Ed sat in his office fuming. What the fuck was going on? Marty couldn’t be serious, Brian would never have said anything to anyone. Someone else was behind all this, maybe the new guy, Justin. Ed knew Marty said he wasn’t to talk to Brian but they were friends, right? He could ring a friend if he wanted too. He dialed Brian’s cell. “It’s me, can we meet?” Brian wasn’t sure what to do. He and Ed had been friends for years. Even if Ed was using him, they had a history together. He at least owed Ed a meeting, didn’t he? “Brian, I really need to see you. Can I meet you at your apartment tonight? Please Brian?” “It will have to be early, I have to go out,” Brian said cautiously. “What time are you leaving?” Ed asked. Brian sighed. Justin wanted to leave here at six, which would mean they would be home at six thirty. He could get Justin to wait for him, maybe? “I have to be gone by seven,” Brian said softly. “What is the earliest time can you leave work?” Ed pressed. “Five thirty, I guess,” Brian stammered. “I’ll see you at six, thanks, Brian. You’re a good friend.” Brian heard the line go dead and closed his cell. Now what should he do? He looked at the time. It was five fifteen. If he gave Justin his keys to the apartment and the jeep, he could leave when he was ready. Brian remembered his old car was in the parking lot, he could drive it. He went into Justin’s office to tell him. Justin looked up and smiled. “What’s up? It isn’t six yet?” he looked at his watch. “No…um…Take my keys for the loft and I’ll leave you the keys to the jeep. I have to make a stop at my old place on the way home.” “I don’t mind going past the other apartment,” Justin smiled. “No, wait for me at the new apartment, I won’t be long.” Justin could see something was going on. “What are you stopping for?” Brian sighed. He couldn’t mislead or lie to Justin, he had to tell him. “Ed wants me to meet him.” Justin sighed. “Brian, Marty told him, he wasn’t to contact you.” “Ed and I have been friends for a long time, Jus. I at least should hear him out,” Brian sighed. Justin smiled. He could just go ballistic at Brian but that wouldn’t achieve anything. Brian was doing what he thought was the right thing. “I’ll make dinner so it’s ready when you get home. How long will you be?” Brian bent over the desk and kissed him. “Thanks for understanding,” Brian smiled. “I’ll be back at seven thirty, tops. I’m gonna leave now, is that okay?” “You’re the boss, remember?” Justin laughed. “Not really, but it was nice of Marty to make me a partner. I’m really only a small partner,” Brian smiled. “Not very small from where I sit,” Justin laughed. “When I get home, I will remind you again,” Brian laughed. “I’m counting on it,” Justin smiled. “Don’t be late.” “I won’t be.” Justin smiled as he watched Brian leave and as soon as Brian was gone, the smile turned into a scowl. “That fucking asshole knows he isn’t to try and use Brian again and he’s gonna try anyway. Justin wondered if Ed was acting alone or representing a group of them. He debated what to do about Ed for the next thirty minutes and at six, he packed up his office and called past Marty’s office before going home to loft to start dinner. Brian needed to handle this himself but Justin wanted to keep a closer eye on Brian to make sure he didn’t get snagged along the way. Ed was already on Brian’s door step when he arrived. “Brian, I was so worried about you. I wasn’t sure if you were okay,” Ed smiled. “I’m fine thanks, Ed,” Brian said nervously and dropped his keys. “Let me help you?” Ed smiled and bent down to retrieve them. “Thanks,” Brian stammered. Ed opened the door and stood back for Brian to go in first. “There you go,” he smiled. Brian turned on the lights. “I don’t have much time,” Brian said quickly. “So, planning on a big night,” Ed smiled and sat down, kicking off his shoes. “Um…. Yeah,” Brian smiled nervously. Ed didn’t look like he was in any hurry to go. “It’s been crazy at the office.” “Has it?” “Yeah, they’re restructuring. I believe Marty has given you a new job?” Brian smiled and sat down. “He told me today.” “Well that’s just wonderful,” Ed smiled. “Congratulations.” “Thanks.” “What are you going to be doing for him?” “He hasn’t told me yet.” Brian lied. Where was Ed going with this? Brian had learned enough in the last few days to know that Ed wanted something. “Those files you were… um… working on for me…. can I have them back?” Brian stared at Ed in disbelief. “I don’t have them.” “Oh, I was um just wondering about the um… potential new client lists you were doing. Did you finish those?” Ed smiled. “I did but Justin took all the files that I was working on, Ed.” Brian was becoming more uncomfortable. “I can’t help you, Ed. Marty was very specific,” Brian sighed. “But we can work together after hours,” Ed smiled. “Marty can’t tell you what to do in your own time. I’ll just come around at night and we can do it together.” Brian was very uncomfortable. “I don’t really have the time, Ed. I’m sorry,” Brian apologized. “Brian, I’ve