Fantasy Season 5

Mona Lisa

"Oooh my God, you've been cheating on Brian all this time!"

"Why don't you say it a little louder Daph? I don't think the people on the OTHER side of the park heard you." Justin frowned.

Daphne lowered her voice, and leaned in closer to her best friend. "Why you little slut, I should have known. You never had time to do anything anymore. All this time you've been sneaking off to see Tony. Why didn't you tell me? I want times, places, and all the nasty details," she grinned.

"This isn't funny, Daph, I've got a huge problem on my hands now. How did Tony's necklace get around Brian's neck?" Justin wondered out loud.

"Are you sure it's Tony's necklace?" Daphne asked.

"Of course I'm sure," Justin insisted. "I bought them both myself. Brian's pearl has three birthmarks, Tony's pearl has four."

"Remember, Brian and Tony both ended up in the same emergency room that night after the prom. Maybe the hospital got the necklaces mixed up," Daphne suggested.

Justin was quick to shoot down that theory. "The nurse handed me both sealed envelopes with their names on them, and their wallets, and jewelry inside," he said.

"So what are you thinking? Do you think maybe Brian, and Tony...?"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking," Justin interrupted her. "That would explain why Tony won't answer my e-mails, or take any of my calls."

"Nooooo," Daphne perished the thought. "You said yourself that Tony, and Brian hate each other."

"Something has changed, Daph. I think something is going on between them," Justin said.

"Well I think the nurse got the necklaces mixed up, and you're being a paranoid princess," Daphne voiced her opinion. "And so what if Tony and Brian did have a one time fling, you know Brian. It doesn't mean anything to him."

"But it does mean something to me." Justin said sadly. "It means that I'm being left out. Let's face it Daph, I'm no match for Brian in the bedroom, not to mention that Brian and Tony are perfect for each other. They're both gorgeous, successful, great in bed, they're closer in age, they have similar histories. It makes sense that they would fall in love with each other."

"Fall in love? Yep, he's finally lost his mind." Daphne casually took a sip of her latte. "Justin before you go jumping to that kind of conclusion, don't you think you should talk to Brian first?" she suggested.

"And say what? What if I'm wrong, Daph? It would break Brian's heart if I told him that I never stopped seeing Tony. Oh, I wish I could just make this all go away," Justin anguished. "I should have never gone with Tony that night four years ago. I wouldn't have fallen in love with him, and I wouldn't be in this shit now."

"It's too late to worry about that now Justin. That's spilled milk." Daphne offered her wisdom. "The way I see it you have two choices. Number one, you can keep your mouth shut. If Brian doesn't say anything about the necklaces, then YOU don't say anything about the necklaces. Learn to live with your mistake. Move on, and take whatever happened between you and Tony to the grave with you. That's what I would do. However if you insist on clearing your conscience, and you need to put your mind at ease then you're going to have to take a chance, and talk to Brian."

Justin studied his latte for a moment. "I have to talk to Brian," he decided.

On the heels of Pittsburgh's first gay prom, and under the guise of political correctness, companies were now eager to tap into the overlooked gay consumer market by associating themselves with "Kinnetics", the daring new advertising agency headed up by its openly gay founder, and CEO Brian Kinney. Tony was the first to announce that he was pulling out of "Vanguard", and that Kinnetics would now be in charge of all future Massey Corporation promotions. Shortly thereafter, even before the renovation of a former bath house that would become the office base for the new hot-shot agency was completed, telephones at the loft were ringing off the hook with potential clients seeking to follow the lead, and align their businesses with the likes of millionaire entrepreneur, Anthony Massey. With Brian's image once again spread across the covers of "Money", and "Fortune" magazines, it didn't take long for Gardner Vance to request a parley with his former senior partner.

All eyes turned toward the front door when Vanguard's prodigal son made his triumphant return. Brian could hear the whispers as he made his way down the old familiar corridor to Gardner Vance's office. "Brian!" Cynthia came from around her desk to welcome him with opened arms.

"In the flesh." Brian smiled, and returned her hug.

Cynthia stood back to get a better view. "Look at you, you look great!" she approved.

"Of course I do." Brian arrogantly adjusted his tie.

