A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 520 By Rob Williams
Chapter 520 – "THE ARROGANT MECHANIC'S DISGRACE"
IN THIS CHPTER
Pablo's insulting behavior has made him a pariah in the tribe. After punishment from his lover Darius, and from Doc Steve, the big test comes when he faces big gypsy boss Randy. He expects a whipping and brutal fuck, but instead endures the agonizing pain of humiliation. The arrogant mechanic's disgrace is complete when he is forced to work for, and take orders from, office-boy Ryan and young chef Will.
<><> IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER <><>
It had happened before, but never this bad. The young mestizo Pablo was not only the construction site's chief mechanic, he was boss Randy's adopted son. But he had a tendency to flare up in anger when things were not going well, and threw punches – physical and verbal.
Not so long ago his boy Tyler had borne the brunt of Pablo's fury, and his treatment of the shy boy brought anger and condemnation, at the time, from the rest of the tribe. Then, as now, Pablo sought help from Doctor Steve, the tribe's therapist and Randy's brother. The doc's unconventional methods could be ferocious – but they worked.
This time it was a problem on the construction site that made Pablo fly into a rage and lash out in every direction – not with his fists this time but with grossly insulting words. First he yelled at his young assistant Ben and belittled him. Then he reamed the young office assistant Ryan.
But it was at dinner later where he really went to town, insulting the young chef Will by yelling ugly slurs at his step-dad Seth, accusing him of being a child molester. Strong, bitter words that Pablo later came to regret.
His adoptive dad Randy, the macho boss of the tribe, was out of town but Pablo knew right away that, when he got back home and heard what had happened, Randy would come down on him like a ton of bricks. Pablo hero-worshipped Randy and tried to be like him. He hated to disappoint him and he was scared what Randy's reaction would be.
So, as he had in the past, Pablo turned for help to Doc Steve. And as before, the doc's methods were way outside the rulebook. After they got down to the nub of Pablo's problem (low self-esteem after failing to be as tough as Randy) Doc Steve suggested a way of addressing Pablo's fears about his confession to Randy.
"If it makes you feel any better, Pablo, you could rehearse it. I know my brother real well and I can try to predict his reactions. I'll play the role of Randy – shouldn't be hard for you to imagine as I look so much like him." The result was a wild session where the handsome doctor gave Pablo a brutal tongue lashing and a savage dry fuck.
After he recovered, Pablo said, "That was amazing, sir. Do you think Randy will react the way you did?"
"I would bet something on those lines, but I'm a shrink, kiddo, not a fortune-teller. Randy can be unpredictable, as you well know."
"What about making amends, sir? You didn't tell me what I should do."
"Oh that's not for me to say, it's for Randy. But I once saw what he made a guy do and it was quite remarkable. I have an idea he might come up with the same kind of thing for you. Of course, Bob will be with him and he's always a moderating influence on Randy. So when you apologize to Randy you better apologize to Bob too. After all, Will is the boy of Bob's twins."
"OK, doc. I don't feel quite so nervous about it now after what we did. It's like I've already been through it once – a sort of rehearsal like you said."
"Good, that was the general idea. And don't worry, Pablo. Just remember Randy loves you – no matter what he does to you."
========= CHAPTER 520 =========
<><> WAITING FOR SHOWTIME <><>
In the next few days Pablo kept mostly to himself. He wasn't the most popular guy around anyway right now, after his hot-tempered meltdown at work. Everyone always kept their distance whenever he flared up like that.
Even now, the worst excesses of his insulting behavior to Seth and Will were still known only to the guys at the dinner party where it happened. They had agreed not to spread the word to the others until Pablo had made his confession to Randy when the boss got back home.
And that confession weighed on Pablo heavily. The construction site was closed until Monday but he spent part of the day there alone, doing routine maintenance work on the trucks and heavy equipment. Mostly he wanted space to think about what Doc Steve had said in his therapy' session, which had ended up in a pretty wild rehearsal' where the doc, playing the role of Randy, had doled out punishment.
But as the doc had said, Randy was unpredictable, renowned for his own hot temper, and there was no knowing how he would react. Trouble was, Pablo was devoted to the rugged gypsy, the man who had adopted him, and he always tried to make Randy proud of him. But this ... this was more likely to make Randy ashamed of him, and that's what weighed on him now as he immersed himself in manual work, a comfort zone for the young mechanic.
One effort he did make was with his boy Tyler, a shy kid who idolized Pablo and was troubled and confused by everything that had happened. Pablo was especially tender to him, made love to him often and slept cradling him in his arms. In that at least he mirrored Randy, prone to bursts of anger but always tender and protective toward the boys.
"Sir, are you gonna be OK?" Tyler asked hesitantly as they lay in bed on the night before Randy's return.
"Sure, kiddo, I don't want you to worry. It's pretty obvious that I fucked up big-time, but I'm gonna make a clean breast of it to Randy and take whatever he decides to dish out. But I wanna make one thing clear. You are in no way to blame for any of this. In fact, you're a victim of my craziness and I'm sorry for the way I treated you. You're my boy and I love you kiddo."
"Thank you, sir," Tyler smiled, snuggling against him. "That's all I needed to hear."
In the morning Tyler joined up with his pal Finn to get to work on the garden. They were the tribe's gardeners, an activity that Tyler found therapeutic and it eased his fears about what Pablo was about to face.
