The Puppets Theater

THE PUPPETS THEATER 3

USUAL DISCLAIMER

"THE PUPPETS THEATER" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed guest.

THE PUPPETS THEATER

by Andrej Koymasky © 2019
written on December 16, 1989
Translated by the Author
English text kindly revised by Richard

ACT 3 - THE PUPPET UGO

First Scene

Ugo looked around for the umpteenth time. If at least Daniela was there… But that night, there was nothing interesting, the usual 'chicks', but... He could possibly hook one of them for a quickie, but nothing serious. He sipped his whisky, then decided to go to the dance floor to stretch his legs a while. With his 28 years, he felt old, out there. It wasn't that there weren't people older than him, in the disco, but the majority were boys and girls around 20 years old, more or less. Certainly, he thought while he danced, I will never find a solution here. He hoped for a while Daniela would be, but nothing happened.

He was a likeable type, he understood that from the appreciative glances of several girls, and from how they shook in front of him when he was dancing, so that he would notice them. Yes, he was really a handsome type, dark, tall, well proportioned, thick and somewhat rebellious hair, and his boyish face... At times, when he looked at himself in the mirror, he smiled thinking that his face, his body, would have been the ideal image for an after shave commercial - virile and yet gentle at the same time. And then, on the dance floor, he knew how to move in a very sensual way. That's why he garnered the admiring glances of the girls, and certainly he was arousing in them pleasing erotic fantasies. But what he was looking for, was something totally different. His wife, after all, was better than these girls, and what he missed in his wife, he could hardly find it in any of these mincing little girls.

He went back to sit down.

'Okay', he thought, 'what is missing in Stella so that I could cheat on her so easily?' She lacked... intelligence? It is not that she was stupid, on the contrary. But she had a flat intelligence, absolutely not lively, absolutely not creative... at least not as he would have liked. And above all, she lacked a taste for life. She was a down to earth woman, this is it! She, like all the girls he met so far, let herself live! She accepted things, almost underwent them, instead of trying to change them.

Stella was a good housewife, a fairly good woman in bed... but she wasn't a real companion! She wasn't someone with whom he could confront himself... she wasn't someone with whom he could dream a future and then try to build it... she wasn't 'somebody', in short. And this was very sad.

But each time he looked for another woman, hoping to find that somebody he missed, he came out disappointed. They all were like his wife. Perhaps they knew some more tricks in bed, it was not so difficult anyway, perhaps at first they showed more fizz than Stella, but then, after three or four times of love making, they turned out to be, in even the best of cases, at Stella's level. In the best of cases. So that, he had several adventures, but never one who could become a real lover. Daniela could have been that 'one'. She asked him questions, deep questions, she was interested in him, she discussed with him, she was a companion, a friend above all, and she would have become a splendid lover... But in a while she didn't show up any more. Pffft, vanished into thin air.

And he missed 'something', or rather, 'someone'.

Perhaps he was wrong from the very beginning. First of all he made a mistake marrying at 16. She too was 16, they were class mates when he made her pregnant. So, their families decided, by common agreement, they had to marry. Roberto was born. A real pest, his son Roberto, especially now that he was 12. Rather like cats - so nice when they are kittens, playful, delicious, tender... But then they grow older and become real pests. Selfish, that's it. Certainly Roberto was that way.

'Perhaps it's I who asks too much from life...' he thought in the end.

He noticed a red haired girl. For sometime she was hanging around him, pretending to be nonchalant... But he really couldn't stand red haired girls. But she seemed to stick around. He looked at her. She smiled at him. He shrugged his shoulders and turned his back on her. He liked blondes! Also Stella was a blond, but now she dyed her hair dark brown. Who knows why? At times he thought she did it on purpose. But probably not, if she dyed her hair out of spite, she would have certainly dyed it copper color...

He felt his head heavy. He finished his whisky and stood up, determined to leave. The red haired girl placed herself in front of him and approached him.

"Are you leaving, darling?" she asked, dully smiling to him.

"Yes... tonight nothing turns me on. Too bad for you."

"Fuck you!" she retorted and went away, waving her ass.

Ugo smiled satisfied, and went toward the door. Here he met Marcello who was coming in. They greeted each other, and finally Ugo was out on the fresh, softly pungent air of the night. He took his bike and rode quickly toward his home. Stella was asleep, luckily, and he did his best not to wake her - he really didn't feel like making love tonight.

He woke up at mid morning. He had a nice hard on. He heard Stella poking about the apartment. He was about to call her, then thought she would not come. So he started to slowly masturbate, his eyes closed, completely relaxed on the center of the wide bed. With his free hand he caressed his broad and muscled chest, his flat and firm belly, his well shaped thighs and the full testicles - it was a while he hadn't cum. Stella almost never caressed him, and never on his genitals. She clutched at him and made him mount her, and she emitted short, little pleasure whining... and then she got up at once to go to wash herself. Almost as if she felt dirty after he came. But she didn't caress him all over his body as he would have liked. At most, just a little on his back, just before her orgasm... Since when they married, a little less than half of their lives, she never even wanted to just touch his dick... But at least, she knew how to kiss.

Sometimes he was lucky and found a girl somewhat more uninhibited than average, like for instance Daniela. She even gave him head with obvious pleasure, as soon as he asked her. He liked it so much! Sex with Daniela was beautiful, talking with Daniela was beautiful, spending time with Daniela was beautiful... Why did he make himself tied up right from Stella?

He stopped before reaching his orgasm. In a while he would get up and he would take a good and long shower, and there he could better enjoy his orgasm. To make love under the shower... it must be wonderful... After, he would read his newspaper, then Roberto would come back from the Sunday school, they would have lunch, and then all three together, they would go to the stadium. Right like any sacrosanct Sunday.

The usual routine.

And just to think that his friends envied him! His family was considered a model. United, serene. From a certain point of view it was even true. After all, they loved each other, each in his own way. And they never quarreled, in his family. But is this enough to make of a family a model?

They never quarreled because he, Ugo, accepted things like they were even if he didn't like them. But he felt he was dying, inside. Oh, nothing tragic - a very slow death, gradual, imperceptible. Marriage had stolen all his youth. Certainly, he admitted that, Stella also had made her effort in adapting to him. She too had lost her youth. But each one gives more weight to his own sacrifices, more than to those of the other one... Anyway it was not Stella's the fault. If he just had just not been in such a hurry to fuck! There was for all a life for it. It would be necessary to explain this to adolescents...

And give them a box of condoms.

He went to the bathroom, shaved, and went in the shower. He always dreamed of a magnificent shower box, with the hydro-massage, with jets from all over... but he had to content himself with that single jet, large but weak, that pelted on his head. And if you moved a little too much, you bumped everywhere...

He copiously leathered all of his body until he obtained an abundant soap foam. He liked to spread it on his body, softly, and over and over again with his large, strong hands. It was a delicious, sensual, lusty sensation.

"Ugo, hurry up, it's almost ready!" Stella shouted, to overcome the water noise.

Ugo pretended he didn't hear, and continued to massage vigorously but slowly all over his body. In a while Stella called again. 'So then', he sighed and rinsed. He didn't even have the time to masturbate. He got out of the shower, and dried himself rubbing his body rapidly but vigorously with the linen towel. He put on his running suit, combed his hair, and went to the kitchen to sit at the table. Stella and Roberto had almost finished eating their risotto. Roberto was eating and talking, talking, talking. Sometimes Stella also said something. He listened just barely, just enough that allowed him to answer or to say in a while the right word to show he was participating. But the other part of his thoughts flew free, daydreamed.

Now he was thinking back to the shower. Perhaps these were the only really pleasurable moments in his life... That's really why he showered every day. And for such a long while.

"Dad, buy me the bicycle?"

"Not now, we don't have enough money."

"Not now, not now! And when, then?"

