High Risk

by JLee Meyer

  By nine o’clock the gala was in high gear: champagne was flowing, and the hors d’oeuvres were plentiful. Dignitaries from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and even Washington, DC, turned out. Many of the women were members of Elysium, but no one but the other members knew that.

  Dasher and Greta watched from the security room, waiting until the right time to join the party. Kate arrived wearing a stunning gown that was all but transparent, and the crowd was appreciative. She was on the arm of Jason, who wore his tuxedo beautifully but seemed to have lockjaw. He plastered a smile on his face and seemed to be searching the crowd.

  Dasher saw Laurel elbow Stefanie to go calm Jason down. He appeared to be distracted, probably with worry about Greta. Dasher could relate. Stefanie, wearing a graphite-colored woman’s tux by Armani, tailored to fit her larger breasts, walked over and gave him a big hug, probably noting his wooden posture as she held him in her arms.

  She whispered something in his ear and Dasher guessed it was about breathing, because she saw his body relax a bit and he pulled back to look at her. “Okay, thanks, sis.” Dash could read the words on his lips from ten feet away.

  Taking Kate’s arm, he laughed with her about something and they proceeded to the ballroom. Stef and Laurel kept working the room, checking details and greeting guests. Dasher was scanning the entrance.

  Five minutes later Joe Alder and his date, evidently the woman he had been trying to transform into Kate through plastic surgery and implants, swept in. Joe still looked like a sweaty pig, though a sweaty pig in a tux. Dasher found herself pitying the woman he brought with him. She was at least ten years younger than Kate and so painfully thin that her fake breasts didn’t go with her frame. Dasher had thought her appearance odd before, but now she found it disturbing.

  Joe waved at Kate and she must not have bothered to hide her granite-eyed expression when she saw him. He was chuckling at the glare and waved to Jason, too. Kate must have felt Jason’s biceps tighten because she yanked gently on him. He turned his head away from Joe and faced her. Whatever he said, Kate nodded her agreement. Dasher found Greta and they made their entrance moments later. The attention was on Greta, for which Dasher was grateful. Greta was smiling, signing autographs, ignoring both Alder and Jason, and looked like she was enjoying every minute. Dasher admired the focus it must have taken to carry off her role.

  Dasher stared at Kate for a long while. This was the scenario they had rehearsed and the only part of the plan that allowed her to stay sane. As if she could have done anything else but look at Kate. Then she caught sight of Joe Alder watching as he laughed and chomped faster on his ever-present unlit cigar. She could tell he loved every minute of her performance.

  Chaz and Mei-Lee entered the room and Joe immediately lost interest in Dasher and his own date, for that matter. Dash turned and was impressed to see that Mei-Lee had made herself look like a young teen. Chaz was nervously patting her hand. When he caught sight of Joe, Joe motioned them over and overtly flirted with Mei-Lee.

  Michael played the part of a shy teen flawlessly. She ducked her head, stood awkwardly, and played with her hair. Joe was practically drooling. Chaz introduced her as his brother’s daughter, then excused himself to get them something to drink, only once glancing furtively over his shoulder. Joe evidently told his date to get lost, too, because within a minute he was talking to Mei-Lee by himself.

  She giggled and batted her eyelashes at him, dusting an imaginary speck from his ill-fitting jacket. He gestured toward a door in the corner of the ballroom and took her arm, propelling her in that direction.

  Stefanie swore as he hurried toward the wrong room. Suddenly Denny, dressed in a silver gown that fit her tall frame like a second skin, and Jock, who had on a gorgeous woman’s tux, were at that door, snuggling close to each other. Mei-Lee said something and they changed their course, Joe shrugging and laughing amiably with her, but staring contemptuously at the couple as they walked by.

  Once Mei-Lee had him inside the correct room, Stefanie started monitoring the live feed from the room on her cell phone, and Laurel signaled the small group to gather outside the door. Chaz was right behind Kate, beads of sweat on his forehead. Bouncing on the balls of his feet, he said, “We have to get in there. No telling what he’ll do if he finds out she’s a man.”

