Jack

By Geoff Hill

Jack may be growing up with the best of prospects, friends and talent. But life has a way of going in odd directions, and for Jack, this means many a twist before finally achieving what he wants in life.
His talents in university, with friends, and in making money, are pitted against friends with varied backgrounds, from Lynette running an escort agency, to the hotel business in Brisbane, which is not what it seems and after meeting Moses with his unusual limo this is reinforced.
A lively and absorbing story that will have you eagerly following Jack's life, his business and his loves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geoff Hill
• Release date: Aug 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465812735

Book preview

JACK

by

Geoff Hill

****

PUBLISHED BY CHARGAN AT SMASHWORDS

This book available in print from

www.chargan.com

Jack

Copyright © 2011 Geoff Hill

ISBN: 978-1-4658-1273-5

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Geoff Hill has asserted his right under the Copyright Act 1968 to be identified as the author of this work.

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

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Chapter 1

In her days as a call girl, Lynette had done and seen many things that a normal person would consider revolting, yet she had just received a request from a prospective client that would have surprised anybody else.

She thought that the assignment would be ideal for Jack Hall, and it seemed to her that he would be the perfect fit for a job like this, so she didn’t even entertain the idea of using any of the other men that she employed from time to time.

Her mischievous streak made her believe that she would get more enjoyment from watching Jack handle this assignment, than she would by observing any of her other employees. The trick, she knew, would be getting Jack to agree with it.

Jack had been with her escort agency for around eighteen months and during that time had impressed all the female clients who had had call for his services. His youthfulness had allowed her clients to introduce him to others in whichever way they felt comfortable enough to do so. It was nothing for Jack to play the son one night or toy-boy for a middle-aged widow or divorcée the next. It was usually the client's personal agenda ethical or not which dictated how they wished to present him. His intelligence and in-depth knowledge of a variety of subjects reflected favourably on the clients – and ultimately on Lynette and her service. Lynette still remembered as if it were yesterday the day he bounced into her office, full of enthusiasm and cockiness.

Hello, my name is Jack Hall, I’m eighteen years old, but as you can see I could pass for older if it’s necessary for a client. I’m six foot tall and at present enrolled in medical school. I have no fixed religious beliefs, although I’m flexible in that department if it is important to your clients. I also speak ten languages, courtesy of my father’s worldwide travels over the course of his working life.

Lynette remembered him carrying on with all the positives of why she should hire him. What had impressed her most at the time was – at such a relatively young age – his absolute assured self-confidence. At first she had been concerned about his lack of age but was prepared to overlook it because of his obvious maturity and enthusiasm. Little did Lynette know that Jack would not only be an asset for her business, but also a great wellspring for her mirthful storytelling.

Jack had been planning his life long before he was a teenager; playing the stock market was testament to that. His father had instilled in him a sense of purpose for life and if he proved successful, which he was fully confident – as only a teenager can be – that he would, then working for an escort agency would provide him with a generous income to help him on his way, not to mention an outlet to ease the boredom of his routine at university. He knew he would need more than his academic skills to make himself successful. His father would joke there's no point being the most intelligent person on the planet if you can't find your way out of a revolving door.

Initially Lynette had told Jack that his age might work against him and not to expect too much business from her clients. How wrong she had been! His bedside manner (so to speak) had proved to be just what her agency needed. After her basic cross-examination regarding his social habits – drinking, smoking, scratching his crotch in public, and any other social gaffes which might offend a client – she knew by his boyish blushing at some of her remarks that he was the genuine article. He had seemed too good to be true at the time. He had no criminal record, and best of all he didn’t have a girlfriend; they could be poison in this business. The girlfriends all loved it when the money started to roll in for their spending, but eventually the green-eyed monster stirred deep within. It was ridiculous the way some girls carried on, because Lynette was proud of the business she had built up. Any sexual contact with clients while on assignment (she loved that word) was cause for instant dismissal, if she found out.

