Thanks again for those who are continuing to read and support this fanfiction. You give me the inspiration to go back over and try to make this all make sense in the Glee universe.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Most of this is borrowed from Glee, the author, Twyla Turner, role plays, and other sources. I am just the juggler keeping all these perspectives in the air as this story is told for our fandom.

Chapter Seven

June 18, 2023

"You haven't told us anything about your new mentee. How is everything going between you two?" Tina asked.

Now that Mercedes had a new girl she'd be spending time with on Saturdays and Kurt was still giving grace as a newlywed, they'd decided to switch their weekly brunch from Saturdays to Sundays. They found a restaurant that had an incredible brunch menu and strong mimosas. So strong, they either got dropped off in an Uber or Blaine volunteered to take them home.

Their friendship dynamic was beginning to change even more so when Santana moved and started touring. But they refused to let their friendship dwindle because their lives were changing. They promised to adjust to make room for each other. No one mentioned what would happen once kids got involved. They'd cross that bridge when it came.

"She is hard case, but I understand girls like her who are too cool for school but deep down, she just wants to be understood. I am going to take it slow with her to earn her trust. However, that's not the most interesting part about what happened when we met yesterday." Mercedes said as she leaned in.

Her besties sat forward too. Ready to hear whatever juicy news she was about to divulge.

"The most interesting thing about her is who her father is."

"Oh, God. Please tell me you haven't had sex with her father in the past or something?" Tina clenched her teeth together.

"No, Tina! Give me some credit. I do know how to exercise restraint. I haven't slept with that many men since we moved to California. You all thinks my number is in the hundreds or thousands; remember I have been on almost two year abstinence run since old shitty draws."

Her friends all gave her the skeptical duck lip face.

"I hate y'all. I am discriminate in my hook ups. No matter what you heifas say." Mercedes couldn't contain her laughter.

"You still love us any way." Kurt blew her a kiss. "Now, continue. What's the deal with her father if you haven't had sex with him?"

"I hope you are ready for this." They leaned closer. "Her father is none other than our teacher, chef, and former porn star, Sam Evans."

"Shut the front door!" Kurt shouted.

Other tables turned to look at her. Kurt quickly shut his gaping mouth and sunk down in his chair.

"Are you for real?!" Tina whispered loudly.

"One hundred percent." Mercedes said while not being able to stop the wide smile on her face at looking at her friends' reactions.

"I would never imagine his as a father to a teenager." Kurt said still thinking that Sam was gay or bisexual as Santana had suggested earlier.

"I know!" Mercedes agreed. "Her mother was a one-night stand. Someone who was briefly in the porn industry with him. He knew about his daughter, but the mother didn't want her daughter anywhere near the industry. At the time, Sam was being groomed to take over from his dad who owns one of the biggest porn distributers in America, and the mother did not want her daughter around Sam or his family or their legacy. He did send money every month, but that's as far as his daddy duties went. But the mom passed away from cancer two years ago. And before she died, she told him that he needed to take care of their daughter. I guess she felt it was fine, since he was no longer in the industry and had already opened his restaurant. But his daughter has been giving him hell. She's still healing. Still angry that she never knew her father on top of the fact that she lost her mom and is taking it out on him. And he's letting her because of guilt. Which is where I step in."

"That is a lot." Tina collapsed back in her chair as if she was exhausted from it all.

"So…what does this mean for you and Sam?" Kurt asked.

"I don't know." Mercedes sighed heavily. "We talked a bit and he explained why he's rejected me so many times."

"Ooh! Do tell us the reason why White Chocolate doesn't want to mix with our very own Chocolate Thunder." Tina leaned forward again.

"Gaining custody of his daughter changed everything. After she entered his life, he decided he only wants something serious."

They all cringed.

"Yikes. That is definitely the opposite of what you want," Kurt said.

"Exactly." Mercedes frowned. "So, I'm just gonna do what I signed up to do. Mentor his daughter. Be the feminine example she needs and keep it moving. Who knows. Maybe Sam and I will end up as friends."

Mercedes looked up to find their waiter to signal they were ready for a refill of their mimosas. So, she missed her friends' looks of skepticism.

"Hello, Chelsea!" Mercedes greeted the teenager brightly.

The teen was sitting at the bar in her father's restaurant. They'd decided that for their first girls' day together it would be easier if she picked her up at the restaurant.

Chelsea turned with a small smile. "Hey."

Mercedes could tell that the girl liked her, but was still hesitant to trust her. Little did she know, Mercedes knew the exact thing that would immediately dissolve that unease. Retail therapy.

