20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Ford
Ford observed the activity downstairs, not sure how Owen Hatch fit into the mix. Seeing how frustrated Cade got before he donned a bright smile as he tried to be reasonable with the group of giddy females had been entertaining.
Brady came out with an armload of pink linens, which Cade instructed him to place on a table, so Ford went to check what was going on. They used white tablecloths with black toppers in the club, so pink? That was new.
“Good afternoon, ladies and Owen. I’m Ford Thomas, and this is my club.” What he wasn’t prepared for were the squeals that followed and then the flashes from cell phone cameras.
He turned to Cade. “What the fuck?”
“Well, Bix, seems they all saw the paper today. I already told Jax not to come inside. When he gets here, I told him to text me. I’m sorry I didn’t do the same for you.” Cade lifted his hands in the air and tilted his head.
Just then, the back door buzzed, alerting them there was another delivery. “That must be the cake. I’ll be back. Go hang with Cleveland.” Cade patted his back before hustling away.
As Ford headed to the bar, the front door was banged on like it was a police raid. “For fuck’s sake,” Ford cursed as he diverted course. When he unlocked and opened the door, he saw Jax standing there with the handsome fullback, Avery Sumter.
“You sure you want to come inside? They’ve been drinking champagne.” It was Ford’s only warning.
Jax laughed. Ford could see, though, that Avery-the-Baptist was a little leery of going inside a gay club, and conversely, Jax didn’t seem to care. He grabbed Avery’s arm and pulled the young man along. “She’s your girl, man. Own it.”
The two men followed Ford into the large club, and they all stopped to survey the chaos. Cade was on one ladder in his undershirt, while Owen Hatch was on another. The bridesmaids were directing them to pull it tighter or let it hang looser . The three men and the two bartenders who were observing all laughed.
A blonde woman studied them for a moment before shrieking. Ford was sure dogs in the neighborhood were howling, but it couldn’t be heard above the woman’s squeals.
“Fuck me,” Avery Sumter whispered as the young woman ran at him and jumped, causing Ford to pull Jax out of the line of fire. She kissed him all over his face, and the other two idiots with her were jumping up and down while trying to take pictures.
Ford walked over to the ladder where Cade was doing his best to affix the penis garland to the track lighting frame. He climbed up behind the hot brunet and took it from him, hanging it where it needed to be.
“Get down before you break something. They should have brought their own help for this shit. I hope you add this into the expenses when you give them the final bill.” Ford descended the ladder Jax was holding. Cade climbed down after, his gorgeous ass just there for Ford to bite, so he did.
“Ouch!” Ford and Jax both laughed at Cade’s adorable squeak.
Once everyone was safely on the ground, Cade smiled at Jax. “I told you to wait outside so you wouldn’t get drawn into this mess.”
“Sorry, chère, but after you told me it was Avery’s girl, I couldn’t resist bringing him along to deal with her. Go get cleaned up so we can leave for our meeting.” Jax leaned in and kissed Cade’s forehead before sending him off with a pop to that gorgeous ass.
“You sure you wanna come tonight? That squealing will probably be amplified by thirty,” Ford told him.
“I’ll stop at CVS and pick up some earplugs for us. How’s everything else going?” The two of them walked over to the side of the club that wasn’t involved in the bachelorette party preparations.
“Fine…” Ford sighed. He decided it was smart to tell Jax what Cade said earlier. “Well, that’s not true. Cade thinks we’re gonna get married and leave him high and dry. He’s already putting out this selfless speech about how he expects it to happen, and he’ll be happy if we’re happy.”
He watched Jax contemplate what he said, and he became concerned. “Jackson, no. We can’t do that to him. We… Okay, I can’t speak for you, but I love him, and I won’t cut him out.” Ford studied Jax for his reaction.
The word marriage had never come up in all the time they’d been together, even when it became legal, and Ford hosted a party at Fairytails to celebrate the monumental decision. It didn’t need to become an issue now.
“Hey, I love him too, okay? There’s gotta be a way to assure… I need to think about this. Can we take you to dinner before this thing gets goin’? What time’s the show start?” Jax asked.
Ford walked over to the reservation book to check. “Nine-thirty is when they show up; the show starts at ten. Yeah, how about we go get dinner, just the three of us? Pick me up at six, okay?”
“Does Kincade need to come right back here after this meeting?”
Ford didn’t miss the wicked gleam in Jackson’s eyes. He pulled the man closer and kissed him in the dark corner near the men’s room.
