4. Cairo

Y 'know those days when nothing is going right, and you just can't seem to clear your mind enough to concentrate properly on the task at hand, well that's the kind of day I'm having. For some unknown reason, this whole day has just been a complete shit show and I can't seem to focus. I haven't thought about him for seven years, yet since leaving Danny, the only thoughts in my mind are of him.

Stepping out of the coffee shop, my phone screams from my bag. Rummaging around, I find it, and answer the call. Holding it against my ear with my shoulder.

"Yeah?"

The scream that emanates from the speaker is so high pitched that dogs can hear it and I wince.

"Oh my god!" Sienna howls.

I screw my face up. "Will you stop screaming!" I call over the phone. "I can hear you from Roasted Comfort!"

"I got in!" she squeals. "They accepted me!"

"Careful Si, sounds like you're excited," I giggle, taking hold of the car handle with my free hand and awkwardly opening it. Dropping into the driver's seat, I place the coffee in the cup holder and the key in the ignition.

"Have you checked your email yet?" Her excitement is filled to the brim. Turning the key, I start my Mercedes S-class and place my phone in the holder. Her voice immediately bleeding out over the in-car speaker.

"I haven't." I roll my eyes. "Because it's stupid."

"Open your fucking emails, bitch!" she shouts, making me laugh. Sliding my fingers over the screen, I find my emails and look through them.

Nothing in the inbox. Nothing in the… Oh wait here it is.

Clicking on the email, all I see is a black screen, then a neon mask expands from the darkness. Crosses over the eyes and a cross stitch mouth too. When the voice comes over the speaker, muffling Sienna's, the voice is distorted.

"Welcome, to Idée Fixe, Cairo." My name falling from the lips of whoever is behind the mask. "It's nice to finally see you."

See me?

"Your kinks and requests have been noted and delivered." Rolling my eyes again, I swear I see my brain. What kind of shit is this? "Attached to another email is a link for appropriate clothing and what the company expects when you turn up. Feel free to dress up if desired." The voice continues. "Doors open at 8PM for the initial party. The fun begins at 9PM. Please have a safe word ready. If you're chosen by a Caretaker, you'll need to inform them of it. The address of the premises will be sent on the day. Goodbye."

Static fills my screen and with what looks like something from the Matrix. My screen clears instantly, and the email is gone.

"Uh, did yours disappear?"

"So cool right?" The excitement in her voice is unmissable. "We have two days before it starts. So I'm thinking we get together later and do some shopping and-"

"Do I really need to go to this?" I groan.

"Yes. You're going to have so much fun here and-" Sienna begins rattling on about the whole thing, and I can't help but drown her out.

Why did I even bother signing up to this?

This isn't my scene; I have no time to be doing this kind of shit when my team are out here dealing with shit in my absence. I wouldn't usually attend anything this ridiculous, but I'm humouring Sienna. She was right when she said that I rarely go out, and that was all down to Danny taking up all of my time.

It's not that he stopped me from doing anything, just that he made sure he made me feel bad enough so that I wouldn't go and in the end, I just stopped altogether. I guess this could be fun though right.

"Are you even listening to me?" Sienna's voice flows back into my ears, and I'm dislodged from my thoughts.

"Yes, I'm here and I heard you. I get off work at 3PM so I'll come get you and we can take a drip to Lakeside View shopping centre ok?"

"Ok, great. I'll see you then." I can practically hear her smile. "Love you."

"Love you," I counter and end the call. Putting my seatbelt on the phone rings again. "Jesus, can I catch a break here." Pressing the button on the screen I answer. "Yes?"

"Cairo, you need to get in here, cyber-attack on JP."

"Fuck! Again?" Putting the car in drive, I check my mirrors, "I'll be fifteen, set up a trojan 300 and I'll be there soon." Ending the call, I pull out of the parking space, speeding towards the bank.

I've been working in Cyber security for the past six years now. As a freelancer, I'm able to work my own hours. However, when I'm hired by a specific company to set up certain hardware and firewall protections, they can call on me whenever they desire. This being one of those times.

After finally keeping the firewall for JP strong, I managed to get out of work a little earlier so, I changed out of my work clothes and met Sienna at Lakeside for a shopping trip.

"So what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" I didn't click the clothing link in the email, mainly because I haven't had time. Sienna informed be that there is a ‘clothing optional' section you can fill in, but there's no way I'm doing that.

The other option is strictly all black. As this is a neon rave, the lack of colour allows everything else to stand out. The more I hear about this rave, the more intrigued I am to find out who is behind it.

Apparently, even though you're accepted, there's no guarantee that a Caretaker will select you. So for the whole event, you're just left wondering; waiting for the inevitable to happen I guess.

"Well, with that body," she starts looking through the clothing rack. "You're wearing a black mini dress." She winks. "Easy access and all that."

"Oh God," I snort.

"Listen, you were the one who chose what you did." Sienna points her slender finger at me. "Sex is a given at this place, so why not make it easier. The less clothing the better." Pressing a dress to my chest, she grins from ear to ear. "Go try this on."

Curling my fingers over the hanger, I drop my head back and sculk towards the changing room. I never should've signed up for this. Sienna is absolutely relentless with things like this and to be honest I should have known she would behave this way.

Stepping into the changing room, I begin removing all my clothes, trying to keep my eyes away from the mirror. I hate looking at myself naked because the memories of the past year are scattered over my body. Removing the straps of the dress, I bunch it up and pull it over my head. Smoothing it down my body, I finally face the mirror. It's a little shorter than I would usually go for but, I actually like it.

"Get out here and show me if it's short enough to see your pussy," Sienna cackles from inside the changing room and I can't help the bubble of laughter that flows from my chest.

Pressing my hand against the black material of the curtain, I slide it along quickly, sliding one leg seductively up against the other.

"Ho-ly shit!" The moment her jaw falls open I begin laughing to hide how self-conscious I feel. I'm not skinny by any means. I have curves everywhere, it's what happens when you have Mexican parents, and your mother is shaped like a Coke bottle.

"Shut up." I snort, rolling my eyes at her and standing in front of the floor to ceiling mirror.

Checking myself out and all the angles to make sure I look good enough and not like a sausage trying to get out of its skin. I don't usually wear clothes like this but seeing as where we're going is exclusive, I might as well give it a go. The hem of the dress sits a few inches below my ass, long enough so I'm not spending the entire night pulling it down but short enough to show a decent amount of skin.

For some reason, God decided to bless me with a huge ass and itty-bitty titties. However, what I lack in breasts, I sure as hell make up for in attitude. "So is that a yes?" I ask, running my hands over the black velvet material.

"That's a fucking hell yes." Sienna walks over to me, brushing my thick curly hair over one shoulder. "I would usually suggest heels but, black converse would be better. Especially if you have to do some running."

I point to her through the mirror. "Good call." Focusing back on myself, I smile. This might be the first time in a very long time, that I've felt sexy. As if hearing my thoughts, my best friend places her arms around my shoulders and pulls me back against her.

"I love you bitch and I'm…" she clears her throat, trying to dislodge the lump in it.

I rub my hands where her arms are crossed in front of me and smile. "I know." Turning my head I kiss her on the cheek. "Me too." Tapping her arms, she lets me go and I blink away the unshed tears. "Ok, so now we need to find you something."

"I saw a bodysuit back there let me go grab it." Clapping with excitement, she runs from the changing room, and I turn back to the mirror. Taking one last glance at myself before heading back into the booth to put my clothes back on.