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This One Might Be Different: Different-Chapter 11
Joseph Schuyler sat in his office, satisfied finally with his decision.
The first object of his life had been to honor his father, Loren and mother, Selene. Numbers two and three were to guard the incalculable Schuyler fortune and see it grow, spending it along with the investment savvy of his adopted nephew Paolo. The last life task had been his responsibility to name the next beneficiary of the Schuyler Trust.
Honoring and spending wisely were lifelong tasks, nearly done now. The beneficiary business was a one-time decision with effects reaching out way into the future, more so than most decisions people ever make in their lifetime.
Of family, Paolo and Mateo had passed on before him. Joseph's own brother, deeply scarred by the childhood trauma of his kidnapping and burial alive, didn't want the stress and frankly Joseph had to admit to himself that Charles was unable to handle the job for many other reasons. No, his brother was very well provided for.
His mother was elderly. His father had passed on. His uncle Eric was dead. His uncle Brent wasn't prepared for the job.
His great-aunt by adoption was retired from the White House. Her children were not into art or finance and working for money in their eyes was for the common people.
All older relatives had passed on.
The current investment advisors, John Lodge and Jayden Miller, had capabilities resembling computers in memory and intelligence and had performed very well to date, but they weren't family.
An idea formed in his head from a story he had heard his uncle Eric tell a thousand times... the story of how he met his husband, Brent.
It would be a gamble, the outcome unknown, but a good result would solve the Schuyler Trust's issues for a long time to come.
The Paris branch of Schuyler traders was located in the Place des Vosges (Marais District in the first arondissement). The property had been acquired at hideous cost and massive political influence by Michael and Marcus Schuyler-Jones aided by the influence of Carol Schuyler,
Michael's mother, who was 'persona fabulously grata' at the Louvre, having saved their ass millions of dollars over time buying pieces of art that the Louvre wanted eventually but whose budget at the moment could not afford.
Priceless pieces of French and Egyptian art had been purchased by the Schuyler family and held for a contractual length of time with right of first refusal/purchase at the Schuyler's purchase amount before or at the end of that period, but not a day after.
Post-contract, the Schuylers had the right to keep the objet d'art or sell it to someone else, usually for a wild profit if they sold. They rarely sold. The beneficiary of the Schuyler trust, then, owned an enormous collection of priceless art no one could have hoped to value for auction...perhaps in the billions (trillions?) of dollars.
The Place Royale, as the Place des Vosges had been known, was first designed on order of Henri IV in 1612, the story went, for his Medici wife. A silk factory was planned there to keep her in the lingerie she must have needed. That factory was never built. Royals lived in this first planned square of Paris, later Victor Hugo had digs on the square in his family's house. A horse market, an industrial park of sorts, much later a city treasure, it brought tourists and local shoppers alike to its galleries.
A very discrete, vanishingly small rectangular polished gold plaque by the door of one unit bore the name "Schuyler."
A tug on the bell-rope by the plaque brought a footman to the door which opened only on recognition of the caller by the footman and the huge computer that scanned the caller's face and applied facial recognition software to assist the footman. A soft chime would sound in his ear if the computer approved of the caller.
All callers arrived by appointment save three. Joseph Schuyler, John Lodge and Jayden Miller could show up day or night and the footman would let them in on sight, the first because he owned the place, numbers two and three because they ran Schuyler Traders upstairs. They never did, but the footman would have let them in wearing Speedos, a somewhat different sartorial exercise than the overage very rich visitor who knew that the attire for that office was a business suit. A. very. expensive. suit.
The footman on call that Tuesday was Henri, who was by nature of his temperament and by the duties of his employment, sanguine. His stable greeting by name in every case reassured the visitor perhaps discomfited by plunging markets that day.
Henri, for all his sanguinity and sangfroid, noted a disturbance of equilibrium when the small bell by the door rang and his attention turned to the door from his perusal at his desk stand of the day's visitors.
All three gentlemen who stood there were unexpected. He immediately pressed a button on his lapel which alerted the executive manager on site that company royalty were at the door (his mind summoned up an American movie he'd had the misfortune to see where a line of dialogue implanted itself in his mind forever..."Cheese it, the cops!"
He quickly (for him) moved to the door, flung it open, and said "Welcome gentlemen." He didn't mention how unexpected this visit was since that would imply a mild criticism which he wasn't about to undertake. "May I take your coats?"
