Welcome to my first multi-chapter story! It's fully drafted and I'm now doing the editing and polishing up with my beta. The story is a slow burn and the M rating doesn't kick in for a long time. The fic is roughly 200k words over 42 chapters. Updates will be each Saturday. I live in Thailand and travel a lot, so the timings of posting might be a little different each Saturday, but I will post faithfully wherever I am!

I couldn't have possibly written this story without my amazing beta, Lilyvandersteen. I've been a beta myself, so I know the work involved, and she is a beta extraordinaire, although any mistakes are mine.

When you wear a bow tie, doors open for you. Your posture is a little more erect; your shoulders are a little further back; your style is a little more dynamic. It's about the reestablishment of the gentleman. – Dhani Jones, former American football player

February

As Blaine is sitting on the backseat of the Mercedes-Benz S-class sedan, he pinches the bridge of his nose – he hasn't slept long enough on the overnight red-eye flight, even though he's flown first class. Bentley, his driver, is expertly navigating through the usual morning rush hour traffic in Manhattan. Last night, Blaine was in LA and attended the grand preview of the Lifetime movie 'The Twelve Men of Christmas'. Why it premiered in February is a mystery. Blaine can only assume that the movie missed its original deadline, went over budget and made the producers desperate to get any of their money back. Cooper was one of the chiseled stud muffins in the movie and in Blaine's opinion, gave a great performance. I only hope he gets his big break before his 'stud muffin' looks resemble a cream-filled cronut.

The highlight of the evening had been meeting the movie's star, Kristin Chenoweth, in person. In Blaine's opinion, no one could touch her portrayal of Belinda in 'Wicked'. After meeting Kristin, Blaine concluded that she was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.

"Blaine, traffic's bad so we'll be arriving at the office in about 15 minutes," Bentley reports.

The driver discretely glances in the rear-view mirror to get a glimpse at his boss. Blaine's hair is the usual mess of unruly curls and he is sporting his trademark stubble. Even though Bentley is straight and happily married, he understands why Blaine attracts men and women alike wherever he goes. It's more than just good looks - Blaine has a magnetic presence. The paparazzi and fans make Bentley's job even harder, but he would do anything to protect his boss. It's worth it; Blaine is a decent and a down-to-earth person and Bentley admires him for that.

"Thanks, Bentley. Make sure you drop me off at the back entrance. I don't think I can cope with arriving at the more public front door today."

"No problem, Blaine. I'll let Tina know when we are closer."

Blaine stretches out in the luxurious leather backseat and sighs before taking out his tablet. When he's finished reading his work e-mail, Blaine switches to the social media sites. There is the usual high volume of photos and tweets for the highly publicized event last night. He knows that both Cooper and his mother will be thrilled with the attention. Due to a last minute business trip, his father was unable to attend, leaving Blaine to escort his mother. He had planned to attend anyways, and it was the ideal opportunity to catch up with her; they didn't see each other often enough. Blaine takes a last glance at Twitter and discovers that #AndersonBeauties is now trending. Wow, my mother is definitely going to be really excited when she finds out.

Blaine sees a photo of him, Cooper and his mother on the red carpet, and quickly retweets it with PamAnderson is the real beauty in the family.

When the sedan stops at the traffic light, Blaine gazes out of the car window and takes in the sea of workers rushing to get to their offices on time. He counts himself lucky to have Bentley, as the downtime gives him time to think about things - both work-related and personal.

After seeing his mom and Cooper again last night, Blaine's thoughts drift to his teenage years in Ohio. He had known from an early age that he was gay. While his friends were gossiping about the cute girls at school, he was secretly daydreaming about the cute boys. At night, he'd surf the Internet and he had been pleased that he could put a label on his sexual feelings, and that they were not unusual. He then moved on to gay porn sites and they had aroused him, excited him, and many a night was spent on the fratboys website.

Blaine was 13 years old when he came out to his parents. They had not been amused, particularly his father. "Nonsense, Blaine. It's just a phase you're going through. You'll soon grow out of it" were his exact words. Soon after, his father insisted that they rebuild a classic car together. The whole project was a disaster from the start. Blaine wasn't even old enough to drive, and he guessed that his father thought getting his hands dirty might make Blaine straight. When the project didn't produce the desired effect, his father soon lost interest, and so did Blaine. It was the first time Blaine felt that his parents really didn't get him.

