Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 10:01:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Will OBrady <juris_stories@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Emerald Merger, Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Okay folks, you know the drill.  This is a fictional story with
fictional characters and completely fictional business entities.  Any
resemblance to anything in the real world is purely coincidental.  This
story does revolve around a gay relationship and portions of this story may
be inappropriate for minors.  Check your local laws for whether this has
been censored in your jurisdiction.

This is not a stroke story, and the relationship will likely build slowly:
you are forewarned.

This is my first attempt at a story, so any and all feedback is
appreciated.  Feel free to email me at: juris_stories@yahoo.com

Thanks and I hope you enjoy!

The Emerald Merger, Chapter 1


"A Chance Meeting"


"You have 10 minutes left to complete this portion of the examination."

Nathan sighed.  In ten minutes he would finally be done.  It had been quite
a journey.  He knew studying for the bar examination would be hard.  His
uncle had rambled on for hours why this would be of those defining points
in his life that he absolutely must NOT screw up.  He had spent 6 hours a
day studying contracts, torts, criminal law, and property.  It was enough
to make him absolutely hate the fact he had went to law school.  But now it
was almost over.

"You have 5 more minutes to complete this portion of the examination."

He was beginning to hate that voice.  The test coordinator was sitting on a
raised platform staring rather smugly at that 1,200 people taking the test.
Nathan wondered if she was a lawyer.  Was she happy that she was now
reduced to administering a test to a roomful of mostly over-privileged
kids?  Her eyes looked sad.  Nathan was big on eyes.  He figured they were
the best way to actually get a true reading on someone.  Who they were,
where they were going in life, what they were feeling- it was all visible
in someone's eyes.

"The test is now complete."  With those 5 words screams and applause broke
out in the auditorium.  It was actually over.  Two months of intensive
studying was finally over.  Now the waiting began.  In 12 long, drawn out
weeks Nathan would know if he was officially allowed to put "Nathan
P. O'Dell, Esq." on his business cards.

As the test booklets were being collected Nathan scanned the rows of
test-takers for Allie.  From his seat he couldn't see much, and he wanted
to get up to find her, but the people in charge were adamant that everyone
stay in their seats until all the booklets were collected.  There was one
test monitor that kept giving him the evil eye every time his ass rose more
than a few inches off his seat.

Nathan's anticipation was understandable, however.  Allie was his best
friend.  She had been there with him through everything.  Allie was the one
he turned to when his brother died.  She was his therapist, his movie
watching partner, and his fellow sports fanatic.  He had helped her through
Constitutional law and she had guided his way through his income tax
course.  She was actually physically present with him when he had found his
now ex-boyfriend, Jason, in bed with fireman. Yep, Allie had seen and heard
it all.

Nathan actually didn't catch up with her until the parking lot.  He had
been waiting at his car for 45 minutes when she finally strolled up.

"Took you long enough you silly bitch," he hissed at her barely able to
keep the smile off his face.

"Stop being so damn impatient you fucking fruit," she screamed as she ran
into Nathan's arms.  Yep.  That was Allie.  She wasn't really known for
being all that sophisticated, but Nathan really never minded.  He would do
anything for her, and she for him.

Throughout law school, most people had considered them a couple.
Physically, they were pretty much opposite, and, in that regard, they
complimented each other well.  Nathan was tall with a dark complexion, deep
green eyes, and an overgrown mop of dark brown curly hair.  Not a big fan
of working out, he was able to keep in shape by playing tennis over the
summer and indoor soccer in the winter.  Allie was^Å well^Å his opposite.
She was petite at only about 5'1", blond and blue-eyed.  Nathan's little
Nordic princess.  She ate more than most families of 5 and yet never put on
weight.

Nathan knew that Allie had pretty much sacrificed her love life because of
him.  After he had broken up with his ex, Jason, Nathan had entered the
requisite mourning period punctuated with the occasional one night stand.
Allie had sensed right away that he was going to need some time to heal and
had written off dating so that she could devote herself to being his friend
full-time.  Nathan knew this, of course, and wasn't particularly happy with
it^Ånot because he didn't appreciate it, but more because he wanted her to
be happy.

The drive home from the exam took about 2 hours.  Nathan spent most of it
listening to Allie complain about the essay questions they had both endured
over the past few days.  Her complaints were really only interrupted my
mouthfuls of Doritos, Cheese-its, and pretzels^Å.Allie liked to keep a
snack bag for practically every car ride over 20 minutes.

