The HFC: to play a game
Jul. 6th, 2018 09:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsAt and HFC event, Hope plays an interesting game... and wins...
Slightly NSFW
“How about I play? I am in the mood for a game.” Hope smiled innocently at Mr. Otto Franken as she sipped from a flute of sparkling grape juice. She’d not expected him to bite this easily…
“You want to play, my dear? You’ve something to bet?”
Pretending to ponder for a moment, Hope drew a USB stick from her bag. “I am actually supposed to deliver this… but…” She leaned a little closer, whispering in his ear.
“That will do… now you know the game. I set three bets. If you make all three of them, the apartment is yours… Otherwise, you lose.”
***
Hope watched a little sadly as Jenny, who had not gotten her target to French kiss her, slunk of to the side as she very determinedly looked away from her grandmother's necklace.
"Your turn, Hope."
Her attention snapped back to the slimy dude... no... Otto... in front of her as he looked around. "I think a nice one for you is her..." One exaggerated nod in Emma's direction confirmed her guess.
Emma recognized the source of the tiny telepathic squeak inside her head the instant it arrived - it was a mix of quite a melange of emotions. A sideways glance at Hope revealed nothing particularly untoward in her expression and Emma suppressed a small smile at the improvement Hope was making on not letting her emotions affect her outward appearance. The squeak, however, had not been particularly informative and Emma decided to continue her conversation with the man from the Black Court who was keeping her at least moderately entertained and wait until Hope approached her.
This one was she could manage and Hope suspected Emma would go for it. On the outside though she let her face show some discord though as she objected: "Are you kidding me? Emma Frost of Frost Enterprises?"
"You're free to forfeit your bet, Hope." Otto commented grinning.
"No... no... it's okay." She turned around, pulling all the details together in a quick mental burst and projected them to Emma as she started making her way over.
Emma smiled at Hope as she approached and finalized her conversation with the Black Court man with a few words that sent him happily on his way. “He’s really that sleazy?” she asked Hope, making sure no-one heard her quiet words. “That was quite the feeling you had attached to what you sent me.”
Hope leaned forward a little, summoning mischievous smile for the people around her. "Sleazy enough, I would say." Her voice was just as low as Emma's had been. "Taking him down a notch is a pleasure." Her eyes twinkled just a little as she added: "Would you do me the honours, my queen?"
Emma tilted her head slightly to one side. “Do you really think it would be that easy, Hope? Ask and you shall receive? A queen is not to be commanded. Persuaded, perhaps. Convinced, perhaps. But not commanded.” She lowered her voice slightly again. “This kiss provides value to you. What value should I ascribe to it?”
"So you wish to be convinced, my queen?" Hope's eyes still twinkled. "What would tempt you most? To be the first here to kiss these talented lips?" Okay, that might have been a slight bluff. She continued in a playful, yet serious tone: "Or that it would help me establish my position among everyone here so I can be more effective as your Herald? Or I could offer my suspicions that Mr. Shaw might be interested in him and we can throw a wrench into his plans?"
Emma tilted her head at Hope, considering the points she had raised. She nodded slightly. “All valid points,” she replied. “This is something you really want to do?” she asked, her voice serious. “This is a Queen’s kiss, Hope. Not something to be taken – or bestowed, for that matter – lightly. A Queen’s kiss slips beneath your defenses. For a few moments at least, if I chose, I could make you do whatever I wanted. I won’t ask anything of you, nor will I look at anything you don’t wish me to see, but I could. That’s why I have to ask.” Emma’s lips curled for a second in the naughtiest grin. “And, just to let you know, you might find kisses from other people afterwards – a little disappointing. At least for a while.” Emma reached out her white-gloved hand and touched the hollow in Hope’s throat, drawing a single finger delicately upwards over the beat of Hope’s pulse until she could tilt her chin up slightly. “Well?” she asked.
The faint shivers that ran up her back at the delicate touch she could easily ignore, but the intensity of Emma's voice was a different thing. Still, Hope met her eyes directly despite them being just as intense and raised her own hand to gently touch Emma's. 'I understand and I consent, my queen.' She projected fluently.
