Nineteen Read online

  Your life can change in the blink of an eye.

  How you adapt to these changes is what defines you.

  Jake Fox is an aspiring actor who has found little success.

  He is also a typical, cliche, bad boy, who 'loves them and leaves them' without love ever coming into the equation.

  Emma Campbell is finding her way in life, struggling with memories from her past, an apathetic mother and the choices ahead of her. Can she keep focused on the light when life keeps surrounding her in darkness?

  Polar opposites, will love be the thread that binds them or will circumstances beyond their control, tear them apart?

  Turn your face towards the sun and the shadows will fall behind you

  – A Maori proverb

  To G for being my soul mate and my best friend.

  To L, G & A for inspiring me to be better.

  To P for being the best big brother a girl could ever want. I miss you.

  A few days earlier…

  The heady scent of sex saturates the air as I open one eyelid warily to survey the scene around me.

  Mandy, or is it Mindy, is sprawled out stark naked across my chest, seemingly out cold from the last few hours activities. Her sister Candy or again maybe it’s Cindy, obviously has more stamina than her sibling, judging by the way her mouth is enthusiastically bobbing up and down over my fast awakening dick.

  God this girl can suck like a Hoover.

  I prop my head up on one arm so I can view her at work. There isn’t a man on this earth who would ever complain about being woken up by a hot chick giving him a blowy, even if they barely had any sleep all night from satisfying two seriously smoking hot sisters.

  Mandy/Mindy wakes up and doesn’t waste a second before joining her in her ministrations.

  Who am I to stop them from something they are obviously enjoying and are damn good at? Exactly, so I lay back and just enjoy the ride.

  An hour later, after fucking both sisters and sending them on their way, I am standing under the hot jets of my shower when Nate knocks on the bathroom door before popping his head around it.

  ‘I’m glad to see you’re alone bro, I’m not sure Mum and Dad would appreciate you bringing the Barbie twins to Sunday lunch. Hurry up and get your arse out of the shower, we have to leave in fifteen minutes.’

  ‘You‘re a fine one to talk, finally managed to get the cling-on you picked up last night out of the apartment yet?’ I smirk at him over my shoulder.

  ‘You seriously need to lay off the bunny boilers Nate, it’s becoming a habit. Maybe I should get you enrolled in a ‘How to avoid crazy’ self help group, I’d hate to come home one morning to find you taken out by an ice pick with a dead rabbit in the oven.’

  ‘Ha fucking Ha Jake, you pick up enough crazy for the both of us, maybe you could give me pointers. Now shift or Mum will have a fit, you know she likes her boys on time.’

  Being the second eldest has its advantages; it falls on my older brother Nathan to have the most pressure heaped on him, something he thrives on.

  After attending university Nate created his own, very successful, events management company and now by the age of 29 he owns the three most successful nightclubs in our city. His ambition doesn’t stop there though, he has his sights set on conquering the world, next stop in Natedomination is the party isle of Ibiza.

  Then there’s my younger brother Joshua, an English teacher at a local school and already married at the ripe old age of 25 to his childhood sweetheart, the delectable Laura. Laura is one of only a few girls that have never succumbed to my obvious charms and it still irks me immensely.

  The next brother down from Josh is Isaac, a talented up and coming photographer. I use Isaac for all my head shots, my mother uses his skills while dabbling with some cookbook ideas and Nathan commissioned him for all his business needs, so even if he wasn’t talented, which he indeed is, he would be kept pretty busy with us lot alone. Isaac is already making waves in the art world after his first big gallery show, so is yet another success in the Fox-Williams clan.

  Last but not least is the baby of the family, at 19 Liam has been allowed more liberties than the rest of us and having put off university for a year he is currently travelling the world.

  Then there’s me, 26 year old, unsuccessful actor and part time department store floor manager, a job I hate but my mother fixed up for me via her limitless contacts. She wanted me to pay my own way while I pursued my ‘ridiculous’ acting quest. It has its benefits mind you, a limitless stream of fit, pretty young things for me to use and discard at my will and very suitable hours that allow me to focus most of my energy on finding my big break.

  I turn off the water and step out of the shower.

  As much as I protest about having to attend the fortnightly Sunday lunch at my parent’s house, I secretly enjoy catching up with everyone. I’d never admit to it though.

  Plus my mother’s roast dinner is exactly what I need after a night of booze, partying and some seriously crazy sex. You know the usual weekend night out, when I say weekend it’s often midweek too.

  Well a guy is only young once, also when your brother owns the hottest nightspots in town, filled to the brim with willing, eager and exceptionally hot prey, it would be rude not to indulge.

  Nineteen.

  That’s how many rejections I’ve had from casting agents and auditions this month alone.

  Maybe my parents are right, maybe I’m fooling myself and it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. The thing is I don’t know how to give up. I guess it’s what comes from being one of five boys, always having to fight for what you want, be that the attention of our busy parents, toys, or as we grew older, girls.

  My parents are what you could call affluent, my mother was a talented chef with Michelin stars under her belt but gave it all up to stay home and raise her boys, while my father is a top geologist who has pinpointed many of the world’s diamond mines. Yes we are rich but being the parents they are, we boys have to make our own way in life, they are determined we each should work towards our own destinies.

