The Symposium Chapter 04: Hard Work's Not Easy
This story is a work of fiction. Resemblances to real persons, places or events would be extremely surprising.
The boys arrived that the Symposium Athletics Club early for their first day. The club was open 24 hours with a skeleton staff working overnight, assisting the 5am swimmers who attended before work, and who had little to hand over to the day team taking over. There was two swimmers racing up and down the pool just now, that was all they had to report.
A beautiful weekend had given way to a driech Monday. Callum and Iain had made it through the weekend without much incident and they avoided taking about their sexual encounter. No, that was not quite true – they hadn't avoided it, not out of shame or embarrassment but rather because they had not wanted to consider the possibilities. They both seemed, by tacit agreement, to concur that grossly indecent nudity and sex should perhaps not be taken home with them.
They were met by Finn in the foyer who directed them to the coffee bar are where a group was gathered.
"I'll introduce you to some of the team, shall I?" Finn said.
Working clockwise around the group: Finn introduced Andy (personal trainer), Simon (physio), Jerry (nurse), Justinas (towel boy), David and Amir (life guards) and Paul (towel boy). Multiple hello's were exchanged with many amused and impressed looks amongst the group.
"The guys are helping us to choose the profile pictures to go up on the staff board." Finn said. He leaned over the table and lifted one of Callum. "I like this one."
The picture was taken slightly from Callum's right hand side and the lens was aimed from high, looking down so Callum's entire profile could be seen – beautiful skin, a hint of his underarm from his left arm, his legs long and fair – and of course his dick was hard.
"You can't put that up on the board... can you?" Callum said.
"Don't be a twit. We're just teasing. Take a look." Finn pointed to the staff board which rested a few feet to the right of the locker room entrance.
Callum and Iain walked over to take a look. Callum saw himself, the picture was a headshot which showed his bare shoulders and sexy collarbone, his face was serene – he was sure it was taken during some period of sexual pleasure.
Iain was similarly depicted, the view of his head and torso was low enough to show off his great chest and a hint of his lovely nipples.
"For posterity." Said Finn. "Shall we find you uniforms?"
Callum and Iain were guided to the locker room and asked to undress. They were both used to undressing in gyms – at school, at uni, they'd both had memberships at a local gym until it closed a few months ago. And given their experiences last week, stripping down now would be no biggie.
They popped their clothes into lockers but kept their trainers, both paused when they got to their underwear but (correctly) inferred they too should be removed. Finn locked up for them and kept the key's.
"Aw, geez." Finn said. "I forget to get the uniforms. They're in my office upstairs. I won't be long."
The boys should have seen something like that coming, but they were out of sight at least. Sure, the staff were in and out, getting changed, or the towel boys collecting stray items but there was no members in yet.
Callum and Iain took a seat on a bench. Callum coved his penis with his hands and Iain stretched out and didn't give a fuck. They hadn't seen each other naked since Friday – Callum couldn't help but take long looks at his cousin (a brother, near as damn it) but felt guilty to be checking him out. Iain was equally conflicted, he'd never been with any man before but the thought of what he'd done with Callum was enough to give him a hardon whenever it came to mind, like now...
Fin came back into the locker room with two plastic packages. Each contained a dark blue uniform -the colour matched the other personal trainers but theirs were different. Theirs were made of tight Lycia that would hug every contour and reveal their religion. The boys put them on, Iain was particularly keen to be dressed bit the skin tight material only revealed 7 inches of something not quite completely hard.
"I thought we wore... looser kit than this." Callum asked.
"Like yours." Iain said, though he rather enjoyed how he looked in the figure hugging attire.
Finn was wearing his navy short and t-shirt with an embossed Sympodium Athletics Club (the latter two words sitting below the first in slightly smaller font.
"We're trying out something new at the gym." Finn replied smoothly. "Well, you're trying it out."
Ten minutes later the boys were asked to Mr Douglas's office.
"I have a client who might be rather... difficult." He said diplomatically. "He has been very demanding but he is a valuable member. A healthy financial contributor and not the sort of man I would unduly want to upset." He turned to Callum. "I want you to keep him sweet."
