Bar Girl Ch. 09

Chapter 9. 'Drugs and Debt Reduction.'

Hu-Fan. Tom's special boom-boom. Mama rings the changes. Chez Mama raided. Ginalyn robbed. Nick. Second Pay-day.

Seeing the girls enter Talent Spot, Mama called Blen over and sat her down.

"I have good news. I have receive an email from a regular customer. He is a wealthy Chinese called Hu-Fan, and he will come over from Kuala Lumpur every year for a holiday with his friends. This time he will bring his friend who need a virgin, and he ask me to arrange her."

Blen sighed with relief. "Oh Mama, I was afraid it would be Bruno, I do not want Bruno."

"Well, Bruno has not made an offer," said Mama carefully, "but I believe he is serious, and he is also very rich. William tell to me he is very, very rich. If you can hook him, you will do very well. It will be a good reward for submitting to his strange requirement, so think about that carefully. Anyway, I have email your photos to Fu-Han, and we will wait what he will say."

"When will he come?"

"In five weeks."

Very shortly after Amor took the stage for her first set, her customer entered the bar and waved her down to sit with him. Amor signalled ladies drink for her and Blen, he nodded, and they came and sat with him.

"Tom, this is my friend Blen, she will chat you while I change."

"OK. You two look like twins, are you sisters?"

"She is my soul sister only," answered Amor.

"OK. Hurry back, I'm missing you."

Tom had beads of perspiration on his forehead, as if he had arrived in a hurry. Blen took a napkin and wiped his face. He began to ask excitedly about Amor. How long had Blen known her? How long had she been in Angeles? Did she have a husband? A boyfriend? A regular customer? Was she popular? How often was she bar-fined? Is she honest? Does she take drugs? Does she get drunk? What is her favourite kind of guy? Does she like foreign guys? Does she like older guys? What does she like to eat? Where does she like to go bar-hopping? What would she like as a present?

Blen lied only about the drugs and boyfriend.

Amor returned in her street dress.

"You look sooo beautiful," Tom told her, and she flicked her head back and smiled. "I don't know how you could look more beautiful," he added, "but maybe if you were wearing this."

From his pocket he took a box, and from the box, a necklace that sparkled colourfully. With a shriek of delight, Amor bent forward to receive it, then slipped off her stool and stood in front of the mirror wall to admire it.

Returning to Tom's lap, she embraced him and pressed her lips passionately against his. "Thank you ... Thank you ... Thank you." She hugged him tightly.

Blen sat in silence, and watched. Amor was perched like a pretty doll in Tom's lap, kissing his face, rubbing his arm and caressing his ego as he immersed himself in the pleasure of her attention.

Eventually, Tom asked, "Now where would you like to go?"

Amor kissed him and gazed up into his eyes, "It is up to you. You are the boss."

They left, bidding Blen goodbye.

Amor led Tom out into Fields Avenue. As they passed through the door, Blen saw Bruno enter. Her heart bounced and she sat, frozen, looking in his direction. He immediately sought her attention, waved, came over, and mounted the stool opposite. While he ordered mineral water, and a ladies drink, Blen remained sullen and silent.

He sipped his water and looked at her purposefully. "I've decided to buy your cherry."

The anger burning inside Blen must have shone in her eyes.

He blinked and added apologetically, "I've also decided to marry you."

Blen frowned in puzzlement.

He elaborated, "Yes, I will marry you, and you will be very rich. You will have a big house, a car, and servants, and all your family can come and live with you."

In the long pause that followed, Bruno could see in Blen's eyes the kaleidoscope of emotions and questions churning inside her head.

"But ... why?" she forced out belatedly.

Bruno replied with the tone of a man explaining the flatteringly obvious, "You are a goddess whore. You are what the corrupt part of every man desires, and I desire you."

"You said you would turn me into shit," spat back Blen.

Bruno was irritated that Blen had spurned his compliment by reminding him of his rashly honest words. "Either you will consume me, or I will consume you. Now, you are consuming me," he said.

Their eyes locked in confrontation, until Blen broke the silence.

"Do you love me?"

"You are a goddess, I worship you," said Bruno.

"Then why you rape my throat?" she challenged.

"You made me do that. You have power that you do not understand and cannot control. You looked into my eyes and you hypnotised me. You told me to take my pleasure as it pleased me. You have dangerous eyes, your looks are commands. You commanded me."