"I saw you on television. That was horrible about what happened at the prom. I'm glad you're ok. How's Tony?" she asked.

"Tony's fine. The last I heard he was back in Chicago wrecking havoc on the business world again," Brian said. Suddenly without warning Cynthia balled up her fist, and punched Brian on his shoulder. "Ouch! What was that for?" he flinched.

"You son-of-a-bitch, I should put you back in the hospital," Cynthia growled. "You knew all along that Tony was gay, and you let me make a fool of myself by flirting with him."

"Honestly, I didn't know!" Brian lied through his teeth.

"Bullshit!" Cynthia punched him again. "You probably fucked him yourself."

"I didn't know I was walking into an ambush. Is this what I was summonsed here for?" Brian rubbed his sore shoulder.

"No." Cynthia moved in closer, and lowered her voice. "Gardner is furious," she whispered. "Clients have been calling, and threatening to pull their accounts because you're no longer handling them. Gardner is threatening to take Tony to court for breech of contract, and Tony's lawyers are threatening to counter sue because you were supposed to handle the Massey account personally. I think Gardner is going to ask you to come back, Brian."

"Really?" Brian smiled. "Thanks for the heads-up Cynthia. Let the big guy know that I'm here."

Gardner Vance came from around his desk to greet his former senior partner. "You look great Brian." He echoed Cynthia's observation.

"So I've heard," Brian smirked.

"Please have a seat, and let me pour you a drink. Whiskey?" Gardner offered.

"Whatever's handy." Brian said, then proceeded to take a seat in the leather chair across from Gardner's desk.

Gardner poured two Southern Comforts over ice. "I'm sure by now you've heard about the federal investigation against mayor Stockwell," he said.

"Yes, I've heard." Brian settled in his seat.

Gardner walked Brian's drink over to him before taking a seat on the edge of his desk. "It seems that you were right about Stockwell all along. He is a homophobic bigot who has no place in public office. I'd like to offer you my sincerest apology Brian." Gardner said.

Brian lifted his glass, and took a sip of his drink. "Apology accepted," he said.

"One more thing, Brian. I know you've never been one to mince words, so I'll get straight to the point. I'd like to offer you your former position back, with a sizeable salary increase of course," Gardner added.

Brian casually leaned back in his chair, and crossed his legs. "What makes you think I want to come back?" he asked.

Gardner took a sip of his drink. "Because I know you, Brian," he began. "I know how hard you've worked to reach the top of your game. You did that not only through hard work, but also with immense talent, and loyalty to this company. Vanguard needs you, Brian, and you need us too. You need the stability of your conscientious Vanguard family to free you of all the politics, and the detail work that comes along with advertising. That way you can focus all of your energies on your creativity."

"Aren't you forgetting about something, Gardner, what about Kinnetics?" Brian reminded him.

"I didn't forget about Kinnetics," Gardner said. "I would be willing to make Kinnetics a branch of Vanguard, a kind of sister agency if you will. I'd even be willing to share my Vanguard staff with you. It's time to mend our fences, Brian. It's time to let bygones be bygones. Let me welcome you back home." Gardner extended his hand.

"That was very, very good, Gardner. You should be in advertising." Brian smiled.

"Don't mock me, Brian. I meant every word I said. You and I need each other. Now name your price," Gardner concluded.

"Your generous offer wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that I'm taking all of your major accounts with me would it Gardner?" Brian asked.

"If you are referring to the Massey account, may I remind you that Mr. Massey is still under contracted with Vanguard to promote his "Justin" line of men's toiletries," Gardner said.

"Perhaps someone needs to tell Mr. Massey that, considering he was the first to sign on with Kinnetics," Brian said.

"Speaking of signed, you signed a non-competition clause when you were initially hired." Gardner pulled his trump card.

"That non-competition clause was with Ryder, long before Vanguard took over," Brian reminded him.

"That clause is still binding." Gardner took a sip of his drink.

"That clause voided out when you FIRED ME!" Brian snapped.

Gardner returned to his executive chair behind his desk. "The accounts you were working on here at Vanguard will remain here at Vanguard with, or without you, Brian. If you attempt to pilfer clients from this agency I'll tie you up in court until you've depleted your financial resources. I'll have you declaring bankruptcy before you even get started," Gardner warned.

