Hormonal Shift
Chapter 7
"Okay, let's get started," Cynthia said, as she, Ted, Gordon, Brian and John sat
down at the conference table in Brian's office.
Brian raised an eyebrow. That was usually his line. He sometimes forgot that
Cynthia ran the show now ... for the most part. And most of the time he was fine
with that, but sometimes...
"Gordon and I have had some discussions about remodelling Kinnetik, but I know
Brian has some ideas about what he would like to see," Cynthia explained. "We
need some more office space, and Gordon thinks he can create an extra office on
this floor."
Gordon nodded, but he looked at John before he explained how taking out a couple
of walls and rearranging things could create an additional office. It just meant
that everyone, including Brian would have to give up a little space from their
own offices. Brian and John had already seen his preliminary ideas.
Cynthia looked at Brian. "Brian, you have final say about this renovation, so
what do you think?"
"Gordon has done a good job with the parameters that you gave him, but the more
I thought about this project, the more I wanted to do something that would make
Kinnetik more up to date, more cutting edge. John and I have come up with quite
a different idea about what should happen," Brian said with a little smirk. He
and John had been working on a much grander plan for Kinnetik.
"So what are you two cooking up?" Cynthia asked with a small smile. When Brian
and John got together they usually came up with something pretty wonderful.
"John," Brian said, "I'll let you explain."
John nodded and stood up. He walked over to the easel set up near the table. He
had already placed his drawings there. "Brian talked to me about expanding the
overall floor space of Kinnetik, making more room for everybody, and allowing
for future expansion of the agency. I know that you were asked to reconfigure
the ground floor, Gordon, and I hope I'm not stepping on any toes." He looked
around the table and everyone nodded their approval for him to continue. "So
here's what I came up with." He lifted the sheet covering the first of his
drawings.
"The upper floor of this building has been under-utilized, mostly for storage
because it's dark and dingy. I want to blow out some of the outer walls and fill
them with windows.
This would allow the art department to move upstairs freeing up all kinds of
space here on the first floor. You wouldn't have to steal from the existing
offices, Gordon. We could take the current art department space and make a few
more offices for Ted and Melanie, and possibly Gus and Briana in the future."
"Not so far in the future for Bree," Ted laughed remembering that Bree already
had a client or two of her own.
"Let's give her a year or two before she moves in here," Brian snarked.
"If I may continue," John said. Everyone nodded. "We can use the whole upper
floor for the art department, making a new storage area and a new lunch room for
the staff on the second floor. We can then utilize the freed space on the ground
floor for all executive offices if you’d prefer. I also propose an elevator be
installed to help move heavy boxes to the upper floors and for staff who may
need to use it."
"Especially Ted as he ages," Brian added with an evil grin.
Ted made the obligatory scowling face, but smiled his approval of the plan a
minute later. "I just might like an elevator," he said.
"When we put in the windows," John continued, "we'll need to change the facade
of the building, so I came up with a possible new look." John looked at Brian
who was as surprised as everyone else. "I didn't tell Brian about this. If he
wants to keep the look of the old baths, I can manage to do that, but I thought
this might fit the image of Kinnetik as it is today." John lifted another card
out of the way revealing a stone and glass facade that would hardly be
recognizable as the building that now existed.
There was silence.
"Somebody say something!" John ordered as the silence continued.
Everybody looked at everyone else not knowing what to say. Then they all looked
at Brian.
"What!?" he said.
"We want to know what you think," Ted said as he stared at his friend and boss.
"Don't you lot have an opinion of your own?" Brian asked pointedly.
"Of course we do," Cynthia said with a sigh, "but this is your show."
"Tell me what you think," Brian stated firmly.
"I love the new facade and the whole set of changes that John has proposed. I've
come to work in an old bathhouse for all these years. If it's all the same to
the rest of you, I'd like to put that behind me."
Brian chuckled. "I knew that's what you'd say, and I can always count on you for
an honest and forthright answer. What about the rest of you?"
"I like it," Gordon said. "I would have been happy to do the smaller
renovations, but I would very much enjoy working on this building you've
designed."
"I kind of like the way things are," Ted mumbled.
"Not up for change, Schmidt?" Brian asked.
"I said that I like the building the way it is, but I can always accept change."
