Barbara--always beautiful, always perfectly groomed-- looked like a train wreck. Her thick dark hair was pulled back into some kind of messy knot, and even her make-up couldn’t hide dark circles beneath her lovely eyes.
Jan was prepping Barbara. “If this Lee character contacts you about the pictures, we’ve got him. Blackmail’s a federal offense.” She tossed back her drink as though it were fruit punch. “You call me right away if you hear from him, and whatever you do, don’t give him any money. No money. Not now. Not ever.”
Barbara nodded, and asked in a subdued voice, “Do you think we can keep this between us? I’d die if my husband finds out. And my boys. Oh, God, what would they think?”
“You won’t die.” Jan’s big brown eyes held compassion as they locked with Barbara’s. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep it confidential, although in my opinion you should tell your husband, so he can help you through this.”
“That’s all I’ve thought about for a week now. But Bill would never understand why I agreed to have a drink with a stranger, or how I allowed myself to get into such a predicament.” Her hand shook as she reached for her martini glass. “He couldn’t possibly forgive me for this, and I can’t blame him.”
“Would you stop with this nonsense, girl?” Jan smacked the table with the palm of her hand. “You are the victim here. The guy did these things to you. You did not ask to be drugged and nearly raped, and tied up in some sleazy hotel.”
“I know but…
Jan scowled. “Stop blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong. Tell your husband the truth and let him deal with it.” Her voice softened fractionally. “Come on. He’s a doctor, right? I presume, a compassionate man?” At Barbara’s nod, Jan patted her hand. “You might be selling him short. He might be more sympathetic then you’d think.”
“He might. But my sons… they mustn’t find out.” Barbara rushed on, “I’d rather you didn’t find him, if it means my family has to know.”
“We will try to keep your identity unknown.” Jan said reassuringly. “But we have to prevent him from doing this again. I doubt you’re the first person he’s done this to.”
Maddi nodded. “That’s what I’ve been saying all along.”
Jan tossed the last of her drink down. “Good stuff. What’s in this drink, anyway?”
“Citron vodka, a splash of Cointreau and cranberry,” Maddi informed her, wondering if that would slow her down.
“An innocent looking ass-kicker. It should come with a warning.” Jan smacked her full lips. “So, getting back to this creep. We’ve got to get him off the streets. Catching the bad guys is my life’s work. It’s what I do.”
Barbara laughed. “You make it sound like fun.”
“It is.”
“How did you get into law enforcement, Jan?” Maddi asked, and took a dainty sip from her own glass.
“I want the world to be a safer place.” She grinned. “Criminals, low-life scum--they are my reason for joining, and my reason for staying.”
“You sound awfully dedicated,” Barbara spoke quietly.
“I am. It’s my personal vendetta. You see, my father was a first-rate bastard, my ex-hubby was worse.” Jan flexed her long fingers and rotated her shoulder muscles. “Daddy was a preacher man. He’d come home after a powerful sermon, and terrorize Mom, my sister, and me.”
Over a second drink, Barbara told Jan about the rape in college, and how nobody believed her.
Maddi added, “She was a virgin before the rape. The bastard took that from her, and I wanted to kill the guy. Instead, I did such a slur campaign on him that he transferred to another state.”
“His name was Jim Wiley,” Barbara said, with a grin. “Maddi had t-shirts made up with his football picture on the front, and “Why Lie” on the back. It was great.”
Jan chuckled. “Way to go, Maddi.”
Maddi sipped from her chocolate martini, and then confessed. “It’s my turn, girls. Don’t think you can hog all the bad guys’ stories. I’ve got a super-duper.”
She told Jan how her dad took off one day and never came back. They found out later that he’d embezzled money from the bar he tended.
“So there we have it.” Jan nodded at the two women. “A common link. Scoundrels.” She smiled with her mouth, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “But I’m one up on you. I married a big handsome hunk, thinking he’d save me from getting beaten up at home. But he liked his liquor and using his fists too. Had to shoot the bastard.”
