"Nearly there." Linda held out the brush and gave Carly's cheek another delicate swipe. She didn't see a glittering future for herself as a make-up artist, but Carly was certainly a promising starlet; she had the necessary patience. They had been sitting for close to an hour and her nerves must have built to a crescendo by now, but if so they weren't visible. Or perhaps she really did take things like this in her stride. Linda doubted it. She got the feeling that Carly was very much a 'turn up and fuck' kind of girl. She didn't spend time choosing her look - it just happened that her normal wardrobe coincided with what most guys wanted to see. She'd never embarked on a makeover as elaborate as this.
They both turned to face the mirror, examining what they had created. Carly gave herself a critical look, but eventually nodded. "I like it."
"Do you want to go further? Really pile it on?"
"No, this is good. I want... I mean, I think it would be better if I looked like I was trying to be a bit classy. Only a bit, though." She puckered her lips, which were now a brilliant shade of crimson. The make-up round her eyes and cheeks was certainly thick enough to create the desired effect. Her face usually had a wholesome look to it, but that was gone now. She smoothed back her hair and meditated on the role she was about to adopt, like any performer nearing curtain up.
Linda put the brush down. "Just face me for a moment." Carly swung her chair round and the older woman inspected her. "You sure you don't want stockings on?"
Carly ran her fingers down her long, bare legs, which seemed much longer when she was sitting down than Linda had ever noticed when she was standing. "Nah. Stockings, belts, all that stuff... I never wear it. It just gets in the way. The guys aren't interested in it, so why should I be?" Her single-minded logic was going to stand her in good stead, thought Linda. She examined the rest of her ensemble and was satisfied, though she did have one regret. "I'd have liked a bit more colour. You know, something bright, like neon yellow or pink. It fits the role better. It would be more eye-catching."
Linda snorted. "Believe me, you won't have any problems there!" Carly's outfit was very like the one that Linda herself had worn to her first mass gathering. There was a see-through mesh crop-top and a pair of skin-tight shorts that had virtually moulded themselves to her nether regions, front as well as back. Moreover, it was all decked out in the same brilliant shade of white. The two women knew exactly why Stuart insisted on it; they shared a knowing look the moment they removed the packaging. In Carly's case, it was doubly ironic. Her days of wearing white had been thoroughly superseded.
The main difference was in the footwear; instead of boots, she was sporting a towering pair of stripper heels which she was clearly very proud of. Every time she crossed her legs in the make-up chair she wiggled her feet and glanced down at them. When she was standing in them she was eye to eye with Linda, which made an interesting change. It felt right too, seeing as how they were partners in this. Carly got up and brushed herself down, turning in front of the mirror. She had to swivel carefully, one foot clumping at a time. "Well..." she ventured, her nerves showing at last. "How do I look?"
Linda raised her eyebrows and gave an honest answer. "Like fifty quid in a back room, no questions asked." That was just what Carly had hoped for. Grinning, she did a little jump of delight in her shoes and looked round the room, as though girding herself for battle. She made a few cautious moves forward, but Linda motioned her back to her chair. "You might as well stay off those until you have to."
"Yeah, I suppose." Carly slumped down again, putting one leg up on the desk. When Linda gave her an amused look, she shrugged. "They're going to be open a lot anyway." She seemed to cut a relaxed figure, but every now and then she clasped her hands together and kneaded them. "What time is it?"
Linda glanced at her watch. "Ten to. Don't worry, my phone's right here." She reached into her pocket and set it on the table. "How are you feeling?"
There was another shrug from Carly, an obvious defence mechanism. Most of the time Linda had known her she seemed older than her years, but now the opposite was true. "Ready as I'll ever be," she declared, knowing the clichΓ©s were mounting. "What about you?" This time her anxious voice carried far more sincerity. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Linda sighed in exasperation. "You take a lot of convincing that I'm not some frightened old lady, don't you?" Carly looked apologetic.
"It's not that. I know you're up for it, but... it's a big change from anything we've done before. I thought it might... offend you." She huddled low in her chair like an embarrassed schoolgirl.
