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Harry’s Apartment, Los Angeles, February 2010
Tricia was nearly thrown backwards onto the floor as Harry crashed past her in the doorway and raced for the toilet bowl in the bathroom at the far end of the corridor. She picked up the photo frame from the floor that he had knocked down in his rush past the small table and sighed as she ran a finger over the crack that had appeared in the glass.
“Harry? Harry, are you alright?” She asked him, even though she could hear his retching as the fried breakfast she’d made him made a surprise reappearance.
“I’ll be fine.” He stepped out of the bathroom, and she got her first look at him, dressed up in the new Armani suit that had been tailored especially for the occasion. Tricia gasped, her arms prickled with goose bumps and for a moment, a small fleeting moment, she could have sworn her heart had stopped. Despite the fact that he and Vincent were twins, Tricia had always seen vast differences in their behaviours and in their appearances, but now… it was like he was back.
“You, err, you broke your picture.”
“Oh, just put it on the side, I’ll sort it out later.” He walked past her, ignoring the proffered photo frame, back into his bedroom.
He didn’t mean to be so callous, he didn’t know how fragile she still was, or how much he reminded her of him right now. She looked down at the picture of the two brothers, the crack running across Vincent’s forehead. He didn’t know that seeing a picture of him made her want to howl inside, he didn’t know that she’d hidden all the photos she had of Vincent because seeing images of him made the pain so unbearable.
How could he know? They never talked about him.
Tricia moved into the bathroom and studied herself in the mirror. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the bridge of her nose. Staring at one fixed point was all she had to do in order to stop herself from crying. And she couldn’t cry, Harry needed her to be strong. Always. That was her job.
She slipped the small photo frame into her clutch bag and clipped it shut, before following Harry into his bedroom. He was stood at the edge of the bed, his face was pallid, and glistening with a cold sweat.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” She asked, slipping a hand onto his shoulder.
“I’m just nervous, you know. I mean, it’s the Oscars!”
He looked at her. He took one step back and looked at every inch of her, and that’s when she knew she had Harry back, and that Vincent was not with her, not anymore. Vincent had had a way of looking at her that made her whole body shimmer with desire, with eroticism, a way of looking that made her feel as if every inch of her flesh was special and wanted.
Harry, as lovely as he was, had a way of looking at her without even seeing her. Harry would just see the dress, the deep red that had become her signature colour, the small bag that hung off her arm so effortlessly and the heel that tensed the muscles in her calf so perfectly.
“You look wonderful.” He said.
“I know.” They both laughed a little. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
Harry took her arm and they started to make their way down the stairs. “You know, you don’t have to come with me. It’s not really that big a deal.”
“Not that a big deal?” She took a deep breath, finally feeling able to slip back into the role of agent, mentor and boss that she felt most comfortable with. “Of course it’s a big deal! You’ve been nominated for Best Actor – and I know you’re going to win this time. Besides, turning up with a gorgeous, natural blonde – ”
“Natural brunette.”
“ – is going to help quash those latest rumours that have been doing the rounds.”
“They’re not rumours, T.”
Tricia glared at him. “I know that. You know that. Doesn’t mean everyone else has to know it as well.”
“I’m gay, T. It’s part of who I am. If the great American public aren’t ready to accept that of me yet, then that’s their own problem.”
“Which becomes your problem when they stop paying you to appear in movies as the lead heartthrob. Which then becomes my problem when I stop receiving fifteen percent – which once again then becomes your problem when I kill you. Also, how many times do I have to tell you not to admit to it, no matter where you are, or who you’re talking to? For all we know this whole place could be bugged.”
“I’m sure the paparazzi wouldn’t stoop to putting cameras and microphones in my apartment.”
“Maybe not, and maybe the next time my roots come through they’ll be deep purple.” She ushered him out through the front door and onto the steps outside. “Look, all I’m saying is, if you have to say it out loud, just call it something else, will you?
Tricia tottered down the steps in her three inch heels into the back seat of the Bentley waiting for them at the bottom. Harry locked up the front door and then sidled in beside her
“Look, why does it even matter if the press find out that I’m – ” He glanced at the driver in the front seat and then back at Tricia who was glaring dangerously at him “That I’m… interested in kayaking?”
Tricia gave him a look that plainly said, do we need to have this conversation again?
“Kayaking,” she began slowly, “is a dangerous sport and I know of plenty of other young heartthrob actors who have lost many young female fans because of it.”
“You do?” Harry grinned cheekily. “Maybe you could introduce me to a few of them and we could… kayak together.”
“If I still smoked, I’d be sparking up a whole pack right now.” Harry smiled to himself as she fumbled through her bag and pulled out a stick of chewing gum.
