Ring in Mine

Ring in Mine #3: Nephi and Jerome: Chapter 63

I have been between jobs for a month now. I am remodeling. It's time to get another job so I can relax.

Shall we discuss the term hipocrite? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conversion-therapist-david-matheson-comes-out-gay_n_5c48bfb8e4b025aa26bf7840

I will get back off my soap box long enough to post another chapter.

Remember that Nifty Archives is not in the business of making money. The opposite is true. If you can, please click on the link and donate. If you check the list you should find my name.

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Thank you, Zach for your editing skills and insights.

Chapter 63

Jerome returned from a late night trip to the bathroom to find Adam thrashing around on the bed. He shook Adam's shoulder. "Wake up! It's only a dream."

Jerome was unsure what to do. Adam couldn't break free of the nightmare. He took the glass of water on the nightstand and poured it over his terrified partner. Adam woke with a start. "There is a heaven. I'm glad we are still together."

It took Jerome sometime to convince Adam it had only been a dream. Adam shivered. Wearing a heavy terry robe Adam sat on the couch with a blanket over his legs. With a single call, someone from housekeeping changed the bed linens and swept up the glass Jerome had knocked off the counter in the bathroom. They also supplied matching pajamas in Adam's size.

Jerome took the role of comforter, wrapping his arm around his beloved. His thoughts had no room for the anxiety caused by contact. His only concern was Adam. Adam leaned into Jerome and soon fell asleep. Jerome felt bad about waking Adam when the bed was ready. He wished he could scoop Adam into his arms and carry him to bed, but with their difference in builds it would never be a possibility. Farm work had fine-tuned Adam's body. Jerome had grown stronger, but stayed slim, almost petite.

Even though there was a difference in size, Adam laid his head on Jerome's chest. Jerome overcome with love leaned down to Adam. Their lips met in a kiss. Jerome ran his tongue along Adam's lips which parted to let him in. Sleep came after their extended and passionate kiss.

The nurse came in early in the morning. He removed Jerome's dressing and declared him ready for a shower. The nurse offered to assist, winking at Adam. Jerome turned down the generous offer opting instead for sharing his shower with his man. Jerome stepped into the shower, as the nurse whispered into Adam's ear. Adam dropped the boxers he was wearing and stepped into the shower. Jerome faced the shower head unaware of Adam's nudity.

They hadn't shared a shower since the surgery. Much of the scabbing had done its job and went down the drain leaving pink skin in its place. Adam reached around Jerome washing his chest from behind pulling Jerome into him. At the first touch of Adam's erection, Jerome pulled away. With Adam enough taller than Jerome his hardness was well above Jerome's ass. Jerome settled backward leaning against Adam's firm body.

Adam avoided the area of Jerome's surgery. Jerome wished Adam would be a little less of a gentleman. Every time Adam grew close Jerome wanted it more. Jerome placed his hand over Adam's directing its path to Jerome's rampant cock.

Adam wrapped his hand around Jerome to begin stroking his length. Jerome closed his eyes and relaxed into the pillar of his life, lost in the pleasure of his lover's hand. Adam added conditioner to his grip. As Jerome hadn't flinched in pain, Adam picked up the pace.

Jerome let out a low moan. Afraid he had caused Jerome pain he released his hold.

"Don't even think of stopping!" Jerome threatened dire things if Adam didn't finish what he had started. Adam had to be careful of the steri-strips on Jerome's scrotum.

"I have to make sure I'm not messing up your incision." He turned Jerome around, knelt down and checked Jerome's scrotum. Jerome's lovely manhood was inches from his face. He should have considered his actions for they could have set Jerome's progress back weeks, instead he licked his lips and then the stripes of pink healing skin crisscrossing Jerome's manhood.

Jerome didn't pull away. He lay his hands on Adam's head urging him to take the next step. Not wanting to disappoint his lover, Adam took Jerome into his mouth being careful not to hurt his man. He shouldn't have worried. Jerome with his hands buried in Adam's hair, took control of the action. It was only a minute before he shared a week's worth of cum.

Jerome pulled Adam into a kiss. The nurse knocked before opening the door. "Your breakfast guest has arrived." Out of courtesy for their guest the nurse delivered clothes into the bathroom. Adam wouldn't say who he had invited for breakfast.

