Breaking Internal Barriers

Chapter 3

Brian slept in on Saturday morning, after having stayed up late working on the Brown Athletics account. He hadn't mentioned Leo Brown to Alexandra yet. He was waiting until all the paperwork was done and Brown was released from his contract with Vanguard before he told her, but he was in constant contact with Leo and was ready to step in and take over. They had a late night brainstorming session the night before, and all that was needed now was for Justin to swoop in and work his magic. He needed to talk to Justin and see when the man would have time to work up the boards. It appeared that the switch would take place in about two weeks and Brian wanted everything to be ready to go.

His thoughts immediately went to the blond in question, and Brian shook his head to clear them away. There was no way he was going to spend another minute thinking about the artist. He already wasted enough time on him as it  was. He rose from his bed and headed to the shower, getting ready to start his day. He still had some minor decorating he wanted to get done around his loft, and figured he'd spend the day shopping for the things he needed. A little shopping always put him in a good mood, and maybe he'd even by himself a new suit. He finished getting ready and left for his day of shopping; all thoughts of work out of his head.

By later that afternoon, Brian had everything he needed for the loft, a new suit and two new pairs of shoes. It was a relaxing day and just what Brian needed to forget his long week at work. As he walked into the loft, he noticed the light on his machine blinking and hit the play button while putting away his purchases. He stopped when he heard Lindsay's voice fill the air.

"Hey, Brian. We just called to see how your first week at work went. Gus keeps asking about his daddy. Give us a call. Bye!"

Beep

Brian looked at the phone, and his good mood started slipping. He had been trying to avoid thinking about Pittsburgh and his son for the day, and here they were. He reached for the phone, knowing he couldn't avoid them anymore. Lindsay answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Linds. How are things in the Pitts?" he asked, surprisingly happy to hear her voice.

"Brian! I am so glad you called. Gus has been talking about you all day, and ever since we called he's been watching the phone, waiting for it to ring," Lindsay explained, thrilled that Brian took the time to call back.

"What's the matter? Is today the builder's day off?" Brian joked, happy that his son was thinking about him.

"Brian, stop that. I told you that he is just a normal kid who doesn't understand that since you moved away, he won't be able to see you much anymore. Hang on, let me get him."

Brian could hear Lindsay put down the phone and call for Gus. A few moments later, an enthusiastic Gus got on the phone.

"Dada, guess what? I got to play at Tommy's house. He has a lot of trucks and he has a cat and a dog and his bed is in a car and he's my new best friend and can he come over to your house wif me the next time I visit?" Gus said, without taking a breath.

"Slow down, Sonny Boy. It sounds like Tommy is a good friend, Gus, but I don't live in Pittsburgh anymore. You have to take a plane to see me now, remember? Your mommies and I explained this to you before I left. I got a new job and had to move far away, so I don't know if he will be able to come here for a visit. I might have to wait to meet him until I fly back there for a visit," Brian explained.

"That's okay, Dada, he'll wait. When am I flying to you? I miss you and I want to see you."

"You can come and visit me real soon, Gus. I promise. Now, what did you do in school this week?" Brian asked, changing the subject.

He didn't know when he would see Gus again. With Lindsay working at the Gallery now, it was going to be hard to plan trips for them, and he knew there was no time off in his future. Maybe he could find a way to fly back for a weekend? He would have to think about it more and see what he could do. They continued talking for a little while longer, then said their goodbyes. Once Brian hung up the phone, he decided he needed to get out of the loft. He needed to put all of his thoughts aside and go get the one thing that always made him feel better. I good, anonymous fuck.

When he walked into the Coliseum, heads turned reminding him of the old days at Babylon. It didn't take him long to fit into the new club, and just as always, everyone was vying for a night with him. He made his way to the bar and ordered a double beam before picking out a few options for his trick of the night. Once that was done, he made his way to the back room, needing to get a quick blow job before hitting the dance floor. He got what he needed and made his way back to the floor, grabbing one of his possible selections along the way. Together they caused quite a stir, practically fucking right there on the dance floor. After about an hour, Brian was as hard as can be and ready for the activities to begin. He grabbed the trick by the front of his shirt and led him to the door, not getting any resistance along the way. He was going to go back to the loft and fuck his brains out and not give anything else a second thought.

*****************

Justin walked into the Coliseum on Saturday, ready to have a good time.  He desperately needed to just forget about his week at work and get lost in someone else. Ever since he and Brian had begun working together, his thoughts about the man had peaked, which placed him in an uncomfortable position. By working with Brian this week, he could tell that they shared many of the same views about work, and that fact alone made the man even more appealing. Seeing Kevin over at the bar, he pushed those thoughts away for the time being.

As he walked over to the bar though, Justin felt different.  Anytime he had ever walked into the club before, people would stop what they were doing to look at the king. Everyone knew that he was the hottest guy in the place and everybody wanted him. His tricks for the night were considered the lucky few, for not everyone got to be with Justin Taylor.

This time, however, people seemed to be preoccupied with something else.  Everyone around seemed to be talking about someone else, and that someone wasn’t Justin.

“Oh my God…did you just see the man that just walked by?” Justin listened to a tall, brunette say. “He was the most gorgeous man to ever walk the face of the earth!”

“I know!” a blond said in response. “It’s finally nice to have some new, hot men around. I hope he comes back soon.”

 Justin continued to walk, listening in on what people were saying.

“WOW…that man was hot!” a muscular redhead said.

“I thought he was just a guest, but I guess he’s here to stay,” another brunette said. “I hope I get a chance with him.”

“Me too!” a short, blond man said. “I hope he’s into blonds!”

