uthor's note; this story should've appeared after Part 5 as it takes place soon after the events in that story.
*
I drifted through my work that day, we did some prep work for a photo shoot somewhere, I really didn't think about who or what the subject was. My thoughts kept drifting back to the night before. When our work day was over we spilt up as we usually did. Chris went back to Red Light. But not before trying to get me to go along.
"Uh-uh! Not this time pal!" I said firmly.
"You realize what you missed out on last night?" Chris replied.
"Yes, I do. But I still appreciate your getting me to go in the first place." I responded as I went out the door.
That evening, as I settled in for a night with Smokie and a college football game, I surfed around the TV dial as was the norm. I was getting my football munchies together in the kitchen when out of earshot I got the surprise of my life!
I heard the lead story on "Entertainment Tonight";
"Who is Lindsay Lohan's Mystery Man?" wondered Mary Hart.
I poked my head out and looked at the TV and lo and behold, there was grainy security footage of my rendezvous at Burger King with Lindsay! And I could be seen, buying her dinner and as the TV voices said; "sweet talking the sexy starlet". Who it was additionally revealed, had had a rough night at a hot club called The Red Light District.
It was the same story on the other entertainment shows.
I was everywhere!
Suddenly my phone rang.
It was Chris.
"Jim...Are you watching TV now?" he asked slowly. I can't recall the last time he called me by my real name.
"Yes." I said.
"You know what's on?" he asked
"Uh-huh." I said, too stunned to say any more.
"This will either be the best of times for you or the worst." Chris said calmly.
Oh, brother was he right!
The next few days were touch and go. I kept as low a profile as I could. It was actually easy. Since I wasn't a club maven like Chris I wasn't in the 24/7 sights of press people. After a while, I faded into the unknown. To the general public, and to enquiring minds, Lindsay's "mystery man" remained that.
Just lucky, I guess.
Our work continued to be steady. I drifted back into my nightly routines. I didn't miss the clubs, although Chris kept trying to get me back. He dragged me out to another one, this one called "The Eagle".
The Eagle was a slightly better experience than Red Light had been. But I still felt out of my element there. Chris found two willing models for us to hang around with. I still can't remember their names. Or any other details about the club.
Not long after, I was able to split from the club. I just needed some quiet in my life right now.
I started to drive away and found one of my old homemade Pink Floyd CD's and immediately started playing it as I drove, somewhere, anywhere. Just to clear my head. But that didn't work. So I headed home and went straight to bed.
But even sleep was eluding me. I started looking for long-delayed projects to work on. In the course of this, I found a business card in my desk I'd forgotten about from some talent agency. Probably someone looking for a photo deal. I tossed it aside but suddenly noticed writing on the back.
