Page 4 of Rekindled Heat

Chapter 2

Erik

"Hey Erik, thank you for coming. This is sort of an intervention," My friend Annette says when she opens up the door to let me in.

"Oh, really? Then I'm sorry I brought wine."

"You'll need it." She says, taking it off my hands.

I sit on the comfy couch at my friend Max’s house. It's really a McMansion that he had built once the club exploded into fame. I bought a lot near here, but my house is not nearly as fancy as Maxwell's.

"Are you in on this intervention as well, Max?"

He looks a tad pained.

"A bit. But I did have some reservations."

I sit back and accept the wine glass Anne hands me. I bought the good stuff so I take a sniff and then swish the beautiful amber liquid in my glass. When I take a sip, all the flavors open up in my mouth. I'm not too bothered by whatever my friends are planning.

"So why exactly am I here?"

"You haven't been yourself lately, and we've gotten worried."

"How so?" I frown.

"You're quick to anger, and you shut yourself in your office. I haven't heard one piece of gossip from you in the past month. That's how serious this is."

Annette is not wrong about my changes, but I'm not going to concede that I need help just yet.

"There's a lot of work with us trying to get another location open," I explain.

"You've never let something like that overshadow your personality," Max says.

Max has known me for twelve years, and I can't hide much from him. In truth, I've always kept my secrets close to the vest and have never allowed them to get me down. Recently, things have changed.

"When was the last time you went out on a date?" Annette asks.

"Six months, maybe more."

"Why have you stopped? What's going on?"

"I'm not really sure, Anne. My hunting ground has always been our club, but lately, the women feel so, I don't know, empty?"

"Sure, they come to the club to get it on with rich guys. You used to be okay with that."

"Not anymore."

I really didn't know what had changed inside me, but I felt it happening and couldn't stop it. Now, I feel lost in a sea of beautiful faces and bodies that I definitely don't want anywhere near me.

"Have you ever been in love, Erik?" Anne asks frankly.

This question sends a chill through me. Yes, I've been in love. No, I do not want to talk about it, not even with my best friends.

"Can we change the topic?"

"I know I'm being overly nosy, but this is important, Erik."

"Once. A long time ago."

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