Picture by Susan ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 3: In the end, saying farewell to the loft had been easier than Brian had expected. There were times, and Lindsay had once said as much, that he’d had more visitors than Disney World and if he’d charged his conquests a fee every time one of them had entered the “fuck pad” as Jennifer Taylor had so eloquently described it when he’d asked her to find a buyer; words that had sounded so incongruous coming from her lips, that Brian could quite possibly have retired many years ago. But that part of his life was well behind him now. Justin had conflicting memories of the loft: good, bad and good again. The loft was where he’d lost his virginity to the man he was now helping load boxes into the trunk of his car. It was also the place where he’d said his goodbyes to his life in Pittsburgh and his relationship with Brian, before he moved away with Ethan. But now, having just made love on the rug in the living room, he’d smiled fondly as Brian had slid the heavy metal door closed one last time: that part of their joint past had come to a conclusion and they could both move on. “What the hell have you got in these?” asked Justin, as they’d struggled to make the boxes fit in the trunk of Brian’s car. “I’ll be damned if I know” answered Brian as he tried to close the lid. “It’s been years since I checked to see what was in these … but there’s no rush … we can unpack them when we get in the new house” and only just managing to get the trunk to close, they took the boxes back to Lindz’ and Mel’s house. With both house deals having been finalised, they made arrangements for moving into the new house and the interior designers were set to work. As the property was vacant; the previous owners having relocated overseas; they could commence straight away and, under Justin’s supervision, the house was coming along nicely. There were no real structural alterations, but Brian had the smallest bedroom converted into an office and the loft set up as a studio for Justin, with just the finishing touches left to do; something that could be done once they’d moved in. So basically it was down to them finalising the colour schemes and then ensuring the furnishings they had decided on still complemented them and Brian was quite happy to allow Justin to take over these chores whilst he still went into the office. Though he was quite happy to delegate his office duties where he could, he wasn’t ready to hand over the reins altogether. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The day they were due to move had finally arrived; and a bitterly cold day it was. Only taking a couple of pieces of furniture with them, the rest being their personal possessions, it didn’t take long for the relocation company to load everything on the van and it was time to say goodbye to Lindz’ and Mel’s house. Justin had fond memories of this house, spending, as he had, several nights on Lindz’ and Mel’s sofa at a time when he felt rejected by everyone; his Father who wanted him to renounce his “disgusting lifestyle” and Brian, at a time when he couldn’t or wouldn’t admit what Justin was beginning to mean to him. Justin went on ahead in his newly purchased car, having sold his old one before flying back to Pittsburgh and he was now on his way to supervise the unloading of the van and Brian and Gus waited behind for the people who were taking the rest of the furniture for selling and the place was starting to feel eerie as one by one the rooms were emptied. Gus had officially left his old school and had met up with his friends for burgers and fries. He’d been presented with a photograph of himself and the soccer team, with him holding the soccer ball, taken at the end of the game where he’d scored the winning goal at a crucial stage in the schools’ soccer tournament. And now, as Brian was doing a final check on the house, Gus by his side, echoes of times past started going around in Brian’s head. Like the time he’d sat at the dining table and refused to sign over his parental rights to his son, in the end only relinquishing them when he realised both he and Mel were in danger of losing the people they loved; rights that had passed back to him on Lindz’ and Mel’s death. And now as Brian closed the front door, his arm around Gus’s shoulders, he had the overriding feeling of being watched; could almost sense a presence. And he was left with the fleeting impression of two smiling faces waving them both goodbye and wishing them well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arriving at their new home, Justin was directing operations with the last of the new furniture just arriving and Gus ran ahead as Justin caught Brian’s hand as the man made to go in the house. “Well”, said the blond, a twinkle in those blue eyes. “Aren’t you going to carry me over the threshold?” Brian grinned. “What … and put my back