Blen thought of Amor, looking into Tom's eyes, and telling him, "It is up to you. You are the boss," and, in a way, she understood. Tom would never be the boss. He would spend his life guessing what Amor, or his next girl, really wanted; their unspoken wish his command. She paused. "Ring the bell," she ordered.

Their eyes locked again. Eventually, Bruno's face broke into a wry smile. He walked over and rang the bell, and the dancers and waitresses cheered and shrieked uproariously.

When all the girls held a glass in their hands, he toasted, "Blen's maidenhead."

This provoked much vulgarity.

Mama joined them at the table. "I am glad you two have put last night's misunderstanding behind you."

"We understand each other better now," said Bruno. "I will buy her cherry."

"You can bid ... But I already have an offer," said Mama.

"The Chinaman?" asked Blen.

"No. You have a secret admirer. He call me tonight."

"How much has he offered," asked Bruno casually, adding, "I will offer more."

"50,000 pesos."

"Who is that?" asked Blen, intrigued.

"I cannot say. Client confidentiality," said Mama.

Bruno's face turned stony. After a short silence, he growled, "You have an anonymous man who has offered 50,000, and I am to pay more."

"Yes," said Mama. "If you give me 50001 pesos, now, you can take Blen home tonight."

Blen choked on her drink. "Just like that Mama?"

"If Bruno wants you. Yes."

Bruno's hooded eyes grew darker. "I will not be made a fool. There is no anonymous offer. You are just holding me to ransom because I have money."

Mama affected frankness. "There is a genuine offer on the table. You can easily afford to beat it. It is pocket fluff to you."

Bruno was close to losing control. He glared at Mama, stood up, and handed his tabs to the waitress. "I will not be treated fraudulently because I am a foreigner. I will beat any open and certain offer. I am a businessman, I will not be played for a fool." He ostentatiously counted out five 1000 pesos and slipped them in his tab-jar. "Keep the change," he told the overjoyed waitress. He then unfurled ten 1000 peso notes, and placed them in Blen's hand. "There, my little goddess, that is but a drop in the ocean that I keep for you. We can plan more, soon." With a final glare at Mama, he walked stiffly out of the bar.

Mama's eyes followed him, then turned back to Blen. "What are you planning Blen?"

"He wants to marry me," Blen said morosely, "but I do not want him ... Who is my secret admirer? Maybe I like him better?"

"He is someone who has seen you and he like your style."

"Was he my customer?"

"No. You did not meet him. But he saw you. And he think you have possibilities."

"What sort of possibilities?"

"He is a movie maker," said Mama. "He want you for a movie."

"What movie? How can I be in a movie? What does he want?" Blen thrust out her chin as she barked each question.

Mama was exasperated. "I cannot answer your questions. He mention only possibilities. But his offer is firm."

"Bruno also say my possibilities. But what is it?" Blen wondered out loud.

She danced the evening out, declining blow-jobs while her throat was still sore.

Amor returned to the lady-house in the middle of the following afternoon. Blen was squatting on the bed with Precious. Girlie had gone swimming with Anabel in the hope of fitting in a bonus short-time before work. Amor clambered onto the bed, and they all hugged.

"Congratulations!" said Amor, grinning at Blen.

"For what?" said Blen, dejectedly.

"For getting married."

"But I am not getting married."

"Not? Everybody is talking that you will marry Bruno. He has paid your bar-fine for one month."

This was news to Blen. "Who tell to you that?" she asked. "I cannot go bar-fine. He has not bought my cherry."

"Mama herself tell me. She say you cannot go short-time. No more blow-jobs for one month. He just want you for himself."

"Maybe he will want his blow-job every night; maybe he will rape my throat again," Blen contemplated, ruefully.

"No. Mama said he is gone away in Europe for one month, he just reserve you for his return."

Blen suddenly bounced on the bed and clapped her hands with delight. "He is gone ... he is really gone?"

"Yes, for one month," Amor confirmed.

Blen bounced some more, and then, as she subsided, said in a lighter tone, the tension in her voice dissipated, "And, Precious also have good news."

"Darren also want to support me," said Precious.

"Also?" queried Amor.

"Klaus will send me support also."

"But, what about marriage?" asked Amor.

"Like Mama say, until I am ask, I must secure myself. It is first come, first served. Until then I must accept all interests," explained Precious.

"Do you tell these guys you still work?" asked Amor.

