London Calling

Chapter 1

“Come in, Mrs. Brenner. It’s so nice to see you again,” Cynthia said as she showed Molly into her office and offered her a seat.

“Thank you for calling me,” Molly replied, taking her seat after shaking Cynthia’s hand.

“Is Taylor in the school?”

“Yes. He really likes it there.”

“We’re very proud of our little school. Our kids don’t want to leave.”

“Yes, I know. I remember Bree wasn’t all that happy when she had to move on.”

“Can I offer you a cup of coffee before we begin?” Cynthia asked as she studied the nervous young woman before her.

“No, thank you.”

“All right. As we discussed before, I’m very impressed with your resume. Your references all came back glowing. I believe you’d make a nice addition to our Kinnetik family.”

“Thank you, Ms. Morgan. I think I’ll like it here too. But I’m surprised that you need a copy editor. Many of your ads have little print. I hope Brian’s not playing favorites.”

“On the contrary, Mrs. Brenner...”

“Molly, please. Mrs. Brenner sounds too much like my mother-in-law.”

“Okay, Molly. We don’t play favorites here. Brian obviously knows you’ve applied to us but he hasn’t heard my decision.”

“Oh. I thought Justin...”

“Justin doesn’t know either. And I think you overestimate your brother’s impact here.”

“I thought Justin was a contributing artist?”

“On occasion when Brian’s working on something secretive,” Cynthia said with a smirk and making quote marks with her fingers. “We have dozens of excellent artists on staff throughout all the Kinnetik branches. We utilize all of them.”

“Don’t your clients assume that my brother has a hand in your ads?” Molly asked naively.

“Perhaps a few, at first. Our regular clients know otherwise. Molly, you forget that Brian Kinney was around for a very long time in this business. Way before your brother came on the scene and made a name for himself.”

“Oh. I do forget sometimes. For most of my life it’s been my brother and Brian. I always think of them as doing everything together.”

“For the most part you’d be right. However, Kinnetik is Brian Kinney. He may not be physically present in our branch or in any of the other branches but he is cognizant of what goes on in all of them. Our clients come to us because of what Brian Kinney represents and what we have to offer. We pride ourselves by growing, changing with the times and not being afraid to be innovative.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Good.”

“But I’m not sure what my role here will be. Most of the ads I’ve seen have little to say in words. It’s the theme or the artwork that makes them stand out.”

Ignoring Molly’s statement for the moment, Cynthia picked up Molly’s resume again. “Your resume says that you’re fluent in several languages.”

“Only three, and just the easy ones, French, Spanish and Italian. But I can get by in a few more.”

“Can you tell me about your fascination for these languages?”

“I’m not sure. I guess with Justin it was always what he saw and how he interpreted what he saw. With me it was always the spoken word. And then my father funded several vacations abroad for me. I wanted to learn the language of the country I visited,” Molly said softly, blushing with embarrassment. She had fun on those trips until she grew old enough to realize that most of the money Craig spent on her was the money he would have spent on Justin’s college tuition.

“Did you do research in regards to the languages? In other words, if you went to Greece, would you have tried to learn that language?”

“Yes, and I did. I enjoy doing the research.”

“That’s good to hear. As you may be aware, Kinnetik has a New York division.”

“Yes, Stacey, my husband’s cousin works there.”

“Stacey is the head of that branch. She’s been cultivating many overseas clients, clients that are very successful in Europe and looking to expand. New York is the place to start. Make it there and you make it anywhere, as it goes. However, taking on foreign clients while lucrative, does have pitfalls.”

“I’m not sure I follow you.”

“What would happen if we translated an ad into Italian that was intended for the Sicilian market?” Cynthia asked.

Molly looked at her intently. “Oh. OH!” Molly giggled.

“You get my point.”

“Yes. That would be a disaster and you probably wouldn’t keep that client for long.”

“My thoughts exactly. Now Kinnetik can either hire dozens of linguists or...”

“Or one person with an affinity for languages and research?” Molly asked hopefully.

Cynthia smiled. “Welcome to the Kinnetik family, Molly,” Cynthia said as she stood and held out her hand to Molly. Molly stood to take it as she smiled in return.

 

*****
 

“Hi Molly, enjoying your tour around the office?” Ted asked the latest member to be added to the Kinnetik family.

