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Petticoat Mall

By: Egmont0409



CHAPTER 1

Close-cropped blond Gene Gunter rode on a bus into the city, travel-weary and half-amused that despite decades of big funded campaigns to get the city renamed more conservatively they continued to fail because some citizens, possibly a very large number, were rather pleased to be living in the oddest-named city in the county... Rangoon Falls.

He amused himself thinking of the way the city had spluttered into existence. The original settlement had been called Pearly Gates, shortened to Gates in the face of a protest led by clergy and followers, but it became a ghost town during the 1930s depression and with a growing water shortage. People just kept on drifting away, schools closed, stores closed. Little was left operating apart a small general store and Bill Bryant's mechanical engineering workshop. He survived because he was the best repairer of farm machinery for 150 miles in any direction. 

Bill was Gene's grandfather.

Gene's grandmother Lily Thu, a former Anglo-Burmese refugee escaping tyranny, arrived in the country as a widow and became naturalized. She has a small amount of money to invest and travelling across country looking for an opportunity decided she'd found it and opened an abandoned small store in Gates. She eked out a living selling sandwiches, coffee, sodas and ice creams and home-made crafts she purchased from artistically-gifted drifters to on-sell to people from inter-city buses making the traditional comfort stop because of Gates' strategic position between cities. It was just the right location to allow passengers to stretch their legs.

Over time Bill and Lily decided they ought to eat together and then that extended into sleeping together and they produced a daughter they named Crystal.

Crystal was born a little early because of a big shock to Lily who learned that Rangoon (now more widely known as Yangon) had fallen to the Japanese a few days earlier in March 1942. Lily feared for her relatives she'd left behind and all night she and Bill talked about Rangoon falling, repeating the enormity of that event over and over again. 

Lily entered labor three weeks early and Bill rushed her sixty miles to the nearest doctor and from there she was taken another fifty miles to proper medical care. 

When Bill brought Lily and Crystal home he proudly pointed to the change of name for the ghost town he'd renamed with signposts as Rangoon Falls. Lily thought that was a touching tribute and several years later they succeeded with unanimous local support for a deputation led by Mayor Bryant to have that name change officially recognized. Apparently the authorities considered it a one-horse town that would soon expire permanently, unaware Mayor Bryant had secured a big loan to drill for deep water.

In time the wild, slim and beautiful Crystal met a guy who virtually knocked her socks off. Star-struck she married Archie Gunter and their third child Gene was born seven years before their marriage failed and they parted.

* * *

Gene walked over to the city's oldest hotel, simply named Lily's. The hotel was owned and kept up to date by his mother Crystal Gunter, now sixty-one, who'd been Mayor of Rangoon Falls for the last twenty-seven years. He handed across the letter from his mother on her personal letterhead, authorizing him to have the Lily Bryant Suite for four weeks.

"Thank you Mr Gunter. Your mother made the reservation as soon as she learned of your arrival date from Melbourne."

"Thank you Annie," he said, reading the receptionists name tag. "Would you like to join me in my suite for a drink in a couple of hours. You'll finish at eight won't you?"

"Yes," Annie smiled, "but I'm also assistant general manager and such a nocturnal visit could cost me my job."

Gene leaned forward and whispered, "Your little secret will be my little secret so what's to lose?"

Annie whispered, "We'll have at least eight unmarried female staff off duty and in hotel residential accommodation. I'll see what I can do for you."

"Eight is too many for me, although I'm only thirty-eight," Gene whispered and laughed.

Annie blushed into a giggle.

Continuing to whisper he said, "Don't bother with anyone else Annie. It's either you or no one and it's only for a drink, a meal if you wish to join me and nothing else unless you decided to pull off your panties and pass them to me."

"Mr Gunter," Annie said hoarsely, looking a little stressed.

Gene signed in, winked at her and left for the elevator.

The room was basically as he remembered it. Obviously his mother had wanted her mother's touch to remain. He wondered if Annie at the desk would be thinking about this wonderful four-poster bed, he sighed, dropped on to it and hauled out his phone.

"Hi mom."

"Hi darling, welcome home. Come to City Hall in the morning at 10:30 for coffee and we'll catch up then. I have a finance committee meeting in ten minutes."

"Okay thanks. Mom what can you tell me about Annie working front desk?"

"She's Podge and Tim Watson's youngest daughter with a masters in hotel management, very bright and capable. If you're looking for a slut you best bypass her but if you disregard your mother's advice and wish to waste you time trying it on with her just be discreet."

"Well said mom. Oh you're looking great."

"You were cheeky as a child and that's never left you Gene. I find it endearing. Good night."

Gene had expected Crystal wouldn't use that brief telephone encounter to say how disappointed she was that he'd broken up with Deborah after living with her for eight of the ten years he'd operated in Australia as a property developer. His mom would bring it up though. Crystal had married an Australian and Gene had been born there when the family lived in Sydney for seven years until his mom said it was time to return home and begin to put the kids through college.

Crystal and Arhcie had fought over that and their marriaged failed. 

At 8:10 Annie called. "I'm in my suite having a bath. Come to Suite 5-015 in fifteen minutes. It's on the opposite corner of the frontage to you, same floor."

"I'm on my way to scrub your back."

"Very well."

He raced to change and to get over there to administer to his hostess in the bath but Annie answered the door, dressed and with fresh makeup on. Hell she must have moved! He grinned and she grinned, kissing him lightly.

"Questions are raised if I visit rooms alone after 8:00 not only because I'm deputy general manager but because I'm female. It's against hotel policy for its female personnel to do that and security cameras are used to detect breaches. What I do in my own apartment is my business because it's my home that just happens to be in the hotel."

"Oh so we are going to do it?"

"Settle down Gene. I was speaking figuratively."

"Speaking of figures," Gene said, running his eyes up and down her trim body with boobs just a little too large for perfection.

"Please settle down Gene. Now what drinks and what food may I order for you? Make no effort to conceal yourself when hotel personnel enter."

An hour later Annie used an infrared control to lower the lights and commented she'd draped a scarf over the sole security camera. "Would you like to join me on this sofa for a little grope to see how far you'll get?"

Gene was over beside her in three bounds.

"Are you married?"

He replied without hesitation, turning his blue eyes on to her seductively, "My divorce came through seven months ago. There is no one else."

"I have three guys to go with occasionally, all three are married and that avoids complications for me in living and working in the same building. I was at college with all three of them."

"Well that's one of the reasons we go to college for isn't it?"

She giggled. "You don't mind me having multiple casual partners, although I hasten to say singularly?"

"No, and I'm impressed you bothered to tell me."

"Well you may have found out. One of my friends knows your sister Shelia very well. We met recently and I heard Shelia say to my friend Lucy you were coming back home and had recently divorced."

Such chatter was a little tiresome so Gene closed Annie's mouth with a kiss but soon she parted her lips again and their tongues touched deliciously.

"Pull out a tit for me."

"What?"

"Oh sorry, you probably know them as boobs or breasts."

"Don't be lazy, do it yourself!"

Christ, perhaps his mom had been right, he'd be wasting his time with Annie. On the other hand perhaps she was a tease like he was?

She leaned forward cooperatively to allow him to undo her bra and they flopped out.

"Christ what big nipples."

"Well if that's a problem, tomorrow I'll see about getting them changed surgically to suit your tastes. Well are you just going to sit at gawk at them?"

Gene went after them like a ferret going down a burrow.

