“I’m a student at UCLA, studying for a BA in Film and Television. I’m hoping to get some experience behind the camera at the studio. At least I’ve asked them if it’d be possible. But seeing as I’ve only just gotten the job, I guess I might have to wait a while.”
“Stick with it, kid,” Mike told him with a smile. They reached the car, and Sean placed Mike’s bag in the trunk. He went to open the rear door, but Mike stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Mind if I sit up front with you?”
Sean beamed. “That’d be great.” But then he opened the passenger door and hastily began removing empty takeout cups and chips bags, stuffing them into a paper sack. “Sorry about the mess, Mr. Masters.”
“It’s fine,” Mike assured him, “and call me Scott. Feels odd, you calling me Mr. Masters when you’ve already seen me naked.” He winked.
Sean’s cheeks were on fire. He cleared his throat. “Okay… Scott.”
They got into the car and backed out of the parking bay. Once they’d driven around to the machines at the exit and Sean fed a five dollar bill into the meter, they were out into the early evening sunshine. Mike was glad of his leather jacket. The temperature was below average for the time of year, at about fifty-five degrees. Not that he’d have to worry about that once they got filming.
During the journey to the studios, which were located not far from Hermosa Beach, they chatted about baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. Sean was really into sports, and it was a lively and pleasant conversation. Mike genuinely enjoyed talking with him. Sean had no airs about him and asked about life in Atlanta, a place he’d always wanted to visit. It seemed like no time at all before the car was pulling into the studio parking lot. Sean switched off the engine, got out of the car, and walked around to open Mike’s door for him. Then he collected Mike’s bag from the trunk and handed it to him.
“Have a good day, Mr.—Scott.” Those cheeks were still pink.
Mike shook hands with him and pressed a folded twenty dollar bill into the young man’s hand. “Thanks for the pleasanttrip, Sean. I hope I get you on the return journey in a couple days’ time, or even when I get taken to the hotel later.”
Sean beamed. “Aw, thanks. Yeah, I hope so too.” He nodded and then got back into the car.
Mike watched him drive out of sight and then pushed open the door to Rock Hard Men’s Studios. It was the tenth or eleventh time he’d been out there to film for them, and it never ceased to amaze him the difference in studios. Compared to ManFactory, Rock Hard Men’s studio was a huge, sprawling building, maybe twice the size, and with a look about it that spoke of money. Mike knew the company that owned Rock Hard Men also owned three more studios, two of which produced het porn. Yeah, a much bigger operation than ManFactory….
He walked up to the desk to check in. Normally he’d have been taken to his hotel before going to the studio, but Sean had told him he’d had instructions to bring Mike directly there. Mike couldn’t help wondering whatthatwas about, especially given the hour his plane had arrived.
The receptionist smiled at him. “Mr. Masters, you have a meeting with Mr. Marks. I’ll tell him you’re here.”
Mike nodded, his face straight. Now hewascurious. He’d only met William Marks, the owner of the company, once before, about three years ago when he’d first gone there. Since then he’d only had contact with the director and film crew.
Five minutes later, William Marks came through the wide glass doors beyond the reception desk, his hand extended. Mike shook it.
“Come on through, Scott. I’ve got some coffee laid out. I’m sure you could do with some.” He winked. “I know how vile airline coffee can be.” He led the way along a thickly carpeted corridor to his office. Once inside, he closed the door behind them and gestured to a leather couch to the right of a wide, polished desk with two monitors and a keyboard set up on it. Alow coffee table in front of the couch was laid out with a squat coffeepot, cups, sugar bowl, cream jug, and several plates with delicious-looking pastries that Mike steadfastly tried to ignore. His waistline didn’t need that sort of encouragement. He’d grab something light once he got to the hotel.
He sat down on the couch, perched on the edge of the seat cushion. Something about this whole meeting had him on edge, though he didn’t have a clue why.
William poured out two cups of coffee, and Mike took his as it came, setting it down before even taking a mouthful. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected meeting?” Mike kept his tone light, but he felt as tense as a coiled spring. His senses were telling him something was coming right at him, and it didn’t feel good.
William relaxed against the seat cushions and sipped his coffee. He placed his cup on the table and then ran his fingers through his graying hair. “Scott, I wanted a chat with you before you went on set to share with you some recent decisions that have been made.”
“Oh?” Mike knew he wasn’t about to get fired. They’d hardly have flown him all the way out to LA when they could easily have done that over the phone. He waited for the rest.
“There have been some high level discussions with a view to the studio producing bareback films. I’m meeting with all our models, putting out feelers to hear their opinions on this.” William picked up his coffee and drank deeply, his gaze trained on Mike.
Mike went cold, his mind racing. “Wait a minute.” He frowned. “You mentioned that decisions have already been made. So what’s this crap about putting out feelers if you’ve already decided?” He saw no use in being polite, not if they expected him to do bareback. “And if you’ve done your research,you’ll know I’m a staunch advocate of safe sex. Hardly a likely candidate to want to do bareback, right?”
“There would, of course, be more stringent testing prior to a scene, which the company would pay for.” William put down his cup and leaned forward. “We have to face facts, Scott. The adult entertainment industry is evolving, and Rock Hard Men either evolves with it or faces extinction. There are too many companies these days who are producing what the customer wants—and right now that’s bareback porn. So we’re setting up a new branch of the company, Rock Hard & Raunchy, which will be exclusively bareback, among other things.” His gaze met Mike’s. “I’m askingallour models if they’d like to consider working for the new company.”
“And if they’re not interested?” Mike awaited William’s response, his stomach taut.
William shrugged. “Then nothing. We’re not about to force anyone—God forbid—but we have to offer the option. If models aren’t interested, we’ll continue to offer them work as before in the more traditional arm of the company. However”—his eyes gleamed—“I feel I should add that such a decision might be viewed as short-sighted in the current economic climate.”
Mike had heard enough. “Okay, you say you’re not gonna force anyone, but that doesn’t mean you’re not gonna do your damnedest to get them to go with you, right? I mean, we’re talking guys who want to keep their jobs.” He rose to his feet. “Well, maybesomeguys might be prepared to compromise their principles and their integrity, but notthisguy.” He didn’t care if this meant the end of his career with them. The mood he was in right then, he felt like packing it all in. He was sick to his stomach. “Thanks for the chat, Mr. Marks, but I’m not interested.” All he wanted to do was film the two scenes he was there for, then go back to Atlanta. It was late, and suddenly he was bone tired.
William slowly stood. “I understand. Your filming is set for tomorrow morning. You must be tired after your flight. I’ll have the car brought around to take you to your hotel, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mike nodded and shook his hand, relieved the meeting was at an end. The next morning held the promise of sanity. He was due to film with Jack, a close friend of many years and his lover at one time. It had been a while since he’d heard from his sexy friend, and Mike had been looking forward to their scene. He and Jack had starred together many times over the years, and the scenes of Scott Masters and Armando DiMarco were always eagerly anticipated. It had been jealousy over their relationship that had been the main cause of the rift between himself and Dirk.
Mike always found it difficult not to worry when Jack didn’t keep in touch. It was usually a case that his former lover was up to his neck in work, but now and again Mike would receive a call to inform him Jack was in the hospital, battling some new infection. Then it was a case of dropping everything and flying to San Francisco to be with him.
“One more thing,” William said as he walked Mike to the door. “Sorry to drop this on you at short notice, but there’s been a change of scene partner for the first shoot. Armando DiMarco will not be filming with you.”