Lynette was well aware that the escort business was not held in particularly high regard, but then neither were car salesmen, real estate agents or politicians. You can usually find some sleaze in any vocation if you dig deep enough, she thought, remembering her own days in an office long ago, before she moved to her lucrative business as a call girl, when who was fucking who was on top of the daily gossip list. She was very strict about any liaisons conducted outside her business assignments. She only tolerated these flings as long as money wasn’t involved; and if the fling did become a serious relationship her employees usually left the business of their own accord, with a gentle nudge from their new partner. When and if she did find any of ‘her boys’, as she liked to call them, becoming entrepreneurial and deciding to go into business for themselves with her clients, a well-placed phone call to a gentleman friend knowledgeable in the art of persuasion would either bring them back under her wing or provide them with a lengthy holiday in hospital. Which piece of ‘advice’ meted out depended on how valuable Lynette considered the employee was to her business. As for the client involved, they were erased from her file forever, no exceptions. She couldn’t afford to give to prospective customers the appearance that hers was a mobile brothel. After all, I’m a respectable woman now, she laughed to herself, and it wouldn’t do for my reputation to be tarnished by such rumours.

Lynette’s thoughts then returned to her immediate problem.

Jack, Lynette here. How are you?

Hello Lynette, it’s nice to hear from you, Jack said, and he genuinely meant it. Jack liked Lynette and the way she ran her business, taking no nonsense from ‘her boys’, and even her clients had to toe the line. Any client – mostly women (but she did have a couple of girls who escorted men occasionally) who overstepped the mark and thought they could fuck the legs off their escort at the end of the night – was, he had discovered, struck off her books. He had heard stories of how she enforced her rules and he had no intention of putting himself in a position to find out how true these stories were. As these thoughts went through his mind he found himself absent-mindedly looking at his hands. That’s all I need, my fingers broken and twisted when I’m going to be a surgeon, he grimaced.

Have you got a job for me, Lynette? Jack asked, happy to change his direction of thought.

I do Jack, it’s a bit out of the ordinary, she replied cryptically, but I think it’ll be right up your alley; perfect for a man of your many talents.

Well, the only thing that would be out of the ordinary in your business, Lynette, would be if you wanted me to escort a man, Jack joked. There was a deafening silence.

Bullshit! Lynette thought, "How does he do it? It’s not the first time he’s read my mind.

One day I’ll get the better of you, Jack! she laughed.

You mean that’s what you really want me to do? Now it was Jack’s turn to be astounded.

Lynette had a penchant for enjoying the discomfort of her boys, especially if a customer was particularly obnoxious and demanding, and the escort had to be at their diplomatic best to survive the evening without losing their cool. Her life thrived on hearing of the misadventures on these dates. Just so long as the customer was satisfied!

Ah, Lynette thought, he was only joking, I’ve finally had a victory over him, as she held the silent phone in her hand. Now she had to think how she could use this to her advantage, but sanity prevailed when she realised she had to get him to agree to it. Cat got your tongue, Jack? Lynette asked smugly.

Well Lynette. Jack asked, knowing her nipple must be getting a good workout, I did explain my sexuality to you when you employed me; you’re well aware I only enter the palace through the front door, so I figure you’ve got more to tell me when you’ve finished teasing me. Jack was sure she did the nipple-twirling sub-consciously because the odd time he had been in her office while she was on the phone and something in the conversation pleased her, she would twirl her finger around her nipple until she hung up the phone. She appeared to be completely oblivious to her habit.

Right again, Jack, said Lynette. Now, down to business. I have a client, Peter Alfred, and for reasons known only to him, he wants to pretend to be gay for an evening.

Did he give any indication as to how real he wants this charade to be played out? he asked suspiciously.

No he didn’t, Lynette replied, relieved that at least Jack hadn’t immediately rejected the proposal.

I know he works for an investment bank from the odd comment he made during our conversation, and I’m thinking it has something to do with getting his bank the business to help a private company go public on the stock exchange. Knowing you, Jack, I’m sure you’d have a better grasp of what he’s talking about than I do. It seems an odd way to go about getting business if you ask me.

I’m with you, Lynette. It does seem a bit strange. Do you have any idea where the gay pretence comes into it? he asked, his curiosity aroused.

Well, it appears the company in question is owned by a man whose sexuality leans both ways. As you would say, Jack, this man’s not averse to entering the palace by any door of both sexes. I like that saying, Jack! Do you mind if I claim it for my own? she asked.

Not a problem Lynette, I’ll see if I can come up with a few more for you. Jack laughed; he always enjoyed talking to her. Even though she owned the agency, she never treated her employees differently and she was always up for a joke, as he would soon find out to his detriment.

Anyway Jack, from what I can gather our client wishes to claw his way up the corporate ladder missing a few rungs on the way. He sees this as an ideal opportunity to show the company that he’s got what it takes, and I must say from our conversations he has done his homework regarding his target. It all seems very clandestine to me, but he’s the client. So as long as he is prepared to pay, who are we to argue? she explained.

