Chapter 2

Brian was unhooking his laptop from the office computer when he heard a tap at his door. He looked up and groaned inwardly.

"Brian?" two voices said in unison.

"If it isn't Bob and Brad. I thought you'd have been fired years ago."

"Nice to see you too," one of them said.

Brian never knew which one it was who was speaking, not that it mattered. They looked alike and sounded alike and were equally as useless as the proverbial tits on a bull.

"What can I do for you?" Brian asked plastering a sardonic smile on his face.

"We … um … we just … wanted to welcome you back," the other one said.

"Is that right?" Brian smirked. "Hasn't anyone else been reaming you out since I … left?"

"No, well, yes, well, sometimes," the same one replied all flustered.

"Well, thanks very much for the welcome," Brian said rather sarcastically. "I'm sure I'll be able to pick right up where I left off."

"Yeah, I'm sure. Well, no, not really, but we really meant the welcome back," the first one stammered. "It hasn't been so great around here without you."

Brian's ears perked up at that statement. "In what way?" he asked with a frown.

"Well…" the second one said, not sure how much he should reveal.

"We've lost a few accounts lately," the other one said.

"Looks like I returned just in time."

"That's what I thought," the second one said with a smile.

"We're really sorry about what happened to you," the first one added, "but we're really glad you're here."

"Thanks," Brian replied, and he found that he actually meant it this time. "But never mention that you're sorry for me again," Brian added with one of his glares.

"Sure, never again," one of them said. "We better let you get back to work."

"Yeah," the other contributed, "looking forward to working with you again."

"Of course you are," Brian said to their retreating backsides.

This was an interesting piece of information about the company losing some accounts. He'd have to get the lowdown from Cynthia. He wondered why she hadn't mentioned any of this to him already.

Brian booted up the office computer after installing all his files. He hesitated for a moment and then went to his email. He typed:

Hey BB,

I'm having a great day so far. Apparently even good old, useless Bob and Brad missed me. Hey, they have your initials. LOL I'm glad the similarity ends there. Sounds like the agency has been losing some of its clients. I may have my work cut out for me. I love a challenge!

Looking forward to our celebration tonight.

PP

Cynthia came in carrying a pile of file folders.

"Are those all my accounts?" Brian asked.

"The ones that are still active."

"Bob and Brad tell me that the agency has lost some clients recently. What's going on?"

"I … I didn't think you needed to be worried about the day to day workings of the company, Brian. You had other things to deal with."

"That was then, this is now. Tell me what's going on."

"Ryder hired this Kip Thomas about a year ago. He started as a junior exec, but he had high aspirations. We all knew that right from the start, and he wasn't above using anyone as his stepping stone or his scapegoat. Anything was fair game as far as he was concerned. He just wanted to get ahead, and he made sure he did."

"So what's the problem with that?" Brian asked with a frown. It sounded a little bit like him when he first started out.

"Nothing, if you have the credentials and expertise to back up what you're doing. I have to give him credit. He came up with a few really good, innovative ideas early on. Did you ever see the Silverman Shoe ads?"

"Yeah, I thought they were pretty clever, and I bet they sold a bunch of those butt ugly shoes as a result of those ads."

"They did," Cynthia told him. "That was Kip's idea."

"Then he certainly has some know how. I'm not sure I'd have known what to do with those god awful shoes."

"Sure you would," she said confidently. "You would have hated working on that account, but you would have come up with something brilliant like you always do."

Brian smiled. "Yeah, I am a genius, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are," Cynthia said with a smile. "And modest too."

"Thank you very much," Brian replied taking a mock bow from his wheelchair.

"Have I told you how glad I am to have you back here?" Cynthia asked with a chuckle.

"A couple of times," Brian said with a grin. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed working with Cynthia on a daily basis. Talking to her on the phone or online just wasn't the same.

"Anyway, Kip had a few coups right off the bat. The clients loved his avant-garde approach to advertising. Then I think he got too cocky. He started telling them what they should do. If they said they didn't like one of his ideas, he told them they were wrong."

"Just like that? You're wrong?" Brian asked. Cynthia nodded. "That takes balls."

"Or an almighty ego to think you know what's best for everyone, especially the people who are paying you for your work. That's when some of them left."

"Didn't Marty try to stop them? Didn't he straighten this Kip out?"

"He tried to, but Kip had taken over the accounts you were no longer working on and he had brought in some of his own. He was the best we had to offer. Ryder didn't want to lose him."

"Nice position for Kip to be in," Brian mused.

"It only fed into his ego. He's been getting more and more insufferable all the time."

"Is that why I didn't meet him when I arrived?"

"He would like everyone to believe that he's too busy to come see you. After all he doesn't know you," Cynthia explained.

"And doesn't want to," Brian said with a wry smile. "I bet he was pissed that Ryder gave me back this office."

"Beyond pissed," Cynthia confirmed.

"Maybe I should pay Kip Thomas a visit. What office is he in now?"

"Sadowski's old office," Cynthia said naming an ad exec that Brian had worked with occasionally.

"Where is Sid? I didn't see his ugly puss when I arrived."