"Shut up and eat. Dad is right." Stella intervened.

But really, just moments before, she told the boy to ask dad. Now she had had at least the sensibility to support her husband. Stella was that way - she never made any decision, but she always backed Ugo's decisions.

In the afternoon, they went to see a soccer match.

Stella and Roberto were ultra-fans of the Juventus team, that this Sunday played at home. They knew everything about each team member, not only his age or the goals made, but even things like his shoes size, and similar nonsense! And during the matches they got excited, shouted, protested, lost heart... it was a kind of rite shared with the team. If the team won or lost, it was not just the eleven athletes on the field to have won or lost, but them, the fans. The eleven players were just the priests of that liturgy, the mediators. But the real protagonist were them, the fans.

Ugo enjoyed the matches. Not for the game in itself but for the atmosphere in the stadium. For him, after all, who won or lost didn't matter so much. What attracted him was the choral drama, the 'Epos' that happened on the stadium's tiers, the collective exaltation.

Here, it was the only occasion he could see Stella excited, hot, enthusiast... but, unhappily not for her husband.

And yet, Ugo was thinking, life had to be always full of excitation, warmth, enthusiasm, and not just in the stadium for the two halves plus the overtime. He could understand so much pathos for a loved person, but not towards eleven strangers... bought at the soccer market...

After the match, while the mass was poring out of the stadium, they met Marcello who invited them to stop at a pub with him. Stella looked at Ugo, who quietly nodded in assent.

As he had guessed, they spent almost all the time commenting on the match. Roberto often interrupted, with his shrill voice, with remarks stuffed with commonplace and stock phrases. Ugo told himself that perhaps he was too critical of his son. Possibly he too, at that age, had been as loquacious and superficial. Roberto was at a strange age - physically he seemed at times nice, at times dull. And in his reasoning at times he was amazing for his sagacity, at times he made your heart sink for his superficiality.

Not Stella. Stella was always the same - the average woman. 'Aurea mediocritas' Ugo found himself thinking.

Marcello was now talking about their work. Nothing important. Some gossip or hearsay about some colleague women. Then there was a rumor about a new notice from the head quarters of their bank, about a restructuring of the services, but it had not yet arrived at their branch. Marcello seemed worried.

"You'll see, some of us will loose our jobs. It always happens that way, when they announce a services restructuring!"

"In that case it is me, not you Marcello, who has to worry. I don't yet have a regular job."

"But you, how long are with us, three or four years?"

"Three years. But always as a temporary substitute... I have yet to understand for whom. And all because I don't have a university diploma."

"I too don't have one." Marcello observed.

"But you were hired well before me, and nowadays you are permanent. Anyway, it is useless to put the horse before the cart. We will see..." Ugo concluded, as he didn't feel like talking about their jobs.

But Stella intervened: "Eh, no! Let's hope that nothing happens. If you lose this job, Ugo, how will we eat? It is not at all easy to find another job, in these times and at your age. If at least I worked... You never succeeded in keeping a job. Even your high school diploma, how long did it take to you to get it? To say nothing of the university."

Ugo didn't answer. He wanted to say to her that if he didn't have to marry her, he would have continued his studies. He had all excellent grades, before his marriage. He loved to study. But then, working to maintain them... But he said nothing. When Stella did say these things, and it was not seldom, she didn't say it out of spitefulness, nor to hurt him. But just as a facts acknowledging, facts that she didn't like.

They went back home. Ate their supper. Looked at the TV. Went to bed. Stella wanted to make love. They did it.

And a new working week started.

Ugo didn't dislike his office work, even if he was not really enthusiast about it. It was possibly too much of a routine job for his character, but you cannot have everything from life. But just that partly more of habit, allowed him to have time to think, to build castles in the air. Moreover he liked to be in contact with people, lot of people, of any kind. He felt useful - each one had a small problem to solve, and he listened, advised, did his best to help. And so at his counter window, there were longer queues than at the others, because many clients preferred him to serve them.

At times he thought that after all it was gratifying for him to feel useful, important to somebody... At home he didn't feel important. Useful, yes. At least as long as he brought home a salary, not so large but sufficient for them. But for sure not important. Not even for his son.

The five days he spent at work in the bank went more rapidly than the two days he spent at home.

Second Scene:

On Thursday he was summoned by the director. It had to be something important, and he was summoned to the director's personal office, he was received with unusual courtesy, and the director closed both the doors, the one to the corridor, and the other to the secretary's room.

Yes, it was something important. At the end of the month, his contract would no more be renewed. There was no special reason, no reproaches nor complaint, on the contrary, the director sang his praises... but the well known notice about the services restructuring... hit again.

Ugo was surprised with the calmness with which he received the news. For it was just May 13th of the month, there were a good two weeks until the end. The number 13 doesn't bring bad luck, he said to himself, I'll find something or other. Then, suddenly, another thought - Stella will take it in bad way... very much.

Leaving the director's office, he went back to his window and resumed his work, as always. Marcello, who was in the next window, asked him what the director wanted.

"To sack me." Ugo quietly answered.

"Oh, shit! I'm so sorry!" Marcello said. He was probably sincere.

After work Ugo passed at the news stand and bought two or three newspapers that he immediately opened to the page of the job offers.

Stella, oddly, didn't take it amiss. She was not happy, that's natural, she was also worried, but she didn't kick up a fuss.

The days passed. Ugo sent several letters with his resume to several postal boxes. He also made some telephone calls, but nothing came of it. And the days passed, and the end of the month was approaching.

On May 24th Marcello gave him a note saying: "Take it. The director, when he was leaving, told me to give you this address. They are looking for a secretary and he recommended you. He says to go there as soon as possible, and that it is a very good job."

On the note, with the handwriting all flourishes of the director, were written few words:

"Count Massimo Aldeschi, c/o Turin Palace Hotel, Suite 120. p.s.: You can introduce yourself using my name." and his signature.

Ugo read twice the note, then asked to Marcello: "Did he tell you what's about?"

"Just that they are looking for a secretary and that he already advanced your name."

"Ah, very kind of him..."

"When will you go?"

"I don't know. I have possibly to make a telephone call, first, setting up a meeting..."

"Call immediately, then."

"No, around 11. It seems to me a more appropriate time, for a Count..."

He called at 11 a.m., the Count was out. They told him to call again in the afternoon. He called again around 4 p.m. The Count set the meeting for Saturday morning, at 8. Ugo thought it was early, but accepted without objecting.

Saturday the 29th of May, Ugo woke up at 6, carefully shaved, took a long shower, dressed in an elegant, even if not formal, way, ate his breakfast, took his bike and at 7:50 parked it near Porta Nuova Station. He crossed the street and entered the hotel.

For several days he wondered about the interview. What kind of person could the Count be? Judging from the voice he had not to be too old - it was a warm but self confident voice. And what kind of job will he propose to him? What does the secretary of a Count do?

He was sent up. He knocked at the 120. A boy around 23 years old came to open the door.

"I am Ugo Remondi. Sir, I have a meeting with Sir l' Count."

"Come in, please. I was waiting for you. I am Massimo Aldeschi."

Ugo was baffled - he didn't expect to receive a job offer from such a young person, from mere a boy. The Count took him in his suite's lounge.

"Well, Mister Remondi. What I need is a general secretary. I am told you are able to carry out the normal office work. But in addition to that, you will have also to keep the contacts with the banks, I presume you will not have difficulties with that, with several offices, companies, with the authorities and the public offices... By the way, do you have a driving license?"

"Yes, I have the Class B license, but I have just a bike..."

"Good, no problem. I will see to it that you have a car. You see, it is just a few days since I arrived in Turin, and I intend establish myself here, to have here the head offices of my finance company. All starting from the beginning, from scratch so to speak. You will be my first collaborator, if you accept an offer of work from me."

