My Amsterdam Houseboy

My Amsterdam Houseboy.

Your past and fate follow you no matter where you go.

It was five thirty in the morning cold but dry, although not for long according to the forecast, when I left my apartment to walk to a café I knew near the old red-light district, it hadn't changed much over the years. For me, it was a renewed weekend ritual since I transferred back to Amsterdam. Everyone in the office remembered me from the last time, knew my remit or at least thought they did. I am one of the Company's trouble shooters, someone made a mistake, cost the Company a small fortune. Like all Oil companies they wanted a scalp for the shareholders, I would be sent to find one this time I had my own agenda.

I walked pass Dam Square with its itinerant's waiting for their next fix or to turn tricks, or both. I gave them a widish berth although still close enough to see in their eyes what happens to lives when thing go wrong, probably not of their making. Putting into perspective what I was here to do.

Like all foreigners in a strange city, you keep your head on a swivel. I had just crossed a bridge over a canal that ran out of the Amstel River, walking along its banks I let my vigil drop; work tired. As I passed a tree someone stepped out from its blind side trapping me between the tree and the canal, almost shit myself as they said.

"Forty Euro's."

Instinctively; "No! no thanks, I am off to get breakfast."

Their eyes were dark sunk-in like you see in junkies waiting for their next fix, that forlorn look of hopelessness, desperation and despair. I knew from experience this is when people are at their most unpredictable and dangerous, although somehow I didn't feel threatened. I moved to walk round them to a defendable position, the way we were taught on self-awareness classes, putting them between me and the canal.

As he stepped back onto to the edge of the canal letting me pass unchallenged; said.

"I am hungry I haven't eaten for days and my stomach is in knots."

I should have walked away, all my instincts said I should, but couldn't. I turned, looked at him all I could see was someone in chronic pain that I could help, I couldn't remember how many times I couldn't help and had to walk-on. This time I could.

"Ok! follow me, what's your name?"

"Aurel, Aurel Cadar, I am from Sinaia in the mountains not far from Bucharest."

"Hi; I am Roo van der Hoff from Pretoria I will buy you a breakfast; that's all."

"Danku, dankuwel."

Five minutes later we arrived at Tony's café. Tony was also an expat Boor, we did our national service at the same time, later worked together as PMC's and drilling for oil.

Tony seeing Aurel follow me in went to usher him out, "its ok he's is with me." Like Tony I was rapidly approaching fifty Aurel early twenties. Tony looked at me with one of his 'seriously' looks, shrugged his shoulders, smiled. Tony and I had history from my last time in Amsterdam.

At the table I could see Aurel slowly shake and shiver from being cold for too long, seen it many times out on the oil fields as the wind and rain blasted down. His complexion drawn with a dejected look about him. Tony looking at Aurel broke the stalemate with "I will get you a hot drink while you are waiting."

He came back with two gratis large mugs of soup and lumps of bread, something I always admired in Dutch establishments. As he walked away "Roo I will get your usual full English and an extra-large for your friend?"

Aurel was finishing the remnants of his soup and bread, as I bluntly asked. "How come you are here." Looked up at me ashamed as he shivered as I handed him my soup which he took.

"Originally, I was from Sinaia studding art in Bucharest, managed to get a scholarship in art in Paris. Met Alexus, also an art student originally from Morocco, became close friends, more than close friends. We had run short of money, Alexus had worked in a sex club in Morocco serving drinks, managed to get us a job in a Paris sex club serving drinks later entertaining; we needed money.

After we graduated, I took Alexus home to meet my family I thought they would like him like I did. Initially they did, after realising our relationship and what we did in Paris, didn't. Pressurised us into leaving they and their friends were out and out religious. We went our own way, Alexus to Madrid I came to Amsterdam hoping to find work as an artist, ran out of money, sold all my belongings, now I tout my body for food."

Edvard, who once worked for my company as a brilliant mathematician and TIS interpreter prior to his breakdown, now a reformed junkie, I had introduced to Tony a few years back, delivered our breakfast. Tony's is now his benefactor in exchange for being a live-in houseboy and employee. Conversation came to an abrupt end as Aurel focused on wolfing down his extra-large even by Tony's standard, breakfast.

By the time I got halfway through my breakfast he had finished including all the toast and tea. Edvard, who seemed to have an affiliation with Aurel's plight came over with more tea and toast. I felt guilty, offered him my remaining breakfast which he took.