Joseph, Jayden and John doffed their outer coats, a winter luxury in Paris with its occasionally biting wind, and Henri took them reverently to place on to wooden hangars in a coat room.
The three proceeded up a typical Parisian elevator, which meant that one or two persons could ascend at once. Arriving at the trading floor they were met by the executive manager who welcomed them to his office and offered espresso and delicate chocolate croissants. "I am delighted that you come today, gentlemen. This establishment is, of course, honored with your presence. If I may be of service during your visit, please don't hesitate to ask..."
Joseph did have something in mind. They hadn't been cooped up in the Gulfstream and crossed an ocean to exchange pleasantries with Henri or Roget, the executive manager, after all. All three men were aware, naturellement, that Henri and Roget lived together as domestic partners and none of them cared in the least.
"We have come," said Joseph, "with a purpose. I need your help to find lodging for Jayden and John in Paris very near to the trading floor here. They will be at the Louvre most days, alternating for three months. However, the problem will be access, incomparable access, to their office in New York and to the various global markets. This access should be here, I think. Can you think, off-hand of a residence which would accommodate them and their security staff?
"You hired me for my abilities to solve problems, Mr. Schuyler. Have no fear. We will present a solution everyone will admire. Would it be presumptuous to inquire how many bedrooms will be needed and how many bathrooms?
"Two bedrooms including one for guests. Two additional bedrooms for security staff. Three bathrooms should suffice."
Roget pondered for a fraction of a second and his eyes wandered up to the ceiling holding his delicate fingertips together as if weighing a solution to world peace.
"Voila. The third floor of this unit is empty. It has more than enough space for the task at hand. Some remodeling must be done, of course, and the city permits will need to be obtained, but it can be done very soon if required and the needed funds are passed to the right officials, the union people and the construction company. Easy access to the office we will provide for them on the trading floor, easy taxi or limousine ride from the Place to the Louvre. Non?"
"A gourmet kitchen with modern appliances, storage space, the electric and plumbing and internet and cable brought up to standards..."
"I believe the space could be available in 6 weeks, at most 8 weeks. Yes, very quickly indeed. It is solved then," said Roget, looking more than a little pleased with himself.
Joseph rose and thanked Roget. "I was aware that you were able to manage this office. Today, once again, you showed that to us. Thank you very much."
"Will you require a lunch in Paris?"
"Unfortunately, we have much ground to cover, much to do, during our trip. Another time we shall meet and celebrate. Please pass on my best to Henri, my friend. I will send approval for funds on receipt of final plans in New York...only the best, of course for Jayden and John and I will appreciate your watching out for them while they are here."
"Of course. It will be my pleasure, Mr. Schuyler."
The trip from the Place des Vosges to the Louvre in great weather (walking) can take a half hour. The men with security before and aft and more in a 2 Jeep SUVs trailing along on the Rue de Rivoli for backup didn't slow them down. Arriving at the Louvre, they were met as special visitors and taken immediately down to the office of the directeur of admissions to fellowships. Joseph was recognized by most all of the 60 some curators of the museum. All had trained in the French patrimony and had university degrees in various specialties.
The administration of the Louvre was particularly interested in keeping Joseph Schuyler happy in self-interest, so it was that his appeal to admit Jayden and John was favorably considered within, say, about a minute. No questions were asked about their art degrees or background. The security forces of the museum routinely screened all employees and students of every rank as a matter of routine. The next openings for two persons began in 10 weeks.
Joseph asked if the Louvre might do him an additional kindness. He mentioned permits in the Place des Vosges for remodeling of an apartment for Jayden and John. He said he would consider it an honor if someone at the Louvre would put in a kind word at the City for them. The director of admissions was happy to put in a word in the right ears and said he would ask a head curator to call the Mayor's office.
On the flight back to New York from Orly, Joseph called Roget to inquire about progress. Roget, still a little puzzled, said that the Mayor's office had just called and were asking where the permit applications were for the Mayor to approve for the licensing department. Roget was stunned at the call and didn't mention it to Joseph but had felt like the Second Coming would have been only marginally more likely than that telephone call.
Parisian architects, union types and a construction firm were hired that same day and an initial informal meeting of all of them was held in Roget's office. Two days later the architect had the plans finished and sent to Joseph. The cost for these labors was high. The funds were wired to all involved the day the plans arrived, and contracts signed. Roget felt that this speed was only an imagined thing in Paris. He had never experienced anything like it.
