Chapter 11

Resurrection Day PART 2

The Ball-uhhh...I mean... Awards Banquet

The Night of the Banquet:

The doorbell rang. Vance hauled himself off his ass and got the door because the twins were messing with their hair like a couple of lovesick girls getting ready for their prom and God forbid the wife should actually haul herself off her ass. Vance briefly toyed with the idea of getting a butler. He briefly toyed with the idea of hiring Brian as his butler. Hmmmmm…..Maybe after the brats were gone….

He opened the door. He gasped. He staggered back. He literally felt his heart skip a beat. He was a confirmed straight man but… but….damn!

To say Brian Kinney was dressed to the nines was such an understatement it would be a zero on a scale from 1-10. If looks could kill, Brian would have been a hit man. And as dirty and shabby and Beastly as he was when Vance had first seen him, that's how handsome, suave, polished, and well dressed he was now.

Brian's hair was perfectly cut, perfectly styled and yet the front was somehow slightly messy on purpose and he didn't appear to be wearing hair product. His teeth were white as pearls and they gleamed as he smiled. His waist was flat and his chest was deep from gym maintenance. He wore a beautiful tux with tails with polished shoes, white kid gloves, and a blood red rose as a corsage. His tie and handkerchief were also red.

"Good evening, Vance," Brian said, "I believe your sons are expecting me."

Vance recoiled a little but hid it mostly. He was startled at the tone Brian was using, it was confident, sexy, and….almost regal. Like he knew he was important and acted like it. Gone was the sniveling, whining tone and he had called him Vance instead of "sir" or "boss".

"Ummm…yeah….yeah…sure. Yeah they've been excited." Vance called up the stairs. "BOYS! Your date is here!"

As eager as two puppies, Ben and Dominick came down the stairs, as alike as bookends and scuffling all the way, each wanting to be the one to reach Brian first. About halfway down, they actually saw Brian and their scuffling doubled, each grabbing the others' waist and switching places in a strange kind of dance that made it take them twice as long to get down.

"Boys! Boys! What happened to sharing? Come on down or we'll make the limo wait!" laughed Brian, holding out his arms.

The twins obeyed at once and rushed into them.

"Brian! I can't believe it! I mean, I've never seen you like….Wow!" said Ben.

"You sure clean up nice, Brian!" clarified Dom.

With one eye on Vance, Brian kissed Ben deeply and slowly. He could see it was grossing him out and he relished in it. "Thank you Ben."

Then he reached over and kissed Dom slowly and deeply and pinched a nipple for good measure, something that never failed to turn Dom to mush. This was no exception. Again he eye fucked Vance from across the hall. Vance glared back in hate.

Brian pulled back with an audible pop. "Well…let's get going. Vance…see you soon." And without another word, the man who may as well be a Frog Prince, draped a regal arm over each twin's waist and then carelessly dropped lower to cup and squeeze an asscheek each before leading them out the door to a black stretch limo. Both twins giggled adorably.

Brian looked back before he shut the door. He winked slowly and deliberately. "Don't worry Vance. I'll have them back before midnight… well…hopefully," he whispered. He admired Vance's face, which was as red as a ripe cherry with rage.

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The Ball...uhhhh-I mean...Awards Banquet, was lavish and beautiful. The Ballroom was humongous Everyone was sat at tables that were set for 4 or 5 apiece so as not to feel crowded. There was a generous dance floor in the center. At the far end of the Ballroom a small stage was set up with a podium. It was empty for now and there were a few people dancing to a live band that had set up in one corner.

Brian, Ben and Dominick chose a table that would seat 4. The white tablecloth was immaculate as was the white plates and white cloth napkins that had been rolled into crystal napkin rings. The silverware had been polished. Each person had their own crystal goblet and each table had its own bottle of red wine and champagne. There was a crystal vase on each table with a bouquet of roses in them.

The men knew that the fourth seat would soon be filled with Vance but for now they had a welcome respite of the odious man. And so...

"Dance with me, Brian!" cried Ben.

"No! Dance with me!" protested Dom.

"Boys! Boys! I'm here with both of you! And besides...I thought you two shared everything?" Brian reminded them. He plucked two roses from their arrangement and tucked one in each twins buttonhole. "There! Now we match! Come and dance!"

He held out both of his hands and Ben and Dom took one each. They went out onto the dance floor and caused a huge spectacle by not only being the only gay dancers but a gay threesome dance.

It really was a thing of strange beauty and wonder to watch. They started off three in a row, Brian in the middle, Ben and Dom on the left and right of him. They were as alike as could be, their hair dark and parted to the right, their eyes blue and sparkling with youth and happiness. The only difference was Ben's cummerbund was blue and Dom's was red. They both looked adorable but even so their beauty paled in compare to Brian's.

