Secrets of a Gigolo

17

The following week was a trying week. Zachary was good as his word. He saw all of his sugar mamas one last time. He took each of them out to lunch, which he paid for, and ended their affairs. Some of his women were understanding, but Amelia did not take it well. “What do you mean we can’t see each other anymore?”

“I mean this thing between us has to end.” He said.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No. It’s just… Amelia this was never permanent. These things end.”

“I don’t want to it to end. I like what we have.” She said reaching across the table to take his hand.

“We don’t have anything.” He told her. “We never did.”

“But our relationship…”

“There’s no relationship. There never was. You gave me stuff, and I f****d you. That’s all it was.”

She looked upset. “You were using me?”

“Of course, I was, and you were using me.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Yes. Amelia, you’re married. You were only sleeping with me because it was a thrill, and probably to get back at your cheating husband.”

“I have feelings for you.”

“Well, then it’s all the better that we end it.”

“No, Zachary. Don’t do this. I’ll give you anything you want. I’ll leave my husband for you.”

“I don’t want you to leave your husband.”

“I’ll give you a new car.” She tried to entice him.

“I have a car. I have four.”

“I’ll buy you a new house.”

“I don’t want a new house.”

“We’ll go away together. Give me a week to prove to you we should be together.”

“Amelia, there is someone else. I’m in love with someone else. There is nothing you can offer me that is going to change my mind. I’m sorry, but we are over.”

“No.” Amelia shook her head. She wasn’t going to listen to him, so he wasn’t going to sit here and argue with her. Zachary tossed cash on the table to cover the bill and stood up buttoning his jacket to leave. “No.” She said grabbing his hand as he walked past her. “Zachary no please, don’t leave me.” She pleaded as he pried her hand off his forearm. Freeing himself, he walked away leaving Amelia crying at the table. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but she’d left him no choice.

He walked out to his Jag and got in the car. Pulling away from the curb his cellphone rang. Zachary looked at the caller ID. He smiled to see Brianna’s number. He hit the hands-free option to answer the call. “Hey baby, we still on tonight?”

“You know it. I’ll be over right after work.” Her voice came back over the speaker. “How’d it go?”

He sighed. “Not as good as I’d hoped. She begged.”

“Was she crushed?”

“A little bit.” He confessed.

“Poor woman.” She said sympathetically.

Zachary snickered. “You know if you feel bad for her I can always go back and give her one more thrill.” He teased.

“No, I don’t feel that bad for her.” Her tone changed immediately. Zachary chuckled. “I refuse to share you anymore.”

That brought a huge smile to his face. He would have never believed monogamy would have been so satisfying. “I promise you don’t have to. Just you and me babe.”

“So, I was thinking have you told your mother yet that you’re not going to fund her lifestyle anymore?”

Zachary frowned. “No, not yet.” He was afraid to tell his mother he was cutting her off.

“Is that because you’re afraid she’ll turn Ansley out?”

“Yeah. She’s not going to take it well.”

“I know you don’t want to do this to your mother, but you have to protect your sister. You have to call CPA and get Ansley removed from that house.” He knew he did, but he didn’t want to do that to his family. His mother would be so mad, and Ansley would end up in a foster home.

“I know I have to, but I just don’t want to see Ansley get lost in the foster system.”

The line was quiet for a moment. “Well, what if she came to live with you? You did so well with Eliza. Maybe you can turn Ansley’s life around too.” She suggested.

He’d never thought about taking his sister in. “I have no income. I don’t even know how I’m going to provide for Eliza. How can I take on a troubled teen?” If he took in Ansley, he would only blow through his savings twice as fast. Though many might think he had ample savings with his lifestyle and two kids a few million dollars would disappear faster than most people would think. The media was full of cautionary tales of people who won the lottery and blew through their millions in a year or two only to be left penniless and ruined.

“All I know is she can’t stay where she is. It’s either you or a foster home. How old is Ansley?”

“Fifteen.”