It was a Saturday, and Nathan started his new job on Monday.  He was
nervous.  Really nervous.  But he also knew the car ride was not the time
and place to talk about employment.  While Nathan was recruited early in
his law school career by a Fortune 500 company, Allie was, thus far,
unemployed with no hope of getting anything lined up soon.  She wasn't
stupid, or even lazy, she just really didn't care.  Nathan sometimes
thought she only went to law school because she had nothing better to do.
Her family was rather wealthy and seemed perfectly content footing the bill
for whatever adventure Allie had lined up.  For that, Nathan would forever
be jealous.

"Do you want me to drop you off at home, or do you want to come over to my
place for a bit?" Nathan asked as they exited off the expressway.

"Sweetie, we have been through this, your place smells like an armpit."

"Nuh-uh," Nathan quickly rebutted.  "I mean really, it's more of a faint
foot odor."

"Well, whatever you want to call it, it makes me want to gag," Allie said.

"I thought whores like you don't have a gag reflex!"

"Asshole!" she yelled as she punched him in the arm.  "For that, you have
to come with me tonight."

"Where?"

"A little get-together to celebrate that fucking test being over with."

Nathan took a few minutes to consider her offer.  Usually, when Allie said
"get-together" it meant a large party with 80 to 100 of her closest
friends' friends' friends.  He really never was one for parties, but Nathan
also realized the need for a true stress release after the exam.

"Okay, I'll go on one condition."

Allie's eyes immediately brightened.  "Deal.  What's the condition?"

"You will NOT under any circumstances attempt to set me up with anyone
tonight."

WHAP.  Another hit in the arm.  After years of being around Allie, Nathan
practically had a permanent bruise on his right arm.

"But I already told him you would be coming," Allie whined.

"Allie, you know better.  You know I am not really looking right now.  The
last guy you set me up with was greasy and smarmy and still used Old Spice.
I am really sorry, but you do not have a great track record in this
department."

Allie knew he was right, she really didn't have a great record.  She had
tried to set him up with at least 12 guys over the past 3 years.  Only 2 of
the 12 guys had made it to a second date with Nathan.  She couldn't really
read his likes and dislikes when it came to guys.  He never really went for
the model types, which always confused Allie.  In her mind, Nathan was
gorgeous, plus super-intelligent.  He could have the models if he wanted
them.  He always seemed to fall for the more quiet, borderline dorky types.
Allie had even tried to send a few of the dorky ones his way, but
apparently, with Nathan, there were intangibles she just couldn't grasp.

"Okay, I promise not to try to set you up tonight.  Deal?"

"Deal."

"Pick me up at 8:00," Allie said as they pulled into her driveway.

"Alright, I will be there.  Love you." Nathan gave her a quick peck and he
was on his way.

* * *

"I will be right back," the saleswoman said as she turned and walked away.

It was about 6:00, and with a few hours left before the party, Nathan
figured he better get some errands done before work on Monday.  One of
those errands was buying a few new suits.  He probably should have done it
weeks ago, but Nathan was not looking forward to it.  First, Nathan
realized he would be maxing out 3 or 4 credits cards just to get the
standard blue, black, and brown suits.  Second, contrary to stereotypes,
Nathan hated to shop.

Now, he was left standing on a small pedestal, surrounded by an almost
complete circle of mirrors, wearing nothing but a dress shirt and a pair of
boxer-briefs as the saleswoman, Nora, efficiently brought suit after suit
back to him to try on.  His "stoop" was in the rear of the shop through a
set of French doors.  Essentially, from what Nathan could tell, there were
8 or 10 of these pedestals in a large room, though the mirrors prevented
you from actually seeing anyone once they began the humiliating process of
stripping down and having their neck, inseam, outseam, chest, and waist
measured.  Though the mirrors provided some privacy, he couldn't help feel
a little exposed as male customers slowly trod past him resigned to their
fate: to be displayed on their own pedestal as they were fitted for a suit.

It wouldn't have been so bad if Nora hadn't been eyeing him like a piece of
meat.  In the short time he was trying on clothes it was clear from her
incessant chatting that she was divorced with no kids, and that she was
very interested in twenty-something guys.  Nathan could have swore that
several times he caught her eyeing him and smiling.  If he would have known
he would be this exposed around a female salesperson, he would have worn
boxers.  The boxer-briefs and all that was apparent under them, seemed to
have Nora pretty worked up.

While he was waiting for Nora to return with a black suit which was, as she
put it, "A little less funerally," Nathan was attempting to mentally peruse
his closet in an effort to determine what he would be wearing to the party
tonight.  He rarely cared what other people thought, but for some reason,
he felt it was important to look good tonight.  Just as he thought he had
figured out the right outfit, there was quite the commotion from the front
of the shop.  From the way the salespeople were running around, it was
clear that someone important had walked in.