His good buddy Finn, an ex-hustler who was tougher and more worldly than Tyler, reassured him. "Ah, Pablo's gonna be fine. He's a fighter – takes a lot to break that guy. Sure Randy's gonna hit the roof but he's crazy in love with his boy and there's no way he'll hurt him – not physically anyway. No point – you could whip and fuck Pablo forever and he wouldn't break a sweat. They both got gypsy blood in them. So stop worrying, dude, and let's see what we're gonna do about that patch of wilderness over there."
Pablo meanwhile had gone across the lawn to the kitchen where the twins were taking a breather before setting up the breakfast buffet. With fewer guys in the compound and most of those not going to work, breakfast was later than usual.
"Hey Pablo, you want a cup of coffee?" Kevin smiled. "We're taking it easy before the guys get back from Palm Springs. Bob called and said they'll be here around noon." Even the twins didn't know about the impending drama about to unfold, as the guys at the dinner party were not talking and neither, of course, was Doc Steve. So in blissful ignorance Kevin kept up his cheerful banter.
"You should get ready dude, `cos you're gonna get it from Randy. You know how horny he's gonna be after a hundred plus miles with that Harley throbbing between his legs. Bob mentioned Randy's been missing you a whole lot – especially that bubble butt of yours."
The twins' high spirits were in direct contrast with Pablo's own foreboding and he simply grunted. "Yeah – I guess so."
The twins exchanged uneasy glances. "Something bothering you, dude?" Kyle asked.
"Kinda," Pablo said non-committally. "Let's just say I gotta tell Randy something he ain't gonna like – to put it mildly."
Nothing more was said on the subject as he ate breakfast with the twins in the kitchen, then went back to his apartment and mooched around until showtime.
It was a little after noon when the small convey arrived noisily at the gate. Randy, Zack and Miguel had led the way on their Harleys in their leather gear, Randy shirtless as usual. Mark's truck followed close behind with Mark at the wheel, Bob and Jamie next to him.
There was an air of exhilaration after what had been a carefree week in the big ranch-style home of Uncle Mike and his boy Larry. Zack and Miguel headed straight for their second-floor apartment to `unwind' as they euphemistically called it, and Mark and Jamie went to their apartment on the ground floor.
Pablo, of course, had heard their boisterous laughter and laid low for a while, then crossed the garden to the house shared by Bob and Randy – the Boss House as it was popularly known.
He heard their cheerful voices coming from the bedroom so he went upstairs, took a deep breath ... and knocked.
<><> EYES COLD WITH ANGER <><>
"Yeah?" Randy bellowed, and Pablo walked in.
Randy flashed a broad smile. "Hey, kiddo, just the guy I wanted to see. I've missed you a lot, and all the way home I was thinking about you and that primo ass of yours. I told Bob before we left the desert that the first thing I was gonna do when I got home is get you naked, throw you on the bed and fuck the bejeezus out of you. Didn't I say that, Bob?"
"Yes Randy, I do recall you saying something like that," Bob said carefully. Less impulsive than Randy he had noticed the reticence and anxiety on Pablo's face.
"Come here boy." Randy threw open his arms to Pablo, but Pablo hung back.
"Er, is there something wrong, Pablo?" Bob asked.
"Yeah, there is," he said sheepishly, then looked straight at Randy. "Sir, I have something to tell you, something not good."
"Ah that can wait, kiddo," Randy said, buoyed by his own lustful energy. "I'm horny as a fucking toad, everything else can wait."
Bob said, "Er, Randy, maybe you should let Pablo say what's on his mind."
Randy took a swig from the beer bottle he was holding and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. "OK, kid, but make it quick."
This was it. Pablo cleared his throat and began, "Sir, while you were away I did something real stupid." He launched into his story, leaving nothing out, sugarcoating nothing.
At first Randy thought he was describing losing his cool on the job, something about a spare parts screw-up. Nothing wrong there – Randy would have behaved the same way. But when Pablo mentioned his rude dismissal of assistant Ben, Randy's kid brother Ben – telling him to `get the hell out of here' – Randy's face clouded over. Pablo followed that with an account of how he had called the office and unjustly reamed young Ryan for causing the problem, and Randy's brow darkened.
Then came Will's dinner party and the way his anger had spilled over there – his insult to young Will, accusing his step-dad Seth of being a child molester, and warning Ben against sleeping with them.
Bob held his breath as he grasped the enormity of what they were hearing and he watched Randy carefully. He saw his earlier exuberance, his lustful expectation of his boy, fade from his face, replaced by a puzzled frown of disappointment, like a young boy whose birthday party has been abruptly cancelled.
Then, when it came to the part about young Will running from the table in tears after the ugly insult to his dad, Bob saw the confused expression turn to a look he knew well – cold anger in his steel-blue eyes that Bob knew spelt danger. Randy clenched his fists and his stubbled jaw. He was stunned into inaction until Pablo ended with, "I know how bad that sounds, sir, and I know I've let you down. So I expect to be punished, sir."
"Punished?" Randy spat out the word. "Punished!" I should fucking string you up by your balls in front of the whole tribe you've disgraced. You disgust me ..." Randy made a move toward him and Pablo flinched, but Bob laid a restraining hand on his arm.