“You know, miss,” the old, scratchy voice of the driver came from the front seat, “I really don’t think anyone cares all that much about kayaking, my son does it all the time and no one bats an eyelid. In fact I’ve kayaked with him, myself, once or twice.”
“Really?” Harry said with a sly smile at Tricia, “Does your wife know?”
“Just drive, will you?” Tricia shot at the old man in the front.
“Yes, ma’am.”
As the car pulled away down the street, Tricia leant over and pulled the divide across, giving the two of them some privacy in the back seat.
“I’m just saying, it’s not – ”
“A wise career move, yeah, I know.” Harry conceded with a nod.
Neither of them spoke for a minute, the only sound coming from the soft smacking of the gum between Tricia’s teeth.
Vincent remained unspoken between them. Tricia knew that when Vincent and Harry had been children they had both dreamed of being world famous superstars. The dream had come true for Vincent and he had left his old life and his twin brother behind in England. After Vincent’s death, Harry had made the difficult decision to step in and help the studio complete the picture that Vincent had been working on.
His performance was critically acclaimed and that, along with the tragedy of losing his brother had catapulted Harry’s career to heights that Vincent had barely been able to imagine. Tricia knew that it was no longer really what Harry wanted, his heart wasn’t in it, but he continued to live Vincent’s dream for him, leaving his own life behind.
She knew that Harry had posthumously made this promise to Vincent, but he didn’t know she had made the same promise. She had wanted to stop, wanted to give it all up, but she owed it to Vincent to help Harry. And that was why, however much she didn’t like it, she had to keep his preferences a secret.
“Did you have a chance to look at those scripts I sent over?” She asked.
“It’s all the same sort of thing I’ve done before,” Harry sighed, “I’m being typecast.”
“But you are being cast, Harry, and that’s the important thing. Look, I had a script arrive on my desk yesterday morning, it’s perfect for you. You play an astronaut, Jack something or other, who launches into space on a routine mission to Mars. Then, when you come back you realise aliens have taken over the world.”
Harry gasped falsely. “Let me guess, then I stop them, along with my beautiful and amazingly intelligent co-pilot, played by some vacant but virginal-looking actress who can barely create a look of shock or fear or anything because of all the chemicals that have been pumped into her forehead.”
This time it was Tricia’s turn to sigh. “Look, I know you don’t like these movies, but just get a couple more of these under your belt, you’ll be able to start doing things your own way. You’ll be able to make the movie that you want to make.”
Harry glanced down at Tricia’s bag and frowned. “Why have you got this?” He pulled out the small picture of himself and his brother that she had slipped inside.
“I was going to get it fixed for you, a new frame or something.”
“Oh.”
They sat in silence for a moment, both of them staring at the picture, until Harry pulled the glass from the frame and took the photo from it. Behind it was another photograph, one of Harry and another man, both of them hugging and grinning at the camera, clearly deep in love.
“Who’s that?” Tricia asked, glancing over at it. “Wait, is that Frederick Cromwell?”
“Yeah.” Harry smiled at her, and she saw his eyes sparkle, the way Vincent’s used to when he had looked at her.
“Since when did you two know each other?” She asked, a dangerous sinking feeling in her stomach.
“About five months ago.” Harry shrugged.
“Wait, don’t tell me the two of you are –” Tricia glanced at the divide in front of them and lowered her voice. “Don’t tell me the two of you are kayaking together?”
“He’s really good on the rapids.” Harry smirked.
“Harry, you really shouldn’t be – is this why you’ve been refusing work? Have you been with him?”
“He’s writing a screenplay.”
“Oh, because his last one was so good.” Tricia rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to be in the leading role, look he’s a really good writer.”
“You think I’ve never heard of him? I know exactly what that man is like and I know the sort of film he’d be writing. I am telling you right here, right now, I’m not letting you appear in some kind of gay porno!”
“Tricia, please – ”
“And he’d better not be there tonight. If you see him at the ceremony, or at the after party, I want you to blank him. The last thing I need is for this rumour to hit the papers tomorrow.”
“No problem, I’m going to have to leave the party early.”
“Why?”
“Freddie’s flying back to England tomorrow for a few days.”
“So?”
Harry hesitated for just a moment.
“So, I could use a damn good kayak before he goes…”
* * *
He straightened his tie, smoothed down his hair and checked his reflection in the mirror. He smiled as he heard a hesitant knock on the door, and sat down behind his desk.
“Come.” He said simply, slowly, letting the ‘m’ linger slightly too long in the air.
“Mr Johnson?” Harry entered the room, nervously. “Harry Hicks, they said you, err, that you wanted to see me?”
“Call me Briggs,” the man said, smiling warmly, his fingers loosening his tie slightly as he did, “and yes, I did want to… see you. Please… sit down.”
