Chapter 6

Brian pulled into his parking space in the building where the Ryder Agency was housed. He turned off the car and just sat there. Day three, he thought to himself. Was it ever going to get any easier? He doubted it. Kip Thomas seemed to be making a habit of meeting him at the elevators every night and making him feel like shit.

At least Justin had been there when he got home yesterday. He had made everything better. Brian smiled at the memory. He sincerely hoped that Jennifer Taylor would be able to find them some place to live because Justin had been pissed again this morning when Brian had woken him up. Their living arrangements simply weren't working.

With a sigh Brian opened the car door and pulled his chair out. He quickly swung himself into it and gathered up his briefcase. He and Cynthia had a lot to do today.

As Brian rode up in the elevator he was mentally planning out his day. He hoped the fucking Jacobsen bike would get there before noon. He wanted to have a good look at it before Cynthia's friend arrived. He wished he could ride it, so that he would know what was so fucking special about it, what made it worth several thousand dollars. But that would never happen.

The elevator stopped at the main floor and the doors opened. Brian groaned inwardly. Kip Thomas got on.

"You're coming in early these days, Kinney," he said. The doors closed and the elevator started its climb.

"I always do. I like an early start," Brian stated.

"Except for the years you didn't come in at all."

"That's none of your fucking business."

"Don't get testy. I was merely making an observation."

"Well, you can keep your fucking observations to yourself."

Mercifully the elevator doors opened and Kip walked away down the hall to his office. Brian waited until he had partially disappeared before wheeling himself off the elevator.

Cynthia met him with coffee. "That must have been a fun ride up," she said nodding in Kip's direction as he disappeared into his office.

"Just peachy," Brian replied. "Did the bike arrive yet?"

Cynthia shook her head. "It's too early for deliveries. It'll be here later this morning I'm sure."

"It fucking better be."

By eleven a.m. Brian had himself worked into a lather. The bicycle hadn't arrived and he was fully out of ideas about how to sell the damn thing. Not only was there no bicycle, but worry about whether it was going to arrive prevented them from accomplishing anything very useful for the Acme Gardening Tools presentation.

At eleven minutes after eleven the buzzer went off in Brian's office and they were told there was a delivery at reception.

"Bring the fucking thing in here," Brian said to Cynthia.

She immediately went to retrieve the bike from reception. Brian waited not sure whether he wanted to examine the bicycle or throw it through the fucking window of his office.

"It looks like any other fucking bicycle," Brian griped as Cynthia removed the packing. "The goddam color isn't even interesting."

"There must be something more to it than we're seeing," Cynthia said staring at it.

"If there is, I don't know what it is. I wish I could ride the damn thing and maybe then I'd get it." He stared at Cynthia.

"You don't want me to…"

Brian smirked and gave her a perfunctory nod.

"I am not getting on that…"

"Please," Brian wheedled.

"No! We're waiting for Gavin."

"You're no fun at all."

"I'm not here for fun, as you call it, mister! Now let's work on the Acme Gardening Tools site. We need to get that ready for Friday."

"And the Jacobsen Bikes we need for Monday."

"We've still got time. It'll come to you."

Brian shook his head. It was rare that he had blocks like this. He hated when he did. He had never found a way to break them. It was always so random. No matter how much he struggled with a product to come up with an idea, if it didn't want to come, it wouldn't. And then suddenly, often in the strangest places, something would hit him and he'd know what the ad would be. He was hoping like hell that his instincts would come through for him this time too. If they didn't he wasn't sure what he was going to do. He couldn't go into Monday's meeting with nothing. That would be the ultimate disgrace. And Kip Thomas was sure to have something pretty good. Fuck!

He couldn’t believe that Ryder was pitting him against Kip Thomas. It was far from standard practice to have two ad execs working on the same account, but presenting two different approaches. Brian wondered if Ryder was doing this so he could see which man would produce the best results. Maybe Ryder would get rid of Kip Thomas if Brian could prove that he was the best man for the job.

"Brian, Brian, we need to work on this," Cynthia was saying as Brian came out of his reverie.

"Yeah." Brian tried to refocus on the account at hand.

 

*****
 

After a mediocre day as far as productivity went, Brian found himself looking at the clock waiting for four p.m. and the arrival of Cynthia's Gavin. Brian felt the pressure to prove himself all over again. It had happened when he first got the job at Ryder. It had happened the first time he had been able to go home by himself after the accident. It had happened for his first presentation from his wheelchair when he had agreed to work for the agency again. And it was happening now.

Brian shook his head. He was being such a baby. Somehow it felt like he had to get the Jacobsen account. If Kip Thomas had better ideas and they were the ones accepted, then Brian would be back to ground zero. He would have to prove himself all over again. And he didn't want to have to do that. He felt like they would probably tell him to get out of this office, and they'd give it back to Kip. That would be the ultimate humiliation. That was not going to happen if Brian had anything to say about it.

