Page 16 of Forbidden

My jaw tightens, and a temple pulses. They are all trying to suck me in, and I met them all over a year ago. One, or two dates each, was as far as it got.

As soon as they found out, I had billions, they went in like wolves. They are the last of the last, and enough is enough.

“No,” I say coldly.

Having money, living in Manhattan, and dating for a decade, was a bad move.

A dozen models, heiresses and socialites in their twenties and thirties have been chasing me over the last few years. They put me off no end.

Gold diggers are the main reason I pulled back and became a recluse. I also said enough to the endless offers to attend premieres, to attend red carpet events, and to network.

If I want something now, I call banks or talent agents. End of fucking story.

I’ve always been used to being alone, and I prefer it that way. Being given up by your parents will do that.

The problem now is, I’m recluse, withneeds.

Even if I don’t have the extreme sexual appetite I had years back, when I could sleep with two women a night, and wear them both out, I’m still hard for hours a day.

I am also fantasizing about acts, verytwisted sexual acts.

My PA moves on fast. Emily knows I was what some may call a bachelor playboy, and she also knows a little about my twisted past.

She also knows, I am cold, reserved, isolated from society, extra hard on people and generally...

A complete bastard.

After the call ends, Charles, my primary legal advisor makes the planned Zoom call. As I drop the screenplay, I throw my legs up onto my desk.

My home office is stunning, and it is my favorite place in the world.

We discuss the capital I seek to expand, and we do not waste time.

I can tell Charles is nervous about me constantly building my entertainment studio, but is all I have in the world.

“I understand, Lorenzo, but you have five billion on the line with all of the movies in production. That is, on top of your streaming company investments. Do you really want to keep expanding?” he asks. “And keep diversifying?”

“Always!” I say without thinking about it.

Growing, expanding and building is all I know. Because I have stopped dating, and fucking, I need a sizeable challenge. Also an outlet, to channel my extremely strong energy.

“Look, how big is enough?” Charles asks, as if exhausted. He likely is, but I am not.

I peer out the window, and the weather ahead, looks stormy again.

Charles checks a detail with his PA, and I sit and think about the upcoming trip away. Next, my coming week.

I will soon need a break. Not having sex, is throwing me off my A game.

“Are you really sure you want to keep that much tied up, and now?” Charles asks, “Or at least sixty percent of it, for the next twelve months?”

I decide now is the time, where I need to be straight up, and commit. “Yes and try to find more marketable movie pitches in the twenty-million-dollar range. With stars attached. Also streaming series pitches.”

It’s my style, and I’ve never done anything by half. I came from nothing. All in. All of the time is the only way I know how.

My attorney, now friend, chuckles, and shakes his head. “Did I ever call you a crazy arsehole?”

I laugh, and I like his balls. No one else ever calls me out. “Every year, when our financial statements come in. And every year, we almost double.”