AN: Part of the Kadam Week 2023 prompt 4: It's just for one night
It wasn't that Adam didn't like going out and networking, on the contrary he knew full well that it was a vital part of the career he chose for himself.
The problem was that this wasn't even an event that relevant for his career or even close to his chosen field.
On the brighter side it was a paid gig, playing model for a young and talented fashion designer.
Chase had been begging Adam for ages to at least give it a try, just for one night.
This far though Adam had not really needed the money, and the job sounded too demanding to invest time in, not with the uncertainty of whether or not it was going to be for a single event or not.
But with the boiler at the apartment needing to be fixed, the extra money was going to be a lifesaver, even if it was just for one night.
Adam had already a half idea to ask Chase for help about getting hooked up in one of those event when his phone rung and said man asked with a note of desperation in his voice "Hi Adam, listen I know you usually don't accept my offers to be a model, but I really need your help. Hummel is the first designer who assigned me his whole agenda. I really cannot bomb this opportunity. Can you please come and fill in? The head model is down with a nasty cold and is unable to come in. Please my friend I could really use some help"
Adam smiled while he answered "Don't worry mate, I was actually just thinking of you and wanted to ask for the same exact thing. Just tell me when and where and I'll be there. Though please tell me there will be some time for rehearsal, just to not be thrown down in the deep end on my first night."
The relief in Chase's voice was evident "You're a lifesaver. If you can come to my office as soon as possible I'll take you there. The event is tonight, so the sooner the better."
Adam allowed himself to whistle at that. It wasn't an ideal situation, but he was going to make the most of it.
Knowing that Kurt Hummel was the designer he was going to modeling for helped a little. Hummel was known in the theater circles as one of the go to name for the most exquisitely detailed costumes with the fastest turnaround of the industry.
And Adam had the pleasure of wear one of those costume few years back.
The show was not intimidating after few runs and some instructions, the walk out were timed so perfectly that Adam had no trouble at all keeping up, he had costume changes with less time than what was offered.
Adam was looking forward the opportunity of spending more time with Kurt. The younger man was attractive on so many more levels than just physical that was almost dazzling.
Adam couldn't recall the last guy who could make him swoon so soon. He was secretly hoping for more chances to model for Kurt, it was a pleasure seeing the sure hands making on the fly last minute adjustments.
But if Adam was honest it had been the singing he managed to hear earlier on, when no one else was around. Kurt had such a clear beautiful voice that he sounded like how Adam thought an angel would sound like.
And more importantly Kurt had been very kind to him when he blurted about how much Adam regretted that he could not have the chance to see and hear Kurt sing to an audience. It was a great loss not being able to hear such an angelic voice again.
When Kurt had gone rigid and all the other models adverted their gaze Adam had feared he had overstepped some unspoken boundary. Instead Kurt had simply smiled thanked him and asked Adam to use his first name.
Everything had run so smoothly that Adam thought he would return the next day as well.
After looking at the paycheck Adam was definitively hoping for a redo.
When Chase came in the dressing room with a frown on his face Adam felt his smile drop.
"Mr Hummel has requested to have a word with you in private before confirming whether or not I can page you down for tomorrow evening as well."
Adam frowned "I thought everything went well, I don't think I messed up so much, did I?"
Chase shook his head, still having a perturbed expression "Look Adam, I heard the rooms that some designers make passes and require, other kind of activities to confirm a their models, and honestly I never thought mr Hummel to be one of them. He never did before. But if he does, please just don't go along with it for the sake of not creating waves. I never wanted you to get into this kind of situations."
Adam simply nodded, he didn't have the heart to tell Chase that if that accusation was true, not causing waves would not have been anywhere close to the surface of the reason why he'd consider accepting the offer.
As it turned out, Chase was correct about the fact that Kurt didn't engage in that kind of behavior. Which to be fair Adam already suspect that being the case, Kurt was too attractive and too much of a nice person to need to offer a job in exchange of sexual favors.
Kurt was abrupt in his greeting, skipping directly to the heart of the matter "I do not date my models"
Adam nodded slowly wondering if this was just going to be firmly setting the boundaries and expectation so that he would not read too much in what was going to happen, or something else.
Since Kurt looked like he was waiting for some kind of answer from him Adam replied with a simple "Okay"
Kurt then 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."
Adam looked at Kurt curiously, he had noticed that nobody else dared call him by his name, nor there had be anyone bringing back a smoothie from the refreshment room during the afternoon.
Only Adam himself did. With the memories of their interaction on the forefront of his mind, Adam tilted his head waiting for Kurt to say more.
"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."
Adam took a moment to consider just how much to say when giving his answer.
"I won't lie I accepted this gig because I do need the money"
Kurt's neutral expression didn't change, but Adam managed to see the dimmed light in his eyes, wondering why someone so talented had not pursued an acting career instead. Not wanting to lose this opportunity due to a misunderstanding he quickly proceeded to finish his sentence.
"But I do believe I prefer the modeling to remain a just for one night kind of deal. "