CHAPTER 79 - LESSONS IN TIMING AND IN DRAG

LINDSAY’S APARTMENT, MONDAY MORNING

LINDSAY

I keep knocking on his bedroom door until he wrenches it open. “What is it?!” He grumbles.

“Get showered and dressed. I’ve got to go to work.” I tell him, backing up at the smell emanating from his bedroom. I dread to think what he has been doing in there!

“What does that have to do with me?” He demands. “Just leave me your key and I can give you your copy back tonight.”

“My copy? You must think me a fool. You are not getting a key to this place!” I laugh. “When I leave, you leave, then you meet me at the gallery at five before we both come home. Now, get ready I am not being late for you!”

“Lindz…”

“Or find a hotel.” I interrupt and with grimace, he shuts the door firmly behind him, and heads to the bathroom. “You are not dealing with Brian.” I mutter to his retreating back.

Twenty minutes later, he’s still not out so I head to his bedroom and pull out his case. I hear the bathroom door open and his footsteps. “Lindz?” He calls out, but I don’t reply. The smirk drops off his face when he sees me shoving his things into his case. So the little fucker thought he’d won, did he?

“What are you doing, Lindz?!” He gasps, pulling out things as I am putting them in.

“Packing for you.” I retort. “You are clearly not serious about this and might as well go home!”

“Wait! I am serious! Please let me stay?!”

“No, Michael. You are leaving.” I tell him firmly and continue to throw things in his suitcase.

“You can’t do this to me!” He snaps, folding his arms.

“I can and I am!” I snap back. “Us living together is not going to work. We are too entrenched in our own ways. There is a hotel three blocks down the road; it’s quite cheap and will do for now. Look at it as the longer term, if you put in the investment now to pay dividends in your future. Your future is with Brian, correct? And you can’t get that future without me and I can’t teach you how to be part of his world with all of this!” I sit down heavily on the bed.

“Lindz.” He wheedles, sitting next to me and taking my hand. “I will do whatever you want me to do…”

“Move to the hotel. That is what I want.” I tell him firmly, shaking off his hand. “Now pack and be ready in ten minutes! Or I start throwing your oh so precious toys out of the window. It’s a long way down!”

Ten minutes later, we are outside and he is simmering with fury but I am unbowed and triumphant!

TRYLON HOTEL - 40 MINUTES LATER

MICHAEL’S ROOM

She threw me out! How could she?! I thought she was my friend and wanted to help me! Well I’ll show her how much I don’t need her! I log onto the computer and set to work.

Two hours later, I am frustrated and somewhat embarrassed as what came up when I typed in male debutante services was not what I expected! I head to reception to get some information about my new surroundings. And then I have an idea...Lindsay is not the only person that can play games! I had seen some papers on her table and I remember the name of the gallery she works at!

I head outside and make my way to the first stop, which is a clothing store. Two hours later, with the perfect outfit and make-up, I head to my final destination.

D’ART DE RENAISSANCE GALLERY - AN HOUR LATER

MICHAEL

Okay, people may have looked and sniggered but it will all be worth it when Lindsay realises that I am equally as determined as she is.

“Can I help you uh sir, uh madam?” The receptionist asks.

“Lindsay Peterson, please.” I simper and flutter my eyelashes.

“Lindsay Peterson?” She repeats. “I’m sorry she’s not an artist with whom I’m familiar...”

“She’s not an artist, though she wishes she was. She’s the gallery manager. Can you tell her that her dear friend Michael Novotny is here for our meeting?”

“Sorry, uh Mr...Mr Novotny but there is nobody of that name that works here.”

“Oh come now. I know she works here. I’ll just go to her office.” I tell her and stride inside.

“Sir! Sir! Please stop!”

I wave away her protests and see some offices at the back and head in that direction. “Lindsay! Oh Lindsay!” I trill, slightly stumbling over in my heels. I find the first office and open it and there is nobody there. I hear voices down the corridor and head in that direction.

“Sir please stop or I will Taser you!” The receptionist shouts and I just wave away that threat.

“Lindsay will have you fired, so you’d best not! I call back.

“You have been warned! Priming!” She shouts and I carry on walking until I feel something hit me in the back and I arch up as electricity jolts through my body and I fall to the ground. I hear the receptionist say something about the police and then my world goes black.

KINNETIC - SAME TIME

BRIAN’S OFFICE

JUSTIN

“Oh! Oh! Yes! Oh!” I cry out, arching my back as pleasure jolts through me. I sink back onto the sofa and smile, then feel soft kisses being placed up my stomach and chest. “Up here... quicker.” I murmur, tugging at his hair but he takes his time. He nuzzles my nose and smiles.

