Taking Stock

Taking Stock

Chapter 7

By Mark Corlis

Copyright 2009

All Rights Reserved

This is a copyrighted work. Any reproductions require the express written consent of the author. Nifty.org and its affiliates are the only exception.

If you are under 18 or this story is illegal in your jurisdiction, then please go now. You've been given fair warning.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Hello again my loyal readers!

This is a long chapter and it deals with some of the issues you've been bringing to my attention. I spent longer than usual editing it, hence the posting delay.

I would like to thank my beta reader, Mark. His guidance and suggestions made this chapter more interesting and coherent. At his urging, I'm considering taking this story to places I'd never thought of. Stay tuned for more info on that.

I'd also like to thank Chris James for posting a rave review of my work on NiftyWriters.org. The praise has brought me many new readers who I'm pleased to have along.

I wanna mention two stories I've been following lately. The first, "Our Place In This World" by Eric Wythe, is in the Relationships section. The second, "Joe College" by JPM, is in the College section. Both authors write extremely well, and I have enjoyed reading them. Check em out and let the authors know what you think.

Thanks again for all the love, and accept my apologies for not responding to your emails. There's a ton of them and I am slowly working through all of them.

Comments and suggestions are welcome at mcnc1966@gmail.com.

Mark

Chapter 7

So how do you have your cake and eat it too?

This was the thought foremost in Taylor's mind as he sat at the suite's dining room table. Early morning, with nobody around, was always his best thinking time. This morning's ruminations centered on how to make Stephenson pay for their wrongs without making Jordan feel like he was a pawn in everything that was happening.

"Something's gotta be done," Taylor thought. "But how do I do it and not fuck up all the progress we've made so far?"

The challenge was a daunting one. Jordan meant the world to him, but those old bastards had practically gotten away with murder. They had to pay!

"There just has to be a way, dammit!" he said frustratedly, holding hunks of hair in both hands. "Think for Christ's sake. Think!"

What he really wanted was to do away with the firm as it now existed. The problem was he didn't have the funding or the connections to make it happen. He and Thad had discussed things at length, developing a workable idea. On second examination, however, too much of it was pie in the sky. They might pull it off, but any appearance of impropriety would cost them both their livelihoods. It was an unacceptable risk. While he worried about Jordan's well being the most, a plan that cost anybody dearly wasn't worth it.

He continued racking his brain, looking for an idea, any idea, that would bring what those morons did into the public's eye.

"Penny for your thoughts?" a voice said behind him.

Taylor jumped at the unexpected interruption. He turned anxiously and found Vin standing behind him.

"You scared the shit outta me!" he exclaimed, clutching his chest but bearing a warm smile.

"Sorry, man," Vin replied nervously. "Didn't mean to scare you, but you were looking so intense that I just had to say something. So how bout it? Penny for your thoughts?"

Taylor motioned for him to take a seat. "Not sure they'd be worth that much."

"Fine," Vin said. "Then how bout you talk and I listen. Screw the cash."

Taylor laughed a bit. "OK, but since I'm kitchen ignorant, think we oughta order coffee?"

Vin looked toward the kitchen and verified what he'd seen earlier. "There's a machine right there. Why don't we just make some?"

"Er.....I don't really know how," Taylor revealed, blushing furiously. He may know what to do with millions of dollars at any one time, but everyday tasks were still puzzling to the acutely embarrassed man.

"You're shitting me, right? Any monkey could make a pot of coffee!"

"Any monkey but me," Taylor said dejectedly.

"You big, powerful men are all the same!" Vin said laughing. "C'mon sweetie, you need a kitchen 101 class with Martha Stewart Jr here."

He stood up and extended his hand to the helpless looking man. Taylor took it warily and followed him into the kitchen. Once there, Vin went over the basics, making Taylor install the filter, measure out the grounds and fill the water. Moments after flipping the switch, drops of brown liquid began to fall into the carafe below.

"Wow! I did it!" Taylor said proudly.

"Awwww, mommy would be so proud of her boy!" Vin cajoled.

"You don't get it," Taylor began, turning toward his joking friend. "Growing up, I didn't have to do much for myself. We always had 'help' around to do things for us. They cooked, cleaned and made sure we had everything we wanted. Then Leonard and Carl came. They did the same things, but did it out of love for me. They wouldn't let me near their kitchen."

Vin chuckled at that, a clear mental picture coming to mind.

"Now I'm an adult and can hardly do anything for myself. Believe it or not, it feels good. Learning something stupid like making patties, chopping vegetables or brewing coffee is a big god damned deal!"

The touching outburst made Vin feel two feet tall. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to poke fun. You just reminded me so much of Thad that I found it funny."

"Don't be sorry, Vin," Taylor added quickly. "It is funny. I mean, I stay in control of things all the time. Give me something that normal people do automatically, though, and I'm lost."

Vin took his hand again and gave him a "Don't sweat it" look. He admired the unabashed honesty Taylor had shown. He hadn't grown as close to him as Thad had, but he saw some of what his husband found so appealing. He chose the close moment to steer things back where they'd begun.

"Ya know, I don't think not having coffee was eating you up earlier. Wanna talk about it?"

"Coffee first, then talk," Taylor replied. Wanting to take this to the end, he found two mugs, adding plenty of cream and sugar to Vin's. He then poured the steaming joe into both mugs and stirred vigorously. Triumphantly, he handed the man his cup without spilling a drop. They both smiled and took their first, satisfying sip.

"Not bad for a first timer," Vin remarked.

The two of them took their drinks and stepped out onto the suite's large balcony. If the sun had been up, the view of the Seven Seas Lagoon would have been awesome. The darkness brought a perplexing thought to Taylor's mind.

"Why are you up so early? I thought this was the hour of the dead to you?"

Vin laughed and bared his left shoulder. His skin was an angry red color. "Fucking sunburn kept me up on and off all night. I finally let it win and got up."

Taylor regarded the burnt flesh with a look of empathy on his face. "Ouch," was all he could think to say.

Vin, however, was determined to remain on course. "Forget my skin shit and start talking, bitch. I'm not gonna drop this."

Taylor inhaled hard. He knew better than to mess with Vin and felt a pang of sympathy for some of the things that Thad must endure.

"Alright, alright," he said in surrender. "I was thinking about Jordan."

"Since when does thinking about your boyfriend get you agitated like that?" Vin shot back.

"Well, I wasn't thinking about him specifically. I was thinking about him and this Stephenson crap."

The mere mention of those blue bloods made Vin's blood boil. He hated those fuckers with a passion.

"Why? Are the sphincter police messing with him again?"

"No, nothing like that," Taylor continued, "I just can't believe he won't do anything about what they did."

"It's his choice, ya know," Vin replied.

"I know it is, but don't you think ya gotta take a stand against this shit at some point?" Taylor asked passionately.

There was no doubt how Vin felt. He wanted to string Ed Rollins up himself. His friendship with Jordan, though, was becoming wonderful and he refused to risk that.

"Taylor, I know how ya feel. I wanna charge in there and kill everyone of those rectal crevices myself. Jordan's a big boy, though, and he can make up his own mind. We may not like it, but that's the way it is."

"Not the way it has to be," mumbled Taylor.

"What?" Vin inquired.

"Take my dad, for example. When I was born, he and mom lived in a one bedroom apartment in a really blue collar neighborhood. He was young and full of dreams, but short on breaks. He never gave up though, and he eventually met the right person. The rest is history."

"Mom died when I was a baby. It was just dad and me for the longest time it seemed. Then he met that right person...my step mom, the only mother I've ever known. She came from a well off family, and introduced dad to everyone he needed to know. She took over raising me as my father and I drifted further and further apart."

"Soon, dad was making a lot of money on his own, and he turned her fortune into something huge. So you see, he never gave up on his dream and, while it took marrying well to start things along, his dreams became reality! So, the way I see it, Jordan's problem isn't impossible. If my dad can overcome tremendous odds, then this ought to be a piece of cake."

Vin absorbed what he'd been told. "I had no idea you were poor for a time. It's a good thing you still remember how it was."

Taylor smiled. "That's why I tell everyone that I grew up poor. It's not exactly truthful, but I certainly won't forget where I came from."

"Are you and she still close?" Vin asked.

"Extremely. Who do you think bankrolled me when I started Bryant Financial? She'll never forget it was my dad who put her on the map. She may have provided the seed, but he made the garden bloom, and boy did it bloom!"

"Where is she now?" he wanted to know.

"She winters in Hilton Head and summers in Wyoming. I talk to her every week and keep her up on me and what's new in my life."

"She know about Jordan?" he asked, pressing forward in his quest to know Taylor better.

"NO!," he said, getting a bit annoyed. "I haven't told her about him yet. I think I would rather they just meet as opposed to me going on about how amazing he really is."

"Hmmmm," Vin said, thinking aloud.

Growing tired of reliving the past and especially tired of the incessant questions, he changed the subject and moved onto other things.

"So lemme ask you something. How come a talented guy like you doesn't show his art anymore?"

Vin recoiled slightly at the question. "Well, I fell in love with teaching. Showing my stuff didn't seem as important anymore."

"Who's bullshitting who now?" Taylor fired back.

"Fine! I met Thad and things changed," Vin admitted. "We fell in love and I became enthralled with my big, bad lawyer man. I guess I just didn't wanna feel more important than him."

Taylor considered the answer, deciding it bothered him greatly.

"Why couldn't you both be important, but in different ways?"

"I guess we could have, but I don't regret my choices. I have a good life and I'm there in any way I'm needed for Thad. I like that, makes me feel more important than I ever did at any art show," Vin explained.

Taylor grinned once again and placed his hand on Vin's shoulder. "Remember, nothing's impossible."

Before Vin could consider the statement, Leonard came through the door carrying a cup of coffee, the steam wafting lazily into the air.

"Morning, gents," he said cheerfully. "Thanks for the coffee, Vin. Nice to have it made when I get up for a change."

Vin chortled. "Don't thank me.....thank him!" he said, pointing at Taylor.

Leonard regarded his surrogate son with an impressed look. "Maybe there's hope for you after all. Go retest your skills, though. Pot's empty again."

Taylor rose and kissed Leonard on the cheek. "OK, dad," he said, moving off to see if he could repeat his earlier feat.

"He's a good guy. I'm glad I got a chance to know him a bit better," Vin said to Leonard.

"He's headstrong as hell, but his heart's always in the right place. If he could learn to control that, he'd be damn near unstoppable," Leonard replied.

"Yeah, very true," Vin agreed wholeheartedly. "We need to watch him and what he's thinking about now. Could be really dangerous ground."

Vin related the story of what Taylor had told him. Leonard sat back and shook his head slowly. He knew his son was always a dreamer who railed at injustice. In one sense, he was quite proud. In another, though, he was in great fear for him.

"Let's see what happens and not get too wound up about it for now. Maybe Jordan will surprise all of us," Leonard suggested.

Vin held out the same hope. Things had gone too well for both of them to let it slip away now. He raised his cup to Leonard and the two finished their morning beverages together.

Taylor was once again successful with the coffee maker. The suite filled with the rich aroma as the machine gurgled away. He watched the carafe fill slowly, proud of duplicating his accomplishment. As he watched his labor bear fruit, he felt a pair of arms snake around him and a chin takes its favorite place.

"Morning, sweetie," Jordan said sleepily.

Taylor freed himself and turned to face the love of his life. No matter how many times he laid eyes on him, the feelings of love and happiness he experienced were always overwhelming. He grabbed him up and they joined in a warm embrace.

"Morning, baby," he whispered in his ear. "I've been missing you."

"Really?" Jordan cooed. "I like the sound of that."

They kissed deeply as their bodies molded together into one. The snugness of the hug increased as their tongues danced together, making their skin flush lightly. Being so enamored with each other, they didn't even notice Thad's move into the kitchen.

"Damn, boys! Breathe!" he joked.

They broke their mouths and did just that, Jordan still feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught sharing affection with his man.

"I thought we were doing just fine!" Taylor retorted. Jordan felt his blush grow wildly.

Noticing his unease, Thad snickered lightly and put his hand on Jordan's arm. "Ease up, dude. What you two were doing was beautiful, and there's not a man here who wouldn't agree one hundred percent. So, enjoy, don't fret."

Jordan knew his attorney was right. It wasn't easy to get used to, though. He quietly nodded and concentrated on getting his hot skin to cool off. Taylor also sensed his apprehension and moved to bring the bright spotlight back on himself.

"Have some coffee, boys. I made it just now, so it's good and fresh."

The men looked at him like he had three heads. "You made coffee?" Jordan asked incredulously.

"Second pot as a matter of fact," Taylor said triumphantly. "Try it."

So the men did, and it wasn't half bad. Maybe a little on the weak side, but totally drinkable.

Jordan leaned into his man's ear. "Good job, sweetie," he said, kissing his cheek. Taylor beamed like a child receiving praise from a parent. He was so happy to be able to do simple things for Jordan. The little things, after all, were usually remembered in the end.

The sudden knock at the door made them all jump slightly. Taylor moved toward it with trepidation until he recalled that he'd ordered breakfast for all of them. He opened the door and several uniformed attendants wheeled in cart after cart of food. They placed it strategically around the room and set a place for each person at the table. Glasses were filled with juice and water, after which they disappeared back through the front door, receiving a healthy tip from Taylor.

As everyone took their plates toward the sumptuous food, an idea rattled Taylor's brain. It hit him like a ton of bricks and he sat stunned for several seconds.

"How could I have been so stupid?" he wondered to himself. He shot a glance at Thad and announced, "I'll be right back. I forgot an important phone call I need to make." That said, he vanished into the bedroom and shut the door.

Jordan was majorly intrigued by this behavior, but decided it was no big deal. He'd hear about it later, that much he was sure of.

While Taylor made his mystery call, everyone enjoyed their eggs, bacon and bagels. They talked and laughed about their day in the park. Small details were recalled excitedly as they compared notes on their adventure. Nobody had anything but fond memories and they vowed to make this trip a yearly tradition. As they neared the end of the meal, Taylor finally emerged from the other room. Rejoining the group, he took the seat next to Jordan and spread a dollop of cream cheese atop a pumpernickel bagel.

