Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 17:05:08 -0600
From: Jack Schaeffer <jack.schaeffman@gmail.com>
Subject: Forever - Book Two - Chapter 2

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Comments welcomed: jack.schaeffman@gmail.com


FOREVER
By Jack Schaeffer
Copyright (c) 2014-2015. All rights reserved.

BOOK TWO - CHANGES

CHAPTER 2


Billy dropped Sam and I off at the curb and pulled away wearing his killer
smile with a promise to come get us when I called after our meeting. As we
stood there on the sidewalk, I could feel fear trying to overtake me again. I
tried to calm myself down by looking at the majestic mountains behind us
reflected in the mirrored glass panels on either side of the revolving doors.
Ordinarily such a scene would have brought me peace; now I suddenly felt
paralyzed, unable to move forward.

"You okay?" asked Sam, sensing the tension in my demeanor.

"I...um...yeah, I guess so. I just...I don't want to go in, Sam." I sighed
deeply in frustration with myself. I knew I needed to do this. Sam came
alongside me, put his hand on the small of my back and whispered in my ear.

"You've got this, Jack, and I'm gonna be with you every step of the way. Come
on, little man. Let's show 'em what Team Schaeffer can do." He smiled at me
tenderly, his love for me almost tangible.

"You mean Team Schaeffer/Wainwright, don't you? I can't do this without you,
Sam. I don't want to do anything without you."

"You bet, Jack. But then we gotta find a different team name, cuz that one's
too long to fit on our jerseys." He was grinning now, and my confidence
increased slightly. I could do anything with Sam at my side. I grabbed his
hand, squeezed it tightly, and then stepped forward into the banking abyss,
head held high, my stomach churning.

The gargantuan atrium lobby was as I remembered it from my first and only
visit to the bank. It looked like they had added more large glass sculptures
of various colors. They were on tables, hanging on the walls, with some huge
multi-colored creations hanging from wires filling the atmosphere within the
atrium. We were both a bit in awe as we made our way to the bank of elevators
on the opposite side of the lobby. The overall effect was breathtaking, and
not at all what you would expect for decor in a conservative financial
institution.

Sam held my hand in the elevator and gave me the softest kiss as we rode up
to the 10th floor, just the two of us. I savored the moment, knowing the
second the elevator doors opened my life would take on a totally new
dimension. Thank God Sam was with me. It didn't hurt that he looked insanely
hot in his tight khaki pants, either. I could feel my dick stir a little in
my jeans.

The elevator doors opened, revealing the rich, polished wood-paneled lobby
for the Private Trust Division offices. Entering the main doors, the
receptionist, the same young woman who had greeted me on my last visit,
quickly put aside her latest romance novel, introduced herself as Karen, and
rose to escort us straight to Todd's office. She had apparently been told to
expect us.

Leading us through the maze of whisper-quiet hallways, she eventually stopped
at a closed office door. There was a brass name plate on the wall next to the
door identifying this as Todd Martin's domain. She knocked softly and we
heard a loud "Come in" from inside. She stepped aside, and as Sam and I
entered, I noticed Karen eyeing Sam's ass with thinly veiled lust. She was
probably suffering from a diet of too many romance novels, poor thing. Sure,
he looked like one of the hunks they paint on the covers of those books, but
I knew the only romance he wanted was with me. It made me smile, and I let it
go. She was no threat - Sam never even noticed her.

Todd was on the phone - again - and we stood there waiting for him to finish.
He thanked whoever he was talking to for the information they had just
shared, and then hung up with a completely satisfied look on his face.

"Got him," he said.

"Got who, Todd?" I asked.

"Arnold Turner. Sam...you were so right. I've talked with three different
employees at MileHigh Holdings, and they confirm the merger is most
definitely not dead. Apparently Arnold has been keeping the lines of
communication open and working the deal from both sides." I was so lost, and
it must have shown on my face. Todd noticed my confusion.

"Hey, Boss, don't worry. I'll explain it all so you understand it perfectly
before the meeting. Tell you what...Mr. Heywood dropped off your suits a few
minutes ago. They're hanging up over there behind my door. Why don't I give
you guys a few minutes to get dressed, and then we can move to the conference
room and we can strategize. It's just down the hall to the left. Cool?"

Sam nodded. I said nothing. My anxiety level was rising, and Sam wisely
stepped over to me and pulled me into a hug, silently communicating with Todd
to give us a minute. I peripherally saw Todd nod and quietly shut the office
door behind him. We were now alone.

Sam continued to hold me, my head resting on his chest, as my body eventually
relaxed into him. I didn't realize how stressful this was going to be. I
concentrated on trying to breathe evenly, in and out. Sam held on tightly
until I gently pulled back and looked up at him.

"You see? You see why you needed to be here? This whole thing scares the crap
out of me, Sam. Todd's worked so hard to find out what's going on and now
he's depending on me to make it right. What am I gonna do?"

"You're gonna make the play, Jack. Come on, let's get dressed and go see
Todd. We'll put a plan together and you'll do fine. Remember - you hold all
the cards, Jack. You're a top client for this bank. You're not just some
lost, terrified kid from Chicago, okay? You're Jack Schaeffer, multi-
millionaire and executive team leader, and don't forget...you've got the
sexiest lover of all waiting for you after the game." He smiled at me, and it
was everything I could do to not cry. I so didn't deserve him, but I was glad
he was mine.

We were already wearing our new shirts and socks; our shoes and ties were in
the boxes we carried in with us. I slipped off my jeans while Sam removed his
khakis, which left us standing there in our underwear. Sam looked down at my
crotch with a mischievous look on his face. He suddenly dropped to his knees,
ripped my underwear down to my ankles and swallowed my cock to the root in
one fast move. I gasped and grabbed onto his head to keep from falling over
backwards. He steadied me with his hands on my ass, pulling my hips into his
face in a constant rhythm. Sam liked me to fuck his throat, and he had me on
the edge in less than a minute. I started having difficulty keeping a steady
movement in and out, so Sam knew I was close. As I reached the peak, he
pulled me into his throat as deep as I could go and I tried desperately to
not shout out obscenities as I came. As it was, anybody walking by just then
would know there was more than high finance taking place in that office.

