Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 19:02:55 GMT -5
CW: If you do not want to read sexual content that is abusive in nature, don't read.
III½
It was pretty damn easy to hate someone like Danny Levi. Observers could quickly pick out a multitude of ‘-isms’ after a few interactions. He was angry, brash, and rude. There were times that Danny was careless in his profession and put Adrienne in harm’s way. Or maybe it was intentional, but she would rather not believe that.
But there was something about him that the keenest observers couldn’t understand. Not even her parents but what did Angie Straussler know? Adrienne’s dad was a dumbass drunk and he’d been out of the picture by her 17th birthday.
Danny had always been there for her. Had always promised her the world. Something. Anything would be better than just following in her mom’s footsteps cutting hair. People didn’t know how sweet Danny could be. Or how his sense of humor worked.
But the night before Danny became Magnificent, she saw a different man altogether. Back in the summer of 09, Adrienne was just 19 years old. The Levis were a new everything. Notably, newish employees of Clearwater’s Best Wrestling. There she was on the balcony of James Fairman’s luxury suite. As promised, it gave a clear view of the crystal blue Atlantic. The sun was just starting to set and it would be a splendid sight if not for the circumstances.
Glamour shots were a funny thing. Adrienne was all knees and elbows. Her hair was dark, thick, and unmanageable somedays. Danny had insisted on contacts and well, Adrienne didn’t argue. Her glasses were something akin to what Sally Jessy Rapheal wore. Apparently some talk show host Angie would watch religiously when Adrienne was just a kid. The acne had cleared up mostly. However, all of the pomp and circumstance couldn’t cover up that she had braces to correct an overbite. They’d been on for nearly two years … so any day now and she could have popcorn again.
All of that didn’t matter to Danny, though. All of those imperfections washed away because to Danny she was a grown woman and he was her man.
And business is what grown women do.
Adrienne sighed. She’d been ushered out of the room. Menfolk talk, Jimmy said in a tone that implied that Adrienne’s brain couldn’t comprehend such a thing.
The glass door slid open and her husband joined him.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Nice, huh?”
Adrienne just nodded.
“So Jimmy.”
There was a long period of silence between the two. The sunset really was beautiful.
“Adrienne, so about Jimmy.”
“I don’t really like him.”
“I don’t either but he … likes us.”
Adrienne shook her head at that. All dinner and afterwards, James Fairman was less than complimentary of Danny. All of his praise was backhanded.
“Ade. You know what our bank account balance is right now?”
“Dunno.”
“Minus three hundred forty seven dollars.”
Danny moved closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“You know how much you and I are going to make tomorrow night? Combined?”
“You just deposit both checks anyway--”
“Thirty five fuckin’ dollars.”
“Don’t swear at me, Danny.”
“...sorry.”
Adrienne let it go, he was clearly trying to get to make a point.
“Mister Fairman made us an offer. New contracts. Bonuses. Merchandise points. A chance to be stars.”
That made no damn sense. Adrienne felt uneasy about Danny’s sudden enthusiasm. She ducked under his arm and went backwards, shuffling her feet awkwardly.
“New contracts for us and I wasn’t in there?”
“He’s old fashioned.”
“...that’s just stupid.”
She didn’t want to be here anymore. This place was wrong. Danny stayed where he was. The sun was almost gone now on the horizon.
“If we don’t accept this offer then we’re gonna lose the apartment. Already a month behind. You’re going to have to move back home and … I don’t know where I’d go. Your mom hates me. She won’t have me there.”
“We’re married now. This isn’t like before.”
Danny turned around finally, that smile returning.
“We are. We’re in this together now. This guy? He’s going to change our lives. He just wants a favor tonight. And every once in awhile.”
“Danny?”
“That’s all he wants.”
He kept repeating that to himself, the smile wavering through some type of apparent frustration.
“You can’t mess this up. This is our lives, Adrienne.”
“Mess what up? You’re making no sense.”
Moving back towards her, they were now face to face. He held her hands in his. He spoke solemnly. Something only reserved for Danny’s more serious moments.
“Just. Go in there. He’s waiting. Then tomorrow, it’s the start of a new life.”
Gently squeezing her hands, he continued his persuasion that this was far from hyperbole.
“A new car. Maybe a house in Greenbriar. You always liked it there.”
“Really?”
“Would I lie to you?”
Adrienne believed wholeheartedly that he never would. Well, not a lie that would hurt her. Sometimes he lied about stuff but it was okay. Lying was okay sometimes, she had concluded.
With a deep breath, Adrienne let go of Danny and turned towards the room. For whatever reason, it was pretty dark through the glass. She wrapped her fingers around the handle and slid the door open. It caught briefly on the track and the pane rattled as she opened the door the rest of the way.
Stepping aside, the room was cool as the air conditioning was on blast.
“Close the door.”
She wasn’t sure where the voice was coming from.
“Danny?”
“Don’t worry about him.”
With some more difficulty, she closed the door behind her. Danny’s back was to her. It was like she was a million miles away. Back in the room, no lights were turned on. The only illumination came from the various electrical appliances in the room. Adrienne didn’t get a good look but this wasn’t like any hotel room she had ever stayed in. This was like a house in itself.
Straight ahead, she saw another light source. Right under the floor door. Right into the hallway. Right to the nearest stairwell. Out of here. Forget this. Forget Danny. Forget whatever the hell this was.
“Don’t be shy, girly. I’m back here. Room at the end of the hall.”
But that attitude was selfish. Adrienne wasn’t stupid. Was easier to just deny the obvious. Walking out that door would solve nothing in the long run, so instead - she went towards the voice of James Fairman. The door to his room was just open a sliver and there was a light inside there, too. When she pushed the door inwards, the hinges creaked. The light revealed itself to be from some scented candles. Strawberries, she guessed. The king size bed was still made up. In the corner, there he was. Reclined in a leather computer chair. His face was illuminated as he pulled from a cigar.
“Okay, I’m here.”
“That you are.”
Chuckling, he looked her over. Her appearance was nothing new, they’d all just been at his restaurant a few hours earlier. But his interest was tenfold all of a sudden.
“Daniel’s a lucky boy. But in the spirit of generosity, he wanted to share. Quid pro quo. You know what that is, little birdie?”
Of course she did, what a ridiculous question … but Adrienne just instinctively shook her head.
“Your husband and I came to an agreement. It’s like … you scratch my back, I scratch yours.”
Fairman stood up. Adrienne noticed briefly that he was only clothed in a pair of white briefs. His belly jiggled as he sauntered over to her.
“But you’re good for more than that. What’s your name again?”
“Ad..Adrienne.”
The scent of his cologne now overpowered the candles. This was the first man other than Danny who had been this close to her.
“That’s one stupid name. That’s okay, though. Maybe I’ll grow to love it.”
Pressing against her, he put a rough calloused hand against her cheek.
“You know mine,” Jimmy put a fat finger just into her mouth, “Daddy.”
Tracing along the metal, he bared a shark toothed grin.
“No teeth.”
Fairman’s other hand clasped on her now bare shoulder, as he had discretely slipped the strap of the dress off. That hand forced her downwards into the darkness.
The next years were as Danny promised. And the visits to James Fairman got easier, too. After all, it was part of the deal. A part that the two wouldn’t discuss. But Danny knew and so did she.
Every Thursday night.
Same resort.
Same room.
Same smell.