Emma used her finger to tilt Hope’s head slightly to one side, her thumb simultaneously drifting softly along the line of Hope’s lower lip. She drew her thumb away, feeling Hope’s yearning to lean back into that delicate touch. Emma leaned forward instead, her mouth hovering a few millimetres above Hope’s, a moment of teasing that drew Hope’s mouth forward, seeking the kiss. Emma moved slightly, denying Hope for a moment, and then granting her what she wanted. Her lips touched Hope’s, as soft for a moment as a butterfly’s wing, then hardening as her tongue parted Hope’s lips. At the same moment, Emma’s mind slipped into Hope’s. She had promised not to peek nor give orders, and she kept those promises. Instead, she sent her power directly to Hope’s pleasure centres, teasing them into a response as eager as the response of Hope’s tongue against hers. In less than half a minute, Emma felt Hope’s moan around her tongue and the young woman’s hands clutch at her forearms as if the sudden trembling of her knees would make her fall.
Emma withdrew mind and mouth from Hope at the same time, each with a last delicate flick of shivering intensity. She leaned her forehead for a moment against Hope’s. “Your Queen is pleased with your work tonight, Herald,” she said, her tones formal.
It took her a moment to notice that Emma's touch was gone, but her courtesies easily stepped in as she gave a very small curtsy and said: "Thank you, my queen." She glanced back at Otto, who was staring at them with a poleaxed expression. This time, instead of projecting, she stood tiptoe and leaned closer to Emma's ear to whisper: "A very poleaxed sleazy idiot at three o'clock to enjoy for you..."
Emma grinned at Hope. "Of course he is stunned," she said and flicked the smallest glance at Otto. "We *are* stunning, after all." She leaned forward and kissed Hope's cheek, a kiss both proprietary and protective: this one is mine, it said clearly, and I shall guard her from harm. "Go play with your friends. Win things for me. Make me proud."
***
"See you in twenty minutes, my dears." Otto Franken said with a satisfied look on her face.
Hope exchanged a quick look with Freddy, her other remaining competitor, and moved back into the crowd in search of someone she could get a piece of lingerie from within the time limit.
Finally a quick scan of the people in front of her resulted in finding Tandy busy talking with an older woman. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ferrar, but I am afraid I urgently need to speak with Ms. Bowen for a moment."
Tandy tilted her head to the side when Hope came up to her, "Give me a minute." She said with a smile to Mrs. Ferrar before moving away. "What is wrong?"
"No worries, nothing about that serious, but I am under a bit of a time limit." She quickly looked around and leaned a little closer. "You know about that douchebag called Otto Franken, right. Did he not get one of your former model coworkers a few weeks back?"
"Otto? Yes...what does time limit have to do with that old news? He isn't threatening you, is he? Want me to kick his ass?"
Hope shook her head with a smile. "No, I am working to take him down a notch so he will stop doing it. I will explain it all later, but now I need something from you." She leaned closer and whispered in Tandy's ear. "I need a piece of your lingerie."
"Good for you." Tandy nodded but raised an eyebrow when Hope whispered into her ear. "I have a dresser full but that is back at the mansion. How much of a time crunch are we talking about?"
"I kind of need to get back to him in about fifteen minutes?" Hope said, looking slightly sheepish. "And my own is not going to work..."
"Do you need the set? Or just a single? And will I be getting this back? Or are they going to be a trophy in someone's fantasy?" Tandy asked, "And if your isn't going to work, we really need to get you some."
"Just something that is not my own. He did not really specify what it had to be." A small grin popped up. "Are you wearing garters by any chance? Or something like it? If he meant more intimate garments, he should have specified it more closely."
Tandy looked at Hope, "Ten years ago I would be horrified if anyone asked for my underwear. How times have changed." She hooked her arm around Hope's arm and led her to the ladies room. "I was planning on surprising Julian afterwards, but your needs are more important at the moment. Besides, showing up at his work with nothing underneath might be amusing in itself."
"You do know he used my boss." Hope commented with a raised eyebrow. "But I do suspect that he will enjoy that surprise just as much. No, down here." She guided them to one of the more private bathroom she knew of, only accessible to members of the inner court and their companions. "I thought this might be slightly more private..."
"I do, but you were my friend first." Tandy raised an eyebrow as Hope led her to another bathroom, "So what is the bet?"
