Author's Note: The rollicking good times in Europe keep coming! I think we will wrap up this portion of the narrative after Chapter 16. I hope you enjoy this. There's some drama. There's some fun, and there's a whole lot of fucking and partying. Totally unusual.
* * *
Somehow, the girls didn't say a word about me spending the night with Anja. We had only been in the extra bedroom connected to our suite, where my wives had slept, but it didn't create the scandal I thought it might. In fact, no one even brought it up, which didn't seem right. I felt guilty about it. I also had some other concerns. Most of the night was a blank canvas for me. That was unusual. I didn't normally black out.
But we all got moving from Milan and took the jet together with Riley and Henry and our other friends back to London and the castle. Anja had flown back with us but peeled off for a couple days to work on the surprise she had teased. The upshot was that my body welcomed some time to get back into equilibrium. I had been rough on it, and I needed to back off a bit.
That wasn't fully possible, however, because we were joined at the castle by Petey and Alix. They were such a welcome addition to the entourage, and we knew we had to throw them a welcome party. At the same time, we had some business to discuss. I had to admit, it was awfully nice having just our group together for those couple days. The tour had been fun, but there was something about the relentless energy it required. We had been burning the candle at both ends, and the time before those Vienna shows and wrapping up with the final three concerts in London made me realize that I was ready to be back home in Los Angeles.
It was an unseasonably hot day in London, even for summer, but it still felt good. Jason, Petey, and I were passing a large joint around while the girls sunbathed nude, smoking their own cigarettes and marijuana and steadily working their way through bottles of Champagne.
"So, I had an idea," I told Jason and Petey. I had already summarized my prior conversations with Henry about his desire to focus on picking up an acting career and being serious about it. "If you got him on board for acting, Petey, what about bringing in both Riley and Henry for music?"
"Riley and I talked about her starting her own label," Jason added. "Move it off on her own. I know she's been wanting to do it, but I think now, given everything that's happened with her last album and this tour? Time to strike while the iron is hot. She's never been bigger, and her brand is only growing."
"We give Henry the acting carrot, which is what we do best," Petey said. "And give both Riley and Henry a platform to keep everything for their careers under their control and under one roof."
"Exactly right," I said.
"Do you think they'd go for it?" Petey asked.
"I'm not aware that they've looked into other options," I said. "For now, we may be the only game in town."
"All the more reason to move quickly," Petey said.
"And, I think we have to say it, but we would offer them a certain... lifestyle consistency that probably appeals to them," Jason said. "They're friends."
"We know how they operate," I said. "They know we wouldn't jeopardize them. We have the same priorities as they do."
I looked across the garden and watched the girls through my sunglasses. What a set of priorities it was. My four wives looked radiant as they shared two joints, their bodies glistening in the sunshine. Crystal and Bianka were laughing with Alix about something. Stephanie sat demurely on the ground at the foot of Rita's lounge chair, her breasts standing up proudly, and her triangular smile radiating across the pool from us. Juliet and Melanie chatted while on their backs, fully exposed to the sun. Shelly and Nicole tapped on their phones as they passed a joint back and forth.
Jason and Petey noticed my words had trailed off and knew exactly what I was looking at.
"It is a damn impressive display," Petey said.
"Sometimes I have to remind myself this is real," Jason said.
"Me, too, brother," I said. "Every day."
"I don't remember Shelly very well," Petey said, "but, fuck me, she is a smoke show."
"She's been letting her hair down while she's been here, too," Jason said.
"A ton of fun," I added.
"I'd like to find out," I said. "Alix mentioned she used to work for the agency, but, Jesus, I want to tap that."
"Do it, brother," I encouraged him.
"I'm about ready to press the button on play time myself," Jason said.
"Yeah, I need to make sure I don't set foot in the doghouse again," I said. "Need to give the wives some serious attention."
"As if that's such a chore," Petey joked.
"I'm telling you, man," I said, "that molly Anja had the other night really laid it on me."
"That shit was incredible," Jason said.
"Do you remember that night?" I asked.
"Yeah," Jason said. "I mean, most of it."
"I'm about ready to turn up this party," Petey said. "I can't look at all those tits across the way and not want to blow some lines off them."
"Who would you pick first?" Jason asked.
"Are we going to turn this into a game?" Petey said, looking over the top of his sunglasses.
"Seems like a fun game to play," I said.
"I'd start with Alix," Petey said.
"Oh no you don't," Jason said with a laugh. "You can't start with your own girl."
"Come on, Alix has great tits," Petey said with a laugh.
"Amazing tits," Jason said. "But, new rule, it can't be your own girl."
"Fine," Petey said. "The new girl. Stephanie. It boggles my mind that those are natural. They're incredible. How about you, John?"
"That's easy," I said. "Alix. Jason?"
We laughed.
"Nicole," he said. "There is just something about that chick, man. She's got a male-style primal animal inside her."
"She is a fuck machine," I said.
"You know, I'm realizing that I don't swim enough in the same pond as you two, gentlemen," Petey said. "We should be hanging out like this more often. Less business. More fun."
"Bring it on, brother," Jason said. "The girls all love you."
Just as we were about to make a move, Riley and Henry emerged from the castle. They had been working in the recording studio all morning. Now they were ready to join the group. They split off, Henry coming to the guys' side of the people, and Riley joining the girls. All of us, even Henry, remained silent and watched Riley strip down to her birthday suit.
"I've got to say," Jason said, "with utmost respect, Henry, there is just something incredible when a famous chick looks even better in person than they do all done up on stage or on TV or in photos."
"It's a fact," Henry said. "What are we up to gents? Can I get a hit of that?"
Petey passed Henry the joint, which was about half-smoked now. He took a hard pull.
"Actually, we were just talking about how to get you moving and shaking in Hollywood, my man," I said.
"Yeah?" Henry said, holding the smoke in his lungs.