Bucking the System

By GA Hauser

In episode 73 of the Action! Series, we catch up to the men from LA right as the Nation’s Top Male model, Mark Antonious Richfield’s big 5-0 is approaching.

While Mark battles with his inner demons and advancing age, the rest of the guys avoid mentioning the dreaded date, trying not to piss the handsome man off.

Meanwhile, Swedish transgender actress-model Tadzio Andresen, meets a kindred spirit. A very young man who is also, going through the process of transitioning. Since the pretty blond’s family rejects him, Tadzio invites the lithe young man to stay with her and her second husband, LAPD cop, Matt Nolf.

Newlywed LAPD officer Joe Scarbino has his family over for the weekend at Jeremy Runner and his Beverly Hills mansion. Joe finds out his coming out, and marrying a celebrity makes no difference to the way his family, and particularly his older brothers, treat him.

Josh Elliot, former LA lifeguard, releases another video on his channel, and interviews actors in his new sound stage, finding the celebs, once naked and in a bathtub with him, tend to reveal secrets!

Bucking the System. It’s Mark’s intention to reinvent himself, avoiding the stigma that comes with age, and live up to his dreams and potential. A whopping hard task to tackle.

Come back to the boys from LA for more insanity, fun, and hot sex! All of the Action! Series books can be read as stand-alone novels. So just dive right in! Or watch Capital Games the movie, the pilot episode, now on demand.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GA Hauser
• Release date: Oct 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005745363

GA Hauser

About the AuthorAuthor G.A. Hauser is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA. She attended university at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, and has a BA in Fine Art from William Paterson College in Wayne NJ where she graduated Cum Laude. As well as degrees in art, G.A. is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 1994 G.A. graduated the Washington State Police academy as a Peace Officer for the Seattle Police Department in Washington where she worked on the patrol division. She was awarded Officer of the Month in February 2000 for her work with recovering stolen vehicles and fingerprint matches to auto-theft and bank robbery suspects. After working for the Seattle Police, G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began to write full length gay romance novels. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has penned over 200 novels and short stories. Breaking into independent film, G. A. was the executive producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES which included TV star Shane Keough in its cast. CAPITAL GAMES had its Film Festival Premiere at Philly's Qfest, and its television premiere on OutTV. G.A. is the director and executive producer for her second film NAKED DRAGON, which is an interracial gay police/FBI drama filmed in Los Angeles with the outstanding cinematographer, Pete Borosh. (also the Cinematographer for Capital Games)The cover photographs of G.A.'s novels have been selected from talented and prolific photographers such as Dennis Dean, Dan Skinner, Michael Stokes, Tuta Veloso, Hans Withoos, and CJC Photography, as well as graphic comic artist, Arlen Schumer. Her cover designs have featured actors Chris Salvatore, Jeffery Patrick Olson, Tom Wolfe, and models Brian James Bradley, Bryan Feiss, Jimmy Thomas, Andre Flagger, among many others.Her advertisements have been printed in Attitude Magazine, LA Frontier, and Gay Times.G. A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, and Best Author 2007.G.A. was the guest speaker at the SLA conference in San Diego, in 2013, where she discussed women writing gay erotica and has attended numerous writers’ conventions across the country.

Book preview

BUCKING THE SYSTEM

an Action! Series Book

By

G.A.HAUSER

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2021

BUCKING THE SYSTEM

Book 73 of the Action! Series

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2021

ISBN Trade paperback: 979-8484-4130-5-8

© The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WARNING

This book contains material that maybe offensive to some: graphic language, homosexual relations, adult situations. Please store your books carefully where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

First The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC publication:

October 2021

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Chapter 1

Hollywood actor, Keith O’Leary, stared into his own blue eyes in a lighted mirror. His makeup artist patted powder on his nose and made sure his short blond hair was just right for the new character he’d been cast to play.

Keith’s new network TV show, Bucking the System, was about a New York City cop, that becomes disgruntled with the system, and leaves New York to work as a private eye in Los Angeles. He played ‘Buck’ Dylan.

He hadn’t had a starring role in a TV series since Paranormal Cops, which was cancelled very quickly, and of course, his first foray into acting, Forever Young. That nighttime premium cable series lasted nearly eleven seasons.

