Fabian did, placing his briefcase beside him, looking
confident and powerful.
Braxton relaxed in the chair behind his desk and placed the
paperwork down. He leaned his elbows on the top of it and met
Fabian’s gaze. “I’ll work you like a dog. We’re overwhelmed.
Brianna and I go non-stop and we need someone to shoulder the
weight.”
“I know. She told me. I’m not afraid of late nights or hard
work.”
“Will it affect your family life if I keep you here late and
some weekends?”
“I’m single. So…no.” Fabian didn’t crack a smile, appearing
all business.
“How high is your tolerance for bullshit?”
“High. I’ve worked for many downtown offices where the
pressure was extreme. I don’t crack under pressure, if that’s what
you mean.”
“Why aren’t you employed now?”
Fabian snarled just slightly, and Braxton got a heat flash from
the sneer, imagining pinning this fucker to the bed and
hammering him good.
“I’m working. But it’s a temp position. When the economy
tanked, the firm I worked for went bankrupt. That was a year
ago, and I have been working consistently since then, just not in
a permanent position.”
“Doing what? Filing?” Braxton wanted to push Fabian’s
buttons, see if working with douche-bag clients would anger him
or ruffle him.
“I can file.” Fabian kept his composure. “But I enjoy a
challenge. Working hard is what I want. The last thing I need is
to be bored.”
Braxton picked up Fabian’s resume and read his college
information. “You won’t be bored here. But you will be doing
everything. Both Brianna and I handle it all—party planning,
premieres, red carpet events, getting publicity into the media…”
He looked back up at Fabian. The man did not smile, once.
“I can do anything you need me to do.”
Yes, that would be a nice perk. Braxton gave Fabian’s
chiseled good looks an inspection. “Well,” Braxton said,
feigning disinterest. “You’re the first person we’ve interviewed.
Why don’t I get back to you in a couple of days?”
“That’s fine.” Fabian stood and extended his hand.
Braxton took it after also standing. He walked to his office
door and before he opened it he stood still, giving Fabian one
more good once over, imprinting his image on his mind. The
man was better than average in every respect and wouldn’t stay
on the market long—the job market or the social market.
Fabian met Braxton’s eyes as they both paused before
exiting. The expression in Fabian’s eyes was unreadable to
Braxton but he sensed some suspicion there. Perhaps Fabian was
straight and had heard the gossip in the media about Braxton’s
marauding ways. Interesting.
“Nice meeting you.” Fabian still did not smile.
Braxton opened the door and watched him leave. Fabian gave
Brianna a nice grin and thanked her, then vanished out the door.
He and Brianna exchanged glances.
“I so want him here.” She had a pile of resumes on her desk.
“Yeah, he’s pretty, but can he type?” Braxton winked at her.
“Who cares?”
“Let’s interview a few more, then decide.”
“Okay.”
He returned to his desk and sat down heavily, putting his
earpiece back in his ear and exhaling deeply as he got back to
work.
~
Fabian used his key fob to unlock his car door and tossed his
briefcase into the front passenger’s side floor. He sat behind the
wheel and said, “Asshole.” His first impression of the ‘oh so
famous’ Mr Todd was not good. He thought the man was
arrogant and conceited. “Can I file? You dick.” He started his car
and backed out of the spot, trying not to fume. He knew Braxton
had been baiting him to react and he wasn’t happy about it.
“And what was with the fucking leer? You creep!” Fabian
stopped at a traffic signal and figured he wouldn’t get the job
offer, and even if he did? Would he want to work with an
egomaniac who wanted to add him to a notch on his bedpost?
himself, angry about everything right now in his life. And this
job interviewing was getting on his nerves.
Chapter 3
By five Braxton had a headache and had taken over-the-counter
pills for it, but they weren’t working. He removed his earpiece
and rubbed his temples, closing his eyes. He heard his door open
and Brianna saying, “Your limo is here.”
“Fuck. I can’t believe I have to go to that fucking party
tonight. I feel like shit.” He slumped in the seat and opened his
eyes.
Brianna frowned sympathetically and sat across from him.
“What did you think about the last three applicants?”
He shrugged, liking Fabian, but he knew why. “You decide.
I’ll hire a man for the wrong reasons.”
“Hmm. Back on men?” She smiled sweetly.
“Men, women? Who cares?” He rubbed his face and yawned.
“Fuck. I am so worn out.”
“Once you get to the party, have a drink and unwind. You’ll
get your second wind.”
“And tomorrow night I not only have the red carpet debut,
but that ridiculous charity auction.” Braxton rested his chin in his palms on his desk. “Up for auction. Me. You believe that?”
