Chapter 11 – The Industry Party, Part 2

Valeria Cruz.

Valeria Cruz stood by the window, surrounded by three men who listened attentively to her. She wore a sharply tailored white pantsuit and her dark hair was pinned up in a severe bun. Even from a distance, Chloe could see her large gold hoop earrings sparkling.

“Shit, there she is,” Ben muttered, hastily adjusting his tie and brushing his thinning hair back with his hand. “Okay, Sunshine, now it’s getting serious. Valeria is the most important person here. You understand? Don’t fuck it up.”

His nervous energy was really unpleasant. Chloe had found Ben to be a smug suck-up so far tonight, but now he seemed more like a mutt about to meet his master.

As they got closer, Chloe could hear Valeria’s surprisingly deep voice.

“…and I told him, ‘If you think I’d hesitate for even a second to terminate your contract and find someone who actually knows the Eastern European market, then you’re even more of an idiot than you look like.’ The next day, I had a usable report on my desk.” The men around her laughed nervously.

Ben cleared his throat. “Valeria?”

She didn’t turn around. She just raised a hand and motioned for him to wait. Then she continued talking, saying something about distribution deals and secondary exploitation rights in Eastern Europe, while Ben waited patiently with Chloe beside him.

Finally, after two minutes that felt like an eternity, Valeria turned around. Her eyes were so dark that her pupils were barely visible, and her gaze first slid over Ben, dismissive, almost bored, before landing on Chloe.

And there it remained.

Those eyes.

They looked like the photos Chloe had found during her research. They were coal black and calculating, but with an intensity that no camera could capture. She couldn’t help thinking of the Threadit posts. “Valeria Cruz doesn’t take rejection well lol.” Was this bloodcurdling look the one Samantha had seen when, according to rumors, she turned down an offer from Valeria because she allegedly wanted to leave the industry?

“Benjamin,” she said without looking at Ben. Her attention was completely focused on Chloe. “Is this your new toy?”

“Valeria, may I introduce you to Chloe Heart.” Ben’s voice sounded much more uncertain than normal, really buttery. “She’s just starting out, but I assure you, she’s disciplined and has that certain something. Randy from CCC was completely blown away after her first scene.”

Valeria took a step closer. She smelled of an undoubtedly expensive perfume and was only slightly taller than Chloe, but her presence was dominating anyway.

“Randy Miles’ taste isn’t exactly a yardstick for anything,” Valeria said dryly. The men behind her chuckled dutifully.

Casually, she reached for Chloe’s chin and gently turned her face toward the light. It was a strangely intimate gesture.

“Remarkably beautiful face,” Valeria murmured. “And your skin is flawless. Don’t ruin it with Botox and fillers, girl.” She let go of Chloe’s chin. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen,” Chloe replied, forcing herself not to flinch from Valeria’s piercing gaze.

“So you’re still wet behind the ears.” Valeria smiled, but only with her mouth, not her eyes. “Ben says you’re disciplined. What does that mean to you?”

The question came like a whip crack. Chloe felt all eyes on her.

“It means,” she said slowly, trying to reconcile Chloe Heart’s enthusiasm and her own strength of will in her answer, “that I understand this is a business and I’m here first and foremost to do my job, not to have fun. It means that I’m punctual, prepared, and ready to do whatever it takes to be successful.”

Valeria’s eyebrow rose slightly. “And what do you think it takes?”

“Whatever you ask me to do.”

The words hung in the air. Ben was barely breathing next to her.

Valeria nodded, looked at her for a long moment, then turned to Ben. “Send me her portfolio. And her schedule for the next two months.”

“Of course, Valeria, I-“

“See you, Benjamin.”

The dismissal was so abrupt that Ben almost bit his tongue when he shut his mouth. He practically bowed as he pulled Chloe away. “Thank you, Valeria.”

Valeria had already turned back to her original conversation partners, as if Ben and Chloe had ceased to exist.

Once they were out of earshot, Ben nearly exploded with excitement. “Holy shit, Sunshine! She wants your portfolio! That’s huge!”

Chloe nodded and smiled, but inside she could still feel Valeria’s fingers on her chin.

This woman is dangerous. Really dangerous.

Ben’s hand was still glued to her lower back, as if he were afraid his golden goose would run away if he didn’t keep a tight grip on her.

Ben was already scanning the room again, his eyes darting from group to group. “Ah, great, Marc’s here.”

Will the whole evening be like this? It feels like speed dating.

He pushed her in the guy’s direction. “That way. Over there is Marc Weston from Throat Me.”

The name hit Chloe like a punch in the stomach. Throat Me. She knew the videos, of course. Women covered in saliva, gagging, their mascara running down their cheeks in black streams while some guy rammed his cock down their throats. Brutal stuff. But then again…

Trevor Knight.

One of her suspects, the misogynistic guy Samantha had complained about. He shot regularly for Throat Me. If she’d shoot for Throat Me herself, that would be the easiest way to get to know him, of course. But then she’d have to go through a scene like that.

