After all the stress of previous chapters, things are finally looking up for Kurt.
And do you know why? Because, even though no smut happens, Sue's in this one. So nothing can hurt.
Also, amazingly, I know exactly how this fic is going to end. Finally.
So this is almost the end for our little star. One more chapter and an epilogue after this. I know, heartbreaking. But we have to move on.
Reviewing me will make the pain go away :)
I don't why, but I don't own Glee. I know right? Crazy.
Chapter Nine – Tasteful Erotica
It was on the day of the Steam shoot that I got the text. That cold, blunt, unemotional text from Will.
Steam just cancelled the shoot. Filming tomorrow at 12pm.
That was it. The old Will, the Will that didn't scare me, would always end his texts with kisses and would call me 'baby' or 'honey' at least once. He would have shown a little remorse about my photo shoot being cancelled and would have apologised for making me work on my birthday. But I knew that working on my birthday was just Will's spiteful way of getting back at me. He'd probably make filming last all day, so I wouldn't have any time to enjoy my 20th with Blaine, Mercedes and Rachel – my little family – and he'd know that I wouldn't argue just out of fear.
But something about the shoot being cancelled just didn't really add up in my head. The magazine had seemed so excited to have me, so why were they suddenly cancelling? I mean, I'd understand rescheduling it but not cancelling altogether, especially at such short notice. They were going to interview me and do a five page spread. It seemed like such a huge part of next month's issue to get rid of. It didn't seem right.
I searched through all the magazines in my room until I found an old copy of Steam. I flicked through it until I found the address off the magazine's main offices. I was going to have to go there. I had to hear for myself exactly why they'd cancelled. I just couldn't trust what Will said.
Steam was the highest selling erotic magazine in the country, but their main office wasn't that far from where I lived. It was right in the middle of the city and took a while to get to by taxi. The editor-in-chief's office was right on the top floor, and I couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous. This place was intimidating. I stopped in front of the secretary's desk, unsure of what to do with myself. A pretty but slightly bitchy looking Latina girl, probably a couple of years older than me, was flicking nonchalantly through a gossip magazine and talking into her cell phone. She was completely ignoring me.
"Brittany, of course you're cat isn't reading your diary. Because cats can't read, sweetie. Yes, I'm sure. Look, you can come over to my place tonight after work. I'll help you take your mind off things, if you know what I mean. I mean we can have sex, Brittany. God..."
I cleared my throat to get her attention, and she glance up at me and rolled her eye.
"Just a second, Britt, work thing." She looked up at me with an expression of deepest contempt that I could easily match. "Can I help you?"
"I need to talk to the editor-in-chief," I said.
"Do you have an appointment?" she said, sounding bored.
"Erm... no."
"Ms. Sylvester doesn't see anyone without an appointment." She smiled in a really fake way. "Sorry."
"You don't understand," I said before she could put the phone to her ear again. "I'm supposed to be doing a photo shoot and interview with this magazine today."
She looked at me a little suspiciously, arching an eyebrow. "Who are you exactly?"
"I'm Kurt... Angel," I said, my insides squirming a little. I kind of hated that name now.
"Ohhh!" said the secretary, nodding and smiling genuinely. "I know you. The gay porn star, right?"
"Yeah, that's me," I said, trying to seem happy about it.
She looked kind of impressed. "Wow. You know, I'm not sure why I didn't recognise you straight away. My girlfriend has a thing about watching two guys doing it and she made me watch one of your movies with her. It was you and this super fine guy with a mohawk. I didn't think I'd like it, but it was actually pretty hot."
"Thanks?" I said awkwardly as she smirked at me. "So... can I see the editor-in-chief now?"
"Oh right, yeah," she said, pressing a button on the speaker phone on the desk. "Ms. Sylvester, there's a Mr. Kurt Angel here to see you."
"Good, send him in," said a voice through the speaker.
As I made my way to the office door I could hear the secretary saying "Brittany, are you still there? Good. You will never guess who I just talked to!"
Sue Sylvester, editor-in-chief of Steam magazine, was sat behind her large mahogany desk dressed all in black. The walls of her huge office were covered in framed magazine covers and certificates. She didn't stand up or shake my hand when I entered the room, and told me to sit down on the small, uncomfortable looking chair in front of her desk.
"So why exactly did you need to see me?" she said, narrowing her eyes.
"I was supposed to be having an interview and photo shoot today," I said, trying not to show how nervous I was. "And I was just wondering why it got cancelled this morning."
Ms. Sylvester sneered at me. "I should be the one asking you that, since I was the one who received the call this morning that you were cancelling."
"Wait... what?" I said, beyond confused.
"Your director and manager, Mr. William Schuester, called me this morning to cancel," she said slowly, clearly angry. "In spite of the fact that this interview and photo shoot had been organised for weeks, we're paying you a considerable figure for it, and we have nothing to replace your five page spread this close to print. So, care to tell me why you've decided you've got better things to do?"
I couldn't believe it. I actually felt kind of sick.
