48. James
JAMES
Iwas meeting Tony at The Lavender Room, a two-story gay bar in the Village I hadn’t visited in years.
I entered through the basement level, a dark, windowless space with platforms for go-go dancers and a dozen small round tabletops.
Being early afternoon, the place was nearly deserted—not a go-go dancer in sight—and the upstairs section, where the drag shows were held, was cordoned off with velvet ropes.
Tony sat at a corner table in the back with a young man who looked a few years shy of legal drinking age.
“You found it,” he said, removing his hand from the boy’s lap. “Christian, will you run to the bodega down the street and get me some coconut water?” He handed the boy a twenty.
Christian pocketed the money, eying me suspiciously, like I was competition, before sauntering away in cranberry-colored skinny jeans.
Tony leaned back. “So, let’s get down to business, shall we? How much do you suppose you’ll get for a hearsay story without any proof to back it up?”
Seeing no reason to draw this out or engage in pointless negotiations, I pulled a manila envelope from my bag and slid it across the table.
I expected to be nervous—I’d never blackmailed anyone before—but when Tony opened it and pulled out the photocopies, I felt only smug satisfaction. Tony’s reign of terror was over.
His patronizing smirk fell away, and I tried to memorize the moment so I could describe it to Will later. If he ever gave me the chance.
“What do you want?” Tony asked, sliding the papers back into the envelope. “Twenty thousand?”
“All of it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, all of it?”
I leaned back and met his gaze. “I want the five million Robert paid you, and I think it goes without saying that the little video you sent Donna—thanks for that, by the way—stays in the vault, at least for now.”
A bead of sweat fell from his artificially silver hair. “How much are they paying you?”
I smiled. “I don’t like to talk about money. It’s vulgar. So, do we have an understanding?”
He mirrored my posture, leaning back in his chair, dressed casually in white shorts and a blue polo. “No.”
“What part are you having trouble with?” I didn’t like the way he was smiling back at me, like he knew something I didn’t. Still, I didn’t look away.
“Derek seems to think you’ve developed genuine feelings for William in the process of your little scheme, and while I can’t fathom why, I’m inclined to agree.
I mean, I’d understand if it were Andy. But William?
He’s so ordinary-looking. Nice enough body, I suppose, but there’s nothing noteworthy about his face. ”
“Just because Derek has a thing for Will doesn’t—”
“Save the acting for the professionals. I’ve already made up my mind. I’m not giving you a dime. If I’m wrong, I’ll happily live out the rest of my days abroad. But I don’t think I am. And if it’s any comfort to you, I have no desire to expose William. His secret is safe with me. At least for now.”
“You’re that confident, are you?”
He shrugged. “You don’t get where I am without knowing how to take a few calculated risks.”
There was nothing left to discuss, so I stood. Tony had me by the balls, but I wasn’t about to admit defeat. Maybe this was a test. Maybe in an hour he’d be singing a different tune. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Tony laughed. “I would never. In fact, part of me hopes you’ll prove me wrong. I could use an excuse to retire early.”
“Well, you have my number when you change your mind. Don’t wait too long.” I walked out of the bar, trying to match the swagger I’d entered with, even though I’d done it again—fucked everything up.
Robert took the news of the botched shakedown with surprising grace. He didn’t even take time to process, just charged ahead with, “Can you and Theo come out to the Hamptons tonight? I want to see everything you have on Tony so far. I’d come to you, but I have company arriving soon.”
“I don’t know. That’s a long drive.”
“Stay the night. There’s plenty of room, and I bet Theo will get a kick out of the tub in Andy’s ensuite. It’s carved from a giant quartz crystal.”
“A what?”
“A quartz crystal. He was really into geology for a while. Oh, and I have a present for Theo anyway.” Another present? Robert had already set Theo up with a five-million-dollar trust fund, a fact I was in no hurry to share with Theo. “Do you think you could get here before six?”
I glanced at my dashboard clock. “Maybe if I grab Theo right now.”
Forty-five minutes later, Theo slid into the passenger seat. “You seriously need to go fucking shopping. All your clothes are hideous.”
“Did you remember my toothbrush?”
“Uh-huh.” He yanked the charger from my phone and plugged in his own. Great, two hours of Theo’s eclectic music.
Having worked in the Hamptons before, I wasn’t shocked by the fifty-car circular driveway or the gorgeous pool with the ornate pergola. Theo, however, was awestruck. “Holy shit,” he said. “And this is just his summer house?”