When they broke apart from the heated kiss, Ford was breathing hard. “Actually, pick me up after your appointment. I don’t need to be here before nine, either.” Jax nodded and when Cade walked into view, the two men returned to the crowd.
“Ready?” Jax asked as Ford straightened Cade’s tie. He leaned forward and kissed Kincade’s temple. “Make sure he gets a good deal, sweetheart. You’re the money smarts behind this operation. When we’re old and gray, we’ll want those royalty checks to continue rolling in to keep all of us in denture adhesive.” Cade giggled loudly at Ford’s comment.
There was a flash before they heard Avery Sumter. “Nope. This is their private life and you aren’t going to take pictures to show all your evil friends. I play ball with Jax, and his friends are nice. I ain’t gonna let you treat them like they’re not people, Chloe.”
Avery took her phone and began scrolling through it. She was bitching up a blue streak, so Ford could only assume he was deleting pictures, which didn’t hurt his feelings. He was not a fan of friendly fire .
Ford climbed the stairs to his office after Cade and Jax left. He called an old friend of his who’d helped him buy the club using some of the money from the trust his grandparents had left to him, but he hadn’t spoken to her in nearly a year.
“Robin Zacks.” Her voice reminded him of the beautiful redhead he’d tried to date his freshman year at Tulane.
Ford had always been attracted to redheads, and when he’d gone to college in Louisiana, he’d been pretty sure they wouldn’t take too kindly to a queer Yankee. His first order of business had been to find a nice girl to date.
It had been an odd coincidence that he’d met Robin the same day he’d met Jackson, and each of them had been extremely attractive. Ford and Rob, as she’d preferred, never slept together, having become friends instead. She hadn’t liked Jax back then, calling him the meathead , but she’d been civil to Jax when Ford had asked.
When Ford had finally told her he was gay, she’d responded that she’d suspected it all along. That day, over cheap pitchers of beer at a shitty dive bar on Magazine Street, Ford had thanked his friend for being honest.
Robin had never openly questioned his orientation and had treated him with respect before and after he told her his truth. Thankfully, Robin and Jax had become friends over the years.
“Ms. Zacks, this is Mr. Thomas. How are you, babe?” he teased.
Rob had a fantastic laugh, full-throated and always happy. “You finally dump the Cajun? Oh, wait! No, I saw you on a website today with Delacroix and a hot young thing. Your taste has upgraded, Ford,” she teased, just as he expected she would.
He chuckled with her. “How are things on Old MacDonald’s Farm ? LaNette still making butter or soap or whatever it is you two do up there in Vermont?”
That brought a raucous laugh from his friend. “Obviously, you don’t read the emails I send to you, asshole. My wife is heavy with our firstborn, a handsome boy we’re expecting at the end of September. How about you and the brick wall? Oh, wait, you have a handsome young boy of your own. What’s his name?”
Yes, they could banter all day, but Ford had business he needed her to look into. “His name is Kincade Hayes. His father is Hudson Hayes, the primary at HH Financial Group, here in Chicago. Are you writing this down? There will be a quiz.”
“Hang on. I’m up to my neck in paint. Give me ten minutes to get cleaned up and get to my office. I’m assuming I’m going to have to be admitted to an Illinois court at some point in time,” she told him.
“Only if you don’t find someone here to help me. I’ll call you back, Rob. Love you, dear one.” Ford hung up and went back to his computer, trying to find any information he could regarding his half-assed notion of a workable solution to the problem he shared with his two handsome men. There had to be a way they could make it work.
“God, I don’t know how men deal with women.” Cade was complaining as Jax drove them to the downtown office of Stanley Adams Management.
“Yes, well, that’s one thing we’ll never have to worry about, right?” Jax teased, trying to calm his own nerves. This meeting was important to their future.
According to the research Mitch, Jax’s attorney, had done on Stanley Adams, along with what Jax had done himself, the man represented baseball, hockey, soccer, and basketball players of all genders in the Chicago area.
From the reports, Stan Adams was good at his job, but he didn’t come cheap. That part was worrisome.
Having paid Albert Swift twenty-five percent of his salary for the short time the man had represented him, Jax prayed the new guy didn’t take that much. He had things he wanted to accomplish, and they’d cost money. Paying it out in fees to every Tom, Dick, and Harry wouldn’t help his cause at all.
He needed representation to secure endorsements because the next year when he went into free agency he hoped to have contracts for sponsorships, too. It would help position him in the market, or so other players had told him.
