James Timmons thought he could outsmart anyone.
He is 28 and an up and coming player in finance. He thought he had it all figured out when he took money from several partners and invested it into a risky real estate deal.
Then there were problems with the land and the deal fell apart. He thought he could rescue it and went to a loan shark to cover it but that too turned out bad.
Now the loan shark was trying to get James to pay up -- $35,000 in cash. He didn't know what to do.
"Tyrone, I just need more time," he begged Tyrone Conrad as they discussed the deal at a BBQ joint in the rough part of town.
"No more time!" Tyrone says.
"But that's like our whole savings. My wife would kill me. We're saving for a house. I can get this deal through," James pleads.
Tyrone sighs. He hates people like James. Tyrone is 58 and big and black. He's 6'3" and 280 lbs. He's powerful but a bit heavy set. He hates dealing with this crap and others have paid the price for crossing him.
James is nervous. He's a bit scared, too. His phone is on the table. The screensaver is a photo of him and his wife Shannon.
Tyrone sees it. Wow, he thinks to himself, what a hot redhead. How did this wimp get her, he wonders.
"I'll tell you what. I'll forgive the loan in its entirety along with the interest if you let me sleep with your wife for one night!" Tyrone matter of factly says.
James is stunned. "Excuse me? What.... What did you say? What?!"
"You heard me."
"I could never. She would never," James says. "I can't believe you'd even suggest."
"Ok. Then better explain to her -- what's her name?" Tyrone shoots back.
"Shannon."
"Then you better explain to Shannon how you will be draining your savings," Tyrone says. "You two are still like newlyweds right?"
"We've been married two years," James replies, nervously.
"Good luck explaining all this then," Tyrone says, glaring at him.
James knows Tyrone is right. Shannon and James had been starting to think about buying a house and then in a year or two starting a family. How can he take that away from her, James thinks. But how can he let another man defile his wife? It's a lose-lose for him.
"She'll never agree," James says.
"Oh I'm sure you can find a way," Tyrone says. "Do we have a deal?"
James wants to take time to think about it, time to go home and face Shannon and talk it through with her. But he also suspects Tyrone wants an answer now. He feels sick to his stomach. Then he panics.
"I guess but you can't hurt her. And it might take me time to get her on board," James says feeling like the world is collapsing on him.
"Good. Here, I'll write up a little contract," Tyrone says, taking out a scrap piece of paper.
"James Timmons hereby agrees to allow Tyrone Conrad access to Shannon Timmons for a period not to exceed 18 hours," Tyrone says as he writes. "Tyrone Conrad, during the course of sex with Shannon Timmons, hereby agrees not to hurt her."
James interjects. "And you need umm ummm to use umm ummm protection," James musters the nerve to say.
Tyrone looks up, glaring at James. He has no intention of using a condom but flatters James by adding it.
He adds in, "sex with Shannon Timmons using protection."
Tyrone continues to write. "This contract shall start Tuesday at 7 pm" -- "that's tomorrow," Tyrone says -- "and take place..."
"Hold on a second," Tyrone says. He texts a contact who owns a motel near the airport. It's one of those single story, old roadside ones to get a room.
Tyrone only briefly saw Shannon's photo and liked what he saw but he doesn't know her personality yet or doesn't know whether she'll be any good or how things will end. So he doesn't want her back at his place just yet.
"Ok. Let me continue," Tyrone says. "And take place in Room 29 at the Roadway Inn at 1055 Airport Drive."
Tyrone signs it. He slides it over to James. He is dreading it but signs it.
That evening after dinner James begins to tell Shannon what happened. About the loan. About the deal gone bad. How it would drain their whole savings. She's devastated. She sits there in tears on the sofa as James then explains the loan can be wiped out if she sleeps with Tyrone.
Shannon gasps in shock. Then it turns to anger.
"How could you James? This is unbelievable! No way. I've only been with you. I can't do this. No way!"
She is stunned. She can't believe James would even think of such a thing. She thought she knew James but then all of this comes out.
"But it's the only way. If we want to be able to save for a house and a family," James pleads.
"I'm not a whore or slut," she shoots back. "You can't pimp me out."
"This isn't that honey," James begs. "You have a right to be angry. But it's the only way. I already agreed."
"You what!?" she says hyperventilating. She's about to have a panic attack.
"This can't be. No no. What a nightmare," she cries. "You can't agree for me! That's not right! You can't! JAMES!!!!!"
"I know. It's all my fault," James says. "I promise to work day and night for as long as it takes to make it up to you."
Shannon does love James and although she isn't ready to forgive him, she wonders if this is the only way. She sits in silence. James doesn't try to push her for a few moments.
"When do I have to decide?" she finally asks.
"Oh umm you're umm to go to the Roadway Inn by the airport. Room 29. Tomorrow at 7 pm," James says, looking down.
Shannon gasps. "So soon!! What have you done, James?!!"
Shannon glares angrily at James as she decides what to do. She thinks about all the houses she's been eyeing online, how she would decorate, how she wants kids, how she wants to be a stay-at-home mom one day. And the thought of all that crashing down because of James' deal gone bad angers her. But yet she realizes she may not have a choice.
"Fine. I'll do it. For our future," she finally says. "And no other reason!"