Chapter 18: Confirming Remaining Debt
Max stepped out of their apartment and into his own. Running a hand through his hair, he looked around the apartment.
It wasn’t the worst place he could live, but it wasn’t the best. The upside with this place is that it’s close to pretty much everything. A thirty-minute drive is as high as it gets. Not to mention it’s cheap.
The downside: everyone can hear your business. If you speak loud enough, all your little secrets are on display.
For the umpteenth time since his parents died, Max’s thoughts revolved around one thing: money. They’ve been gone for years, and that’s the only legacy they left. A legacy of debt.
His thoughts shifted to his sister. The person who was supposed to protect him. The insufferable bitch who left him with debt up to his ears and never looked back.
She was their parents’ golden child. There was nothing she could do wrong in their eyes. Yet, it was he who dealt with everything after his parents’ demise. If there is karma in the world, he hoped his karma with the people he once called family would be severed.
Max went to the bedroom to get to his little black book. Sifting past clothes and unopened boxes of gifts, he found the small book he was looking for. He ran his hand over the surface, a humourless smile gracing his lips.
Others had black books with women, men, or in between; they could call for a good time. His little black book had debts, checks, and balances.
Back in university, he wasn’t an accounting major, but after dealing with everything, he felt he might be a fairly good accountant.
A pen had been stuck in the book to the last place Max had opened it.
He stared at the number, $257,519. That’s what he needs to pay off. He thought of the $50,000 from Meredith and the $2,000 from her husband. Coupled with the $5,000 from Rebecca.
He had $57,000. He could pay off the $57,519, leave himself with the $200,000 balance, and still have wiggle room. His pen tapped, thinking about what he had lined up for next week.
He didn’t have much to do. Liliana wanted to see him twice, Tuesday and Friday. The only other obligation he had was Margot.
He stared at the numbers, willing them to disappear. No matter how hard he stared, they remained. For the 1,273, he wished he had never been born. Debt was not something a normal person could bear.
Should I get a part-time job? Maybe I should. I don’t have much lined up for this month. Maybe I should try. I should stay away from the places I know Rebecca and the others frequent. They don’t need to know about this.
He contemplated and decided to wait and see. He wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of working for someone who paid him rent money. Not to mention, even if his clients are disgruntled, they don’t take it out on him. At most, they take it out on his dick.
Granted, he had to admit, being a sugar baby is great, but sometimes, they want more control than he is willing to give.
He shivered when he thought about Deirdre. Good thing that’s over and done with.
Blinking rapidly and shaking his head, he shook off the images in his mind. He didn’t want to think about Deirdre.
He turned his attention back to the black book. He circled the amount. Not yet; he wouldn’t pay anything yet. Either way, the minimum payment is set to go out. He didn’t need to think about it now.
After meeting Margot and Liliana, he would decide what he needed to do. He sighed to himself; money really was the root of all evil.
Money was something Stacey currently had a lot of. As for how long it would last, only she knew. For the past two hours, she had been rolling around in bed with David.
She had to admit, the man had stamina. And she would never tell him this, but he was the best she ever had. Currently, she was staring at the number on her phone screen.
David had asked for her account information. She was skeptical, but gave it. Not long after, she heard the chime on her phone. When she saw the notification, she choked on air.
"You..." she started, but didn’t know what to say.
"I’m not asking for anything. Just take it."
Stacey’s gaze was complicated. She was looking for a target, but she didn’t expect her new target to be stupid. Who would give a woman they just met $100,000?
She wasn’t sure if she should thank you or curse him for treating her like a prostitute. Because that’s exactly what’s happening. He had a good time, and he’s paying her for it.
"David," she sighed. "Let me be honest with you. I’m not sure how to feel about this. I just broke up with Malcolm. Then, we slept together, and now you’re giving me money. Am I supposed to be angry or happy?"
"You can be anything you want," he said, shrugging.
Stacey narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t sure what to make of David. He was attentive. He listened to what she said and didn’t just wait for his turn to talk. He was genuinely funny. But something doesn’t sit right with all of this.
It’s the money. It must be the money. It came too fast, and she didn’t expect it, so her sensibilities are all over the place.
Seeing her staring at the ceiling, David smiled where she couldn’t see.
"So," he said, bringing her out of her thoughts. "Did it work?"
"Did what work?"
"Did getting under someone else help you get over him?"
Stacey laughed despite herself. "I’m not sure. We might need to do it a few more times. But not today. If we keep going, I might not be able to walk out of here."
"I can give you a ride; you don’t need to walk."
Then he flipped Stacey, letting her straddle his lap.
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