Chapter 1
Adam Lewis made sure he looked very sharp this morning. Today he was going to be interviewed via video-chat with a vlogger named Ace-the-Face. Adam’s deceased agency partner, Jack Tuner, had been accused of ‘couch practices’ and assaulting his young male clients. Ten years ago Adam had to live through that misery, even getting shot at by the nasty man before he turned the gun on himself. A nosy reporter, Garth Ross, decided a tell-all book was in order since the whole ‘Me-Too’ Movement had swept the nation. On release of that horrible book, Adam’s agency was under fire and he had lost fifty percent of his stable of stars. Dreading this, unnerved, Adam fussed with his hair and shaved his jaw of the dark stubble, and then chose a nice cotton shirt. His husband, attorney Jack Larsen, also wearing a business suit, knotted his necktie in the full-length mirror in their walk-in closet. Adam held his stomach and sat on the foot of their bed in the mansion they occupied in Paradise, California. Jack put his glasses on and read his phone, then his attention turned towards Adam. “Do you even know this guy?” “No. One of the casting agents I work with, Buzzy, recommended him. He said the guy’s got millions of followers and maybe I won’t be crucified.” Adam’s hands were clammy. Jack sat beside him on the bed, shoulder to shoulder. “Just tell the truth. Even if you get criticized, you can never be accused of hiding what happened.” “Fuck.” Adam rubbed his stomach again. Noise from down the hallway drew their attention. He and Jack lived with Mark Antonious Richfield in his thirteen-bedroom mansion. Mark had been the Nation’s Top Male Model for over ten years. For most of that decade Mark had also worked fulltime with his ex-husband, Steven Jay Miller at an advertising firm. Now both Steve and Mark ran Mark’s deceased father’s garment manufacturing firm, Richfield-Miller International. Mark was taking care of his two young sons in the nursery down the hallway. Adam checked the time and said, “Let me get this over with.” “Do you want me to sit with you?” “No.” Adam shook his head. “I need privacy, not a lawyer.” Jack pecked him on the lips and they stood from the bed and left their bedroom. Adam jogged past the nursery, hearing Mark and Blake Hughes, a retired fireman who was now Mark’s nanny, helping with the two boys. Adam avoided them and trotted down the grand mahogany staircase to the marble foyer. The scent of food cooking was in the air as he made his way closer to the kitchen. Their chef, Sierra, was preparing breakfast for the group. “Good morning,” she said, smiling. “Hi, Sierra.” Adam approached the espresso-maker. “Allow me.” Sierra worked on a double espresso for him. Adam stood near the nook, a bench seating area with a large window overlooking the entire back of the estate; the outdoor pool and slide, the basketball and tennis courts, the stable, and the meadow beyond to their heli-stop. Sierra handed him his coffee. “Thanks.” Adam rose up and walked the length of the long hallway, glancing into bedrooms. On his left was a large white bedroom suite; Steve and his Swedish transgender wife, Tadzio Andresen-Miller’s bedroom. The handsome former cop turned CEO, was in a suit and tie, and held his phone, texting. His wife was in Los Angeles at the moment, staying with Mark’s eldest son, actor Alexander Richfield. Adam continued heading to the study where his computer was located. At this end of the mansion were the study, library, pool and spa, and a theater room with games and a huge flat-screen TV and padded chairs. He entered the study and set his hot espresso on a cup warmer then rolled his swivel chair closer. He cleared his throat, logged onto the blog website and opened a video link to the vlogger. He was acknowledged and the screen opened to the young man of color, who had a huge influence on the youth, rap and hip-hop music, as well as many Hollywood and sports celebrities. Adam had done a little research on this young man, and he was one of the bigger names in the ‘V’ or video blogging world. “Hi, Adam. Hang on.” Adam ran his hand over his dark hair and sipped his coffee as he waited. Ace was a handsome man with tightly a cropped afro and a perfectly groomed beard. Before the show went live, Ace explained his format, “Right. I’m going to give you an intro, then discuss the book, then, I’ll get into our interview questions. So, all in all, around an hour.” “Yes. Good.” Adam felt like he was going on trial. “I want you to know, I’m going to be direct.” “Yes.” Adam was warned by his friend Buzzy. Jack’s advice of honesty kept ringing in his head like a bell. “Okay, let me get into the intro. Standby to go live.” Adam sipped the coffee and hoped that Mark, and Blake kept Jacob and Isaac away from the study for an hour. He didn’t really need babies screaming while he did this. The study did not have a door. Hip-hop music played with a prerecorded introduction for Ace’s program. Adam set his cup aside, cleared his throat and got ready, peeking at the smaller video image of himself in the corner. He blurred the background because it was a wall of Mark’s modeling photos behind him. Jack brought him a glass of ice water, kissed his cheek, and left. “Hello, fam and peeps out there…” Ace said, “Today we have a special guest to discuss a new book released on the market. Hide and Seek; The Secret Life of Jack Turner. Adam Lewis, Mr Turner’s former associate, has granted us an exclusive interview today.” Adam tried not to be terrified because he wasn’t an actor, or an orator. He was a talent agent, a behind the scenes guy. And this may be his toughest job yet. “Adam Lewis is giving our viewers his first insights into the tell-all book that is sweeping the nation. We have an exclusive with him today and are anxious to get this interview started. So. Hello, Adam.” “Hi.” Adam smiled and waved at the computer’s camera lens. “Why don’t we begin with how you met Mr Turner in the first place?” “Yes.” Adam cleared his throat and said, “Well, around ten years ago…”
