The story below is a work of fiction and contains erotic and/or sexually explicit behavior between consenting males. If you find this type of writing offensive, or if you are underage and it is illegal to view it, please do not read further, but exit now. The author reserves all copyright privileges. This work may not be reproduced, except for personal use, without permission of the author, and may not be linked to any pay sites.
Thanks for all the kind emails. This is my first attempt at this so your comments have been very helpful and motivating. Please feel free to send me an email with you thoughts about the story. Dan.
Chapter 18
Ethan is now the narrator
I can't believe he is gone. I don't know when I have felt so horrible. Seeing the SuperShuttle pull away was like watching a part of me leave. I love Rick so much. How could he do this? I want to be angry but all I feel is grief. I wish I knew what happened. What was so horrible that caused him to leave me? I believe we could work through anything together. I guess he doesn't feel the same way.
I should have known that my situation would be hard for him to accept. I try to live my life as I did before all the money came my way. Sure, I have the beautiful condo in Pensacola. And A-1 is a bit over the top. But I am still the guy I always was.
So I sit here on my balcony wondering what went wrong. I can't stop crying.
I am not hungry. I am tired but not sleepy. I am so lost. And so confused.
Morning greets me as I sit on the balcony. I need to snap out of it. I have to get cleaned up and get into the office. Then I have to fly over to Germany to make final arrangements for Sojourn's repairs and to handle some details regarding the finishing of Tranquility. Oh God, how can I face Tranquility now. Rather than a beacon of love and warmth she will now always remind of what was.
I had a shower and drove to the office. Boss was waiting for me, as usual. I don't know how she did it. She was always there before me. She always had things planned so perfectly. My life at work ran smoothly because of her.
"Good Morning Ethan. You look like shit. Did that stud keep you up all night?" Sarah said.
I looked at her and managed the best smile I could.
"Good morning to you too Boss. No, it isn't anything like that."
I went into my office and before I could reach my desk she was in the room and closed the door. "Talk to me - what is going on?"
How she knows when something isn't right has always amazed me. And scares me a little too. I told her what had happened. At least what sense I could make of it. She came over to me and hugged me and I broke down and cried. Sarah and I had been through so much and she always could read me like a book.
"Ethan, I know you really love him. I am so sorry this happened. Please don't let this destroy you. Your wealth is hard for people to comprehend. It is intimidating as hell. Well it isn't for me cuz I will kick you ass, rich or poor", Sarah said trying to lighten the moment.
"Sarah, sometimes I hate this fucking money. I don't flaunt it. I live a fairly normal life, whatever that is. I have so much love to give. I know I am no Adonis but I do think I am a good person. I just want to love and be loved. To share my life and to create memories with someone. But I guess that isn't going to happen."
Sarah grabbed my arm and looked me in the eyes. "You are the best person I know. You have done so much for me and for everyone close to you. Your charity organizations do so much for people you don't even know. You are generous to a fault. You are so special and so kind. You are loved and don't forget it. Now about not being an Adonis, that is for sure - you look like shit".
"Thanks Sarah - you always know just want to say. Bitch". We both laughed.
I really needed that. She always had a way with me.
Sarah then outlined my day. Meetings and conference calls most of the day. The President of my charity organization, Keith, had some plans to run by me. A-1 would be ready to go about 8pm for a non-stop flight to Hamburg. Sarah had arranged for a car for me at Hamburg airport so I could drive over to the shipyard in Papenburg. I would be at the shipyard for 3 days. After that, it was up to me. I had hoped to take Rick to Gran Canaria but I don't think I will be going there now.
I made it through the day. I was like a robot. I did all the right things and answered and asked all the right questions. But I didn't feel anything.
The conversation with Keith was the highlight of the day. He outlined some plans for some new programs that he knew would mean a lot to me. I left the office at 4pm, went home, packed, and headed for A-1 for the overnight flight to Hamburg.
The flight is going to be about 9 hours. I think if one more person tells me I look bad I am going to scream. Brian and the rest of the crew felt compelled to say something. I know it is because they care and are concerned. I told them I just wanted to have a quick dinner and then bed for the overnight. I took some Tylenol PM and with any luck I would get some sleep.
I ate a chicken Caesar salad and went to bed. The last time I was in this bed was with Rick. I had kissed him and I managed to have him at the brink of an orgasm 3 times before I decided to let him cum. He was so cute calling me names. God, I love him. I wish I knew what happened and that he was OK. The Tylenol PM kicked in as I dozed off.
