Howard sat in Woody’s feeling like a total idiot. His article was being listed as a great work… of fiction. He was in such a hurry to get it in print that he didn’t bother to pay attention to anything but getting his article written and getting it in the paper, by-passing the editor. The same editor who got him stuck in the gossip section of the paper instead of as the voice of social conscience. The same editor who asked why, when the papers were ready to be distributed, changes were made without his authorization. And then he asked why Howard omitted in his tale the fact that Brian and Justin were married. It didn’t matter that the article sold more copies of the paper, just that Howard had written the ‘source’s’ opinion on the couple and then seemed to be the only idiot unaware of the announcement that Brian had married the ‘supposed trick’. Then it was the owner of the rag who also informed Howard that the manager of the band blacklisted them from all events Justin or Brian were involved in, since it was obvious the reporters working for Howard’s papers sourced anyone who wanted to run their mouths, without checking the facts. Howard planned to do that with the Emmett Honeycutt situation, thinking he could save his job by being the one who announced it to the world.

He’d found a way to get the name of the Ironman when the team rallied around their teammate. Michael called him and told him he’d give him the name in exchange for bail and place to stay while Howard could sell the story to one of the other papers with the hope they’d offer him a job. Then he could tell his old editor to kiss his ass for treating him as if he was only fit for the entertainment section. This morning, the article he’d been writing was useless, since outing Drew Boyd was dead in the water when the early edition of Leda’s paper was delivered. The fucking article by Leda got dropped this morning, making him look like a second-rate hack who betrayed Brian Kinney’s band. His surge in social media wasn’t wanting more of ‘Uncle Howie, the man in the know’, just wondering how he still had a job writing news. The only thing Howard could laugh at was how pathetic Brandon’s article looked next to Leda’s.   

Now he was stuck with Michael Novotny bitching and complaining because his name was missing in every article. Howard tried to explain he did Michael a favor since it violated the NDA he bitched about the whole way to Howard’s apartment. Howard left when Michael just proved once again that he really wasn’t the big man of the band when none of the other staff did more than hang up when he called them. Although, one did stay on the phone long enough to tell Michael that they were celebrating not having to listen to him piss and whine anymore.

“I can’t believe they did that to me when I helped them,” Brandon complained sitting down.

“Three paragraphs of a whole lot of nothing, you mean.” Howard snickered.

“Better than ‘Uncle Howie’s story time’. At least my article wasn’t criticized the way yours was.” Brandon said sarcastically.

“No, instead nothing was said that would interest people in yours,” Howard replied.

“There was something, but until I can figure it out, you’ll have to wait,” Brandon told him.

“Don’t expect Justin’s family and friends to give you the time of day either,” Howard told him.

“So you got the ‘We’re very happy and support our sons’ line too?” Brandon asked him.

“No. I got a lawyer’s number with the warning they do not authorize any statement made for them by me since they don’t feel I should be writing more than picture books without words.” Howard told him.

“My editor wasn’t pleased that my article was lacking anything interesting compared to Leda’s article,” Brandon admitted.

“Mine asked me why I listened to the fired towel boy,” Howard told him.

“Michael Novotny was the last person anyone should listen to since all he wants is attention he does nothing to get.” Alex Wilder said from the table behind them. 

Howard and Brandon turned to face Alex, who looked amused at them. “You both sounded like him when you were prattling on about other people causing your problems,” Alex told them.

“I only reported what I found out, then helped them,” Brandon complained.

“You think that deserved a reward? All you printed was something they both didn’t want out. The fact that you got three words out of them was generous in my view.” Alex told him.

“I only wrote what I heard, which isn’t any different from stories of Brian Kinney’s past,” Howard told him.

“Using the opinion of someone who was the very definition of a stalker throughout Brian’s life. In truth, I doubt they really expected any better from you, Howie, because nothing you write has substance anymore. Just do yourself a favor and don’t let Michael Novotny spin you more tales in hopes his name will be next to Brian Kinney’s.” Alex suggested to them before getting up to leave.

“How do you know he wanted his name in print?” Howard asked.

“I didn’t. That was just a guess on my part, based on the fact that he rode on Brian and Emmett’s fame, instead of trying to succeed himself. One warning to you Howard, Michael’s like any animal, once you feed it, it might never leave.” Alex said, leaving them to their misery.

“I won’t be able to feed him long if I don’t redeem myself,” Howard muttered.

Brandon thought it over. He could use help figuring out why the bodyguard was curious. He turned to Howard, whispering, thinking of how to screw Howard out of the by-line if this panned out.