Panting, gasping, and trying to stay on my feet, I pulled back gently and Sam
used his tongue to clean me up. I reached down and pulled him up to me in a
deep kiss, tasting my cum on his tongue, my hand reaching out to massage his
engorged dick, now leaking in his underwear. He immediately swerved his hips
out of my reach.

"Un uh. Not right now. You don't get to play with that until after the game."
He was smiling at me playfully.

"But...you did me...I wanna do you," I pouted.

"Later, little man. That was just so you could remember what to focus on when
you start to feel like everything's going sideways. I'm here for you, Jack,
and I'm always gonna be here, standing right by your side...forever." His
sapphire blue eyes bored into my own, intent on making me believe his words.
I did believe him.

The first tear fell. "Crap! I swore I wasn't going to cry today. Ugh!"

"It's okay. Here, let me," said Sam, as he gently wiped the tears from under
my eyes with his big hands. "You've got this, Jack. Trust me. And when it's
all over, we can have us some play time."

"Thank you, Sam, for...for everything." He nodded, then handed me my suit. My
black boxer briefs were still at my ankles, so I pulled them up, adjusted
myself into a comfortable position, and squeezed into the suit pants. Sam
watched me closely while he put on his own.

"Damn, Jack. Anytime you want to get me going, just put those on. Fuck,
you're hot. If any of those guys on the Board are gay, they'll be putty in
your hands. But don't be gettin' any ideas about leavin' me for a rich sugar
daddy. You're mine."

"Forever, Sam." I smiled at him, grateful for his friendship and his love. I
pulled him into a gentle kiss, doing my best to say I love you without words.
He sighed contentedly and hugged me one more time, then turned me around and
opened the office door.

"Game time," he said.

Together we walked down the hall a short distance, carrying our suit coats
over our shoulders, and I recognized the doorway to the conference room where
I had first met Todd over a month ago to discuss my inheritance. My whole
life had changed in the interim, and was about to change yet again. I willed
myself to keep moving, reassured by Sam's hand floating near my back.

Entering the room, I was pleasantly surprised to see Larry Weiss standing
there, coffee cup in hand, while he watched Todd on the phone. He
looked...not well...like he had been sick or something. He definitely had a
gaunt appearance - my grandmother would have said his color didn't look good.
He saw me and immediately smiled, putting his cup down on the conference
table.

His voice sounded a little weaker than I remembered too. "Jack. Good to see
you again. And this must be Sam," he said, reaching out to shake Sam's hand.
"Come on in guys, and have a seat. Todd's almost finished and we'll get
started. Can I get you guys anything to eat or drink?"

"Coffee would be great," said Sam.

"Water for me, please," I replied.

Sam pulled a chair out for me and I sat, grateful to get off my shaking legs.
I was determined to go through with whatever plan these guys came up with. I
could only hope I wouldn't screw it up. Sam's confidence in me was the only
thing anchoring me to the chair. Otherwise I'd be bolting out the door.

Todd hung up, nodded once to Larry in a silent confirmation of something, and
sat down across from us. After serving us our drinks, Larry sat at the head
of the table, his ever present giant binder sitting on the table in front of
him. He folded his hands and rested them on top of it.

"First of all, guys, thank you for being willing to cut your vacation short
to come and help us. I'm not a hundred percent sure this will work, but we
have to try. Win or lose, it means a lot to me personally that you would do
this. We really had no right to even ask, but I didn't know what else to do."

"Larry, it's fine. You...and Todd...and everybody else...you've all done so
much for me already, it's the least I can do to try and help. But what
exactly am I supposed to do?" I asked.

"Let's have Todd fill you in on what he's managed to find out, and then we
can put our heads together and decide on the best course of action, okay?"
Sam and I nodded, and the floor was Todd's.

"So...as I said earlier, Sam's idea about the pressure for the consolidation
coming from a personal source was correct. Apparently Arnold Turner has been
meeting secretly, or should I say not so secretly, with Franklin Talbot, CEO
of MileHigh Holdings. They've been seen together several times over the last
couple of months. I spoke with an assistant to the Vice President of
Investments over there and we got to chatting and I casually mentioned
Arnold's name. Without thinking she acknowledged she had met him, then tried
to back pedal. I reassured her I meant no harm, I was just curious. She
eventually told me he was over there to meet with Talbot and her boss. What
they talked about, she had no idea."

"But you think it was to discuss the merger?" asked Sam.

"Yes. I pressed a little further to figure out when these meetings may have
started, and my contact gave me a date which coincided with the time Arnold
started pitching his crazy consolidation idea over here."

Larry jumped in. "We think the consolidation plan is intended to be a
precursor to a new merger plan down the road. If Arnold succeeds in
convincing the Board to go along with it, when the dust clears, he will be
sitting on top of the entire investment side of the house, and will
effectively control the majority of the bank's assets. I can only assume this
is a change which MileHigh wants to happen before they submit a revised
merger proposal."

"And let me guess...Arnold Turner would end up with a nice position after the
merger as well," said Sam. I'm glad one of us was following all this.

Larry jumped up and started pacing. "Exactly. I'm sure he'll be nicely
compensated. But honestly, I couldn't care less about his position or what
happens to him. I do care about his plan to destroy this bank in the
process!" Larry was now extremely agitated, and his face turned a dark shade
of red.

"Larry!" shouted Todd. "Calm down! We'll figure it out, okay. Take it easy,
man. You know what your doctor said. I knew you should have stayed away
today," he said, shaking his head slowly.

"Wait. What's going on?" I asked. "Are you alright, Larry?" I was instantly
concerned for the guy who had been kind to me in a very difficult time of my
life. I didn't understand all the banking mumbo jumbo, but I could tell Larry
was hurting.

"I'm fine, Jack. I...had a little trouble with my heart a couple of weeks
ago. Doc says I have to take it easy for a while, not get upset. Don't worry
about me - Todd watches my every move, makes sure I take my pills - he's like
the wife I never wanted."

