The Better Side of Me - Jerry Cole Page 0,19

is actual reconstruction of vase found in the court of the great Creon of Thebes, circa 350 B.C.E. But yes, the shape and drawing are nice too, I would say.”

Lance tried for an apologetic smile. He also took note of the only exit in the room, and the way the two bodyguards watched him. If things got bad and he had to make a run for it...

“So, Mr. Lance. Let us cut to the ah... chase, as they say in Hollywood. Yes? How much is it you need?”

“Oh... is that? Do you want to see my projections?” Lance had his folder with him and hurried to pull out the relevant pieces of paper. He had a whole pitch in mind, and Alexander’s getting right to the point caught him completely by surprise.

“No need. How much?”

“Ah...” Lance was starting to have second thoughts... and third thoughts. “You know what. Maybe this wasn’t such a good—”

“How much?” Alexander’s voice was flat and no-nonsense. As was his dead stare.

The two bodyguards shifted themselves so as to further expose the guns on their hips. Lance was in way over his head here, and he was very much coming to realize that borrowing money from a Russian gangster probably wasn’t in his best interest.

"One... one hundred... one hundred thousand?” Lance posed it as a question. What the hell was he doing here?!

“One hundred thousand?” Alexander chuckled. Then laughed a little. And then he threw his head back and roared with laughter. His bodyguards soon joined in, all having a great time at Lance’s request. “Surely, you cannot be serious?” Alexander asked.

Lance had no idea what was going on. “Ah... well, yeah. If I want to do it right—”

“Collateral. What collateral do you bring? You ask for this kind of money and you what? Think I will just hand over?” The laughter was dying down now, but the large man’s body was still vibrating and shaking from joy. He even wiped a tear from his eyes.

“Well... yeah. Isn’t that the point?”

“Only if I think you will actually give me the money back. But I know bad investment when I see it. You will not be able to pay me back. I then have to break legs. It is messy business. Best not bother.” Alexander shrugged.

Lance understood perfectly well now. He just didn’t believe it. “Are you telling me that you, a loan shark, won’t lend me money? Seriously?” He held his hands up in shock.

“Seriously, Mr. Lance.”

“Huh,” Lance exhaled, his sagging, and his self-esteem disappearing into nothingness, “So that’s what hitting rock bottom feels like.”

***

Lance spotted Kirk the moment that he walked into the locker room. Kirk was standing in the corner, his back to the other men as he hurriedly undressed from his work clothes, and then into his gym gear. It was so clear he was trying to do it without any of the other men in the locker room noticing... just in case one of them was to glance at him. It was awkward. It was embarrassing to watch. And it was also a little cute.

Lance smirked to himself as he came in behind Kirk, getting within a foot of him before speaking. “Have you been working out?”

“Jesus!” Kirk jumped in the air, spun on the spot and clutched his shirt to his chest like it was a shield. “Lance!” he yelped. “You scared me.”

“That was half the idea,” Lance chuckled. There was just something really cute about the guy; something comforting, even wholesome. It wasn’t what Lance was usually into, which he figured was probably a good thing. “Looking good, by the way. Glad to see the workouts are actually working.”

Kirk blushed such a furious shade of red that Lance worried his head might actually explode. He then hurriedly put his shirt on. “What’s up? Is Carlo away again?”

“No, he’s here. But I wanted to ask you something – two things, actually.”

“Oh?”

A lot had happened in the past twelve hours. First of all, Lance had managed to escape Alexander Ivanov’s office with his life. And second, as Lance walked home celebrating his new lease on life, he came up with an idea. It was an idea that involved Kirk.

“First of all, I traded Carlo out for myself. I’m going to train you now, if that’s all right?”

Kirk could not have looked more surprised. “Oh! You – I mean, yes. You? You’re going to train me? Good... great!” He was a ball of nervous energy, literally shaking as he spoke.

Lance smirked. He could