Dumb Blond

Chapter 5

“Brian, I’m going home now,” Cynthia said as she stuck her head into Brian’s office at Kinnetik.

“Yeah,” Brian replied.  “Thanks for getting everything done today.”

“That’s my job.”

“And you’re extremely good at it.”

“Is that a compliment I hear?” Cynthia asked with a grin.  It pleased her to have Brian’s praise.  She knew he respected her and appreciated the work she did for him, but it was nice to have it verbalized.

“The Fluke people loved the campaign, so yes, that was a compliment.  But don’t let it go to your head,” Brian warned with a little smirk.

“Never, Boss.”

“Oh, before you go, did you find out who came up with that slogan?”

“No, I questioned Mick, but he doesn’t know anything about it.  He said he’d ask around, but I doubt anybody’s going to cop to it.”

Brian frowned.  That was strange.  “You’d think whoever came up with that slogan would want to take credit, especially since it was so successful.”

“Maybe they’re shy,” Cynthia suggested.

“And which one of our employees is shy?” Brian asked sarcastically.  “I don’t think we hire them if they’re shy.”

“Point taken,” Cynthia admitted.  “But I don’t have any more to tell you.”

“Keep searching,” Brian ordered.

“I will … but on Monday.  I’m going home.”

“Good night.”

“Night, Boss.  You should go soon too,” she advised.  She thought Brian had looked a little rough all day.

“Thanks for the advice.  I’ll take that under consideration,” Brian snarked.

Cynthia shook her head as she went back to her office to get her purse.  Mick had left hours ago.  She and Brian had been working out all the details of the Fluke campaign, now that it was all signed, sealed and delivered.  That slogan had been a big part of the success of what they had presented.

Brian leaned back in his chair.  He was glad that the Flukes had liked the ad campaign, but he felt vaguely uneasy about using an idea that was not his own, an idea that came from who knew where.  It had to be someone at Kinnetik or how else could the post-it note have been placed on the board.  It was a big puzzle.

Brian glanced at his computer and noted that it was heading for ten p.m.  He should definitely take Cynthia’s advice and get the fuck out of this office, especially on a Saturday evening.  He shut down his computer and stared at the blank screen.

He felt restless.  There was something nagging at the back of his mind.  Looking over at the displays that had impressed the Fluke Logistics people, Brian had an idea.  He got up from his desk and walked over to the boards.  He carried a post-it pad and a pen in his hand.  He scribbled something on the post-it, tore it off and stuck it in the middle of the board he had found the other note pasted to.  He stepped back and noted that it would be pretty hard to miss the small square of yellow paper.  That done, he knew what else he was going to do with the remainder of his evening.

*****

Brian brought his Jeep to a stop close to the same spot he had used the night before.  He had gone to the loft from his office, changed, donned his club clothes, and here he was.  He glanced in the rearview mirror and gave his hair a tug. 

“I’d do you,” he said aloud to the empty vehicle.

He opened the door and got out, standing in the street oblivious to the traffic that passed by. 

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ he silently asked himself.

‘Having some fun,’ his inner voice answered.

‘Are you sure?’ he questioned himself.

‘We’re about to find out.’

Brian walked towards the entrance to Club Emvic.  As he walked through the door he withdrew a twenty from his pocket and handed it to the bouncer who had opened his mouth to tell him the cost of admission.  Brian didn’t give him the chance.  The man waved him into the club before he opened the cash box on the desk to deposit the twenty.

The chain and velvet curtain clinked softly as Brian pushed it aside.  He stepped into the main part of the club and looked around.  He didn’t see either Vic or Emmett.  He wasn’t sure if he was happy they weren’t there or disappointed not to see them again.  He decided it was better they weren’t there.  There would be too many questions about his quick return to the club.  He didn’t have any good answers to give them.  He wasn’t quite sure why he was there himself, well yes he was sure, but that was something he wasn’t prepared to reveal to anyone else.

Brian found a small table over at the side of the stage.  He decided that suited him better than the owners’ table which sat empty at the moment.  When a waiter approached, Brian ordered a scotch.  The big guy with the huge dick was doing his act, such as it was, on the stage.  Brian watched for the big reveal while he waited for his drink.

When the massive member came into view, the audience did its predictable intake of breath, and then the guy was gone.  The stage was empty.  Brian knew he would have to wait a few minutes for what he actually wanted to see.  When his scotch appeared, he paid for it with a generous tip included, and ordered another – a double - to be brought as soon as this one was finished.