  Waking alone on a Saturday morning is rare for me.

  My alarm blares out the early morning news about yet another politician caught with his hands in the coffers, it also informs me that I have to get up for work. My job at Havers may have come as a favour to my mother from Mr Havers himself but I still have to actually work to keep it. It’s a means to an end, working only a few evenings and weekends means I can pursue my passion, as acting is the only thing I have ever wanted to do.

  Muffled voices outside my room means that Nate did indeed score last night and he must now be escorting his conquest out of our shared apartment and into a waiting taxi. I say shared apartment but this is Nathan’s penthouse, in a cool new apartment block and I’m just his non-paying, roommate. It’s one of the many perks of being a successful entrepreneur’s brother.

  Nathan and I are very similar in our pursuit of the opposite sex, we don’t have a set agenda, other than to enjoy as many of them as we can, with the only difference being that Nathan leans more in favour of blondes whereas I have no particular preference. As long as they have a firm body and a tight arse, I’m always a happy man.

  After my shower and shave and while fixing my first coffee of the day, Nate emerges from his study with a huge smirk on his face.

  ‘Hey bro, I take it you didn’t get any last night?’

  ‘I wasn’t looking for any last night bro and unlike you, I can abstain from burying myself in the fairer sex if I wish’.

  This statement is in fact true, last night in Nathan’s newest club Acquiesce, nothing on offer took my fancy, except for an exquisitely attractive far eastern girl who looked seriously loaded and was flanked by a large group of hangers on and some securit
y. She looked my way on quite a few occasions but her huge entourage meant more hard work than I could be bothered with. Maybe I am losing my edge?

  The thought annoys me and I resolve to find myself a new conquest at Havers today. Not many women can resist what I have to offer and the ones that do only serve to make themselves far more alluring. I’ve always loved the chase and wanted what I can’t have, maybe that’s why my sister-in-law Laura is still so attractive to me. She’s never fallen for my obvious good looks, preferring bookish Josh, something I still can’t get my head around.

  ‘So what have you got planned today bro? Fancy checking out a new venue with me?’ Nathan knows I work on weekends but always tries to tempt me to take sick days with offers of accompanying him to business deals, events or whatever else he gets up to. I’m sure he wants me to pack it all in and go work for him, become his permanent wing man.

  ‘Not today, sorry Nate. You know I have the job of my dreams’ I lie rather unconvincingly.

  ‘I know mum got you that poxy job but come on bro, you know you’d get more money and always get laid working for me’ he grins.

  ‘Life isn’t just about cash and what’s in-between a woman’s legs, Nate!’ I try and fail to sound disgusted with him which causes him to roar with laughter.

  ‘Indeed not baby bro, in fact I’m quite partial to a fine set of tits myself’. He continues to chuckle all the way out of the main entrance, shouting a childish ‘See ya wouldn’t want to be ya’ on his way out. For a man that has made such a success of his business so quickly, he doesn’t half act like a high school prick most of the time.

  A quick check of my emails and I’m ready to leave. Travelling in the elevator down to the underground parking gives me time to send a quick text to Harry my best mate.

  Fancy a few beers later H? Tell Bella I’ll take good care of you

  I want to see if I can prise him away from his annoying and ever present girlfriend for lad’s night out, there’s only so much time I want to spend in Nathan’s company.

  Pressing the key fob to unlock my car, I jump into my parent’s extravagant 25th birthday gift that I received from them just fourteen months ago, a sleek black BMW convertible. Not their normal style, they like their boys to work hard to pay for their own things but they seem to be mellowing as they get older and we all received something generous that year. Nate got some cash to invest in his business, Josh got a deposit for his love nest with the delicious Laura, Isaac got given a small studio space for his photography and Liam got financed to travel the world. I was more than happy with my gift, it’s not like they could buy anything that would make my dreams come true, besides I’m happy being the master of my own destiny, just because I am yet to be successful doesn’t deter me one bit.

  From the penthouse, it’s only a short drive into the city centre and because it’s a weekend I’m allowed to park in the stores underground garage which is normally only available to the Havers big wigs.

  Pulling in I notice that it’s much busier than a typical Saturday, until I remember the recruitment day and figure all department heads will be in to assist HR with this task.

  I squeeze the Beemer into the last space available and proceed to the staff door that is cleverly concealed to the side of the building, away from the customer’s eyes so it doesn’t spoil the aesthetics of Havers exterior.

  Pressing the keypad entry I sense someone behind me and a quick glance over my shoulder reveals who it is.

  I instantly recognise the endlessly long legs, small pert breasts and glossy, long, dark hair from the club last night. I feel a small rush of blood to my groin in appreciation. Good to see I haven’t lost my edge after all! This day is finally getting interesting.

  I quickly look back at the door, making sure not to show too much interest and when it finally clicks open, I pull it wide for Miss Fuck Me Legs to walk through, standing chivalrously to one side and motioning an ‘After you’ with my free hand.

  Shit this girl is hot!

