Image Is Everything

Chapter Seven

Brian spent the next couple of days arranging things with Mark Phillips. Mark was going to send his complete "Young Gentlemen's" line to Pittsburgh where Brian had agreed to arrange with his tailor to hold fittings with Justin. Mark wanted the clothes to look perfect for the photo shoot. Brian would do the preliminary photos in his studio and send them on to Mark. They would then decide if the look was right and what sort of backgrounds or locales Mark wanted in the photos.

Brian had called the Taylor/Gold residence only once since Justin had signed the contract. It had been the following day after he had talked to Mark. He wanted to let Justin know that the line of clothing was being sent to Pittsburgh. He would need to start his fittings in a couple of days.

When Brian called he had been unlucky enough to get Ian once again. The fiddler had not hung up on him this time, but Brian could hear the resentment in his voice. Justin hadn't been there so Brian had asked Ian to have Justin call him. A couple of hours later Justin called back. At least the fiddler had passed the message on.

Brian disliked having to deal with Justin's boyfriend so they had arranged that Justin should call the studio once in the morning and once in the afternoon for updates. Brian wanted Justin to get a cell phone but Justin refused at least until he got his first paycheck.

The first time Brian was to see Justin since he signed the contract was the day that Justin was to have his first fitting. Brian had said he would pick Justin up after his last class at PIFA. It would be over at 2 pm. Brian would drive Justin to the tailor's in downtown Pittsburgh.

At 2 pm. Brian was sitting in the Corvette in the parking lot at the institute. He hoped Justin would be along shortly. He had been resting his head against the back of his seat, his eyes closed, when he could feel something blocking the sun that had been streaming in his open window. He opened his eyes expecting to see Justin standing there.

"You think you're pretty hot stuff with your fancy car, don't you?" Ethan began sarcastically.

"Hot enough," Brian retorted squinting up into the face which had the sun behind it.

"He loves me, you know."

"Who are you trying to convince of that? Me or yourself?"

"You are a colossal ass!"

"Is there something you want, or do you randomly pick cars to hurl your insults at?"

"I want you to be very careful around Justin. I think he needs to be protected from scum like you, and I intend to do just that."

"I'm sure you do," Brian replied sarcastically.

"Ethan!" Justin's voice called. Brian looked the other way to see the blond hurrying towards the car. "What are you doing?" Justin asked Ethan as he arrived beside his boyfriend.

"I'm laying down some ground rules," Ethan said with that supercilious tone he seemed to have perfected.

"I asked you to leave it alone."

"I can't. I love you. I worry about you."

"I'm fine. I need … no, I want, this job. Don't ruin it for me."

"I won't," Ethan whispered and leaned in to kiss Justin's cheek.

"I love you," Justin said and kissed Ethan on the mouth. Brian wanted to hurl, but he kept his mouth shut. "I'll see you at home later."

"Yeah," Ethan said as Justin walked around the car to get in. Ethan gave Brian a scathing look. He remained standing there as Brian backed the car out of the space and roared away.

"Sorry about that," Justin said as they turned out onto the street.

"It's no problem," Brian responded. He hated the fucking fiddler, but he didn't really see him as a problem. He knew Justin would eventually get fed up with his over-protective meddling and tell him to take a walk. He would do everything he could to make sure that happened.

They drove in silence heading downtown. Justin seemed lost in thought.

"Brian," Justin said.

"What?"

"I'm kind of scared. I've never been to a tailor before."

"What? Do you think the scissors will slip and he'll cut your balls off?"

Justin giggled. Brian could always make him feel better. "No," he said emphatically. "But what if he can't make the clothes look right. Could Mark still change his mind about using me?"

"He could but it would cost him. If the contract is cancelled without mutual consent, you would still get a sizeable chunk of change."

"Oh?"

"I thought you read the fucking contract."

"I did, but I told you I wasn't very good at understanding it all. After a few paragraphs my eyes would glaze over and my mind would go to Paris or Acapulco."

It was Brian's turn to chuckle. He could remember the days when contracts had the same effect on him. "A word of advice. The first four or five paragraphs of any contract are 'the party of the first part … blah, blah, blah'. You can skip over them. Look for places where money or time is mentioned. Read those paragraphs carefully. Always check the last paragraph which is usually about what happens if the contract is dissolved. If you understand those, the rest doesn't really matter."

"Thanks, I'll remember that."

Brian continued driving for awhile finally pulling into an alley and parking the 'Vette in a spot that said "Employees Only". They walked around to the front of the old building and Brian pushed open the door. A bell tinkled above their heads.

A middle aged man hustled out from a back room. "Mr. Kinney," he said, "good to see you again."

"You too, Alphonse. This is Justin Taylor. I called you about the fittings for him. Have the clothes arrived?" Justin shook the tailor's hand.

"Oh, yes, and they're beautiful. Mr. Phillips has outdone himself."

"So, shall we get started?" Brian asked.

"Most certainly. Mr. Taylor, if you would come to the change room, I have laid out three outfits that we will start with."

Justin looked at Brian hoping to receive encouragement. Brian gave him an evil grin and Justin remembered the crack about the scissors slipping. He flinched.

"Alphonse is an expert," Brian said taking pity on him. "He won't hurt you."

"Certainly not!" Alphonse responded.

Justin looked sheepish but he followed Alphonse into the back room. A few minutes later Justin reappeared wearing a navy blue pinstripe suit. He looked phenomenal. Brian felt his breath catch in his throat. He felt his heart pound faster. He felt his dick throb uncomfortably.

