Off The Scale !

Debbi had planned to simply hand over the champagne to this Rosie girl and her friends and then beat a hasty retreat back stage again. But she froze in her tracks when she saw that the people with Rosie at the table were not random friends of hers but were other employees Debbi knew from that customer's company. Furthermore, she had been interacting with them only a couple of hours ago and under somewhat testy circumstances too ! Charlie, her main point of contact there, Sam, the accountant she had tough negotiations with over the price of the network and the two idiot engineers. Her level of embarrassment soared off the scale to have to be now standing in front of them totally nude. Not to mention that they must also have witnessed her performances up on stage !

The remarks came thick and fast; "Didn't expect to see you again so soon Deb", "Or so much of you", "All of you in fact", "Every inch !"

"Do you moonlight here every week then Deb ?" Sam asked with a grin. "Nah, the manager announced, she's just filling in, doing them a favour, isn't that right Deb ?" Charlie countered. "I reckon she gets off on it" Rosie suggested. "Maybe she's not so prim and proper under that snooty exterior" she added cattily. Debbi ignored them. "Here's your champagne." She thrust the bottle at Rosie and turned to go. She could feel her face burning.

Declan had come over to the table and intercepted Debbi before she could leave. He had not heard what was being said. "Everything to your liking ?" he asked Rosie, the supposed 'birthday girl'. "Just one more thing" said Rosie. "Our photographer's still here" she indicated Ivan. "Would it be OK if Debbi were to pose again around the table with all of us for one more shot ?" That hadn't been part of the deal but it was the girl's 21st after all, Declan thought. Where was the harm ? "OK" Declan agreed. "But that disclaimer you signed goes for everyone in the group" he emphasised. "Of course" laughed Rosie, her fingers crossed.

Debbi would have loved to protest, or to just run back to the dressing room. But she froze again, **** to make a scene in the middle of the club. Kaitlynne was up on stage dancing but for many punters, Debbi's close proximity down among them in the body of the club was still a major distraction. "OK, everyone gather together around Debbi" Ivan instructed them. "You go in front in the middle Debbi" he continued. Debbi felt an arm around her waist pulling her in close to the group but she could not work out which one of them it was. "Big smile everyone" Ivan demanded. "Peace signs Debbi" said Rosie.

The photo taken, Debbi turned again and began to head to the sanctuary of the dressing room. "I'll phone you on Monday Deb, to give a progress report on how the network's performed" Charlie called after her with a grin. "Nice ass" somebody else called.