always taken care of you, haven’t I? I’m asking for your help, you can’t say no to me,” Ed laughed. Brian looked at his watch. It was already seven. “Ed. I have to go or I’ll be late.” Ed reached across as Brian stood up to leave and grabbed his arm, roughly. “You owe me, Brian.” Brian stared at him for a minute before saying. “I’ll think about it.” Ed released him. “Good, maybe we can start tomorrow?” Ed smiled. He followed Brian to the front door. “Thanks Brian, you’re a good friend. I’ll call you about tomorrow night.” Brian let Ed out and closed the door. His heart was pounding. What would he do now? Ed wasn’t going to let him say ‘no’ and would hound him until Brian helped him. Maybe he could just do it and give it to Ed, at least then Justin wouldn’t find out. Who was he kidding? Justin knew his work and so did Marty and besides he didn’t want to do Ed’s work for him anymore. He should have just said ‘no’ to Ed, but he tried and Ed wouldn’t let him. Brian flopped down on the sofa, feeling helpless and hating every minute of it. From a day that started out so wonderful, he now felt like he used to, like shit. He looked at the time, it was seven thirty and Justin would be wondering where he was. Brian continued to sit there. He wanted to leave but he couldn’t seem to get up off the sofa. Brian was struggling to find the place in his mind where he’d spent the last few days but felt was a terrible sense of loss. He wanted to go home to Justin but how could he let Justin see him this way? The clock kept ticking and now it was eight o’clock. The doorbell rang and Brian jumped. Was that Ed back again? He heard Justin call out his name and before thinking, jumped up and opened the door. “Jus,” Brian hugged him. Justin could see Brian was upset. He could feel it. Brian was clinging to him like a scared child. Ed. you bastard, Justin thought but didn’t say it. Instead he said. “I remembered about the other car and thought you may want to leave it here. Come on, let’s go home, dinner is ready,” Justin smiled. “There was a box waiting for you from Gareth when I arrived home. Someone called Jerry brought it up. Fuck, has he got it bad for you,” Justin laughed. “But I know how he feels, coz, so do I,” he said and reached up and softly brushed his lips over Brian’s. Brian felt his composure returning and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Jerry’s very sweet. I promised to take him for a ride in the jeep. He took delivery of it when I was at work,” he smiled. I brought you some clothes to change, jump in the shower and get rid of that crap in your hair,” Justin smiled. “Then we can go have dinner.” Brian smiled. Justin was helping him find himself again and he was right; Brian needed to wash the day off him and Ed. Brian took off his clothes and showered quickly. It felt good to get the grease out of his hair. He came out of the bathroom and smiled at Justin. “Better?” Justin nodded. “Are you tired?” “Not now, why?” Brian shook the water out of his hair. “Maybe you should ask Jerry up tonight and we can both thank him,” Justin smirked. “Why don’t we do that tomorrow,” Brian smiled. Right now, the only person he wanted was Justin. Brian collected a few things and threw them into a bag. He’d thought about it in the shower and didn’t want to come back here again; it made him feel too shitty. If Justin hadn’t turned up, he was afraid he may have been trapped on that fucking sofa, forever. He’d tried so many times but he couldn’t move. Brian wasn’t prepared take the chance on that ever happening to him again. It felt good to be in his real clothes again. “I don’t want to dress like the old Brian anymore but I’m scared, Jus.” “What about?” “That the people at work will laugh at me,” Brian admitted. “Was Sue laughing when we met her that night?” Justin smiled. “But she didn’t know who I was……” “She was so busy salivating over you, she wouldn’t have cared. Face it Mr. Kinney, you are hot. Anyway, Marty has told all the ad execs that they are to call you Mr. Kinney from now on and they are to treat you with the same respect that they treat him. I don’t think anyone would dare to laugh at you unless you come to work in a bunny suit or something,” Justin laughed. “I might laugh then too.” “So what should I wear?” “I was thinking…….. Armani,” Justin grinned. “Come on, let’s go shopping.” “Jus, I dunno, I have spent a ton of cash lately,” Brian hesitated. “Are you short?” Justin asked concerned. “Coz I could always….” “I’m fine, come on, let’s go shopping,” Brian smiled. He was happy to finally lock the door and knew he would never go back. He still had to stand up to Ed and wasn’t sure how to do that but he needed clothes for work and he was excited about Justin helping him choose. Justin dragged Brian from shop to shop for the next two hours, His dinner would be ruined but clothes were more important. If Brian was willing to look like himself at work, Justin wasn’t going to let him get cold feet. They bought five suits, two pair of dress shoes