Well, I had done everything that I could think of to reach our company's U Way goal and with one-week left, we still were short by $600. If it wasn't such a big deal to the execs of our company, I would have been happy being so close. But I was in charge and we were still short of our goal.
I was sitting in my office with my best friend/co-worker Linda lamenting the fact that I was out of time, and I figured that since it was my boss that recommended me for the internal U Way position, both he and myself were going to be looked on as not getting the job done.
Linda's eyes lit up when she turned to me and asked, "Are you doing anything tonight?" I replied that I didn't have anything planned. She said, "I think that I have an idea. I will be right back."
She came back about 30 minutes later and said, "I think that your problems are over. You should easily be able to get the additional contributions tonight." I asked her how that was possible and she replied, "Trust me".
I certainly was curious as to how I was easily going to raise $600 in one evening and knew that Linda had some crazy ideas now and then, but she was my best friend, so I wasn't worried. I think?
At the end of the workday, I got into Linda's car and we went and had something to eat. At dinner I asked her what was on the itinerary for tonight and she told me about a friend of her husbands that owned a club in town. She had called the friend and told him our dilemma. He simply said to show up at the club tonight and he would help us raise the money.
I asked Linda, "What kind of a club is it?" She replied that is was one of those alternative clubs that are gaining popularity and it should be fun.
I had no idea what "alternative club" meant, but thought that it must involve some kind of New Age music or maybe some kind of coffee bar.
I was excited to find out what our evening had in store for us.
After dinner we climbed back into Linda's car and drove to the part of town that is commonly called, "The Warehouse District", which now was a very trendy area of nightclubs, restaurants, and little boutiques.
Our destination seemed to be well off the main area of the District, down a side street and standing pretty much by itself. It was an older and smaller warehouse building with gray siding, a rather dimly lit parking lot, and a single metal door on the side.
Over the metal door was a red and yellow neon sign with a single word, "Knots".
I had no idea what kind of name "Knots" was for a club, but was very soon going to find out.
Linda parked the car and turned to me saying, "This is it".
My apprehension was starting to grow, however I just reminded myself that we were getting the rest of the needed contributions tonight.
We got out of the car and headed to the steel door. As we approached the door, a huge muscular man opened it from the inside and welcomed us. I thought, "That is probably the biggest bouncer I have ever seen".
We went inside and walked down a wide hallway towards a large area of flashing lights and heart pounding music. As we entered the main area, it was filled with people in all kinds of leather outfits. I saw leather pants, and leather vests on most of the men, and leather tights, vinyl tights, leather and vinyl mini skirts in all colors, along with very revealing lace body suits on the women. All of the women were in high heels.
I thought to myself, "Wow, what a sexy place".
Everyone was rocking to the pulsing music and looking very, very sexy. I felt very out of place in my business suit and pants. Well, at least, I have on high heels, I thought with a smile.
Linda directed me over to the bar, where she signaled the bartender. She told him that she had talked to Jerry, the owner, and that he was expecting us. The bartender smiled and said, "O yah, you're the ones here to raise money for the U Way." "Let me get you both a drink on the house, while I send someone to find Jerry."
I thought how nice of him.
As we waited for Jerry, I watched a beautiful woman in a black lace bodysuit that clearly showed her tiny black thong and half bra, approaching me. She had on the most gorgeous knee high stiletto boots as well. I couldn't figure out why she looked so familiar.
She came right up to me and said, "I thought that was you." I immediately remembered. She was the businesswoman who saved my butt with the Mall cops the other night, and gave me the slap on my panty-covered bottom. She looked so different with her hair down and most of her body showing. I found that I couldn't stop staring at her. Everything about her was so perfect and sexy.
She introduced herself as Samantha, but said that I should call her Sam. I introduced Linda and myself to her and complimented her on her very sexy outfit. She replied that this was her secret place to explore her wild side. I wasn't quite sure how this club was a secret place, but felt that I probably had some things yet to find out.
