Two

“There's someone here to see you, sir.” One of the bartenders poked his head into Joseph Fatone's office.

“We're not open. And I'm busy.” The front legs of Joseph's chair hit the floor with a thud as he leaned forward from the precarious position he had been sitting in.

“I think you might want to see him, sir,” the bartender said, glancing over his shoulder. “He gave me his card.” The bartender was obviously impressed. Joseph waved a disinterested hand into the air.

“Whatever. Leave it and get back to work.”

Joseph waited until the bartender left before he picked up the card and read it. Lance Bass, FreeLance Enterprises. Joseph swallowed deeply. Even he knew who this person was. And he was waiting, alone, in the front of the theater. Joseph jumped up and straightened his suit jacket, then ran a hand through his short, dark hair. He took a few deep breaths before walking out into the main room of the theater.

“Mr. Bass!” Joseph threw a smile onto his face as he strode across the dance floor. “My apologies for keeping you waiting!”

The blond man turned around, giving Joseph an amused smile. His suit was of an expensive grey silk, and the grey in the tie around his neck matched the suit perfectly. His green eyes wandered around the room, taking in everything. He was younger than Joseph, but had an air of maturity beyond his years. “Mr. Fatone, is it?”

“Please, call me Joseph. Can I get you something?”

“No, thank you. Your employee already offered.” The green eyes flickered over to the bar. “May we speak somewhere in private?”

“Of course, Mr. Bass.” Joseph led his important visitor into his office, wishing that he had taken the time to straighten things up. Piece of costumes hung on the walls, and paper seemed to be covering every flat surface. Joseph cleaned off the chair in front of his desk, then sat down in his own chair. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“I must admit that this is my first visit to your establishment,” Mr. Bass said, looking around. “But I've heard of it.”

“I'm flattered,” Joseph said, and he was. There were many well-known homosexual men that attended the shows, but it was rare that someone of Lance Bass' notoriety and wealth showed his face in the door. Joseph never would have assumed that Lance was gay.

“I've also heard that you have quite a little starlet headlining here,” Mr. Bass continued. Joseph smiled.

“Ah, yes, Justin Timberlake. My pride and joy. I've raised him myself, and he is a talented young man.”

“That's what I've heard. And I've heard he's not too hard on the eyes, either.”

Joseph smiled again. “If you like that sort of thing, yes. Justin is a beautiful boy.”

“I'd be willing to make a small…donation to the upkeep of the theater if you can arrange for me to have dinner with Mr. Timberlake.” The green eyes did not waiver from Joseph's face. “A private dinner.”

Joseph's ears perked up at the word “donation.” That would bring him one step closer to turning the Star into a legitimate theater. “I'm sure Justin would love that. It would have to be after tomorrow night's performance, of course.”

“Of course.” Mr. Bass nodded his head. “I'm eager to see what he can do…onstage, of course.”

“Of course,” Joseph said, giving a small chuckle. “Shall we say eleven? I'll have someone come to your table and escort you up to Justin's rooms once he's cleaned up and dressed after the performance.”

“Excellent.” Mr. Bass stood and Joseph followed. “Till tomorrow then, Mr. Fatone.” Lance Bass shook Joseph's hand and let himself out of the office. Joseph sat down, his hands trembling. 

Justin stood on his tiny balcony, tightening the thick flannel robe around his slender body. He munched on the candy bar, looking down at the street. Children played, shopkeepers yelled, and here he was, above it all. It should have been all he could have asked for…but it was incredibly lonely at the top of the world.

He turned to go back into his apartments when someone knocked at the door. “Justin?” A familiar voice yelled.

“One moment, Joe!” Justin yelled. He shoved the forbidden chocolate bar into a pocket of his robe and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. He sat down at the desk and pretended to be writing a letter. “Come in!”

“Justin!” Joseph was almost frantic with excitement. “Guess who came to see me in my office today?”

“I have no clue,” Justin said, but he put down his pencil.

“Lance Bass.”

Justin paled slightly. “THE Lance Bass?”

“Yes! He wants dinner with you…and will make a donation to the theater for the honor!”

“With me?” Justin was shocked. Everyone knew who Lance Bass was. He was one of the most ruthless businessmen in the world. He would have never thought he was gay. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, my boy! And just think…if you can work it right…we might be able to get him to invest…”

“And I can be a real actor,” Justin said dreamily. No more childish shows just to make horny men yell and drink and fill the cash drawers.

“Yes,” Joseph said, smiling. “You'll meet him here for dinner after the show tomorrow. Be on your best behavior.”

“Yes, Joe,” Justin said, annoyed. Joseph leaned down and gave him a hug.

“One day, Justin…you'll have all you could ever dream of,” Joseph said. “I'll make sure and point him out to you before you go on tomorrow…so you can give him special attention.”

“Okay,” Justin said. Joseph danced out of the apartment. Justin put his chin in his hand and stared at the wall, deep in thought.

Three