AN: Part of the Kadam Week 2023 prompt 6: Secrets
Companion piece of Is it just for one night? (Kadam Week 2023 day 4)
When Chase told him that his main model had called in sick, Kurt felt like he was getting ready to swear against entities he wasn't even sure he believed in.
Though luckily Chase was his usual miracle worker and managed somewhat to have a solution.
That was why the two of them worked so well together. Kurt never pestered Chase on how he found just the right models that fit exactly Kurt's needs. And in return Chase never questioned Kurt's specific directions, nor pestered him for more shows than the ones Kurt could prepare for.
Chase often commented on Kurt's own magic touch, and Kurt's ability to have each and every show working out smoothly. All the times that happened Kurt simply smiled and commented on Chase's own brand of magic in finding the right models.
What no one actually knew was that it wasn't exactly magic, Kurt had very strict parameters for his models for good reasons.
Those were the reasons why he things were going so smoothly at every event.
It had taken an almost complete disastrous event early on, when he was still letting the fashion promoter dictate his deadlines and schedule.
Lack of enough rest and preparation had led to a tond of small things going wrong, that summed up could have destroyed Kurt's career and name beyond repair.
Realizing that was what it took for Kurt to reclaim back the spine that he had been missing since he got together with Blaine.
When in that same week Kurt discovered Blaine was cheating on him, and the gelled hobbit had the face of bronze to actually blame Kurt for being busy.
Well needless to say that Kurt refused to accept that kind of bullshit any longer. And once he had cleaned house in his own personal life, he set unmovable boundaries in his professional life.
Which after some shaking and testing landed Kurt into Chase's care.
So when Chase endorsed a friend of his, who was not a professional model but an actor, Kurt trusted Chase's opinion that Adam Crawford could be a good replacement for the head model assigned to his featured designs.
The name ringed a bell, but Kurt could not really place it. Mostly because it had been such a long time since he had the chance to actually go to the theater, or even pop up a dvd on the computer.
It had taken only few hours observing Adam for Kurt to be more than satisfied with Chase's decisions.
It might not have been the most professional of Kurt's reasons but after he started talking with Adam, Kurt was finally able to place the older man.
In his defense, out of Kurt's own costume, Adam didn't look at all like Sweeney Todd. The production few years back was an experimental one, all the roles were casted with slightly higher registers and adapted.
The result had been captivating, and seeing his own creation on stage had been a balm on Kurt's wounded ego and soul at the time.
The fact that even back then Adam was very attractive was a factor. That Adam had been very respectful and admired Kurt's work when Blaine had dismissed it was another thing Kurt had held on when things were hard.
Kurt had been able to watch that show only once. Back then Adam had flirted and been very open with Kurt, however as Kurt was not a cheater nothing had came out of the invite to a coffee.
Looking back, Kurt had to admit at least to himself, that the fact Adam, at the time a complete stranger, had treated him better in a single evening than his at the time finance did.
Or the fact that Kurt had felt drawn and tempted to accept the invite in the first place… Maybe those were the signs that he should had trusted himself enough to ditch Blaine back then…
But those were now useless speculation, he had a show to put on, models to direct, wardrobe's disasters to advert, and on top of it all he didn't want to come out as a creep. After all what were the chances that Adam even remembered him when literal years had passed since their last interactions?
So he did what he did best, Kurt focused on the situation at hand and pushed on the side what could wait. The day was going pretty smoothly, and he had found himself relax enough to sing.
It didn't happen often, and all the model had learned early on to not ask question nor comment on it. Aside from Adam, all the other models were part of Kurt's usual selection.
When Adam commented on Kurt's voice with a slightly breathless quality, mentioning something on how Kurt had the voice of an angel, Kurt could see how everyone else in the room got tense. Mostly because there had been exactly one instance when someone else commented on Kurt's voice before.
However, at that time it was in a less than flattering voice, and Kurt's reaction had been a cold explosion that saw the model being forcefully removed and Kurt himself walking on the catwalk .
Looking at Adam's half surprised face, Kurt decided that it had been a case of blurting out an unfiltered, so he smiled and thanked for the compliment and then offered to drop the formality.
After all if he wanted to invite Adam out in the near future the formalities were an inconvenience. As Kurt had been considered all day long how to approach Adam, this seemed the perfect opportunity to see if the older man would be interested in a date with him.
Kurt could feel the eyes of the other models on them, but as gladly neither Adam or Chase had kept hidden that Adam was there as a favour between friends, Kurt was feeling sure enough it would not come to bite him in the ass.
Everything worked out splendidly and Kurt was really satisfied. He had heard that Adam planned to wait for Chase before leaving, so Kurt was waiting for the final details for the next day impatient to catch the chance to make his move.
But when Chase announced Adam's name in the next day's lineup Kurt's frown became pronounced.
Kurt always had strong principles and morals since he was younger boy.
Working in this field had exposed Kurt to the fashion world equivalent of the casting couch practice.
Which forged one of Kurt's unbreakable rules, he never ever went out with one of his models
"Kurt? I thought you had no problem with Adam today."
Kurt kept his lips pressed in a thin line. He was at a crossroad and he had three possible options ahead of him. Two of which were not exactly only his own decision despite being the one with all the actual decisional power in the situation.
