Meretrix

Meretrix

Chapter 5


"Moving?" Justin asked with a smile, as though this were a sick joke. Realization sunk in; "You're not kidding are you?"

"No."

"But... I don't understand."

Brian sighed and directed Justin to retake his seat, Brian took one opposite him, "When I signed up with the firm, there was a clause in my contract, whereby I
could be sent to a new office should one be opened."

"Did you know before hand?"

"No. I didn't know about it, I didn't ask about it, and they didn't volunteer the information. Though, I did find out today that the owner of the firm was
scouting candidates with this in mind."

"That's underhanded." Justin seethed.

"Maybe, maybe not, but it's my own fault for not having read the fine print."

"Where?" Justin asked as shock began to set in.

"
Vancouver."

"
Canada? Why Canada?"

"
Well," Brian sighed, "A lot of studios are moving filming up to Canada, it's cheaper. My firm deals with advertising and publicity for film and television, so
the old man thinks we need an office closer to the action."

"When?"

"
Uh, they are giving me two weeks to wrap up any business. I report for work on the 18th."

Justin nodded his head slowly, "Is that what this is then?"

"Our lunch?" Brian asked.

"Tying up loose ends?"

"No."

"But... if you're moving..."

"It's only
Vancouver."

Justin laughed, "It might as well be the fucking moon!"

Silence settled over the table.

"You could come with me." Brian suggested quietly.

"What?" Justin shouted.

"Come with me."

"To
Vancouver? Vancouver Canada?" Justin's head was shaking.

"Yes, come with me."

"I can't!"

"Yes, you can."

"How do you figure?"

"It isn't that technical Justin. We'll rent a u-haul, and drive. I was planning on that anyway, I've not really seen the West Coast, two weeks, should give me
some time to do that."

"No, I mean what will I do when we get there? Where will I live? Where will I work?"

"I don't know... I thought... maybe we could share an apartment... maybe..." Brian trailed off.

"Yeah?"

"
Yeah, and perhaps you could go to school,
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city, they're sure to have some decent art schools in the area. You said you were
saving up for it anyway, so you must have some money set aside. I'll help with the rest..."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"
Brian," Justin couldn't believe the man, "We have known each other, less than two months... you... you were a fucking trick for god's sake! And now you want
me to move to a foreign country with you?"

"It's
Canada, not Zimbabwe, besides, I feel as if I know you better than I know myself." Justin's startled expression told Brian that the blond shared these
feelings.

"Do you think we could live together? Maybe we'd end up killing each other?"

"I doubt that."

"Yeah, but..."

"If that is a problem we'll get a place with two bedrooms, we can both have our own space."

"It is another country though... don't we need to fill out papers or... something?"

Brian laughed lightly, "My company is doing all that sort of thing, for me and my spouse, or my," Brian coughed slightly and whispered the rest of the
sentence, "pawtnat."

"Your what?"

"My... partner."

Smiles simultaneously erupted across both men's faces. "You really think that this can work, Brian?"

"I don't know Justin, I really don't. I do know that I'm willing to give it a try if you are."

"I'll be leaving all my friends, job security, my apartment," Justin began to inventory to himself aloud.

"I know this isn't fair of me to ask of you, to uproot everything you have and come with me. But... I... I don't know... If there is a chance for us to share
something, then I want to try."

"Ok."

"You are too special to be working as a damn whore at the Quoin, the place isn't for you. All those perverts," Brian scoffed, "me included, marching
through there."

"Ok, Brian."

"I mean, seriously, you have such a great talent, you should put that to use. Go to school, enhance your natural abilities, then go out into the world and blow
peoples socks off, after all," Brian paused, "Ok?"

"Ok." Justin chuckled.

"Ok?" Brian wasn't sure he was hearing right.

"Yeah, you seem to have everything worked out, oh, I'm sure it isn't going to be as smooth as you... as we hope, but yes. I'll go with you."

Brian grabbed Justin's hands in his, unsure what if anything he could say.

"I'll talk to Reggie after lunch." Justin said confidently, having decided upon the path and committing to follow it.

"Ok, I'll talk to the HR lady at work; make sure she knows to make arrangements for two."

"And then we should probably work on the details tonight, come by my place after you get off and I'll make dinner." Justin said as he stood.

"Ok, I will, uh... aren't we going to order lunch?" Brian asked in confusion.

"No, we're going back to your place for the rest of the lunch hour and I'm going to fuck you senseless." Justin said matter of factly.

Brian was on his feet and heading towards the door, his right arm around Justin's waist. "You know,
Canada is very progressive... for a foreign country," Brian
smiled down at Justin, "they even let queers get married up there."

Justin returned the smile, "Whoa, one thing at a time Brian, one thing at a time."

The two men left the restaurant, smiling and laughing, content on starting a new life together.

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