Darien's Secret by: Sailor SwiftHeart Rating: PG ~PART FOUR~ Darien and Monique were on their way to the PlayBoy Mansion in Darien's bright red sports car. Darien had a bag full of swim suits (bikinies) that he promised Dan he'd bring to model. Monique was bringing Darien's file along and Darien wondered why. "Dan just wanted to see some of your best pictures, that's all." she told Darien, reassuringly. Darien wasn't worried. He knew he could trust Monique. The Mansion was close to the outskirts of town. Once they arrived, they were in awe at how large it was. "I didn't know it would be THIS big!" Darien exclaimed in disbelief. "What do you expect a multi-millionaire to have!" Monique exclaimed, but it was obvious that she was even taken aback by the size. "I think PlayBoy Palace would be more fitting!" Darien joked and they laughed. Just getting into the parking lot was a long process. There were large black iron gates with the PlayBoy Bunny on it and a guard standing there. He motioned for Darien to stop the car and roll down his window. "And you are....?" the guard asked, raising an eyebrow. "My name is Darien and this is Monique," Darien answered, "We're here from Starfish Swimwear." "Can you proove that?" the guard challenged. Monique sighed in exasperation and pulled a card out of her purse, with her picture and "Starfish Swimwear" written on it. The guard opened the gates and Darien drove through. They drove down a long driveway until they came to what looked like a parking lot for guests. There were already many cars there, the majority on them porsches, limozines, corvettes and BMW's. Darien's car didn't look too shabby compared to the others. It was bright red and brand new. Monique and Darien got out of the car with their stuff and Darien gave his keys to the valet, who drove off to park the car. There was a long pathway, lined with red and yellow flowers and fancy rocks. It went in a zig zig pattern all the way to the enourmus front doors. The doors, made of pure oak and fancy brass handles, also had the PlayBoy Bunny carved into the wood. "I'm gonna get sick of seeing that bunny!" Darien thought, rolling his eyes. Monique took hold of the large knocker and banged on the door. It opened very slowly and a man dressed in a black tuxedo was standing there, holding a clipbard with the guest list on it in his hands. "Name, please." he requested. "Monique and Darien from Starfish Swimwear." Darien announced. The man searched for their names, found them and let them enter. The house was enourmous. There must've been a hundred doors on just the first floor. Darien heard strange sounds coming from a lot of the rooms. "I'd bet a month's wages that they are filming pornographic and X-Rated videos behind each and every one of those doors," Darien whispered to Monique, "And on all three floors, too!" Monique stifled a giggle. "Well, we're not here for that, anyway," she said, "We're here to sell bathing suits and enjoy the pool party." Getting to the back patio where the pool party was being held was a very long walk. "Hey, Darien, check it out!" Monique expressed in a whisper, "Nude photo shoots for PlayBoy!" She pointed to an opened door where a man was posing nude for a camera man. He looked away, rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Have you ever considered posng for PlayBoy?" Monique suddenly asked, "You'd be perfect! You have a great body, not to mention a fairly large---" "I should say not!" Darien interrupted before she could finish the sentence that would've made him blush. He was doubly surprised at her question. "How could you even think that, Monique? That is DISGUSTING!" he raised his voice. Monique shushed him as they finally reached the patio doors. There was a girl standing there, wearing a floral bikini top and a wrap around matching mini-skirt. She had long brown hair and sapphire eyes. "Hi, you must be Monique and Darien!" she greeted them, with a slight melody in her sweet voice, "Danny told me all about you! I'm Missy." She smiled, displaying a set of perfect teeth. "That would be us!" Monique 'mused, smiling back. Missy saw that Darien was holding a bag. "Is that your swim suit?" she inquired and Darien nodded. "I guess you could say that." "I already have mine on underneath this skirt and shirt." Monique told Missy, "I have to see Dan right away. He wanted these.... pictures." she said. "Sure, he's out back," Missy told her and Monique headed outside, "I guess you'll want to change. I'll show you to your change room. Danny had a special one all set up for you. There's even a little gift bag for you. He really appreciates you doing him this favour." Darien followed Missy to a room down another hallway. She brought him to a closed door that had his name on it in gold