Wasn't a lot more we could say, I paid the bill we went on our respective way's. Tony's farewell to me was "be careful hard luck stories can cloud your judgement."

Outside it had started to cloud over and darken, halfway back to my apartment I stopped at a newsagent to get a weekend newspaper, another ritual. Outside lumps of rain started to fall, exploding on the sidewalk, quickened my pace, anorak hood-up kept most of me dry as the rain came down like an avenging angel.

By the time I arrive at my apartment I was sodden and shoe's half filled with water. My apartment originally was a single Dutch merchants house, now converted into eight executive apartments overlooking the river Amstel, I was on the second floor that an outside stair archway led too. Water was streaming from me as I went into the old entrance wet room, hung-up my anorak, wet trousers even my shirt and sweater hadn't escaped the deluge.

I headed to my bedroom wearing only underwear, pulled on one of my butt covering well worn sweaters and warm slipper socks, to relax the Finnish way of 'kalsarikänni.' Sitting at home in your underwear in front of a warm fire as a form of relaxation, letting go inhibitions and embracing comfort as a way to unwind.

After making a cafetiere of coffee I return to my sitting room, turned the fire up to a high heat. Sat, in full view of any passerbys, in a high winged chair in front of a floor to ceiling bay window, you see in Dutch houses.

Overlooking the Amstel I spread the paper sections over the floor, pressed the cafetiere plunger, double handed slowly drank in its warmth, as I watched the noisy rain hammer down on the sidewalk and boil the surface of the river into a frensy.

About an hour or so later, rain still churning the river in to a frensy my door bell buzzed. Looked out the bay window, couldn't see anyone, went over to the door intercom, no one had come to my door since being here, couldn't remember how to work the video intercom or unlock the shared apartment block door. Frustrated, stepped out into the hallway opened the apartment block door in only my butt covering sweater and underwear.

Didn't recognise who it was, they had stepped back from the canopy and the rain was now cascading over them like a waterfall. Over the noise I heard "Roo help me?" as they started to topple backwards towards the stairs. Instinctively stepped out into the deluge grabbed them before they fell backwards down the stairs.

My arms round them felt like grabbing a waterlogged sponge as the water squeezed out of it, I pulled them back and under the canopy. It was Aurel, sodden, skin sickly blue, numb to the touch. He had the start of hypothermia I remembered from my cold weather survival training.

No ceremony, dragged him like a wet sponge into my apartment and into the wet room; second time today. I was now as wet as he was feeling numb with cold too, turned the shower on full, coldish at first but that was ok. I stripped him heaping his frozen stiff sodden clothes in a heap then I stripped, water had turned warm. I bodily rubbed him until I felt him respond and stand without help. Left him holding the hand rail stepped back leaving the warm water cascading over him.

His body silhouette was endearingly smooth with muscular long legs of a runner and perky butt, I hadn't really noticed his blond hair until now. He turned, we looked at each other full-on naked, what I felt for that moment was pure lust.

I dried myself helped him dry off. All we had were damp towels which we wrapped round ourselves. By hand signal I invited him to follow me, he stopped outside my bedroom door watching me rummage for something for us to wear. Although both about the same height he was a couple of sizes trimmer than me, age does that.

We ended up as I started with baggy long sweater's, underwear and warm socks. I made fresh coffee, by the time I arrived in the living room with it Aurel was sitting on the winged chair nearest the fire rubbing himself seductively to warm himself with his bare legs pulled up in front of him.

We hadn't said anything since he rang my door bell. My inquisitive look incited him to explain, in a submissive seductive voice said.

"Sorry! I followed you, didn't know where else to go, rain came on when you went into the paper shop, I didn't see you leave. Went back to Tony's, Edvard saw me, must have felt sorry for me. Told me you lived in one of the big Dutch houses in the Amstel district, where the benefactors live. He said you might help me like you helped him.

I walked around looking, I saw you sitting at your window, invitingly, reading a newspaper. Frozen, I watched you trying to pick up courage to ring your doorbell. Reached the point where I was losing it didn't have any choice.

I remember seeing you open the door stepping back, things were blurred after that until we were standing naked together in a hot shower. That was the first time I felt warm in days.

Can you help me?"

"I don't know I will see what I can do, in the meantime warm yourself in front of the fire."

Ten minutes later he was curled up in a ball in front of the fire sound asleep. I started to reminisce when I was his age nearly 30 years ago. We had a family shop in one of Pretoria's better townships, rather than wait to be called for National Service I volunteered. Advantage University fees would be paid by the Government and I would have a short-term Army Commission. On my 18th birthday I reported for training just outside Johannesburg.

