'It's lucky that Angel's gone.' She had been counting and found there would be twelve at the club tonight. 'They refuse to serve groups of people, where there's thirteen of you. He would have made it thirteen!'

'Nearer fourteen!' Several laughed at Pat's joke. 'You know this place well. Tell us about it!'

'It's about an hour from here, somewhere between Brentwood and Billericay. In real Essex!' She wasn't too sure, as she had only been once a few years ago, when the comedian had asked her to repeat the drunk act, he had seen in Vegas. 'We've got the same coach booked and I may not know where it is, but I'm assured the driver does!'

'What's the club like? Food? Entertainment? Jazz?' Greg always liked to be prepared and correctly dressed. 'Is it casual dress or do I wear something more formal!'

'The club is interesting to say the least and I'll leave that for you to find out for yourselves.' She thought for a few moments on how best to describe the entertainment. 'The entertainment is definitely new-fashioned variety with a definite Essex touch. Food's supposed to be good too!'

'Comedians, singers, acrobats, bands!' Greg was trying to get a feel for the entertainment. 'Does that sum it up?'

'Well! Yes and no! Do you remember the Good Old Days on television, where everyone dressed up in Victorian clothes to compliment the acts?' Some nodded, but most of the Americans shook their heads. 'Well! It's like that in that the audience gets dressed up to match the mood of the place.'

'And what is that?'

'Erotically sexy, with just about the right balance between what is fun and what is objectionable or even illegal!'

***

For most of the afternoon, Lucinda had deprived the five men of all female company, confining them to the lounge, with plenty of coffee, tea, fruit juice and as much wine and spirits as they needed. The men had spilt into two groups. All were earnestly discussing the future.

George was being the diplomat and was taking Russ through every part of the deal, the probable divorce from Sally and all of the things he could and should do, to keep the largest proportion of his substantial gains. George had also phoned Russ' father, Jim in Las Vegas and had brought him into the conversation. As he had rightly suspected, the father was all for the son bowing out gracefully. He was even pleased to hear that Sally was probably going, as he didn't think that she was intelligent and supportive enough for his son.

The others debated the future of Zyzzx. Pat was playing the honest broker, as he had decided that come what may, he would spend at least six months travelling and would only then decide whether to accept an open and generous offer from the new Zyzzx. He felt that over the last few months, he had come to know most of the senior people well and would certainly back others, if they wanted Greg to be the new Chief Executive Officer. He definitely would not propose his friend for any post of any responsibility!

But the next CEO was very much a matter of supposition, as although Greg and Lucinda had directorial responsibilities, and Greg would probably act in that position, the choice would be very much one for Adams and his new investors.

What was less so, was the future of the joint company's products. The merger had given them a product line-up that was probably superior to any of their competitors and they would be a formidable force for the next few years. They would have at least two years for an encore. The three of them had plenty of ideas for that, but they all knew of the great software paradox.

Many companies have produced good software, that is thoroughly reliable and does a faultless job. However, as time goes on, despite the software still being the best, sales fall because nothing new or radical has been released. This pressure results in the release of flowery, bug-ridden uncompetitive versions on the one hand or sales are lost to inferior products, aggressively sold by competitors. Management then panics and a good company ends up in deep trouble. No-one has ever learnt how to sell software on its quality and reliability!

Their discussions were ended, when at six, Lucinda appeared in a dressing gown and told them to go and smarten up, as the coach would be leaving soon after seven. Before that, they were all to assemble in the lounge a quarter of an hour before.

***

'Where are the girls then?' George was asking the obvious question, as all the men sat waiting in the lounge. 'Lucinda's up to something, as why would she have arranged the chairs in a semi-circle? She can't seem to forget she's not in show business any more!'

