Breaking Into the Business

by Hadley Knox

  My eyes were glazed over, and I knew that I looked like a zombie. I just couldn’t do anything about it. The feeling of dread had replaced all of the happy feelings that making love with Greg had brought.

  What if the mysterious stranger on the phone tried to harm one of my children? How could I risk their lives or my own for just a few hundred thousand dollars? I didn’t know how I was going to get it, but if it meant the safety of my children, I would borrow money from every single person I knew, including my parents to get the money.

  Something about what he said bothered me even more. The money pertained to Frank, probably something he had done. Had he borrowed money from someone and didn’t pay it back? I couldn’t escape the feeling that this might provide some sort of clue as to why he left.

  Greg’s hands worked their way through my hair. I stared at the showerhead in front of me, while he stood behind me and washed my body. His big hands moved all over my body, and I felt myself yearning for him again.

  I knew that he was only an inch or less behind me, so I backed up slightly and ground my ass on his pelvic area. As if by magic, he was standing at attention almost immediately.

  When I turned to face him, I had expected that sly smile, but instead I got a look of concern. Despite his erection, I knew that we weren’t going to be making love again so soon. His face said that we needed to talk.

  After we finished showering, I turned the water off and we got out of the shower. I took a towel off the rack and then threw another one to him that I retrieved from the linen closet next to the sink.

  “Thanks,” he said. It was the first words he had spoken since the living room.

  “So you must think I’m crazy.”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy at all.”

  “You probably want to know what that was all about.”

  “If you don’t want to tell me, then you don’t have to. It’s your business, and you can choose what you want to share.”

  So I told him all about the phone calls that had plagued me over the past few weeks. I told him about the one two days ago that demanded the hundred thousand dollars.

  “So was that your motivation for going into business with me?”

  “Part of it. But I also knew there was no way to make that much money in the three days. I think the demand just made me realize what a precarious position I’m in without Frank.”

  “I can understand that. If I had that much money, I would give it to you. In fact, I will give you every available penny that I have.”

  “I don’t want you to give me any money. I haven’t even decided if I’m going to give that asshole any money at all.”

  “Whatever you do, I will be here for you.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “No I mean it. Think of some excuse you can tell the kids about why I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You can’t just stay here.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m not leaving you and the kids alone here if some crazy man is threatening you for money. What if he comes to the house and tries to force his way in?”

  “I have a gun.”

  “Well, so do I. When you go to pick the kids up, I’m going with you. On the way back here, stop at my place so that I can get some clothes, my gun, and a few other things.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You don’t have to ask.”

  “Greg, seriously…”

  “Lana, stop,” he said. He gripped me by my shoulders and leaned in. “You’re my friend and my business partner, and possibly more. Your safety is a concern for me on so many levels.”

  “But what do I tell the kids?”

  “That’s for you to figure out.”

  “Okay,” I finally relented. “It will give me some piece of mind knowing that you’re here.”

  “Then let’s go get the kids,” he said.

  I decided to change clothes. I found a fresh t-shirt and pair of jeans in my closet. I decided to pull my hair up so that I wouldn’t have to do anything else to it.

  When I walked into the living room, Greg was busy tying up his shoelaces. He gave me a warm, sympathetic smile as I walked over and got my keys off the counter.

  “Lana, we’re going to get through this.”

  “I hope so, Greg.”

  I knew that I didn’t deserve someone like him. He might be an escort, but he was a stand-up guy. I knew that even if we weren’t in his bizarre sexual relationship, he would still be there for me. There was just something about him, some feeling that I had, that I knew he was just that kind of guy.

  That made me feel safer. I knew that I shouldn’t feel safe, but with Greg there, I did.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I dreaded the moment that my kids would meet Greg, and it was even worse that I had to do it without preparing them first. He sat in the front seat of my SUV as I drove towards their school. I was certain the other mothers in the car pool lane would see him in my car, and the gossip line would light up tonight

  That didn’t bother me that much though. It was only a matter of time before those boring housewives in my neighborhood began calling the Madam hotline, and I would have more dirt on them than they ever thought about having on me. I smiled at the thought.

  When I stopped in front of their school, Jake and Mallory walked towards the vehicle. Their eyes landed on Greg for just a moment, and I saw them both hesitate before continuing. I smiled to reassure them, and they both got into the car.

  “Hey, Mom,” Jake said apprehensively.

  For once Mallory was not on her cell, instead, she had it resting down by her side and she watched the man sitting in the front seat.

  I wanted to laugh, but there was no way that would help the situation.

  “Hey, kids,” I said.

  As I pulled out of the drop off lane, I found a place in the parking lot with lower traffic. Putting the car in park, I turned in my seat to face the kids.

  “I want you to meet my friend Greg,” I said to them. “He’s going to be staying with us for a few days.”

  The timeframe was a lie, because I didn’t really know how long he had planned on staying at the house. As I told Jake and Mallory this news, I felt a sensation of safety come over me. My practical side said that allowing Greg to stay there was madness, but my heart said this was the right thing. Even though it might confuse the hell out of my kids, and therefore lead to lifelong issues they might later need therapy for, I knew their physical safety was more important.