letters. (They could be peeled off) "You just go in there and meet everyone out back when you are changed," Missy instructed him, "Danny and I set up a table outside for you and Monique to sell your goods on! See ya out there!" Darien waved and went into the room. It was ridiculously large. Darien only needed it to change. He would've been satisfied just using the bathroom. "It's probably just as big as this room!" Darien laughed. There was a king sized bed, a walk in closet, a leather couch, full length mirrors at every angle, a desk and chair, an armoir, and a make-up table... yet still enough room for another king sized bed! Darien shivered at the thought of what might have gone on in this room several times. He decided not to think about it too much. He was there to have a good time. And even though he knew that he was probably surrounded by rooms where X-rated videos were being filmed, he was glad that the walls were thick and he couldn't hear any noises coming from behind the walls. Darien pitied whoever had to clean up after these films. Again, he shivered in disgust. He went over to the desk and put his bag of swim suits on top of it. He found Dan's little gift bag which wasn't little at all. It was the size of a gym bag with-- you guessed-- the PlayBoy Bunny on it. Darien found a note attatched to the handles. It said, "Dear Darien, Just a little token of thanks for doing me this favour. Enjoy the gifts! Sincerely, Dan". "I'm not dong him any favours," thought Darien, "If Monique sells a lot, it would be Dan who did US the favour!" Darien looked through the gift bag and found nothing that interested him. Some X-rated videos, a year's free subscription to PlayBoy Magazine for him and PlayGirl, perhaps for a girlfriend or if he was gay. Then a cap, t-shirt and three pairs of boxer shorts with that damn bunny on it. There was also a watch, coffee mug, a calender full of naked women for each month of the upcoming New Year, a fanny pack, cologne, a beach towel, sunglasses and finally a little box that contained a real gold necklace with a PlayBoy Bunny Pendant on the end of it. "18 carrot gold!" Darien exclaimed. He had to admit that he DID like the necklace. He decided to wear it. Of course, he would take the rest of the stuff with him. Maybe he'd find someone who actually wanted some of it. Or if he was lucky, all of it! Darien got changed into his first suit. It was one of his favorites. Dark blue with "Starfish" sewn on it with silver waterproof thread. He observed himself in the mirror, grabbed the PlayBoy beach towel out of his gift bag and headed out to the pool to show off his swim suit. When Darien stepped out onto the patio, his mouth dropped open in shock. What he had expected to be a harmless, fun party was nothing but a Nude-Fest! The waiters were walking around only in bow ties, serving people, while the waitresses wore only short white aprons. Half of the guests were walking around stark-naked, some in the pool, some tanning on towels and lawn chairs. A few people WERE wearing swim suits, the men wearing basically the same style as Darien, a few with trunks. The girls bathing suits were horrible. They couldn't have been any skimpier. Most of them were neon G-Strings. They looked about ten sizes too small. They might have just as well gone naked sporting suits like that. "At least Monique will be dressed," Darien thought thankfully and went looking for her in the huge backyard. On his way past the pool, he was flagged down by Dan. "Darien! Over here!" he shouted above the music and noisy chatter. He was sitting in a lawn chair, surrounded by, this time, a whole different group of young girls. He was smoking a cigar and enjoyng some sort of cocktail with an umbrella stuck fresh pinapple on the side of the glass. "Hi Dan," said Darien, politely, even though he wanted to scream at the man for allowing such things to go on at his party, "Some party..." Darien tried to hide his embarrasment at being a part of such craziness. He didn't care if it WAS the PlayBoy Mansion. That was no excuse. "Girls, I'd like you to meet Darien... the top model for Starfish Swimwear!" Dan told the girls around him. "I wouldn't say the top model...." Darien said with sincere modesty as a few of the girls left Dan's side and started to admire Darien, flocking around him and touching his arms, chest, face and hair. It made him uncomfortable. Dan just sat back and laughed. "If you need anything at all, you just tell one of my waiters," Dan told Darien, "Or talk to Missy. You met Missy, didn't you?" "Yes, when we came in." Darien nodded. "Sexy little slut, isn't she?" Dan commented. Darien was not impressed. He didn't have to talk about her like that. Darien guessed he probably talked about all women that way. He did call