Blaine knows that his parents love him…really love him. When he was beaten up at his school's Sadie Hawkins dance, his father immediately pulled him out and sent him to Dalton Academy. It was the Best. Decision. Ever. Blaine auditioned for the Warblers glee club and soon became their lead soloist. The Warblers were like rock stars at Dalton and Blaine made it his personal mission to sexify their performances. He quickly discovered that there were other gay boys at Dalton, and they were into him - suggestive looks in the halls, flirting in the dining room, and secret messages passed in class. It was all part of the fun, and he enjoyed messing around with a select few. Yep, definitely gay.

During his senior year at Dalton, Blaine had really wanted to pursue a music career - not necessarily being in the limelight, but making art and helping others. His father quickly squashed his dreams. "I'm not going to fund your 'airy fairy' dreams, Blaine. You need to have a more practical major because life is going to be rather difficult for you being gay." At the time, Blaine was young and impressionable, and desperate to win his father's approval. So he attended Harvard and graduated Magnum Cum Laude in Business Studies. Now that did make his father proud. How he used his degree did not.

I'll always love my mama… I'll always love my mama… blares in the car as Blaine's phone vibrates. Bentley tries to suppress a chuckle but he finds it impossible – only Blaine would have selected this song as a ringtone for his mother. Blaine smiles apologetically, as he retrieves his phone from his jacket pocket. He knows the ringtone is cheesy, but he loves the Intruder's R&B sound.

"Hi, Mom. You're awake pretty early, considering we left the premiere at midnight." Blaine knows that she is staying with Cooper in LA for a few extra days to do some shopping.

"Well, there's no sleeping in when my phone is continually pinging with thousands of Twitter notifications. Thanks for the retweet, honey. I love that photo."

"Me too." Blaine smiles warmly at the thought of his mother scrolling through her Twitter account. He makes a mental note to have the photo enhanced so he can print it out and frame it for next Mother's Day.

"I want to thank you again for arranging the Stella McCartney dress. I can't believe I wore one of the dresses in her Spring line before this month's New York's Fashion week. My friends are so envious."

"Well, that's one of the many perks of the job. Speaking of which, did you receive the tickets I had Tina send to you for the New York Fashion Week?"

"Yes, thanks. We've booked our flights and are arriving next Sunday. Any chance of seeing you?"

"I'm not sure, Mom. You know how hectic the week is for me. It will really depend on how tonight's awards go. I'll check with Tina and she'll call you if there are any events we can go to together."

"Ooh, that sounds great. I'll be sure to bring an outfit or two to wow the paparazzi. Take care of yourself, dear, and I'll see you soon."

Blaine grins when he thinks of his mother flittering between events at the Fashion Week. She's the one who nurtured his passion for fashion at an early age. She bought him his first bowtie and sweater vest, gave him an enormous clothing allowance, and set up a VIP account at Brooks Brothers for him to indulge himself. By the time he entered Harvard, he was confident with his own sense of style.

Ah yes, Harvard. That was definitely an interesting period in my life.

In college, Blaine had kept his nose to the grindstone most of the time. Rather than joining a music society, which would only anger his father, he joined the LBGT club and soon realized that he was passionate about their rights - his rights. During his first two years at Harvard, he organized many of the club's events, and at the start of his junior year, he was elected the club's president. The leadership role was an invaluable experience – it gave him the opportunity to figure out a leadership style that would attract new members, motivate people and make things happen. He'd even considered a career in politics during his senior year, but ultimately, he decided against it. He didn't want his life to be about stooping down to the dirty tactics necessary to get elected.

At Harvard, Blaine felt that it was really important to him to prove to his father that it was possible to be gay and successful in his own special way, outside the LBGT community. So he had started a blog called 'Bowties and Suspenders'. Each day he would take a selfie of his outfit and post it online. Before he could blink, he gained followers from around the world. Blaine's business studies at Harvard only confirmed that he should capitalize on his following, so he decided to create a YouTube channel as well. While most people considered Blaine attractive, he knew that he alone couldn't pull in the the massive number of subscribers in order to make the YouTube channel a money earner. Sam, his local pizza delivery boy, agreed to be a model for his YouTube channel and his follower count grew, and grew, and grew. They grew to the point that during his senior year, Vogue had actively recruited him.

Through his brains, hard work and charming manners, Blaine had rapidly climbed up the ranks of Vogue. After a few years of executing other people's ideas, he had one of his own. Vogue was planning an issue around the theme 'sexual fantasy' and he had a brilliant, most spectacular idea. He phoned Sam and told him to get himself to New York pronto, and arranged a photo shoot with Sam in the tightest underpants imaginable. He then called Calvin Klein to pitch Sam and his vision for an underwear ad campaign to be launched at the same time. Fortunately, Calvin Klein agreed, and the Vogue issue and Calvin Klein's ad campaign were simultaneously released. Sam in underpants was plastered on every single New York City bus, with a side mention to Vogue.