******************************

Vance, for once, was avoiding Ted when he asked to see him with his nephew as soon as it could be arranged. It took letting him know that if he didn’t want to meet with Ted than Brian and Emmett saw no reason to re-sign with the label. Vance arranged to meet with Ted an hour later; a meeting that Emmett and Brian planned to attend. Corey hadn’t suggested they come, but it would be good to see how Kip Thomas reacted around Brian Kinney. 

Vance was hoping to find a way around having his idiot nephew anywhere near the negotiations, but at least wanted them to feel that he didn't excuse Kip's behavior. When Ted had called to tell him about the interview with Brandon, Kip got nervous, as he did every time he did something stupid. Vance’s sister coddled the boy, making him believe everything he wanted he could have. Then expected Vance to do something with the lazy good for nothing she raised when she got tired of supporting him. Vance gave in when she wouldn’t give him a minutes peace and hired Kip as the PA to another lower exec. He was hoping Kip would see it as a chance to make something of himself. Instead, Kip only saw it as a way to meet famous people and got angry when Vance wouldn’t include him on invitations when his clients complained about him bothering them. It wasn’t like Vance didn’t know Kip was interested in Brian Kinney, but so far he seemed to leave Brian alone when he showed up. So Vance hadn’t been prepared to find out Kip might be to blame for the leak and had possibly violated Vance’s clients' confidentiality agreements with Vanguard music. Especially when Dark Angel’s contract was up for negotiations. He’d avoided Ted for that reason alone since it was likely Ted was getting wined and dined by other labels who knew they could get not just Dark Angel, but Xtreme Misfits too. 

He didn’t need Ted figuring out that other managers would be willing to invest with him to get out of dealing with Vanguard music. They respected Ted more than Vance because Ted put his client’s wishes above what Vance wanted. Vance despised the asshole because he made it so Dark Angel had final say in any suggestion Vanguard made. He couldn’t use them to promote other bands Vanguard Music signed because they were not willing to promote a band who lip-synced or singers needing auto tuners when the only thing they had going for them was their looks and talent. It didn’t matter that Vance gave them their shot to become who they were, they thought the world cared that the music was real.

Vance could no longer avoid the meeting with Ted. So he set the stage where he was in the seat of power, willing to offer Brian and Emmett a contract that most bands would dream of, as long as Ted wasn’t part of it. 

As they walked in he poured on the charm,

“Brian, congratulations on your marriage, you picked well with Justin Taylor. Emmett, I hope everything is good for you and Drew Boyd. I was sorry to hear how it was handled but I tried to offer my help.” Vance told them, hoping to make Ted sound incompetent.

“Ted did what he could, but he couldn’t help that your nephew felt the need to talk about us in front of a reporter,” Brian told him, sitting down.

“Yes, it was unfortunate that he trusted his boyfriend’s cousin. I’m sure you can understand, now that you’re in a relationship.” Vance said, hoping to sound as if he was upset about it.

“It also worries my clients that he’s still employed here since part of his job is the confidentiality of your clients. His boyfriend woes don’t excuse him when it conflicts with my client’s privacy. Brian and Emmett’s personal lives have nothing to do with how your nephew impresses his boyfriend.” Ted told him.

“In their future with Vanguard, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Kip is waiting to apologize and will be demoted to a position where he doesn’t have access to anything pertaining to Dark Angel.” Vance told them as Kip was brought in the room.

Corey watched as Kip’s eyes slid over Brian, and he noticed the anger in his eyes when he saw the ring Brian was wearing. He also noticed that Brian’s reaction, as if Kip wasn’t worth looking at, angered him more.

“We don’t need Kip to apologize, as it won’t change anything. We only came to ask him a question before we talk business with you.” Ted told Vance.

“I shouldn't have to apologize, Brian should,” Kip said before Vance could get him out.

“Kip, shut up,” Vance ordered.

“What does Brian have to apologize for?” Corey asked, walking over to block Kip’s view of Brian.

“For fucking everything that walks then refusing me, when my family made him who he was. He could have what Justin’s family’s status gave him, by not walking by me like I was nobody.” Kip sneered at Corey.

“Is that why you thought it was okay to talk to Brian’s son?” Corey asked him.

“Why would I talk to the kid he doesn’t even want?” Kip asked him.

“Hopefully you didn’t, but we need to know where you were last week,” Corey told him.

“I don’t have to answer that,” Kip told Corey.