Randy turned and glared at Bob, to be met by those soft brown eyes that always calmed him. He clamped his jaw shut and paced round the room. He was a menacing sight – the brawny, shirtless gypsy, muscles tense, face grim, with his stubbled chin and shaggy black hair, and his piercing blue eyes cold with anger.
Pablo knew what was coming – and perversely his cock got hard in his jeans. He had been fucked savagely by his master in the past, and now he welcomed it. It was as if Randy read his thoughts.
"So what should I do to you, boy? Tie you up, whip you, fuck your ass till you beg for mercy? OK, get naked, boy."
Quickly, trying not to look too eager, Pablo pulled off his T-shirt, kicked off his boots and dropped his jeans and shorts. The handsome Mestizo mechanic stood naked by the bed, hands clasped behind his back, head bowed in a subservient posture.
Randy bent down and pulled out one of the many lengths of rope under the bed. He used it to tie Pablo's wrists tightly behind him, then faced him. He pushed Pablo's chin up and his laser blue eyes bored into him. "So here you are, hands bound. Now what do I do? Whip you? Then give you a brutal dry fuck?"
"Yes please, sir."
"Yeah, you'd like that wouldn't you? Just like all the other times. You lose your cool, fuck up and hurt people. Then I work you over, pound your ass, you beg for forgiveness and everything's OK again – until it's not, and here you go again. This time you laid into my brother Ben, that shy hardworking kid Ryan, and my freckle-faced pal Will. You made that sweet kid cry when you accused his dad of something that happened so far in the past that father and son have worked hard to forget. And here you are raking it all up again like muck.
"You don't just disappoint me, boy, you sicken me. I can't bring myself even to touch you. So. no, you ain't gonna get the thing that turns you on, a whipping and butt-fuck. In fact, you're gonna get nothing. See I was horny as hell when I got home – still am. I was lusting for you, but you sure killed that stone dead. But I don't need you or your ass to get my rocks off. There's a man here who's worth a hundred of you – and you're gonna watch me make love to him without shutting your eyes or turning your head away."
Randy pulled another length of rope out and tied it into a noose that he hung loosely round Pablo's neck, a sign of guilt and submission. "On your knees, boy, like a fucking slave. Face the bed."
Pablo obeyed – a muscular young buck kneeling in shame and disgrace. As instructed, he kept his head raised and his eyes focused on Randy.
<><> THE ULTIMATE PENANCE <><>
From then on Randy ignored Pablo and turned his attention to Bob, who knew what was coming. How many times had Randy come home from work in a rage and taken out his anger on Bob? And that was the Randy that Bob always found most thrilling, right from the first days in that old motel room where Randy had treated him so fiercely.
"You know what I have to do, buddy." Randy pulled Bob's head toward him and kissed him passionately. When he pulled back each saw himself reflected in the other's eyes. "You want it too, don't you, man?"
"You know I do Randy. Always."
Randy sat on the end of the bed and leaned back on his elbows. "You are so fucking gorgeous, man. Show me."
Standing in front of Randy Bob pulled his blue polo shirt off over his head. He stood still for a moment to let Randy get his fill of his shirtless lover's ripped body – and to let Pablo watch too.
Pablo's shame was mixed with his frustration that this could have been him putting on a show for Randy, which he always loved to do before offering his ass. Bob knew what Randy was doing, and he was ready to play his part, aware of the emotional pain the performance caused for Pablo. Better, and more effective, than a physical whipping and brutal fuck.
Bob bent down and took off his shoes, giving his lover a clear view of his ass bulging under his pants. Then he unzipped his pants and dropped them. "Shit damn," Randy groaned gazing at the near-naked muscle-god with his chiseled superman looks, the shape of his rigid cock clearly etched under the white cotton fabric of his boxers.
Randy slid off the bed onto his knees and crawled toward Bob. He clamped his mouth over the bulge and licked the shorts, reveling in the exquisite frustration of being separated from the cock by only the thin fabric. Pablo watched Randy with growing exasperation, doing something he often did with him when they made love. He wanted it now so bad that he tugged at this bound wrists behind him, but he was helpless.
Bob smiled down at Randy. "Go ahead, stud, you know you want it in your mouth."
The animal was coming out in Randy as he gripped the fly of Bob's shorts and ripped them open. His cock sprang out, hit Randy in the face and he sucked it greedily into his mouth. Pablo was drooling at the sight of the swarthy gypsy, his square, stubbled jaw sagging open as he swallowed the cock whole, his shaggy black hair flying over his face.
Pablo's own cock was rock hard as he recalled the time when Randy had done this to him – the master sucking the boy's cock. And on another occasion the spit roast he had endured where it was Pablo on his knees sucking Bob, waiting for Randy to drive his monster dick inside him from behind. Being powerless as he watched now, unable to join in the action, was agonizing.
Randy slurped and moaned as his face pounded up and down on Bob's shaft, gulping it right down the back of his throat. It was a ferocious face fuck until at last Randy reared back and roared, "I want your fucking ass, man." He leapt to his feet and pulled Bob into another grinding kiss, wet this time with saliva oozing from his mouth and over the stubble of his chin.
At last he pulled back and his eyes blazed. "I want that ass, man – I gotta own it." He grabbed Bob round his waist, picked him up bodily and hurled him on the bed. Bob bounced heavily on his back, momentarily dazed as he stared up at the wild gypsy towering over him.
