I really appreciate the response this story has received so far from readers. In the upcoming chapter, there are scenes where music plays in the foreground and is central to the story. Should you want to utilize your computer to listen to a song that is part of the scene, something that one cannot do with just a book, you only need to copy and paste the song artist and title into a new window. A search engine should find it for you to listen to as the scene plays out.
Of course, all songs and lyrics are copyrighted by the respective artists.
*****
The following week, things had returned to normal after the kidnapping and successful resolution. The million dollars had been transferred to one of the Escort Service's offshore accounts and Scott Coty was not turned in.
Coty's transgression was kept hidden from Federal authorities. He dodged getting charged with felony interstate kidnapping and rape charges as Sam kept quiet and took the cash instead. In addition to the cool million in the account, she now had leverage on a man who had tried to kidnap and imprison her. That could prove useful one day.
It was the way the game worked. Samantha and her service utilized many currencies beyond cash. At the level she and the girls worked, trading favors sometimes had more value than a $2,000-an-hour sexual interaction. Political and industrial influence carries great value. Being able to call in a favor from a powerful person is an expensive asset that doesn't show up on financial statements. It's an asset Sam has learned how to utilize, in addition to her physical charms. She has taught her girls how to spot it and take advantage. Over the years, she built up a decent bank of favors that she could count on being fulfilled on request.
Samantha gained no advantage in turning in Scott Coty to the FBI. However, keeping quiet and banking a million, along with being able to call a national business leader that can wield her many favors, how does one put a value on that, beyond the million dollars, of course. The hush-money option simply made more sense to all sides. Getting rid of Coty's problems that he dodged was a bargain for him at a cool million dollars, which was wired into one of the Escort Service's off-shore accounts before the close of business, which Rick had also specified to his Denver contact. He wanted to tie up the loose end immediately. Rick had already told his contact to ask for one million when in fact he could have asked for any crazy amount, $5 million, $10 million, even $20 million. For a man worth over $400 million, it was peanuts to stay out of a 30 years-to-life prison sentence.
After learning all the details, Lennie was happy that Cindy accepted the hush money and retained the possible future favor. Truth be known however, Lennie was kind of disappointed that Coty didn't get a dirt nap surprise through the window from one of Rick's contacts. It would have guaranteed the nut job issue permanently solved instead of just being 'in control' of the situation. After all, he thought, he didn't need the million at all. Who needs an extra million? Then he laughed at how ridiculous that idea would have been just three years ago.
Coty was threatened. If they saw him again for any reason, the felony charges would be filed. They still had plenty of evidence, including the video of the incident, four witnesses in addition to Cindy, and the name and background of the tow truck driver if they ever needed it. Nobody was worried they would see him again. The threat of life in prison had a way of making a person see the right path. "
It will have to do
," Lennie sighed.
****
After the incident and her safe return, Cindy was moody and quiet. She realized the big mistake she made by dating Coty again, after all of the warning signs. She was embarrassed that she broke her own rules. If it would have been any of the girls who did that, there would have been punishment of some kind, maybe even a suspension. A few days later, to try to get Cindy out of her funk, Taylor and Lori were talking with her.
"I feel like an idiot," Cindy moaned. "I ignored my own safety rules. Why?" She stared at her friends while she said it. "I thought the guy had changed. I didn't even tell anyone else I was dating him. Why did I think he changed? Is my sixth sense with people that far off? Why did I do that?"
Taylor spoke up. "Cindy, it's you.
You've
changed. You aren't the cold pro you've been for years. Frankly, you've softened up. You let down your defenses. And I think I know why. It's because for the first time you have a man in your life. One who you respect and love. That's your focus now. He treats you like nobody else has, like you want to be treated. You projected those good vibes over to Coty. It's Lennie's influence that caused you to not see Coty for what he was. Lennie has changed your outlook on life. You figured that if you could trust Lennie, you could trust any man. You took Coty as a pet project to save the guy.'
