This story is a complete work of fiction, and is not meant to imply anything about anyone. While some of the characters may be loosely based on real people that I know, none are meant to actually represent anyone, particularly any of the members of the Backstreet Boys.
In my world, I get to bend them to my will. Kevin, if your reading this and you are offended by my portrayal of you, give me a call and we can discuss anything you want. If you could wear as little as possible during our conference, I would be more compliant.
As usual, if you are offended or made uncomfortable by material concerning sexual relations between consenting adult men, lighten up or go somewhere else. Also, if it is in any way illegal for you to be reading this type of thing, please don't. Or do, just don't get caught.
e-mail = good
Drop me a line at pierce_phillips@hotmail.com to tell me how much you love my story. (Or if you must crush me with well intentioned criticism.)
Chapter One
Pierce Phillips was in the second year of an MBA program at NYU. He was on track to graduate with honors. He would be 28 soon. What had he accomplished. He felt the only thing that mattered to his parents and family was the Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Performing Arts. He had only told a few people what his degrees was. They thought he had some sort of multiple personality disorder. In reality, he was very focused on a goal. He wanted to be a world class actor. To be one of the greats. He had no intention of pursuing stardom. If it came he would tolerate it. In his fantasies, it would be at the end of his career that when the experts looked back on his body of work that he would gain recognition.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Pierce had been born to great privilege and great responsibility. Well at least that was what his father tried to drill into his head. His family owned one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world. They had a global presence. He was the only child. The heir apparent. As long as it appeared that he was working toward the goal of taking over the company, he was left alone. This bought him time. If his father had known he had a minor in Performing Arts or that he had dominated the performances at his undergraduate college, he would totally freak. For the last two years, Pierce had been doing off broadway plays. He changed his name and appearance to match his double life. When he went home for the holidays he dyed his hair back to its original brown, wore the same style of glasses that he had worn since he was a child and wore baggy clothes to hide his muscular body. When he was performing he dyed his hair blond, wore contacts that changed his eye color and tight fitting costumes that showed his work at the gym. He had gone to great length to maintain this double life. He thought it was necessary. He had always told his parents and anyone who asked that he would not be taking over the company, ever. They just laughed and didn't take him seriously. He had made sure that none of his father's money was spent on his education. He had paid for it with scholarships and part time jobs.
Pierce had skipped his classes for a week and flew to California to audition for the lead in a major motion picture. The producer had seen one of his plays and convinced him to audition. He just got off the phone with the producer. He got the part. His double life was coming to an end. The confrontation was set. It could not be avoided. No one cared who the parents of actors in off broadway shows. It wouldn't take that much digging for a reporter to find out who his family was. It would be better if he was up front and honest. First, he would have to tell his parents that he was dropping out of school moving to California and pursuing his dream full time. There was no way around it this time.
Pierce got out of bed and went to the registrars office. He withdrew from all his classes. It was official. He was no longer in the business executive training track. He had worked doubly hard at getting an engineering degree. He had graduated with honors in a very demanding program. All while spending so much time at play rehearsals. He felt it was a small price to pay to keep both his dream alive and his parents. It was his gift to his parents. If they wouldn't listen to his plans, he would give them bragging rights to their friends. They were so proud of his independence. In reality, it was remarkably easy for him to lead a dual life. If he would have been from a close knit family, he would never had been able to keep them from knowing the truth. They ignored him. His father was consumed with managing his company and his mother was an artist and professional philanthropist. The fact that he only came home two times a years for the past ten years never occurred to them.
His friends who knew how rich his family was had always marveled at how few belongings he had. He had been raised with every conceivable advantage and had come out of it anti-materialistic. It was not a conscious choice. It was just his personality. He grabbed his luggage and his plane ticket home. For the first time he did not dye his hair. He had thrown away his baggy clothes and glasses. He wondered if they would recognize him. His plane ticket was for Boston a four hour layover to drop the bomb on his parents face-to-face and then to off to Los Angeles.