Ugo listened and thought it over. "The proposal seems interesting, Sir Count..."

"Regular hiring, with contract, of course. The initial pay will be two millions per month, tax free income, two bonus per year equal to your pay, 15 days of paid holidays, overtime pay, of course. Does it suit you?"

"Two millions?" Ugo asked widening his eyes.

"Do you think it is too little?"

"No! No, on the contrary. I think it his a high wage."

"No. You have to understand that, working with me, there will be practically no fixed schedule, no limit of time. At times I could need you to late night or even in the holidays. Anyway, all the hours above the eight per day will be paid as overtime, and the hours on Saturdays and Sundays or holidays, double pay. If you come to work with me, there will not be a fixed schedule, is that clear?" the Count repeated, then asked: "Do you have family?"

"Yes, Sir, I have a wife and a 12 years old son..."

"Ah, I see. So then, this could make difficult for you to accept a work so... involving. But you were recommended to me as a skilled and able person, and I would really be glad to have you with me."

"Well... I think..."

"I don't ask you for an immediate answer. You can think over it, talk with your family, if you feel like... But if you accept, you have to start to work with me on the first of June."

They parted. Ugo would have accepted on the spot. A new job, possibly even agreeable. The fact that he could spend little time at home, after all, didn't give him any problem... The only one point that made him somewhat perplexed was the youth of his new employer. Who was he? He was so young to be talking about investments, contacts with the authorities... Creating something from nothing, he had said. This fascinated him. Create - a magic word. But could he trust him? And if he was just someone grown too big for his britches, even if an aristocrat? He decided that on Monday morning he would have to ask the bank director - since he recommended Ugo, he had to know the Count.

Meanwhile he talked with Stella. She didn't have any doubt - he had to accept. Two millions and more per month, it was a nice economic jump.

Monday the 31st of May, Ugo went to see the director. He told him that the Count had a deposit on their bank of over 200 thousand millions of liras. Therefore he could rest assured. He was the sole heir of a huge fortune and he wanted to invest his capitals. And the youth had very clear ideas.

Ugo asked himself how felt about 23 years old man with such a sum in his hands. What effect could it have made on him to inherit such a capital? Someone with such a sum, could even live a long and wealthy life of income, without touching a penny, just with the bank interests!

So, Ugo accepted the work, and was hired as the personal and general secretary of the young Count.

One of the first tasks he received, was to find an empty apartment, very large, with personal garage, to buy in the center of the town. Better if with private entrances. In fact the Count wanted to organize it into three sections. His own private apartment, a section for the offices and reception, and a section for the guests. Ugo started to look around, both going to the estate agents than looking at the ads on the newspapers. After several tours and visits, he submitted to the Count three solutions. The young man opted for an apartment in Maria Vittoria Street, in an ancient mansion, a National Historical Monument, taking all the second floor. It had the three separate entrances on three different stairways, because in reality they were three large apartments, touching, which could easily be connected just making internal doors. In the courtyard there were also two large garages with at least two car places each.

The Count had him prepare all the documents for the purchase, so he just went to sign them. Then, he charged Ugo with finding some good architects to prepare the projects for the refurbishing and the interior design. Meanwhile he asked Ugo to see to the purchase of two cars, a Y10 and a Ferrari.

Ugo was happy, he liked his new work very much. The Count told him also to have, in the central part, an office prepared for himself, near the Count's office, and with a bedroom adjoining, in case Ugo had, at times, to stay there all night long.

The refurbishing works of the complex started. Ugo cared for all the papers and contracts, from the permits from the Historical Monuments' Superintendence, to the contracts for the building concession to restructure the interiors. All day long he followed the work, prepared the necessary papers, organized his work. Every two or three days, in the evening, he had supper with the Count in the hotel, then went up to the suite to discuss plans and projects for the following days, or to submit to the Count the reports an asked him to sign some documents.

The Count always asked him his opinion on everything, before deciding, and often followed Ugo's advises.

Even though he was so young (Ugo saw on the documents that the Count had just had his 23rd birthday, being born on May 5th 1965) the Count seemed a really intelligent person. But above all, what Ugo liked, was that the young man seemed full of life, full of ideas, full of enthusiasm even though he had both feet firmly on the ground.

Third Scene:

It was now three months that Ugo worked for the Count and, having been hired in June, he didn't have his summer holidays. But he didn't feel badly. Thanks to his increased salary (with the overtime he reached an average of three millions per month) he could pay to send Stella and Roberto for a nice month of vacation on the Cote d'Azur, in France.

The new apartment had been completely restructured and at the end of August the work on the interiors refurbishing had started. The Count didn't care what it, just wanted to have posh accommodations. However Ugo watched so that there were no waste, he verified all the prices, because he felt responsible for the good results. He spent almost all his time following the work. At mid September, the Count asked Ugo to start to think about hiring all the personnel for the apartment and for the bureau. Ugo wrote ads for the main newspapers and received the applicants in the small office that the Count had prepared for him at his hotel. Several people applied. For each applicant who had the required skills, he filled a card with the applicant's picture, he gathered and verified the references, then discussed the applications with the Count. He wanted four people for the apartment (caring for the kitchen, the wardrobe, the cleaning, and a driver) and three for the offices. Ugo suggested that they hire in all eight people who were at least in part interchangeable, who were able to carry out several duties. In that way it would have been more easy to substitute who eventually fell ill. Then he suggested to choose from among them, after some months of test, some kind of a butler. The Count agreed.

Something that seemed curious to Ugo was that the five people chosen to work in the apartment were all men, and the three in the office, all women. And they were all young, about the same age of the Count.

The Count asked Ugo to provide for attire for the house personnel and a uniform for the office girls, who would start to work as soon as the apartments were ready. He asked him also to prepare the working schedule for all the personnel.

"You will personally care for all the personnel. Ah, by the way, Mister Raimondi, there is something that for a while I have in mind to ask you. I am really happy I had the luck to acquire you as my personal and principal collaborator. I feel very comfortable with you, I like the way you comport yourself and I have full trust in you. You are becoming my 'alter ego'. So, if you agree, I would be pleased if we call each other by name, less formally. After all, we are almost the same age."

Ugo looked at him pleasurably surprised, then, smiling, he said: "I thank you very much, you are really kind, Sir Count, but... if you want call me by name I will be honored, but... It will not be easy to me to treat you with familiarity..."

"I cannot treat you with familiarity if you too don't do it. It would seem to me to treat you from high to low, like a servant. It is nonsense."

"But you are a Count, and I am not. You are the master, and I am not."

"Those are things that nor I and neither you choose. Please! If you called me by name, with more familiarity... I will possibly feel less lonely."

Ugo seriously nodded. The Count did touch the right button. "I will try, I will try then... Massimo."

The Count lightened up: "Thank you Ugo. You don't know the pleasure you are giving me. You see... I hope we can become friends... I don't have friends, but I need friendship. And nowadays I know that I can fully trust you." he said and, took Ugo's hand between his hands, he held it tight, with warmth.

The simple fact of calling each other by name, imperceptibly but gradually changed the relationship between the two young men.

Ugo liked Massimo. He was a very intelligent and likeable, a brilliant young man. He was full of fervor, enthusiasm for things. But most of all, he leaned on Ugo for a thousand little things and that gratified Ugo immensely. At last he felt useful for somebody, important, almost essential. And for the first time in his life, he was near somebody who stimulated him to plan for the future, and who had great projects. Even if it was Massimo's future, Ugo felt to be an integrating part of it and little by little he was feeling it more and more as his own thing. In fact Massimo, not only always asked his opinions on many things, but was giving him a growing autonomy of decision for his projects details.

Work was now demanding him even twelve hours per day, and every two or three days, when he met Massimo, also part of the night. At times he was there on Saturday and Sunday. But Ugo was happy, in fact it was not at all a burden to him to have less and less time to spend with his family. Also Stella didn't seem to regret having Ugo less frequently at home, because she was abundantly compensated by the greater comfort that now they had.