"It does, a bit. But that's partly why I'm doing it. There are plenty of things I
have
done since I met you and Stu that might have offended me in the past. I'm willing to have my mind changed."
"Oh God, don't call him that," Carly winced.
"What, Stu? Stu McGrew? Doesn't it have a ring to it?"
"No it doesn't. Geez, it's horrible."
"Well I wouldn't call him that to his face..." By an act of telepathy, her phone suddenly tinkled. Linda exchanged a look with Carly and picked it up. "Hello there, sir," she purred. Stuart's reply seemed to suggest that she was making fun of him and she hastily clarified that she wasn't. Carly looked away, hiding a grin. "Uh-hmm. Yes. Yes sir, we'll be here and ready. I'll let you all in. Yes. Goodbye." She set the phone down. "See? I said I'd be more respectful in person."
"Kicked your arse, did he?
"No, no," Linda protested, hands aloft. "It's fine, it's cool. I need to go through though." She stood up and checked her own appearance in the mirror. She was wearing a modified version of the clothes she had first met Stuart in: heels, a short skirt and close-fitting jacket, underneath which she wore a very brassy leopard skin top. It was basically her cougar outfit, she reasoned, so the spots made sense. Having smoothed her jacket down and fiddled with her hair, she was ready to face her customers. She picked up her phone and moved to the door. "Why don't you put both feet up? I'll call you when it's time."
Carly lifted the remaining leg and entwined it with the other one, lounging back in her seat. She looked at the same time so girlish and so odd, not at all like the eager professional she was supposed to be. Linda shook her head. "If they ever saw you like that... They'd have you off that chair in a hurry."
The younger woman laced her hands behind her head to make the effect complete. "I know. I promise I'll be a good girl." With those words ringing in Linda's ears, she closed the bedroom door and moved gently into the living room. She couldn't speak for Carly, but her heart was pounding nineteen to the dozen and they hadn't even arrived yet. She reminded herself that it was a fear of the unknown, the same as most fears, and these people were not unknown: only the situation itself. But even though she was the watcher this time, she knew she would have to do more than just watch.
She sat in an armchair facing the door and ran through her part: how she wanted to play it and how much time she would invest in it before the real business began. She was used to standing before groups in lecture halls and seminars, she reminded herself. She could present. Now she needed to sell too.
The clatter of footsteps outside gave her an early warning of their arrival. She steeled herself, did one final round of grooming and moved towards the door. The buzzer rang once and she stepped forwards slowly, knowing it was important to take her time. Carefully she unbolted and drew back the door, expecting to come face to face with Stuart. Instead it was Darren standing on the threshold. The moment he needed to, he was in character. "Hi. Have we come to the right place?"
"You have indeed," she replied, rising to the occasion. "Come on in, all of you." She stood to one side and they filed obediently in, a few of them exchanging knowing looks with her. Some were better at playing their roles than others, but all of them groped her as they passed, displaying a cheerful disregard for that part of the etiquette. Stuart was the last to enter. As he took his turn grabbing her she fell back against him and giggled. "Naughty, you should all be saving that for later."
"We're not playing strictly by house rules Linda," he murmured, his hand creeping up her skirt. "As you well know." He squeezed her bum and followed the others into the room. There were two sofas facing each other across a central carpet, and the guys had spread out along both of these. Stuart picked out a small metal chair from the corner and drew it up, sitting nearby but not with the others.
Linda moved down the middle of the room, keenly aware that everyone's eye was on her. Summoning her courage, she turned back in their direction and dropped into her armchair. She crossed her legs and pushed her torso out slightly, trying to project an air of confidence. "Well, I'm glad you all made it," she began, her eyes sweeping over each person without lingering on anybody. "I know you won't be disappointed."
"What have you got lined up for us, then?" asked Chris.
"What did you have in mind?" she batted back instantly, feeling proud of herself. "Tell me what sort of girl does it for you." It was the ideal response; it challenged him, but it was clear that he enjoyed the challenge.
"Young. Keen," he announced at length, his hand already wandering to the bulge in his jeans. "Adventurous. A girl who's willing to work for her money."