Maddi opened her mouth in shock, and Barbara gasped.
Jan continued her story. “I was twenty-two going on forty. I ran away as far as I could, from one end of the country to the other, and never looked back.”
“Did you kill him?” Barbara asked.
She threw her head back, and laughed. “No, but I tried. The damn trigger jammed and I just got one shot in. Barely grazed him.” She reached for a glass of water and swallowed a mouthful.
“Wow.” Barb was impressed. “Makes our escapade with Lee Waters, or whatever his real name is, seem a little tame.”
Jan winked. “Women like you probably don’t carry a loaded weapon.”
“What do you mean, women like us? We’re all in the same boat here.” Maddi lowered her voice to a whisper. “Promise not to laugh if I tell you something?”
“Fire away.” Jan said with a grin.
“I’ve been thinking about starting up a club for women, not the usual down-in-the-mouth, I’m a loser kind of club, but something different. A club with attitude.”
They didn’t laugh, so she spoke with a little more gusto. “You guys gave me an idea for a name. Men Are Rotten Scoundrels. The MARS CLUB. What do you think?”
“The MARS Club.” Barbara nodded. “Has a catchy ring.”
Jan flashed one of her toothy smiles. “I like it. Give us your ideas, Maddi. Let’s brainstorm a bit.”
“It will be a support group and have monthly meetings, but I won’t tolerate women who sit around moping. I want the Mars Club members to raise a little hell.”
Jan’s eyes gleamed. “A kick-ass club. Cool.” She sipped on her pretty pink drink, then pushed it away.
“We’ll have a website where women can post pictures of their rotten scoundrels and vote for the scoundrel of the week.” Maddi explained, rubbing her hands together.
“This is so unlike you,” Barbara spoke with admiration. I love it.”
“You do? I was afraid to mention if because I thought you’d tell me it was time to get over David, and move on with my life.” She forked a calamari and dipped it into the sauce which sat in the middle of the table.
“It is,” Barbara agreed. “But I think this club might be a good start. Can I join?”
Jan spoke up. “Count me in. When it comes to scoundrels I’m an expert on the subject. Meet new ones everyday.” She glanced around the room. “We want women to see they are not the weaker sex, that they are strong, they have the power.”
Her black eyes gleamed. “Most of the ones I see in my line of work are abused, frightened, and have been crapped on for so long they have no self respect. We need to empower them.”
Maddi blinked. “I know, but how do we do that?”
“It’s not easy. They have to grow some balls. Stop being submissive and be assertive instead. Use their power. They can start in the bedroom--get the upper hand where sex is concerned. Teach them their rightful place is on top.”
Barbara and Maddi laughed.
“That can be our slogan,” Maddi said. “Get off your knees and take your rightful position on top.”
Jan nodded. “That is true power. Instead of being controlled, they can call the shots. Both in the bedroom, and out of it. Only then can she be free.” Smiling, she looked around the room. “Okay, Mars Club ladies. Let’s see who can get the first guy to buy a round of drinks.”
“Maddi, that guy over there has been staring at you all night.” Barbara nodded toward a cute guy sitting alone at the bar. “T
arget him.”
“I can’t. I don’t have the foggiest idea how to start.”
Jan laughed. “You really need some help, girl. How do you expect to be a leader of women, and teach them to be strong and independent when you don’t know the first thing about picking up a guy?”
“What does one have to do with the other?” Maddi asked.
“Baby steps. You learn how to entice men, and you won’t believe what it can do for your morale.”
Maddi grinned. “Okay. I’ll practice.”
She sashayed out of her seat, then walked by the hot guy on her way to the ladies room. She intended to speak to him before returning to her table, but came to a dead stop when she saw David walk in. He wasn’t with Tami, but some other young lady was draped all over him.
She hurried over to the girls. “We’ve got to leave. Like right now.”
Barbara turned and saw him. “Holy shit. Now he’s cheating on Tami.” She snapped a picture with her I-phone.