"Of course you can," Brian snarked. "I like your design, John, but I want to
think about the facade before I make a decision. I want Justin's input."
"Certainly," John said. "But what about the plan for the second floor. We can
start on that right away if you want us to."
"Go for it," Brian said. "It's about time we made some changes."
Everyone stood up from the table.
"Gordon, let's go have a look upstairs and see what's what," John said. He and
Gordon left the room.
"You okay with this, Cynthia?" Brian asked.
"I love it, and if I might say, it's about time." She also left.
"So, Theodore, are you going to be able to handle the changes?"
"In spite of the commonly held idea that I'm an old stick-in-the-mud, I can
embrace change with the best of them."
Brian laughed out loud. "I would never call you a stick-in-the-mud, Theodore.
Maybe some other names, but not that one."
It was Ted's turn to laugh. "I do like the old facade though. It has certain
meaning in the context of our lives."
"I understand," Brian said. "It had meaning for me too, but I'm not sure that
the meaning translates in today's society. Times have changed."
"Yeah, I guess they have. Who would have thought way back when that we'd all be
in relationships and successful in business. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't
even be here," Ted said referring to that bad time when Brian had to make the
decision to pull the plug on Ted or not. It could have gone either way. "You've
saved me more than once."
Brian grimaced. "You know I didn't have a choice."
"That's just it, you did have a choice, and I can only thank you for making the
right one, on more than one occasion. Therefore, whatever you decide about this
project is fine with me." Ted turned to leave the room.
"Theodore, not only did I make the right decision for you, but I made the right
decision for me as well. I wouldn't change a thing."
Ted smiled. "Change a thing about me ... or about the building?"
"That remains to be seen," Brian smirked.
Ted grinned and headed out the door. Brian pulled out his phone and called
Justin.
*****
"Hey," Justin said as he came into Brian's office. "What's up?"
"I'm always up," Brian replied with a smirk.
"Don't I know it," Justin laughed as he pecked Brian on the cheek. "But I didn't
think from the sound of your phone call that this was a rendezvous for a little
sexual action."
"We never have little sexual action," Brian corrected.
"True," Justin agreed as he rubbed suggestively against Brian.
"As much as I'd like to do that," Brian groaned, "let's save it for later. I
really need your magnificent brain and uncanny artistic sense."
"You do?" Justin asked with a quizzical look.
Brian nodded. "John has drawn up some plans for remodelling Kinnetik, and I'd
like your input."
Justin smiled widely. He loved it when Brian truly sought out his opinion on
things. "I'm sure it's great if John designed it. Was this your idea or his?"
"Blame Cynthia for starting the process. She thinks Smelly Melly should have an
office of her own."
"Don't call her that," Justin chastised. "And, you mean she doesn't have an
office?" He seemed horrified at the idea.
"Well, not at the moment," Brian said quickly, "but we're going to correct
that."
"About time," Justin replied pointedly. "So show me the plans."
Brian quickly went through John's drawings and explained what they were going to
do. He included the new facade, anxious to hear Justin's opinion about
everything.
"I love it," Justin said. "The art department will be ecstatic over those
windows and the elevator is a great idea. I think it's terrific."
Brian smiled at Justin's enthusiasm. "What about the new facade?" he asked.
"I have to say that I'm surprised. I thought you loved the fact that this place
still looked like a bathhouse on the outside."
"I did ... for a long time," Brian said slowly, "but I think Kinnetik has grown
past that image."
Justin nodded. "I see what you mean."
"As the man who named this fine institution, do the plans meet with your
approval?"
"They certainly do, but I'd add one thing to them."
"What's that?" Brian asked with a furrowed brow. He wondered what Justin would
possibly want to add to John's designs.
"I think you should have a plaque on the outside wall dedicated to the old
bathhouse, explaining briefly the history of this building."
"A little homage to the past."
"Exactly."
"That's a brilliant idea. Would you design the plaque?" Brian asked.
"Of course I will," Justin said confidently. He smiled his beautiful smile at
his partner.
"Then we're done here. Let's go back to the loft for that little sexual action
you mentioned earlier."
"You have the best ideas, Mr. Kinney," Justin said as Brian grabbed his coat.