Justin picked up his pace, pissed at what had just occurred. He couldn’t believe that this mystery man had come in and had got everyone’s attention so fast. If anyone was to have the new, hot stud, it should have been him. He quickly walked up to Kevin.

“Hey,” Justin said

“Justin, hey,” Kevin said.

“I need a drink,” Justin said.

“Your usual?” Kevin asked.

“You know me,” Justin said. “Do I ever change?”

Kevin smiled and went to go get his shot of beam. Placing it in front of Justin, he said, “If you would have been here five minutes ago, you could have seen the new stud. Unfortunately, he just left.”

Justin shrugged. “I’ll get to him eventually,” he said, trying to keep his cool.

Kevin laughed. “You better hope you do. He really is the talk of the club.”

“I noticed,” Justin said.

Kevin realized he needed to be optimistic. “However, I’m sure whenever you finally do meet, you two will be the talk of the club. I can just see it now…Justin and the new gorgeous stud…you two would be the hottest item in here.”

Justin laughed and put down his shot glass. “I’m glad you think so. I need a double.”

“Coming right up,” Kevin said.

As Justin waited for his drink, he turned around to look at opportunities for the night. However, no one seemed to be looking at his direction. How could everything change so quickly? He really needed to meet this man to see what all the hype was about.

“Here you go,” Kevin said.

Justin downed the shot immediately and placed the glass back down.  “See you later Kevin. I’m out to make my rounds.”

“Good luck,” Kevin said, knowing Justin might actually need it this time around.

Justin ignored that comment as he walked into the backroom, wanting to cut to the chase. He usually liked to go dance a few rounds before fucking, but he needed to get laid.

Justin looked around until he found a good looking brunette. Putting a hand on the man’s shoulder, he turned him around.

Justin motioned for the man to follow him, and he did. Finding a spot on the wall, he pushed the man against the wall. The man quickly undid his pants and Justin undid his. Once both men were exposed, Justin slipped his member inside; overcome with the feeling of satisfaction he was receiving. Nothing was better than hot, anonymous sex...nothing.      

*****************

Brian walked into the weekly meeting on Monday, anxious to start his day. He knew he needed to get with Justin and talk about Brown Athletics, he just needed to find the time. He spotted Justin in deep conversation with Alexandra, and was startled when they motioned for him to join them. As he made his way over to where they were standing, he noticed the two of them were smiling bright.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, wondering what they could be so obviously happy about.

"We got the Givenchy account, thanks to the two of you. I have been trying to sign them for years, but they refused to even listen to our ideas. I am so happy with this latest acquisition you guys, and I think we should go out to dinner tonight to celebrate. What do you say? My treat!" Alex exclaimed.

"That sounds good to me," Brian replied, happy with the praise she was giving them.

"Me too," Justin replied, knowing that refusing wasn't an option, even if he wanted to.

"Great! What do you say we all meet at the Cypress Room at seven?" Alex asked, anxious to show her appreciation to them for all the hard work they did.

"That's good for me. What about you, Brian?" Justin asked.

"That's fine. Could you just give directions to Cynthia later? I don't want to spend the whole night driving around looking for this place," Brian replied with a laugh. Ft. Lauderdale was a big place, and he usually spent most of his time lost in the streets.

Justin laughed at Brian's request. "I'll give her a call later."

"Okay, let's get this meeting started," Alex said, taking her place at the head of the table.

Brian and Justin took their seats on either side of her, both still beaming at their accomplishment. The meeting passed quickly, as did the day, and before Brian knew it, it was time to go home and get ready for dinner. He called Cynthia before he headed out.

"Hey, Cyn. Did Justin call you with the directions for the restaurant I am meeting him and Alexandra at tonight?"

"Yes he did, Brian. I have them right here waiting for you. By the way, good job landing the Givenchy account. It's all anyone can talk about around here. Ms. Turner is really impressed with your talent." Cynthia told him. She happened to run into Steve in the break room and he told her about the way Alexandra had been bragging about her newest partner.

"Was there ever any doubt, Cynthia? I can't wait to see the look on her face when I hand her the Brown Athletics contract. That should put her over the edge. I am calling it a day. I'll stop by and get those directions on my way out. If anyone is looking for me, tell them I've left the building," he told her.

"You got it, Boss," she replied with a smile. Sometimes Brian's ego was almost too much to handle.

At 7:00, Brian walked through the door of the Cypress Room and told the hostess that he was meeting the Turner party. He was led to a table in the back, where Justin was already waiting. There was no sign of Alexandra.

"Hey," Justin greeted Brian as he approached the table.

"Hey, where’s the boss?" Brian asked as he took a seat. He knew that he wouldn't feel completely comfortable with Justin until Alexandra got there.

"She hasn't gotten here yet. I was just about to order a drink. Would you like one?" Justin asked, signaling the waiter. Watching Brian walk into the room caused his groin to tighten, and he figured a drink would help him relax.

"Sure, whatever you are having is fine," Brian replied, looking towards the door for any sign of Alexandra. Sitting so close to Justin in a somewhat personal setting was causing his mind to race with images he had been trying to keep at bay.

When the waiter appeared, Justin ordered two double beams on the rocks. "Is that okay with you?" He asked when the waiter walked away.

"Actually, that's my drink of choice." Brian chuckled.

"Mine, too," Justin replied, wondering once again where Alex was. She had a tendency to waltz in late and make a grand entrance.

A few minutes later, the hostess came to the table telling Justin that he had a phone call. He excused himself to go take the call. Brian watched him walk away, then chastised himself for watching the man's ass as he went. He needed to keep his thoughts in check around the blond. When Brian saw Justin making his way back, he knew that whoever was on the phone had given him some bad news.

