3. Jack - Millionaire Playboy
Chapter three
Jack - Millionaire Playboy
E die’s recovery from that extreme surgery was remarkable. She repeatedly told me, “It’s Charlotte’s beautiful bones that healed me.” She was never far from our thoughts. Edie’s mother had her sights set on religious stardom so when she heard about an international evangelist coming to a nearby city, her wheels were set in motion. She formulated a plan for Edie and her to become the musical coordinators and they had only eight weeks to perfect their gig. I didn’t understand why it was important and I didn’t see much of Edie because she was always practicing. She had no interest in her mother’s goals although she was a better-than-average organist and could rock it out like the Pentecostals of that era did.
The services were to be held in a large opulent theatre and would be the stepping stone to her mother’s fame. She drilled Edie tirelessly to learn the songs, understand her cues, smile at just the right times, interact with the audiences, and, most importantly, become a part of Reverend Ricard Estes huge outreach. She cleverly managed to get into the auditions at the host church and they were named the opening musical act for the five nights of the crusade.
Edie called me four days before Reverend Estes and his staff of twenty were due to open at the Rialto Theatre. “Jenny, guess what?” she said excitedly. I’m going to get some new clothes for our debut.” I was shocked that her mom would spend money on new clothes for her. Most of Edie’s clothes came from Goodwill and weren’t very fashionable. She was so excited.
The selected clothes cinched, lifted, and fit in all the right places. She’d never had anything hug her body in such a sexy way. “Mom, I’m not allowed to wear clothes like this,” she said questioning her.
“You do now and I’ll teach you how to act like a lady and walk in these spike-high heels. You’re almost fifteen so it’s time.”
She was aghast but delighted that she could dress more like the woman she was becoming. She had another surprise for her. She bleached her long, thick auburn hair to platinum blond and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect. Just perfect,” she gloated.
The big night finally arrived and after much grooming and training, her mother warned her to remember everything she taught her. They entered through the stage entrance where they were introduced to some of the crew including Jack Forrest, Reverend Estes’ manager.
Jack Forrest was the thirty-year-old son of a billionaire tobacco tycoon. He had a handsome allowance and only worked when something fun and exciting came along to amuse him for a while. Jack Forrest was small-framed about 5’7”. His face was narrow with wide-set blue eyes and dark straight hair. His skin was tanned to a golden bronze and he was dressed in a $1000 suit and designer snakeskin shoes. Edie didn’t understand the magnitude of his appearance but he caught her eye and it made her giddy.
Jack politely addressed them both, but his eyes moved over Edie’s body like a bomb-sniffing dog over a suspicious package. Her face flushed. No one had ever looked at her that way. She was embarrassed and nervously began to turn her right high-heeled foot over to the side. Her mother’s inconspicuous jab caught her in the ribs and she knew she’d better straighten up and maintain the composure she had been taught.
The evangelistic meetings went off as planned and the crowds got larger every night as word spread about the excitement at the Rialto. The front page of the newspaper showed Edie in the background sitting at the organ. I was so proud of my little friend. Jack Forrest was preoccupied… with Edie. I wasn’t sure what his interest was but I know she was flattered that such an important man would be attentive to her. After all, she was just a girl and, except for Carl, she hadn’t had experience with men.
One night as she was leaving the organ stand and the Reverend began his sermon, Jack grabbed her and pulled her behind the huge stage curtain. She gasped, trying to scream but he put his hand over her mouth to quiet her. He looked at her pleadingly with desperation in his eyes, then removed his hand, replacing it with his lips.
As they stood in the darkness, engulfed by the massive red velvet curtains, he continued to kiss her face, neck, and lips. He put his moist tongue into her mouth. She was frozen, horrified. “Edie, I’ve thought of nothing but you since I first saw you.” She couldn’t speak; her head spun as she managed to wriggle away from his arms, her heart pounding wildly.
She didn’t understand what she was feeling or the emotions that stirred inside her. Strangely, she found it exciting that a man of his standing found her attractive. That night in her bedroom, she practiced some sensual moves she’d never done before. Something had been awakened in her.
The next afternoon Edie and I walked home from school together and she stopped in her tracks. There was a huge black limousine parked in front of her apartment building. Her knees nearly gave way and she couldn’t check her breath. Panicked, I asked “Edie, what’s wrong?”
“I think Mother knows what Jack did to me last night. Jenny, I’m going to be sick.” I went home and she couldn’t stand outside in the cold October drizzle so she took a chance carefully turning the doorknob. As she quietly snuck inside, the kitchen door was closed and she heard loud voices. She crept closer to hear what was being said.
“Please, Mrs. Allen,” Jack Forrest was pleading. “I’ve spoken with Reverend Estes and he wants Edie to travel with our crusade. She would be a great asset to God’s work.”
“And what about me, Mr. Big Shot? I’m her manager not just her mother,” she spat.
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have room on our staff for you but I assure you, Edie will be well taken care of. We will arrange tutoring for her, an adequate salary, and absolute care and respect. I’m a very rich man and I will treat her like a princess,” Jack said with a cry in his voice.
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. They were negotiating for her. She was flattered, blushing behind the door, but frightened beyond fear that her mother would send her away with this man. She could hear her kitten heels pacing the hard linoleum floor and probably wringing her hands. Jack continued his proposal. “I could pay you a large dowry to assure you I will take care of everything. Please, Mrs. Allen. She means the world to me.” His voice seemed higher pitched and Edie’s eardrums felt like they would burst inside her head. This man who had forced his tongue into her mouth was trying to buy her.
Her mother’s clicking footsteps became louder and faster as she paced. In her heart, Edie begged she would make the right decision. “Mr. Forrest,” she sighed, “I’m happy to know you recognize class and talent, but I cannot let you have my little girl.” Edie wanted to fall to the floor and thank God and her lucky stars. Instead, on shaking legs, she wobbled to her bedroom and peeked out the window as she saw Jack Forrest drive away in the big black car. And just like that…Jack was gone.
The day the crusade left town, her mother donated all her fancy clothes and shoes to Goodwill and dyed her hair back to its original color. The incident was never spoken of again and seemingly forgotten, although sometimes she wondered what her life would have been. Living on a beautiful island, flying around the world, dressing like a movie star…but there was a downside. She’d have to let Jack Forrest touch her everywhere.