Jus Trimbel is having a bad day. Correction … Jus Trimbel is having the week from Hell. Not only is he gaining a new boss, Maxim Waterstone, who is beyond difficult but he also has to travel to Milan, Italy with him. That’s not the biggest issue of his day, Jus is ultimately attracted to the blue-eyed devil that is Maxim and he can’t shake his near obsession.
However, we all must remember every dark cloud has a silver lining and every vineyard can make pretty intoxicating wine. Confused … well check out Maximum Adjustment and fall in love.
However, we all must remember every dark cloud has a silver lining and every vineyard can make pretty intoxicating wine. Confused … well check out Maximum Adjustment and fall in love.
Jus Trimbel is a simple man who loves and lives for the world of fashion. He grew up in Chicago where he attended Columbia College and received his bachelors in fashion design. He always knew from an early age that his clothes were a direct representation of himself. It was the first thing people would see when they met him. His father, a business manager, always wore suits or something similar 365 days out of the year while his mother, a homemaker, loved to don the latest retro fashions. The fact alone that his parents were aware of what they wore influenced his outlook on life. Needless to say, Jus was the brightest colored, pattern-wearing child on the schoolyard.
This made the decision to pursue a career in the fashion industry an easy one. However, after graduation, he had a rough go finding a suitable job. Jus did not mind starting on the ground floor as a gopher as long as he was immersed in the life but even the menial jobs were hard to find or set him so far away from his goal that it wasn’t feasible to take the position. Next thing he knew, he was relocating to Delaware to work for a textile distributor as an executive assistant for the head of the company. Benefits included close quarters with the process of fashion design from the near start to finish. He would also be able to meet influential people and do a lot of traveling in the process. Only problem was, he was stuck in limbo due to the revolving door of Vice Presidents with his fourth one in less than a year being Maxim Waterstone.
Jus had heard through office banter and connects on the circuit that Maxim was a tough pill to swallow but Jus is always up for a challenge when it comes to his career and more. He can handle anything.
My muse for this character is Jake Gyllenhaal.
This made the decision to pursue a career in the fashion industry an easy one. However, after graduation, he had a rough go finding a suitable job. Jus did not mind starting on the ground floor as a gopher as long as he was immersed in the life but even the menial jobs were hard to find or set him so far away from his goal that it wasn’t feasible to take the position. Next thing he knew, he was relocating to Delaware to work for a textile distributor as an executive assistant for the head of the company. Benefits included close quarters with the process of fashion design from the near start to finish. He would also be able to meet influential people and do a lot of traveling in the process. Only problem was, he was stuck in limbo due to the revolving door of Vice Presidents with his fourth one in less than a year being Maxim Waterstone.
Jus had heard through office banter and connects on the circuit that Maxim was a tough pill to swallow but Jus is always up for a challenge when it comes to his career and more. He can handle anything.
My muse for this character is Jake Gyllenhaal.
Maxim Waterstone is a world-traveled professional on the fashion circuit. Boasting of several degrees from FIT and origins that tie back to old money in the New England sector of the United States, Maxim wants for nothing. His career keeps him going. Hobnobbing with some of the most popular designers down to the new home-grown start-ups, Maxim loves every facet of his booming, never dying industry.
Being an only child who frequented many of the top boarding schools all over the world, Maxim was use to existing and excelling versus befriending and loving others. This has left him walled off from individuals. Sure he wants companionship like the next man, but how is that supposed to happen when no other love could trump that of his career. There are so many things that he keeps private from the world. A lot of truths that he holds close to his heart. Precious only to the inner him.
Maxim yearns for the day that he is able to open up about what he has held so dear and possibly share his world with someone special. Someone who can handle every part of him. Until then, he continues with status quo until the day that one person is loud enough to make him listen. Make him listen.
My muse for this character is Jason Lewis.
Being an only child who frequented many of the top boarding schools all over the world, Maxim was use to existing and excelling versus befriending and loving others. This has left him walled off from individuals. Sure he wants companionship like the next man, but how is that supposed to happen when no other love could trump that of his career. There are so many things that he keeps private from the world. A lot of truths that he holds close to his heart. Precious only to the inner him.
Maxim yearns for the day that he is able to open up about what he has held so dear and possibly share his world with someone special. Someone who can handle every part of him. Until then, he continues with status quo until the day that one person is loud enough to make him listen. Make him listen.
My muse for this character is Jason Lewis.
Excerpt 1
Jus stood in the copy room that doubled as the mail room and tripled as the break room. He had just started his day, and there he was, glaring beams of hate at the flashing red light indicating the copier was out of ink.
“Fuck me,” he said. “Why me? Why does this shit always happen to me?”
To say that he was having a bad day was an understatement. Hell week was more like it. He didn’t know if he was coming or going. It had started with him graduating from Columbia College with a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Design a year prior then actively failing at obtaining gainful employment in his chosen field. His mentor had mentioned a small textile company in Delaware for him to reach out to. Fortunately, he had gotten the job as an executive assistant with great room for advancement. The unfortunate part was that particular perk was mentioned to him about three bosses ago.
Jus was executive assistant to the Vice President of the scouting division, which was a joke in itself seeing that the company was comprised of at most ten employees. To add to his troubles, he was to fly out to Italy that day with the newly appointed VP, whom Jus heard was a royal pain in the ass.
