Chapter 2

Jeremiah and I arrived at the Carter Gallery a little after Noon. The place was buzzing with activity. The first Saturday of every month was Art at Noon, a young professional, networking event designed to introduce new, hip, young artists to working, young professionals who were earning big salaries on Wall Street. As much as I disliked him, I had to give Carter credit for his business genius and shrewdness. By having the event at Noon instead of in the evening, he didn't have to spend money on alcohol. The event was popular and always packed. The music was great, the food delicious and it was a great place for singles to meet one another and possibly get a date for that evening.

Jeremiah and I moved through the crowd, greeting people we knew until we inevitably became separated. I turned into a lion, stalking its prey at these events. I paid attention to the outfits and purses of the women and the watches and electronic toys of the men. They were clues to who really had money to spend on art.

I was chatting up a young attorney who was carrying a $650 Burberry purse when Alicia, Carter's assistant who only wore the color red, came looking for me.

"Blaine, darling. Carter would like to see you in his office."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

She gave me a sympathetic look. Alicia knew I was not a Carter fan.

I excused myself from the attorney and headed upstairs. Carter was sitting at his desk, studying some papers when I came in.

"You wanted to see me."

"Ah, Blaine. Yes, please sit." He said all of this without looking up.

I sat down and waited for him to speak. He said nothing. I had learned long ago that this was an intimidation tactic he used to make people uneasy. I was immune to it. He finally looked up and began.

"Blaine, it has come to my attention that you have reached out to Curtis Osinka regarding a private showing of Jeremiah's new collection."

"Yes."

"Blaine, I was planning to contact Curtis myself on Jeremiah's behalf. We go way back. I don't appreciate you making me look unorganized. It does not reflect well on the gallery."

Did he really think I gave a shit? I said nothing.

"This has to stop Blaine. I hereby order you to cease and desist contacting collectors and galleries, claiming to represent Jeremiah Johansen. Just because he fucks you nightly, doesn't mean you represent him."

Was he insane? Cease and desist? I leaned forward.

"Carter, you are in no position to tell me to cease and desist anything."

"Oh, yes I am."

"No, you're not." I stood up. "Fuck off Carter."

He started laughing. "You're such a stupid young shit Blaine. You think you're so fucking smart. Instead, you're a blind idiot. I am simply enforcing the contract, signed by the artist. If you have any questions, why don't you ask Jeremiah? That is, if you can keep his dick out of your mouth long enough."

Contract?

"What contract?"

"I don't have time to discuss it now. I have guests to attend to. Why don't you ask your boyfriend? Or, better yet, why don't the two of you come back around 4:00 pm today? I'll have Alicia pull a copy."

He gave me a nasty smile and sauntered out.

What contract?


"Jeremiah, what's going on?"

We were back in our apartment and I was interrogating Jeremiah.

When I left Carter's office and went back to the party, I didn't say anything to anyone. I was completely thrown off by Carter's claim that Jeremiah had signed a contract. What contract? Jeremiah had never mentioned signing anything.

I spent the rest of the party, watching Jeremiah. He was most alive and happy when discussing art. His eyes were bright and lively and he was gesturing and talking excitedly. His beauty drew people to him. He was an excellent salesman of his own work.

I had waited until we were safely in our apartment before attacking.

"Jeremiah, why is Carter claiming that you signed a contract? What contract?"

Jeremiah was sitting on the couch with his knees pulled up to his chin, hugging himself. His eyes were fearful.

"Um, I...I...don't know."

"Jeremiah, why would he say that? Did you sign something?"

Jeremiah looked like a scared child, wishing he could escape.

"Jeremiah! Answer me!"

"Don't yell at me Blaine!" He was on the verge of tears.

Shit. I had scared him but, I was feeling frantic. If he had signed something, it could destroy everything I had been working on. I went over and kneeled before him and held his hands.

"Jeremiah, I need you to tell me if you signed a contract giving Carter permission to represent you. Baby, this is very important. Did you sign something?"

Jeremiah nodded.

Fuck!

I tried to keep my voice calm.

"Jeremiah, what exactly did you sign?"

"I...I...I'm not completely sure..."

I dropped his hands and stood up.

"Jeremiah, you are 26 years old. Don't you know not to sign something without reading it first?"

Jeremiah was silent. Tears were running down his face. What the hell was going on? It was 3:50 pm.

"Come on." I grabbed Jeremiah's hand. "Let's go see Carter."

Jeremiah snatched his hand away. "No. I don't want to."

I was starting to lose it. "Jeremiah, stop acting like a child. This is your fucking career! Come on!" I grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door.


By the time we arrived at the gallery, Jeremiah was sobbing uncontrollably. I kept trying to reassure him that I wasn't mad but I was actually furious. I couldn't believe Jeremiah had possibly sabotaged everything I had been working on for him. For us.

The cleaning crew was still breaking down the party as we made our way upstairs to Carter's office. At the top of the stairs, Jeremiah suddenly grabbed me and kissed me.

