silkroadcowboy

From the time he was four, Charles Evan Hapgood III was told, assured, promised even, that he would be a superstar. As the precocious Chaz of CHAZ! he was a household name for as long as he was cute and precocious. When his voice dropped an octave, that all changed. There were no secondary gigs for Chaz.

There was, however, social media. His publicist was savvy and Chaz became an influencer. When that publicist died, the new one was even better at the grift and Chaz became the Leader of The Ones Who Are Chosen. He is grossing twenty mil a year off his podcast, his product and personal donations to his “cause”. Which is whatever anybody wants that to be.

He has made it.

But Chaz has two big problems:

Wife.

GF.

Neither knows about other. That’s the way he’d like it to stay. But there are danger signs. Big ones.

As Chaz sees it, one of them has to go. That, however, will be very ugly. Next option is that Chaz needs to exit, solo. He actually likes that option.

Plenty of cash offshore to start again. He’s crafted a farewell message to his fanbase about his ascension to the Pleiades to be delivered tonight. Flight is booked to BA. He’s outa here.

Except he’s not. Quite.

GF comes through the door about an hour ago to announce that she’s scheduled a presser to accuse him of sexual abuse unless he coughs up twenty mil, pronto.

“I ain’t fuckin’ ‘round”, says GF. “I’m tawkin right the fuck now.”

“Baby”, he says.

Phone rings, an hour later. Wife.

“What am I hearin’ ‘bout a flight to BA? And I’m not on it!”

“Baby”, he says to a phone he wishes was dead.

He’s watching TV in his office when he see’s it. The Message.

“Love Conquers All”. Foundation for a Good Life.

“That’s it”, he says to the empty room.

Picks up the phone and calls GF. “Baby”, he says. “Love Conquers All.”

“Don’t gimme that shit”. The line goes dead.

“Lucky me”, he says to the empty space. Lucky Me.