4: Jack - In The Pack Read Online Free

“You must be Hood.” I took his grip, and gave him a hard one.
     
     
    No challenge between us, just a solid beginning. It felt honest.
     
     
    His other hand came up, sort of wrapped around my back and he led me toward the furniture. I sat in a chair this time. He sat in the other chair. We both glanced toward the sofa and he wrinkled his nose, but didn’t say anything. Spying the empty shake glass, he seemed pleased. “So, did you like the shake?”
     
     
    I watched him. Totally at ease with what they’d offered me. Waiting for me to bring it up.
     
     
    “I’ve never had a protein shake like that before.”
     
     
    He laughed. “I didn’t think you had. What would you like to know about it?”
     
     
    “You developed it? Is that right?”
     
     
    “Yes.”
     
     
    “And it’s supposed to do what ?”
     
     
    There was a certain sense of underlying humor in his expression when he replied, “Ah, we’re in trouble, if you couldn’t tell.”
     
     
    “Build muscle?” I suggested that a little tongue in cheek.
     
     
    He laughed, “And enhance libido. The two things that any good protein shake should do.”
     
     
    “What else?”
     
     
    Hood pursed his lips. I got the definite impression that he was assessing me. He leaned forward, rested his forearms on his thighs, rubbed his hands together. “You know, this world is a little rough. We’re all under pressure. Governments control pretty much everything we do. Why, you can’t get a decent muscle relaxant in America these days, not without prescription. And that’s bullshit.”
     
     
    I knew about that. Tri-athletes really put their bodies to the test. Sometimes after the race is over, we tighten up. Depending on where you are, you could be in deep shit, with no tension release available except alcohol.
     
     
    Like I said before, I’m not into abusing my body with drugs or liquor, but I believe that there is a time and place, and medicinal use for mind and body relaxing substances. I try meditation a lot, but sometimes something more is worth trying. So, I’m not averse to relaxants, just wary of the shit they had in that damn shake. Though a part of me thought a fucking shit load of that could be delivered to my apartment and I’d be all right with that--but to endorse it for the public? I wasn’t so sure about that.
     
     
    “That’s why travel is recommended these days.” I quipped it with a grin.
     
     
    “It’s a good thing you like to travel. We have a great promotional tour lined up, if you sign. All expenses paid, of course.”
     
     
    I leaned forward, too. “What are we talking here?”
     
     
    “We have a few plans available. I’m sure one will suit your preference.”
     
     
    “Lay ‘em on me.”
     
     
    “Well, we have the full-scale world tour where you do the commercial spots.”
     
     
    I narrowed my gaze on him. That would be endorsing the product to kids, doing television, print ads. I chewed on the inside of my cheeks. I could feel a slight problem with that coming on. And visions of kids, barely over puberty, fucking their brains out. I didn’t like that. My head started to shake before I’d really worked through why.
     
     
    I believe sex is for grown-ups, plain and simple. If you’re not old enough to handle the consequences, be responsible, pay the price of error, then practice abstention. Funny, how you don’t work through morals until confronted with something that rubs you. No pun intended.
     
     
    Already, I was thinking that I couldn’t endorse the product like that.
     
     
    Hood skipped right to the next option. “We could really use you on our sales team--”
     
     
    “I’m not really a salesman.”
     
     
    “Come on, you have charisma. The public loves you. It would flatter our clients to no end if you showed up and set the folder introducing our product on their counter. I don’t think you’d have to say much. We can send others with you, so you can work as a