  “Is something wrong?” Jake asked.

  I didn’t really think of what I was going to tell them about the reason behind him staying. I glanced at Greg, who shrugged slightly.

  “He is having a hard time financially and his utilities got cut off at his apartment,” I finally said.

  Greg gave me a look that was somewhere between amused and offended.

  “That sucks,” Mallory said. “So, like, you don’t have lights and can’t take a shower?”

  “No, I can’t,” Greg said, going along with the story. “Your mom was nice enough to let me stay with you all until I could get all of the utilities turned back on.”

  “That’s nice, Mom,” Mallory said.

  I was a little baffled by my daughter’s sudden interest in the whole situation, until I saw that certain look in her eyes. My daughter was staring straight ahead at our new houseguest and I could tell instantly that she had a crush. I tried to hide my amusement, but it was hard in the confines of a car.

  “So what do you do for a living?” Jake asked.

  I wanted to roll my eyes, but then he would see. Jake had never been the type to buy into the crap that parents foist on their children. He had never believed in Santa Claus, found it offensive that I would insult his intelligence when I first told him about the tooth fairy, and don’t even get me started on his diatribe about the Easter Bunny.

  Even though he erred on the side of overly critical on matters such as this, I was proud that I had r
aised such an intelligent and critical son. Nobody would ever be able to pull one over on him.

  “Right now Greg is working part time at the publishing company,” I said. “He’s in our marketing department. He is going to help me with the new business.”

  “Awesome,” Jake said, but I knew that he wasn’t convinced.

  “We’re going to stop by Greg’s place so he can grab a few things, and then we’ll head home,” I announced as I turned back to the wheel and started forward.

  The kids and I waited in the car while Greg ran upstairs to his apartment. He was only gone a few minutes and he threw a duffle bag and a backpack in the backend of the SUV, and then I pulled away.

  We got back to the house and the kids went up to their room. I helped Greg get his bags settled into the guest room. When he realized where I was leading him, he stopped in the hallway.

  “I’m staying in a guest room?”

  “Where else would you stay?” I asked.

  “I was thinking the master,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “As fun as that sounds, I don’t think that’s appropriate. For one, my kids would notice, and then I would have questions to answer. I don’t think they’re prepared for that. Not to mention, I’ve already told you that we’re friends now. No more sex. We have a professional relationship that we have to maintain.”

  Greg didn’t give up. “You’re just looking at it all wrong.”

  “Then enlighten me.”

  “You’re my boss and we sell sex. I see it like you are just monitoring my work product to make sure that I’m up to par.”

  “Whatever,” I said, turning around and walking to the guest room.

  He set both of his bags against the wall, and then reached down into one of the backpack’s side pouches. I grimaced when he pulled out a gun.

  “Do you think you’ll really need that?” I asked.

  “Let’s hope not,” he said gravely. “But the possibility that I will need to use it is the very reason I’m here. I wanted to be prepared for whatever your new phone friend may throw at us.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “Is there somewhere in the living room I can stow it where it will be accessible, but not so accessible that the kids might find it?”

  “Yeah, I’ll show you the spot. I need to get upstairs and talk to the kids. I want to prepare them for everyone coming over tonight.”

  “Do you have a cover for the business?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, if they haven’t asked you what the nature of the business is, I’m sure they will soon. What are you going to tell them?”

  “I haven’t thought about that.”

  “Well you better.”

  “Any ideas?”

  “How about lawn mowing?”

  “That’s random. Why that?” I asked.

  “You’ll have a bunch of men here at the meeting. They will be able to gather fairly quickly that you are sending us out for some reason. What better cover than using the story that we are landscapers, gardeners, and lawn care professionals?”

  “Where are your mowers?”

  “In our work trucks that we leave at our house when we come over for the meetings.”

  “Wow,” I said. “I’m genuinely impressed.”

  “Good,” he said. “Now let me impress you in another way.”

  He grabbed me, trying to pull me closer. I maneuvered, trying to get out of his grasp.

  “You need to stop,” I told him.

  “Okay,” he said, letting me go. “But don’t think for a second that we’ll ever be truly over.”

  “You’re insufferable.” I turned and left the room.

  I didn’t have much time to prepare for the others to show up. The kids proved easier than I thought. I told them I needed them to stay upstairs while my company was here, as we had lots of business to discuss. They both agreed, though I have to admit that Mallory wasn’t any trouble at all. She didn’t even look up at me when I explained it to her.

  Jake on the other hand was still suspicious. Just as Greg said, Jake asked about the details of the business. When I explained Greg’s made up story of lawn care, it seemed to assuage my son’s concern just a little.

  At five thirty, I made the kids dinner, and Greg and I sat down at the dining room table to eat with them. Conversation was light, but I noticed that both of my children were staring at Greg, but both had very different looks in their eyes. Mallory’s was a look of attraction, and Jake’s was a look of mistrust. I was not comfortable with either one of them.

