A/N: So it's a little short. Ah, well. I've decided this story will be one that I enjoy writing and as such, I'll put what I want into it. ^_^ Hope you like it!

Chapter Two

Somewhere between the rushed gathering of his things and packing of them in a box - of which Gretchen seemed all too happy to provide - and the short trip home to his apartment that he knew he could no longer afford, Christopher broke down. Realization after realization hit him hard and worse, the embarrassment of knowing he'd probably get a sexual harassment lawsuit thrown on him since he had forced his boss into a kiss and in his office no less!

He was so screwed.

Glancing over to the phone, he wanted to call someone and seek out a shoulder to cry on but he couldn't think of a single person. He had acquaintances, not friends, and so had no right to call them up and throw his problems at their feet. His family was so dramatic by themselves that he didn't think they'd even hear him out as they were all too concerned with their own bullshit. That left no one but himself and he was in no mood to pull himself together.

"I cannot believe this is happening to me," he whispered to himself before sitting on the sofa and burying his face in his hands. He knew he should be playing offense and putting in applications as quickly as possible in hopes that he could snag a job before his termination became public knowledge but he knew it was useless. No one got fired from Barrington International and worked in that field again. Funny, he used to always view the company as good at weeding out those that didn't belong in the business now he got to feel bad about that on top of being jobless. Instead he'd get the same spiel that hundreds had gotten before him.

He was so fucked and not just because he was no longer financially stable, but because even after being fired and making his way dazedly home, what he was the most upset about was the fact that he would no longer be able to see Bastian everyday. He wouldn't be able to see him, speak to him however briefly, rub the occasionally knot out of his broad shoulders and even sit there taking notes while the man ranted on and on. It wasn't right. He should hate the man for firing him over something so stupid, for sending him out week after week for some new piece of ass that was not Christopher's. But he couldn't and even as his heart ached with sadness, he couldn't help bringing his hand up to press against his lips as they even still tingled with the perfect feel of those of the man he loved.

This is it, he thought to himself, no more chances and no more time with him. He'd never be close to Bastian Barrington again. And it was that thought that made him burst into tears, not the many other depressing things that were piling up on him as the recognition of how much his life was about to change. The knowledge that all his dreams and fantasies were never going to amount to any thing with the man had him sobbing and sniffling.

This was it. The end.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Christopher Potts sat nervously in the hard backed chair across from an equally hard-nosed banker as the man went over his proposal yet again. They'd discussed the ins and outs of his verbal business proposal a week ago when he'd finally gained a pair and walked in the Southland Bank to present his business plan.

Months and months of trying to regain some sort of position as an Administrative Assistant, offering to take a lesser job and work his way up, and even begging a few and he was still jobless. Barrington International had done their job well of slandering his good name and he knew without trying that he could apply clear across the country and the outcome would still be the same. So he'd given up on it.

Much as he'd given up on trying to pay the rent on his apartment and had moved in with his older sister in an attempt to save what was left of his savings. He probably should have just purchased a house of his own to put on the small stretch he had purchased two years ago with every intention of settling on it instead of crashing with a sibling. But with no income, he refused to take the risk of wasting all his hard-earned savings just so he could have a place of his own and avoid loud-mouthed kids. Instead he had been inspired by his older sister and her coffee obsession - not to mention her penchant for complaining about how ridiculous it was to spend a good eight bucks for a tasty mocha. Then her obnoxious daughter had continued the rant to include how impersonal and rude everyone was at the local chain bookstore, her usual hang out, was. Gradually an idea presented itself.

Christopher enjoyed reading, he loved coffee, he was a wiz at business management and he could so do customer service. Sure, the idea wasn't particularly original but a more personal touch to an overcrowded city with too many Starbucks and a lot of underpaid coffee drinkers brought him a group to target. And the bookstore part would be more homey than the cold BN that had some of the rudest customer service associates he had ever met. He'd even selected a location midway between the more corporate side of the city and the more popular shopping centers. Sure, it was an old two story bakery squashed between an old furniture store and antique shop but across the street was a popular drug store and busy grocery store that could bring in potential customers. Plus the local high school was only two blocks over! He had a plan here, he had perspective clientele, and he even had a floor plan. Hell, he hadn't been this excited about something since he finished college.