Jayden and John turned to face each other at the office from their side by side desks. They took a quick look at the huge high-resolution monitor screens overhead, agreed that global markets were up and running well that day, and began to discuss Paris.
"John, we don't have art degrees, but if we do some study before we get there, you and I should be able to hit the ground running. We won't have any experience, say, in repairing Old Masters or conservation, skills acquired with a degree and experience, but knowing what's out there..."
"Jayden, you have a project in mind, I think," said John.
"What a suspicious mind you've got," said Jayden. "But as long as we're on the subject, I have an idea. What would you think of reviewing a European History college text before we go over and perhaps learn some French and German before we go."?
"I think you're on to something. I'll run by SUNY or maybe the Columbia bookstores and get two texts and any others that might bear on our distressing lack of culture."
That evening John dumped a load of books on to their desks in their study at the tower. The men had finished their light supper and retired to the office. "Here's your textbooks. What order shall we tackle them in... oh, and by the way, if you don't want them, I kept the receipts and have a week to return them.
"Let begin with the Art History book and jump from there to French."
They began to scan, getting out of their chairs every hour to stretch and walk a bit. By 11 pm they had nearly finished the Art History text, both had memorized it, and were ready for bed. They put sex on hold and woke at 4 am to finish the textbook.
Jayden and John decided to advertise for a Frenchman to tutor the pronunciation and modern usage part of their language education. They received 65 applications, winnowed those down by method of reply and how the response was worded/spelled. Most applicants wrote a little about their background and what brought them to the US.
5 were chosen to interview. Their secretary scheduled the interviews for the next day. 3 of the 5 spoke very little English, concentrated on extraneous material during the interview, and one sat and texted during the interview. Applicant #4 was personable but way too interested in the perks/salary.
Applicant #5 seemed to be the best. He spoke excellent English, seemed to understand the intensity of the language tutoring deadline, was just finishing a class in teaching French as a foreign language.
That applicant was André Cloutier, 23-years-old, presented well and could begin any day. Only then was he asked about his recent student debt, about $36,000 for his graduate degree and his personal debt, nothing because his parents had scraped money together for food and lodging in New York City.
John and Jayden got up at 4 the next morning and read the first few chapters of the French text, googled the 20 top phrases a traveler would use in France, and printed them out for their lesson. André showed up promptly at 9 am and efficiently began their use and pronunciation exercises. They mastered the difficult French 'R' and the nasal 'on' sounds then were drilled on the 20 phrases they had picked out. Done by noon, they all ate together in the dining room, ordering from a limited menu printed by their Cook. André was impressed but not unduly. During the meal they talked in French about cooking and food and drink. In the afternoon André talked about French men.
"It is a matter of French honor, that the man present himself as a world-class lover. The truth is that some are, some are not, as everywhere. It may be a criminal act to admit that one does not know how to kiss the French way, for instance. The stigma most feared isn't the small cock, but the realization that the man doesn't know how to use it."
André continued. "We must teach you the correct French terms for the Frenchman's greatest interest, the sex words and the words for kissing, shagging, fucking, coming and all those ideas."
"You may want to tell me if you want to learn business terms or art terms and we can specialize in some of those as well."
"Last but not least, we need to review French verbs. Once you learn that gender, time, number, and the degree of formality wished for influences the verb form in predictable ways, then a simple knowledge of the verbs, many of which end in 'er' or 'ir', is very helpful. You should memorize at least 50 verbs."
"A statement that you want water begins with 'je' the simple singular formal word for 'I'."
"The verb 'vouloir' (not one of the 'er' verbs) mean 'want to'."
"'Eau' is a feminine noun in French. Shortened, the sentence in French is "Je veux l'eau." or in English literally translated, it is "I want the water."
André stopped and laughed a little, remembering. "American GI soldiers on VE day in Paris danced with French girls in the street and practiced their French."
"The only sentence many had figured out was "Voulez-vous accoucheur avec moi?" or "Do you want to go to bed with me?" Enough of the French girls did and 9 months later, a crop of children was born from the effect of that one sentence. My grandmother was one of that crop and when I learned the story, I wanted to teach French to Americans for fun."
