Page 34 of Secrets & Desires
There was a small silence on the end of the phone. “Did you make the appointment?” Her voice was wary, like she didn’t want to nag him, and Nox’s heart warmed. This girl really didlovehim.
“I did, sweetheart. I promised I would and I did. Dr. Feldstein will see menextweek.”
“Proud of you,” Livia said, her voice catching. “I love you somuch,Nox.”
“I love you too,funnyface.”
“Oldman.”
“Saddlebags.”
Livia giggled. “That’s so mean, but I love it. Listen, I have a tutorial…I’ll call you afterwards, okay? I hope there’s news onPiasoon.”
Roan walkedinto the RenCar offices, his portfolio and draft business plan under his arm, and asked to see Nox. Nox himself came to get him. “Come on in,buddy.”
Roan smiled at his friend as he sat opposite him. “Now, I know this is quick, and it’s only a preliminary idea, but I wanted to run thisbyyou.”
“Awesome, Roan, let’s get Sandor inheretoo.”
When the other man had joined them, Roan cleared his throat. “The other day, when we were talking, I was joking around and said I should start an escortservice.”
He saw the alarmed looks on his friend’s faces and, grinning, held up his hands. “No, hear me out. I’m seriously not talking about a traditional escort slash undercover prostitution service. In fact, penalties would be severe if any sexual activities were discovered. What I’m talking about is a kind of reverse Ashley Madison. Say there was a congressman who needed a dinner partner, but his wife was sick or just didn’t like the spotlight. That’s where I’d come in. I’d arrange for an escort. Now, here’s the rub. Say I have a female scientist who needed an escort for the same function. I’d partner them up for an introduction fee. Now, admittedly, this is all a bit hazy at themoment.”
Nox looked unconvinced. “I’m just thinking, Roan, that despite your best intentions, it will operateexactlylike a traditional escort service. People are people no matter their social standing. If they want to fuck, they’ll fuck. Seems to me, you’re doing exactly what Ashley Madison does, but putting a different spin on it.Sorry,dude.”
Roan’s shoulders slumped. “What about if I put safeguards in place? Likecontracts?”
“Contracts don’t mean a thing if two people want to break it. Who’s going tosuethem?”
“Me.”
Nox shook his head. “You’ll lose. I can’t think there’ll be one judge who’ll rule in your favor on this—and your reputation, no matter how well-intentioned, will take a hit. Look at that guy who was the arranger for Berlusconi…what washisname?”
“Tarantini,” said Sandor, brushing down his trousers. “He got eight years, Ithink.”
“InItaly.” Roan rolled his eyes. “Look, you said to focus on my passion. I likefucking.”
“Exactly. You like fucking and you’re doing what you do without charging for it, perfectly legal. Dude, look, you have to take this seriously. You’re more than just a cock, Roan, grow up. You let it rule your life and screw up everything. You got through Harvard, for crissakes, you have a businessdegree.”
Roan stared out of the window for a long time. “Maybe this is a bad idea, friends going into business together. Maybe I should just find a job myself.” He felt irritated that his idea, no matter how vague, had been pooh-poohed. Surely, he should be allowed to see where it went. It still hurt when Noxnodded.
“Maybe youshould.”
Roan got up. “Well, thanks for your time.” He didn’t wait around, just walked out of the building and got into his car. “Well…fuck.” He let out a long breath and startedthecar.
Sandor and Noxsat in silence for a long moment. “Well, that could have gonebetter.”
Sandor shook his head. “What was hethinking?”
Nox looked unhappy. “He wasn’t, that’s the whole problemwithRoan.”
Sando studied his friend. “You noticesomethingelse?”
“No,what?”
“He didn’t mention Pia. He always mentions Pia, always stops to talk to her. He didn’t even glance at her desk as hecamein.”
Nox paled a little but then waved his hand, dismissing Sandor’s observation. “He was too full of his damn fool idea. It isn’tanythingmore.”
