The Fall Guide by Talya Andor

Author:Talya Andor [Andor, Talya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: M/M romance, contemporary
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2013-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

The next month was a trial as Eric continued presiding over the explosive growth of Haute Men; items on his website sold out constantly, and he did his research on all the banks from Los Angeles to San Diego and San Francisco. Demand far outstripped production, and Eric was determined to get the money and backing that would set him up to get ahead and really get his business moving.

He met with seven different bank representatives, and all of them turned him down flat.

"I don't understand," André said over drinks on the evening of Eric's latest rejection. "You're a white man. They should have approved your loan, sight unseen."

Eric shrugged irritably. "It's seeing me that becomes a problem," he replied. "I'm a white man who presents in an androgynous way, bordering on femme. Even in L.A., conservative sentiment can go hand in hand with money."

"That's politics talking," Devon said, raising a cautionary finger. "Getting financial backing doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a man's politics, or his social conservatism."

That was an argument for another time. They moved on from the subject of Eric's attempt to get a loan, to other topics, and Devon rubbed a reassuring hand over his. At the end of the night he picked up the tab for drinks again, and Eric thanked him with a kiss, promising himself he'd cover Devon's drinks for a month when he struck it big. They parted ways that evening and Eric went off even more determined to secure his badly needed loan. He kept doing his research, and continued to meet with banks to give them his pitch. The numbers, ever climbing, supported his position. He couldn't sink money into his business fast enough to make it, and if he failed to keep up with demand, Eric's products would be yesterday's news. He would never make it to a year's worth of sales figures.

Bank representative number twelve gave him the same helpful advice that Ted had given him: try private investors, full stop.

After yet another disastrous meeting, Eric was running out of ideas. He met Devon at the coffee shop where they'd done the overhaul on his pre-launch website.

"I'm at the end of my rope," Eric admitted, burying his harried expression in the crook of his folded arms.

Devon patted his elbow. "I can't believe they rejected you. You've been doing some aggressively targeted research, too."

"I even tried to apply for a grant for small businesses supported by an LGBT endowment."

"What happened with that?"

"Disqualified on a technicality." Eric sniffed, lifted his head, and sipped at his coffee. "Not only did I file after the deadline, but I didn't meet their income bracket for grantees. I really need that money, Devon. I need staff, or this will never take off and I'll get buried under back orders and it will wither and die when spring comes out and I don't have any new lines."

"Not all your customers will be as fickle as … uh…" Devon shut up when he met Eric's eyes.

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