The Hedonist (8 page)

“Come on in, Dr. Stevens,” yelled a voice from another room.

Shawn adjusted his tie and walked into the large butterfly-filled office that belonged to Dr. Daniels. She asked him to close the door behind him and he did so. He was expecting Dr. Daniels to be in a good mood but was taken aback by the stern expression upon her face. After asking him to close the door, she told him to sit and he obliged. He wanted to ask her what was wrong but she managed to speak first.

“Dr. Stevens, where are you at on your research?”

“Ummm…” he stammered, “Well, ugh…”

“Remember, you’re an assistant professor seeking eventual tenure. In order to accomplish this, you must have well prepared research.”

“Oh, I’m on it,” Shawn swiftly lied.

“Great. It’s March and the Social Science Conference Call is in early May, right before the semester ends. So you have from now until then to gather your research for scholarly publication.”

“Great, is that all?” he asked awkwardly.

“Oh yeah,” she remembered, “You got the coke stash?”

“Now that’s the Dr. Daniels I like,” he smiled.

She laughed as Shawn confirmed that he was in possession of the narcotics she was asking about.

“Terrific,” she said while looking around the closed office. “I want you to meet me Friday afternoon at the Wilmot Country Club. We’ll stay until evening, building up our clientele by making contacts. Then there’s the monthly meet and greet this Friday evening at the club so it works out well.”

“Great,” he told her, “I haven’t played a good game of golf in some time. Consider me excited.”

“Alight, Shawn. I’ll see you there. Remember, I get a 10% cut.”

“Absolutely.”

“And you know what to bring?”

“A set of golf clubs and my college ring,” he joked.

“Presentation is key, but when I asked what you should bring, I was referring to the blow.”

“Why, Laura… It’s goes without saying.”

“Alright then. I just haven’t done anything on this scale before. But I’m confident. How much exactly do you have, price wise?”

“I paid roughly $30,000 for two kilos of pure coke that would otherwise cost $45,000. I’m acquainted with the best so I get the best deals.”

“And then we jack the price up for those rich Wilmot Country Club schmos?” she asked.

“That’s the plan.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you on Friday.”

They shook hands and parted company.

Shawn was excited about his new illicit yet enticing business venture with Dr. Daniels. He, however, was not excited about the research work that was required of him. Lounging around and teaching only a few hours each week was the greatest perk of being a college professor, but the downside was the great deal of research required of assistant professors on track for tenure.

He decided to use his greatest asset of persuasion when near the end of a lecture, he addressed his students .

“Attention ladies and gentlemen,” he said to his class, “I am soon embarking on a terrific research venture which will conclude with grant proposals. I would love to have a student or two assist in my studies. You will learn valuable research skills and earn a terrific addition to your portfolio. So please, Stay after class if you’re interested in more information.”

When he dismissed his class, ten students stayed behind. But ten was far too many so Shawn picked three of them that were intelligent hard workers to do his research work for him. The group consisted of two girls and one guy. They were each profoundly appreciative that Dr. Stevens chose them over any other students. He promised them acknowledgments and told them that research work with a professor would be an excellent accomplishment. They were ecstatic.

   On Thursday evening, Lauren and Jessica were out with friends while Shawn was lounging in his house wearing his favorite pair of blue silk pajamas. He decided to forgo a night of partying in order to accomplish a small amount of work for his academic research. He took an interesting sociological topic that would be easy for his students to research: Drug usage among college students.

Shawn decided he would allow the students to narrow down the topic if they’d like. Then he allocated different areas of research to different students. One student was to research single-subject design as a method’s analysis, the second student was to gather an adequate literature review, and the third student was to design a system of interviews. Shawn knew interview subjects would be easy to find given the topic he chose.

So he slouched at his computer with the television playing in the background and a mug of his favorite alcoholic coffee drink in his hand. It was an espresso of almond liquor mixed with a dash of hot cream. He began to type up a speedy rough draft for his three research pupils to look over. After this was done, he could coast through the rest of the semester and give them collaboration credit for the work he would present.