  “Wait, Chaz. Almost ready.” Stef watched the screen intently, held up three fingers, then two, then one. “Go!”

  Laurel slid her master card key through the lock and they spilled into the room. On cue, Mei-Lee turned to the camera, yanking off her wig and top, revealing herself as a man.

  Joe Alder evidently forgot that his pants were around his ankles as his mouth flew open, the cigar dropping to the floor. His penis deflated, but not before the special high-quality camera placed high on the wall next to the door caught the entire scene.

  Joe screamed, “What the fuck are you doing in here? Get out!”

  Greta boldly stepped forward. “Why, Joe. I didn’t know you were gay. Interesting.”

  Looking completely confused he stuttered, “What are you talking about? I’m not some fucking fag.” He seemed to notice Mei-Lee as Michael for the first time. “What the fuck?”

  Greta growled, “What’s the matter, Joe? Isn’t he young enough for you?”

  His face started to turn a nasty color of red. “You. I’ll have that fucking video of you going viral in another hour.”

  Dasher stood beside her. “Maybe you should pull up your pants before you do that. There’s really not all that much to see.”

  While wrestling his pants to his waist Joe growled, “I’ll ruin both of you. Watch me.”

  “I think we’ve watched enough. Just remember, if that video goes on the Internet, so does the one we just took of you having sex with a man. That ought to go over well with your business associates.”

  Joe’s eyes showed surprise but his mouth twisted malevolently. He fumbled for his cell phone in his jacket pocket and finally held it up. “All I have to do is press this button and I send my computer the instruction to release Greta’s video. I planned to have you watching anyway.”

  Holding up her own phone, Dasher said, “Tell you what, we’ll do it together. You release yours and I’ll release the one we just took of you and your boyfriend. Ready? Set? Go!”

  “Wait!” After a beat Joe yelled, “You bitch!” and pressed the button on his phone.

  He watched the screen go blank and started swearing. “What did you do?”

  Kate had been waiting for this moment. “All of your files are gone, Joe. Everything on your hard drive, any films you had hidden, they’re all gone.”

  “You can’t…” He started stabbing at his phone with no success.

  “Even if you have something stored in a place we haven’t found, every time it appears on the Internet, it will be deleted and the video of you and your friend will be inserted. The marvels of the electronic age. Wonderful, yes?”

  “You can kiss your career good-bye, Hoffman. I’ll make sure you never work in this town again.”

  A deep baritone rumbled from the back of the room. “You’re such a cliché, Joe. And about that.” On cue the group parted to reveal Jerry Pate with Mimi on his arm. And although he attempted to gently hand her to Dasher and Kate, she stayed by his side.

  Looking handsome and distinguished in his tuxedo, he pulled a set of papers from his inside coat pocket, three sheets at the most. “This is a statement releasing Kate Hoffman from her contract with you. Sign it.”

  The expression on Joe’s face transformed from confusion to disbelief to refusal in two seconds. Kate held her breath. This part meant the most to her and Dasher, and it was up to Jerry to carry it off.

  Now he and Joe were squaring off. Joe looked ready for a fight.

  “I don’t have to sign a fucking thing. Hoffman is mine. That dyke you call a daughter will never get Kate.”

  Before anyone could move, Mimi Pate reached out and slapped Joe so hard his jaw see
med to wobble on his face. “Don’t you ever, ever say another thing about our daughter again.” Her handprint clearly visible on his face, he simply stared.

  Kate glanced at Dasher. Simultaneously they stepped up to Mimi and each took an arm to stand protectively beside her. She was trembling, but had a grim smile on her lips. Kate then watched in amazement as Jerry seemed to grow in size, if that were possible.

  Jerry took a few steps toward Joe. “If you ever want to get one of your so-called clients into a film again, you’ll sign this now.”

  Joe backed up but scoffed, “Pate, there are other stunt assholes besides you in LA.”

  “Yes, and every one of them will refuse to work on any film that signs an actor represented by you. That’s worth millions to any production company.”

  Joe stared. “If I don’t sign, that means you’d screw Hoffman, too, because she’s my client.” He was sneering but the sweat was pouring off him.