Justin looked at Brian seeking approval. "How do I look?" he asked with a little grin.

"Dazzling!" Brian said before he realized that had come out of his mouth.

They both blushed. Brian shifted to adjust the bulge in his pants. He saw Justin do the same thing. Alphonse watched the interplay between the two men and smiled. He cleared his throat to get their attention and break the sexual tension in the room.

"Do you think you can help this poor creature?" Brian asked his tongue in cheek.

"He's beautiful," Alphonse stated. "The main thing is to adjust the trousers over his behind. The jacket fits very well except for across the shoulders which need to be taken in just a bit. And of course I will shorten the sleeves to the correct length. He will look magnificent."

"He already does," Brian thought. "I'm sure you will make it so," Brian said aloud finding it difficult to drag his eyes away from Justin's body, from his face, from his lips. "I'm going outside for a smoke," Brian said. "Be back in a few minutes."

As Brian stepped out the door he let out a long breath. This kid was having very unexpected effects on him. By now he should have had him and discarded him. But he had to work with this young man for quite a while yet. He didn't want to screw that up for himself or for Justin. He knew that they were attracted to each other, and he had little doubt that if he pressed he could get Justin into his bed. The kisses they had shared had told him that. But he didn't want Justin to feel trapped or seduced. He wanted him to come willingly. And that meant he had to wait. Fuck!

Brian finished his cigarette and tossed the butt away. He opened the door and went back inside. Justin had on a different suit. It was kind of a golden tan color and looked amazing with Justin's blond hair and fair coloring.

"Better and better," Brian observed with a smile. That earned him one of Justin's blistering smiles.

"The clothes look wonderful on him," Alphonse stated. "It will be a pleasure to make the adjustments and see how perfect he will be."

Justin turned his radiant smile on Alphonse. The older man smiled up as he took the inseam.

"I've never had clothes this great," Justin said. "They make me feel so … special."

"Hold that thought," Brian said. "When we do the shoot, that's exactly how I want you to feel, special, elegant, sexy, charming."

"I'm not sure I can do all of those at once," Justin said with a nervous giggle.

"You do them all the time," Brian said returning the smile. They stared at each other with many unspoken words flashing between them as Alphonse continued his measurements.

"The last outfit for today is the tuxedo," Alphonse said standing up and indicating that Justin should follow him into the back room once again.

After a few minutes Justin reappeared looking extremely elegant in a very unconventional tux. It had a single breast style in a medium grey. The collar was not the usual tux type but had an edge of silk that elevated it out of the realm of a traditional suit. A little triangle of that same silk poked its head out of the pocket. Instead of a bowtie or ascot Justin wore a necktie of the same silk. Justin's blond hair along with the whole ensemble made him look devastatingly handsome.

Brian took in an audible breath as he looked at the young man. He could not move his eyes from the vision he saw before him.

"How do I look?" Justin asked shyly.

"Fabulous!" Brian responded.

Justin blushed. "I've never worn a tux before."

"Didn't you go to your prom?"

"No, I just wanted to escape from St. James Academy in one piece. I wanted no part of the assholes who would be at the prom."

"I see."

"My friend Daphne wanted me to go with her but I refused."

Alphonse began making his markings to adjust the trousers of the tuxedo.

"You would have knocked their socks off if you had gone looking like that," Brian said genuinely meaning it.

"Thanks," Justin said with that wondrous smile.

"There we are, Mr. Taylor," Alphonse said finishing his measurements. "I think that's enough for today. These should be ready in two days. Shall we say Wednesday about the same time?"

Justin nodded. "Thanks so much, Mr.…"

"Just call me Alphonse. That suits me fine."

"Thanks, Alphonse," Justin said holding out his hand to shake the tailor's.

"Most welcome. If you will change now, I need to speak to Mr. Kinney."

Justin went into the change room. He wondered what Alphonse wanted to say to Brian. Maybe the clothes didn't look right on him or the tailor couldn't adjust them properly. Maybe he was going to be fired. He made sure he kept an ear to the door as he changed.

"No fucking way, Alphonse!" Justin heard Brian say in a loud voice.

"But he sent them to me with instructions to adjust them to your measurements. I thought you would like to try them on. I could have them ready when you return with Mr. Taylor."

"Forget it … and don't make any alterations. I won't be wearing the fucking clothes."

"Yes, sir, if you say so, Mr. Kinney."

"I say so."

Justin hung up the tuxedo as he heard Brian's comments. Mark Phillips must still be trying to get Brian to be the other model for his more mature line of clothes. He grinned as he thought of himself and Brian in a series of photos, maybe in a magazine together, looking stunning. He knew Brian was still a knockout even thought the man didn't want to be in front of the camera anymore. He would like to do the shoot with Brian. Maybe he could convince him.

When Justin came out of the change room, Brian was leaning nonchalantly against the wall by the door of the store. There was no sign of his previous outburst or that he was upset in any way. Image is everything with this man, Justin thought to himself.

"Ready to go?" Brian asked.

Justin nodded. "Goodbye, Alphonse," Justin said to the tailor.

"I'll see you on Wednesday, Mr. Taylor."

They went out the door without Brian saying another word. Justin could tell he was still ticked despite his seemingly calm veneer.

"Want to grab something to eat?" Brian asked as he lit a cigarette.

"Sure," Justin said quickly. He wanted a chance to talk to Brian about doing the shoot with him. Dinner would give them that chance.

"Don't you have to clear it with the boyfriend first?" Brian asked sarcastically.

"I can make my own decisions, thank you very much," Justin retorted.

That earned a grin from Brian.

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