out?” and, walking Justin backwards, quickly and into a corner of the hallway and out of sight of anyone else, Brian stole a kiss. Lost in each other, just for a moment, neither of them had seen the black Jaguar that had slowed to an almost stop: the occupant watching the new residents of this prestigious home making their way inside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian allowed Gus a couple of days before starting his new school, but once he had he seemed to be settling in fairly well and had already tried out for the soccer team. Justin was looking forward to shortly taking up his place at Kinnetik and now there were just a couple of boxes left to be unpacked. The boxes they’d brought from the loft had been placed in the garage and Justin was curious to know what Brian had stored in them. He’d asked Brian did he want to start unpacking them, but the man said he didn’t really mind if Justin wanted to instead and so this is what Justin had started to do. But he certainly wasn’t prepared for what he found when he removed the contents. “Oh my God” said Justin softly to himself, as he unwrapped the soft cloth protecting the item that he found in one of the boxes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gus had already eaten and was up in his room and doing his homework when Brian arrived back from work, later than intended. “Good day at the office dear?” asked Justin, grinning, as Brian entered the living room, placing his attaché case on the floor and he undid his tie and the top button of his shirt. Moving to the side table, Brian poured himself a beam and offered one to Justin, who declined. The man then dropped down onto the sofa. “Well, if you must know” answered Brian, taking a sip of his drink. “I’ve had a bitch of a day. We almost lost the Sleemon account and I had to do some pretty nifty footwork … if I do say so myself … to keep them. Then the new guy in the art department screwed up the boards for Lehman’s Electronics … and then when I went out to my car I had a flat and had to wait for the auto company …” “Poor baby …” said Justin quietly as he moved onto Brian’s lap and he took the glass from Brian’s hand and placed it on the coffee table; he kissed him. “Better?” whispered the blond and Brian nodded. “A little … wanna try some more?” whispered Brian back and Justin duly obliged. “Better now?” asked Justin. “Much” stated Brian and Justin pulled away. “Have you eaten today?” asked the blond and Brian threw the last of his drink down his throat and then shook his head. “No … I haven’t had time”. “Okay … I’ll make us something while you get showered and changed … Gus ate earlier” and Justin started to make his way to the kitchen. They’d engaged an agency to find them a housekeeper, one who would keep the place in order and who could prepare an evening meal and would stay with Gus until either Brian or Justin got home. Mrs. Doherty, their previous housekeeper, was unable to travel the distance to the new house, and was hoping to retire in any case, but until the new housekeeper started the following week, Justin didn’t mind preparing their meals and looking out for Gus. “Thanks” called Brian, after Justin. “I’ll go check on Gus before I head for the shower …” and he picked up his case and disappeared upstairs and Justin waited a few minutes before following him. Brian left his case in the office and looked in on his son. He found Gus absorbed in what he was doing, but they chatted for a few minutes about the boy’s day and Brian looked to see how the homework was going. Justin hung back, not wanting to intrude on Father and son and he waited until Brian entered their own bedroom before he followed him in. Brian turned on the lamps on the nightstands and then took off his jacket and tie and left them on a chair and was about to sit on the bed in order to take off his shoes when he came to an abrupt halt. “What the …” and quietly, Justin entered the room and walked up behind Brian and slid his arms around the man’s waist. “I found it while I was unpacking the boxes in the garage … the ones we brought back from the loft” said the blond and Brian briefly closed his eyes. “Shit … I’d forgotten that’s where it was …” he said softly. Propped up against the pillows on the bed was a picture: one that Justin had drawn of Brian ten years before, as the man lay asleep and naked. There had been a charity art show at the Gay and Lesbian Centre; a show arranged by Lindsay and Mel, who had encouraged a very young Justin to show his work. “I always did wonder who’d bought it,” said Justin and he removed his arms from around Brian’s waist and went to sit on the bed and he picked up the picture. Brian spoke softly and with obvious pleasure; he’d been secretly flattered that Justin had sketched the picture of him and had been determined that no one else would own it. “How could I not buy it?” said Brian. “And besides … it was your