"Ryder let him go a few months ago."

"What the fuck for? He wasn't the most brilliant advertising man I ever met, but he did a good consistent job."

"I know, but he and Kip had a few altercations, and voila, Sid's gone."

"Fuck! I hate this Kip Thomas and I've never even set eyes on him."

"You wouldn't be alone in those feelings," Cynthia said shaking her head.

"I take it that the egomaniacal Mr. Thomas is not universally loved around here," Brian smirked.

"You got that right. After what happened to Sid, everybody's a little afraid of him."

"Is that right?" Brian said thoughtfully. Maybe it would be his privilege to make Kip Thomas feel some of that fear himself.

 

*****
 

Brian was going over some files when another knock was heard at the door.

"Enter," he said quickly.

Jasper, the maintenance man for the building, stuck his head in the door. "Miss Cynthia told me you was back," Jasper said in his gruff voice. "I'm mightily pleased to see that's the truth." He grinned at Brian.

Brian smiled at the big black man. Jasper's hair seemed a little greyer than the last time he had seen him, but other than that he looked much the same. "You haven't changed," Brian observed."

"I'm sorry to say you have," Jasper said shaking his head and looking at Brian's wheelchair.

"Yeah," Brian acknowledged. "There are some things we can't control."

Jasper nodded in agreement. "The world ain't always what we want it to be."

"The philosopher engineer," Brian chuckled.

"You always called me an engineer. I'm just a glorified mop swinger, but without the glory," Jasper said self-deprecatingly.

"You are an engineer. Anything I've ever asked you for, you've always figured out a way to do it."

"I pride myself on that."

"And well you should." Brian meant every word. Being very unhandy himself, he respected Jasper's ability with tools and design.

"So what can I do for you, Mr. Kinney?"

"Nothing, unless you call me Brian. I haven't changed that much."

"Okay, Brian," Jasper said shaking his head. Why did bad things happen to the best people?

"This fucking desk is too high for my chair. Can you do anything about that?" Brian asked.

"Hm," Jasper said looking at the desk and Brian's chair. His eyes moved back and forth between the two sizing things up. "How much lower do you want it?"

"Not much. I don't want it to be too obvious, but see how I have to reach up to use the computer keyboard." Brian demonstrated what he was talking about.

"I see. Maybe an inch or two lower," Jasper said scratching his jaw while he thought about the problem.

"This fucking desk has metal legs so I'm not sure what you can do. You can't just saw them off," Brian stated.

"Why not?'

"Huh?"

"I said why not. I have a saw that will cut through metal. All I need is some kind of caps to put on the legs after they are cut off."

"That's it?" Brian asked in surprise.

"I'd say so."

Brian snorted. "You know you're a fucking genius, don’t you?"

"Keep talking like that, and I'll be getting a big old swelled head, Brian," Jasper chuckled.

"How soon could you perform this delicate operation?" Brian wanted to know.

"I should be able to assemble my staff and instruments later this afternoon. That's if I can get an operating room," Jasper laughed.

"How about this operating room?" Brian asked indicating his office.

"You don't want a mess in your office, Brian."

"I'd like to see what you're doing. And we can test out the desk and make sure enough has come off before you put the caps on the legs."

Jasper nodded his approval. "I have a tarp down in my office. That'll protect your carpet. I need to do a hardware store run for a couple of items. I should be ready to tackle this about three o'clock this afternoon. How does that sound?"

"Like a plan," Brian agreed. "See you at three."

"With bells on," Jasper chuckled as he left the office.

Brian smiled to himself. It was nice dealing with someone who knew his business and how to get things done. He leaned back a bit in his chair and closed his eyes. Today had gone well so far. He was actually enjoying himself. He wondered if that would continue when he really started to work and to deal with clients.

Another tap on his door brought his mind back to reality. It was Mitch from the art department.

"Hey, Brian, I had to come see you. I'm really glad you're back."

"I never really left," Brian replied. "I've been sending you work for almost a year."

"I know but it's not the same as having you here. I always enjoyed your projects. You had a keen sense of what would work and what wouldn't."

"I'm not sure I can stand any more adulation," Brian said with a snort, but he knew his heart was touched with the outpouring of welcome and compliments that he had received ever since his arrival. And many of them had come from unexpected sources, like Bob and Brad.

"Do you want me to get you some lunch, Brian?" Cynthia asked sticking her head in his office door. "Or do you want to go out?"

Brian hesitated. "I don't want to go somewhere and find out that it's not wheelchair accessible," he said slowly. He hated admitting things like that, hated the scene when he couldn't enter some building.

"I could call ahead and find out," Cynthia offered.

"Maybe I better just have a sandwich in my office today … if you don't mind getting it for me." Brian's face showed his concern about the whole lunch process.

"When have I ever had a problem with getting you lunch?" Cynthia asked with a laugh. "Your usual?"