It was true, Kurt could bend his own rule and date Adam while even if they were working together. But even thinking it was leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He instinctively wrinkled his nose at his own thought
"Chase could you please still search for an alternative name and send Mr Crawford in? I wish to speak with him in private before making any choice on that."
Kurt held back a flinch at seeing Chase's features hardening at his words. Looking back they might have been misinterpreted to mean exactly the one thing Kurt had worked so hard to never be accused of.
But what was done was done. The fact was that while Chase was the one person from the firm Kurt was closer with, and on more friendlier terms, they still were not friends.
And Kurt had learnt early on to keep his private life just that way, private.
Plus Kurt was not sure just how out Adam was with his friends, chances were Chase did already knew that Adam was at the very least bisexual, but Kurt didn't out others. So any and all parts of the discussion he had to have with Adam couldn't be discussed with an audience.
If Adam wanted Chase to knew he was going to be the one to tell.
Once the door closed with a slighter sharper click than usual Kurt took a deep breathe and steeled himself. Why was he always the one caught in the middle of keeping the confidence of people about their private lives, only to end up sounding like the bad guy?
Hopefully once he had cleared out the situation Kurt would not end up with everything shattering around his ears.
He pressed his thumbs on his eyes, willing back the tears of frustration at the unfairness of it all, pushing down his fears of possible rejection.
He was focusing so hard on keeping his breathing steady that he almost missed Adam entering the room and closing the door behind him.
"I do not date my models"
Kurt could hear the flinty note in his voice but he needed to be clear on that point. If Adam was interested in him still, then Kurt needed for his own sanity, to have this point very clear between them.
Kurt could see the puzzled frown forming on Adam's face. It made him wonder if the other man was taking that affirmation as a request for a no string attachment fling and evaluating how interested was the offer. Not that that was even close to what Kurt wanted, but Kurt's own self preservation instincts demanded to wait a little more before putting all his cards on the table.
"Okay" Adam's tone was painfully neutral to Kurt's ears, Kurt's nod came to be probably a little stiffer than he wanted, but grabbing all he courage he continued.
""With that clear I have to say I found myself enjoying your company, and you seemed to enjoy mine as well. Which is why I called you here to talk when Chase suggested keeping you as model for tomorrow evening.
The choice is yours, you've been a wonderful model very easy to work with and able to follow directions. But you are also the first man to intrigue me since I broke up with my ex fiancée. So the choice is yours.
The modeling gig could either be a just for one night event and we can leave together for dinner and see where this might go. Otherwise I'll simply let Chase know you're a on for tomorrow"
On the back of his mind Kurt's unhelpfully reminded him that the last time he was actually as nervous as he was in this moment, and packed just as many words within a single breath, it was another very scary moment of his life. Back in high school when he confronted David… Hopefully today was going to end with a different kind of kiss…
Kurt kept his eyes trained on Adam's face when he finally got an answer. "I won't lie I accepted this gig because I do need the money"
Kurt gave a small nod, he had suspected that was the case why an actor would finally cave in about come in for a modeling gig. It was also part of the reason why he wanted Adam to make the choice, after all if Kurt had misread the signals and Adam was just being friendly and not flirting, then Kurt didn't want to be the reason to create economical problems for Adam due to his own ego in thinking he was being hit on.
Kurt was already thinking that he was going home alone tonight, when Adam surprised him
"But I do believe I prefer the modeling to remain a just for one night kind of deal. "
He legitimately felt his cheeks hurting as the smile spread on his face.
"In that case I think I'll finish a couple of things in here while you update Chase that he should remove your name from tomorrow's lineup and see if he can find someone else. IF possible in a way that won't end with me sliced to ribbons"
Adam winked already half way out of the door "Woo me right and I might even show you in the morning where you can get Chase's favourite breakfast to make him stop glaring daggers at you when you need to grovel"
True to his words Kurt finished to put away some of the items that were not going to be needed the next day before walking toward Chase's desk.
Kurt was unsure how to approach, especially as he heard Adam reassuring Chase that he was okay with not being on the pay books.
Kurt was still unsure on how open he would be allowed to be about dating Adam. As Kurt had never hidden his relationship with Blaine it was known he was openly gay.
For a fleeting moment Kurt worried, but all doubts dissipated when Adam looked up and smiled brilliantly at him stretching forward his open hand. "Well Kurt, I believe you asked me out on a date tonight, so please lead the way to wherever our dinner is."
Holding Kurt's hand in his Adam turned back to Chase "Mate sorry for leaving you to more work, but you know just how long I've wanted this chance."
Chase snorted and waved them both away with a cheeky teasing grin "Off you go now, I've work to do, apparently my boss and my best mate have been thinking with their dicks and couldn't afford me the courtesy of wait one more day before deciding that their personal life was more important than allowing me an early night."
Kurt froze, unsure of suddenly being included in the Chase's characteristic friendly banter. He was opening his mouth to apologize when Chase raised a hand and offered a small smile "Please Kurt don't apologise, I'm happy for you both. And if you really feel apologetic feel free to bring me my favourite coffee order tomorrow when you get in, Adam can share it with you. Now really off you go, I've groveling of my own to do to gbg make things work tomorrow and I would appreciate some privacy for it"
Chase winked as he kept shooing them out of the door.