Harry sat in a chair on the other side of the small desk and flashed a weak smile as the man in front of him stood and began to slowly wander around the room.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from my casting lady, seen the pictures. I must say… I’m impressed.” He let his finger slide across Harry’s shoulder blade as he passed him.
“She said that I’d got the part, I’ve got to tell you, Mr – Briggs, this means so much to me, to be in one of your films is like – ”
“I’m afraid I have the final say on who appears in my films.” Harry fell silent, Briggs Johnson stared at him just as silently.
“Please, I’ll do anything, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
“Good, I’m glad you think so.” He stood behind Harry, placing his hands on his shoulders. “It’s very important you understand what I’m saying to you here, I would hate for there to be any kind of misunderstanding… especially as I am yet to make up my mind whether I should give you this part or not. Stand up.”
Harry stood up and turned to face him. Johnson moved in closer to him and stared into his eyes. Harry could feel the breath of the older man on his face as he ran his tongue along his lower lip.
“Mr… Mr Johnson,” Harry stammered, “I’m… straight.”
“Turn around.”
“Briggs, please –“
“Turn around, Harry.” He repeated and Harry did, a strange force compelling him to. For a moment nothing happened and then Harry felt the man step up behind him, his body just inches from his own.
Suddenly Harry was pushed down, his face shoved hard onto the desk. “What – what are you doing?”
“It’s just a rite of passage, Harry. Every one of my leading men has been through this.”
Harry felt something hard against his behind and he twisted his head enough to get a glimpse of what he’d feared. The man behind him had removed all his clothing.
“Of course, every one of my leading men who’s appeared in my films has been given the opportunity to help… choose the actresses. You do understand what I’m saying, don’t you, Harry?”
“I… I think so…”
Harry felt the cool air against his own behind as the waistband of his trousers was lifted. A pair of fingers grazed against his cheek.
“Do you want me to continue, Harry? Do you want this part?”
“I – “ Frederick laughed, cutting off Harry’s nervous mumblings.
“Did he honestly say all this, Harry?”
“Freddie!” Harry groaned, standing up. “You’re the one who wanted to play this game!”
“I know, but I can’t believe Briggs Johnson really said all this to you.”
“I promise you, every word.”
“So, he’s fucked every actor that’s appeared in his films?”
“That’s what he said.”
“Did you…?”
“I got the part, didn’t I?” Harry smirked and sat back down.
Frederick stared at him, a curious look on his face. “Huh.”
“Please, Mr Johnson,” Harry turned and put his hand on one of Frederick’s, “I really want this part.”
“Forget about Briggs Johnson, Harry, I’ve got a better – a bigger part for you.”
Harry laughed as Frederick dragged him into the bedroom of the hotel suite they’d hired for the night.
* * *
“I don’t want you to go.” Harry carefully teased Frederick’s nipple with one finger.
“And I don’t want to go, you know that.” Frederick murmured, holding his lover’s head nestled tightly into his chest.
They were sprawled across the large king sized bed, early morning Los Angeles sunlight spilled through the window over them and the bright white sheets.
“So, if you don’t want to go and I don’t want you to go, why are you going? We could stay here and…”
“And what?”
Harry opened his eyes, lifted his head to look at Frederick and flashed a devilish grin. “I’m sure we could think of something.”
“Behave.”
“Why is it you’re abandoning me again?”
“I’m not abandoning you.” Frederick reminded him, “I’m going back to England for a few days to help Grandpa hire a replacement for Uncle Michael.”
“I thought you’d quit so you could come out here?”
“I had, but it’s family, you know? Besides, I might be able to convince him to finance my next movie, and if I can, then I get a say in the casting. And I know a gorgeous young man, good body, great little fucker, who’d be perfect for the lead role.”
Frederick started to pull himself up from the bed as Harry rolled away from him. “You mean you’re seeing someone else?”
“You can never accept a compliment, can you?” Frederick sighed.
“Maybe the compliments aren’t good enough.” Frederick rolled his eyes as he slowly walked into the bathroom. He could feel Harry’s eyes, watching his naked form walk away and self-consciously clenched his buttocks.
Frederick stood under the shower, letting the water run softly over his head and down his back. He was the happiest he’d been in years, Harry was about to move into his brand new apartment which Frederick had helped to decorate. He was taking advantage of some rare time off and spending every day he had with a gorgeous man who loved him. It felt to Frederick as though they’d earned this time.
Shortly before they met, the body of Harry’s brother had been pulled from a lake, and until recently, it felt as though Harry had still been mourning his twin. Perhaps it was just a natural process, perhaps it was the excitement of his new apartment, but in the last few weeks Harry had seemed to finally loosen up. Life was good, there was nothing wrong.
