Andrina joins the staff at Tulane's and encounters Pierce Denton!

Steele Playing By The Rules - Part VII

    Laura surveyed her appearance in the floor to ceiling mirror at Tulane's for the third time.  She prayed her selection would be appropriate and not make her look like she didn't fit in.  In truth Laura was scared to death but years of undercover work had given her the ability to look confident, even when she wasn't feeling it.  Heels resounding on the tiled floor brought her attention to the door.  Madame Tulane came in and assessed Laura with a practiced, professional eye.

    "Will I pass?"  Laura tried to sound calm.

    The woman before her walked around her slowly and stopped inches away.  Her expensively manicured hand tilted Laura's head left and right.  Laura wondered if race horses felt a lot like this.

    "Miss Holt, I'm sure you plan tirelessly for undercover assignments but it's obvious you didn't have many points of reference for my line of work."

    Laura blanched at the set down and felt her ire rise.  She looked down at the gray ruffled dress and frowned.

    "Are you saying my dress is all wrong?"

    "Honey everything about you is all wrong!  You've obviously been watching too many made for TV movies,"  Madame Tulane chuckled and flicked a hand through Laura's Farrah Fawcett hairdo. 

    "We're all about elegance and finesse at Tulane's; our patrons can find Anne of Green Gables at home with their wives.  They aren't looking for it here.  You've got to use subtlety and body language to enthrall a client before he even hears your voice.  If you are going to blend in with my ladies, you're going to have to have a crash course in Fashion 101."  She quipped pulling Laura firmly behind her.

    ###

    Remington expelled his breath and looked at the door in front of him.  "Showtime old boy."

    Pressing the buzzer to the left of the door he waited through the melodious tune for someone to open it.  When it was opened, a woman stood before him whose looks would melt dry ice.  She was a statuesque blonde with sparkling blue eyes.  For a split second Remington forgot his assignment and simply stood in awe of her beauty.

    "Good afternoon and welcome to Tulane's of Beverly Hills.  Do you have an appointment?"

    "He recovered himself and smiled in affirmation.  "Yes I do, the name is Pierce Denton, Miss?"

    "Paramour."  She stepped aside and let him enter.

    "Indeed you are."  Remington winked.

    Remington was shown to a plush sitting room that overlooked a manicured garden.  He was offered a glass of wine while he waited for his tour and consultation.  He wasn't kept waiting long before a well-endowed redhead strode toward him.

    "Hello Mr. Denton, I'm Candace, your personal assistant at Tulane's.  I'll be showing your around and getting you set up with the woman of your dreams."  She smiled warmly.

    "You mean you aren't her?"  Remington said boldly.

    Candace laughed and wrapped her arm though his.  "I'm sorry Mr. Denton but I'm not on staff in that capacity."

    "Pity."  Remington said with disappointment.

    They toured the house and Remington was indeed impressed.  No expense had been spared to make a client feel welcome and at ease.  Soft music piped through a sound system, water fountains and plant arrangements throughout the first floor made a tranquil setting.

    "If you'll follow me to my office we'll get you all set up."

    Remington sat down on a plush couch while Candace sat across from him in a chair.  She pulled out a thick notebook encased in leather.  "Tell me Mr. Denton..."

    "Please, call me Pierce."

    "Ok, Pierce, this is the Q & A part where you select your ideal woman from our staff.  Honesty is very important here so that we can pair you up with a woman that will fulfill your every need and desire.  So if you're ready, we'll begin."

    "Fire away Candace." 

    "We'll start with physical attributes.  What type of woman would you prefer?  Tall, short or average height?"

    Remington made sure he took a few seconds to answer each question so that he wouldn't give HIS ideal answers instead of Pierce Denton's.  He thought of Laura and had to resist the urge to ask if "control hungry termagant" was listed in her notebook.

    He made sure all his answers would point him in Laura's direction.  He wasn't sure if Madame Tulane had filled Candace in on their true identities so he wasn't taking any chances.  Laura or Andrina, as she was now called, was supposed to be new so he made sure he stressed "newcomer" on his list of requirements.  He also had the choice of a "regular" or "random" pick for entertainment.   They had decided that it would need to be random so that he could find out what the others knew about the missing Dunlow.  He would also set up regular appointments with Andrina so they could compare notes.  Once his personal tastes were selected he looked over the photographs of the women that matched his preferences.  Good Lord what a selection!

    Remington felt his loins constrict more than once, as he looked over the women available to him.  They were all stunning!  It was apparent that Madame Tulane took customer service seriously.  He was trying to make it look like he was truly having a hard time choosing when he came across Laura's picture.  Ah, the control hungry termagant.  Remington said beneath his breath. 