"Brian," Cynthia's voice broke in once again. "Gavin's here."

"Show him in."

"Hello, Mr. Kinney. I'm Gavin MacLean."

Brian looked up at the handsome young man in the smart business suit. He reached out to shake Gavin's extended hand. His gay-dar was pinging like crazy. No wonder the dating with Cynthia had gone nowhere.

"This is the bike, Gavin. What do you think?" Cynthia asked.

Brian ran his eyes over Gavin, as the young man bent down to look at the gear system. What he could see of Gavin's ass was tempting. Gavin obviously benefited from the hours he spent riding a bike.

"Sweet gear system," Gavin said. "I don't think I've seen one quite like it." He stood up and picked up the bike. "Super light. That's good. I hope it's durable."

"How much would you pay for a bike like that?" Brian asked.

"By the looks of it, I'd pay whatever they're asking. Is it available?"

"It's just coming onto the market," Brian explained. "Would you pay several thousand?"

"I'd like to ride it before I answer that," Gavin stated.

"Go ahead," Brian smirked. Maybe he'd get to see a fine ass astride the bike, even if it wasn't Justin's extra specially fine ass.

"I brought my riding gear. If I could change somewhere, I'd like to take it for a spin."

"Go ahead," Brian smiled and smirked.

"Somewhere a little more private," Gavin laughed.

"I'll show you the restrooms," Cynthia said giving Brian a glare.

Brian watched them disappear into the hall. He wheeled himself over to the bike and lifted it up. Even from his seated position it was very easy to lift. Light as a feather described the bicycle very well. He set it back down and used one hand to spin the pedal. The wheel continued to turn even after Gavin and Cynthia had returned.

Brian handed the bike to Gavin noting Gavin's finely tuned body in the form fitting bicycle suit. Very nice, Brian thought to himself, both the bike … and Gavin. "I'd like to see you ride the bike if you don't mind," Brian said.

"Um…I guess I could ride it down the hall, but I had something a little more vigorous in mind. I wanted to test it out," Gavin explained.

"How be you ride it down the hall to the elevators and then take it outside for a ride around the block?" Brian asked.

Gavin smiled. "That sounds good. I'll be back in twenty minutes."

Brian nodded and Gavin wheeled the bike out of the office. Cynthia and Brian followed him admiring the fine ass sitting upon the bicycle seat. Gavin motored down the hallway and came to a stop at the elevators. Brian and Cynthia watched with smiles on their faces. Several other people in the office stopped what they were doing and watched Gavin as well. When Gavin stepped into the elevator, Brian noted that many of those who had watched were still staring at the elevator doors long after they had closed.

"Wipe off the drool, people, and get back to work," Brian commanded with a snort.

There was immediate bustling about and rustling of papers to cover up some sheepish grins and giggles.

"He does have a great ass," Cynthia chuckled as they went back into Brian's office.

"Why aren't you still dating him?" Brian asked, trying to make it seem like an innocent question. He wondered if Cynthia knew that Gavin was gay. He hoped she did.

"I thought Gavin was a little bit of all right when we first got together. Then he told me that he was bisexual."

"That means he's gay."

"Certainly half of him is. He's one hell of a kisser."

Brian snorted. "At least he told you."

"Yeah, we almost slept together, but I wasn't sure how careful he actually had been. I didn't want to take the chance, and obviously we weren't going anywhere after that. So, we're friends."

Brian nodded. He knew Cynthia had a level head on her shoulders, and he had to agree that she had done the right thing where Gavin was concerned. Gavin had also done the right thing by telling Cynthia about his bisexuality before they slept together.

"I think I have an idea for the campaign."

"You do?" Cynthia asked surprised. She knew how blocked Brian had been.

"I'm going to tell you something that stays between the two of us. I'll have to kill you if you repeat it."

She nodded knowing this must be something serious.

"I've been fantasizing about Justin's ass on that bicycle ever since we were told about Jacobsen Bikes." Cynthia stifled a laugh and let Brian continue. "Well, seeing Gavin's rather fine ass, although not quite on par with Justin's, gave me some ideas."

"Ideas that you can talk to me about," Cynthia asked wickedly.

Brian felt himself blush, but he cleared his throat and continued. "I see the bike heading up the lane to a mansion or big house of some kind. It reeks money. The voiceover or the caption will say something like : 'Only the best will do.' The camera shot is from behind, on the fine ass riding the bike. Jacobsen Bicycles is printed on the ass of the bicycle rider."

"Is the ass clad or naked?" Cynthia chuckled.