Mr. Garrison, the hard-nosed loan officer finally glanced up. Leaving the proposal open to a well-done sketch of what Christopher planned to have the outside look like one he remodeled, he leaned back in his chair. "Mr. Potts, I'm going to be straight with you. When I originally heard your proposal I was not convinced. Even with your collateral and personal investment, I was wondering at your ability to run a business since you hadn't bothered to bring the proposal with you."

Christopher wanted to interrupt and explain to the man how nervous he was but held his tongue knowing that would be terribly unprofessional.

"However, this," he gestured to the proposal in front of him, "Shows a meticulous business plan from your intended clientele to your very design and remodeling intentions toward this older property. You're very well spoken and convincing in addition to that your collateral is solid and the fact that you're willing to put up such a significant personal investment leads me to my decision." Standing, he smiled tightly and held out his hand. "Mr. Potts, congratulations. You just got your loan."

-.-.-.-.-.-

"So this means I get free coffee right?"

Christopher laughed at his sister, "Somehow I doubt that, Daria."

The woman scoffed and waved her finger.

"Though 'discounted' wouldn't be too assumptuous," he tried to placate her even as he stepped back to let yet another crewman through.

They were at the new location of Potts' Book Nook & Coffee Shoppe and were supervising remodeling crews and electricians as the men and women did a quick job of improving, remodeling, and actually throwing out the equipment left inside the building. The new kitchen equipment wouldn't arrive for two days but with so much painting, flooring, and counter space to be made, they had plenty of work to do in preparation of it.

"Are you sure about these walls being that color?" Daria asked, nose scrunched up at bit at the dark green and brown vertical stripes that lined the wall.

"Yes, I have a plan," he stated for what had to be the tenth time today. "I may not be an interior decorator but by the time I am done, I plan to have this place homey and warm." When his sister said nothing just grunted, he sighed, "Don't you have something other to do than stand here and dictate my work?"

"Not really. You still planning on living upstairs?"

"Partly. The upstairs is a lot bigger than I thought when I first glimpsed the place. A small section up stairs will be made into a storage room for the coffee-slash-mini bakery so we'll have more room downstairs for books and seating."

"You sure this used to be a bakery? It's really freaking big in here."

"It used to be a furniture store like the once next door but they expanded so moved a whole three feet down the walk to a slightly newer, wider building. He actually sold it to the older lady I bought this from, I found that fact kind of neat." He admitted.

"You would."

Would it be rude to order the she-devil out when he still had a good three weeks of living with her to look forward to? Better not to, he supposed. "Whatever. Anyways, the store is nice sized and homey. Any bigger and the place would be cold and impersonal like so many other chain stores nowadays. I want something downsized and personal. And that is what I'm going to get."

-.-.-.-.-

It took a good four months for the renovation to be completed and another two weeks to get the remainder to their merchandise. But finally, Eight months after being fired from his dream job, he was looking over the completion of a new dream he hadn't even thought about much less thought of making it come true. But here he was, his termination from Barrington International and the businesses cutthroat demeanor when it came to former employees had pushed him to a new state of mind. One that Christopher couldn't say he didn't enjoy.

While he missed Bastian's face, his deep voice and those rare days when the man would actually allow Christopher to massage those broad shoulders giving Christopher a brief glimpse, through the feel of the well-muscled flesh and the low moans the man gave, of what it would be like to have the man in his bed, in his arms. God, he missed that prick.

