CHAPTER THREE
Zek
I took a quick shower and got a hold of myself by the time Ronald showed back up with the pizza. After helping him get a few groceries into the house, I took the seat across from him at the table and grabbed a couple of slices.
“I think more than any fine dining food, I missed this the most.” I took a big bite and stifled a groan at how delicious the mixture of cheese and meats were.
“I know that’s right. I could eat pizza most days of the week, but I try not to. It’s hell trying to get a large deep dish off of you in the gym.” He chuckled and picked up his beer. “So let’s get the rules and all that stuff out of the way and we can move on to you getting back into as much of your life as you’re allowed to enjoy.”
“I’d like that.” I picked up a napkin and wiped my mouth before sitting back and nursing my beer. “First, tell me if I can have visitors and what the constraints are.”
“You’re not married or engaged from what I can see in the file. Do you have a girlfriend?” He took another large bite and watched me.
“No. I have a few friends and some close family I’d love to see on a regular basis, and of course my attorney will want to come by from time to time, but no lady love.” I sat the beer down and tried not to let my thoughts move onto Alisa. They always seemed to be primed to do just that.
“The lawyer is able to visit as he or she wishes, as long as it’s not excessive. They charge you every damn time they come anyway. You don’t need anything from them unless you have another trial pending or if settlement arrangements are being made.” He shrugged. “However, that’s up to you as far as legal counsel visits are concerned. There’s no one allowed over between eight p.m. and eight a.m.. That’s why I was asking about the girlfriend.”
I wanted to flinch, but I held it inside. The twelve hours the sun was down shouldn’t have been a big issue, but another year with no sex and I might actually go mad. Needing a woman in my life wasn’t just about wanting companionship, but about the desire to feel someone pressed against me. I’d always had a healthy sex life, and the last year had left me desperate to get that part back.
It didn’t seem like that would be a possibility, but some part of me knew that coming out of prison. Life wasn’t just going to start up the same way I left it. Time was going to play a huge factor in the steps I took. Each would have to be a building block, but needing sex would drive me to make that a priority.
I couldn’t imagine taking another woman to my bed, but the chances of Alisa being willing to let me near her seemed slim, and yet I was overreacting. I was good at that.
“So, I’m sure your legal counsel explained a little bit about house arrest before you went into prison, but let me reiterate that you’re able to go out of the house for groceries, doctor visits, court appointments and a leisurely outing from time to time with my accompaniment. I’ll not be here all the time, but when I’m not, you’re restricted to the house.” He finished his pizza and got up, walking into the kitchen. “The anklet they require you to wear is tracked on my phone and down at the station should they need to find you. I’m the only one watching most of the time. It’s part of the job.”
I nodded and reached for the thin black bracelet he handed to me. “This just slip on and clip? Anything else I should know about it?”
“It will beep loudly if you’re out of range from where you should be. The house is good, the property is good, but anything around the property line that I haven’t cleared with the app will cause the warning sound, and then it will flash up at the police station and they’ll dispatch someone to come find you. You don’t want that. It’s a one-way ticket back to the pen. We’ll give you a few warnings, but then—”
“I’m good. Honestly.” I lifted my hand and offered him a smile. “I’m a CEO that made one shitty decision. I promise. I’m happy being in the house and out of jail. I’ll serve this year just like I’m supposed to. Nothing to worry about.”
He chuckled and dropped back down into his seat as I worked to get the anklet on.
“I’ve heard something similar to that more times than I can count. You think you’re fine until you start to go stir crazy. It’s usually worse with guys like yourself because you’re used to being busy and in the middle of some kind of chaos. Here at the house, it’ll be quiet and yet the world is just outside the door.”
“But unreachable.” I picked up my beer. “I’ll have to learn a new trade and start a new career. I’ll spend this next year reading up on something of interest and turn a buck on it when I’m done.”
“Smart man.” He ran his hand over his head. “If you somehow fall in love, and you need time with your girl... we’ll work things out. I’m here to make sure you stick to the rules, but some of them are a little more iffy than others.”
I nodded. “I appreciate that. I’m not sure a girl’s part of the plan, though I’d love for one to be.”
“Hard times with the ladies?” He smirked and nodded. “I know that situation far too well in my own life.”
“Hard time? Try no time. They don’t exactly let you take a date back to your cell where I was for the last twelve months.” I laughed and stood up to stretch. “Am I allowed to use my cell phone?”
“Yes. Your cell phone is yours. I don’t agree with limiting that unless I’m forced to. This isn’t about taking things from you, but constricting you to the house. You cannot conduct business, but can assist someone else who’s working. As long as you’re not turning a profit, then you’re good.”
“Awesome. I’m going to touch base with my old partner then and make sure his life is still going well. No business transactions, just need to check in.” I waited for him to nod, feeling a bit foolish, but wanting to set the ground floor for my relationship with Ronald from the on-start. I wasn’t interested in challenging the rules or beating the system at all.
“Have fun.”
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed my cell phone from a small pile of items that sat on the counter. It was charged somehow, and I couldn’t help but check to see if there was anything from Alisa, but of course there wasn’t. Wishful thinking on my part.
“Jeffery?” I spoke as soon as he picked up the phone.