She loved it, he loved it but when he rolled his left hand down over her pubic bone to cup her slightly moist panties she pulled the invader away and said, "I think that's enough for tonight. Take me out to dinner tomorrow night in a crowded restaurant so we can talk to give me the chance to get to know you. If I like you well enough after that then I'll probably let you go farther."

Aroused, Gene tried to deliver without a pleading tone, "Do you really want to waste a night?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"You'll probably think of me as a slut Gene but in relationships I do apply minimum standards to satisfy myself. If that's too difficult for you then tough."

Gene accepted the curtain was coming down so smiled and said, "A slut? Oh I don't think so. Dinner tomorrow night will be fine. I'll wait for you in the foyer from 8:30. I leave reluctantly. Your body, intelligence and arresting personality have me almost on my knees Annie. I'm enchanted."

"Oooh."

But the hotel's security cameras would have revealed just how transient was Gene's enchantment.

Returning to his room, adjusting his straining erection after an almost heart-stopping sexy kiss from at the door from Annie, Gene found a woman almost opposite his room, struggling to open her door.

"May I assist ma'am?"

"Oh yes, thank you young man. These damn card keys flummox me. The lights and buzzers are so confusing."

"Here, please allow me. Um ma'am, this appears to be your credit card."

"Oh silly me," she said, pulling out her room card, leaving Gene with the slight suspicion it was indeed so silly that he wondered if it were a set-up.

"Thank you," she said as the door opened.

Well so much for suspicion he thought as she darted in and closed the door.

Gene was at his door, fumbling for his key card, when the door diagonally opposite opened again and the woman said, "I had wondered if you are a neighbor and thought I had been rather unfriendly but that's Mrs Gunter's private suite."

"Yes it is. I have it for a month."

"Are you Gene, Crystal's youngest?"

"Yes."

"Oh welcome home, from New Zealand I understand?"

"No Melbourne Australia where my father, long divorced from mother, lives with his new family."

"Oh yes, Archie. Your mother and he correspond occasionally. I'm Lydia Shapiro, your mother's private secretary and confidante."

"You mean her PA?"

"No, she has a team of support staff at City Hall. I'm salaried to work with her on her private affairs."

"Ah, so my mother still has her affairs."

The forty-something smiled and emphasized, "Her private BUSINESS AFFAIRS that in this city are considerable."

"Of course."

"May I indelicately invited you in for a drink in return for you being kind to me and not ridiculing me over my stupidity with my card. I was lonely so went out for a few drinks."

"Um indelicate you said?"

"Well it's gone 11:00."

"How bewitching," he smiled. "I accept Lydia, please call me Gene."

Lydia closed the door after Gene entered, and leaned against it breathing rather heavily for such a low-level physical action involved in closing a door. So Gene kissed her and Lydia kissed him back, folding her arms around his neck until her murmured his fairly successful seduction line, "Flip one of them out for me"

Lydia managed that without breaking from the kiss, unzipping the back of her dress, pushing down one side of her bra, and pulling out a warm, well shaped bundle for him, with a big nipple, making Gene wonder if big nipples had something to do with the city's artesian water supply. Although two out of two was a totally inadequate sample on which to base such a conclusion it was food for thought so he bent down to feast on Lydia's nipple.

"Ohmigod, be careful," she groaned, convulsing. "You are in danger of being screwed to the floor; I haven't had sex in almost three months."

The panting told Gene she wasn't kidding. He rolled his hand over her pubic bone to cup her damp panties. Lydia pulled his hand away roughly and tore her panties in half and slammed his hand back on to her now heaving hairy pussy.

Oh boy, Gene thought as he settled down to some serious fucking. 

He did manage to get to his bed before she screwed him to her mattress as a permanent fixture. He was very pleased to be home.

At 6:45 next morning, bleary-eyed and dragging his feet a little, Gene went out a self-locking side door for a fix of coffee and demolished a steak. He sighed with satisfaction, knowing he ought to be right by the time he met his mother and being capable of displaying a jaunty air. 

Gene thought perhaps his mother knew Annie wouldn't open her legs for him on their first encounter and so had planted Lydia for him to plunder. But possibly he'd never know for sure. One of his mother's traits was to be secretive about what she did. It had taken his father years after her first adulterous affair to learn he was sharing her with other men and Lydia her confidante was unlikely to admit any deception that would incriminate her principal. Well did it matter? For three hours last night he'd wallowed in sex, his best session in years.

* * *

At 9:00 by appointment Gene sat in front of an overly plump, red and purpled-faced Realtor called Mrs Williams. 

"I wish to remain anonymous."

"Very well Gene."

That surprised him. "You know me?"

"I count myself as one of your mother's friends and have been so since we went through high school and college together. Until I became over-weight and lost fitness I used to swim regularly with her."

"Of course, Mrs Williams."

"You knew that name before you entered my office?"

"Yes of course but I wasn't to know it was THE Mrs Williams, Vera Williams."

"You are too kind. But we are in business hours and so to business. Your confidentiality is assured. How may I assist you?"

Gene cleared his throat. "Is Petticoat Farm for sale yet?"

Vera looked at him closely. "It is and has been for almost four years. It is terribly rundown with impoverished soil, never having being farmed wisely by the Clough's, so is regarded as being heavily over-priced at $7.8 million. Are you aware how it got its name?"

"Yes, Mrs Clough's mother used to have up to a dozen petticoats and other underwear fluttering on the clothesline beside the highway. Some character named in Petticoat Farm and the name stuck, Mrs Clough rather liking the name."

"Correct."

"Well Vera I want you to go to those octogenarians and offer them $5 million from a mystery buyer who in addition will buy them the home of their choice in the city."

"Well such a house wouldn't cost you much because their housing concept is not grandiose, one only has to think of the squalor they have lived in for decades."

"Quite but it has appeal, an offer they would not have expected."

"They've had no offers and fewer than a dozen inspections. My firm has the listing exclusively. But you'll not get it for four million; just as bare land it's worth six million-plus."

"But four million is the price I wish to pay. I'll get you a bank check for $4 million and a legal document stating my assurance that I'll purchase and donate to them a residential property in the city of their choice."

"They won't buy it."

"Oh Vera please. Take my offer when it's ready to them with your most persuasive salesperson and work on them. Only you, my bank, my attorney, your salesperson and the Clough's will be aware I'm the person behind the offer. With luck we ought to hold my anonymity in check until I'm ready to make my next move."

"You mother said you were a property developer in Australia."

"Correct Vera, and pull this one off for me and your firm will be retained as my exclusive property marketing company."

"The council won't allow housing on that land because it's in the approach of a future replacement airport and there's a moratorium on further industrial land development for ten years with six years still to run."

"Excellent information Vera but my development concept remains on course. May we meet again at 9:00 tomorrow morning?"

"Yes of course."

"Oh Vera, I'm good for that money, having recently being paid $14.78 million in American dollars by a corporation for my half share in my development company I created with my former partner in Melbourne."

"Thank you for that excellent information Gene. I'll not assume you are prepared to increase your offer for Petticoat Farm?"

"Correct."

They both stood and Vera said admiringly, "You are a tall guy."

"Right genes via my parents," he grinned.

"My feeling is there will be a lot of your grandfather in you Gene. This city is built on the genius of Bill Bryant. My husband and I could rattle up perhaps $5 million to invest in your project if it's big enough to require outside investment."

"I'll keep that in mind Vera. Thanks for your time and you guys work your butt off for me, do you hear?"