first art sale and it was for charity”. Justin sighed. “My only art sale …” and the sadness in his voice was so evident; remembering the talent he’d once had: before the bashing. “Christ … I look so young” continued Brian, sitting on the bed next to Justin. “We were both young,” said the blond and he looked at Brian and smiled; the older man smiled back. Getting up from the bed, still holding the picture, Justin began to move around the room. “What are you doing?” asked Brian. “Trying to figure out where best to hang it …” “Oh no … we don’t want it in here” and Justin looked back at him in surprise. “Why not?” “What … as a constant reminder of all the years that have gone by?” asked Brian and he shook his head and started to remove his shoes. Slowly, Justin placed the picture back on the bed and went to stand in front of Brian and he knelt down and, fingers beneath Brian’s chin, he tilted the older man’s head up to face him. “You’re still the most beautiful man I’ve ever known,” stated Justin gently, looking into hazel eyes in a face belying the passage of time and he lent forward to kiss the older man. Looking into Justin’s eyes; the most wonderful blue eyes that Brian thought he’d ever seen, Brian could see the sincerity of Justin’s words and then Justin stroked Brian’s face, smiled and stood up; he picked up the picture again. “If you don’t want it in here … can I have it … for the studio?” “Sure,” came the answer and Brian watched as Justin left the room to take the picture up to his studio. And, not for the first time, did Brian think he was the luckiest man alive, knowing that this beautiful young man wanted to be with him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Soon after they moved in a housewarming was arranged. Emmett’s party planning business had gone from strength to strength and he was dying to do something in honour of Brian and Justin being back together and now things had settled down for them, this was the perfect time. The table in the dining room groaned under the weight of food and a bar had been set up in the corner of the room. It was still cold outside, preventing everyone from admiring the garden, but the house came in for much congratulation in the way it had been decorated and furnished. “Christ Brian … this must have set you back a bundle” said Debbie as he greeted her in the hallway and she and Marty joined the ever-growing number of guests. She’d been dying to come over and see the new house and it had taken everything Marty had to convince her to let the boys have some time to sort themselves out first; he’d already learned how she liked to take charge, sometimes forgetting her “boys” were now grown men. Jennifer Taylor had arrived a little early; like many a loving Mother, in order to see if there was anything she could do. Justin promptly sat her down and put a drink in her hand and told her to relax; a trait not many Mother’s know how to handle and Jennifer was no exception. “But I want to help, dear”, she’d told him only to be informed in return that this was a party and that they had caterers and she was a guest and not expected to help. Jennifer smiled and reluctantly took the drink, but shortly after, her daughter Molly along with her husband, Gary arrived, and Justin sighed with relief; his Mother was now occupied. Cynthia, who had once been Brian’s PA, but who now mostly ran the New York office, had arranged to be in town for the party and several of Kinnetik’s largest accounts had also been invited; a chance to network was not to be ignored. And, pleasing Justin immensely, Daphne had also been able to join them, bringing John, her boyfriend. Daphne had been the first person Justin had called to give the good news about him and Brian being together and she’d cried. It was her he’d confided in about being gay when they were in school together and she’d been there throughout; Justin falling in love with Brian and witnessing their rocky relationship; the aftermath of the bashing and then his walking out on the man. And now they were together again, she couldn’t be happier for him. “Is it serious?” Justin asked her as they watched as John went to get them some food and Daphne had nodded, her excitement spilling over. “Yeah, I think so ... he’s asked me to marry him … and we’re moving back to the Pitts” and she waved the rather nice diamond engagement ring in front of Justin’s face. “Oh my God, Daph … that’s brilliant news …” and Justin had hugged her tightly. Brian had been talking to a client in the living room, but moving away, heard his name called. “Brian …” and he turned around to find Michael standing there. “Hi Mikey … good to see you. Is Ben with you?” asked Brian and Michael nodded. “He’s getting some drinks … house looks great but I haven’t brought you anything … a housewarming gift I mean …” “We didn’t want any gifts Michael … we told everyone that. We have everything we need,” answered