“Yes, I am. I saw most of the first floor the day of my initial interview but I just came down from upstairs. I didn’t realize how large this place really is.”

“This is a large building. I mainly stick to the first floor. The artists can get a little moody,” Ted joked sotto voce. “When do you start?”

“We agreed to Monday January 7th. I already gave notice and I’m willing to start sooner, but Cynthia assured me that after the holidays would be good enough. She’s given me lots of information on Kinnetik and all of my HR paperwork.”

“If you have any questions I’d be very happy to help,” Ted offered.

“Thank you. I appreciate it. Um, you could answer one question for me.”

“Sure, happy to,” Ted said enthusiastically.

“It’s kind of quiet around here. Where is everyone?”

“We run a skeleton crew from mid December to just after the New Year. It gives everyone the opportunity to spend the holidays with family and do any last minute shopping. Those employees that want to come in are free to do so. And of course, many of our admen can work from their home computers if they wish to. Brian doesn’t really care where the work gets done as long as it does get done and it’s the highest quality. But since the office is centrally located, most of us prefer working here.”

“So if Taylor was sick and I couldn’t bring him in, I could work from home?”

“I don’t have a problem with that but you would have to clear it with Cynthia.”

“That’s reasonable. Thank you for letting me know.”

“No problem, and Molly, welcome to the family,” Ted said sincerely as he extended his hand. Molly smiled brightly, her own version of a sunshine smile, as she took his hand.

 

*****
 

“Justin?”

“Yes.”

“We have a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Yes.”

“And just what kind of problem do we have?”

“The toilet.”

“Toilet?”

“Yes.”

“Brian, what the fuck are you talking about? I’m in a meeting with Sidney,” Justin said into his cell phone, as he looked over at the gallery owner who merely smiled serenely. He had dealt with queens before.

“The toilet’s running really slowly.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Brian, for Christ’s sake. The plunger is in the linen closet. Use it.”

“I don’t do shit,” Brian replied decisively.

“Then get John to have a look at it. He’s good with that kind of thing.”

“Nobody’s home.”

Justin heaved a sigh. “Call Ronny the plumber.”

“Can’t you come home?”

“You sound like a baby.”

“I think it’s a sign,” Brian whispered.

“A sign?” Justin asked trying not to sound too cross about this ridiculous conversation.

“A warning that we need to stay home. Something bad may happen if we go to England.”

“That … That’s just ridiculous. Call Ronny the plumber. I have to go.”

“Justin.”

“Yes.”

“I guess I shouldn’t have called you.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be home in a few hours.”

“I’ll be here.”

“Call Ronny … and I love you.”

“Me too.”

Brian cut the connection before he said some other idiotic thing. He went into the kitchen and opened the drawer where they kept the booklet of business cards. He flipped through until he found Ronny’s.

 

*****
 

“Sorry about that interruption, Sidney,” Justin said as he put his cell phone back in his pocket.

“That’s okay. I understand that Brian is not really looking forward to this time in London.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“Is there anything I can do to make it easier on him … and you?”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Justin replied. “Do you think your contacts could find us a house in London, somewhere near the places I’m going to have to appear? I think Brian and all of us would feel more at home in a house rather than a hotel.”

“Hm, I don’t know anybody who has a house available, but I’ll put out some feelers and see what I come up with.”

“That would be great. Sarah Kingsley told me she had some friends in London who would love to host us. I don’t know how true that is, but I should maybe talk to her. Perhaps some of her friends go to the Caribbean for the winter. Someone might have an empty house that we could rent for a month or two.”

“That’s worth a try.”

“Anyway, what else do we need to go over besides the list of paintings that are being sent to London?”

“I want you to choose some of your latest pieces that haven’t been displayed yet. That way I can tell the gallery they are getting quite the coup with the world premiere of your paintings.”

Justin laughed. “You always did know how to play the angles.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Sidney said smugly.

Justin merely smiled.

 

*****
 

“Ronny, come right in,” Brian said as he answered the door for the handsome plumber.

“I hear you have some sort of problem for me.”

“Very slow running toilet in the master bedroom.”

“I’ll take a look.”

“Would you like a coffee? I was about to make a pot.”

“That would be great.”

Brian showed Ronny the offending toilet and then went to the kitchen to make his coffee. As much as he might have enjoyed looking at Ronny’s fine ass bent over his toilet, he decided discretion was the better part of valor. Coffee was much safer.