SILENCE.

I can’t hear you Jack. Do you agree?

Oh, sorry Lynette, it’s just I haven’t heard you use words of more than six letters since I met you. Do you have a dictionary beside you? he teased.

Fuck you, Jack Hall! I happen to have an excellent command of the English language, and it will be in your best interest to remember that.

Now you’ve done it Lynette. My testosterone is going to play havoc with me tonight knowing you are going to break your promise to me. You’re such a heartless woman! he laughed enjoying the banter.

Can we get back to business, please? This is a serious matter, so settle your hormones down, son. she replied with mock sternness, Anyhow, you’re young enough to take care of that problem yourself.

I gather from what you’ve told me I’m to accompany him to a gay bar which his unsuspecting future client frequents, and he and I go through the charade of being a couple of poofs on a night out. Would that be an accurate assumption, Lynette? Jack mocked.

Crudely put, but reasonably accurate and remember Jack, people with alternate sexual preferences are called gays not poofs, thank you very much! Before he could answer she continued, I’ve told him you have a musical ear and are a consummate imitator of voices and won’t have any problems. Am I right in assuming so? she asked.

Ignoring the question, Jack asked What sort of money is he prepared to pay for such an odd assignment? He had become brainwashed by her constant use of the word.

You’ll be looking at a commission of two grand for your end of the deal Jack, and remember it’s a one-off special fee, so don’t get too comfortable with it, replied Lynette, Not bad for a night’s work role-playing and probably having a good laugh doing it.

Yeah, right, Jack thought. Then why do I have the uneasy feeling I’m going to end up with my arse in a sling? But before she picked up on his innocent pun he replied: Not bad at all Lynette; with your fee added on the guy must be desperate to stitch this account up. It’s a lot of money to waste if his plan goes belly-up; he’s taking a big risk on me being able to fulfil our end of the bargain. By the way how old is this crazy prick Peter Alfred? Jack asked.

The subject didn’t come up and I didn’t ask; it didn’t seem important I suppose. But now that you’ve asked me, I couldn’t imagine an older man already established in his business going to all this trouble, not to mention the aggravation it would cause his company if the guy wises up to his charade. It would probably cost him his future, so it’s a big risk to take. she replied.

Did you tell him my age, Lynette? he asked.

I fibbed and told him you’re twenty-two. He seemed happy with that. I learnt throughout our conversation that he wasn’t interested in having a forty-year-old accompany him, too geriatric, he told me. Plus I think he wants his prospective client to be attracted to you so make sure you wear clean underwear. Lynette giggled, and carried on before he had a chance to answer, He was emphatic he didn’t want an escort who looked young enough to be his son, so I explained you were somewhere between the two extremes.

Ouch, Lynette, don’t be cruel! I may not be long out of the cradle but I’ve got a long way to go before I’m up there in pensioner territory. Anyhow Lynette, you’d be worrying more about the furnace than me, you’re closer to it, he said cryptically.

The polite thing to say Jack, is that I’ve gained more of life’s experiences than you – and you’ll do well to remember that, young man, if you want me to keep giving you the choice assignments. Look on the bright side, you’re making more money in one night than you usually would in a week. she laughed.

Feeling himself drawn into the challenge, he said Yeah right, I believe you, but thousands wouldn’t, Lynette. I’ll find out how choice an acting role you’ve sucked me into in due course. I expect you to be discreet about me taking this job. Mum’s the word, okay? he pleaded. Without waiting for a reply he asked if she had approached her other employees, knowing full well she wouldn’t admit it if she had.

You were my first choice, Jack. I knew none of the other guys would have the class to pull off this kind of role. Cross my heart and hope to die, she replied, tongue-in-cheek, knowing being on the end of a phone gave her a slight advantage with her relaying of the truth.

Jeez, you’re really full of it! Now I’ve said I’ll do it. By the way, when does it happen?

It’s all organised for this Friday night, when Peter’s future client goes to his usual haunt, the Hacienda. I knew you wouldn’t have any classes or study, so I figured there’d be no problems your end. Oh, and Jack, Peter wants to know if you’d like to meet him beforehand or if you’d prefer to make it a blind date?