"So…what do you say we go do some shopping?"

Just as she'd predicted. Chelsea's eyes lit up like the 4th of July.

"Really?!"

"Absolutely."

"Did I hear 'shopping'?" Sam walked towards them.

He was dressed for work in his black slacks and one of those double-breasted white chef jackets. The jacket was long-sleeved, but he'd rolled them up his forearms to rest on his fabulous biceps. So much so, that the fabric strained against them. And his forearms were decorated with thick veins. His arms and hands were works of art. His fingers along deserved a statue.

Mercedes swallowed thickly before answering. "Yes, you did."

"Thank God. I am horrible at shopping with her. I get bored long before she does and I am ready to go after thirty minutes."

"Never fear. Mercedes is here." Mercedes grinned and winked at Chelsea.

She smiled brightly.

"Do you need any money?" Sam asked as he started to go into his pocket for his wallet.

"Don't insult me." Mercedes gave him a squinty eye.

Sam held up his hands in surrender. "Just wanted to make sure."

"I appreciate it, but it's not needed."

"Thank you." Sam said seriously.

Their eyes held for a few seconds too long. Sam shook it off and cleared his throat.

"Uh…how about after you're done, you come back here for dinner? With us? On the house?"

"Yes, please!" Chelsea looked at Mercedes hopefully.

"Sure. I'd like that." Mercedes smiled at Sam, almost bashfully.

Oh hell to the no! The new and improved Mercedes Jones does not do bashful.

"Come on, Chelsea. Let's roll."

Chelsea hopped down from the barstool and started for the door.

"Hey, Mercedes." Sam touched her arm, and she stopped to look at him expectantly.

"Yeah?"

"Could you make sure she gets clothing that isn't too revealing or makeup that's not so…much? I'm not trying to be that dad. You know? Blaming her for the attention she's getting, instead of blaming the boys for acting like assholes. But I know the way the world works. And she's got a figure that boys and grown men desire. I just want her to hold off on all that until she's older."

"I get it. Trust me," Mercedes looked down at her own curvy body, "I get it."

"Yeah." Sam nodded and rubbed a nervous hand at the back of his neck.

"I'll find a way. But I can't promise you that there won't be a few crop tops and short shorts mixed in there. She's still a teen. And she has a body that's going to be noticed no matter what she wears. All you, and maybe me, can do is instill in her how to look out for herself."

"Okay, I'll try. Thanks again, Mercedes."

"You're welcome, Sam."

She turned and headed for the door where Chelsea was waiting. Mercedes felt eyes on her. She glanced back and caught Sam staring at her ass. When he realized he'd been caught, he quickly looked away. But not before she saw his face turn beet red.

He's still not immune, I see. Something's got to give at some point. We can't keep staring at each other and not do anything about our attraction. It is obviously not going anywhere.

Chelsea came out of the dressing room in a skintight red bandage dress with a plunging neckline.

"Oh no." Mercedes shook her head emphatically. "We are not trying to give your daddy a heart attack."

"But I bet you wear stuff like this." Chelsea pouted.

"Absolutely. But…" Mercedes held up a finger. "I am thirty-two years old. You are only fifteen."

"I'll be sixteen in a couple months."

"And…"

"And my dad said I could wear makeup then. I figured I could wear a dress like this, too."

"Makeup and a dress that leaves little to the imagination are two very different things. Boys barely even notice makeup. But they'll and creepy old men will notice that dress." Mercedes gave her the side eye.

"Isn't that a little misogynistic? Telling me, a girl, to dress appropriately, instead of telling them to act appropriately?" Chelsea folded her arms over her chest.

"Sweetie, that's what society needs to do as a whole. But I'm not society. And I'm not mentoring a boy. I'm mentoring Y.O.U.. Yes, it's a complicated situation and it's not fair to girls and women. But tell me this. Are you or are you not wanting to get that dress to impress the boys you like?"

Chelsea unfolded her arms and looked down at the floor.

"Well…?"

"Yes." She finally answered sullenly.

"As I thought." Mercedes nodded. "You know that dress will get boys' attention. And with that also comes bad attention. The boys you want might notice, but I can guarantee you who will notice and act on it. The boys or disgusting men you don't like. It happens every freaking time. But let me say this. The boys who are worth it, won't care what you're wearing. You could wear a burlap sack, and they'll still adore you. Focus on boys like that."

"I guess," Chelsea sighed.

"Now, go try on something cute that won't get us both in trouble by your dad."

"He's a miserable hypocrite." Chelsea said once inside the dressing room.

