‘It’s not porn, Will.’ Joel rolled his eyes and tutted. ‘It’s erotica.’

‘Oh, right. That’s okay then.’

‘I reckon I’ll be pretty good. He’s going to try me out in one scene, and then if that goes okay, he’s going to build me up to star level.’

‘Great. My boyfriend the porn star. Sorry, the erotica star.’

‘Is that a touch of jealousy I detect?

God, when did he become such a queen?

‘No, really. I’m happy for you. I’m . . . well, Joel, I’m proud of you. I think you’ve found your true vocation at last.’

Sarcasm was wasted. ‘Yeah. It’s going to be excellent. I mean, they have the best parties.’

Will looked around at the herds of meat on the hoof, the well-dressed predators.

‘And some of the birds in this industry are fucking awesome.’

‘Birds? Forgive me, Joel, but this is gay porn that you’re doing, isn’t it?’

‘Gay, bi, whatever. We don’t make those distinctions.’

‘Don’t we? I do.’

‘I mean in the industry. Hey, come on, there’s someone I want you to meet.’ He grabbed Will’s arm and dragged him over to the poolhouse, where a young man – although not so young, once you got close – was holding court, reclining on a sun lounger, a cocktail in one hand.

‘Hey, Ivan!’

A plucked eyebrow was raised; the forehead did not move.

‘Joel. Come.’ He patted the lounger. ‘Sit with me.’ The accent was hard to place – possibly, beneath a thick Californian overlay, there were eastern European origins.

Joel did as he was bidden. ‘Ivan, I want you to meet my . . . very good friend, Will Francis. He’s over here for the Oscars.’

Ivan pouted a little, as if exhaling hot air, and looked up at Will.

‘What category?’

‘Best Actress.’

‘Very funny. Now, Joel, how about you freshen this up for me?’ He swirled the watery dregs of his cocktail around the glass, which he held at groin level.

‘Sure, Ivan.’

Joel allowed his fingers to brush Ivan’s crotch, then disappeared to the bar. Ivan beckoned Will down to his level.

‘You’re not going to be a bore, are you?’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘You’re not one of these jealous boyfriends, are you? That’s followed him out here to try and keep an eye on him?’

Will stood up. ‘I wouldn’t dream of holding him back,’ he said. ‘Working with you is a dream come true. I mean, this is the big time, right?’

Ivan did the blowing thing again, as if he was just so damn hot that it was the only way he could cool himself.

‘Come on,’ said Joel, when the party was breaking up, ‘everyone’s going on to Circus.’

‘I’ve got to get some sleep,’ said Will. ‘It’s a big day tomorrow.’ Joel hadn’t asked a single thing about the Oscars. ‘I need my beauty sleep.’