"Somebody wants to meet you," he said to Jordan.

"Meet me?" he responded with surprise.

"Yep. When we fly back today, we'll be going on to Wyoming for a few days."

"What's in Wyoming?" Jordan asked shyly.

"My mother," Taylor replied casually. Jordan felt a huge lump form in his throat.

The flight back was easy and painless. Grace was the ultimate hostess and took amazing care of everyone. She laughed heartily at the stories she heard, visualizing Vin screaming like a girl as they careened down the waterfall on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Jordan remained relatively silent throughout, his mind speculating what Mrs. Bryant would think of him. He'd heard a few tales of her in the past, but none could prepare him for a face to face meeting. He leaned against Taylor the whole time and tried his best to control his inner turmoil.

By the time the quirky anecdotes had ended, it was time for landing. The boys got themselves secured and waited out the flawless touchdown. The plane taxied to the same hangar they'd departed from and pulled inside. Grace performed her duties once again, securing the stairway and moving to its base. As each man came down, she hugged and kissed them warmly. It was unreal how close they felt to her in such a short time.

Taylor and Jordan were the last to climb down. She grabbed Taylor up and covered him with soft smooches. "So nice to see you again, Taylor. Take care, my friend, and treat your guy right this time. You'll be dealing with me if ya don't," she said with a wink. Taylor nodded and hugged her once more.

When Jordan moved forward, he was given the same treatment his boyfriend just received. "He's damn lucky to have you in his life. Don't let him forget that," she insisted.

"I won't Grace," Jordan promised. He kissed her one last time before moving to the waiting limo. Michael was there with the door open, his wide smile blazing. Making sure his guests were seated comfortably, he took his place up front and moved the vehicle back toward home.

"When are we leaving?" Jordan asked Taylor as they got under way.

"About three," he replied. Looking at this watch, Jordan noted it was now eleven.

"Not much time," he said, the nervousness in his voice apparent.

"Just enough to clean up, change and pack more clothes. She's sending a plane to get us, so we can rest on the way there," Taylor informed him.

"Another plane," Jordan mused to himself. He didn't think he'd ever get used to this new perk.

Once they reached the estate, everyone filed out and found their own luggage. Carl grabbed Vin and Thad's, moving it to the Mercedes for their trip home. Jordan became a little misty as he realized he'd have to be apart from his new best friend for a few days. It hadn't occurred to him until now that they wouldn't be coming along.

Vin saw the long face and moved toward him. He wrapped the shaky man in his arms and whispered, "Knock the old bitty's socks off!" in his ear. Jordan couldn't help but laugh out loud. God, he loved Vin. No one could make him feel better more quickly than he could. Reluctantly, he released him, watching sadly as he got into the car.

Taylor and Thad started with a handshake that evolved into a hug. They had great respect for each other and were poised to become the closest of friends. As soon as the embrace finished, Thad took his place next to his husband.

"We'll see you soon," Taylor promised as the door closed.

Carl started the engine and moved away slowly. Jordan watched dejectedly as his waving friends became smaller and smaller. His jitters at meeting Taylor's mother and his sadness that their trip had ended left him jumbled.

Knowing his man wasn't thrilled with their latest endeavor, Taylor took his hand lovingly and guided them into the house. He found a nearby chair, pulling Jordan into his lap. For a few minutes, they just enjoyed the body contact, Jordan curling into a tight ball. He bathed in the safety he felt all over again,but. the butterflies in his stomach persisted. His nature as a worry wart wasn't serving him well.

"Relax, baby," Taylor comforted. "She's gonna love you just like I do." He could feel that every muscle in the man's body was tight as hell.

"I hope so," Jordan said, not believing it for a second.

Taylor kissed his forehead, knowing his tension had to be broken. Having a good idea how to handle this, he easily scooped up the ball in his lap and headed upstairs. Moving to the bathroom suite, he deposited Jordan safely at the tub's edge. He then went to the shower, adjusting the jets so they emitted healthy streams of warm steam. The room was soon billowing with wet clouds of relaxing vapor.

Stripping his clothes off hastily, he moved to the seated man before him. Taking both of Jordan's hands in his, he pulled him to his feet. Slowly, he snaked his hands beneath the tight shirt, running his fingers lightly over the supple back muscles. He ran his nails over the curves atop his spine, eliciting a light moan from Jordan. Smiling at his lover, Taylor grasped the shirt's tail and pulled it smoothly over his head.

He stared at the bare chest, his eyes following the slight lines around the small pecs. They took in the perfect nipples....pink with not a hair in sight. They were about the size of quarters and puffed ever so slightly. He ran a trail of small, fast kisses across the area while unbuttoning the now in the way shorts, letting them fall to the ground. He rubbed the bare stomach, his finger feeling every rib along the way.

Jordan giggled at the ticklish treatment. His previous sheepishness had faded a bit, a sense of arousal slowly rising within him. As Taylor's fingers ran inside the elastic of his boxers, the tell tale tingling in his crotch began. The garment soon joined his shorts on the ground, as he felt the mischievous fingernails trace across his bare thighs. Teasing kisses were planted on his neck and Adam's apple as his cock began to rise to the occasion. Warm palms massaged the cheeks of his round ass as they joined their mouths together. Jordan sunk into the heat of passion, astounded that Taylor could ignite it so easily.

After another round of breathtaking tonsil hockey, Taylor led them into the steam filled box, securing the door behind them. He took the overly tense man to the stall's built in bench and sat down beside him. Holding him close, he began the oral assault anew. Kisses and licks made Jordan tingle in places that only Taylor could make feel that way. Wanting to please his lover equally, he grasped his man's hard stalk and began stroking it purposefully.

Taylor's reaction was completely unexpected. He stopped what he was doing and removed Jordan's hand from his excited cock.

"No, baby," he started, "this is about you, not me. Let go and just enjoy what I do. I love you and making you happy makes me even happier."

Jordan was stunned. He wanted to cry and hold Taylor's sweating body to his own. After thoughtfully considering it, though, he decided to what he'd been asked. He nodded his agreement and followed as Taylor lowered him onto the wet bench.

The next thing Jordan felt was his body being repositioned. When it was over, he lay on his stomach, his face buried in his folded arms. He became a bit nervous again, but that soon dissipated as Taylor began. The extreme tightness began to loosen its horrid grip when he felt two strong hands dig deeply into his taut flesh.

Taylor started at his shoulders. Using his thumbs, he pushed in hard, keeping pressure up until the unusually knotted tissue began to surrender. Once in, he rotated them in small, concise motions, feeling things begin to loosen right away. He expanded his reach to include Jordan's neck, flexing his fingers into the rigid mucles. It was like a relief valve had opened, his fingers pushing all the stress away. They kneaded and rubbed, moving over the area until all felt less bound up. Taylor planted a few kisses along the way for no particular reason, delighting in the reaction the body below him gave in return.

For his next mission, he had to straddle the prone man. Jordan smiled to himself, feeling sure the penetration he so wanted was coming at any second. It didn't happen. Instead, the magical thumbs began to press their way down his spine. As the tense parts relented, the bones began to crack and pop, falling into the alignment nature intended. Jordan groaned wantonly. Almost nothing felt better than his back cracking, except maybe having his naked lover atop him making it happen. The wondrous sensations continued as the strong hands moved all the way to the base, then began the long, slow journey up again. By the time Taylor had returned to his neck, Jordan was putty in his hands.

"How ya doing?" Taylor asked, already knowing the answer.

"Mmmmm," was all Jordan could say.

Letting a gratifying smile loose, he spread out from the now relaxed backbone. He dove deep into the surrounding sectors, giving extra attention to anywhere he found a knot. If he couldn't break the bad spots one handed, he used both to forcefully exert his dominance over the stubborn kinks. Jordan moaned with elation every time a spot let go. He'd never felt anything like this before, and silently willed his man not to stop.

Satisfied that his back was in order, Taylor moved lower, grasping the glorious cheeks of his man's upturned ass. For a moment, Jordan thought things were taking a turn toward more basic needs. Alas, he misjudged again. The persistent fingers kept up their incredible burrowing, going deep into the sexy globes. They discovered spots that Jordan didn't know were problematic. As they probed the large muscles, the circular actions would expose his eager asshole to the soaking air. It sent a jolt to his nether regions, causing his cock to begin engorging. The feeling was unsettling, yet powerfully stimulating.

Happy to find no more aggravated areas, Taylor relocated his hands to the firm thighs. His own manhood had been responding to the situation, becoming fully erect as he sailed across the smooth skin. He desperately wanted to bury his face in Jordan's ever inviting crack, but a promise was a promise. He had to stay true to his word.

Resisting the temptation, he held the thigh in both hands. Simultaneously massaging the inside and outside, he let his thumbs meet in the middle. This trio began softly calming the distressed sinew, increasing the pressure steadily. They reached maximum force in a jiffy and drilled deep with exacting accuracy. Moans of pleasure flew from Jordan's mouth as his swollen dick reached a frenetic level of rigidity. The eroticism he felt before was gone, a burning need to release replacing it.

Once he finished the first thigh, Taylor did the other. Again, he used both hands and his thumbs to push the aggravated muscles into submission. He bent this leg at the knee, and went to work on its medium sized calf. This was no easy task, taking several minutes of maximum effort to achieve the desired result. For Jordan, it was slightly painful and exhilarating together. The man's hands were so powerful and strong, yet so loving and tender. His rampant tube was now gushing pre cum as every stroke elicited a stronger reaction. He wanted nothing more than to be mounted and pumped like there was no tomorrow.

Sensing his lover's ride upward, Taylor increased his momentum. Jordan's right foot stood millimeters from his eyes as he rallied his hands to move harder and harder. He examined the appendage before him in great detail. He'd never been a true toe bandit, but love changes things, he figured. The foot was perfect, the big toe being the longest and all the others falling in line below it. The nails were an ideal length, not too long but not short enough to reveal the bed beneath. All in all, they had a girlish appearance, which turned Taylor on tremendously. He could stand it no longer, his need for expulsion growing in tandem with the man below him.

Taking the perfect foot in his grasp, he lowered his mouth until the big toe was completely inside it. He rolled his tongue over it very slowly, savoring its every feature. Then, he began to move it in and out, trying to take it ever deeper. Together with his oral ministrations, he shifted so he could drag his turgid rod through the soft hairs on Jordan's leg. The manly texture teased it closer to its apex, while Taylor thrust his mouth up and down on the beautiful toe.

Jordan's soft moans turned into downright screams as the two erotic sensations combined to push him over the edge. Spurts of hot semen blasted forth, trapping a slippery pool between him and the bench. Feeling his man let go was just too much for Taylor, as he thrust own tool forward one last time. Sticky ropes of his manly juice shot forward, covering Jordan's upturned ass in a sheen of white. The men screamed and heaved as their orgasms finally subsided, leaving them both sweating even more. Neither moved until they were sure their legs were would support them fully.

Taylor was spent, the release being one of the more powerful he'd experienced. Jordan lay beneath him like an overcooked spaghetti noodle. The combination of the fabulous massage and the rise to explosion had rid his body of everything that was troubling it. Taylor was feeling euphoric as well. His orgasms with Jordan only got better and better.

"I guess being in love really does make a difference," he thought.

Jordan finally felt able to move. Sitting up so Taylor could sit down, he adjusted himself so that his head lie in his man's lap. He stared at the gorgeous face in complete amazement, dazed at the array of good feelings coursing through him.

"Just gets better and better," he said, bringing Taylor's hand to his mouth and kissing it. "You are un-fucking believable!"

Taylor smiled appreciatively. He'd meant what he said. Making Jordan happy made him even happier. The little looks, quivers and moans that he exhibited made everything worth it.

"I love you, baby," Taylor said.

"MMMM, I love you too!" Jordan cooed.

They laid together for a few more minutes, simply staring into each other's eyes and caressing their soaking wet skin. Without a word, the pair rose together and moved to the center of the humid stall. Taylor made a few changes, causing the steam jets to shut down and the water jets to begin blasting. As before, other than a few hugs and some light kisses, the shower was all business. They washed each other painstakingly, seeing that all nooks and crannies were sufficiently cleansed. Soon enough, all was tidy and they left the stall. Huge bath sheets were laid out for them to wrap up in, enabling them to dry their slightly dehydrated bodies rapidly.

The couple moved to the vanities and began the arduous task of shaving. Both were fanatic about getting things close and smooth, dragging the razor in several different directions to remove even the smallest whiskers. As they plodded through the process, pangs of anxiety began to assail Jordan once more. He was shaving to meet Taylor's mom! His stomach began to flip and he felt light headed. Maybe asking some questions about her would make him feel a bit better.

"Tell me about your mom," he blurted out as nonchalantly as possible.

"Well, first off, she's technically my step mom, but she's the only mom I've ever known," Taylor answered, never taking his eyes off the mirror.

"I didn't know your parents were divorced," Jordan said as he put the finishing touches on his chin.

"They weren't divorced. My natural mom died when I was almost 2, leaving dad and me to fend for ourselves. It was him and me until I was 4. He worked hard to provide for me, but we were never close. I stayed with relatives a lot while he chased his dreams, wishing the whole time he'd just come home and be with me." Taylor's face became wistful, letting on that he was reliving the past as he recounted things to Jordan.

"We weren't rich at all. He was so full of wild ideas, always pursuing the next huge deal. One or two panned out OK, but most were built on pipe dreams and huge assumptions. Then he met her, and things became different. She was everything he wasn't.......rich, warm, charming, elegant. Somehow, they fell in love and married right after I turned 5. Life changed drastically after that. We lived in a large house, and I had a woman that took a shine to me in a major way. She loved and nurtured me like I was her own, never treating me like I was a step child or an outsider. It became natural to think of her as my mother and call her mom."