Randy stripped naked, then reached down and ripped off the remaining shreds of Bob's shorts. He pressed the ripped shorts to his own face, inhaled deeply, then paced the room like a raging bull pawing at the ground.
This was the primitive Randy, the caveman driven by the surge of raw animal lust that had been building in him, that he had intended to vent on Pablo. Pablo knew this and he struggled mightily to free himself, desperate to at least touch his cock. Randy had said he couldn't bring himself to touch him, but Pablo wanted him to at least look at him, so he could half-believe that this spectacle was partially for him.
But his agonizing frustration continued as Randy totally ignored him, as if he were not in the room. Instead his piercing blue eyes focused on the naked superman lying on his back like an offering to a god. Bob was mesmerized. This was Randy at his most powerful, his most savage, the dominant leader of the animal pack – the Randy that every man secretly feared and idolized at the same time.
Bob knew that Randy was driven by anger as much as lust. The failure of the boy he had nurtured was his shame as much as the boy's, and he needed to assert his authority, to prove his supremacy to himself and more importantly to Bob. Disdaining to even look at the boy, let alone touch him, was Pablo's ultimate, agonizing punishment, his degradation.
Randy stopped pacing and stared down at Bob. "I'm gonna fuck you, buddy. I'm gonna fuck your ass."
"You better," Bob grinned, "after that big buildup." Bob was skilled at playfully bringing Randy back to earth, and Randy said, "Fuck you, man. Damn I love you."
He fell on his lover – the wild gypsy on top of the handsome superman – and the naked bodies churned together, a writhing mass of muscular limbs as they kissed ravenously. Pablo watched enviously, knowing this should have been him being manhandled by the master.
As he watched the men make passionate love a moment of panic seized him. Tears came to his eyes wondering if this would ever happen to him again, if Randy would ever want to touch him again. He would have turned his eyes away except that Randy had ordered him to watch. He had stopped even trying to get free and remained kneeling in abject humiliation, a rope hanging round his neck like a captive slave.
His agony grew worse as he saw Randy flip Bob over and salivate over the sight of his flawless ass. "That fucking ass, that gorgeous fucking ass. He slapped the hard white globes, then buried his face between them and licked his butt, getting it ready for the main event.
Finally he lay on top of Bob's back and whispered in his ear. "You're my man, buddy – my lover, my life. This is how I own you, you sexy son-of-a-bitch." Randy raised his hips, slid his cock between Bob's ass cheeks and drove it deep inside. Bob gasped, stretched his arms up and dug his fingers into the bed. His ass had reflexively clenched round the invading cock, but now he relaxed it and surrendered entirely to the euphoric sensation of the fuck he had been longing for.
"Fuck, Randy, I love that. I love it when you're inside me. Here, my ass is yours." He raised his ass to meet the long, thick shaft as it buried itself even deeper inside. They were a perfect couple – two alpha males, one offering his ass to the other whose hips rose and fell above him.,
Tears now rolled down Pablo's cheeks – caused by the exquisite beauty of the two men making love, and the bitterness of knowing this could have been him. He knew exactly what Bob was feeling. Randy was a master fuck, alternately pounding, teasing, massaging his ass with his magnificent cock. Pablo couldn't take his eyes off the shaft driving into Bob's stunning ass.
Pablo even knew what came next. Randy said, "I wanna see that face when I cum inside you, man." He pulled out, flipped Bob over on his back and Bob raised his legs. Randy's cock eased in again, he leaned forward between his legs and pinned his arms to the bed. Their faces were close now – and their eyes met. This was the magic moment when their love spoke through their eyes. Just as their bodies were joined, so were their souls.
They smiled at their own reflection in the other's eye and entered their own private world – a world they had discovered years ago in an old motel room. It had puzzled them then, so new and incomprehensible that it scared them. But they had grown to love that enchanted world – it was their refuge where their love shook off the bonds of the ordinary world and took flight.
Pablo knew all this. He did not have quite the same experience with Randy – theirs was a loving master/boy union – but Randy had described it often enough to him. And now he was witnessing it in all its passion – and he was helpless to do anything but watch.
The ferocious fuck had slowed into a gentle caress of Bob's ass. "I love you, buddy," Randy said. "I could cum just looking at you – but this is better. You ready?"
"You know I am Randy. I live for moments like this."
Randy freed one of Bob's arms and he stroked his own cock slowly. "Let's do it together, dude," Bob smiled. "Man, I wanna feel your jizz in my ass so bad."
And Pablo watched it all – the two alpha males lost in each other's eyes as their bodies tensed ... and the gypsy's semen flowed deep in his lover's ass while Bob sprayed juice over his heaving chest.
It was a protracted orgasm and their cocks took a while to drain. Then Randy flashed a smile. "We did it again, kid. Gimme a kiss." He lowered himself on Bob and their mouths joined in a loving embrace. Helpless on his knees, Pablo submissively bowed his head at last in the emotional torment of watching his hero make love while ignoring him completely – a heavier punishment than any whipping could ever have been.
<><> SURPRISING PLANS <><>
When at last Randy disentangled himself from Bob's arms he stood up, stretched, then turned round casually as if seeing Pablo for the first time. "Ah, you're still here. And judging by that rock-hard cock, you wanna get your rocks off."
"Sir, could I jack off looking at you ... please sir?"