“I can’t believe it.” He murmurs.

“What?”

“We get married in just under six weeks and then we’re out of the country for 6 months. Hey, what’s with the frown?”

“I know this is going to kill the mood but…” I pause. “I was wondering if I could bring my businesses under the auspices of Kinnetic, like what I have with...hey where are you going?” I start to panic that I’ve gone too far when he goes to his desk, but inwardly sigh with relief when he comes back with some papers. He lies back down where he was and hands me them. “What’s this?”

“Great minds think alike.” He grins. “I was trying to figure a way of bringing it up. So have the papers looked at by your attorney and if happy, we’re good to go.”

“And speaking of great minds... When we’re working, Gus and Chandra can’t be taught by me or Leda. They will have to go with the private tutor like everyone else’s kids.” He nods. “Are you sure you’re…”

“I don’t do…”

“What you don’t want to do.” I smile and then yawn. “Can you side roll so I can burrow?” I murmur and within minutes, safely wrapped in his arms, I drift off.

BRIAN

Someone is tapping me. That someone had better have a very good reason! I have a very warm and rutting in his sleep Justin in my arms and I am pretty damn close!

“Brian!” Ted’s insistent rasp permeates my brain and my eyes fly open. Ted wouldn’t interrupt without good reason. “Rapier Tyres are here.”

“Fuck!” I was in the middle of prepping for the meeting when Justin walked in, put the pot on my desk and that was it. “Can you handle them for half an hour?”

“Sure Bri.” He smirks as Justin grumbles as I move him, before exiting swiftly.

“Fucker.” I smile and head to the shower.

DINER - FIVE HOURS LATER

BACK OFFICE

DEBS

The Committee, as we have named ourselves, has been called to an emergency meeting by Daph, who has spent the last 10 minutes laughing and trying to speak.

“Daph, I love you, but I’m 90! What is it?!” Randy demands smiling.

“M-Mic-Michael g-g-got t-tas…” She collapses into giggles again.

“DAPH!” Hunter yells and that seems to bring her round.

“OKAY! Settle yourself!” She clears her throat hard. “So I got a call from Lindsay…”

Start of flashback

DAPH’S APARTMENT

DAPH

God I am so happy that Hunter and Nathan are in love! This means that this place is mine! Randy said I could rent out the other room if I wanted to, but the look on Hunter’s face ensured I wouldn’t. We come as a pair and we always will.

We had exams all of last week and this week is set to be another BOW as we have taken to calling our bitch of weeks. But in six weeks’ time, we are going to be sailing off to the island and then round the Caribbean for six months. However, the next thing we have to organise is Thanksgiving. There is a slight disagreement between Randy and Brian over where it should be held. Randy is arguing for the warmth of Cali but Brian really and I mean really wants Pittsburgh because of the snow. And it being the first one that Gus and Ruby will spend there...I think he’s going to win that one!

I had a shopping trip today, still can’t believe I have this money, and bought my very first set of Loubs! Admittedly, I had to ask the security guard to take the card out of my purse and hand it to the cashier, but that’s not the point! I also have some kick ass flats to wear as they are getting married on the beach and then coming back to the house.

“Holy mother of fuck!” I scream as the prat-phone rings. I take some steadying breaths and let it go to voicemail. Then I listen to it…”

End of flashback

“So here’s the message... I have called her back, but you guys need to hear this…” I start to giggle. “Ready?”

“Yes!” They yell and fearing for my safety, I hit play.

“Brian! It’s Lindz. I am not sure how or why, but Michael has been tasered and arrested. It seems he wandered into a gallery in full drag, demanding to see me! Luckily, I wasn’t wherever the hell he was but unfortunately, someone who knew me was and they called me. However, when I got to the hospital he had already been discharged and taken to the local precinct. By the time I found the right precinct, he had gone from bratty to belligerent! So as well as trespassing at the gallery, he’s also had another charge of disturbing the peace. He’s been set bail of $5000, but I don’t have that amount of money readily available. What do I do? Please call me back urgently.”

There was silence for about five seconds before the laughter erupts and a good 15 minutes for it to stop.

“So...ahem! What did you say to Lindsay?” Vic asks, relishing his nephew’s misfortune.

“I told her to find the money and I would pay her back. Then an hour later, I got this. Ap-ap-apparently, she said give it your best pose before heading into his arraignment, and in his tasered bitchy-ass mind, this is what he did!”

“Oh fuck, I’m going to piss myself!” Debs screams and runs to the bathroom.