He quickly soaped himself all over, stepped out of the shower – only slightly disappointed that Harry hadn’t joined him – and dried himself off. He stared at himself in the full-length mirror, and smiled, happy with what he saw.
Frederick returned to the bedroom and was, again, only slightly disappointed to discover that Harry had not stayed in bed. He quickly pulled on some clothes and moved out to the living-area of the hotel suite, to discover Harry wearing a dressing gown and sat on the couch watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
“I’ve just sent for some breakfast if you want it.”
Frederick looked at his watch. “I don’t think I’m going to have time, I’d miss the plane.”
“Maybe that’s the point. It’s full English.”
“You really know the way to a man’s heart, don’t you?”
Harry smiled and spoke in a playful sing-song voice, “I ordered extra mushrooms.”
Frederick licked his lips, “Maybe I could manage a few bites.”
“Just think how many bites you could have if you stayed here with me.”
“You, Mr Hicks,” Frederick said leaning over his boyfriend, “have got an unhealthy obsession with bites. I’ve still got the marks on my arse from last night.”
“Well,” Harry said, in between small light kisses from the man leaning over him, “you just looked so delicious.”
“I’m not going to deny that.” Frederick moved away, across the room, looking for his pair of tan shoes that he’d kicked across the room in a rush the previous night. “It’s a bit reckless for you, this whole hotel thing, anyway isn’t it? What if somebody sees you with me and blabs to the press?”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” Harry dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand as Elmer Fudd pointed a gun in Bugs’ face. “First of all, this is a Hollywood hotel, the staff know the score, discretion is vital. Also, none of the press can find out I’m staying here, because I’m signed in under an assumed name. Everyone does it.”
Frederick pulled on his second shoe “So, if you’re not Harry Hicks, who are you then?”
“I can’t tell you that, it would ruin my whole cover, I’d never be able to use that name again.”
“Can’t you even tell me your first name? I hate having anonymous sex.”
Harry smiled. “It’s Donald.”
“Nice to meet you Donald, I’m Frederick Cromwell.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Frederick Cromwell.” Harry grinned and shook Frederick’s outstretched hand.
“Of course,” Frederick moved across the room, attempting to do the cuffs up on his shirt, “if anyone asks, I’m Gordon Jones.”
Harry threw a small cushion across the room at Frederick who caught it and laughed. He placed the cushion back and held out his arms to Harry.
He smiled as Harry buttoned up the cuffs for him. “What would I do without you?”
“You’d be walking around with your sleeve all flapping about, and that would just never do.”
Frederick collapsed onto the couch and started to slide a hand under Harry’s dressing gown. “You know, I’ve about ten minutes before I really, really definitely have to leave. You’ve probably got time to… grab a bite.”
Harry pulled away and closed his dressing gown up. “The full English comes with sausage… I’ll wait for that.”
“Perhaps, you’re right,” Frederick sighed, “I’ve still got to pack up my laptop.” He stood back up and moved over to the jumble of wires and machinery on the desk.
“So, what exactly are you going to do on that long plane journey back to England?”
“Bound to be some movie on that I’ve not seen. I’ll probably make a start on that screenplay as well.” He said, motioning with the battery pack of his computer.
Harry nodded and then frowned a moment later. “What screenplay?”
“You know the one I told you about. The one I’m writing for you.”
“You told me that was finished, that… that you were just polishing off some rough edges before you let me see it.”
“Err… yeah it is.”
Harry stood up. “So hang on, it’s nearly finished, just got some rough edges, but you’re only thinking about making a start on it on the plane.”
“Ok, so maybe, it’s not as far along as I said it was, there have been a few complications.”
“You told me that we just had to get the money and we could shoot the movie. Have you actually started writing the thing yet?”
“Well, not in the strictest sense of the word,” Frederick blustered, “but I pretty much know what’s going to happen. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Harry repeated. “No big deal? Two months ago, you told me that it was in the bag, I’ve been turning down other work to be in this movie of yours and now you’re telling me that you haven’t even started it yet?”
“Look, I didn’t ask you to turn down work, besides, when have I had time to write it, Harry?” Frederick asked. “I’ve been with you nearly twenty four seven since we met. I don’t know how multi-talented you are, but I’m not that great at creative writing when someone is biting on my arse!”
“So, this is my fault?”
“Well, yeah, actually, maybe it is. Maybe, if you weren’t so damn needy all the time, if you weren’t so clingy, maybe I would be able to have my own life.”
“I’m the needy one?” Harry asked incredulously. “How am I the needy one, when it was you who was coming around to my apartment every single day? When it was you constantly ringing me to check that I was ok?”
“I was only doing that, because whenever I didn’t, you worried about me, you used to panic that I’d gone and got myself beaten into a bloody corpse like your stupid brother!” Frederick regretted saying it straight away.