"That was Alexandra on the phone. Her sister in law is pregnant and due to deliver any day. Apparently, she had some false labor a little while ago and ended up in the emergency room. She's okay, but everyone got all worked up. They are still at the hospital, so Alex had to bail on dinner. She arranged for our check to be covered and wants us to enjoy dinner, on her," Justin explained, wondering how he managed to get into the present situation. He had spent all weekend pushing away thoughts of Brian and here he was, having dinner alone with the man.

"That will actually work out good," Brian said, not even thinking about the implications of them being alone for dinner. He could only think about using the time to discuss Brown with Justin.

"Excuse me?" Justin asked, confused by Brian's response.

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded. It's just that I had something I wanted to discuss with you and now would be the perfect time," Brian explained.

"Oh, well than, this works out perfectly," Justin replied, curious about what Brian wanted to discuss.

The waiter returned and they ordered their meal, as well as a couple more drinks. All through dinner, Brian explained his plans for Brown Athletics, never mentioning the connection he had with Leo or the fact that the contract was already a done deal. When he was finished, he waited for Justin's opinion.

"Brian, I think your ideas are great, and I know I wouldn't have any problems with the boards, but Brown Athletics? Alex has been trying to land him longer than Givenchy. What makes you think we can even get in to see him?" Justin asked, signaling the waiter for another drink. He could feel the alcohol hitting him, but figured he could always call a cab to get home. He was enjoying his dinner with Brian and didn't want to think about the reasons why.

"I have my reasons," Brian replied, vaguely.

"But…" Justin tried again.

"Look, Justin. I wasn't going to say anything until the time came, but Brown Athletics is already in the bag," Brian admitted, accepting his drink from the waiter who appeared at their side.

"What do you mean, they are already in the bag?" Justin asked, curiously.

"I mean that Leo Brown was one of my biggest acquisitions at Vanguard. When he heard that I was leaving, he called me and told me he wanted to follow me wherever I was going. I am just waiting for all the legal shit to go through with his contract there, before he comes on board at BTI," Brian explained, enjoying the smile that broke out on the blonde's face.

"Holy shit! Alex is going to die when she finds out. When were you going to tell her?" Justin asked, amazed by what he had just heard.

"As soon as I have the signed contract in my hand. So are you with me on this? Are you willing to help me without running to the boss?" Brian smiled at Justin's reaction.

"Oh, definitely. I am with you. I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees that contract!" Justin couldn't contain his excitement.

The two men continued to discuss the account for a while longer, then the subject changed to a more personal level.  All the while the drinks were flowing.

"So, what made you decide to move to Florida?" Justin asked, curious about the way Brian had picked up his life and moved.

"Well, I always felt I would be able to do more professionally if I left Pittsburgh. Then, my boss sold the company to an asshole. I couldn't imagine working there until I was ready to retire," Brian explained with a chuckle.

"I understand. I was lucky finding BTI when I did. Alex has been great to me, giving me opportunities I may never have had without her. I know my talent has gotten me far, but sometimes knowing someone can help," Justin said with a slight slur.

"Yeah, you're right. My old boss gave me an internship when I was still in college, and taught me the ins and outs of the business. I guess in a way, I owe him a lot," Brian admitted for the first time.

"So what did your family think of you moving away?"

"I didn't tell them," Brian stated flatly.

"You didn't tell them you were moving out of state?" Justin asked in surprise.

"We aren't close," he added, not wanting to get into a discussion about his family.

Justin could see a wall go up in Brian's eyes, and knew he needed to change the subject. "What about your friends?"

"They seemed to be upset to see me go, but understood that I needed to get away, and my son is too young to understand the geography," Brian replied without thinking.

"You have a son?" he asked. Justin was shocked. During their dinner, he began to enjoy Brian's company, and this latest bit of news reminded him that the man was straight and completely off limits. Even though he assured himself that there would never be anything between them, the proof made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Yeah. He's four years old and lives with his mother. He's a cute kid, just like his old man," Brian replied, laughing. He felt a little odd not mentioning Melanie, but didn't think it was the time to divulge anymore information. It wasn't anyone's business.

"Wow. I guess I'm just a little surprised. I didn't picture you as a father," Justin explained.

"What exactly did you picture me as?" Brian asked, trying to keep his interest out of his voice.

"I'm not sure, but not that." Justin couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling that he was experiencing. He knew it was time to go home and sleep off the beam. "I guess we better be going. It's getting late and we have work in the morning."

"Yes we do, and I think we are both going to be taking cabs home." Brian rose from his seat, feeling a little tipsy.

They made their way out of the restaurant and hailed two cabs, laughing like a couple of school kids due to the alcohol they consumed. They said their goodbyes at the curb and headed home separately, each one thinking about the other. It was a good night for both of them.

The next morning, Justin slowly walked into his office, feeling as if the room was spinning out of control. For the tenth time that morning, he cursed himself for drinking so much the night before. He knew better than to get hammered on a work night, but had enjoyed the dinner he shared with Brian. He pushed the information he had learned the night before to the back of his mind, unable to process anything until his head stopped pounding. As he sat down in his chair, he heard a light knock on his door.

"Come in," he called out in what could only be considered a loud whisper.

"Hey, Just…what the hell happened to you?" Daphne exclaimed as she looked at her friend.

"Nothing happened to me, and could you please keep it down? There is no need to shout," Justin winced as he replied.

"Did someone have way too much to drink at dinner last night? I'm surprised that the boss let you overindulge like that on a work night," Daphne said with a smile.