"Chelsea!"

"You said I could be honest with you." Her voice was partially muffled as she changed.

"But I didn't tell you that you could disrespect your dad."

"But he is!"

"How so?"

"You know what he used to do for a living, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he's freaking gross and anybody who wants to can see him naked and doing all kinds of sexual things. And then he has the audacity to tell me to cover up. He wasn't telling the women in the videos with him to cover up."

"Please tell me you didn't watch any of those videos?" Mercedes held a hand to her chest not knowing how scarred psychologically the girl was from having seen her father's pierced dick and tongue in all those women private parts.

"Only the beginning of one, before anything really happened."

"Oh, thank God." Mercedes whispered to herself and then spoke louder for Chelsea to hear. "Okay, good. But first, I want you to stop calling sex work gross. It's the oldest profession and will probably be the last profession. So long as there are people on this earth, there will be sex work. Whether it's stripping, prostitution, pornography, etc., people need a way to earn money, and it's there right to do what they want because they are adults. Just because somebody can do something doesn't mean it's the best thing for them to do, but they have the right to do whatever they want as long as they are not hurting anyone. The key word is ADULT. Not a child or teenager but someone who is legally doing what they want with their bodies, money, and time." Mercedes paused to make sure that Chelsea knew she was talking about adults and not child pornography or anything that someone did against their will.

"And secondly, I don't know your dad's story, but it's no one's business or place to judge. He obviously now wants nothing to do with the porn industry. Besides, he's made a good life for himself as a Michelin-starred chef. Which he was probably able to do because he made good money from working in those films. His accomplishments are amazing. And maybe you can think about that instead of his journey." Mercedes finished as they girl came out in a cute pair of shorts and a halter top. Mercedes sighed with relief.

"But you have no idea how embarrassing it is when kids at my school are the ones who told me what he used to do. They've seen my dad…naked. And picked at me. It was the reason why I started cutting school." She ended in a whisper.

Mercedes inwardly cringed. Outwardly, she could only nod.

"I won't lie. That does suck. And you do not deserve to be targeted by these weak-minded bullies. But let this also be a reminder that the internet is forever. So, make sure you don't end up on it. IF one day you decide as an adult to take pics or video of yourself to send to someone, make sure your face or any identifying marks are not on camera." Mercedes advised.

"Wow. You're the only adult who didn't tell me to not take pics or videos of myself ever." Chelsea's eyes were wide and mouth hung open.

"I did say as an adult, but I am sure you only heard the parts about how to do so without your face being seen. I do know teenagers and you will probably it do it anyway, even after you've been told not to. So, I figured I might as well tell you now how to do it without public harassment and later embarrassment. But aside from that. I'm sorry you have to hear about your dad from your friends or peers. You can't change it. But next time reply with something like, 'Don't hate because my dad's hotter than your dad, and your mom watches his videos behind your dad's back.'" Mercedes smirked at the look on Chelsea's face. "Hey, that's probably highly inappropriate to to tell you to do. But you can't let them get to you or try to shame you for something you have no control over. So, drag their parents too."

"You Mercedes Jones are my hero."

Mercedes burst out with laughter.

"No, seriously. I've seen some of their dads." Chelsea ended on a cringe.

That was all Mercedes needed to know.

"Have you noticed how her friends you hang around act when your dad is around?"

Chelsea stopped and thought for a moment.

"They giggle a lot and stare at him. Especially when he comes to pick me up after school. And some of them stopped being mean to me. They asked to come to the restaurant or to my house." Chelsea frowned.

"Just like I thought." Mercedes nodded knowingly. "Girl, they have crushes on your dad. So yeah, if his former profession was so bad, they wouldn't be fangirling him so hard. Don't let them bother you."

"Thanks, Mercedes. I really needed to hear that."

"You're welcome, Chelsea. Now…I think it's time for some makeup shopping."

"Seriously?!"

"Yep."

"But I have to wait until my birthday."

"Remember? I can teach you how to do makeup where your dad will have no idea you're even wearing it." Mercedes winked.

Chelsea squeaked and jumped up and down.

"Get changed so we can go." Mercedes shook her head and smiled.

"You don't have to tell me twice."

Chelsea ran into the dressing room.

Mercedes and Chelsea walked into the restaurant, arms loaded with shopping bags. The place was jam-packed with customers. The hostess went to the back and a few moments later, Sam walked out wiping his hands with a white towel that he flipped over his shoulder as he came forward. Mercedes had no idea why that was so sexy.

"Hey, ladies." Sam greeted them. "We have a table reserved for us in the back. Come on."