"I don't do it for you, Larry. You up and die and leave me in all this shit
by myself, I'll dig you up and kick your ass for a week. Geez man, get a
grip. None of this is worth risking your health over. Arnold Turner is not
worth it."

I had never actually seen Todd and Larry together in the same room before.
Clearly Todd cared deeply for Larry, and Larry was looking across the table
at him with what I could only call real love, like a father looking with
pride at his son. These two had a deep admiration and respect for one
another, no doubt about it.

"He's right, Larry. It's only money. Who cares who manages it or
does...whatever. I don't want you to die because of it," I said.

Larry sighed deeply, and the deep redness of his face faded quickly. He
looked at all of us for a moment, and then calmly spoke. "You're both right,
of course. Except in one thing...this isn't about money...or about who
manages it, or how. This is about people - my people."

"What do you mean, Larry?" asked Sam. I noticed he sat up straighter in his
chair. Something was piquing his interest now.

"I mean, Sam, that Arnold Turner and Franklin Talbot are not going to
decimate First Colorado and send a hundred people out into the street just so
they can make themselves look good and pretend they are better than they'll
ever really be. I worked too hard over the last three decades, giving my life
to this place, raising up gifted people who champion our clients and build
the best possible relationships with them, to let some blowhard like Arnold
Turner tear it all down, because frankly, he just doesn't give a shit about
anybody but himself."

Sam reached over and grabbed my hand in full sight of Larry and Todd. It
startled me, and I turned to look at him. He stared at me with his intense
focus, like he was trying to convey some hidden message to me, and I swear I
felt it. Like a deposit of renewed confidence and purpose. This is where I
came in. This is where I was to make my play. I nodded to Sam, he nodded
back, and I turned to face Larry and Todd again. It was time for me to get in
the game.

"Guys...I may not know much about money, stocks, investments...none of it.
But I do know this. You guys are my team, and if my team is in trouble and
under attack, then we all pull together and find a way to beat this back. I'm
in. All the way in. Sam and I will do whatever you need us to do. But no way
is Arnold fucking Turner going to win. Now...how do we beat him?" Todd smiled
hugely, and Larry nodded at me with renewed respect. We really were a team,
and it felt like it now.

"Told you these guys were great," said Todd. Larry just smiled.

Sam stepped in. "Okay...we know where we stand, and our objective, which is
stopping this consolidation vote and ultimately the merger with MileHigh.
What is our plan of attack for today?"

"Well, the vote on the consolidation plan we think is scheduled for this
morning. The Board will meet in less than an hour. They'll walk around and
schmooze a little, eat some pastries, drink some coffee, and then the meeting
will start. Davis Munroe will guide the agenda. My guess is, and it's only a
guess, he'll bury the vote in the middle of new business somewhere and try to
get them to rubber stamp it. He's presenting the plan as an approved
Executive Team strategic initiative, so as long as no one asks any questions,
he'll get it through. I just wish I understood why he changed his mind so
suddenly and is now backing this insane scheme. It's not like him to do
something so...foolish."

"Tell me about him, Larry," I said. If I was going to face him in the Board
Room, I needed to understand whatever I could in an extremely short time.

"Davis Munroe is intelligent, respected, and a damned good leader. And I
would call him my friend, most days. Ordinarily he keeps his eye on the ball
and inspires everyone under him to do the same. Just what you want in a CEO.
He stays out of our way - mine and the other VP's - and expects us to run our
divisions to the same standards of excellence we always have. The only
misstep I've seen him make in the last ten years we've worked together is his
promoting Arnold Turner to the VP of Corporate Investing. It made no sense -
he had a much better candidate waiting in the wings, and we lost a great man
when Alan Cummings walked away. Instead, we get Turner. He makes his numbers,
everything looks fine on the surface, but all you have to do is walk through
the offices on his floor and you can feel it."

"Feel what, Larry?" I asked.

"I don't know what you would call it...indifference, maybe? Like everyone is
glad they have a job, but they're secretly thinking maybe they shouldn't be.
It's like they all know they would be much happier working somewhere else,
but they don't know why. I do. It's because Arnold Turner does not inspire.
He does nothing to urge his team to greatness. You can't be a successful
leader if you aren't doing something every day to keep your team motivated to
do better, achieve more, reach higher goals. In a way, I get the sense they
are all just marking time, waiting for someone to care about them."

"Larry...you said you didn't understand why Davis would promote Arnold in the
first place, right?" asked Sam. Larry nodded. "And now...Davis is suddenly
backing a plan driven by Arnold, against what you believe is his better
judgment."

"Exactly, Sam."

"He's leveraged," said Sam. I turned to look at him. He was speaking Greek to
me. Todd looked a little puzzled as well. Larry, on the other hand, was
suddenly smiling.

"Sam...I think you're right. Damn it, I knew something was off - there was no
rational reason for Davis to support this. Shit! What has that asshole got on
him?" Larry's face was getting red again, and Todd was watching his boss
closely, but he kept silent - barely.

"What do you mean by 'leveraged', Sam?" I asked, still totally confused.

"Someone has gotten leverage over Davis Munroe. Most likely Arnold Turner. If
you can't beat your opponent with superior skills or intelligence, you have
to find some kind of leverage - a weakness to expose, any kind of an
advantage. Davis's sudden change of heart and last minute support of the
consolidation plan would indicate Arnold now has some kind of knowledge or
information or...something...he can use to control Davis and force him to
support Arnold's plans."

"It would have to be some serious leverage, a threat of some kind, or
blackmail, to get Davis Munroe to support this plan. It's professional
suicide from what Larry's been telling me. He'll be lucky to find another job
in banking anywhere if he's linked to this decision," said Todd.

"Exactly," said Larry. "It all makes sense now. Davis was just as against
this plan as the rest of us in the beginning. Arnold did some quiet lobbying
and got two on his side. But when Davis suddenly announced his support, the
others fell in line. I'm the only hold out at this point. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Why didn't I see it and try to help him? Davis was acting so strangely. I
even said as much to him after our last Executive Team meeting when it was
clear Arnold had gotten his way. He just said I would never understand and he
practically begged me to leave it alone."