Brian and Michael nodded. “Yeah … I guess you have” he stated sadly and turned around and went to find Ben. Brian watched him go and couldn’t help but wonder if he was saying goodbye to over 25 years of friendship. But if Michael couldn’t accept that he was with Justin now then that was his problem. Gus had been allowed to stay up late and had been duly fussed over by Debbie, but when stubbornness eventually gave way to tiredness, Brian took him up and put him to bed. The evening had flowed nicely and so had the alcohol and Emmett had also organised the music. Now, towards the end of the party, it was their closest friends who’d stayed on and taken to the area that had become a small dance floor. The people who’d remained couldn’t help but see how close Brian and Justin were as they watched them dance together; Justin’s head on Brian’s shoulder, sometimes looking at each other and talking and smiling, but then with long periods of just holding on, culminating in a kiss. “He’s happy … you should be too” whispered Ben earnestly and Michael reluctantly nodded in reply. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sign on the office door said Head of Art Department and Brian couldn’t be more pleased, having Justin on board. In the main, over the passed few months, they’d worked well together, Justin always able to interpret Brian and his small team’s ideas and he got on well with the rest of the staff. They had a great lifestyle and with Justin now earning a good salary, he made sure he contributed every month to the running expenses of the house. Still not as much as he would have liked, but he didn’t want to argue or upset Brian over it, the older man not asking Justin to contribute, but realising that Justin needed to. Whenever they could, both or either of them would work at home, especially when Gus was off school with a cold or it was the mid-term break. The flexibility they had enabled them to work on into the evening and spend the day with the boy and Justin discovered he was enjoying his new-found parental role in Gus’s life and, much to Brian’s joy, a close relationship had developed between the two of them. And though Justin loved working alongside Brian each day, coming in with him and leaving together most nights, he was beginning to realise why Brian had decided to strike out on his own; risking everything to be his own boss. The business was growing and Brian had started thinking about expanding even further: maybe to Chicago or even Washington and Justin could see the buzz Brian got from it; even just talking about the possibility of starting up a new office and taking on a new challenge. Justin loved the work, but missed the time he’d spent in Europe when he would take on commissions for illustrating books or designing CD covers and posters for the recording industry, which meant actively seeking work for himself: pitting himself against what was often strong competition. Working with Brian was good, but it was safe; there was no edge, no feeling of having to get out there and find the work for himself and slowly, Justin began to realise that he too needed such a challenge. But how would he tell Brian? Since Brian had first asked him to come to work at Kinnetik at New Year, after they’d come back together again, it was obvious that the older man had looked forward to having him alongside and the last thing Justin wanted to do was hurt his feelings or have Brian feel rejected. Brian’s fear of rejection played a big part in preventing him from admitting his feelings for Justin in the first place, even though the younger man had made it quite clear his own feelings on that score. But feelings of rejection, whether real or imaginary, had been with Brian since childhood. After all, when you learn that your own Father believed you should have been aborted and that his way of showing his young son affection was with his fists, what else are you to believe? And when your Mother discovers you’re gay and tells you that you’re destined to spend eternity in hell; what else can you believe? When the man you love publicly walks out on you on the arm of another, in front of all your friends, your “family”; even though you think, no hope, that he knows how you feel without hearing the words, there’s nothing else left to believe. And though everything on the surface seemed to be under control, Justin still wondered, from time to time, how far Brian’s insecurities were really buried. In the past Brian’s barriers had proven to be impenetrable; that is until Justin came along. And while most people had thought the younger Brian a selfish, self-absorbed, egotistical and insensitive son-of-a-bitch, Justin had never been fooled. Instead of being the most insensitive of men, Brian was the opposite; it was the only thing that made sense. Otherwise why fight to keep the barriers up if you didn’t feel? What would be the need other than to