Brian swallowed the remainder of his drink, then stood to leave. "We'll see who goes belly-up first, Gardner," he hissed.

"Indeed we will." Gardner smirked.

Cynthia looked up from her work when Brian slammed Gardner's door. "How did everything go inside?" she whispered.

"Put that shit down, and come with me," Brian ordered. He next pointed to Cynthia's assistant. "YOU, over there, come with me!" The two women quickly grabbed their purses, and began to follow Brian as he made his way back to Vanguard's graphic arts department. "I want you, you, and you to come with me." Brian continued to select his team.

Hearing the commotion, Gardner hurried out of his office. "Cynthia, what the hell is going on? Call security!" he ordered.

"Sorry Gardner, but I don't work here anymore!" Cynthia called back to her former boss as she, along with five other hand picked, ex-Vanguard employees followed Brian over to Vanguard's newest rival, "Kinnetics".

Back at the loft a troubled young man continued to search for the right words to say as time dwindled away. Brian would be home at any minute, and Justin was going to have to come clean about his affair with Tony. How this could have happened was now a rhetorical question. It was easy to blame Brian, and his previous philandering ways. How many nights did Justin dream of hearing Brian utter the words I love you, only to be told that love was a game that breeders played to get laid. Brian had been adamant that he would always seek the company of other men. He believed it was his birthright as a gay man, and Justin could either accept it, or move on. Justin chose to stay. Even after his own mother advised him that it was foolish to wait on a man who lacked the capacity to commit, Justin held out in his heart for that one day Brian would be his.

Fearing he would loose the man that he loved, Justin decided to try Brian's way for awhile. Like a lovesick puppy he followed him into sleazy backrooms, and dank bath houses, participated in anonymous group sex, and stand up fucks against cold alley walls. However that grew old pretty fast. It was then that Justin came up with what seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. While fucking everything that moved was not his style, perhaps a steady lover on the side could suffice until Brian finally changed his ways. Justin chose a romantically smitten millionaire by the name of Anthony Massey to be his part-time lover, and oh what a lover Tony turned out to be.

If only Justin hadn't allowed himself to give into his loneliness. If only he had a little more patience, and waited for Brian a little while longer Tony wouldn't have found a place in his heart, and Justin wouldn't be on the verge of facing life without one, or both of the men that he loved. "Brian, we need to talk. I want to know what you're doing with Tony's choker around your neck." Justin rehearsed his opening lines in front of the bedroom mirror. Shit, that sounded awful. He'd better try again. "Brian, I need to talk to you about something......."

"Where are you, baby?" Brian's voice suddenly called out.

There was no more time for rehearsals. It was now time to face the proverbial music. Justin reluctantly walked to the bedroom entrance. He watched as Brian loosened his tie, and tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa, before turning on the Bose stereo on the shelf behind his desk. "Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you. You're so like the lady with the mystic smile.." Nat King Cole's velvet voice crooned through the speakers.

Justin couldn't help but smile when Brian began to waltz across the floor. "You're in an awfully good mood," he said.

"This is the best fucking day of my life!" Brian exclaimed. "That asshole Gardner offered me my old job back, with all the perks, and I could name my own salary. Not only did I tell him to go fuck himself, I raided his office for all of his most talented people. I wish you could have been there, baby. You should have seen your man in action." Brian danced his way over to the foot of the bedroom steps, and reached out his hand. "Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa, or is it your way to hide a broken heart." He sang along with Nat.

Justin held out his hand, and accepted the dance. The two lovers then proceeded to whirl across the loft floor to the timeless ballad with Brian celebrating his victory over Vanguard, while Justin once again searched for the right words that could put his mind at ease, without breaking his lover's heart. "Brian."

Brian stopped mid-step, and stroked his fingers through Justin's hair. "Yes, Mona Lisa?" he smiled.

The song continued to play as Justin looked into the hazel green eyes that had stolen his heart a thousand nights ago. It was then that he decided that Daphne was right. The nurses at the hospital must have somehow gotten the necklaces mixed up.

"What is it baby?" Brian asked again.

"Nothing important." Justin smiled, and laid the mystery of the necklaces to rest forever.

NEXT WEEK: Ice To Eskimos, pt 1

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