"I don't understand," I said quietly. "Will told me this morning that you were the one that cancelled. That's why I came here. It just didn't seem right... I can't believe he did this to me, he is so... so... petty."
"Am I missing something here?" said Ms. Sylvester, no longer angry but still kind of serious.
"Erm... nothing," I said uncomfortably. "I'm sorry."
"No need to apologise," she said. "I think I know what's going on. I've seen this all before. Schuester wants in your pants, doesn't he?"
I was taken aback by the bluntness, but I nodded.
"And you turned him down, denting his pride and making him feel bitter and resentful, right?"
I nodded again.
"Oh yes, I've seen it a hundred times," she said thoughtfully. "Those overconfident amateur adult film makers who fall for their star, and end up confusing fantasy with reality and the phrase 'no means no' with 'no means please continue'. They're the kind of grinning sickos that you'd never get tired of kicking."
I wasn't entirely sure what to say to all that, but she'd pretty much hit the nail on the head.
"Tell me, Kurt Angel," she said, leaning back in her big leather chair. "I'll probably forget it in a few minutes, but what's your real name?"
"Kurt Hummel," I said.
"I'm guessing it was Schuester who came up with your stage name?"
I nodded. "Yeah, because of how innocent I look."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course. There's always a market for the 'barely legal' on the internet. But that's not why I wanted you in my magazine."
"Really?" I said. "But I figured that's why I'm so famous, the whole innocent thing."
"But you're not innocent. You're a porn star, for God's sake. That's just your character. I'm more interested in the young man behind that character, rather than the product that that perv Schuester created."
She leaned forward in her chair, really scrutinising me.
"I pride myself on seeing the star potential in people," she said. "And that's why this magazine is a best-seller. I've won awards. No one who is featured in this magazine is exploited in any way. It's not about making people into vapid sex objects with no purpose other than to be masturbated over– that's the porn industry's job. This is about showcasing people who are using their sexuality as a form of self-expression or something arty like that. Take last month's cover, for example."
"Oh, yes," I said. "The gothic burlesque performer, Tina Cohen-Chang. Those were some beautiful photos, very tastefully done, and she came across as so down-to-earth in her interview."
"Precisely," said Ms. Sylvester, looking pleased with herself. "And next month's cover star is going to be even better. You."
I did a double take. "What? You mean... I'm actually going to be on the cover?"
She nodded. "And you're not working for Schuester anymore."
Okay, this was getting surreal. "Why not?"
"Lady, I can spot a poisonous environment a mile away," she said. "Usually because I'm the cause of then. Schuester is pissed off because you turned him down. He was only making you the star because he was hoping for a little action in return, and now he's going to make your working life as difficult as possible, knowing that you can't just quit because you've grown to depend on him. You're worth better than this, which is why you're now working for me, since I'm a lot better than him."
"Working for you?" I said, dumbfounded. "What am I going to be doing exactly?"
"Well, I've been on the lookout for a model for a while," she said. "And you'll be perfect. I'm willing to pay double whatever Schuester's offering and you don't have to keep that stage name if you don't want to."
"Wow..." I sighed. "Erm... thank you. I really don't know what to say."
"Accepting the job would be a good start."
I chuckled nervously. I couldn't believe this. "Right, yes... of course, I'll take the job!"
Ms. Sylvester smirked. "That doesn't surprise me. I'll also talk to my lawyer, see if I can get the rights to that website of yours. It would be better if your movies were legally owned by you. Lord knows what Schuester will do with them once you've left him for bigger and better things."
She stood up and offered me her hand, and I got up and shook it, grinning from ear to ear.
"Welcome to the world of tasteful erotica, Lady," she said with a smirk.
"Thanks," I said after sitting back down. "But I'd prefer it if you didn't call me Lady."
"If you insist," she said with a shrug. "Since we're now working together I'll allow you to choose from the following nicknames; Gelfin, Porcelain, or Tickle-Me-Doe-Face."
"I'm going to have to go with Porcelain."
"Damn, I was hoping for Tickle-Me-Doe-Face..."
I couldn't help but laugh. She was so strange, but I couldn't help but respect her. She was saving me, after all. She was offering me a completely unexpected lifeline.
"Santana," she said sternly into her speaker phone. "Put the magazine away, get off the phone to your simpleton girlfriend and call my lawyer. I need a meeting as soon as possible."
"Yes, Ms. Sylvester."
"And then drag those ridiculous silicone jugs of yours down to the studio and tell the crew to step up again. We're having a photo shoot after all."
"Yes, Ms. Sylvester."
"Thank you so much for this, Ms. Sylvester," I said. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Don't mention it, Porcelain," she said, waving it away. "Now you go back to that Schuester and you tell him you're working for Sue Sylvester now. You should also inform him, preferably in public where he can't escape, that he did not make you a star. You did that all by yourself, kid, and he'd be nothing without you."
I had to admit, she made a valid point. I had a feeling that my life was going to get a hell of a lot better after today.
Hope you enjoyed, Humble Readers :D
And, in case you were wondering, yes the next chapter will be smutty. You bunch of perverts...
xxx