Brian nodded. He was glad Cynthia didn't make a big issue about going out. He disliked having a fuss made about him, especially when it involved accessibility issues. He refused to put himself in the position of being turned away from some place because they were too stupid to have a ramp or wide enough doorways. It always felt like a slap in the face to him. Maybe he should take a stand about such things, lodge a protest or something, but he knew he wasn't ready to make an issue out of those situations … at least not yet. Maybe someday he would be able to do that, but he wasn't there yet.

"Well, it's good to have you back," Mitch said. It seemed like Brian had forgotten he was there.

"Oh yeah, I've been going through all my accounts. I should have some work for you tomorrow."

"Looking forward to it."

"Good, because I expect results."

"If it's easier for me to come up here to your office than for you to come to the art department, I don't mind," Mitch offered.

"I think the way we used to do things worked just fine. I don't see any need to change that."

"Then that's what we'll do. I better get back."

"Thanks, Mitch. We'll … confer tomorrow."

Brian watched Mitch walk out of his office. He had been pretty hard on Mitch from time to time. And yet here he was asking for more. Brian smiled to himself. He must have done something right before his accident, or else they were all taking pity on him.

While Cynthia was gone, Brian read over the Jacobsen file. This was a new client that Marty had suggested Brian take on. The company made bicycles of all sorts, but they were introducing a very high end new bicycle. Brian leaned back trying to think of a new approach that he could take to sell outrageously expensive bikes.

After a few minutes, he decided to check his emails. There was a reply from Justin:

Hi PP,

I'll be waiting with bated breath for our celebration tonight. I'm really glad that your day has been going so well. I've been able to complete a canvas today. It always pleases me so much when I can finally say that one's done.

I hope you realize that going back to the office was the right decision. It's for the best. You know I'm always right. LOL

BB


Brian smiled. He had to admit that Justin had been right about a lot of things. Here Brian was, back at the office, carrying on a normal life, or just about as normal as it was going to get. That was something he never thought he would be able to do again. However, he couldn't let Justin get too swelled a head about everything that had happened. He hit reply:

Hey BB,

The jury is still out on how right you may or may not be. Cynthia's out getting us lunch. I didn't think I was ready to go out for a power lunch just yet.

I hope you'll show me your canvas tonight. I'm visualizing you as my canvas. I could find some interesting uses for that edible paint that you were telling me about. I'm waggling my eyebrows at you. Did you notice?

I may have a new client who sells very expensive bikes. All I can think about when I try to work on some ideas for his campaign is that ass of yours perched on top of one of those mega thousand dollar bikes, or on top of… I better go. It suddenly got warm in here.

Later.

PP

Cynthia returned before long and they had their sandwiches in Brian's office. They threw around some ideas for the Jacobsen ads, but nothing definitive. Brian's mental image of Justin on the bike seemed to get in the way.

At three, Jasper appeared, laden with tools to fix Brian's desk. He made short work of cutting off the legs and lowering the desk that little bit to make it comfortable for Brian. Brian watched him work, Jasper's big hands sure and capable, using the tools and measuring the amounts.

“So, you been to see any good movies lately?” Jasper asked as he put the pads on the legs of the desk.

“I saw ‘Shall We Dance’ a few weeks ago,” Brian told the man. He was glad he was able to say he’d been to a movie, instead of having to admit that he had hardly ever left the loft before Justin came along.

“That’s the Richard Gere one, ain’t it?”

“Yeah, I enjoyed it too.”

“Did you see it with someone special?”

“How…how did you know?” Brian asked looking sheepish.

“I don’t see it as the kind of movie you would choose on your own,” Jasper smiled. “The missus and I wanted to see that one.”

“But you didn’t?”

“Money don’t go as far as it used to,” Jasper admitted. “We had to cut back quite a bit on our movie going.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Brian said with a frown.

“There, we’re done,” Jasper stated. He stood and turned the desk upright. “I’ll help you get everything back in place.”

In a little less than an hour Brian had a desk that suited him very well. He tested it out, finding the desk to be exactly what he wanted it to be. Jasper finished packing up his tools and folding the tarp.

"Thanks, Jasper, it was a pleasure to watch a master at work," Brian said extending his hand for Jasper to shake.

Jasper took it and held it just a little longer than necessary then he cleared his throat. "You always were a silver tongued devil, Brian. You had a way of getting things done, still do."

"You mean by threatening and brow beating my workers?" Brian asked smugly.

"I've seen you do that too, but only when it was deserved. When people do their jobs well, you let them know you noticed. That means a lot to people."

"Yeah, I guess it does," Brian agreed. He thought about how glad Bob and Brad were to have him back and what Ryder and Mitch had said about him. It did mean a lot.

"I best be going," Jasper said gathering up his equipment and the tarp he had used to protect Brian's carpet.

"Thanks again, Jasper. And stop in when you're up this way."

"That I will, Brian, that I will."

Jasper disappeared out the door. Brian leaned back. He was about ready to go home. Even though it was still early, he was tired. He wasn't used to the routine of the office. He liked being at home where he could set his own pace and not have to worry about interruptions. Overall, he hadn't accomplished much today, but he was still there. He had survived his first day back at the office. He started gathering up papers and putting them in his briefcase. It was time for him to go home and celebrate with a certain blond.

 

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