and a dozen shirts and ties. When Brian saw the final total, he smiled. Another year’s salary gone, at least now he had everything he needed. Now he just had to be brave enough to wear it. Justin was debating whether or not to discuss Brian’s condition when he’d arrived at the old apartment. It was obvious Brian was struggling. “Maybe you should have kept a day or so a week that you wore your old clothes,” Justin sighed. “Why?” Brian was startled by Justin’s suggestion. Was he doing the wrong thing? “I don’t know if I’m gonna get any work done looking at you all day. Fuck, you are so hot,” Justin sighed. “Well you can’t see me from my office,” Brian smiled. “Just don’t come near me.” “That will be impossible. I asked Marty to take down the walls so our office is open. I want to see you all the time,” Justin smirked. “I don’t want any walls between us, ever.” Brian took Justin in his arms, kissing him passionately until both men were breathless. He knew Justin was helping by forcing him not to hide anymore. He liked the way Justin looked at him and he liked it even more that Justin thought he was hot. “If we don’t hurry, I’ll be forced to stop and pull over.” Brian laughed. He put his foot on the gas and sped home. As Justin predicted, his dinner was now garbage but neither of them cared. Dinner was the furthest thing from their minds. They barely made it inside the front door before tearing the rest of each other’s clothes off. Most of them were left strewn on the floor of the elevator and the landing. ******** The next morning, Brian had a case of the jitters. Today was his first day as a non geek and he was nervous. The basic desire for Justin to swoon over him was stronger than his fear of being ridiculed and he just had to take the first step. Brian pulled out a dark grey suit, maroon shirt and maroon tie. It was the least flashy of all the suits he’d bought the previous night. Small steps, he thought. Justin noticed Brian dressing but didn’t say anything. He was overjoyed to not see that awful grease in Brian’s hair. Justin knew Brian would progress in his own time as long as he was encouraged and felt safe to make the changes. There was no hesitation at letting Justin see him dressed casually anymore, it was just automatic. Eventually, Justin hoped, work would be the same. Brian dressed slowly, checking the mirror at each article he put on. When he was finally straightening his tie, Justin stepped forward to help him. He gazed up into Brian’s eyes and smiled. “I have the hottest boyfriend in town.” Brian smiled. “I know you think so but what will everyone else think?” “Well, you know what Sue thinks already,” Justin laughed. Brian laughed too as he remembered Sue almost slobbering all over him. “It isn’t just clothes, its attitude. Think of how Jerry swoons over you, even more when you show no interest in him. Anyway, who gives a fuck what people think? You are a partner in the Ryder Agency. You are great at your job and you are hot to boot,” Justin grinned. “I love you and Marty gave you a partnership because he didn’t want to lose you. You don’t need the rest of them for anything. You are the one who chooses to let someone into your life. They can’t condescend to tolerate you. It doesn’t work that way. You make the choices for you.” Brian’s focus was still on Justin’s comment about Marty. “Is that why he made me partner?” Brian asked. Justin smiled. “Why? What did he say?” “Just that I’d worked really hard and he felt I deserved the recognition,” Brian said meekly. “That is so much shit,” Justin frowned. “He only expects to keep three of the eight losers he has on probation so when they leave, the word will be out that you are amazing and he’s covering his ass. He doesn’t want to lose the best person he has and he knows it’s only a matter of time before the offers start coming in.” Brian sat on the edge of the bed, stunned. Did Marty really think that someone would tempt him away from Ryder’s? Was his work really that okay? Justin watched Brian suddenly straighten up. A smile broke out on his face stretching from ear to ear. He took off his glasses and threw them onto the bed. “Are you ready?” Justin grinned. He was more than ready. He couldn’t wait to watch the fun. ******** Brian strolled down the corridor behind Justin to their office. His dark glasses helped him feel safer. The people he passed had no clue who he was. He nodded to each one as he went by even though his heart was pounding. By the time he was safely inside their office, Brian lent against the door as he closed it and sighed with relief. “Still alive?” Justin smiled. “Barely,” Brian sighed. “Just remember….. Who calls the shots?” Brian nodded. That sentence had helped him make it down the hallway. “I do,” he smiled. “In that pile of folders I did at the hotel….. Is a folder with potential new clients. I was thinking that we should land some new accounts.” “Marty asked me if I would do presentations for you until you felt ready to do them yourself. Is that okay with