Vogue's subscription base grew exponentially as a result, and so did the profits. After a year of doldrums, Vogue once again became the place to find out the latest fashion trends. When Anna Wintour announced her retirement last spring, Blaine was perfectly placed to become her successor.

"Darken the city, night is a wire… Steam in the subway, earth is afire…Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo," blasts from Blaine's phone.

This time, Bentley roars with laughter. "You're just too much, Blaine. One day I'm going to find out what song you use for my calls."

"Uh, uh - not happening. But I promise it's a good one!" Blaine chuckles as he grabs his phone.

"Hey, stud muffin. Why aren't you sleeping?" Blaine asks.

"Who can sleep when Mom is squealing in the next room? She sounds like a teenage girl who just found out her crush 'like likes' her."

"Oh, let her enjoy herself. She's always loved the limelight, even if it's just in Westerville."

"Thanks for coming last night, bro. Your presence definitely got the paparazzi out in full force and gave me the exposure I need."

"You're welcome, Coop, but I hardly think my presence did that."

"Of course it did," Cooper replies. "You're one of the 'most eligible bachelors' in New York City."

Blaine groans down the phone. He could practically hear the air quotes. The New Yorker Magazine recently named him the '#1 Gay and Single Hot Dude in New York City'.

"You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"Nope, never. Sorry, but I've got to go. My stomach is rumbling and I've got to tear Mom away from her phone long enough to convince her to make me her special blueberry pancakes. Later, squirt."

As Blaine returns his phone to his jacket pocket, he thinks about his recent award in the New Yorker magazine. According to the article, he has it all - stunning looks with his curls and hazel eyes. Blaine smiles when he thinks about the paragraph complimenting his 'rocking body' - he's secretly proud of the remark, as it means that his strict exercise and diet regime are paying off. The article went on to say that he is powerful as the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, and is in the top 95% income bracket. The icing on the cake is that he is relatively young, at 28 years old.

Blaine's life sounds good on paper, but the reality is slightly different. With all the media hype and his recent promotion at Vogue, Blaine feels that he lives in a fish bowl - his life is laid out in a series of photos and tweets. It does well for promoting the magazine, but it ruins any chance he might have for a personal life. Fortunately, Sam is there to help fend off the legions of fans and is his go-to 'plus-one' for public events.

"Tina's reported a massive gathering at the front entrance, so she is expecting you at the back of the building," Bentley announces, as the car rounds the corner of One World Trade Center, home to the Vogue offices. Blaine peeks out the window – there is a crowd of at least 100 people waiting for his arrival. He truly loves his fans, but there is no way he feels like he can deal with them this morning.

"Thanks, Bentley. I'm in the office all morning, but I'll need you to drive me to a lunch meeting and then off to an afternoon photo shoot. The National Magazine Awards are this evening, so it's going to be a long day for you. Sorry about that."

"Absolutely no problem, Blaine. I've already told Marge not to expect me home until after midnight. I can't wait to drive home the recipient of the 'Best Magazine' award."

"Well, that's a bit premature. There are some serious contenders for the award tonight, and not just in the fashion industry. But thanks for having such confidence in Vogue…and me. It means a lot to me."

Blaine changes his sunglasses from one of his 'signature' styles to a basic pair of Oakley's. This is not the morning he wants anyone to recognize him.

When Blaine exits the express executive floor elevator, he is greeted by Tina, his personal assistant. "Good morning, Blaine. You don't look like your usual sparkly and sunshine self."

"And good morning to you," Blaine replies, a lot chirpier than he feels. "Tina, sometimes honesty is not the best policy. Now hand over those clothes. I'm going to take a quick shower and then we can deal with the day."

Blaine lied to Tina. There is no such thing as a quick shower in Vogue's executive floor bathroom suite. The shower is a tiled flat bed with 6 streams of water jetting down – it's like a shower and massage all rolled into one. While the streams of water pour over his body, the stale airplane smell slowly disappears. His body feels loosened and relaxed, and as Blaine leaves the stall, he feels invigorated and ready to take on the day. He manages to put in his contact lenses, but there is no way he plans to shave. He hates shaving at the best of times, and since he will have to do it later in the day, in preparation for the evening's event, he decides to forgo the razor for now.