I slept through the flight and even through the landing at Hamburg. The German authorities were not pleased that I wasn't there for passport checks but Brian handled it for me. The car was waiting. I had a quick shower, left A-1, and headed out to Papenburg.
I arrived at the Meyer Werft shipyard and the next 3 days went well. I love being here. Seeing massive ocean liners taking shape. Most of the pieces of the ship are built offsite and brought over pre fabricated and assembled in the massive dry dock facilities. When the hull and most of the superstructure is complete, the dry dock is flooded and the ships are at home, in the water. Wiring, lights, computers, carpets, sound systems, kitchen equipment, furniture, so much had to be thought about. Ships are very complicated feats of engineering. Vacuum pressure toilet systems, garbage incineration plants, waste water and sewage processing, clean oil, dirty oil, satellite positioning and communication systems, and the production of enough electricity to light a small town. It was incredible to think about and fascinating to watch. It was a good escape for me. I missed Rick but at least I could focus on my other love - my girls. And my latest girl, Tranquility, was being born before my eyes. Somewhere, somehow, in spite of being comprised of machinery and hardware, these ships gained a spirit and a unique personality. Quest was the first born and always seems to be over performing as if trying to prove something. Sojourn, has a sweetness and softness to her. What would Tranquility be like?
So I drove back to Hamburg. A-1 was waiting for me. I felt the sadness returning. The emptiness. I wish I knew what I had done. I did know one thing, I didn't want to go back to Pensacola. I needed some time to reflect. Many people don't realize that and bottle things up. I always allowed myself some reflection time, not too much though! I never wallowed long.
I told Brian where I wanted to go. He said it would take about an hour to get all the clearances. I called Sarah and she was making all the arrangements before she was going to take some time off as well. True to his word, an hour later A-1 turned onto the main runway at Hamburg. Destination - Exeter in Devon, Southwest England.
Chapter Nineteen
Late Spring in England can be a mixed bag. Well, English weather in general is a mixed bag. The annoyance of the constant rains did have a silver lining. The lush green that covers England is spectacular. I left the airport and headed down the M5 to the A30 heading west. I exited on to a small road, the B3212, and headed towards Dartmoor. The drive through this area is like a throw back to another time. Houses with thatched roofs and small villages with no sign of a Starbucks or McDonalds. I always chuckled seeing a thatched roof house that is hundreds of years old with a satellite dish attached. I guess modern conveniences have penetrated all corners of the world.
I continued driving entering the Dartmoor National Park at Dunsford. I passed through Moretonhampstead, North Bovey, and I arrived at my destination. This was one of my favourite places in the world. The farmhouse was built in the 17th century. It has stone floors and wood beam ceilings. Many of the walls are stone as well. The farm has horses, sheep, pigs, goats, and ducks. A stream runs right past the main house. You can see the dramatic landscape of the Moor. It doesn't look like the lush green that you see near Exeter. Rather it has a lunar look. Thick bracken covers the ground. Dramatic tors are scattered about and are an easy walk from the farm. Foggy mists roll in with little notice creating an atmosphere of mystery and solitude. There are fantastic legends that are fiercely guarded by the locals. I feel at peace here.
I go into the house and I am greeted by Jane. She gives me a firm handshake, hugs just aren't done around here. Jane is Sarah's mother. While Sarah has acquired some American traits, Jane will have none of that. She gets up at 5am, feeds the animals, cooks breakfast for any guests staying in the B&B, then is back out working the farm until early evening. She is tough. And don't forget it. This is her life and she loves it. But somewhere, behind the hardened exterior, she really does like me. We sit by the fire, drinking tea, and chat for awhile. She tells me I am staying in the barn which has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a large family room with a TV, and that I have it to myself. Tired, I leave and go to the barn. The darkness in this area of the world is incredible. No light pollution means total darkness. Only a carpet of stars provides light.
I sleep soundly. I wake about 8am, have breakfast of porridge and toast, and go out on a hike with the dogs. I walk over to Grimspound which is a remnant of a pre-historic village. Then I cross back over and head out further into the Moor. I climbed to the top of one of the tors and had a lunch that Jane had made for me. Sitting here, in the Moor, looking at the wild ponies that are walking through the moor, I start to reflect.
Rick is first in my mind. How is he? Where is he? What is he doing? What went wrong. I feel an emptiness in my soul when I think I might have lost him forever.