Adam and Jerome emerged as breakfast arrived. Meals at a hospital never involved linen, china, silver and fresh flower centerpieces, nor was it served. Jerome smelled their guest's fresh brewed coffee before he noticed his duet partner from the night before.

"Good morning, the dining room was all a buzz about our duet last night, but even more so for your solo. Everyone was trying to guess who you were. The consensus is you are an up-and-coming recording artist. The staff only know you as Jerome of Samaria."

"I need to explain my background. My father left me in the hills above Salt Lake during a blizzard without a coat. A very handsome guy found me curled behind a bush, more dead than alive. He took me into his home and his heart. When he died protecting our son, his landscaping business became mine. It has grown a lot over the past two years."

Jerome handed her the Samaria Farms card explaining in few words how it came to be and his role as its executive director. In answer to why he was here, he was vague not wanting to rehash the uncomfortable memories. He mentioned the Tellerson Companies had invested in his business and foundation, and were paying for his treatment.

The conversation moved to duets they both knew. With breakfast cleared, Adam excused himself to make necessary calls while his partner tried out singing different songs with their guest. They were discussing rehearsals and recording dates when Adam returned.

"I hate to rain on your parade, but Jerome is needed in New York tomorrow." With a single glance Jerome knew it was important.

"I have the studio this afternoon. If we head out now, we could rehearse with the band and lay down a track today." She was insistent that they try. If it turned out good but needed fine tuning they could find a time to try it again.

In the studio Jerome felt overwhelmed and was having second thoughts.

Adam suggested Jerome warm up singing their song with the guitarist from last night. Knowing his partner, Adam had Jerome face away from the window toward the back wall. Jerome had a shaky start.

"Jerome, forget everybody else. Do you remember our partner ceremony?" Jerome nodded.

"Sing for me." Adam took Jerome's hand. Jerome closed his eyes and concentrated on the warm hand holding his. He closed his eyes, waited for the intro, and let his love pour into their song. Then there was silence. Adam could watch all the activity in the booth.

"Can you play the Bread song IF?" Adam asked.

The guitar played through the song to let Jerome get the feel of the accompaniment. "Now sing for Nephi."

Again he let his love shine through the songs haunting lyrics. The interlude before the last verse was beautiful in the simplicity of the acoustic guitar.

Adam took Jerome in his arms and held this special spirit tightly. "That was beautiful."

The band reinforced Adam's biased opinion of Jerome's singing. Adam stepped out as they practiced the duets. He commandeered a phone in a side office. A technician stepped in just in time to hear part of Adam's conversation.

"If funding is an issue Tellerson will produce the album, but we will take the producer's share of the profits for the foundation. It will happen!"

The tech cleared his throat. "We are about to start the first track."

Adam sat in the booth as they began Jerome's performance lacked his magic. After the first take Adam stepped into the studio. "Will you sing it again for me?"

Jerome had been ready to give up rather than try again, but he would sing it again for his patient lover. It was a passionate love song. Adam whispered into Jerome's ear. Jerome blushed. His thoughts were on their morning shower. After a false start the result was perfection. The playback amazed Jerome.

The technician's voice came through the speaker. "We have time to try another, if you are up to it."

The next was a country ballad of yearning for a lost love. They had rehearsed it and it sounded all right. Jerome's heart wasn't in it on the first few takes.

"We have time for one more try. Make this one count."

From the sniffing, Jerome wasn't the only one that caught the faint scent of gasoline, fresh cut grass and a day's labor. It was Nephi in the summer.

Jerome's heart filled with the pain and sadness that haunted him often. He loved Adam but his heart first belonged to Nephi. The magic found its way into Jerome's pure tones. There was silence for a moment after the song. Adam caught Jerome as he collapsed, tears running down his face. Jerome's weren't the only tears in the room.

It was Adam's arms around him, but he felt Nephi there too. "That was beautiful."

Jerome knew that whisper. "I love you too." Adam knew it wasn't for him, but held Jerome even tighter.

Adam called a cab to take Jerome back to the medical center.

In the control booth the singer's manager argued the record label wouldn't produce the album with a total unknown on it. They weren't sure they wanted to invest the money on her album at all.

The eavesdropping tech spoke up. "With Jerome on the album you have guaranteed funding." He shared the conversation he had overheard.

The manager was skeptical. He called his contact at the record company.

"I've been waiting for your call. I hear you've found a new talent in the desert. Word has reached us they sound great together. I've never had a producer back an album they haven't heard. The project has been green lighted. I want to hear the tape you've made."