“Zek? Is that you, man?” He laughed, and my heart constricted in my chest. He was far too good to me, and that he would even want to hear my voice was a miracle.
“Hey, man. I’m home, finally.” I let out a long sigh and leaned against the counter top. “How are you guys? Tell me everything I’ve missed.”
“Oh my God. It’s so damn good to hear from you. I knew it would be any day now, but I wasn’t sure when. I really should have visited you more, Zek. Forgive me.”
Was this guy asking for my forgiveness when I’d taken our careers and ruined them in tandem with my greed? Did mercy know no end?
“No need for apologies. It would be me offering them up if there were.” I took a quick breath. “What’s going on with the firm? Is it completely shut down now?”
“No. The SEC went through everything over the last eight months and deemed your situation to be a contained case. Most of our clients stayed with me, and the firm is doing well. We’re in the process of renaming it, but I’m sure you understand that.” He grew silent, and I felt like shit for the position I’d put him in.
“Of course. I’m just glad to hear that you resurrected my baby. She’s in good hands then.” I smiled and moved to stand in front of the sink, wanting to look out the small window that opened up to my backyard. “Your family doing okay?”
“Everyone’s fine, but let’s catch up on all that shit later. Tell me about the house arrest. Can I come see you, or no?”
“Yeah, but only during the day. I’ll have you come over when I get a little more acclimated back into my life. I just wanted to tell you that I’m home, and that you owe me nothing. I want to apologize again—”
“Zek.”
“I’m serious. You stood by me through all that shit. I should have told you the truth. But, dammit, to have you see me in a different light than the one I worked to have shine on me most of my life would have broken me. I’m sorry. I was wrong, and I want to make it up to you. One day, when I’m able, I will.”
“No. You’re a good man, and shit happens. I cheated on my wife about five years ago, and she gave me another chance, Zek. I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. It was one night. Hell, it was twenty minutes because I was so damn terrified the whole time that I couldn’t keep my shit hard.” He let out a shaky laugh. “What I’m trying to say is that we’re good. I’m ready for you to come back any time you want to. We’ve cleared the air with the investors, or at least most of them.”
“I can’t. I’ll never be able to trade again, or give investment advice. The SEC won’t allow my licenses to be renewed, but it’s okay. I’ll figure out something else I can do.” I shrugged, though I was the only one in the kitchen.
“Can you help advise me on a few things while you’re stuck in the house? Is that something we can do, or no?”
“Only if you don’t pay me. I can’t make a profit or hold an actual job while I’m under house arrest, but I can do some admin for you.” I turned as Ronald walked into the kitchen.
“I’d love that. I’ll come visit you soon with a whole handful of shit you’ll love. I swear, you and I complement each other in the things we thrive on and the things that suck our souls out.”
“That’s why we were great partners, Jeffery.”
“Not were... are. I’m not giving up on the idea that you’ll be back with me. Maybe you can’t do what you did before, but you and I both know that there are lots of other avenues for the firm to explore.” He cleared his throat. “I renamed it ZJ Investments.”
I laughed and pressed my hand to my mouth. “Our first initials?”
“Yeah. I thought it was crafty enough to throw a proverbial fuck you to fate for this shit.”
“I don’t think it’s fate that deserves the gesture, but it’s water under the bridge now.” I walked into the living room and dropped down on the couch. “Hey, man. I appreciate you sticking by me. Seriously.”
“You would have done the same for me. I know you would have.”
“True, but still.” I brushed my hand over my chest and let my thoughts fade to Alisa. I couldn’t help but wonder if the additional muscle I’d packed on would turn her on, or leave her cold. “I’ll talk to you soon, my friend.”
“Hang in there, and if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I won’t, Jeff.” I dropped the call and tossed the phone onto the coffee table as Ronald walked into the room.
“Seems like a good relationship you have with your business partner.” There was a bit of sympathy in his eyes, and where I once would’ve ignored it, I wasn’t the same man.
“Yeah. It was a great relationship. He’s a good man, and I’m more of an ass for putting him through hell above anyone else. No one suffered like Jeff did.” I ran my fingers over my head. “He’s forgiven me from what I can tell. He just wants to move forward, but I’m not capable of doing that just yet. Shit, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to move back into the life I left.”
“You won’t, but that’s just opportunity for growth. Creating something beautiful from the ashes is almost always better than trying to dust off the dilapidated pile of nothingness that created the soot. You’ll find your way. Hell, you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out, right?” Ronald smiled as he picked up the remote. “You good with me watching the news? I hate getting behind.”
“Yeah. I’m good with it.” I grabbed up my phone and flipped through the old texts from Alisa before pulling up her profile at Dellup and Brown. Just the sight of her made my body hard, my heart race, my skin tight. I might not be willing to reach out to her, but I had to say a prayer that she wasn’t going to be as pig-headed as me.
I got up and forced a yawn. It was only eight, but I wanted to spend some time taking care of myself in the comfort of my bed. I could let the image of my beautiful girl push me to the limit of orgasm over and over and still be needy for her. It was a hopeless situation, but those were the ones that had pushed me into greatness the first time my life turned into a success story. It seemed highly probable that it could happen again.
Funny how much my definition of success had changed.