The sprawling mansion had more roofs, balconies, and porches than I could count, and the enormous, neon-green lawn sloped down to a wooden staircase that, by the looks of it, led straight to the beach.
Eunice, one of Robert’s assistants, met us at the door with a tray of cookies. “Something to munch on during the tour,” she said, winking at Theo. “Assuming you want a tour of the house and grounds, that is. Robert thought—”
“Yeah, that would be great!” Theo spun in a circle, staring up at the vaulted ceiling as if it were the Sistine Chapel. “But I’m not supposed to snack between meals.”
Eunice laughed. “Robert mentioned you were working with Miles. Don’t worry. I won’t tell.”
Theo eyed the cookies, chocolate chip by the looks of them. “Maybe just one.”
“How about you, James?” Eunice asked, holding the tray out to me.
I took one without hesitation. “Where’s Robert?”
“He’s waiting for you in the library.” She gestured down a hallway off the main foyer. “Third door on the left.”
The library was enormous. Floor-to-ceiling books covered every wall, and a spiral staircase led to a wrap-around balcony, where a second story of books circled the room. The only break in the monotony of literature was a two-story window overlooking a manicured garden.
Robert stood from behind his gleaming mahogany desk and crossed to a side table holding a crystal decanter of bourbon. I recalled afternoons watching General Hospital with my mom. Bourbon was always flowing at the Quartermaine mansion.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get the money,” I said, settling on the opposite side of the desk.
“Let’s not worry about that,” he said, passing me a drink I didn’t ask for. “Chess isn’t won in a single move. The important thing is, he knows you have proof. Now, what else have you found on his phone?”
I took a cautious sip because, unlike Will, I wasn’t in the habit of guzzling bourbon. “Well, like I said, there are the video clips, as well as those emails Tony sent to the casting director. It’s nothing outright incriminating, but if we show them to Derek, let him see who Tony really is, he’ll—”
“Derek already knows who Tony really is. He just doesn’t care. It’s not him we need to convince anymore anyway. It’s the studio.”
I frowned, raising the tumbler to my lips again. “What do you mean?”
“They haven’t struck the sets yet, but they will soon, which means we have a narrow window to finish shooting my scenes.
And with Derek out of commission, if the studio wants me, they’ll have to take William, too.
” I nearly choked on the whiskey. “Don’t look at me like that.
I know this will be a hard sell. That’s why we’re not going to ask for permission.
We’re just going to do it. We’re going to make a movie so fucking good they’ll have no choice but to finish it. ”
“But what about Tony? Won’t that piss him off?”
Robert dismissed my concern with a wave of his hand. “Forget about Tony for now. He may’ve called your bluff today, but you’ve got him running scared.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I do.”
“Trust me. I know him a lot better than you, and he’s not going to chop off his nose to spite his face. While Derek still has a career, William is safe.”
“Okay, but what happens when Derek’s career dies? You said he’s only hanging on by a thread, right?”
“That’s why you’re going to keep digging and prove the rumors true. One of these boys of his is bound to be underage. And don’t worry about money. I’ll make sure you’re generously compensated.”
I tipped back my glass, forgetting it was bourbon, and coughed against the harsh burn. When I recovered, Robert was staring at me with an amused smile.
“And, on the bright side,” he said, “if Tony fails to see reason, you and William can just pick up where you left off.”
Was he being serious right now? How could he ask me to give Will up one minute, then turn around and act like it never mattered, as if I could just take back all the hurt I’d caused?
What was really important to Robert? Protecting Will?
Or keeping his son’s secret hidden long enough for him to win an Oscar?
I leaned forward. “Are you going to tell him the truth at least? He’s not gonna be able to move on from this until you do.”
Panic flickered in Robert’s eyes, then died. “What William needs is his career back. He needs a dream to chase. Let’s just finish the movie, then we’ll go from there.”
I’d been a fool to think I had a partner in Robert. He only cared about helping himself.
Maybe if I showed him the video clips, he would remember what was at stake. I slid my phone across the desk, the first video already cued up.
He placed his hand over the screen and slid the phone back. “I do want to see those, but later. There’s another reason I asked you here tonight. A group of us are meeting to discuss rewrites, and we need your input. I know it’s your brother’s book, but this is as much your story as anyone’s.”
The nerve of this man, editing my life like words on a page. “What about Will?” I asked. “Is he gonna be there?”
Robert smiled. “Yes. In fact, he’s upstairs right now with Miles and Tiffany.”