Back in their room Adam was packing. "We need to fly out tonight and be there first thing tomorrow. The jet is at the airport waiting for us."

Adam didn't want to get Jerome worked up before bedtime, but Jerome needed to be up to speed on what was happening. Some of the board members decided to carve chunks of Tellerson off for themselves. It would be easier to nip it in the bud rather than pick up the pieces.

In the comfortable bed on the plane Jerome dreaded his role in tomorrow's meeting. He tossed and turned. Adam had an idea for relaxing his man. When someone coined the phrase lip service, Adam was sure they hadn't thought of the service he provided for Jerome or the returned favor that had started hesitantly but came to an explosive end.

After a shared kiss, the pair fell asleep confident in passing another hurdle in Jerome's recovery.

Expensive business suits were waiting for them at Grace's apartment in the Tellerson headquarters downtown New York City. Jerome looked formidable in his black suit, black shirt and tie. The clothes paired with his scared face reminded Adam of an undertaker in a horror film. He planned on burying this insurrection with a solid fist. The lawyers had given Jerome the latest details and the evidence they had gathered. Loyal members of Tellerson Security slipped the pair in using Grace's private elevator from the parking garage.

Adam convinced Jerome he was up for this. Together they walked down a private hallway passing the door to what had been his grandfather's office. It was his office now.

He looked through the peephole in the door. The lawyer turned a small knob. The voices from the board room filled the hallway.

"I call this meeting to order. The first matter of business is the divestiture of Tellerson's medical holdings."

Jerome turned the knob. The room fell silent. Only one person would come through that door.

"Good morning gentlemen and ladies. It looks like you've started without me." Jerome stopped four steps into the room with Adam and his lawyer a step behind.

"Welcome, Mr. Tellerson, if you would take a seat, we can get started." The man at the head of the table waved toward seats at the foot of the table.

Jerome recognized the condescending tone of the chairman's voice.

"You will vacate my chair, or leave the building. The choice is yours." Jerome began as two members of security stepped into the room. Two others entered from the main doors. "I have changed my mind, take the place at the foot of the table."

The chairman and two other board members attempted to leave as there was a shuffling of seats around the table. "Mr. Tellerson asked you to take a seat." The security at the door looked like bouncers from a bar on the rough side of town. They could have been. A new security team had been created for this situation.

"We have a new `first item' of business. A team of auditors and investigative teams are looking into some irregularities." Jerome took his seat at the head of his boardroom table.

Adam looked at his man somewhat surprised at Jerome's air of confidence. "As for the report on the medical division's performance, it is a clever piece of fiction." Jerome looked to the security at the door. "Please, let Mr. Bankenhoff and his team in to explain."

All eyes shifted to the doors as a team of five entered and took seats along the wall. Jerome allowed his shoulders sag for just a moment as he released some of the tension. His part was not over until the end.

Mr. Bankenhoff provided folders to each board member outlining embezzlement, bogus payments made to companies that had links to three board members and falsified reports to the board and shareholders. The crowning piece of the puzzle was after investigating the holding companies, three members of the Tellerson board owned controlling interest in the company wanting to purchase the medical division. The board members who tried to leave were ashen faced.

"Until we receive the call confirming the authorities have executed the search warrants on privately own properties no one will leave this room. Let's move on to the next order of business."

Jerome was every bit the owner of the company. No one noticed the listening device in Jerome's ear. Julio was listening in from Grace's apartment cueing Jerome when needed.

Board members reported on aspects of the company but no one's hearts were in it. Cued by Adam and Julio, Jerome commented as needed.

"I move we table the rest of the agenda until the next meeting." The man at the foot of the table requested, calling for a vote. Nearly all the hands were raised.

"The motion fails." Jerome announced. "The protocol, when I sit at the head of the table, is all motions are directed to me. I agree the current agenda is suspended. I would value your input on a final question. Do I let those involved resign with the stipulation misdirected funds are returned: do I fire them with the same stipulations; or do I let the justice system deal with it?"

"What is the possibility of letting them stay with the funds returned to the company? They are all qualified individuals. It will be difficult to replace them. Shouldn't the stockholders have a say?"

"I think you are the expecting me to call a stockholders meeting. Not counting the proxies I hold for others, I own 60% of the voting stock. If you question the math, I not only inherited Grace's 55%, but also the 5% I owned before her death." Jerome acted so cool and collected.