"Hm," Brian said. "I always did like the way your mind works, but I think we better go for the name printed on the ass of those tight little bicycle shorts."

"I agree."

"Do you think Gavin would be interested in doing the ad?"

"Gavin? He's not a model."

"He could be. He's got the look."

"I can ask him, but I don't know…"

"I know. He would be great for the ass shot. But if he doesn't want to do it, we'll have to get somebody today. We don't have much time left."

"I'll tell him you like his ass. That may convince him to do it," Cynthia laughed. Brian stuck his tongue out at her. "Very professional," she retorted.

"Don't say anything about hiring him until we find out what he really thinks about the bike. I want his honest appraisal."

Cynthia nodded and they waited.

When Gavin returned about a half hour later, he was flushed and looking like a little boy with a new toy. "That thing is awesome. I felt like I was flying even in the city. I can only imagine what it would be like on the open road. I'd say the manufacturer has a winner there."

Brian smiled. That was the kind of thing he liked to hear. It was always much easier to sell a really good product than a shitty one, but he'd done both. "Would you buy one even at several thousand dollars?"

"How many thousand?" Gavin asked with a frown.

"I don't know for sure. We haven't been given the price list."

"If it's not totally exorbitant, I'd pay," Gavin averred.

Brian's smile broadened. "Would you be interested in being a model for this bike?" Brian asked. He saw Cynthia smile and Gavin's mouth drop open.

"Wow! You want my face in your ad?" Gavin asked.

"Not your face," Brian stated.

"Then what?"

"Your ass, sweetie," Cynthia said.

"My…"

"Yep."

"What do you say?" Brian asked. "We haven't got much time. We need an answer right away."

"Well, I don't know. Will I get paid?"

"Enough to buy one of those," Brian gestured to the bike. "And a bit more for your time and trouble."

"Deal," Gavin said extending his hand to Brian.

Brian took it and shook. "Deal," he concurred.

 

*****
 

Brian closed his office door, having made sure the bike was safely stowed against the wall and out of sight to anyone who might look into his office. He was about to lock his door when someone came up behind him.

"What do you want this time, Kip?" Brian asked with a sigh.

"I've always heard that when you lose one sense the others take over. I didn't know that when you lost your legs, you got another pair of eyes in the back of your head."

"Piss off."

"Listen," Kip said in a serious tone. "I heard about the bike rider in the hall. Was that the new Jacobsen bike?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"How come they sent you a bike and not me?"

"Because I fucking asked for it."

"Shit! How long did you have to wait?"

"A day."

"I'm running out of days."

"That's too bad," Brian said trying not to gloat since he knew the feeling well. Maybe Kip was having as much trouble coming up with an ad as he had had.

"Look, could I see the bike?"

"You expect me to unlock my office and let you look at the bike?"

"That's what I was hoping for," Kip admitted. He hated having to ask Kinney for anything.

"I don't think so."

"Afraid I'll be able to do a better ad than you, if you let me see the bike? What are you afraid of, if you're such hot shit?"

Brian knew he was being baited, but he wanted to win this contest fair and square. He didn't want there to be any excuses. He wanted everyone, including Kip Thomas, to have to admit that Brian was the best adman. "Okay, I'll show you the bike. But you should know that you'll owe me one as a result."

Kip stared at Brian for a minute. "What do you want in return?"

"I don't know right now, but I'm sure that somewhere down the line…" He let his voice trail off.

Kip looked undecided, and then his face broke into a smile. "Okay, I'll go for that."

Brian snorted. "I also know that you're very likely to welsh on this deal."

"I … I won't." Kip tried to look sincere.

"Yeah, sure," Brian replied sarcastically as he unlocked the door to his office.

"Then why are you letting me in?"

"Because I'll know what you are when I beat you with my ad, and later when you refuse to live up to your part of the bargain. I'll know."

Kip shook his head but he went into the office. He looked at the bike. "It looks like every other bike," Kip said with a frown.

"Pick it up," Brian ordered.

Kip lifted it and saw the light weight of it. "This is incredible. Is that the angle you're taking – how light it is?"

"You think I'm going to tell you anything about what I'm doing? You're nuts. Put the bike down and get out," Brian ordered.

Kip did as instructed and Brian locked up again. He hoped the bike was safe in his office. The building was pretty secure. When he turned around, Kip had disappeared without so much as a thank you.

"Ungrateful prick," Brian muttered to himself as he headed for the elevator.

With any luck at all Kip was gone out of the building and there wouldn't be another visit by the elevators. Brian waited and the doors opened. No sign of Kip. That was a good thing. Brian wheeled himself onto the elevator and hit the button for the garage. Maybe this was his lucky day after all. Things certainly seemed to be going his way. He was almost humming with satisfaction by the time he reached his car.


 

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