As Blaine dresses into the clean and neatly pressed clothes, he thinks about Tina. He feels like he has known her forever. She was his next door neighbor in Ohio and they were close friends from the day she moved in. Tina was the first person he came out to, desperate to have her know his deepest feelings and have her acceptance. When she muttered "I knew that, Blainey Days," and gave him a big hug, he realized that that she was a friend for life. There was a bump in the road during their teenage years when Tina developed a crush on him, but fortunately they had managed to work past that. When he was promoted to a position at Vogue important enough to be granted a PA, he immediately called Tina and offered her the job. She hadn't hesitated to move to New York and work for him. Tina is bright and efficient, but most importantly, she has Blaine's best interests at heart. She is definitely a keeper.

Blaine quickly walks into his executive suite's reception area and smiles at Tina. "Am I sparkly and full of sunshine now?" he asks cheekily, as he strikes a pose.

Tina giggles and takes her time to look him over. "Yes, I think you are. How was last night's premiere?"

"Well, it was just as what you would expect from a Lifetime movie. Coop was great, in spite of all his finger pointing and shouting. I could practically hear the girls swooning in the theater, so I think it's going to be a success for him. I hope it is - Coop deserves his big break."

Tina nods in agreement. She has seen first hand how Cooper taunted and teased his younger brother when they were growing up – at the time, you could cut the tension between them with a knife. But when Blaine joined the fashion industry and was no longer Cooper's competition, the strain between them slowly melted away. Tina thinks that they now have a comfortable friendship and they always support each other.

Tina glances at her computer screen, which displays Donald Trump on the New York Times website. "Did you read Trump's latest thoughts about marriage equality? He said that he opposed it because he was a 'traditional' guy."

Blaine thinks about this for a nanosecond. Dealing with opponents, like Donald Trump, is exactly the reason he decided against a political career during his Harvard years.

"Prejudice is just ignorance. He's not worthy of us even discussing his views. Now go ahead and tell me what's on the schedule for today."

Tina smiles at Blaine's reaction, as it was exactly what she was expecting. "I'm not going to lie. It's chockablock. No appointments this morning, but the May issue's mock-ups are on your desk to review."

"Ugh! I don't feel up to florals and pastels this morning...or any morning. What's next?"

"There's the lunch meeting with Marc Jacobs, but I am sure you have already prepared for that."

Blaine is secretly dreading the meeting with Marc Jacobs, as he is a tricky client to deal with. There's a fine balance between including his new fashion line in the magazine's photo spreads and having him place prominent and expensive ads in Vogue. With the recent stagnant circulation numbers, Blaine knows he will have to be on top form for this meeting and somehow find a winning card to keep Marc Jacobs as a big advertising income stream.

"This afternoon, you're expected at the photo shoot for your final approval. And of course, there's the National Magazine Awards event this evening. I assume that you're planning to take Sam as your 'plus-one'?"

"Yeah, I just have to confirm it with him. I'll do that this morning. Do you have our outfits?"

"Yes, they're hanging on the hook at the back of your door. They're both pressed and ready to go."

As Tina hands over his medium drip coffee, Blaine gives her a peck on the cheek. "You're the best! I don't know what I would do without you."

"I know, Blaine…. Now go on and start your day."

When Blaine enters his office, he takes a good look around. The mood, created by furniture, colors and textures, feels like him and somewhere he likes to work. He is rather proud of how he has redesigned it from Anna Wintour's days. The enormous corner office still retains a look deserving of Vogue's editor-in-chief, however, he has replaced what he considered Wintour's misguided eclectic look.

With budget no object, Blaine has opted for a blend of the modern and traditional. Blaine is particularly proud of his AC executive desk. The desktop is a slab of the very best oak, in a rich color that reminds him of a ripened horse chestnut on an autumn day. Blaine has done his research - oak represents wisdom and strength, both of which he wants to project as the new editor-in-chief. The traditional desktop has an unexpected twist; its legs are modern steel with an interesting crisscross weave design. The desk reflects tradition, modernity and high design. There is a chair situated on the opposite side of the desk to invite visitors to sit down and work with him.

Behind the desk is a long table that always has the mock-ups for Vogue's next issue. The table faces the floor-to-ceiling windows that afford a view of Manhattan's sky scrapers. Blaine removed the stiff visitor chairs that Wintour was famous for, and instead created an inviting space with sofas and armchairs. The racks of potential clothing to appear in Vogue, subject to his approval, are disguised behind a small wooden partition - not only so that visitors aren't overwhelmed, but also to keep secrets hidden. The walls are rather plain, as the only items on display are Vogue covers issued under Blaine's leadership. Blaine, glancing around, feels like he can't wait until the wall space is fully covered.