He was sitting in the airport when First Class passengers were encouraged to board the plane. He normally would never fly first class, but the studio had booked the flight. He was sitting with his eyes closed going over how he would tell his parents. He was brought back to reality by the late arrival of the person who had the seat beside him. He was a tall man with spiked black hair with a goatee. He wore dark sunglasses. As he sat down he took them off. While putting on his seat belt their eyes met. Pierce could not break the gaze. This guy had the most amazing eyes. Sexy. Kind. Exotic. Pierce was surprised at his instant attraction to this man. He had always assumed he lacked the hormone that caused sexual attraction. He had never been in a serious relationship.
He dated rarely. His dates usually ended up in platonic friendships. He had never been the aggressor. But for this handsome man, all that changed. He realized that the flight attendant was talking to one of them.
"Excuse me," Pierce said with a half turn to the beautiful flight attendant.
"I said, 'Isn't it my lucky day to server two celebrities today?", she said.
"What do you mean?" Pierce said.
"Well I have been to one of Mr. Richardson's concert and I have seen you in a few plays here in New York." She informed them.
"You are some sort of performer?" Pierce asked his seatmate.
Kevin grinned, "I can't believe you don't know who I am. By the way you stared at me, I thought for sure that you had recognized me and were star struck."
Pierce turned deep red with embarrassment. It became apparent to Kevin the reason why Pierce had been staring. Kevin continued to grin. He was very flattered by the attention of gorgeous guy like Pierce. "So you're an actor."
"Yes, I am an actor." Pierce recovered to state his answer with pride.
"Well I think I would have remembered seeing you, what kind of acting have you been doing?" Kevin became curious.
"I've done some off broadway productions, but I'm moving to LA to do my first movie." Pierce explained.
"You're going to LA by way of Boston. You need a better travel agent." Kevin suggested.
"Well first I have shatter my parents dream and tell them I'm not taking over the family business."
"That's going to be hard. What sort of business does your family own?"
"Magnum Enterprises."
"Your father is Maxwell Russell????"
"The one and only."
"Woe. Your giving up heading a world wide company to act."
"Have you been taking lessons from my father? The way you just said that I feel foolish admitting it." Pierce laughed.
"Sorry, it is a little amazing."
"It feels as if I really have no choice. I have wanted to do this for so long that I can't imagine myself doing anything else. It's not my fault that no one asked me if I wanted to be a businessman. It was just inferred on me. I have always been honest and said that I would not be taking over. They just don't listen. Yes, I did get an Electrical Engineering degree and I almost finished an MBA, but that was so I would be welcome in my own home. To tell you the truth after today, I seriously doubt my parents will ever want anything to do with me again. They are not use to anyone going against their wishes. Especially their son....." Pierce's voice trailed off and he looked out at the clouds.
Kevin placed his hand on Pierce's shoulder and he immediately felt the electricity of this man's touch. "oh great. Now I'm gay. I might as well throw that bomb at them for the complete annihilation of the family. Why not take away their hope of grandchildren while I'm at it.' He rejected that idea immediately. He didn't understand what was going on here. He had to think about this.....
"You never answered my question." Pierce said.
"What question?" Kevin asked.
"The flight attendant said you performed at a concert of some sort. Are you a musician? Or a singer?"
"I'm in a pop band called 'The Backstreet Boys'. My name is Kevin Richardson."
"Oh! I guess I should have known that. But I've been a little busy leading two lives and I'm not that into music except if it is required for a role."
"That's OK. It's kind of nice you not knowing who I am."
"Kevin, you are the first to know who I am. I have kept my acting a secret. I guess I am coming out of the closet. Kevin.....I'm an actor." Pierce feigned the shameful truth.
"You know there are support groups for that." Kevin laughed.
"That's good to know. Maybe there's a group for my parents... You know like POT. Parents of Thespians."
Kevin was laughing so hard that the other passengers in first class were staring at him.
Pierce informed them that Kevin just got out of rehab and was having trouble adjusting to life on the outside. Kevin rewarded him with smack to the back of the head. "Don't start those kind of rumors or I will the headline story on Hard Copy!!!" That sent them both into hysterics.
They were exiting the plane together when Kevin handed Pierce a card with ways to contact him. "I'll be in LA in a couple of week. Why don't we get together for dinner?"
"That sounds great Kevin. I don't know anyone in LA. It will be nice to get out with someone. I'm looking forward to it. I better get going. I didn't give myself much time to talk to my parents. Here goes nothing." Pierce said as he shook Kevin's hand.