The suggestion had been made by a board member who hadn't played a major role in the scheme, but was still involved.

The board including the three principal conspirators leaned toward allowing those involved resign.

Jerome held his hand to his ear, the first indication he was receiving outside information. "From what the authorities have uncovered, the decision has been taken out of our hands. The evidence is being taken to a grand jury for securities fraud. The courts have frozen the assets of the five holding companies involved in the conspiracy. Twenty Tellerson employees are being escorted from their locations."

Jerome moved his hands back to the files in front of him. "I will accept your resignation, before you leave this room."

The individuals at the table felt they ran the company. In a way they did, but the real work was handled by the team at Tellerson Oversight, the management team answerable not to the board but Mr. Tellerson. They had already suggested individuals within the company for the now vacant positions.

Five previous board members were escorted from the building. Their things from home office and their divisional offices would be forwarded by security and delivered to them. It was now in the hands of the legal team. Jerome would meet with the remaining board members one on one and the proposed replacements.

Back in Grace's home office apartment, Jerome was face down and naked as Adam practiced his light touch massage. The tension faded as Jerome's muscles relaxed. Jerome fell asleep on the table before he could turn over. Adam turned back the bed and laid Jerome on the sheets before crawling in with him.

Jerome woke with his head on Adam's bare chest, his hand wrapped around something much lower. Adam had taken care of Jerome's needs twice. Jerome was determined to return the favor.

Jerome slid under the covers. Finding the object of his desire, he wrapped his lips around it and caressed the smooth, firm head with his tongue. How could something so right be wrong?

Lying in bed they looked out of the wall of windows. "How long do you think we will be here?" Jerome had something bothering him.

"It will be a week at least, but probably two." Adam looked into Jerome's eyes. "We can send for the boys. I miss them too."

"I don't want the others jealous. Maybe we can bring more of the kids with adults to herd them around New York. They can switch after a week so everyone can come." Adam could never say no to Jerome's puppy dog eyes.

It was short notice for those back home, but even the adults were excited. None of the family had been to New York. Even though it was his idea, Jerome fussed about the expense. Adam reassured him he could afford it. The difficulty wasn't the money. Finding 10 hotel rooms next to each other was a challenge for the concierge. What they found wasn't at the chain owned by Tellerson. It wasn't even a four star hotel but Jerome gave it a thumbs up. One floor of twelve rooms would be easy for security.

Jerome wanted to meet his family at the airport, but was in meetings all morning dealing with the aftermath of the mutiny. He insisted the meetings be in the morning so he could spend time with Jerry.

The elevator opened. Jerome and Adam were pushed back into the elevator by two flying boys. If security hadn't held the doors they would have returned to the main floor. Jerome expected this level of response from Jerry, but Hugo's response brought tears to Adam's eyes, his boy missed him. The dads carried their boys piggyback into their shared room.

"I'm glad you arrived. They've been sitting by the elevator for the past half hour playing checkers." Sariah announced returning the checkers board to the boys who had left it in the hallway. "Let your dad's get dressed and we can go for lunch.

The family had already sorted themselves into their rooms. The concierge had arranged for admission to a variety of attractions and the Empire State Building filled today's schedule.

Rather than take the time for a restaurant, the family descended upon the nearest street vendor. New York is famous for their hot dogs and they needed twenty-seven New York dogs. Jerome shook his head. When had they grown so large and this was only half. During Jerome's ordeal and recovery, the family had lost the kids from the parish when their uncle had found them, but they had gained a pair of high school girls whose parents couldn't accept their relationship and two brothers, an eight-year-old, Skip and Russell his sixteen-year-old brother.

Potential customers for the hotdog vendor moved down the street not wanting to wait for the big group. Adam tipped him an extra $50. It was Jerome's money but he was uncomfortable dealing with it. Adam carried the cash.

Rented vans pulled up to the curb. The family sorted themselves into the vehicles and unloaded at the main entrance for the observation elevators. The line wrapped around the corner of the block. They looked like a school group with the Samaria Farms ID hanging around everyone's neck.

About a hundred feet away from the door stood a young woman reading a book. She held a sign with the Samaria Farms logo against the book's cover. She looked up to see the group she had been waiting for.

"I've been standing in line for you." She announced.