Marc Weston was standing at the bar. He was maybe in his late thirties, early forties, well-trained and completely shaved bald, presumably to conceal his hair loss. He was waiting while a cocktail was being mixed for him.

Ben headed straight for him, pulling Chloe with him. “Marc! Got someone you need to meet.”

Marc turned around, his eyebrows already drawn together in annoyance. Then his gaze fell on Chloe, and his expression changed. The irritation disappeared and was replaced by something she knew well by now – calculating interest.

“Ben.” He nodded briefly, but his eyes remained on Chloe. “Who’s the beauty?”

“This is Chloe. Fresh talent. Just signed her.” Ben pushed her half a step forward. “Thought she’d be a perfect fit for your profile.”

Marc looked her slowly up and down. “What has she done so far?”

“Only CCC so far, but Randy was absolutely euphoric. He called me and couldn’t stop raving about her pussy. Not like that’s relevant to you guys, but as you can see, she has a pretty face too.”

Ben laughed boisterously, while Chloe winced inwardly.

Marc snorted. “That jaded son of a bitch was euphoric? Color me intrigued.”

“Not only that!” Ben now sounded downright smug. “Valeria wants her portfolio.”

Now Marc raised his eyebrows. He took a step closer to Chloe. “You know what we do at Throat Me, sweetie?”

Chloe forced a bright smile, tilting her head slightly to the side. “I mean, of course! You guys make the most extreme deepthroat scenes in the whole industry! I’ve watched so many of your videos for… um… inspiration.”

She giggled as if she were embarrassed to admit that.

“Inspiration, huh?” Marc began to walk halfway around her. “Turn around for me, baby.”

She obeyed and turned around once.

“She definitely has the right look,” Marc muttered, more to himself than to Ben. “A little innocent maybe, but not so innocent that you’ll feel guilty jerking off to her.” He grinned. “How old is she?”

“Just turned eighteen,” Chloe replied quickly before Ben could say anything. “My birthday was last week!”

“Perfect.” Marc rubbed his chin. “What percentage are you taking, Ben?”

The two men negotiated as if she weren’t even there. Numbers flew back and forth, rates, bonus payments, percentages. Chloe stood by, the perfect smile frozen on her face, as she took a sip of champagne, hoping it might calm her suddenly very uneasy stomach a little.

Marc turned back to her. “You okay with intense throatfucking? Gagging, drool, ruined makeup, the whole deal? Some girls think they can do it, but then…”

“Oh, I love it!” The words bubbled out of her, almost too enthusiastically, but Marc seemed to like it. “The more intense, the better! I really want to push my boundaries, you know?”

Shit, what am I saying?

Marc nodded contentedly. “Does next Wednesday work?”

“Wednesday?” Chloe blinked. That was in four days.

“Yeah, we’re shooting a new series. ‘Fresh Throats’ or something like that, marketing is still working on the title.” He pulled a business card out of his breast pocket and pressed it into her hand. “The studio address is on it. Be there at one. And…” he winked, “…don’t eat beforehand. Trust me.”

They said goodbye to Marc, and then Ben pulled her away again. “See? Valeria’s attention opens doors. Less than ten minutes and you already have a Throat Me shoot lined up!” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re doing pretty well, Sunshine. I think we can be really successful together.”

Chloe nodded, smiled, but only one thought echoed in her head:

I just said yes to that. I’m shooting for Throat Me next fucking Wednesday.

Dumbounded, she stared at the business card in her hand. She had never even tried deepthroating before, let alone… She would have to practice. Practice a lot. In just four days!

“I need to use the restroom,” she murmured.

Ben waved her off, already busy scanning the room for the next opportunity. “Sure, sunshine. But hurry up, the night is still young!”

She made her way through the crowd, past a guy who was explaining to a woman with the biggest breasts Chloe had ever seen why his new project would be “revolutionary” for the industry. The restrooms were at the end of a marble-clad hallway.

The ladies’ room was as opulent as you would expect from a five-star hotel, with gold faucets, black marble and orchids in crystal vases. But if you looked closely, you could also see a few unsightly details. There were cigarette burns in the expensive marble fixtures and a telltale white smear next to the sink that was definitely not flour.

Chloe stared at herself in the mirror. For a split second, Chloe Thompson broke through and pure panic flashed in her eyes.

Throat Me. I just said yes to fucking Throat Me.

With nervous movements, she took her lipstick out of her clutch bag. As she applied it, uninvited images flashed through her mind of what her lips would look like in four days: smeared, swollen, covered in drool, and a huge cock thrusting deep-

Stop.

She shook her head, trying to banish the images from her mind.

That doesn’t help right now.

Giggles came from one of the cubicles. “…haven’t heard from her in two months.”

“She really thought she was the shit,” replied a second voice. “Always saying ‘I’m going to be the next big star’ and shit like that.”

“Probably back working at McDonald’s in Bumblefuck, Alabama again.” Both laughed shrilly.

The dressing room doors swung open. Two women in tight dresses strutted past, checked themselves briefly in the mirror, and walked out without even noticing Chloe.

She forced her Chloe Heart smile back onto her lips and went back to the party.

Ben was nowhere to be seen.