“He’s been here in Pittsburgh, working here and visiting with my sister,” Vance answered.

“Why here when he works in the California branch normally?” Corey asked.

“We thought it would be better for him to be away from there since his boyfriend rekindled his relationship with an old flame,” Vance told him.

“Like I fucking cared what that asshole did,” Kip muttered.

“Only that he wasn’t available to get you near Brian,” Corey commented.

“Fuck off,” Kip said, storming out of the room, only stopping and looking at Brian as if he would go with him.

“Kip, even if I looked, you have nothing that would make me give a shit,” Brian told him.

Vance shoved Kip out of the room, following him and telling his secretary to have Kip taken to his sister's house and revoking his access to the building. He turned to go back in, almost running into Corey and then ignoring the man, since he needed to convince Brian and Emmett to re-sign. He stopped, taking a minute to curse himself for the mess caused by giving in to his sister’s spoiled son. He pasted a smile on his face, trying to walk in with a confidence he wasn’t feeling.

“Now, we need to talk about the future. After what my nephew did, I can see I was wrong to want to make my sister happy by letting him learn the family business. My loyalty to your band has to come first. I think you’ll both be happy with the new contract; it offers you everything from before and also free promotion from Vanguard, and a decrease in our percentage. I feel with the way things happened recently, there are things Vanguard could have done better and we want to prove it to you.” Vance told Brian and Emmett.

“Let me guess, we should fire Ted?” Brian commented.

“I have managers that would have been prepared to handle how your private life was dealt with,” Vance told him.

“Ted wasn’t told, and that’s our fault because he’s always had our best interests as his only concern. It’s why any contract that doesn’t include Ted, doesn’t include us. Before you act as if it showed lack of trust on our part with Ted, you’d be wrong because we both know we could have trusted him. We both know if he did know he would have made it a point to help us have a life, never wanting it exploited.” Emmett told him.

“If Ted is a deal breaker, we can work with it,” Vance said, managing to sound happy about it.

“Ted has nothing to do with the fact that we haven’t been happy with Vanguard. He was the only reason we didn’t jump ship sooner since he wouldn’t bend to what you wanted.” Brian told him.

“Other labels are going to ask the same as Vanguard does, and while I know there were things we asked you didn’t agree with, it’s normal for this industry to help other bands reach the level of success we help Dark Angel reach. I took the chance on you, remember that.” Vance told them.

“While Ted protected us from being whored to promote your bad decisions,” Emmett told him.

“We can make any changes you need before you re-sign.” Vance offered.

“That won’t be necessary,” Brian told him, getting up with Emmett to leave.

Ted waited, since they’d already told him they weren’t renewing their contract with Vanguard. They hadn’t told him what they wanted to do yet, and really only came because Corey wanted to ask questions and was planning to find a way to see Kip. For once Vance made what they wanted easier.

“You think you won don’t you?” Vance asked angrily.

“It wasn’t about winning but about doing what they wanted. What did you expect when you tried to hide what your nephew did? Even with the bullshit, they put up with Vanguard. They might have worked with you if you’d been less interested in covering your ass.” Ted told him.

“I’ll make sure other label’s know what a pain in the ass you are to deal with,” Vance told him.

“While I’ll make sure they see the numbers Brian and Emmett make. Not that I need to do it, since a few managers agree their clients could do better anywhere else but Vanguard Music.” Ted told him, getting up and leaving.

Corey waited until Ted joined them to say anything. “Kip has an unhealthy obsession with Brian, but Mel showed him the picture I took of Kip and Gus said the man had lighter hair and looked younger. I’m going to have someone keep an eye on Kip though, just in case Gus didn’t really get a good look at the guy.” He told them, before answering his phone and leaving them to follow him out of the building.

“I need to start shopping you around to other labels, unless you need me for anything else,” Ted told them.

“Why not get with the other managers and see what they think about you starting a new label?” Brian suggested to Ted.

“You’d have us, all we’d need is a recording studio to start, since we’d have to record new music that Vanguard doesn’t have rights over now that we aren’t signed with them,” Emmett told him.

“It’s about more than making the music guys,” Ted told them, already thinking of problems.

“When we hired you, you were an accountant, who made sure we didn’t get screwed as other bands did. We’d rather invest in you and the leadership you’ve excelled at for your clients.” Brian told him.

“I need to think about it. Right now we still need to deal with the fact that someone approached Gus.” Ted told them.

“The detective I called said he got the indoor gym to agree to let us see the video footage without a warrant,” Corey told them.