Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up. I do not make money from these stories. Please do not copy and plagiarize my work.
This story was a request from my good friend Angry Dutchman. The celeb choice and themes came from him, enjoy!
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Miami, Florida
The black surface of the coffee table became hidden with rows of white square photos lined in five rows. All of them were the same size, with a smaller picture in the middle. Polaroid instant film prints made for good souvenirs as evidence of successful photoshoots. Nicola Cavanis was seen in all the photos, modeling a different outfit in most of them. Axel stood in front of the table, studying the pictures. He recently purchased a better camera to take still shots without needing to rely on his trusty camcorder. Two weeks had passed since he met Nicola and began this new job as her photographer. She stayed in Miami to keep in close contact with him and the other man he lived with. The working relationship was blossoming into a friendship that Axel found himself wanting more of.
As his eyes scanned the photos another time, Axel thought about Marcel. None of this would've ever been possible without his guiding hand. What little he knew of Marcel's past was not in question, as Axel was now seeing how the man knew how to lead. In many ways, he was like a father figure to him. The past few weeks served as a solid reminder of why he looked up to him. Marcel spent much of his time with Nicola, leaving Axel to guess if and when they would announce a relationship to him. It would be slightly deflating to think about this newfound friendship and job he had with her. The feelings he had for her were growing each day. Axel wanted to be more than just a photographer and cameraman. His hopes of dating her were at an all-time low, seeing the way she looked at Marcel.
It would be an egregious assumption on his part if Marcel wasn't trying to date Nicola. Or so Axel quietly thought to himself. He wanted her. Some years had passed since his last longterm relationship. Nicola gave him better feelings than any of the girls from his college years. There was something about her that he felt made them a good match. Today was far from the only time he studied the finer details printed in her polaroid snaps. The better quality was on the screen of his laptop, but he still appreciated the view in smaller, dark lighting. While Axel was busy looking at the photographs, Marcel was in the bathroom combing his hair. His spirits were high, to the point where he saw no use in looking at the gray hairs he had earned in life. Normally, he would take a few glances at them while preparing for the day.
Not anymore. Whatever insecurities he had since retirement had washed away in the past week. A renewed purpose in life was the best motivation to forget the blues of yesteryears. After his retirement, Marcel struggled to find something to look forward to in life. He had something now with Axel and Nicola. He seen himself as a guiding figure to help both of them along the way. In his eyes, Axel was a young man who just needed some motivation and aspiration to enjoy life. Nicola was more than just a pretty woman. Without her, Axel would still be aimless in life. Marcel understood the value of having her around. While he had personally enjoyed intimacy with her, it was Axel he was more concerned about. Marcel wanted to see the young man do something with his future. He had the chance with Nicola, but he lacked the self esteem and motivation to go the extra mile chasing her.
It was clear to see from his perspective. All the years of working as a detective had given him the experience to read people. Everyone had problems they kept to themselves. Hidden beneath the surface of someone his own age, Marcel had his regrets and failures in life. The divorces were the last thing he cared about. Lack of family had made him a lonely man until he met Axel. This was the closest he would ever get to having a son. Two years from now, he would be fifty years of age and he believed it was too late. Nicola looked at him romantically. It was something he could clearly see in her eyes when they were alone together. Marcel knew better than to involve himself like that with her. It would be better for her to hook up with Axel if she was truly seeking a relationship. This was something he knew was better for her.
After getting dressed in the bedroom, Marcel thought more about the situation with Nicola and Axel. The past week had been productive with her modeling in various new outfits. She launched her FansOnly page and instantly gained the attention of several modeling companies she was already connected to. Marcel couldn't navigate the internet with much expertise. It was a young man's game, and in one area, Axel won in competition of the two. So far, Nicola trusted telling Marcel the finer details about how her social media accounts worked and the management efforts by her agent. All Marcel had to do was pass that information to Axel, making him more eager to outdo the person getting paid to help her. Money was not the only motivating factor for Axel, and that became clearer with each passing day.
