What brings us together - Part 1 - 1. Chapter 1

Jordan was early for his Thursday afternoon Board Meeting and decided to detour into an arcade for a coffee. Jordan usually walked past this arcade on this way to the meeting so he had to look around for a coffee shop that was likely to serve a decent coffee. The one he decided on had tables and chairs spilling out into the arcade’s wide thoroughfare and as it was after the lunch rush most of the tables were empty.

Jordan was a brilliant young lawyer. He was just on six feet with a surfers build, and surfer blond hair gained from surfing from the age of eight. He worked at his family’s successful law practice and in the last two years at the practice he had gained a reputation as the ‘go to’ person on Corporate Law. He had specialized in Corporate law in his Honours Year at university where he completed a combined Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Law. He was now enrolled in a PhD (Law) program.

He walked to the counter and ordered his coffee, paid, took his number and looked around for somewhere to sit. That’s when he saw him. Something told him he had to get to know this dark haired hunk better. He bypassed the empty tables until he was standing opposite the stranger. “Do you mind if I sit here?”

The stranger looked up from his iPad and was ready to comment about the abundance of empty tables when their eyes met. He paused. Then, “Sure if you want to.”

They kept eye contact. “Thanks.” Jordan pulled out the chair and reached out his hand “I’m Jordan.”

The stranger broke eye contact to glance at the offered hand and moved his own hand to shake. He reestablished eye contact. “Nice meeting you. I’m Cameron.”

They broke from the handshake as Jordan’s coffee arrived and Jordan sat facing Cameron. “Thanks for agreeing to me sitting here. I like company when I have coffee.”

“I know what you mean. I was just going over stuff on my iPad because I was bored being by myself.” Cameron continued, “It’s after lunch time, are you on your way back to your office?”

“Sort of. I’m heading to a meeting I have to attend, but I’m early. That’s why I stopped for a coffee.” Jordan continued “How about you. Heading back to work?”

Cameron smiled. A smile that drew Jordan into it. “Not really. I’m here for a job interview at 3pm. I’m down here from Brisbane.”

“Does that mean you’re flying back tonight?”

“No, I’m booked into a hotel for tonight.” And then a sheepish, “In case I get the job.”

“Hey, more confidence. I’m getting great vibes from you that say you’ll kill this interview.”

Cameron laughed. “Thanks. I think that’s just what I needed.”

“Look after this meeting some of us meet in a bar that’s nearby. How about you meet me there and we have dinner together? Unless you have made other plans.”

“No. No other plans and eating alone is worse than having coffee alone.”

Laughing they both agreed. Jordan gave Cameron his phone number and the name and location of the bar. Jordan finished his coffee and stood. They shook hands again. A lingering handshake.

“All the best for the interview.”

“Thanks. You really have lifted my spirits.”

Jordan left the arcade and walked the short distance to his Board Meeting. His phone pinged with Cameron’s number. He smiled as he entered the lift and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.

At just after 5pm Jordan entered the bar with three other Board Members.

Jordan commented. “It’s still ‘happy hour’. I’ll get the first round. Same as usual?”

“Jordan don’t pretend you can only afford ‘happy hour’ prices. We pay you generously to be on our board,” teased Geraldine Smythe, the Board Chairperson. “And as you’ve asked, I will be having my usual.”

The interaction between the young Jordan and the much older Geraldine was not new and the other two Board Members always enjoyed it. They also confirmed that they would have their usual. Their ‘usual’ was expensive even for happy hour but Geraldine was right, Jordan could afford it.

With practiced ease Jordan delivered the drinks to the table Geraldine had selected. The conversation started as usual with some frank exchange of opinions on how the meeting had gone and the views expressed at the meeting by two Board Members in particular. Obviously, those Board Members never joined Geraldine for drinks after the meeting.

That conversation didn’t take long, and they moved to easily talking light heartedly about their personal lives. The other three board members were all older than Jordan and had families that included children (in one case grandchildren) and they liked to share their experiences. Jordan was included in these conversations even though they all knew and accepted that he was both young and gay.

During the conversation, Geraldine noticed that Jordan was paying more attention to the front door of the bar than was usual. So, she wasn’t surprised when Jordan waved to a young attractive dark haired man who entered the bar. She was also not surprised when the young man smiled and headed towards their table.