you?” “Better than okay,” Brian smiled. “It’s a perfect solution. Do you still have the file or does Marty have it?” Justin flicked through the files on his desk. “This one?” He handed the file to Brian. “Yeah, that’s it. I did profiles and work ups for ten new potentials. Have a look through and tell me what you think? I have something else to work on…… let me know when you’re finished,” Brian smiled. “By the way,” he smiled. “I like the new no walls office.” Justin smiled and went back to the file. As he turned the pages, Justin was impressed all over again at the attention to detail in Brian’s work. The research was thorough and the concepts Brian had suggested were brilliant. He glanced up at Brian a few time but he was already focused on something else. Justin began to make contact calls, securing four out of the ten companies on first contact. He signed off on the work required by the art department. Even their briefs were already complete and in great detail. He gave them deadlines of a week; they would still have another three days to develop a spiel on the concept. Justin glanced at Brian again. He seemed oblivious to anything that was going on around him. His total attention was focused on what he was doing. “Brian?” “Hmmm,” Brian looked up and smiled. “What do you think?” “We have four presentations to do in two weeks. I keep plugging away at the others until we have all ten,” Justin smiled. “Four? Already?” Brian gasped. Justin smiled. “This is what I do best. I’ll have all of them very soon. We make a great team.” “Seem so,” Brian smirked. He was impressed Justin had taken his work and turned it into something. Over the years he had given Ed dozens of companies to approach but his conversion rate was one in twelve. Sometimes Brian found it a little disheartening. A lot of work went into his profiles. Justin had just secured four of ten based on one phone call. “I have at least a hundred companies I’ve profiled over the years. Maybe we should go back over some of them. I could update the files,” Brian offered. “A hundred?” Justin gasped. “I used to do them for Ed all the time. He only converted one in twelve,” Brian sighed. Justin shook his head, lazy bastard, Justin thought. “Update them and we’ll try them again,” he smiled. Working with Brian was a pleasure. Justin didn’t have to do any of the stuff he hated. His job was just to land the accounts, which was the part he was really good at. His Mom used to say he was like bulldog, he just latched on and wouldn’t let go, a very handy characteristic to have in the advertising world. “Well, we’ll work to get that up to seven out of ten,” Justin smiled. “With research like this, it should be easy.” Brian smiled too. Finally his work wouldn’t be for nothing. He though about last night and Ed wanting more leads again. “How many new clients do the ad execs need to have by the end of the month?” he asked. “Not sure three or five, I’ll have to check my notes.” With Ed’s conversion rate that would mean…..thirty six or maybe as many as sixty profiles and most of them would be wasted……no way,” Brian thought. Justin knew what Brian was thinking and hoped it inspired him to stand up to Ed, only time would tell. ******** News about the gorgeous guy in Justin’s office spread like wildfire through the office. General consensus had him as a potential client for most of the morning until it finally dawned on Sue who it was. “That’s his partner. I met them at dinner the other night. He is awesome,” she drooled. “Try and get a look at him, you’ll just die,” she giggled with the girls at lunch. “When Justin introduced us, he kissed my hand and I swear, I was gushing. You know when a guy kisses you with the inside of his lips,” she sighed. “So soft, hmmm.” “I wonder why he’s here then.” Jessica smiled. “They are probably fucking as we speak.” “Half Justin’s luck,” Sue sighed. “Why are all the beautiful men gay?” They were still chattering when they came back from lunch. Marty was coming out of his office and heard the end of their conversation. He buzzed Justin wanting an explanation. Justin hurried into Marty’s office wondering why he was being summoned. “You wanted to see me?” “You are the talk of the office today,” he smiled. Justin was an exceptional talent and he needed to handle this delicately. He didn’t care what Justin did in the privacy of his office but everyone was talking about it. Justin needed to be more discreet. “Really? How come?” He smiled. Based on his philosophy, being talked about was a good thing, any press was good press. “They all think you are locked in your office, fucking the day away,” Marty frowned. Justin was confused. What were they talking about? “I don’t understand. I’ve been canvassing new clients all morning. I have four new presentations to make in two weeks.” “Great job,” Marty gasped. “Four?” “Yeah, Brian had done profiles on ten potential companies….. So I made contact this morning and got four out of ten. I’ll keep plugging at the others but I should get three of them