Naked Hero - The Journey Away

Sell story to papers, get much money like other one. Why he go with him? I see picture. Not special. I show him much better time.”
    Lee snapped out his response, a little too fiercely for his own liking, “Leave him alone! He’s had enough of that sort of shit.”
    Joey’s face lit up like a tree at Christmas. “Ah, you want for yourself. Get big publicity - everybody happy. Good plan.”
    Another scowl, another warning, this time with daggers flying from his eyes, Lee hissed out his answer. “It’s time you got your arse in gear and take those nibbles around the room - otherwise that old queen Collins certainly won’t be happy. Now shift!”
    Joey made to move off, but Lee held him back for a moment longer. “Oh, Joey - did you find out what he ordered at the bar?”
    “Of course,” reported Joey smugly, “tonic water - because he want to be good boy... With double vodka - because he definitely not.”
    With that Joey parted to resume his tour of the room, flirting outrageously as was his want. Lee watched and considered – running over the banter with Joey in his mind, appreciating the young Thai’s level of perception. He was a smart lad and no mistake, with a distinctive look that might merit taking him back to England as a permanent member of his crew. But that was something Lee had plenty of time to mull over. Whereas Lewis Macleod! Now that was something he had to get his head around now if he was to benefit by this appearance here tonight!
    Coming to Sydney had been a bit of a gamble for Lee Porter, but one that he’d been happy to take. He managed a group of men who did some modelling and a fair amount of go-go dancing, and often included himself in the ranks, enjoying the buzz and all the attention – and all the men that invariably came with it. It was a competitive business, but Lee had climbed his way up to the top, so that he and his boys were now the first choice in England for most gay event organisers and glossy magazine editors should a bit of titillation be in order. Through the wonders of the internet and social networking, he was known in Australia, although sadly his contacts were thinly spread - nothing like the coverage he enjoyed back home. But winter in England, once the Christmas and New Year parties were finished, was a bit of a slack period for Lee and his boys, whereas Australia was in full swing. ‘New meat to a new market,’ Lee had thought - and Sydney seemed a very attractive alternative to those cold and wet months back in London. Lots of sun, lots of fun, and make a few bob whilst they were down there - that was the plan. But Sydney was proving to be a tougher nut to crack than Lee had expected.
    They had arrived with a reasonable number of bookings already lined up, like the one here tonight at the SLAGSS reception - but not enough to cover his costs. He had been sure though, that once he and the lads had hit town, more would follow. They did, but still not enough. What he needed was more publicity. And there it stood right in front of him - all the publicity he could ever wish for, packaged in a single delicious looking scoop. His star might have faded since the glory of Wimbledon, but as luck would have it, Lewis Macleod was making the front pages again, and for reasons that Lee related to much better than the mysterious world of tennis.
    Lee looked at Lewis and tried to fathom him out. It wasn’t easy – he wasn’t the sort Lee normally encountered at the bars and the clubs and other gay events. Of course Lee knew who he was – the whole world knew Macleod. But other than the admission eighteen months ago, nothing of real interest had subsequently come out until his little escapade here in Sydney. He played tennis and played it pretty well – although never as well as he did on that day when he shocked the world with his stunning victory, and even more so with his jaw-dropping revelation!
    Now that had come as a surprise to Lee and his friends who had gathered at his flat to watch the game. He thought that his ‘gaydar’ was second to none, but not for one second had he suspected Lewis. So if Lee hadn’t guessed then no one would have, which then begged the question – why did he do it?
    Lee hadn’t thought about it at the time. Like everyone else who had been around him, he had roared his approval, chuffed to bits. It made Lewis one of them – part of the club, the unofficial gay mafia – a hero they could claim and respect. But with the benefit