"But what could it be?" I asked. "Todd, with all your connections, did
anybody seem to indicate Arnold was blackmailing Davis somehow?"

"No...but...no one who works with Arnold seems to like him very much. Perhaps
they picked up on something in his character. Or worse, maybe he finds things
on them too, to leverage for his own advantage. It would certainly go a long
way to explaining how he rose so rapidly to the top, and why no one dares say
anything bad about him now."

"You know what, guys? It doesn't matter for today. One fight at a time. We
don't have to win the war in one day," said Sam, calmly. "Since we think we
know why Arnold is pushing his plan, and probably why he's been able to
manipulate Davis to do his bidding, we have to figure out how to stop this
vote today. Hopefully it will buy us the time we need to figure out what
leverage Arnold has over Davis and shut him down for good. My only concern
right now is Jack. I mean, we're talking blackmail, palace intrigue...serious
shit. I don't want Jack involved if he could be in danger." He grabbed my
hand again, and I smiled at him. My protector was on high alert.

"I don't think it will come to that, Sam. Nobody but Larry and I have any
idea who Jack is, so it's highly unlikely Arnold Turner will see him coming.
Plus, the only person from the Executive Management Team allowed to be in the
Board Meeting is Davis Munroe. So Arnold won't even know about it until after
the fact."

"So exactly what does Jack say and why will they allow him to speak in the
first place? Aren't board meetings private affairs?" asked Sam.

"Yes, the business part of the meeting is. But any Board Member is allowed to
invite a guest from time to time to address the Board on any topic of
interest he or she feels will benefit the other Board Members. It's
unofficial, but can be highly influential. Larry and I feel if Jack, as a
significant investor with this bank and one of our biggest clients, can find
a way to express his point of view about the consolidation plan, it might be
enough to at least postpone the vote today."

"It might work. But how does Jack manage to get himself invited to speak on
such short notice when no one knows he exists?"

"That part's easy, Sam...Sully," said Larry.

"Who's that?" I asked. Larry smiled at me and continued.

"Andrew Sullivan, affectionately called Sully, and the only grandson of
William Sullivan, founder of the bank. He's the CEO Emeritus if you will,
retired from operations but still passionately protective of First Colorado's
reputation. He's the last in the Sullivan line and he's a feisty old guy.
He's been known to go toe-to-toe with other Board Members on decisions in the
past, and I'm pretty sure he can still sway a majority of the Board towards
his opinion on most things. He's actually the one who handpicked Davis Munroe
to take over after he retired. If Jack can convince Sully this consolidation
plan is a bad idea, or at the very least raise questions, Sully may request a
delay in voting on the plan. It would give us time to figure out the rest."

"So how and when do I meet Mr. Sullivan, and what do I say?" I asked.

Todd took the ball. "I've already set it up. I spoke with Sully earlier by
phone and let him know we had a top client in house this morning, and I
thought he might like to meet you. He's known for wanting to maintain
relationships with clients. He's old school to the core. Used to have
pictures of every client on the wall in the main board room to remind
everyone who they worked for. I'll walk you both around, and we will casually
run into him right before the meeting. When I introduce you, I'll plant the
seed about Sully inviting you in to address the board. I think it will work."

"All you need to do is raise some questions about the consolidation plan. Let
them know as a client you would not be happy with such a change in the way we
do business. Especially in the loss of your team," suggested Larry.

I looked at Sam for his input, but he just kept looking at me silently, his
eyes intense and focused. I let him stare into my soul, feeling a peace come
over me. After a few moments, he started smiling, then nodded once to
himself.

"Jack...all you have to do is stay focused on the people. Your team. All you
care about is your team. That's who you are fighting for. Not the bank, not
Arnold, not Davis, not investments or dividends or returns. Just...your team.
We need this team, Jack, to do everything we've talked about doing. We can't
use this...tool...without them. Fight for them, Jack. Fight for us, and
you're guaranteed a victory today." It was all I could do to not start crying
again. How he understood me to the core of who I am, I'll never know. He was
so right. All I cared about was my team. The people. Us. The money was
secondary.

I took a deep breath. I could do this. Stay focused on my team, and bring
home a win. "Okay...let's do it. Todd, I guess it's time to meet Andrew
Sullivan. Here's hoping he likes me."

We all stood up and waited for Todd to gather all of his papers and folders
spread out on the conference table. Larry came over to Sam and I and reached
out to shake our hands again.

"Sam. Jack. Todd was right. You guys are great. I'm glad we're on the same
team. And I'm hopeful we are going to be able to keep the team intact after
the meeting today. You guys are a formidable duo, for sure. I'll be around
later and we can talk some more. Go get 'em, Jack." I smiled, trying to
convey more confidence than I actually felt.

We stopped by Todd's office so he could dump his files, then we continued to
the elevators. Riding up four floors to the Executive Office Suite, I clung
to Sam's hand, hoping to suck whatever confidence he had in me over into my
own soul. Time to do it afraid.

It took less than a minute to casually "run into" Andrew Sullivan. He was an
extremely well-dressed, trim and dapper man, looking to be in his early
seventies. But there was no mistaking the fire in his eyes. They reminded me
of Sam's - there was a light in them which drew me in immediately. He gave us
a warm smile, and I saw in his eyes the exact moment when it registered Sam
and I were sexual partners, not business partners. He had the good grace to
say nothing, even though being from the old school, he might have had an
issue with us as a couple. I hoped it wouldn't scuttle Todd's well laid plan
for getting me into the Board Room.

"Mr. Schaeffer, welcome to First Colorado. I hope Todd and Larry have been
treating you well."

"Very much so, sir." I decided to keep my comments brief, letting him take
the lead. Sam said nothing standing next to me, looking almost amused. I
think he was excited to see how this all played out. I just wanted to throw
up.

"Todd tells me you are a new client for us. How did you come to choose our
humble little bank for your needs?"