I then begin to think how my life has changed in the last 10 years. I grew up in a strange environment. My father left my mother when I was barely one. My mom remarried and the guy, was, well, he was an asshole. He had a knack for lying and conning people. We lived by feast and famine. More famine than feast. We moved about every 6 months to avoid bill collectors and the IRS finding us. When times were good he would buy himself a flash car and new clothes. My mother and I never had much. When times were bad, we didn't know how we were going to eat.
I never met my real father. He called me once when I was 13 and we arranged to meet. I was so excited to meet him. He stood me up. The only other interaction I had was when I was 16. His wife called to say that my father had killed himself and that it was my fault because I wouldn't let him be a part of my life. If she only knew how much I wanted to meet him. How hurt I was when he didn't show up. The man had never been a part of my life. He was dead now and I felt nothing.
I spent most of my summers with my grandparents. They had lived in the same house since my mother was a child. Those summers provided me with stability. I think they are what kept me sane. My grandfather had the most incredible sense of humor which I think I picked up. My grandmother was a financial mastermind and taught me about how to live on a budget, to save, and the importance of taking nice vacations as a reward. My grandparents took me on my first cruise. I was hooked.
At 17, I moved into my boss's pool house. I was working in a small shop in the mall. I was determined to get away from the asshole and that I would have a better life. I could only hope that my mother would wise up and leave him. I could have wallowed and felt like I had been dealt a bad hand. But I thought that I have been given a chance to do something with my life. And I intended to seize every opportunity and to never be a victim.
I went to college. Had some times when I couldn't afford to eat. I dropped to 110 pounds and I looked like a skeleton. But I wouldn't give up. I then worked for a few companies before I joined a large computer company in Atlanta. I did real well there. I had moved up into a high middle management job. I was transferred to London where I lived for 4 years. It was at my job in London that I met Sarah. She was my secretary and we hit it off immediately. I felt at home in England. It really is my second home.
It was during the time in London that everything changed. I used to go the local pub in my area of SW London. It was a gay pub. Now, you would think that would make people friendly. Wrong. Nobody spoke to me the first year I was there. I tried talking to some people but it didn't go anywhere. I noticed a man in his 60s that was there and he always seemed alone and nobody spoke with him. I figured he looks as sad as me so I went over and talked with him. I can't stand how ageist the gay community can be.
This man was incredible. His name was Albert. He had a wicked sense of humour and could converse about a range of topics. There was a sadness to him though. I finally got him to tell me about it. He had come to terms with being gay after his wife died. His kids have disowned him. He said he kept himself busy doing work "here and there" for some companies. He didn't offer details and one of the things I learned living in England, if they don't tell, don't ask.
We became good friends. Just friends. We would go into London and see shows and art exhibits. He would have me over for dinner. We would go shopping. He told me about some charity work that he did at the local nursing home and I joined him in that. I really enjoyed talking with the people and hearing their stories. Albert was a good man. He never tried anything with me. He was 40 years older than me and he loved me as a friend. And I loved him too. We would sit at the pub and talk for hours. It was so good to have a friend and my life in England started to feel better.
In my third year in England, I noticed that Albert was slowing down. He would often cancel the pub. He stopped working at the nursing home. One evening after not hearing from Albert for a few weeks, even though I rang daily, I went by his flat to see if he was OK. When he opened the door, he looked like he had aged 10 years. He was ashen, frail, and appeared weak. He put the kettle on, made us some tea, and we sat by the fireplace. Albert told me that he was avoiding me because he didn't want me to see him like this. He had terminal liver cancer. He was in pain but it was bearable. Not like the English to complain. He didn't think he had long to live. With tears in my eyes, and a glistening in his, we pretty much said goodbye.
We both knew that is what it was but never actually said those words. Three days later, Albert was dead.
I was devasted. I went to the funeral. A few people from the pub came. None of his family. There were people from the businesses that Albert did some work for but not many people came. I was so angry. This was a great man and nobody came out to send him off. At the service, a solicitor approached me and asked me to stop by his office in 2 days. I asked what about and he said, just come round and I would find out.
Albert had left me everything. Albert was a very wealthy man. This "work" he did for businesses really meant he was the owner of the companies. He had mining companies, shipping companies, owned land, and had interests in some North Sea drilling. He was worth one and a half billion pounds. About 2.25 billion dollars. And it was mine now. Albert had left a letter for me which the solicitor gave to me.
My Dearest Ethan,
Hiya mate (he always would say that to me and make me smile). I suppose you might be a bit shocked as you are reading this. I never lived the life of a wealthy man. I found that money often changes how people treat you. I prefer to get to know people as the real me. Without the confusion of money and wealth.