At last Massimo could leave the hotel and move in the large apartment. He wanted Ugo to have all the keys of the three parts, and asked him to purchase himself a new wardrobe that he could keep there in his personal bed room near his office, so that he could always dress in an appropriate way for the different occasions, and in particular when Ugo had to accompany him or to represent him. The Count told him that he had to make an initial expense around six millions, and to increase his salary of half a million per month, to renew and maintain his wardrobe.

Ugo accepted without question, as he considered all that as the equivalent of the liveries or of the uniforms of the personnel. And considering, he now liked to be able to dress in a refined and elegant way. So, when he came there from home, he went to his room to choose the clothes fitting for what he had to do, often advised by Massimo, especially in the first months, he took off his 'home clothes' as he called them, and wore the other, nicer clothes. He checked in the mirror to see that all was in order. The image he saw reflected in it was pleasing. The new clothing enhanced his appearance. Besides being more elegant, Ugo noticed, he was even more sensual... Yes, he liked his image. At times, while he was changing his clothes, Massimo assisted, to advise him. At first Ugo felt a slight sense of embarrassment to change in front of the young man, but soon became used to it. On the other hand, it also happened that Massimo called him to give him his last orders, while he was changing himself. On these occasions Ugo had noticed that Massimo had an handsome body, muscled without being too exaggerated, and very well proportioned.

All together, Ugo had much work to do. But he always did it very willingly. At times he had to pick up some guest from the airport and to take them, on different occasions, or to a hotel, or to the guest wing of the large apartment. He often had to have lunch with them, to be sure they were well settled and didn't want anything.

Ugo didn't know that much about Massimo's business, but he didn't inquire about it other than what his employer and friend told him. Anyway Massimo at times asked him advise also on problem about his business. So he knew that he was in association with an important editorial house, with a couple of private television stations, and with a chain of hotels... At times he had to prepare documents for these businesses, but the most passed on the hands of the three girls of the office. His main job was being a kind of personnel administrator, and to have to responsibility for the eight people was really gratifying to him.

The 5th of May, Ugo prepared a nice party for Massimo's birthday. He wanted to make it a surprise for him, therefore he fixed in time a fake appointment for him on that day to be sure he would be in town. In fact Massimo, at times, was absent even for two or three days, but seldom for longer periods. Often he stopped in his apartment only in the morning. In any case, when he was away, he often called Ugo to know if there were news.

So, on the 5th of May, Massimo found his apartment filled with flowers - Ugo choose the blue-violet irises because he knew that this was his favorite color. He had also organized, with the house personnel, a tasty and elegant lunch. And he racked his brain to think about an exquisite gift for him. But, what did one give somebody who already has everything he could desire? In the end he opted for something original. He knew that Massimo was enchanted by the carillons. So he searched all the shops of the city until he gathered about fifty of them, all with different tunes. Then he had a musical instruments maker build a sound box where he could insert and affix the mechanisms, with a small electric motor and a wheelwork to insert one or another of the tunes just pressing a button. Ugo was proud of the result. He had a special container built with various precious inlaid woods, to enclose it in a very special way and put it on the center of the sumptuously laid table.

When at twelve 'o clock he sent the waiter to call Massimo, and when the Count entered in the dining room, Ugo, with all the personnel, greeted him with a happy birthday. The young man was visibly moved and Ugo was happy. The two sat at the table to begin to eat, but first Massimo wanted to open his present. He was enraptured by it.

"Oh, Ugo! It's too beautiful! You don't know the joy you are giving to me. Really I don't know how to thank you. You... you are more than an employee, to me, more than a friend. You are... the family I never had!"

They had the lunch. Then, after drinking their espresso, they moved, alone, in Massimo's studio. Here Ugo gave him the last news. But soon was aware that Massimo, in reality, was not listening to him. He was looking at him, staring at him but was evident that his thoughts were elsewhere.

"Massimo... are you troubled, I see you're ... pensive?"

"Eh? Ah, no, sorry... I was thinking..." he said, but then became silent.

Ugo looked at him in curiosity. He never saw him so absent. Then Massimo added, all in one breath: "Ugo, I fell in love with you."

"Eh? What?"

"Yes, I like you so much. I want to make love with you."

"I... sorry but... I don't understand..." Ugo said, confused.

"Ugo, it is almost one year we are together. I realized that you are so important to me. You are more than a friend, I told you. But very much more, and I became aware that I would like you to be my lover."

Ugo gulped two, three times. Then, looking for the words not to offend him, said: "I... I never... I... We are two men..."

"Yes, of course, I know it. But two men can also love each other."

"Yes, I know it happens. But I... I never did such things with someone of my same gender..."

"There always is a first time, don't you agree?"

"But I don't... like it."

"If you never did it, how can you tell you don't like it? I am not saying to you that I want to... fuck with you. I said I am in love with you and that, therefore, I feel the need to make love with you. It is different, don't you understand?"

"I too am really affectionate to you, I love you very much, but... what you are asking me... is not possible. Forgive me. It is not possible."

"All is possible, if one wants it. All is possible if there is real love."

Ugo slowly shook his head. He didn't know what else to say, he didn't know what to think.

"I would have never guessed that you... that you..."

"That I, what?" Massimo asked.

"I... I don't want to offend you, that you were... gay. You don't seem a gay man at all!"

"A gay? What is a gay? A label. I am not a label. I am Massimo. The Massimo of ever. And I refuse any label. I am just Massimo, and this Massimo fell in love with you. And then, are you sure I don't seem a gay? How are gay made? Effeminate? There is no relation with being effeminate. Pervert? I don't feel a pervert. I am simply, and deeply, in love with you. You are good hearted, intelligent, sensual, well shaped, alive, handsome, skilled... you have a thousand good qualities. How can one not to fall in love with you? I understood that I need you, exactly you. This, at least, can you understand?"

"Yes, certainly. And I thank you. I too feel so good near you. I too found in you a thousand very beautiful qualities. And you gave me so much. You gave back to my life a sense, a taste... And I am very much affectionate to you, and I really can say I love you. But you can't ask me to... to come to bed with you."

"I can't? I just did it, Ugo..." Massimo said and stretched his hand on the desk, putting it on Ugo's hand. Ugo, on instinct, pulled back his hand with a sharp gesture.

"Sorry. Forgive me. I disgust you, now, isn't it?" Massimo said with a humble tone.

"No, not at all! What does that matter... Forgive me, I didn't want to..."

"If I just touch you, now it scares you so much?"

"No, forgive me, I said..." Ugo repeated.

"Ugo, I don't want to rape you. I would never do to you something against your will. And then... there is a table between you and I, you can feel safe." the young man concluded with a tone of light sarcasm.

Ugo felt blushing and was ashamed for his reaction. He put again his hand under that of Massimo, that didn't move from the desk.

"I ask you again, Massimo, forgive me. You just caught me so unawares... I reacted without meaning to. But I beg you, think on it again. Perhaps you just mistake a strong friendship and affection feeling with... love. Yes, it has to be that way..."

"But a strong friendship, as strong as it could be, doesn't it arouse you for the desire. Your nearness excites me. Often, just to think of you arouses me. I desire you, it is useless to hide that."

Ugo didn't know what to say, how to come out from that embarrassing situation.

Massimo, after a short silence, asked him: "You never did it with a male, for real?"

"No, never."

"Not even when a boy, or in the military service?"

"No, really never."

"And... are you so scared to try it? Are you scared you can admit, afterwards, that you liked it?"

"No, I don't think this is the problem. I just never thought about it. Not even a little bit, believe me..."

