Cassidy sits in total darkness. The small rubber wheels that carry her sing a song of subtle squeaks. Her hair is expertly coiffed, her makeup precise, and her red dress smooth and dazzling. There's a buzz in the air all around her as she's pulled into place at the front of the hall. In mere moments, she'll emerge before an astonished crowd to sing and to arouse, to entertain and to excite. Cassidy's voice will be utterly intoxicating.
A large cake sits inches above her head. A luxurious vanilla with buttercream frosting, sumptuously dotted with maraschino cherries. It rests atop the special wooden cart in which she waits. Cassidy's less experienced assistant, Daphne, stands by the cart looking for a cue from the master of ceremonies.
It's a black-tie event, they were told, at a ritzy hotel. The hall is impressive, but intimate, and twinkling chandeliers hang above clusters of well-dressed guests. The party's theme is the Jazz Age.
Cassidy and Daphne were also briefed about the guest of honour. The man of the evening will be a wealthy banker type. Both women were thrilled when they learned that he had an impressive retinue of bachelor sons. On the drive to the event, they shared fantasies about who they might meet.
Cassidy hears a tap behind her head. "I think there's a little delay. Standby," Daphne says, crouched momentarily behind the cart.
Hurried heels click their way over. "Just two more minutes." a flustered lady says to Daphne. "We're almost ready."
Cassidy calmly takes a breath and brushes it off. Her confidence is high tonight.
The heels click away.
A moment passes, and more footsteps approach, but they're calm and deliberate.
"I saw you enter from across the room--I just had to introduce myself. I'm John, John Riedel. It's my father's party." His voice is warm and inviting.
"Oh, hello," says Daphne.
"And you are...?"
"Daphne. I'm the entertainment. I mean I'm with the entertainment. My name is Daphne. I'm with Martinez Entertainment and--"
"Come to the bar with me and I'll get you a drink."
"Oh, well that's very nice but I'm waiting for the cue to--"
"That'll take a few minutes, trust me. Come along."
"No, really, I should stay here and--"
With a playfully authoritative tone: "It's my job to make sure each guest is satisfied, and you don't have a drink yet."
"I mean--I'm not actually a..." Cassidy can hear Daphne's voice getting further as she's ushered away.
"Nonsense, nonsense. Come."
"I-I'll be right back," Daphne announces over her shoulder, to the cart.
Alone in the dark, Cassidy can only imagine how John looks. He's likely handsome, or at least looks good in a suit. After all, it doesn't take much to impress Daphne, she thinks. In the car, her fantasy was juvenile and lacked detail. But Cassidy had it all planned out.
"I'll find him within seconds," she said. "When I come out and sing those first notes, I'll scan the room and lock eyes with him. I'll know him from the moment I see him. I'll be performing to the room, but he'll know every move, every wink, every round, lustrous tone, and sweet sultry word is for him. He'll be ready to pop by the end of the first number. After the show, he'll find me at the bar. He'll order me a drink and flatter me; I'll touch his arm and stroke his ego. Before the night is even halfway through, he'll abandon his Old Fashioned to take me upstairs to his suite. There we'll spend the rest of the night in bliss, as the party rolls on beneath us."
"Heh, wow..." said Daphne, still lost in the tale.
Cassidy waits in silence.
***
"There's a problem with the guest of honour," says Daphne in a hushed tone, relaying new information from behind the cart. "But they said it'll just be another minute and to please be ready."
Cassidy let's out a sigh. "Daphne, it's cramped in here."
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll try to--"
"There you are," says John. "I want you to meet some of my friends. Come."
"Well, I--"
"Oh, you'll love them! Anthony is the head of advertisement over at..." Their voices drift away.
Cassidy rolls her eyes.
***
Cassidy can hear the louder half of a distant conversation.
"Oh, I just can't believe he's doing this to me. I planned this whole party; everyone is here for him. The invitations took me hours to put together, the decorators needed more supervision than infants, and the boys even made me hire a hooker to perform for him!"
"..."
"No! He's upstairs, pouting!"
"..."