"Loud and clear. Apart from my professional obligations your mother would be disappointed if I didn't go that extra mile for you."

"The Clough's come from old farming families Vera. You probably have thought about it already but people like that do their big business deals over lunch."

"Yes, all under control. I'll take you out and introduce you to Lexie Street who'll be working on this with me. She'll fill out the client registration sheet for you to sign. She is our top negotiator but tell me if there's anything about her you don't like and we can try a match-up with someone else. Legwork is required on this and I don't do that, but will team with Lexie going face to face with the Clough's."

"That's fine but I have an appointment with my mother at 10:30 that I must keep. Perhaps Miss or Mrs Street could meeting me at Mary-Ann's salad bar for lunch at 11:30 if the bar still exists."

"It does, Lexie will meet you there and Mary-Ann remains larger than life in terms of personality; she used to be your baby sitter didn't she?"

"Yeah and I loved that girl. All heart and softness. I've seen her since, several times. Two kids I believe?"

"Four actually. I'll still introduce you so you can recognize one another at the bar. Lexie has a card so will pick up the tab. My feeling is I'm about to get you as a major client whether or not you get Petticoat Farm."

They walked into the general office.

"Lexie dear I'd like you to meet Mr Bryant, grandson of our city's illustrious founder and youngest child of our remarkable mayor."

Lexie had been leaning over a desk divider talking to another salesperson so for a moment Gene took in a wondrous butt not far below the blonde hair cascading down Lexie's back. Oh boy. As she turned he knew she'd have an angelic face and was not disappointed.

"Hi you ought to be in corporate business as a VIP greeter."

"What a waste of talent and my time that would be," she snorted and then smiled and said she had not meant to appear rude.

Vera said enough small chat and lowering her voice said, Mr Bryant wants us to table a bid for the Clough's property. He wants his identity concealed at this stage and is aware of development restrictions but we can expect something visionary because I feel it will be in the genes, that's the genes spelt with a 'g'."


Petticoat Mall



Lexie giggled.

"Mr Bryant had an appointment now so we must let him go. Come through with me Lexie and I'll brief you."

"Very well but if it's a low offer you'll disappoint me."

"It's the only one I've got."

"Do you know what a petticoat is Mr Bryant?"

"I've never removed the older version but when I was a boy I was an after-school contract strawberry picker on that farm from the age of six till fifteen. Grandma Clough was still alive and roaring then and she was our supervisor and lorded over us wearing just a big black hat, a huge bra, long lacy knickers and two or three petticoats."

"Oh god, I've seen pictures of her dressed like that in the city museum. One of them commissioned by 'National Grower' was apparently used by many newspapers throughout the country as an example of the continued existence of ye olde country woman working on the farm strawberry patch."

"Yeah, I remember that particularly photo but it was taken before my time. However I appear as one of the grinning kids in other photos in the collection. By the time I was eleven I was in charge of recruiting kids for Ma Clough's gangs because we also worked on other seasonal vegetable crops. The authorities attempted to stop her using child labor but she did pay well and the generations of parents kicked up such a fuss that the authorities backed right off. To rub that in the Chamber of Commerce presented Ma Clough with a silver medallion as the most charismatic local farming woman of the past forty years. She pulled up her dress at the presentation to appease the demands of photographers to show she was wearing three petticoats and that pose was used in newspapers and magazines throughout the county. Woops I must be off. I know not to keep my mother waiting."

* * *

"Oh god, can I have him Vera?"

Vera smiled as they watched their new client stride off. "You're married, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Lexie said dreamingly.

"He's my godson Lexie but doesn't know it; it was a secret pact between his mom and me when she had complications at his birth. I went to Australia to care for her. Crystal may have forgotten, but I doubt that, and I certainly haven't. Keep that to yourself. I want us to do our best for him but without screwing the Cloughs. If they ask you are they doing the right thing I want you to say adamantly, "It appears to be a fair deal but please consultant with your attorney."

"Okay, I hear you loud and clear. What's he going to do with the land?"

"Who knows? My guess he'll develop the overdue new premises for the city council."

"Ohmigod, except for where they are now it's the perfect location for them and with room for federal and state government offices, ending the mish-mash of locations where they are now."

"Well don't get too excited. My godson doesn't think like most of us do. He's like his grandfather who was the only person who figured that as the town's future rested on an adequate water supply and one option was to pipe it in some two hundred and fifty miles or else to look for it under his feet. So he won financial support and State subsidies and purchased deep drilling equipment that until then had only been used in oil exploration. The outcome of course is history."

"Yes of course. We learned about Mayor Bryant at school. But what can his grandson do? All the good ideas have been used up, um apart from building a new empire for the city council."

"I'm not so sure Lexie. Let's get him his land and all will be revealed.

CHAPTER 2

Gene smiled as he entered the Mayor's Office, or more accurately the outer office. His mother had always surrounded herself with bimbos, not to make herself look good and sound intellectually superior, but she enjoyed light and idle chatter, lush lips smothered with lipstick, stylish hair-styles, pouty mouths, tits high and pointy, lots of exposed leg and expensive shoes. She had eight in the office and all fitted the mould.

"Good morning sir."

The back chatter continued.

"Hi sweetie. I'm here to see my mother the Mayor."

The chat died and Gene knew he was under intense inspection.

"I must say you are a gorgeous flock of women."

He heard tweets and twitters.

The receptionist came off the phone and said invited Gene to follow her. The back of her hair, her straight back, trim ass with a little bounce, great legs and mincing walk were all perfect. All of those women would have been hand-selected by his mom. He wondered who did the word processing if she required it to be expertly done.

Crystal with her dyed blonde hair piled high, some loss of weight and a big smile looked great and he allowed the delight to show and winked at her. His mom probably had lost the ability to blush but he glimpsed a quick bite of her top lip and knew she was pleased.

"Hi mom. Great to see you again."

"Indeed, you're looking great. It's criminal that you aren't married."

"I'll have him Mayor Gunter."

"Cherie you naughty girl. You are married. Two coffees please."

They chatted and Crystal asked was he looking for employment.

"Nah, I'll continue on being self-employed."

"What doing?"

"Development."

His mom fingered her necklace and cocked her head. "We are pretty much developed as a city."

"There's also room for tinkering or for an entrepreneur to strut his stuff."

"I see. And may I ask..."

"No, not without the city manager and the editor of Village Voice being present. I need to protect your reputation and to avoid accusations of despotism."

"Oh my, that's a difficult word for an Australian."

"Dual citizenship mom, remember? I've lived within cooee of dad all these years and now it's your turn. In fact I may stay for good."

"Arch and I exchange emails weekly. He said you have become a multi-millionaire but he hasn't seen any of it."

"Yeah, well he's done nothing to earn any of it but I did replace his pickup for him before I left and paid for a new kitchen for his missus."

"You mean Claire."

"Yeah, who else is he married to?"

"Well your time is about up. Any business to discuss? We can dine together tonight if you wish."

"Yes I'd like that. Mom, when I'm ready to act I'd like you to set up a meeting between your advisory team and me. I'd suggest the city manager, director of works, director of planning, city attorney and that editor of the Village Voice."

"It's the City Voice these days. Very well. Just tell me when you're ready. How did you get on with Annie last night?"

"Very well, in fact I made progress."

"Bring her to dinner tonight if you wish. I rather like her."

"She's no bimbo."

"I know that. What made you say that?"

"I just thought... er nothing."

"We are having a strange conversation Gene."

"I like your hair up like that mom."