"Why me?" Callum asked, not questioning the decision, genuinely curious why he was the best choice for a `difficult' client. "I don't know him, wouldn't it be better for one of the P.T.'s how have met him to work with him?"
"He's sort of met you." Mr Douglas said mildly. "Mr Mendel walked in on you during you interview on Thursday. He was impressed and wants to meet you and frankly he hasn't liked the others." He paused. "My hope is that your more... amenable temperament might appease him."
Iain sniggered, though not cruelly – amenable temperament.
"Pushover."
"Bawbag."
"Gentlemen!" Mr Douglas interrupted their camaraderie. To Iain he said, "I'll be assigning the Ace Dynamics workshops to you."
Iain looked blank.
"It was in the pack we read this weekend." Callum reminded him. "Ace Dynamics is a medium business who market exercise equipment – from treadmills to pedometers. The Symposium hosts them for a day once a monthly keep them sweet."
"They're investors." Iain recalled. "You could've just said that. They are investors. No problem, I'll take care of them."
Callum warmed up while reading through Mr Mendel's training regime and continuous client record. The man could indeed be difficult. Two personal trainers and been dismissed by him (he used the word incompetent; they used the words confrontational and belligerent). Finn had intermittently taken up his training but refused to work with him on a weekly basis.
Finn wrote: Mr Mendel is (not always but often) privileged and ungrateful masked by charm. A persistently charismatic and clever man... but with days off.
Callum smiled as he read, unsure whether Mr Mendel would be so amused. To his credit, Finn noted the client had excellent stamina, ability to maintain a challenging pace and adaption to new techniques.
"Good morning." A voice cut across the room. "Would you be my new personal trainer?"
Callum looked over at the slim dark haired man, with dark eyes and a thin beard that followed his jaw line.
"Good morning." Callum replied. He crossed the room and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you Mr Mendel, I'm Callum."
"Callum, indeed." He smiled; thin, appraising and not entirely kind. "You're the new boy, yes?"
"Yes, but I'm quite capable. We'll warm up first, then start with the treadmill - 20 minutes." Callum spoke confidently and did not ask, rather instructed and gave no opportunity for argument.
Mr Mendel was well behaved through the machine sessions; treadmill, rowing machine and cycling. A one hour triathlon that had him breathing heavily by the end. The next thirty minutes of his training plan had Callum lead the man through push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges and dead lifting.
Mr Mendel stopped to catch his breath and regarded Callum thoughtfully.
"My previous sessions have not been so satisfactory." He said. "The other two treated my with kid-gloves, as if I were either incapable or something to be feared." He smiled at this.
Callum wondered if he enjoyed people's fear of him, was intimidation something he drew pleasure from?
"And `Finn'... well, he treated me like an animal t be weary of. HE was not afraid, but understood I was a dangerous animal." Isaac Mendel was half talking to himself. "I like your uniform."
Callum could see something genuine in his eyes when he said this, Mr Mendel seemed to change the narrative of his thoughts and emotions quite quickly. Never the less, Callum was flattered and even wondered if he had simply been misunderstood during previous sessions.
"It's a little sheer." Callum mused.
"That is why I like it." Mr Mendel said, lifting himself from the bench and putting his hand on Callum's chest.
His hand slid up and grazed Callum's nipple. The material of his top was tight and damp with sweat but the touch was gentle enough. Mr Mendel's other hand moved stealthily towards Callum's thigh and Callum felt the familiar rush of blood to his penis.
Callum took a worried glance towards the door, which was closed, and the window, which were tinted (but could be made transparent again using a control beside the window.
"I think we're alone." Mr Mendel said.
Callum looked back to him. With his dark hair and Mediterranean complexion he was rather handsome, dashing even – he looked at least 5 years younger than he probably was. Callum guessed he was just north of forty. His white teeth and small dark eyes provided mystery but there was an arrogance in him that Callum was not sure of.
Mr Mendel leaned up to meet Callum's lips – this touch he did enjoy. The man had soft lips and a gentle tongue. Callum's downward gaze caught sight of Mr Mendel's bulging shorts.
