Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
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Chapter 34 – The Return Event
A Little Later …(Day 44)


Brian was talking to the receptionist, once again waiting for further instructions.  Spyder and Justin were patiently standing nearby.

“Justin,” Maria said quietly as she quickly approached, “It’s so good to see you.”  

“Maria, I heard you were in town,” Justin said easily.

Maria wrapped her arm around one of Justin’s arms, “Now don’t pay any attention to any thing that Brian told you.  We’ve all just been waiting for you.”

Brian watched as another figure approached.

“Justin,” Cristina said, approaching and taking the other arm.  “I’m so glad to see you.  Brian wouldn’t let me take his arm yesterday.  It’s so much better with you being here,” she professed.

Brian whispered to Spyder, since they were being totally ignored,  “I forgot to mention that these two women are in love with Justin.   Both of them had plans to marry him years ago.  So right now they’re nursing a broken heart, can’t you tell?” Brian quipped. “But they’re slowly trying to mend.”

“They found out you and Justin are partners, did they?  I can see that they’re taking it well,” Spyder teased. “They haven’t acknowledged the fact yet that you’re even here.  Does this happen often?”

“All the time.  I hope that once the meeting gets started, someone will notice us, but for right now Justin is the only person in the world for these two.”

Spyder and Brian smiled and continued to follow the trio.

“You did say they were YOUR client, right?” Spyder asked in a whisper, “And you are the CEO of Kinnetik, right?”

“Facts that they readily overlook whenever Justin is around.  I may need you to use your knowledge of Italian to help me out here.  Right now things are ok…everyone is dealing in English.  When things drop into Italian, watch out.” Brian whispered.

They finally approached the conference room.  Maria and Cristina made sure that Justin was escorted in.  They both totally ignored Brian, leaving him and Spyder to fend for themselves.

Brian just sighed at the predictable turn of events. 

“Brian, it’s good to see you,” Rudolpho said, pulling Brian into a hug.

“Rudolpho, I think that I’m glad you’re here.  Maybe you’ll be on my side.  I felt so out numbered yesterday,” Brian teased.

“Welcome to my world,” Rudolpho teased. “And who is this?” he asked looking at Spyder.

“This is Spyder Smith, he’s Justin’s new assistant.  Justin would have made the introduction himself, if he weren’t being trapped by your daughters.  Spyder, this is Signor Rudolpho Silvestri”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Signor Silvestri,” Spyder said, “I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

Rudolpho smiled as he shook Spyder’s hand.
 
Kellie and Susan entered the room and greeted Brian.  He immediately introduced them to Spyder.  Kellie and Susan were intrigued for both of them mentioned that they thought that they had met Spyder before.

“I live here in New York, so it’s always possible that we’ve crossed paths. This is really a small town when you really think about it,” Spyder said, giving them one of his trademark smiles.

Maria and Cristina still had Justin tied up, and now Brian could see that they were introducing him to Perin, who had already reserved a seat for him near her at the table.  Brian just sighed.  “This is going to be a really long meeting,” Brian whispered to Spyder.  Spyder just smiled.

Once everyone was finally settled in the room and had been offered the usual water, coffee or tea, Brian decided it was time to start this meeting.

“Shall we get started?” Brian began.   

As Brian started to speak, everyone got quiet.

“Yesterday, you all wanted a chance to talk to Justin about your forthcoming participation in the showcase.  I thought I would save us all some time so Justin and I talked last night about your showcase.  Justin and Spyder have agreed to lend a hand so we can figure out what you need.  So now is the time for us to get work on whatever you need.  After all, Justin does have to get back to his studio,” Brian stated firmly.  “So let’s get started.”

“I knew that if you talked to Justin, you would see our side of this problem.  Thank you Brian, for changing your mind,” Perin commented.

“Don’t thank me yet, you’re all going to have to do a lot of work,” Brian emphasized,  “First of all you need to ultimately work here in New York…not Milan.”

“Our team is here,” Maria pointed out. “So just tell us what you need.”

“Our team is here too,” Susan added. “So we’re ready.”

Brian smiled.  This was good news.  “I want us to spend some time this morning brainstorming about the showcase.  Then hopefully, Justin and I can take your ideas and create the theme for the showcase.  Once we have the theme, then we can develop the list of action items that need to be addressed.  How does that sound?” Brian asked everyone.

“This is exactly what we had hoped for,” Kellie said with a sigh.  “We know now that both Belluss Occhiali and Eyeconics will be reflected in everything.  So now we can relax.  You and Justin understand both companies so well.  We know we’re going to love whatever you create.”

“I have to agree.  We’ll get our teams leaders here in the conference room so that they’re readily available,” Cristina agreed.

Maria Silvestri and Susan Weaver each called in their respective team leaders, and within a few minutes they entered the conference room and took their seats.

 “So we can get to work now?” Brian asked.  

Everyone nodded their agreement.

“Justin and I have agreed to allocate the majority of today to work on this. Any follow up on anything that needs to happen, I need everyone to coordinate with Spyder.  He will make sure that Justin and I are kept abreast of how everything is going.  You’ll find that he will be a big help toward getting things done.”