"Alex wasn't there. She called the restaurant and said that she couldn't make it, so it was just Brian and me," Justin admitted, waiting for his friend to start in with the comments. He didn't have to wait long.

"Really? So you and Brian had dinner together last night? Does he look as bad as you this morning?" Daphne was intrigued with this latest turn of events.

"Yes, we had dinner together, and how the hell would I know what he looks like? I left him outside the Cypress Room. Daphne, you can tease me all you want, but please wait until tomorrow. As for today, I don’t want any interruptions. If anyone wants to speak to me, tell them to make an appointment. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to find a way to get the drums to stop beating in my head," Justin replied, as he put his head on his desk. It was going to be a long day.

"Yes, Boss," Daphne whispered as she walked out of his office, closing the door behind her. She was curious as to what went on between the two men the night before and figured it was about time she learned more about the new partner. She made a mental note to track down Cynthia sometime during the week and see what she could find out.

Brian was sitting at his desk, wondering if it was possible for one's head to explode when Cynthia walked in.

"Brian? Can you…uh oh…I guess dinner was good last night?" she asked, taking in the hung over man in front of her.

"It wasn't bad," Brian replied, his voice barely audible.

"Brian, you really shouldn't get drunk in front of your boss. It's not professional," Cynthia reprimanded.

"For your information, I didn't. She couldn't make it last night so it was only Justin and me, and I don't want to discuss it. Just save anything running through your mind for another time. Now, I need you to keep everyone away for awhile, and could you see if you can round up some Tylenol? I have a bitch of a headache," Brian explained, resting his head against the back of his chair.

"Sure thing, Boss. I'll take care of it for you," Cynthia assured him, walking out of his office. She wanted details of the night before, but knew that now was not the time. Maybe Daphne would know what went on at dinner. She would have to try to track the woman down later, and see what she could find out. For now she needed to get Brian his Tylenol. It looked like he really needed it.

*****************

After being hung over all of Tuesday, due to the enjoyable dinner he had shared with Justin on Monday night, the week seemed to go by quickly for Brian.  Soon enough, it was Thursday evening and he and Alex had a dinner meeting with one of their potential clients, Spec’s Music.  Being the gentlemen that he always was, Brian offered to pick Alex up at her house, so they could ride together to the restaurant. Alexandra had arranged for them to meet Ms. Specoli at a nice Italian restaurant called DeGenaros. Picking her up at 6:30 sharp, they arrived at the restaurant a little before 7:00, and were settled at the table by the time Ms. Specoli arrived.

“Ms. Specoli, it’s so nice to see you again,” Alex said, offering her hand to the woman.

“It’s nice to see you as well, Ms. Turner,” Ms. Specoli said.

“Please, it’s Alexandra,” Alex said. Looking over to where Brian was seated on her left, she said, “Mr. Specoli, this is our new partner, Brian Kinney. He is the one who has been handling the majority of your account. We just had to have a change of plans last week because something came up at the agency.”

“It’s nice to meet you Ms. Specoli,” Brian said, shaking the woman’s hand gently.

“Nice to meet you as well Mr. Kinney,” Ms. Specoli said, looking at the gorgeous man in front of her. “Please, call me Jessica. I think we should all be on a first name basis here if we’re going to be working closely together, don’t you agree Alexandra?”

“Absolutely,” Alex said. “Especially you and Brian. If you decide to sign with us, he will be the one handling your account.”

“Well then,” Jessica said, looking over at Brian. “I think I would like to get to know a little about you, as well as your ideas about my company.”

“Of course,” Brian said politely. After ordering drinks and dinner, he went over all of his ideas about the campaign. When dinner was over, he went through how he was going to double their national sales in six months tops. Jessica seemed very impressed.

“Well, I must say Brian…you have certainly done your research,” Jessica said. “The campaign looks phenomenal and the figures you have presented me with are quite impressive.”

“Thank you,” Brian said.

Alex smiled. “I’d also like to point out to you Jessica, that Brian is not only a great ad exec, but also an award winner. He won dozens of Cleo awards at his former advertising agency and even won the Atlas Award in 2001.”

“Really?” Jessica said, intrigued by this new information. “Where are you from?”

“Pittsburgh,” Brian replied. “I was a partner at Vanguard.”

“Ah…yes,” Jessica said. “They were another agency vying for this account as well, actually. They presented to me two weeks ago.”

Brian and Alex exchanged a nervous glance, hoping that wasn’t a bad sign.

Jessica smiled. “However, you can tell your former agency that they should have kept you around because I’ve decided to sign with BTI.”

Brian and Alex smiled at one another and then at Jessica. “That is wonderful to hear,” Alex said, taking the documents out from her briefcase. 

“Well, it was an easy decision,” Jessica said, turning her attention to Brian. “Brian, this campaign you created was amazing. I’ve never been more impressed. I know Spec’s isn’t the multi million dollar accounts that you’re probably used to, but you treated it equally.”

“Well, we believe every account is important,” Brian said. “Your company has every possibility of getting national attention. You’ve already created the products. It’s my job from here to make sure they sell everywhere.”

“Now, that’s what I like to hear!” Jessica said. “By the way, I especially loved the design for the new campaign. It’s very inventive.”

“That would mostly be the work of our very talented art director, Justin Taylor,” Alex added.

“It’s quite a concept,” Jessica replied, looking at the boards once more.

“You’ll have to meet him the next time you drop by the agency,” Alex said.  “He and Brian make quite a pair.”

