Stupid Boy: Senior Year - Winter 23

Chapter 23 -- Hardest Goodbye

Monday January 9

My phone rang while I was taking a shower after my morning run. It was my mom, so I quickly answered.

"How is Dad?" I asked before she could say hello.

"He had a rough night. I just came out from seeing him, and he says he's okay."

"And?" I asked.

"He looks shaken. I think he's just putting on a brave face for everyone," Mom said, and I could hear the tremble in her voice.

"I'll book a flight and get home."

"No!" she said emphatically. "Your dad was very clear that he would be upset if you walked out on your obligations. As a matter of fact, your grandmother and uncle are still coming to your place today. If everything wasn't going to be okay, do you think they would leave?"

Not unless my dad asked them to come to make sure I was okay; I left that unsaid. I had to agree that if he were in real danger, they would never leave his side and get on the plane, no matter what he said. I knew I wouldn't if Greg were in the same condition.

"I don't care what Dad or my uncle and grandmother think. Do you want me to come home?" I asked.

She snorted.

"Brook must really have you well-trained."

"Please. You and Tami have been working on me much longer than Brook. Don't put this on her."

"Okay, calm down. I agree with your dad. The doctors have told us he's out of the woods, but they need to run more tests. Greg said he'd keep you in the loop, and your uncle will fill in with the management of your businesses while your dad recovers. And Caryn has delayed her departure to help out."

"Sounds like you guys have been thinking this through," I said.

"I had to do something last night to keep my mind off ..."

"I get it," I interrupted what she was about to say. "Tell Dad that he's in my thoughts and prayers and that I love him."

"Will do."

"And Mom," I said, "I love you, too."

"I know. Just focus on what you need to do there and make us proud."

"Okay," I said, and she hung up.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. As much as I hated it, they were right; I needed to honor my commitments. The production was counting on me to deliver over the next few days so they could wrap up the filming of College First.

---

I had just finished a scene when I saw Lexi lurking off to the side, looking worried.

"Set the next scene," Mr. Otsuki ordered, which started a flurry of activity.

Lexi came over to me.

"A Mr. Jason Voorhees is here, and doesn't look happy," she informed me.

Mr. Voorhees was my lawyer here in California, handling the Zander lawsuit. I went to Mr. Otsuki first.

"I need a few minutes."

"Take as long as you need," he said with a look of compassion.

I think he assumed this had something to do with my dad. I didn't feel like sharing what Mr. Voorhees was here for. Actually, I had no real clue as to why he was here and pissed. I thought we had this figured out after Paddy had shown up.

Mr. Voorhees wanted to rip me a new one in the hall, but I grabbed his arm and pushed him into an empty classroom.

"What's your problem?" I asked, letting my anger show.

"You hired me to negotiate this, and I get a call this morning saying that you've settled. I thought you knew better than to do anything stupid like that."

I had to count to ten in my head, or I would do some actual physical damage. The only thing that saved him was that I remembered what a shark he was and didn't need him coming after me.

"You're representing me; you need to save the animosity for Zander's lawyers. I would tone it down a notch if I were you," I warned.

"I can't get your father on the phone, and Ms. Dixon is in court this morning. Zander's people gave me a day to accept the agreement," he explained.

I shook my head. It sounded like Zander's lawyers were trying to mess up the deal because he'd agreed to settle. The longer they could play it out, the more they got paid. The 24-hour deadline was meant to be a red flag and make me back out.

"My dad had a heart attack last night."

Mr. Voorhees didn't even flinch. He was such a bastard. Then again, that was why I hired him.

"What's the settlement offer?" I asked to get this over with.

"I'm not happy with it. There's no cash. Zander's trying to pawn off property to you 'as is.' I strongly advise that you not do that. We have no idea what loans or other liens he has against them. For all we know, you could be upside down in them and owe money," he complained.

"Hang on," I said, holding up a finger.

My mom owned a real estate company. She would know what to do to make sure I didn't pick up a problem property.

"Didn't I just talk to you?" Mom asked when she answered.

"Mr. Voorhees received the settlement offer from Zander, and it's real estate. He's worried that the properties might have liens and outstanding loans against them," I explained, then put Mom on speaker so Mr. Voorhees could hear.

"Zander would have to pay off the loan before the deed can be transferred to another owner. A mortgage has a 'Due on Sale' clause preventing just that. That basically means that if the title changes hands, they get paid first. They want to ensure that the new owner can pay the loan. They make the new owner apply for and get a new mortgage to eliminate that worry.