his sister, Erin a bitch. "Care for a cigar?" Dan asked, handing a box of expensive (and illegal) Cuban Cigars to Darien. "No thanks, I don't smoke." Darien said. "What about Mary Janes?" Dan inquired. Darien was confused. "I don't know any Mary Jane." he said, squinting at the millionaire. Dan laughed out loud and the girls giggled. "Boy, you poor bastard, are you out of touch or what!" he chuckled, "What did they do to you at those modelling agencies? Lock you up? Brainwash you?" He laughed again. Darien was too confused to even say anything. He didn't appreciate bing called a bastard, either. But it seemed that Dan did it out of habit. "I was talking about Marijuana, pot... you've heard of that, right?" Dan asked, after he had fnally stopped laughing, "We have some of that here, too, if you want." "I already told you I don't smoke," Darien said, his temperature starting to boil. He didn't like being treated like an idiot. "Well, no time like the present to start!" Dan exclaimed. Darien scowled. "Lighten up, Darien!" Dan told him, "This is a party for Christ's sake! You don't even have to wear your bathing suit!" The girls all looked at Darien anxiously to see if he would take his bikni off. Darien had no intention of doing that. "I thought I was here to model them." Darien reminded Dan. Dan looked annoyed. "You don't need to anymore," he said with a note of impatience in his voice, "Monique seems to be doing just fine. Look." He pointed to where Monique had her table of merchandise set up. Darien's eyes almost popped out of his head. There was Monique, wearing only the bottom half of her bathing suit. She had several male admirers who were putting money in the bottom half of her bikini while others took a look through the bathing suits. It was like a strip show! Darien just stood there, more shocked than anything. He headed straight for Monique's table and demanded to know what the hell she was doing. "I am making us money, Darien!" she exclaimed, "Lighten up!" She turned back to her group of admirers, not interested at all in what Darien had to say. Darien decided to just put up with the whole ordeal. At least he'd be getting some of the money for the swim suits that Monique sold. "I didn't know going topless was such an effective sales strategy." he muttered, as he placed his towel on the lawn and sat on it. A waitress brought him some nachos and a Pepsi. If Monique could go topless, Darien decided that he could cheat on his stupid diet. The food was delicious. Darien hadn't had good junk food in months and he totally indulged himself. *** Meanwhile, Dan went into the mansion and into his office, where Missy was reading up on Darien in the file that Monique brought for them. She had told Darien they were only pictures, but the file also contained Darien's whole history and profile that Darien himself had written and signed. "Anything good on the bastard?" Dan asked Missy, sitting beside her. "Oh there's plenty here," Missy said, cunningly, "There is a lot of stuff I can use. Don't worry, I'll get him to pose for us." Dan looked doubtful. "I don't know, Missy," he said, shaking his head, "He's pretty tough on the outside. Monique already suggested posing for PlayGirl and he refused flat out. Then I suggested he tromp around nude and he didn't like that idea either." Dan sighed. "Men!" Missy exclaimed, "Everything the hard way. He may be tough on the outside, but he is very vulnerable on the inside." She handed a piece of paper to Dan. "He's an orphan." Dan looked at Darien's history and shook his head. "Poor bastard." he muttered then laughed. He knew once Missy got through to him, they'd have his photos. And just the way they wanted them. *** Missy found Dan lying in the sun on a PlayBoy beach towel. He wasn't hard to stop among the hundreds of guests.. he was practically the only one left in a bathing suit. Missy was wearing a flattering, low-cut one piece. She decided to change, so she'd look innocent to Darien. Even though he had already seen her in a teeny bikini. But if he asked why she had changed, she had her excuse. "May I join you, Darien?" she asked, fluttering her lashes at him. Darien didn't even look up. "If you have something on that covers your body, go right ahead." he mumbled. Missy saw how right Dan was about Darien. He was completely offended by the whole thing. "I assure you that I am probably the only decently dressed woman out here." Missy declared. That got Darien's attention. He sat up to look at her. "So I see," he said, smiling, "So how come you ditched the bikini?" "I felt... I don't know... kinda exposed in it," she answered, "And it made me feel very self-conscious. So I thought this would help. A decent one piece." she declared, turning around so Darien could observe the entire suit. He was impressed and relieved that somebody there had the same feelings as he did. "I don't even know why I come here, really," Missy went on with her lie, "I hate it. I think it is disgusting. But Dan... well, I guess you could say he kinda rescued me." "What do you mean?" asked Darien. Missy sighed and pretended to be deeply wounded by a made-up tragedy. "Well, you see, my parents died when I was very young and I was put in an orphanage," she told him, "I hated it there, so I ran away. I ended up on the streets, doing drugs, selling my body, stealing... it was Dan who found me and basically saved my life. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably be dead." She looked down and pretended to sob. "How old were you?" Darien asked. "My parents died when I was about ten, then I ran away and became a prostitute when I was twelve. Dan found me when I was sixteen. Thank God he did, too." she added in a whisper. Dan was amazed by her story. "My parents died when I was very young too," he admitted to her. The thought brought tears to his eyes. He wanted to tell her everything, just like she had. "Can we go somewhere and talk?" Darien asked, fighting back tears that burned the inside of his eyelids, "I've never really shared my story with anybody. I really need to talk about it." Missy took Darien inside, flashing Dan a smile as they went by his office, just to say that she had "got him". Dan leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face and then headed back outside to relax and be watched by his flock of girls. Missy and Darien found an empty photo shooting room. Darien sat on the couch and began to cry. Missy pretended to be very concerned and she tried to comfort him. "Tell me, Darien," she said, gently, "Tell me everything." Darien explained the whole story in between sobs. How he had been orphaned in a horrible car crash, the doctors saying he had amnesia and being shoved into an orphanage without a friend in the world. "I don't even know if Darien is my real name," he told Missy, "And I knew, deep down for the longest time that nobody would ever adopt me. And nobody did. So I got a job, left the orphanage and found my own place to live," he went on, "Then I got these modellng jobs." "But they make you happy, right?" Missy inquired. "Maybe I convinced myself they did," Darien said shrugging, "But I am not really happy. It feels like... like I'm standind in the middle of a crowded room screaming at the top of my lungs and nobody even looks up. I hate it. Deep down, I know I am not cut out for modelling... I just hate myself too much. The money and compliments fill up the gaps but its only temporary. I'm so alone." he declared, sadly. "Darien, you are wonderful," she expressed, "You ARE good looking, you CAN be a model.... people aren't lieing to you when they say how good you look. All your life, you thought you couldn't do anything and now that you found something you're good at, you're running away from it!" she lectured, "Look at you! Invited HERE by the millionaire himself! Stop kidding yourself. You ARE a fantastic person." Darien had never heard so many wonderful words said by just one person. Missy was right... every word she spoke was true. "Am I really afraid at finally being good at something?" he wondered. Missy stood up and went over to the camera. "Let me take a couple of pictures of you," she said, her voice changing from a serious tone to a playful one, "Let's see what you've got!" Darien agreed, and posed for her, just like he did for Raz-Ma-Taz and Starfish Swimwear. Missy piled on the compliments. "You are a natural Darien! I bet they didn't even have to train you!" she laughed and kept taking pictures. The she moved to the next step. "Now Darien, please don't be afraid," Missy said, standing next to the camera, "But I think you'd make a nicer picture without the tacky bathing suit." Darien didn't say anything. Take off his bathing suit? "You are breathtaking, Darien and devilishly handsome," Missy coaxed, "Come on. Don't be afraid. You are naturally beautiful." As if driven by an unknown force, Darien removed his bathing suit and started posing completely naked. "That's it," Missy said, reassuringly, "Perfect. Just perfect." The nude photo shoot went on for a full hour. Then it stopped, when Missy decided she had enough pictures for Dan to use in the next issue of PlayGirl. Darien slipped his bathing suit back on and wrapped a towel around himself. He was half in a daze, hardly realizing what he had just done. "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Missy teased him a little. She kissed him on the cheek. "Don't run away from the things you're good at. The things that make you, YOU." Darien relaxed at her words. It didn't even occur to him that