"Oh darling, a compliment. Thank you. Now off you go."

Back at the hotel Gene smiled hugely at Annie.

"Gene Gunter," she whispered sternly. "You can show all your teeth as much as you like but please get it into your head I don't roll over that easy."

"No it's fine. I was just pleased to see you, confirming you do exist and last night wasn't just a dream. I've having dinner with mom tonight and she's inviting you."

"One of her assistants has already called me and I accepted. Why is this?"

"I said I'd met you at the hotel and she said of course I would and..."

"And what!"

"I didn't suggest we were an item."

"I'm pleased to hear that."

"I just indicated I hoped we'd become an item."

"Oh god."

"Well she's known your mother all her life and says she likes you so must know you."

"Yes whenever she stays here she invites me to have supper with her. We get along very well."

"So I absolved of blame?"

"Well I've never been to her house so perhaps she saw this as an opportunity to host me in her home."

Gene stroked his chin. "Well that or else she's attempting to fit you up for me."

"God, back off will you and let me do my work."

"Oh, speaking of work, be prepared for a job switch. If my plans come off you'll be working for me. Your degree includes a big component in management doesn't it?"

"It sure does but I plan to glide into a big career rather than be a manager for a two-bit businessman and expected to be his fuck-bunny."

"Well that doesn't surprise me, in fact I was banking on you being ambitious. Being my fuck-bunny would only be a spin-off option. The job would be paramount."

"Well at least you can intrigue me. Actually I feel my life has picked up since your arrival."

Dinner turned out to be quite hilarious. Crystal had a live-in cook April Lee who spent much of her time getting half drunk with her boss and guests. The conviviality was interrupted when Gene took a call and excused himself, saying he'd be back in half an hour.

He returned twenty-five minutes later, grinning hugely.

"Oh no, he thinks he's going to have sex with us," Annie said, and the two women rolled together on the sofa laughing hilariously.

"Mom, do you have champagne?"

"Yes for special occasions."

"This is a special occasion."

"Then go and ask April to steer you to the cooler in the cellar."

"Ladies, please lift your glasses as a toast to the new owner of Petticoat Farm. I have just been to my Realtor where the parties were gathered and I now possess an unconditional signed sales agreement."

The two women looked at Gene blankly.

"That land is a liability," his mom frowned.

Annie gurgled, "No it's worse than that, it's a piece of crap."

The women cackled in a huddle.

"Have you two been drinking?" Gene said mildly, and that produced screams of laughter.

He drank most of the bottle of champagne.

The party calmed down over dinner, everyone just sipping a light red wine.

Crystal said, "You have something of your illustrious grandfather in you. I've always noticed it, especially when you get that looking-in-the-distance set on your face. Come on, out with it. Why that particularly purchase?"

"At times of being homesick when living in Australia my thoughts used to tick over and I'd often think of Petticoat Farm. Then one night a vision just slipped into place."

"There, I knew it. Just like my father Mayor Bryant did. He awoke one morning and called the town clerk to call the town council together for an emergency meeting. That meeting was initially in uproar but eventually came around and dad went off and purchased Agnew Farm that is now Rangoon Falls' industrial estate that is bisected by a feeder railway line and has a major airport only two miles away and has been cited as a model of planned industrial development."

"But we have industrial land to burn, don't we?"

"Yes," said the Mayor. "Out with it Gene."

"Sorry ladies, I don't want you to have insider knowledge on this proposal mother. Could you please call that meeting I suggest for 10:00 tomorrow and add Annie to the list of invitees."

"Just a minute, I'll check my diary."

"Yes, that's fine," the Mayor said. "We are free of meetings till 1:00."

"Please come to the meeting Annie. You will be offered a major post and I'd like you to be involved from the outset."

"Hotel management is my preferred career path. But I can spend a half hour there out of interest."

"The meeting shouldn't last even that long because there's not much to tell at this stage, just a bald announcement. Make sure the press attends mom." 

Annie went to sleep in the cab during the short ride to the hotel. Gene took her to her room.

"Gene, I don't..."

"Nor I. I've had too much to drink."

They kissed and she allowed him to reach down and gently rub her pussy over her panties. She began breathing heavily and Gene pulled away.

He said, "I'll let you into a big secret that only you and I know."

She yawned and said didn't a clever guy like him know women couldn't keep a secret."

She was ignored. He whispered, "Petticoat Mall."

"What?"

"Goodnight Annie, sleep well and don't mention that to anyone prior to the meeting."

"Suddenly her mind clicked. "Gene, that is brilliant. Ohmigod it's brilliant. Why hasn't anyone thought of that before?"

"They will have but then it probably appeared all too hard. Until recently when both Agnes and Sarah Clough went into hospital for quite serious operations anyone coming on to their property with a Realtor would have had a shotgun pointed at them. I've written once a month to my favorite of the three sisters, Charmaine, ever since I left Rangoon Falls and she said they'd placed the farm on the market but were loath to leave. I guessed then an incentive would do it so offered a low price plus the offer to buy them any house they desired that was available for sale in the city."

"But they'll pick out a dump."

"The Clough sisters and I would term it roomy, comfortable and traditional."

"Ohmigod, you sly fox. I'm with your mother, I bet you'll deliver on this scheme."

"Thank you darling. Keep pussy warm for me."

"God Gene, you are talking a risk talking to me like that," Annie giggled. "Oh god, I sound such a slut."

* * *

Crystal called the meeting to order and noted the press was present.

"This meeting of this particular structure has been called on behalf of my son Gene Gunter who says he has a major announcement to make. I state categorically I have no knowledge of his scheme. My son demanded that security of non-disclosure to ensure it was clear there has been no collusion in this matter between us until this point. It was his wish that the press be present to record that statement and record proceedings for publication as it sees fit. I now invite Mr Gunter to address the meeting."

"Thank you Mayor Gunter. I can confirm Mayor Gunter, my mother, has not the slightest idea what this is about. It is only a short announcement. Yesterday I purchased Petticoat Farm and it is my intention to win all required approvals and to develop a shopping and professional services mall on that land to be called Petticoat Mall. I will meet extreme opposition from vested interests and that is to be expected. Some opponents will say the mall will rip out the city's business heart but I deny that, saying it will simply involve city reconstruction and relocate the city's heart. I have had experience in mall development in Australia in situations no different to here. I'll have to raise capital outside of Rangoon Falls but local investors will have every opportunity to invest in mall ownership, thereby reducing outside investment. That is all for now but I plan to immediately appoint city architects, engineers and other experts to prepare plans for the development that will be submitted to the appropriate authorities for perusal and hopefully approval. Thank you."

The questions flew but all Gene could do was to shrug and say, "We haven't reached that point yet."

Gene saw Annie slip away, giving his a wee wave. Eventually the mayor said, "Well I think we have reach the time for a wrap. We thank you Mr Gunter for bringing this enterprising proposal to our notice and publication of details will allow citizens to voice their reaction. Thank you."

There was applause and the editor of the City Voice asked Gene could he come across to her office to be interviewed.

She was good.

"What research have you done to determine this city needs a shopping mall?"

"Er none, but all cities of 60,000-plus people including catchments like Rangoon Falls benefit from a covered-in mall, particularly during inclement weather."

"What thoughts do you have for our long established retailers having to compete with new retailers in your mall?"

"That's your concept of what could happen. My concept is enterprising existing traders will take up space in the city's new mall. If that occurs existing main street will gradually take on a different focus, with craft shops and service businesses taking the premises of retailers who relocate."