“Maybe you could save everyone the paperwork and red tape. Ansley is old enough to decide where she wants to live. If you give her the option, she might choose you over her mother. Your mother won’t like it, but I don’t think she has the money or the wherewithal to fight you in court. She might just let you take her.”

He supposed it was possible. “But how would I provide for her?”

“You’ll find a way. I’m sure your savings will carry you through until you figure it all out.”

Zachary pulled up outside his mother’s townhouse and killed the engine as he looked at the front door. “Ok babe. I’m here.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out as I go.”

“Good luck and don’t let her bully you.”

Zachary said good-bye and ended his call. He tucked his cell phone into his jacket pocket and got out of his car. He walked up to the front door and could already hear screaming inside. He opened the door and let himself in. He made his way to the kitchen where Ansley sat at the kitchen table while their mother shrieked at her. She was drunk again. It wasn’t even two in the afternoon, and she was completely wasted.

“Mom,” Zachary called to her trying to redirect his mother’s focus on to him. “Mom!” She stopped yelling at Ansley and noticed him.

“Well, finally you show up. I hope you have money for me.” She snapped lifting the mostly empty vodka bottle to her mouth.

“No, I don’t.” He confessed. “There is going to be no more money. I’m done supporting you.”

“Oh, you’re done?” She snarled. “What are you going to do now? Get a real job? Doing what? You’re good for nothing else.”

“The gravy train is over Mom. I’m not doing that anymore.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I’ve found some self-respect.”

“Self-respect won’t pay the bills.” She hissed at him.

“Well, you’re paying your bills from now on.”

“Oh, am I?” She swayed as she walked to the table and glared at Ansley. “Time to earn your keep girl.”

“No.” Zachary snapped. “You’re not turning her out.”

“Oh, and how are you going to stop me?” His mother challenged him.

Zachary looked at Ansley’s worried expression. “Ansley go pack a suitcase. Bring everything you need. You’re going to come live with me.”

Ansley’s eyes lit up, and she sat up a little straighter. “Really?” She asked in hopeful disbelief.

“If you want to.” She nodded vigorously and jumped up from her seat rushing past their mother as she ran off to pack her stuff.

His mother looked horrified. “What? No. You can’t take her.”

“I am taking her.”

“You can’t do that. I’m her mother.”

“You’re an unfit mother.”

“I won’t let you take her.” She shrieked.

“Then hire a lawyer and fight me in court but I highly doubt you will.”

“No, you can’t have her!” She screeched and threw the vodka bottle at him. Zachary dodged the bottle, and it shattered against the wall. “You can’t have her!” She attacked him hitting him as hard as she could. Clawing at his face. Zachary grabbed her by the arms and shoved her as hard as he could, causing her to fall to the floor. “You can’t do this to me. She’s all I have.” Ansley appeared next to him with her duffle bag over her shoulder packed and ready. They both looked at their mother on the floor. “Ansley don’t leave. I’m a sorry baby. I’ll be better.” She pleaded.

Ansley looked up at Zachary. “You got everything?” She nodded yes.

Zachary put his hand to her back and ushered her to the door. “Fine, go. You’re nothing but an ungrateful little slut. I hate you! I hate both of you. I wish neither of you were ever born!” She was still screaming as they left the house and got into the Jag.

Zachary pulled away from the curb, and they drove in silence for a few blocks. Ansley looked over at him with relief in her eyes. “Thank you.” She leaned across the seat and hugged his arm.

He smiled at her. “Life is going to be very different with me.” He warned her. “I have rules, and you are going to have to clean up your act, or I swear to god there will be problems.”

“I will do anything you tell me to as long as you don’t send me back to her.”

Zachary smiled over at his sister. “I won’t.” He promised. “But I think we should go over the rules before we get home.” There were a few things he wanted to set in place before Ansley met Eliza. He wanted to make this transition as easy for possible for everyone involved.

