Page 25 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 10

Wednesday

Alina

"Alright, that's enough film study for today," said Coach Hammond. "I think you girls are ready for Italy tomorrow."

"There is one more thing though," continued Coach.

Damn it. Is she really going to make us run more stairs?

"The US ITA Committee sent me a memo today about the tiebreaker event.

Apparently they think it's appropriate to waste our valuable practice time on something that is never even going to happen, but nonetheless, I have to talk to you about it.

As you've probably heard, the USA and Brazil could potentially have the same medal count at the end of the games, so per the official ITA rulebook, they have to start planning for a tiebreaker event.

For some reason, the geniuses making the rules thought it would be a good idea to let the host nation choose the event, which in this case means Brazil got to choose an event in which they believe they're superior to the USA. "

I glanced up at the clock. Come on. This is going to make me miss Bryce's race!

"Brazil has chosen for the event to be a strip dance, which I guess in South America is considered a form of ballroom dance rather than something you'd see in a strip club. So I have to ask: are any of you interested in volunteering to perform for the USA?"

My teammates all laughed.

"Good, that's the reaction I was expecting.

I'd hate for one of you girls to do it and lose focus on volleyball.

Speaking of which, maybe this whole tiebreaker business does have a silver lining.

Brazil's performer will be Gabriela Santos.

And after the way she tore us apart in the group stage, her losing focus on volleyball isn't the worst thing to ever happen. "

Of course Gabriela would want to do a strip dance. She probably works at a strip club as her side job anyway.

"Any questions?" asked Coach. She looked around the room, but no one had anything to say. "Okay then, I'll see you all tomorrow for the semi final against Italy. And don't let me hear any stories about any of you partying tonight."

The minute we were dismissed Kristen and I sprinted to the locker room, grabbed our stuff, and then rushed to the train station. We made it on the train thirty seconds before the conductor closed the doors.

After we caught our breath, Kristen turned to me. "I can't believe you didn't volunteer to go against Gabriela. This could be your chance to pay her back for all the shit she did to you."

"How would embarrassing myself by stripping in front of the whole world and losing to Gabriela be getting her back?

That seems like just the kind of thing she would have tried to trick me into doing back in college.

And how is the ITA even allowing a strip dance to be an event? They won't be able to show that on TV."

"Have you ever heard of that show Bailando por un Sueno?"

"No."

"It's the Argentinean version of Dancing with the Stars.

They've had strip dances on there for a while and it was a big deal when one of the contestants actually stripped.

Most of them just dance around in lingerie and occasionally take their bra off at the end while they're facing away from the audience.

They never actually show anything. For the most part it's no more revealing than the outfits they wear on Dancing with the Stars. "

"In that case, I'll totally do it."

"Really?!" Kristen's face lit up. I almost felt bad that I was joking.

"No way."

"Damn it, Alina. You could probably even get Bryce to do it with you. Imagine being up on the stage half naked with Bryce..."

"Tempting, but I'd much rather be fully naked with Bryce and have it be in private rather than on stage."

"At least watch a video of it before you decide."

I was going to tell Kristen that watching girls strip wasn't really my thing, but she somehow managed to bring up a video of it on YouTube before I could get a word out.

I watched the video. It wasn't quite as tame as Kristen had made it sound, but it also wasn't just a naked girl pole dancing like I had imagined.

Instead, the girl and guy started out fully clothed and danced provocatively, slowly stripping their clothes off until they were both in sparkly underwear.

"See, that's not so bad," said Kristen.

"Yeah, but it would still be embarrassing to do it, especially when I lose to Gabriela."

"Well if you aren't going to do it, then I'll do it for you."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "You'd really do that for me?"

"After what she did to you? Hell yes."

"Wow, you're the best."

Kristen shrugged. "I try. I'll email Coach now. Hopefully she won't be too pissed." She pulled out her phone and started typing. "Before I hit send, I do have one condition."

"Oh yeah?"

"You have to agree to be my understudy in case I get injured and can't perform."

"But..."

"Oh, come on. In all the years we've known each other, how many times have I been injured badly enough to not be able to play?"

I thought about it for a second. "None?"

"Exactly. And what are the odds that the medal counts are actually tied at the end of the games?"

"One percent? Less?"

"Basically zero. The event is never going to happen, but by signing up we send a message to Gabriela that we aren't afraid of her. And we get to hang out and probably learn a dance from a world class choreographer. It'll be fun."

"I don't know..."

"You really want to pass up the opportunity to watch me crush that stupid bitch in a dance-off? Come on, you know I've got the moves to beat her. Who else is going to do it? One of those twelve year olds on the gymnastics team? Or maybe a nice broad-shouldered swimmer? I don't think so."

Kristen was right. She was an incredible dancer. And watching her beat Gabriela would be amazing.

"Okay, I'll be your understudy," I said. I can always back out if she actually does get injured.

"Great!"

Oh God, what did I just agree to? Kristen had taken advantage of my hatred for Gabriela and somehow made me forget all about the fact that I was agreeing to be the understudy to her for a strip dance. A strip dance! "Actually, I think..."

"Nope, too late to change your mind. I already hit send."

"What? How did you even have time to add that to the email? I literally agreed to it 2 seconds ago."

"I'm just that good. Now...do you think we can get the guys to agree to be backup dancers for it? Or at least, get Tim to agree and have Bryce be his understudy?"

"Is that even a question? I'm pretty sure ballroom dancing is one of Tim's favorite hobbies."

"Really? I've never heard him mention it."

"Neither have I. But I'd be shocked if he didn't love it."

"Well, I hope you're right. We can talk to them about it after Bryce's race."