"Well...to be honest, sir, I recently became the trustee for the Franklin
Family Trust, and since Phillip and Amanda Franklin had enormous trust in
this bank and the team of people taking care of them, I decided the wisest
course of action was to follow their lead. I have to say I've been pleased
with how Larry and Todd and the rest of my team here have handled things on
my behalf. It's been a big change for me, but they've made it easier to
manage."

"Young man, it makes me so happy to hear such compliments. Taking care of our
clients is what this bank has been about since my grandfather started
out...well, let's just say a long time ago." His eyes twinkled in remembrance
of his family. "I'm glad we have conducted ourselves in a manner worthy of
your trust. I'm confident we will continue our excellent level of service,
won't we Todd?"

"Yes, sir. Certainly. And sir, if I may, perhaps you might like to introduce
Jack to some of the other Board Members since you are all here today. I'm
sure he would appreciate meeting them, and the other members might like
hearing a few words from one of our most important clients."

"Excellent idea, Todd." He looked over at Sam, and then at me again. "What do
you say, gentlemen? Care to meet a bunch of old guys who hopefully remembered
to put their teeth in this morning?" He smiled, and I chuckled at his joke. I
liked him. He put me at ease, which was an amazing feat considering the inner
turmoil I was suffering. Sam was keeping a constant vigil on me, watching for
any sign of impending collapse. Now that the ice was broken with Mr.
Sullivan, he could see I was doing better, and he noticeably relaxed a little
as well.

"Come this way and I'll introduce you both to the folks who pretend to run
this show. Just between you and me, I think most of them just come for the
free coffee and danish and a chance to get out of the house and feel useful
for a few days here and there. Retirement is not for the faint of heart.
Remember that, boys. Be useful every day of your life, for as long as you
can."

We nodded and followed him across a small lobby and into a large, opulent
conference room with a gigantic table big enough to seat 20 or more people.
Mr. Sullivan proceeded to introduce us to everyone in attendance, letting
them know in a graceful manner I was one of their largest account trustees
and Sam was my partner. Whether a few of them understood what it meant or
not, I couldn't be sure. Change is hard for some - it was brutal on me.
Thankfully no one seemed to take issue. I for one was thrilled Mr. Sullivan
had included Sam. Having him there was an unexpected confidence booster.

At some point in the process of meeting everyone, and frequent offers of
pastries and coffee, Mr. Sullivan put a gentle hand on my elbow and
graciously steered me towards a tall, distinguished man who had just entered
the room.

"Davis, a moment if you will."

"Of course, Sully. Anything for you. Who is this?" he asked, looking at me
for the first time.

"Allow me to introduce you to Jack Schaeffer, one of your biggest clients,
and his partner, Sam Wainwright. I thought it was high time you two met." For
his part, Davis handled the slight barb with skill and deference to his
former mentor. A strange look passed across his eyes when he shook hands with
Sam and me. I couldn't be sure, but it almost looked like a wave of fear to
me. Whatever it was, he quickly recovered.

"My apologies, Mr. Schaeffer, for not having gotten in touch sooner. If my
memory is working this morning, you are the gentleman who has taken over the
former Franklin Trust, correct?" Score a point for you, Davis. Well played.

"Yes, sir. And don't worry about not having met me yet. The transition
occurred only a month ago, and today is the first day I've been back in
Denver. I came by to meet my team, and Larry Weiss suggested I look around
the place. Todd Martin was kind enough to introduce me to Mr. Sullivan here."

"You can call me Sully, dear boy. Everyone does. And don't worry - Davis here
knows I mean no offense. It just amazes me we can be so busy doing our jobs,
we lose sight of who we are doing them for."

Davis nodded, diplomatically saying nothing. "If you gentlemen will excuse
me, I have someone I need to speak to quickly before our meeting. Sully,
we'll be ready to start in just a moment. Mr. Schaeffer, Mr. Wainright,
pleased to meet you both." He smiled and departed towards the pastry and
coffee table. Sully watched his back and slowly shook his head. He looked
disappointed in his protégé for some reason.

Deep in thought, Sully politely excused himself for a moment, so Sam and I
walked over to the row of floor-to-ceiling windows which made up one whole
wall of the room and looked out at the snow-capped mountains. Standing close
to me, his hand predictably floating near my back, he whispered. "You're
doing great, Jack. So far so good. Sully likes you. I think you can pull this
off. Remember, stay focused on your team, no matter what anybody else tries
to say." I nodded, grateful he was with me. I so wanted to reach out and hold
his hand, or better yet, have him hold me in his arms.

"Gentlemen, if you'd like to find a seat at the table, we can get started
this morning," said Davis, loud enough to overcome the din of multiple
conversations buzzing around the room. One by one, the Board Members started
to find seats. I looked for Sully and he motioned for Sam and I to sit on a
black leather couch near the refreshment bar. Once everyone was seated and
the conversations began to die down, Davis made a move to open the meeting
officially.

After putting on a pair of reading glasses and opening a folder in front of
him, he said, "Good morning, gentlemen. We have a full agenda today, so we
should probably get started with reviewing old business. If you'll open up
the folders in front of you..."

"Excuse me, Davis, I apologize for interrupting, but my guests are still
here. I wonder if you all would be willing to indulge an old man in inviting
one of them to address this esteemed gathering for just a few moments before
we begin our official meeting?" There was a moment of rapid glances from one
to another amongst the Board Members. Sully's eyes never moved off of Davis,
and Davis was looking at him down the table. He wisely decided to yield the
floor.

"Very well, Sully. We can certainly spare a few moments for your guest to
share his thoughts with us."

"Thank you, Davis. I appreciate it. Gentlemen, I believe I have introduced
you all to Jack Schaeffer this morning." Heads started to nod. I had indeed
been introduced to every one of them, though heck if I could remember most of
their names. "Mr. Schaeffer is a relatively new client to our fine
institution and he was sharing with me some of his initial thoughts and
appreciations for our service to him, and I thought it might be nice to hear
firsthand from a satisfied client. Mr. Schaeffer, the floor is yours." Sam
squeezed my hand as I stood up and walked up closer to the table.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and began.