"And yet, it is so beautiful. With a woman, you see, there can never be parity, comprehension. But there can be with a man, because they are the same beings. Physiologically there is not a dominator and a dominated. There is comprehension, because we have the same psyche... You are married... is all perfect in the relationship with your wife? Are you really satisfied?"

"Well... it's all right..."

"Really all right? She is your ideal companion?"

"Rather..."

They both became silent for a long while. Ugo looked at that hand lying on his hand, but he didn't really see it. He was lost in confused, overlapped, incomplete, disordered, troubled thoughts.

At last Massimo pulled out his hand and said: "Please, forgive me, Ugo. I didn't want to trouble you so much. I convinced myself that you felt something for me, that you understood me... Also your present... I felt it like a love present... I persuaded myself, I was thinking to offer you some cognac, up there, in my room, to kiss you... to read joy and acceptation in your eyes... But... let's try to forget everything. If just you can, if now you are not too disgusted with me... now that you know. If you can, try to forgive me, don't be upset with me. And... don't leave me. Don't leave me alone you too, please..."

"I am not upset with you. And I have not the slightest intention of leaving you, Massimo. You just were wrong on me. But on the other hand, if you didn't try, you couldn't know... I... I understand you, believe me."

"Perhaps. Perhaps you understand me...," he paused. "But you were telling me something. Would you please resume that speech?"

Ugo had a much difficulty to find the thread of the things he had to tell him, but somehow, he managed.

But from that day, Ugo became aware of things that before he never thought about. He noticed, for example, how Massimo looked at him, smiled him, talked to him. And now in each slightest gesture, glance of the young man, he could see that Massimo was in love with him. And now it often happened that Ugo woke up during the night, and thought about Massimo, and his love.

If Massimo were a woman, he became aware, he could say he had at last found the ideal person, the one he was looking for, always, and that he never could find. But Massimo was a man, irremediably male. And also a fine specimen of a man. Really virile without being at all rough. Refined and virile. The ideal in a man, in some ways. And he was affectionate, he always had been, from the very beginning. More affectionate than all the girls he had had. Or perhaps, affectionate in a better way, because it was a kind of affect not mawkish, not maudlin, not full of sloppiness...

Little by little, a gnawing doubt crept in him... could Massimo be right? How could he say he wouldn't like to make love with a man if he never tried? Was it just a kind of prejudice, instilled in him from his childhood, that two men must not love each other? Homosexuals, were they all really just a pack of pervert like people said? Massimo didn't seem so at all...

Ugo was more and more torn, more and more troubled. And yet, even if he really felt a great affection for the young man, he was not at all attracted by him on a physical level. He liked him yes, he was also fascinated by him, but absolutely not aroused by him. At times he also felt the impulse to embrace him, but just for a sense of tenderness, like a friend, like a brother... Or was it instead the symptom of a repressed attraction?

No way! Evidently Massimo was wrong. Possibly the boy just felt alone and therefore... But, if it was on the contrary him, Ugo, to be wrong, and not Massimo?

Fourth Scene:

On the 1st of June, Massimo wanted to organize a little party for the first anniversary of hiring Ugo. With a few changes, it was repeated like the birthday party, just in this case the one celebrated was Ugo. At the center of the dining table there were several gift's package, each one wrapped in a paper of a different color. Ugo opened them with the curiosity of a child - not even for his birthday or for Christmas did Stella give him find so many gifts... There were things of a little value and others of a great value. A small organizer with Florentine hand made paper binding, a Missoni sweater, a small Indian bell with a soft and silvery sound, a beautiful golden watch, a raw silk necktie, ivory cuff links... and a bottle of cognac!

When he saw the bottle, Ugo's heart missed a beat. He held the bottle as if testing its weight, lost in a chaos of thoughts and emotions, then, almost without thinking about it, all in one breath, he said to Massimo: "Later we can go to drink this in your room?"

Massimo opened in a wide smile: "With pleasure. Will you think to send away the servants?"

"Yes, sure..." Ugo said, and stood up to give the order.

All through the lunch Ugo felt like drunk. He had difficulty to put together his thoughts, he barely was able to sustain the conversation. After the lunch, when the servers left and they were alone, Massimo stood up from the table, the cognac bottle in one hand and two glasses in the other and went towards his room. Ugo followed him. He felt tense, he imperceptibly trembled, but he followed him without hesitation. He had now decided, he had at least to try...

They sat on the edge of the bed. Massimo poured the cognac in the glasses, put the bottle on the floor and handed one glass to Ugo. They made a silent toast and started to drink, looking in each other eyes.

Ugo felt like if time had ceased to flow. Then Massimo stood up, took away the glass from Ugo's hand and put them on the night table, then came again near him. Ugo made an imperceptible, instinctive movement like to escape him, but succeeded in controlling himself and stayed there, still, awaiting. Massimo had him stand up, took him lightly in his arms and brushed his lips with a light kiss. Then he went on the other side of his bed and started to slowly undress. Ugo had followed him with his eyes. He lowered them, turned back, but at his turn started to undress, embarrassed but decided to go on to the end. Several times they did dress and undress one in front of the other, but this time it was completely different. They took off their clothes one by one, and Ugo had his head in turmoil. His chest was bare, when he heard Massimo going on the bed. Then he felt his lips on his shoulders. He finished undressing.

Massimo, taking him at his sides, placed him on the bed and made him lie down. Ugo closed his eyes, embarrassed, but let him do it, passively waiting. He tried to relax, but he felt terribly tense and nervous. He felt Massimo's body adhering to him, and perceived its warmth, its turgidity. But his own body remained tense and inert. He didn't feel annoyed, but not even pleasure nor excitation. Massimo caressed him gently all over his body, but nothing happened. These hands were pleasurable, but not exciting. Massimo continued for a while, titillated his erogenous parts, put in action various attempt to arouse him, but then surrendered.

"It doesn't work, isn't it?" Massimo asked almost in a whisper.

"No... I'm sorry, Massimo... Forgive me."

"No, you have to forgive me. I should not even to try, possibly."

For a while they stayed silent on the bed. Then Ugo felt Massimo standing up. He opened his eyes and saw him standing in front of the window, looking outside through the lace curtain, still, in silence.

Ugo felt sorry for Massimo. He guessed how much sadness his friend had to feel and how humiliated. He didn't want to humiliate him. He did try precisely because he loved him, but it didn't work.

The silhouette of Massimo's bare body, against the light in front of the window, was beautiful, harmonious, sweet.

Ugo started to dress again, in silence. Massimo remained still, and was silent. When Ugo was dressed again, went near the window, brushed with his hand Massimo's side almost in a shy caress, deposed a light kiss on his shoulder and murmured: "I'm so sorry... for real... so very sorry..."

"Doesn't matter Ugo, doesn't matter. Thank you, rather, to have tried. Forgive me..." Massimo answered in a sad tone, without turning back.

Ugo hesitate a while, then, whispered a "Ciao" went out, the most silently possible, from the bedroom. He went to his office, sat at his desk and leaned the head on his arms, closing his eyes. He felt sad. He hurt Massimo. He didn't want, he really didn't. A physical refusal had to be even more humiliating than a refusal in words. He possibly should not even have tried. Massimo didn't deserve the humiliation that he unwillingly had inflicted him. But what could he do? He couldn't help, it was not his fault. He did try, honestly, because he loved Massimo. But his body didn't react, didn't answer, ignored his friend's attentions, refused him.

He remained so for a long while, then he stood up again and went back home.

But not immediately. Before, he stopped in a pub and drank three, four beers, slowly, until he felt somewhat lighter. Then went back home. He had dinner with his family. Stella seemed not to notice his state. As usual they looked the TV, then went to bed. And then, after several days he didn't do it, he approached Stella and they made love. He did it almost with ardor, impetuosity and Stella whined with pleasure at his passionate, but not violent, assaults. When at last Ugo reached his orgasm and relaxed, exhausted, sweaty, his heart wildly beating and collapsed in a deep sleep, Stella went to carefully wash herself in the bathroom...