"Sure, why not?" Randy said in a tone of indifference. He leaned down and untied Pablo's wrists. Pablo wrapped his freed hand round his cock and stared up at the naked gypsy who towered over him, arms folded across his chest, his cock swinging between his legs, still dripping with cum.
It took only a few strokes until his cock spurted the jizz that had been straining for release for so long. It splashed on Randy's feet and Pablo fell on his stomach and licked the feet clean. He looked up, his handsome face smeared with cum, and whimpered, "I'm sorry, sir. I'm so sorry."
Ignoring his plea Randy turned to Bob. "Hey, dude, you wanna shower with me?" Bob grinned and jumped off the bed. Randy said to Pablo, "You – stay here."
The men went into the bathroom leaving Pablo on his knees. In his misery he clutched at straws. At least Randy had told him to stay, he had not dismissed him. That would have been agonizing. So he waited.
After the shower, Pablo heard the men talking in the bathroom and thought, hoped, it might be about him. He was right. The men reappeared, in just boxers, and sat together on the couch. Come here," Randy ordered. Pablo scrambled to his feet and stood before them, hands clasped behind his back.
"OK, here's what's gonna happen, boy. For the next couple a' days there's gonna be a few changes. On Monday construction work is gonna crank up to full power and for two days I'm gonna make Ben chief mechanic, with Darius to assist him. After all the times you've trash-talked my little brother he needs an ego boost, so being in charge will do him good.
"As for you, I'll let Bob explain what's gonna happen." Randy grabbed a beer and sat back on the couch while Bob leaned forward. It was a relief after Randy's fierce growl to hear Bob's kind but firm voice.
"I've been speaking to Mario at the Grady House and there's stuff going on with Grady as he's finishing up the last of the Tarzan movies, and they go into production real soon on the new one. As you know it's an action beach movie starring Grady as a lifeguard. He wants Jamie to be his surfing coach and the director has agreed after seeing a video Eddie shot of them together a week ago.
"So on Monday Jamie's going to spend the day at the studio when the current movie wraps, and have discussions with the director. This means that Jamie will be missing from the office, which is not good as there's gonna be a bunch of work with the new contracts coming online. So that's where you come in. You'll be working in the office as assistant to young Ryan.
"I'm a firm believer in shifting work around a bit so that guys get a real idea of what other departments actually do. Plus, you gave Ryan that tongue lashing so it'll be good for you to take orders from him for a change."
"Yes, sir," Pablo said meekly.
"Which brings us to Tuesday. That day Grady and Mario will be hosting the traditional wrap party for the cast and crew of the completed movie. It'll be a big affair so I am loaning the twins to their chef Danny to help with the catering in the Grady House kitchen.
"But that will leave Will alone in our kitchen on what will be a busy day here. So I'm assigning you to be Will's assistant chef for the day. It'll be useful for you to see just how hard the kitchen work is, and, as with Ryan, it'll be good for you to take orders from Will after the way you insulted him and his dad."
Bob leaned back on the couch and Randy took over. "If all goes well I'll reinstate you as head mechanic from Wednesday on, depending on reports from Brandon in the office and Will in the kitchen. Think of this as being on probation for two days. Any questions?"
"No, sir. Thank you, sir. And thank you too, sir," to Bob.
"Right, now get your ass back to your boy Tyler. I know he hero-worships you and he must have been on a roller-coaster with all this. That kid is the best thing you have going for you right now, so go make love to him and reassure him that you love him and will always protect him. The next few days will see if we're gonna get through this and bring things back to normal."
"Yes, sir ... thank you, sir." Pablo picked up his clothes and scuttled out of the room.
Randy breathed a deep sigh. "Jesus Christ, sometimes I feel like a headmaster dealing with the school's trouble-maker."
"Well," Bob smiled, "if you're the headmaster I must be the school counselor."
"Is that so? Hmm, if I recall my schooldays – such as they were before I quit at fourteen – the headmaster used to order everyone around."
"Even the school counselor?"
"Especially him. So get your ass back on that bed, counselor. I ain't finished with you."
<><> THE OFFICE BOY <><>
Pablo spent the rest of the weekend with his boy, much to Tyler's delight. Pablo nurtured him and made love to him. He took him out to dinner and they had long chats about Tyler's gardening work and other things that made him happy. In the process Pablo got to know a lot more about Tyler, his hopes and dreams in life, most of which centered on Pablo, making him realize even more the huge responsibility he had toward the boy who idolized him.
Pablo's experience in the master bedroom had been intensely painful for him, mostly because of Randy's cold disdain toward him, far worse than a physical beating. But he had survived it and now he knew that the next couple of days were make or break – crucial to his regaining the respect of the man he loved.
The thought of the boss's boy taking orders from junior boys like Ryan and Will was hard to wrap his mind around. That part had been described to him calmly by Bob, without rancor, but he knew that it was as much a part of his punishment as what Randy had dished out. A bad report back to Bob would be fatal to his chances of making amends.
Pablo firmly expected that the guys he had insulted – Ryan, Brandon and Will – would retaliate by putting him through the wringer. But in that he was wrong – he underestimated the boys' basic kindness and sense of fair play.