"And if they don't"

"They could escape catastrophe because some shoppers don't like mall shopping."

"So you have no heart for retailers who will suffer, either going to your mall or staying out and fighting for business?"

"I'd expect them to base their decision to go in or stay on expert business principles."

"Do mall owners have principles?"

"Oh yes, like newspapers do in accepting mall advertising. Your newspaper can expect booming business from mall businesses, all of whom will be committed to advertise because that's how malls establish and hold their business vitality."

"You are very arrogant."

"And you Mrs Michaels are a very astute interviewer and editor of a great newspaper that I used to deliver as a boy. Perhaps you might like to think about relocating your editorial offices in the upstairs professional chambers of the proposed mall?"

"I'd be silly not to think about it."

The sexy newspaper photographer drove Gene out on to the freeway and took his photograph with Petticoat Farm forming the background. Returning him to the city she asked, "Would you like a drink after work?"

Gene smiled and patted her knee. "I'll tell you what. I'll be throwing a party soon for business people interested to meet me. I'll invite you and partner."

"Meaning?"

"Your boyfriend."

"You are very smooth Gene. I like it."

Gene's view of that was it was good public relations. He could have easily riled Jane by simply turning her down.

At 7:00 Annie called him. "I'm finishing work now and heading to my suite for a bath. Want to join me?"

"Oh sorry. I have an aversion to water."

"Well want to scrub my back?"

"I'm on my way."

* * *

Gene scuttled across to the door of Annie's suite and had just managed to loll against the doorframe casually when she came from the elevator.

"Oh goodness. You must be keen?"

"Wouldn't you?"

She colored and unlocked the door. As the door closed they locked into a kiss, a big kiss with both of them engaging in torso hand play.

Annie broke clear, breathing heavily. "I had decided to have sex with you before the prospect of a business connection was mentioned."

"I accept that because I knew that was true. You'd already placed me on a promise."

"I did, oh god what a slut I am," she said, moving back in and grasping his half-erect cock. "Oooh, nice size."

"I hope you are not too big for it."

Crack.

"You bitch, you hit me," Gene whined, rubbing his reddening cheek.

"You are pretty smooth Gene Gunter but that was an appalling remark you just made."

"Oh was it? Sorry?"

"When we are in private you can make sexy comment to me, you can talk really dirty when you have me worked up but never, never make a demeaning remark about me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, absolutely. On the other hand you can say what you like about me. That's called democracy."

"Oh god, you arrogant fucker. You are making me sound unreasonable."

"Well not to me," Gene said, unzipping and pulling her hand through the gap so she could find something to hold on to. You are totally free to attempt to impose standards on me and I have accepted you have that right."

"God I'll have to be careful what I say to you. You are not as malleable as most men including my father and brothers."

"Well Annie darling, it's not my intention to bore you while giving you good sex and socializing with you, perhaps even living with you. I admire your intellect too much to do that. I'll endeavor to never bore you."

"Oh my leaking pussy, am I going to have my hands full with you?"

"Just relax and enjoy the adventure Annie. Should you launch our sex life before we bath together dirty?"

"Yes, I'm ready to go now. I had a pee before I came up, expecting this to happen."

Annie had great tits. Gene already knew that but this was the first time he'd seen her nude, with them jutting straight out and bending a little under their weight. Yes just a tad too big for perfection. But he dropped to his knees to find what else was getting and found he bald slit was beautifully shaped.




Petticoat Mall



"This cunt looks gorgeous."

"Oh Gene," Annie groaned, grabbing two handfuls of his hair a little roughly. "You can't talk to me like that."

She was ignored. He stuck out his tongue and the pussy lips appeared to open automatically for it.

"Ohmigod," she wailed, as if she'd never had a tongue visit her pussy.

Gene pulled out and went to kiss her.

She pushed him away and scolded, "Go wash your mouth first."

He grabbed her arms and kissed her, forcing her mouth open and her verbal protests and kicking his shins subsided and she sucked in his tongue against hers and she groaned something that really did sound like, "Oh my darling."

They fucked.

She was surprisingly tight but didn't complaint. She just panted and told him to go slowly and when he had most of it up her he waddled her to the sofa and sank down with her and she hooked her legs round his waist and the rest of his length went in rather easily.

"God I've probably never had one up that far."

"Can you feel it?"

"Not clearly but if you touch my cervix I probably well."

"I just want to fuck your cunt. The cervix think can stay out of it."

"God you are crude."

"Fucking is crude. Writers and commentators who try to romanticize it are full of bullshit."

She sighed. "Then crude it is. I tend to agree. If it wasn't so nice I probably wouldn't do it."

Later in the bath Annie said, "You are corrupting me."

"How's that."

"Already you've made me taste my own pussy juice and lick up some of your semen."

"Well you liked that involvement, that debasing involvement that exorcises all that stupid so-called morality teaching mothers and other interfering women give to daughters."

"I can't believe how easily you work things your way."

"Let me tell you this. You we satisfied with just the one fuck but when licking my cum off your tit and watching your nipples rise you immediately became horny and were at me to stick it into you again."

"Are you complaining?"

"No."

She sighed. "Nor am I. Will you be licking my rectum."

"Probably."

"Oh god."

"What?"

"You'll want me to do that to you."

"Perhaps this will surprise you but I'll survive if you choose not to do that or to even hit my away when I try it on you. It's you choice."

"How civilized."

"I am civilized."

She giggled. "In time if you hang around me I'll probably allow you to butt fuck me. I have read about it and have wondered what it is like. My understanding is if pain is not an issue for those lucky women who can cope, they actually enjoy it because of the introduction of new sensations."

"That's my understanding. I want you to become CEO of the mall as soon as I have assembled my full development team."

"What?"

Gene lay back, facing her, eyeing Annie's tits.

She finally said she knew nothing about retailing.

"The general manager will be responsible for that. You run the business. You know about management."

"Yes but the mall will be big business."

"Large or small, the fundamentals are the same aren't they?"

"Well yes,"

Annie said as Gene helped her out of the bath. "For some years I've thought I don't indulge in sex enough."

"Well if that's a concern I guess I can help you out."

"Oh Gene, will you," she said, kissing him and shoving her groin in hard against his.

* * *

Gene had consulted two independent land development experts. They both maintained that no way could the application for the rezoning of Petticoat Farm to allow the mall development fail. If the council disallowed the application due to political and personal pressures, rezoning would almost certainly be permitted on appeal to the Court. 

Those adamant opinions gave Gene the confidence to proceed with his unconditional purchase that would take effect once the sister's had possession of their new home.

Meanwhile the local newspaper was distributed that morning with a headline screaming, '$30m Shopping Mall for Petticoat Farm'.

Gene grinned when picking up the paper to read it. Nowhere in the article had the cost of $30 million being mentioned and he certainly had not mentioned any figure to Editor Michaels.

He called her.

"It's Gene Gunter Mrs Michaels."

"Oh hi, call me Maggie."

"Thanks for the lead with my story Maggie."

"Your story? We generate our stories Gene, not the public."

"Well if you are very good I'll continue feeding you information for more of your mall stories."

Maggie laughed and said he was very smooth. "But you don't appear to be the type of person to call an editor to praise a story. To complain about a story well yes."

"Actually I was calling to find where that figure of $30 million came from?"

There was a pause.

"Maggie are you still there?"

"Um yes."

"The truth Maggie. No planning has been done, no drawings drafted."