    Seeing Laura's picture after perusing all the other women was like a splash of cold water on his face.  He didn't understand his attraction to her at all and his frustration at their current status was starting to wear on him.  He'd been as aloof as he could since that night in his apartment.  Laura had too many demons chasing her and her lack of disclosure about them annoyed him.  Hell, it hurt too.  He thought they were at a place in their association where she could be honest and level with him about her fears.  That she'd clammed up and opted to push him away instead bothered him.  The things he said to her were out of anger and frustration and he knew instantly when the barbs had hit home. 

    But he wasn't going to feel too sorry for Laura.  She loved a good fight and could give as good as she got.  He knew retaliation was coming; it was just a matter of when.  Her personality would demand they hash out their differences; he'd learned that about her almost from the beginning.  She'd follow him around tirelessly until they "aired things out" between them.   He wasn't used to all the work he put into maintaining a personal relationship with her.  Truthfully he'd never worked this hard to get a woman into bed.  He wondered if that was part of what attracted him to her.

    "I should have my head examined."  He muttered.

    "Excuse me?"  Candace spoke up.

    "Hmm?  Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something else," he said quickly.  "Actually I think I'll start with her, Andrina."

    ###

    Laura was pacing around the bedroom and reminding herself that this was HER idea.  She was waiting for her first "client" and it wouldn't be Remington.  Laura knew that she had to appear on the up and up so that she wouldn't rouse suspicion.  Laura looked at the dress Anya Tulane had chosen for her; it was a deep purple silk dress with a low cut front and even lower back.  It was off the shoulders and had slits up either side. 

    Black pumps complimented the dress, as did the professionally styled hair by Tulane's hair designer.  Laura was shocked to find that Tulane's had a spa, hair salon and boutique to make sure that all the women were relaxed, well dressed and coiffed.  Laura's hair was waved and fell against her bear shoulders in an enticing manner.  She knew this was only an assignment but she was woman enough to appreciate the pampering and new look she'd received under her employer's watchful eye.

    The door opened across the room and Laura was brought back to the present.  She saw the middle-aged businessman enter her room and close the door firmly behind him.  She smiled seductively and crossed the room slowly for effect.  He watched her progression and smiled in male appreciation.  The hunger in his eyes boosted Laura's slightly bruised ego and made her feel as sexy as she looked.   She stopped right in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck in invitation.

    "Malcolm, so nice to meet you.  I'm Andrina and I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time together."  

    ###

    Laura looked down at the half empty glass of champagne and the prostrate man sprawled across the bed.  He hadn't been passed out that long but Laura was anxious to leave.  She'd spent the last fifteen minutes being pawed by him and her nerves were more than frayed.  Laura had already removed his clothes and threw them around the room.

    "I hope it was good for you too Malcolm."  Laura said as she punched the pillow beside him to leave a dent. 

    She sprayed her perfume lightly over the unconscious man and the bed sheets before leaving quietly.  She prayed Murphy was right and that the powder she'd put in his drink would have him out no more than an hour.  She felt that was plenty of time for him to wake up and marvel and what a great time he'd had.  He wouldn't remember a thing but she knew the tell tale signs around the room would be confirmation enough.

    Laura opened the door to her dressing room and closed it firmly behind her.  She sat at the vanity table and began repairing the damage to her makeup and hair.

    There was a brief knock at the door and then it opened.  Candace and Remington came in and stood just inside the door.

    "Hi Andrina, I hope you don't mind Mr. Denton stopping by, he insisted on meeting you before your appointment tomorrow."  Candace winked.

    "Hello Andrina, I hope you don't mind the intrusion?"  Remington said and walked further into the room.

    Laura stood up, smiled and closed the distance between them.  "Of course not Mr. Denton, I'm delighted to meet you," she said silkily.

   "Considering how close we'll be soon, I think we should be on a first name basis don't you?  Please, call me Pierce."  He replied and looked her over with heated appraisal.

    Laura smiled lazily and wrapped her arms around his neck.  She motioned a wave behind his back and Candace discreetly backed out of the room and shut the door firmly behind her but not before she saw Laura raise her lips and give her new client a firm kiss.  Remington's arms went round her and slid up her back.  He pulled her closer and returned her kiss.  They heard the door close behind them and immediately pulled apart.  Laura backed away and Remington took out a handkerchief and wiped her lipstick from his mouth.

    "So Miss Holt, how was your first night at work?"  

To Be Continued...