Tonight he’s not looking to be on the radar, because tonight he has other intentions, and they probably won’t do so well being splashed all over the tabloid headlines. It doesn’t mean he’s going out dressed like a tramp, but he tones it down. A loose, untucked black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and some grey trousers, a nice pair of brown Italian shoes, and a couple of lashings of leather throng around his wrist – paired with a matching grey fedora – and he’s satisfied that he’ll blend in with a crowd, even if still looks the business.
Besides, he still wants James to find him appealing. Whether or not James actually finds him appealing is the biggest question of the night. They’ve been joking with each other for months now, on set and off, in interviews and more recently, in private, and Michael has to know.
James is more innocent than he lets on. He talks dirty, but Michael’s got him figured out. He doesn’t want to scare him, so he’s set the wheels in motion on a simple plan that should ease him into Michael’s way of looking at things.
Zoe strolls towards him across his kitchen, her sexy walk like a swagger in her little gold heels and long, tight black jeans. She looks the bomb too – the two of them make the perfect media couple – and her co-operation is fundamental to his plan. She holds out a glass of bourbon to him, swinging her own from her fingertips, and gives him her million-dollar smile. They look so good together; he’s not surprised no-ones seen through the façade. Michael figures James will have eyes on one of them tonight. Just separated, if he knows James at all he knows he’s probably looking to hook up with someone. Michael just hopes that it’s him.