Shawn finished the document in half an hour. He drank down the remainder of his espresso and was ready for a refill when his cellphone rang. In large bold letters, a name appeared on the front of his phone:
MOTHER
.

“Crap!” he said aloud before answering the phone.

“Hello, I want to speak to Shawn!” his mother said loudly through the phone.

“It’s me, mom. You don’t need to speak so loud, I can hear you fine. How are you?”

“Forgive me,” his mother said as calmly as she could. “I wanted to know how my boy is doing. You didn’t call me last week.”

“Oh, mom. I’m sorry. I was extremely busy with work and I just forgot.”

“Have you been eating each night, Shawn? Are you being social with people your own age?”

“Yes, I told you, mother. I met a great woman named Dr. Hines.”

“Oh yes, I think I remember you mentioning her about two weeks ago when we last spoke. That was so long ago.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But I’ve met another great friend. My boss, her name is Laura and we get along really well. In fact, we’re planning a business venture together.”

“Oh, Shawn, that’s so sweet. I’m so proud of my boy.”

“Thanks mom, I love you too.”

“You haven’t been drinking heavily or taking those terrible drugs have you?” she hastily asked.

“No, absolutely not. I’m trying to do good, ma.”  

“But you haven’t visited me since you left home!”

“I’m sorry, mom. I’ve just been so busy. But I plan to visit you during our spring break here.”

“When is that?”

“The second week of April.”

“That’s too long, Shawn!”

“I know, I’d like to visit you sooner.”

“I have a better idea. I’ve missed you so much. I’m going to drive to see you this weekend!”

“Wait… what!?”

“You can’t make me change my mind. I’ve already decided I’m coming this weekend.”

“But I have plans, mom.”

“And so do I! My plan is to visit you. You work on the weekdays so you should have time for your poor old mother this weekend.”

Shawn simply sighed. He knew there was no use arguing with his mother. She always got her way and he cared too much about her to continue to tell her no. So he quickly changed his attitude and told her she was more than welcome to spend the weekend with him.

When Lauren and Jessica returned, Shawn informed them that they would have to spend the weekend at someone else’s place. He didn’t want his mother to learn that he was living with two females that were roughly twenty years younger than him. They were disgruntled and opposed the idea but had no choice but to do as Shawn said. His discretions served to bring them together. They both felt they shouldn’t have to leave.

But Francine Stevens would not be paying her son a visit until Saturday. So when Friday arrived, it was the furthest thing from Shawn’s mind. After waking up Friday afternoon and grabbing breakfast, he dressed in khaki pants, a dark green polo shirt, and completed the look with a pair of his always present All-Star sneakers.

Shawn learned out that he would get to choose a Wilmot Country Club sports coat by presenting the silver membership card that Dr. Daniels handed him as an invite. He planned to wear the sports coat in the evening for the monthly Meet and Greet Reception and the cocktail party that followed.

He placed the address of the country club in his GPS and made his way there twenty minutes later. The country club was vast. Its golf course covered many pristine acres and the main building was a massive structure of antebellum architecture.

Shawn drove under the large arch near the main entrance and stopped in front of the valet area. One of the valets readily parked his car after Shawn flashed his exclusive silver member’s invitation card.

Shawn was escorted into the building and the lobby reminded him of a hotel. A concierge stood near the entrance wearing a dark suit and white gloves. The man smiled and spoke only one sentence.

“I am here for your every need, good sir.”

Shawn nodded and headed toward the receptionist at the front desk. The receptionist was an immaculately dressed young woman with long dark hair. Shawn was certain her smile damn-near sparkled and her nameplate read “Michelle.”

“How may I help you, sir?” she asked.

“I was recently invited into the Country Club.”

“Terrific, may I see your card?”

He showed her the silver card that he had. She took it while gathering information.

“Who was your sponsor?”

“Dr. Laura Daniels.”

