“I can’t take this anymore. You are truly pathetic!” Pierce’s best friend Patrick exclaimed. Patrick flung open the curtains to allow sunlight to penetrate the dark and morose atmosphere. Patrick visited Pierce to get him out of the house but was having no such luck. After his divorce and retirement three months ago, Pierce turned into an absolute recluse. Pierce would hardly ever answer his phone, and when he did answer it, it was only to immediately turn down all invitations to social outings. Patrick was aware Pierce was always a homebody, and it was his ex-wife Stella who would force him out of the house against his will. The problem with that is that she would consistently parade Pierce around like a show pony in their social circles.  Stella never treated Pierce like he was her beloved husband, more like he was her precious object. She was always obsessed with wealth and status, and Pierce had almost run himself into the ground to meet Stella’s covetous demands. And how did Stella repay him for his years of devotion, patience, and love? She cheated on Pierce with his boss, who could provide her with bigger and better. Stella always had to have the newest, the biggest, and most of all, the most expensive things that money could buy, but it was never good enough to satiate her greedy appetite for the finer things in life.  Patrick recalled a dinner he attended at the White household six months ago and grimaced at the recollection of him ducking out early due to Stella’s spoiled brat behavior. They were having a polite conversation at the dinner table when Patrick shared he was going to the dealership the following day to pick up his brand new custom-made 2020 Rolls-Royce Ghost. Unknowingly, Patrick brought up a tender subject in the White household. The next scene was absolutely appalling to Patrick. Stella began to throw a tantrum about how everyone they knew was driving 2020s, and she was stuck “slumming” it through the city in her 2019 Bentley Continental GT.  The nerves of this woman to be so shallow that she would complain about a vehicle most people couldn’t even afford to breathe on. Patrick stared at Pierce, waiting for him to put Stella in her place; however, Pierce’s expression remained stoic, and he continued to humbly eat his roasted lamb chop as if Stella didn’t even exist. It was then Patrick realized his best friend had thoroughly checked out of his marriage and was familiar with the verbal and emotional abuse Stella directed towards him. Stella continued to rant and rave about how Pierce wasn’t good enough for her and what one man wouldn’t do, then another one would. Patrick doesn’t promote violence against women, but he wouldn’t have minded if Pierce would’ve hauled off and slapped the taste out of Stella’s mouth. Stella didn’t deserve Pierce, and she sure as s**t didn’t deserve the life he provided for her.  Pierce never asked much of Stella. All Pierce wanted was a child, just one, but she was too selfish to give him that, complaining that a child would ruin her perfect figure. Patrick scoffed at that statement..he’s seen better bodies, and Stella knew Pierce would pay good money to get her a tummy tuck or a breast lift if she wanted it. Hell, Pierce already did several years ago for her birthday, and she had been hinting at wanting to get some work done to her face this year. Patrick threw his napkin down on the table and excused himself. He wasn’t able to stomach the abuse any longer and had lost his appetite at the sight of the dead-eyed look that graced his friend’s face. Stella was robbing Pierce of the man he used to be, and it was clear to Patrick that Pierce was sinking into a pit of despair that he may never be able to climb his way out of.  Patrick was elated when he received a call from Pierce a couple of months later, informing him of their impending divorce due to Stella’s infidelity. The shitty part was that Stella was the one who initiated the divorce. She attempted to hire Charlotte Scott, the best divorce attorney that Texas has ever seen, to represent her, but Mrs. Scott took one look at the case and vehemently declined. Being the best meant  Charlotte could be selective about the cases she selected, and she didn’t have to compromise her morals to do it. In fact, Mrs. Scott reached out to Pierce and asked if he had representation and offered her services. Of course, like the cold-hearted b***h that she is, Stella was gunning for spousal support and half of everything; however, the prenup she signed was airtight, and Mrs. Scott made sure Stella didn’t get a single dime. Patrick was now making it his personal mission to integrate Pierce back into society before it was too late. “You know…those were the same words Stella said to me before she served me with divorce papers,” Pierce drawled, taking a sip from his coffee.  “My bad,” Patrick mumbled. “Seriously, you need to leave the house. I’m afraid you’ll die alone in this house one day, and I wouldn’t find out about it until several weeks later. It would be best if you had contact with the outside world. Our friends miss you.” “Those people were never my friends,” Pierce spat. “They were Stella’s friends. I don’t claim them. Especially since none of them have bothered speaking to me since the divorce.” “Okay, I agree with you there. Most of the people in our circle are stuck-up assholes, but there are some good ones.” “I doubt it. Plus, I don’t want to be at a social gathering and run into Stella. My life has become exponentially better since she removed herself, and I’m afraid seeing her wouldn’t be good for my mental health. I was with the woman for 25 years and it was a complete waste. I can’t get those 25 years back, so I should at least be able to live out the remaining 25 years that I have left on this Earth Stella-free.” “You make a very valid point; however, as your nosy, overbearing best friend, I decided to take matters into my own hands.” “What did you do? Did you sign me up for speed dating or something like that? If you did, you might as well cancel because the LAST thing I’m looking for is a relationship. I’m perfectly content with dying alone.” “That’s extremely morbid, but I’m not surprised. Have you heard of Elite San Antonio?” “That new country club? Yeah, I’ve heard something about it. Why?” “I scheduled us a tour tomorrow.” Pierce groaned lowly in frustration. He knew his best friend had nothing but the best intentions for him, but damn, he just wanted to be left alone. “I know what you’re thinking, but you really need to get out and get some Vitamin D. You can’t go to the old country club because Stella is still a member there, and you’re guaranteed to run into her. Check out the brochure,” Patrick insisted, tossing the colorful pamphlet into Pierce’s lap. “They have everything that you can imagine and then some. Some have described it as the adult version of Disney World.” “I don’t know, man,” Pierce sighed.  “I’m not asking for a lot. All I’m asking is that you get out of the house and take a stroll. If you don’t like it, then no harm, no foul. At least I could say I tried.” Pierce mulled the idea in his head. It wouldn’t hurt to give his legs a good stretch and to feel the sun on his skin again. It wasn’t until after his retirement he realized he didn’t have many hobbies that he took a particular interest in. He was sad to admit that everything he did was to fit in with his wife’s vapid friends or colleagues. At that moment, Pierce realized he was nothing more than a puppet. Why it took him so long to realize this was beyond him. All the signs were there. “Hello? Is anyone there?” Patrick asked, impatiently snapping in front of Pierce’s face, jerking him out of his self-reflection. “Are you going willingly, or am I going to have to drag you out kicking and screaming?” “What time is the tour tomorrow?” “I scheduled us for 11:30 AM. We can catch lunch there as well.” “I’ll be there.” *********** Pierce woke up the next morning with anxiety bubbling in the pit of his stomach. He tossed and turned throughout the night, wondering if the consequences of bailing on Patrick were worth it. The one thing that got Pierce out of bed was the idea that now that the puppet master was out of his life, he was free to reinvent himself however he saw fit. Pierce dressed in a white polo, khaki pants, and loafers. It was only 10:00 in the morning when he heard his front door unlock and the alarm disengage. Pierce let out a heavy sigh and instantly regretted that Patrick had a key to his house. Patrick insisted the key was only going to be utilized for emergencies, but there have been no emergencies in the past three months, yet Patrick has used his spare key a total of ten times. “Pierce! Up and at ’em!” Patrick called, taking the stairs two at a time. Pierce didn’t bother answering and applied the finishing touches to his hair in the mirror. “Oh wow, I did not expect you to be out of bed.” “Gotta keep you on your toes, Pat. What are you doing here so early? I told you I would meet you there.” “I expected you to renege, so I decided I’ll be your escort today,” he explained.  “Oh ye of little faith,” Pierce drawled.  “Stop pretending you haven’t stood me up several times.” “That was then, and this is now.” “I hope you walk it like you talk it,” Patrick huffed.  “I guess there’s only one way to find out.” ********** “Nice ride, Pat,” Pierce complimented once they left his estate.  “Thanks. It was worth every f*****g penny. I can’t believe this is your first time riding in it. Maybe after today you’ll go get your own.” “Nah, I’m good. My car is paid off and fits my current and future needs. Plus, it’s too flashy for my tastes.” “I guess I can’t argue with that.” The two men made small talk during their short ten-minute drive to Elite SA and were not disappointed when they pulled up to the facility. “Oh wow, the pamphlet did not do this place justice,” Patrick gasped.  “No kidding. I can’t imagine how much the membership dues are,” Pierce agreed with a low whistle.  “Whatever they are, you definitely can afford it, so stop worrying about money.” “I want to make sure I’m getting my bang for my buck. I don’t want to pay the yearly fees and come twice. That would be a dreadful waste of money.” “I’m sure you’ll find something that will keep bringing you back daily.” “I won’t hold my breath,” Pierce muttered under his breath. They pulled into the large circular driveway and allowed the valet to park the car. “Good morning, gentlemen. Is this your first time joining us at Elite San Antonio?” the doorman inquired.  “Yes, it is. Thanks for noticing. We’re scheduled for a tour for 11:30,” Patrick replied.  “Ah, yes. Miss Carter just finished a tour not too long ago, and the prospective member is now in the process of establishing membership as we speak. Hopefully, we can say the same for the two of you. My name is Jesse Vanderbilt. It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” the young man beamed, offering an outstretched hand to the men. Pierce shook his hand politely and thought it was peculiar the doorman would be so knowledgeable about more than the comings and goings of the members. “I know what you’re thinking. Why does this guy know so much, right?” “Guilty,” Pierce agreed.  “My grandfather owns Elite SA, and one day, it will be mine. I’m just working my way from the bottom up.” “That’s very admirable,” Pierce complimented.  “Thank you, Mr….” “White, and this is my buddy Patrick Jameson.” “Fantastic. Now that we know each other…shall we?” Jesse asked, opening the door for the men. Pierce quickly scanned the foyer of the compound, taking in all of the luxurious features that screamed imported. They stopped in front of an unoccupied receptionist’s desk, giving Pierce more time to peruse his new surroundings. “Miss Carter should be joining us soon. Just a warning, please be kind to Miss Carter. She may be Mrs. Vanderbilt in the future.” “What have I told you about telling people that,” a voice scolded from behind Jesse. “Sweetheart, it’s you that’s in denial. I need you to get with the program,” Jesse teased.  “And I need you to return to your post at the door.” Pierce didn’t pay any mind to their banter but instead focused his attention on the stunning young woman who stood before him. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her warm skin tone that reminded him of hazelnut. From what he could tell at first glance, it was blemish-free and appeared smooth to the touch. Her hair was in long braids that were pulled back, allowing a full view of her innocent face and youthful features. She was very petite, and if Pierce had to guess, she was just under five feet tall. Pierce briefly imagined how weightless she would feel in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms wrapped around his neck. Pierce would like to say his lewd thoughts died down once she finally made eye contact with him, but they only grew worse. She had expressive cocoa eyes that were surrounded by long black lashes. She was innocent indeed, and something inside of him wanted to take that innocence for himself. Her plump lips that were painted a velvety red were calling out to him, and he could only pray for an opportunity to taste them. She was wearing a form-fitting white polo with the Elite SA emblem on the front. The shirt molded beautifully to her small but perky breasts, and Pierce couldn’t help but wonder what her n*****s looked like. He didn’t really care if they were small or large; all he knew was that he would enjoy wrapping his tongue around them. Her black slacks fit her nicely, and while her ass was small, it rounded out perfectly and was still something to hold onto. “Get it together…you’re embarrassing me,” Patrick warned from beside Pierce in a low whisper.  “What are you talking about?” “You are practically drooling over this little girl like she’s a piece of meat, and it’s obvious to everyone, including her. Plus, you don’t have a shot. She looks like she’s barely legal. By the time she was born, you had a mortgage and was cutting back on red meat and junk food.” Pierce could feel himself awkwardly blush as the young woman smiled at him. He hadn’t felt this way since he was in high school, and it was overwhelming. “Good morning, Mr. White and Mr. Jameson. My name is Arianna Carter, and I’ll be your tour guide this morning,” she greeted, offering a hand to both men. Pierce was quick to snatch her hand up between the two of his. He pumped it slowly while he stared into her eyes, and an eyebrow quirked in amusement when he noticed how she bit her bottom lip. “It is very nice to meet you, Miss Carter,” Pierce drawled in his heavy Texas twang.