"We each put in something of value... I think this time it was a car, a grandmother's necklace, some 'valuable' financial information and Franken put in a nice apartment at the Upper East Side. He sets the bets almost like a kind of dare of Truth and Dare. Who is still standing after three of them, wins the whole pot, otherwise he gets to keep everything." Hope explained. "Here, I thought you might prefer a slightly more private... environment."
"You do know 'valuable' financial information can be insider trading. I'd be careful with that one." Tandy walked into a stall and began to strip. "Everything else sounds fancy. Is the necklace yours?"
"No, it was Jenny's. I brought in the financial information..." Hope's eyes twinkled. "I had a friend of mine 'help' me with that, so I am in the clear there."
Tandy poked her head out of the stall, "Hope, you naughty girl." She disappeared again and after a few more seconds, a pair of lace red's came flying out from the top. "Catch."
Hope nimbly caught the clothes and quickly folded them in a somewhat more discrete package. "Thanks Tandy. I can see already see the finish line in sight. I wonder what he is going to set as his third bet."
Tandy appeared out of the stall fixing her pants and top, "Well, if you win. I call we spend a girls night in that apartment in Upper East Side. If you need anything else, all you need to do is ask."
"Honestly..." Hope took a quick glance at the discrete clock. "... I was more thinking about renting it out, but I can tell you about that later. I need to get back with this, otherwise I lose my bet!"
"Alight. Let's go. I hope Mrs. Ferrar has moved on. She can talk forever."
***
Hope eyed her preparations for a long moment with the chair firmly put the middle of the smaller room and one of the staff of to arrange for some music. A small huddle of people was already gathering to watch.
Now just to find someone who she'd feel at least somewhat comfortable doing this with...
Warren had absolutely no idea what was going on. Yes, a crowd was kind of gathering, and he was right at the end of it, but he was more interested in his phone. Obviously he couldn't tell Bobbi where he really was, or what he was doing, but he had explained to her he was out clubbing, and was probably going to go home with someone else. Some days, when he was sober enough to be introspective, he wondered how the fuck he'd gotten so lucky to have someone completely okay with his constant cheating. Technically, they had an open relationship, but he was pretty sure she didn't do what he did. Still, as long as he let her know what was going on, she was okay. Bobbi did have the final say though -- if she didn't approve, he couldn't go ahead. He knew that. He wondered what he'd do when she finally said no.
She could almost feel Otto grinning at her back, but Hope took the time to survey the group. Spotting Warren, she let out a long breath. Awkward, since he was her boss, but still better than a total stranger. So she plunged into the crowd, grabbing Warren's hand and tugging him over to the chair. "Just play along." She hissed in a low voice.
Maybe it was the cocaine, maybe it was the booze, but Warren simply nodded and followed obediently. "Ms. Abbott," he asked as he sat down in the chair, "Am I being propositioned? Just so you know, I am a taken man until I send a text message. Otherwise, Bobbi will be most displeased." He paused. "And in English, that means she'll be piiiiiiiiiiiissed."
Rolling her eyes, Hope looked over where she had put her heels. "I just hope she is not going to get pissed at me. And it's just a little tease. But be quick about it if you need to." She quickly slipped on her heels and accepting the shot of vodka she had ordered. She'd been on sparkling grape juice all evening, but this called for a little bit of liquid courage. She waited till Warren had put away his phone, then nodded to start the music.
Warren took advantage of the break to take a picture of Hope and send a text.
don't be mad. I think I'm being Mrs. Robinson'd, but backwards
Without waiting for an answer, he put his phone away and tilted his head at Hope. "So?," he called out, arms stretched. "Seduce me, already. This lap is cold."
Thinking back to those burlesque classes she took, she straightened up and sashayed forward, gently rolling her hips. She arrived at Warren's and with a wink leaned forward teasingly, just offering him a glimpse of her cleavage before moving behind his chair. She put her hands on his shoulders and slowly, oh slowly leaned forward, teasingly brushing her hands down his chest.
Warren sat back, bemused smirk on his face. This was strange.... and strange, while normal for the HFC, this was doubly strange. He'd always had a conflicted relationship with Hope. He found her underhanded, with a motive behind everything she did, but at the same time she could be so endearing..... he'd never thought of her sexually though, and even with this precarious position they were in, he found himself responding more out instinct than actual desire.