Harry just stared at him. “Grow up.” He said, eventually.
Frederick continued to pack up his computer, deliberately avoiding looking up at Harry. There was a small, timid knock on the door and Frederick stalked over, nearly wrenching the door off it’s hinges causing the young, uniformed man to jump in surprise.
He walked in pushing a small trolley with him. “Your Full English with added mushrooms, Mr, err… Duck.”
“Donald.” Frederick mumbled to himself as Elmer Fudd hid behind a rock, his fingers jammed in his ears, protecting him from the cartoon explosion that filled the screen.
Sensing the tension in the air between the two men, the young man stepped back to the door. “I could come back for the trolley later if it’s more convenient.”
“Yeah,” Frederick said, taking some notes out of his wallet and handing them to him, “that might be a better idea.”
“No.” Harry said, not taking his eyes from Frederick. “Stay, there’s a breakfast going spare. Do you like sausage?”
“No, really, Sir, hotel staff aren’t supposed –
“It’s ok,” Harry put his arm on the young waiter’s shoulders, “Mr Cromwell was just leaving.”
Frederick looked up at him. “Harry, don’t – ”
“No, Frederick. I mean it. I want you to go.
Cromley’s Head Office, London
Robert Forrester stared out of the window of Ernest Cromwell’s office and sighed. The bright lights of London twinkled in the night sky, high above the noise and the dirt of the streets below. Twinkling like diamonds and rubies suspended in the air, just out of arms reach. All those riches, Robert thought, just out of grasp.
His hand went to the left pocket of his only remaining pair of smart trousers, a pair that hadn’t been washed in two weeks. Inside, he slowly fingered the last of his own riches, a single grubby pound coin.
He moved away from the window and sat in the chair opposite the large desk. His eyes pierced through the darkness and explored the bookcase on the walls, so many thick books, yet covered with a dust that exposed their owner as being more interested in appearances than in literary excellence.
That afternoon, he’d been sat in the very same office, in the very same suit that he’d worn in so many other offices lately, and he had cocked up royally his last chance of getting a job. Only a last minute charm offensive had convinced Cromwell to give him one more chance, a chance over dinner that night.
Ideas, he’d told him, strategies, plans, ways forward, Robert had all of them. Or so he’d said. Ernest hadn’t been convinced until Robert had promised him more money, higher income, increased profits – in short – more power. Ernest’s ears had pricked up and he’d agreed to give Robert a second chance.
Of course, he’d said, I can’t do it now, and Robert’s heart had sunk. He had nowhere to go that night, he needed a job, he needed it now and he really needed a massive advance in wages. Take me out to dinner, Ernest had said and then promptly named the priciest restaurant in London, we can talk about your ideas there.
He pulled the coin out of his pocket and slowly let it move across his fingers. He wasn’t quite sure yet how he’d pay for dinner, but that wasn’t his biggest concern. If things went badly, he’d excuse himself early, go to the bathroom and never come back, ditching a large restaurant bill on Cromwell. If everything went well and Robert managed to impress the old man into giving him a job, his new boss would probably take up the bill. If he didn’t, he would charm whoever he could into paying for him or into waiving the bill.
As it was, he would have to chat someone up enough to convince them to take him home with them, or he’d have to retreat to picking pockets again, something he hadn’t done since he was freshly out of college, nearly two decades previously. That time he’d only had to do it a short while before finding himself studying at a university, and then landing on his feet a few years later a Psychology teacher at a prestigious London college.
He’d managed to stay there until just a year previously when he had been fired for sleeping with one of his students. In fact, he’d been sleeping with more than one of them, and had been doing so for several years. It was only when two girls and one young man went to the headmaster’s office to complain about the sexual harassment because he wasn’t sleeping with them that things had been stirred up and it all came out
Within a week, not only had he lost a job, but gained a reputation as a serial student shagger within the teaching community. Things had gradually died down and he’d nearly managed to secure another teaching post when one of the younger art teachers recognised him from her own student days and warned the employment board. This further reminder of his reputation spread throughout teaching circles along with the rumour that it wasn’t just girls he was sleeping with, but boys as well. A claim Robert had vehemently denied – for it was only one boy, and there had been no sleeping of any kind, merely brief sexual encounters in broom cupboards designed to get Robert closer to the boy’s vast inheritance. Still, the rumours spread like ripples and Robert had found himself without employment and no real chance of going back to teaching.
Robert just prayed that Ernest didn’t know any teachers.
“Who are you?” The door swung open and an attractive blonde woman, wearing what could only be described as a blue power suit delivered directly from the eighties, entered.
“I’m waiting for Mr Cromwell. We’re going for a dinner tonight.”
“Ah, you’re the one that won’t leave him alone.”
