Midnight Whispers
QAF Brian and Justin Fanfiction
Sickness & Health, Good Times & Bad

Post 513, Justin spent 18 months in NYC before coming back to Pittsburgh 6 months ago. Justin & Brian’s relationship remained intact during the NYC sojourn. I do not own the characters just the situations.

Chapter 18

A/N Sorry it took so long to update this story. My hard drive died and I had to buy a new PC.

On Monday morning Michael was in the backroom of his store getting some comics ready for mailing when he heard the door chime, letting him know someone had come in the front door. He went into the store and was surprised to see Ben standing by the counter.
Ben smiled at the surprised expression on his husband’s face. “Hi Michael. Guess you weren’t expecting to see me this morning.”

Michael returned the smile. “It’s a really nice surprise to see you"

“That’s good to hear. I’ve missed you.”

Michael came around the counter; Ben opened his arms and Michael snuggled against his chest. “I’ve really missed you and Hunter and our house. I’m sorry for creating that confusion at the barbeque. I never meant to involve your friends.”

Ben sighed. “Michael I don’t want to talk about that. I know we probably should but it always goes back to me not understanding your fixation on Brian and Justin. Let’s just forget about the whole mess at the barbeque and just concentrate on us.”

Michael happily agreed and told Ben he would move back home this afternoon. Ben knew that he had just put a band aid on their problems but he didn’t know how to fully fix their issues and he did really miss Michael.

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When Justin came downstairs John & Peter were having waffles for breakfast. Alice amazed them again by demonstrating that waffles could be made by scratch not just come out of the freezer and go into a toaster.

Charlie was having coffee at the kitchen island, waiting for John to finish breakfast. Charlie & John had plans to go to the garden center and then work on the flower beds around the pool.

Justin had a couple waffles and some fresh fruit salad for breakfast. Peter asked him what his plans for the day were. He seemed a little disappointed that Justin planned to spend most of the day in his studio.

After Charlie and John left; Justin could see that Peter was feeling pretty adrift without his brother. Justin was suggesting some things that Peter could do when his cell phone rang.

It was Sidney Bloom inviting Justin to lunch. Justin was happy to agree since he was sure Sidney wanted to talk about the offers for his building and business.

Justin explained what was going on to Peter who was fascinated. Peter seemed so interested that Justin asked if he would like to come to the lunch meeting.
Peter’s got a huge smile on his face. “For real! Uncle Justin that would be awesome.”

Peter seemed so pleased that Justin couldn’t help smiling back at him. “We need to leave here around 11 AM. You need to wear a pair of your new dressy pants and a shirt that has a collar with your loafers’ socks or no sock is your call.”

Justin went up to his studio to get some work done before leaving for lunch and Peter loaded the dishwasher. Alice was amused by just how excited Peter was by his lunch plans. She loved Brian and Justin like family and was proud that they stepped up to help John & Peter. Alice could see that Peter wanted so much to be loved & feel special to someone and she was delighted that Justin invited him to come along to his lunch meeting.

Alice knew that one of Justin’s favorite desserts was tapioca pudding. Alice had gotten Jennifer’s recipe shortly after she started working here and now she would be making a big batch of pudding for Justin after they left for lunch.

A couple hours later Peter and Justin went through the kitchen on their way to the garage. When Peter saw that Justin was not wearing socks he snuck a pair of his socks out of his pants pocket and left them on a kitchen stool. Alice thought it was pretty adorable that Peter wanted to match Justin’s dress code and was covering his bases for a socks or no socks look.

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When they got to the restaurant Sidney was already seated and having a glass of wine. He stood up as they approached the table.

Justin and Sidney shook hands. “Sidney I was so glad to get your call. This is our nephew Peter. Brian’s sister is having some health issues so Peter and his brother are staying with us. I hope you don’t mind that I invited him to have lunch with us.”

Sidney extended his hand to Peter. “Peter it is nice to meet you. I’m happy you agreed to have lunch with us. I hope we won’t bore you with business talk.”

“It’s very nice to meet you sir. I brought a book with me so I can read that when you and Uncle Justin discuss your business stuff.”

The waiter came over to get their drink orders. Justin joined Sidney in drinking Chianti and Sidney convinced Peter to try Pellegrino “fizzy water”.

Peter leaned toward Justin and whispered. “Aren’t you going to drink martinis? That is what people always drink at business lunches in books and on TV.”

Justin shook his head. “Sorry Buddy, I’m not a big martini fan.”