"My father Ben Norris is a civil engineer of Pike, Norris and Sutton. Please don't land me in the shit over this Gene. I asked dad for a ballpark figure for total mall development servicing a city and catchments of 60,000 people."

"I see."

"Oh Christ, you are going to make trouble."

"Er no, I was wondering about the best way of handling this. My thinking is you should lay over a sofa for me."

"Christ no Gene, no. I'm married with two small children."

"Okay, the truth is that was just a bit of wishful thinking. What my request really was could you please arrange for your father to meet me, preferably over a restaurant lunch. I could become a client."

"Oh Gene really? I thought you'd choose Jerry Sutton because he's an architect-engineer. Dad and Harry Pike are the civic and the structural engineers respectively."

"The project would engulf all three if they are of sufficient caliber and have the necessary support services. No just tell your dad we meet for a full and frank chinwag."

"Right I'm on to it as soon as we finish this call. And thank you for not pressing for me to roll over for you. I might have weakened."

"Now, now. Think of your family Maggie."

They laughed and ended the call.

Lexie his real estate flunky called. At least that's now Gene saw her.

"I've found the property that the sisters like. It's not on the market but the folk would consider a good offer."

"Okay, fully appraise the property for me."

"I've already done that. My appraisal and two from professional appraisers have come in within a range of $10,000."

"Excellent."

"I'll bring the information to you in the hotel at, um, say 9:00 this evening."

"Naughty girl Lexie. You have a boyfriend. I checked up on you to see if you were unattached."

"I can drop him."

"No Lexie, he was good enough for you before I arrived on the scene so don't get your ovaries in a knot over me. I will appoint you are my realty consultant and your employer as my listing agency."

"Oh Gene, that's wonderful."

"Thank you. Now never again offer sex just to win business, do you hear? It's practices like that that corrupt people."

"Yes Gene, I hear you loud and clear."

"Bring me the details about the property the sisters want at 5:30. I'll be in the hotel bar."

"Yes, certainly. Oh Gene while I'm thinking of it why don't you take a look at the hotel's day manager Annie Watson? She's attractive and a bit of a loner; I don't think she is attached."

"What great advice. I have been speaking to her but bedding her never entered my mind."

"Well good luck. I know her quite well and can make the introduction if you wish?"

"No Miss Watson and I are already on speaking terms. She knows my mother well."

Gene was eating a steak sandwich for very late lunch when Ben Norris called. They had a short and pleasant exchange and arranged to meet for lunch next day. Then his daughter Maggie called.

"I thought I'd let you know we're already received forty-nine emails about the mall concept. Opinion is running nine to one against the proposal."

"It's not a proposal Maggie; it's a project. Let's get that point firmly established. Now what about some space on the front page tomorrow for a little piece to be inserted in the stuff about reaction to the project? I'd like you to write that the purchase has become unconditional and an application for a zoning change to allow the project to proceed will be lodged shortly."

"Yes I'll do that. All those comments are news. You must remain aware Gene that as a newspaper we must play out this issue down the middle. By the look at early objections the majority of the community will be against you."

Gene said he would turn the tide.

"Oh yes, how do you propose doing that?"

"This is not for publication. I've already started Maggie. What do you think the reaction of your female readers will be to the name Petticoat Mall?"

"Petticoat Mall? Ohmigod Gene... brilliant! They'll love it and adopt the place as their own, especially females twenty-five and over who recall going out to Petticoat Farm."

"Thanks. Bye Maggie," Gene said, smiling.

Ben Norris was already seated in the restaurant when Gene arrived and the slim, balding engineer conservatively dressed in a dark business suit and striped tie stood and waved.

"Hi Gene, I recognized you by your newspaper photos. Another one in this morning's newspaper I see."

"Yes and now a controversial figure it seems," Gene laughed.

"And an optimistic one, taking planning approval for granted."

"It will either be a quick process by a city council in a progressive mood, keen to have it's city in a big commercial shake-up or if not then approval will come a little slower by order of the Court to reconsider its refusal."

"You have done your homework on that?"

"Yes I received two independent opinions from experts, both knowing one of them will become consultants to my company once approval is received."

"Well the outcry against your proposal in today's newspaper is rather disheartening."

"Far-sighted people are not those who sit on their backsides and object Ben. Thanks for coming and I have your charming daughter to thank for that."

Ben smiled and said Maggie certainly had been impressed by Gene and regarded him as a visionary."

"Then suggest she interviews me on that basis and allow me to put my thoughts to the public."

"Right yes, good idea although she may have thought that's a bit premature."

"Ben don't you think the best tactic is stifle opposition before it becomes a negative feeding-frenzy?"

Ben nodded and said quite right. Maggie would be calling to see how the lunch went.

"One of my decisions Ben is to contract many as possible specialists and services as possible to keep a local project local. I have received a report on the three city engineering consultancies and am pleased to say Ben the analysis puts your firm on top. You are managing partner so I'll give you and your two partners seven days from tomorrow to come up with a proposal for me covering exactly what you can do by way of preliminary surveying and preliminary design based on a mall to service a city and environs of 60,000 people."

Ben looked pleased.

"Then I need a sketch of the proposed mall development as viewed from the air for publication in the City Voice. From there, if I find the general design and attractiveness of your proposals acceptable, we enter the contracts for staged development with your office also acting a construction manager."

"Well that is very generous of you. What cap do you place on the project?"

"We can discuss that when we have an exciting-looking mall concept that ought to fire local enthusiasm."

Picking up the beers they'd ordered, Ben asked would Gene simply ignore opposition and was told hell no; he'd deal with it.

"Tell me Ben, when did the city center last have a disastrous flood? I remember them as a boy."

"Four years ago when the stop banks were breached."

"And the cost of losses to city business?"

"Estimates ranged from $17 million to $22 million."

"Can you provide me with data on flooding?"

"Yes of course. We had a student engineer do research while working for us and she compiled flood records from the council, the City Voice and files from its predecessor and from long-established businesses and retired engineers with long memories including the guy who'd finally got the breakthrough and convinced the city to begin building a better and more extensive stop bank flood protection scheme."

Gene grinned. "Judging by the lowest point of Petticoat Farm contour maps I reckon that point is more than forty-feet above the river bed."

"That's a selling point," Ben grinned. "I would have said at least thirty feet. The flood four years ago went over the stop banks that generally are twenty-five feet above the mean river bed level and our researcher indicated the highest flood levels have increased each decade due to deforestation and farmers and upriver towns increasing flood protection measures, meaning less floodwater is spilling out across land and that increases the flood flows downriver."

"We need this documented in a brief that is an advantage to the Petticoat Mall development but that information must remain confidential to us and the council. I have no wish to have the development slowed by having to appeal the council decision."

"Right, understood. You talk like a developer. I learned you gained experience in Australia. Now what about funding?"

"I have quite a bit but propose raising money from local investors before I approach banks. I have an insurance company interested in becoming a cornerstone investor."

"Well that sounds fine. We'll need to talk much more with you at our offices and to inspect the site and check the accuracy of the old contour plans you hold. Meanwhile are you ready to order? This meal is on me."

Next morning's newspaper came out with a screaming headline, 'Huge Turnaround in Mall Support'. The story had numerous quotes from women and some males saying they particularly liked the name Petticoat Mall.

On Saturday the City Voice carried a center spread feature about Gene Gunter, written by editor Maggie Michaels. The heading ran across both pages, 'Developer Returns Home to Build His Dream: Petticoat Mall'.