“Robert Forrester.” Robert held out his hand and the woman shook it, smiling out one side of her mouth.
“Jennifer Cromwell.”
“His… daughter?”
“Daughter-in-law.”
“Right.” Robert quickly withdrew his hand, but Jennifer took hold of it again.
“It’s ok. My husband is dying.” Robert smiled a little and then jumped when he heard voices outside the office. Cromwell was there arguing with a younger man.
“Oh, that’s Frederick.” Jennifer said, noticing the diversion in Robert’s attention. She frowned and sat up on the desk. “Ernest’s grandson, golden child the way Ernest goes on about him, anyway.”
“How do you mean?” Robert sat down in a chair in front of the desk.
“You haven’t heard about the fabulous Frederick? About five years ago, he wandered in here while his grandfather was with the board trying to figure out the best way to crush the latest rising competition.” Jennifer picked up a framed photo of Frederick on the desk. “Five minutes later, Ernest had fired half of his board members and put Freddie on the payroll. Two years after that and there’s an extra fifteen million pounds profit in the bank account.”
“So what are they arguing about?”
“God knows. They’ve been arguing ever since Frederick left for Hollywood.”
“Hollywood?”
“You really haven’t heard of him? He’s a screenwriter. Following his dream, or something like that. Following his cock more like.”
Robert frowned at her. “You don’t – “
“Listen, Frederick, I’ve already told you, my answer is no.” Ernest Cromwell burst into the room, turning on the light as he came, followed by a much younger man.
“Mr Cromwell.” Robert stood up and shook his hand.
“Forrester! I see you’ve met Jennifer then? Still got your underpants, have you?”
“Ernest,” Jennifer ignored his comments, “Jacob and Alistair are waiting downstairs, we still need to go over those financial reports.”
Cromwell sighed and looked at Robert. “I’ll have to delay dinner for thirty minutes, maybe an hour.”
“Of course, Mr Cromwell, that’s fine.”
“Right, well, you can just wait here, I’ll be back up as soon as possible.”
Cromwell made his way to the door and his grandson followed. “Grandpa, can’t we – ”
“No. I’ve already told you, no is my final answer. Now, I’ve got to go and do some real work, it’s a dirty job, but someone in the family has to earn a living. You can just get a taxi to the airport and go back to Hollywood. Goodnight.”
With that Ernest Cromwell walked out of the office and stalked off down the corridor. Jennifer nodded to Robert and quietly followed the old man out. Robert looked at Frederick and smiled, some alone time with the old man’s golden grandson, he thought, was no bad thing. I might be able to learn a few tricks.
Frederick walked over to the desk and sat in his grandfather’s chair, as Robert sat back down in the chair on the other side. “What are you in for?” Frederick asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Job interview.” Robert shifted a little in the chair, it wasn’t at all comfortable. “You?”
“I needed some money, though it’s like trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Of course, it’s probably easier to borrow money from a bloodless stone than it is from Scrooge there.”
Robert smiled and extended his hand across the desk. “Robert Forrester.”
“Frederick Cromwell.”
“Ah, the famous writer.” Robert replied as Frederick shook his hand.
“You know my work?”
“I’ve… seen your film, read some of your reviews.”
“Wow,” Frederick said with a real amazement, “I knew that people had seen the reviews, but I didn’t think anyone had actually sat through the film.”
“I fell asleep in the theatre, it came on after a showing of Gone With the Wind.”
“Of course.” Frederick nodded and a silence filled the room for a moment. “So, job interview, huh, how’s that gone for you?”
“About as well as your money hunting mission.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Frederick mused, “you’re getting dinner.”
“What I’m getting is one last chance to impress him and a hefty restaurant bill at the end of it. So how come you need the money? I thought your entire family was minted.”
“We are,” Frederick nodded, “but even I don’t have enough money to finance a movie.”
“Another movie?” Robert asked with a raised eyebrow. “That’s brave.”
“Foolish, maybe.”
“So what went wrong? He didn’t let you borrow the money, because of the first one?”
“No, no, he actually quite enjoyed the first film, at least, he says he did. No, it was all going well, he nearly had his chequebook out, but then I said the ‘B’ word.”
“Belgium?”
“Boyfriend.”
Robert paused. He hadn’t expected that at all. Normally, he could sense this sort of thing. His mind suddenly started racing, being alone with the golden grandson was most definitely not a bad thing. Internally, as he smiled at the young man, a switch flicked from ‘charm’ to ‘flirt’.
“Boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend.”
“Oh. So, you’re – ”
“Yeah, at the moment anyway.”
“At the moment?” Robert asked.
“I butter my bread on both sides, if you get my drift.”
“And he doesn’t approve of you spreading your butter around like that?”
“He’d prefer I only buttered one side.”