“If Justin thinks he’s ok to be his assistant then we know we’re in good hands,” Maria agreed.

“You’ll be very happy to know that Spyder has a varied background.  He and Justin are both nominated for a Bronze Quill award for their unique website designs, and they have been creating commercials together.  Also, Spyder has a PhD in linguistics, and he has spent several years living, working, and traveling abroad.  I wanted you to know that Justin and I wouldn’t have you work with just anyone,” Brian continued with a smile.

“We know that Brian,” Susan said confidently, “You do always manage to get us that specialized help that we need…whether we want to accept it or not,” she said with a laugh.

“Ok, so let’s get started.  Tell me all about your showcase?” Brian asked, and then he settled in to listen to what everyone had to say.

Spyder set up his computer to essentially record the meeting.  Brian pulled out his notepad to jot down specific notes while Justin pulled out his sketchpad to sketch while everyone talked.  Everyone was now ready.

Each person in the room actually participated in the process of filling Brian, Justin, and Spyder in on the showcase.  Belluss Occhiali, being very experienced in this sort of international event, had already outlined some ideas and suggestions for their contribution.  Eyeconics, being newer in the international arena, had fewer ideas to offer. Brian made a few comments.  Justin continued to quietly sketch.  Spyder asked a few questions.  There was great communication between everyone in the room.

When they finally took a break, Rudolpho approached Brian and embraced him.

“What is that for?” Brian asked with a smile.

“I just love the way you get everyone working together.  I knew that once you got involved, everything would come together.  I’m not really needed here.  I could probably go back to the hotel.”

“Don’t tell me that you have another company to take over?” Brian teased.

“No, I did that yesterday,” Rudolpho teased back, “When Perin had me locked away.”  Then he laughed.  “So if you want me to stay here, it’s not a problem.”

“Ok everyone, I see that we’re approaching lunch time.  Why don’t we break for lunch? That will give Justin and me a chance to go over our notes and see what we can come up with.  How does that sound?”

“We’ll all leave you alone,” Susan agreed, “But…”

“We hoped that you might be here for lunch so we already planned to have lunch brought down here for you.  We don’t want to take a chance of you getting lost in the big city at lunchtime,” Cristina teased. “We need you, and I would miss you terribly,” she added with a smile.

Brian rolled his eyes and then smiled, “You know you don’t mean that you’ll miss me.  You’re just afraid that Justin would be lost with me,” he teased.

Cristina smiled and bantered back, “That too.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door.  And lunch was delivered by waiters in uniforms and spread out before Brian, Justin, and Spyder, while everyone else said their goodbyes for the moment and left the room.  

Maria showed Brian how to use the phone system to get everyone back when he was ready for the meeting to resume.

Over lunch, Brian and Justin went over their respective notes.  Brian crystallized ideas, and Justin created images to make the ideas reality.  Spyder watched in awe at the way the two partners worked together.  They bantered ideas back and forth to each other as if this was a well-practiced dance.  

Spyder knew what it was like to work with Justin for they had worked together for months.  But when Spyder and Justin worked together, Spyder usually had the concepts and Justin added the visuals.  What he was seeing was something different.

Watching Brian and Justin work together, Spyder saw that it was a true partnership.  Justin created images that spurred Brian on to create new ideas, and Brian created themes, which Justin executed quickly on paper.

After Brian and Justin had worked out the showcase themes in fine detail, Brian discussed the specific needs with Spyder.  Spyder nodded an easy acceptance of the things that Brian was asking.  As Spyder ran the required timeline through his mind, he realized that the size of this task could require months to execute.  But with all the work that Brian and Justin had just done previously, the various elements could be executed in a matter of days if everyone cooperated.  

Spyder was already envisioning Justin undisturbed in his studio painting.  

Spyder was touched that Brian had asked him to assist on this obviously very important project, and he was determined to show Brian that his trust had not been misplaced.

After a few hours, Brian called everyone back together to share with them the results of the showcase that he and Justin had worked out.

Everyone reassembled and hung on every word that Brian had to share.   

There was already excitement from Rudolpho, who knew instinctively that whatever Brian and Justin came up with would be amazing.  Perin had never seen first hand the duo work their magic, so she was totally enthralled and ready to listen.  Kelly and Susan had an air of relaxed confidence about what they were about to hear, and Maria and Cristina shared their father’s confidence that whatever Brian and Justin came up with would be wonderful.

“You need the music and graphic and some voice over to run on various monitors.  We have your images, which Justin and I worked up for your campaigns.  Both companies liked the images, because you felt, during our previous meeting, that they reflected both companies.  Ordinarily we could use images from the commercial…but we are saving the commercial for maximum impact when it runs in TV spots later.  But we have available all the copy and the images from the ads that we can definitely use.  I’m sure that Spyder will help us to integrate everything,” Brian began, looking over at Spyder for confirmation.  Spyder smiled and nodded his cooperation.

This seemed to be a doable element and heads were bobbing in agreement immediately.