with some persistence,” Justin smiled. “The profiles were incredible, Marty. All their weaknesses were there for me to offer solutions. Brian says that he’s done over a hundred of those for Ed and he closes one in twelve. If we go back over them and get the same conversion rate that I got this morning, we will triple our client base in a few weeks,” Justin grinned. Marty was glad now he’d given Brian a partnership but as happy as he was for the potential new business, one of the safety clauses in Brian’s agreement was his percentage was based on performance. If their client base tripled then Brian’s percentage would sky rocket. He decided to worry about it when it happened. “Well, according to rumor, you are locked away with your lover. Do I need to draw you a diagram?” Marty frowned again. “Who is visiting?” “Lover?” Justin gasped. How did they know about the two of them? “No one, it’s just Brian and me.” Suddenly Justin realized what was going on. “Hang on, I understand now,” he grinned. “When I spent time with Brian in the hotel, we became a lot closer.” “You personal life is your own business, Justin.” Marty shrugged. He wondered what Justin saw in Brian. He was straight and would never understand how gay men thought. “I discovered that there was more to Brian than we saw here, in fact he was entirely different away from here. He’d made a lot of changes to himself since he started working here but felt comfortable only showing the old Brian at work for fear of being ridiculed,” Justin sighed. “Changes? What changes?” Marty didn’t know what the hell Justin was talking about. Justin smiled. “Today, Brian has come to work the way the rest of the world sees him all the time. I guess the rumor mill didn’t recognize him,” Justin laughed. Marty was intrigued. Certainly Brian’s appearance had always limited him but for the gossips to not even recognize him…… he wanted to see for himself. He pressed his intercom. “Brian? Have you got a minute to talk? “Sure Marty, will I come there?” Brian asked. “If you wouldn’t mind,” Marty smiled. “I’m in my office.” “I’ll be right there.” Marty looked at Justin who was grinning at him. A few minutes later, Brian walked into the room. Marty stared at him. “Fuck,” he gasped, unable to stop himself. Brian stepped back, startled. “What?” “You look fucking incredible,” Marty gasped again. “Thanks,” Brian blushed. “Justin told me about the new presentations, fabulous job,” he smiled broadly. This was a partner he wouldn’t have to hide away. Brian looked incredible. “You look like an ad man, Mr. Kinney.” Justin noticed Brian was beaming. “Apparently we are the talk of the office.” Brian glanced at Justin. “Huh?” “Everyone is talking about my hot boyfriend and the fact that we are probably locked in my office fucking,” Justin laughed. Brian looked nervously at Marty. “We’ve been working all morning, Marty. There’s nothing inappropriate going on,” he stammered. “Brian, keep bringing in the business and I don’t care what the fuck you are doing in your office. This is your agency too now. You can do whatever you like,” Marty smiled. He added quickly. “Just lock the door.” he laughed. Brian smiled. The acceptance he had craved all his life was his. “Are you free for lunch tomorrow?” Marty smiled. “Um…. Yeah, sure.” “I’ll pick you up at one. Again, great work on the new presentations. Justin tells me you have more profiles.” “There’s probably at least a hundred but I want to review and update them. Was there anything else? I want to get back to them,” Brian smiled. “I have a ton of work to do.” “No, go back to work.” Marty stood up and put his arm around Brian’s shoulders. “This is very exciting, Brian. I can’t wait to see the updated files.” “I’ll get them done as fast as possible,” Brian smiled. “And thanks Marty for the encouragement.” “Thank you. We are going to do some very exciting things together,” Marty smiled. Brian nodded and closed the door behind him. Marty looked at Justin. “Christ, no wonder you are seeing him now.” “Thanks for the license to misbehave at work but I don’t think it will be an issue. Brian has a hundred files to review. He is so driven that you have probably just doomed my sex life for days until he finishes them,” Justin rolled his eyes. “Once Brian gets started, he won’t be able to stop until they are all done.” “If your conversion rate holds, we will be looking for bigger offices in a month. I’ll get HR to start looking for more hands for the art department.” “Probably a good idea,” Justin smiled. ******** Brian sat behind his desk smiling. Did Marty just say he could fuck in his office if he wanted? Amazing, he thought. He remembered a few weeks ago when he was just a geek huddled in a cubicle in the very back of the workroom and now he had the freedom to do and be anyone he wanted. It was only a few weeks but really it had taken years to get here. He threw himself into updating the profiles he’d promised Marty. Justin was incredible just getting four interviews out of ten but Justin seemed sure