The Spell - 2. Chapter 2

Michael had just come home that night when he noticed his laptop open. He walked over to it and saw that Brock had left his Email up.

 

 

 

After hesitating, Michael entered it. There were thousands of Emails in the inbox. The first one began, “38 y/o, discreet professional, looking for escort while in town.” He saw a link to an escort site and clicked on it. It brought up a profile for Brock, who was going by Landon on the site, and there were numerous reviews and nudes in the ad. There was also an hourly 250$ rate listed.

 

 

 

Michael dug deeper and found that Brock had nine regular clients, including a wealthy CEO, who paid him thousands to visit him in Florida. He also found links to several of Brock’s porn movies.

 

 

 

In addition to being an escort and porn actor, Brock had many regular hookups, including a lot of his and Michael’s friends. To make matters worse, Brock was hooking up in their apartement, while Michael was at work.

 

 

 

Michael was irate and about to log off when he noticed the name Kyle. He had a friend named Kyle, so he entered the Email to see the pictures. To Michael's surprise, he discovered that Kyle was actually his boss. There was a face picture and several of his naked body.

 

 

 

He read through the Email. “Are you a top or bottom?” Brock asked.

 

 

 

“I love getting fucked,” Wilhelm replied.

 

 

 

“I bet you do,” Michael mumbled to himself.

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

Michael was awake in bed when Brock got home around midnight. After eating a snack, Brock showered and crawled in bed. “How was he?” Michael asked.

 

 

 

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Brock sneered and rolled away.

 

 

 

“So was he a regular hookup or one of your Johns?”

 

 

 

There was a brief silence. “Fuck you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brock got up, grabbed his cell, and stormed off into the living room.

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

It was the next day at Michael’s work, and he was tired.

 

 

 

Wilhelm entered his cubicle. “You’re scheduled to give a meeting after lunch,” Wilhelm said.

 

 

 

“I thought I was demoted,” Michael grumbled.

 

 

 

“What?”

 

 

 

“Nothing.”

 

 

 

“That’s what I thought.”

 

 

 

Wilhelm left, and Michael and James glanced at each other. James then giggled under his breath, while Michael remained serious.

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

The meeting was a disaster. Michael kept stumbling over his words, as Wilhelm seethed.

 

 

 

The meeting finished, and Michael left. “You,” Wilhelm bellowed behind him, “in my office in five minutes.”

 

 

 

Michael walked to his desk, grabbed some forms, and went to Wilhelm’s office. Wilhelm was on the phone at the time. Nevertheless, Michael moved to Wilhelm's desk and threw the forms on it. Immediately, Wilhelm noticed his nudity splashed all over the forms, and he slapped his hand down on them. His face then turned red, and his jaw clinched. “Harold, let me call you back,” he stuttered. He tried to look at Michael, but couldn’t. “Are you fuckin' blackmailing me?"

 

 

 

“Are you firing me?” Michael retorted.

 

 

 

Wilhelm clinched his fist on the forms. “Watch your back.”

 

 

 

“Are you firing me?”

 

 

 

There was a knock at the door. “What?” Wilhelm snapped.

 

 

 

Wilhelm’s secretary opened the door slightly. “Mister Canton is here to see you,” she said.

 

 

 

“Give me three minutes,” Wilhelm responded. She left, and he gripped the forms, threw them in his desk, and slammed the draw shut. “Go back to work.”

 

 

 

Michael walked back to his cubicle and found an empty box on his desk. He ripped it up and tossed it into the trash can. “You need to talk to someone?” James asked.

 

 

 

“What? Now I’m going crazy?” Michael asked.

 

 

 

“Just trying to be nice.”

 

 

 

Michael logged into his computer. The first thing he saw was an Email from his sister, saying, “CALL ME.”

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

It was that later that day, and Jennifer was walking to her car. “Jennifer,” Michael called out.

 

 

 

She turned around. “Yes?” she asked.

 

 

 

He walked up to her and stopped. “I heard someone recently helped you with something.”

 

 

 

She became uneasy. “What are you talking about?”

 

 

 

“I think he did a spell for you.”

 

 

 

That pissed her off. “Who told you that? Katie?”

 

 

 

“I just need to know how to reach him.” She walked to her car and pulled out her keys. “I can pay you for the information."

 

 

 

She spun around. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

 

 

 

He looked desperate. “Please help me.”

 

 

 

She rolled her eyes. “Good night.” She got in her car, slammed the door shut, and started the ignition. Then, she paused and got out. “This isn’t a fucking game.”

 

 

 

“I know.”

 

 

 

She paused again and reached for her phone. “You didn’t get this from me, okay?”

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

Michael had just come home, and he was on the phone. “I’m trying to reach Isaac,” Michael said.

 

 

 

“This is he,” Isaac responded.

 

 

 

“Well, this is a little weird, but…”

 

 

 

“You need help?”

 

 

 

“Yes.”

 

 

 

“I require a fee for my—‘

 

 

 

“That’s fine.”

 

 

 

Isaac was taken aback. “And what is it I can do for you?”

 

 

 

“Can you do a spell?”

 

 

 

“Yes.”

 

 

 

“Tonight?”

 

 

 

Isaac hesitated. “Yes.”

 

 

 

“How much?”

 

 

 

“Two hundred.”

 

 

 

Michael paused. “I can’t do that. Sorry.” He hung up and froze. Then, he looked around, noticing the stacks of bills, the missed phone calls, and Brock’s scattered clothes. Abruptly, he called Isaac back. “I’ll do it.”

 

 

 

“The cost just went up to three hundred,” Isaac informed him.

 

 

 

Michael was annoyed. “That’s fine.”

 

 

 

*          *          *

 

 

 

Michael was at a 24 hour diner and was fidgeting with a glass of coffee.

 

 

 

Isaac entered and sat down in Michael's booth. “Can you do a money spell?” Michael asked abruptly.

 

 

 

“After you pay me,” Isaac answered.

 

 

 

“Of course.” Michael tossed the wadded bills on the table. Mildly irritated, Isaac stared at the money, glanced at Michael, and then started counting the bills. Impatiently, Michael squirmed in his chair. “So that’s it?”

 

 

 

Isaac finished and paused, as if he was thinking. “There's a catch.”

 

 

 

“What?”

 

 

 

Isaac folded the bills, placed them in his pocket, and looked up at Michael. “You have to give up something of equal value.”

 

 

 

“I thought that’s why I paid you.” Isaac didn’t respond. “Okay, fine.” A few seconds passed, as Michael tried to think of something. “The only thing I have is my car, and it’s not even paid for.”

 

 

 

“It doesn’t have to be material.” That made Michael snicker. Just then, the waitress walked up and asked Isaac if he wanted anything. “I’m about to leave,” he told her.

 

 

 

She left. “Hell, right about now, I’d give up the love of my life.”

 

 

 

“Are you sure?”

 

 

 

Michael pondered and stared at Isaac. “Yes.”

 

 

 

“Done.”

 

 

 

Isaac left, as Michael sat there in stunned silence. “Sorry Brock,” he finally muttered.