He had dressed in clean jeans and a smart shirt for his day in the office and he was nervous as he arrived there on time when it opened at 8am on Monday morning. Brandon and Ryan were already getting settled and Brandon smiled, "Hello, Pablo, welcome to the office. This promises to be a busy day as it's the first day of the new construction contracts, one of them for the City of L.A. which tends to be bureaucratic like all government contracts.
"The phones will be ringing off the hook. And we gotta get it right to give backup to the site managers, Randy, Zack and Seth. You'll be assisting Ryan today as he has a ton of data input to get through. You'll be using Jamie's computer in his absence. How computer savvy are you?"
"Not much at all, dude," Pablo said, already feeling overwhelmed. I can use a cell phone and that's it. Don't have much use for a computer. I repair trucks."
"Well, don't worry. Ryan and me know nothing about mending cars, either. Actually, a lot those city officials are pretty clueless about computer programs and Ryan blinded them with science, without talking down to them, and clinched our first contract. So, he's all yours, Ryan."
Pablo sat next to him at Jamie's computer and said. "Ryan, first I wanna apologize for being such a ..."
"Water under the bridge, Pablo." Brandon called out from across the office. "We're here to work, not rehash old stories." Thus rebuked Pablo realized that Brandon was firmly in charge of the office, as he now wheeled himself around in his wheelchair, extracting files from cabinets and pulling manuals from the upper pulldown shelves that Randy had installed for him.
Ryan said, "OK, Pablo, now customers are paranoid about cyber security, especially the City, as other municipalities have been hacked and held for ransom. So I have installed MFA, multi-factor authentication. I'll show you. I've created a temporary password for you which I'll delete at the end of your workday. Here it is – `Badboy#1'." He grinned. "It was the first thing that came to mind. It's not a very strong password but enter it and then watch this cellphone.
Hesitantly Pablo did as instructed, then the phone pinged with a passcode. "OK, enter that ... good, and you get a security question."
Pablo was starting to get intrigued by all this. "Yeah, who is the person you most admire in the world?' Well that's easy." He entered Randy'.
"And you're in," Ryan said encouragingly. "I already set up the security question and guessed the answer. OK, now for the work ... and this is a bummer. The city has pages of data that we need to enter into our system.
"Of course I tried to get them to transmit it electronically but their system is so antique – I think it was set up by Noah to count the animals in the ark – that it's not compatible with ours or anyone else's – except Noah's maybe. Get this ... not too long ago they had a system that still used disks, can you believe it?"
Pablo faked amazement though he had no idea what Ryan meant. "OK, so this is the bummer part – the data has to be entered by hand from these manuals they sent over. That's where you come in, Pablo. Hand entry is prone to error so I set up a rather advanced program that recognizes when something is not logical and possibly wrong. It will reject the entry, so try again and if it's still rejected, flag it for me to look at. OK, let me watch you enter the first few and then I'll leave it all to you."
Clumsily at first Pablo entered the first few lines and Ryan said, "Very good, Pablo – bit slow, but you'll speed up. Just, er, don't give up your day job, uh?"
Pablo laughed. His day as office assistant had begun.
<><> PABLO GETS A LESSON IN TEAMWORK <><>
It was tedious work but Pablo knew it was all he was capable of – and it freed up Brandon and Ryan to answer the endless phone calls that flooded in. As he resolutely entered the data (meaningless figures to him) he was aware of the energetic activity next to him. Brandon was on a call to a supplier when his other line rang, the one Randy always used. He was pushing for an answer on much-needed parts.
"Hello, sir. Just finishing up with the supplier. Hold for just a moment, I'll put you on speaker." Brandon went back to his first caller. "I'm sorry, Fred, but that increased price is a deal-breaker ... Yup, absolutely ... Well thank you, we really appreciate that. But that delivery date, can't you improve on that? ... Perfect. Great talking to you again, Fred. Say hi to your son."
He hung up and went back to Randy. "OK, sir, they agreed to the lower price and promised delivery for 2pm today."
"Kid, you're a miracle worker. How'd you do it?"
"I'm ashamed to say I played the wheelchair card. I let drop I used one and it turns out so does Fred's son. Instant rapport ... lower price ... faster delivery. Bingo. He did say we drive a hard bargain. Do you think it was nasty of me to do the wheelchair thing?"
"Whatever it takes, kiddo. Brandon I could hug you. When I get home remind me to fuck you. A bargain ain't the only thing I drive hard."
Brandon giggled. "I think Pete might have something to say about that, sir. Oops gotta go, another line ringing. He rang off and took the new call. "Certainly, Ryan's just finishing up on another call, he'll be right with you." He put it on hold. "Ryan, the City, line four."
Ryan took the call in seconds. "Yes, sir, we're inputting the data manually right now. I can give you the final figure by 5pm today, guaranteed ... Thank you, sir, it's my pleasure." He hung up. "OK, Pablo, now we're working to a deadline. Nothing like a deadline to focus a guy."
In the lull between calls Ryan and Brandon went back to their computers. Pablo could see that their intense focus on their work left no room for emotional drama. He wiped a tear from his eye when he recalled that one of their many calls last week came from him, reaming Ryan for something he didn't do. In the context of the pressure of work he was witnessing now he realized just how stressful and out of place that call had been. In his rage he had, as always, been focused on himself.
A short while later Darius came in carrying a manual. "Hey, guys, just rushed this over to you. One of the City guys casually handed it to me, I think it's something you need."