Brian’s thoughts immediately flashed to the blond. He couldn’t believe Alex had said what she just did…that he and Justin made quite a pair. He knew she meant in as business partners, but her words made Brian think of the blonde’s ass again. He had to admit, for a straight man, Justin had the most perfectly shaped ass. Brian could only imagine how much fun it would be to stick his cock in that bubble butt.

“Brian…are you with us?” Jessica asked.

“What?” Brian asked, coming out of his thoughts. “Yes, of course…I’m sorry. I was just thinking about the figures I showed you earlier, making sure everything was right.”

Jessica laughed. “Everything looks great. Let me sign the papers, and then I must be on my way. I have an early meeting in the morning.”

“No problem,” Alex said, taking out a pen. Giving it to Jessica, the woman quickly signed the contracts.

“Well Brian…,” Jessica said, looking the man up and down. “I hope to see you soon.”

“You will,” Brian said. “We’ll need to set up a meeting to finalize commercial shootings and such.”

“Just call my secretary and she’ll set it all up,” Jessica said.

Jessica walked out and Brian and Alex went out to Brian’s jeep. Alex couldn’t help but smile.

Brian noticed the grin on Alex’s face. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Alex said. “I just can’t believe you had that woman eating out of the palm of your hand. Not only are you brilliant, but you are also quite the lady’s man.”

Brian chuckled, thinking of ironic that statement was.

“For now on, I am assigning you to all the female clients,” Alex joked.  “At least ones we might have trouble on.”

Alex and Brian were talking on the drive back when Alex thought of an idea.

“Brian, do you mind if we stop by Justin’s place?” Alex said. “He lives very close to me, and I would like to tell him what Ms. Specoli said about his design.”

Just the thought of seeing Justin after hours made Brian’s groin tighten.  He didn’t know what he was going to do about that, but he knew he was curious at to where the blonde lived.

“No problem,” Brian said. “Just tell me the way.”

Alex directed him to a block of lofts not too far away from Alex’s house.  Getting out of the jeep, Brian said, “He lives in a loft?”

“Yes. Justin isn’t married, so he thinks a house is too big for him,” Alex said, being careful as to what she said about Justin. “But his loft is gorgeous…he decorated it himself.”

“That should be interesting,” Brian said, going over to the stairs.  Together, they walked up two flights and made their way over to Justin’s door.

Alex stepped up and rang the doorbell. “I hope he’s home…I didn’t check to see if his car was here or not.”

Justin was about to head out the door to go clubbing when his doorbell rang. Going over to the door, he looked through the peephole and saw Alex.

Opening the door, he started to say, “Alex, you should have called, I was just on my way to the Col…Brian!”

Brian smiled when Justin noticed him standing behind Alex.

“Hi Justin,” Alex said. “Hope you don’t mind us dropping by, but I really wanted to tell you how dinner with Ms. Specoli went.”

Justin smiled; relieved he hadn’t given anything away. When he looked at Brian and his Armani suit though, his groin tightened. The man looked incredibly good and very fuckable.

“No problem, it’s nice to see you guys,” Justin said, opening the door all the way open. “C’mon in.”

Alex walked through first, followed by Brian. Brian took one look at the blond and was hard. He couldn’t believe the outfit Justin was wearing…tight, black pants and a blue tank top.  The man was the definition of hot, which made it all that much harder for Brian to concentrate. The girls must be all over him by the end of the night.

“Brian, would you like some beam?” Justin asked, remembering that he and Brian liked the same drink.

“Yeah,” Brian said. “Sounds good.”

“Alex, I have some merlot if you’d like a glass,” Justin said. 

“That would be great Justin,” Alex said, settling down on the sofa. Brian came over and sat down next to her. A moment later, Justin brought over their drinks, including one for himself.

Alex and Brian explained the entire evening, being careful not to leave out any details. When they came across to the end, Alex was the one to tell Justin about what Ms. Specoli had said about his artwork.

“She really liked your concept for the campaign,” Alex said. “You should have heard her bragging on about you. I told her when she came by the next time you would have to meet her.”

“That sounds good,” Justin said. “I’m glad we got the account.”

Alex nodded, raising her glass. “It has been a good week for BTI. First the Givenchy account, and now Spec’s Music. I wanted to do this the other night at the celebratory dinner we were supposed to have, but since I couldn’t attend, I want to do it now. I want to make a toast.”

The two men raised up their glasses along with Alex. “I feel so honored to have the two, most accomplished, men in Ft. Lauderdale on my staff.  Justin, you are incredibly intelligent and talented artistically, and in the past three years that you have been the art director for BTI, you have continued to amaze me with your stimulating ideas and brilliant designs.  Brian, you’ve only been at BTI for two weeks, but are already leaving your mark on this company. Your slogans are daring, your ideas are bold, and your campaigns are fresh and outstanding. I know that in the future, I can only expect the best from you. Brian and Justin…the two of you collaborating together make an incredible pair. Together, the three of us are going to make BTI number one. Here’s to the future of our company.”

“Here, here,” Justin said, clinking his glass with Alex. When his and Brian’s glass came together, they looked at one another and smiled.

The three of them were all drinking when Alex’s cell phone started to ring. Alex picked up and had a brief conversation with the person on the other line. When she hung it up, she stood up and looked at the boys.

“I’m sorry guys, but I am going to have to leave. My husband just called.  My sister law is really in labor this time. Her water broke, so we know it’s for real.”

Brian stood up, sad that he was going to have to leave so soon. He really enjoyed spending time with Justin in this casual setting.

“No problem,” Brian said.

“Oh Brian, you don’t have to leave,” Alex said. “Peter is going to swing by here and pick me up.”

“Oh,” Brian said, feeling a little nervous. He wasn’t sure if Justin wanted him to stay or not.