“Are you sure you want me to go with you, Lucky? I can wait in a coffee shop. You’ve got Mitch along to watch your assets.” Cade gave him a playful wink.
Jax chuckled as he gathered his thoughts. “You’re a money guy, Kincade. I need you by my side. I want the best deal and clearly, I don’t have the slightest idea how to make that happen. Look how much money I gave Al Swift.”
Cade nodded and hopped out of the Hummer, smoothing his hair in the mirror and straightening his tie. Jax checked his own look, unhappy again with the way his hair was growing in. There was a small bald spot on his crown he wasn’t thrilled to see. Thankfully, the goatee looked good and neither of his lovers had complained about it.
The two of them crossed the street to the prestigious office building. After they got inside, they found a thin man with dark hair and glasses pacing the lobby and staring at his phone. “Mr. Ross?”
The man looked up when Cade said his name, and he grinned, making his face much more attractive. “I’m Mitchell Ross. I’m guessing you’re Kincade Hayes, and of course, you’re Jackson Delacroix. It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve met your mother, Mr. Hayes. Lovely woman.” He shook both of their hands.
Jax laughed. “Ah, Rina has contacts everywhere.”
Mitch nodded. “Yes, my firm is handling Mrs. Hayes’ business, and I owe her thanks for the referral. So, are you ready to go up? Mr. Adams seems like a straight shooter, and he’s aware of the publicity circling at the moment. Do you know if someone tipped off the press about the three of you?”
Cade jumped in. “It could have been my father’s attempt at discrediting my character before I give a deposition in my parent’s divorce proceedings. It could have been Jax’s former agent, Albert Swift, who probably has a vendetta against him. Those are the first two who come to mind.”
“Well, the team doesn’t want this getting out, so I don’t think it’s anyone associated with the club.” Jax felt certain of his response.
Cade perked up. “It could be Ford’s family.” He turned to Jax and touched his arm. “They were insisting he go to New York for a family meeting. He told them no because he’s going with you to Dallas.” Ford’s family? That was news to Jax.
Mitch held up his hand. “Okay, let’s not worry about that right now. We need to get upstairs.” Jax nodded and led Cade toward the elevator, following the lawyer.
Everything seemed to be headed to hell in quick fashion, but something in Jax’s gut told him things were about to get better. He wasn’t sure why, but he’d learned early on to trust his instincts. They hadn’t steered him wrong to date.
The three of them stepped off the elevator into swanky digs. There were stunning women walking around in short skirts and high heels. Was Mr. Adams getting his meat where he got his breadbase and butter?
Of course, Mitch Ross summed it up. “Fuck me sideways. We’ve died and gone to Victoria’s Secret heaven.” Cade giggled and Jax grinned as well.
“Sorry, Mitch. You’re on your own.” Jax smirked.
When a tall man with white hair, carrying a folder, walked out of an office, Cade and Jax stopped dead in their tracks. The guy had to be prematurely gray because he was young and hot.
He reminded Jax of the cable news journalist who was extremely hot and proudly out, though the man in front of them was a little taller. He was slim with broad shoulders, and he had a beautiful smile. Jax felt Cade exhale next to him.
Jax whispered in Cade’s ear after the man with the bright smile walked to the front desk to put mail in a wire basket at the end of the reception desk before heading back to his office. “Nope. That’s heaven.”
“Yep,” Cade said under his breath. They both gave each other sideways glances as they followed Mitch through the glass doors into the waiting room.
Mitch approached the receptionist. “We’re here to see Stanley Adams.”
“Jackson Delacroix, the Ragin’ Cajun. This is an honor. You must be Kincade Hayes. I’m Stan Adams. Let’s go inside.” Stan shook their hands and directed the three men toward the office. Jax and Cade followed him like he had candy in his pockets.
They all took a seat in the posh office. “Where’s Mr. Thomas?” Stan grabbed a pad and pen from his desk before taking a seat across from Jax and Cade, who were on the couch. Mitch was in a chair with his own pad and pen.
“He owns a club in Andersonville, and tonight there’s a large bachelorette party he has to worry about. Do you need to speak to him? Maybe you could come by the apartment over the weekend,” Cade said.
Jax saw the man draw a couple of lines down the page before he scanned the two of them and offered a fake smile. “Do the three of you live together?”
“Not yet. Cade lives across the hall, so we spend time at both places, but his place is a dinky ass studio.” Cade squeezed his thigh and Jax shut up.
