Trip to the Jungle
Being one that is always prepared, Tobias started primping himself at seven o'clock. He was afraid to appear to "legal", especially in a strip club. He decided to wear some of those "classy" clothes that Gen had bought him. His outfit for the night consisted of a heavy black corded sweater, black dockers and shined shoes. When he arrived at the club, He was sort of apprehensive about going in. This was a bar where men strip and women would assume he was gay. Never the less, he had to do it. As he entered the club, he choked on the mixture of smoke and perfume.
"Name?"
"Huh?"
"Your name...you made reservations, right?"
"Oh ..sorry...it's Tobias, Tobias Beecher."
"Ok...table five...walk straight ahead, in front of the runway."
Tobias takes a small folded sheet of paper out of his pocket.
"Thanks, could you do me a favor...give this to 'The Lawyer.' "
"We don't do that here...too many dancers get stalkers like this."
"I'm a lawyer, he may very well have some information I need."
"Sorry, no can do."
"Look either you can take it back. Or I can send the cops with a full subpoena."
The doormen took the paper and escorted Tobias in. He found his table and tried to compose himself. This wasn't his world, his people, his thing. He was ok with his surroundings until a tall muscle bound waiter asked for his drink order. He turned to refuse the offer, but found a crotch in stretch pants staring back at him. "Hey, I'm up here."
"Oh sorry...um, no...trying to stay sober."
"Well, there's a cover charge so you might as well have something."
"Ok....I'll have a coke."
Toby mentally kicked himself for staring at the man's crotch, but then again, it's not like you could miss it. The lights dimmed, and the room filled with jungle music. Out of the floor, came a tall muscular figure basked in green and yellow light. By the shadow he was creating, Tobias could tell he didn't have much on. He diverted his attention by jotting some notes on a napkin. Halfway down the napkin, he felt something rub from left to right and stop in the middle of his back. He looked up without turning around. There stood a very tall man. He had short black hair, glasses, and was dressed in a black pinstripe Brooks Brothers suit with a red tie and a brief case pressed to his chest. Tobias wondered. If he's holding his briefcase in his arms, then what was that pressing against his back? Tobias cleared his throat.
"You need something?"
"Yeah" said the man.
"What?"
"My seat."
"What?"
"This is where I start my show...at least let me sit with you."
Tobias watched the man as he sat down. The first thing he noticed was the man's eyes, how deep and cool they were. No wonder he was so popular.
"You're the Lawyer?"
"Yeah, and from what I hear, so are you."
"Yeah...I am. I have a case-"
"You'll have to save it for later."
Suddenly the room filled with applause, whistling and cat calls. On the stage, stood a naked man standing in piles of money. Tobias gazed in confusion. "All that for dancing naked? "
"That's nothing"
"You can do better?"
"Watch me!"
He stared at the man as he got himself together. He didn't know why, but the man looked very familiar to him. The emcee took the stage.
"I just wanted to take a minute to thank all you beautiful ladies and gentlemen for coming out tonight. We can't afford to do this shit by ourselves so I want ya'll to give it up for our sponsors"
The crowd went wild. They knew what the emcee meant by the word "sponsor", Tobias didn't. A silver screen descended from the ceiling of the stage displaying a fake commercial with "The Lawyer" offering his services. It was a stupid commercial with "The Lawyer" asking the crowd if they had been hurt by their man, if their heart was broken, shit like that. Tobias didn't know if he should laugh or be offended. The man took the stage and the music started. That music...the music that could easily seal his fate at the firm. When the beat kicked in, the man started gyrating up and down the runway. The man had no moves what so ever. Tobias couldn't believe how unbelievably stupid all this was. He pressed his lips tightly to keep from laughing, but the series of butt wiggles wouldn't let him. He hung his head so the man wouldn't see him. He took a moment to compose himself and raised his head. This time the man was doing something that resembled the bunny hop. Tobias couldn't help it. His forehead hit the table as he laughed. He knew it was very unprofessional of him. He was laughing at the guy that could very well help him make partner. Tobias turned to the side and laughed till he was out of breath.
He noticed the music had slowed down. The crowd behind him had died down too. Why? A moment ago they were whistling and calling him lewd names, now they were quiet. Tobias turn around in his seat to get another good laugh at the man's expense. The smile drained from his face. The man stood on the stage without one thread of clothing on. The flashing lights seemed to find every muscle the man had. The flashing blue light gave special attention to his eyes, two dancing orbs of blue light. The man reminded him of the trips he and his mom took to the museum to see the statues of the Greek gods. He stood about 6'2, wide and lean. He smiled and melted every single heart in the club. Tobias couldn't take his eyes off him. Not only was the man a site to see, but he looked so familiar. He walked to his brief case and took out four bottles of red wine. The crowd was equally impressed with his back as they were with his front.