The last photoshoot was two days ago. Nicola modeled in colored bikinis and crop tops sent to her by a fashion designer in the US. With her current location in Florida, the shipping times were faster than they would've been if she were still at home in Germany. She didn't have a hairdresser or someone to do makeup, leaving it all to herself. Nicola made use of her hotel room for one photoshoot. Marcel suggested that they mix up the locations to make decent background imagery. Axel had an idea to use a swimming pool as a proper backdrop. Nicola agreed, going as far as to say that some videos in the water would add variety to the content she was uploading online. The only problem was finding a pool that could be closed off to the public to give them privacy for an hour's worth of filming and photographs.
Those were the days Axel needed to be spending with her and no one else. One way or another, Marcel knew he had to figure out how to leave them alone together. If Axel had a boost of confidence, maybe that would motivate him more so. As the morning hours rolled by, Marcel thought more about it. He shared lunch with the young man without much conversation between them. They talked about the things that didn't matter: back pains, the weather, and their current dread for the blazing summer that awaited them. It wasn't long before his phone began to vibrate and make the dinging sound of a text notification. That could only be one person reaching out to him. Marcel knew it was her before he grabbed his phone. He kept it in the bedroom, but Axel clearly heard the sound and knew he would be leaving to see her soon.
"Another date with Nicola?"
Axel asked without hesitation. Marcel shook his head.
"Not today. I think she needs a break from seeing me. I'm going out to get groceries, you want anything special?"
He went to shake his head, then stopped and raised a finger.
"Actually, now that I think about it, a big bag of Cheetos wouldn't hurt."
Marcel smiled, nodding at his friend before leaving. Grocery shopping was a convenient lie to get out of telling him that he was indeed on his way to meet up with Nicola. Their dates were becoming every other day when they weren't consecutive. Marcel grabbed his wallet, keys, and phone before heading out the door. A pair of sunglasses waiting for him back in his car that sat nearby. His phone began ringing in the pocket of his pants as he walked to the shiny, metallic silver Pontiac. It was her calling.
"Hey, sorry if I'm bothering you. I just wanted to call in case you didn't get my text."
"I got it. I was heading out the door to meet with you."
A giggle was heard through the phone.
"Oh, that's just wonderful. Do you want to go out for lunch?"
"I just had lunch with Axel, but sure. Text me where you're at, and I'll meet you."
"Sounds like a plan."
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2 HOURS LATER
A drive across town in the middle of the day was nothing for Marcel. He had driven countless miles through the years over those paved roads. No GPS was needed in his old car, as he knew just where to go as if he were still sitting behind the wheel of a department issued undercover unit. Some things never changed as time went on. He wasn't a cop anymore, but Marcel still looked at things as if he were one. Nicola wanted to meet at a local mall downtown, where there was a Burger King on the upper floor. He found it amusing that of all the places to eat out, she chose fast food over an expensive restaurant. She was all smiles, walking around in a pair of denim shorts that showed off her lovely legs and a white crop top that exposed her stomach. The first thing she commented on when they met was that Marcel's white shirt and blue jeans were a match with her clothes. That was her way of saying this was officially a date without outright calling it that.
"You look a lot more relaxed since the first night I met you."
Nicola smiled, glaring her pretty teeth. When she showed joy in her face, it was in such a way that Marcel almost felt his heart melting. He sat across from her, watching as she twirled a French fry between the index and middle fingers of her right hand.
"I guess I am. I wasn't expecting to meet someone like you in town."
"Strangers come in high and low places."
She nodded, feeding the fry into her mouth and eating it. He grabbed his drink, sipping from the straw as she carried on the conversation.
"I've been wondering some things about you, Marcel. Can I ask you something personal?"
Pulling the straw from his lips, he swallowed his drink and replied.
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"You used to be a cop, so I have a lot of questions I could ask you that I'm curious about."
Her eyes fell to the table, glancing over the fries at the end of the carton. Marcel sat there, waiting for her to look back at him with those gorgeous emerald hues. She played with another fry between her lips before carrying on.
"You were a detective, right?"
"That is correct."
"For how long?"
"Too long, you could probably say. I did twenty-six years for the MDPD."