You showed me true friendship. You spoke to me when nobody else would. Your friendship meant so much to me and you brought me great happiness. Ethan, you have a gift. You had such a hard life. But you would not let that get you down. You are successful in your own right and you have done it all yourself. I have never met anyone with such a sincere, compassionate, and positive outlook on life. You have an ability to inspire people. To push them to achieve things they didn't know they could. I admire and respect you, Ethan. You are a gift.
So, I know that you will take what I had and do great things with it. Whatever you do, I want you to have a little fun but never lose sight of where you have been and who you are. Money can change some people. I have faith in you and know that you are strong and sincere. You will do great things.
May you be as blessed in your life as I have been since you came into mine.
May all your dreams come true. Your friend,
Albert.
So, there I was, 10 years ago, a multi-billionaire. I was determined to not change my approach to things in any way. I was also determined to take care of the people I care about and to be sure that those that can't take care of themselves received some help. I would never flaunt my wealth and I would live as close to the way I always had. Simple. Uncluttered. Hopefully, not alone. I have been in two relationships, one for 3 years, the other for 4 years. Both are beautiful men that I consider my closest friends. But I have been alone for many years. At least until Rick.
Sarah had told me about her mother's place and I had been there many times and Albert loved the place. Sarah mentioned that her mother was going to have to sell the place. So, the farmhouse was the first thing I bought with the money. I bought it through a third person on the condition that Jane would never know who owned it and a further a condition of the sale was that Jane would never be required to leave. Sarah knew what I had done and it was one of the few times I saw her cry. She promised never to say anything to her mum. So when I come here, Jane treats me as a friend of Sarah's. She has no idea.
My mother finally cracked wise after the police showed up one day to arrest her for writing numerous bad checks. It turns out that asshole had been forging her name on checks from her personal account. She finally had enough. A few months later, she met, and later married, a wonderful, kind, loving man that I have grown to love so much. He has a business that supplies parts and repair services on printing equipment. The business was struggling. I hadn't told anyone (except Sarah) about my money, not even my mother, and I knew that simply giving money to my Mom and her husband would not be accepted. So, the second business I purchased was a check printing company in the US. Well, they do more than just check printing (they do most of the printing for Compass) but that is their main business. One of the conditions of the sale was that my step-father's small business would have the repair contract for the operations in the Southeastern US. Again, my name was not directly used in the transaction. My mother called with the great news that they now had a contract and they wouldn't be struggling anymore. I was so happy. They still have no idea.
I sold the mining business at a substantial premium and shortly after that the oil business when oil prices were at a high. I doubled the value of what Albert had left me. I took the shipping business and made it into what is now Compass Cruise Lines. I own the ships and lease them to Compass Cruise Lines. The money from the lease provides ENW with the cash flow it needs to fund the charities and the rest is invested. The investments paid handsomely during the boom years and I converted most of the funds into safer funds at just the right time. Another 2 billion has been added as a result of this investment strategy. The other business interests are simply assets and self funding.
The moor always has this effect on me. It centers me and gives me clarity of thought. It is clear to me now what I have to do. I am going to spend another week here and relax and plan.
I need to get Rick back. I will get Rick back. We will work through whatever is going on. It goes without saying, I will not fail.
Authors note. The farmhouse really does exist and is as wonderful as I tried to describe. Words cannot do the place justice. If you want the sex clubs, all night raves, theatre, hustle and bustle, and 5 star hotels of London, this place isn't for you. If you want a unique rustic experience in a magical part of England, send me an email and I can give you the link to the farmhouse. Yes, the 21st century has made its way into a 17th century farmhouse.
Chapter 20
Sarah is the narrator
I can't bear to see Ethan the way he was today. He just left to go home, pack, and fly to Germany. I know how much he loves visiting the shipyard so perhaps it will give him a boost. He is such a nerd when it comes to ships.
I am sure I never ask him about how anything works. I am not sure the word passion is strong enough to describe how he feels about the ships (his girls as he calls them).
This man has grown to mean so much to me. Hell, I followed him from England to Florida. I have never met someone with such a kind and compassionate heart. He is always up, always ready for a laugh, and will fight to the death for those he cares about. When Ethan first came into the money, he didn't tell anyone. I didn't know until I told him about my mother's farmhouse and that she was going to have to sell it because she couldn't afford some major repairs that needed to be made. Ethan loved the farmhouse so I wanted him to know in case he wanted to make a last trip down to Devon.