The story began: 

'The photograph opposite (right) shows a schoolboy organizing a group of fellow 8th Graders to pick strawberries on Petticoat Farm. That kid had an entrepreneurial bent way back then. He's Gene Gunter who has just purchased Petticoat Farm to build a huge shopping center he plans to call Petticoat Mall.' 

'Some say the mall will rip out the heart of our town but Mr Gunter says that's nonsense. Some long established retail business will remain in the old center and new businesses will fill the gaps. He says he knows because he's seen it happen here in America and in Australia.'

'It doesn't really matter what everyday persons living in the city and outlying areas think, says Mr Gunter, because they'll readily adapt and probably thank him for making parking their vehicles so easy. He says what will either make or break the mall concept is the decision-making of local business and professional people. If they see a better future for themselves in Petticoat Mall they'll go for it.'

'With an engaging grin the handsome Mr Gunter (38), homecoming son of Mayor Gunter, says he'll even have his own office in the mall simply because everyone will expect him to locate there.'

Gene finished reading the article and was pleased. The city would now be better informed to decide which side of the fence to take their stand and remain there unless convinced to jump the fence. He called Maggie and her husband Tony answered.

"Oh the guy who is splitting our city into three camps: those in favor, those against and those who simply don't know or can't be bothered to have an opinion."

"Yes Tony. Well stated. I was just calling Maggie to thank her for the article that I've just read. I declined to see a preview because I'd only be tempted to suggest changes. I wanted it written without undue influence."

"Good man. She's out on the lawn with the kids. I'll get her. No why don't you call round at 11:00 and have a beer and then join us for a cook-out lunch?"

"This will be Maggie's day off. She won't..."

"Gene, give me credit for thinking about that. Privately Maggie is wildly excited about you, saying you will change the face of this city. The mall will just be your first project."

"Is that so? Well her thinking is ahead of mine. Well 11:00 then."

Tony said great and gave Gene the address.

Gene went to a small florist in a crapped out building. Mrs Miller had been there for perhaps a dozen years. His mother and her mother had dealt with Miller Flowers most of their lives.

"Ah the Gunter boy."

"Hi Mrs Miller."

"Don't come sweet-taking to me. I won't be shifting into your stupid mall. No one wants that mall despite what they say in the newspaper."

"That's fine."

"You can buy flowers from me but that won't change my mind. My grandmother established this business in this very spot."

"That's fine Mrs Miller. Please send your Number 1 bouquets to these people: Mrs Vera Williams, Lexie Street, Mrs Maggie Michaels and Annie Watson."

"Very well, that's a huge order. Thank you. These are all women; what have you been doing to them?"

"They all are business associates Mrs Miller. Now could each bouquet contain this message, 'Thanks for being receptive about Petticoat Mall. Gene' and have the flowers delivered to their private addresses. If memory serves me correctly you won't need the addresses from me because you know everything and everyone."

"Correct young man. I see a lot of your mother in you."

"Thank you ma'am. Will a hundred do it?"

"What for Number 1 bouquets at forty bucks a throw plus delivery fee?"

"Well here's two hundred. Make them swell bouquets for swell women. And when you are banking that money Mrs Miller think about staying in this location but also having a branch outlet up at the mall."

"God you have cheek," she grimaced, shaking her head.

CHAPTER 3

The council passed a motion approving the zoning change by a 8-4 vote with the mayor abstaining from voting.

Almost 500 emails and a few letters were lodged with the newspaper that night, all opposing the council decision. Several submissions were published in the City Voice next morning and included allegations of 'undue influence' and 'unfair play' as well as rants such as 'election rigged' and 'councilor's run scared of Developer Gunter'.

The following morning the newspaper announced a further fifteen emails and letters opposing the scheme had been received plus well over two thousand communications from people praising the council for being 'progressive', 'far-sighted' and 'being a council unimpressed by uninformed idiots also known as brainless armchair critics'.

A hastily-organized protest group calling itself 'Down With Petticoat Mall' marched through Main Street on Friday at lunchtime and huge lines of spectators jeered and taunted them and the parade finally scattered under a barrage of thrown fruit, eggs and empty beer cans.

Photos of that melee appeared on page three of the newspaper next morning. Page one carried an artist's impression of 'Our $120 million Petticoat Mall'.

The mall project was underway and down the page was a very attractive photograph of the newly appointed mall company CE0, Miss Annie Watson.

A month went by and Monday's newspaper carried a big picture of bride and bridegroom, Annie and Gene Gunter. After a week's honeymoon the newly marrieds were back home working to get the first stage of the mall open in eighteen months.

Crystal had given the couple her house as a wedding present and while they were away she shifted into the Lily Bryant Suite as her permanent home. Her friend and cook April Lee stayed on at the house to care for her very busy new employer.




Petticoat Mall



For a long time the project seemed to be crawling along, with earthworks and road formation underway and the authorities adding exit and entry lanes to connect the development to the freeway, the Petticoat Mall Company having to pay a substantial amount toward those connections.

Then suddenly, one morning the first building site storage and worker's lunchroom and toilet block appeared on the barren site and by the end of the week three more building contractors were adding their facilities to the site.

Mall building construction was underway,

Annie and her small team were working to sign up tenants and that was slow going until the City Voice announced that one of the city's largest businesses, Starline Kitchen & Bathroom Warehouse announced it would open a retail side to its business in Petticoat Mall, taking up 22,000 square feet of prime space. Then a national department store, not established in Rangoon Falls, announced it would occupy a three-level building as a mall anchor tenant and the very next day Price Shaver Supermarkets announced it was negotiating to become a major tenant at the new mall.

From that week the race to become tenants was on.

The next week Gene made an appointment to meet a photographer and reporter from the City Voice outside Miller's Flowers at 10:00 on Tuesday. The photo in next morning's newspaper showed Mrs Miller hugging Gene Gunter.

The story quoted Mrs Miller as saying proudly, "I'm opening a branch at Petticoat Mall and Gene whose family has been customers of Miller Flowers for three generations, says my kiosk in the mall quadrant will be the mall's tiniest business. Now isn't that something?"

* * *

Gene held out a hand and smiled a welcome as the chairman of the council's works and development committee came to the premium dining booth at the Riverside Café, with it's great view over the river.

Fred Perkins ignored the outstretched hand and sat.

"God that woman of yours is persistent. She forced me to come here reminding me her father had saved my life when he and I were kids swimming in that river down there when it was in full flood, the crazy young kids we were in those days."

"Annie never gives up Fred," Gene smiled. "I learn that to my pain some times."

"She's a great girl Gene. I must say Vicki and I enjoyed your wedding and as Vicki said there was no one worthy enough of Annie until you arrived here to settle. Now you know I was and remain strongly opposed to the mall, so it's no use..."

"Fred please, this is not about the mall."

"Oh, then let's order."

Fred what was the effect on City Hall of the flood four years ago?"

"A mini disaster. At the peak only sandbagging stopped water entering the foyer. Salvage work to dry and copy stored files from the basement cost us $48,000 and the insurance company failed to cover that saying we were idiots using a basement in a known flood zone to store documents. It cost $26,000 to have the silt removed and the basement redecorated. Floodwater had never penetrated our basement before."

"Fred what I am to say is confidential between you and me, okay? Not a word to anyone until I give you the green light, least of all to my mother. I don't want her compromised."

Fred grinned. "Oh going to build us a new City Hall are you up there at the mall?"