“Let me guess,” Robert smiled, “he wants you to keep your butter away from the backside?”
Frederick laughed and looked out of the window. “Crude, yet accurate. The only reason he hasn’t disowned me completely is because I, and I’m quoting here, still bone women occasionally.”
“Well, you don’t look stupid.”
“Excuse me?”
“Well,” Robert said, leaning forward, “the way I see it, is that you’ve known your grandfather for, what – twenty years?”
“Twenty three, but carry on.”
“You know how he reacts when your boyfriend is mentioned, so why bring him up?”
“It just kind of happened.”
“How?”
“Well, like I said, it was all going really well, I’d told him about my idea for the film and he loved it, he’d near to damn it signed the cheque, and I just got excited. I said, Donald’s going to be so happy!”
“Donald? The toast?”
“So, that’s what Grandpa says, ‘Who’s Donald?’ I tell him he’s my boyfriend. Well, then, he wants to know why Donald, specifically, is going to be so happy. And I tell him, he’s going to play the main character.”
“And Ernest wasn’t all too happy to fund a movie starring a gay man who was – literally – leading his grandson off the straight and narrow.”
Frederick clicked his finger and pointed it, like a gun, straight at Robert. “The chequebook snapped shut faster than a bulldog clip. So, now I have no money to produce a film with a script that I haven’t yet written starring a man who won’t be my boyfriend for much longer.”
Robert frowned. “He wouldn’t split up with you just because you can’t put him in a movie, would he?”
“Of course he wouldn’t, he’s not like that. No, we just had a huge argument before I came away, the biggest one we’ve ever had.”
Robert stood up and walked around the desk, sitting on it just in front of Frederick. “Couples fight, they cool off, then they make up. That’s the fun bit.” He winked.
“Maybe.” Frederick mused.
Robert looked down at the young man sat in front of him, this was an opportunity not to be missed.
“Here’s the way, I see it,” Robert said, loosening his tie, “I think we can help each other.”
“How’s that?”
“Despite the whole screwing men thing, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing, by the way,” he added, throwing another wink Frederick’s way, “it’s clear your grandfather thinks a hell of a lot of you.”
“How do you figure that?” Frederick asked with a frown. Robert leant back on his hands, pushing his crotch forward. It was practically eye level for Frederick, and he smiled as he spotted the young man take a look.
“I know enough about your grandfather,” Robert began as Frederick stood up, flustered, “to know that he’s got a fairly large family. What is it, three children, nearly twice as many grandchildren.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“There are only two photographs in this office, one on the wall of him opening a supermarket, and then there’s this one.” He pointed to a frame on the desk.
Frederick looked the photograph of himself and smiled. He remembered the day that picture had been taken, the previous autumn when he had briefly stayed with his grandfather before moving out to Los Angeles. They’d spent the day painting the walls of the dining room, Ernest had felt they needed a fresh coat and he didn’t trust anyone else to do it. Frederick felt that it was more he didn’t want to pay anyone else to do it, but he had helped him anyway.
Surprisingly, they’d had a good day, they’d had a lot of fun and Frederick had bonded with his grandfather in a way he’d never done before. The next day, Frederick had all but shattered that bond, or so he’d thought, when he announced he was bisexual, and moving to Hollywood.
“So, you want me to convince Grandpa, that in the five minutes I’ve known you, I’ve gotten to know you so well, and that I think he should hire you? What do I get out of the deal?”
“I’m a financial advisor, Frederick, if I get this job with your grandfather, I’ll be the one telling him how to spend his money. I could tell him to spend it all on crackers or water pumps in Africa. Or on a movie.”
Frederick turned and stared out of the window, usually he looked up to the stars for inspiration, but none were ever visible in the centre of London, and so, he peered down at the streetlights below. Eventually, he turned to face Robert, who had now stood up to face him.
“I barely know you.”
“We can change that.” Robert said stretching out his hand, hooking two fingers into the waistband of Frederick’s jeans and pulling him in close to him.
“I have a boyfriend.”
“I have two.” Robert bent his head and slowly began kissing Frederick’s neck. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
Frederick remained standing as Robert leaned back onto the desk. “I can’t.”
“Of course you can.” Robert pulled him in closer, causing Frederick to straddle his left leg. Despite Frederick’s protests, Robert felt part of Frederick that was urging him on, pressing into his thigh. He felt sick.
Frederick hesitated for a few seconds before pushing Robert down completely onto the tidy polished desk and lying atop him. For several moments their mouths exploded with frenzied kisses and thrashing tongues while their fingers frantically clawed at buttons, belts and zips.
As Frederick pulled down his own boxer shorts, he whispered in Robert’s ear. “Roll over.”