protect yourself from pain; pain of rejection. So would Justin telling Brian he wanted to leave his business and start up on his own be one rejection too many? However, it didn’t take Brian long to realise that something was on his partner’s mind. They’d had a project meeting; going over the campaign they were preparing to pitch to a prospective client. Tyler Malden, a new Ad. Exec. recently appointed, was heading the campaign and the three of them, together with Ted, as the company’s accountant and Becky, Brian’s PA, were going over the proposed schedule and the figures; determining the cost. Justin did one of two things when he was bothered about something or had something on his chest. He either clammed up or you couldn’t shut him up; there was no middle ground. On this occasion, he’d clammed up and Brian could see he was mulling something over; something very important to him and for a moment, Brian was scared to death of what that something might be. And now Brian and Justin were left alone and Justin collected the boards from the table; ensuring they were back in their correct order. Whilst his staff did most of the preparatory work, Justin had the final say and, if it were a particularly large campaign, he would take total control and personally produce the artwork necessary; seeing the process through from start to finish. Brian watched him and smiled as he saw him scratch behind his ear; another sign, one he’d carried over from his teenage years that gave him away. “You gonna tell me what’s on your mind?” asked Brian and he swung his chair around to face him. “Mmm?” Justin tried to act normal; telling himself that the churning in his stomach every time he thought he might mention it meant nothing and now when he had the chance he was trying to stall. Slowly, Brian got out of his chair and walked over to where Justin was stacking the boards and he lent against the wall. “Come on, Justin … you’ve obviously got something on your mind. Give”. Justin looked at him and sighed and thought about the words he needed to kick this off and in a way that Brian would understand. “I’ve watched you recently … when you’ve been talking about expanding the business. You get a real buzz out of it, don’t you?” asked Justin and Brian nodded. “Yeah … I do ... planning something like that … seeing it all come together” and he walked to the side table and poured out two cups of coffee. “I don’t mind telling you that when I opened up the New York office … I was scared to death … trying to start up a new business in a new town … where nobody knew me. I’d got stale … bored and it was just the challenge I needed”, and he passed Justin a cup of coffee. “Besides,” continued Brian. “At that time, I didn’t think there was much here for me any more …” “And now?” asked Justin, taking a sip of his coffee. “Now?” answered Brian. “Now I wanna do it to prove I still can … that I’ve still got what it takes …” Justin grinned. “You’ll always have what it takes, Brian. You’ve always had that drive … the ambition … wanting to succeed … and be …” “… the best homosexual I can?” finished Brian, reminding them both of when he’d said those exact words to Justin, telling him to follow his own dreams and not those that others wanted for him and he sat down on the edge of the table waiting for the younger man to continue. “Yeah … and I know now that’s exactly what I want to do” said Justin, moving towards him. “I’ve been thinking about it for a little while … that I want to go out on my own … be my own man … like you … and start up my own business, instead of clinging on to yours”. “You’re not clinging on,” said Brian. “You’ve earned your place here. You’re the best I could have hoped for …” and he smiled. “You’re very good Justin and I was wondering how long I was going to hang on to you”. Justin had been instrumental over the months he’d worked there in securing several new accounts: his talent an asset that couldn’t be denied or unrecognised. “I’m not surprised you wanna do this … I guess I always thought that one day you might …” admitted Brian. “But you’re still a little young … it’s a lot to take on …” “I’m nearly as old now as you were … when we first met,” Justin reminded him and they both chuckled. “Yeah” said Brian, but at Justin’s age, he was the party boy who couldn’t see passed his thirtieth birthday, let alone start up his own business, care for his son and be in a monogamous relationship; they’d both done a lot of growing up since then. “Okay … what can I do to help? Have you worked out how much it’s gonna cost to set up?” but Justin shook his head. “Thanks … but I’ve got to do this entirely on my own …” “We could make it a proper loan … an investment …” continued Brian, but Justin continued to shake his head in refusal and he picked up the boards to go back to his own office. “Well, at least get Ted to help you with a business plan … you’re going to need something