“Why not? You’re handsome and everyone wants you.”
“You don’t.” He smiled sweetly.
“Married, with kid.” She held up her wedding ring.
“I sometimes envy you.”
“Ha!” She shook her head.
“I do. There’s simplicity to being straight and married. I can’t
stand the thought of the same person in my bed night after
night.”
“You haven’t met the right one.” Brianna stood and looked
out into the lobby.
“The driver out there?” Braxton stood.
“Yup.”
He inhaled deeply and straightened his tie. Brianna stepped
closer and touched his shoulder. “Hang in there. Once you have
something to eat and get out of the office, you’ll be fine.”
Braxton smiled at her. “What would I do without you?”
“Go bankrupt”—she grinned slyly—“again.”
“Shut up.” He gave her a playful punch on the arm. “Have a
good weekend.”
“I will. Call me if you need me.” She walked out of the office
ahead of him.
“Try not to work all weekend. The new person you hire?” He
shook his head as he followed her. “I plan on working them to
death so you can get a break.” He looked up at his chauffeur,
someone he’d used on a regular basis for transporting himself
and celebrities to affairs. “Hi, Scott.”
“Mr Todd,” Scott Baldwin said, tipping his cap, a sly gleam
to his eyes.
Yeah, they’d messed around once. So what? The man was
handsome and looked great in the uniform.
“Can you lock u
p, my sweet?” Braxton asked Brianna while
he checked his phone and could see text messages and
voicemails piling up.
“I can. Have fun, will you?” she said, putting her purse on her
shoulder.
“Yeah right. This is work, not play.” Braxton nodded for
Scott to leave first, and followed him to the elevator. “You have
our itinerary?”
“I do.” Scott nodded and allowed Braxton to enter the
elevator, holding the door for him. “Should I wait for Brianna?”
Braxton glanced out of the elevator. “Brianna?” he yelled.
“I’ll get the next one!” was shouted back.
Both men stepped deeper into the lift and Scott poked the
ground floor. “You look exhausted.”
“I am.”
“I have some energy drinks in the limo.”
“Hate those. Unless you’re talking healthy ones and not
caffeine.”
Scott smiled, indicating he was not talking healthy ones.
“You have booze in the car?”
“Always do. I have a nice bottle of scotch for you.”
“Damn you’re good.” Braxton grinned wickedly at him.
Scott returned his lusty stare from under the brim of his cap.
“You can have that too.”
Braxton made a face of ecstasy and knew having sex in the
limo would sap the last ounce of energy he possessed. They
exited the elevator together and Scott opened the back door of a
black stretch limousine, which had been shined to a high gloss.
Braxton patted the handsome man’s cheek in gratitude and
climbed in, relaxing on the bench seat and going for the booze.
Without a word, Scott began making the rounds, picking up
the celebrities on the route, to hit the party Braxton had planned
for them.
~
Fabian came through the door of his one bedroom apartment
in Pasadena. Even though he was tired, he changed into his
workout outfit and headed to the complex’s fitness center. Friday
night and he didn’t have plans. Did that make him a loser or
picky?
In his twenties Fabian had cared about things like that.
Always going out on the weekend, never coming home until the
wee hours of the morning. Now? At thirty-five? He didn’t give a
shit, and preferred hanging out on his own to the loud, obnoxious
meat market clubs of WeHo.
He had friends he could call, but most of them were in
relationships and Fabian, although he liked his male couple pals,
would end up bored as the pairs would begin to discuss their
personal connections, or things Fabian could not join in
conversations about. It neither offended him nor got him jealous,
just bored.
Bored.
He’d been using that word a lot in his life recently. Even
working temp jobs, Fabian fell into mundane routines.
The gym was one of them. But this release was essential to
his well being.
He tucked his house key into his gym shorts pocket and
headed to the ground floor. His master key opened the fitness
room and there were several tenants already working out, mostly
on the treadmills and stationary bikes.
Fabian didn’t know anyone in the room, and the complex had
over three hundred units. Though he’d lived there nearly three
years, he hadn’t made any connections with neighbors and didn’t
have the interest to. He stood on a mat in front of a wall of
mirrors and began warming up, thinking about the interview with
Braxton Todd.
When he did, he could see his expression change to a snarl.
Shaking his head, trying to let go the humiliation of the
interview, which to Fabian had felt completely condescending in
nature, he said to himself, You would hate working for a prick
like that.
He met his own blue eyes in the mirror and mouthed, ‘ Hate
it.’
~
“Fabulous party, Braxton.”
Braxton glanced over his fifth cocktail, finally feeling slightly
heady and getting close to drunk. “Thanks, Jean.”