  Kate squeezed Mimi’s arm and released it, stepping beside Jerry. “I don’t care anymore, Joe. I’ll be with Dasher no matter what you do.”

  “You’ve always been a stupid cunt, Kate. That so-called agent won’t be able to find you any movies if your contract is—”

  Dasher was on Joe before he finished. She smacked his face and kneed him, doubling him over. Before she could bring both hands down on the back of his head, her father dragged her off and held her, Kate clutching Mimi to keep her upright.

  As Joe wheezed and tried to catch his breath, Kate said, “You aren’t listening. I said I’ll be with Dasher. Period.”

  The red on Joe Alder’s face was turning darker, and Kate couldn’t tell which had angered him more: the damage the Pate women had inflicted or the ultimatum Jerry had given him.

  “Sign it. She’s lost to you anyway. If you take it to court, it’ll be tied up for years. Kate’s willing to refuse to work.”

  Fuming, Joe’s eyes darted around the small gathering in the room and he spied Greta. “Then I want to trade Kate for Greta. I get Greta.”

  Pulling herself free from her father, Dasher straightened her suit coat. “Greta makes her own decisions, Joe.”

  Looking threatening, he demanded, “Greta, come.”

  Greta slid her hand into the crook of Jason’s arm. “I’m not a dog, Joe. I’ll never sign with you. But here’s what I will do. I have in my possession photos of you with some of your ‘associates,’ as I remember you always called them. They wouldn’t appreciate them being shared with anyone else, like, maybe the authorities.”

  For the first time Kate saw hesitation on Joe’s face. “You wouldn’t dare. They’d kill you.”

  “No. They’d kill you.” Greta flashed her perfect American smile at Joe.

  Joe started toward her, and Kate heard Jason mutter, “Thank you,” just before he smashed his fist into Joe’s face and dropped him to his knees. Shaking his hand, he turned to the crowd and grinned. “Self-defense.”

  Kate said, “That’s the way I saw it.”

  The others all nodded vigorously. Jerry Pate was the only one who checked on Alder.

  Ember quickly appeared and handed a bar towel to Alder. Looking around she said to Stefanie, “Didn’t want him to bleed on the new carpet.” Then she glanced at Jason’s hand and added, “I’ll get some ice.”

  As she hustled out of the room Kate remarked, “I hope you’re planning to give that woman a raise. She’s everywhere.”

  Greta was looking at Jason like he’d just invented chocolate. He returned the expression with pure adoration. Kate watched Laurel gazing at them and smiling, and when she caught Laurel’s eye, she winked.

  “Is there a back door from this room?” Dasher had her phone out and was quietly talking on it.

  Jock said, “Sure is. The service hall is right on the other side of this wall.” She tapped a panel in two places and it slid to the side. “Tell them to meet us at the loading dock.”

  Only mildly fretting, Kate asked, “Where are you taking him? Is cement involved?”

  Jerry Pate and Dasher hefted the semiconscious Alder to his feet. Dasher seemed to consider Kate’s question, then grinned at her. “That’s tempting. Actually, we’ve been in touch with some Treasury agents who have questions for Joe. Although I didn’t send the video, I did tip the feds to look into some of the aliases I provided. I don’t know how, but an anonymous person e-mailed quite a bit of information to me. I felt it my duty to share it with them.”

  With Jock leading the way, the four of them disappeared out the service door, which slid noiselessly back in place once they were gone. Ember materialized with a champagne bucket full of ice for Jason’s hand.

  Stef examined the hand, already swelling considerably, and said she thought a few knuckles were busted.

  Jason groaned. “It looks so easy in the movies.”

  *

  The gala continued until two in the morning, with Kate and Greta sharing the star duties. Both of them stood on the stage, arms around each other’s waist, and waved to the guests, taking turns welcoming them and pointing out the amenities of the hotel, as well as toasting the women of Hotel Liaison.

  “And I’d like to thank my new agent, Dasher Pate, for introducing me to Greta. I know she has a bright future and I’m honored to be her friend.”

  The applause was polite, and though most guests neither knew nor cared who anyone’s agent was, Kate and Greta, and Dasher, had tears in their eyes.