"As far as liens, encroachments, and the like go, I can send the addresses to my title company and ask them to do a quick search. If there are any, you would either have to accept them, or Zander will have to clean them up," she explained.

"What about value? We have to either reject or accept this deal today," Mr. Voorhees said.

"You don't have time to do a full appraisal. The best I can do is what's called a 'desktop appraisal.' It's what banks use to help with loan decisions. It takes recent sales from public records and does a calculation. The only time I have a problem with that type of appraisal is if the home is unique in some significant way. I use it to help make sure we're getting the value right when listing a home, and I then make adjustments based on location, condition, upgrades, and such. My investors also love it as a quick way to figure out what they should pay for a property," Mom said.

"Do you have a list?" I asked Mr. Voorhees.

He handed it to me. Zander had an apartment in LA, which was listed as his personal residence. Then there were four more all around the world: New York; Mykonos, Greece; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Whistler, British Columbia in Canada.

"What the heck?" I asked as I read it.

"What's wrong?" Mom asked.

"Two of them are in Europe, and one is in Canada," I told my mom.

"When do you have to know?" Mom asked.

"End of business today," Mr. Voorhees reminded her.

"I think my son just made up work for me to keep my mind off my worries," Mom complained. "I'll have to make some calls to see what I can find out. Send me the list."

Mom disconnected; I took a picture of the paper Mr. Voorhees gave me and texted it to her.

"I would've had to go to my office and scan it. I didn't even think of using my phone like that," Mr. Voorhees said, showing he was old.

I took a few minutes to explain how this had all come about. Mr. Voorhees had heard of Paddy and asked for his number. He had other cases that could use a 'fixer' to move things along. I didn't want to piss Paddy off, so I declined. I was much more scared of Paddy than I was of Mr. Voorhees. Plus, I didn't really care what Mr. Voorhees thought of me. When this was over, we were done.

---

Manaia had been sent to pick up my family from the airport, so when it came time for everyone to go to lunch, I boarded one of the buses with Lexi. Paradise Cove Beach Café had blocked off their patio dining area to accommodate our group. They had tables set up in the sand with big blue umbrellas over them.

I was happy to see my family had arrived before we had. Uncle John and Grandma Dawson showed my grandfather's influence when they greeted everyone and made them feel welcome. Lexi had seen me acting similarly at different outings, and she was intently taking it in.

She and my Aunt Bonnie grabbed a table while Uncle John, Grandma, and I mingled. I wasn't surprised when my grandmother joined the production staff at one table, and Uncle John found my mentor and joined him and the older actors. I sat with the younger actors, with Misaki and Haru seated on either side of me.

I waited for the waitstaff to get drink orders before I stood up to talk.

"We have a saying: 'I want to be your favorite hello and your hardest goodbye.' I looked forward to working with you all, and when I joined the cast, you accepted me, even though I was an outsider. Now that our time is coming to a close, I know I'll miss all of you. I've made some great friends. That's why I think that quote is appropriate and why I wanted to invite all of you to lunch today.

"I also wanted a chance to single out a few people and thank them ..."

I made a point to thank each person individually. Mr. Nomura had pointed out that publicly recognizing each person and making them feel special and appreciated was important for morale and team-building. This dovetailed nicely with my dad's philosophy of 'praise in public and chastise in private.'

When I was done, they came and took our orders. Then Mr. Otsuki addressed the group.

"I know many of you wanted to be a part of this shoot so you could experience American culture. I hope we captured some of that in our filming. I admit I had many misconceptions about what to expect. And I was more than a little nervous about having an American cast as one of the leads. I was worried that David's free spirit would cause problems. He was 'freer' off set than I probably wanted," he said, and got a good laugh.

I admit I might have freaked them out by going skinny-dipping and doing some other similar activities. My Japanese castmates were a lot more conservative regarding stuff like that.

"What I discovered is that people here basically have good hearts. As you can see, David has his family here today, and we all met his mom and dad. They've all shown the importance of family, which I think you would agree is important back home.

"You've all done a good job, and I expect the series will be popular when it airs. I want to thank David for being a gracious ambassador and host, and I want to thank the rest of you for your hard work and dedication," Mr. Otsuki concluded.

It was interesting to note what people ordered for their meals. The Japanese wanted burgers or barbecue; the Midwesterners ordered seafood; and Lexi, the California girl, wanted a salad. She was the only one who didn't want to try something they wouldn't ordinarily eat at home. I guess she was home.

