Arms of Destiny

Chapter 2
 

Justin stood outside Just In Time Advertising trying to calm his nerves. He was awake most of the night worrying about the interview, hoping he would get the job. Planning to go see Debbie after he was done and wanting to be able to have his future decided before his visit, Justin took a deep breath, walked in, and was immediately greeted by a pretty blond with a friendly smile.

“You must be Justin Taylor. We spoke on the phone. I’m Cynthia, a junior partner here at Just In Time Advertising. Come with me and we can go talk in my office.” Cynthia said, as she led him through the building.

Justin looked around in awe of his surroundings. The space was beautiful, and had a welcoming feeling even though, he didn’t see any staff around.

“Don’t mind the silence today. The owner has been away in London, landing a new account so things around here have been a little quiet. He’s due back on Thursday so things will pick up then. Before we go any further, would you be able to start immediately if you were offered the position?” she asked, mentally keeping her fingers crossed.

“Yes. I could start tomorrow if you needed me. I just returned from school yesterday and I am staying with my mother for now, but I want to find a place of my own as soon as possible. I need a job to accomplish that.” Justin replied, honestly.

“Wonderful. Please, have a seat.” Cynthia offered, sitting down behind her desk. “Mr. Taylor,” she began.

“Please, call me Justin.” He replied.

“Okay Justin, I see you just received your degree in marketing, graduating in the top of your class. What made you apply for a position in art?” She asked, curious as to why someone with his education would want to head an art department in a new company when he could use his degree to get a job just about anywhere he wanted.

“Well, I am really an artist. My degree came from a father who wanted a son who was a business man. I figured I could mix the two and go from there. As for starting in a new company, I thought it would be a great way to grow with the business. I feel that I could be an asset to the agency.” Justin said, hoping that he was making sense. He had a tendency to run at the mouth when he was nervous.

“I understand what you mean. I left the company I was working for to follow my boss into his own agency. What better way to build your career.” She offered.

“Exactly. I want a challenge and I think Just In Time is just what I’m looking for.” Justin explained.

“Well Justin, I think you are just what we are looking for, too. Let me show you around and then we can talk about salary and benefits. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.” Cynthia said, as she stood up to start the tour.

“To be honest, you pretty much answered all my questions on the phone. I need this job, and I think I would be very happy here.” Justin replied.

“I think so, too. Let’s have a look around and if we can come up with a reasonable salary, you can start tomorrow. This gives you a day to settle in before the boss comes back. He can be a real bear sometimes, but he is a wonderful person once you get to know him. I think you will really like him.” Cynthia said, hoping Brian didn’t scare him with his moods.

“I used to know someone like that a long time ago. Don’t worry, I don’t scare easily.” Justin laughed, thinking about his days with Brian.

“Good. Let’s go.” Cynthia said with a smile.

Two hours later, Justin walked out of the agency with high hopes for his future. The salary he was offered was more then he had expected for a new company and he had the option of becoming a partner in the future if he proved to be an asset to the firm. Walking on air as he headed to the diner, Justin was unable to hide his excitement, when he walked through the door. He was assaulted by the memories that raced through his mind as he looked around the small diner. He didn’t realize how much he had missed the place and couldn’t help the feeling of sadness at all that he missed overtaking him. He was startled by the voice that interrupted his thoughts.

“Oh my God, Sunshine! Is that really you?” Debbie exclaimed, grabbing him and pulling him into a tight hug.

“Hey Debbie. I have missed you so much.” Justin answered through the tears that started building behind his eyes and the lump in his throat that threatened to make his voice shake.

“I’ve missed you too, you little asshole. Why didn’t you stay in touch with us? I was so mad at you when you left without even saying goodbye.” Debbie replied, stepping back to look at her lost boy.

“I’m sorry, Deb. It was just so hard. I wanted to do what was best for my parents, but I knew it would be too hard to say goodbye. I had to make a clean break. Please try to understand. It broke my heart to leave everyone here. I had to do what was best under the circumstances.” Justin explained.

“I know, baby. I spoke to your mom when you left and she explained it to me. It’s water under the bridge. So how long are you here for? I know Vic would love to see you.” She said, excited about being able to spend time with him.

“I’m back for good. I graduated last week and I’m staying with my mom until I find a place of my own. I start my new job tomorrow and everything seems to be falling into place.” Justin beamed, happy to be able to show how much has changed since he was that kid who always needed someone to take care of him.

“That’s wonderful, sunshine. I wish I could sit and chat with you, but the lunch rush is about to begin. Maybe you can come for dinner tomorrow night. We can celebrate your homecoming and your new job. By the way, where are you going to be working?” Debbie asked.

“That sounds great. I would love to be able to catch up with you and Vic. I got a job heading up the art department at Just In Time Advertising. It’s a new company, but I’m really excited about it.” Justin replied, his excitement showing.

“Just In Time? You are going to be working there?” Debbie asked, not sure if she heard him right.