  She has on a tight pencil skirt that I get to admire from behind, a fitted black blouse with an extra button undone so I can just see the curve of those pert and edible looking breasts and a mouth I could do very bad things to.

  I intend to do very bad things to every inch of her tonight if possible and the coquettish glance she gives me over her shoulder indicates it will not be that much of a challenge after all.

  Hilary is on reception as she always is on a Saturday and she blushes as I approach.

  Yes I’ve been there too, a few times in fact, older married women are insatiable in bed and Hilary is hot even if she is in her late forties.

  Age doesn’t mean a damn thing to me, as long as a woman is attractive and legal they are fair game. Black, white, single, married, lesbian, it makes no difference to me, I’m not searching for a connection other than getting my dick, hands and mouth into their knickers.

  ‘Morning Hilary’ I say giving her a glimpse of my dirty, fuck me smile.

  She blushes again, ‘Morning Jake, would you like me to sign you in?’

  I notice that Miss Fuck Me Legs glances at me from the corner of her eye. ‘No thanks Hilary, I’ll just wait for. . . ‘ checking out what Miss FML has put on the register, ’Miss Havers to finish’.

  Shit! There is no way this Eastern beauty is old man Havers’ daughter or his wife, who is very much still around, so who the hell is she?

  Waiting for her to offer me the pen by holding my hand out, I hope for some skin on skin contact but Miss FML places it back on the desk and knowingly saunters off down the corridor. Hmmm she knows my game and wants to play. I am always eager to oblige Miss Havers, game on.

  Ignoring Hilary who is still looking at me longingly, I follow Miss FML down the corridor and watch her enter the HR office, emerging seconds later with John Silvester. John nods and gives me a quick hello before escorting the sultry Miss Havers to the conference room.

  I have to find out who she is and where she’s come from, insider knowledge is invaluable in a seduction, so I head to HR to collect my daily schedule knowing all I need to do is get John on his own for 5 minutes and pump him for ammo.

  John likes me, I think I remind him of himself as a younger man, although now John is happily married with two girls of his own and both are extremely hot, yet I have enough respect for him that I would never ever go there, even though his eldest girl Hannah has the hots for me, big time.

  Hmmm interesting, that thought proves I do have some morals after all, well today is full of surprises!

  After collecting my schedule and scanning it quickly I make my way down to the shop floor to brief today’s team, passing Robert the doorman on the way. Robert is walking with a tall, dowdy looking girl who is wearing flat, chunky, men’s boots. Now that is one arse I am not going to try and tap!

  Robert dislikes me intensely, he’s an old school, treat your woman like a lady kind of man. He hates my consumerist view of sex and women, once you’ve had it discard and move onto the next, I can tell he finds my ways vile.

  I can tell this because he doesn’t even try and hide it from me. He thinks I’m an egotistical, rich brat, gone wild.

  This is a strange and quite rare reaction to get from another man, most men who know me want even a fraction of my looks or luck with the ladies, Robert on the other hand hates me working at Havers and can’t wait for me to find something else and leave.

  I think he believes I tarnish the Havers exclusive, old money image. For Christ sake man, lighten up, we are all consenting adults here, plus any info he has on me is only ever from gossips, I’m always very discreet with my conquests.

  Arriving on the shop floor I find my team are waiting for their instructions.

  Glancing at the fifteen or so faces in front of me, I quickly realise I’ve had sex with all but two of the women present; Amelia, who is round and giggly and Beverly, who reminds me of a less well groomed version of my own mother, even I won’t go anywhere near that image in my head!
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br />   Out of the fifteen only six of them are male and all worship at my feet, not a single one doesn’t want to be my friend. All are in a constant battle to impress me, make me laugh or find an ‘in’ joke. It is laughable really, as I can honestly say I do not personally like a single one.

  Bromance isn’t my thing, I find a lone wolf (or Fox) approach is more suited to my needs.

  ‘Mr Fox’ Amelia giggles, ‘Can you help me with something in the stock room at the end of the briefing?’ She attempts to give me her version of a flirty smile but all I can see is chubby cheeks, braces and freckles.

  Any blood that had previously rushed to my groin seeing Miss FML again, is now rushing to my head.

  ‘Take Jamie with you Amelia and please, I do not want to tell you again, call me Jake, Mr Fox is my father’.

  She giggles again and almost spits into Beverly’s hair who is standing slightly in front of her.

  Oh great, this day is going quickly downhill. Eight hours of giggling braces and her embarrassing flirting skills, plus trying to avoid many of the other female team members for various reasons, (they either hate me because I’ve fucked and left them or want me to fuck them again), add to that fighting off unwanted bromance and this day has gone to shit.

  Remind me again why I think this job is worth keeping?

  6pm cannot come soon enough and I’m pissed off until I remember my new task in hand, getting that info out of John Silvester.

  I’m sure there’s a reason I need to go back upstairs to the offices.

  ‘Beverly, as everyone has been briefed on today’s tasks I’m just going to call up to the office to collate some sales figures, can you keep an eye on things here for me?’. Beverly always jumps when I use her name, I’m sure it is a nervous thing, I’ve never flirted with her ever, like I said women who look like my mother are a definite no go!