Rafe and Zeke talked with the girl as the group filled the growing space in front of her. Adam slipped her a twenty dollar bill. She shuffled through her backpack and produced another sign. She waved goodbye as she moved to the end of the line.

"Mom, there's a job I could do when I move to New York. I can get paid standing in line." Zeke taunted his mother. Sariah only shook her head.

Thanks to the young lady holding their place in line, they were inside the Empire State Building and out of the cold in ten minutes. With tickets in hand they skipped the ticket window and were soon high above the city. Clarke was the self-appointed photographer taking pictures of the kids on the outside observation deck.

Like Jerome, one of the new boys chose not to leave the building. Jerome sat next to him.

"I don't like high places. I decided not to go out in this cold except for the group picture. How about you?"

Jerome and Skip looked out the windows. Skip didn't want to talk about the past, but was more than willing to talk about the animals and the teacher Jerome had yet to meet. He did not like the cows, but Kenton took him under his wing. Skip learned there was nothing to fear. He still didn't like cows.

Jerry stuck his head through the door. "Dad, we are taking the picture." Skip's face paled.

"Will you stand by me so I will feel safe?" Jerome asked taking Skip's hand and standing up. Skip and Jerry stood right in front of Jerome, a hand resting on the outside shoulder of each boy.

The two kids talked about anything except being on top of a tall building. Jerome didn't have to ask Jerry to hang out with Skip. On the elevator down to the gift shop Jerome overheard Jerry offering to share his dad.

"I'm not sure my brother would like that." Skip seemed to like the idea.

Jerry the family organizer stepped right in front of Russell, Skip's brother blocking the doorway into the gift shop. "Skip wants a dad. I will share mine, but he thinks you won't like it. You can share him too."

Russell loved his brother. He had watched over him, even before their mother ended up in rehab and now prison. Russell didn't know his dad. Only the men his mother brought home. His mother made up stories about his father. They were never the same.

As an infant Russell lived with his grandmother. She died of cancer when Skip turned two, and they were sent back to live with their mother. Russell was only ten, but he was the one who cared for Skip. Their mother often said she loved them and she tried to keep food in the house. Russell had learned the morning after mother entertained one of her men, there would be cash on the nightstand. He would take five dollars and go to the mom `n pop grocery store to buy food. He also learned when the landlord visited on Wednesday's, there wasn't money the next morning.

Russell's school was only a block away. He would make sure Skip had breakfast. Skip wasn't his real name. Skip loved peanut butter. His mother called him Skippy for her favorite brand. Russell shortened it to Skip. The old house had been divided into a duplex. The older couple next door loved Skip. Russell would leave Skip with them while he was at school where he got his lunch for free. When they would get peanut butter bars for dessert, Russell would collect them from anyone who didn't want theirs. He would sneak them out of the lunchroom and put them in his old beat up backpack. Skip loved them. Russell collected sandwiches and other non-gooey foods. It wasn't an affluent neighborhood. Russell wasn't the only one collecting food. The teachers turned a blind eye to the bending of federal regulations.

"Let me think about it." Russell had noticed Skip hadn't left Jerome's side since the photo on the observation deck. Jerry rejoined Skip and this man he had met only that afternoon. He had heard stories about Nephi, Jerome and Adam. He didn't believe them. Men weren't like that. They took what they wanted and left.

Russell had troubles believing Samaria was for real. He was waiting for someone to collect the rent the way the landlord had after finishing with his mom. The guys had told him they were getting paid for the two hours a day they did chores and Russell hadn't believed them. That morning in the hotel room Clarke had given him an envelope with his name on it.

"You've only been with us for three days. Payday isn't until Friday, but Jerome wanted each of you to have an extra twenty dollars to spend." Russell found $40 in the envelope and a wallet with his Samaria ID card inside. At the foster homes they expected him to work, but they didn't even give him an allowance. He did the math and realized Rafe was right. When you were on `muck out the barn' duty you made an extra dollar an hour. With minimum wage at less than three dollars an extra dollar was a lot.

"Don't worry about Skip. Jerry has adopted him. Jerome and Adam are good guys and they don't do IT with kids." Zeke surprised Russell from behind.

Rafe appeared on Russell's other side. "You're with us now." Free from worrying about Skip, Russell relaxed. He still checked on Skip now and then. Every time he looked either Hugo or Jerry were right next to Skip and Jerome was never far away.