---

Can I just say that the rest of the day sucked? Mr. Otsuki worked us nonstop. I finally snuck outside to hide for a minute. I took in the blue sky and checked the weather back home. Even if I hated what I was doing right now, I might as well be doing it in California.

I called my mom to see if she had any news.

"Your dad is doing fine and should come home tomorrow," she assured me.

"That sounds great."

"The doctors have a whole list of things that have to change. I don't think he's too happy about some of it, but he promised me that he'd do it so he would be with us for a long time to come."

That was a huge relief.

"I checked out the properties for you. Either Zander has expensive taste, or the cost of living here is ridiculously cheap," Mom shared.

I three-wayed her in with Mr. Voorhees. Zander hadn't paid his property taxes on the New York condo and owed condo fees on three of them. Other than that, they were clean, so I directed Mr. Voorhees to accept the deal. He still wasn't happy, but grudgingly agreed when my mom pointed out she knew where he lived. I decided she was one woman who should never get Paddy's number. She might have him off a few people.

When I returned, I was in a better mood and began to enjoy acting the rest of the afternoon and evening.

---

Tuesday January 10

Mr. Voorhees had arranged to meet me at lunch to sign the settlement with Zander. Last night, between scenes, I'd researched the properties I was obtaining. The more I learned, the happier I was to take the deal. Zander had put some thought into where he'd bought property.

The apartment in New York was in the Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca, so called because it is in the Tri(angle) be(low) Ca(nal). It might be the best place to live in the city. He owned a light-filled loft-type apartment in a rehabbed industrial building. Tribeca is in lower Manhattan and is noted for being an exceedingly affluent section of the city with low crime, tons of transit, superior schools, and easy access to the waterfront.

Whistler, British Columbia, is a two-hour drive from Vancouver. Whistler and Blackcomb used to be two separate world-class ski resorts but have combined to become the largest ski venue in North America, with 8,100 skiable acres. It wasn't just the size, it was the topography that made it amazing. On a single top-to-bottom run, you could drop 5,200 feet--the second-longest vertical drop for a ski run on the continent.

If Whistler was the ultimate winter ski vacation, Mykonos Island in Greece looked to be the party destination for the summer. It was Greece's answer to Ibiza, Spain, where the rich and famous went to play. By day, there were 25 beaches packed with bronzed bodies. By night, there were superclubs where you could get your party on until dawn.

The adrenaline junkie in me was intrigued when I found a website that showed other activities besides soaking up rays and partying--not that those weren't fun. Some alternatives listed were mountain biking, flyboarding, wakeboarding, wakeskating, speedboats, fishing, and SCUBA diving.

The one property that seemed out of character for Zander was in Monte Carlo, Monaco. That just seemed to be more of a grown-up type of destination. Not that the young and rich didn't go, especially when they held their annual Grand Prix race. It just looked to be more cultured than could be expected of Zander. I'd watched enough James Bond movies to dream of going, though; I think the casino was featured in three of those films. And I saw the appeal of its location on the French Riviera, with sun-kissed beaches and the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

Monaco intrigued me. Some random facts I learned were that it was a principality, coffee was expensive, you didn't tip, children learned English in elementary school, and it was very hilly and about the size of Central Park in New York. Of all the properties, this was the one I most wanted to visit.

The final property was Zander's condo in LA. When I looked the address up, I got a happy surprise: it was within walking distance of the USC campus. That wasn't what I expected of all the places in LA for a Hollywood playboy to live. He'd requested a six-month lease-back so he would have time to find another place. I thought it would be perfect timing because I could ask Tracy to move into it when she went to school in the fall.

---

Lexi was talking to my Aunt Bonnie when I came down for breakfast.

"Where are the two farmers?" I asked, referring to my uncle and grandmother.

"Sleeping. They had no chores to do, so they slept in."

I looked at my phone, and it was 8:30. The two-hour time difference meant they were seriously catching up on their sleep. I felt they'd both been up late last night worrying about my dad.

"What's your plan for the day?" I asked.

"Lexi was telling me about the Malibu Country Mart. I thought I would drag John out of bed, make him go shopping, and then take me to lunch."

"Both Mom and Brook went and enjoyed their day. You might need to feed Uncle John a beer or two as a reward," I suggested.

She gave me a look.

"I have a bone to pick with you. That cat you gave us is a terror. His yowling sends the dogs running to the house. Even the cows think he's a menace and clear out when he becomes a bully."