While being attended, Keith remembered those days of working with his husband Carl Bronson. They had met on the set of Forever Young. Keith had been cast as the pretty blue-eyed boy next door, to Carl’s more masculine character. Their director, Charlotte Deavers, had them doing very risqué scenes in bed together, pushing them beyond their comfort zones.

Not fun, but, he got a boyfriend and a husband out of the deal.

The stylist ran a comb over Keith short beard, which had grown in surprisingly well. He also had a tattoo on his shoulder of an eagle, so hopefully the limitation of the boy next door roles, vanished.

After months of struggling for a part, doing theater, and drinking himself into oblivion, Keith had been cast to play a serial killer in When Death Knocks. That was the break he needed.

He won an Academy Award for it.

Then, boom! He was once more getting offers.

He liked TV. Liked the stability of a series, as long as it was a good one, and renewed.

Last night Carl had helped him memorize his lines for his scenes. Carl had been also cast in a new movie. So, he was going to be very busy as well.

It was November, and as the holidays approached, Keith thought about Paradise, California, and the estate where the Nation’s Top Male Model, Mark Antonious Richfield lived. He was eager to return there. Mark usually hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas with around thirty guests.

The mansion was enormous, with thirteen bedrooms, an annex with four more guestrooms, an indoor and an outdoor pool, a spa with a sauna, jacuzzi and weight room, a library, a theater room, a study, two dining rooms, a nook with a cozy sitting area, a stable with five horses, basketball and tennis courts, and a meadow where the men that lived there, ran daily.

He absolutely loved spending weekends there, and hopefully, he and Carl would once more be invited to dine on the sumptuous meals, and play the intense sports with the guys. They had missed the last gathering, because of the new parts.

There ya go. The stylist smiled and touched his hair lightly.

Thanks, Shayla.

She backed up and Keith stood from the chair and inspected his outfit. He was wearing the character’s clothing, which was worn trousers and a shabby cotton shirt.

Leaving his phone behind, Keith had a passing thought about Mark’s birthday this month, but it soon vanished from his mind.

~

Still the reigning Nation’s Top Male Model, Mark Antonious Richfield, sat behind his desk at his and his ex-husband, Steve Miller’s garment manufacturing firm, Richfield-Miller International. His eyeglasses on, his computer screen in front of him, Mark was on the phone with his New York buyer. The company had offices in London, Paris, New York City, and here, in Sacramento, California.

I do think the merino wool is going to be very big this year. Mark was trying to set the trends, not follow them. So, let’s go ahead and purchase the lot.

Got it, Mark.

Mark peered at his ex. His former LAPD cop, former adman, turned CEO. Steven Jay Miller worked on the advertising and purchase orders and left the style and buying to Mark.

I do think the fall colors we discussed back in August were quite a hit. They went mad for them.

They did! Even the burnt orange. She laughed. I think vintage is the new trend.

Yes. Mark assumed he was now ‘vintage’ about to hit the big 5-0.

Okay. Let me send out a request for the fabric. Anything else?

No, love, that’s it. Have a good weekend.

You too.

Mark disconnected the call and removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes. He stood from his desk and brought his empty mug to the wet-bar in their office. He had made a fresh pot of decaffeinated coffee.

Steven?

Mm? Steve kept typing.

Would you like more coffee? Mark held up the pot.

No.

Anything? Water?

Uh… Steve paused in his typing and looked at him.

Mark smiled at his former hubby. Steven with his blue eyes and handsome good looks.

How about water? Steve asked.

Mark tipped out the rest of the decaf coffee into the sink and opened their mini fridge. He removed a bottle of cold water and brought it to Steven’s desk. Mark sat on the corner of it, sipping his coffee.

Steve cracked open the top and guzzled the water, then asked, Who’s coming up to the house this weekend?

Since it was only the middle of November, not Thanksgiving yet, Mark thought about it. I assume your family.

~

Steve’s widowed mother, Susan Miller, his older sister Laura, her husband Barry, and their teenage daughter Chloe, came most weekends. Chloe’s horse, Sally, was kept in their stable.

Steve glanced at his cellphone, which was on his desk near a toy black and white police car. I assume so too. I haven’t checked with Laura. Steve drank his water and gazed at Mark.

