Note: The events in this story are purely fantasy. In real life, please show respect and practice safe and consensual sex.
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Chapter 1 - A New Path
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"Dammit," Steve shut his laptop and threw it onto the couch.
"Whoa, careful," Mark, Steve's husband, strolled into the room; the brown skin of his muscles glistening mid-workout. He stood in the doorway, reaching almost six foot with a well-built frame from working out. Steve sported a muscular enough build from his fair share of gym sessions and weight lighting, but would have been intimidated had he not known Mark, who was a few inches taller than Steve and had a way of commanding attention. His husband's bearded face looked concerned at the commotion. "What's up?"
"Another rejection. At this stage I'll reach retirement age before I even get a job." Steve had graduated six months ago and was still on the job hunt. He'd gotten a few interviews, but they hadn't led to anything, and the countless number of rejection emails was beginning to fill his inbox.
"Don't worry, you're only 24, you'll get something eventually." Mark sat down beside Steve and pulled his husband into a hug, his muscular arms wrapping around Steve.
"Easy for you to say, you got a company to practically beg you to come work for them even before you graduated. Three years later at 27 and now you're in a senior position at Goldman. You're obviously way more cut out for this than I am."
"It's really just luck and good timing. Plus it helps if you know the right people," Mark pulled away from Steve, waving his hand and trying to remain humble, but in fact anyone who met him knew he was a charmer and had the charisma to convince people to put their trust in him and follow his direction. It was a quality that whisked Steve off his feet when he had first met Mark when he was 19. And it was a quality he wished he had in himself.
Steve sighed. "Back to the drawing board I guess."
"Are you sure you don't want me to ask around at work? I know you hate nepotism but everyone's gotten a helping hand with trying to secure a job. There's no harm in putting in a good word." Both Mark and Steve had studied marketing in college and had similar career goals. With Mark's position at a top marketing firm, he was the best choice to get a foot in the door.
"I guess beggars can't be choosers. At this stage I'll take anything." Steve stared off into space and then came to a decision. "Fine, would you mind seeing if they have anything? But I don't want any special treatment; I still want to go through the normal application process."
Mark got up and smiled. "Say no more, I'll see what I can do," he said as he turned to leave to room.
"Hey," Steve got up and Mark turned back. Steve kissed Mark, "thank you, I appreciate it."
"No worries, babe," Mark beamed.
*
Mark shuffled in the front door. It had been a long day at the office and he was glad to be welcomed by the smell of a fragrant meal being cooked upon coming through the hallway.
"Heya," Steve was just putting the finishing touches to the dinner. He plated up the salmon with potatoes and side salad as Mark hung up his jacket.
"Heya, that smells lovely. I am starved."
"Just in time." Steve served up the dinner at the table and sat down. Both men tucked into the food. "Rough day?"
"Yeah, it was a long one. Project deadlines and all that jazz. Can't wait to see the back of this account."
Steve smiled. He knew working life could be rough, but the excitement of the office with projects and tasks sounded exhilarating to his unemployed self. "So... have you heard back from anyone about any open positions?" Steve asked coyly.
"Oh yeah," Mark swallowed a mouthful of salmon. "Forgot to say. So, unfortunately, there aren't any openings going at the moment for entry positions. Just senior positions."
"Ah well," Steve looked down at his food and moved bits of potato about the plate. "It was worth a try anyway!"
"However, they are actively recruiting for their internship programme."