It was the end of the day so most of Kinnetik was packing up and preparing to
leave for the day. Gone were the days when Brian had to be burn the midnight oil
and be the last man out the door. He had others who were doing that for him and
doing it very well too.
“Brian, are you really happy with the plans?” John asked as he followed Brian
and Justin out the main door.
“I am, and so is the blond,” Brian replied with a grin. Said blond was smiling
brightly and currently tucked under Brian’s arm as they slowly walked toward
their cars.
“Brian, I’m going to bring Briana back to the lane,” John said to Brian, before
he headed for his truck. “Susanna’s had her long enough and we miss her. Patrick
misses her. I miss her. I understand why you thought having her stay with Ashley
was a good idea but she belongs with us,” John said putting his booted foot
down. He seemed to think that Brian would put up a fight.
“That’s fine. I’ll call over there to tell her to expect you. I just thought
having a PMSing tween around the house would drive you all bonkers.”
“No more bonkers than Patrick is making us at the moment,” John said as he made
a face.
“What’s up with him?” Justin asked.
“All the girls think he’s hot. So they keep shoving cute little notes into his
locker and tucking them into his books. All he wants to do is concentrate on
school and the baseball clinic,” John explained.
“That boy has a screw loose somewhere,” Brian mumbled. “Be that as it may,”
Brian began louder, “if you’re okay with babysitting the princess for a while, I
have no objections.”
“Good, I’ll get her on my way home tonight,” John said with satisfaction.
Everyone was saying goodnight when a very unhappy Michael stomped up to Brian.
“Not only did you hire that … that she-wolf but now you’re reliving your
misspent youth by clubbing! What’s wrong with you?! Next you’ll be trolling for
tricks. Aren’t you too old for this shit?”
Justin grew red in the face with anger and was about to rip Michael a new one.
John was shocked that Michael would say such things. Ted just shook his head at
the behavior of his old friend. Cynthia and several of Kinnetik’s employees were
a little worried waiting to see what Brian would do next. And unseen by the rest
was Melanie who was listening to it all at the back of the crowd.
“Michael, what my partner and I do in our down time is no concern of yours,”
Brian stated calmly, showing much restraint. “And neither is how I run my
business, nor do I have to justify it to anyone. But since you’ve decided to
take your concerns into the street, I’ll answer you. My partner wanted a little
play time, to shake his well-preserved booty in the club that we own. We weren’t
trolling for tricks; we went to Woody’s like old times then to Babylon. I’d
forgotten how much things have changed and how much they’ve stayed the same. I
checked the books while I was there; spoke to a few key staff, had a drink and
danced with my partner. We had a very pleasant evening.
“As for hiring that ‘she-wolf’ as you call her, in the short time Melanie has
been with us she has proven her worth. She’s become a valuable asset to Kinnetik.
My only regret is that we didn’t think of this sooner.”
Michael stood there speechless and perplexed. He expected a Brian Kinney blow up
not this well controlled man in front of him. Melanie could hardly fathom what
she was hearing. Cynthia smiled she knew Brian had a heart hidden under all that
Armani.
“Go home Mikey, it’s too cold to be arguing in the middle of the street. It’s
been a long day and I’d like to go to the loft and have some dessert with my
partner before dinner,” Brian said calmly as he took Justin’s hand, gently
tugging him toward Justin’s Jeep. The rest of Kinnetik’s employees dispersed
leaving Michael standing there alone in the dark, except for Ted.
“Come on, Michael, I’ll walk you to your car,” Ted suggested. Michael looked
deflated as he and Ted walked toward his vehicle.
“Michael, may I offer you some friendly advice,” Ted ventured. “Let up on
Melanie. Yes, she left her kids but she’s back. Yes, she and Lindsay messed up.
But it’s all forgotten now. It’s all in the past. If you don’t move on, you’ll
make yourself nuts.”
Ted made sure Michael got into his car then watched as he started the engine and
drove away. After a moment, Ted quickly walked to his own car, started it to let
it warm up then pulled out his cell phone.
“Ben, its Ted,” Ted said when his call was answered. “Are you home?” Ted nodded.
“Ben, I think Michael has a problem.”
*****
The boys drove to the loft in silence. Justin wanted to say something comforting
to Brian but everything he could think of to say sounded so contrived. In the
end it was Brian who spoke up first.