He did not get an opinion from any of the others, as they were probably all thinking the same, especially as it was getting near to seven and they had already heard the coach stop in the road outside the house. However, all possible conversation was completely stopped dead, by Lucinda's entrance into the room. The very short, deep red, velvet dress was cut full and almost emphasised rather than hid her condition. As she turned and twirled, they all saw it was cut much lower at the back. And they had all thought that the front only just verged on the right side of decency and good taste. Especially for a lady of her predicament.

'That's not very Essex!' He was remembering and contrasting her appearance with when she had brought him breakfast in Las Vegas. 'Your Benidorms are the wrong colour!'

She winked at him and raised two fingers in a classic rude gesture. 'We're running late, so I'd better get everybody else in.' She took a couple of paces backwards and clapped her hands. 'Sin, Dex, Melanie!'

The three girls entered, each in short sequinned dresses and abbreviated bolero jackets in a primary colour, with matching hair, shoes and identical make-up, which made them almost appear to be triplets. Certainly, it was difficult to prove which was Melanie, as they took their bow!

'Now girls!' Lucinda was standing behind the three girls. 'Show the punters your knickers!' They all turned and bent over, lifting the skirts of their dresses, presenting their immaculate bottoms and showing underwear in the same colours as the dresses. Well almost! The men all laughed as they could see, that the twins, who were dressed in blue and yellow, were wearing pants in the opposite colour. They thought it was the twins, as each garment had the appropriate name embroidered in large letters.

Lucinda could not see the cause for the laughter, certainly from where she was standing. 'What's funny!' Walking round to the front, she smiled and joined in, as she saw the offence the twins had committed. 'So which one of you is Sin!' Two left hands were raised. And one was from the girl in red! Lucinda's face showed her annoyance at the misbehaviour.

'Now girls!' Lucinda was trying to regain a little control. 'Take your jackets off and complete the show.' One by one the girls removed the jackets to reveal six perfect naked breasts. 'Well boys! Do you like that? I think you are getting the message about the club!'

***

Lucinda called Suzanne next.

Her outfit was the same stunning one in blue, that she had worn in Orlando, except that this time there was no need for the extra make-up and the application of the stars had been much more artistic. She made no pretence of hiding her relationship and sat on the arm of her lover's chair, putting her arm round a very appreciative Russ.

'Now let's have the last two of you!' Lucinda was showing a degree of impatience, as she knew they would soon be running late. 'Come on! don't be shy!'

The two women emerged hand-in-hand, with the lawyer being almost dragged by the housekeeper, who was wearing a stunning leather dress, cut tightly to her trim waist, with a lattice of straps that partly covered her breasts. The straps still allowed the rings in her nipples to show prominently and they were accentuated by being connected by a heavy gold chain.

But it was the lawyer, who excited one of the five men more. George could not believe the transformation, that had been performed on his wife. The grey that had crept into her hair over the previous ten years, had been returned to its previous warm colour. Her skilful make-up made her look many years younger and her dress was not normally one that he would have expected her to wear. He suspected Lucinda had carried out the threat, she had made earlier in the year at the convention to create a vision that George would remember for the rest of his life.

'I feel a total idiot!' Chris didn't seem to be happy, but she did have a smile on her face. 'One day, I'll get even with you, Lucinda! What would my colleagues think, if they knew I was wearing a corset under a rubber dress, about six inches above the knee!'

'I think most of them would like it!' Lucinda knew that of all the firms in Boston, Goldbergs was possibly one of the most male-dominated. 'If they knew you were wearing stockings, they'd like it even better!'

***

The club was unlike anything, anybody had ever seen before.

Built almost like a miniature Coliseum, rows of boxes looked down on a centre stage, which was surrounded by about fifty tables for those parties, who were there to show themselves to the populace of England's most maligned county. A demure waitress in a long plain black dress, with a high neck and long sleeves that revealed absolutely nothing, had shown them to two tables with perhaps one of the best views in the house.

Gradually one by one, they all realised one of the rules. None of the nakedness and little of the eroticism was provided by the club. It was provided by the customers.

Copyright 1999 by Ewart Higgins