And Ugo dreamed Massimo... he dreamed of him naked, still, against the light... and Ugo woke up with an incredible erection.

The day after he worked as usual, or rather, with more dedication than usual. Massimo was not at home, and he was almost happy with that. And in the evening he again made love with his wife with renewed impetuosity, almost as if he wanted to demonstrate to himself that he liked women. And on the night, he again dreamed Massimo naked, and again he woke up at deep night, terribly aroused.

But what was happening to him? Ugo didn't understand, couldn't understand himself. He was thinking, and thinking again of Massimo, of what happened... and now even through the day he recalled that 1st of June, and he could almost feel Massimo body's heat, his excitement, his turgidity searching him, his hands touching him... and now Ugo was excited, aroused, even in full light of day, even not in a dream...

He met again Massimo, and became aware that each time he seemed him more beautiful, more sensual, more... desirable! The young man acted as if nothing happened between them, as if nothing changed between them. But Massimo continued to look at him with love filled... and sad eyes. No, something did imperceptibly change - Massimo seemed now to avoid those little affectionate gestures he had had in the past, and also to almost avoid any physical contact. And Ugo became aware that he was missing that. And one day he understood, with amazement but also with relief, that he too was falling in love, that what he really felt for Massimo was no more just affection, friendship, admiration, but also... desire. And now, even while he was making love with Stella, his imagination viewed again the beautiful naked body of Massimo.

And finally, Ugo admitted to himself that Massimo could possibly be precisely that 'someone' he always dreamed about, even if he was a male like him.

So, one evening, after the usual business meeting with Massimo, standing up from the desk, instead of leaving the room, feeling emotional like a school boy at his first love declaration, he said: "Massimo... our cognac is still there... I would like to drink it..."

"Are you... really sure?" Massimo asked sotto voce.

"I am."

They went to the bedroom. Ugo was a little tense, but this time he stood in front of the young man and started to unbutton his jacket. At once Massimo started to undress his friend. And soon, the light touch of these sure, determined hands, made Ugo quiver with pleasure. It was quite like a slow, solemn rite, out of the time. Ugo felt that it was like if, the one undressing the other, was taking possess of him; and allowing the other to undress him, was like offering himself. And Ugo became aware that, this time, even before being completely naked, he was fully aroused. The touch of Massimo's hands on his skin, this time, gave rise in him to intense quivers of pleasure. And feeling the naked skin of the boy under his fingertips, provoked him shudders of desire.

When they were completely naked, the one in front of the other, they tightly embraced feeling each one the other's erection pressing against him. When Ugo felt the skilled hands of the young man caressing him all over his body, suddenly felt invaded by an endless sweetness, he felt he was melting in a total abandon.

Ugo guided the young man to his bed and they lay side by side, still embraced. When Ugo felt Massimo's lips start to explore his body while his hands caressed him all over, making him vibrate like harp strings, Ugo felt happy and started at his turn to kiss and caress his friend all over his body, with gentleness. And when Massimo, spontaneously, almost as if he knew his most secret desires, caressed his genitals, then kissed them, then took between his lips his turgid member, Ugo felt to be in paradise. They made love, and Ugo felt to live a dream. He never had had so beautiful sensations, so intense, so complete and involving. Massimo seemed to know by instinct everything he could have uselessly fancied in all his life. And Ugo became aware that, for the first time, making love, were not involved just his genitals and his mouth, as always happened to him, than it was not all focused there, but that all his body was involved deeply and participated with the same intensity.

And he was aware, in a, extremely lucid, and strong, and joyful way that he had at last really found that 'somebody' he always dreamed of, and looked for in all his life, and he gave himself completely to Massimo, without restraints. And inside him was born a sharp perception that made him even happier - he now belonged, body and soul, to Massimo.

For Ugo started the happiest period of his existence.

Fifth Scene:

Now Ugo was making love with Stella more and more infrequently and then almost as a "duty", because each time he found it less pleasing but above all less right. With her it was just fucking, not making love. He finally became aware, it always had been in that way, from the very first time at sixteen. He was in love with Massimo, and what was even more important to him, he was loved by Massimo. He had, at last, discovered the true love. Even with Daniela there had been no love, but just a good sexual relation and friendship.

When Massimo spent his night at home, now Ugo stayed with him all the night long, and they gave themselves to each other with passion. And more and more often, even in the nights when Massimo was not at home, Ugo stayed in the large apartment and slept in the bed of his beloved, smelling his faint perfume from the sheets, while he was happily falling asleep.

Ugo also stopped going to dance on Saturdays evening, he stopped looking for an adventure. Ugo in fact felt that he now belonged only and exclusively to Massimo, he didn't need anything more, he was interested in nobody else.

And, any moment his beloved told him: "I need you..." or just made him understand his desire, Ugo was ready and happy, available, with full dedication and enthusiasm. Now at last Ugo felt he was a man, a fully realized and happy man.

Massimo was a passionate and uninhibited lover, and Ugo let himself be guided by the younger but more expert young man, discovering so the eroticism and love between two men. He learned with joy to give him pleasure with his mouth and savored in a bliss Massimo's male's taste. He sank in Massimo with delirious transport, and opened himself to his lover with fluttering desire... and soon discovered that he also liked very much feeling the sound virility of his lover penetrating him and moving inside him. When they were so intimately united, the one inside the other, Ugo felt at last complete, alive, selfconfident.

He was together with Massimo for two years as an employee- associate, and one as a lover, when something that troubled him deeply, happened.

One evening that the young Count was absent, Ugo went back to his home. As soon as he arrived, Stella received him with harshness.

"Ah, right you!"

Ugo remained dumbfounded by her harsh, aggressive tone, so unusual in her For the first time he saw her shuddering in rage.

"What's up, Stella?"

"What's up? You even have the gall to ask me what's up? It is for me to ask you what's up! Perhaps, I should ask you who you are! But, who are you? I presumed I was married to a man, a male, not with a monster, with a shitty faggot!" she ended shouting.

Ugo felt these last words hitting him with the violence of a backhanded slap in full face.

"What are you saying?" he asked trying to recover from the surprise.

"Are you perhaps denying you are the bitch of your Sir Count?"

Ugo was in turmoil. How could Stella have discovered that? How was it possible? She did explain it to him.

"Everybody seems to know it, nowadays. It is just me, who had to receive that telephone call, this afternoon, to find out about it. Tell me it is not true... tell me!"

Stella's words were halfway between a challenge and a prayer. Ugo felt tempted to deny, to swear it was not true, for the sake of peace, but instead, almost without thinking, he said: "No, I am not Massimo's bitch, I am his lover."

Then Stella started to shout, almost prey of an hysterical fury: "You are a pig, a pig fag, a monster, a pervert!"

"Don't shout, please... our child..."

"He's not at home, don't worry. I sent him to my mother. Oh, God, what a shame! I threw away half of my life at the side of a half man, of a pervert. How could I not be aware of that!? How disgusting, disgusting, disgusting..."

"Come on, Stella, it seems to me you are exaggerating, now. I don't think you can complain about all these years." Ugo said with a strangely calm voice, then added: "I feel that I never made you miss anything, to you and to Roberto. And with you I made love every time you desired it, and you liked it... be honest."

"Oh, yes, poor thing! And God knows with what toil, what effort you had to do... to pretend to be a male!"

"No, no efforts, because I always loved you, Stella. Is that possible you can't understand?"

"No, sure, I can't understand. No, no, no, I don't want to understand. You disgust me! How can you say you always loved me? You were with me and at the same time you cheated on me with men! You disgust me, disgust, disgust..."

"Just with Massimo, and just for one year. I myself didn't know, before, that... Don't say so, you are not fair with me..."

