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‘Are you sure about this?’ Greg asked, between bites of chocolate brownie.
‘Yes. It’s perfect. I’ve chosen the right platform, we’ve had a lot of chats about what I want to say, how I want to present myself. It’s about time. And it’s really no different to what I’ve always done. Keeping control of my reputation. Only this time, I’ll allow a bit more of the real me to show.’
Alex smiled, and Greg couldn’t help smiling back. His concern was real, but more than anything he was just giddy to be out in public with Alex for the first time. Proper public, unlike the gallery, and proper together. Well. Not exactly. As far as anyone knew, the politician Alex Horne was sharing a coffee and cake with a friend. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Alex had initiated it. Turned out all it took was a small tantrum and a barefoot declaration of love to boost the man’s courage. And now Alex was planning an exclusive interview, to be televised, showcasing the new, braver him.
‘And you want to do it at the gallery?’
‘In the storeroom. On the thrones.’
‘Will they go for that? Seems a bit unprofessional. It’s a mess in there.’
‘It’s not a mess, it’s a treasure trove. And it’s my second home. My first home isn’t nearly as interesting.’
‘Well of course, if they’re OK with it then it’s yours. I can clear out to the gallery floor or the office, or…’
‘No, you’ll be there, won’t you? Watching me?’
Alex’s voice was anxious. Hopeful. Greg had to restrain himself from stroking the man’s cheek or taking his hand. ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘if you want me to.’ He made the mistake of meeting Alex’s eye, and couldn’t look away. In a low voice he said, ‘This is harder than I thought it would be.’
‘I know,’ murmured Alex, soft against the hubbub and the piped music. He leaned in closer. ‘God, I really want to kiss you.’ Under the table, their knees touched.
‘Shh. Be good.’ Greg stole a glance at Alex’s mouth and unconsciously licked his lips.
‘I am being good. I’m being very good and very quiet.’ He supposed that was technically true, but Alex was also being provocative, and Greg wasn’t used to it. Little smiles, little flirtatious tilts of the head, little knowing looks.
‘No, you’re pushing your luck.’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘You know exactly what I mean. Keep this up and I’ll take you over my knee when I get you home.’
‘…Promise?’ Alex’s face was very close. Shit. Too close. People will see. Greg leaned back, out of Alex’s magnetic pull. He shook his head. It was one thing seducing Alex in public, but it was quite another being seduced. Alex was smiling, cheeks pink, eyes bright. Greg chuckled, breaking the tension.
‘Finish your drink, Alex,’ he said. Alex picked up his mug and took a long drink from it, hiding his blushes. ‘…Good boy.’
Alex inhaled a bit of coffee and had to put his mug down while he had a minor coughing fit. Balance of power restored.
* * * * *
Greg might as well not have bothered to tidy up the storeroom before the crew got there, because they immediately rearranged it. He wasn’t accustomed to standing around like a spare part. His instinct was to take charge. But he forced himself to stand at the sidelines while they dragged out the two thrones and moved things into and out of shot. A little way behind the thrones they created a kind of barricade of old mirrors, carefully arranged so that they wouldn’t reflect the cameras but picked up parts of the room at odd angles. Greg was reluctantly impressed. He knew how to design a space that was to be explored, but this was another discipline. It did look effective. He had to keep reminding himself that he wouldn’t be one of the people on camera.
He felt a surge of pride as Alex sat himself down in the larger of the two thrones. If anyone was going to sit in Greg’s chair it would be Alex, not the interviewer. The interviewer sat down too, but it was some time before it all kicked off. When it did, Greg watched from an acceptable vantage point, not butting in or giving suggestions. It wasn’t easy.
‘Alex Horne, this is, I believe, the first informal interview you’ve done.’
‘The first to be televised. I’ve done a couple for magazines over the years. Lifestyle things, with Helen.’
‘And may I just offer my condolences about that. Your separation.’
‘No need. People change. We grew apart. If anything, we’re better friends now. I suspect we’ll always be a part of each other’s lives. We shared a lot.’
‘Indeed, indeed. And is there a special person in your life at the moment?’
‘…Can we stop there?’
‘Cut!’
* * * * *
‘Sorry,’ said Alex, ‘but we didn’t discuss the question of relationships when we talked about this.’
‘We discussed talking about your separation.’
‘Yes, that’s fine, but I’d rather not be asked about any current relationships. I don’t…I don’t think it’s relevant, really, is it?’
‘People would be very interested to know.’
‘Then let them wonder.’
‘Of course. This is your show, Mr Horne. So nix on the relationship stuff.’
‘Please.’
The interview started up again. ‘This is quite an eccentric setup you’ve got here, Mr Horne. Can you explain the location you’ve chosen?’
‘Yes, um, this is actually a back room of the Davies Gallery. An excellent gallery in London. One of my favourite places to be.’
‘And you chose a back room because…?’
‘I’m good friends with Mr Davies who owns the gallery. He’s my closest friend, in fact. And right here on these silly thrones is where I’ve had a lot of the best chats, the best times, of my life.’ Alex looked beyond the camera at Greg, who was smiling goofily.