He made it clear to Ansley that Eliza did not know who Addie was or that her mother was alive, and he made it clear that she was never to know. If she was going to stay with him, she had to be willing to cut Addie and their mother out of her life forever. It was a condition she was willing to accept. They agreed that when Eliza asked who she was, they would let him explain. He decided to tell Eliza that Ansley was his sister and that she had come to live with them from very far away and that was why she had never met Ansley before. Ansley agreed to go along with the lie.

Ansley herself didn’t remember Eliza. She had been only eight when Eliza was born, and Zachary had taken custody of Eliza soon after. Ansley had a vague memory of the baby their sister had lost, but that was all.

When they reached the house, Ansley was amazed by the place. She’d never been to his house before. “Wow, you live here?”

“This is home.” He said getting out and walking her to the door. “Consider it your home too.” He said opening the door and going in. By now Eliza was home from school and probably having a snack in the kitchen. Zachary invited Ansley in. She dropped her bag on the floor by the door and looked around. His hand to her back he led his sister to the kitchen where Esmerelda was making bread while Eliza enjoyed some cookies and milk. Chino had been in the kitchen talking to his wife, and everyone stopped what they were doing when they noticed he hadn’t come home alone. “Ansley, this is my housekeeper and nanny Esmerelda, her husband and my assistant and butler Chino.” He then walked over to Eliza and put his hands on her shoulders. “And this is Eliza. Everybody this is Ansley, my sister.”

Eliza looked up at him shocked. “You have a sister?”

“I do, and Ansley is going to live with us.” Ansley waved looking a little out of sorts. “Chino would you please make up the guest room. From now on it’s going to be Ansley’s room.”

“Si, Señor.” Chino smiled at Ansley. “Come Chica; I’ll show you to your new room.” He offered.

“Feel free to redecorate. Make it your own.” Zachary told her as Chino escorted her out of the kitchen. Zachary looked over at Esmerelda who was grinning at him. “What? I couldn’t leave her there.”

“I’ll set another place at the table.” The older woman snickered as she returned to needing her bread. “I trust Señorita Parker will be joining us for dinner again.”

“She will.” He smiled.

“Is she also to become a permanent fixture in the house.”

“God willing.” He smiled at her. “I’m going to ask her tonight.”

Esmerelda giggled. “Then I best make some something special to help entice the chica.”

“You don’t think I can convince her on my own?” He laughed.

“Every little bit helps.” She looked down at Eliza with a smile. “This is becoming a full house isn’t little one?”

“I like it.” She said smiling up at Zachary.

He stroked her dark hair and kissed the top of her head. “Me too.”

Zachary left Eliza with Esmerelda and spent the next few hours in his study going through his bank accounts trying to figure out just how much money he had and how he was going to keep his household running now that he had turned over a new leaf. He had a lot of money invested, and he’d put a lot of money into a retirement fund.

He supposed he could cash in his retirement fund and live off it for a few years, but eventually, it would run out. He hadn’t put as much away as he had intended to have when he retired, but it would keep them all comfortable for a while only he didn’t know what he’d do when it ran out. He’d be in the same predicament he was now. No job and no marketable skills. He was set temporarily, but in the long run, he was screwed. He needed something that paid well.

Maybe he should go to school. But what University would take him he was a high school dropout. He spent hours thinking. He was so lost in his worries he hadn’t heard the door. Brianna appeared in his study door with a smile. He looked up from his laptop and smiled at her. “Hey.”

“Chino says you have been in here all afternoon.” She said coming to the desk.

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking.”

“Worrying you mean.” She walked around the desk and ran her fingers through his hair. “I see you have a new resident.”

“Yeah, Ansley’s come to stay with me.”

“How’d that go?”

“Ansley was eager to get out of there. Mom didn’t take it so well.” He shrugged. “She’s a destructive influence none of us need her in our lives. I’ve cut her off.”

“You did the right thing.”

“Did I? Because I have no idea how I’m going to feed and clothe and educate one kid let alone two now.”

“Well you’ve always been pretty good with people maybe Jordon will give you a job and you can sell a few houses.”