he would get about seven in the wash up. For his work to show results like this; was gratifying. Ed’s conversion rate was pathetic in comparison. No wonder he’d felt like shit for so long. Ed always made him feel, it was his research that was the problem. He used to say, he would tweak it himself to get it up to his standard, fucking asshole. He should have stopped tweaking and just presented what he was given. He pushed all thoughts of Ed from his head and went back to work. When Justin returned, Brian was buried in work. Justin admired his ability to focus so completely. He tried to settle down to work but Marty’s words giving them the freedom to fuck at work were ringing in his head. By four o’clock, he couldn’t take it anymore. He’d been hard for two hours now. Justin stood up and locked their office door. He crossed the floor and stood behind Brian’s chair. Brian felt Justin’s lips leaving a trail of moist kisses on his neck and smiled. “Are you too busy to stop for a while?” Justin whispered. “I’m never too busy for you,” Brian said softly. He spun his chair around and pulled Justin onto his lap, catching him off guard. Justin felt his breath catch. He wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck, his lips hungry for his lover. As their lips met, they both were caught up in the passion they felt for one another. Brian devoured Justin as if they hadn’t kissed in weeks. “Mmmm,” Justin sighed. They didn’t notice Brian’s cell ringing furiously, over and over. Brian stood up and walked with Justin still attached to him over to the sofa. He pulled off Justin’s pants and then stepped out of his own. Justin could see Brian was hard, his cock already leaking pre-cum from its tip. He sat down and pulled Justin on top of him. Justin straddled Brian’s cock and sunk slowly down on his lover. “Oh god, it’s good to be inside you,” Brian moaned. He closed his eyes and prayed Justin would adjust quickly. Justin wrapped his arms around Brian and began to move slowly at first. As his excitement grew, he slid further up and down Brian’s cock, taking more of Brian inside him with each thrust. Justin closed his eyes, allowing his full concentration to be centered on what he was feeling. He loved the way Brian held him when they were making love. It was like he was the only person in the whole world. Brian was sighing now begging Justin to make him cum. He felt Justin ride him harder, squeezing Brian’s cock with his internal muscles. Brian grabbed his hips and guided him up and down, grinding deeper inside Justin every few thrusts. “You’re all mine, you belong to me,” Brian panted. Fucking Justin got just better and better each time. He was so tight and Brian’s cock being crammed inside his lover was incredible. Brian felt his orgasm starting and pumped Justin’s cock through his fist. Justin slammed down onto his cock hard as they both came, both calling out the other’s name and held each other as they rode the waves of their orgasms. Justin opened his eyes and looked at his lover. Brian was smiling with his eyes still closed and Justin couldn’t resist brushing his lips across Brian’s. “Hey,” Brian smiled, opening his eyes. “Hey.” “I will always welcome that type of interruption,” Brian grinned. Justin laughed. “You know, we will need to be careful in case we end up never working.” “Let’s make a rule right now. We can only have diversionary sex at work,” Brian grinned. “Sounds like a plan.” Justin lifted up and disengaged himself from Brian’s cock. “How long before you are ready to go home. I just had a taste and when we get home……” “Hold your horses and hold the thought for later,” Brian smiled. “I have a truck load of work to do.” “But it all doesn’t need to be done tonight,” Justin laughed. “Was your phone ringing before?” Brian stepped back into his pants and reached for his cell. “Yeah,” he frowned. Justin didn’t ask any more. It must have been Ed. He wondered what Brian intended to do. The pressure that dealing with Ed put Brian through was intense but until Brian was ready to tell him to fuck off, there was nothing Justin could do. “I’m going to the bathroom and get cleaned up,” Justin smiled. He kissed Brian softly. “You were right, by the way.” “What about?” Brian smiled. “I do belong to you.” Brian pulled Justin back into his arms, pressing their bodies together as their lips explored the contours of the other’s mouth. “I will never let you forget it,” Brian smiled when they finally parted. “I’ll be ready to go at seven.” Justin wriggled free. “Bathroom, remember?” he laughed. He almost ran, closing the door as he left. Brian sat behind his desk and the phone rang again. He sighed and then took the call. “Brian, where have you been?” Ed’s voice boomed through the phone. “Just busy, Ed,” Brian rolled his eyes. “I’ll meet you at your place, tonight.” “Ed, I can’t make it, I’m sorry,” Brian said quickly. “You can’t bail on me, Brian. I need your help,” Ed growled through the phone. “I don’t have time to do preliminary research.” Brian shook