Page 136 of Something Like Hail

“More money from yourdonors,” Harold said.

“And fewer waiters willingto work for you,” Noah added.

“I suspect you are bothright.” Marcello accepted his drink. “Now then, why don’t you standthere and block the sun with your youthful brilliance while tellingme why you’ve gone to such extremes. Was it lust that drove you tosee me? Or love?”

“Business, actually,”Harold said.

“Greed then,” Marcellosaid, removing his sunglasses and setting them aside. “Howpredictable.”

“It’s not about money!”Noah shot back. “I need out.” He regretted the words the secondthey slipped free. Harold surely knew a better way of broaching thesubject, but Marcello had managed to strike a nerve and probablynot by chance.

“Not quite so predictablethen,” his boss said, “but highly disappointing. Shall we skip pastyour reasons and discuss how I can change your mind? A good numberof clients count you amongst their favorites.”

That was flattering! But not enough. “Thereason is important.”

Marcello took a sip of his drink. “Lovealways seems that way at the beginning, although few manage to keepit a priority. How long have you and Felix been together now?”

Not long at all, but then again, Romeo andJuliet’s relationship and subsequent tragedy had taken place overthe span of four days. Compared to them, he and Felix were an oldmarried couple. That’s how love worked. It exploded into existence.The only challenge was protecting that flame so it wouldn’t go out,and that’s what he intended to do. “Long enough,” Noah said. “Idon’t want to lose him. I’m also thinking of my own future. I can’tdo this forever.”

Marcello nodded as if approving, but hiswords remained critical. “And what would you do? Some menial taskfor an impersonal corporate machine?”

“You can offer himsomething,” Harold interjected. “We both like him and don’t want tosee him go, right? There’s gotta be a job he can do at thestudio.”

“Perhaps,” Marcello said,sizing Noah up. “I’m sure we could make use of your ceaselessenergy if you’d care to join the production crew.”

“What’s that?” Noah asked,but Harold reacted before their boss could answer.

“You want him to haulequipment around for one of your photographers? He’s worth morethan that! Those guys have terrible egos! They’re worse than any ofour clients!”

“It’s honest work,”Marcello replied. “Isn’t that what he’s seeking?”

As the sun warmed his skin, Noah thought ofPete, manning the front desk of a homeless shelter and checkingpeople in and out. Not thrilling or glamorous, but Marcello wasright: It was honest work. The kind he wouldn’t have to hide fromFelix. “That would be fine.”

“No,” Harold said, turningto him. “Trust me, I’ve worked for these guys. Even as a model,they still give you hell. I wouldn’t want to be on theircrew.”

“You’ll discover thatphotographers have a variety of temperaments,” Marcello countered.“I simply had you work with my best, and yes, he is adiva.”

“Wait,” Noah said, shakinghis head. He addressed Harold first. “You were a model?”

“Yeah.”

“Like for fashionmagazines?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t for me.”Harold perked up and turned to Marcello. “Hey, how about that? Noahis hot, and the pay would be way better. Enough to put up with bigegos.”

“I’m afraid I have morethan enough talent in that regard,” Marcello said. “In fact, I mayhave to thin the herd to maintain the delicate balance.”

Harold wouldn’t let it go. Another idea hadoccurred to him because he punched the air victoriously. “Got it!Give him the job you offered me.”

Marcello scoffed. Then he narrowed his eyes,looking between them. “You have an odd sense of humor, Mr.Franklin.”

“I’m dead serious,” Haroldpressed. “You want out, Noah wants out. It’s perfect!”

“I don’t follow,” Noahsaid.

Marcello took a long swig of his drink andset it on the table. “Nathaniel has been pressuring me to jettisonthe Gentlemen’s Agreement Club for years. Lately, I find myselfconcurring. I’ve worked hard my entire life. I deserve to have theoccasional weekend off where I’m not disturbed by deranged youngmen. At least not in this regard. And yet, I would prefer to see mylegacy live on.”

“And who better to takeover than him?” Harold said, gesturing to Noah.