They had finished the drinks Jordan bought. The group had established a pattern. One of the board members bought the first round and traditionally it was always Geraldine who bought the second round of drinks. She waited until Cameron reached the table. Jordan introduced Cameron to Geraldine and the other two directors. They all shook hands. Geraldine asked Cameron what he wanted to drink and then walked to the bar to order for everyone.

While Geraldine was at the bar, Jordan asked Cameron how the meeting had gone.

Cameron was trying to keep his excitement under control. “As well as I hoped. They offered me the position.”

“Fantastic. We need to celebrate.”

Geraldine returned and asked, “What do we need to celebrate?”

While waiting for a waiter to bring the drinks to the table. Cameron briefly told everyone about being from Brisbane and being successful in the interview and being offered a position in a Sydney architecture firm.

As the waiter placed the drinks on the table, Geraldine inquired, “How do you two know each other?”

It was Jordan’s turn to answer. “We only just meet while having coffee before the Board Meeting. I’m hoping we’ll get to know each other more over drinks and dinner.”

They all liked Jordan and were interested to find out about Cameron over drinks, so he was the centre of the friendly conversation. They learnt that he worked with his father and older brother in their family architecture business in Brisbane. They specialized in designing new houses along with renovations and extensions. The business was successful, but Cameron wanted to branch out into designing apartments and high rise which was why he applied for the position he had just been offered.

They finished their drinks and, as was usual, three of them were ready to leave the bar to be with their families. Jordan indicated that he and Cameron would have another drink before having dinner so the others said their farewells. Geraldine made a point of telling Cameron that she might need his advice and as he wasn’t settled in Sydney yet, she would contact him through Jordan. She already saw them as a couple.

Jordan suggested they eat at the restaurant at the back of the bar. As they were already there, Cameron could hardly refuse. Actually, there was no way he was going to refuse having dinner with Jordan no matter where that was.

Jordan was well known so he was greeted by name and they were taken to a table. They enjoyed the food and wine but the conversation was awesome. They talked comfortably about themselves and listened intently to each other. If that wasn’t enough they reveled in just watching each other and making regular eye contact.

When it was obvious that they had finished both the meal and two bottles of wine Cameron ventured, “Would you like to come back to my hotel for a drink or something?”

“Sure, especially as it saves me asking if I can.”

Despite Cameron’s protests Jordan settled the bill and they walked the few blocks to Cameron’s hotel overlooking Hyde Park. As they entered the lobby Cameron asked Jordan if he wanted to go to the bar for a drink. Jordan shook his head to indicate “no” and guided Cameron towards the lifts. Cameron used his key to activate the lift and then to open the door to his room.

Friday morning Jordan walked through reception at the family law practice pulling a small wheelie suitcase. His father stopped him with a simple question. “Who is he?”

Jordan tried lawyer mode. “What do you mean?”

His father sighed, displaying slight exasperation. “Jordan you are still wearing the same clothes you wore yesterday, and you are wheeling a bag, which judging by the name on the luggage label, doesn’t belong to you. So you didn’t go home last night and if I’m not mistaken you spent the whole night with him. So, who is he?”

“Dad, you’re being very intrusive into my private life.” His father didn’t waver and Jordan sighed, “I met him last night. He’s from Brisbane and he just got a job here in Sydney. I’m looking after his bag until he finds somewhere to live. Why all the interest?”

“Because from my extensive observation, it is incredibly unusual for you to spend the whole night with someone you just met, and on top of that you have his bag which I assume contains amongst other things, his clothes. That tells me you are planning to meet him again and thus, this one is serious.”

Jordan gave up. “OK Dad, give me some slack. I do want this to be serious, I just hope he feels the same. Please don’t tell anyone.”

“I’m afraid Son, you’re on your own with that. If your mother finds out that this is serious and I knew about it and didn’t tell her, my life wouldn’t be worth living.”

“Sure Dad, for about a week.”

“For me Jordan that’s still a long time. You know how your mother can be.”

They both laughed conspiratorially.

“You know, Dad, the problem is that as soon as she knows she’ll organize one of her family gatherings for him to meet everyone, or rather for everyone to assess him.”

“Yeah you’re right but the upside is that if he survives one of your mother’s family gatherings then you’ll know he’s a keeper.”

It was Jordan’s turn to sigh. “Dad, I know he’s a keeper. I just hope he thinks the same about me.”

“Excellent. It’s time you moved on.”