the copious breakfast, Jonas wasn’t surprised he wasn’t really hungry, but knowing that Nicky didn’t eat much even when pressed gave him the perfect excuse to butt in. “Listen, I don’t know what your plans are for today, but you look like you could use a nice quiet lunch and maybe a little nap?
We haven’t exactly been sleeping much these past few days….”
“I can’t,” Nicky answered curtly. “I need to pick the models, get word to my choreographer in what order I want them, then tonight I have to approve the set and the lighting for the show, and I have to make an appearance at a party.” Jonas stepped closer to the sound board, careful not to tread on any of the designs, and peered through the large window that looked down on the room below. There wasn’t much he could say, except that it didn’t look like he was needed any more today. Of course he couldn’t just walk out; it was Nicky’s place to dismiss him.
Suddenly he felt the young man’s arms snake under his and around his chest. “I must admit your idea sounds nice,” Nicky whispered in his ear.
Jonas covered Nicky’s hands with his and leaned into the touch. “We can compromise. We’ll look through the portfolios really quickly and you tell Tau who you want, then I’ll take you to 52
Zahra
Owens
this nice bistro a friend of mine owns for some delicious food. It’ll be quiet there now, since lunch hour is more than over, and….”
“I only have one objection to your choice of models,” Nicky cut in.
Jonas smiled. Nicky hadn’t looked at the folders he’d brought in, which meant he’d been watching them. “Tanna said you would.”
“Don’t you think Josh is a little past his prime? He rarely does runway shows any more, wants to make it as an actor.” The mockery in Nicky’s tone when he said that last phrase wasn’t lost on Jonas.
“He fits the bill, Nicky. You wanted butch guys, not sissies.
He walks the walk and talks the talk.”
“Yeah, and fucks the arse and then tells everyone who wants to hear that he’s straight!”
So Nicky had a history with one of the models. Jonas felt Nicky pull away. “Go on, you can tell me,” Jonas urged him gently.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Nicky replied, the disdain in his face not quite hiding the anger. Nicky bent down to gather up the drawings and designs, and Jonas helped him. They didn’t talk, since Jonas wanted to give Nicky the chance to gather his thoughts and maybe banish some of his own demons.
They made their way downstairs to the now abandoned hall and toward the front office. There were several assistants on the phone booking models, and Nicky shouted out for Tau. Jonas was amused to see how effortlessly Nicky slipped into his Fashion Designer persona, who demanded personal service and right now!
Tau looked like he was about to kiss the ground Nicky walked on, and Nicky treated him like that was exactly what he should be doing. He rummaged through the folders, took out Josh’s, and then threw the rest over Tau’s desk. “Book those,” he ordered. He rummaged through the five extra ones and picked out one which he also threw at the talent agent. “And this one.”
“No back-ups?” Tau asked him.
Façade
53
Nicky gave him a condescending look. “If they’re not interested in working, then they shouldn’t have auditioned.”
“They may have found other shows to do.” Jonas was surprised Tau was still smiling.
“There’s only one show that’s important and that’s mine. No back-ups,” Nicky replied calmly before walking outside to an empty curb. “And where the bloody hell is my car?” JONAS was a patient man. After all, his job didn’t just consist of offering sexual favors; there was usually some waiting involved as well. He’d been used as an ornament, a bodyguard, a companion, and even though he knew which one was his favorite, he got paid for his time, not for the nature of his services. Handsomely paid, he reminded
We haven’t exactly been sleeping much these past few days….”
“I can’t,” Nicky answered curtly. “I need to pick the models, get word to my choreographer in what order I want them, then tonight I have to approve the set and the lighting for the show, and I have to make an appearance at a party.” Jonas stepped closer to the sound board, careful not to tread on any of the designs, and peered through the large window that looked down on the room below. There wasn’t much he could say, except that it didn’t look like he was needed any more today. Of course he couldn’t just walk out; it was Nicky’s place to dismiss him.
Suddenly he felt the young man’s arms snake under his and around his chest. “I must admit your idea sounds nice,” Nicky whispered in his ear.
Jonas covered Nicky’s hands with his and leaned into the touch. “We can compromise. We’ll look through the portfolios really quickly and you tell Tau who you want, then I’ll take you to 52
Zahra
Owens
this nice bistro a friend of mine owns for some delicious food. It’ll be quiet there now, since lunch hour is more than over, and….”
“I only have one objection to your choice of models,” Nicky cut in.
Jonas smiled. Nicky hadn’t looked at the folders he’d brought in, which meant he’d been watching them. “Tanna said you would.”
“Don’t you think Josh is a little past his prime? He rarely does runway shows any more, wants to make it as an actor.” The mockery in Nicky’s tone when he said that last phrase wasn’t lost on Jonas.
“He fits the bill, Nicky. You wanted butch guys, not sissies.
He walks the walk and talks the talk.”
“Yeah, and fucks the arse and then tells everyone who wants to hear that he’s straight!”
So Nicky had a history with one of the models. Jonas felt Nicky pull away. “Go on, you can tell me,” Jonas urged him gently.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Nicky replied, the disdain in his face not quite hiding the anger. Nicky bent down to gather up the drawings and designs, and Jonas helped him. They didn’t talk, since Jonas wanted to give Nicky the chance to gather his thoughts and maybe banish some of his own demons.
They made their way downstairs to the now abandoned hall and toward the front office. There were several assistants on the phone booking models, and Nicky shouted out for Tau. Jonas was amused to see how effortlessly Nicky slipped into his Fashion Designer persona, who demanded personal service and right now!
Tau looked like he was about to kiss the ground Nicky walked on, and Nicky treated him like that was exactly what he should be doing. He rummaged through the folders, took out Josh’s, and then threw the rest over Tau’s desk. “Book those,” he ordered. He rummaged through the five extra ones and picked out one which he also threw at the talent agent. “And this one.”
“No back-ups?” Tau asked him.
Façade
53
Nicky gave him a condescending look. “If they’re not interested in working, then they shouldn’t have auditioned.”
“They may have found other shows to do.” Jonas was surprised Tau was still smiling.
“There’s only one show that’s important and that’s mine. No back-ups,” Nicky replied calmly before walking outside to an empty curb. “And where the bloody hell is my car?” JONAS was a patient man. After all, his job didn’t just consist of offering sexual favors; there was usually some waiting involved as well. He’d been used as an ornament, a bodyguard, a companion, and even though he knew which one was his favorite, he got paid for his time, not for the nature of his services. Handsomely paid, he reminded
Similar Books