But, rather surprisingly, he found that he missed very little when it came to the rest of his job. He no longer felt stressed. Well, only a little when he considered the possibility that this could be a flop. But he had advertised correctly and offered the local business owners a discount on their coffee if they advertised in their own stores on top of hiring his niece and a few of her friends to distribute flyers and send out emails for coffee dates to their friends. He'd even scanned the internet and hit up local book clubs, inviting them inside for a comfy meeting or two in the large seating area that was more to the back of the store.

Yes, he had a plan. And this one didn't involve a man he would long for with no hope of having, no stress and urgent running to and fro, no last-minute meetings that he would have to bust his ass to get prepared, and, finally, no seeking out tricks for the one man he loved to screw and toss aside. This plan could work. This plan would work, he just knew it, he felt at home here and, for the first time in his life, almost right.

Glancing up at the clock, he held his breath. Tomorrow morning, at six o'clock am, he would have a grand opening. Sure, he didn't expect any customers until around eight or so but he wanted to start on a regular schedule so his customers didn't get confused. His plan involved each and every day to start at six am and end at 9 pm. Nothing he couldn't get used to and something he hopes the customers would appreciate. After all, without his customers-

A shrill ring sounded and he groaned. He was trying to psyche himself up here! Without his aspirations and motivational reminders, he was a shaking, nervous wreck! Dear God, he'd put his life savings into a damned coffee shop - A COFFEE SHOP!

Another ring had his snatching up his cell phone and quickly answering it before he fell back into panic mode. He may have been good at hiding his feelings but sometimes reality crowded upon him and had him rethinking a perfect business plan.

"Hello?"

"Christopher Potts?"

"Yeah…" he responded, the voice on the other side of the line sounding familiar. What women he knew outside of his mother, sister, and niece, he had no idea. "This is he."

"Oh, thank god! Christopher, this is Gretchen."

"Gretchen…" he frowned as an image of the woman's face entered his vision. Or more specifically, the image of her merrily handing him a box to back his shit away in. "How can I help you, Gretchen?" He knew his voice sounded cold, he hope it stung her.

It didn't. Or didn't seem to as she immediately responded. "Is there any way you can come in today? Things are going bat shit crazy around here! Mr. Barrington is about to go off the deep end and nothing is where it's supposed to be. This new guy that took over your position is-"

"Whoa, whoa," he attempted to silence her. "Am I missing something? That douche bag fired me eight freaking months ago." He didn't care if he still secretly loved the guy. He called 'em like he saw them and Bastian Barrington was a douche.

"I know that, Christopher. Everybody knows that."

"I know this. Everybody as in every damned company I have applied for since losing my job there - for no reason, mind you! - knows that and had refused to employ me because of it." But even as he snapped he saw this as an opportunity to rebuilt his secure life in the field he was trained in. To avoid the gamble of a business and go back to what he knew. In fact, once he started making his salary again, he could afford to…

No, his jaw clenched as he considered it. What would happen if he went back now only to be fired a few months later because Bastian's date had an unattractive birthmark he failed to glimpse before he brought him to the CEO. He wouldn't go back to sending the man he loved tramps. He wouldn't go back to sitting there and staring at the man from afar knowing he could never have him. And, damn it, he wouldn't go back to a company that had destroyed him in the eyes of his peers. He had a life now that didn't revolve around someone else… well, mostly. And he had a business that he had created by himself.

"Christopher?"

"No, thank you."

Gretchen gasped through the phone, "But, Christopher! Mr. Barrington demanded we bring Potts - erm - I mean you back. He was quite adamant about it. After his latest assistant lost the documents to the Vanguard deal, he insisted we find you and bring you back to fix this mess."

"Mr. Barrington made his bed," Christopher's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Now he can sleep in it. You have a nice day, Gretchen." With that he hung up.

Tossing his phone on the bed next to him, he lay back in the bed feeling… great. It felt good to be acknowledged as the one holding Mr. Barrington's office together. And, even though he gave in to mild panic attacks where it was concerned, it felt good to know that he had made the vision of his shop come true.

Barrington International be damned. He had his own success to worry about now.