After dancing together in a line for a bit, Brian abruptly turned to one twin and danced with him face to face. While this happened, the other kept his hands lightly on Brian's shoulders and danced behind him, spooning him, but giving him his dance space. Then abruptly, Brian turned and was in the other twin's arms. They danced for a bit until Brian turned again and danced with the other. He turned again...and again...and again. There was a strange regulation to it, like clockwork. Brian turned and turned and spun and dipped and he never seemed to tire or sweat. He worked twice as hard as either twin and as a result neither of them felt neglected in the least. It was a strange spectacle indeed and you would have thought these three would have been practicing for days or months. But they never had and in fact were improvising a little.

Everyone stopped and watched this wonder and when they were done, even clapped a little. They couldn't help it. Even the more homophobic ones were a bit wide-eyed but they stayed quiet. Hey, it had been entertaining after all.

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When the three men returned to their table they found that Vance had arrived. He was watching them dance with a look on his face that was a mixture of disgust and revulsion. Um…If that's possible.

"Ben! Dominick! What the hell did you think you were doing out there?"

"Um…dancing?" suggested Ben.

"The waltz, I think…at least it felt like the waltz…didn't it?"

"Oh my Gawd! Do you think we invented a whole new dance?" asked Ben.

"The three man waltz…Hmmmm..I like it! Maybe we should call someone. What do you think…."

Vance slammed a fist in the middle of the table "Shut up! Now look! I have tried…to be….tolerant…of this…lifestyle that has somehow befallen the both of you but so help me, I have my limits! Now you will not embarrass or ruin this evening for me or so help me, I will make you pay!"

"Seems to me the only one embarrassing you…is you!" Brian said icily as he sat down in the chair across from him.

Ben and Dom took the chairs to the left and right of Brian and each held a hand.

"Annnnnd…you! You think because you've made it into my sons' good graces that you'll make it into mine! Well you won't! Come Monday morning, I'll have a new trophy on my shelf and you'll be back where you belong and all will be back as it should be! With you at my feet as a filthy Cinderfella!"

"Father, this has got to stop! You have to stop calling Brian that horrible name! And give him a better job! He doesn't belong in the mail room! You know he doesn't! You're just being cruel!" objected Ben.

"Of COURSE I'm being cruel, you idiot! And if you don't want to be in the same boat, you'll sit down and shut up!" Vance sounded truly insane now. "I had to promise that bitch of a mother to let you work in the company but I never said as what!" he laughed cruelly.

Ben and Dom were open mouthed at such bald-faced villainy. And they gave each other a secret look, a twin communication that promised terrible vengeance.

By this time, Brian had gotten to know the twins pretty good. He could tell them apart even though they were exactly alike. And he didn't always understand them but he knew when they were secretly communicating. He saw their looks.

He laughed. Deep and triumphant, he laughed, right in Vance's face.

"Oh, Vance! You really are going over the top! Not to mention, around the bend! You'll do nothing to these boys or me ever again! Boy did you screw up! You never should have said that about their mother…"

"I will agree with you on one point though…After tonight….things will go back to how they're supposed to be."

Vance didn't like how that sounded at all. Things seemed ominous. Vance needed to do something to get back in control. He decided to make a decisive and smooth move and speed things up. He left to go to the bathroom.

He dialed a number on his cell phone. "Change of plan. I'm doing it tonight. I can't stand them around in my business one more minute! He'll be ready for pick up at 2 am." Then he dialed another number and pronounced the same thing.

Then he stalked purposely out again. Vance never walked, he stalked; he felt it showed he had purpose.

And because he did, he failed to notice the dour man with dark hair emerge from the stall where he had been hiding.

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When Vance returned to the table, Brian and the twins were out on the dance floor again. He went to the edge of the floor for a minute, fuming, pointing at his watch like a crazy person. Did this stop them? It did not. They didn't notice, or pretended not to and just continued in their strange trio waltz, this time with a lot of dipping and twirling. Finally, Vance was forced to take his seat again where he sat fuming and generating so much heat under his collar that you could have fried an egg on the top of his bald head.

When they finally did return, they ignored Vance completely, scootching closer to each other and existing in a private world of three.

The awards started. Brian looked truly bored as the minor awards were handed out. Best billboard. Best bus ad. Best Calvin Klein model. Best Victoria Secret catalog cover. Blah…blah…blah….

In the middle of all this nonsense, a dour, dark haired man came over and tapped Brian on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, twin hearts," Brian said and got up and stepped a few feet away from the table with the man. The dour man whispered furiously into Brian's ear for a few seconds while the twins looked jealously on.

Brian nodded in acknowledgment and patted the man's shoulder. The man drifted away through the sea of tables and Brian returned to his seat.

"Who was that?" asked Ben and Dom jealously.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind knowing that myself," Vance said.

"Not to worry, twin hearts! It was just my accountant."

"You have an accountant?" Vance snorted.