"I hear it's supposed to be a nice day," I said to try to change the subject.

I hated to say it, but there will be no take-backs for that cat. My mom would do unspeakable things to me if he were returned.

Lexi scoffed at my blatant attempt. I rubbed my temple with my middle finger to signal her to back off.

"David," Aunt Bonnie scolded, and then asked, "Will you be home for dinner?"

"He'll be late tonight. He might get home around three in the morning, based on what they need to film today," Lexi shared.

I'd learned to trust Lexi's estimates. She had a knack for looking at the daily storyboard and figuring out how long we would be. While I loved that she could do that, it depressed me when she said I was in for a marathon day.

Manaia came strolling in and found the bagels. I had to get over my bread fascination before I went home. I would soon be cutting back on the carbs to get into top shape.

"Make me one, too. Then we need to get going," I said, looking at my phone to see what time it was.

The lack of a commute was the principal benefit of staying just five minutes from Pepperdine. Besides it being a great house, the location made the rent on this place worthwhile.

I'd been educating Manaia on the more delicate points of bagel eating. Lexi was a lost cause: she put butter and grape jelly on hers. I'd adjusted the toaster, so it now browned the bagels to perfection. With just a schmear of cream cheese and a sprinkle of red onion and capers, we were good to go. We'd included a California flair by adding sliced avocado and sprinkling it with a bit of salt and pepper to enhance the flavor. I was starting to understand why everyone here ate so many avocados. Besides being full of 'good fats' that helped with your cholesterol levels, they were tasty.

---

I had time to myself in the afternoon. There were a series of scenes with Haru and the other cast as they discussed my character, which gave me a chance to return a few calls. One was from my mom, saying I had to call Caryn. When I called the office, Megan answered.

"I was about to call you. We got a bill from a Pádraig O'Malley," she said and told me for how much.

Fixers weren't cheap.

"Pay that one right away. He helped resolve the Zander mess," I said.

"What did he do, break his legs?" Megan joked.

I barked out a laugh. She'd come pretty close to it.

"No. He's what's called a 'fixer.' He helps move negotiations along," I explained.

"Dare is mad at me," she said to change the conversation. "He wanted me just to give him the money. At first, I thought he wanted to buy stuff from those Russians, but I talked to his mom."

"Oh, my God! You told on him?" I asked.

"You do realize what a pain in the butt he can be?" she asked.

"No, I get it. I just love that you called his mom. I bet he wasn't happy about that."

"He wasn't. He finally admitted to her that he had found a guy who worked at State in their engineering department. The guy has some parts that Dare wants to buy 'off the books,' so to speak."

"Where does he find these guys?" I wondered aloud.

"All I know is that he's a persistent little shit. I'm about ready to hand him the money out of my pocket to get rid of him."

"Well, I'm starting to get intrigued by what he's up to. I'm also not happy that he keeps bothering you. Give him the money," I said, then had an evil idea. "You can make him jump through as many hoops as you want to get the cash. Have some fun with it."

That seemed to make her day. Megan was a great gal, but I had a feeling that Mr. Dare should have played nice with her. I'd just given her permission to jerk him around. He needed a lesson on how to get your way in a business setting. I was confident that Megan would 'teach' him a few of those lessons.

She then put me through to Caryn.

"We finalized the details for the business sale to Mrs. Davenport. I've sent it to Ms. Dixon and her team to review. One issue we need to resolve is that they want you to have a seat on the board of directors due to your holdings. Grace said you can designate someone until you can devote the time needed. My first thought was your dad."

"That works for me. He has been involved since the beginning, and I'm sure he'd be helpful with the transition. My only hesitation is his health," I said.

"We just need to know who it will be for the initial filings. If we have to change it later, that's fine," she explained.

"Then put him down."

"While I was talking to Ms. Dixon about the business, she had some news about the Zander settlement. There's more to transferring property overseas than just changing the name on the deed and filing it," Caryn said.

"Like what?" I asked.

"In Greece, you have to either be a citizen or live in a country that's a member of the European Union or European Free Trade Association to buy or rent property. If you aren't, then you have to make an application to a government body that must then approve you. Mr. Voorhies said he wasn't interested in following up on that, so Ms. Dixon will take care of it," Caryn explained.

"Does she think it will be a problem?" I asked.

"No. Ms. Dixon said she knows a lawyer specializing in this type of transaction and would get him to do the necessary paperwork. I just wanted you to know that you don't officially own all the property yet."