"Shit," Ryan said, "more figures to input, that's all we need. Pablo is already working flat out. OK, thanks, Darius, we'll handle it."
Darius bent down and kissed his boy Ryan on the cheek. Then he stood behind Pablo and pressed his hands on his shoulders. "Love you, dude – real proud of you." Pablo smiled, keeping his eyes on his screen as Darius left.
At noon Brandon said. "OK, guys, lunchtime. See Pablo, some offices work through lunch but not this one. Bob insists we take half an hour away from the office. Staring at a screen for eight solid hours could drive a guy crazy. We stagger it so there's someone to man the phones, so you guys go first and I'll hold the fort."
The lunch table had already been set up by the twins and Will and, as Pablo sat eating next to Ryan, Bob came out to check on him. "Hey, Pablo, how's the office treating you?"
"It's amazing, actually, sir. I never realized these guys were so busy. Kinda makes you really see how big the team is, and dependent on each other – mechanics like me are just one part of it. Working with these guys makes me feel part of a bigger team."
"Glad to hear it, Pablo. That was my idea in setting this up. And tomorrow you'll shift to catering. Will is going to be hard-pressed all on his own in the kitchen so follow his instructions. He's the king in the kitchen, and a tough taskmaster."
"The tougher the better, sir," Pablo grinned, and was rewarded by Bob's satisfied smile.
<><> PABLO WEARS AN APRON <><>
In the morning the kitchen staff were the earliest to start work as they had to set up the buffet breakfast – and this morning the staff consisted of just Will and Pablo. When Pablo arrived he could tell from Will's busy demeanor that, just like the office guys yesterday, he had no time to dwell on past differences or Pablo's former insults. This was serious stuff.
As he had expected, Will tossed him one of the dark green aprons and white chef's hats that were the obligatory kitchen uniform. He put them on and Will smiled. "Looks cute, dude – a whole different Pablo. OK, first things first. Eddie has given me the expected numbers for breakfast, lunch and dinner – on the whiteboard over there. There will be a lot of guys as everyone is back in town.
"I did as much prep as possible yesterday but you'll have to follow my instructions carefully as we work fast. Over there is a big pot of oatmeal that most of the guys eat and I want you to stir it slowly to the right consistency as it heats up. On the other counter are mixed berries and tubs of yoghurt that have to be put in dishes. You'll also do the juice and coffee while I do all the cooked stuff – eggs, bacon, hash-browns, Randy's favorites. I've already diced the potatoes.
"Any questions as you go along, just ask. I may not look up from the stove as I answer, but don't take that as an insult. I'll just be focused on the food."
Intense focus was something that had impressed Pablo in the office yesterday as it did now, as Will moved elegantly round the kitchen in what looked like a choreographed dance. Pablo got to work on the oatmeal and his other duties, with several questions that Will answered succinctly without looking up.
Things got a bit embarrassing for Pablo when Will asked him to ferry the various dishes out to the buffet table on the lawn. The other guys were starting to gather round the long table as Pablo walked out in his cap and apron, but he was surprised that no one made any of the obvious jokes that could have been thrown his way. He suspected (correctly) that Bob had quietly spread the word that Pablo was taking part in a familiarization exercise, getting to know other guys' jobs.
None of them quite bought that explanation but they respected Bob's wishes anyway and ate breakfast as normal – though Eddie would no doubt later have one of his "guys-you-would-not believe..." moments.
As soon as breakfast was over cleanup began. "Load everything in the dishwashers, Pablo, while I start the prep for lunch. No need to rinse the dishes before loading. First we'll concentrate on the packed lunches for the construction site."
Will's efficiency and dedication to his tasks were infectious and Pablo began to enjoy the rhythms of the kitchen and working with Will. From time to time he glanced at the earnest freckled face, the tufts of red hair poking from under his chef's hat, and wondered yet again how he could possibly have trash-talked this sweet hard-working kid. He wanted to hug him to show how sorry he was, but realized this was not the time or place. They were too busy.
The next big test for Pablo came just before lunch. Will said, "Good, the boxes are ready for the construction guys. Normally I would go and deliver them while the twins finish cooking lunch for the guys in the compound, like the office guys. But today I'll have to do those lunches while you deliver the boxes. They're all the same except for Randy's. I always pack his with his favorites."
Pablo took off his hat and started to remove his apron, but Will said, "No, whenever you're handling food you have to wear the apron. The hat's not necessary."
Well thank god for that, at least, Pablo thought. Showing up at the construction site as the kitchen assistant would be humiliating enough. As he drove there he recalled the look in Will's eye when he told him to keep on the apron. Was this a subtle touch of silent revenge on Will's part, his little prod to indicate that he wasn't exactly rolling over in total forgiveness? Pablo smiled. If that was the case the kid was certainly entitled to his quiet moment of triumph, and Pablo steeled himself as he pulled up at the gates.
It was an exercise in humility (obviously part of Bob's plan) as he walked among the crew with the load of boxes – the formerly bossy mechanic now dressed in an apron delivering lunch. He tried not to blush with embarrassment, but failed.
But, as with the office yesterday and breakfast this morning, he was surprised at the lack of derision among the crew. He noticed some of them doing a double-take as they glanced at him, but they were grateful as always for the food, a perk of the job with this company that they all appreciated. The family – Zack, Seth, Darius and Ben – didn't bat an eyelid as they took their lunch with thanks, though Pablo detected a teasing twinkle in Darius's eye.
