"What are you doing here?" Jude asked wearily. He'd just parked the Porsche and had made his way to his apartment and upon opening the door, there sat Zero on his couch. He shouldn't have been surprised. In fact, he wasn't. It had been a week since Jude had broken things off with him and the baller had in that time called and texted constantly. Jude had ignored him.

"Well, ya' keep dodging me!" he said, getting up, as Jude closed the door behind him.

"For good reason, I told you. It's over. We are done. Personally. Professionally." He then, as usual, put his briefcase, keys, and jacket in the chair next to the door.

"Come on, you know you don't mean that," Zero said in a low, seductive whisper that Jude had become so familiar with.

Jude swallowed hard. No. He meant it. Even though he didn't want to. Instead, he responded. "I need my keys back."

With a smile playing on his lips, Zero reached into his fitted, black bomber jacket and slowly removed the key fob. Jude noted that the silver cross was absent. He easily removed the two keys: patio and front. He then held them between his perfectly manicured, yet callused hands. That was Zero; simultaneously image conscious and raw.

Jude found himself reluctant to take them. But he had to. He quickly grabbed the keys, his fingers grazing the other man's. It went straight to his cock. 'Damn.'

"Where'd you park?" Jude asked abruptly.

"What?"

"Your Aston Martin, or your Escalade or your Porsche…!" Jude said, gaining some composure.

"Couple of blocks away. Like usual," Zero replied with a nod of his head. Jude could see he was thrown by the sudden question. There was plenty of paid street parking in front of Jude's apartment. There always had been.

"Like usual," repeated Jude. So that no one would spot his car parked out front. "Thanks for the keys…I've got plans tonight."

Both knew that wasn't true. Zero opened his mouth to protest, thought better of it and to both men's surprise, instead, nodded, cocked his head to the side, sauntered to the door and quietly left.
~~~

"I really appreciate you letting me…resign from being your point guy…instead of, ya' know," Jude said to Derek.

The two men were having a discussion in one of the arena meeting rooms located a few doors down from Osc- Lionel's office.

The baller was the golden child of Devils Nation. The MVP who had brought the Championship home for the L.A. Devils after Captain Terrence Wall had taken them into overtime and suffered a crushing injury.

"Cut the bullshit," replied Derek, his brown eyes flashing.

"Okay, fine. But let's not pretend. It helps both of us. With everything going on with Oscar's indictment…it's good that I get out of this mess. But it's also good for your image and negotiations that we don't make a big deal out of it at the Agency."

In the last few weeks, after he'd been told to sink and fuck off by Derek, and had ended things with Zero, Jude felt like he had no real reason to want to be connected to Devils management. His agency seemed to agree. He was still a full agent but had been downgraded to repping' a junior golfer from Alabama and a soccer player from San Diego. Jude had seriously considered packing it in and going back to Florida. Miami was always buzzing…he still had contacts throughout and as an alum of the University of Florida, it's not like he couldn't make inroads. If nothing else, he could always help out at his mom, Lisa's clothing store he thought futilely.

"It's not that I'm not grateful. You helped Ahsha and me." At the mention of the almond-eyed dancer's name, the baller's voice went soft for a second, "But you put that bleached blond motherfucker first, and that isn't a good thing! He's still trying to take over the team. He can't be trusted. YOU can't be trusted."

Jude couldn't argue. Derek had been stabbed in the back. For ambition. For Oscar. For love. For Zero.

Derek gave him one last dirty look before exiting the office.

Exhaling, a minute later Jude left the room and almost ran into Zero. Farther down the hall, the blond was in conversation with Emile. No doubt trying to get the assistant coach on his side. In the time since his apartment things seemed to have turned around for Zero…Gideon. He'd picked up a new agent in Lucas Ward from the Agency and some new endorsements. Zero suddenly looked up and in his direction. Sometimes Jude missed the other man so much, it hurt. He averted Zero's intimate gaze, as he rushed away.