his head. “So you need preliminary research….. on what?” Ed was surprised at Brian’s brazen attitude. Brian had never questioned him before. “All the years, doesn’t the fact we’ve been friends mean anything to you?” Ed growled. “Helping you is one thing, Ed….. but you want me to do all your work for you and I can’t this time. I don’t have the time and I think it’s about time you covered your own ass,” Brian said flatly. Ed was dumbfounded that Brian would speak to him this way. “We’ll talk about it tonight. What time are you leaving?” “I won’t be at the apartment tonight, I have plans,” Brian sighed. Ed just didn’t get it. Ed was furious with Brian. How dare Brian refuse him? “I don’t know what’s going on with you lately. I’ll just wait for you to get home.” “Don’t bother, Ed. I won’t be at the apartment at all tonight. Finally I’ve come to my senses,” Brian sighed. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ed snapped. “You would have been fired years ago if I hadn’t supported you with Marty. Your work has always need hours of extra work to bring it up to standard.” Brian bristled. “I’m sick of slaving for hours and giving you profiles that you don’t convert. Justin took the file that I did for you and converted seven of the leads into interviews. You used to manage one in twelve. I put a lot of time into those company profiles and you have been wasting them for years. Well it’s over. Do your own work from now on and see how you feel when you piss them away,” Brian roared through the phone. “It was easy to say just do me ten more, those were no good. You were clearly told by Marty who to use for research and it wasn’t me.” “You owe me, Brian.” “Ed, give it up. I won’t be doing your work for you any more. Find your own leads.” “Brian, you can’t just do whatever you want,” Ed continued. “You work for this company and you’ll do as you are told. Don’t force me to go to Marty about this.” He was so furious with Brian that he wasn’t thinking clearly as the words left his mouth. Brian closed his cell and stormed into Marty’s office. Marty smiled. “What’s up?” “Do you value my work?” He growled. Marty could see Brian was upset. “Of course, your work is the reason you are now a partner. Sit down Brian, what’s wrong?” He’d never seen Brian angry before. “What’s going on?” “I feel like a kid running with tales but I’m sick of this shit. Ed will not leave me alone. He’s still trying to force me to do him work for him.” “That fucking asshole, I warned him,” Marty roared. “If he won’t do his own work, he’s out of here.” Brian could see the steam rising off Marty. Marty reached for his intercom. “No Marty, this is my problem and I have to handle it,” Brian sighed. “If he won’t leave you alone, fire his ass,” Marty growled. In temper, Brian had stormed into Marty’s office without realizing the full implications of his actions. He didn’t want Ed to lose his job. He just wanted Ed to leave him alone and do his own shit. Ed should never have been moved out of the research department. He didn’t have the skills to be an account exec. If he hadn’t been presenting Brian’s work as his own, he would never have been promoted to that position. Brian suddenly felt responsible for Ed’s predicament. “I deal with him, Marty,” Brian sighed. “Can you ask Justin to come and see me when he has time?” Marty smiled. “Sure Marty,” Brian smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I interrupted you with crap.” “My door is always open to you, Brian.” Marty could see Brian did need to handle this for himself. Brian tried to smile. “Thanks Marty.” Brian went back to his office, Justin was behind his desk, working. “Marty wants to see you when you have time.” Justin smiled. He could see Brian’s call with Ed hadn’t gone well. Brian looked troubled. He closed the file he was working on. “It’s six now, will you still be okay to go at seven?” Brian nodded. When Justin left, Brian picked up his phone and dialed Ed’s extension. “Ed, can you come to my office please?” Brian put down the phone without waiting for an answer. ******** “Marty, you wanted me?” Justin smiled. “I just had Brian in here, furious with Ed. Apparently Ed has been pressuring Brian to still do his work,” Marty sighed. “Yeah, I know. I thought about firing him but I think Brian needs to handle this himself.” “Yeah, he said he wanted to do it,” Marty frowned. “This is a final hurdle for Brian. He needs to take care of it himself, Marty,” Justin sighed. “I don’t want to see Brian retreat back to where he was but if he can step up and handle Ed, doing his own presentations is only another step away.” “I agree. What do you think he will do?” “Not sure but if he is furious then that’s definitely a first step. I’ve never seen Brian angry before.” “I was shocked,” Marty laughed. “He has a lot of fire smoldering inside him.” “Exactly the reason he should be doing presentations of his own work, he’s very passionate about his ideas,” Justin smiled. “He’s a bit like a work in progress,” Marty laughed. “Imagine when