Justin looked over at Brian, wanting the man to stay. He liked being around Brian…something just felt right. He enjoyed the man’s friendship. Knowing that since it was his place, he needed to be the one to speak up. He said, “Brian, you’re welcome to stay…that is…if you want.”

“Are you sure?” Brian said. “I know you were on your way out before we arrived.”

“Oh,” Justin said. “I was just bored. I was going to go out to a bar or something.”

A minute later, Alex saw Peter’s car out the window and walked over to the door. “You guys should take the time to get to know each other better.  You’re going to be working closely with each other for a while.”

Justin nodded. “Good night Alex.”

“Yeah, see you later,” Brian said.

Alex said her goodbyes and walked out the door, leaving Brian and Justin alone.        

Justin walked over to his mini bar and poured himself another shot of beam. Thinking Brian might want another, he asked, “Brian, want another shot?”

“Yeah,” Brian said, going over to the bar next to Justin. Justin poured him one and the two downed theirs together. Taking in the décor of the room, Brian then said, “I like your place.”

“Oh…thanks,” Justin replied, smiling. “I guess you could say it’s very colorful. When I was painting, the artist in me kind of came out and I got a little too inventive.”

Brian chuckled. “Well, it is a bit colorful, but overall, it looks very architecturally sound.”

“Thanks,” Justin said.

“I own a loft too,” Brian said.  I just got through decorating it last weekend. However, it’s not nearly as colorful as yours.”

“Really?” Justin said. “C’mon, I’ll give you a tour.”

Justin took Brian around his loft, showing him all the elegant designs.  Brian also looked at all of Justin’s art work, which was displayed proudly on the wall. Once the tour was over, Justin said, “Hey Brian, would you like a beer?”

“Sure,” Brian said, looking at one of Justin’s art pieces. He was still looking at it when Justin brought him his beer.

“This is good,” Brian said, looking at the masterpiece before him. “You painted this?”

“Yes, I did that one in college, my junior year,” Justin said.

Brian nodded. “You’re very talented.”

“Thanks,” Justin said, slightly blushing. He was used to being praised, but something about Brian doing it made it more worth while.

Brian took the beer and headed over to the sofa where Justin joined him.

“So, what made you choose advertising over being an artist?” Brian asked. “You’re obviously good enough to have been out there in the art world.”

Justin shrugged. “I’ve always liked to be intellectually challenged, and advertising seems to do that for me. I know I could have just been a free lance artist, but advertising gives me the stability and opportunities I could have never had as just an artist.”

Brian nodded. “I understand.”

Justin added, “When I have the time, I work on my own projects,  I still have many works in progress. Would you like to see them?”

“Sure,” Brian said, really interested in Justin’s art work. The man really was incredible.

Justin went over to his desk and pulled out some boards. Bringing them over to Brian, he let the man look at each one and explained the techniques he used for all of them.

“You really know your stuff,” Brian said. “You seem to be a jack of trades in the art world.”

Justin smiled. “That’s because I went to an excellent school. I was able to major in marketing and art. Their art department was phenomenal.”

“Where did you go?” Brian asked.

“Briarcliff College in New York,” Justin said.

“Ah, the Big Apple,” Brian said. “I always wanted to live there.”

“Yeah, it was a great place to be. The culture, the people, the clubs…everything was great,” Justin said. “How about you…where did you go to school?”

“I went to Penn State,” Brian said. “It was a good school…as good as a public school can get.”

Justin nodded.  They have a pretty good reputation, from what I’ve heard.”

Brian and Justin continued to talk for the rest of the night, just laughing and sharing different experiences with each other. By 2 AM, the boys were beyond intoxicated and were giggling and laughing for no reason at all.  Brian began to feel his eyelids getting very heavy, and decided to close his eyes just for a minute, hoping to feel rejuvenated afterwards. However, as soon as his eyes were closed, he fell fast asleep.

Justin began to feel sleepy as well. Looking over at Brian, he noticed his eyes were closed.  Knowing it was not a good idea to let Brian drive home in his condition anyway, he decided to let him stay on his sofa for the night.

Justin walked over to his bathroom to relieve himself, and then started to take off his clothes. Deciding he needed to be partially clothed so that Brian didn’t think twice about anything, he put on some sweats and a t-shirt. Going over to check on Brian once more, he noticed the man had laid himself down completely on the couch. Justin grabbed a blanket from his room and went to cover Brian, not wanting the man to get too cold during the night. He then walked over to his bed and got in under his sheets, wondering how he was going to sleep knowing there was an extremely hot guy laying on his couch. Closing his eyes, he did his best to push thoughts of Brian out of his head when finally, sleep overcame him and he was out for the rest of the night.

*****************

Daphne waited all week before finally getting an opportunity to talk to Cynthia. On Friday afternoon, she was asked to pick up lunch for the office at the deli on the corner, and decided to ask Cynthia to join her. She found her sitting at her desk, reading a magazine.

"Hello, Cynthia. Did you finally get a few minutes to yourself?" Daphne asked.

"Yes I did. I can't believe how hectic it's been here all week. This is the first moment I've had all week to relax, so I grabbed a magazine from the lobby," Cynthia admitted, guiltily.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me. I keep a magazine or two in my desk for moments like these. Sometimes, working with the people we work with, we all need a little down time. I'm going to walk down to the deli and pick up lunch. I was wondering if you would like to join me. I could use the help, and I thought we'd finally get a chance to talk. You've been here for almost three weeks so far, and we hardly know each other," Daphne explained, realizing what she said was true. Since the first day they met, she knew she was going to like the woman, but never got a chance to talk to her for about anything other than business.

