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Sam and Mickey Chapter TWO
Terry Baylor was in awe; he had known Mario Garza for several years and had always looked up to him as a quiet leader and a very talented attorney. It was easy for him to see why his father, Ted Baylor, had hired Mario in the first place and then later had promoted him to the youngest full-partner in the firm and then managing partner. Mario's leadership over the years, including after the death of Terry's father and the sudden retirement of his uncle, Tommy, was the only reason there was still a law firm with the Baylor name attached.
"You want me to do what?" he asked again, slightly choking on his response.
"You are the obvious choice for managing partner. I'm sure you have seen the LA Times Sunday magazine article that portrayed Mickey and Sam, and so you understand Mickey's goal to return to grad school at UCLA and get his doctorate degree in business leadership. There is no one else in the firm that Mickey was willing to recommend, unless you have severe objections?"
"Sure. I just had never anticipated this jump. How soon do you want me to step into this?"
Mickey said "Well I have already applied to the UCLA grad school and have had one interview with them, and the program begins in the fall semester. So, we have about three months to iron out anything that you think might be needed. My resignation is effective as of the end of May."
"Is that enough time?" Terry asked.
"That's up to you" Mario replied; Mickey agreed.
"I think in three months you will have the managing partner role well in control, I guess the real trick will be the balancing act between your client load and the managing partner load."
Terry sighed: "Well I am deeply flattered that you guys think I can do this; I am honored. What's the first thing I need to do?"
"Get a good night's sleep" Mario laughed.
When they had finished their conversation with Terry, Mario asked Mickey how things were going with Sam.
"You know, I am really happy to say he is the man of my dreams. He is not only a perfect physical specimen, but he is a great husband as well."
"When are you guys getting married?" Mario asked.
"Actually, we have never talked about that" Mickey replied. "It has not been a priority. Do you think that is a concern?"
Mario said "Not necessarily; Peter and I have been observing you guys for a while and it seems that you have most things under control. You seem much calmer than when you were with Kevin."
"I am. Sam is a rock. I never have to be concerned with him. It is funny, but I do all of the worrying; he is always the happy-go-lucky guy."
"Good for you. You deserve that kind of happiness."
Mickey replied "We have you and Peter to thank for a lot of it. We really admire you guys and appreciate your guidance."
"You are very welcome. And I must thank you for the excellent management you have given to the law firm. I am sure you will be missed." Mario sighed.
Mickey asked, "Is there something troubling you?"
"Sort of; Peter wants me to fully retire and I am afraid that I will need to be back full-time for a while to mentor Terry; maybe for a year or so."
"I'm really sorry. I wish I knew how to unwind all of this so that I could stay at the firm, but now it is a done deal." Mickey looked pensive.
"Oh, its not your fault. I am proud of you for pursuing your dreams. I remember what it took for me to get to the place where I was comfortable with balancing my dreams and desires and pleasing my partner as well as fulfilling all my professional duties. That is not something that is easily learned." Mario was remembering his years with Mason.
"True, and that is the very topic that I think is going to be the central focus of my studies in the doctoral program and my future career and life post-doc." Mickey was excited as he thought of that- Mickey Clarke, PhD!
Sam was quiet during dinner. Mickey had fixed Sam's favorite comfort food: spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic toast, and a salad. Sam was sipping from his glass of wine; he had not said much since arriving at the condo.
"Babe, what's up? What's on your mind?"
"Well Mr. PhD-to-be, maybe you can help me figure this out. I have a couple of clients who are NFL stars, and they are on the verge of getting into huge trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I wish it was as simple of saying something like girl trouble' but it's not. It's boy trouble'." Sam sighed.
"Do you mean they are gay?"
"Yes."
"So, are they planning on coming out of the closet?"
"They are already out, a little anyway, to their team-mates and coaches and team owners, but not to the public. One wants to make a public announcement, and the other one is dating some college kids. I'm afraid it is going to hit the fan."