"I guess I'd better figure out what I want to do with all those condos," I mused out loud.

"You could let your favorite former employee use the one in Canada for a ski vacation," she suggested.

"You know, that's not a bad idea. I would feel better if someone visited and saw what it was like. It will help me decide if I want to keep it or not. Maybe we should put the word out about the others and see if anyone wants to make a trip for me."

"You paying airfare?" she asked.

"Probably not for a vacation. If no one takes you up on the offer, we may need to send someone, and then we could treat it as a business trip."

"You don't think you'll have time to go?" she asked.

"Ask Brook. She's planning something for spring break. Otherwise, I can't see when I would get the chance," I admitted.

---

Greg was my next call to get an update.

"Good news and bad news. Dad gets to go home tomorrow, but he's pissed."

"What about?" I asked.

"They told him that he shows signs of some heart damage. While his cholesterol and blood pressure look to be okay, he has an elevated heart rate. They told him this was a wake-up call and that he has to get serious about his health."

"That sounds like what we expected."

"They told him absolutely no alcohol, and I reminded him about that expensive bottle of scotch you bought him for Christmas. I offered to take it off his hands so he wouldn't be tempted."

My brother was evil. If I knew Dad, he would lock it up, and no one would get to drink it if he couldn't. I was also sure he was thinking of offing his oldest child. It's good that I now have a half-brother in reserve; I didn't want to be an only child.

"Anything else?"

"Diet, exercise, no more cigars, and he has to reduce his heart rate. They're teaching him some breathing exercises and medication to help control it."

"Did he say what triggered it?" I asked.

"He went out and shoveled snow."

"I thought Wolf had a crew in place while he was gone to take care of that."

"He did. The little knuckleheads went to a party Friday night and slept in."

The knuckleheads were my little brother, Roc, and Yuri.

"You better warn them why they need to steer clear of Mom for a while. I'll let her explain to Dad that he's no longer allowed to do that."

"Somehow, I was volunteered. It seems you're never around," Greg complained.

"Uncle John explained that we were brought into this world to be free labor and to pick out the nursing home. He said it was the checks and balances to ensure we weren't abused too much."

"Was that when he had you digging fence post holes?"

"Yep."

"Look at the bright side. Soon we will have our own little army of helpers," Greg reminded me.

"I can just see Mac and Carol bossing the boys around as they sit in lounge chairs, drinking iced tea."

"We're lucky we never had a sister. She might not have survived."

I agreed. I half hoped, and half worried, that Cassidy would get hold of the girls and turn them into 'little ninja' clones. If that happened, the boys might not make it.

---

I had a couple of text messages from Cindy. My mom had told her to contact me while she dealt with the situation surrounding my dad.

"Hey," she answered. "Do you have time to come to the job site this week? We have to get back to school and want to finalize some stuff before we head back."

"It'll have to be either Thursday or Friday. I have to be on set tomorrow and can't get away today," I explained. "Are you sure my mom can't do this next week?"

"She and I've narrowed it down to a couple of options. She wanted your approval, plus I wanted you to see what we've been up to."

"I apologize; I haven't focused on that at all. I assumed you, my mom, and your Ohio State contingent had everything in hand," I explained.

"In fact, a lot is going on. We got the county to approve all our plans. There was a holdup on the issue with the slope in the back of the property and the worry about mudslide risks, setbacks, and some structural issues that needed to be cleared up. Jack Mass made some calls and found local engineers and a builder he approved of. They were able to set everything straight quickly. We went to the county too soon and should have had the locals involved from the start. It taught me a lot about the process," she said.

"That sounds like details that would have made my head hurt. I can't thank you enough for doing all that," I said and meant it.

"It wasn't me, believe me. If it weren't for Jack Mass, we would have had a problem. I guess it's true what they say about teachers. Those who can, do, and those who can't, teach."

"That bad, huh?" I asked.

"No, not really. I'm just a little frustrated that everything has to be a learning experience instead of someone pointing out in advance where we might run into trouble on this project. If we were charging by the hour, I would be embarrassed by everything we had to redo," Cindy admitted.

"I bet you've all learned a lot, though."

"We really have. Everyone's excited about the opportunity. Not all the projects the school offers as internships each year hit so many aspects of the field. Most of the projects are largely theoretical in that they create presentations, and then the professors judge them. This is a real project that has everything from remodeling to new construction, landscaping, and engineering challenges. I also get to list you as a reference for when I look for a job or start my own design company."