“I don’t know anything about real estate.” He said shaking his head. “I know two things. I know s*x, and I know women. That’s all I know. You tell me what job I can get that I can capitalize on both those skills and I’ll do it.”

“You will figure it out.”

“I feel like I’m making a huge mistake.”

“You’re just scared. Change is scary.”

“I don’t think I can do this alone.” He said placing his hands on her waist. “I need you.”

“I’m here for you.”

“But you leave.”

“I have to go home from time to time. I need clean clothes.” She giggled.

“Well, what if you kept your clothes here?” He said turning his eyes up to look at her looking down at him. “What if this was your home?”

Brianna looked at him questioningly. “Are you asking me to a movie in with you?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you think that’s a big step?”

“I gave up my entire lifestyle for you. There is no bigger step for me. By my standards, we could be married.”

Brianna giggled. “Let’s just try living together first.”

Zachary smiled. “Is that a yes?”

“I like your house better than my apartment anyway.”

“Have you met Ansley?”

“No, not yet.”

Zachary stood up and took Brianna by the hand. He led her out through the house and upstairs. They walked down to the room he had assigned as his sister’s and knocked on the door. Moments later Ansley answered the door. Like Zachary and the rest of his family, Ansley was a dark beauty with long jet-black hair and blue eyes. She was dressed ghetto rather, but he’d change that. He’d have to take her shopping to get an acceptable wardrobe, but he’d worry about that after she got situated.

“Ansley, I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Brianna. She’s going to be living here too.” He introduced them.

Ansley shook her hand. “Nice to meet you,” Ansley said.

“You too Ansley. I hope you’re going to like here.” Brianna said with a smile.

“Anywhere people aren’t screaming and threatening to pimp me out is heaven,” Ansley said awkwardly.

“That won’t happen here,” Zachary promised her. “Dinner is in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll be down.” She promised.

“I want to talk about school at dinner. Specifically, about transferring you to a better school. One where mom doesn’t know where you are.”

“I’m not big on school,” Ansley told him.

“Well, you’re going to get big on school because you will regularly be attending and if I hear about you skipping there will be hell to pay. The rules in my house are fair but non-negotiable.” Ansley rolled her eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. You want to be ghetto trash go home to mom. You want a better life you will get educated.”

“Ok.” She said and shut the door in his face.

Zachary was annoyed, but Brianna stopped him from opening the door and chewing her out. “Give her some time to adjust. She’ll come around. You can’t change her overnight.”

He knew she was right, so he let it slide. Twenty minutes later Esmerelda had dinner on the table, and the whole household was around the dining room table. He and Ansley were talking about changing schools. He knew of a good prep school he thought they should check out together sometime in the following week. Ansley was more agreeable than she had been upstairs.

He was asking Ansley if she had any interests or hobbies she wished to pursue. He wanted to get her doing something to keep her out of trouble like how Eliza played the violin. Ansley was telling him how she enjoyed dancing but wasn’t sure if that could be a hobby. He was asking her to elaborate when Chino came into the room and leaned into him so he could whisper in his ear that he had an unusual phone call.

Zachary excused himself from the table, and Brianna picked up the conversation where he’d left off. He followed Chino into the study. “Who is it?” He asked as Chino handed him the phone.

“Señor Adam Heartwood,” Chino said with a shrug of his shoulders telling Zachary he didn’t know the name either.

Zachary accepted the phone and held it to his ear. “Zachary Cooper.”

“Mr. Cooper, I am so glad you had time to speak with me.” A man said on the other end of the line.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” He asked confused by this call.

“Oh, where are my manners? Adam Heartwood I’m an editor at Candlewick Publishing.”

“Candlewick Publishing?” He still didn’t understand.

“I have just finished reading your manuscript and let me be the first to say I could not put it down.”

“My manuscript?”

“Secrets of a Gigolo.” The man reminded him. “A journal is chronicling the life of a young man caught up in a seedy world of s*x and money. Compelling stuff. Outstanding really. It is so well written. A little long but we can shave it down in editing. I showed it to my superiors, and they flipped. They loved it. Candlewick Publishing is chomping at the bit to sign you.”

