Trials and Triumphs II
By: Morris Henderson
(Copyright 2012 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
 

Chapter 11
GO SOUTH, YOUNG MAN

The second day of the retreat in the Piney Woods Region was much like the first.  All the escorts had ample opportunity to enjoy each of the recreational activities available.  Everyone agreed that it was a highlight of his year and each thanked Max repeatedly for the experience.  His response was always a variation of “I’m glad you liked it.  You deserve it for your outstanding contribution to our success.”

Eric and Tim again spent the day together and became increasingly enamored of each other.  Each expressed to the other the wish to remain friends after the return to Dallas.  Neither, however, dared to express the hope that the friendship would evolve into a loving, committed relationship.  Both felt they ought to wait because a decision to dedicate their lives to each other was important and ought to be made only when they were certain.

Everyone returned to the house for lunch where Max announced, “I have a favor to ask.  Stick around until after the caterer clears away the meal and leaves.  I’d like to get a group photograph of the best damn team imaginable.  I’ll send each of you a copy after we go home.”

No one was happy about the delay in getting back to his planned recreation but all were willing to grant the favor to the man who made the two days of enjoyment possible.  When the caterers left, Max described the photograph that he wanted.  It surprised everyone but they complied with his request and, amid a lot of laughing and joking, posed for the Kodak moment.

The photo sent through the mail was sanitized with a personal note from Max but nearly everyone wanted the original.  Max honored the requests but insisted on giving it to them in person when they visited his office.

Dinner was early that evening, at five, to allow time for packing and for the bus trip home.  Following desert, Chad, the senior member of the staff, stood and said, “Max, I speak for all of us.  Right, Guys?”  A chorus of agreement erupted.  “We all appreciate your hosting this outing but not as much as we appreciate your leadership and friendship.  With the unanimous support of everyone, we hereby bestow upon you the title of His Excellency, the GRAND STUDMEISTER.  And we pledge our allegiance to you for as long as you in your wisdom allow us to serve.”  Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.  When it died down, Chad continued, “And to your partner, Justin, whose extraordinary efforts have not gone unnoticed, we hereby bestow the title of His Royal Highness, the ONE WHO GETS THINGS DONE.”  More applause and cheers.

Max stood and said, “Thanks guys.  But I want you to know how lucky I am to be associated with each and every one of you.  I kid you not when I say it’s you guys and the superior service you render to our clients that are behind our success.  My role?  I’m just a guy that answers the phone and keeps the books.”

“And a helluva lot more!” someone shouted, which triggered another round of cheers.

“Okay, Guys,” Max said.  “Here’s my first command as your newly exalted ruler.  While the caterer clears up the dinner, gather up your sheets and towels and take them to the utility room in the basement.  Put them in the hamper down there.  Let’s tidy up the whole house.  None of us want our client to find the place in disarray.  Then pack your things.  The bus will pick us up at eight.”

<><><><><> 

During the next three weeks, Tim and Eric were together frequently — usually in the middle of the week when neither of them had an assignment.  Eric decided that the time was right.  He was sure that he wanted Tim as a permanent partner.  But he was not nearly as sure that Tim was ready to commit to a relationship.  In spite of those doubts, he planned to ‘pop the question’ on Wednesday when the two of them would be spending the night together in Eric’s apartment.  He hoped his proposal would be accepted.  If it wasn’t, he hoped they could continue to be friends in and out of bed.

On Monday morning, Max called Eric and asked, “Could you stop by and see me?  I’ve got an idea and would like your opinion.”

“Sure,” Eric replied.  “What’s the idea?”

“I’d rather explain it to you in person.  It may take an hour or so to discuss it.”

They agreed on a time, ten the next morning, leaving Eric to wonder what was on Max’s mind.

“Thanks for coming,” Max said as he answered the door and let Eric in.  They sat in Max’s office where the man said, “First of all, I want to say that I couldn’t be more pleased with your work.  I’ve received more thanks and praise from your clients than for anyone else in the agency.  That’s the reason I’ve given you so many assignments ... and the reason why I’ve tried not to overburden you with work.  But let me get to my idea.  I’ve done a great deal of research and decided to enter the Houston market.  There are a lot of men, travelers and residents, in Houston mostly because of the oil and space activity there.  And there’s nothing like our service available.  Bottom line: big market and no competition.  But I can’t manage the operation from here.  I need a resident manager.  I need you, Eric, to be in charge down there.”

“I’m flattered by the offer, Max, but I’m not sure I’m the one you want.  Why not Chad?  He has the most experience.”

“Chad’s a good man.  He’s a real trooper and has a loyal following.  But his talents don’t include executive ability.  You, on the other hand, have what it takes to hustle up the business, to organize, to maintain a vision of the future and work hard to achieve it.  What you’ve been through and how you handled setbacks are evidence of your initiative and ambition.  Those are qualities that one has or doesn’t.  You, my boy, have what it takes.  You, more than anyone else, can make the Houston operation a success.”

“Thanks for the confidence,” Eric replied.  “But I’d like to think it over.”

“EXACTLY!” Max exclaimed.  “That’s one of the reasons I want you.  You don’t jump into things without proper consideration.  So here’s some information that will help you decide.  You’ll have an apartment with the first year’s lease paid by the agency.  Two bedrooms so you can use one as an office.  The first year’s marketing and business expenses will be paid by the agency ... with minimal oversight and no objections unless you do something stupid, which I’m sure you won’t.  That’s all part of the start-up costs.  You’ll have to recruit staff.  Until they’re on board, you’ll have to entertain clients yourself.  Profits of the operation will be yours for the first year.  After that, they will be divided equally between us.”

“That’s very intriguing,” Eric said.  “But I’m sure you appreciate that this would be a big change for me and I’d like some time to think it over.”

