Page 13 of Dreamers Often Lie

“No. But I will go with you and give you whatever help you need. You know that.”

“Good. I believe the fucking mayor and police chief will be there too. They want this sorted out tonight.” He looked back at Walter and shook his head with disgust. Walter was busy ogling a boy that was twerking a few feet away from him.

“Have you and Cappie already spoken?” I was trying to get the lay of the land. I had no idea what I would be walking into with him. Was this whole thing a setup?

“Just stay with me and don’t say anything unless I ask you to.” He hissed, and I followed him up the large stairs that belonged in a movie studio’s opening musical number, not a house of whores and instamodels. He knew where he was going, and I followed close behind while Walter brought up the rear. He was already huffing as hard as Monty as we reached the landing and turned to the right.

At the end of the hallway was a large oak door with Cappie’s name on it. Monty didn’t knock. He pushed the door open and strode inside.

There had been rumors about how he and Cappie used to be an item when they started their first studio, which they called Daddy’s. This was well before any of our time. Back in the day, they used to film themselves with the models as if they were doing an audition. Every video was mainly the same. One of them received head while the other fucked the poor boy who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there with them. Thank God, that wasn’t the way it was now.

“Monty,” Cappie stood up and nodded to the others in the room. Ty stood directly behind him, and I winked as I walked in. His smirk could have made me blush if he weren’t so goddamn smug, and I wasn’t so nervous about being here.

Monty was right. Cappie brought everyone he knew to this meeting. We were totally outgunned. Walter wasn’t an idiot, but he wasn’t the smartest either.

“Cappie,” Monty walked over to the oversized chair in front of the desk and sat down as if he could care less. “Mayor Princeton and Police Chief Jenkins. I’m glad you could join us so quickly. It seems you even beat me here.”

“Listen here, Larry,” Mayor Princeton started and pointed his finger at both of them. I had to stop myself from laughing. Larry? Who knew? “I need you and Milton to take this shit seriously.”

Larry and Milton? This was fucking classic. Ty covered his mouth with his hand. He couldn’t believe it either.

“We’re here,” Cappie sighed.

“Our hands are tied, and I hope you understand the severity of the city's desire to see you and your gang of hooligans put behind bars if you don’t cease this minute.” The mayor slapped the arm of his chair.

“Hooligans?” Cappie guffawed loudly. “Honestly, James, you have been watching way too many gangster movies.” Cappie, or Milton, as I would now call him, made fun of the mayor.

“He always has had a flair for the dramatics. Maybe you should have enjoyed a career on the stage instead of in politics.” Monty agreed and rested his cane on the side of the chair. “You’re looking healthy, Milton.”

“You seem as boisterous as ever, Larry.” Cappie leaned back in his chair. “Do you like what I did with the office?”

“It’s a little whorey.”

They both stopped and broke into a cackle. This wasn’t the act of two men who hated each other. This was the laughter of people who knew each other incredibly well.

“That it is. Fitting, don’t you think?” Cappie grinned widely.

Monty glanced around the room as if he were observing the weather. “I might not have used this exact shade of purple, but it does suit you.”

“Gentlemen, please.” The mayor sighed heavily. “How do you two plan to end the rivalry between your two houses?”

“One simple word, James – collaboration,” Monty said forcefully. “And we will get to that when we are ready,” he barked loudly. “There is no need for your bullish tactics. This is notyourhouse.”

“Well phrased.” Cappie chuckled. “I love to see you get your feathers all ruffled. Same old Larry.”

“Collaboration? What does that mean?” The police chief, whom I knew as intimately as most of the guys in both of these houses, asked and leaned forward. He liked to be spanked, and I loved leaving handprints. Besides that, he was a boring old fuck that I dreaded whenever he asked Monty for me. He smelled of bologna and cheese sandwiches.

“One person from each studio. A collaborative scene that will rotate with our roster of models on a weekly basis. If the boys get to know each other – they will not care to continue the brawling on the street, as you say.” Cappie grinned. “Our rivalry with each other will still exist, of course. It’s good for business. But that, as they say in Hollywood, is just smoke and mirrors. Our boys will film scenes together in a new project that Larry and I will co-own.”

“Fifty-fifty.” Monty nodded, and Cappie shook his head.

“Yes, Larry. The contracts are all drawn up for your lawyer to peruse. I know how you hate to rush into anything, so take your time.”

“When will this begin?” Mayor Princeton looked like he was about to nut all over himself at the mere thought of the idea.

I glanced up from the hole in the floor I had just created with my – I can’t believe what I’m hearing stare – to see Ty looking over at me. He seemed to be as surprised as I was. It made sense, though. After you fuck someone, you either like them or hate them in this business. We could at least all get along. Maybehave a beer and bitch about the studio we’re filming with at the neighborhood bar instead of getting into a fight at the dartboard.

“I’ll have Walter and his team look it over tomorrow, and if it’s, as you say – I will sign.”

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