AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All UK-based?”
Nathan cocked his head to one side. “Quite a lot of them. None in your league, though.”
“I don’t have a league at the moment, that’s sort of the problem.” He fiddled with his napkin, wondering if he should ask in this setting. “I’m in the market for a new agent. Theatre-focused, I think, not sure about television.”
“Have you someone in mind? If you have a name I can let you know my opinion of them, might be biased as they probably treat their clients better than us lowly crew.”
“If they treat the crew like shit I wouldn’t want them representing me, but to be honest, I haven’t got anyone in mind. I’d be open to suggestions.”
If Nathan was surprised by the ask, he hid it well. “I guess if you’re looking for theatre work, the average Hollywood agent isn’t going to be much help. But I can give you the names of a few of the better ones I’ve worked with—they wouldn’t necessarily have room on their books but I guess they’d make an exception for you.”
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want special treatment, but also didn’t want to come across as a prima donna. “If you can give me any names you think are a good bet, I can do a bit of research.”
In reality, he’d ask Alex to do it.
“I’ll have a proper think and pass the names along, via Dara, if that’ll work? Nathan asked. “Or if you give me an email I can send them straight.”
“Could you send them to Alex?” He dug out a business card from his wallet that Alex had given him a stack of. “He’s acting as a bit of a barrier for me and he’ll set up the deep dive I’d need before I took on someone new.”
Nathan took the card. “He’s been doing quite a lot for you of late. You won’t know what to do when you part company.”
He wasn’t sure if Nathan had been told about Alex, he’d had seen they were dating, but didn’t know the mechanics behind it. On reflection, he should have expected Dara’s partner to know, as Alex had said he’d confided to Dara. “We might dissolve our public relationship, but unless Ben’s saying Alex can’t continue, I’d hate to lose the help he’s been giving me. At least while I’m still at the hall.”
“Oh, all right. I thought it might be a bit awkward afterwards.”
Chris nodded and Dorian realised he’d been listening to them and not the conversation Ben and Dara were having about the 8th Earl. “I imagine it would be hard to transition back.”
Dorian was bemused by the logic. “I don’t see why. We’ve an agreement.”
“He’ll have gone from being one of the closest people in your life, being at your side, spending all the extra time with you, to being relegated back to a secretary. Even if there’s no romantic attachment, then there’ll be an emotional one.”
Robin had told him once that people underestimated Chris, that they saw him as a dippy blond and wrote him off, but he was far more insightful than he was given credit for. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
“You should talk to him. I don’t think it fair he be put in an uncomfortable position.” Chris’s blue eyes held a penetrative quality that he thought lesser men might kill for. “This is his job, he needs to be happy here.”
Ben must’ve heard what Chris had said as he looked over sharply. “What’s this about? Who’s not happy at Crofton Hall?”
“Nobody at the moment,” Chris said. “But once Alex is done with dating Dorian, I thought it would be a bit cruel to have him still working for Dorian.”
“Cruel?”
Chris wrinkled his nose. “Uncomfortable, then. Imagine if Dorian wanted him to book a dinner with his new boyfriend, or go from being a confidant to a letter writer… well, I’d not like it much.”
Ben’s expression said they’d be discussing this later and Dorian thought he needed to step in. “I’m not going to do anything that would upset him. He’s been great helping me and I won’t repay that by being a dick.”
“I didn’t mean to start anything,” Nathan said. “I’ll send over a few names after dinner.”
Dorian sensed a nervousness about Nathan that hadn’t been there before. A lot of famous folk treated people as if they were rubbish, he might have been shallow and a coward but he never treated people like they were beneath him. “You don’t have to rush. Enjoy your evening with Dara. And thanks for mentioning it… someone should be looking out for Alex.”
He’d caused all this trouble to start with. If he’d not hid in the closet, he wouldn’t have split from Robin, who wouldn’t then have left and found Simon, who wouldn’t have been stabbed, so then Dorian wouldn’t have needed a fake boyfriend.
A wail from the baby monitor had Ashley on his feet.
“Want me to go?” Ben asked.
“No. I’ll settle the young master and check in with Simon. If he’s awake I’ll ask Karl to bring us both something.”
Dorian allowed himself an extra-large helping of trifle, confident in the knowledge that Alex had created his membership of the Grange so he would not develop love handles or a belly wobble. Dara was quick to lead Nathan away after the meal had finished and he realised they didn’t see each other as often as most couples, Dara being here and Nathan on-set or in London, but they seemed happy enough.