The grand dame of daytime television gave him an inviting
leer. Super-cougars. The newest rage? Women in their sixties
and seventies after men in their twenties and thirties?
Nothing surprised Braxton when it came to sex. He was open-
minded, and never turned his nose up at any combination of
physical attraction. He’d had it all.
Maybe that was his problem.
He’d had too many types. He simply could not narrow his
choice down to one.
“I’d love to steal your Rolodex, honey.” She nudged him with
her elbow playfully.
“And I’d love to steal yours.” He smiled down at her, since
she was barely over five feet tall even in her glittering gold heels.
“Oh!” She whacked him on his shoulder. Her attention was
diverted and she said, “There’s Gina. Off I go to be social.”
Braxton raised his glass to sip and watched her walk away,
amazed even at her age she had a pretty nice figure, which
accounted for how she still managed to snag young meat. Not to
mention, her bank account was as big as her fan club.
Oh the shallowness of Tinsel Town…
He gulped the remainder in his glass and checked his watch.
The guests of honor were the three stars of an independent film
that was premiering this the weekend. Even on a tight budget,
Braxton had managed to make this a huge media event, and he
hadn’t missed inviting any reporter or gossip columnist. They
were all here, including his favorite local gay magazine, Judas’
Rainbow. There was the editor Sigourney Edina, laughing and drinking her beer from a bottle. He admired that woman. A lot.
She took chances in an age where magazines were shying
away from supporting the real politics of the day—the gay
marriage issue, equality for women in the workplace and
freedom of choice.
All hot topics. Why? Braxton was tired of wondering. He did
his thing. Fuck everyone.
He set his glass on a passing tray and made sure everyone
was happy. Making his way to the band who he had hired to
entertain, he stood beside them, caught the manager’s attention
and was approached.
“Everything okay, Mr Todd?”
“Yes. Just making sure your boys aren’t boozing between
sets. I need them ‘til midnight.” Braxton checked his watch. He
had a long way to go until the magic hour.
“Have I ever disappointed you?”
“No, never. But I did see your drummer tossing shots
between sets.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Braxton patted the man’s back and headed to the kitchen to
make sure the food supply and preparation was also going well.
He entered the kitchen to see a hive of activity.
“Mr Todd!” The head chef spotted him immediately and
waved. “Any complaints?”
“None. Thank you. Anything you need?”
“A blowjob, but I can’t at the moment.” He laughed and
removed sizzling chicken from the grill.
“Keep up the good work!” Braxton caught his nod and left
the kitchen. He walked out of the noise and chaos to a quiet spot
on a terrace near a pool. Resting against a low railing which kept
the swimming pool secure, Braxton rubbed his temples and
closed his eyes. All he wanted to do at the moment was sleep. He
was exhausted.
He thought about Fabian and envisioned him perfectly. As he
did, he removed his phone from his pocket and texted Brianna, ‘ I want Fabian. Hire him. ’
‘ ’ was sent almost immediately.
He smiled and pocketed his phone, staring beyond the high-
rise buildings to the night sky, seeing no stars through the
ambient light. “I need a fucking break.” He ran his hand over his
hair and sighed.
~
After his workout Fabian had showered and was sitting on the
sofa in his living room with a large bowl on his lap—salad
topped with sliced chicken breast. He cooked his own food,
simply because the ingredients of prepared food made him
wince. His feet propped up on the coffee table, Fabian ate his
late dinner and pointed the remote at the television. Real Time with Bill Maher would be airing shortly, and he surfed the
channels as he worked his way to HBO. An entertainment news
channel flashed a picture of Braxton Todd on their screen. It
made Fabian’s heart actually jump in his chest at seeing him. He
paused to listen to the coverage.
‘… PR machine Braxton Todd is hosting a gala event in
anticipation of this weekend’s mega movie release, ‘Capital
Games’. The list of stars and A-List celebrities attending the
event were caught outside by our reporters.’
A scene of microphones being shoved into people’s faces
followed.
Fabian rolled his eyes, having no interest in the Hollywood
elite. He was about to continue on to the show he intended to
watch when they added to their news, ‘… Mr Todd is also
participating in a cancer charity fund raising event tomorrow
evening, auctioning himself off as a dinner date…’
Fabian blinked and stopped eating.
‘… I expect the charity will do very well with hot property like Mr Todd as an auction item.’
The segment ended and the show went to commercial break.
He continued advancing the channel to HBO, put the remote
down and ate more of his salad, totally shocked a man like
Braxton would offer himself up for a charity event.
But the more Fabian thought about it, the more it reeked of
ego and conceit.
I have to stop thinking about it. I won’t get the fucking job.