Oh well. Compliment to Hope.
On the way back up Hope threw her head back, arching her back just a little and her hands stroking the reverse path that they had wondered previously. She felt herself start to relax a little bit more as the music (and a bit of the alcohol) took over. She strutted to the front of the chair, tossing a flirty grin over shoulder before bending forward slowly to tease with another part of her curves.
He looked down at her, head tilted. The grin couldn't be wiped off his face by anything other than possibly Bobbi walking in. And as if he was psychic (was that his drunk mutant power??), his phone chimed. Without taking eyes off of Hope, he pulled it out of his pocket and glanced down.
...I'm afraid to ask what that means exactly. And wait, if it's backwards doesn't that make you the Mrs. Robinson-er or whatever?
What even is my life.
Snorting, he raised a finger and responded quickly back.
Hope is forcing me to enjoy a lap dance by her. On me. Ass to groin. My penis is confuuuuused
"Sorry, Hope. Please, continue. How rude of me."
Hope had twisted around by the time he was ready, standing the side. Playfully she reached out and flicked his ear in reproof before stepping out with one leg and shimmying down and up again. Another quick half round had her repeating it at the other side of chair. She was almost surprised when she heard the familiar notes of the last bit of the song. Time could not have passed so quickly.
Warren was mildly disappointed when the music stopped. It was always nice getting attention, although he was sure he'd have to find himself a more appropriate partner before the night was over. "I have no idea what that was about," Warren almost cooed, "but I'm always up for the challenge."
She accepted another glass of vodka from the waiter, this time just sipping it. "Let's just say that you helped me win a very nice bet and that some bite of a bit more then he can chew." She met Otto's eyes, matching glare for glare. "Now I just need to inn my gains and I have a strong suspicion he will try to weasel out of it..."
"There's profiting happening off of my penis, and I'm not getting anything?" Warren pretended to be indignant, but at the same time, he was kind of serious. The blue balls were real. " What did you bet? And what happened? Tell me things, you're always so mysterious and annoying." He frowned. "I bet you'd tell Lorna everything. Everyone tells Lorna everything."
"I am sure Bobbie will be happy to have with your..." Hope first gestured to his crotch, then to the phone he was still holding tightly. "I mean, if your phone is still working since you are holding it so tight. In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the fact that I am now the owner of a nice Upper East Side apartment."
He was going to say something about how he was in the right place to take care of things, and Bobbi didn't even need to be involved but the second part was more interesting. "What?? How? Just by giving me a lapdance in the middle of the most debauched place in town?" Warren scoffed. "Fuck, I'll give you one for an apartment, that's easy."
Hope gestured over one of the staff and gave some quiet instructions before smiling up at him. "Oh, it was a bit more than that... a bet well-played was needed for that." She saw one of the staff escorting Otto to a small antechamber with two others escorting Freddy and Jennie. "And now I need to go claim my price. Thanks for your assistance, Mr. Worthington."
Warren watched Hope sashay away. Tapping his phone to his chin, he tried as best as he could to figure out Hope for the millionth time, but alas, he had to accept he never would. The girl was strange, and possibly a sociopath, but who was he to judge? He DEFINITELY was one. Glancing down at the flashing light, he pulled open Bobbi's last text.
(1/2) Whaey37eudlkdqw,qpo
(2/2) sorry i dropped my phone laughing 2 much and cant type properly now lmaoooooo
Grinning, Warren answered back.
Protect my honour later. I'm going to catch that blonde who reminds me of you but more of a hooker. <3 <3
Looking around the room, he caught the eye of a woman he'd been chatting with earlier. From the grin on her face, she'd also appreciated the show. With a casual smile back, he made his way over. He'd sent that woman's picture to Bobbi earlier for approval -- it paid to be prepared. He was the best boy scout.
***
“I assume you will have vacated the apartment after the weekend?”
The man in front of her blanched even more. “I can’t make that. I need to find a new space.”
Hope folded her arms and stared at him for a long moment. “I might have an idea. I will rent the apartment to you for… two months for the rent of about 7500 dollars a month.” It was way above the market price, but she wanted to make a point. She watched as Otto blustered for a few moments, but then he resigned himself to it.