 

*****
 

“Mrs. Kingsley,” Justin said into his cell phone. “It’s Justin Taylor.”

“Why yes, Justin dear, what can I do for you? And please call me Sarah,” Sarah replied with a big smile all over her face. She loved to get calls from world famous artists.

“As you know I’m heading to London after Christmas.”

“Of course I know. You’re going to knock the British art world on its collective ear, and don’t forget to mention my name while you’re doing it,” Sarah told him with a laugh.

“I’ll be sure to do that,” Justin responded shaking his head at the same time.

“So, what can this old lady do for you?”

“You mentioned having friends in London.”

“Yes, I have several.”

“Brian and I would like to rent a house instead of staying in a hotel when we go over there.”

“I’m sure you’d be much more comfortable in a house.”

“Would any of your friends by chance be heading off to the tropics for the winter, and might have a house that we could rent from them? I promise we’d take very good care of everything.” Justin held his breath as he waited for her reply.

“Why, I don’t know,” Sarah said a little taken by surprise. “Let me make a few phone calls and I’ll get back to you.”

“That would be great. I really appreciate you doing this for me.”

“Not a problem, Justin dear. I should have an answer for you by this evening.”

“Thanks again,” Justin said. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

“I’m very pleased you called me, and I’m happy to help. I’ll call you later this evening.”

“Thank you, Sarah.”

Sarah smiled to herself. “You’re very welcome, Justin dear.”

Justin cut the connection. He wondered what Sarah would come up with and what it might cost him down the line. But if she could find a house for them, then it was worth it. Justin pocketed his phone and got into the car to drive home.

 

*****
 

“All fixed,” Ronny said as he carried his tools out from the bedroom.

“Already?” Brian asked with a raised eyebrow.

“It was plugged, so I snaked it and everything’s kosher now.”

“Snaked, huh?” Brian asked with a smirk.

Ronny smiled at the sexual innuendo. “This handy tool,” he said pointing to the flexible metal rod he held in his hand.

“Coffee’s ready.”

“I’ll just put all my equipment back in the truck, and then I’ll join you.”

“Bet you’d like to be paid too.”

“Yeah,” Ronny smiled before heading out to his truck.

 

*****
 

“Brian!” Justin called.

“In the kitchen.”

“Oh!” Justin said with surprise, as he found Brian and Ronny the plumber sitting all cozy around the kitchen table. “What’s going on?”

“I told you the toilet wasn’t working properly, so Ronny came to my rescue.”

“I see,” Justin said with a frown. He hadn’t really believed there was anything wrong with the toilet.

“I bet you thought I was stringing you a line to get you to come home,” Brian said with his tongue planted in his cheek.

“Well, you made it sound so … pathetic,” Justin said using Brian’s favorite word. “I didn’t think it could possibly be that bad.”

“The drain was plugged, but it’s all fixed now,” Ronny said standing up and folding the check Brian had given him. He put it in the pocket of his shirt. “I better get going.”

“Bye, Ronny,” Justin replied before turning to stare at Brian.

“What?” Brian asked feigning innocence.

“How many repair people do you have coffee with when I’m not home?”

“Just handsome young plumbers named Ronny.”

“So this is a common occurrence?”

“How many times have we needed the plumbing fixed since we moved in here?” Brian asked.

“I don’t know, maybe once.”

“Then I’d hardly call today’s tryst with Ronny a common occurrence.”

“I … I just didn’t expect to see you sitting in the kitchen with him.”

“I was just being a good host and thanking him for fitting me in this afternoon,” Brian explained.

Justin blinked at Brian’s choice of words, but then he realized that he had nothing to worry about. He knew Brian loved him and would never do anything to jeopardize their relationship. “Okay,” he whispered, “sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I guess I was a little bit jealous.”

“I like jealous Justin,” Brian grinned as he pulled Justin in for a hot toe-curling kiss.

“Maybe I should go out more afternoons, if it earns me a welcome home kiss like that.”

“You don’t have to go anywhere to earn my best kisses. They’re all reserved for you.”

Justin beamed at him. “I love you, and I might have some good news about our trip.”

“It’s been cancelled?” Brian asked hopefully.

“No, silly. But I may have a way to make our stay in London more palatable.”

“Do tell?”
 

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