Jordan hung on every word, trying to commit it to memory. He was also enjoying the rare peek into his love's early life, knowing almost nothing about it. He had many questions, but remained silent as Taylor kept going.

"Dad did well with her. She used her contacts to put him in touch with the most important people around. Being a natural salesman, he endeared himself to them quickly, and was soon permitted to invest in 'their' deals. It wasn't long before he started to bring deals of his own to them, and quite a few were home runs. You know how it goes after that.....money creates more money and so on. They were bona fide rich folks before it was over."

"Dad was gone more and more, becoming obsessed with the money. He worked like a dog, buying me expensive things to make up for his absence. I got moved to private school, and became friends with other rich kids. It was great while it lasted. My father died eight years after marrying her. I was so angry at him, and so scared about what would happen to me. Inside, I worried she'd get rid of me or send me off to boarding school. None of that happened."

"She sold the house and moved us south, together. She hated the north and only stayed out of a sense of duty toward dad and her family. We moved into this house, as a matter of fact. She paid more attention to me than she ever had, trying to make up for losing dad. I was desperate for some male attention or advice, and she wasn't the one to give it to me. Thank god she hired Leonard and Carl. They became my fathers. She noticed how we bonded and sorta left us to have at it. We still talked every night about our day, or current events, but she knew I needed to be around men."

Jordan smiled thoughtfully. The love between the three of them made more sense now. They were much more than friends or employees, they were family....period.

Taylor paused briefly to collect himself. Remembering these things was always painful and made him emotional. He persevered, though, wanting Jordan to know as much as possible.

"She poured herself into charity work and sitting on the boards of several companies dad had brought them into. For a time, she even sat on Stephenson's board. The philanthropy became her life, however, and she chose to become a passive partner as opposed to an active pain in the ass. It suited her better, really. She used to rail at me to never stop caring, and always give back more than I got. I try do that still, and, believe me, she asks about it."

Taylor snickered a bit. His mother usually wanted proof of his donations, always chiding him about how "little" they were. Still, she respected him greatly for heeding her teachings.

"She sounds like a amazing woman," Jordan commented.

"You have no idea!" Taylor countered. "When I was 16, I told her I was gay. I didn't really want to, but Leonard and Carl said it was the right thing to do. They told me to have faith in her, and not to be afraid. That night, sitting at the dining room table, I took a deep breath and just said it. For a moment, she just stared at me, then her face broke out in a huge smile. She hugged me hard, telling me she didn't care, that she loved me all the same. The most important part, though, was she respected me for having the balls to be truthful. I never forgot that night, or a word she said to me. It set my life on track to be where I am now."

Tears now rolled down Taylor's cheeks. "I owe her my life, Jordan. She got me into Stephenson and then bankrolled me when I went on my own. The best thing she did, though, was teach me to believe in myself." He broke down fully after saying that, overcome with the wonderful things his mother had done for him. He loved her more than words could say, and longed to pay her back for her kindness and guidance through the years.

Jordan moved forward and took Taylor in his arms. He rubbed his back and whispered sweet comforts in his ear. The talk was just what he needed. For the first time since hearing about their impending meeting, he was actually excited to meet this incredible woman.

Taylor regained control in a hurry and kissed his man one final time before wiping his face. He led them back into the bedroom, discovering that the ever stealthy Leonard had clothes picked out for them and had packed their travel bags. Jordan smiled at the thoughtfulness, knowing now it was more than just duty.

They dressed and went to the mirror for one last check. Jordan wore a pink A&F t-shirt that contoured perfectly to his body. Dark jeans and a pair of Van's sneaker completed the ensemble. Taylor wore a striped Tommy Hilfiger shirt and lighter blue jeans. His favorite Nike's adorned his feet. Deciding it wasn't gonna get any better, they grabbed their bags and headed down.

Leonard met them in the foyer, saying the plane had arrived and they needed to go now. Taylor nodded, moving out the door to find Carl ready to stow their luggage. After handing his off, he returned to retrieve Jordan's, the young man noting the polite maneuver.

Facing Leonard, Jordan took him into a powerful hug. It was his way of thanking him for caring for Taylor so well through the years. The embrace was a long one, making Leonard feel like he now had two great sons. Like all things, though, it eventually had to end.

"Any last minute words of wisdom for me?" Jordan asked a bit nervously.

"The same as always," he answered. "Just be yourself. You're an engaging young man, and she'll notice that. Trust me, you'll like her."

Jordan smiled widely as he moved to join Taylor in the car. He kept eye contact with Leonard until they moved out of sight.

The drive was short and fairly quiet. Jordan clutched Taylor's hand the entire time. The familiar contact was reassuring, plus he couldn't get enough of the man. Any touch was still magical, and he'd pass no opportunity by to get whatever he could.

Pulling into the private aviation section of the airport, Carl drove through an open gate and parked right next to the waiting plane. The couple felt like they'd just left there a few minutes ago, but they pressed on, watching their bags get picked up by a waiting attendant. They both took turns saying their goodbyes, drawing annoyed looks from some of the flight crew. They apparently had Mrs. Bryant's propensity for punctuality. Sensing their unease, Taylor and Jordan moved quickly aboard and prepared for takeoff.

The plane roared into the sky minutes later and headed west. The pilot announced that their expected flight time was about four hours, but they'd lose three hours with time changes. They'd be arriving in mid afternoon, pacific time. Taylor ordered them drinks and they sat back to enjoy the ride. Before the first hour was up, both were fast asleep against one another.

The steward woke them about thirty minutes prior to landing, gesturing to the lavatory for the purpose of "freshening up." Taking turns, they spruced themselves up a bit and buckled up. The cockpit crew announced they'd been cleared and the craft began to descend rapidly. In a flash, the landing gear chirped as they set down for good.

They'd been flown into Jackson Hole, Wyoming, home of the Flying B Ranch. It was a massive parcel encompassing several thousand acres, all bought when land was here was ridiculously cheap. The value of the ranch rivaled the total worth of any smaller company listed on the NYSE. It was Mrs. Bryant's showplace for a great many things. A helicopter stood ready to whisk them away, which they boarded excitedly. After seeing his passengers were secured, the pilot throttled the rotors and steered them in the direction of the ranch.

The scenery was spectacular. Jagged, snow capped mountains with icy streams running from them stood guard over lush pastures currently filled with colorful wildflowers. The grass was the greenest Jordan had ever seen, and he witnessed herds of elk flee from the copter's frightening noises. The craft banked right and flew them over a lake that reflected the image of the mountain before it perfectly. It was a breathtaking sight.

Very soon afterward, the ranch's outbuildings came into view. These were structures that housed the tools necessary for making the place tick. It culminated in a complex of massive barns, leaving Jordan wondering what was in them. He'd never so much as touched a farm animal, but the possibility of working on a real farm intrigued him. Lifting slightly upward to go over a large hill, the copter soon spun around and touched down in front of the main house. A group of people awaited them, including a woman Jordan assumed to be Taylor's mother.

Lila Barrington Bryant was a woman that stood about 5'5 inches tall. She was thin, but not to the point of being emaciated. Wearing a pair of denim overalls and a straw hat, she resembled the hired hands that surrounded her. Moving with the commotion in the air, the ends of her silvery hair bobbed in the wind, her hand holding her hat firmly in place. The look on her face was one of pure joy, betraying her excitement at her son's arrival. When the rotor became motionless, she hurried the group forward and thrust open Taylor's door. He lunged out awkwardly, scooping her up and twirling her around.

"Hi, mom!" he said happily, still spinning in circles.

"It so good to see you, child!" she replied, her southern drawl still apparent. "Let's not wait so long to see each other next time, OK?"

"Definitely!"Taylor replied.

Jordan watched the scene with fondness. It was crystal clear that the two of them cared for each other immensely. He'd never seen Taylor look so excited and genuinely happy. It made him feel good inside. Not wanting to interrupt the touching reunion, he moved slowly out his door and came around the resting aircraft. Upon clearing the tail, he came into Taylor's line of sight. Releasing the suspended woman, he turned her toward the now frozen man and began to speak.

"There's someone you need to meet, mom." He moved rapidly toward the now shy Jordan, taking his hand and leading him toward the waiting woman.

"Mom, this is Jordan Maxwell, my best friend and the man I hope to spend the rest of my life with." Jordan blushed furiously and cowered behind Taylor. The butterflies were zooming around inside him, leaving a woozy feeling in their wake. Taylor put his arm around the trembling man and thrust him forward, making Jordan feel like he'd been laid out for inspection.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Bryant," he said meekly while extending his right hand.

Lila looked at the hand in front of her with utter disapproval. "Where I come from," she said, "family doesn't shake hands." Jordan was mortified at his misstep and dropped his hand to his side.

Lila smiled at the correction and stepped toward the embarrassed man, ensnaring him in a fierce embrace. "Family members always hug each other and you're part of our family now!" she explained as she drew her arms tighter around him. Jordan followed suit, wanting to cry at the relief he felt.

Satisfied with her warm welcome, Lila stepped back and took Jordan's hands in hers. "Well, now. Let me look at you, child." Child was a term of endearment she used often, picking it up from her mother many years before.

"And, please call me Lil. Everyone close to me does," she instructed before moving on with her review.

She then spread his arms wide, looking over her son's beloved intently. Jordan felt very self conscious as her eyes met his, then traveled slowly over his entire body. Once the journey was finished, her gaze fell upon his eyes again. He noticed that her stare was very intense, her steely glare revealing that she needn't be trifled with. After what seem liked hours, her warm smile returned.

"He is beautiful. I'll grant you that," she said to Taylor.

"He's the most beautiful, mom, inside and out," Taylor corrected.

"You always did have wonderful tastes, my child. Come, let's move inside and get more comfortable." Still holding Jordan's hand, she began to move toward the house before them, Taylor following closely behind. Jordan had barely come back from his earlier embarrassment by the time they stepped inside.

To call the house impressive would be an understatement. Built in the 1930's, Lila had added on considerably over the years while going to great lengths to preserve the original majestic architecture. The room they entered, which Jordan assumed correctly was the main living room, was huge. Polished wood ceilings shielded the stone walled room from the elements. A massive fireplace with a trophy game head mounted above it stood before them. A bearskin rug lay before the rugged hearth, which was adorned with many flickering, fragrant candles. The furniture was elegant, yet sturdy, giving the space a wild west flavor. Jordan was anxious to tour the rest of the impressive structure, but diligently followed Lil's lead to the overstuffed sofa.

As they got more cozy, a proper looking butler entered carrying a tray with an open bottle of wine atop it. Jordan scooted closer to Taylor, still unsure of what to make of everything around him.

"Clay!" Taylor exclaimed, taking the tray from him and setting it on the table in front of them. He hugged the man tightly.

"Master Taylor, so good to see you!" he replied.

It was assumed that Clay had been Lil's longtime confidante and companion, as well as her butler. True to form, she neither confirmed nor denied their relationship, preferring to let people think what they wanted. Her personal life was tightly protected, something she would never allow to change, despite her well liked public persona.

Clay filled three glasses and placed one in each person's hand. Seeing that his duties were completed, he politely excused himself and departed the room, quickly moving from sight. Lil raised her glass to the others.

"To Jordan. Welcome to the family!" The glasses clinked and everyone took a hearty sip.

"This is really good," Jordan commented.

"Thanks, sweetie," Lil answered. "This is my very own vintage. We have a full vineyard here on the ranch and take things every step of the way. I hope to win some awards with this next year in Napa."

They drank up and made small talk, Lil peppering Jordan with non intrusive questions here and there. It was obvious she longed to know more about him, but Taylor hovered nearby like a protective hen. She would learn nothing if she didn't dispense with him. Fortunately, she came prepared to deal with just such a scenario.

"Son," she began, "I wonder if I could trouble you to look at something for me." Instinctively, she knew he'd never refuse these words. "The vineyard operation, while terribly fun, isn't yielding what I think it could. Any way I could get you to look over its books and gimme some suggestions?"

Taylor smiled proudly, always happy his mother had such faith in his abilities. "That's no bother, mom. You should know that!"

"I'd hoped so, son, but this is your vacation time. I didn't want to bother you with it," she replied coyly.

"Nonsense! Where are they? I can start now!" Taylor assured her.

Jordan was mildly amused, yet totally panicked. Watching Lil manipulate her son like a piece of warm taffy definitely tickled him to death, especially since he was oblivious to it happening. Being left alone with her, however, struck fear in his heart. He watched as his security blanket was directed to her study and dutifully moved away to begin his task.

"That's better," Lil proclaimed once Taylor had passed beyond earshot. "Now we can really get to know one another. It's my gardening hour. Keep me company while I tend to my blossoms," she said to Jordan, reaching her hand out to him.

Unable to summon the nerve to refuse her, he took her hand and followed along. They made their way through more of the house, eventually moving through a pair of French doors and into an attached greenhouse. As they moved deeper into it, the heavenly smells began to invade Jordan's senses. The odors varied from lightly sweet to heavy and bold. He inhaled deeply through his nose, letting the fragrances calm his strained nerves.

"I started this greenhouse when Taylor was teenager. After all these years, the smell still captivates me," she said, joining him in enjoying the pleasing scents.

"It's heavenly," Jordan agreed.

"Well, well, the beautiful child isn't mute after all," she joked.

Jordan grinned and followed her into a section populated with a wide variety of stunning roses. She pulled out a stool and indicated he should sit, which he did right away. Grabbing her clippers, she set about the task of cutting a fresh bouquet for their dinner table and removing all problem greens from the magnificent bushes. At the same time, she began to get more probing with her interrogatories.

"So, child, tell me about your family."

He drew in a long breath. This was not one of his favorite topics.

"Not much to tell, really," he said, hoping to get her off this subject.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that," she said, her eyes meeting his in a very direct stare. Her motherly facial powers were among the strongest Jordan had ever observed.

"I grew up with my mom and younger brother," he began. My father decided early on that kids weren't for him and took off. She worked like a dog to keep a roof over us, so I pretty much raised my brother."