You’re really beginning to enjoy yourself, aren’t you Lynette? he chided her. I think I’ll go in blind. If I meet him beforehand and we talk about how we should act on the night, it might influence how we behave and I might get cold feet, which wouldn’t take much. If there is rapport between us it might just end up being a night of fun, he said.

Innocence is bliss, Jack didn’t realise just how much this little escapade would impact on his life in the future, from a medical, personal and even commercial point of view. However, at the moment his youthful enthusiasm for a challenge was overriding his normal common-sense approach, and his brashness and sense of infallibility were about to create an embarrassing situation which would have repercussions, both humorous and dramatic, that would gradually unfold for years to come.

Peter Alfred said he would go a bit earlier and would meet you in the city at the Hacienda lounge bar. He’ll make himself known to you probably around eleven pm. That appears to be the time things liven up and couples – of the same sex variety – start pairing up. I’ve given him a photo of you from the files and he’s faxing a photograph of himself to me, so if you want to drop in before Friday I’ll have it for you. Now, he said don’t go looking for him when you get there, just move around and mingle, he’ll contact you when he’s ready. You might even get lucky Jack, maybe get a few phone numbers for future reference. Lynette couldn’t control herself. Jack ignored her baiting, preferring to concentrate on the extra money he would make for two hours work.

That’s what I love about you, Lynette. You have this unshakeable faith in me to get the job done. Here I am, nearly twenty years of age, never had any sexual thoughts other than heterosexual, and you’re asking me to pretend to be gay with a man I’ve never met, mingle in a gay bar as eye candy where everyone’s sole aim is to hook up and have sex. I’m dead. Jack moaned becoming more than a little apprehensive at his decision.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Jack, you’ve grasped the situation perfectly! said Lynette, unable to control her joy. I’ll be in touch, she said, and hung up.

Chapter 2

Jack had been looking for a house situated near the university for some time, in fact since his father had passed away. He still had the portfolio of shares from before his mother’s death – she had died a long time ago, some years before his father – but he had no intention of cashing those in as for the moment they were his collateral. His patience had been rewarded when he finally found what he wanted, a beautiful old four-bedroom house, which in itself was unusual for that part of the city which surrounded the university.

After he bought the house Jack had sought fellow students to move in with him and provide funds to add to his share portfolio by means of their rent. Four other students lived with him now; two single guys and a couple who fucked long and loud each night. The two single guys seemed to get off listening to the bonking couple. Had it been otherwise Jack would have asked them to leave. It didn’t worry Jack. Any studying that he did was at the library where he had access to reference books and he found it very relaxing being surrounded by the knowledge of his educators. Also with his photographic memory, once he had read a book it stayed with him for life. All in all, the arrangement worked very well and Jack’s housemates knew their landlord was held in awe by students and lecturers alike and could be counted on for advice whenever they were having difficulties with their various subjects.

His father had graduated as an engineer, both civil and electrical, and had been much in demand because of his dual degrees. He would regale the young Jack with stories of exotic locations throughout the world visited during his working life, and in the process he had learnt many languages. His dad retired from travelling when he was offered a position lecturing at the university and it was the chancellor who delivered the eulogy at the old man’s funeral.

On the day of the funeral and during the service, Jack’s mind returned to his childhood and to his parents. His mum had been a spiritual person while his dad was an academic. They would argue continually on the merits of each other’s outlook on life and death. His father’s argument centred round the concept of ‘how-could-you-know-if-there’s-life-after-death-if-you’re-still-alive’. Mum’s argument was more basic. If I'm wrong prove it! Dad knew only that two plus two equalled four because he was taught that way, whereas her argument was spiritually inspired, and no amount of logic would sway her beliefs. As their discussions would disintegrate into the ridiculous his father would say she was off with the fairies and his mother would retaliate by telling him he was off in a parallel universe. Jack remembered an instance when he was four years old. They put him to bed and thought he was asleep but he could hear them in their bedroom. Only later in life did he realise their little discussions were their way of courtship.

He clearly remembered the first time his father tested his abilities.

Jack, his father said, when you learn to add up remember the final number has to be even.

Jack looked up at his father, who seemed so tall his head almost touched the ceiling, and said, with hands on hip: Well, Father, I have to disagree with you, because six plus five equals eleven which is an odd number and also in multiplication fifteen times fifteen equals two hundred and twenty-five and I know the number five is an odd number.

It was many years later that Jack recalled that the look on his father’s face, as he smiled and walked away, was one of approval.

The other incident embedded in his mind was from the time he