Nathan peered out from his mirrored cell to see if he could see what was
going on.  Maybe it was celebrity?  This thought actually made Nathan laugh
out loud.  Cincinnati had a lot of things, but celebrities were not one of
them.  Since moving to the city 3 years ago, the only person Nathan had
even seen at a distance was Jerry Springer, who, oddly enough, used to by
Mayor before the whole trash-talking-television show took off.

He was about to turn away from the French doors when they suddenly flew
open.  Two salespersons were leading a group of three men back to the very
rear of the room.  Nathan had no idea who they were, but it was very clear,
they weren't Hollywood celebrities^Å or even local celebrities for that
matter.

The first guy looked distinguished, and it was obvious from the way he was
chatting away into his cell phone, that he was British.  He wasn't
unattractive, but not really a looker, either.  Long nose, beady eyes,
white hair and a sizable beer belly.  Nathan figured him to be about 55
years old and a good 15 years past his physical prime.  The second guy was
pretty easy to read: A well built black guy with an angry look, thick neck,
and handgun holstered at his side.  Well, well, well^Å the Brit may not be
a celebrity, but he is apparently important enough to have a body guard.

The third guy really peaked Nathan's interest.  He was around Nathan's age,
maybe 24 or 25, though a decent amount shorter.  He couldn't have been much
more than 5'6".  He looked rather out of place.  His pale skin, though
probably smooth and milky in the sunlight, was rather pasty and sickly
under the glow of the florescent tubes overhead.  He had a mop of red hair
and not a single trace of any facial hair.  In a lot of ways, the guy
reminded Nathan of Prince Harry, though without the unfortunate Prince
Charles resemblance.  He was obviously not here to get a suit, as he looked
real comfortable in his baggy jeans, oversized oxford with the sleeves
rolled up, and new Adidas soccer shoes.  He was busy on his palm pilot and
completely unaware of the world around him.  For whatever reason, Nathan
couldn't help but stare at the guy.  There was just something about him.

"Probably the Brit's son," Nathan thought.

The three had just disappeared through another door at the back of the room
when Nora reappeared.

"Here ya go, this one is black, but with a bit of a pattern so it doesn't
look like you are burying your Aunt Maude."  As obvious evidence of Nora's
expertise in suits, this particular black 4 button wool blend fit Nathan
perfectly, accentuating his narrow waist and properly hugging his ass.

"Uhh.  Thanks.  I guess this one, along with the blue pinstripe and brown
one will be it for today," Nathan said as he repeatedly glanced at the rear
door which had just swallowed up the three men.  "Hey Nora, not to be nosy
or anything, but where does that door lead?"

"Sorry Mr. O'Dell, that leads to our VIP room.  Unfortunately, you weren't
going to spend enough for management to allow me to take you back there."

Nathan laughed.  "Christ, you can say that again.  I can barely afford
these suits!"

"Well, these are going to make you look rather distinguished.  New job?"

"Actually, yes.  I start on Monday," Nathan replied.

"Oooh, let me guess^Å is it at a bank?"

Nathan grinned.  The thought of working in a bank struck his as rather
funny considering he couldn't even balance his checkbook.

"No, I just graduated law school and am starting with the legal department
of OMA Corp."

"A lawyer?" Nora screamed.  "Shit, hun, you are way too cute and sweet to
be a lawyer."

It was a response Nathan was getting used to.  The average person wasn't a
big fan of lawyers.  Nathan didn't really have the energy to give the "but
I am a good kind of lawyer" speech.

"Although, maybe next time, since you will have a few paychecks under your
belt, I will take you into the VIP room for your fitting like the "euro
three" back there." Nora said.

"So who are they?" Nathan asked, trying not to seem too eager.

"Not really sure.  I think the last name of the one was Flanagan.  They are
in town to announce some business deal."

"Interesting" Nathan thought.

Nathan wondered if he would get to see the red-head again.  Even the
thought of a few more minutes looking at him was enough to make Nathan's
stomach flip.  What the hell was he thinking?  Leave it to Nathan to
develop an infatuation with a British businessman's son who was probably
rarely in the States.

"Well Nora, think we could settle up the bill? I need to be somewhere
soon."  Nathan said as he noticed Nora again staring at his crotch.

"Sure, no problem. Put on your pants and meet me up front." Nora chirped as
she gave Nathan a final once-over with her eyes and winked.