"That sounds nice. I've been meaning to stop by your office and talk to you, but it's just been so crazy. Let me call Brian, and let him know that I'm leaving," Cynthia replied, reaching for the phone.

After telling her boss that she was stepping out, she grabbed her purse and followed Daphne outside. They walked together down the busy sidewalk, sharing the usual getting to know you information. While they waited in line at the deli, Cynthia got the opportunity to ask what she had been anxious to ask.

"So, have you been working for Mr. Taylor long?"

"Ever since he came to BTI. Justin and I have been best friends since elementary school. I don't know what I would do without him, and I know he feels the same way. When Ms. Turner offered him the job, he asked to bring me in as his assistant. I was in between career choices and jumped at the opportunity. I knew he was going to be successful and figured I would enjoy the ride. What about you? Have you been working for Mr. Kinney long? I know he must value your work if he brought you all the way from Pittsburgh." Daphne was anxious to know a little more about  Brian Kinney's personal life, but didn't want to seem nosey.

"I've been with Brian for years. He's a good man and a great boss. We've developed a pretty strong friendship over the years, so when he asked me to relocate, I didn't have to think twice. He claimed he just didn't want to have to break in a new assistant, but I know he asked me to come because no one else would be able to put up with his…moods. I've learned to read between the lines with him, so I can usually diffuse a situation before it happens. He's not the easiest person to work for sometimes, but I love him to death and would do anything for him," Cynthia admitted, knowing that what she was saying was true. All she wanted was for him to be happy.

"Wow. It sounds as if you and he have the same type of relationship that Justin and I do. I would do anything for him, even if it meant interfering in his life, if I thought it would be what was best for him," Daphne said, suddenly feeling a connection with the woman. Her plan just might work out after all.

"I know what you mean. Brian doesn't always see things clearly, so I make sure I am there to show him the way," Cynthia replied with a chuckle. She could imagine what Brian would say if he heard what she had just said.

"Cynthia, I think you and I have a lot in common. Why don't we get together for dinner? I think you and I could be good friends," Daphne said, really believing that too.

"That sounds great. I don't know anyone else around here, except for Brian, and we don't really travel in the same circles. Are you free tonight?" Cynthia asked, hopeful that she may have found a friend.

Daphne was excited about going out with Cynthia. She wanted to learn more about Brian Kinney for her plan, but she really wanted to have Cynthia as a friend. Like Cynthia, Daphne was closest to Justin, but they didn't travel in the same circles either. "Tonight is fine. I don't have any plans. When we get back to the office, I'll give you my number and you can call me when you get home. We can decide where to go then."

"Okay, that sounds good. Oh, it looks like our order is ready," Cynthia said, when they were waved over to the counter.

They walked back to the office talking about the weather, Daphne explaining the seasons to Cynthia. They parted in the lobby, promising to be in touch about their evening, both looking forward to the other's company.

Later that night, Daphne and Cynthia found themselves sitting in the California Café Bar & Grill. It was a fairly nice place, and the atmosphere was perfect for their evening. They had talked about their lives all through dinner, while sharing a bottle of wine, and began to feel as if they had known each other for years. While waiting for their dessert, Daphne decided to bring Brian into the conversation.

"So, tell me a little something about that boss of yours. He’s adorable. How is he not married? I would have thought that women would have been beating down his door to snag him," she asked, hoping she didn't sound too nosey.

"Well, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, so don't spread it around, but he has some messed up views about relationships. He doesn't believe in them," Cynthia admitted, leaving out the part about him believing in fucking every good looking man he comes in contact with. Knowing all about the homophobic assholes in the world, she didn't want to share Brian's life with anyone. That was his choice.

"Really? Oh my God! Justin has the same views. I keep telling him that he needs to settle down and find someone to love, but he refuses to even consider the possibility!" Daphne exclaimed, laughing at the similarities between the two men.

"I know. I tell Brian the same thing. He just laughs at me and tells me that I am naive if I believe in love," Cynthia laughed. She was beginning to think that the world actually had two Brian Kinney's.

"I keep hoping that one day the right man will come along and sweep Justin off his feet, but I am starting to wonder if he would even notice it if it happened," Daphne said, oblivious to what she had just revealed.

"Man? You mean Justin is gay?" Cynthia asked, incredulously.

Daphne realized that in her excitement of being able to share her exasperation with Justin to someone who understood, she revealed something that wasn't her place to reveal. "Yes, he is, but I shouldn't have said anything. Justin is a private person, and doesn't feel his lifestyle is anybody's business. No wonder Justin always tells me I have a big mouth."

Cynthia could see the torment in Daphne's eyes and knew she felt bad about letting Justin's secret slip out. Considering that she wanted to see if she could pry information out of the woman anyway, she decided to trust her and tell her about Brian. He never kept his sexuality a secret anyway. He just left it on a need to know basis, and if Justin was gay, he needed to know. "Daphne, it's okay. I won't say anything to anyone at the office. In fact, if it makes you feel better, Brian's gay, too."

"I knew it!" Daphne exclaimed, laughing at the revelation.

"You knew what? That Brian was gay? How?" Cynthia asked, wondering exactly what Daphne was talking about.

"I told Justin that I thought Brian was gay. That maybe they could hook up or something, but he told me no. He said that he didn't care one way or another, because he wasn't interested. I don't believe it of course," Daphne told her.

"Why don't you believe it?" Cynthia asked, curious as to what the woman thought. It was apparent that they had the same thoughts as to Brian and Justin coming together.