“Terrific, I see your invite listed in our database. Are you Dr. Shawn Stevens?”

“That’s correct. And have I mentioned how smashing you look in those lovely glasses. I believe those are the newest pair from the Angleterre brand,” he smiled.

“Wow… yes… that’s right! Thank you Doctor Stevens,” she blushed.

She asked him for his address and occupation before handing him a brand new card. This one was gold and had his name print on it.

“Keep that in a safe place. And next we can get you into a Wilmot sports coat,” she smiled.

“That would be terrific.”

Another employee of the country club immediately walked up to Stevens. The employee said they were going to help him find a sports coat that fit him well but the receptionist insisted on doing the job instead.

“For VIPs, I help with the fitting,” she said, her grin as wide as ever.

“Why thank you, Michelle. That’s quite sweet of you.”

He followed her past the opposite side of the lobby near a waiting area occupied with furniture. They walked into a room that resembled a dry cleaning facility. There were numerous racks filled only with dark blue sports coats of varying sizes with the Wilmot insignia on the left breast pocket. Michelle helped him try on numerous coats until he found the perfect fit.

“I think this is the lucky one, here,” Shawn said as he tried on the jacket.

“You look terrific,” the receptionist told him.

“Thanks. With someone like you by my side, I’m sure I could paint the town red in a coat like this.”

She laughed and adored his attention.

“Alright, Dr. Stevens, right this way.”

She escorted him back into the lobby and lit up with glee when Shawn told her that he would be back to see her. He then entered the halls of the country club. The main hallway led to other areas within the vicinity. Shawn took the next hour to mingle with other club members, most of whom he thought were drab.

He did, however, enjoy strolling through the many rooms within the country club. There was the lavish Banquet hall where meals were served, a wine tasting room, a gym, a parlor, a library, a spa room, and a few other rooms that Shawn did not get to enter. He spent about twenty minutes talking to a gentleman named William Fitzgerald who worked as a lawyer. He too was new to the area. After going bankrupt he moved to Ashmore to start over. Shawn found him easier to talk to than the other patrons.

Their conversation was later disrupted when Shawn was tapped on the shoulder by Dr. Daniels. When they greeted one another, Dr. Daniels was quick to point out that she was one of few female members at the country club. Shawn assured her that the lack of female club members was quite ridiculous.

They spent the next couple of hours perusing the grounds, indoor and outdoor, looking for potential clients. While in the pool hall, Shawn began a game of eight-ball when Dr. Daniels introduced him to a part-time endocrinologist named Dr. Hank Keene who was searching for “great quality blow.” Shawn reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small plastic vial of white powder.

“Here’s a sample,” Shawn said as he handed him the small vial.

Keene looked around to make sure no one else was watching. He saw there was only one other person in the pool hall and that person was faced the opposite direction, paying them no attention. So he popped open the small vial.

“I’m always looking for good quality,” Keene told them. “There’s just a lot of bad shit on the market, you know?”

“I promise you,” Shawn told him, “this is the best you’ll find.”

Keene placed the small vial up to his nose and snorted the contents. He shook his head and wiped his nose. That was followed by a cough and a smile.

“Give it a minute to kick in,” Dr. Daniels told him.

He was silent for a moment. He looked all around, his eyes darting across the entire room before speaking again.

“Whoa… this is great. I need another minute but I like it. You got more?”

“Not in my pockets,” Shawn balked, “But I certainly have more.”

“That’s great, Hank,” Dr. Daniels said. “Now, if you’ll just turn us on to a few of your friends.”

“A few?” Keene laughed. “Half this club is looking for the same thing.”

CHAPTER 8

After an endocrinologist named Dr. Keene tried a sample of Shawn’s thrilling supply, they swapped contact information and Dr. Keene led Shawn and Dr. Daniels to another would-be client. That client was a lawyer. He enjoyed what they were selling and led them to a judge who did the same. The judge then recommended them to other clients who led them to other clients.