Hot Sugar

But I don’t lean forward to shake his hand, instead grunting with annoyance.

“Please buckle your seats for take-off,” a pleasant voice announces over the intercom, although that’s hardly necessary. Brian and I are the only ones on the private jet, about to breeze our way back over the Atlantic.

Because Brian is general counsel of Channing Corp. Way back when, we were buddies in college, troublemakers who barely cracked a book. But while I went off into real estate, Brian took another path. This asshole actually got himself into law school, and a good one at that. So when Channing Corp. started making real moolah, I hired his ass as the company attorney.

And here he was, annoying the fuck out of me.

“Yo, things are looking good with the new hotel,” he cracks. “Things are real good.”

I nod listlessly.

“Yeah,” is my grunt. “S’okay.”

“It’s okay?” Brian repeats. “Seriously Mason, get a grip. Lady Gaga was there, as well as what’s her name? That French singer? The cute one?”

I shrug my shoulders. No fucking clue. It doesn’t matter how good-looking women are these days, there’s only one face I see. Carrie. Those sweet pouty lips, the big brown eyes.

But Brian went on and on.

“We’re booked for the next three months,” he crowed. “Booked solid, money’s gonna roll!”

But frankly, I’ve lost a lot of interest in the business. Cash came too easily. Everything came to easily. It’s like a wife. When it’s a sure thing, it’s not exciting anymore.

So I nod again.

“Great,” is my terse reply. “Real great.”

Brian shoots me a sideway look.

“You still upset over that … uh, matter?” he clears his throat delicately.

I roll my eyes.

“You can say it,” is my harsh grunt. “I’m not gonna blow up or something.”

Brian holds his hands up. This guy is from Texas, and his fists are the size of hams.

“Just sayin’,” he repeats, shaking his head. “Just sayin’.”

I let out another pissed off grunt.

“Listen,” come my words. “Her name is Carrie. We met on a sugar daddy website. It was fucking disgusting and depraved. I fucked her all the way until Sunday, and gave her money for it. It happened.”

But Brian doesn’t say anything at first, merely thinking.

“So what’s wrong?” he says calmly.

“Well for one,” I drawl. “I practically ruined the Paris launch. I mean, Mr. CEO fucking an eighteen year-old naïf? Our PR department had to do massive damage control, did you notice?”

He nods.

“Yeah, but it’s over now,” are his smooth words. “So what?”

The “so what” throws me into a frenzy.

“So I fucking owe my life to Channing Corp.! And I almost fucked it up over a woman!”

Brian nods sagely.

“We’ve all done shit like that. Remember when I thought Angela was gonna leave me? I went ballistic remember? Became a raging maniac, had to take two weeks personal leave from the company.”

I shake my head. That’s right, but this is a thousand times worse. Because Angela is Brian’s wife, and marital strife happens. By contrast, Carrie is a sugar baby, a sex worker when you really get into the details.

“Listen motherfucker,” comes my low growl. “I spent decades building up this company. I’ve sacrificed everything to make it work. And where does that leave me?” is my disgusted rasp. “Head rolling in presses, skewered with my balls nailed to the wall. Yeah, that’s what I get,” I say in a nasty tone.

But Brian doesn’t lose his cool. It’s part of being a good attorney.

“Listen,” he says. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you need to find some balance. You’re acting like it’s all or nothing. Get a grip, my friend. Life ain’t that harsh.”

But I’m beyond reason at this point, and I turn on him, blue eyes blazing.

“Oh yeah?” is my snarl. “You wanna tell employees why their CEO is paying for sex? You wanna boost company morale by announcing, yes, I’m a dirty motherfucker who forks over cash to drill teenage girls?”

Brian holds up his hands in a placating manner.

“Naw, it’s not that bad,” he says. “I mean, yeah, you guys met over a sketchy website. But it could be worse. She could be a criminal or something.”

I shoot to my feet, towering over him.

“Are you fucking serious? Does everyone meet on a site called Sugar Babiez? Does everyone fork over five thousand dollar allowances to pretty girls who put out?”

But Brian isn’t fazed.

“I guess. Sort of. Because I give my wife a lot more than that. Ten thou a month. Plus a bonus if the kids make honor roll.”

I drop down into the seat again, beyond pissed now. This fucker just doesn’t get it. Angela’s his wife! And what’s this shit about honor roll? Who the fuck cares? So I say it.

“That makes no sense, motherfucker. Angela’s your wife. This is different.”

But Brian shakes his head again.

“What’s so different? The fact that we have a marriage certificate? That we have three kids together? If I know you, Mason, then my bet is that pretty girl is pregnant already. You never used protection back in college, and you’re probably not using it now.”