"And is it fair then that you made me pregnant just at sixteen, and then that you used me for fourteen years? So, tell me, is it fair?"

"I never used you, Stella. Moreover, I too was sixteen, and anyway I didn't force you. And for fourteen years I accepted you, notwithstanding..."

"Notwithstanding I am not a male, so that I cannot offer you a cock to amuse you!" Stella sarcastically concluded.

"Don't put in my mouth words that I don't even think!"

"Right, sorry. But I don't have nothing else to put in your mouth, or to stick in your ass! I'm sorry!"

Ugo sat down, discouraged. Was it possible that Stella didn't want to understand, and that tried in all the ways to hurt him, to humiliate him? Was it possible that she didn't want to listen to him? He tried again, he had to give it a new try.

"Listen, Stella, let me explain, please. I myself never did even faintly think about... about cheating on you with a man. But it happened. And it happened because, even if I really love you, I love so much Massimo. It is not the same thing, of course..."

"Right. Happily you still can understand that. Happily you can see the difference. So then, as you are aware, go back to your paramour, ask him to fuck you, since I can't. You need a cock in your ass? I understand that. Yes, I understand, but do not show here any more. I don't want Roberto to grow up at the side of a pervert. I don't want that, now that he is growing up, you possibly try it with him, as he is a male."

Ugo shook his head, prey of a deep sadness: "And you throw away all these years so? I can't believe that all we had doesn't count any more, has no more value to you. I possibly was not an ideal husband, perhaps, but I don't think that... And then, how can you be so vulgar and wicked to say such things about Roberto and me? Don't you think you passed the limits?"

Stella's fury seemed to die off, to freeze, but what took its place was even worst - a cold calm, full of contempt.

"You, Ugo... or do I have to call you perhaps Ugolina... you can do what you want with your life, with your buttocks, with your future. But get out of my way. Or else, you will force me to tell everybody, everybody starting with your family and the Child Welfare Court who you really are. I want just to forget you, and make poor Roberto forget you. Go away, now!"

Ugo stood up and went out from his home, in silence.

He went back to Massimo's house, flung himself on his bed and hoped to be able to sleep until his lover was back. But you cannot possibly sleep for two days, especially when telephone calls came, and the staff has to ask you a thousand things, and you have to decide... life continues like before, if you want it or not.

Finally Massimo was back home and at once saw that something serious happened to Ugo. As soon as they were alone, he asked Ugo what did happen. Ugo told him everything. And at the end, asked him: "Now... may I live here, at least until I find a small flat for myself?"

Massimo embraced him: "Silly man, of course you can live here, without problems. And you have not to look for any flat, you know it. But... why didn't you deny, with your wife? After all she didn't have any proof, your word against hers..."

"I don't know. But I felt useless to deny, and unfair. I don't know."

"But, admitting it, you compromised me too, aren't you aware?" Massimo gently said.

"That's true... I'm sorry, I didn't think about that. I am really sorry…"

"But I don't care. What's done, is done. But, who could have called your wife? Who can have betrayed us in such way? Was it a man or a woman?"

"I've no idea, I didn't ask her..."

"For sure someone of this house personnel. I don't see who else could know about it. But now it is done. You, rather, how do you feel, Ugo, how are you?"

"I don't know. But you... you love me, don't you?"

"Certainly yes, you know it! I am deeply in love with you, Ugo."

"This, at least, has not crumbled down..."

Massimo, during this time, did all possible to distract Ugo and, little by little, he succeeded. He canceled by phone several appointments, to stay near his lover. And Ugo gave to Massimo also a present - he had installed at home a large shower stall with a powerful hydro-massage, and Ugo felt happy like a boy, not only because it was one of his oldest dreams, but also because he could make love in there with his Massimo.

When the young Count became aware that his lover was starting to feel better, one evening, after making love, said to him: "Excuse me, love, but I was thinking that perhaps... perhaps it would be better if you divorced from your wife. Your salary is enough to pay her and the boy alimony. Rather, if you want, I can increase your salary. But I feel that, even psychologically, you will feel better if you cut all the ties with her. Anyway, at this point..."

"Do you think? It's possible... After all, to me, nothing changes."

"Yes, sure. It can seem silly to you, but... if you divorce from her I will feel like... like if you were more completely mine."

Ugo looked at him tenderly, and embraced him: "I am completely yours, you know it. It was not right for me to run with the hare and to hunt with the hounds, as they say. Yes, I'll call the lawyer, tomorrow, and ask him to start the papers for my divorce."

At least Ugo was once again serene. Massimo surrounded him with tenderness and affection and with a thousand little attentions. He did also open for him in the bank a substantial account so that Ugo could provide to all the ordinary expenses directly, without passing each time through his signature. And Massimo was telling Ugo more and more about his business, and introduced him to everybody as his more trustworthy and valued associate. And when Massimo was invited to social parties, he always wanted Ugo at his side.

Sixth Scene:

One evening, when they were back home from one of these parties, while they were going to bed, Massimo said to Ugo: "Listen, love, in all these days I did nothing but thinking who in the personnel can have betrayed us. Even if now the damage is done, and it is silly to close the stable after the cows fled... But I was thinking that the fact to have in our home personnel looking, observing, understanding, judging and possibly gossiping about us, limits our freedom too much. I would like to be completely free, at least in our home, to show you all my affection and desire, without having all the time to be careful not to be seen by the staff... And anyway with very little success, as we have seen."

"Yes, you are right, it would be fine. But, what can we do?"

"We can change all the staff, also the one in the office, with surely gay young men. So, we can be more at our ease. If some of the actual servants, who are good, is also gay, we can even keep him, but we absolutely have to change all the others."

Ugo smiled: "Yes, but how to do it? You call them one after the other and ask them 'are you gay or not?' And for the new ones, you write it down as a condition in their contracts? It is not so simple..."

"Well, yes and no... It should be enough to 'try it' with every one of them, one after the other. Those who accept, remains, who doesn't, we dismiss him. And about the new ones, before to hire them, we can do the same thing. Those ready to have sex, and does it for real, and likes it, will be hired. If not, not."

Ugo looked at him in amazement: "Aren't you talking seriously, are you? Excuse me, Massimo, we would have to make sex with other people? But I love you, only you, I can't feel like..."

Massimo sweetly smiled and ruffled his lover's hair: "Silly man! I too love you, and only you. But now because I know that you really love me, it would not rise any problem for me knowing that you have sex with other boys. It is just having sex, not to fall in love. I wouldn't want renounce to you, for sure, not at all. But I can't see any other means to have our quietness. And then, if you don't physically like a boy, you don't have to try with him, just we discard him and that's all. After all, when you were with your wife, at times you went with other girls, right? And it was just sex. Wouldn't you do that for me, for us?"

"You know that I'm ready to do anything and everything for you. But to do..."

"Fidelity, my love, is not a purely physical thing, you know that. It essentially is an interior fact. And I know that you will always be faithful to me. Am I wrong?"

"Sure you aren't wrong. I love you too much. But the idea you are in another's arms, even if just for a... a fuck without consequences... makes me feel bad."

"Are you jealous of me?"

"I have no reason to be, but I think I could be jealous of you..."

"Not I. I feel totally sure about you. I really do trust you. So then, Ugo, I want to live with you without worrying, at least here in our home. Am I asking you to do for my love something too difficult? Wouldn't you do it for me, for us? Do you prefer I am the only one to do it?"

"No... I don't want you to do it! Not you..."

"So, then?"

Ugo gulped, then nodded in assent, unable to resist to his lover's request. "I'll take care of it, my love..." he said almost in a whisper.

"Agreed. Just, please, don't do these... 'trials' when I'm in town. Choose the days when I am absent, because when I am here, I want you all, and just, for myself..."

"Sure, as you want, Love."