Peter was a little confused by some of the Italian dishes listed on the menu. He spotted something he thought he might have had before and asked Justin about Fettuccini All-Fred-Oh. Sidney told Peter that he was having that for lunch but that it was pronounced Al-Fray-Dough and suggested they both get it with grilled chicken. He told Peter he could order for both of them. Justin decided on the chicken cacciatore and he suggested Peter order for all three of them.

Peter was thrilled. When the waiter came over he spoke up. “Uncle Justin will have the chicken cacciatore and Mr Bloom and I will both have the fettuccini alfredo with the grilled chicken and we would all like ice water.”

The waiter smiled and thanked Peter. Justin and Sidney smiled across the table at how delighted the boy was. The waiter came back with some bread and a dish with olive oil and spices. Justin told Peter that he & Brian called the oil mixture Italian butter. He demonstrated breaking off a piece of bread and dipping it in the oil mixture.

Peter felt like he was a character in a book, this whole experience was so different and fascinating from anything he had ever been a part of before.

Sidney suggested to Peter that he might want to start reading his book. “Justin, my lawyer and I have gone over your proposals for the building and the business. My lawyer and my son were both surprised by the price offered. My son said that without even seeing the building anyone would know it is worth more than you offered.”

Sidney smiled at the disappointed look on Justin’s face. “Of course I told him that was probably true; someone would have to tour the building with a contractor to get a valid idea of the building’s value. I found the inspection with your mother and her contractor to be very illuminating.”

Justin interrupted. “Sidney, my mother felt badly about you hearing many of the contractor’s negative comments.”

Sidney smiled again. “You mother is a lovely woman. I can see where your kindness and consideration originate. Every time the contractor said something about all the work that needed to be done and how the building had been neglected; your mother would poke him and mutter “just write it down, we’ll discuss it later”. I was happy to see the building through his eyes and I could really understand how Norma and I let the building value decline. Our biggest expenditure over the years was for those truly horrible kitchens. Of course they were the height of style at the time. I think your proposal is a very fair price for the building. I look forward to seeing all the renovations done; I think the finished product will be magnificent.”

Justin raised his wine glass and Sidney tapped it with his own glass. Peter had his book open but he found the table conversation much more interesting.

Justin was clearly very happy. “That’s great Sidney. I’ll let my mother know you weren’t too insulted. She will be relieved.”

Both men chuckled. The waiter appeared with their entrees. Justin showed Peter how to use a spoon to twirl the fettuccini onto his fork to make eating it less messy.

Conversation was kept light as they ate their lunches. When the table was cleared of the lunch dishes and dessert was ordered; Sidney continued on the matter at hand.
“I do have a couple issues with your proposal for 60% of the gallery business. I told you before that money is not my main concern. I feel like you will revitalize the business and keep it going into the future. That continuation is very important to me; Norma and I put so much of ourselves into the gallery. The first issue is a selfish one, I would like an agreement to maintain the current name of the gallery as long as I am alive unless I request a name change.”

Justin nodded. “I have no plans to alter the gallery name. I feel there is a value to the name, Bloom Gallery. It has a reputation for respectability and ethical behavior in the art community.”

“The amount you have offered seems to be out of line with the financials my accountant provided. If we are going to be partners I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot by taking advantage of you. I’m afraid that your finance person may not have completely understood how to establish a value for the gallery business.”

Justin interrupted. “Sidney I think that the value of Bloom Gallery’s reputation is difficult to quantify but that value has to be included in the purchase price offered.”

Sidney smiled. “Now I see that the price was determined by you not strictly on the advice of your finance person. Is Brian aware of this?”

Justin face had a very annoyed look and Peter abandoned all pretense of reading his book and watched his uncle fascinated and curious about where this talk was all leading.

“Sidney, I am NOT a child and Brian is NOT my guardian. We are partners but I do not require his permission to transact business for Tay-Kin Art.”

“I didn’t mean to infer that you needed his permission but I wanted to be sure that he wouldn’t be unhappy with this deal. I apologize for overstepping. Your private life is not my concern and I apologize. However I still think you are overpaying for your share of the gallery.”

Justin smiled. “Sidney, this is an absurd conversation. I refuse to be part of the discussion where the seller wants to reduce the offer and the buyer insists on the purchase price as offered.”

Both men laughed. Sidney produced the purchase offers from his brief case and he and Justin signed two copies of each agreement. They agreed to make the gallery name agreement separate from the purchase agreement.

Justin ordered two glasses of champagne and a cordial size glass of champagne for Peter. They clinked glasses, toasting the deal and future success. Peter didn’t really like the champagne but the whole experience seemed to him to be very adult and he was happy to be included.

