her body stiff with fear.

The murmuring among the guests died down as soon as she was up there.

Even I could feel the pressure that rested on her shoulders at that moment.

She had to do it or ruin the night, and she wouldn't dare pick the latter.

I watched her as she attempted to climb the pole, the material of her pants stretching weirdly. Another murmuring rippled through the crowd.

I adjusted in my seat, balancing my jaw against my knuckles.

Lola was shaking after the first failed attempt.

I shook my head.

"Such a fool. Of course, that pole won't hold your useless weight," I muttered, continuing to watch her as she made a complete fool of herself in front of the company's past and present staff and their families.

"Did your wife really ask to do this?" Honorable Timmy came again, his eyes focused on the stage with every concern.

"She wouldn't be there if she didn't want to," I replied without looking at him either.

He glanced briefly at me with disbelief.

"It does look like she is regretting her decision. I bet she is sweating down her butt now," he replied.

I chuckled, shifting away from where he was leaning over.

The audience had gone wild again, but this time, it was more of ridicule than excitement.

Laughter rolled out of every corner and judging fingers pointed across the stage.

I watched Lola's face slowly harden, her eyes focused on the slim pole she had already failed three times to hold her weight up on.

"Such a fool," I murmured. 

Honorable Timmy glanced at me.

"She is going to try again," someone cooed from the audience, and the rest jeered loudly, laughing their hearts out.

I nodded at the fall that awaited Lola as I watched her position her hands firmly around the part of the pole above her head.

Slowly, with a strange confidence that silenced the guests, she walked up close to the pole, clamping the base between her thighs.

My lips parted slightly.

She was just about to swing her body up when a long loud roar bounced off the audience, some of them even stood up to the cause of the reaction.

Apparently, something had happened.

I was still trying to figure out the situation up the stage when my phone began to vibrate again.

Connor.