"Because on the day they met, I went into his office as soon as Brian walked out and asked him what he thought of the hot new executive, and he told me he didn't notice. Justin Taylor notices everyone, especially someone who looks like Brian. It was so obvious that Justin was trying to be casual about the meeting, which means he's hiding something. Did Brian say anything about Justin, by any chance?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact, Brian has seemed pretty casual about Justin, too, and he too notices everyone," Cynthia replied, beginning to wonder what was going on with the two men.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Daphne's wheels were turning at the possibilities.

"That they are protesting way too much to not have any interest?" Cynthia asked, suddenly seeing what was right in front of her eyes.

"Exactly! What if they are secretly attracted to each other and too stubborn to do anything about it?" Daphne asked with a smile.

"Then I think the best thing would be if they each had a friend to push them in the right direction," Cynthia said, trying to hide her giggles.

"Partners?" Daphne asked, holding out her hand to Cynthia.

Partners!" Cynthia exclaimed, shaking the other woman's hand.

The two women spent the rest of their evening plotting against their bosses, setting up their game plan on how they would bring the two men together.

*****************

Justin walked into the Coliseum on Friday night, hoping to get laid. Last night had made him incredibly horny…seeing Brian outside of the office.  As much as he wanted to dismiss the new partner, he just couldn’t bring himself to do that. Thinking about him made him even more because he knew he would never be able to have him. He knew the man was straight…hadn’t he mentioned at some point that he had a son? The man was probably just divorced.

When the two men had woken up this morning, Brian had been in disarray about everything. Wondering where he was, Justin had to explain to him that he had fallen asleep and that Justin had allowed him to sleep off the tremendous amounts of alcohol they had consumed. Getting up, Brian had taken a piss and left immediately. Justin couldn’t help but look at Brian’s body on the way out. The man had even looked good in wrinkled clothes and sleep tussled hair. 

Justin began to feel frustrated, knowing he needed to stop thinking about Brian. Sighing, he walked over to the bar where he saw Kevin.

“Hey you,” Kevin said. “You’re in luck.”

“I am?” Justin said. “That’s a first.”

“Tough day?” Kevin asked, noticing the tired look on Justin’s face.

“More like tough week,” Justin said. “Thank God it’s over.”

“Yes it is,” Kevin said, bringing Justin a double beam. “For you, that is.  I have to work tomorrow and Sunday night as well. I guess I should have gotten some fancy degree so I didn’t have to do all this shit, huh?”

Justin laughed. “College is overrated.”

Kevin raised his eyebrows. He knew that Justin loved his job.

“What happened to you?” Kevin said.

Justin sighed. “Nothing. I’m just under a lot of stress.”

“Who isn’t?” Kevin said.

Justin smiled. Deciding to just state his mind, he said, “Have you ever wanted to forget about someone, but just couldn’t?”

“Yeah,” Kevin said.

“Really?” Justin asked, optimistically.

“My ex boyfriend’s mother,” Kevin said. “You remember Steve. Man, his old lady was such a bitch. After we broke up, I still had nightmares about her.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “I meant about someone you met…a guy.”

“Oh!” Kevin said. “Mr. Taylor has a school boy crush? I never thought I would hear that from you.”

“I don’t have a crush,” Justin said.

“You slept with a really hot trick?” Kevin asked.

“No,” Justin said. “Well…that’s not who I am referring to.”

Kevin was confused. “Where did you meet this guy?”

Justin felt foolish. “It’s Brian…the new partner at work.”

“The breeder?” Kevin asked. “The one from Pittsburgh?”

“Yeah,” Justin said, downing his beam. “I just can’t seem to get him out of my head. He’s hot, he’s sexy, he’s intelligent…”

“Sounds like a dream,” Kevin said.

“We even have the same tastes, the same kind of clothes, the same work ethics…it’s as if he’s my fucking twin,” Justin said.

“Hmmm….that could be hot,” Kevin teased. 

“I need a double,” Justin said. Kevin brought him a double and he gulped it down, needing to feel the buzz of the alcohol.

“This is so fucking frustrating!” Justin said, beating his fist on the table.  “I don’t need this. I don’t need anyone in my life. I have been very happy being by myself, being able to fuck anyone I want, where I want, when I want. I certainly don’t need some whipped, pansy, straight boy with a kid invading my thoughts any longer!”

“He has a kid?” Kevin asked.

Justin wasn’t even listening. “What I need right now is to get laid, which is exactly what I am going to do.”

Kevin said, “As I said earlier, it’s your lucky day. The new guy walked in ten minutes ago.”

“Wonderful,” Justin said sarcastically. “That’s all I need…some cooler than school twinky, out to grab everyone good.”

Kevin laughed. “Suit yourself. In case you wanted to take a look at him though, he’s the one in red over in the middle of the dance floor.”

Justin nodded and left the bar, looking for someone to suck him off. He needed a good blowjob before he started to fuck.
 

After looking around, he found a slender, blue eyed, brunette that looked appealing. Looking into his eyes, the man followed behind him. Going into the back room, Justin pushed the man down to his cock and then leaned his head back. Feeling the tension start to slip away, he quickly came and pulled his pants back up. He began to feel better…so much better, that he made his way out to the dance floor. One of his favorite songs came on, and Justin started to move to the beat. He had missed dancing.

After a few songs, Justin decided to just take a quick look at the new guy everyone was raving about. Hoping that he was still in the center of the floor, Justin made his way to the center. Sure enough, he saw someone in a bright, red, muscle shirt from behind. Wanting to take a look at his face, he placed his hand on the man's shoulder and turned him around.

It was then that Justin came face to face with the one and only, Brian Kinney.

End of part 3

12/15/03

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