to take to the bank if you’re gonna try for a loan …” and Justin stopped and turned around. “Okay … thanks … I will” and Justin smiled at him and left. Brian swallowed the last of his coffee and looked down into his empty cup and he allowed himself a slight smile. Yes indeed: how Justin, the kid he’d once referred to as “his baby”; “his son”; putting himself in the role of father figure and teacher as well as lover, had grown up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They came to an arrangement: at least for the time being. Justin continued to work at Kinnetik, but he also let it be known that he was willing to take on private work, though nothing in direct competition with Brian and odd bits and pieces started to come along. As Brian suggested, Justin asked Ted to help him to prepare a business plan and Justin made sure the studio at the house was capable of being fully functional as a place of work, even going so far as to have a separate telephone line installed just for his business. However the banks weren’t being very forthcoming and Justin was beginning to despair as he tried to sell himself and his talent and was tired of receiving letters with the same knock backs. “Another one?” asked Brian as they sat at the breakfast table. It was Saturday and shortly they would be off to watch Gus play in a soccer game, but for the moment they were opening their mail and Justin passed Brian the letter. “It says exactly the same as the others … I’m too young … I don’t have any collateral or any real business experience …” and Justin picked up his dirty breakfast dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. “They think I’m too high a risk …” Brian read the letter from Penn Federal; they weren’t their exact words, but that was pretty much what they meant. “I told you I’d back you … if you’d let me” said Brian and he picked up his own dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen, but he knew what the answer would be. “Thanks Brian … I know you would, but … I still have to try this on my own … I’m not beat yet … okay?” “Okay” replied the older man and he put his arms around Justin’s neck and kissed him. “Dad … can we go yet?” yelled his son as he came racing into the kitchen and all three then put on their coats and headed out to Gus’s game. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The owners of Katherine’s Casuals asked for Brian to handle their account personally; these people were used to dealing with whoever was in charge and Brian was happy to oblige. It was a young company, but from old money and Daddy held the purse strings. Becky passed in the paperwork and Brian went over the details for the last time before the scheduled meeting the following day; it having been made quite clear that Kinnetik hadn’t been the first choice of advertising agency. And now something caught Brian’s eye, taking him along to Justin’s office. Katherine Van Linden was in her middle twenties and already owned two boutiques in Pittsburgh and the family had plans for her to expand and eventually to go nation-wide and potentially, this could be a very lucrative account. “How’s the Casuals boards going?” asked Brian and Justin looked up from what he was working on. “Okay”, he answered. “I’m nearly done … they just need a little finishing off”. “Good”, replied Brian. “This could be a big one, Justin … I need you to do your best work … pull out all the stops”. “Are they gonna be big?” asked Justin and Brian nodded his head. “They could be very useful. Show me what you’ve done” and they moved over to the stands where Justin had the almost completed boards ready for him to see. The proposed campaign was for top-of-the-range women’s casual clothing, costing hundreds of dollars for the smallest item. “God … I remember girls like this … “stated Justin, looking at the pictures on the boards and remembering the times when he used to go with his parents to the country club they belonged to. “They had so much money” he continued, “Generous allowances and parents who would give them anything. And they had to look the part, even if it was just meeting a friend … they had to wear the right outfit with the right accessories … and that included their boyfriends … competing with each other all the time …” and so the boards had recreated this exactly; a range of casual wear aimed at the well-heeled, well-bred young woman and for all occasions, be it a lunch date with friends, a weekend in the country on the arm of a handsome young man or just being seen around town. “Katherine’s Casuals … for when the date is anything but casual” read Brian from the boards. “I really like that Justin … I’ll make sure they know it was you that came up with that. Okay … I’ll catch you later” and Brian playfully ruffled Justin’s hair as he left to return to his own office. Passing Becky’s desk, he quickly wrote a name down on her jotter. “Can you get me that