“Add that to the agreement, please.” She asked the club lawyer who was drawing the transfer of ownership.
Slightly NSFW
“How about I play? I am in the mood for a game.” Hope smiled innocently at Mr. Otto Franken as she sipped from a flute of sparkling grape juice. She’d not expected him to bite this easily…
“You want to play, my dear? You’ve something to bet?”
Pretending to ponder for a moment, Hope drew a USB stick from her bag. “I am actually supposed to deliver this… but…” She leaned a little closer, whispering in his ear.
“That will do… now you know the game. I set three bets. If you make all three of them, the apartment is yours… Otherwise, you lose.”
***
Hope watched a little sadly as Jenny, who had not gotten her target to French kiss her, slunk of to the side as she very determinedly looked away from her grandmother's necklace.
"Your turn, Hope."
Her attention snapped back to the slimy dude... no... Otto... in front of her as he looked around. "I think a nice one for you is her..." One exaggerated nod in Emma's direction confirmed her guess.
Emma recognized the source of the tiny telepathic squeak inside her head the instant it arrived - it was a mix of quite a melange of emotions. A sideways glance at Hope revealed nothing particularly untoward in her expression and Emma suppressed a small smile at the improvement Hope was making on not letting her emotions affect her outward appearance. The squeak, however, had not been particularly informative and Emma decided to continue her conversation with the man from the Black Court who was keeping her at least moderately entertained and wait until Hope approached her.
This one was she could manage and Hope suspected Emma would go for it. On the outside though she let her face show some discord though as she objected: "Are you kidding me? Emma Frost of Frost Enterprises?"
"You're free to forfeit your bet, Hope." Otto commented grinning.
"No... no... it's okay." She turned around, pulling all the details together in a quick mental burst and projected them to Emma as she started making her way over.
Emma smiled at Hope as she approached and finalized her conversation with the Black Court man with a few words that sent him happily on his way. “He’s really that sleazy?” she asked Hope, making sure no-one heard her quiet words. “That was quite the feeling you had attached to what you sent me.”
Hope leaned forward a little, summoning mischievous smile for the people around her. "Sleazy enough, I would say." Her voice was just as low as Emma's had been. "Taking him down a notch is a pleasure." Her eyes twinkled just a little as she added: "Would you do me the honours, my queen?"
Emma tilted her head slightly to one side. “Do you really think it would be that easy, Hope? Ask and you shall receive? A queen is not to be commanded. Persuaded, perhaps. Convinced, perhaps. But not commanded.” She lowered her voice slightly again. “This kiss provides value to you. What value should I ascribe to it?”
"So you wish to be convinced, my queen?" Hope's eyes still twinkled. "What would tempt you most? To be the first here to kiss these talented lips?" Okay, that might have been a slight bluff. She continued in a playful, yet serious tone: "Or that it would help me establish my position among everyone here so I can be more effective as your Herald? Or I could offer my suspicions that Mr. Shaw might be interested in him and we can throw a wrench into his plans?"
Emma tilted her head at Hope, considering the points she had raised. She nodded slightly. “All valid points,” she replied. “This is something you really want to do?” she asked, her voice serious. “This is a Queen’s kiss, Hope. Not something to be taken – or bestowed, for that matter – lightly. A Queen’s kiss slips beneath your defenses. For a few moments at least, if I chose, I could make you do whatever I wanted. I won’t ask anything of you, nor will I look at anything you don’t wish me to see, but I could. That’s why I have to ask.” Emma’s lips curled for a second in the naughtiest grin. “And, just to let you know, you might find kisses from other people afterwards – a little disappointing. At least for a while.” Emma reached out her white-gloved hand and touched the hollow in Hope’s throat, drawing a single finger delicately upwards over the beat of Hope’s pulse until she could tilt her chin up slightly. “Well?” she asked.
The faint shivers that ran up her back at the delicate touch she could easily ignore, but the intensity of Emma's voice was a different thing. Still, Hope met her eyes directly despite them being just as intense and raised her own hand to gently touch Emma's. 'I understand and I consent, my queen.' She projected fluently.