"Please Blaine...I love you. I love you so much. Please...don't forget that."

"Jeremiah, I will still love you even if you signed a slave contract. Don't worry. I'll get a lawyer and go to court if I have to. It's going to be okay."

"But, Blaine..."

"Come on." I dragged him into Carter's office.

Carter was standing, looking out his window. He didn't turn around when we entered. Jeremiah was silent.

Carter started talking very quietly.

"Jeremiah? Did you explain things to Blaine?"

I watched Jeremiah shrink into himself.

"Come here Jeremiah."

My stomach turned as I watched Jeremiah walk over to Carter like a freaking puppy. Carter placed his palm against Jeremiah's face.

"Did you explain things, dear?"

What the fuck?

Jeremiah was crying.

I tried to keep my voice steady. "Jeremiah, what's going on?"

Carter turned to me and smiled an evil, smug smile. "Jeremiah didn't tell you Blaine? Why Jeremiah! I thought you were going to explain things."

I was losing it.

"Jeremiah! What the fuck is he talking about?"

Jeremiah walked over to me. "Blaine...I love you...please, don't hate me..."

Suddenly, I felt dizzy. My stomach hurt and I felt hot. Too hot. I needed air. My body wanted to run but my feet wouldn't move. My mind was screaming for me to run. Don't stay. You don't want to hear this. But I couldn't move.

Carter started talking.

"You know Blaine, one would think that by now, that you would know that you can't leave Jeremiah alone. He really is a child in a man's body. Allow me to put you out of your misery. Jeremiah signed a contract granting me 3 years of exclusive representation of his work. I look forward to making him the darling of the art world."

Three years? He owned Jeremiah for three fucking years?

"I know what you're thinking Blaine. You are welcome to sue me to get out of the contract but, breaking the contract early will only allow me to take my pick of 40% of Jeremiah's entire collection."

Oh, my God. What had Jeremiah done? Carter turned to me and spoke in a quiet voice.

" I honestly don't give a shit about the contract Blaine. That's just business. What I really care about, what I truly appreciate, is how willing Jeremiah was to seal the deal with me personally. Intimately. Let's just say he licked the envelope and allowed me to give everything my stamp of approval."

Carter smiled at Jeremiah. "Didn't you darling?"

Licking? Stamping? I looked at Jeremiah.

No. No. No. No. He wouldn't. He wouldn't dare.

"Jeremiah, did you sleep with Carter?"

Silence

"Jeremiah, did you sleep with Carter? Answer me!"

Jeremiah remained silent. Carter spoke up.

"Of course he slept with me Blaine. It was amazing. I can see why you've been with him for so long. He is wonderful in bed. Best piece of ass I have had in a long time. Fucking him was the highlight of my year. And in the process...I got to fuck you too."

No.

Jeremiah wouldn't do this to me. I looked at him.

"Jeremiah...did you sleep with Carter? Did you?"

Jeremiah opened his mouth and then closed it.

Pain was starting to form in my chest and slowly spread.

This couldn't be true.

Jeremiah would never betray me like this. Not with Carter. Anyone but Carter. Why didn't he just deny it?

"Jeremiah...please...please answer me. Did you sleep with Carter?"

"Yes!" he wailed.

I stumbled backwards. My head was spinning. The room felt like an inferno. Jeremiah was sobbing and screaming at me.

"I'm sorry Blaine! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It just...it just happened and I don't know how! Please Blaine! I'm sorry! Please!"

I turned. I had to get out of there.

I walked out of the office. When I got to the stairs I started running. Jeremiah was calling my name and running after me. When we reached downstairs and were standing in the middle of the gallery, he caught up to me, grabbing my jacket. I whirled on him.

And back-slapped him across the face. Hard.

The shock caused him to lose his footing and he fell to the floor. I looked down at him. I wanted to beat the shit out of him. But instead, I ran. Past Alicia who was standing in shock with her hands to her mouth, past the cleanup crew and out of the gallery.

I ran all the way to our apartment. I grabbed a duffel bag and crammed my clothes, toiletries and laptop inside.

And I left.


A few blocks over was the Chelsea Hotel. It was a cool, modern, funky hotel with amazing artwork on the walls. Jeremiah and I liked to go there on Sundays for brunch and to hang out. I checked in for a weeks stay.

Once in the room, I fell on the bed and allowed the tears and pain to take over.

How could he?

How could he betray me like that?

How?

Jeremiah was the only man to ever touch me. Ever. I had given him my virginity at age 17 and never looked back. Naturally, being 4 years older than me, he had experience with others but, once the two of us connected, there was never, ever anyone else.

Until now.

How could he?

With Carter of all people?

I laid there in a pool of tears. I felt my heart crack down the middle and half of it float to the pit of my stomach.

I was officially heartbroken.

Forgive me if my description of contracts in the art world is way off base. I haven't the slightest clue as to how it really works.