"I say I will live in the province, but if I do go in the province I may miss a sincere guy. It is too much risk, so I will just take my holiday before they return."

"And you, Amor. How is your bar-fine?" Blen asked, "He seem to like you a lot."

"He is very sweet. It is his first time in Angeles; he has save up because his wife give him a hard time."

"Wife! Oh dear, he is not available," said Precious.

"No, but he love me," said Amor, "he will come back to see me soon, but his wife must think he is somewhere else."

"Did he enjoy his special boom-boom?" asked Blen meaningfully.

"Oh yes. He is so excited. The first time he fuck my ass, he is crying. He call his wife a fucking sadistic bitch. He really hate with her. He wish he meet me twenty years ago"

"It will be your mother twenty years ago," reminded Blen. "Will he bar-fine you again?"

"Yes," said Amor, "but tonight he will go bar-hop, he like to enjoy Angeles."

"Go butterfly?" said Precious, "You must not let him go butterfly."

"He is not available. Let him have his joy." Amor was philosophical. "I like a guy who is available, like you and Blen have. I want Danny. I like to be married."

That evening, at Talent Spot, Mama explained to Blen what had occurred. "It is complicated. But you are a lucky girl. Your pussy is a gold mine.

"First, Fu-Han has email to me that his friend see your photos and is very happy with you. I email that I have already an offer of 50,000. He call me to say to wait, he will talk with his friend. Then he call me to say his friend will pay an option to bid on your cherry, but he want to meet with you first, he will buy a six-week option. I offer another girl, but he does not like another girl, so he will keep his chance to bid with a 50,000p, no-return deposit. He will transfer the money. I will check my account tomorrow, but it is certain.

"Then Bruno come in. He say he will buy now for 50,001, because he is to go in Europe. In addition, he like to marry with you when he return. I tell him I have an option. He say he will beat any offer, but I tell him I do not get an offer for six weeks, then he can decide. He is upset because he can buy you last night for 50,001 pesos but he refuse, now he look a fool - but he is willing to be a fool for you.

"You have hook him. He is jealous even that you give the blow-job. I tell him he can pay your bar-fine while he is away, then you will only dance. He say he do not like you to dance, but I tell him you are my headline girl, so I need you to dance, and anyway, I can guard your cherry if you are in Talent Spot. He has pay a one-month bar-fine. 37200 pesos."

"What does all this mean?" asked Blen, unable to grasp everything at one telling.

"It mean," said Mama, with exhilaration in her voice, "you will keep your cherry for another six weeks, then Bruno and Fu-Han will bid against one another. And, just for staying virginal for six weeks, you get 18,600p, the bar gets 18,600 and I get 50,000. That is just for options. Think how much then they will actually bid for your cherry."

Blen looked down and rubbed her groin. "Why is it my pussy?" Is my pussy different to other girls?"

"It is not your pussy, Blen," said Mama, "It is your eyes, your smile, the way you move. It is your personality they like to fuck. It is never about the pussy, it is all in the head. You can control their minds and do not know you do it."

"Bruno said that also. But I do not make them do bad things."

"You make them free to be what they like to be, but you are not responsible for what they like to be," Mama assured her, "And, there is more." She opened a drawer, took out a cell phone, and handed it to Blen. "This is your gift from Bruno. He will like to speak with you while he is away."

Blen held the phone, and stared at it, bug-eyed. It was better than any she had seen at Savers or SM Malls. It was a touch-pad smart-phone with lots of icons and apps.

"It is subscription. You do not have to pay. Bruno pay. And it is data also, you can internet with it."

Her face fell. "But then, will he call me?"

"He is in love to you. He will marry with you. Of course he will call to you while you are apart. And he has enter his number, so you can call to him." Mama spoke as if admonishing a child to eat its porridge.

Daddy's grumpiness was deflected from the girls by events up Perimeter Road. If there was one thing he enjoyed more than giving vent on the girls, it was giving vent on the authorities. An experienced club owner, Rodney, who Daddy Don knew well, had been locked up on a charge of sexually assaulting his four-year-old daughter.