Blaine sits down on his executive leather chair, takes his mug of coffee, blows to cool it down, and takes his first sip. It's like a taste of heaven.

Tina certainly knows how to create the perfect coffee, with the ideal blend of coffee, cinnamon and sugar.

When Blaine starts up his computer, he thinks about how important tonight's National Awards event is. Vogue is up for several awards, but the most important one to Blaine is the 'Magazine of the Year' - the big prize. It would be a feather in his cap and a public nod that he is right person to be Vogue's editor-in-chief. It would make meetings with potential advertisers go so much smoother with this sort of public recognition.

"Blaine, I have Sam on line one," Tina calls out.

"Thanks, Tina. I'll get it in just a sec."

Sam is more than just a model for Vogue and 'arm candy' when Blaine needs him – Sam's his best friend and roommate. Blaine developed an unrequited crush on Sam during his Harvard days - who could resist those lips and abs? Deep down in his heart, he had known it was impossible because Sam was straight, but it didn't make the crush any less powerful. Sam eventually figured out Blaine's guilty pleasure was him and was totally cool about it. "You don't need to be uncomfortable. Frankly, I'm an attractive guy and you're into dudes….and if you weren't into me, I would probably be pretty offended."

At the time, Blaine was so, so afraid that his crush would jeopardize their friendship. However, Sam knew exactly how to let him down in the kindest possible way and make their friendship grow even stronger.

Blaine leans forward to pick up the call. "What's up, Obi-Wan?"

"Hey, R2-D2. I'm currently at the photo shoot. Man, the floral and pastels theme is so lame. You've got to shake it up a bit. But I'm not calling about that. Do you still need me for tonight's event?"

"Absolutely."

Blaine knows that all eyes will be on him tonight. Not only does Blaine need his regular 'arm candy' for the media coverage, but he needs Sam's emotional support. "I'm coming to the photo shoot later this afternoon and I'll have your penguin suit."

"Thanks, dude. Just so you know, I won't be available next weekend for any events as I'll be with Mercedes in Boston. I'm so glad that her tour is finally taking place on the east coast."

Mercedes and Sam have a 'thing', but that's not something they want the public to know about. Mercedes has a newly blossoming music career with her first concert tour, so she doesn't need the spotlight directed at her and Sam. Although Mercedes is based in LA and Sam in New York, somehow they manage to make their long-distance relationship work.

"That's fine. I don't have any public events planned until the New York Fashion Week. I'm so grateful that you can help me out tonight. I just can't deal with all propositions from model wannabes and fangirls when I'm on my own. It gets creepy and super scary."

Sam chuckles down the line. "Well, our 'arrangement' works out for both of us. I don't like all the propositions either and I don't need the temptation when Mercedes is away. It's bros helping bros."

"If you just ask Mercedes to marry you, then your problem will go away," Blaine retorts, and he starts singing "Put a Ring on It" into the phone.

Sam laughs as he replies, "I might just do that."

When Blaine puts down the phone, the conversation leaves him thinking about his own disastrous private life. Blaine is out and proud, which makes him a target for gay men wanting to get into the fashion industry and women thinking they can convert him. Well, that's not going to happen. I'm a perfect gold star gay.

On any given day, Blaine has his pick of gorgeous men to take home and could have any sexual fantasy satisfied. However, Blaine knows that this is because of his powerful position at Vogue and his 'most eligible bachelor' status publicized in print and on-line. The reality is that he never meets interesting guys that like him for who he truly is…the real him. So he never goes on dates…. And he is so lonely.

He longs for a long-term loving relationship. Someone he could adore and dote on. Someone to walk hand in hand through Central Park with while walking their dog. Someone to retire to Provincetown with and live out their remaining years in a lighthouse. Someone real and authentic. "Is that too much to ask for?" thinks Blaine, as he sits to get down to the task of reviewing the May issue's mock-ups.

Author's note

Pam Anderson's ringtone: 'I'll Always Love My Mama' by the Intruders
Cooper Anderson's ringtone: 'Rio' by Duran, Duran
Song in Sam and Blaine's conversation: 'Single Ladies' by Beyoncé

I've posted my thoughts about this chapter while I was writing it over at Tumblr (HKVoyage). You will also find the amazing story artwork created by Cassie at CC-Graphics on Tumblr.

Reviews are like a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows on a cold winter day.

Next up: Kurt interviews for an internship at Vogue.