“So what’s to think over?” Max asked.  “I think the offer is not only generous but irresistible.”

“It is generous.  And tempting.  But there’s one more thing I have to find out before I can say yes.”

“And what’s that?  What more information do you need from me?”

“It’s a personal matter,” Eric replied, reluctant to divulge his affection for another staff member.

Max was pensive for a few minutes, trying to think of a way to overcome the unknown objection.  Finally, something occurred to him.  He grinned and said, “Oh!  I see!  You don’t want to leave your boyfriend.  I should have thought of that.  It’s plain to see that you and Tim are fond of each other.  Am I right?”

“That’s part of it,” Eric replied reluctantly.  “But it’s more complicated than that.  Yes, we’re boyfriends.  We like each other a lot.  But we’re not yet full partners like Mike and Larry.  So you see, my dilemma is choosing between the opportunity you’re offering and the possibility of living with Tim.  I’d like to be in charge of the Houston agency but I don’t want to lose what I have ... and may have ... with Tim.”

“Well now,” Max mused.  “That’s a dilemma for both of us.  It’s hard enough to lose you as part of our team here in Dallas but if Tim follows you to Houston I’ll be losing TWO outstanding people.  If you decide to stay here with Tim, then I’ll have to offer Houston to my second choice.  By the way, for what it’s worth, I think you two would be a great couple so I would understand.  On the other hand, I would hate to lose both of you.  That would be a serious problem not just for the agency but for many of our clients.  I guess we both have to think about it for a while.  Is a week enough time for you to make a choice?”

“Yes, Sir.  But I’d like your permission to discuss your offer with Tim.  If he says goodbye and good luck then I’ll know he’s not interested in a long term relationship and I’ll go to Houston.  If, on the other hand, he feels about me the way I feel about him then it comes down to this: we both move or we both stay here.  In that case, it’s your choice: give the job to someone else or replace both of us on the Dallas staff.”

<><><><><> 

Eric weighed his options for the remainder of Tuesday and most of Wednesday and always concluded that he would have to decline Max’s offer if it meant parting from Tim.  The sleepover Wednesday night only added urgency to the need to clarify Tim’s feelings about their relationship.

They met at seven for dinner at a local steak house and returned to Eric’s apartment by eight thirty.  Following their custom, they immediately went to bed for about two hours of love-making followed by conversation while they snuggled together before falling asleep.  The conversation that night, however, was very different.

“Tim,” Eric began.  “Max asked me to stop by his house yesterday.  He wouldn’t say why.  But when I got there he surprised me.  It seems he wants to open an agency in Houston and needs someone to set it up and manage it for him.”

“That sound like a great opportunity,” Tim said.

“It would be ... but there’s a complication.”

“What?  You think you can’t handle it?  I think you can.”

“The complication has nothing to do with taking the job in Houston.”  Eric paused to reconsider what he wanted to say.  “It’s something personal, something far more important to me than a job.  That something is you, Tim.  I don’t want to live 150 miles away from you.  You mean too much to me.  Let me lay it out.  Sure, we’ve only known each other for a short time but I love you.  You’re the person I’ve wanted for years.  I’d like to spend every day for the rest of my life loving you.  And I can’t do that if I move to Houston.”

Tim said nothing for a few moments that seemed like an eternity to Eric, who quickly grew anxious over the absence of any reaction.  He was surprised when Tim seized him in an embrace and said, “I feel the same way about you but I’ve been afraid to say it.  I don’t think I could stand the disappointment if all you wanted was a sex buddy.”

They sealed their commitment to each other with a long, very passionate kiss.

<><><><><> 

“Well,” Max said when Eric arrived.  “Are you going to be the head of the Houston agency?”

“I’m afraid not,” Eric replied.  “I appreciate the offer and your confidence in me but I can’t leave Tim behind.  I’m even more sure of that now because we’ve agreed to be life partners.”

“That’s WONDERFUL!” Max exclaimed.  “Congratulations!  You two will be a perfect couple.  But don’t turn down the Houston job just yet.  I’ve given a lot of thought to the matter.  I don’t like the idea of losing TWO outstanding staff members but I’ve concluded that starting a new operation in Houston might be a bit much for one person — even one with your talents.  The agency here in Dallas is up and running but it still keeps Justin and me busy.  As I thought about the difficulties I had starting from scratch here, I remembered how hard it is for one person.  Having both you and Tim in Houston, therefore, will significantly improve the chances for success.  And with your new relationship with Tim. I realize that the startup cost will not be any more than if you were there alone because you can share one apartment.  Bottom line: you and Tim can start your lives together by starting a new business.  Do we have a deal?”

“That we do!” Eric said with a broad smile.  “When can we start?”

“In two or three months.  You’ll have to spend some time with me to learn the ropes of running an agency.  You’ll have to find an apartment in Houston.  Together — and that means me, you, and Tim — we’ll have to work out a marketing plan.  You’ll probably want to spend time in Houston scouting out possible candidates for your staff and recruiting them.  It’s going to be a busy time.  And challenging.  But very rewarding in the long term.”

Immediately upon arriving home, Eric called Tim.  “Hey, Buddy.  Do you want to move to Houston with me?  Max has agreed that it will take two of us to get the new agency started.”

“FANTASTIC!” Tim whooped.  “I’d go to Timbuktu to be with you.”

“What was that?”  Eric grinned.

“I’d go to Timbuktu … to be with you.”

“You’re a poet and don’t know it; but your feet show it … they’re Long-fellows.”

“What?”

“Never mind,” Eric replied.  “Let’s celebrate.  With dinner at a fancy restaurant and then spend the night showing how much we love each other.”

To be continued...

My thanks to Iatia for his consistently meticulous editing and for his continuing encouragement.

Posted:09/28/12