He kneeled to open the ink cartridge compartment, and then to his demise, he was splattered on the top corner of his Armani Collezioni gingham shirt. Jus dropped completely to his knees and sat back on his haunches. Can this day get any worse? As soon as he finished his thought, he heard someone clearing their throat behind him. Jus quickly stood and gathered himself as best he could. Before him stood the most delectable man he had seen … well … in a lifetime. Jus was tall at 6’1”, but this man had to be nearly another half a foot taller. His blond hair was cut close around his ears, but the slight ripple to his coifed bang showed that if given the chance to grow longer, his mane would be full of curls. The man’s jaw was strong, but his lips were soft and almost puckered, which gave a nice contrast. His eyes were icy blue and drew one into a hypnotic glance, but when he curled his lips into a sly grin, his single dimple melted Jus’s insides. Damn, I didn’t know Delaware had men in this make and model.
Excerpt 2
The night sky was beautiful like rich molasses dotted with diamonds. The vines of the vineyard were not visible at night, but the aroma of sweet grapes that wafted through the night air was intoxicating. Jus had looked forward to spending his time in Italy spying upon the city life with gorgeous people bustling about, but the serenity of the vineyard had changed his mind for good. Quiet and solitude were just as spectacular if not more.
“This is view is amazing, don’t you think?” Jus was caught off guard by Maxim’s question. Up until that point, he had only ordered him about from one spreadsheet to the next. It was humbling to see the warmth in just one question after a day of coldness.
“It’s very beautiful, sir.”
“Call me Maxim.”
“Well, Maxim, this was the perfect choice for our stay. The city I’m sure would’ve been a headache.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Jus, Milan at night is better than any runway show. Everything is booming, which makes you come alive inside. I’ve seen nothing like it in all my life.”
Jus was hanging on each word like his life depended on it. He did not know how long the “relaxed” Maxim would be around, so he decided to capitalize on the entirety of the moment.
“Where else have you traveled?”
Maxim finished his last bite of pasta then wiped his mouth. He leaned back into his chair while Jus pivoted toward him with glass in hand.
“Jus, I have been to nearly every corner of this planet.” He paused for a moment then glanced over Jus like he was about to reveal a secret. To witness those blue spheres that sparkled in the night made him melt inside.
“China, India, Japan, Australia, Cape Town, everywhere. If they are wearing clothes or flouncing their nude bodies around in a fashionable way … I’ve been there.”
“So mainly work then?”
Maxim turned away then returned his gaze as if he was looking inside of Jus. “It’s always work. What else is there?”
“Pleasure.”
Jus stood in the copy room that doubled as the mail room and tripled as the break room. He had just started his day, and there he was, glaring beams of hate at the flashing red light indicating the copier was out of ink.
“Fuck me,” he said. “Why me? Why does this shit always happen to me?”
To say that he was having a bad day was an understatement. Hell week was more like it. He didn’t know if he was coming or going. It had started with him graduating from Columbia College with a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Design a year prior then actively failing at obtaining gainful employment in his chosen field. His mentor had mentioned a small textile company in Delaware for him to reach out to. Fortunately, he had gotten the job as an executive assistant with great room for advancement. The unfortunate part was that particular perk was mentioned to him about three bosses ago.
Jus was executive assistant to the Vice President of the scouting division, which was a joke in itself seeing that the company was comprised of at most ten employees. To add to his troubles, he was to fly out to Italy that day with the newly appointed VP, whom Jus heard was a royal pain in the ass.
He kneeled to open the ink cartridge compartment, and then to his demise, he was splattered on the top corner of his Armani Collezioni gingham shirt. Jus dropped completely to his knees and sat back on his haunches. Can this day get any worse? As soon as he finished his thought, he heard someone clearing their throat behind him. Jus quickly stood and gathered himself as best he could. Before him stood the most delectable man he had seen … well … in a lifetime. Jus was tall at 6’1”, but this man had to be nearly another half a foot taller. His blond hair was cut close around his ears, but the slight ripple to his coifed bang showed that if given the chance to grow longer, his mane would be full of curls. The man’s jaw was strong, but his lips were soft and almost puckered, which gave a nice contrast. His eyes were icy blue and drew one into a hypnotic glance, but when he curled his lips into a sly grin, his single dimple melted Jus’s insides. Damn, I didn’t know Delaware had men in this make and model.
Excerpt 2
The night sky was beautiful like rich molasses dotted with diamonds. The vines of the vineyard were not visible at night, but the aroma of sweet grapes that wafted through the night air was intoxicating. Jus had looked forward to spending his time in Italy spying upon the city life with gorgeous people bustling about, but the serenity of the vineyard had changed his mind for good. Quiet and solitude were just as spectacular if not more.
“This is view is amazing, don’t you think?” Jus was caught off guard by Maxim’s question. Up until that point, he had only ordered him about from one spreadsheet to the next. It was humbling to see the warmth in just one question after a day of coldness.
“It’s very beautiful, sir.”
“Call me Maxim.”
“Well, Maxim, this was the perfect choice for our stay. The city I’m sure would’ve been a headache.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Jus, Milan at night is better than any runway show. Everything is booming, which makes you come alive inside. I’ve seen nothing like it in all my life.”
Jus was hanging on each word like his life depended on it. He did not know how long the “relaxed” Maxim would be around, so he decided to capitalize on the entirety of the moment.
“Where else have you traveled?”
Maxim finished his last bite of pasta then wiped his mouth. He leaned back into his chair while Jus pivoted toward him with glass in hand.
“Jus, I have been to nearly every corner of this planet.” He paused for a moment then glanced over Jus like he was about to reveal a secret. To witness those blue spheres that sparkled in the night made him melt inside.
“China, India, Japan, Australia, Cape Town, everywhere. If they are wearing clothes or flouncing their nude bodies around in a fashionable way … I’ve been there.”
“So mainly work then?”
Maxim turned away then returned his gaze as if he was looking inside of Jus. “It’s always work. What else is there?”
“Pleasure.”