"When you finish this project, I might have a few others. I just picked up a condo here, and others in New York, Canada, Greece, and Monaco. I haven't seen them yet, so I have no idea if they need anything," I said.

"Would you be willing to let us do another internship on one of them?" she asked.

"Do you want the university to 'help' you again?" I asked, emphasizing the word 'help.'

"It all depends, I guess. I would have to see the sites."

"Caryn is going to the one in Canada for a vacation. Call her and ask her to take pictures for you. I'm sure I can get someone to check out the one in New York. I might jet off to either Greece or Monaco. The one in LA is currently leased and won't be available to do anything with until the end of June," I said.

"Could you get someone to take pictures?" she asked.

"It's Zander Lewis's place. You might be able to go on Instagram and see if he posted any pictures. I honestly don't want to talk to him."

"Could you get me his number? I'm not afraid to call him," she said.

I reminded her that he tried to have his way with Halle and Brook. Then I suggested that if she went over, I would send one of my security people with her. She wasn't as excited after that.

"Tell me what you taught my boys on Friday," I said to change the subject.

She laughed.

"I'm starting to think boys are clueless when it comes to sex."

"That's why I asked my brother for help. For your information, boys are clueless about way more than that. Plus, there's only so much you can learn from porn."

"Yes. Unfortunately, porn isn't real life. I think Wolf believed that just because he has a big dick, girls should be moaning as soon as he tried to force it in. I had to have a long discussion about anatomy and what a woman does and doesn't respond to."

"Well, I still don't get the whole cuddling routine afterward. I think a good nap is in order," I teased.

"Yes, we had to talk about that, too. All I can say is that you were an apt pupil and can probably get away with a nap. Wolf and Tim, not so much."

"Yeah, I have a gift," I said, anticipating her inevitable retort.

"A gift of BS, you mean. I'm sure there's more you still need to learn," she warned me.

"I was just kidding," I agreed. "Do my boys have any hope?"

"From what Sarah and Tami said ..."

"LALALALALA ... I don't want to hear it!" I complained.

"When are you going to figure out that Tami isn't dating you anymore?"

"She never was," I said to clarify, "but I still don't need to hear about it. It took me a while to figure out that we might never get together, and it was work to see her dating. Seeing her with Tim, I at least know she's with a nice guy."

"I bet you could win her back."

I wasn't sure if Cindy was serious or just giving me a hard time.

"Not happening. I love Brook, and Tami's happy. I'm over it."

"Wow. I almost believe you."

"Believe it," I said. "Brook has my full attention, and I'm really happy dating her."

"Okay. I just know how the two of you were growing up. If I remember right, it about killed you when you thought your brother had dated Tami over the summer, you went to your uncle's farm. I'm glad to see that you've matured enough to want to be friends with her and have the other stuff not be a problem."

"Speaking of growing up, I've been pondering something," I said.

"Well, ponder away, my friend."

"You know what we did with Isabel and Groper at the party?" I asked.

"Groper?" she asked.

"Sorry, I don't even know her name, so I had to call her something. What's surprising is that when I call her that, everyone knows who I'm talking about. I guess it's bad form to have sex with someone and not ask," I said, a little ashamed of myself.

Cindy laughed.

"Well, that makes two of us," she admitted. "So, you have questions about the bondage stuff?"

"Yes. First of all, I don't get it. You would have to put a gun to my head to tie me up. I would completely freak out."

"Did you enjoy it from the other side?" Cindy asked.

"To be honest, I would have had more fun if they weren't tied up."

"Why did you do it, then?"

"Brook. She and I talked, and she told me she likes to see me 'take' other women," I said, putting it as delicately as I could.

"You mean, she likes to watch you dominate other women?"

I took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"I bet you don't mind," she speculated.

"Do I like pleasing women in bed? Hell, yes. I want them to be ruined for other men. On the other hand, almost always, I would rather it just be Brook."

"So, you only do it to please her?"

"I hadn't really thought about it," I said, getting frustrated. "You know how I grew up. You're supposed to find one woman and live happily ever after, and with Brook, I could do that."

"But?"

"Does there have to be a but?" I asked.

"No, not really," she said. "Do you mind if I weigh in with what I think?"

"Please do. I look at you as both a friend and mentor. I would like to know what you think."

"First of all, thank you. That means a lot to me," she said.

"I'm totally serious. You were the one who turned me into someone that girls are willing to date. I'll never forget that. Not all seniors would have taken the time to help a freshman guy."