Emma used her finger to tilt Hope’s head slightly to one side, her thumb simultaneously drifting softly along the line of Hope’s lower lip. She drew her thumb away, feeling Hope’s yearning to lean back into that delicate touch. Emma leaned forward instead, her mouth hovering a few millimetres above Hope’s, a moment of teasing that drew Hope’s mouth forward, seeking the kiss. Emma moved slightly, denying Hope for a moment, and then granting her what she wanted. Her lips touched Hope’s, as soft for a moment as a butterfly’s wing, then hardening as her tongue parted Hope’s lips. At the same moment, Emma’s mind slipped into Hope’s. She had promised not to peek nor give orders, and she kept those promises. Instead, she sent her power directly to Hope’s pleasure centres, teasing them into a response as eager as the response of Hope’s tongue against hers. In less than half a minute, Emma felt Hope’s moan around her tongue and the young woman’s hands clutch at her forearms as if the sudden trembling of her knees would make her fall.
Emma withdrew mind and mouth from Hope at the same time, each with a last delicate flick of shivering intensity. She leaned her forehead for a moment against Hope’s. “Your Queen is pleased with your work tonight, Herald,” she said, her tones formal.
It took her a moment to notice that Emma's touch was gone, but her courtesies easily stepped in as she gave a very small curtsy and said: "Thank you, my queen." She glanced back at Otto, who was staring at them with a poleaxed expression. This time, instead of projecting, she stood tiptoe and leaned closer to Emma's ear to whisper: "A very poleaxed sleazy idiot at three o'clock to enjoy for you..."
Emma grinned at Hope. "Of course he is stunned," she said and flicked the smallest glance at Otto. "We *are* stunning, after all." She leaned forward and kissed Hope's cheek, a kiss both proprietary and protective: this one is mine, it said clearly, and I shall guard her from harm. "Go play with your friends. Win things for me. Make me proud."
***
"See you in twenty minutes, my dears." Otto Franken said with a satisfied look on her face.
Hope exchanged a quick look with Freddy, her other remaining competitor, and moved back into the crowd in search of someone she could get a piece of lingerie from within the time limit.
Finally a quick scan of the people in front of her resulted in finding Tandy busy talking with an older woman. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ferrar, but I am afraid I urgently need to speak with Ms. Bowen for a moment."
Tandy tilted her head to the side when Hope came up to her, "Give me a minute." She said with a smile to Mrs. Ferrar before moving away. "What is wrong?"
"No worries, nothing about that serious, but I am under a bit of a time limit." She quickly looked around and leaned a little closer. "You know about that douchebag called Otto Franken, right. Did he not get one of your former model coworkers a few weeks back?"
"Otto? Yes...what does time limit have to do with that old news? He isn't threatening you, is he? Want me to kick his ass?"
Hope shook her head with a smile. "No, I am working to take him down a notch so he will stop doing it. I will explain it all later, but now I need something from you." She leaned closer and whispered in Tandy's ear. "I need a piece of your lingerie."
"Good for you." Tandy nodded but raised an eyebrow when Hope whispered into her ear. "I have a dresser full but that is back at the mansion. How much of a time crunch are we talking about?"
"I kind of need to get back to him in about fifteen minutes?" Hope said, looking slightly sheepish. "And my own is not going to work..."
"Do you need the set? Or just a single? And will I be getting this back? Or are they going to be a trophy in someone's fantasy?" Tandy asked, "And if your isn't going to work, we really need to get you some."
"Just something that is not my own. He did not really specify what it had to be." A small grin popped up. "Are you wearing garters by any chance? Or something like it? If he meant more intimate garments, he should have specified it more closely."
Tandy looked at Hope, "Ten years ago I would be horrified if anyone asked for my underwear. How times have changed." She hooked her arm around Hope's arm and led her to the ladies room. "I was planning on surprising Julian afterwards, but your needs are more important at the moment. Besides, showing up at his work with nothing underneath might be amusing in itself."
"You do know he used my boss." Hope commented with a raised eyebrow. "But I do suspect that he will enjoy that surprise just as much. No, down here." She guided them to one of the more private bathroom she knew of, only accessible to members of the inner court and their companions. "I thought this might be slightly more private..."
"I do, but you were my friend first." Tandy raised an eyebrow as Hope led her to another bathroom, "So what is the bet?"