Brian ignored him utterly.

Eventually…and finally…the hour approached midnight and the award for best advertising firm was to be announced. Vance could feel his excitement build up in spite of himself.

"Ben… Dom…have you had a good time tonight?" asked Brian suddenly.

"Oh yes, Brian!" they answered.

"Shortly, things between us will change. You will see me in a different light and we will not be able to see each other as often. Also this is our one and only date. And…no more sex. But however you see me…and however you may hate me…know that I've come to care about you very much. More than I thought I would have before I started all this."

"Started what? What are you talking about, Brian?" asked Ben.

"We don't understand!" cried Dom.

At that moment, midnight began to chime.

Brian didn't speak. He just took a twin's hand in each of his and kissed the palm of each and then put them both down forever.

"Good bye." He said simply.

To the astonishment of all, he got up and walked away from the table. He walked over 3 tables to where there were two pushed together and a large party was sitting. There was:

A large red haired woman and her date.

A tall thin man with a gap in his teeth and wearing a bright red suit, preening himself like the cardinal he looked like. He was with a man who looked like a linebacker.

The dour, dark haired man and his date a handsome young man with large teeth.

Another dark haired man with a body-built boyfriend.

Two women who were obvious lesbians with a small tow-headed boy dozing between them.

And in the center of all was a blond man with luminous blue eyes sitting beside an empty chair.

Brian strode over to this astonishing group, squeezed a few shoulders, shook a few hands with the others and patted the boy's head. The boy woke up and reached up so Brian hugged him. The boy clearly adored him.

Brian finally made his way over to the empty chair and sat next to the blond man who was waiting impatiently. The two of them came together like magnets and kissed scorchingly hot for several moments. At one point, Brian gave a cursory glance at the Ryders to see if the twins were watching. (They were.) Then he closed them and succumbed to the heat of Sunshine.

To say the twins were mad was a vast understatement. Their eyes were green with jealousy and their faces were red with rage and hate. But the ceremonies were still going on and it seemed like Brian knew these people so they dared not get up and make a scene. They both felt like they'd been had.

At that moment, while the midnight hour was still chiming, the announcer at the podium was saying: "And now…the moment you've all been waiting for …the award for the best and most prosperous advertising agency for the past fiscal year is: KINNETIC! Since Kinnetic's CEO is known only as the Shoe Maker, the award will be accepted by his head artist, and PR director…Justin Taylor!"

Immediately, the blond man next to Brian got up and made his way to the stage. Everybody clapped except the Ryders; Vance because he was so mad that his face looked like he could have won a fight against a shark and Ben and Dom because they still felt incredibly hurt and betrayed and confused.

Justin walked up to the podium and said: "Thank you ladies and gentlemen. This is a great day for Kinnetic. I'm honored to accept this award in part but only in part. For you see, the Shoe Maker sits among you! And it is he who must accept his award!"

The audience gasped appropriately and looked around wonderingly.

"Would the Shoe Maker please come and get his reward?" asked Justin.

And so, it was with another great gasp, as Brian Kinney stood up and cut a very fine figure doing so and walked onto the stage. Vance Ryder had his mouth so wide open you could have shoved a Coke can in there with room to spare. At the same time, his stomach dropped out like an elevator with its wires cut and and everything snapped into place. Of course…Kinney…Kinnetic…But he just didn't get it…why the elaborate ruse? Why screw over his stepsons?

The midnight hour had come and gone.

Brian stalked up on stage with his hungry eyes on Justin the whole time. Then he faced the crowd.

"Thank you all very much. I'm very sorry to have kept you all in the dark for so long but my journey here has quite literally been a rags to riches story. I started Kinnetic with one client and would have lost it if it wasn't for the accidental meeting with this young man who saved my ass and my company. So this award belongs to him as well. And without further ado, I think I will claim my reward!"

And with that short speech, he snatched up the trophy in one hand and with the other arm, caught up Justin in an easy fireman's carry. Then he carried both to the guffaws and titters of many back to his seat.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! What a card, huh folks?" bantered the MC, "OK, Our next award is Advertising firm second place! And the winner is…. Ryder Advertising Agency!"

There was polite clapping and Vance stuck his nose in the air and stiffened, ready to rise to the occasion. Ahh well second place wasn't bad…

"I'm informed there was a recent change in leadership at Ryder. Accepting the award for Ryder is their new acting CEO….Brian Kinney!"

There were gasps afresh along with a high pitched crazed voice that screamed: "WHHAAAAAT!"

Brian stood and bowed his way to the stage as if to say… What? Me? No!" As if this hadn't been planned all along. This time he was followed by Justin and the dour, dark haired man.

But Ryder was also on his way, almost at a run, his face so red it might have been painted.

