Sex, Money, and Fame - 5. Chapter 5- Dirty Girl

Caroline has known Patrick Douglas since she was a little girl. Mr. Douglas is her dad's manager for the last ten years of his life. Her dad always spoke fondly of him. So he was the first person she wanted to represent her.

"And I've been writing songs," She started rambling as they ate lunch together, "I already know exactly what I wanted to wear on the album cover. And I really want to tour Europe."

"Caroline," Mr. Douglas puts his hand. "Love the excitement, but..." he leans forward, "But maybe you should hold off."

"What?"

He clears his throat, "You're a very...imaginative young lady, but I can't represent you."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, but after Aaron..." He looks down and plays with his straw, "I'm done. And in my professional opinion...you're going to have a hard time finding someone who will."

Caroline leans backs.

"Care Bear," he says, calling her by her childhood nickname, "First you were kicked out of school. Then you were caught in the middle of a drug bust."

"It was just weed," Caroline bit.

"Details don't matter. You've already made headlines and there is already a negative narrative around you. Managers, agents, and labels won't touch you. Maybe once you've matured..."

"I'm 18. I'm an adult."

He lovely grabs her hand, "It doesn't mean you're ready."

Caroline pulls her hand back and crosses her arms.

"Daddy started his first band at 16. He dropped a single at 18."

He nods, "True. But that doesn't mean he was mature enough to handle it."

Caroline crosses her legs and looks away. This was not how she thought the lunch would go.

***

"When I am going to hear that second album?" Jeff asks on her phone.

Desdemona lays on her bed with her guitar and a notebook full of songs that the label has rejected.

"Soon okay," She says into the phone. "I just I'm trying to keep up with all these label notes. Can you get them to change their mind's on this pop song?"

"It's all about compromise, Desi. Just one pop song they can use for branding. Would you like to get a songwriter?"

"No. I'm a songwriter," she bites. "I'm not going to sing a song I didn't write."

There's a knock on her door.

"Everyone does it, and if you don't come up with a catchy tune soon, we'll have to."

She takes a deep breath, "Ok. I got to go."

She hangs up and throws the phone down on the nightstand. She walks out to her living room and answers her door.

"Managers suck" Caroline says walking in.

"Agreed."

Caroline flops down on the couch, "My dad's old manager, says nobody wants to work with me because I have a 'bad' reputation."

Desdemona sits down on the other side, "That's what I was told too."

"But they were wrong. You found Jeff."

"Yea, because I went full bad girl."

"What?" Caroline asks leaning back on the couch.

"In this business, you're either a good girl or a bad girl. I knew I was never going to be the good girl, so I became the baddest bitch I could be." Desdemona chuckles.

Caroline moves to Desdemona's side of the couch. She puts her head on Desdemona's shoulder.

"Can you teach me to be bad?" Caroline smirks, bating her blue eyes.

Desdemona feels a tingle through her body. That line was straight out of porno. But...she can't. Desdemona shifts Caroline off of her. Caroline twirls Desdemona's dark brown hair.

"You are so pretty."

"Stop it." Desdemona chuckles.

"And so warm," Caroline says cuddling back on Desdemona. "Why don't you fool around with me? Is it because I'm not pretty?"

"I never said you weren't pretty."

"Then let's fool around," Caroline kisses her neck.

Desdemona gets up, "How about a field trip?"

***

Caroline stands there at the bar having a soda with Desdemona. Justin and Riley on the dance floor wrapped in each other's arms. They were so cute together. Caroline really admired how long they've been together.

"So anyone you like so far? Any girls...or boys?" Desdemona asks her, downing her roman coke.

Caroline shakes her head. She had never gone "cruising for chicks" before. She had no idea how to pick up anyone. But Desdemona looked so natural. Caroline swears every girl in the room has looked at Desdemona. Desdemona just had that whole dark and mysterious artist vibe women were drawn to. Caroline knows that better than anyone.

A pretty Spanish girl looks over at them and walks over.

"Oye, Hablas español?" She asks Desdemona.

"Porque, si lo hago hermosa." Desdemona says.

Caroline raises an eyebrow. She didn't know Desdemona could speak Spanish.

The Spanish girl whispers into Desdemona's ear.

Caroline can probably guess what it was by the little smile that came across Desdemona's face.

"Porque, estoy aquí con mi amiga." Desdémona says.

So she wasn't going to completely blow her off.

There was an uncomfortable moment as the three of them stared at each other.

Caroline leans over and says, "Adelante, estoy bien."

Desdemona raises her eyebrows at Caroline, "You know Spanish?"

Caroline nods.

Desdemona is still staring at her as the Spanish slut drags her away.

Of course, she didn't want her to go off and fuck a stranger. But she was already coming off way too strong and didn't want Desdemona to resent her.

She stares out at the crowd for a few more minutes, before walking out. She climbs into the bed of Justin's truck and decides to smoke a cigarette. Until she notices something interesting.

Darla crawling out of a car. Darla sees her too. They stare at each other awkwardly for a minute as Darla walks up to her.

"So does Justin know that you have his truck? Or did you steal it?"

Caroline rolls her eyes, "Justin and Riley are inside. Dez is...somewhere."

Darla leans forward and rests her arms of the truck, "She's off fucking, isn't she?"

Caroline bites her lip.

