Part 2 (1/2)
But then he went over the line, crossing into too attentive. Trying too hard to make a connection with Ally. And that ”Wish” line? Even Ally wouldn't write something like that. So silly and cornball it was unbelievable. Except something seemed so sincere about the way Bennie had said it.
Oh, yeah, he's good. But d.a.m.n, Ally thought, leaning back in his chair. The guy was gorgeous. Movie star, runway model, holy-h.e.l.l-have-you-ever-seen... gorgeous. Maybe he had been hasty. Maybe he should have at least gotten his money's worth from the escort instead of storming off. He was probably going to pay for it no matter what. Robbie would have used his credit card, so what would be the harm? Ally dropped his hand to his lap and was surprised by how warm it was against his hardening c.o.c.k, until he looked down and remembered it was No Pants Day. Groaning, he stood and went to get fully dressed.
Otto was just leaving when he got back to the office, after dropping off a tray with a bowl of soup and a sandwich on the desk.
”Thanks, Otto.” He smiled gratefully at his one true friend.
”Anytime. Can I get you anything else?”
”No, thanks. I just need to make some calls. I'm expecting some movers later, though,” Ally said a bit sadly.
Otto studied Ally for a moment before nodding. ”All right, then.” He patted Ally on the shoulder before walking away.
Ally plopped down in his chair and started eating, chewing without really tasting anything. Instead, he stared at the sports drink Otto had left, thinking it was the same color as Bennie's eyes. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and picked up the phone. He dialed his accountant's number by memory. He talked to the man enough when he was going through his friends' extravagant spending habits. All on Ally's credit cards, of course.
”h.e.l.lo, Aloysius. What can I do for you?” Ally winced at hearing his full name, but he knew he'd never get his longtime accountant to change.
”Hey, Emille. It's time for plan B.”
A sharp exhale crackled in Ally's ear. ”Are you sure, son?”
”Yep. Close all the credit cards, change every pa.s.sword, migrate every account. How soon can you have new cards sent over?”
”I can send you something this afternoon. Aloysius, do you really want to do this?”
”Yes. And can you arrange for some movers?”
”For the whole house?”
Ally chuckled. ”No, just the bedroom stuff. And the office. Not any of the furniture.”
Emille sighed. ”All right. Where will they be taking everything?”
Ally paused. He wasn't sure. All he knew was he had to get away. Fast. If he knew anything about Robbie, it was that he was already making backup plans to make sure Ally didn't cut him off. He wanted to be gone before his freeloading friends showed up.
”You know what? Just arrange to put them in storage. I'll find a hotel for a few days. And send some cash with the new cards. Just don't authorize anyone else to use them.”
”Aloysius, are you sure you're not just overreacting?”
The doorbell rang, and Ally heard Otto's footsteps heading away from him. He leaned back in his chair and considered everything that had happened that morning. Was he being rash? He thought about Bennie, smiling at him from across the restaurant. Maybe his friends did care, even if the way of showing it was messed up. Robbie had hired escorts for him before. Maybe it was his way to look out for him.
”Aloysius? Are you still there?”
He sighed. ”I don't know, Emille. It may be harsh, but I've got to do something. These guys are taking too much from me. They don't give anything back. I need to move on somehow.” He heard voices and looked up to see Otto leading Bennie into the office. He smiled that professional smile at Ally again, and that solidified his decision. ”No, Emille, I'm not overreacting. Do what I asked.”
”All right, son. I'll get the cards messengered over today.”
”Thank you, Emille.” He hung up, probably with a little more force than needed, judging by Bennie's reaction. Otto discreetly stepped out of the room, leaving them alone. ”What do you want?”
Chapter Six.
WHEN Harley pulled up, Bennie almost didn't want to get out of the car. The estate was breathtaking. And intimidating. He s.h.i.+vered, wondering what he was doing there. Harley pulled up, Bennie almost didn't want to get out of the car. The estate was breathtaking. And intimidating. He s.h.i.+vered, wondering what he was doing there.
”Man, you don't have to do this. Just leave the jacket with whoever opens the door, and we'll go.”
”No. I'll be fine.”
”You sure? You look like you lost your mojo there.”
”My mojo? Well, don't worry. We don't have to build a time machine or anything. I'll get it back.” He looked over at Harley, laughing. A sc.r.a.p of blue material lying in the back seat caught his eye as he stepped out of the car. He leaned in and grabbed it. ”Can I take this?”
Harley nodded. ”Be my guest. I think it's my sister's. She must have left it when we went to the beach last week.”
”Don't wait up,” he said as he tied the sarong around his waist and dropped the ap.r.o.n into Harley's front seat before turning to the steps.
”Good luck, my man,” Harley called out as he drove off.
Bennie looked around the room while Wish finished up his call, feeling out of place. Wish had a freaking butler, after all. Bennie had people surrounding him all the time, people catering to his every whim, but no one whose job it was to handle all the little things for him. His time at the top of the modeling world gave him access to some of the most beautiful homes on the planet. He'd been in mansions, and estates, and palaces all over the world, all filled with servants, and it had never impressed him. Everyone wanted him around, usually to decorate their arms or add glamour to their huge parties, filled with all the food, alcohol, drugs, and orgies he wanted. He just floated through the parties, smiling on cue. He didn't stay long, and he never spent the night. The hosts would be disappointed, sometimes even threatened him, but he stuck to his morals and wouldn't let himself get caught up in the excessive lifestyles. Lifestyles that people like Palmer wanted desperately, clinging to him for any opening into the upper echelons.
Bennie shook his head. Why did coming to an estate to visit one guy make him so nervous when the opulent parties never affected him? What was it about Wish that made him feel like that teenager back in the trailer park? From what he'd seen, Wish wasn't anything like those guys who pawed at him, trying to buy his affection. He chuckled at the irony. All those guys throwing money at him, hoping-expecting-him to bend over for a few bucks and a fancy house, trading on their bank accounts or the power of their names. He always walked away from them.
Then there was Wish, throwing money at him to just go away. Not expecting anything from him. In fact, Wish didn't seem to expect much of anything from anyone, except maybe a kick to the teeth. And Bennie was here chasing him.
”What do you you want?” want?”
Wish had changed out of the suit, but he still looked commanding sitting behind the ma.s.sive desk. The purple polo s.h.i.+rt really brought out the green eyes, but now he noticed a fire in those eyes and the spots of color high in his cheeks. By the way he slammed the phone down, he was angry.
Good for him. It looks good on him.
”You left your jacket, Wish.” He held the expensive coat out to him, waiting for Wish to come to him. He gave a tiny smile when Wish leaned back in his chair and stayed right where he was.
”You could have just left it with Otto.”
”Well, I wanted to make sure you got it.” He turned up his smile. Given how Wish had left the restaurant, he thought it wouldn't hurt to pour his considerable charm into it.
Wish shook his head. ”Did you really think there was a chance I wouldn't get it? This is is my home.” my home.”
d.a.m.n. This isn't going the way it's supposed to. He held up the folded pages. ”You forgot this too. I figured you might want it back.” The way Wish's shoulders slumped, Bennie knew there was a story behind this story. ”I hope you don't mind. I read it.” He held up the folded pages. ”You forgot this too. I figured you might want it back.” The way Wish's shoulders slumped, Bennie knew there was a story behind this story. ”I hope you don't mind. I read it.”
Wish looked up, a wary expression on his face. ”And? What did you think of it?”
”Brilliant.”
Wish started closing up the files that were open on his desk and cleaning up the lunch tray.