it all comes together, Marty, he’ll be incredible,” Justin mused. “I’ll keep an eye on the Ed situation and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. “Ed is one who I think won’t make his target. He’s good with certain clients but he lacks passion. I could never understand when his ideas were so brilliant, why he lacked the passion to pull them off,” Marty sighed. “I know now they weren’t his ideas. No wonder he had trouble articulating them,” Marty shook his head. “I always thought he was so talented in the way he canvassed for new business.” ******** Ed walked in to Brian’s office. “You wanted to see me,” he growled. “Sit down, Ed, This situation needs to be remedied,” Brian started but was quickly interrupted by Ed. “I don’t see why you won’t help me,” Ed yelled. “I will help you but …….only help. I won’t do it for you,” Brian frowned. Suddenly Ed looked at Brian. “What have you done to yourself?” he gasped. “You look so different. “I am different.” He noticed Ed didn’t tell him he looked good. “Now back to your work.” “How come you work in here now?” “Justin and I work together,” Brian smiled. Ed glared at Brian. “So, Justin has you doing his work for him? I should have known,” he growled. “I don’t do Justin’s work. I do my work,” Brian quickly replied. “So, what are you doing?” Ed smirked. “I’m a partner now.” “What?” Ed gasped. “Marty made me an offer, I accepted. We’re partners,” Brian smiled. Suddenly Ed was scared. He’d been yelling at Brian, trying to force him to work for him and Brian was a partner, fuck. “So? Are you going to fire me?” “I don’t want you to lose your job, Ed. I just want you do your job yourself,” Brian sighed. “Do you want keep working here, Ed?” “Of course I do,” Ed gasped. “Do you know how to do your work yourself,” Brian frowned. Ed threw his hands up and stood up. “What’s the point?” “Sit down,” Brian growled. “The point is that you have been passing my work off as yours for years and I let you. Marty has given you a target to meet. Do you know where to start?” Ed wanted to yell at Brian and tell him he hadn’t but Brian was a partner now, fuck, he was screwed. He couldn’t make Brian help him now. “No.” Brian picked up a magazine off his desk and flipped through the pages. “What’s wrong with this ad?” Ed looked at the ad and studied it for a minute. He looked at Brian and shrugged. “This was one of the companies I gave you a profile on last year.” Brian stood up and pulled the file from his file draws. He flipped it open. “Look. They needed to fill this market.” He pointed to the demographics. “Does this ad fill that gap?” Ed frowned. “No, it’s targeting their existing market again.” “Is that responsible use of their advertising dollars?” “I guess not.” “The point of advertising is to increase your market share. Take this file with you, use it as a guide. Pick a company, get Sue to do this research and bring it back to me. I’ll show you what needs to be done.” “But how do I pick a company,” Ed whined. “Make a list, look at their figures. Can they afford to advertise? Do they have needs that currently aren’t being met by their existing company? Ask questions about these companies. I’ll help you, Ed, just make a start.” Ed nodded. Brian pulled out his diary. “Come back the same time in two days and show me what you’ve got,” Brian smiled. “Take that file with you and make sure all those headings are covered in your research. You can do this, Ed.” Ed wasn’t so sure. He’d never done any of this before. “What is the first thing you are going to do?” Ed sighed. “Mock up a research template first. Make a list of ten companies, go to the trade papers. Check their annual reports for what they spent last year and compare it to their turnover. Any company who has shown growth with probably be increasing their budgets this year. Now you know they have money…… find their need and fill it.” It sounded so easy when Brian explained it. It had to be harder than that. Brian saw Ed’s doubts written all over his face. “Just get your list together and come back to me tomorrow and I’ll go through it with you.” “Thanks Brian,” Ed said meekly. “I’m sorry I was such an ass.” He had no choice but to apologize. If Brian was prepared to teach him how to approach his work, then he should be grateful. “Just bring the list to me tomorrow,” Brian smiled. “We’ll go through it together. I’ll be here most of the day but I’ll be out at lunch with Marty.” Justin walked into his office. What was Ed doing here? “Hey, Ed,” Justin smiled. “Justin,” Ed smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Brian.” Brian smiled as Ed left. “Anything wrong?” Justin smiled. “No, let’s get out of here,” Brian grinned. “I want to finish something I started earlier.” Brian was happy. If he could teach Ed what to do and Ed resisted his tendency to be lazy, Ed would be fine. Walking Ed through it step by step was the only way to save his job. Brian stood up and tidied his desk. “You owe me a promise, Mr. Taylor and I intend to collect,” Brian grinned.