First three months was basic training where I played at soldiers followed by six months Officer training. It was about that time trouble restarted on our borders and I was posted to Border Patrol, I was headquarters administration in the paymaster's office.

However, as a junior Mess officer I met important dignitaries, politicians and businessmen both professionally and socially, allowing me to make contacts that would help me with my career. This is also when I met Tony for the first time, he was officer in charge of catering, we got on remarkably well from the first day we met.

My CO asked me, if there is such a thing in the Army, would I attend on behalf of the Regiment a MG frogeye vintage sports car enthusiasts meet, about a hundred clicks north of us, in a private club. A social weekend away in a country club on the Army, I would be picked up by an Oil Executive called Johan Janson (JJ), I would be his navigator.

O600 a green two-seater hard top sports car turned up outside the Officers Mess. Dress was casual, sports. As we were going into the bush, we carried firearms as well as weekend kit, getting it all in the small sports car was challenging. As we passed the Mess there was Tony in the navigator's seat of a bright red frogeye sports car, having a bigger body build than me was a tight fit. Both cars roared pass the guardhouse much to the annoyance of the Guardroom duty officer and up towards the main highway north.

As it was a social event, I was to call him JJ. He was a very down to earth person, 60ish, silver hair, bit overweight, the car had solid suspension and bounced us around. No aircon even with windows open it was oppressively hot, wearing only regimental-coloured shorts which were a bit gayish. Each of the frogeye's had a different route, half an hour in we went off-road.

Given the car was late fifties design its off-road performance was impressive, my navigation spot on we were ahead of schedule. JJ knew a water hole where we could take a break, our bright green shiny car was now red dust coloured, as were we. JJ wanted to wash the red dust off him and go for a swim, given the wildlife in and out the water hole, I took my 45 with me, JJ had a Remington short grip pump action.

JJ dropped his shorts and dove into the water starker as I put a round up the chamber. After a ten minute splash about he came our clean and refreshed. I was going in, as was, JJ insisted, I went in raw as he stood shotgun. Came out clean and refreshed JJ produced a hamper of niceties including cold beers. We sat on the grass starkers dying in the sun, beer cans in hand when he asked.

"Are you gay, I am, have been most of my life?"

Intent of his question was unambiguous, like all teenagers I had experimented, also I wanted to make career defining contacts before going to university and hopefully work in the oil industry. I though back to my first time.

I was at a neighbours barbecue their nephew Sandy about my age was there, he was a budding amateur footballer, in his white speedos and tanned skin looked absolutely fantastic. From the outset was hitting on me, still exploring my sexuality thought why not try gay.

We ducked out of the barbecue ending up in my bedroom actively coming-on to each other. Sandy started banging me, not what I expected it was an eyewatering experience, whereas my first time banging Sandy was extasy as I climaxed. Didn't think you could become a convert that quickly he was up for a week which we enjoyed together.

He had an invite to train with the local semi-pro football team, I went with him met their trainer nicknamed Zero. After the training session were invited back to his house along with some hopeful players. I ended up in Zero's bed he was an artist in fuckology, never enjoyed it so much since then.

My answer to JJ was; "only part time when off duty."

"That's what I thought and you are off duty today.

I may have walked into the age-old trap, I had a fantastic experience he was a dom and technique maestro, surpassing Zero. It was a life experience change and I had made my first high level social contact.

It was my turn to drive we had an hour's off-road driving ahead of us. I had a habit of driving one handed with my free hand on the gear stick. JJ would put his hand on top of mine as we changed gear together, we bonded that afternoon.

Arriving at the club we checked-in, I wasn't surprised we were sharing a room with a double bed. The weekend was more a convention for wayward Oil Executives rather than a classic car club meet. I met Tony's friend for the night who owned a catering company and met as many Oil Executives as I could, being know could prove helpful. That's one thing the Army teach you plan and think strategically.

After that at weekends we met and socialised, some socialising involving threesomes or as a special favor to a friend of JJ's. Anonymity wasn't an option, JJ was media controversial, our relationship and some of our activities were eventually splashed over the tabloids.

Army didn't like it, so much so, I was promoted and posted to take charge of a recruitment office in a Pretoria down-market township whose recruitment numbers were rock bottom, as an escape goat. The country was now in political upheaval budding politicians wanted their own Army. Trouble shooting and re-organisation was something I excelled at. Took me to the end of my Commission before the recruitment numbers were back on track.

