Nine 

 

“Mr. Lance Bass to see you,” one of the crew members said, poking his head into Joseph's office.

Joseph almost dropped his cup of coffee. He glanced at the clock. “It's only nine o'clock!” Joseph stood. “Please bring him in.”

The crew member smiled at Joseph's sudden professionalism and went back out of the room. Soon Lance Bass opened the door. “Good morning, Mr. Fatone. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything.”

“No, of course not. Just fussing with the bills. I always try and do that in the morning, to get it over with.” Joseph pointed to the chair across from his own. “Have a seat. Can I get you coffee?”

“No, thank you. I had a latte this morning.” Lance sat, carefully crossing his legs. Today the suit was dark blue, but it was still made of the impeccable silk.

“Did you have a nice time last night?”

“A very good time,” Lance said. “Justin is an incredibly charming young man.” The way Lance said it made Justin sound as if he were years younger than Lance himself, but Joseph knew that Lance was only two years older than Justin.

“I'm glad. I hope you got your money's worth,” Joey said carefully.

“Oh, I most definitely did,” Lance said, leaning forward slightly. “And I'd like to get even more.” Lance pulled out his checkbook and carefully tore out a check. He pushed it across the desk. Joseph didn't touch it, but he looked at it. The check was made out to the theater, was signed in a neat script, but there was no amount filled in. Joseph looked at Lance quizzically. “This check is yours…on one condition.”

“Condition?” Joseph said weakly.

“You can use whatever funds necessary to redo this theater. I've heard the stories…I know you want to make it a legitimate showcase for true talent. But you lack the sufficient funds. I'm offering those funds in exchange for Justin.”

“You want me to sell him to you?” Joseph asked in disbelief.

“No…nothing like that. I want to buy his time. I want him to see no one but me. I want him to be mine.” Lance placed his palms on the desk. “I don't play well with others. I don't like to share my toys.”

“Understood,” Joseph whispered, staring at the check. “I'll have to discuss this with Justin, of course, but I'm sure he'll agree.”

“I have a dinner date with him tomorrow night after his performance. Please make sure he's clear on this before then.” Lance stood. “And if you need more checks after this one, don't hesitate to ask. Have a nice day, Mr. Fatone.” Lance left Joseph staring at the check. 

“Josh, you look like freeze-dried shit,” Kevin Richardson observed as JC sat down at his desk. Kevin leaned against the wall and watched JC warm his hands around a mug of steaming tea.

“Thanks,” JC said, blowing at the hot liquid. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small container of sugar. He stirred a bit into the mug, then put the sugar away. “I had a late night,” he said simply. He didn't mention that he had been up until three talking with Justin, and that they had finally fallen asleep in each other's arms. JC had awakened at seven, and spent a half hour just watching Justin sleep before tiptoeing out of the apartment. The last thing either of them needed was for Joseph to find JC there.

“You have something to report, I hope,” Kevin said expectantly.

JC sighed. Duty came first, but for the first time in a while, his heart was overpowering his sense of duty. “I have an in with the theater,” JC said finally. “Justin Timberlake will talk to Joseph Fatone today about putting on the show I'm writing with Christopher Kirkpatrick. I'll be around the theater constantly, and will be able to get definite proof that there is definitely sex for sale there.” JC ignored the little voice that was telling him he already had definite proof.

“Excellent!” Kevin beamed. “Josh, man, you are amazing. Do you need anything for this?”

“No…just my talent, and you can't give me that,” JC teased. “You don't have any.”

“Screw you,” Kevin said affectionately. “Hey, Kris wants to know when you're coming for dinner. She says she has a dancer friend she wants you to meet. Says he's adorable.”

“NO, thank you,” JC groaned. “I've met her friends before.”

“Oh, well. Had to try.” Kevin pushed himself up from the wall. “Write up your report, at least what you know so far, and I'll file it.”

“Okay,” JC said, sighing as Kevin walked away. He spent twenty minutes trying to figure out how to lie while telling the truth. 

“Come…come…come into my arms…” Justin sang dreamily as he made his bed. He wasn't used to having an entire day off, and he was using it to straighten his suite. JC was always neat and clean, and he didn't want JC to think he was a slob. Justin stood up straight and sighed happily. He had fallen asleep with many men, but it was different with JC. JC held him like he was a special gift, not a prize he had earned.

“Justin?” Joseph called as he knocked.

“Yes?” Justin sat on the bed and waited. Joseph came in, beaming with a secret.

“Guess what?” Joseph waved a paper in the air. “Lance Bass gave us a blank check to redo the theater! Anything we want!”

“For what price,” Justin whispered, his heart sinking.

“Nothing horrible, Justin…he simply wants your time. He wants you to be his exclusively. I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?”

“No, of course not,” Justin whispered. His shoulders straightened and he looked Joseph in the eye. “But I get to request something as well.”

“Okay,” Joseph said slowly, shocked.

“I get to choose the show we do for the first performance.”

“You have something in mind?” Joseph asked, amused.

“Yes. A new talent is in town…he's been working with Christopher Kirkpatrick. I've seen some of the script…it's brilliant. I'll be the lead…and it will be spectacular.” Justin's eyes were serious. “We do this show or I don't let Lance Bass even breathe on me.”

“Of course, Justin, if it's what you want,” Joseph said, just as serious. “You just remember one thing. Lance Bass now owns you. You do whatever he wants, understand me? This will get us all we've ever wanted.”

“I understand,” Justin said, but his mind wandered back to a pair of gentle blue eyes and a beautiful smile. 

Ten