"It's okay. I know. This is one of our pick up spots."

Caroline rolls her eyes. They made it sound like some kind of game.

"How can you handle it?" Caroline asks.

Darla looks down then back up at Caroline.

"You haven't dated much, have you?"

Caroline rolls her eyes again.

"When you're young, dating seems...sacred," Darla tells her. "But eventually, you'll learn we need as humans can't do monogamy and sex isn't that important."

Caroline looks at her and raises an eyebrow, "But if sex isn't important. Then why can't we just be with one person? Why do you have to go out to bars for it?"

Darla huffs. Obviously, she didn't have a response.

"Desi would never commit. To anyone. And I accept that," Darla says before walking away.

***

Desdemona gets out of the backseat of the stranger's car. No names. No numbers. No strings. Just a simple quickie to get her mind off of all this shit. As she walks through the parking lot, she wonders why she still does this.

It used to be that she would home with women so she would have a place to sleep for a night. But now she had her own place and her own money. And it wasn't like Darla didn't satisfy her. Darla was AMAZING in bed and she actually enjoyed staying in with Darla. But Darla would never commit to her, so why not enjoy sex with other beautiful women.

She spots Justin's truck. Caroline is standing there laughing with Justin and Riley. Riley really likes Caroline. Which is pretty important to Desdemona, for some reason.

***

In the morning, Caroline gets up from Desdemona's couch and starts to make coffee. Darla comes in a silky little black robe. She pushes Caroline out of the way.

"I'm making me and Desi coffee," Darla smirks.

"Oh," Caroline stirs her coffee, "You need help?"

"No," Darla adds cream to one cup. "I know the way she likes it."

"That's a lot of cream." Caroline comments backing away.

"Desi likes her coffee super sweet. Especially since she gets this cheap shit coffee."

Darla grabs the two mugs and leaves.

Caroline quietly follows her. Wanting to say good morning to Desdemona...and secretly hoping Darla would trip and coffee on herself.

Darla sets down the coffee cups on Desdemona's nightstand and shakes her shoulders. Desdemona slowly opens her eyes. Darla places the coffee in front of her face.

"Good morning babe."

"Coffee? You're so awesome."

Desdemona takes a huge gulp of coffee and scoots over. Darla crawls in bed beside her.

"I don't want to go to the meeting today. Stupid label." Desdemona wraps her arms around Darla, "What are you doing today?"

"Calendar photo shoot."

"Oh photo shoot, Can I come and watch?"

"Only if you bring me diamonds."

"Maybe I will."

Darla and Desdemona laugh.

Caroline inhales and blinks away her tears. She knocks on the door. Desdemona rises up, shocked.

"Hey Care, I'm sorry...I didn't hear you...um good morning."

"Hey, I just wanted to tell you...that I'm about to head out."

"Oh, do you want a ride?"

Caroline shakes her head, "I'm good."

"Okay," Desdemona drinks her coffee, "Hang out later?"

Caroline nods and walks out.

***

Desdemona pulls up at the warehouse lot, where Darla should be shooting. It still amazes Desdemona how much of these Hollywood sets are just empty warehouses. Heads turn as she walks.

A guard greets her.

"Are you Desdemona Potts?"

"Um.." She mumbles, knowing she doesn't have any actual reason to be there,"Yea."

"Well, welcome." He extends his arm.

"Is it cool me hanging out?" She asks, still half expecting to be kicked out.

"For you, of course." He chuckles.

"I'm actually looking for a calendar shoot."

"Yea." He nods, "Yea. I'll show you."

She follows a smaller warehouse to see half-naked women dressed in different costumes everywhere. She's only able to study the room for a minute before she is recognized.

"Hey ladies," she smiles and waves to a group of models.

The girls giggled back.

A man wearing black with a clipboard approaches her, "Desdemona Potts? Big fan....what brings you here?"

"I came to see Darla at work."

"Darla?"

"Darla Sinclair?"

"Oh, the hot leprechaun." He turns around and calls out, "Hey, hot leprechaun,"

Darla walks out topless with a short green skirt and sleeves, with a green top hat and green eye-shadow. Darla stops and gasps.

"What are you doing here?" Darla asks, her voice shaking.

"I thought I'd come to see you at work."

The man laughs, "Oh you're into strawberries."

Darla walks up and tries to cover herself.

"What are you doing? Nothing I haven't seen before." Desdemona says, put the hand on Darla's shoulder.

"I know," Darla looks around, rather uncomfortable with all the sudden attention. " it's just...I hope you don't think I look...trashy."

"No," Desdemona shakes her head. "you look great."

Darla smiles, "So you're cool with what I do?"

"I get it, you do what you have to do. It's your life."

Desdemona pulls a box out of her jacket pocket, "Oh I got you this."

Darla opens the box. She gazes at a beautiful pair of ruby and diamond earrings.

"Wow." She whispers.

"You like them?"

"I love them...but you didn't have to."

"You said to bring you diamonds so I did."

Darla looks at her Desdemona. Her green eyes make-up starting to smear. She fans her face to stop the tears of joy. Desdemona didn't have to. But she had gone out of her way to bring Darla these gorgeous earrings. There were 12 half naked models in the room but she got to feel..special.

No longer caring about her make-up or the staring eyes. Darla leans in and kisses Desdemona's lips.

Maybe there was some potential after all.

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