As they left the restaurant Justin told Peter they were going to stop at Brian’s office and tell him about the signed agreements. Justin parked in the Kinnetik garage and when they entered the building lobby Peter started to feel a little unsure of himself and took Justin’s hand.

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Justin waved at the receptionist and headed up the stairs towards Brian’s office. The office door was closed. Carole was at her desk. “Hi Justin, he is having a meeting with the art department. We almost had a disaster. Brian was pretty unhappy.”

“Thanks Carole. I think I’ll wait until that meeting is over. This is our nephew Peter. Peter this is Ms Grover. She keeps Uncle Brian in line at the office.”

Peter shook hands with Carole. “Your job must keep you pretty busy.” All three of them laughed.

Brian’s office door opened and the art department employees started out of the office. Hal gave Justin a quick smile and headed toward the art department with most of his staff following him.

Jason came over and said hello to Justin. “Hi Jason, what’s with the big meeting?”

Jason made a face. “Our admin was out sick and the temp they brought in mixed up some presentation boards. She sent one set to the wrong location. Luckily the other ad exec checked the second box before it shipped. We were able to get the first box back from the shipping company. So all’s well but it could have been super embarrassing. Cynthia came up with a new procedure where two art department employees have to check each shipment and initial a log.”

Justin smiled. “Wow, you guys had it rough Cynthia and Brian both in the meeting. This is our nephew Peter.”

Jason shook Peter’s hand. “You guys are lucky to be staying with the Uncles. We had our company picnic there last summer. Media room with video games, that basement game room plus a pool and Mrs Simpson’s home cooking. That is a good deal.”

Peter smiled and agreed. Leon was standing behind Jason and Justin said hello and introduced him to Peter. Leon and Jason headed back to the art department. Justin and Peter headed into Brian’s office.

Cynthia and Brian were standing by his desk talking. Brian was facing the door and got a smile on his face when he saw Justin.

“Hi Sunshine. To what do we owe the pleasure of your and Peter’s company?”

Brian nodded his head. “Exactly what business was transacted during this lunch?’

“Uncle Justin bought an art gallery and a building from Mr Bloom”

A smiling Justin held up the two signed agreements.

Brian came over to hug Justin and give him a quick kiss. "Congratulations Sunshine. That's great. So did Peter play an integral role in the negotiations?"

Peter laughed. "I just watched but it was really awesome. It was like being in a book or on a TV show."

Justin smiled at Peter's enthusiasm. "Peter was disappointed that Sidney and I didn't drink martinis. I'm not sure he felt it was a real business lunch if no martinis were involved. I had to sign the agreements just to prove it was a true business lunch."

Cynthia chuckled and offered to take the signed agreement to Ted’s office. She took Peter with her to show him around the office. Without being asked she locked the office door on her way out.

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When Jason & Leon got back to the art department Hal was waiting by his office door. “Jason could I talk to you for a minute.”
Jason headed into the office while Leon went back to his cube.

Hal shut the door and motioned for Jason to sit down. “So what did you and Justin talk about?”

Jason frowned. “I just stopped to say hello. He introduced me to Brian’s nephew. I’m not sure why you would care?”

Hal sat behind his desk. “Jason, I expect loyalty from my employees. I have to tell you I am uncomfortable with your relationship with Justin.”

Jason leaned forward across the desk. “Hal I have to tell you I am very uncomfortable with this conversation. I am not your employee. You are my manager but my employer is Kinnetik.”

Hal smiled. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable but I am concerned that Justin is angling to take over as art director here. I need to know who is on my team.”

Jason laughed. “Hal, I don’t think for a moment that Justin wants to be Kinnetik’s art director. However if he did want the job you would have no chance of stopping him.”

Hal was annoyed. “I do my job really well and I’m sure that Brian understands that I just don’t need Justin Taylor trying to undermine my position.”

Jason just shook his head. “Justin wouldn’t need to do anything but tell Brian he wants the job and you would be out of here that same day. This conversation is still making me uncomfortable. If you want to continue it we are going to have to include HR. I am completely happy with you as a manager but my first loyalty is to Kinnetik. We both know that Brian and Justin are Kinnetik and so they will always have my primary loyalty and you will just have to deal with that.”

Jason stood up and waited for Hal to say something but the art director just sat there looking unhappy.

“You know Hal I am going to give you a little advice. I understand that your beliefs make you uncomfortable with Brian and Justin’s life style. I do think that if you are going to take their money you need to try a little harder to keep those feelings hidden. Everyone knows that your wife and children weren’t really sick last year when we had the company picnic and you came by yourself for about 15 minutes before hurrying home to take care of them.”

Jason walked out of the office and over to his cube.

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