"Okay. I think what's going on with you and Brook is a separate discussion."

"Is it something bad?" I asked.

"No, but I have some insight into what she's going through. I just don't want to confuse you more with the other stuff," she explained.

"You mean, like tying up girls?"

"Like that," she agreed. "First of all, I need to say something you don't want to hear."

"Then don't tell me," I suggested.

"No can do," she said, and I prepared for the worst. "You're special, and girls know that."

"Special ed?" I asked.

"Sometimes, but I'm trying to be serious here. You're a leader, and every guy I know defers to you."

"Uncle John labeled me an Alpha Male type of personality," I shared.

"Well, you have that in spades. You're a handsome, young, charismatic, well-known, popular celebrity. You have insulated yourself with family and friends, so you don't realize the effect you have on the women of the world."

"Oh, come on. You know me," I said. "I'm just a guy who's gotten lucky."

"Let me give you two examples as to how I know you're wrong. Take your meeting with my professors and the other students when we first met. Everyone in the room was senior to me, and I was nervous they wouldn't take me seriously.

"You walked into the room, and they were instantly drawn to you. I remembered watching your interaction with them and suddenly realized I could never pull that off. I'd known most of them for a couple of years, and they had more respect for you than anyone else there, and you'd never met them.

"The funny part was that since they learned you respected me, they all now look up to me. Somehow, the leadership you'd instantly won with that group was transferred to me. And that was your doing, not mine. It was empowering, but even as I felt it, I knew that you and your actions were the source of that empowerment. And I didn't even mind because it felt right that you'd done it.

"The other example is Kevin," she said.

"Your boyfriend?" I asked.

"That's the one," she agreed. "He always talks about you like you're his best friend. Kevin leads the Ohio State defense. They elected him a team captain, and he doesn't talk about any of his teammates like he does about you."

"Okay. I get that I have some leadership skills," I said to tone this all down. "But why the big buildup?"

"Submissive girls will be drawn to you like moths to a flame," she said, and then laughed when I groaned. "Actually, they'll probably all but throw themselves at you."

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, but I am. Let's talk about Groper. I would bet you big money that she doesn't think of herself as submissive," Cindy said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Not all submissives are willing to admit that side of their personality or are even aware of it," she explained.

"Is this like being gay and in denial?" I asked.

"That's an excellent analogy. Not all submissives have come out of the closet; some don't even know they're in one. I put to you that Groper is a submissive, and she manipulated you into dominating her."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," I blurted. "What am I supposed to do with that information?"

"You're acting like this is a bad thing."

"Well, I don't want to take advantage of someone," I responded.

"Did Groper act like you did something wrong to her? Did she run crying after you made her cum like a madwoman?" Cindy baited me.

"You know what I mean."

I heard Cindy sigh in frustration.

"Look, something I learned, even before we got together, was that I needed to set and keep my own standards and principles, just for myself," I continued. "They guide me and keep me on an even keel. When I go along with these girls, and Brook even, I sometimes feel like those standards are being stretched to the limit, and I worry about losing my direction."

Cindy was thoughtful for a moment. Then she turned her focus back to me.

"You know, your charisma attracts women to you and leads a lot of people to want to be your friend. But I think it's those standards you're talking about that make those who are close to you want to stay close to you. What you may want to think more about is how you'll apply those standards to girls who are strongly attracted to the Alpha Male part of you.

"Face it. A certain type of girl will be attracted to you. I get that you prefer a strong woman, and Brook is a nice fit for you. I'm just saying that if you took the time to figure this out, you'd be able to identify girls who might be a little or a lot submissive. And because you know that, you can help them enjoy spending time with you more. I know you want to ensure a girl has a good time. I'm just helping you figure out what makes them tick," she said triumphantly.

"What do I need to know?" I asked.

"Let me explain why some people are the polar opposite of you and like to be tied up. It's simple, really. Bondage can give a girl a delicious feeling of helplessness, but it can also take away feelings of guilt. If girls are restrained or dominated, then often, in their minds, they have given up responsibility.

"Think about the girls you know who are either very religious or have strict parents. With you being the Alpha Male that you are, they can justify what they do with you because they weren't really in control. I don't say that in a bad way. You're controlling the action, and setting the tone gives them the freedom to spend time with you and have mind-blowing sex without feeling bad about it at all. That's even if they have a strong religious or moral upbringing."

"So, I should just grab them, bend them over a table, and have my way with them until they scream?" I asked.