  As soon as Jason returned from the emergency room, Greta whisked him away to her room. Next came Kate and Laurel’s parents, who thankfully had been taken over by the Pates.

  Kate had been so relieved when the elevator doors closed on the Pates and the Hoffmans, taking them to their rooms. She was grateful that they seemed to have hit it off.

  On their way up in the Elysium lift, Dasher said, “How do you think your parents took your announcement?”

  Kate grinned. “About my change of agents? Or the fact that I’m in love with you?”

  “Ah, I’m guessing it was the love statement. Your mother still hadn’t blinked by the time we said good night.”

  “I noticed. I think your mom will take her under her wing. Daddy was thrilled to have Jerry Pate as, how did he say it? Oh, yes, a member of the family.”

  Dasher glanced at her questioningly. “Yeah, sounded like he thinks our relationship is permanent.”

  Kate took her hand and together they entered the room. Once inside, Kate pushed Dasher’s jacket off her shoulders to land on the floor and they shared a long, slow kiss. “Is that okay with you? Permanent?”

  Gazing lovingly into her eyes, Dasher said, “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s all I want. You.”

  Kate’s body responded immediately to Dasher’s words. “It’s odd. I feel so free now, like someone has lifted a crushing weight from my shoulders. I’ve never been so sure about anything.”

  She began unbuttoning Dash’s shirt, nipping along the line of her jaw, caressing her breasts through the fabric. Dasher gasped at the touch.

  “Dasher, I never knew that taking the risk to be myself would allow all my dreams to come true.”

  Gazing into Kate’s eyes, Dasher whispered, “And all of mine.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Life had changed dramatically for Kate during the three months since the party. The tabloids had gone nuts over Joe Alder’s arrest by the Treasury agents, and rumors were flying around the industry about him.

  As Kate read various articles, she found out she wasn’t the only one disgusted with Joe. Many, probably emboldened by his almost certain long-time incarceration, said they thought he was connected to the mob. And more than a few of them expressed relief to have him gone from the scene.

  Personally, Kate was ecstatic. With Dasher as her agent, she was getting offers for real films, some of them independent, some from huge studios. Even the adventure thrillers involved strong roles for the women. Whether they kept coming or not, she wouldn’t have to play the big-breas
ted bimbo again.

  She and Dasher had become an item in the gossip rags. Most accused one or both of them, mostly Kate, of using the other to further her own career. The accusations bothered Kate. A lot. The questions she was constantly peppered with always insinuated that she was either a conniving bitch or that seeing Dasher was just another fling.

  After all, she’d gone through all of the Hollywood hunky men. It would only be natural to add the hot butch Dasher Pate to her list. Was that how she got Dasher to represent her? Who was next?

  Dasher seemed to take all the commotion in stride, and every moment they spent together Kate fell more deeply in love with her. She’d never experienced the intensity of their connection, the intimacy. Their sexual relationship was so visceral, she couldn’t get enough of Dasher. They were passionate, playful, adventurous, even sweet. Kate never imagined she could feel this way about another being.

  Yet Dasher had read the articles, too. And as close as they were, she seemed to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. She let Kate take the lead, as though she didn’t trust her to be there the next day.

  At moments in their lovemaking, especially when they held each other afterward, Kate was sure Dasher was crying, but she knew better than to ask her why. She was the reason. No matter how much Kate tried to reassure Dasher, the fear of her leaving lingered. The movie business and Dasher’s personal past had made it almost impossible for her to trust that someone could love her unconditionally.

  With each day, Kate was surer she wanted to be that person. No amount of fame, no amount of money, no amount of approval of the masses measured up to the way she felt about Dasher. Nothing matched the light in Dasher’s face when she saw Kate, nor the way Kate’s heart flipped when Dash entered the room.

  *

  Kate was the maid of honor in Stef and Laurel’s wedding at the Hotel Liaison. Dasher had opted to be an usher, saying something about handling desiccated rats before stuffing herself in a dress. They’d flown up two days earlier on a private plane chartered by Dasher because the paparazzi were becoming as thick as flies at a picnic.