Page 26 of Dark Seduction

“The client is Charles St. John—”

“Don’t fuck with me, Daniel. Are you sure it’s him? That cute young movie star with a body to die for, and I hear he swings both ways. Maybe—”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Sid. I don’t know if you can handle a job like this.” I thought if I called him by an endearing name he’d take the job after all, but I discovered that all I had to do was mention that the dude was a celebrity, but I didn’t think Sidney knew how to deal with someone rich, famous, and spoiled. Sidney was a spoiled rotten child and teenager, and perhaps I hadn’t given him enough credit. I needed him for this, and beggars couldn’t be choosers as the saying went. “It will only be for a few days.”

“I can do that.”

After I ended my conversation, it was a done deal, and I didn’t have to say anything after that, but Sidney must have thought about the conversation, and apparently felt insulted by the truth.

“What the fuck do you mean, Daniel? I’m thirty, and I’ve been around a few blocks—”

“From what I’ve heard it wasn’t afewblocks—”

“Okay, Daniel, you win. I’ll take the job, and can I borrow some money until I sell the property?”

“I just handed you a check for five figures, and you have a place you’re staying rent free. What did you do with that money that soon?”

“I showed my boyfriend a good time.”

“It doesn’t cost much for a pizza and a pair of handcuffs. You can get a good rope at the hardware store on sale. And from what I heard from Cole, your new boyfriend has his own cat costume.”

“That’s not funny.”

Well, I thought it was. “Haven’t you told him by now that you can’t afford him? You will owe me a lot if you keep borrowing, and what will you have left from the sale?”

“Remember it’s property in New York—”

“Only if you can sell it, and the way you’re hiding away and fucking Cole’s friend day and night, I don’t think there will be much left. If you two ever get your own place, what will you do then? I hear the guy doesn’t have much of a job.” I glanced at Cole, and he too was sleeping or resting, “He’ll probably lose his job and you’ll have to foot the bill. I hope he doesn’t think you’re rich, because he’ll be fucked when he discovers you’ve spent everyone’s money, and given the chance, his too.”

“You can’t tell a man you have a connection when you can’t afford him. What about Cole? Did you tell him that, or is your information tailored just for me?”

“No, because I had a business and I have a home.” I didn’t tell Cole a lot of things, and now I wished I had, because he was looking at me as if I’d killed the neighborhood cat and buried it in the backyard, then invited guests over for a barbecue.

I really didn’t need Sidney cross-examining me. Not now. Not ever. We needed each other now, and I’d hoped Sidney understood that because he could be the loser. I had a man with a good job, if I could help him keep it, and Sidney didn’t.

“Point taken.” Finally I was getting somewhere. “Now when can I get the money? And when do you need me to help out with that gorgeous boy?”

“As soon as you bring your ass over here and take care of him. I’m not going to give you anything, until you’ve proven you are here to see that he gets on his feet and then you take him home, and take care of him there, because Cole doesn’t like the idea of him being here.”

“What’s the matter? Not all is well in dreamland. You know—”

“I don’t want any advice from you.” I had my hand on the red button and I wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger. If he’d said anymore, I was done with him, and I’d find a way to keep Charlie until he was well enough to go home. “I’m going to write out a contract and you have to sign it. Now I have to get some sleep and check on my business.”

“You’re home, Mr. James,” the driver said.

“Cole, could you go upstairs and bring down a pair of my pants?” Cole glared at me. Didn’t he understand that I was only trying to help Charles, and that was why he was pissed off with me.

“Mr. James, I have a pair of pants in my bag. Mr. St. John and I are about the same height and looks like we weigh about the same.” Cole’s driver reached inside his backpack and handed me the pants. Cole glared at me, opened the door, stomped out and headed for the apartment building.

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