This could be a huge mistake.
That was what I thought to myself as I got out of the car. I walked the short distance to the door and almost smack-bang into a tree-trunk of a bouncer. The enormous man silently looked down at me, apparently trying to be rid of me by staring alone.
God, I hope this isn't a huge mistake.
Unblinking, the bouncer continued to stare at me wordlessly.
"Ah... I should be on the list" I told him. There was no physical or verbal reaction to this. I started to suspect this man may have in fact been some kind of ogre, and not actually a man at all. "Dave. Probably listed on there under 'Guest of K.K.'".
At this, he glanced down at the clipboard in his hand. After a meticulous look down the list of names on it, he looked at me again. He then turned over the page. After the second such page turn, I started to worry. My go-between on this job had assured me I would be placed on the list at the door. I hated going in so blind; so unprepared like this. "Guest of K.K." was all the information I had for getting into this place. If it turned out to be a bogus job... I had started to build-up a kind of reputation of sorts, and if this was all some elaborate set-up by a magazine looking for the big exposé -- I could be thoroughly screwed.
As the ogre-man's gaze headed towards the end of the third page on his clipboard, I contemplated simply leaving without further fuss. I could just walk away, get back into the car and drive home. No one would need to know I was ever here.
Suddenly, a loud guttural noise emerged from the giant in the doorway. Apparently, he had found me on the list. He very slightly stepped aside, allowing me to squeeze past into the exclusive party behind.
Once inside, I headed straight for the (free!) bar. No matter how many of these swanky Hollywood parties I went to, I could never quite feel at ease in a place like this. One drink would calm my nerves and allow me to get on with the job.
"Vodka orange" I shouted at the young girl behind the bar, trying desperately to be heard over the obnoxiously loud music coming from the band on stage. She handed me my drink, which I downed a little too quickly while examining where I was.
This was a fancy soiree for celebrating some sort of film or TV premier of some kind -- I didn't know the specifics. Lots of actors, musicians, agents and executives all dolled up, drinking excessively and enjoying being rich. I knew some of them, but they were very obviously pretending to not know me. It was just as I wanted it. The house itself belonged to one of the producers -- big and expensive in that cheap-looking way new houses all seem to have. There was the obligatory pool filled with models; the temporary stage for the band; the tables for hotel heiresses to dance on -- the whole shebang.
I recalled my instructions. At around 22:00, I was to head upstairs and try to grab a free guest bedroom. I looked at my watch. 21:50. I made my way through the crowd towards the staircase at the other end of the room. I had planned this well, despite having very little information about what I was getting into. I had dressed well -- new expensive suit, but no tie -- so that I fit perfectly into the crowd. I held the almost empty glass in my hand, so that no waiters stopped me as I passed. I was able to get through the all-singing-all-dancing throng of people quickly and quietly and made my way up the stairs.
There was a whole other party going on up there, it seemed. There were people stumbling out of the two bathrooms gingerly rubbing their noses, and various people I vaguely recognised from the gossip pages with their faces stuck to other people I vaguely recognised from swimsuit calendars. Two of the three guest rooms appeared to be occupied, so I quickly slipped inside the last one and closed the door.
I took out my phone and reviewed the instructions. I turned off all the lights except for a single bedside lamp, and drew the curtains shut on the window. I then went back to the door and opened it a sliver, as per the SMS message. I checked the time -- 22:00 exactly. I was supposed to wait here for the client, "K.K.", until 22:30. If she hadn't appeared by then, the job was off. Still feeling uneasy about such a blind meet, I decided to ring into the office for one last check up before it was too late to abort.
"Hi boss. What's up?" the always cheery voice asked at the other end of the phone.
"Hey Jenn. I'm at the K.K. job, waiting for the meet. Are you sure about this? You sure it's not some sort of press trap? Or an angry boyfriend or something?" I asked, realising just how pathetic and paranoid I was sounding.
"I'm sure. She wouldn't give a name, but that's just because she's shy and nervous -- there's nothing sinister about it. Three regular clients rang in to vouch for her" Jenn replied.
"Yeah, ok. You're right, sorry. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye" I hung up the phone, sat on the bed and waited.
At around 22:25, the door opened. A young man practically fell into the room, followed by a very drunk young woman. They had obviously expected the room to be empty, because they both looked equally startled, embarrassed and angry when they saw me standing by the bed. The man shot me a "fuck you" look, and the girl sheepishly whispered "sorry" before they both left. I crossed the room and returned the door to the arranged position.
At exactly 22:30, the door opened again. Slower this time. In walked a lone woman, obviously more than a little scared.
Of course, I thought to myself. K.K. Why didn't I think of her?
She took a quick glance into the corridor before firmly closing the door and latching it. She slowly turned around.
"Are you... Dave?" she asked, very quietly and with an obvious waver in her voice.
"I am, Ms. Kreuk. It's lovely to meet you" I said gently as I offered her my hand. She gingerly placed hers in mine, and I placed my other hand on top of hers in a soft, reassuring squeeze. "Let me take your jacket, Ms. Kreuk".
"Please... it's Kristin" she said. She was obviously still scared, but not nearly as terrified as she had been when she came into the room seconds earlier. She turned and allowed me to remove her jacket, which I placed on a nearby chair. She was wearing an incredibly slinky black dress -- long, sleeveless and tightly form-fitting, with a plunging neckline. She looked amazing.
"You look amazing" I told her as she turned back around to face me.
"Thank you" she said, slightly blushing. "I didn't really know what to wear. It's not too... formal, is it?"
"It's great" I said, trying my hardest to make her feel comfortable. It seemed to be working, but she was still very nervous. "Here. Sit down". I sat on the foot of the bed, and motioned for Kristin to sit next to me.
She took a small step, then paused for a second. She appeared to make some mental decision, and sat down quite close to me on the bed.
"I don't know how this works..." she said, looking at me.