‘Cut! If you could not look at the camera please?’
‘Sorry.’
Alex waited a while, as a crew member tried to get Greg to move. Greg stayed put stubbornly. The only other spot for him that wouldn’t be picked up on camera or reflected in the damn mirrors would be outside the room. Finally, the director pointed out that Alex had stipulated that Greg must be allowed to stay. ‘Please, though,’ she said, ‘no looking at or past the cameras.’
‘Right. Got it.’
The interview went on. ‘So you feel at home here.’
‘Yes. It’s a place where I feel like I can be me.’
It was true. This was where Alex felt most confident. The interviewer asked the questions they’d specified beforehand, gently and with apparently genuine interest. Alex answered articulately and at length, giving himself time and space to stretch out, giving himself leave in this carefully curated forum to let down his guard. After a good hour and a half, the director suggested a break. Alex wasn’t used to filming at any length, and apparently he looked like he was flagging. He didn’t feel it. He felt invincible. He’d done it. Found a way to have his cake and eat it too. He could be himself and enjoy life and still keep hold of his reputation. And he could do it all with Greg at his side. Once this interview went out, it wouldn’t seem strange to anyone that he should be here as often as he liked. This was where his closest friend worked. People would find it heartwarming.
The crew all left the room for the toilets or the coffee station that they’d set up at the gin bar downstairs. Finally, it was just Alex and Greg. Greg approached the throne where Alex still sat. He seemed to be holding back. Fair enough: people could come back in at any time, and it wouldn’t do to find them in a compromising position. ‘You were brilliant,’ Greg said. ‘And you looked great. Really authoritative and at ease. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you quite like it before.’
‘I felt at ease. And you know, it does help me feel like I’m in charge of things, sitting on the big throne. Big throne energy. Maybe this is my chair now.’ He grinned.
‘Over my dead body. You can play the big shot for the cameras, but…’ He lowered his voice. ‘…When we’re alone, you know your place.’
‘We’re alone right now,’ murmured Alex.
‘Get up.’ Alex stood up. He glanced nervously at the door. ‘Come here.’ Greg grabbed Alex’s hand and pulled him to a spot against the wall between two tall shelving units. ‘There,’ Greg whispered, hands moving to grasp Alex’s hips. ‘If anyone comes in, we’ll hear them before they can see us.’ Alex sighed as Greg leaned down to kiss him. His arms snaked around Greg’s neck, his tongue into Greg’s mouth. Greg’s thigh pressed between his legs, and he broke the kiss, breathing hard.
‘Wait…wait…we can’t. I can’t do the interview with an erection. Not a good look.’
‘So control yourself,’ grinned Greg, before swooping in to kiss him again. Alex wriggled out of his grasp.
‘I can’t. Shit. I need to calm myself down now.’
‘Yes, you do.’ Greg eyed the bulge in Alex’s trousers with amusement. ‘You’re so easy, Little Alex Horne.’
‘Don’t.’ Part of Alex was starting to panic. The break was supposed to be fifteen minutes, but that didn’t mean people couldn’t come in before that. Part of him was relishing being called easy, being called little, and being naughty with a very real chance of getting caught. ‘Maybe just one more kiss,’ he said.
The kiss was slow and sensual. When they parted, Greg stepped back, leaving Alex panting against the wall. ‘Now pull yourself together,’ said Greg.
‘I hate you.’
‘You love me.’
Alex took some deep breaths, thought some sobering thoughts, and had a good swig of water. It was all OK. He was untouchable. He could push his luck as far as he liked now and it would still be OK.
* * * * *
The last question of the interview was the big one. Alex hadn’t been sure they should address it, particularly while sat on thrones, because it might look bigheaded. But they’d insisted it would put him back on the right people’s radars. ‘Now for several years,’ the interviewer said, ‘there’s been talk of a knighthood in your future. Is that something you aspire to? And do you think it’s a possibility?’
Alex smiled. ‘I certainly used to aspire to it,’ he said. ‘Very much so. But I think these days my priorities have shifted a bit. As to whether it’s a possibility…well…who knows? If there’s one thing I’ve learned recently it’s that life can throw unexpected things at you.’
‘Very true. Well. Thank you so much, Alex Horne, for letting us into this little sanctuary and sharing so much of yourself.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Cut!’
The interviewer thanked Alex more informally and told him he’d done a great job. The director did the same. Alex and Greg went downstairs to grab a coffee. Back in the storeroom, a voice rang out. ‘Hang on, we’ve got some kind of issue here.’
‘What is it?’ The director walked over to where one of the crew was examining one of the cameras.
‘This one’s saying two hours seventeen. That’s too long, isn’t it? We only filmed two hours, give or take a couple of minutes. Where did all that extra footage come from?’
‘Oh, Steve must’ve accidentally left it filming through the break. We’ll have a quarter of an hour of an empty room. Fun for the editors. Not a major problem.’
Not a major problem. Just a film of two thrones and a bank of mirrors at odd angles. And whatever was reflected in the mirrors. Everything was probably fine.