~~~
Jude was drenched in sweat. He'd taken a rare afternoon off and gone on a long, arduous bike ride. It felt good. It helped, to a degree, clear his mind and helped him think. It was dusk when he returned. Of course, he still hadn't decided whether to go or stay. Four months later and he sort of felt like he was treading water. As he brought his bike into the apartment, he removed his helmet, and pulled out his phone. There was a message. From Zero. In the past few months, they'd seen each other across a crowded arena and the agency office. There was the occasional text from him to Jude, sometimes Jude found himself answering…but only in the vaguest manner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Hey. I have an offer…you're NOT, gonna' want to refuse. Meet me at Vaz Fareed Studios, Friday night, 7PM, sharp.'

He Looked at the phone. He wanted to go. He was curious. He also really wanted to see and talk to Zero. He could at least admit that to himself. He'd been alone and lonely since they'd broken up. He'd even thought about giving Danny Cooke a call, even after he'd ghosted the photographer's assistant. He still worked for ISN, and he had his card tucked away in his living room, desk drawer. But, for some reason he could not seem to move forward. Past that fucking baller.
~~~

Jude walked into the night shoot.

"This way!" directed the photographer. Two gorgeous brunettes flanked a seated Zero, a hand on the sides of each one's thong wearing ass.

"Nice, Zero, that's awesome! That's perfect," continued the photog.

"Take five," interrupted Zero, as Jude came further in. He rose from his seat, his arms wide. "Jude. Glad you came."

"Yeah. I'd hate to have missed this."

"Ah, two titles and suddenly sin is in." He tugged a bit at his signature boxer briefs…a couple of which were still safely folded away in Jude's bedroom dresser drawer.

"I got a beer campaign tomorrow, Trojan commercial in the afternoon…and this is my new underwear line. What do you think?" He provocatively pulled on the black and grey briefs.

Jude couldn't help but think how fucking good he looked, and how these endorsements were perfect. In addition to the underwear, Zero had left a six pack of light beer and a stash of condoms at Jude's before they had broken up. Truth in advertising.

"Can't help but notice there are only girls in the picture," Jude said looking toward the models.

"I'm all the man it needs." He was pure confidence.

"Looks like you're killin' it. Congrats."

"We could be killin' it together," he said as he moved in closer. "That' s why I called you here. I want you to be my agent again. Help me rake in all this cash."

"I know what you want!" Jude said in annoyance, some of which was aimed at himself.

Zero licked his lips before replying, "It's business Jude. Unless you don't think you can keep it just business. I'm makin' more money than ever. This would be huge, for you."

"You should have them put more bronzer on you, there's only so much photoshop can do," Jude deadpanned as he looked at something that was once his, that maybe he could have again…before he turned and walked away.

"You didn't say no."

"I didn't say yes, either," Jude called over his shoulder. He found himself seriously contemplating it. Career-wise, he could use the boost…
~~~

A few days later, Jude was making his way to Lionel's office. She had called him at the Agency about something important that she wanted to discuss. He hoped it wasn't about Oscar. Sloane Hayes and he were splashed across the Los Angeles Times and other media, which meant Jude had been fielding press calls all week. There were only so many ways to say, 'No comment.'

Today happened to be the Devil Girl auditions and the place was inundated with young, taut, and tan female bodies. Including Kyle Hart, who with a couple of other women, was headed his way as he entered the arena. Although he no longer was the liaison for Zero or Derek, Lionel had let him keep his access badges.

"Well, hey there!" Kyle greeted him as she moved in his direction.

He still had a tough time wrapping his mind around the fact that this woman and Raquel were married. Jude's best guess is that it had something to do with Raquel's immigration status…gay marriage to the rescue, he guessed…

"Hey," he replied.

"Have you seen your guy, he's lookin' mighty fine," she said whipping out a copy of the latest edition of 'Inside Style.'

There was Zero. Shirtless. Hot. Dirty. Emblazoned on the cover, Zero: Basketball's Dirtiest Devil. He had to laugh inwardly. When he'd set up the interview months ago, it was going to be a 'come to Jesus' type …now, that 'sin was in' it had taken a decidedly different turn.

