Chapter 1: Introduction
I walked into the breakroom, whiping the sweat off my forehead as I entered. The air conditioning was on the fritz again, and the room was hotter than a sauna. I placed my water bottle on the table and grabbed my lunch bag from the fridge. I sat down and took a long swig from the bottle and sighed in relief.
"Hey, Dee!" Samantha called out as she entered the room. She placed her water and phone down across the table from me and went to retrieve her lunch from the fridge. I had just taken a summer job from the city about a month ago while on break from school. Samantha was one of the few friends at work I had made.
As she sat down she looked up and grinned at me. "How's it going?"
I shrugged. "Hot as hell out there today. How about you?"
Samantha laughed, "Same old, same old." She took a bite of her sandwich, chewed, and swallowed before continuing. "At least my air conditioner is working at home."
I sighed, "I thought about buying a window unit for my rental but I don't think I can quite afford it yet," I said, taking a bite of my apple. "Student budget problems."
Samantha's phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up, her eyes scanning the screen. Her expression quickly turned from casual to concerned, then upset. She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping.
"Everything okay?" I asked. While we were work friends I didn't know much about Samantha's personal life.
She looked up from her phone, and said, "The person who was supposed to help me with a gig this weekend just cancelled on me," she explained, her voice laced with frustration.
"What gig?" I asked inquisitively. "I am always looking to make extra cash."
Samantha sighed and lowered her voice, "Look, I don't want this to get out around work but I work for this entertainment company called Diamond Girls. They hire models for... various events." She paused, looking at me to gauge my reaction.
I raised an eyebrow, "You mean like... stripping?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. I had never considered doing anything like that, but I was curious.
Samantha laughed, "Sometimes..... but also like bikini and lingerie stuff. It's actually really fun, and the pay is great." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I was supposed to be a bikini model at the car show this weekend."
Samantha paused for a moment but then her eyes lit up as she looked me over, her gaze lingering on my chest. "Would you want to try? As much as you try to hid it I can tell you got a slamming body under those frumpy clothes you always wear."
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. I was a little bit of a late bloomer. While I was curvy and had quite large breasts now, I had started high-school flat-chested and with lot of acne. It took years for my body to catch up to my age, and never really developed strong body confidence. I wasn't a prude either - I really liked sex even if I was a bit shy about it.
"Me?" I asked, nearly choking on my apple. "I don't know if I could... I mean, I'm not really the type for that kind of thing." I looked down at my lunch, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Samantha waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh, come on, Dee. You're gorgeous. Plus, this is a really easy gig. You could probably afford that air conditioner." Samantha leaned back in her chair, "plus you would really be helping me out."
"So, what exactly would I have to do?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my reservations.
"It's just a car show, Dee. I think the company that hired us is called Precision Rides or something like that. From what I was told they most do car modifications for young guys with too much money. We are hired to stand around in bikinis, look pretty, pose for pictures,hand out flyers and such. You know flirt with the guys a bit, make them feel special. It's not rocket science." Samantha said, her voice casual and confident.
I bit my lip, considering her words. It did sound simple enough but the thought of standing around in a bikini, basically being eye candy for a bunch of strangers, made my stomach twist with nerves.
Samantha sensed my hesitance, "And the pay? Five hundred bucks, cash, for one day of work."
My eyes widened. I could finally afford that air conditioner. "Five hundred dollars?" I repeated with surprise in my voice. Samantha nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"Yep. And it's not like you have to do anything you don't want to. Just be yourself, Dee. You're a natural beauty, and these guys will love you for it."
I looked down at my lunch, my mind racing. I had never considered doing anything like this before. I was in university student to hopefully become a doctor someday, I wasn't a model. But the money seemed too good to pass up.
"Okay," I said nervously, looking up at Samantha. "I'll do it. But only if you promise to be there the whole time."
Samantha grinned, "Of course, Dee. I'll be right there with you. We'll be a team."
I nodded, feeling a little more at ease. "Okay. So what's the plan? When do I need to be there?"
Samantha pulled out her phone and started typing. "I'll just make sure my boss is ok with me bringing you instead. The show starts at noon, so we need to be there by 11. I'll pick you up at your place around 10:30.
I nodded, "Yeah, that sounds good. I'll be ready." I took another bite of my apple, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness churning in my stomach.
"So, what exactly do I need to bring?" I asked Samantha, trying to keep my voice steady.
Samantha looked up from her phone. "Well, they are supplying the bikini so you don't need that. But a pair of heels you are comfortable being in for a long time would be great. I should probably get your measurements too. What size bra do you wear?"
Samantha asked, her eyes scanning me up and down. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks again, but I tried to keep my voice steady.
"Um, 32F," I mumbled, looking down at my lunch. Samantha nodded, typing something into her phone.
"And your waist and hips?" she asked, not looking up.
"26 and 38," I replied, feeling self-conscious. I have had big boobs and butt for awhile not but still haven't been very good at embracing it.
Samantha looked up, her eyes meeting mine. "Damn you have a porn stars body," she laughed. "I can't wait to see you in a bikini."
I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me, but I also felt a spark of excitement. I had never been complimented like that before, and it felt good. I took a deep breath and tried to push my nerves aside.
Samantha taps around on her phone a little more, "Alright, sounds like my boss is ok with you covering this gig. If you want to work with us going forward you will have to go meet him."
Continue to work for them? I assumed this was just a one time thing. I furrowed my brows as I processed the idea. The thought of working for a company like Diamond Girls long term made her stomach churn with unease - only bad and slutty girls did that right? But making more money was tempting, and I couldn't deny there was a little thrill to the idea.
I took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll think about it. But for now, let's just get through Saturday."
Samantha grinned, "Sounds like a plan. Oh shit, looks like it is time to get back to work." She gestured at the wall clock.
We finished our lunch and headed back out into the hot summer day. As we walked back Samantha suddenly stopped and turned to me, "Oh, and Dee, you should probably pick a performance name."
I looked at her, confused. "A performance name? Why?"
Samantha rolled her eyes and laughed, "Because, you don't want someone looking you up on Facebook after a gig."
"Right that makes sense," I said, feeling a little silly for not thinking of that myself. "So, what is yours?" I asked, curious about her stage name.
"Oh, I go by Siren on the job," she replied casually.
"I guess I'll have to come up with something that fits me." I mused.
Samantha started walking towards her utility truck. "If I think of anything else you need to know, I'll text you. " she called out over her shoulder.
I watched her walk away, her hips swaying gently with each step. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at her confidence. She looked so sure of herself, so comfortable in her own skin.
I spent the rest of the day lost in thought, trying to come up with a stage name. I wanted something that was unique, something that reflected who I was. I thought about my favorite books, my favorite authors, but nothing seemed to fit. I was about to give up when it hit me. I had always loved the name Lily, but it was too common.