“Why did you do that?”
“You never know when we might need it. If he ever tries to play dirty with you, we’ve got something on him.”
“I’m not worried about that.” Her chin went up. “He’s the one who’s going to pay dearly for the way he treats women.”
“What do you intend to do?” Jan asked.
Maddi smiled. “He’s going to be our number one scoundrel. His picture will be the first to hit our new website.”
“Our first of many.” Barb raised her glass. “To our MARS Club. Let’s drink to its success.”
They did just that.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The following week, Maddi had a distressed call from Nicole.
“What’s wrong, honey? Don’t cry, baby, talk to me.” Maddi was used to Nicole’s tears. As teenagers, both girls would come to her to talk out problems. Their mother worked for a big brokerage on Wall Street, and didn’t have the time to coddle them. Whereas, Maddi welcomed the chance.
“I hate men. I really do.” Nicole hiccupped over the phone.
“Okay, hon. Tell me what happened.”
“I met this great guy recently, and he… Her voice broke, and she sobbed.
“What’s his name?”
“Tom Daniels. He’s gorgeous, and seemed so nice. I met him a few weeks ago, and we’ve spent nearly every day together. I was crazy over him, and thought he felt the same way about me.”
Tom Daniels, she thought. Sounds like some kind of Bacardi drink. Would you like a frozen Tom Daniels, or one on the rocks? She’d like to frappe him into a frozen slush for hurting someone she loved.
Keeping her thoughts to herself, she asked, “What happened, honey?”
“He was supposed to be studying for a chemistry test, and instead he was screwing one of my girlfriends.” Nicole’s voice trembled. “We were going out that night, but I couldn’t wait to see him, so I showed up early and found them in bed together.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. You deserve so much better.”
Nicole sobbed. “I don’t ever want to speak to Shannon ever again. How could she?”
“I don’t know, luv. Why a girl would ruin a friendship over a man is beyond me.”
“I wish I could hate him, but I don’t. I still love him. What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to get over him, that’s what. If he left someone as precious as you for one of your girlfriends, he’s not worth crying over, and certainly not worth having.” Maddi felt the sharp edge of pain, as if it were her own. “Obviously he’s not as wonderful as you thought or he’d never have cheated on you and treated you so dreadfully. Right?”
“Right. But Maddi, how do I stop loving him?” she wailed. “I want him to want me.”
“Darling, I have a suggestion.” Maddi rushed on, “Barbara and I are starting up a little club. The Men Are Rotten Scoundrels Club. I haven’t told you about it yet, but it’s going to be great.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s more than just a support group—it’s actually a club to empower women.” Maddi couldn’t contain her excitement as she spoke about her new favorite topic. “You know how sensible Barbara is, and if she thinks its okay, well then it must be.” She added gleefully, “Anyway, we are calling it the MARS Club. Men Are Rotten Scoundrels. Her voice sounded giddy, even to her own ears. “Get it?”
Nicole managed a laugh. “I get it all right.”
“The name is cute and catchy, I think. It’s meant to be funny, although we’re dead serious.” Maddi explained further. “I think women need an organization like ours. We’ve been trampled upon long enough, and now it’s time to get a little back.”
“Okay,” Nicole said slowly, her tone of voice implying she thought the whole thing stupid. “Tell me about this club of yours. What do you do besides bitch about men?”
Maddi sniffed with righteous indignation. “We are recruiting women to band together and fight back. To refuse to be victims of love.” Her voice rose as she warmed to the subject. “We’re starting an ad campaign to promote our website and hope to attract women from all over the world. Women have been lied to, cheated on, insulted, and ignored, for far too long. It’s time to get a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”
“Maddi? Have you been drinking? Are you all right?”
“I’ve never been better. You’ll want to join our little club, my darling. Just wait and see. It will set you free.”
“You don’t sound like your normal self,” Nicole said worriedly.