Last month Mark had another shoot for his trademark cologne, Dangereux. He had also gone on tour with his second husband, model/actor Stan Charles Richfield-Bergman. In preparation for that tour and photoshoot, Mark had Botox treatments and his hair styled. In other words, he looked gorgeous.

Steve, and everyone that lived with them at the estate were very well aware Mark was hitting a milestone this month. Next week, actually. Wednesday was the big day. But, celebrating birthdays with Mark was a no-no. Peter Pan decided he was no longer going to age.

No doubt if any one of them even so much as purchased the Top Model a card, he’d be in a funk.

Steve was five years younger than Mark, but three of the men they lived with had already hit fifty. Billy Sharpe, Mark’s son-in-law, married to Mark’s superstar son, Alexander, Blake Hughes, a former firefighter, and caregiver to Mark’s three young kids, and Jack Larsen was the third. He was also in his fifties.

How they had gone from thirty to fifty so quickly, he didn’t know.

But, twenty years had indeed flown by them.

Since today was Friday, Steve had to find out if his sister was coming to the estate. Steve’s boyfriend, Toby Smith, was their corporate chopper pilot.

He flew both their Learjet and helicopter.

Steve smoothed his hand along Mark’s knee and smiled at him. They had an okay marriage. One that lasted around ten years. It was Mark’s craving for children that ended it.

Stan, Mark’s second husband, was a very young man in his twenties and, also loved being a dad. The two men had three children. Two through a surrogate, and one from an affair Mark had with his former fiancée, Sharon Tice.

Steve didn’t care for kids. Meh. They were loud and annoying.

Luckily, with Billy, Mark, Stan, and Blake keeping them busy, it was tolerable to live at the mansion.

What time do you want to leave work today? Mark asked as he sipped coffee.

Usual time. Steve felt the soft fine fabric of Mark’s designer suit.

Mark leaned closer and they pecked lips.

It made both of them smile.

~

Jack Charles Larsen, Mark and Steve’s in-house attorney, wondered what they were doing for lunch. He removed his eyeglasses and shut off his computer, then stood from his desk. He worked in a corner office at RMI and had a view of the Sacramento skyline, river, and bridge. There were clouds over the city, and they had predicted rain overnight. Hopefully, they’d get it.

In California, if the rains didn’t hit during winter, the summers were an inferno of fires and drought.

He wasn’t keen on the chopper commute in bad weather. So, no doubt some rainy or blustery days they would be driven to work by their chauffeur, Louis. The drive was over an hour, and even though it irritated Steve, Jack didn’t mind it.

He’d commuted from Malibu to downtown Los Angles when he worked in his own law firm, so he was more used to it than the former cop.

He left his office, smiling at his legal secretary Harriet Shaw. She was a huge asset to him, knowing law very well. He didn’t know what he’d do without her.

I’ll be out for lunch, Jack said with a smile.

Okay, Jack, the mature woman of color smiled back.

Jack walked down the corridor of Richfield-Miller International, a company Mark’s dad, Milt Richfield, had created. He’d come from immigrant parents, worked in a corner clothes shop, and then, built this astounding manufacturing firm and a dream house at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Jack paused at the CEOs office.

Mark was sitting on the corner of Steve’s desk and they leaned closer and kissed.

Jack watched them unobserved for a moment. But, that was all the exes did. A peck on the lips.

He entered the huge office suite.

Mark smiled at him. Hullo, Jackie.

Steve glanced his way. Lunch?

If you can slip away. Jack walked behind Mark, running his fingers through Mark’s shoulder-length thick brown hair. He knew Mark’s birthday was next Wednesday, and that Mark was dreading it. None of the men were going to mention it.

Mark put his arm around Jack’s back, over his business suit, and pulled him close.

He and Mark had met in college, at Stanford University. Mark was studying to be an architect, and he was studying law. They played on the baseball team together. Seeing this stud in tight white pants? Jack was hooked.

But, back then, Mark was in the closet, and beaten by his father, who insisted Mark was not gay, never would be gay, and would be gay over his dead body. Which, ironically, was what happened.

Milt had a stroke, died, and Steve Miller crashed Mark and Sharon’s wedding. Fun times. (Not.)