A strange period started for Ugo. One after the other, he started to 'propose to' the five young men who already worked at home. Unconsciously, Ugo used the technique he once used in the disco when he was looking for an adventure. The cook refused with contempt and left his work on the spot. The servant refused kindly but firmly, and Ugo for the moment said nothing to him because, if he dismissed him, he was afraid that the others would accept just to keep their jobs. Also the cloakroom attendant refused, is a somewhat standoffish way. The house cleaner boy, Paolo, on the contrary, accepted willingly, and in bed showed to be very uninhibited, expert and fully available. The car driver blushed violently, but accepted. In bed was awkward and inhibited and, afterwards, asked to Ugo, as a favor, not to try that again with him. So, including the three girls of the office, Ugo had now to find seven new employees.

Then, he had an idea - he bought in a newsstand Babilonia, Italia Gay, Maschio and Doppio Senso, he rented a post office box, and placed on the four magazines an ad, so conceived: "Affirmed firm is looking for gay employees, ready to move to Turin, between 20 and 25 of age, for office works, catering, general maintenance. Driving license, optional. Send resume, references and picture to P. O. Box 513, Turin. Maximum discretion asked and offered."

The letters started to come. Ugo discarded the ones clearly not reliable or of graphomane. Then eliminated those that from the pictures seemed not to interesting or that, from the resume, didn't show to have the requested skills and abilities. Then he wrote to the others setting up meetings on different days and times. The first applicants started to show up. Ugo thought that, in this way, he did not need to take them to bed. But Massimo pointed out that, with the difficulty to get a work, some of the boys could even have sent a letter even if he was not really gay, and that therefore it was better if he tried them all also in bed, to be more sure.

So, Ugo started making his choices. He did send away some of them because they were too effeminate, or because they didn't make a good impression on him, or for other reasons. To those who seemed fit to carry out the jobs, he then proposed to have sex with him. Of course almost all of them accepted. The ones who didn't accept, were discarded at once. The others, one after the other, were at last hired. In two months all the personnel were hired. In these two months, Ugo had sex with the boys even more than once. Physically it had been pleasurable, without a doubt, but, once the selection was over, Ugo made clear to all the employees that it had been just a trial and that they would never again have sex. The eight boys could do as they pleased amongst themselves, but he belonged to Massimo and wanted to belong just to him. At times Ugo had to resist to the enticements of Tony, the new chauffeur, a really beautiful and desirable boy, but it was easy for Ugo to resist.

Massimo continued to be deeply in love with Ugo and to treat him with great affection and sweetness. He had the good taste to never ask Massimo details about the sexual performances of the eight boys working at home and in the office. Massimo now was, certainly, more effusive and spontaneous with Ugo, even in front of the employees, and this filled Ugo with joy, pleasure and pride. They could kiss or caress each other even in front of the boys, or have their breakfast in bed... and this also was, without a doubt, great. Ugo thought that possibly it had been worth to make that sacrifice, above all because now Massimo seemed a lot more serene and loving than ever.

Last Scene:

So, Christmas of the third year came. Massimo wanted to spend some days in Paris with Ugo, both because he had to carry out an important business there, and because Ugo never visited that town. They rented a magnificent suite in an elegant hotel near the Opera House. Massimo wanted Ugo to attend all his meetings and all the business lunches.

One evening, after dinner, they had withdrawn in their suite and were tenderly making love, when Massimo said: "Ugo, there is something that... I don't know if you were ready to do for me..."

"Anything. Now you have to know it, Love, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. But this time it is something... no, no, it is probably more right if I discard this business. After all, some hundreds of millions don't make me neither richer nor poorer..."

"What's about?"

"No, no, nothing, forget it. I sincerely prefer to lose that sum than to risk to lose you!"

"But, love, you know that you'll never lose me. Tell me what do you want me to do, and I'll do it." Ugo insisted.

Massimo thought for a long while, in silence, tormenting his face with his hand then, almost ashamedly, said: "The person I was talking with, tonight during the dinner, the one sitting at my right..."

"Yes, I see, it was Monsieur Juspin... so?"

"He seems ready to make a first investments of 600 millions of franks... but he put a condition..."

"That is?"

"It's so absurd. I told him 'no' at once, but he insisted so much, and tonight he told me, probably you heard him, he is waiting for a definitive answer tomorrow... I will tell him 'no' again. Forget it."

"Good grief! But it is 600 millions just to start... What's it about, tell me? Don't you trust me?"

"Certainly I trust you, love. Well... he is ready to make this first investments, and rather surely others will follow, on condition that... you accept to move in his hotel and have sex with him for the remaining days…"

Ugo, surprised, exclaimed: "What a pig, son of a bitch! And what did you answer him?"

"'No way!', I told you. Even if at this moment that money would have been useful for my business, I prefer to lose them than to use you!"

"Thank you Massimo. But... this business is important, right?"

"To me only you are really important, you know it. For my business, for sure, it would have been a rather important step..."

Ugo felt deeply ill at ease. If he refused, for sure Massimo would have understood and accepted, but in doing so, Ugo would have inflicted a serious economic damage to his lover. Did he have this right? He really loved Massimo so much and didn't want to give him any problem... He didn't like that man, above all physically, but more than that, he didn't like to go to bed with other people. But wasn't that selfish to say no just because he didn't feel like doing it? After all, it was just a physical problem, he had to endure just for a few days...

"Massimo... tell him that... it can be done. I don't like the guy, I don't like the idea of going to bed with another person, but I will endure that willingly, because I don't want to damage you with my selfishness. Faithfulness is not a physical fact, after all..."

"But, Ugo, it's not necessary. I told you, it is just 600 millions, after all. You are more important to me, more important of all I have, because I love you."

"I too, love you. And certainly it will be only a few days spent in that man's bed that will change our love, true? You know that I accept that only for the sake of our love, and that I will never do it as my free choice, right?"

"Certainly I know that, my love. But..."

"So, tell him we accept. But now, make love to me, please, I need it..."

So Ugo moved to the hotel of that financier for the remaining days of the week and yielded to all the yens of the wealthy libertine. To Ugo was a real torment, not so much physically but psychologically. Monsieur Juspin used him like a sexual toy...

But then, Ugo was abundantly rewarded by the affection full of warmth and attentions of his Massimo. After all, Ugo was aware, each time he sacrificed for his lover, he had been paid back with increased love and affection. It had been easier with their employees - they at least were young and handsome...

So, when after a few weeks, Massimo asked him, full of embarrassment, to go to bed with one of their guests and to be kind with him, Ugo docilely accepted, as not to disappoint his Massimo.

The young Count said to him: "I know I'm asking you a sacrifice, but I also know that you really love me... Would you please go to bed with Mr. So and So, so that he will be more available to conclude that business?"

Ugo went, because afterwards Massimo welcomed him in their bed with endless sweetness and tenderness, and confided him how much he felt bad thinking that his Ugo was in the arms of another man, and how much he appreciated Ugo's spirit of sacrifice...

Massimo never asked him details about those bad experiences, on the contrary he was so embarrassed even just to propose them to Ugo… It was so painful and difficult, that at a certain point he got into the habit leaving him simply a written note: "Dear Ugo, Love... If you feel like, if it is not too much for you, try to be kind to Mr. So and So. He is waiting for you at..."

And Ugo was always kind with anybody Massimo suggested to him, because he was so deeply in love with his young Count that he was not able to refuse him anything, absolutely nothing. It didn't happen so often, just once per month, on the average...

But if somebody made directly to Ugo some advance, some sexual proposal, he emphatically and with contempt refused, no matter how handsome and desirable the other was, because he was faithful to his Massimo, his only, great love.

END OF ACT THREE

CONTINUES

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In my home page I've put some more of my stories. If someone wants to read them, the URL is

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If you want to send me feed-back, or desire to help me revising my translation into English of another of my stories, send me an e-mail at

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(I can read only English, French, Italian... Andrej)