"Gentlemen, first let me say I appreciate you allowing me a few moments to
speak with you this morning. I know you are very busy and have much other
business to discuss, so I won't keep you. As a few of you may be aware, I
recently became the new trustee for the Franklin Family Trust, which has been
managed by First Colorado for a number of years. I met Larry Weiss and his
team in the Private Trust Division a little over a month ago, and Larry
greatly assisted me as I transitioned to my new responsibilities over the
trust. Later, I met Todd Martin, and he has been like a right-hand man for me
over the past several weeks.

"In the beginning I was more than a little overwhelmed by the great
responsibility which had fallen upon me. I had a decision to make. Who do I
trust? It was clear the Franklins trusted their team here at the bank, and I
decided I would too. That decision has been a wise one, I believe. I've come
to think of these men, Larry and Todd and the others, as my team. And more
than my financial team. They have fast become my friends, my colleagues if
you will. We have transitioned into what is now called the Schaeffer &
Associates Executive Trust. I have been given a mandate to manage this trust
for an important purpose, and I hope I can count on Larry and Todd - my team
here at First Colorado - to continue to assist me in accomplishing those
goals."

Sully interjected. "Mr. Schaeffer, I can assure you we value the continued
trust you have placed in First Colorado more than anything else, and I
personally promise you we will do our best to keep your trust." He was very
proud of his bank, as well he should be.

"I appreciate what you are saying...Sully...but I do have some concerns." He
had started to smile when I used his familiar moniker, but then frowned when
he realized what I said. Other heads started swiveling, one member looking to
the next. I thought I heard one man gasp quickly, but he might have just
fallen asleep and was startled awake by all the commotion. Davis Munroe, who
had been studying his agenda closely, most likely just waiting for this love
fest to end so he could get on to more important matters, looked up to see
why all conversation had stopped.

Sully was looking at me, somewhat puzzled. "Mr. Schaeffer...what concerns are
those?" he asked.

"Well, Sully, in talking with my team this morning, it came to light there
are some changes planned for how accounts like mine are going to be managed
in the near future. I have some grave concerns about those proposed changes."
Open murmuring broke out around the table. Davis looked slightly panic
stricken. His carefully planned agenda was getting away from him quickly.

He spoke up. "Mr. Schaeffer, I'm confident we can address all of your private
concerns in a satisfactory manner - perhaps at a more appropriate time and
place?" He seemed genuine enough, but I already knew what was on the agenda
in his fingers.

"Mr. Munroe, I'm sure you will try, but I must say I do not share your
confidence. If what I was told this morning is true, and you plan to
consolidate all investments into a...what is it called...an institutional
investment model...then I cannot imagine you or anyone else here will be able
to satisfy my concerns."

There it was. The cat was out of the bag. Sully was looking at me intensely.
I couldn't decide if it was contempt or respect. He knew he had been used for
a purpose he did not yet understand, but I think a part of him was intrigued
to see how this unexpected scenario played out. All around him his fellow
Board Members began openly murmuring, wondering what concerns I could
possibly have. Sensing he had already lost control, Davis looked down the
table at Sully as if to say, "You invited him, you fix it."

Sully continued to look at me, then I saw his gaze shift to Sam, who was
still sitting quietly on the couch nearby. I watched as Sam and Sully
mentally connected, both of them focusing their eyes on one another, silently
communicating in a way I did not understand. I observed first one then the
other nod their heads, and then Sully brought his eyes back to mine. He now
looked at me with a tenderness I did not expect. After a few seconds, he
smiled at me, and if I read his lips right, he mouthed, "Trust me." I nodded
to him silently and waited, while the conversations continued around me.

Sully suddenly stood up, and I swear he had significantly increased in
stature from before. This was a man used to commanding a room, and he was
about to do it again. He spoke not a word, just stood there in silence,
almost willing the room to go quiet, which it did quickly. When he had
everyone's attention, he spoke with a firmness which belied his years.

"Davis, we seem to be somewhat in the dark as to Mr. Schaeffer's concerns.
Could you perhaps shed some light on what he is referring to -
this...change...in investment methods?"

Davis looked like he had swallowed his tongue. He put his printed agenda
down, and looked sideways out the window for a moment. The rest of the table
waited in silence. I watched as Davis struggled for control of his thoughts.
Finally he turned back to look at Sully.

"Sully, times are changing. We as a bank have to change with them. The days
of dedicated teams of investment advisors focused on a single account are
long gone at most firms. Moving to an institutional investment model allows
us to serve more clients, not just the uber-wealthy, and gives us a platform
to grow on. We can do a better job of guaranteeing rates of return, and our
costs will be significantly reduced. It's the right way to go, and the
Executive Team agrees."

"I agree, too," said another Board Member. "Davis is right, we have to move
on." He shifted his gaze to me. "Mr. Schaeffer, I can understand you may have
some concerns, but perhaps it's because you don't really understand how
investing works. These changes will benefit you in the long run. We can get
you a higher rate of return on your money with less fuss and less required
involvement from you. In the end I'm confident you will prefer this method of
managing your affairs."

"You are correct about one thing, sir. I do not know a great deal about
investing or returns. But I do know I need my team here at First Colorado to
accomplish my goals. What happens to them when this change is implemented?" I
spoke as respectfully as I could.

"Why...you'll have a new team. A bigger team, watching out for all of your
investments along with everyone else's to ensure the highest rate of return
possible."

"You're missing my point. I don't need a bigger team, and I am not concerned
at the moment with the highest rate of return. I want to know what happens to
Larry, Todd and the rest of my current team?" My question silenced him, and
he looked over towards Davis, unable to help any further. I waited for an
answer. Davis, of course, knew the answer to the question, as I'm sure so did
others at the table, but no one seemed willing to speak up. Finally Sully
did.

"I believe Jack has asked a reasonable question, and it deserves an answer,
Davis. According to your plan, what happens to the team he has come to rely
upon?" Using my first name seemed to indicate the gloves had come off. It was
getting uncomfortably tense in the room now.