As they followed him to the back, Mercedes could've sworn his Southern accent was the best kind of foreplay. His voice alone was like a flick on her clit. It activated her whole body.

It didn't help that she'd been celibate for a so long other than the oral sex at the spa; she had been under her current dry spell for far too long. She couldn't seem to get aroused for any man aside from the Southern charmer she was forced to be around. She'd even given up on masturbating. The only way she could orgasm was if she watched one of his videos. It still wasn't enough. Besides, it started to feel…weird. She didn't want to slip into some fantasy world, where the real world and the fantasy started to blend together. She wanted him off the screen and in her bed in real life.

They reached the table that Sam had reserved for them. It was tucked into a quiet little nook. A place where celebrities would sit for privacy. A rounded booth with a chair on the outside.

The whole restaurant had a vibe. As an interior designer, Mercedes could tell that a lot of care was put into decorating the establishment. The dimmed, romantic lighting. The brown brick walls. The exposed beams. The muted colors.

Chelsea put down her bags and then did something that shocked both adults. She wrapped her arms around Sam's waist.

"Thanks, Dad."

Sam's eyes shot up to Mercedes's. She smiled but shrugged at the question in his eyes.

"You're welcome, but for what?"

"For signing me up for Second Chances." She pulled away and smiled up at him, before beaming at Mercedes. "She's the best."

Sam looked down at his daughter and then up at her new mentor. Mercedes looked down humbly.

"It's been my pleasure, Chelsea."

Behind Chelsea's head, Sam mouthed 'thank you' to Mercedes. She inclined her head in the slightest of nods.

They slid their bags under the table and Mercedes and Chelsea slid into the booth. Sam stood straight and formal.

"Ladies, look over the menu and I shall take your orders to the kitchen myself."

They took a minute to look it over. Mercedes nearly drooled over almost every dish. It was the type of restaurant you come to and try something different every time.

"I'll start with the salad, and then the stuffed peppers."

"Fantastic choice, madame." He turned to Chelsea. "And for the young lady?"

Chelsea giggled a bit before answering.

"The margherita pizza, please!"

A teenager will always be a teenager. Mercedes grinned to herself.

"Perfect. I will go and prepare your orders." Sam bowed and turned to head to the kitchen.

"Wait!" Chelsea stopped him. "Aren't you eating with us?"

"Oh, of course. But meals are always best when made with love. So, I'll be cooking your food for you." He winked at her.

Being the teen that she was, she rolled her eyes. But it was more comical than her typical rude eye roll reserved for her father.

"You're so cheesy."

"Hey, I'm a chef. Food is often how we show our love. I can always teach you."

"Maybe." She smiled softly at her dad.

Mercedes could tell Chelsea liked that idea. A waiter brought Mercedes's salad and some freshly baked bread with olive oil for the table. The moment Mercedes bit into the bread, she slumped down onto the cushion and rolled her eyes to the back of her head.

"This bread is so good."

"Yeah." Chelsea said around the piece she'd just shoved her in mouth.

They tried not to fill up on bread as they waited. They chatted about Chelsea's school and what her favorite subjects were. About thirty minutes later, Sam and the waiter came out with a large tray filled with their food. The steam floated in waves up and evaporated before it reached the ceiling.

They placed the food in front of them. Sam had a plate of steak, broccoli, and a baked potato with butter and cheese for himself that he set in front of the chair. The waiter took away Mercedes's empty plate and left them to their dinner. Sam pulled the chair out and sat. He gestured at their plates.

"Please, enjoy."

Mercedes cut into her stuffed pepper. Sam watched her as she brought a forkful to her mouth. The meal was so flavorful that she couldn't help but sigh and close her eyes. She barely even needed to chew. The food practically melted on her tongue. When she opened her eyes to cut another bite, she saw that Sam was still watching her. While Chelsea was busy destroying her pizza, the adults exchanged heated stares. Stares that held a secret conversation.

"You like it, yes?"

"Hell, yeah!"

"This is just the beginning. I can show you so much more, if you'll let me in."

Mercedes broke eye contact first. She could see the desire in his eyes and so much more. She didn't like it. It held the promise of a life she refused to hope for. Hope, at least for her in regards to love, felt too dangerous. For her, hope bred disappointment.

Is his dick or any dick worth the risk?

A flash of his long and insanely thick dick with a heavy steel ring hanging from the tip flashed before her eyes.

Sam cleared his throat to break the spell. He adjusted in his chair and his jaw ticked. Mercedes would bet her car and risk walking home, that he was aroused. Aroused by her reaction to his food. Interesting.