"Hmmmm," Lila said. "That's a huge responsibility for someone so young. I'm sure you missed out on a lot of things kids normally do."

Jordan thought about that for a moment. "I guess I did, but when there's no other choice, what do ya do? I did what I had to. As soon as I was old enough to work, I got a job so mom could at least quit one of hers and spend more time with my brother."

"I'm impressed," Lila stated. "How long did you have to help support the family?"

"All through high school and college. I worked three jobs to afford school, and was really lucky to have bosses that helped me get through it."

Lila patted his knee in approval. She had great respect for his efforts, feeling this life had built his character into what she encountered today.

"Were you able to graduate?" she inquired.

"Yeah, I did," Jordan told her, "but my grades were average, so I had to count on my interviewing skills to land a job."

"I assume you got one," she said.

"Oh yeah. I went to work at Stephenson." he informed her.

"Ahh. So that's where you met my son then."

He shook his head. "No, I'd seen him many times around the office, but we never talked. He was a partner and I was a lowly analyst's assistant. Friendly talking wasn't encouraged."

"Investment banks and their hierarchies, so ridiculous," she scoffed. "I'll never understand it."

Jordan nodded in agreement. He saw where this was heading, and was totally unsure he was ready to talk about it.

"So how did you two meet?" Lila asked, continuing her quest for details.

"He found me, actually," Jordan told her.

"Explain, child," she said in a tone that removed any option but to continue on.

"Well, after I got pushed out of Stephenson, I went to work at another firm. It wasn't nearly as good a job as I had, but it was a job nonetheless. One day he called and invited me to have dinner and discuss my future. I agreed, curious about what a man like Taylor Bryant would want with me."

Lila laughed heartily. "That sounds like my son. He's got my intense dislike of wrongdoing. Makes me feel good he held onto that."

"And how," Jordan agreed, joining her laughter.

"So what did he want with you?" she asked, keeping things focused.

"He offered me a job, a fantastic job!" he said, beaming.

"Since you're here, I'd say you accepted," she noted.

"Hell yeah I did!" Jordan said excitedly, regretting his choice of words in the presence of a lady.

Lila smiled at him. By now, the rose cutting endeavor had been forgotten as she sat on another stool in front of the young man. The curse word only endeared him to her more, revealing a human side Lila liked a lot.

"When did things change between you guys?" she probed.

It was Jordan's turn to smile. "Almost right away. It was like some strong force drew us together. I was taken by him from moment one. His confidence and engaging ways impressed me, only whetting my appetite for more. Things kinda moved along quickly, and here we are today."

"How do you feel now?" she questioned.

"I love him more than anyone could ever know," he said, not having to think even a moment about his reply.

Lila took Jordan's hand and cupped his face with her other hand. She stared into his eyes for a time, using her piercing glare to communicate her happiness with the way things were going.

"He adores you, that much is obvious," she told him. "I've never seen him look at anyone else the way he looks at you. He hovers over you like a mama bear. It's a heartwarming sight to see."

Lila had begun to caress Jordan's hand by now. He liked the motherly feelings she gave off. They reminded him of how he felt whenever he was tucked neatly into Taylor's arms. The good feelings bounced back and forth between them as Lila moved to the topic she really wanted to discuss.

"What happened to you at Stephenson?" she asked frankly.

The time Jordan dreaded was now upon him. He'd managed to bury those events deeply, keeping them stored securely so he didn't have to deal with the emotions they evoked. Still, he knew they had to come out sooner or later, so he began to relate the gut wrenching chain of events.

"It's really simple," he started. "I was pushed out for being gay. I'd been involved with a stock broker at a competing firm. It wasn't anything serious, but I tried to keep it hush hush for fear it could sink my career. Matt, the guy I was seeing at the time, didn't share my desire to be private about things. He told someone who communicated the details to Ed Rollins. After that, I was demoted and spent more time doing shit work anything. A group of partners rode me hard, always putting me down and yelling at me for whatever they could think of. It was hell on earth, but I wasn't gonna let them beat me."

He paused for a moment to reassert control over his emotions. His stomach was in knots and tears threatened to cascade out at any second. Wishing to get through the tale as fast as possible, though, he continued telling the rest of the story to a now riveted Lila.

"One day, Rollins called me into his office and shoved a computer printout in my face. It showed I'd made a trade that violated SEC rules. He railed at me, accusing me of setting the firm up for some serious trouble. I wanted to argue back, but I was beaten down. I'd had it with being their personal do boy. He fired me, and I didn't put up a fight. I gathered my things and left that day."

Lila's stare became one of sympathy and outrage. She knew that something had to be done, both for Jordan's satisfaction and to ensure this couldn't happen again.

"Why didn't you ever pursue any action to stop this awful behavior, child?" she asked.

"It was done and over with," he replied right away. "You tell me how a peon like me was gonna take on a group of rich, well respected men. I was sunk before I began!"

Lila nodded her head in understanding. She thought of how to broach her ideas in a way that wouldn't offend or scare the hurt young man before her. In the end, she decided that hitting things head on was the only way.

"You're not sunk now, young man," she retorted. "You have a vast support system behind you, whether you realize it or not. I have to be truthful, though. I knew the story you told me before you ever came here."

Jordan's face contorted. Figuring Taylor had spilled the beans, he immediately became angry with him. He felt betrayed and used by the more connected man. Lila picked up on the change in emotions, and moved to deal with it.

"Don't get upset with Taylor, honey," she counseled. "He hasn't told me a thing, truthfully."

Jordan was now perplexed, still not willing to buy that Taylor hadn't set him up for this.

"I've had a long and sometimes tenuous involvement with that bunch at Stephenson," she began. "To understand, where I'm going, you need to know a thing or two about your former employer." With that, she began to explain how the Bryant family came to know the firm and its people intimately.

Toby Deveraux was a social misfit from a family that had more money than sense. He was prematurely balding and very overweight. His clothing was always disheveled, and the remnants of his lunch were ever present on his tie. The man had not one social grace, an important requirement for a Wall Street tycoon.

Soon after he graduated from Princeton, his powerful father set him up in his own investment firm. Things went OK for a while. The elder Deveraux steered many well heeled clients his way, and the cash tumbled in. Toby's lack of skills in pampering his investors soon began to take its toll, however. His father tried in vain to school his son in the finer points of client service, all to no avail. Toby was either uninterested in or unable to perform the simple moves his father attempted to teach him. Clients began to move their funds elsewhere, causing a cash crisis at a critical time for the fledgling venture. The young man had one fantastic ability, though. He was an adept trader, able to spot market trends and use timely methods to take advantage of them.

Out of desperation to save his son's company and his own reputation, the senior man found his savior in Brock Stephenson, a dapper man with an easy going manner and all the right social credentials to make him successful in the investment world. He was hired to run the firm and get it back on track post haste. Toby was relegated to handling the firm's trading area, a job he relished, even though he became subordinate to Brock.

The combination of the two was a rousing success. The debonair Stephenson wooed clients back into the fold, allowing Toby to use his considerable talents to achieve solid returns on the capital. The organization prospered, giving Brock a sizable equity stake in the firm he ran. His name was added a year later, demonstrating that he was firmly in control of the company's destiny.

Mid way through his tenure, some of the best and brightest minds in the business toiled away mercilessly under his tutelage. Two hires would rise through the ranks, becoming a big part of the firm's future. They were Ed Rollins and Jim Gardener (the firm's current senior partner and CEO). He guided the two men personally, seeing that every promotion available was awarded to one of the two. They achieved key roles in the company very quickly and became Brock's right hand men.

Unfortunately, this ideal situation came to a tragic end. Brock Stephenson was killed in a car accident after five years at the company's helm. By the terms of his contract, the Deveraux family once again became owners of his equity stake. Toby was no better at dealing with customers than he had been in the past. The firm's assets under management began to dwindle once more. Fearing that their record as winning investors would be ruined forever, the family began to shop its stake in the company around quietly. By then, Toby Deveraux had become interested in other pursuits and wanted out badly.

Enter Frank Bryant, a man that had a fresh pool of cash that needed to be put to work. He bought out the family's stake and invested an additional sum in return for a series of convertible preferred stock. He and his wife joined the managing board, placing Gardener and Rollins in charge. The investment became a handsome one, as the two men toiled to bring the firm back one more time. Unbeknownst to the rest of the board, however, they established a set of unspoken guidelines in the hiring and promotion of associates. Without the right background and breeding, nobody stood a chance of rising above their current stature.

Upon Frank's death, Gardener assumed that Lila would leave the board and sell her stake back to the partners. He was dead wrong. She exercised her right to convert the preferred shares into full voting common stock, leaving her in control of forty five percent of the firm's equity base. With her new found power, she replaced several board members and remained an active voice in the firm's direction, clashing with Gardener and Rollins many times.

As her wealth grew, her desire to give back to the community at large became more important to her than keeping her voice on the board. She resigned her position, but retained full control of her block of shares. The firm had gone on without her interference for a long time, as she became one of the most revered figures in the charitable world. That was soon to change, however.

"So you see, child," she told Jordan, "things aren't as hopeless as you thought. I still have my allies inside the company who might be of assistance."

Moving on to the purpose of coming to the ranch, she shared the evening's agenda with him.

"Tonight, we'll be joined at dinner by a few people I'd like you to meet. Some you'll know, others will be new. All I ask is that you listen to what they have to say. The final decision on any action, of course, rests with you, my dear."

Jordan was shocked to hear the history of the Bryant's involvement with that band of blue bloods. Lila was totally right about one thing, he wasn't alone in this anymore. He had powerful allies that could make his desire for justice become a reality.

"I'll listen, but I make no promises beyond that," he insisted.

"That's all I could ask of you, child," she responded.

With the evening's schedule settled, the pair returned to selecting the best roses for the table's centerpiece. Jordan was appointed to choose which blooms made the final cut, a task he took on with zeal. Lila watched fondly as he examined each flower in detail, smelling its perfume and noting its imperfections. She admired his eye for small details, having the same ability herself. As he made a selection, Lila would cut and place it in a basket she'd brought along. They talked idly as Jordan focused intently on his duty. He was thrilled to have his mind on something other than tonight's meeting.

After forty minutes of hard deliberation, the bespectacled man had selected a wide array of colored blooms. Some were at the end of their flowering cycle, and some were in its earlier stages. The differences would combine to produce a striking arrangement. Lila carried the basket carefully as they made their way to the kitchen, ready to bring their masterpiece to life.

She carefully schooled Jordan on proper arrangement techniques as they laughed and joked with each other. Leonard had been correct, he did like Lila very much. They made quick work of the effort, ending up with a final product that met with their stringent approval. Placing it on the table, they took a few minutes to choose the best display angle and then observed it from several places around the table. Satisfied that all was set, they returned to the couch and enjoyed another glass of wine.

Taylor re-entered a few minutes later with a befuddled look on his face.

"I gotta tell ya, mom," he began, "I've been over these books ten times and I can't find anything to recommend that you aren't already doing."

"Well," Lila replied, "I guess I'm a better businesswoman than I thought." While speaking , she gave Jordan a sly wink, causing him to crack up at Taylor's lack of a clue.

Seeing his mother's face and hearing Jordan's response brought him up to speed with what his mom had done. He looked at her incredulously, not believing she'd gone to such lengths to get rid of him.

"You always were cunning!" he scolded.

"No more than a certain child I raised!" she shot back.

Unable to disagree, Taylor resigned himself to being had and took his place next to Jordan. Lila refilled their wine glasses and caught Taylor up with current events. He looked at Jordan proudly while listening to what the two had discussed.

The remainder of the time before the mystery guests' arrival was filled with humorous anecdotes about Taylor growing up. Lila kept the men in stitches as she recalled embarrassing events one right after another. Even Taylor couldn't help but laugh at the stupidity of some of his actions.

Lila also shed more light on her decision to allow her son to become so close to Leonard and Carl.

"I knew he was battling demons before he said a word to me," she explained. "Mothers know these things long before their children realize it themselves. No matter how hard I tried, though, I just couldn't relate to his issues from a male point of view. When he showed a trust in those two, and his spirits began to brighten, I made a very tough decision, deciding to let them guide him into the adult world. I used to eavesdrop constantly, wanting to remain deeply aware of what was happening. I even noticed when he began calling them dad, though I kept that fact to myself."

Taylor was amazed. He had no idea that she'd remained so in tune to what was going on between the three of them. He wasn't angry at all, feeling flattered that she cared enough to see that her son was being well cared for.

The lovers leaned against each other casually, as if they'd taken this position with Lila for years. She really was happy for both, and so glad to see her wild son finally settling down with someone as decent as Jordan. Soon enough, the appointed dinner hour arrived, and all three people rose to greet the arriving mystery guests.

A black limousine came to rest near the door they'd entered through earlier. When the first two occupants departed the vehicle, Jordan was beside himself with joy. Thad and Vin regarded him with shit eating grins as they moved closer. Not willing to wait any longer, Jordan rushed forward and grabbed Vin up, nearly causing them both to tumble to the ground.

"What in the world are you doing here?" he asked his artist friend breathlessly.

"Eh, I figured you might need backup and decided to tag along for the ride," Vin joked.

Jordan could care less why. He was thrilled to have his new best friend by his side when he needed him most. He hugged Thad happily as well, ashamed that he forgot one half of his favorite duo.

The next person to get out was a man Jordan guessed was in his early fifties. He was wearing a neatly pressed business suit and carrying a briefcase. Following closely behind was another man, this one in his thirties. He was clad in jeans and a button down shirt. Both men wore dangling jewelry in their right ears and had several pins supporting unknown causes adorning their lapels.

Lila moved to this pair, greeting them like she'd known them for years. They made a few minutes of small talk before she moved to greet Thad and Vin.

"Gentleman, I'm Lila Bryant. I'm so pleased to meet both of you."

As was characteristic of her, she hugged both men warmly, checking over Vin as she had Jordan. Satisfied with what she saw, she invited all of them to come in and relax for a while. Everyone followed her indoors.

