Blood Money

14

Danielle looks at herself in the mirror the last of the bruises are covered by the makeup completely. The outfit she has on is one that Trevor would have been shocked to see her in. Max likely would have had a heart attack if he had seen her wear it.

She's ready.  She walks out of her apartment making sure that the door was locked and the keys are safely tucked away. The club isn't far, but she has no desire to walk there in the high heels that she's wearing. It's been some time since she's worn heels this high and she's not very happy about wearing them now.

She is easily able to catch a taxi. It doesn't take the cab long to reach the club location. Danielle hands over the cash and a large tip. The cabby is more than happy with his generous fair. Danielle gives him a tight smile as she gets out of the cab and heads to the club.

The bouncer takes one look at her and lets her in. She gives him a brilliant smile even as the people that are queued up murmur angrily. At least the females do, the males are too busy daydreaming about dancing with her to be angry.

Danielle ignores them all. She heads directly to the bar and orders a water. She still can't stand alcohol but doesn't think it will be a problem. After getting her bottled water she heads to the dance floor.

It doesn't take her long to find people to grind against. She loses herself to the music and lets herself go free in a way that she has never done before. Yet, still it's all an act. She's there for one reason and one only. To get information on the bastard that killed her husband.

Long before she expected it, one of the bouncers comes to her and pulls her off the dance floor. "There's someone that wants to meet you in the VIP lounge."

"Oh, really?" Danielle wants to smirk, but keeps up her innocent facade. It's fairly easy since she's been working on it for more than ten years now.

Innocence can seduce men far faster than the more practiced seductions. If it's done right that is and she knows how to do it right.

"Here she is Mr. C." The bouncer says as he stops her at a table. A thirty something handsome man is sitting there. Danielle can't help but compare him to Max and Max still wins.

The man smirks as he notices her checking him out. "Like what you see beautiful?"

Danielle shrugs her shoulders, "You're okay I guess." She knows that this answer is going to piss the hell out of the man, but she doesn't care. She's not here to bed him, just get answers out of him.

"You're awfully flippant aren't you?"

"You have a problem with the truth?" Danielle retorts. Yes, she is being flippant, something else that is going to annoy the man before her. She sees the anger flare in his eyes. 

"I never have a problem with the truth, it's how it's said that I have problems with." The man growls out.

"I see. Well, since I seem to be angering you, I'll take myself out of your sight." Danielle says and moves to leave. She finds herself blocked in by two more bouncers.

"Why don't you have a seat instead? What would you like to drink?"

"I can't have alcohol because of a medical condition, I'll just have a water." She lies to him but knows that he doesn't realize that it's a lie. She doesn't want him to change her order on her. If he thinks that she'll die on him he won't give her alcohol.

The man orders her a water and something else for him. Looking at his glass some sort of whiskey.

Danielle sits back in the chair with attitude. The man doesn't know whether to be pissed off by her attitude or amused. She closes her eyes, she's still finding it hard to not give in and sleep all day. She's depressed and knows it, but she can't afford to get on meds for it.

"You have attitude, what's your name?"

"Yes, I do and what's yours?" Danielle retorts. The anger flares once more. 

"Careful bitch, you are walking close to the line."

"You are the one that had me dragged here. Now you are forcing me to stay here. If you don't like my presence then you should just let me leave. Which I tried to do before you get completely pissed off." She takes the water that the waitress hands to her and gives her thanks.

Grudgingly she gives the man across her a thanks as well. "Well it could have been a little more gracious, but you're welcome." His words are biting.

"Tell me, why did you have me dragged here? I was having fun dancing down below." Danielle finds that she actually was having fun down below. That makes her pause. She's never liked the club scene, but then she's only ever been there when she's working. She's working tonight as well, but this time it's for herself.

"Do you know who I am?" The man finally decides to speak.

"Nope, should I? Are you someone famous? I don't see many movies or pay any attention to the tabloids." Danielle shrugs and takes a long pull at her water.

The man smirks, "No, you might find me in the tabloids but I'm no celebrity. My name is Cameron Christian."

Danielle smirks, "As in Fifty Shades of Grey?"

The man gets irritated at the mention of the international best seller. "No, rather as in religion."

"Oh, pity. Christian Grey was an interesting person."

Cameron leans forward, "You like his version of sex?"

"Not really, but so far he holds more interest for me than you do." Her lack of interest is driving the man crazy. She's starting to get tired. She looks at her watch. Shit, she needs to eat soon.

She looks at the man and he notices that something is wrong. 

"What's wrong?"

Too late, she left it for too late. Damn, the black is enveloping her once more.  She had stood up and saw his shock as she started falling. Her last thought is, this is going to hurt when she wakes up.