"We each put in something of value... I think this time it was a car, a grandmother's necklace, some 'valuable' financial information and Franken put in a nice apartment at the Upper East Side. He sets the bets almost like a kind of dare of Truth and Dare. Who is still standing after three of them, wins the whole pot, otherwise he gets to keep everything." Hope explained. "Here, I thought you might prefer a slightly more private... environment."
"You do know 'valuable' financial information can be insider trading. I'd be careful with that one." Tandy walked into a stall and began to strip. "Everything else sounds fancy. Is the necklace yours?"
"No, it was Jenny's. I brought in the financial information..." Hope's eyes twinkled. "I had a friend of mine 'help' me with that, so I am in the clear there."
Tandy poked her head out of the stall, "Hope, you naughty girl." She disappeared again and after a few more seconds, a pair of lace red's came flying out from the top. "Catch."
Hope nimbly caught the clothes and quickly folded them in a somewhat more discrete package. "Thanks Tandy. I can see already see the finish line in sight. I wonder what he is going to set as his third bet."
Tandy appeared out of the stall fixing her pants and top, "Well, if you win. I call we spend a girls night in that apartment in Upper East Side. If you need anything else, all you need to do is ask."
"Honestly..." Hope took a quick glance at the discrete clock. "... I was more thinking about renting it out, but I can tell you about that later. I need to get back with this, otherwise I lose my bet!"
"Alight. Let's go. I hope Mrs. Ferrar has moved on. She can talk forever."
***
Hope eyed her preparations for a long moment with the chair firmly put the middle of the smaller room and one of the staff of to arrange for some music. A small huddle of people was already gathering to watch.
Now just to find someone who she'd feel at least somewhat comfortable doing this with...
Warren had absolutely no idea what was going on. Yes, a crowd was kind of gathering, and he was right at the end of it, but he was more interested in his phone. Obviously he couldn't tell Bobbi where he really was, or what he was doing, but he had explained to her he was out clubbing, and was probably going to go home with someone else. Some days, when he was sober enough to be introspective, he wondered how the fuck he'd gotten so lucky to have someone completely okay with his constant cheating. Technically, they had an open relationship, but he was pretty sure she didn't do what he did. Still, as long as he let her know what was going on, she was okay. Bobbi did have the final say though -- if she didn't approve, he couldn't go ahead. He knew that. He wondered what he'd do when she finally said no.
She could almost feel Otto grinning at her back, but Hope took the time to survey the group. Spotting Warren, she let out a long breath. Awkward, since he was her boss, but still better than a total stranger. So she plunged into the crowd, grabbing Warren's hand and tugging him over to the chair. "Just play along." She hissed in a low voice.
Maybe it was the cocaine, maybe it was the booze, but Warren simply nodded and followed obediently. "Ms. Abbott," he asked as he sat down in the chair, "Am I being propositioned? Just so you know, I am a taken man until I send a text message. Otherwise, Bobbi will be most displeased." He paused. "And in English, that means she'll be piiiiiiiiiiiissed."
Rolling her eyes, Hope looked over where she had put her heels. "I just hope she is not going to get pissed at me. And it's just a little tease. But be quick about it if you need to." She quickly slipped on her heels and accepting the shot of vodka she had ordered. She'd been on sparkling grape juice all evening, but this called for a little bit of liquid courage. She waited till Warren had put away his phone, then nodded to start the music.
Warren took advantage of the break to take a picture of Hope and send a text.
don't be mad. I think I'm being Mrs. Robinson'd, but backwards
Without waiting for an answer, he put his phone away and tilted his head at Hope. "So?," he called out, arms stretched. "Seduce me, already. This lap is cold."
Thinking back to those burlesque classes she took, she straightened up and sashayed forward, gently rolling her hips. She arrived at Warren's and with a wink leaned forward teasingly, just offering him a glimpse of her cleavage before moving behind his chair. She put her hands on his shoulders and slowly, oh slowly leaned forward, teasingly brushing her hands down his chest.
Warren sat back, bemused smirk on his face. This was strange.... and strange, while normal for the HFC, this was doubly strange. He'd always had a conflicted relationship with Hope. He found her underhanded, with a motive behind everything she did, but at the same time she could be so endearing..... he'd never thought of her sexually though, and even with this precarious position they were in, he found himself responding more out instinct than actual desire.
Oh well. Compliment to Hope.