“I’m not my normal self, and that’s what’s so wonderful. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I haven’t lost my marbles. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve found a few.”
“Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”
“Yes, your sister, for one. She thinks it’s a great idea. And so does Barbara. She’s going to be the treasurer and I get to be President. So what do you think?”
“May I call you back?”
***
Nicole put in an emergency call to her sister. She left a message on the answering machine to call, a.s.a.p. They had a step-mother crisis. Maddi had lost it.
Autumn, bless her heart, called shortly thereafter. “Hey, Sis. What’s the problem? You sounded frantic, and your message didn’t make any sense.”
“Have you talked to Maddi lately?”
“Yup. This morning. Isn’t it great about this club? She’s so enthused.”
“You think? It sounds a little far fetched to me.”
“I think it’s fantastic. She’s on a roll. Going to start dating and having fun, and I think it’s about time.”
“Well, yeah, if you put it like that.” Nicole scrunched up her nose as she mulled it over.
“So what’s the prob then?” asked Autumn.
“I don’t know. I like her so much, and I don’t want to see her bitter.”
“This is a healthy outlet for her anger. The idea for the club is to teach women how to conquer the weaker sex. To gain control, and empower themselves.”
“You think she’s behaving responsibly?” Nicole envisioned Maddi tied up in a straitjacket, kicking and screaming as she was dragged into a padded cell.
“I say all the more power to her. I hope she has dozens of men eating out of her hand and kissing her feet. She deserves it.”
“Hmm.” Nicole’s mind churned a mile a minute. Surely if Maddi could do it, so could she. Maybe if she learned the secret, she could win Tom back. “Do you think you can make a man fall so hard he’d do anything for you?”
Autumn answered without hesitation. “Absolutely. The secret is not to give him what he wants. Men love a challenge.”
“I think I already blew it, Sis.” She told Autumn all about Tom Daniel. “I love him so much it hurts,” she confided.
“No, you don’t. You just think you do. And believe me, getting over him is just a matter of time, but I have an idea that might help speed things along.” Autumn giggled. “We’ll put his name and picture on Mom’s website. T
hey want to put the scoundrel’s photos and names together with a list of their crimes, so nobody will date them.”
Nicole giggled. “Perfect. I want his name to top the list. I want him sitting home alone, night after lonely night. It’ll serve him right.”
“It would,” Autumn said. “But no can do. Poor Dad has to get top billing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
It took Autumn a few weeks to get the ads up and running, but the first time she heard it on the radio she knew it was a winner.
“Are you sad, lonely? Is your heart aching tonight? Have you been dumped on, tread upon, neglected, or abused by the one you love? If the answer is yes, join the M.A.R.S. Club today. The Men Are Rotten Scoundrels Club is an organization for women, for any woman who has been cheated on, lied to, or made to feel worthless. You do matter. Stand up and be counted. Join our club and begin to feel like the woman you are. Get off your knees, ladies, and take your rightful position on top. You’ll be glad you did.”
The public service announcement received airtime on radio stations across the nation, especially with female disc jockeys. Men didn’t seem to give it as much airtime as they should.
Autumn also secured the Mars Club domain and got the website up and running. She concocted a successful little advertising campaign, and Maddi and Barbara secured a reception hall. The MARS club could now officially open their doors.
***
One night after dinner, Maddi told Barbara she was ready to date. “You know that Autumn and Nicole put me up on several dating sites, and I’ve been in contact with a few men for awhile now.”
“I think you’re crazy,” Barbara mumbled. “You know what men are like. They’re out for themselves.”
“Not all men,” Maddi argued. “There are some very decent men out there.”
“Few and far between.” She gave Maddi a skeptic look. “Isn’t that why you started the MARS club? Because deep down you really believe all men are scoundrels?”
“Not really. I think some men are, definitely. And they should be pointed out as a warning, so other women will stay well clear of them. But, at the same time, I do believe there is a lot of good, perfectly decent men out there as well.”
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE TRILOGY Page 61