The bill wasn't too bad.  $980.00 for three suits.  Nathan also made sure
to give Nora a $50.00 gratuity for her time.  The purchase did have to be
spread over three credit cards, and Nathan knew he would probably struggle
with the bills that were due over the next two weeks, but you really
couldn't show up to work in a legal department without a suit on.  The one
gray suit that had got him through law school was in sad shape, and he knew
he couldn't wear it everyday to work.

Nathan glanced at his watch on his way out of the store.  It was 7:30.  He
needed to hurry home, change and get to Allie's house.  Being late to pick
up Allie was a no-no.  She would likely end up throwing a temper tantrum in
the driveway and then forcing you to take her through a drive-thru for a
burger as penance.

As Nathan reached his beat-up Civic, he happened to notice the three VIP
guys coming out of the suit shop.

"Just want to get one more look at the carrot-top" Nathan thought.

Nathan knew, however, that he would have a limited view from inside his
car.  Nathan quickly made his way to the back of his car, popped his trunk,
and started rummaging around like he was looking for something.  When he
could tell that the footsteps were close, he grabbed a CD case out of his
trunk and stood up to try to get a good look at them.  Unfortunately,
Nathan whipped his head up a little quicker than he anticipated and ended
up smacking the back of his head on the trunk lid.

"SHIT!" Nathan screamed as he grabbed that back of his head.

He swung around to see the three men passing him.  The older Brit was once
again engaged in a phone call and seemed rather annoyed at Nathan's sudden
outburst and the bodyguard seemed all-around unimpressed.  The redhead,
however, had stopped and was now face to face with Nathan.

Despite the slight dizziness, Nathan knew he had been right about the
redhead.  In the sunlight, his skin was smooth and milky.  Nathan now
noticed the light freckles on his cheekbones and his very light blue eyes.
Those eyes spoke volumes.  He was guarded, though there was something more
deep down.  Pain, warmth, intelligence.  It was all there.  He looked
tired, but then again, that could be because of jet lag.

Though buried in a lot of oversized clothes, one look at this guy's
muscular forearms told Nathan that he was likely in shape.  Nathan's
stomach did another flip.  He was attracted to this guy in the worst way.
He also realized that he had been staring at him for quite some time now.
Oddly, the redhead seemed to be staring at him in the same manner.

"You alright there?  Looks like you whacked yourself pretty good," the
redhead said.

It was a simple question that was delivered in what Nathan considered the
cutest Irish accent.  Nathan's knees almost buckled.

"Ummm.  I am fine^Å. just a little clumsy." Nathan managed to stutter out.

"Good, glad it doesn't seem to be too serious.  Well, if you are okay, I
really better get going.  We have a lot planned today." The redhead said as
he beckoned toward the other two who were now patiently waiting in the
Jaguar.

"Yeah, sure.  Thanks.  I'm okay."

"Well nice to meet you Mr^Å.?" the redhead said has he held out his right
hand.

"Nathan.  Nathan O'Dell" Nathan said as he shook the guy's hand.

"An Irishman?"  the redhead asked as a smile appeared on his face.

Nathan couldn't help but smile at the redhead's enthusiasm. "Well, my
family's been here a while, but we originally came from Ireland."

"Then you are an Irishman" the redhead stated matter-of-factly.

"Well, I suppose I am then.  So, uh, it was nice to meet you.  I don't
think I caught your name."

"Sean Flanagan of No. 18 Quillin Square, Dublin Ireland." he stated with a
sense of formality.  "It is very nice to meet you Mr. O'Dell"

"The pleasure is all mine Mr. Flanagan."

"Please call me Sean."

"If you call me Nathan."

"Deal," Sean responded.  "But unfortunately, I must be going."

Nathan nodded realizing that he was still shaking the guy's hand.  The
contact felt comfortable though, and even the simple handshake seemed to
relax his whole body.

"Shit, actually, I need to run too.  I need to pick up my friend Allie in
10 minutes."

"Ahh.  A girlfriend?" Sean asked.

"Oh, god no.  No, she is just a friend." Nathan stated a little too
quickly.

The last statement brought a wide smile to Sean face.  "Good, well, I hope
to see you around."

"See me around" Nathan thought.  "Why would he see me around?"  And for
that matter, "why did he seem pleased Allie wasn't my girlfriend?"

It was too late to get an adequate response, however.  Sean had already
crawled in the back of the Jaguar and was gone.

Nathan closed his trunk lid and crawled behind the wheel.  His head was
still spinning a bit, but the rest of his body was floating.

"Sean Flanagan" Nathan thought saying the name over and over again in his
head.  "I soooo want to see more of Sean Flanagan."

++++++

So that is the first chapter, should I continue?  This is my first attempt
at writing and I have no idea what to think.  Email me at
juris_stories@yahoo.com