Page 108 of Total Creative Control

“Stoker’sDracula. Yes, I know.”

“Right, well. It’s a clever little nod, right?”

“Nope, it’s obvious. But that should suit his character just fine.”

Another silence came down the line, this one louder. “I might be way off base here,” Charlie said tersely, “but I’m sensing some resistance. Some blocking energy. Frankly, I’m starting to question your commitment toBrahmins.”

Lewis felt a beat of panic.Shit, he’d gone too far. He needed to roll back, say something placating to smooth things over. Apologise.

Only he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t make himself say the right words. When he opened his mouth, nothing came out. Because Charlie was right. He hated everything aboutBrahmins, from Faolán turning into a straight dude-bro called Harker, to the new gay character being pre-fucking-buried. His eyes drifted back to his laptop, to Aaron’s extraordinary, heartfelt story. Not the sort of thing you’d ever see on TV, and yet somehow a story that captured the heart of whatLeecheswas all about. Captured it, built on it, and expanded it.

The anaemic pastiche Charlie Alexander was creating couldn’t hold a candle to Aaron’s work. And suddenly, Lewis knew that he couldn’t do it. Could not be part of this clusterfuck.

“Lewis?” Charlie’s mosquito voice whined in his ear. “Did we get cut off?”

“No.”

“Great, so what we’ll do now is—”

“I meanno.I’m not doing it.”

Charlie went quiet, then said, “Not doing what?”

“Any of this bullshit. I won’t let you screw over my show.”

“What the fuck does that mean? If you’re trying to up the price—”

“It’s not about money.” His eyes strayed back to his laptop, but in his mind’s eye he saw Aaron in the kitchen at RPP, outraged that Charlie wanted to change Faolán’s sexuality. “Leechesmeans too much to me, and to people I care about, to fuck it up like this.”

A harsh bark of laughter. “Ah, now I get it. This is about Andy, isn’t it?”

“Who?”

“Your fanboy assistant—the one you’re shagging.”

Lewis felt a jolt of fury. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on,” Charlie said nastily. “It was obvious at Safehaven that you were panting after him. What’s the deal? If you fly the rainbow flag for the homo-agenda, he’ll bend over and let—?”

“Fuck you,” Lewis said and hung up.

In the silence of his flat, his words echoed with frightening finality.

Shit.

Shit.

Had he just…pulled the plug on the whole deal? Probably. And probably Toni would kill him. No, there was no probably about it. Toniwouldkill him, and Charlie would make sure Lewis waspersona non grataat Telopix for the next decade or more.

But, Lewis didn’t care. He felt too good to care, too elated.Finally, he was out from under that fucking awful deal. NoBrahmins, no dude-bro Harker. No Charlie fucking Alexander.

Unexpectedly, he laughed. A rusty sound, too loud in his quiet flat.

Then he shouted, “Fuck yes!”

And, God, but he wished Aaron was there. No one else would appreciate this moment like Aaron. No one else would share his ecstatic relief.

He wanted Aaron like he’d never wanted him before…