A long lane at night

1.23. MANAGER

** ALLAN **

'HONEY, OUR ENGAGEMENT MADE THE NEWS.'

Brian came running from the living room at the sound of the news I broke to him.

'What? How?' Why?'

'Our engagement has made the news. They reported the proposal and my acceptance at the premiere and used one of our red-carpet pictures to illustrate it. Because you proposed in the most public way possible. It's out there for the whole world to see. Honestly, Brian, what part of this comes as a shock?' I barely looked above my phone to see him at the door. That, and the fact I was lying in bed, wearing robes, and with my legs crossed one above the other, made me feel as if I were fifty. Was I going to become that person?

'No. No. You're absolutely right. I guess I just ... hoped they wouldn't report it?'

'Brian, you have that face again.'

'What face?'

'The "child-about-to-get-busted-for-being-naughty" face. Spill it. Come on. What's the matter?'

'Charlie.'

'Oh.'

'Exactly. Oh.'

'What do you think he can do?'

'There's nothing he can actually do, directly speaking. I owe him nothing. But that doesn't mean he cannot try.'

'See.' I sounded as confused as I felt. 'I never understood why your grandpa signed with him in the first place. True, I never met him, but you and Carl make him seem like a creep.'

'He is! But the bastard knew everyone in the industry and without his contacts, everything would just have been much harder. You need that kind of connection when you've only just begun and Charlie was the man for that.'

'Brian? He never ... er ... he never did anything to you now, did he?'

A dark shadow crossed his face and he sat on the bed. I immediately regretted asking.

'You don't have to—'

'He didn't. But only because my grandmother intervened. He never got further than touching my shoulder, but nanna arrived just in time and from that day forward, she never left me alone with him again. Grandpa never knew. Nanna talked to me. She explained how wrong it all was and that I had every right to report him to the authorities. But she also promised to never let me alone with him again, so I took that instead. And we had decided to not renew his contract. I thought she would still be by my side when I turned eighteen, so I would have her support when confronting him. But she wasn't with us anymore. I was so scared that day. But I kept thinking about her and somehow it gave me strength. I never saw Charlie again after that. And now I must admit I'm scared he might see my return to the industry as an invitation.'

The first thing I did was hug him. Tight. And caress his hair. I also took the chance to declare my love for him for the zillionth time. Then I had an idea.

'Do you trust me?' I asked, pushing him a little so I could look at him.

'With my life. Why?'

'I think I have a plan. Hear me out.'

About two hours later, Carl was at our house.

'Okay. Go over the plan with me one more time,' he said over a large glass of soda and an even bigger slice of pizza we had ordered for his arrival.

'We don't want to make a life out of this,' I said. 'We don't even want to take other people in. We just want to take care of each other, also professionally. For that, we want to have this small business created where we are going to represent one another artistically. You'll still handle all the legal aspects of it, but we'll be each other's managers.'

'And how do you feel about it, kid?' He asked Brian.

'I love it! Finally, a manager who won't creep me out!'

Carl sighed.

'Okay. That idea is actually very good, but as a lawyer I feel obliged to make you boys consider a few aspects. The first is, I would like to propose a clause that will make the contract automatically renewable yearly until, and only if, the both of you simultaneously agree to end it, no matter how shortly after the latest renewal. That will mean you won't have to worry about the legal aspects of remaining each other's agents as long as you so wish or, as I believe, as long as you're together. Yes, I do wish all the best of happiness for the both of you and yes, I do believe you have what it takes to make your coming marriage work. But I would be extremely naïve and to certain extent unprofessional if I didn't consider the possibility of you guys going your different ways later in life. How do you feel about this aspect?'

Brian and I both nodded.

'Sounds perfect.'

'Good. The second thing I want you to consider, and for this I want you to sleep on it for some time while I get all the documentations ready. Brian, you must think and decide where the representation of your back catalogue falls. That includes all the work you bought from Charlie as well as all the songs you wrote for Allan's videos and your share of the movie soundtrack. Allan, I want you to go over the same details regarding all the videos you will have uploaded from the first one until the day you sign the contract.'

'Carl,' Brian said in that intelligent tone of his that I found so sexy and made me feel so proud of my fiancé, 'I know you told us to sleep on it, but I honestly think I have a solution that is quite simple.'

'What do you have in mind, kid?'

'Instead of Allan and I representing each other under the company name, how about we have us both being represented directly by the company? This way, we can both take care of our past catalogue the best way possible.'

'And if you come to dismember the company? How do you plan to split such past work?'

'Can we have a clause stating all previous work gets their ownership and representation automatically restored in case of dismemberment?' I suggested.

'You would be silly not to,' Carl said.

'So, that settles it!' Brian said. 'One other thing, Carl. I don't wish the company to be easily found.'

'Kid, it will still need a public address and legal contact information and your names and everything. Although the government does not go round the streets handing pamphlets with such information, all it takes is someone to look it up. I know how much you want to keep Charlie away and I don't think he'll try anything, but you can't legally prevent him from contacting you. It's too late now for a restraining order.'

One look at Brian was enough to convey the question I wanted an answer to, but didn't ask, 'does he know?'

'I know,' Brian answered, apparently, to both Carl and I. 'I considered getting one when the departure came. I know nanna told you about that. In the end, you and I both know I just wanted to get away.'

'Precisely, kid. But don't you worry about him. You have a nice team of lawyers who got your back. Both of yours. Now I must go. I have to start all your paperwork. I will come to collect some signatures between five to ten days.'

'Oh! One more thing!' Brian said as he was showing Carl to the door. 'We're aiming at a mid-September wedding. Next year, though. The weekend of the thirtieth. Make sure you and the family are available. And yet again one more thing, Carl. Will you be my best man?'

'Thanks, kid. I'm very honoured. We'll be very happy to be there and I'll gladly be your best man.'

After he left, Brian came to me asking for a hug.

'Allan?' I had the weird mix of feelings every time he sounded like he wanted to hide in my arms. It was the cutest thing, but he also felt so vulnerable that it made me hate whatever, or in this case, whoever, made him feel that way.

'Yes, Brian?' I said with a soft reassuring voice.

'Can I ask you a very strange favour for a man my size and my age to ask?'

'Always.'

'Can you protect me?'

'From anything, my love. I can promise you that no one will hurt you as long as I live.'

'Thanks. I know right now I don't seem very confident, but know that I'll always defend you too, okay?'

'Okay.'