"So, do you think there are any legal ramifications to this?"
"No; the college boys are all above legal age of consent, it is just the public perception that I am worried about. The team owners are concerned also; they are currently `reviewing the contracts' to see what their next move is going to be."
Mickey added "Not to mention the paparazzi."
"Yep. You got that right."
Mickey asked, "How can I help you?"
"Oh, nothing huge, just tell me what to do."
They both laughed; Sam was obviously truly concerned about his clients, more than his own fees as a mentor and advisor.
"OK let's think about this as an equation. First, how far into their contract is each of the players?" Mickey had already created a scenario to solve this riddle.
"One is seven years into his contract; he has three years to go with his current team. The second guy is three years into his contract and only has one more year, because it is an annual-option contract. So, there is some obvious risk involved if he gets traded."
"Got it. Next, how far away from a possible retirement are they?"
"Four or five years with the first guy; twelve with the second one."
Mickey then asked, "What about endorsements and marketing contracts?"
Sam explained "Neither guy has any media endorsements right now; they are both searching for some, but I have not found any yet that I was willing to recommend for them."
"So, their real exposure here in either case is the potential reaction from the team management: they could get contract cancellations under some vague clause, and then potentially lose their income stream. Do you know the amount of money involved?"
Sam sighed. "The first guy is about $6,000,000 a year and the second guy is about $4,500,000 a year. With three years to go, the first guy is at risk for 18 million bucks, and the second guy is at risk for 9 million."
Mickey whistled: "Not loose change, in other words."
"No, they are nowhere near your salary as managing partner of a law firm, but still they are also nowhere near the high end of the NFL."
"Very funny; but you know Sam that is something I have always wondered about: what determines the salary of any given NFL player?"
"Starting out, it's a combination of college performance stats, value to the team, position they play, and negotiations by the player's manager as well as the league's rules about salary caps for any given team. After that, it is performance."
Mickey asked, "So then did these guys have lousy negotiations by their managers?"
"Not necessarily; they just happened to be average players who filled spots in the team lineup that were not head-line news."
"OK. So last question: what are you really worried about in either case?"
Sam was silent for a couple of moments. "I really want these guys to be able to play out the full potential they have, given their ages, and I also want them to have happy and fulfilling lives, not just as football stars but as men, gay men, I guess."
"The only way that is possible, the way I sense it," Mickey began, "is for them to keep their status with the team, since they are already partially `out' in that case, but to not let it get to the public. Will the team management and ownership accommodate that?"
"Sure; they already have to some extent."
"OK, so I would tell the first guy to maintain the status quo; he does not need to be `out' to the public unless he is willing to pay 18 million bucks for that privilege."
"And the second guy?"
"He needs to stop whoring around. College boys have no sense of propriety, and they will shoot their mouth off after only one beer. He needs to get away from that crowd; being `at risk' is not just about condoms, you need to tell him. Nobody is going to get pregnant but it just ain't worth 9 million bucks to get laid by some twink."
"You are the best. I love you. I can absolutely see you as the next Stephen Covey."
"Thanks. I bet Stephen Covey never had to worry about who a client fucks."
The kiss that ended their spaghetti dinner, now cold, which quickly led to the bedroom, was sloppy and hot and hurried. Sam was hard before they got naked and got in bed; Mickey was on his back waiting for the huge Schilling schlong to enter his hole. Sam grabbed the lube from the lamp table and dabbed some on his cock and a bigger squirt on the winking hole of his lover. His three fingers went inside of Mickey and caused Mickey to gasp and moan. Mickey knew the three fingers were the same width as Sam's cock and he both craved it and feared it. There was always a little pain at the beginning; once that was past, Mickey loved getting fucked by Sam. Once Sam had penetrated him, Mickey wrapped his legs around Sam's waist and brought him in tight to his ass.
"This is the third time this week we have had to change the sheets" Mickey laughed.
Sam smiled. "You're welcome."