“Dutch courage?” a voice said from behind Brian.

Brian almost spit his scotch across the table.  He swallowed quickly and turned to face whoever had spoken.  “Are you trying to give me heart failure?” he asked Vic who stood grinning behind him.

“At your advanced age, it’s good to be careful,” Vic informed him.

“Fuck you,” Brian said without rancor.

“Any day,” Vic responded.  Brian laughed out loud.  “I didn’t expect to see you back here so soon,” Vic said.

“I like being unpredictable.”

Vic raised an eyebrow.  “Is there perchance a certain dancer you’ve returned to see?”

“What makes you say that?”  Brian didn’t want to admit how close to the truth Vic may have stumbled.

“Something must have caught your attention.  Ordinarily you just drag a guy off and fuck him.  You’re not usually the voyeur type.”

“I don’t have to drag them; they come willingly,” Brian said.  He decided to leave it at that.

“May I join you for a drink?”

“Sure,” Brian agreed.  He could use a little company until the next act came on stage.

Vic signaled the waiter to bring him a beer.  Brian raised his glass to indicate that he’d have the double he had already ordered.

“Where’s your partner in crime?”

“In the office.”

“Counting your profits?” Brian asked sarcastically.

“That’s not funny,” Vic responded bitterly. 

The waiter set their drinks in front of them.

“Have you done any advertising?” Brian asked as he took a drink of his scotch.  “I haven’t seen anything about this place in the papers.”

“We have a limited budget.”

“So, where are you using it?”

“We have a small ad in the Pittsburgh Gazette Entertainment section every weekend.”

Brian snorted.  “You’re not expecting to attract straight guys, are you?” he asked.

“Of course not, but some will come.”

“Vic,” Brian said, his voice softening.  “You should be advertising in the gay papers, flyers in local gyms, posters on Liberty Avenue.”

“Hmm,” Vic said.

“Are you listening, Vic?  I’m trying to help.”

“I hear you.”

“This kind of advice costs thousands if you come to Kinnetik, so I hope you understand that I’m really trying to help you out.”

“I get it, Brian, and thanks.  I’ll talk to Emmett.”

“You might want to let on that you thought this up yourself, or you went to some other ad agency.  I don’t think I’m in Emmett’s good books at the moment.”

“You’re not,” Vic said with a wry laugh.  “He was really hurt that you didn’t come to opening night.”

Brian sucked in his lips.  “I honestly forgot,” Brian said contritely.

“That won’t make him feel any better.”

“No, I guess it won’t,” Brian admitted.

“Well, I better get back to the office,” Vic said standing up.  “Our star attraction will be out in a minute,” he added watching for Brian’s reaction.

Brian showed no reaction as he said, “I suppose I could stay for that.”

Vic smiled knowingly before walking away.

‘Fuck,’ Brian thought.  He knew Vic was onto him.

Just then the lights dimmed and the music for the “Dumb Blond” started.  Brian redirected his attention back to the stage.  He leaned back in his chair and waited for the blond to take the stage.

Brian half expected to find a myriad of flaws in the young performer once he saw him again.  He had tried to convince himself that he had merely been struck by the youth and confidence of the dancer, and that upon seeing him again, there would be much to dislike.

Justin line danced his way onto the stage this time, his too big boots almost tripping him up.  Brian had to smile as the dancer neared the edge of the stage and flashed that smile at his audience.  Brian was impressed that the stumble on his entrance had not thrown the dancer off his game.  Justin began his gyrations throwing in some moves that he had not used when Brian had seen him before.  He seemed to feel the music and do whatever it suggested to him.  Brian watched, once again mesmerized.  No flaws could he spot.

Brian felt himself being pulled into the act.  He hung on each move unable to look away.  He half expected for the dancer to lock eyes with him again, but that didn’t happen this time, as much as Brian might have wished it.  When Justin slid his tighty whiteys off, Brian felt his cock harden and strain in his jeans.  God, he wanted this blond.

And then the dance was over.  The stage was empty and the audience was standing and cheering.  Brian stayed in his seat.  He refused to act like the rest of the needy men in the audience.  He caught the waiter’s eye and held up his glass indicating that he wanted another double.  At least he could add to Vic and Emmett’s profits courtesy of his bar bill.

“You decided to regale us with your presence once again?” a sarcastic voice said from behind him.

“Do you and Vic sneak up on all your customers?” Brian asked snidely as he realized who it was.