"So, Mercedes, I saw in the Second Chances packet that you are an interior designer," Sam said.

"Yes, I am."

"I'm assuming you're pretty successful then?"

"Actually, yes. It was rough for a few years. I struggled to find clients. But then I got that one wealthy and highly respected client. That was all I needed. Since money wasn't an issue, I laid that house out. I worked my ass off for that one. I mean, I do that for all of them. But that one, I barely slept. Once I was done, the couple had a party to show off their home, and they invited me. The rest is history. I was booked for a solid year by the time I left that party." Mercedes smiled at the memory.

"That is fantastic! Will you show Chelsea how your business works?" He nodded to his daughter. "She's into fashion. I know it's not the same but it's still art and design. And it is also good for her to see a successful, self-made woman at work."

"Oh, I'll definitely show her the ropes when she's finished with school for the summer. She can spend whole days with me if that's okay with you," she paused and looked at Chelsea, "and with you too, of course."

"Hell yeah!" Chelsea beamed.

"Of course," Sam said.

"Perfect."

"I gotta go to the bathroom." Chelsea said before scooting out of the booth.

Once she was gone the adults were left to stare at each other. So much to be said, but they knew they didn't have time to say too much before she came back.

"Thank you so much for all of this. You have been a blessing, Mercedes." Sam said sincerely.

"You're welcome. She's a sweet girl. She just needs some direction, discipline, and someone who understands her and what she's going through."

Sam nodded, "I'm just so grateful that we found you."

Mercedes noticed the 'we' part. And that's the other part that scared her. Like he's offering her a ready-made family. Falling in love with a mentee wasn't unusual. The kids were often lovable once they found someone who cared. It was the same with her assistant, Bree. At first Bree was a surly mean girl who had gotten dumped by her football playing boyfriend and started to self-harm. Now Bree was a butterfly who was able to express her beauty inside and out. She adored her and Bree loved her back. Like Mercedes was really her big sister. But falling for the child and her father?

Nope. Can't, won't, and will never do it.

The waiter walked up to clear their plates and ended up breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over them.

"Ar you ready for dessert?" Sam asked after the waiter walked away.

"Oh, I don't think I have room for that after the salad, bread, and meal." Mercedes rubbed her full stomach.

"But you have to try my tiramisu."

"I don't like tiramisu. I don't even drink straight coffee. I prefer cappuccinos or lattes."

"That's because you haven't eaten my tiramisu."

"Are you one of those feeders? Or do you just get off on people enjoying your food?" Mercedes asked directly.

Sam shook his head but still turned red. Mercedes had probably hit the nail dead on the head.

"You don't mince words, do you?"

"I do not."

"I can't say I've ever experienced it before…until tonight. Watching you enjoy my food has been a pleasure I did not expect. So, I'm sure watching you eat one of my signature dishes would be equally…arousing."

Hey, if eating his tiramisu makes him cum in his pants and gets me one step closer to riding that dick…I'M IN.

"Okay, you have talked me into try it. Although I'm sure I'll only be able to eat a couple bites and will have to take the rest home."

"Whatever you like. Just so long as you give it a try." Sam said as he stood. "I'll be right back."

Mercedes nodded.

Chelsea came back and slid back in the booth.

"Your dad is bringing us some dessert."

"Cool."

A few minutes later, he came out with three small plates of his dessert. He placed them in front of Mercedes and then Chelsea. He eased back down in his chair with his own plate.

"Please." He gestured to the plate.

Mercedes picked up her fork. She'd never like the consistency of the dessert. But just simply putting her fork through it, she could tell something was different. Somehow, he'd fixed the mushy problem that turned her off the dessert. The flavors of coffee, sugar, and mascarpone cheese exploded on her tongue in a combination that the coffee was not overpowering. The crunch of the lady fingers surprised her. At this point, they'd normally be nothing but mush like day old Vanilla wafers in banana pudding. Whatever he'd done to keep the firmness and crunch completely transformed the dish from a squishy coffee flavored mess to a delicious dessert. To Mercedes, it was definitely giving cheesecake vibes. Whatever magic he'd done, Mercedes was in heaven.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She closed them and just sat back like her whole world had changed. As she took a second bite, she couldn't keep the moan that escaped her mouth. She glanced at Sam, and he stared at her with his teeth clenched so hard she was afraid he'd break them. For show, Mercedes licked her lips seductively. Sam grunted softly and then quickly stood.

"I…uh…excuse me for a moment." He said before rushing off.

Mercedes grinned.

Checkmate.