  However, I couldn’t deny that the situation wasn’t completely strange. The children didn’t know the truth, but unfortunately I did. Sitting at the table with us was a man who I had slept with numerous times, and now hired in my bid to become a pimp. Not only that, but he had become our protector from some mysterious caller who demanded more money than I had in all of my bank accounts.

  What the hell had happened to my life? After Frank left, I had finally gotten everything settled into a somewhat harmonious pattern. Even though money was tight, I would have figured out some sane, legal way to get out of the hole.

  Where had my life derailed onto this nightmare? I couldn’t exactly blame the caller, nor could I completely blame Greg. It seemed like it was a mixture of all those things.

  The kids finished their meals and went back upstairs. I didn’t feel too bad making them stay up there, because they had plenty to do. Jake had video games galore, Mallory had her cell phone, and both of them had laptops to keep themselves occupied.

  I had half an hour until they arrived, and I realized that since I invited them at seven, they might expect dinner. That did fall into the invitation time window that would usually lead guests to expect something to eat. Searching the refrigerator and the pantry, I observed the fact that I didn’t have anything I could whip up for a group of give men.

  When I shut the door of the fridge, I saw the flyer that Jake had hung up on the front with a magnet. The local, good, Chinese restaurant not too far from the house delivered twenty-four hours a day. I picked up the phone and placed a large order of various dishes, as well as a truckload of rice to go with it.

  Greg appeared behind me and I told him that I just ordered the men some dinner. He agreed that the idea sounded fine.

  Shortly before seven, the first of my new employees arrived. I opened the door to find Mike standing there, tall and handsome as ever. As he entered, he reached down to give me a hug and thanked me again for the opportunity.

  Derrick and Ben arrived at almost the same exact time. I hadn’t shut the door from letting Ben in when I saw my pool boy walking up the front walk. It was strange to see him fully clothed, but he was still as beautiful as ever. His hair wasn’t in a ponytail as it usually was during the day, so it flowed behind him, swinging as he walked.

  He reached in for a hug and I embraced him back. I whispered in his ear to remember not to let anyone know about our two trysts. He agreed, but I could tell by the way he talked to me that he expected it wasn’t over.

  We waited another few minutes, and then Ray showed up. I heard him shut the door of his truck, so I went to the front door and waited for him to walk up. I nearly laughed when I saw him, just picturing the face on the woman that was waiting on him later that night. He was built very similar to Pearl. He was short for a guy, and the bulk of his weight was in the enormous gut that preceded him as he approached me.

  Nevertheless, that didn’t stop him from walking with a swagger that would have made Don Juan look average.

  “Hey, Lana,” he said as he flipped his head back slightly in greeting.

  “Hey there, Ray,” I smiled. He really was a sweet man.

  “Everyone else here?”

  “They sure are,” I said. “Come on in.”

  I led him inside and found all of the other guys in the living room making small talk.

  “My kids are upstairs,” I said in a softer than normal voice.
“Let’s have this meeting outside on the patio.”

  “Sounds nice,” Derrick said, winking at me.

  I ignored his comment, and led the men outside. Greg and Mike helped me arrange the chairs in a circle. I was about to sit down when the doorbell rang.

  “Would you mind helping me get the food, Greg?”

  “Sure,” he said.

  He followed me back into the house and when I opened the door, I saw my normal delivery guy standing there.

  “Hey, Hung,” I said.

  “Hello, Lana,” he replied with a smile, the faint trace of an accent in his voice.

  He was a sweet young man and not too bad looking either. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face that lit up when he smiled, which he tended to do often.

  “Thank you for bringing the food,” I said. He began handing me all of the bags. I was surprised that there were so many, but then again, I had ordered a lot of food.

  “You having a party?” he asked.

  “Just a small get together,” I said, “I didn’t have time to prepare anything.”

  “Well, this will do nicely,” he said as he handed me the last bag.

  “You’re the best, Hung,” I said. I gave him a few twenties for all of the food and then handed him an extra one for his tip.

  He looked at it and smiled again. “Um, no, Lana, you are the best.”

  “I know,” I said with a laugh. “Thank you.”

  When I shut the door, Greg started giggling like a little schoolgirl.

  “Is that really his name?”

  “Yeah,” I said, ignoring his obvious, immature joke.

  “He’s not a bad looking guy, you know that?”

  I stared at him, confused by the fact that he was checking out Asian men when it wasn’t that long ago we had sex. “I didn’t realize you went both ways, Greg.”

  He laughed. “I don’t. But think about it, Lana. You have a delivery guy who is nice looking, probably doesn’t make that much money at his current job, and has a name like Hung.”

  “His name doesn’t necessarily mean that it will translate to the anatomical feature you’re referring to.”

  “But you still have to see my point. I think, to make yourself stick out in this business, you need variety. He may not be able to book the same number of gigs that I will, but bored housewives tend to have a range of fetishes that are different from their normal lives. You could benefit from asking him to join.”