Once in the spacious living room, she completed the introductions.

"Jordan, this is Ben Dyer, of the ACLU," she said, bringing the man in his fifties forward. "He heads up their litigation efforts for prejudice in the workplace. Not that it's important, but Ben can relate personally to your situation. He's openly gay as well." Jordan shook the man's hand firmly before being shepherded on to meet the next.

Lila brought the other man face to face with Jordan. "This is Chance Wheeler. He runs the Bryant Project for Gay Equality. Chance has done some amazing things for gay rights since he came to work for me, so I thought he'd be a useful resource to have on hand tonight." Jordan shook this man's hand firmly as well, still feeling very insecure about this whole soiree. He was impressed that she championed gay rights, figuring it stemmed from her son's lifestyle.

Lila turned and laced her arm in Taylor's, leading him over to their guests. "Gentleman, this is my son, Taylor. He's Jordan's partner in work and life." The three shook hands and exchange pleasantries as Clay arrived bearing glasses of wine for everyone.

As the beverages were distributed, the crowd broke into small cells of conversation. Lila kept a firm hold of Jordan's arm so she could make sure he got to know everyone a bit better. Vin stood beside him the entire time, lending moral support for what was, indeed, a scary experience. Being the professional he was, however, Jordan remained calm and poised the entire time, engaging the men directly. It was plain that both were impressed with his eloquence and candor. The polite banter continued until Clay announced that dinner was served and invited everyone into the dining room.

For the next hour, the group dined on onion soup, a bean salad, lamb chops with new potatoes and home made rolls. Bowls of fresh cooked vegetables were passed around, each man taking a generous helping. After everything was consumed, they enjoyed strawberry cheesecake with piping hot coffee for dessert. Once the plates were cleared and bottles of port wine were set out, Lila brought things to the business at hand.

"Gentleman, everyone knows why we're here. I say there's no time like the present to just dive right in." She was obviously used to taking charge of meetings such as these, and did so with a tone that was gracious yet firm.

Ben Dyer decided to start things off. "Jordan, can you tell us exactly what happened?" He'd brought a yellow legal pad from his case and stood ready to take detailed notes.

Jordan looked at Vin, who nodded his head in encouragement. With a forlorn look on his face, Jordan recounted everything he'd told Lila earlier in the day. Everyone listened intently to how Ed Rollins violated Jordan's civil rights, as well as numerous worker protection laws. When he reached the part about Matt Nelson, he looked down at the table and fiddled with his spoon, petrified to make eye contact with Taylor. A while later, he finally came to the conclusion of his ugly tale.

"Were there any witnesses to these heinous acts?" Chance Wheeler asked.

"Of course not!" Jordan snarled. "Why the fuck do you think I've never done anything about this?" His emotions finally got the better of him. He buried his face in Vin's shoulder and cried loudly.

Taylor cleared his throat. "I think Jordan needs a break. Let's all take five and start again afterward." Several people stood to stretch their legs or take care of mother nature's calls. Thad looked at Taylor intensely, willing him to tell Dyer what he knew. Understanding totally, he approached the man, who was now lighting a fat cigar.

"Mr. Dyer," he began, "there may not have been any direct witnesses to all this, but I was present at a partners' meeting the following day where Rollins laid out the whole scenario and had everyone join him in toasting their 'faggot free firm.' I know most of the details and filed an affidavit with my attorney that afternoon. It's also the reason I walked out of that place for good right then and there."

Ben, now joined by Chance Wheeler, marveled at the revelation. The hopelessness of this case became much smaller. With Taylor's statement and a bit more, maybe they stood a snowball's chance in hell after all.

Happy that they'd heard all they needed to, Taylor stepped behind Jordan, who's head was still lying on his friend's shoulder. He felt so bad for him, yet he was awed by the young man's bravery. Crouching down, he took his man's hand in his own, kissing it lovingly. Jordan didn't respond to the affection in the least.

"How ya holding up, baby?" Taylor asked.

Jordan looked directly at him, his eyes full of something Taylor hadn't seen before. "What a stupid fucking question! You got me into this, so you should know exactly how I am!" he shot back. Not wanting to talk or look at Taylor anymore, he returned his head to Vin's shoulder.

Feeling he had no other choice, Taylor released Jordan's hand and took his seat once again. His heart was so full of guilt and hurt that he wanted to break down right then and there. Not one to bother others with his problems, though, he buried the feelings deep as everyone gathered at the table to discuss options.

Once settled, Dyer began anew. "Jordan, this case definitely has merit, and we're willing to pursue it on your behalf. With your testimony, Taylor's corroboration, and a few lucky breaks with subpoenaed evidence, we've got a winner here. This case could set a precedent that could be used in countless trials going forward. Your actions would protect thousands of gay men and women from suffering like you have. All we need is your support to get things done."

Jordan remained silent. He stared at some unknown object on the table in front of him.

"Baby, it's up to you," Taylor said meekly.

Thad finally decided to add his two cents in after listening quietly to all the facts. "Jordan, I'd be handling the case as your attorney, as well as the individual civil suits we'll file against Gardener and Rollins. You'd have a friendly face with you all the way to the end."

Jordan had no greater reaction than he did before, continuing to mess with his spoon incessantly. Taylor decided to try one more time.

"Baby, what do ya wanna do?" he asked, grasping the hand that was playing with the spoon.

That was the last straw. All the control he'd been summoning to remain polite and civil evaporated. He threw Taylor's hand off of his and looked up with the face of someone ready to kill his antagonists.

"What I want is for all of you to go to hell and leave me the fuck alone!" he spat. "This all happened to me, and it's my choice how I deal with it! So listen good assholes......I'm NOT dealing with it anymore! PERIOD!"

The expulsion of strong emotion left him sobbing and shaking like a leaf. He jumped up and ran from the table, needing to be anywhere besides where he was now. Vin ran after him, wanting to be there to console his stressed out friend. He gave the men a look of disdain as he left the room in search of Jordan.

The table was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Nobody expected the reaction they got. The long faces betrayed the sadness and guilt everyone felt at pushing Jordan toward doing something he wasn't ready for. Taylor's face was particularly long. Inside, he was dying. The man he loved more than anything else hated him, and he had no idea how to live with that. With darkness invading his soul, he too rose and excused himself from the group. His sadness began to rise to the surface as he made his way back to Lila's office, plopping down in a chair and sobbing horribly.

Lila tried to be the glue that held things together. "Gentleman, don't give up yet. I have a feeling we aren't done here. Give it some time and let's see what happens." The remaining men shook their heads and moved off to get comfortable for what might be a very long wait. She thanked them for their patience and excused herself to go check on her hurt son.

Jordan ran out and into the meadow behind the house. Tears of pain burst forth as he headed toward the mountains. He ran and ran, so much so that he was soon out of breath, forcing him to stop by a fallen tree. Picking up a decent sized branch, he struck the bough of the pine hard. He drew back further and slammed harder this time, repeating the action over and over until the branch finally snapped. He screamed at the top of his lungs and collapsed to the ground, crying harder than he ever had. Pushing himself against the tree, he buried his face in his knees and let it all pour out.

Feeling it was safe to approach, Vin moved forward, sitting down next to him. He hadn't realized that Jordan was this angry and confused. It made him more upset with Lila and the men for pushing Jordan like they had. He sat close enough for their legs to touch, not saying a word. It went on like this for a while until Jordan picked his tear stained face up and looked sadly at his best friend.

"Why can't they just leave me alone?" he begged. "Living this was bad enough, and I just can't go through it again!"

"I know, honey," Vin consoled. "They were only doing what they thought was right."

"Like Taylor?" he hissed. "If it wasn't for that idiot, none of this would be happening. He treats me like a fucking child, Vin and I won't have it. He can find another god damn patsy to use and abuse for all I care. I'm done!"

The sobs began again, allowing Vin the right moment to put his arm around the severely upset man. He pulled him close and put their heads against one another. Something had to be said, but what?

"I think you might see things differently when you calm down, honey, especially where Taylor's concerned," he offered.

Jordan wasn't having any of it. "Fuck that! My mind's made up. When I get home, I'm returning to my old job and my old life. With any luck, I'll forget Taylor Bryant ever existed!" He stood and moved away quickly, resuming his course toward the mountains.

Vin sat stunned. He had no clue what to do. How was he gonna tell Taylor all this? It threatened to ruin him for good. For a time, he sat motionless, digging deep in his mind for anything that might help. Truth was, there wasn't anything to do but let everyone know where things stood. With a heavy heart, he got up and headed back to the house.

Lila found her son in worse shape than she'd been expecting. He sat behind her desk, sorrowful wails coming from around his concealed face. The sounds filled the room with extreme pain, bringing a tear to her eye in sympathy. She moved quickly to his side, placing her arms snugly around his shoulders.

"Everything's gonna work out, child," she comforted. "I know it seems far fetched now, but you'll see."

Taylor looked up at her, his eyes and face filled with futility. "Not this time, mom. I've gone way too far, and it cost me the greatest love I've ever had."

"Nonsense," she countered. "He's upset, and when we're upset we can't think clearly. He'll come around, Taylor. He loves you too much not to."

"No. mom. It's you who'll see this time. It's over and I'm to blame!" he snapped.

He broke down again, wishing he could turn back time. Lila continued holding him, trying to will his sadness away. It was not to be. She felt powerless, knowing that no amount of money or connections would fix this one.

Vin reached the house and approached the door with trepidation. He was sad, sad for both Jordan and Taylor, and sad that nothing could be done to help make things right again. Knowing what he had to do, he took a deep breath and re-entered the room. The three men fell silent upon seeing him, anxious to know what was going on. Vin merely shook his head negatively.

"It's over. Get some sleep guys," was all he said. Ben and Chase looked at each other with exasperation, but followed Vin's suggestion. They said goodnight and left in search of their respective rooms.

Once they were alone, Thad moved behind his husband and placed a small kiss on his neck.

"We're not done," Vin said in a melancholy tone. " Jordan doesn't wanna see Taylor anymore, and I think he needs to hear that from friends."

Thad was taken aback. Like the others, he hadn't a clue things had become that tenuous. His heart, too, filled with pain for his friends. He contemplated what needed to be said, agreeing with Vin that it had to come from people he knew. Furthermore, it needed to be presented calmly, something Jordan wasn't capable of right now. The couple joined hands and moved off in search of their friend.

When they came into the office, the sight they found was gut wrenching. Taylor was still crying profusely, clutched tightly to his mother's chest. Noticing the two men come in, his face brightened with a small glimmer of hope. The look stabbed through Vin's heart, making him feel more guilty about giving his friend the worst news of all.

"Where is he?" Taylor asked Vin. "I've got to see him. If he talks to me, we can make things right. I'll do whatever I have to do to win him back!"

His friends moved closer, their faces giving a portent of what was to come.

"Taylor," Vin began, his voice cracking, "he won't see you. Worse than that, he intends to move out and go back to his old job. I tried to talk to him in your defense, but his mind's made up. I'm so sorry."

Resting his body from Lila's grasp, he gave her a morose "I told ya so" look before getting up from the chair. He walked to Vin and Thad, hugging the two fiercely.

"Thank you for trying," was all he said before leaving the room.

The air was heavy with emotion. Lila couldn't help but finally cry herself. She'd never seen Taylor suffer like this and, in true motherly fashion, longed to take his place until the pain passed. Some battles, though, can only be fought by those directly involved. This was one of those battles.

Putting her hands in Thad and Vin's, she dropped her head in sadness.

"Thank you both so much. I feel a lot better knowing that my son has friends like you he can count on."

"I wish I could have done more," Vin said, becoming misty eyed himself.

"You've done all you could, child, and Taylor won't forget it. Get some rest and we'll see how things look in the morning." She kissed both on the cheek and watched as they left to bed down for the night. Unable to sleep right then, she went into the kitchen in search of Clay and a very strong drink. She found both.

While sitting at the counter, thinking of the terrible night and sipping her cocktail, Jordan returned. Not knowing his way around, he wandered aimlessly until he came face to face with Lila. His eyes were bloodshot and his clothing soaked with sweat. He stared at her silently, trying to put what he had to say into words.

"I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused," he said quietly.

"Don't apologize, child. It's me who should be sorry, and begging your forgiveness," she replied.

"I know you're heart was in the right place, but I just can't go through all that again. I need to get out of here as soon as possible," he said, looking like a caged lion desperate to escape his confines.

"I already knew that, dear," she said softly. "Clay has your bag in the car and my plane is ready to take you wherever you want to go. I've been trapped before, and I'll not stand for anyone feeling like that around me."

Jordan gave her a small, appreciative half smile. He respected her greatly and was relieved he could go home right away. Stepping toward the seated woman, he hugged her briefly before moving away and on to the waiting car. He got in and closed the door, breathing easier as it began to drive away. >From a window above, Taylor watched the love of his life move out of sight, and even worse, out of his life.

Nobody slept much that night. They tried reading, counting sheep, and just plain tossing and turning. Nothing worked. In sheer frustration, the four of them found themselves assembled in the kitchen near 4 A.M. Their looks ran the gambit from exhaustion to sadness to worry. Not much was said. They merely sat together and silently commiserated over recent events.

"I need to get away," Taylor finally said.

"I can understand that," Thad agreed. "Me too," Vin added.

"Where will you go?" Lila asked worriedly. She felt Taylor didn't need to be alone and was secretly hoping he'd stay with her for the near future.

"I need time to sort things out. I have a jet picking me up in a few hours and taking me to Grand Cayman. I think it's best if I was alone for a while." He'd fallen into a deep depression and needed someplace he could figure out his next move.

"Don't you think that's a bit extreme, child?" his mother asked.

"Maybe so, mom," Taylor said with an edge to his voice, "but it's what I've decided to do. I need time, and somewhere peaceful to think. Let me do this, please."

"Alright," she warily conceded, "but only if you call me every day so I won't worry myself to death."

Taylor huffed through his nose. "Fine, mom. Whatever you want."