She asked, "So are you the woman looking to get donations for the U Way tonight?" I nodded, and she replied, "You should have a lot of fun" and gave me a very knowing smile.
It was like she knew something that I didn't.
At this moment Jerry, the owner, came up and introduced himself to Linda and myself, and asked, "So which of you is our volunteer for the night?" I immediately thought, "volunteer for what"?
Sam excused herself from the conversation by saying, "I am sure to see more of you later." Again she had that inside joke smile as she walked away.
Linda said that I was the one there to raise money and Jerry replied, "Of course, I recognize you from the photo." Again, I didn't know what he meant.
He handed me a release form and asked me to read it and then sign it. I turned to Linda and said, "OK, what is this about?" She then told me that this club was a very classy bondage club and I would be a part of their stage act this evening.
Isn't it funny how you can walk into a place with a preconceived idea and allow your mind to let everything that you see reinforce that same idea? I now looked again around the club and instead of seeing what I thought was a nautical theme with thick ropes in various knots for decorations, I saw the same thick ropes in various knots along with hand cuffs, ball gags, and other bondage themed props. Does the club name "Knots" mean anything now, I thought to myself.
I returned my attention to the owner and said, "So what is with the release form?" Jerry said that it was a standard release form that allowed me to be a part of their show. I turned to Linda and she quickly calmed the fear in my eyes by saying, "You are probably going to get tied up and stuff. Come on, it is no big deal and it is for charity".
Jerry assured me as well, that nothing was going to happen that could hurt me and from what Linda had told him about me, I should have a great time. I thought, "What has Linda told you about me?"
I signed the form and Jerry took it back and said that the show would be starting in about 15 minutes and that he would call me up on stage to introduce me.
After Jerry left I turned to Linda and demanded, "What photos was he talking about and what did you tell him about me?" She said that when she called Jerry to ask him about raising donations at his club, he had said that the best way to do it is if we had a good looking female with a bit of a wild side to participate in their stage show. Then we could raise a lot of money.
She told him about my Mall strip tease for charity the other night and sent him the photos, saying, "For God's sake E, they were the only photos that I had of you".
I guess Jerry told Linda that I would be perfect and to come over anytime before 8:00 that evening.
So here I was wondering about the "show". I will say that based upon most of the very sexy outfits that the woman were wearing in the club that evening, I was becoming very intrigued with what I would have to do and hoping for the few remaining minutes to hurry by.
I have never been the center of attraction for 100 strangers before and the thought was making me a little sick to my stomach as well as excited with anticipation.
Well, my waiting was about to come to an end, as the lights went up at one end of the club, where a beautiful female in a red vinyl mini skirt, matching bra, and thigh high vinyl boots stood on a stage that had a number of ropes lying on the floor, a chain with a hook on the end dangling from the ceiling, and what could best be described as a very large wooden keg lying on its side with a padded top to it, and for lack of a better word a gymnastics pummel horse without the handgrips on it.
There was also a table with some things that I couldn't see lying on it.
The second the lights came on the club crowd roared.
Jerry came up on stage with a microphone and welcomed everyone, saying that he had a very special treat for them this evening. He told them that a woman was volunteering to be a part of the show in order to raise money for the U Way, and sincerely hoped that everyone would give generously.
He then pointed in my direction as the spotlight followed his extended finger and lit me up. He said, "Without further ado, let me introduce our brave volunteer and ask her to join us on stage. Everyone in the place cheered.
I found myself swallowing very hard as I tried to take a deep breath before heading up to the stage.
I nervously and excitedly walked to the stage with the spotlight following me. Talk about how self-conscious a person can become in the simple act of walking. It seemed that everyone's eyes were on me and they probably were.
As I walked up the stairs to the stage and stood next to Jerry, I was again reminded how out of place I looked. Other than my friend, Linda, who was still sitting at the bar, I was the only one dressed in business clothes. I could not have felt any further out of place, and yet I reveled in the attention that it was giving me.