What are you in the mood for? Steve asked as he rolled his shirt sleeves down and buttoned the cuffs.

Jack nuzzled Mark’s fragrant hair and rubbed the Top Model’s back. Anything. He felt Mark’s loving caress on his lower back. Are you joining us? he asked him. Mark tended to starve before modeling shoots. But, he’d finished the winter one two weeks ago.

I can be persuaded. Mark winked at him, his green eyes shining.

Steve rose from his chair and put his jacket on, tightening the knot in his necktie.

Mark set his coffee mug on his own desk and checked his phone.

Jack glanced from Steve to Mark, wondering what their lives would have been like if Steve had wanted kids.

~

Twenty-seven-year-old Stan Richfield held his daughter, Lily, in one arm as he spoke on his phone. Lily was going to turn one this Christmas. Stan and Mark used a surrogate, Becca McKenna to carry Isaac Milton, first, then Lily Hayden, second. Jacob Bentley, was the child of Mark and his ex-fiancée Sharon Tice-Hill. Isaac was almost three, Jacob was ten months behind him.

Uh, Stan said as he, Blake, and Billy, got the kids ready for a swim in the indoor pool. It was too cold to swim outside now. It’s up to you, he said to his mother, Ali Bergman, When do you and Dad want to fly in? You can come for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or both.

Blake changed Jacob’s diaper into a swim diaper, while Billy helped little Isaac with his robe and slippers.

Billy’s floppy mutt, a white Saluki-mix named Lady, was wagging her fringed tail and waiting for them.

They were inside the nursery, which was painted a pale blue and contained white glossy furniture; two horse-themed beds for the boys and a crib for Lily. A rocking horse, rocking chair, changing table, shelf of books, and other knickknacks were here, as well as painted rainbow animals on the walls, which, Steve’s second spouse, Swedish model/actress and trans-woman Tadzio Andresen had done.

It’s up to you, Ali said, We haven’t seen the children since Father’s Day.

I know. We’ve been really busy. Stan had just completed a Dangereux tour and photo shoot. Lily kept reaching for his phone, and he kept turning away.

Let’s go. Billy, the former LAPD lieutenant, herded Isaac and his dog out.

Blake set Jacob on his feet and the little blond raced after his brother after putting on his robe and slippers.

Lady followed.

While Blake cleaned up the changing station, Stan carried Lily down the grand mahogany stairs to the marble foyer.

Ali said, Why don’t we plan on coming for Hanukah, or probably Christmas weekend, is better. Hanukah is right after Thanksgiving this year.

Okay. Stan carried Lily to the foyer. She screamed because he wasn’t keeping up with her brothers. He set her on the floor and she crawled down the hallway as quickly as they walked.

Lily did walk, but seemed to prefer to motor around on her hands and knees for now.

Stan paused at the arched entry of the living room. From it, he could see outside the front bay window to the pink and black gravel checkerboard lane. The four-car garage annex was open, and their chauffeur, Louis was waxing cars.

Stan paused near the fireplace. Above it was an oil painting of Milt Richfield, the patriarch of the family.

Okay. That’s fine.

Leslie said maybe she’d come for the December holidays. She’s busy with her law review and the upcoming bar exam.

Okay. Stan heard the kids squealing lessen as they raced down the long hallway to the spa.

Otherwise? Ali asked, All okay?

Yeah. I have nothing to complain about. Stan wasn’t going to discuss Mark’s birthday coming up. Mark was closer in age to his parents than he was to him. So, discussing age? Not interested.

His dad, Michael Bergman, was a New York State Attorney General. His mom was a lawyer in her own firm, and his sister was studying to be a lawyer. Him? He’d gone to Juilliard to become an actor. But, ended up a chauffeur in LA, and met…you know who.

Stan heard a diesel engine and stood near the bay window. Their cook and manservant, Sierra and Warren, had food and supplies delivered weekly. The truck used the service road on the side of the huge mansion, to deliver fresh food to the kitchen.

We’ll let you know when we make flight reservations, Ali said.

Good.

Love you.

Love you. Bye. Stan disconnected the call and pocketed his phone into the terrycloth robe he wore. He walked through the home to the nook, kitchen area. Warren already