Turning to face Thad and Vin, he produced two envelopes and handed them to the lawyer.

"One's a power of attorney for you to sign on my behalf for all my business and personal affairs. I've made it good for sixty days. The other is a letter and a check for Judy Frank, asking her to watch over my clients' holdings and liquidate anything that goes south. Will you make sure she gets it?"

"Of course," Thad said immediately. "We're friends, good friends, and I'll make sure everything stays in great shape while you're gone."

Taylor gave both men a look of thanks. "If you'll excuse me now, I'm gonna shower and get ready to meet my plane. Thank you all so much for being there." Without another word, he moved toward his room.

"This is not good," Lila said, shaking her head. "Not good at all."

Jordan arrived home around 5 A.M., finding Carl awaiting him. Lila had taken the liberty of bringing them up to speed, warning them not to say a word about anything that had happened. Too tired to protest, he dragged his bag to the door, tossing it and himself inside.

"Welcome home, Master Jordan," Carl said calmly.

"Thanks, Carl," Jordan said, barely above a whisper.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

"My apartment, please." It was this statement that made Carl realize all he'd been told was absolutely true.

The ride was short but silent. Neither made an effort to say anything, though both wanted to. Jordan cared for Carl deeply, and felt awful that he probably wouldn't see him again. Upon reaching his place, he climbed out and began to make his way to the front door. Unable to stand it any longer, Carl rushed around the vehicle and took Jordan by the arm.

"You're like a son to Leonard and me." he said. "Take care of yourself and please let us know how you're doing."

"I will. I promise," Jordan replied. And just like that, he was gone, gone from everything and everyone associated with Taylor Bryant.

The alarm blared promptly at 8 A.M., not that it mattered much. Even though he was physically and emotionally exhausted, Jordan hadn't slept a wink. Torturous images haunted him each time he closed his eyes. The evil visions had begun shortly after he'd been dismissed from Stephenson, and continued for some time. Then Taylor came into his life and they suddenly vanished. He thought of their amazing times together, of how he'd never been happier. It brought a short lived smile to his face. All to soon, though, the horrific memories returned, causing him to feel nothing but shame and self loathing.

Nobody knew the true extent of what happened but Jordan himself. He lived with that burden every day, deciding he had to bear it alone. If he'd brought the suits that Ben Dyer and Chance Wheeler had advocated, then his failure as a man would have been public and complete. He couldn't deal with that.

Frustrated and tired, he reluctantly rose and headed for the shower. He tried hard to think of anything but his pain. It was a pointless exercise. Mechanically, he moved through his morning routine and was climbing behind the wheel of his ancient car in short order. He drove safely, but was so lost in thought he saw nothing around him. Finding his usual spot available, he parked and went into the office, not sure if he still had a job but ready to find out.

Judy Frank was always an early riser, usually behind her desk no later than 6:30 A.M. Today was no exception to that rule. Thad knew her well, and knew the schedule she kept. Using Lila's office, he faxed her Taylor's letter and told her he'd call later in the day. As she sat with her morning smoothie, she began to peruse the faxes that had come in during the night. Finding Taylor's letter and Thad's notes, she read it carefully, shocked at what she saw. She liked Taylor a lot, and would honor his wishes.

There was a problem, however. With all of her current accounts, there was no way she could handle this alone. It wasn't like to her admit it, but she needed help and needed it right away. Trying to think of who she could stand to work with, her mind drew a blank. All the decent people were already spoken for and had major workloads of their own. She couldn't ask them to take on more. A movement outside her office window caught her eye, bringing a sense of relief with it. Jordan Maxwell was seated on the couch in the firm's waiting area.

Thinking fast, she grabbed the letter and made her way to the boss's office. After presenting the fax and doing a huge amount of sweet talking, he agreed to assign Maxwell to her for as long as she had the increased business. She thanked him profusely and rushed back to her office. Taking a second to gather her thoughts, she rang her secretary and got things moving ahead.

"Dee, would you please bring Jordan Maxwell in here?"

"Right away, Ms. Frank," she politely replied.

True to her word, Dee soon ushered Jordan in and excused herself from their presence. Judy studied him intently. Even though he was the answer to her prayers, she was puzzled as to why he was sitting before her. Being the hard driving woman she was, however, things quickly moved on to matters at hand.

"I have no idea why you're here," she said, "and I really don't care. You're position has been filled, so you've been assigned to me. This morning, I was put in charge of Taylor Bryant's client accounts. With everything I'm into already, I'm gonna need your help to pull this off. You need to put your personal feelings aside and help me do the leg work. Can I count on you?"

"Yes, ma'am. Of course you can," Jordan replied eagerly.

"Great, then let's get to it," she ordered.

And so began his return to the mundane life he despised. Keeping his word, he spent the day furiously doing whatever Judy required of him. His work was accurate and efficient, two things that pleased her tremendously. It was also his only escape from the unending pain he felt. He cut off contact with everyone he'd been close with, including Vin. His friend called and sent text messages often, never once receiving a reply. Thad convinced him not to give up, knowing Jordan would come around eventually. When that would happen was the burning question.

Eight agonizing weeks passed, and Jordan had become a shell of the happy man he'd once been. He'd lost weight and his eyes were framed by dark circles. His hair was rarely neat and his clothes often needed pressing. Bottom line was he'd become miserable. He felt empty and alone, his only solace being the daily drudgery of work.

Nights were spent in the claustrophobic apartment he'd been so proud of. Once a sign of new independence, it now felt cold and lifeless, devoid of any pulse and energy. Grabbing whatever takeout food was on the way home, he'd return to crunching the numbers that had become his life while picking at his dinner. His stomach would cramp after several bites, causing him to wrap the leftovers up and put them in the fridge with the other half eaten meals from nights past. Driving himself until his mind became unable to process information logically, he'd give up and face a night of choppy sleep. Mornings found him tired and achy, mechanically starting the dull routine all over again.

One night, tired and not wanting to be alone, he decided to visit his mother and brother, something he'd been putting off. He knew his mother would jab him about neglecting them, but would forgive him in the end as mothers always did. Leaving right from the office, he steered his dilapidated car toward the neighborhood he grew up in.

Jordan hated it here. While it held some happy memories, it also brought him face to face with the pitfalls of his early life. Smiling slightly when he passed Harper's Gas N Go, a mom and pop staple around there, he thought of his best childhood pal, Jack Johnson. The two of them became thick as thieves during middle school, and remained inseparable until sophomore year of high school. He could see them sitting outside that store, eating ice cream sandwiches and slurping Mountain Dew.

Jack was short and pudgy, his baby fat not yet attacked by the fires of puberty. He wore thick glasses that were always sliding down the bridge of his nose, making him look even more like the nerd he was. They met in the cafeteria in the sixth grade, finding they had a tremendous amount in common. Being terrible at most sports, they shared a passion for speech and debate, holding prominent positions on the school's fledgling team. His keen wit, which usually held bullies at bay, really shined here. It also kept Jordan on his toes and striving to improve. Things like these laid the foundation of what became a life altering relationship.

Jack eventually did lose most of his extra padding, but he remained short and utterly unconcerned about his appearance. Jordan tried more than once to help him look better, finding his friend's devotion to more cranial undertakings too great to overcome. It didn't really matter, though. His admiration of Jack ran far beneath the surface, so he'd ignore the mismatched clothing and the awful hairstyles.

When high school came about, things between them began to change. Jordan was secretly struggling with his sexuality by then, knowing without a doubt that females held no allure whatsoever. It was a situation he took great pains to cover up. Jack was having similar fits, though not with his sexual identity. He'd accepted his preference for men the summer before, viewing it as just another part of who he was. His struggle, though, was with his best bud. For a long time now, he'd been enamored with him, but petrified to reveal his true longing. The two went along in their friendship, broaching sensitive subjects once in a while but always laughing them off for fear of losing each other's support and respect.

Remembering the key moment that changed their lives, Jordan drove past his family home for several minutes. Making a few turns, he parked the car and got out at his high school's football stadium. This was where it all began, and the place always felt important. Climbing over the small gate, he walked a few yards and was soon standing at midfield. Looking at the empty bleachers, he imagined them full of rabid students cheering their heroes on while the band played peppy music to keep spirits high. Students like him. that belonged to non athletic teams, were encouraged to attend, as much to show support as to be seen by players that might think twice about hassling them later.

Jordan and Jack went to the games as requested, neither showing much interest in the on field action. Instead, they took seats up high, where few people sat. There, they talked and laughed till their stomach's hurt, happy just to be hanging out without parental interference. They poked fun at the players, each trying to come up with more ludicrous play by play narratives as the downs unfolded. They even mimicked the announcer, trying their damnedest to sound just like him.

That windy October day high in the stands started out no differently, until Jack began inching slowly closer to Jordan, so much so that their legs were eventually touching. Jordan was nervous about this new contact, but, seeing they were virtually alone, decided to go with it. Privately, he was enjoying the feel of it immensely. The moves went no further for a while, other than Jack shifting in ways that increased the friction between their limbs every now and then. Direct eye contact was avoided as they returned to their commentary game, trying to remain nonchalant. Something big was happening, though, accentuated when Jack began to touch Jordan's tense leg during the course of conversation. The touches weren't the long, sensuous kind. They were more like innocent grazes, the type that could be explained away if needed. Jack kept it up for a long time, stimulating Jordan in ways he'd never experienced.

The rising tension between them soon brought their humorous antics to a halt. After careful consideration, Jordan brought his eyes to Jack's. Relieved not to see extreme fear or anger, their stare sent unspoken signals of happiness with current events. Swallowing hard and gathering all his backbone, Jordan reached out and put Jack's hand in his. Their fingers didn't interlock, but their palms squeezed hard together. They looked at their strongly joined extremities, ruminating about what this new step meant to their camaraderie. They watched the rest of the game without discussion, preferring to let their actions say everything that needed to be said.

When the game ended, neither moved, afraid of their special time ending. Once the stands were almost empty, Jack stood up, bringing Jordan with him. He kept his friend's hand locked in his own as they made their way down through the empty rows. Once at ground level, he led Jordan around a retaining fence and under the seats that were filled with fans only minutes ago.

Jordan began asking why they were here, being silenced by Jack's warm lips being pressed against his. The kiss lasted only seconds but kicked both boys' libido up several levels. When they'd finished, they smiled warmly at each other and moved to repeat the maneuver, letting their tentative lips remain together longer this time.

As the school year progressed, so did their explorations. Being too young to get jobs, they spent their afternoons together, refining their awkward attempts at affection. They got better in a hurry, adding tongue contact early on. Being the studious types, both would read voraciously about how two men did things together, returning anxious to try what they'd read about. They didn't go very far, finding that heavy kissing, sensuous hugging and mutual masturbation were just fine for where they were at. Being hormone filled teens, however, their sessions were more about gratification than love, each bringing the other to orgasm several times.

One of the things Jordan found most endearing about Jack was his blatant honesty. He could always be counted on to give frank answers without any fact alteration, a trait that hurt more than one person unintentionally. It was this genuine concern for truth that would be their undoing.

Jack was proud of his relationship with his parents. They were as open and honest as he was, which encouraged free dialogue without retribution between them. Keeping his sexuality from them was eating him up, and he knew he couldn't go on this way much longer. On a Saturday morning over breakfast, he told them everything, including what he and Jordan had been up to.

Appearing calm on the outside, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were frantic on the inside. They felt this was a phase that would pass, and blamed Jordan for their son being the way he was. Nobody berated Jack, or did anything extreme like throwing him out. Instead, they began to plan activities to keep the young lovers apart. It worked initially, but the two soon found ways to circumvent the new agenda. Knowing they were failing to keep Jack and Jordan apart, they sold their house and moved away, confident that things would be alright in a new place. Before leaving, though, Mrs. Johnson informed Glenda Maxwell about everything Jack had revealed. She too was shocked, but held the information close, waiting for Jordan to have enough faith in her to say it without fear.

Losing his best friend and first lover crushed Jordan. In the weeks before he left, they spent as much time together as their parents allowed, which was more generous than before. Some days were filled with a continuation of their sexual exploration, but most were spent just holding each other, dreading the day when they'd have to separate for good. That day finally came, and Jordan let Jack leave without saying goodbye. He was too upset to face the horrific event head on, and holed up in his room until he heard the moving trucks head out, taking Jack away forever. It was a decision he'd regret forever.

Looking at his watch, Jordan noted that thirty minutes had passed while he'd relived the episode. Leaving the field and hurrying to his car, he sped toward his family home so he could arrive there at a decent hour. Pulling into the driveway, he looked at the home's front porch intently, noticing it had fallen into a worse state of disrepair than when he'd lived their full time. He'd have to talk to his mother about that. Stepping out of the car, he crossed the weed filled lawn and soon stood at the front door. With a mild excitement building within him, he knocked firmly and waited patiently for someone to answer. In a short time, his mother opened the door, finding her oldest son outside, looking haggard and worn out.

"Since when do you knock?" she asked, giving him a puzzled look.

"Hello to you too, mom," Jordan said sarcastically as he crossed the threshold.

Once inside, he hugged her and put a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm making dinner," she informed him. "Come talk to me while I finish it up."

He followed her dutifully to the kitchen, grabbing a beer from the fridge and took a seat at the counter. Taking large swigs of the frosty liquid, he studied his mother's appearance, seeing few changes since their last encounter. Turning fifty recently, she looked much older. Deep wrinkles covered her face and neck, demonstrating that life hadn't been easy. Her long dark hair, currently tied up in a bun, was flecked with numerous gray strands, making her resemble a school marm that kids feared. The curves of her thin body had remained intact for the most part, but her slight frame had begun to look frail and tired. Jordan was a bit alarmed that she was aging so poorly, but knew better than to mention it. Instead, he grabbed another beer and listened as Glenda began firing her usual barrage of questions.

"So, we don't hear from you for a few months and now you're sitting here drinking my beer. What do I owe the honor of your presence to?"

