The City - chapter twenty-three
“The party is awesome. Leon did an amazing job producing this event. Everything is flawless.” Franz was talking into his cell phone. On the other end, Todd the new dog walker was house sitting in Jersey. With both Franz and Leon working full time they needed someone to watch their dog Nairobi during the day. Not realizing the animosity between Todd and the rest of the world, Franz hired him. “Thanks for agreeing to watch the house for us. Leon ’s going to be so surprised when I take him to the Plaza Hotel tonight.” “No problem,” Todd said. He lifted a glass of wine to his lips and held a photograph of his former friends celebrating Martin’s birthday last spring. Leon was front and center in the picture, one arm around Martin the other around Tyler . “I’m sure Leon will be pleased.” “I can’t wait for you two to meet,” Franz cluelessly said.
Across the room, Frederico’s sedative and champagne combination kicked in. Draped between Nina and Leon, they dragged him outdoors. His phone rang - Helmut calling from Germany to congratulate him. Too drunk to take the call, Frederico handed the phone to Jacob. Still thinking he was speaking to Frederico, Helmut told Jacob about his upcoming interview with the consulate in Hamburg . “I should be back in the US sooner than expected,” he said. Without a word, Jacob slammed the phone shut. “Who was that?” came a voice behind him. It was the attaché Jacob had been canoodling behind a pillar most of the night. “Just a friend of Frederico’s, calling from Hamburg ,” Jacob briefly explained to him. “What a coincidence,” the attaché said. “I work at the US consulate in Hamburg .” An idea forming across his smile, Jacob said, “Interesting. Want to go dancing?”
Spotting Tyler and Martin approaching them, Leon hissed “Get him out of here before the paparazzi get a shot of him.” Martin whisked the barely standing Frederico into a taxi. Leon ran back indoors, leaving Nina and Tyler alone on the steps. “What’s their relationship like,” Nina asked him. “Martin and Frederico?” he responded. “Platonic. I think there’s the potential for more, but they both know they work better as friends.” “I wonder if the living arrangement you all have will let the friendship develop.” she replied.
In the back of the cab Frederico passed out on Martin’s shoulder. “I love you,” he said. “I love you too,” responded the other.
Long after the party died down, and the cleaning crew arrived, Franz carried Leon across the threshold of their room in the Plaza Hotel. Leon exhausted and weary eyed, Franz loving him more than he ever could. They fell asleep in each other’s arms.
What does the City have in store next for our heroes? Stay tuned.
Initially based on actual events and real people, the story has progressed to such a point as to render everyone and everything unrecognizable. Nonetheless, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.