Last came Randy's lunch which Pablo took to the door of the trailer and knocked. He went in and found Randy poring over blueprints on the drafting table. "Here," he said, "take a look at the new project ... see these features here? They're something brand new that our architect Lloyd came up with. That guy is real talented."
Randy was so focused on the job it was as if his former anger at Pablo had been temporarily shelved. And when he raised his head and looked at Pablo he grinned. "Did Will tell you to wear that apron?"
"Yes, sir." Again Pablo blushed deep red.
Randy chuckled. "Good for young Red. He never wears an apron when he delivers food. I think he's doing a number on you, boy. Jeez, I get such a kick out of that boy. But you better get back or he'll be pissed. And when he bites he bites hard." Randy gave him a dazzling smile that for Pablo was worth all the pain and humiliation. As he drove back he grinned to himself. Randy had smiled at him ... he actually smiled at him. Maybe, just maybe, it was the light at the end of the tunnel.
<><> RANDY HAS THE LAST WORD <><>
Dinner was the next big challenge as Will explained, "Now that work has cranked up to full gear, dude, everyone's gonna be here for dinner. Normally there would be three of us – the twins and I can cope. But they are still up at the Grady House managing Grady's wrap party so it's just two of us, me and the rookie. I dunno."
A voice came from the doorway. "Never fear, William, the cavalry's here." It was Bob, wearing jeans, a white polo shirt and a big smile. "I'm reporting for duty as assistant to the assistant chef." Bob took an apron off a peg and put it on, then jammed a chef's hat on his head. "How do I look?"
Will grinned, "Hottest man ever to wear the uniform, sir, you look just the part – and you're hired. Two rookies are better than one. But remember, I'm the boss around here, I give the orders."
"Yes sir, I have absolutely no doubt about that," Bob saluted, and winked at Pablo.
And so the new team got to work, and Will really whipped them into shape. All joking aside now Will gave instructions left and right and divided the work up according to his assistants' abilities. Bob was already a pretty good cook, Pablo not so much, but they found that working as a team they kept to schedule and they were ready when the crowd started to mass.
Will ruled in the kitchen while Bob and Pablo set the table and ferried dishes outside, much to the amusement of the gathering crowd. "Hey," Eddie said, "it's like those old-time Christmas parties where the bosses waited on the staff. Enjoy it, guys, this ain't something you see every day of the week."
The atmosphere was festive. Not only was work going full tilt, keeping everyone busy and bringing in a ton of money, but peace seemed to have been restored in the house after all the recent upheavals.
The wine flowed and when the first course had been served Randy's voice boomed, "Guys, listen up. As you know it's a custom around here to thank the guys responsible for this feast, so kitchen slaves, get your asses out here." Bob came out with Will and Pablo and stood between them. Randy raised his glass. "So guys, let's hear it for the chefs!"
Amid a deafening chorus of "The Chefs!" the three men raised their chef's hats high and swooped them down in a low theatrical bow. To deafening applause they straightened up and Bob turned to his left and kissed Will. He paused for effect, then turned to the right. "Well done, Pablo," he said quietly, and kissed him full on the lips, to renewed cheers.
Bob's kiss was a sign to the whole tribe that Pablo had his approval, and this sorry chapter was coming to a close. Actual forgiveness was up to Randy, but Bob's embrace had set the course.
The dinner was a raucous affair, though Pablo was still on tenterhooks as he glanced furtively at Randy. Signs were pointing in the right direction, but Randy always had the last word, and he could be unpredictable.
But Pablo was still Will's assistant so he dutifully helped him clear away after the meal was over and the crowd had drifted away. Bob accompanied Randy to their house – the Boss House – but the kitchen was a mess and Will and Pablo spent a good half hour cleaning it up.
The phone rang and Will answered. It was Bob. "Yes of course, sir, I'll tell him. Yes, I'm spending the night with Seth. Oh and by the way, thank you for your help, sir. Actually, sir, with more practice you're on your way to becoming a pretty good chef. If you ever give up your day job I would hire you. ... You're welcome, sir. Sleep well."
He hung up with a mischievous smile. "Pablo, Bob said Randy wants to see you over at their house. And Pablo, I want to thank you for your help today and ... and to say that I never stopped loving you. No matter what happens, you've always been one of my heroes."
Pablo wrapped his arms tight round Will. "Thanks for saying that Will. It means a lot."
"Now get your ass over to Randy. Don't wanna keep the boss waiting."
When Pablo went upstairs in the Boss House he was surprised to see Bob standing with his boy Tyler, who was beaming. "Sir, Bob has asked me to spend the night with him. Is it OK? Can I?"
Pablo said, "Of course, kiddo, if that's what you want – and who wouldn't?" he grinned. "But ..."
"But where's Randy?" Bob smiled. "You'll find him in the guestroom."
Trembling now Pablo went down the hall to the guestroom, knocked and went in. He stood rooted to the spot staring at Randy, who was lying on his back on the bed. He was buck naked, his arms bent, hands linked behind his head.
"Hey, kid. Well don't just stand there. Take your clothes off – real slow. I wanna watch."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 521
Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter got you off, and I welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in planning future chapters. E-mail me in confidence at rw6789@aol.com.
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