Mr Mendel moved his hands to the bottom of Callum's t-shirt and lifted it without a word. He was impressed by what he saw. The workout was over and the older man was now interested in a different kind of exercise. Callum's hand reached for the bulge and squeezed.
Mr Mendel reached out and squeezed too, causing Callum's dick to thicken. Callum knelt down and pulled Mr Mendel's shorts down his dark legs. The penis before him was about 6 and a half inches and uncut and slid nicely into Callum's mouth. He wasn't sure why he was doing this – it was certainly an activity he had considered practicing with members of the club since getting the job but Mr Mendel was not his type; physically or mentally.
He wanted to keep Mr Mendel `sweet'? No, that wasn't it either.
He was pushing himself? Yes, probably. Still letting go of his modesty and inhibitions... trying to emulate Iain's confidence. At the thought of Iain his cock throbbed harder.
"I'd like you to help me with this." Mr Mendel said, pushing Callum's head unnecessarily. "But first..." he let go.
Callum looked up at him and saw a strange look on the man's face.
"I need to take a piss." Mr Mendel said.
Callum laughed. Mr Mendel scowled.
"No way." Callum said. The `moment' was over and he was standing up.
"Get on your knees," Mr Mendel commanded. "And open up for your golden shower."
"No way." Callum repeated. He had wondered if the man was misunderstood – he was not. Mr Mendel was an arsehole.
"You've not worked here long... I'm sure you want to keep your job. It would be a shame to be fired on your first day." Mr Mendel saw doubt creep into Callum's face. "And I'm sure Mr Douglas would want you to keep me happy... Very happy. So, kneel down and open up."
Callum put his t-shirt back on.
"It's been a long time since someone told you `No', hasn't it?"
Mr Mendel's face flashed with anger. He pulled up his shorts and drew closer to Callum.
"Your job is to keep me amused. To pacify me and keep me happy. So if I want to piss in your mouth or shit on your face, you'll do it." Mr Mendel seemed to think threatening Callum would work.
"You're not the first man to try to bull me." Callum replied, turning to walk toward the door. "Better men than you have tried."
Mr Mendel grabbed Callum's arm with a vice-like grip, he had strong biceps and Callum's arm was pained within seconds. Mr Mendel held a steely gaze but then let go. Callum crossed to the door and made to open it.
"When you get your arse handed to you for displeasing me, I want you to apologise on your knees." Mr Mendel shouted.
Callum opened the door and called back, "And I want you to drop fucking dead."
Mr Douglas was right outside the door. Callum froze with fear when he saw him and realised tears were stinging his eyes. He turned down the corridor that held away from the foyer and took the long way back to the locker room.
He was so fired.
As Callum had walked away, Mr Douglas had been unreadable. He could hear Mr Mendel ranting and shouting as Mr Douglas walked into the room; then a sinister click as the door closed. A click that knelled the end?
Twenty minutes. Callum sat at the back of the locker room largely undisturbed – as if smoke were curled and hiding him from view or choking them from standing too close. It was sad in a way – that a man could sit so miserable and yet unacknowledged and not consoled.
Mr Douglas stalked towards him as if he'd known exactly were in the busy, cluttered room Callum would be sitting. He turned on his heel and sat beside Callum, clasping his hands together.
"Are you alright?" Mr Douglas asked. His voice was slow and gentle and only after he had asked did he turn his head to look at Callum.
It wasn't what he'd expected to be asked, Callum had expected a scolding – so there was a five or six second pause before he answered.
"I don't know."
"I ought to apologise to you." Mr Douglas said. "Given our interview techniques last week it is understandable that you might feel beholden to a certain way of conducting yourself. And give the way I prefaced your session with Mr Mendel, it is understandable that you would feel intimidated by him."
Callum said nothing. So, not a scalding them.
"Mr Mendel is a pathetic and petty man." Mr Douglas continued. "And it's been a long time since someone told him no." He smiled.
"I thought I'd get into trouble for not keeping him happy." Callum said. "A valuable member, you said. A healthy financial contributor... would not unduly upset... keep him sweet."
"Like I said, I unfairly prefaced your meeting with him." Mr Douglas repeated. "You are not in trouble. I heard what he said to you. What he asked of you and I am relieved you denied him his satisfaction. I am glad you feel able to say no and to do only what you are comfortable with... with whom you are comfortable with."