number please, Becky”. “Sure Brian, do you want me to make the call?” “No, that’s fine” he answered. “Just let me have the number”. Two minutes later, Becky passed in the information and Brian rang the number. “Mr. Peter Van Linden please” he asked. “Thank you … just connecting you” and Brian put down the phone; he had the confirmation he needed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Katherine loved the campaign. She loved the boards, the concept and especially the slogan and Brian went to great lengths to tell her it was Justin who had come up with that idea as well as producing the artwork and he’d allowed Justin to take over the presentation. In the end, her Father hadn’t needed too much persuasion; his little girl generally got what she wanted, but when it came to this sort of money, Peter Van Linden wanted to know exactly what they were getting; how often and why. But even he had to admit he liked the campaign and was happy enough to sign on the dotted line. As Katherine and Justin disappeared back to the art department to go over more ideas, Brian took the opportunity to speak with her Father. “I’m glad you like the campaign and I know we weren’t your choice initially … so I was wondering … what swung it for us in the end?” Peter Van Linden got up from his chair and went over to one of the boards; he tapped it with his finger. “Well, I suppose it was these really … they catch the eye and the slogan’s good …” Brian nodded in agreement and he stood up. “Please … come with me … I’d like you to see something” and Brian led him out into the corridor and down to the reception area. “You see these?” asked Brian, indicating half a dozen boards for different and very successful advertising campaigns lining the walls. “Yes?” came the confused response. “Well, these have been our most recent campaigns …” explained Brian and Mr. Van Linden went over to one of the boards. “Osmon’s Automobiles” he said, pointing to one of them. “We bought my wife’s new car there on the strength of that ad …” and Brian smiled and moved over to the board, which he took down off the wall and he turned it around; the name on the back said “Justin Taylor”; at Brian’s insistence, Justin had labelled his work. “I don’t understand … what am I looking at?” “All these boards … as well as yours … were done by Justin,” stated Brian and he hung the board back on the wall. “Now,” continued Brian. “If my memory serves me … as well as being Katherine’s Father, you’re also President and CEO of Penn Federal … am I right?” “That’s right,” confirmed Mr. Van Linden. “But what does that have to do with my daughter’s campaign?” “Nothing … directly,” answered Brian. “But Justin wants to go out on his own … start up his own business … and your bank turned down his loan application”. “Now you’ve seen his work … seen how much talent he has … maybe the bank would like to rethink its position?” But before the man could respond, Justin appeared: he and Katherine trying to locate her Father. “There you are Daddy. Justin’s got some wonderful ideas for the future … we’ll be going nation-wide before we know it” and she took her Father’s arm. Mr. Van Linden shook hands with Justin and then with Brian. “It’s been a pleasure … I’ll look into that other business …” and he and Brian exchanged knowing smiles and the Van Linden’s left. “What was all that about?” asked Justin, but Brian chose to ignore his question. “Well I think we’re done ... let’s call it a day” and putting a hand on the younger man’s shoulder, Brian turned him around and they walked back to their offices to clear up before heading home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Out of nowhere, came a call from East Coast Recordings. Justin’s work had come highly recommended and they wanted to make an appointment to see him regarding the artwork for a forthcoming album and promotional material. Justin couldn’t contain his excitement as he telephoned to schedule an appointment for the following day and though it pleased Brian, it also felt as if Justin was moving away from him, albeit it very slightly; a feeling he fought hard to keep to himself. On his arrival at the ECR offices, Justin was greeted by Tony Marshall, who was obviously excited about a new signing; someone with a wonderful talent who they hoped would fill a void in the classical market, normally ignored by them. After preliminary discussions, Justin had agreed in principle to undertake the work and they were waiting for the musician to arrive. The man in question was nearly an hour late and Tony was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable, but Justin was willing to put it down to artistic temperament. When he finally arrived, the man came rushing into the office full of apologies and Justin stood, opened-mouthed as the introductions were made. “Justin Taylor” said Tony Marshall. “I’d like you to meet Mr. Ethan Gold”. To be continued.