JJ and I still partnered at high level public events much to the annoyance of the now diminishing country elite. My parents sold up and moved back to Utrecht. I didn't get my university tuition fees paid; no government money available. JJ stepped in called in a favor and I won a placement at a London university, we moved into an apartment together in London.

University finished I joined JJ's company in their Special Projects Division, we were the trouble shooters. Tony approached me he was looking for a job, I found him one along with quite a few others from my Regiment including the CO, who mockingly Always said "Sir" to me, as PMC's (Private Military Contractors). We drilled for oil successfully in some of the world's shit holes, was interesting but dangerous times.

Years later JJ's company was a premier player in a global field. We took a significant financial hit on a project, a dry hole, almost sank the company. JJ sent me to Amsterdam to find out what went wrong, tracked it down to an office in Rijswijk where a young fantastic mathematician and TIS interpreter called Edvard calculated where the oil was.

I went to interview him, what I found was an early twenties academic living in a rehabilitation hostel after having a breakdown. He had become a junkie as a way to cope with overwork, now nominated by his managers to take the blame.

I transferred him into a private (off the books) rehab center, then made a few staff changes. Underlying problem was, he was gay and exploited by his co-workers, how that happened in the Netherlands is beyond belief.

Key part of his recovery was to live in a stable domestic environment, he didn't know anybody. I took him in as a houseboy to look after my domestic arrangements, only. He had good and some very bad nights when the demons came visiting. I knew what it was like I had them from my PMC days.

One night I was wakened as he climbed into bed with me, he was wanting more than just company. We shouldn't have but did, had a fantastic time that night and several other nights. Following weekend, we restarted my weekend ritual of going to Tony's for breakfast, that's when I introduced Edvard to Tony.

They hit it off from the outset, one weekend Tony's help failed to turn-in Edvard said he would help. Tony and Edvard were chalk and cheese characters Tony tall, well-made, confident, twenty-five plus years older, Edvard early twenties, petite and nervous. After a few weeks working for Tony, Edvard asked would it be ok if he moved in with Tony as his houseboy and employee. What could I say, didn't know how I would explain it to JJ.

JJ was understanding, told me he was going to retire in a few years and wanted me to take over the Amsterdam office. Where I had made significant changes to the culture and recovered the company's reputation.

JJ's retirement was put back again and again, fate took over, he never got to retire. I was now in the center off International Court battles over who inherits what and shareholders positioning themselves to take control of the company. Sent back to Amsterdam for the second time as an out-of-sight interim solution, now had Aurel a déjà vu Edvard sound asleep in my living room.

I made a strong pot of coffee, the smell of the roasted beans wakened Aurel, who was still in a delicate state mentally and health wise, after losing everything including his clothes that had to be tossed.

Over coffee and sandwiches, Aurel knees curled up hugging his coffee mug with a lost dejected look, looked up at me and asked.

"What is going to happen to me?"

"That question that can't be answered until JJ's estate is settled. Meantime, you can stay here as my houseboy, helping me out from time to time and looking after our needs."

It was estimated to take over a year for JJ's estate to be settled, he was a very clever and shrewd businessman and had taught me the virtues of not having a premature climax.

The first night was one of hesitation and uncertainty, Aurel broke the ice by standing up pulling off his baggy sweater and dropping it. Came over removed my sweater then taking me by the hand led us into my bedroom, I had never felt so much anticipation and excitement during such a short walk.

The bedroom also had a floor to ceiling glass bay window but remained dark and intimate as we stood naked pressing together alongside the bed. We could feel each other's warmth and heart rhythm pound together. Aurel sat, then lay down on the bed drawing me down on top of him, our touch and go foreplay was excitingly stimulating.

We started when Aurel's long legs wrapped around me his hands firmly grasping my buttocks pulling me in until we touched, I rubbed milking him until both of us went into a climatic frensy. Aurel stretched up, bit my ear lobe it was like an electrical trigger making me let go my pent-up climax. Both remained aggressively pressing together as long as we could retaining the climacteric moment until it escaped.

That night we slept spooning each other until the sun on our naked bodies woke us. We were still expended from last night but manage to relive it in the morning sun before showering together.

We went to Tony's for our morning breakfast after finding some of my tighter clothes that fitted Aurel. On seeing us Tony said.

"Told you so."

©oxforddon