“What were you planning for dinner?” Brian asked as he pulled into his parking
space.
“Jambalaya, but I can cook something else,” Justin quickly added. Justin made a
great Jambalaya but he didn’t know how to reduce the recipe for just the two of
them. In the end he wound up cooking enough for a small army. That was okay on
the lane, especially with Patrick who was eating everyone out of house and home
but not so at the loft.
“Call Emm, see if he and Richie’d like to join us for dinner. That is if you
don’t mind saving that little sexual action for later.”
“I’ll say it again, Mr. Kinney, you have the best ideas.” Justin smiled as he
took his phone out of his pocket to call their friend the minute they entered
the loft.
“Hi, Sweetie,” Emmett said cheerfully into is phone. “No, I just walked in and I
have no idea what to make for dinner. Pitiful, isn’t it,” Emmett said as he
tried to be blasé about it. “We’ll see you in about an hour, oh, and there’s
three of us,” Emm said before he hung up.
“He said three of them are coming,” Justin said. “Could Drew be back?”
“I don’t think so. We haven’t heard any shrieking lately,” Brian snarked.
“So who’s the third?” Justin asked.
“Not a clue. But I suggest you start cooking,” Brian said in a matter of fact
tone as he walked toward the bedroom stripping off his suit. Justin stood
slightly stunned near the door then jolted himself in action.
*****
“Hellooo!” came from the doorway. “Mmm, something smells delish,” Emmett said as
he ushered Richie and Candy through the door.
“We have time yet,” Justin said as he held up a beer. Emmett sauntered over
toward the kitchen counter to happily accept the cold brew then he planted a
loud wet kiss on Justin’s cheek. Justin giggled as Brian scowled.
“Honeycutt!” Brian bellowed.
“Oh, pshaw,” Emmett said as he dismissed Brian’s vocalizations with a flourish
of his hand. “We all know your bark is worse than your bite. Now make yourself
useful and show the kids where they can study. They still have some homework to
do while I help your gorgeous husband get dinner ready.”
Now it was Brian’s turn to stand there with a stunned look on his face. He
grumbled something unintelligible then showed the teens to the alcove where they
could set up their books and things. Deciding to stay out of the way of the
cooking team, Brian grabbed his laptop and joined the kids in the alcove.
“What’s Candy doing here?” Justin asked as he handed the salad fixings to
Emmett.
“Lindsay flew to London today so Candy’s staying with us until she comes back.”
“Really?” Justin asked with a little concern.
“Oh honey, don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time. The kids love each
other and we all get along fine.”
“Are they?” Justin waggled a finger in the air.
“They’re babies. They do love each other and I think as time goes on they may
become a couple but for now they are the best of friends. They’ve both been
accepted into PIFA. Candy for her art and Richie for his fashion design. I’m so
proud of them both.”
“They’ve both come a long way,” Justin stated as they clinked beer bottles.
“Yes they have.”
“Emmett, are you and Drew all right?” Justin asked straight out.
“Oh honey, I don’t know. I honestly don’t know,” Emmett whispered as he reach
for a tissue. He sniffled into it then blew his nose loudly.
“Haven’t you spoken to him?”
“We talk. We talk almost every night but we have said anything significant to
each other in weeks. I just wish he’d come home.”
“But doesn’t he have obligations for the promotional tour?”
“Yes, but he has enough clout that he can fly home to spend a few days with me
then pick up his meetings whenever he has to.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Justin asked as he put down the large spoon he
was using to stir the jambalaya to give the tall man a supportive hug.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Emmett said as he revelled in the warmth of Justin’s
compact body. “I appreciate it, but I just have to wait until he comes home.”
“We’re here for you,” Justin reassured him as he looked up into Emmett’s soulful
eyes.
“Honeycutt, hands above the waist,” Brian growled. “Sunshine, you have two
starving teens. Is that pot of stuff ready yet?” Brian asked with his usual
finesse.
“Yes just about. Why don’t you set the table,” Justin said with a poignant look.
Brian arched a brow but said nothing as he took dishes and bowls out of a
cupboard to set the table.
“You’ve got him so well trained,” Emmett whispered. Justin giggled as he and
Emmett began to get their dinner on the table.
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