she might actually USE the photos of him. She had been so sly and manipulative, that the thought didn't even cross Darien's mind. *** A month later, Darien was on his way to The Starfish Swimwear Modelling Agency, ready for them to take more pictures of him. Thanks to Dan Symon's party, they were still making a fortune. Darien was rolling in dough, making profit off of every bathing suit sold, including the new line of women's swimwear. But something awful was about to happen to Darien that day that would throw his life and career into a blender. He entered the building and found Monique already downstairs waiting for him. Her arms were crossed and she was scowling. Darien noticed she was holding a magazine in one of her hands. "Monique..." Darien asked, "Are you okay? What's the matter?" "How could you, Darien?" she demanded, fuming, "How could you do this to the company? You were our best model!" Darien was puzzled. "What are you talking about?" he inquired, "I didn't do anything!" Monique handed him the magazine. It was a PlayGirl magazine. "Turn to page thrity." she ordered. Darien flipped through the pages, until he came to page thirty. He gasped in horror and his dark eyes showed the tortured dullness of disbelief. He wanted to scream. There he was, totally naked in several pictures plastered throughout the entire rest of the magazine. Almost every single picture Missy had took of him that day at the mansion was in there. Even his history and personal profile. She had betrayed him. "But... but where did they get all this information about me?" Darien wanted answers so he could piece ths together, "Everything is here! My age, date of birth, where I live, my damn phone number even! What the hell happened?" Monique shrugged and gave Darien a look that gave her away. "You!" Darien accused, "You had that file with you that day! You actually gave them my personal file? How could you do that? I trusted you!" He was on the verge of tears. "Look, Darien, I'm sorry," said Monique, "But Dan offered me three thousand dollars for your personal stuff. How could I pass that up?" "If you were even half decent, Monique, you wouldn't give away someone personals for ANY amount of money!" Darien retorted. "Well, I'm not the one who posed naked in a dirty magazine," Monique shot back at him, "It's your own fault. You posed and you ruined your reputation yourself." "I was tricked!" Darien informed her, "I'll sue them! They can't print these photos without my permission! I'll sue that bastard!" Monique forced a sarcastic laugh. "Well, good God damn luck!" she spat, "Try to sue a multi-millionaire! He can pay people to stand up for him. Money talks." she declared. Darien was furious. Of course Monique was right. Darien would never win in a lawsuit against the million dollar man, Dan Symon. He threw the magazine at Monique, nearly knocking her over and yelled, "I quit!" "You were FIRED anyway!" Monique shouted back and Darien left the Starfish Modelling Agency, never again to return. All the way to his apartment, he was fighting back tears of humiliation. Everything in his life was just one disaster after another. How could he ever face anyone in the city again? He couldn't. Darien moved to another city, about three hours away and got a decent apartment there. He also got a good paying job, made a few friends and never spoke of his modelling days to anyone. Nobody even recognized him from the PlayGirl magazine. *** "How could they not have recognized you?" Serena demanded, "I mean, you only moved away the day after the magazine came out!" Darien gave her a curious smile. "I actually... well, I bleached my hair!" he told her, laughing, "I kept it blonde for a year, then let it grow out and by that time, nobody even remembered that issue, I'm sure." Serena laughed. "You bleached your hair?" she giggled and Darien joined in. Then Serena became serious once again. She looked at the pictures of Darien in the magazine. "I'm glad you told me, Darien," she said, her eyes glowing with honesty, "It's just no fair that a bunch of girls who don't even know you got to see you naked before I did." She smiled as a pink blush crept into her cheeks. Darien took the magazine from her and tossed it in the trash can, nearby. He embraced his love and kissed her. "Well, tomorrow is the start of our new life together, Meatball Head," Darien whispered, "We'll be in the same bed, so....." He didn't finish. He didn't need to. "Darien?" Serena looked up into his midnight blue eyes, "Do you still hate your life?" Darien smiled down at her, reassuringly. "How could I hate anything with you in it?" was his answer. They shared a long passionate kiss. And to this day, Darien never even considered being a model again. *** The End Email Swiftheart@v-wave.com