Davis was staring daggers down the table at Sully, and the animosity was
palpable. Some of the Board Members looked uncomfortable, others looked
excited. This was probably more fun for some of them than they had had in a
long while.

Seeing he had no out, Davis finally pulled his shoulders back and responded,
more to Sully than to me. "The entire Private Trust Division will be merged
into the Corporate Investment Division. All investments for all accounts will
ultimately be converted into a choice of bank managed funds, run by fund
managers who will be responsible for the results of said funds. All of our
clients, including Mr. Schaeffer, will be able to choose which funds they
would like to invest in. We can continue to make those selections on his
behalf based on his risk preferences, just as we do now."

"And what happens to Larry Weiss? Todd Martin?" I grabbed my phone out of my
pocket and quickly looked up my contacts. "What about Mason Wheeler, William
Petersen, Daniel Masters or Simon Lawson? What happens to them?"

"If their skills match what we need, then we will do our best to transition
them into the Corporate Investment division."

"Otherwise, they are out of a job." I was fighting hard not to get upset. I
hadn't even met four of these guys, but still they were my team, and they
deserved my best. I couldn't see Sam behind me, but I could feel him, willing
me to victory.

"Mr. Schaeffer, I can understand how you feel about someone potentially
losing their job. You're young, and I mean no disrespect, but perhaps a
little naive about how business works. Sometimes changes have to be made in
how a business functions in order for it to survive, and people sometimes
lose their jobs in the process. It's a necessary evil at times in running a
company."

"Tell me, Mr. Munroe, since I am so naive and don't understand how these
changes will benefit me in the long run, who do I call at 10 pm on a Saturday
night when I need to help a friend who's had an accident and needs emergency
medical care or reliable legal representation? Which fund manager do I call
to help me find last minute transportation for three people leaving Hawaii
within the next few hours? Who do I call when I need to purchase two vehicles
on a Sunday afternoon and every dealership in the city is closed and it can't
wait until Monday? Who do I call then?"

"Well...you wouldn't. We are an investment firm. We don't provide those kinds
of services to our clients."

"And yet, that's exactly what my team here at First Colorado did for me - in
the past two days! And I haven't even mentioned the private jet or the houses
or the staff who takes care of those things for me, all managed by my team -
here...in this bank...right downstairs!" I tried to keep the rising contempt
out of my voice, but this guy had no idea what my team did, and didn't seem
to care. Nor did apparently most of the Board Members, judging by their
shocked faces. Sully was smiling wide at me, his eyes beaming.

As the murmuring died down, Davis having wisely not responded to me at all,
Sully held his hands up to quiet the room. "Thank you, Mr. Schaeffer, for
helping us understand exactly what your concerns are, and for clarifying my
own. Gentlemen, for some time now I have been quietly worried we as a company
have been losing our focus, striving for higher and higher profits at the
expense of caring for our clients. Mr. Schaeffer serves as a stark reminder
of how foolish we look when we forget it's our clients - people like him -
who are the reason for our success, not how smart we are at picking the best
stocks or bonds.

"My God, when did we lose sight of what's important? It's people...flesh and
blood people. Davis, you wanted this board to rubber stamp a proposal to wipe
out nearly half of the real assets this bank has - our employees. People we
have invested in, groomed, managed, and hopefully inspired to be worthy of
the trust our clients have traditionally given to us. And for what? More
money? To look like every other institution out there? No sir, not on my
watch. Not while I have breath in this old body." He looked down the table at
Davis, and his face softened, remembering something in his former protégé.

"I don't understand it, Davis. You never would have proposed a change like
this in the past. And to do it in such an...underhanded way. This is not like
you, and I hope this is a momentary lapse of judgment on your part. And if
someone else put you up to this, I would advise you to think twice about
listening to what they have to say. Thankfully this came to light before we
lost a valuable client like Mr. Schaeffer, or a dozen others." Davis looked
like a broken man, and knowing he had made this ill-advised maneuver most
likely under extreme pressure from Arnold Turner, I suddenly felt sorry for
him. Sully was clearly disappointed in him, and I could see how his
disappointment and his loss of respect was crippling to Davis.

Taking a deep breath, Sully continued. "Gentleman, I apologize if my emotions
and care for this great institution sometimes get the better of me. This bank
has been my whole life, which maybe is not a good thing. But it is my hope
the majority of you agree we must get back to making clients our focus, and
every decision this Board makes should reflect that and nothing else." The
majority of heads around the table were definitely nodding, including the
gentleman who had tried to unsuccessfully address my concerns. Even Davis
looked like he was slowly nodding in agreement. Good for him.

Sully looked over to me, and I took that as my cue. "Gentlemen, thank you for
taking the time to allow me to air my concerns. I want to stress I truly have
appreciated all my First Colorado team has done for me in the past, and I can
only hope the excellent service I have received can continue."

I paused, slowly looking around the room, making eye contact with each man I
could see. I took a deep breath and made my final statement. "Just to be
clear, so there is no misunderstanding, I am asking you to not alter or
interfere with my team and what they do for me. Please know this - if you
take my team away from me in any way, I will have no choice but to take
myself away from you. Good day, gentlemen." I nodded to Sully and turned and
headed for the exit, walking as calmly and confidently as I could muster from
the silent room, Sam hot on my heels.

I made it out into the hallway and nearly collapsed with my back up against a
wall in the hallway, my breathing not quite right. "Not here, Jack,"
whispered Sam. "Follow me." He grabbed my hand and propelled me quickly down
the hall and into a nearby bathroom. He checked to see we were alone, and
then grabbed me, pulling me into him, and held on tight while I concentrated
on breathing normally. Thankfully being in Sam's big strong arms had its
usual effect on me, and in just a few moments I relaxed and felt much better.
I looked up at his beautiful face, and he leaned down a little and kissed me
gently.

"That...was intense," said Sam. "Wow, Jack. You were fucking awesome, man! I
can't imagine anybody in that room, including Davis himself, voting for the
proposal now. I'm glad I'm on your side."