“I didn’t expect to see you for at least another three months,” Emmett told him dropping into the chair on the other side of Brian’s small table.

The waiter produced Brian’s next drink, took the money and tip, and then left.

“Shouldn’t you be sitting in the owner’s box?” Brian asked hoping that would encourage Emmett to leave him alone.  No such luck.

“I’d much rather sit with my old and dear friend who has returned to our little club that he shunned for such a long time.  Now why do you suppose he came back?” Emmett asked with a wry look on his face.

Brian took a long drink from his glass.  He had to wonder if Vic had told Emmett why he was there, or had the tall, gap toothed man figured it out himself.  “I needed a drink, and I happened to be in the area,” Brian stated, keeping his voice level and calm.  He took another swallow from his drink.

“And nothing at all to do with a certain blond dancer that you happened to accost in the street last night.”

“I did not accost him,” Brian said.

Emmett grinned.  Justin had mentioned what had happened the previous evening, wondering who the man was since he had been sitting in the owner’s box with Emmett and Vic. 

“He asked about me?” Brian queried trying not to sound overly interested.

“You frightened him.”

“I … I didn’t mean to frighten him.  I just wanted to talk to him.”

“You never talk, Brian, unless you’re forced to.”

“I can … talk when I want to,” Brian informed his friend.  He finished off what was left in his glass.

“And why did you want to talk to our little dancer?” Emmett asked.  He really wanted an answer to that question.

“He seemed … interesting – a cut above the rest of your employees.”

Emmett studied Brian for a few seconds.  Obviously Brian was interested in Justin.  It was very out of character for Brian to talk to anyone like that.  It would be more likely for him to whisper some obscene comment, and then fuck the living daylights out of any man he approached.  This new twist with Justin was something Emmett had never seen before, and he was intrigued.

“And here you are again tonight,” Emmett observed.

“As I said, I was in the neighborhood.”

“Riiight.”

Brian chose to ignore Emmett’s obvious skepticism.  “Who do I have to blow to get a drink in this place?” Brian snarked, waving his empty glass under Emmett’s nose.

Emmett chuckled. “You could do me.”

“I don’t think so,” Brian responded, immediately regretting his previous statement.

“Pfft!” Emmett said.  He motioned to the waiter to bring more drinks.

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes until the drinks arrived.  Brian pulled out his wallet, but Emmett shook his head and the waiter left.  Brian was about to protest when he remembered that Emmett was a proud man.  He would not like Brian refusing his generous offer of a drink.  Emmett sipped his cosmo and Brian took some of his scotch.

“So will you be staying for the next performance?” Emmett asked after a bit.

“He’ll be on again?” Brian asked, and then mentally kicked himself for the use of that pronoun.

“Yes,” Emmett said with a knowing smile.  It was telling that Brian refused to look at him.  “On Saturday nights our entertainers do three shows,” Emmett explained.

“The next show’s the last?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe I’ll stay,” Brian replied trying to sound uninterested and non-committal.

“You know, Brian, it’s okay to be interested in someone,” Emmett said gently.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Brian said with a frown.  He took a sip of his scotch.  He’d had several already, and didn’t want to get too drunk.

“I think you know exactly what I mean,” Emmett replied.  Brian remained silent staring into his glass.  “If you want, I could ask our star performer to come out and have a drink with you after his last performance.”

Brian looked up and into Emmett’s eyes.  He saw caring and understanding in the blue eyes.  “Do you think he would?”

“I can ask.”

The corners of Brian’s mouth curled up in the beginnings of a smile.  “Sure, ask and let me know,” Brian said.

“Will do.”  Emmett made to stand up, but Brian placed a hand on Emmett’s arm indicating that Emmett should stay put for a minute more.  Apparently Brian wasn’t finished. 

“Why doesn’t he talk?” Brian asked in a whisper.

“You’ll have to ask him about that,” Emmett replied.

“How can I ask him if he doesn’t talk?” Brian asked annoyed.

“He can hear you.”

“I know that, but he can’t answer or he won't answer.”

“I’ll tell him to bring a pad and pencil.  He can write, you know.  He’s not stupid.”

“I didn’t think he was that kind of ‘dumb’,” Brian replied.

“I didn’t think you did.  Be careful, Brian,” Emmett warned.  “Don’t hurt him, and try not to scare him again.”

Brian merely nodded as Emmett got up.  He watched his friend walk away.  He was glad that he and Emmett seemed to be on better terms.  He just wondered what the fuck he was getting into with the “dumb blond”.

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