"You poor 'stupid boy.' I thought I taught you better than that! If you do that, I suspect you'll end up in jail."

"I was just being a smartass," I assured her.

"I hope so. 'No' still means 'no' and all that," Cindy reminded me. Then she added, "Part of what makes you attractive to these girls is they know they can trust you when they are helpless, so to speak."

We laughed at that, and I took my leave. Cindy had given me a lot to think about, and I needed to do just that. Getting my head wrapped around all the thoughts and concepts she'd just thrown at me was going to take some time.

We'd agreed she'd work with Caryn to get information and pictures of all the Zander properties. Cindy would get back in touch with me in a week or two with her thoughts. I was looking forward to getting her ideas on the properties. I'd always felt she had good taste, and her work on my new house confirmed that. I would like whatever she designed for me.

---

At dinner, Lexi told me to call Brook.

"David?"

From her voice, I could tell something was wrong.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I had to call you before you heard it from anyone else," she said.

My first thought was that something had happened to my dad, but I was sure my brother would have called me if that were the case. Whatever it was, I could tell Brook was seriously upset.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"We're moving."

Why did that sound like, 'I'm breaking up with you?' She let me consider that statement before continuing.

"Dad resigned his position at State and plans to move to Cincinnati with my mom so that they can work out their issues."

"But it's your senior year. I thought your dad would stay so you could finish it out here," I said.

"He was. When they told me about their plan, Dad said he would stay if I wanted," she said, and started to cry.

That was when it hit me. She'd already said they were moving. It had been Brook's choice to leave. Her parents had put her in a no-win position. She could stay and risk that the separation would cause her parents to end up divorced. If Brook left, they could still divorce, but her father was willing to give up the job he loved to be with her mom and try to work it out.

For her to move would be a significant sacrifice on her part. She was leaving her friends and everything she'd planned. The elephant in the room was our relationship. I wasn't under the illusion that her moving wouldn't end it. If Brook hadn't made me aware that, come the end of the school year, we would go our separate ways, I would have been devastated. That didn't mean my heart hadn't just broken anyway.

Something Uncle John had taught me was that people always have a choice in how to handle a bad situation. Here, I could rail against it not being fair and get both her and me upset, or I could suck it up and support her decision. It would be so easy to make her wrong. Brook could have talked to me about it before deciding, but I suspected she had to make a quick decision.

I took a deep breath.

"I want you to know that I think you're making the right decision. I don't like what it'll do to us, but we both knew that we would break up when I left after graduation and when you went to Princeton. Life has happened, and the time frame has moved up. I'll always love you," I said as the tears began to flow down my face.

Brook was bawling, and I heard her drop the phone. In the background, I listened to her mom come into her room.

"He loves me," Brook told her mom.

I heard the phone picked up, and Ava was on the line.

"You okay?" she asked me.

"No," I was able to get out.

"I don't think she can talk right now."

"Take care of her for me. Tell her we'll talk later. Remind her that she won't get rid of me as a friend. We'll figure it out," I said.

"I will," she said and paused. "David, thank you for understanding."

"Okay. I have to get going," I said, and hung up.

Lexi appeared suddenly and hugged me. Brook must have told her what was going on. She just held me as the emotions from the week washed over me. I was such a wuss. Guys were supposed to keep it in and only cry on the ride home.

Misaki stuck her head in the door and then ducked out. I took a huge breath, held it for a moment, and then let it out.

"Can you go deal with everyone and tell them I need a moment?" I asked.

"You okay?"

"No, but I'll get it together."

"Go wash your face, and I'll get you some food," Lexi said. "Go. I'll deal with them."

I watched her leave and then took her advice. I had to focus on finishing this J-drama.

They say God never gives you more than you can handle. I seriously doubted I could handle much more this week.

---

I'm not really sure how I managed to get through the rest of the evening's film schedule. Mr. Nomura assured me that I'd delivered, performance-wise, when I asked him during one of the sessions, we had for me to learn my lines. I cared about my craft and wanted to deliver not only for my own standards but because the crew and my castmates deserved my best.

Later, Lexi told me that anyone would have been hard-pressed to know I'd just received such bad news when I came back. I guess I was a better actor than I'd thought because I was dying on the inside.

It all finally ended at close to three in the morning. On the ride home, I reflected on what I'd said to the cast earlier today. "I want to be your favorite hello and your hardest goodbye." Brook Davis was my 'hardest goodbye.'

---