He asked me to join him down the pub after work because he had something to tell me. I certainly didn't expect him to tell me he was a multi-billionaire. I thought he was having a laugh. Hell, he was toiling away in a cubicle in a middle management role. I had no idea. He said that he didn't want anyone to know and that he was trusting me with this information. That trust he extended to me will never be broken.
He said that he wanted to buy the farmhouse but didn't want my mum to know who had purchased it. He swore me to never tell her. I hated myself for it, but I cried. Damn I hate that. But I did. And so, the deal was done. Mum is still in the farmhouse. She has no idea it was because of Ethan. My loyalty to Ethan was sealed.
Ethan told me that he had always had a love for cruise ships. I knew this since every holiday the bloke took was on a ship. He said that he was going to leave the company and convert Albert's, well now Ethan's, shipping business into a cruise line. He was going to base it in Florida. He asked me to join him as his personal assistant. It meant leaving England and moving to America. At first, I told him no. But then I realised that Ethan would not let anything bad happen to me. Besides, the boy needed me around to be the "bad cop". So, we both left the company six weeks later. Nobody knowing what we were doing or where we were going. Ethan doesn't tell anybody about his wealth.
The early days of Compass were hard work. We didn't have any ships, no employees, nothing. Within 18 months, we were up and running. Ethan was there, every day, in every way. He hired the very best people in the business. He paid all of his employees well and soon his charisma, intellect, humour, and generosity had resulted in a loyal team that would do anything to ensure Compass was a success. And so Quest was launched. Ethan never participated in press events or large employee meetings. In fact most people at the head office didn't know who he was and that he was the boss (even though he calls me that). Our office is in the HR area which is generally off limits to most employees due to the sensitive types of things they handle. Most people think that he is a manager in HR.
He wanted to be sure that everything was the way it should be and he spent 6 months as assistant purser on Quest. I had rarely seen him so happy. Living in a small cabin, working weird hours, being ordered about as if he were a regular member of the crew, he was in his element.
As the fleet (of his girls) grew, Ethan realised a charter airline would be a good fit. It would allow him to bring in the thousands of passengers that sailed out on Compass ships every weekend. He bought a small company, invested huge amounts, and upgraded the airplanes to the newest and best he could buy.
All this time, Ethan drove a clapped out old Honda and lived in a small flat not far from the office. He still lives there. He dresses in clothes from Old Navy and The Gap and you would never know he was wealthy. In an unusual twist, he did splash out on a nice condo and, recently, a new BMW, in his home town of Pensacola. I damn near fainted when he told me he was buying himself a new 777. That is not like him. But then again, he loves airplanes. He told me that Albert had told him to have some fun and that the plane was his indulgence to Albert's request. The plane had been named A-1 (Albert One) which is written by the main door in the front of the plan.
Few people know what it means. Ethan never forgets. Albert would be so proud.
I won't let anyone hurt Ethan. I can't stand to see him this way. Rick seemed like a nice guy and you could see the love between them. It was almost out of a film or a cartoon where you see hearts popping out of people when they look at each other. I know it is sappy but that is what it is/was like.
Right, I have a mission. I am getting to the bottom of this.
Ethan called from Germany banging on about sewage plants and garbage incinerators. I told him I didn't care and he kept talking. I was actually pleased to hear him go on about this because it meant he was thinking about something besides Rick. I told Ethan that since he was going to be away for awhile I was going to take a few days off. He made some smart arse comment about that I never worked anyway so why not. I love this man. He asked me to arrange for him to stay at the farmhouse and to arrange a car in Exeter. He would be arriving on A-1 later that day. I hung up, took care of Ethan's business, and then I took care of my own.
Two days later I left on my mission. Ethan was at the farmhouse and I knew mum would take care of him. My flight was fine and the connection in Atlanta was no problem. I arrived into Pensacola about noon and I hired a car and headed east. I was in Destin in about an hour. I knew Rick's address since I had co-ordinated the remodelling of the house. I pulled in the driveway. It didn't look like anyone was home. The yard had been mowed so I knew that someone had been there recently. I went to the door and knocked. No answer. I knocked again. Rick answered. He looked old, tired, and miserable. But there was another thing. Rick was holding a little boy who looked about 3 years old. The boy said, "Daddy who is that?"
Author's note - Well guys, I am moving back to the US (you can probably guess where) from England. I will be out of pocket for a week. Thought this would be a good place to leave the story for now. I have written several more chapters so there is more to come. I hope you have enjoyed meeting Ethan, Rick, Sarah, and ????