The fallible and classical hero, Boss Rubinstein, is a 20-something writer living in a studio apartment on the west side of Manhattan. As he hacks out a modest reputation for writing X-rated films, he meets two women from extremely different worlds: Leann, an up-and-coming writer who attends writers' conferences and contributes to the "FemIron Review," and Fedora Duncan, a young, busty film star who offers an erotic and sometimes tragic look into the world of porn. The contrast between the two women and how Boss embraces their dreams and realities becomes play for Marx's light and cogent style. 

The world of Boss is adult but artful as it tears asunder the blurry lines between two often-mistaken worlds. Sexually explicit content. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rick Marx scripted Columbia Tri-Star's 1994 suspense thriller, "Double Obsession," starring Margaux Hemingway and Frederic Forrest. Most recently, he collaborated on "Up Late with Joe Franklin" (Scribner), a memoir of America's first and longest running talk show host. 

EXCERPT

     Two hands close around my eyes as I enter the apartment. "Hi, Boss," Fedora coos. "How's the television star?" She kisses my neck.
     "What's burning?"
     "I am, honey... Burning for you..."
     "C'mon, Fedora. Will you cut the porno talk? I'm sick of it, okay?"
     She backs off, hurt.
     "I'm sorry, Fedora. I'm sorry. What is burning? And do you have to stand there with your tits hanging out?"
     "Boss, I---" She runs into the bedroom, and I think she's starting to cry.
I stand there heartlessly, ready to drool blood. I go to the stove. Spaghetti is in a pot. Sauce is in a pan--rimmed black from overcooking. Inside the oven is a loaf of garlic bread--- charred and inedible. Fedora cooked me dinner. What a nice thing to do. I go after her. "All right, all right, Fedora, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." 
     She is huddled on a corner of the bed, like an autistic child. "I'm sorry," I repeat, putting my arm on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
     She looks up at me hopefully. "Boss... You never yelled at me before... Never before..."
     "Jesus," I snap, "I told you I was sorry." I get to my feet and pace the room. "I had a shitty day, okay? I only had my life threatened, I only looked like a war criminal on TV, a genocidal fiend and, and---" I don't know what else, I've got my health, they say that's the most important thing, yet---maybe it has to do with Leann, it's her fault for making me feel like such an...anti-hero in the first place. But how can you feel that way about a girl you've only known a month? They're not supposed to be able to dangle you like this. Especially when you've got Fedora Duncan at your side. Do you know how many guys would pay to have her beside them, and we're talking huge sums, this is a girl who could make a fortune just sitting around and reading a magazine to some old fart, plenty rich and maybe even a good lay, too.
     Fedora still gazes at me hopefully.