“No,” Robert said, using his superior strength to turn Frederick back-down on the desk, “you roll over.”
“I’m a top, I’ve never… I don’t do that.”
“You do now.” Robert pulled down his own briefs. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
* * *
“So, how exactly is this going to work?” Frederick asked Robert as he buttoned up the front of his shirt.
“First,” Robert started lacing his shoes as he spoke, “you tell me the best way to get your grandfather on my side. Then, you tell your grandfather that, in your opinion, I’ve got some really good ideas and that you think I would be really good for the job.”
“Then what do you do for me?”
“Then, I get the job and I tell your grandfather that investing in the movies would be a good idea, and that what better film to start with than yours. Simple.”
“What do you want to know?” Frederick asked, sitting back down in the chair behind the desk.
“How do I get him to like me?”
“Well, don’t tell him about what we just did, for a start. And if you really have to, don’t tell him we did it on his desk. I can’t see that going down well at all.”
“Ok, anything else?”
“Secondly, agree with everything he says.”
“Everything?”
“Everything. The man likes to be right and he likes others to acknowledge that he is right, he’s surrounded himself with yes men for sixty years, and it seems to have worked out for him.”
Robert continued to ask Frederick questions, and Frederick was just explaining to him some of Ernest’s political persuasions when he stopped. Robert turned to look, and saw Ernest stood at the door.
“Frederick, what are you still doing here? I thought I told you to go home?”
“Err, you did, grandpa,” Frederick said, getting up from the chair, “but I was about to call the taxi and I got chatting to Robert here. He was a bit nervous about his interview.”
“Well,” Robert felt Cromwell’s eyes all over him and prayed that nothing looked out of place, “if he gets the job, he’ll have big shoes to fill.”
“What do you mean?” Frederick asked and Cromwell shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
“Michael. His… his cancer’s progressed, he’s not going to be able to work much longer.” He turned to Robert, almost as if he owed an explanation. “Michael’s my eldest, he’s my current financial advisor.”
“Grandpa,” Frederick looked at Ernest nervously, “I know you’re busy, but can I talk to you for a moment. In private?”
“Two minutes.” Cromwell sighed heavily. “Robert, would you excuse me, just a short while longer?”
“Of course.”
Robert stepped out of the office, and as he closed the door, he glanced back to see Ernest and Frederick whispering to each other, frantically.
“You realise you just got played, don’t you?”
He turned to see Jennifer sitting in a chair, staring up at him. “Excuse me?”
“They,” she nodded her head towards Ernest’s office, “played you.”
“What?”
“It was supposed to catch you off guard, they’ve done it before.”
Robert pointed to the office he had just left. “That was an interview?”
“I’ve already told you, he’s the golden child. If he doesn’t like you, I can assure you, you don’t get the job.”
Robert gave a small, disbelieving laugh. “I don’t understand. That was all a set up? None of it was real? They weren’t really arguing?”
“Oh, the argument was real. They can’t spend more than half an hour in the same room together without arguing. Ernie might disagree with him on pretty much most of the decisions he makes, but he trusts him. Can’t choose which toilet paper to wipe his arse with without checking Frederick’s opinion first.”
“Well, I certainly hope I gave Frederick a thorough understanding of my… skills.” Robert said as Cromwell stepped out of the office, beaming.
“Right, then, Forrester, are you ready?”
“Absolutely. Let’s go.”
Frederick stepped out from behind his grandfather and started to head for the door. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Robert. Goodnight Aunt Jenny… send my love to Uncle Michael?”
“You’re not staying?” She asked
“Err, no. I’m heading back to LA. Work to do, and all that.” He nodded to them and walked off towards the staircase at the end of the hall.
Cromwell watched him go and sighed. “He’s a good enough lad, his only problem is this Hollywood business he’s got himself involved with.”
“You don’t approve?”
“Well, it’s a very hit and miss way to make your money, there are better things to gamble on. Tell me, Mr Forrester, would you ever advise investing in cinema?”
“Well, Sir, like you said, it’s a very risky business to gamble on. And with your grandson’s track record in the movies…”
Ernest nodded. “Exactly what I said.”
“Besides, I don’t think, the Hollywood thing is his only problem.”
Cromwell paused and looked at Robert enquiringly. “How do you mean?”
“Well, I think… I think he might be gay.”
“And that would be a problem for you?”
Robert remembered the feeling of revulsion he’d felt as he’d gripped hold of the young man’s thighs just fifteen minutes before. “Yes. It would, Mr Cromwell. I probably shouldn’t be saying this sort of thing in a job interview, but I hate faggots.”
Ernest gave a small laugh. “Oh, don’t be silly,” he smiled, patting Robert on the shoulder, “Call me Ernest.”
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Ramblings of a(nother) Frustrated Writer 