On the way back up Hope threw her head back, arching her back just a little and her hands stroking the reverse path that they had wondered previously. She felt herself start to relax a little bit more as the music (and a bit of the alcohol) took over. She strutted to the front of the chair, tossing a flirty grin over shoulder before bending forward slowly to tease with another part of her curves.
He looked down at her, head tilted. The grin couldn't be wiped off his face by anything other than possibly Bobbi walking in. And as if he was psychic (was that his drunk mutant power??), his phone chimed. Without taking eyes off of Hope, he pulled it out of his pocket and glanced down.
...I'm afraid to ask what that means exactly. And wait, if it's backwards doesn't that make you the Mrs. Robinson-er or whatever?
What even is my life.
Snorting, he raised a finger and responded quickly back.
Hope is forcing me to enjoy a lap dance by her. On me. Ass to groin. My penis is confuuuuused
"Sorry, Hope. Please, continue. How rude of me."
Hope had twisted around by the time he was ready, standing the side. Playfully she reached out and flicked his ear in reproof before stepping out with one leg and shimmying down and up again. Another quick half round had her repeating it at the other side of chair. She was almost surprised when she heard the familiar notes of the last bit of the song. Time could not have passed so quickly.
Warren was mildly disappointed when the music stopped. It was always nice getting attention, although he was sure he'd have to find himself a more appropriate partner before the night was over. "I have no idea what that was about," Warren almost cooed, "but I'm always up for the challenge."
She accepted another glass of vodka from the waiter, this time just sipping it. "Let's just say that you helped me win a very nice bet and that some bite of a bit more then he can chew." She met Otto's eyes, matching glare for glare. "Now I just need to inn my gains and I have a strong suspicion he will try to weasel out of it..."
"There's profiting happening off of my penis, and I'm not getting anything?" Warren pretended to be indignant, but at the same time, he was kind of serious. The blue balls were real. " What did you bet? And what happened? Tell me things, you're always so mysterious and annoying." He frowned. "I bet you'd tell Lorna everything. Everyone tells Lorna everything."
"I am sure Bobbie will be happy to have with your..." Hope first gestured to his crotch, then to the phone he was still holding tightly. "I mean, if your phone is still working since you are holding it so tight. In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the fact that I am now the owner of a nice Upper East Side apartment."
He was going to say something about how he was in the right place to take care of things, and Bobbi didn't even need to be involved but the second part was more interesting. "What?? How? Just by giving me a lapdance in the middle of the most debauched place in town?" Warren scoffed. "Fuck, I'll give you one for an apartment, that's easy."
Hope gestured over one of the staff and gave some quiet instructions before smiling up at him. "Oh, it was a bit more than that... a bet well-played was needed for that." She saw one of the staff escorting Otto to a small antechamber with two others escorting Freddy and Jennie. "And now I need to go claim my price. Thanks for your assistance, Mr. Worthington."
Warren watched Hope sashay away. Tapping his phone to his chin, he tried as best as he could to figure out Hope for the millionth time, but alas, he had to accept he never would. The girl was strange, and possibly a sociopath, but who was he to judge? He DEFINITELY was one. Glancing down at the flashing light, he pulled open Bobbi's last text.
(1/2) Whaey37eudlkdqw,qpo
(2/2) sorry i dropped my phone laughing 2 much and cant type properly now lmaoooooo
Grinning, Warren answered back.
Protect my honour later. I'm going to catch that blonde who reminds me of you but more of a hooker. <3 <3
Looking around the room, he caught the eye of a woman he'd been chatting with earlier. From the grin on her face, she'd also appreciated the show. With a casual smile back, he made his way over. He'd sent that woman's picture to Bobbi earlier for approval -- it paid to be prepared. He was the best boy scout.
***
“I assume you will have vacated the apartment after the weekend?”
The man in front of her blanched even more. “I can’t make that. I need to find a new space.”
Hope folded her arms and stared at him for a long moment. “I might have an idea. I will rent the apartment to you for… two months for the rent of about 7500 dollars a month.” It was way above the market price, but she wanted to make a point. She watched as Otto blustered for a few moments, but then he resigned himself to it.
“Add that to the agreement, please.” She asked the club lawyer who was drawing the transfer of ownership.