Jordan groaned. Shot number one was fired, and, thankfully, wasn't fatal. "C'mon mom," Jordan protested. "Can't a son just stop by to spend time with the mother he loves and adores?"

Noting the sarcasm, she said "Mmmmhmmm. Bring that son here so I can get him to peel these potatoes." She was sure to make the sarcasm in her statement plain, always being a woman who fought fire with fire.

Jordan rolled his eyes, and moved to handle the peeling duties. He grabbed the necessary tool and began whittling away, a pleasant surprise to Glenda. While they worked to prepare the meal, she started her interrogation again.

"Jordan, I know you well enough to know when something's on your mind. You wanna tell me about it, or do you wanna keep up this charade of yours?" she said.

"I've been thinking about Jack Johnson some lately," he said without looking up.

"There's a name I haven't heard in a while," she remarked. "You two were awfully close back in the day."

"Yeah, we were, probably closer than you realize," he said.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Mothers can be pretty intuitive sometimes," she replied.

Jordan stopped peeling for a few seconds as he realized his mother may, in fact, know more than she'd ever let on. Deciding to tread lightly, he ignored the statement and started speaking again.

"I wonder what happened to him. I remember the day he left like it was yesterday. I was so mad at him and so mad at the world that I didn't even tell him goodbye, something I regret still."

Glenda regarded her son's face as he spoke. It became wistful as he recalled his first lover.

"I think you loved him more than you realized at the time," she offered, "and I think he loved you just as much."

Jordan looked at his mother, his mouth agape. She put her hand on his shoulder and explained.

"A few weeks before they left, Jack's mom told me how he'd come out to them and named you as his lover. Apparently, he gave quite detailed accounts of what you two had done. She tried to be so civil about it all, but I could hear the repressed anger in her voice. She stopped just short of blaming you for Jack being gay."

The word gay rang through the air. It was the first time he'd heard his mother say it. He'd always suspected she had a good idea he liked guys, but never had the guts to come forward and admit it. It seemed he didn't have to anymore.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" he asked.

"I always thought you'd tell me yourself. I kept waiting and waiting, but you never said a word. When you started working so much, it kinda got lost in the shuffle."

Jordan nodded in agreement. They hardly saw each other in those days. He was usually running out as she came home, the two having only enough time to exchange a quick hi and bye. By the time he got home, everyone was asleep for school or work, so it made complete sense that they'd never dealt with this until now.

"Do you think things could have worked out between Jack and me over the long haul?" he asked sincerely.

"Maybe," she said, "but you were so young and things change so fast at that age. It would've been a tough to pull off."

"Yeah," was all Jordan said in reply. He began drawing parallels to the day Jack moved and the night he left Taylor. What he found didn't thrill him.

"Did you love Jack, honey?" she asked, snapping him out of his deep thought.

"I don't know," he said. "At the time I thought I did, but I really didn't know what love was back then."

"And now you do?" she fired off, keeping the pressure up on her son.

"Yeah, mom, I do," he told her, getting that wistful look once again. He really did know what love was now, even though he wasn't any better at holding on to it.

"Who's the lucky guy and when do I get to meet him?" she asked.

"It's a long story," he said quickly.

Wiping her hands on a dish towel and taking the peeler from Jordan, she got two more beers from the fridge and opened them, giving the second one to her pained son.

"Petey won't be home for another two hours, so why don't we sit down and you can tell me all about it."

So, that's exactly what they did. Over the next hour, he told her about meeting Taylor, the great job he'd been offered and about all the fun they'd had together. Glenda peppered him with more questions, which he tried to answer truthfully. They discussed the break up at length, Jordan admitting his mistakes openly for the first time. He rationalized the actions he felt were warranted, though. Glenda chuckled to herself as he laid out his defense.

"You always did have a independent streak in you!" she pointed out.

"Well, he was wrong," Jordan added, "and he refused to let me decide how things should be in my own life!"

Glenda looked at him pensively, placing her hand atop his. "People who are deeply in love are sometimes blind to things like that, son."

Even though the realization hit him hard, his revelation was interrupted by the front door slamming and a voice calling out "I'm home" loudly. Peter, or Petey as he was known to his family, soon came bounding into the room. Jordan stood and looked at his monstrous brother.

"Hey, Jordo," he said, using the jock nickname he'd given his nerdy brother years before.

"Sweetie Petey," Jordan shot back, firing back with a name he found equally distasteful.

The brothers hugged awkwardly, as brothers do, Jordan unable to get his hands around Petey's large body.

If there were ever two siblings who were complete opposites, then Jordan and Peter Maxwell would be exhibit A. Where Jordan was shorter and built small, Peter was 6'4" inches tall and weighed in at 250 pounds. He was a star defensive lineman at the local high school, playing on the same field Jordan and Jack used to make fun of weekly. His playing acumen was coming in handy, though, with several different colleges extending free rides if he agreed to play for them. There was no doubt he would because the gridiron was his first true love. Girls were his other passion, and his star status affording him a gaggle of big breasted coeds to choose from.

As Glenda and Jordan returned to preparing dinner, Petey regaled them with stories about the vagina of the week. Her name was Ashley, and Petey assured them that she was "the one" this time. This was met with groans and grunts from the other two, as they'd heard this many times before. Petey protested vehemently but soon shut up, knowing that history provided him no legs to stand on. With the family cajoling continuing on, dinner was finally ready. Petey's belly sounded its need for sustenance as they sat down at the table.

They spent the meal updating each other on family news, Petey's, of course, revolving around football. Jordan didn't understand the fascination, but loved how his brother's face lit up when he spoke of it. He felt an ease here he hadn't felt recently, and chided himself for staying away so long. With dinner over, Petey excused himself, saying he needed to call Ashley.

"She needs her nightly dose of the tank," he joked, grabbing his sizable crotch obscenely. This drew a hasty reaction from Glenda.

"Peter Lawrence Maxwell," she scolded, "you will NOT do things like that in this house! This isn't the locker room young man!"

"Yes, warden," he said sheepishly, causing Jordan to laugh. It was always amusing to see a 100 pound woman so easily control a gorilla like Petey. With a wink toward his older brother, he ran hurriedly into his room to call his woman.

After helping his mom do the dishes and store the few scraps Petey hadn't consumed, Jordan walked around the small house, ending up in his old room. It stood exactly as it had the day he left. Glenda always said she was gonna do something with it, but never seemed to find the money or the heart to change it around. The space stood as a sort of shrine to Jordan's accomplishments. Trophies, plaques and ribbons from his speech team wins adorned shelves around the room. They were minor in comparison to Petey's more extravagant collection of honors, but they were his nonetheless. He recalled winning many of them, and the sense of honor and pride that was part of it all. He'd never worked harder on anything than that stupid team, mostly trying to fill a void left behind when Jack Johnson suddenly moved. Running his hand over the various citations, he began to think about why he really put in the effort to win so handily. The answer was easy......he had judged the exercise worthwhile.

Relating that to his current situation, he considered when his relationship with Taylor had become not worthwhile. Truth was, it hadn't. As was customary, he'd run when things became tough. Guilt began to swell within him, as the ever threatening tears began to fall. By the time Glenda found him, he was sobbing hard. For a time she just held him, her son clutching her with the desperation of a dying man. She stroked his hair lovingly as he began to slowly calm down.

"I fucked up, mom. I did the same thing I did with Jack!" he cried.

"SHHH," she comforted. "No one's perfect, dear."

The kind words fell on deaf ears, though. Jordan was too upset with himself to see any opposing viewpoints. Glenda returned to stroking his scalp gently, slowly rocking him back and forth. More composure soon returned, at least enough to be able to speak coherently.

"I want him back, mom. It's not that I can't live without him, I can if I have to. I just don't want to."

Glenda smiled at that. Her son really was in love.

"With what I've done, though, he'd never take me back. I've behaved so badly when all he was trying to do was love me," he added.

"You don't know that for sure, Jordan," she reminded him. "For all you know, he's off somewhere pining for you just as much. He sounds like a very decent man so I'd say that's probably the case."

"Where do I start with this, mom?" he asked, now looking her in the face.

"Begin at the beginning, Jordan. I don't know what that is, but in your heart you do. Start there," she advised.

It made him feel a little better, but where was the beginning? He'd have to think about that one hard.

Wiping his eyes, he announced he'd should be going. Glenda nodded and followed him to the door, her hand never breaking its firm hold on his. She worried about him a lot, but she knew that he had to work through this one on his own if he was to learn anything from it.

They lingered at the door, joining in an embrace only a mother and child could share. All of her caring and unconditional love flooded his body, leaving him a bit brighter in spirit when they separated. She smiled at her son, running the back of her hand down the side of his face.

"I love you so much, Jordan," she said. "If you need anything, or just need to talk, call me. OK?"

"I will, mom. I promise," he told her with certainty.

"And don't be such a stranger. He would never admit it, but Petey really looks up to you," she said.

Jordan laughed, remembering his hulking brother was several inches taller than he was. Kissing his mom one last time, he went to the car and got on his way back home.

The short ride was filled with thoughts of her advice.

"The beginning.....where the fuck was the beginning?" he thought.

Upon arriving home, he was no closer to finding that point his mother was so sure he already knew. Feeling bone tired, he shed his clothes while walking to the bedroom, leaving a trail of disarray in his wake. Sheer exhaustion wasn't enough to allow sleep to come easily, however. Thoughts of where his starting point should be ate at him like a mouse gnawing on a block of cheese. He considered several possibilities, dismissing them as unreasonable. Finally succumbing to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, he was none to happy when his alarm wailed a mere two hours later.

He went through his daily morning routine as usual, getting to work about an hour after his boss. Taking down her morning directives, he wasted no time in getting right to it.

It was later that morning, while he was at his desk going over another never ending stack of paperwork, he received a phone call that would change his life forever.

"Jordan Maxwell," he announced on the third ring.

"Mr. Maxwell," a soft, fairly effeminate voice said, "my name is Charlie. You don't know me, but I think we have more in common than you could ever imagine."

Jordan listened wordlessly, puzzled at why this man would be calling him.

"I wonder if I could have five minutes of your time today, say around lunch. I really need someone to talk to and I think you're the only one who could understand," Charlie said.

Being in no mood to talk about anything, Jordan set about blowing off his mystery caller.

"Listen, I don't know who you are, or what you want, but I don't have time for your problems." He hung up the phone immediately, returning to the monotonous number crunching that was piled on him daily.

After laboring non stop for several hours, lunch time finally came. While he had no appetite, his eyes were sore and his back was stiff. He decided a walk around a nearby park would help him regain his focus for the rest of the day. Asking Judy if she needed food brought back (she didn't), he headed toward the front door and made his way outside. A familiar voice caught his attention upon stepping from the building.

"Mr. Maxwell?"

Jordan turned to find a skinny man approximately 5'4" inches tall. His hair was a vibrant red, neatly trimmed and spiked at his forehead. His skin was pale white and dotted with freckles. The most striking feature, though, were his eyes, which were a bright green. Jordan recognized the voice as his morning mystery caller.

"I'm Jordan Maxwell," he offered.

"Could I have five minutes, sir?" Charlie asked.

"Get lost," Jordan replied as he resumed his journey toward the park.

Charlie became panicked, afraid he'd lose his link to the one person who might be able to understand his predicament.

"I know about you and Stephenson!" he screamed out.

Jordan froze. He made his way back to the man, intent on getting rid of him once and for all.

"You don't know shit!" he growled. "What you do know is probably just trash that flies around the lunch room!"

"Maybe not," Charlie said shyly. "Five minutes, sir, and then I swear I'll be gone."

Jordan grudgingly agreed and ordered the feminine man to follow him to the park. Once there, and safely away from listening ears, he said, "Your time starts now. I suggest you start talking."

Charlie inhaled deeply and cleared his throat. "I work in the government area under Ed Rollins." The mention of that name sent chills coursing up Jordan's spine.

"As you can see, I'm not the most masculine guy. Hell, it's probably obvious that I'm into men," he continued.

Jordan was riveted to his words, becoming very afraid that he knew where this was headed.

"I work as an assistant to one of the traders and adored my job. Rollins, though, kept saying bad things to me, always on me about this or that. Around three months ago, he called me into his office and showed me a printout of some illegal trades I'd supposedly done."

This was sounding all too familiar to Jordan, but he said nothing.

"He threatened not only to fire me, but have my license revoked permanently. I begged him not to do it, told him I never did those trades. He told me that the only way I could stay in my job was to do certain favors for his clients."

Jordan felt like puking at this point. He listened patiently as Charlie finished his story.

"I didn't know what to do. I was scared, so I agreed. I've been having sex with a few of his bigger clients, well, mostly letting them use me however they want. I hate doing it but I don't see what I can do. I was wondering if anything like this happened to you and what you did to get away from it. I'm not out yet and would die if my family ever found out. Can you help me?"

Jordan began to tear up and buried his face in his hands, mostly from shame. "Oh god, no!" he repeated over and over again.

His shameful secret was now laid out before them. Even worse, someone else was now suffering because he didn't have the balls to take a stand.

"I don't know what to do," Charlie kept saying, crocodile tears now pouring from his eyes. Jordan took him into a tight embrace, continually repeating "I'm so sorry" to the frightened man. They stood together for a long while, letting the shame and anguish they felt finally come out.

"If I lose my license, I'll never work anywhere decent again. If I go on like this, though, I'm gonna go crazy. I just don't know what to do!" he said between sobs.

"I do," Jordan said ashamedly, "and I should have done it months ago. This stops and it stops right now!"

Taking Charlie by the hand, he rushed them back to office. Telling Judy that something important had come up, he took them to his car and drove to his apartment. Running to his room, he tore open his nightstand drawer and fished out the business card he'd hoped never to use. Determined to do the right thing this time, he dialed the handwritten number on the back of it.

"Jordan?" Lila Bryant said upon answering.

"Hi," was all he could say.

"This is unexpected," she replied.

"I'm ready," he blurted out.

"Ready for what, child?" she asked.