“Sign me?”

“We want to publish your manuscript. I’m telling you I’ve published a lot of books but nothing like this. It’s going to be a best seller. It can be huge; we might even publish it worldwide.”

“Worldwide?” Zachary gasped. “You’re kidding me?”

“No. You and us my friend we can make a lot of money from this book. I mean a lot of money. You’ll be giggling your way to the back when this thing hits shelves.”

The idea of his journal being distributed worldwide for millions of strangers to read all his deepest darkest secrets was horrifying. The fact that this stranger on the phone and god knows how many others had read his journal mortified him. “How did you get my manuscript?”

“You sent it to us.”

“I did what?”

“You did send it to us, didn’t you? Your name and contact information are on the package it came in. You did write the manuscript in question, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I did. I’m just speechless.”

“Zachary, the buddy, don’t make me beg. Look I’m going to send a representative down to LA with a standard contract. He will go over everything with you, and that is the time to wheel and deal. I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but the higher-ups love this manuscript so much you could practically write your ticket. You consider what you want, and my representative will be at your door a week from Wednesday. We’ll talk later.”

The call ended, and Zachary looked shocked and confused at his phone. What the hell just happened? How did a publishing house get a copy of his journal? His brows drew together in immense annoyance… Brianna.

He put down the phone and went back to the dinner table where he was unable to keep the angry expression off his face. Brianna looked up at him alarmed. “Zac what’s wrong?”

“Would you please tell me how a publishing house got a copy of my journal?”

She cringed and then she smiled. “Is that who was on the phone? Oh my god, are they going to publish it?” She asked excitedly.

“No.”

She looked at him confused. “No, they’re not going to publish it?”

“Yes. They want to. No. I’m not going to let them.” He snapped.

“Why not? It’s a perfect solution to your income dilemma. You’ll make royalties.”

“That’s my life, Brianna. That journal was supposed to be private. I didn’t want you reading it and certainly don’t want the whole world reading it.”

“Why not. You have…” She stopped there and looked at the kids who were watching their argument intently. “Maybe we should take this to the study where we can talk privately.”

“Esmerelda!” Zachary called out for the older woman who materialized beside him. “See that the kids eat their dinner and then bath Eliza and put her to bed.”

“Si Señor.” She said.

Zachary pointed at Brianna. “You come with me.” They left the dining room and locked themselves in his study.

She turned around to look at him. “I don’t see why you’re angry.”

“You stole journal and then distributed it to strangers without my consent.”

“That’s because I knew you’d try to stop me.”

“Damn right I would have stopped you.”

“This is a good thing Zac.”

“How is this a good thing?”

“I don’t understand. You’ll sell your body to make money, but you won’t sell your story? How are people reading your journal any more degrading then what you’ve been doing all these years? People want to read your story. It resonates with people. You think people are going to think less of you because of it? If anything, they are going to connect with you. Your life story shines a light on a problem that people don’t even realize is a problem. It’s inspirational. It can change lives. Think of all the sugar babies out there that feel lost as you did. Think of how your strength to overcome that world will inspire other people to pick themselves up and say ‘I can be better.’”

He stared at Brianna considering her argument.

“Think of Eliza, wouldn’t you do anything to give her a good life? Selling your story will let you do that. Think about Ansley, think about the better life this money can give her. Do it for them. Do it for you. Don’t you think you’ll feel more fulfilled if you managed to pay for all this and you didn’t have to take your clothes off? This is the key to your independence, to your freedom. Embrace it.”

He knew what she said was true but the idea of letting the whole world see into his world scared him he felt vulnerable again. He hated feeling vulnerable.

“Just tell me you’ll give it real consideration.”

He supposed he had a week before the representative showed up on his doorstep. He could take that time to think it over. “I’ll consider it.” He agreed.

Brianna put her arms around him and kissed him softly. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but this is a good thing, and it is going to transform your life.”