Callum caught the implication pointed at Iain.
"I had Mr Mendel removed from the building." Callum looked uncomfortable, so Mr Douglas added: "I don't expect we will have any difficulty encouraging members and financial contributors to show interest in the Symposium. Not with you and Iain here."
"What about reprisal? Won't Mr Mendel be..."
"Angry?" Mr Douglas finished. "He was furious. But let me ask you something." Mr Douglas looked into Callum's eyes with a dark expression, a change had come over his yes. "Would you risk making me angry?"
There was no threat to Callum in Mr Douglas's voice but he knew it would be dangerous to cross this man. "No, I wouldn't." Callum answered.
"No." Mr Douglas said. "Mr Mendel eventually reached the same conclusion."
"Ok."
"You are important to me, Callum. I do not intend that to sound lecherous. I mean that I intend to protect and nurture you here. I have not made the best start." Mr Douglas rose to his feet. "However, I think you'll find if you go to the staff bathroom just now your day will pick up considerably."
Callum took the door next to the sauna back into the corridor and opened the second door on the right. He was not sure what he was looking for at first but then tried his luck with the disabled toilet which was meant to be locked but the bolt had not quite caught. Inside one of the towel boys was having a wank.
Paul sat on the toilet lid with his shorts around his ankles and holding a picture of Callum and Iain, side by side and hard. He moved quick, trying to cover up and blushing all over but Callum closed the door and locked himself in with the lad.
Paul looked up at Callum and didn't say anything comprehensible.
"You wanna see the real thing?" Callum asked.
Paul was a sweet young man, whom Callum really could feel attracted to. Several inches short of six foot but with creamy and smooth skin, 18 or 19 years old, fair hair swept sideways, bashful blue eyes (surrounded by black-framed glasses) and honestly cute as a button.
"Yea." Paul said, relaxing now that the door was locked and he was within smelling distance of Callum. He still held his throbbing cock in his hand.
Callum pulled off his t-shirt and threw it in the (empty) sink. He could feel his cock harden for the second time today but this time there was a thrill that had been missing with the contemptuous Mr Mendel. He pulled the tight shorts down and slipped them off so he was naked bar his trainers. He stepped forward until his hard penis was only a few inches away from Paul's face.
Paul was a lad who'd seen a cock this close before, Callum realised, but took a step back never the less. Callum stroked his dick and massaged pre-cum onto its head.
"You going to take your polo shirt off?" Callum asked.
"Er..." Paul hesitated. So sweet.
"I like skinny, pasty guys." Callum said, genuine and warm and really rather keen to see more of the younger man. He was confident Paul wouldn't take his shorts off his ankles but...
Paul pulled his shirt up and off and revealed a torso that could use a little work and biceps that could do with some muscle, but otherwise really quite appealing. The boys watched each other stroking and built up speed. Paul had abandoned the photo he had of Callum with Iain – the real show was right in front of him. So close he could smell it.
They both tensed within a few seconds of each other and came on the floor, the ecstatic lull that followed was filled by Callum stepping forward to hold Paul's cock. He'd felt that to ask or offer earlier would have been an unfair pressure of the shy boy but now they'd seen each other to the end, Paul seemed happy to let Callum stroke the last few drops of cum out.
Paul looked up at him with the eyes of a young soul. Callum felt his chest tighten and his heart skip. He let go of Paul and handed him his shirt back.
"Back to work I guess?" Paul said.
"Yea." Callum concurred, ready and rejuvenated.
How had Mr Douglas known Paul would be here? Probably not much Mr Douglas does not know.
"Back to work." Callum said, unlocking the door and checking the coast was clear.
Paul slipped on his black-framed glasses and squeezed past Callum, careful not to smear cum from Callum's flaccid penis onto his shorts. Callum realised he hadn't dressed and hurried to do so. As Callum slipped back into the corridor and in search of the rota that would tell him where and when he was next expected, he saw Mr Douglas.
The tall older man came closer. "Your day got off to a shaky start... how are we doing now?"
"Great." Callum said. "It's picking up."
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