"Oh, no, you can keep it, I've got another copy," Kyle said when he tried to hand it back. With that, she and the other women continued about their business.
~~~

"Zero, everything your mother warned you about," Lionel read aloud, as she leaned over Jude's shoulder, from the 'Inside Style' article.

He was sitting in her office waiting and had begun reading the article. It hit all the points of the scandal, in the most sanitized, 'I'm sorry if anyone was offended' sort of way.

"Well, your mother and the CDC." She then went to her desk and leaned against the front, facing Jude. Lionel had taken on the role of 'tough, smart businesswoman' as evidenced by the muted navy-blue dress she wore. While still fitted and expensive, it was a far cry from the woman who loved red and floral.

"What's up?" Jude asked, closing the magazine, subconsciously feeling called out.

"The ring ceremony is days away. Derek's deal will be done by then. I think you should make a big show of it. For him, for the crowd."

"I don't work for Derek anymore. We're not even friends. Unless 'Drown, bitch' is a term of endearment." He hadn't told her about the real reason that Derek and he were on the outs. Not about the coke. Not about Zero. Maybe one day he'd tell her the whole story, but not today. Only that the baller had been pissed off at what he'd seen as a focus on the blond's interests over his.

She let out a light laugh. "You wouldn't be working for Derek. You'd be working for me."

"For you?"

"Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Los Angeles Devils. How's that sound? The job's been vacant since Chase Vincent left. You've always wanted to be a part of the Kinkade Dynasty. Here's your chance."

"Lionel, I…thank you."

"Great."

"Well…There's this other offer."

"Other, offer?" Lionel was clearly taken aback.

To a degree, so was he. He realized; he was weighing love against ambition. Something a year ago, he couldn't have imagined. "Just this thing. Can I think about it?"

"Sure." She looked at him in confusion. "But tick tock." She then patted his shoulder lightly before leaving her office.
~~~

Days later, after the new season's Devil Girls performed a stellar set, captained by Jelena, the courtside Championship Ring Ceremony was held. Jude watched from the sidelines as Devil Girl Sarah presented Zero his ring in front of a loud and adoring crowd.

Jude strode toward them as Zero finished a press interview.

"Thank you," he said in conclusion.

"Thank you," the reporter replied.

Sarah smiled, clapped Zero on the shoulder and left him as Jude made his way over.

"Brings out my eyes. Don't you think?" he said, flashing the large ring.

"I can't be your agent."

" Why not?"

"Lionel offered me a job with the Devils."

"That's why you won't work with me?" A look of skepticism on his face.

"I always wanted to be a part of the Devils. She offered me EVP, I…I can't turn it down." He said it with a barely contained excitement. It also rang as a bit of an apology. He had realized he'd let his emotions cloud his judgment. If anything, he would think Zero would understand. Pretty much from the beginning, he'd never hid the fact from the other man that Devils management was his ultimate goal.

He could see Zero weighing it all in his mind, tilting his head to the side. "EVP, that'd make you, my boss."

Jude shook his head yes.

"That's hot."

It was. In that moment Jude was incredibly turned on and realized it was the right decision to turn down Zero's offer. He knew that he wouldn't have been able to keep it just business. Zero knew it. "Congratulations on the ring…" he said as he backed away, then turned to leave. Of course, he could feel Zero's eyes follow him off the court. Jude headed to the owner's box, which recently had been designated as the 'Roman Emperor's' box.

Jude made his way up and slid next to Lionel, who stood, hand on hip, watching Derek on the floor.

"He didn't sign. He's holding out for more money."

"He's already started negotiating with the Devils. Contractually he can't go anywhere else. We'll lock him up," Jude replied.

"We'll?"

"I'm accepting the EVP job," he said with a smile.

She also smiled, then handed him a gold rimmed glass of chilled Dom Pérignon.

"To the Kinkades," said Jude. Oscar may be gone, but he was definitely here.

"Long may we reign," Lionel said as they clicked, sipped, and smirked.