Brian continued, “We have a selection of images that are essentially drawings.  It may be possible to turn those drawn images into photographs for display in your space.   I’m sure we can arrange a photo shoot on short notice if we need to, but I think you have shots with models already in your company archives.  So your choices are to use the sketches or use your archival photos or schedule a photo shoot to acquire new images.   I’ll give you time to check on everything and compare notes, and I’ll have Spyder check with you in a day or so to see what you ultimately decided.”

Once again everyone nodded in agreement.

Brian continued one more time.  “That should leave us with the images for the fliers and brochures you have in your space.  And both companies should spend some time making first pass at the copy, if you like.  Just in case there is something new that you want to say about the products that Kinnetik hasn’t addressed in the ad campaign.   I believe we have sufficient images of the product available for this.”  

The team leaders from Eyeconics and Belluss Occhiali looked at each other and then nodded their agreement.  Then they both looked at Spyder and both nodded again.

“So what do you think?” Brian asked and then waited for their response.

Everyone was so excited that they all tried to talk at once.  Brian had exceeded their expectations.  Even Belluss Occhiali realized that this showcase would put all their previous appearances to shame.

The assignments were divided between Eyeconics and Belluss Occhiali.  There were a few tasks that Brian realized Kinnetik was going to need to get involved in.  But with Spyder driving the process, Brian felt that the Kinnetik parts could easily be done without overwhelming his Pittsburgh staff.

Rudolpho and Perin couldn’t stop smiling at each other.  For they both knew that they had made the right decision adding Brian and Justin to their little family.  They also were beginning to like Spyder as well.

Spyder agreed to come back in the morning and load the software that would allow everyone to work together by computer.

Finally at the end of the day, Brian and Justin and Spyder got in the limo and headed back toward Justin’s loft.

“I think that went well,” Brian commented, while they were riding.

“You were brilliant as always,” Justin added, leaning in to give Brian a gentle kiss.

“Watching you two in action was pretty amazing.  It was like you two just made intellectual love to each other during your creative process.  I can’t believe how well matched you two are.”

Brian and Justin just looked at each other and smiled.

The limo dropped Spyder at his apartment.  As Spyder was exiting the limo, Brian said to him, “I guess Kinnetik has to spring for breakfast one more morning, so the limo can take you over the Belluss Occhiali office for your meeting.”

“Really?” Spyder asked with surprise.

“You’re so easy…a mocha latte…a limo ride…I think we can manage that.  Considering the big favor you’re doing for us,” Brian teased, “Especially since you have to deal with the Silvestris.”

“They’re still getting use to me.  I think they’re pretending that I’m Taylor whenever they talk to me.  Did you notice they did finally pay attention to you though?” Spyder couldn’t resist adding

“Out of desperation,” Brian quipped. “But it helped having you there.  Thanks for doing this.”

“You’re welcome.  I’ll see you for breakfast tomorrow, Brian.  And Taylor…to your studio!” Spyder said with a smile as he finally moved away from the limo and allowed the door to be closed.

Justin settled into Brian’s arms, as the limo continued on to Justin’s the loft.

Once they reached the loft, Brian changed into his jeans and tank top and quickly settled into his usual chair to relax from his grueling day.

Brian watched and waited to see what Justin’s next move would be.  

Brian hoped that Justin would quickly change his clothes and be out the door, announcing that he was going to his studio.

Justin, on the other hand, had other definite plans of his own.  

He returned to the living room and immediately straddled Brian’s lap.

“What are you doing?” Brian quietly asked.

“I’m relaxing,” Justin announced, lowering himself onto Brian’s lap.  Justin leaned in to kiss Brian gently.  

“You don’t have time to relax, you’re supposed to be in your studio, or have you forgotten,” Brian tried to ask, in between the kisses he was receiving from Justin.  Brian was having some difficulty getting his point across.

Brian reached for Justin and the kiss immediately turned passionate.  

They both surrendered to the kiss, allowing it to deepen.  When they finally broke apart for air, they both realized that they were desperate for each other, and once again surrendered to the kiss.

Justin slid his hands beneath Brian’s top and the contact of skin-to-skin only served to ignite sparks between them.

Brian lowered his legs and gently nudged Justin off his lap.  “We’re moving this to the bedroom,” Brian announced.

Justin smiled and quickly got to his feet. “That was my plan.”

After several hours of lovemaking and a round of fucking in the shower, Brian and Justin managed to get dressed.  This time Justin was dressed in paint spattered tee shirt and cargo paints.

Brian was once again seated his chair with his bare feet elevated on the coffee table, when Justin leaned in to kiss him.

“I take it you’re kissing me goodbye,” Brian teased, “Because you’re on your way to your studio and I won’t see you for hours?” he asked, trying to make a point.

“Brian!”

“I guess if you’re still reluctant, I could always call Spyder and…”

“No…no…I’m going…” Justin finally said, giving Brian one last kiss.

“Be sure your phone is turned on,” Brian insisted.  

Justin pulled out his cell phone and made sure it was turned on.  He grabbed his messenger bag and headed for the door.  “Later,” he said, as he was leaving.

“Later,” Brian whispered as he simply allowed himself to smile a victorious smile.