"What! This is not true! I am Vance Ryder and Ryder Advertising is my sole property! And that is MY award! It should have been first place but…"

"Au contraire, mon frère!" interrupted Brian, cold malice at last entering his voice, "For the last two weeks, I've had my accountant, Ted Schmidt here, quietly buying up shares of Ryder until at last as of a few minutes ago, at midnight tonight I hold 51% or the majority. Ryder is MINE!"

The dark haired Ted produced the papers that proved it was true and legal.

"No! No that can't be true! I would have… Would have known…Someone would have told me…Internet…"

Frantically, he cast his mind back but for the life of him he couldn't remember checking the website for a while now. Instead…

"Perhaps if you had not been so intent on abusing your employees…make that one particular employee, you would have noticed something…You know…the one you like to call…Cinderfella!" Brian said, right into the mike.

There were horrified gasps at this accusation.

Ryder's mouth flapped open and shut like a landed trout's. "You….you….you planned that whole thing! You distracted me!"

"Of course! Oh and here's something else I did! I hired them special, just for tonight!" He snapped his fingers.

Two body-built security guards emerged out of thin air. They were in fact the very same men that had thrown out Brian that first day.

"Yes sir, Mr. Kinney?" asked one submissively.

"Is this man harassing you, Mr. Kinney?" said the other one.

"I'd say Mr. Ryder here is bothering just about everybody here at the moment. I, for one, am done with him. Be so kind…and throw him out!"

The two guards grabbed Ryder and complied instantly. Ryder went struggling, kicking and screaming bloody murder every step of the way. It was quite honestly the sweetest moment of Brian's life…ever…to date.

When the doors to the building had finally shut with a boom and Ryder's screams of hell-fire and vengeance had been silenced. Brian continued:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's true. I've been planning this takeover and stunt for quite some time. That's why I had to remain anonymous for so long and why I went undercover at Ryder's for the last two weeks. Not only did I need to distract Vance, I wanted to seek out worthy and kind people to take his place. It is my great pleasure to have found such individuals. They were the one bright spot in my otherwise dark and bleak existence at Ryder and the men I wish to appoint as co-CEO s in my stead. Ben and Dominick Ryder! They, after all, share everything! The award and company are theirs! Come on up boys!"

Bewildered and bereft, and as abandoned as two waifs in a wild wood, the twins were shell shocked and then slowly rose to deafening applause. Smiling cautiously, they slowly went toward the stage, gaining confidence with every step. But they tempered their confidence with wisdom and kept on their guard.

"What's all this about, Brian?" asked Ben, who they decided would be spokesman.

"Yeah, first you dump us, then you dethrone our father. What's going on?" Dom could not be silent.

"STEP – father," reminded Ben needlessly.

Brian just chuckled. "It's just what it is, boys. I'm sorry I led you on but I couldn't break character until the right time. You...were a surprise and a real find. I'm glad I got to know you. But I do have a partner. But I want to give you what YOU wanted...a place in the company...the head place. I've watched you work, watched Vance steal your ideas and keep you down...but you're more than qualified. So please accept!"

"Of course we will! Thank you, Brian. Although we may not let you off the hook so easy with...Dom...what are you doing?"

Dom had sidled up to the radiant blond and was saying: "So...you're the one he's really after! My...you are a beauty. You know...our brother and I have a policy...We always share everything..."

Brian grabbed his forearm and jerked him away. "Behave yourself!"

Dom gave him a lazy wink and said: "I am behaving...badly!"

And since there was nothing really to say to that, Brian raised their arms in victory and yelled into the mic: "Ben and Dom Ryder everyone! The new future of Ryder Advertising! I look forward to working closely with them again in the times to come!"

Everyone cheered and clapped.

Well, of course they brought them back to their table. There was no point in having them sit all by their lonesomes now that their loathsome parent had gone. And of course, when they did they were immediately adopted into their queer little tribe.

There's not too much to tell after that. Oh...one more thing.

Sometime during the celebration, (for a celebration it had become) Brian bent in to warn the twins.

"Earlier, when your stepfather took off for the bathroom, I discreetly signaled Ted, here to follow him. Ted?"

The dark, dour-faced man bent in to issue a terse and dire warning. He described what he had heard in the bathroom and ended with: "Keep your wits about you and above all do not accept anything to eat or drink from your stepfather tonight for if you do, I fear it will mean your downfall."

The twins looked at each other and said, "Thank you for warning us. We've no doubt you're right. But we think things will be going a little different than he hopes tonight..."

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Later that night, when the twins walked in the door of the Ryder residence they were met with the unwelcome figure of their stepfather.

"Well, well well! If it isn't the men of the hour! Let's go into the living room and celebrate!"

The two brothers looked warily at one another but they saw little way out of this until the time was right. So they followed Vance into the living room.

Vance waited until they'd both gone in. Then he picked up two objects. He stealthily crept up behind the boys, arms outstretched, his hands curved into claws...

TBC