"To sink those assholes, and sink em deep. I need to see you and I've got somebody with me you need to meet."

"Where are you now?" she inquired quickly.

"At home," he answered.

"Stay put, my dear. I'm at Taylor's now. Carl will be there in a few minutes to get you and your friend. Is that OK?"

"Fine," Jordan said. "See you soon." He snapped his phone shut and gave Charlie a quick rundown on who they were meeting. His face filled with fear.

Jordan put both hands on either side of Charlie's face. "I was where you are now. I let it happen a few times before I gave up and let them fire me. Ever since then, I've been hiding like a fucking coward, feeling sorry for myself. Now, we've gotta be tough and stand up to these pigs, or someone else will be next."

He suddenly felt stronger than he had in months. Charlie only moved his head to signal his agreement. Jordan smiled at him warmly, never letting go of his sweaty hand. Their reverie was broken by a knock at the door. Jordan rose to answer it, finding the most welcome sight he'd seen in a while. Leonard and Carl both stood before him, all smiles.

Emotion overtook him as the men moved to ensnare him in their arms. Jordan collapsed fully, sobbing wildly in their embrace.

"I've missed you guys so much," he cried.

"We've missed you too," Leonard agreed, stroking the broken man's hair softly. "It's gonna be OK now, son. Everything's gonna be just fine."

Jordan truly believed what he said, regardless of the fact he was scared beyond belief. He reveled in their comforting gestures until Carl noticed the small man watching their reunion with curiosity.

"And who have we here?" Carl inquired.

Jordan looked behind him, completely forgetting that Charlie was there.

"Carl, that's Charlie. He needs to come with us," was all he said.

"And so he shall," Carl replied. He took the small man by the hand and led him out to the waiting limousine. Jordan joined him soon after and they huddled together closely for moral support. The men decided that no conversation was necessary, soon pulling through the familiar gates of the Bryant Estate. As the wide array of flowers came into view, Jordan felt something he hadn't in quite some time. He felt like he was home.

Lila was standing under the portico, pacing back and forth while waiting for Jordan to arrive. Calling her excited would be putting it mildly. The day she'd longed for was finally here, and she wanted it to start right away. Seeing the limo approach, she stood aside quickly, then rushed forward and thrust open Jordan's door. Grabbing a hold of his hand, she brought him up and began to smother him with kisses. A member of her family was back home and she couldn't contain herself. Tears of happiness streamed out as she did her best to welcome her wayward son back to where he belonged.

"Welcome home, child!" she exclaimed happily.

Jordan was teary eyed again himself. It was becoming a frequent affliction. Remembering his companion this time, he helped Charlie out and placed his arm firmly around him.

"Lila Bryant, this is Charlie. He works at Stephenson, and I think you'll be interested to hear his story, well, both of our stories," Jordan corrected.

Lila took Charlie's girlish hand lovingly and said, "Welcome, it's a great pleasure to meet you, young man."

"Thank you ma'am," he stuttered. His eyes roamed over everything around him, as if they were trying to make sense of their new surroundings.

Wanting to get everyone more comfortable, Lila pulled Charlie by his captive hand through the imposing front doors. The others followed along, arranging themselves on the plush furniture in the room off the kitchen. Jordan remained by Charlie's side, continuing to transmit strength to the visibly bewildered young man.

Lila could only stare at them, regarding Jordan as she had eight weeks ago. What she saw alarmed her. The vivacious, handsome young man she'd met then was now looking defeated. The only part familiar to her was his eyes, which burned with an energy that showed he was ready to crawl out of the hole he'd buried himself in. Still, after what happened before, she had to be sure he was truly ready to move on. She couldn't stomach losing him all over again.

"It's so wonderful to have you back, child," she said to Jordan. "I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed you. I've gone over that night with a fine tooth comb, and I understand everything clearly now. I know it's a day late and a dollar short, but I promise I'm on your side. So we're understand each other, you don't have to do this, either of you. I'm just thrilled to have you back and don't care what happens, as long as we all go back to living happier lives."

"I do have to do this, Lil. It's not just me anymore, it's Charlie too. I've been selfish and afraid, and my inaction has cost others dearly. It can't happen again," Jordan said strongly.

Lila sat back, proud of the young man and relieved to hear the heartfelt determination in his words. She had no doubt that things would progress as planned. There was a new member in the mix this time, though, and he deserved the same consideration she'd shown Jordan.

"Charlie, do you want to be a part of this?" she asked softly.

The small man shifted in his seat, not prepared for the direct question. He looked to Jordan, seeing his face pleading with him to join in their effort to change things for the better.

"I'll try," was all he could muster.

Lila smiled warmly and cupped his face in her hands. "That's always we can ask of you, dear," she said, and placed a gentle kiss on his perspiring forehead. Her charm and motherly touch made Charlie feel much more at ease, as it usually did with anyone she came in contact with. He smiled back at her, showing his pearly white teeth for the first time all day.

During this exchange, a BMW X5 sped under the portico, coming to a screeching halt. No sooner had it's forward motion ceased, a human form bolted from its passenger side, moving hurriedly within the front doors.

"Hello?" the voice yelled. Excitement welled up inside Jordan upon hearing it, and he ran forward quickly, crashing into its owner as he came around a blind corner. The voice's source fell to the ground, causing Jordan to breakdown into a fit of laughter.

"Damn, bitch. Is that any way to say hello?" Vin said from his prostrate position on the floor.

Regaining his senses, Jordan extended his hand, helping his dazed friend back up. Once he had him upright, he threw his arms around him and they became tangled in an overdue hug. Nothing was spoken, nothing needed to be, as the two good friends clung to each other tightly. Tears of joy broke free, neither of them caring in the least. The only thing that mattered was they were together once again.

"I'm so sorry," Jordan cried into Vin's shoulder. "I've been a terrible friend."

"Shhh, shhhh," Vin comforted, "bygones are bygones. What matters is we're here today, and we're not gonna lose each other ever again."

"Damn right we're not," Jordan concurred, causing them both to laugh a bit at the profanity. Stepping back, they joined hands and looked each other over carefully, assuring themselves that this was real, and not some teasing dream. Vin wasn't thrilled with was he observed.

"Sweetie, I know this is supposed to be a reunion where we only say nice, mushy things to one another, but I gotta tell ya something. You look like ten day old shit!" Vin said in his ever flamboyant manner.

Jordan's face lit up like a light bulb. The direct words from his friend were music to his ears, making him feel even more at home.

Vin didn't let up. "Ugh, the hair, the clothes. I'm gonna have to start all over with you before the fashion police lock you up for good."

Jordan wrapped him up again, wallowing in the familiar warmth this body surrounded him in. "You can do whatever you want, but not today."

"I know," Vin said, almost whispering.

Still feeling bad about his behavior, Jordan began apologizing again. "I really am sorry, Vin. It's been a rough few weeks."

"Stop it!" his friend insisted. "We've got nothing but time to make up for what we've lost. Let's get through today, and we'll talk from there."

Jordan nodded, knowing Vin was right. His focus needed to be on doing what was right. Arm in arm, they rejoined the others, discovering Thad had slipped by them while they became reacquainted. The attorney was another sight for Jordan's sore eyes. Not waiting for an invitation, Thad grabbed Jordan and held him fiercely.

"Damn it's good to see you," he told Jordan emotionally.

"You too," Jordan agreed, feeling the air being squeezed from his body under the powerful man's embrace. "I'm sorry I couldn't do this before, but I'm gonna try to make up for it today. It's not just me anymore."

Jordan broke their contact and introduced Charlie to Thad. "We're in the same boat, and our stories oughta help you bring those rats down hard."

The lawyer gave him a calculating grin. Over the weeks Jordan had been missing, he'd thought of the situation often, jotting down ideas and refining his strategy further. He girded for the chance to try this case, and the beginning of that process was suddenly upon him. It was time to get down to business.

"OK," Thad began, "my videographer, Bonnie, is almost ready in the other room. We're gonna take video depositions from both of you. There's no pressure, as we have all the time in the world to record your testimony. If you need to stop, just say so. We need to be very thorough about this. If you recall something we've already passed, let me know and we'll go back to it. Don't worry about breaking down, it's quite alright. Just make sure you don't leave anything out, we have to know everything."

The men nodded their understanding. Thad produced a document for each, authorizing him to represent them. It also assured that anything they said was protected by attorney/client privilege. They signed the papers, and watched as Leonard notarized their signatures. With that detail out of the way, it was time to begin the most difficult part.

"Who wants to go first?" Thad inquired.

Charlie shook his head no, clutching Lila's hand wildly. Jordan gave him a kind look and rubbed his arm in a calming manner.

"I'll go," he told Thad. Charlie's face communicated the visible sense of relief he felt.

Following Thad into Taylor's office, he found two chairs placed before a video camera. A bright light stood behind it, ensuring that no shadows would mar the identity of the man testifying. Thad introduced Bonnie, a slightly overweight woman in her mid forties. After going over how things would proceed one more time, attorney and client took their seats while Bonnie started the camera rolling. She took a few moments to adjust the machine's focus, then stepped from behind it. Producing a bible, she placed Jordan under oath, and then returned to her place out of sight.

Thad began with the standard name, rank and serial number questions. He rooted out several other identifying markers, leaving no doubt who the man being deposed really was. With that out of the way, he delved into the meat of the issue.

He had Jordan confirm his dates of employment with Stephenson and name his direct supervisor, which of course was Ed Rollins. He asked about his position, it's required duties, and his prior performance reviews. It was all necessary to set the stage for what was to come.

"OK, Jordan, could you please tell us about the two months prior to your departure from Stephenson, Deveraux and Company?" he asked.

Jordan did just that. He recalled his unexpected transfer to Rollins' department, and how he became more of an errand boy than a financial analyst. He told of how everyone, especially Rollins, would make crude remarks, belittling him and his sexual preference.

"Are you homosexual?" Thad asked directly.

It was the hardest question he'd been asked in ages. Thad hated to be so blunt, but he knew that this was a key component of their case and the answer had to be captured on film.

"Yes," Jordan replied, looking dead into the camera without flinching. His strength of character was returning, and he was more determined than ever to give Thad everything he needed.

"Thank you. Please continue," Thad said, admiring the young man's new found courage.

Jordan made his way to the fateful day that Rollins produced the altered trading records. He raged at the young man, accusing him of conspiring to bring the firm before a punitive tribunal. Jordan denied it vociferously, his protests being ignored completely. He recounted how Rollins threatened to have his license revoked, and how the firm would cooperate fully with any SEC charges brought against him.

Rollins proposed a solution, though. Jordan told of how he was asked to "hang out" with certain important people. If he did what was asked of him, Rollins assured him these egregious violations would remain confidential. If he refused, or didn't perform as expected, then he'd be alone in his battle to save his career. Feeling he had no option, he agreed to the proposal.

He discovered quickly that he was expected to let the wealthy men use his body to pleasure themselves. Over the next two months, he was called upon regularly to meet the men, performing sexual favors as requested. Rollins would threaten him again if he got a bad report from his client, ensuring Jordan remained compliant.

Soon, however, he related his feelings of disgust and self loathing his new duties brought down on him. Knowing he couldn't continue, he allowed himself to be terminated and tried to rebuild his life. Aware he could be accused of some serious crimes, Rollins only filed an administrative motion against him, resulting in a minor reprimand. While leaving his license intact, he assured Jordan's silence in the matter.

Thad took notes furiously while Jordan spoke. He was pleased that the man's voice and stature never wavered once during the difficult ordeal. He spent the next forty five minutes asking questions to help fill in small gaps he'd found. Jordan answered calmly, always sharing exact details of what he'd lived through. After a total of ninety minutes, the ritual came to a close.

"Thank you, Mr. Maxwell," Thad said, the camera still rolling.

"I only wish I'd come forward sooner," Jordan said. "I was a victim of fear and intimidation, but now I'm ready to do whatever I have to so justice can be served."

Bonnie nodded her head once the camera was powered down. She told Thad that things looked good, and she'd have it all transcribed by the following morning. She then set about saving the recorded testimony and preparing for the next man to arrive.

"You did great!" Thad exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

"Just get those bastards," was all Jordan said.

"Count on it!" Thad assured.

Arm in arm, the men returned to find everyone still in their previous spots. Charlie was leaning happily in Lila's arms, his face filled with contentment. Seeing Jordan and Thad return, he tensed up and began breathing somewhat faster. Jordan moved to his side, taking the man's hand in his once again.

"Relax, Charlie," he said. "Just go slowly and tell the truth. Thad's gonna help make sure that all this bad stuff stops right away. We can't do it alone, though. Tell your story and help us take these fools out."

Charlie drew in the power of Jordan's voice. He rose purposefully and took his place at Thad's side. Giving the crew a thankful look, he turned and followed the attorney toward his appointment with change.

Vin and Lila took Jordan into a group hug while Leonard and Carl laid their hands on his back.

"I'm so proud of you, Jordan!" Vin said sincerely.

"Don't be proud of me yet," he warned. "When those fuckers are paying for what they've done, then you can feel pride at what we've set out to do." Everyone picked up on the "we" reference, happy that Jordan recalled he wasn't alone in this.

Lila broke the embrace, suggesting that they relax on the veranda. Once everyone was situated, Leonard brought out a pitcher of iced tea and some finger sandwiches. Jordan dove into his beverage, not realizing how dry his mouth had become. He polished off one full glass and moved onto another. He answered all the questions they had about the last few weeks, mostly about what he'd been doing and how he'd been feeling.

They told him about their recent past, and how they'd all been holding out hope that he'd come back and be an important part of their lives again. The joy everyone felt filled the air around them, as they ate their snacks and laughed like they did in old times.

Suddenly, though, Jordan's demeanor changed noticeably. A thought slammed into his brain, echoing its presence loudly. He couldn't believe that all the rigor and excitement of the day had blinded him to such an important fact. He resolved to get to the bottom of things in a hurry.

"Where's Taylor?"

TO BE CONTINUED.....