Ch. 3 The Docks

The car rolls to a stop and just like that the driver, Curly, is stepping outside. Reed then pulls the back door handle keeping his lips nearly on top of mine.

“Go see what fate decides” humor in his eyes like he’s sure of something yet to be seen.

I struggle to get out of the car. Damn this dress for being so fitted. As I step out Curly receives my hand noticing my struggle and that’s when I decide now is the perfect time to make my receptional debut.

Reed is out of the car and I look toward him grabbing at the back of my bustle “do me a favor Reed Malcolm and hold this for me” I say with as much poise and authority as possible.

His hand takes the bustle looking confused and unsure. I find the hidden zipper underneath the fabric and gracefully spin to allow the dress to unzip while Reed stands there as if I just performed a magic trick. The bottom of the dress drops to the ground. “There” I say to myself “much better”. Another part of my defiant choices in mother in law . I made sure to get a dress that could be converted into something she would loathe. A break from traditional class and a rebellion of my own agenda. My dress, now short and fitted just below my ass, reveals the curves of my thighs and could be considered borderline club apparel. The corseted bodice flows into a heavily sequenced and designed bottom half to cover up one asset at least but leaves little to the imagination with the deep plunging neckline. My legs are glowing from the moon and body oil and my heels are tall enough to make a woman’s legs sore for days. Reed clears his throat and curly turns towards the docks acting as if he was giving me some privacy. I then fidget my dress into place and sweep my long black curls over my shoulders and look at Reed, who looks like he could turn a person to stone.

“You are not wearing that on board” he orders. I look at him with a pausing glance through my lashes and keep my voice light but confident.

“ I’m not your wife. I will not be attending a party looking like a runaway bride. I told you to take me back to my flat.If you don’t like my personal choice of style remember it was your decision to hold me hostage. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be a law abiding prisoner.

His fists close and then open again like he’s trying to control himself.

“Have it your way.” He turns to the car, grabs his suit jacket, tosses the flower from the pocket and then walks up beside me grabbing my waist turning me toward the docks to walk while keeping me close.

I look towards the water and my eyes are wide. I didn’t realize we were getting on a yacht that was almost the size of a cruise ship. There is security all around the parking lot but also this was a private drive that was heavily secured as well. Nobody could get in to this party without an invitation. It’s exclusively private. We walk past security and I can see all eyes on me but they don’t say anything or check for an invite. They let us through without a word. As we walk up the ramp Reed is scanning the party guests. He walks me inside where the party is and I am completely blown out of my element.

This is not just a Yacht party. This is like a casino met a strip club and inside anything goes. Suddenly, I can feel my feisty Side slowly starting to grovel away. Reed is smiling out of the corner of his eye, keeping his hand on my waist as he guides me over to a private booth. I sit down, crossing my ankles as much as I can. Damn this dress for being so short. The lighting inside is low and blue. Dancers are placed all around. people are gambling and paying for pleasure. The bar is full of guests that are without a doubt famous or rich. As I look towards the poker tables I can see men lining up to do what looks like lines of coke off of a woman’s bosoms.

As I’m slowly scanning the room I realize something quite obvious. All the guests are men, and all the workers are women. Dancers, Bartenders, cocktail waitresses in fact all of them I’m pretty sure are barely even covered. Men are lining up to go back to private rooms and others are paying to have their shoulders rubbed while they look like they’re about to lose a fortune. One woman is on a platform in a cage playing with a giant python and another one is dancing flames. The setting is quite incredible honestly.

Four men quickly approach Reed. “Boss” the biggest one says. “We have a guest situation”.

Reed is sitting next to me with both arms splayed across the top of the booths and a foot kicked out. His expression is emotionless and he looks at me and then to Curly “Fetch us a bottle, and don’t let her out of your sight. This won’t take long”.

All the men are staring at me and others too from around the party. Suddenly I wish I had the other half of my dress and a jacket.