"Me too, Sam. I could never have done it without you in there with me. I
could feel you behind me, giving me strength. And Sully, too. What happened
when he looked at you? It was so strange."

"I don't know, but I saw it too. He was looking at me and I could see
something click in him. And then he went on the warpath. I mean, I never
expected him to tear into Davis like that. I felt sorry for the guy."

"Me too. We need to figure out what Arnold's got on him and get him out from
under. He's not a bad guy, is he?"

"No, I don't think so. You could tell he played a hand he didn't really want
to play. He can tell Arnold he really tried, but I think in the end he was
glad it went the way it did." I nodded in agreement, just thrilled it was all
over.

"You okay, little man?" Sam asked, holding my chin gently in his hand. I
nodded and smiled at him. "Good. Let's get out of here and find Todd and
Larry." He led us out into the hallway and back to the elevator lobby.
Thankfully no one intercepted us.

As the elevator doors closed, Sam grabbed my hand again and smiled at me.
"I'm so proud of you, Jack. You really were amazing in there today. You
stayed perfectly focused, and it paid off. I love how you shut the one guy
down by just asking the same question over and over - what about my team,
what about my team? You made the perfect play."

"Thanks, Sam. I just tried to do what you told me to. Keep my eye on my team.
You're right, you know. It's all I really care about...you and my team.
You're my family now." As I said it out loud, the reality of the words struck
something deep in my soul, and I was instantly on the verge of tears,
overwhelmed by how good it felt to call these people my family. And in my
mind, my new "family" also included Billy, Sharon, and Clyde, along with four
other guys I had yet to meet.

Sam had a stunned look of wonder on his face. His eyes were flaring in the
corners, like he was suddenly struggling not to cry. His voice cracked as he
softly whispered, "Jack...is that true? Do you really...am I really...I mean,
you really consider me to be your family now?" A single tear fell from his
right eye. Then another. What did I say to upset him?

"Sam...of course you're my family. How could you not be? You're my best
friend, my lover, my partner...my everything. I love you so much, Sam. I am
nothing without you. You are most definitely my family now." He looked deeply
into my eyes as he often did, but this time he seemed to be trying to accept
the truth of what I had just told him, and he was seriously struggling to
believe me.

We arrived back at the 10th floor and when the elevator doors opened, we were
both staring intensely at each other, Sam's deep blue eyes glistening with
tears and something else I couldn't identify. The doors started to close on
us and I reflexively stuck my hand out to stop them, then gently pulled Sam
into the quiet lobby, where thankfully we were alone.

"Sam..." I started, seeking to reassure him, but he put a finger up to my
lips and kept staring into my eyes. It was amazing to watch him process
whatever he was going through from that intimate vantage point. I saw his
thoughts play out behind his eyes, unclear as to what he was struggling to
work out in his mind. Finally, after a couple of agonizing minutes, he nodded
and smiled very faintly.

"You do mean it, don't you." He said it more as a statement than a question.

"Yes, I do, Sam. Please believe me. I love you, big guy."

"I do believe you, Jack. I'm...overwhelmed...but I believe you. It's just...I
never...ugh! I hate this." It was clear he was upset about something, but I
didn't think it was me or my declaration. I waited in silence, patiently
giving him the space to tell me in his own way. He finally sighed deeply and
sat down on a chair up against the wooden wall. I sat in the chair next to
him, never letting go of his hand.

He swallowed, took a deep breath, and turned to look at me, fairly composed
now. "The thing is, Jack, when I was with Jeremy...I wanted so desperately
for him to be a part of my family. But I couldn't even get him to meet my
parents, let alone ever talk about our future together as a couple beyond the
moment. Even when we talked about law school, it was just the next step in
our education, not about building a life together. After...after it all fell
apart...I never thought it would happen for me...that I'd ever meet someone
who would want me to be a part of his family and he would want to be part of
mine." Sam grabbed my hand with both of his, and looked deep into my soul.
"Jack, you say I'm your family now. Will you please be mine?"

"Yes...yes I will." I leaned across the arms of the chairs between us and
kissed him softly. "I would be honored if you would consider me to be your
family, Sam. Nothing would make me happier. Being with you...I've finally
found my place in this world, a place where I can be me without fear, and I
can be with the man who loves me and who I love more than my next breath. I
very much want to be your family. Forever."

He smiled, then leaned over and kissed me again. I could feel the love and
gratitude in his kiss, along with a real sense I had just given him something
which money certainly could never buy...something priceless to him. Clearly
family meant a great deal to Sam Wainwright. And he wanted me to be a part of
his.

Sam had taken a huge leap of faith getting on the plane with me and coming to
Denver. He had carefully determined what he wanted in his life, and what he
wanted was me. Sitting there in the elevator lobby, looking into his eyes, I
started to realize what this all meant. Sam and I were beginning a family
together. We had pledged our love to each other a number of times, but loving
someone is not always the same thing as building a family together.

And I also knew we were talking about more than sharing a house together,
which we still had yet to see. No, this was more than where we would live or
what we would eat for dinner, or what careers we would have. This was about
two people choosing to make every decision going forward in consideration of
the family - of each other. I was no longer my own man. I belonged to Sam,
and he belonged to me. And it felt so good.

Just then the Private Trust Division doors opened, and a flustered Todd
Martin came flying out. He took one look at us, and I could tell something
bad had happened.

"Don't just sit there. Come on. We have to go." He was stabbing at the
elevator buttons, as if it would make one appear faster.

"Go where, Todd?" asked Sam. Todd was suddenly near tears.

"To the hospital, damn it. It's Larry. He's had another heart attack."


To be continued...


Author's Note: Jack wins the boardroom battle, but the war is not over. He
and Sam begin to build a family together, and that will not be without its
challenges. And what will happen to Larry? What secret does Arnold hold over
Davis? Stay tuned.

A heartfelt thank you to my editors, who once again make this story so much
more than I could do so on my own. We all appreciate the continuity and
freedom from distractions that their work provides.

As always, I love hearing from readers. If you are enjoying Forever, or have
a suggestion on how to make it better, please let me know. Email me at
jack.schaeffman@gmail.com