"Some fucker has sent an anonymous email to the NBI, alleging he's assaulting the girl. That's it. No statement. No affidavit. No evidence. But Rod is locked up, and now and he's being hit for 90,000 pesos for bail. He's lived here for years, he's married with a Filipino wife, he's well connected, but it counts for nothing with these fuckers. One anonymous email and they can wrap him up in red tape. He's in jail, and his daughter is taken away by Welfare. They'll even lock up a four-year-old kid to get some leverage. His wife is trying to raise the bail on security of his properties. But fuck knows how much he'll need to pay to make this go away. The fuckers have asked for 1.5 million pesos to arrange his exit from the country. Well he ain't going. It maybe that someone just wants to take over his clubs. Or maybe get revenge. An anonymous email, an envelope full of cash and the NBI swing into action."

That evening, Blen and Amour developed their double act while on stage, and sat with Precious and Girlie between sets, discovering the workings and delights of Bruno's gift, her new cell phone.

Customers were now very few. Outside, the rain persisted, sometimes light, sometimes heavy. Lightning flashed through the evening sky, and even when the rain relented, electrical storms silently flickered between the clouds, lighting them up at random, beautiful but menacing. Fields Avenue frequently flowed with rainwater, or was plunged into darkness as the electricity supply failed. Brownouts were now routine, sometimes four or five times a day. Inside Talent Spot, these brownouts were marked only by slurring of the music, and a few seconds on standby lighting while the backup generator kicked in.

The bar scene, like a perennial plant, passes through an annual cycle of growth, flowering, fruitfulness, die back and hibernation. It was now in hibernation, and Talent Spot, though well positioned on Fields Avenue, needed a strategy to secure its share of the available trade. Daddy Don and Mama Mutia sat in the rear and discussed a program of promotional events. There were two ready standbys, Daddy's birthday and the anniversary of the opening of Talent Spot. Tuesday 17th October was pencilled in for Daddy's birthday and Monday 13th November for the anniversary party.

The following night, Mama introduced the first promotional changes. Amor was to take Blen's position as headline girl. She had mastered all Blen's moves, and bore a striking resemblance to her. Girlie would provide a short-time service, now to be 'a suck n' a fuck', in the booth. Blen was to become a shooters girl. She would wear a cowgirl costume with bottles of tequila in her holsters and glasses in her bandoleer, and limes and salt etc. She would go from customer to customer selling tequila shots. The selling point was that she would provide the customer with a body shot if he bought a drink for her - and he could take a body shot on her if he bought himself a certain number of drinks. The body shot consisted in taking the after-shot, the lime and salt, from the nipples of the customer, or shooters girl, as the case may be. This could be done very sensuously. Mama was satisfied that this came within the limitations imposed by Bruno's bar-fine.

The evening passed slowly. The girls got a gentle practice in their new roles, but business remained flat. Blen wondered how this would affect her earnings. She would need to sell five or ten shots to earn the equivalent of one short-time, twenty to thirty to maintain her previous level of earning, and that seemed very unlikely. She did, however, have 18,600 pesos in advance bar fine to cushion her for the next six weeks, which would be paid pro-rata in her salary over the next month. To fill the long, becalmed periods, she spent time looking at her reflection and developing a dance that did not seem inelegant in her cowgirl costume, and did not spill the bottles or glasses. At least, being a shooters girl meant she had the opportunity to approach and pitch every customer. She knew that the opportunity to speak with the customer was a necessary precondition to a relationship, or even a bar-fine or body shot, so this was an opportunity to select a preferred customer.

On Thursday night, there was a steady flow, but far from a flood, of customers. By half-past-ten Blen had sold a few shooters, and the evening was ticking over slowly when a Filipino hurried through the door. Seeing Mama, he rushed up, and quickly imparted a message. She pointed to the rear, and as the Filipino made his way back, Mama approached the stage. Waving all the girls to her she began to speak urgently.

As Blen approached to listen, the group was breaking up.

"What is it?" Blen asked Girlie, "What has happened?"

"There have been raids. We must dress properly, no bold shows, no short-times."

Daddy emerged from the rear with the Filipino and came over to Mama. Blen moved in close to listen.

"Mama," said Daddy, "make sure the girls behave tonight. If we get hit, there must be nothing going on, and nothing out of order. Any bar-fined girls must leave the bar. No more bar-fines this evening. Tell the girls that if any of them have anything they don't want the police to find in their bags, to flush it down the CR, now."

Mama turned to the stage, and called out in Tagalog. She gathered the waitresses, and passed the same message, telling then to ensure everybody knew the instructions. Several girls made their way to the rear, including Amor and Anabel. There was one bar-fined girl still in the bar with her customer. Mama approached the customer and explained the situation. He counted his tab, and put several notes in his jar.