They started applauding because they new what was coming next. The man stepped on to Tobias' table and poured wine all over himself. The wine flowed like little rivers down his chest outlining his muscles. The rivers joined together at the man's crotch and dripped to the table barely missing Tobias' lips. The man rubbed himself slowly, playing with his nipples with his navel. He worked his way down to the crotch. By the time the man was done, Tobias was soaking wet with red wine. The table, the floor and the stage was covered with wine soaked money. The man leaned down to Tobias.
"That's what you get when you sit at table five."
The man jumped off the table, extended his hand and pulled Tobias behind him while waving at the crowd. When they got to his dressing room, the man gave Tobias a towel and a robe.
"Here, take those off and put this on."
"Why"
"Because you're covered in wine. I have some old sweats in the closet. You can wear them home. I'll get your clothes dry cleaned."
Tobias took the robe. The man stared at Tobias as he took off his clothes. He wracked his brain trying to figure out where he had seen Tobias before. He knew him. It wasn't a case of having one of those faces. He knew him from somewhere. "You do that every show?"
"Yeah."
"The first person you did the wine thing to, what did they think about it?"
"I dunno."
"You should find them and ask?"
"Oh really...ok, so what did you think about it?"
"You mean....never mind. Can we talk now?"
"Yeah."
"First of all, Mr. Kell, I'm Tobias with the Beverly law firm. Now, Mr. Kell I'm-"
"Can I get an er with that/"
"Huh?"
"Keller, not Kell...CHRIS KELL-ER."
"Sorry. I'm working on a subliminal message case utilizing the same music you dance to."
"What's you're name again?"
"Tobias, Tobias Beecher, anyway, this case."
Chris' eyes grew big. He remembered him. He knew where he had seen the man before. Tobias kept talking until he noticed the eyes. "What, did I say something wrong ?"
"No, not at all."
"Anyway, if you could tell me who recorded that song and where, I would really appreciate it and I'm sure this boy's father would too. You may have to testify.
"Tell ya what, you help me and I'll help you."
"Ok, what can I do for you?"
"A friend of mine is showing some of his art tomorrow night followed by a mixer at some club. He'd kill me if I didn't come. I need a date"
"A date; but I'm not gay."
"I didn't ask you if you were gay, I asked if you would go to his show with me."
"That wouldn't be professional. Mr. Kel-"
"Call me Chris."
"Chris, that's not the way our firm does thing-"
"Look, I have the information you want. I know who recorded that song and where. I also know why it was sent to that club.
"And you're not going to tell me unless I go to the show with you?"
"Well, you're going whether you like it or not"
"Why do you say that?"
"Toby-"
"My name is Tobias."
"Ok, Toby, we get a lot of lawyers here during the day looking for answers to their cases. All of them have this uppity attitude about them. They act as though their shit doesn't stink, when you can smell them a mile away. You're not like them. Now, how would your bosses feel if they knew you were at a male strip club at night, at table number five and was taken backstage, hand in hand, with one of the dancers?"
"They don't know I'm here."
"Oh, but they will when I send them the tape."
"What tape?"
Chris goes to the TV in his room and turns it on.
"My boss tapes our performances, mostly for her enjoyment but for us also."
Tobias gazed at the TV. He saw a naked Chris dripping wine on him, leaning down and then taking him away.
"So if I don't go with you, you're going to send that to my boss?"
"You got it."
"And if I do?"
"I'll give it you, something to remember me by."
"Blackmail?"
"Yeah, ain't it great? So you going or not?"
Tobias took his time answering. He didn't want to go, but the words of his father kept haunting him. He needed to win this case. He needed to win bad.
"And you'll give me what I want?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Ok, where should I meet you?"
"You're going to give me your address and I'm going to come get you."
"Why can't I just meet you"
"Because I want everyone to see what a hot date I have when we drive up"
"I'm not gay!"
"Yeah, right.... anyway, your address?
Tobias didn't want to give the man his address. If he had it, he could drop by anytime. Then again it was only one date. He gave Chris his address.
"What time is this thing?"
"7:00. I'll finish with the ladies at 5:30, go home and get dressed and be at your place by 6:30."
"The ladies?"
"I'm a professional trainer"
"Oh, well...it's late. I should be going.
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