Jax turned to stare at his young lover and smirked. “Chère, he needs to know the truth if he’s going to look out for my career. We can’t keep secrets.”
“That’s right, Mr. Delacroix. I need to know every way someone could try to discredit you. I can’t have you selling Bibles on television while you’re reenacting the last scenes of Sodom and Gomorrah at your home every night. That’s hypocritical, and that’s the last thing we want to be,” Adams said.
Jax respected the man’s honesty. He was right, though Jax hadn’t ever considered he’d be a good Bible salesman.
“Plural relationships in the LGBTQIA+ sphere aren’t commonly accepted. That’s where the heteros have one over on us with their Sister Wives and all that happy BS. I don’t know many gay men who wouldn’t love to have not one, but two, hot partners. Unfortunately, Main Street America is going to have an issue because they feel like they need to object. Hell, they just gave us gay marriage, after all. Now they must put up with us having more than one permanent partner. How dreadfully greedy can we be?” Stan groaned dramatically, making Jax like him even more.
Cade’s giggle sealed the deal. “Okay, we’ll bear our souls, but I’d like to focus on our working relationship because that’s why we’re here, right?” Jax asked.
“Yes, Mr. Delacroix, that’s why we’re here. Mitchell was kind enough to tell me you were fleeced by Albert Swift, the most untrustworthy, opportunistic prick in sports today. You were in a bad way when your agent dropped you after you came out, and I’m sorry I didn’t find out about it sooner. I’d have contacted you. I enjoy having special causes to champion,” Stan said.
Jax liked his answer, so he nodded. Stan then continued. “My parents were hippies back in the day, and while they were straight, they were right there at Stonewall, fighting for the rights of a gay son they hadn’t even conceived yet. I’m more than familiar with the hate you’ll face in sports. I’ve had other clients face the backlash for being comfortable enough in their own skin to live their truth, and I have strategies to help you handle it. I’m ready and willing for the fight. Shall we talk numbers, gentlemen?” Stan asked.
At that point, Jax believed Stan was worth his weight in gold, but when Cade pulled out his phone and started punching buttons on the calculator app, he remembered another reason he’d brought the sexy man with him. Kincade was a wizard with numbers.
It reminded Jax he wanted to have his boyfriend look at his investment portfolio at some point. If he needed to change something, he wanted his young lover to tell him.
“… and figuring in Mitch’s retainer, we can agree this is a fair number.” Kincade turned his phone to Stan and Mitch.
Stan laughed. “Oh, you’re a shrewd one, but I don’t work with Mitch. His retainer is separate and above anything I make, Mr. Hayes. I’ve studied Jackson’s current contract, and he took a pay cut after he came out. Why was that, Jackson?”
They all turned to Jax, and he swallowed. “I, uh, I was told it was the best deal I could get because I was gay, and they could cut me from the team if I didn’t make the concession. Albert told me to take the deal or be fired.”
Mitch Ross had his head in his hands. “Who was your lawyer?”
Jax’s face flushed as he studied the floor. “I didn’t have one. Albert told me he was as good as a lawyer, and I didn’t need to worry about having a separate one. He said he could handle anything that came up.”
Cade snatched Jax’s Al Swift contract from Stan’s hand, quickly turning the pages and shaking his head as he read through it. “This is illegal, right?”
Stan nodded. “Yes, it is. That’s why Albert Swift kept him away from legal representation.” Stan chuckled as he studied Jackson for a moment before grinning. “This is going to be fun. I’d almost just do it for free—but my partner likes to vacation in Europe. Let’s make this easy. Fifteen percent off the top.”
Cade laughed at Stan’s suggestion. “Eight, after taxes. I wasn’t in Jax’s life when that fucker took advantage of him, but I am now.”
Stan chuckled at Cade’s comment. “Oh, you’re good. Ten after taxes, but I get ten off the top on endorsement deals. I’ll get that damn contract fixed, or I’ll quit my job and sweep streets. We’re going to make a lot of money, Mr. Delacroix.”
Cade looked at Jax and winked. “It’s a good deal.”
Jax stood and smiled at Stan Adams. “If he says it’s a good deal, then I gotta agree. I’m just a dumb jock.” Jax and Stan shook on the deal.
“I doubt that, but you’re a jock who has smart people looking after him, Mr. Delacroix. Now, let’s get down to details,” Stan ordered.
Jax wasn’t exactly sure what the hell had happened, but it seemed to him as if he’d come out on top of the mountain. It felt damn incredible to be Jackson Delacroix at that moment.