She thought about it for a while. "You know, you may be right." My outlook has changed on a lot of things in the last few months. Lennie is affecting me more than I realized."
"Cindy," Lori offered, "that's not a bad thing. You've never been happier than you are now, well, at least until a few days ago. You just assumed the best about Coty when you shouldn't have. He's a snake and that didn't change. You need to chalk the entire experience up to a learning moment and don't do it again. Remember, you have those rules in place for a reason. From now on, follow them like you expect us to do."
Cindy thought about Lori's words for a while and slowly nodded. After Lori's and Taylor's comments, the funk she was in finally started lifting and she returned to normal.
It was mid-afternoon and all of the girls had ended up at Lennie's place for various reasons. Sharon realized the rendezvous was occurring and changed her schedule to show up for their regular testing protocol. As they sat around the living room, stripping one by one as Sharon administered the tests, Cindy realized Lennie should be aware of a change to their schedule.
"Lennie, I don't think this has ever happened before, but tomorrow night all of us are busy."
"Busy with what Cindy?"
"Busy with dates of course. Tomorrow night we're all working. We all have dates, so you're on your own. We'll be back probably sometime around sun up."
Lennie had mixed emotions about Cindy's statement and it showed by the look on his face. Even though he was now their pimp, he still didn't particularly like to share his girls.
"
I'm the world's shittiest pimp,
" Lennie thought to himself.
"Judging by the look on your face Lennie, you don't want us to work tomorrow night. You know we love you more than life itself, but you're really a shitty pimp, professionally speaking of course." Cindy was grinning as she said it, even if there was truth in the statement.
Lennie's eyes bulged out. "How did you know I was thinking that?"
Lori and Taylor both laughed out loud.
"You're the easiest man to read in the entire world, Lennie. Hope that doesn't bother you, because there isn't anything you can do to change it," Lori laughed.
"You're lucky your girls love you and would never consider taking advantage of you," Taylor snickered. "We'd own your ass! Instead, we're all getting fucked tomorrow night as a result you'll have thousands in your pocket to show for it."
All three girls were busting a gut at his expense. Suddenly between the laughter and the smiles on the girl's faces, Lennie felt something special. Like he belonged here. Like this moment was something he had lived his entire life for and until that moment, never knew it.
These girls truly loved him and he, them. It wasn't this "being a pimp" stuff, no he had no idea what he was doing, but these relationships, with these extraordinary-looking women that have lived tough lives, yeah, it seemed to be natural and right. Incredible, in fact.
They were a part of his life now, in fact, nearly his entire life. He didn't go out with friends as often as before; he couldn't remember the last time he was at a Mariner's game, even though they were having a good year so far. The lives of his girls were now the center of his thinking. His drive over the decades to earn more money wasn't a factor in his thinking anymore. He had more money than he would ever need or could ever spend. What brought new fire to his life was the collection of beautiful women who had made him the center of their lives. He chuckled to himself and thought, "
Take that, Tinder!
"
And all of them, every one of them, sold their bodies regularly for audacious amounts of money, many times each week, to men he had never met. And he was their pimp, although he was now making millions and didn't need the money, even though the thought of supporting one's self by taking the earnings of escorts was disgusting.
It was truly insane, yet it was reality.
And he loved it— women, the situation. At that moment, he realized just how much he loved it. He would never, ever trade it for anything else.
"I feel kind of off when a friend picks up a bar bill, so yeah, living off the earnings of expensive escorts is something I'm still trying to get used to," Lennie answered. The girls giggled again.
"At least I have Lori and DJ to keep me company," Lennie countered.
"Sorry, Lennie, I'm working tomorrow night as well," Lori said as she walked in and sat beside him on the sectional.
"What? You? When did you start seeing clients again?" Lennie was honestly confused.
"It's Slurpy's birthday tomorrow. He's getting the biggest surprise present ever!" Lori informed him as if it were just a normal surprise people do regularly.
