A Bump On The Head

by Debbifan

Part 6

It had taken Debbi a long time to fall asleep. She had lain there running imaginary conversations through her head, in which she rehearsed her arguments to deny that she was the blonde dancer on stage at Pussy Paradise, should that ever become necessary. But once she finally did fall asleep, she overslept and consequently had to grab a quick bowl of cereal before taking a hurried shower. As she stood naked in her bedroom blow drying her hair, she considered what to wear for her final gig this lunchtime as Kaitlynne's stand-in. Some guy's leaving do. The Ann Summers lingerie set, complete with stockings and suspenders, lay on her bed. Whilst carefully applying a heavier set of makeup than she would normally wear for work, she settled on the idea of a sexy secretary look. A crisp white blouse, leaving an extra button undone, together with the tightest and shortest black skirt that she owned, that only fell to mid thigh and that she hardly ever had occasion to wear.

Satisfied, Debbi rushed to the car and set off for the pub in Camberley. It was only as she hit the dual carriageway that she realized she had once again forgotten the blonde wig. A quick glance at the digital clock in the car told her that there was not time to turn around and go back for it.

As she walked nervously into the pub in which she was booked to perform, Debbi was disconcerted to hear a voice say "Debbi, what are you doing here ?" "Oh, Sonia. Hi, I was just passing" Debbi replied lamely. "Like the new look" remarked the woman who had accosted her, though the look of disdain suggested she was scornful of the uncharacteristic amount of cleavage and leg that Debbi was displaying. Debbi was aghast. She knew Sonia from networking among the other local I.T. companies. "What are you doing here ?" she felt compelled to ask. "It's Kemal's leaving do. You ought to know all about that, your lot poached him !"

The cogs of Debbi's brain began whirring and the conclusion they were coming to had hideous implications. She did indeed know that this young programmer Kemal was joining her team. It had been her that had interviewed him for goodness sake. But that was weeks ago and had completely slipped her mind in the intervening period while he worked his notice. She hadn't dreamed that this gig would be his leaving do. What the hell was she going to do ? "Come and join us at the bar" Sonia called before Debbi could come to any conclusion.

Debbi desperately scanned the room as she followed Sonia over to the bar. She saw the guy Kemal at a corner table, centre of attention to a small crowd. There was nobody else there that she recognized but that was a small mercy; Sonia and Kemal were more than enough to make the situation untenable. She had to try and gather her thoughts. "Take a pew" Sonia offered as they reached the bar. "Guys, this is Debbi. She's going to be Kemal's new boss" she introduced her to a couple of fellow managers at the bar. Debbi clambered up onto a bar stool and the tight mini skirt immediately travelled up her legs towards her crotch. Crossing her legs only succeeded in revealing her stocking tops and a stretch of white thigh. "Didn't have you down as a stockings girl Debbi." Sonia smirked at Debbi's discomfort as the latter tugged ineffectually at the hem of her skirt. Sonia took out her mobile. "Just need to call someone, we've got a bit of a situation" she explained.

Debbi hoped that her face did not betray her as she listened to Sonia's one way conversation on the phone. "Your girl still hasn't turned up....I couldn't care less if she's a stand in or not, we paid good money for a show....How does it help me if you sack the regular girl ?....Yeah, OK, you phone her but I expect results.... Sorry about that" Sonia said to Debbi , just as Debbi's mobile phone rang. She took it out and looked at the number before declining to take the call. She had been horrified by the implied threat to terminate Kaitlynne's contract. Apart from anything else, that would render all that she had already done this week pointless. She decided to throw herself on Sonia's mercy. Surely as a serious business woman she would have some fellow feeling for her counterpart ? After all, Kemal was not expecting a surprise stripper and would not register the failure of one to appear. And Debbi could offer to recompense the fee for the booking.

Lowering her voice, Debbi leaned in and quickly explained the circumstances and that she was doing a good turn for a friend and how it would be so embarrassing for her to have to perform here and now under these circumstances. But instead of being sympathetic and understanding as Debbi had hoped, an ominous smile spread slowly over Sonia's face. "I must admit, I did wonder about the slutty outfit" was all that she said once Debbi had finished talking. Instead, she took out her phone again.

"Yeah, she's here now but she says she's not going to dance....Some story about there being someone in the pub that knows her...We booked with your agency in good faith expecting a professional service....Yeah, I'll hold the line." Sonia looked at Debbi with a big grin as Debbi's phone rang once more. This time she picked up and Sonia was able to hear both ends of the conversation. "Yes, I know I agreed to help Kaitlynne but I know some of these people....I know that's not your problem...I can pay back the booking fee....Trust Pilot ?....Yes, I do know the damage a negative review can do....But you can't sack Kaitlynne, that's not fair, she has a sick baby and a Jack Russell....Sod it then, OK." Debbi ended the call.

"Oh, so she will now then will she ? Thank you." Sonia also ended her call. "Oh dear Debbi" she grinned. "Looks like you're going to have to get your kit off !"

"And we expect the Full Monty too, that's what we stipulated in the contract !" Sonia was gleeful. She didn't have any particular personal animus towards Debbi but she did have a sadistic streak and this was just too good an opportunity to pass up with which to humiliate a rival. Plus, they had hired a stripper after all. And Debbi had seemingly volunteered willingly to help out this friend of hers. It was all just too delicious.

Seeing the look on Debbi's face, Sonia did decide to relent just a little. "Look, I'll cut you some slack" she told her. "I won't tell anyone who you are. They'll just think of you as the stripper. It'll only be me and Kemal that'll know."

"But you told those two guys when I came in" Debbi pointed out, indicating the other managers sitting nearby, who had been observing with great interest her unequal battle to stop the mini skirt bunching up completely around her waist. "Oh yeah" Sonia admitted. "But they're not really here for Kemal's leaving. They just came for a spot of lunch and will probably go as soon as they finish eating. You stay over here at the bar and I'll call you over when we're ready for you."

Debbi could hear snatches of the speeches from across the room. The usual mix of anecdotes recalling amusing incidents, thanks for all the hard work Kemal had put in and best wishes for success in his future career. The card that everyone had signed was produced and the DAB radio that had been bought as a gift handed over. Debbi then heard Sonia raise her voice. "That leaves just one final gift for Kemal before we all head on back to work. Cue the music" she called.

Sonia looked over to the bar and beckoned Debbi forward, just as someone pulled up the file from their phone and the brassy sound of the traditional stripper theme began to blare out. Debbi tried her best to paint a fixed smile onto her face as she climbed down off of the bar stool and tugged at her inadequate skirt. Slowly she started walking over to the expectant group.