André left the tower that afternoon with a check for $10,000. He would return the next morning at 9 am. John and Jayden hit the books and took an hour to look at the markets and how well the Schuyler trust had done that day. Both were looking forward to their next French lesson. John asked Jayden to bottom for him that evening and he enjoyed every second of it. He noted that a picture of a naked André in bed with them crossed his mental path a couple of times.
Jayden enjoyed his French lesson the next day as well, memorizing with John a book full of words, also picturing André very naked and sweaty under him in bed. This guilty pleasure, he guessed, was also going through John's mind. When André asked for directions to the bathroom, they both watched his trim, bubble-shaped butt disappear. John grabbed his crotch and hefted it up and down quickly wanting Jayden to notice, which he did and smiled.
In a tall mirror on the wall just before André turned the corner into a hallway, André saw the gesture and smile behind him, was amused and continued on to piss. Neither John nor Jayden observed André looking at them in the mirror.
When André returned to the room, he thought he detected a slight blush on John's face. He cleared his throat. "I think we can talk about the words used in France for man sex." He proceeded through the list of popular words for cock, balls, ass...enough words to get two flamers through an act at the Place Pigalle, kind of the French Quarter, so to speak, of Paris. At the end of this lesson, John's excitement was visible.
"Any chance you would consider giving us a demonstration of these words?"
Jayden chimed in, "Yes, we would like to take you to our bed." He reached out with John and took André by the hand and they walked silently back to their master bedroom, removed their clothes quickly. The three naked men dove under the warm covers. When they were warm a few minutes later, the men jumped on and then in... each other, practicing their French along the way.
André turned out to be wonderfully versatile. Dominant at intervals, passive sometimes, it was all good to him. John told Jayden later after André had gone home that André seemed to have upheld the honor of French men on a number of different levels.
"I wouldn't mind bringing him with us to Paris," said Jayden. "Think of what a wonderful guide to Paris he would be."
"He would be a wonderful guide to something. He said he was born in Aix-en-Provence in the south so he might not know Paris that well," said John.
"He knows enough to keep you and I happy, I'd guess."
"That's for damn sure," replied John.
"We could ask him to be the only kept man in the Place des Vosges."
"It has a nice ring to it, lover. Speaking of which, I feel enough energy left to make you happy right now. Voulez-vous... "
"Je veux."
The fellowship at the Louvre was material from another entire world for John and Jayden. The problem wasn't knowledge of the material...they had memorized every important and a lot of unimportant work, the creator's life history, the acquisition history. The problem was experience.
They didn't have a feel for the intrinsic values of art objects but didn't stop trying to absorb all of that. Joseph had told them the Schuyler trust's aims and history. The job of the beneficiary(s) was to preserve the collections, grow the wealth, and pass on the job by naming a successor and training the successor(s). They relaxed in their suite each evening with André who functioned as lover and manager of their digs on the Place des Vosges. André himself was interested only in the two of them and their rather awesome threesomes. They loved him and André returned the love, sometimes dominating, always willing to have their sperm injected anywhere in him or on him and that almost anywhere but on the stairs of le Tour Eiffel. André possessed an inventive mind, but he memorized very little. No one lived in the moment better than André.
All three returned to New York to the Jayden Tower after the fellowship was over. Joseph had monitored their progress and received great reports. In his office one morning, Joseph told them he had come to a decision. They were to be the next beneficiaries of the Schuyler Trust and continue their work as its investment managers as well.
"We would like to include André as a co-beneficiary. Is that possible?"
"I did the work with the state of Pennsylvania to get two instead of one to be the next beneficiary. The votes have been paid for at the state house and if the trust laws are changed to allow that amendment, I will be happy to add André. I would prefer documents that specify you two, however, to manage the investments yourselves."
Jayden and John thanked Joseph for his confidence. They asked him for one last favor. "Jayden's cousin Malik finished his prison sentence, got part of his college degree in prison and finished it on the outside and now struggles with his education debt. His salary at the car dealership where he works is mostly commissions which vary according to the auto sales market," John added.
"Jayden didn't know I had kept up with Malik's life and career, but I have had a great interest in the man who indirectly brought Jayden into my life. I've kept track of his progress."
"Any chance the Schuyler Trust could buy his college debt and his mortgage anonymously...plus one hundred dollars Malik gave Jayden a long time ago in another place?"
"Will do," said Joseph.