“Yeah, have you heard of it? I haven’t met the owner yet because he’s been out of the country for a few months, but I met with a woman named Cynthia. She’s a junior partner, and she offered me the job. I can’t wait to start!” Justin exclaimed.

“That’s great, baby.” Debbie replied, shocked by Justin’s news. It was obvious that Justin had no idea who his new boss was. She also had a feeling Brian had no idea who Cynthia had just hired. No one knew how Justin felt about Brian after all this time, but Debbie knew that Brian wasn’t over the blond. Michael may have insisted that Justin was just a trick, but she knew better. In fact, she was sure that she was the only one to figure out that Just In Time didn’t have anything to do with Brian’s age. It was Brian’s way of keeping Justin close to his heart. Now all she had to do was pray that things didn’t fall apart once the boss and employee met up at the office.

“Well, I’ll let you get back to work. I will see you tomorrow night. I’ll come over as soon as I get off at five.” Justin said, wondering about the strange look that appeared on Debbie’s face.

“Okay, Sunshine. By the way, great job on getting a job so quickly. Good luck on your first day.” She told him, knowing that Brian wasn’t due back till late Wednesday night. Thursday would be the day that he needed the luck.

“Thanks!” Justin called over his shoulder as he walked out of the diner. He felt so much better now that he knew Debbie and Vic weren’t mad at him. It was turning out to be a good day for him, and he felt he had made the right decision when he decided to come back home. Now, all he had to do was to avoid Brian for awhile. He knew he wasn’t ready to face him right now and wanted to wait until he got settled before their encounter. Maybe he could find out a little information at dinner with Deb. Well, he wouldn’t worry about any of that now. He had a job which would lead to a place of his own and he was back in Debbie’s good graces. What more could he ask for? Things were definitely looking up.

Justin was at work by nine the next morning and spent the day organizing his office and making a list of the supplies he thought he would need. Cynthia had given him a list of clients they currently had and he noticed that a lot of the clients had come over from a company called Vanguard. Justin didn’t recognize the name, but he assumed that was where his new boss had come from. He kept meaning to ask Cynthia who the owner was, but things were crazy with everyone trying to get ready for the big return and the day flew by quickly. Before he knew it, the day was over and he was off to Debbie’s.

Reaching her front door, he was once again overcome with sadness for the past, but he pushed those thoughts away and knocked on the door. When the door opened, he was pulled inside and into another hug of death.

“Debbie, I just saw you yesterday.” Justin laughed.

“I know, Sunshine, but I missed so many in the last four years, I’m trying to make up for them now.” She joked, dragging him inside.

Looking around, Justin was thrilled that everything was still the same as it was so long ago. Catching a glimpse of Vic coming in from the kitchen, Justin smiled.

“Hey Vic, how’s it going?” Justin said, taking the older man in his arms.

“Hey Justin, it’s so good to see you. Debbie hasn’t stopped talking about you since she got home yesterday.” Vic commented, looking into Justin’s blue eyes. He could see how Brian had fallen for the kid, even at the age of seventeen. He couldn’t wait to see how Brian would react to his newest employee. He and Debbie decided to keep the conversation off the guys tonight, not wanting to be the ones to alert Justin to the identity of his new boss.

“Thanks Vic. You look great. How are you feeling?” Justin asked.

“Never better. Now, let’s eat so we can catch up on what you have been up to lately.” Vic suggested.

Justin spent the next couple hours telling Debbie and Vic all about his experience at Dartmouth, while they listened as if he was the president. Every time he tried to steer the conversation towards the guys, they would change the subject back to him. It became obvious to him that they didn’t want to discuss anybody with him causing him to worry that something might have happened, but he decided to let it go for the night. Eventually, he would find out what they were hiding, but since it was his first night back with his ‘family’ he didn’t want to push. The night flew by and soon it was time to go home. He was nervous about meeting his boss the next day. Wanting to make a good impression, he was going to head in early.

“Deb, I better get going. I want to get to the office early tomorrow. Thanks for dinner. It was great, just like I remembered. I will see you both soon.” Justin said, as he hugged them both and made his way to the door. As he stepped outside, he noticed Debbie was following him.

“Sunshine, if you need to talk or anything, I’m here for you.” She offered, hoping he would take the life preserver she threw him, knowing that he was in for a real shock when he saw Brian at work.

“Thanks Deb, I appreciate that. I really did miss you while I was gone.” Justin replied, taking her in for another hug.

“I missed you too, Sunshine.” She answered.

Debbie watched Justin walk away before going back inside to Vic. Tears were threatening to fall and she wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy or apprehension.

“I’m really worried about what is going to happen when Brian and Justin see each other. Do you think they will be okay?” She asked Vic, wondering if they would be able to work together after all they had been through.

“I hope so, sis. I really hope so.” Vic replied, his thoughts were on the boys he had grown to love.


End of part 2
7/7/03

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