The waitress handed Fred his whisky and Gene his beer. The guys watched her ass as she walked away and Fred said, "Not bad eh?"

"Very nice. Fred do I have your agreement this exchange is in absolute confidence until I give the green light for you to talk about it?"

"Yes."

"Well I do want to build you guys a new City Hall but raised and on the existing site."

"Jesus. But where would we be housed during what eighteen months of construction?"

"Think two years. We have signed up Brenton's Department Store to relocate you know where."

"Jesus, that's Main Street gutted." 

Ignoring that, Gene said, "Luckily for us Brenton's want to be in the first stage development so their building will become vacant in approximately sixteen months from now when you guys shift in and I building your new City Hall. Then when you shift in there I'll remodel Brenton's old premises into a three-floor craft center where potters and the like will rent space to make and sell their wares."

"Bringing people into Main Street."

"Exactly." 

"Jesus boy. Ain't you something."

"No too fast Fred. This is prickly with politics. The concepts might appeal but the council will demand you call open tenders for the construction of the new City Hall."

"Yeah, right. So what do you think about that?" 

"As a developer I don't mind who does the construction because my role is to come up with ideas and then orchestrate. Providing my company wins the contract to manage the project I have no problem with who the council gets to do the construction. We will also manage the fit-out and the relocation and shift back of the council operation. There would be big fees for us because this could be a thirty million project. You could sell off surplus land at present used for parking because you'd have two levels of basement vehicle parks, great use of that flood-prone space as vehicles can be shifted before the arrival of the next hundred-year flood as they once were called but now come ever eight to twelve years."

"Some of us have been talking about a new City Hall with a few wanting it up at Petticoat Mall."

"Not at the mall Fred; that really would gut Main Street. Oh are you aware your daughter and husband have signed up to relocate at the mall?"

Fred's face told it all: he hadn't known.

Two weeks later Gene called Fred.

"Hi Fred. I guess you know your son Pete will shift his men 'swear business into the mall?"

"I did. And pardon me for saying this I must admit Pete never has been stupid."

"That's okay Fred. I guess that means it's safe to issue you a VIP invitation when we open stage one?"

"You can."

"Fred it's time for you to begin a rumor that the council is thinking about consulting Gene Gunter about building a new City Hall."

"How do I start a rumor and yet not announce it?"

"Easy, begin asking your senior people have they heard the rumor. Eventually the mayor will call an executive meeting to try to track down the rumor and you can then say you heard from a confidential source I even have a sketch of the proposed new structure."

"You have?"

"Yes, it's just been handed to me by my people and very impressive it is."

"The mayor will press me to ask who told me about the sketch plan."

"With great reluctance you reveal it was my wife, your best pal's daughter."

"God I can't do that."

"No it's fine. I'll brief her in a few minutes what you intend doing. She'll laugh and congratulate me for getting the news around before my mom knows a thing."

"Jesus, you have a brain that would work well in crime."

Two days later the Mayor, her voice icy, personally invited Gene to a special meeting of the council and senior executives at 3:00 that afternoon.

"And bring your sketch plans."

"Mom imagine the consequences for you with the accusations of incestuous relations had I not done it this way."

"Boys don't do sneaky things to their mothers, at least not when they are grown up."

"Annie is pregnant."

"What? Oh Gene. Ohmigod, I can't believe it. That makes me the happiest woman in the world."

"Well that's a change. Annie is not very happy about it, saying the timing is wrong."

"Don't worry darling, I'll calm her."

"Mom no, you cannot mention it. Annie doesn't want anyone to know just yet."

"Ohmigod Gene, you can't do this to me. Darling... please."

"Okay then call round tonight and I'll say Annie has some great news for you. I'll probably end up with the coffee pot wrapped round my head but anything for you mom."

"Oh my darling boy. You are so kind to me."

Gene put down his phone and frowned, wondering how long it would take before his mom realized she'd just been expertly defused.

* * *

Gene was taken into the meeting and sat at the end of a long table facing his mother.

"Mr Gunter, this is an informal inquiry to either prove or disprove you are in some way connected to a rumor about a proposal to rebuild City Hall. It is up to you whether or not you wish to answer questions."

"Thank you Mayor Gunter and good afternoon everyone. I confess to initiating the rumors to break the ice. I knew if I walked in here with a proposal to build you guys a new City Hall I would have been tossed out on my ear."

Mayor Gunter said, "That still might be your fate Mr Gunter."

"Thank you ma'am. Perhaps to avoid misunderstanding could we first play this 10-minute DVD which is the complete extent of my present preparation?"

"Proceed."

The screening began with a heading, 'Gene Gunter's Proposal for a new City Hall for Rangoon Falls'.

The Gunter Development Group's film began showing floodwaters rising amid torrential rain in Main Street, with voice-over by Annie Gunter.

'Here we recall desperate scenes in Rangoon Falls's Main Street four years ago. Note City Hall, sited in the lowest section of Main Street, where workmen are sandbagging the main entrance in a bid, successful as it turned out, to preventing floodwaters entering the foyer and continuing right to the Mayor's office suite."

The next shot was of Annie who held up a report.

This is an independent report commissioned by the City Council that establishes over the past 147 since recordings began, flooding encroaching into Rangoon Falls's CBD has worsened with floods progressively becoming more frequent and reaching new heights. However because of contours of surrounding land and the capacity of downstream pastureland to create a ponding effect to release flooding pressure on the city, flooding will not set higher peaks from that experienced four years ago. The research in this document and conclusions reached have not been refuted since the publication of the report three and a half years ago.'

The new shot was of Gene. 'Hi I'm Gene Gunter, property developer. This shot shows Breton's Department Store that will be vacated in seven month's time when the business relocates in Petticoat Mall. I propose the council business relocates completely from its present site to these premises for the next two years during the construction and fit out of its new City Hall on the existing site. The new seven-level building will sit on two levels of below-ground parking and they can be emptied at times of severe flooding warnings. This would give the council surplus land to sell off its spillover ground parking area if it so wishes. When it shifts into the new building I plan to convert the former Brenton's Department Store that I now own into a craft center when craftspeople make and sell their art and wares."

There were gasps when a color sketch of the seven-floor City Hall was shown, with a gold-colored canopy providing shelter at the entrance.

'We have provided a dozen steps up from Main Street to give more than required safety margin above the future flood level maximum. This will impress the council's insurers. The Mayor will be even safer from flooding because you will see in rough layouts to follow the mayoral suite and council chambers are up there in the clouds on the seventh level.'

"Now seven levels makes City Hall the highest building in the city. Some of you may worry about what city taxpayers will think of that. Well I suggest the timing is perfect. Those people, even the new tenants up there in the mall, will be thinking this is brilliant; it gives prestige to the CBD and will encourage development of quality commercial buildings in that neighborhood, removing all fears that the trend of retailing away from this area will leave the area permanently gutted. It will require a transition but it will occur. What follows are before and after pictures in other cities where mall development removed the heart of city retailing to another location.'

When the film ended there was polite clapping initially and that became quite enthusiastic applause.

"Any comment?" asked the mayor.

As Fred Perkins had arranged, two of his buddies proposed and second that Fred chair the investigating committee on whether the council required a new City Hall and if the conclusion was a yes, then what steps should follow.

"Yes, I agree with that sensible approach," said Mayor Gunter and when put the motion was carried without dissention.

A thirty-minute discussion then followed with Gene answering questions. On the question about cost, he said it would be expensive and be a issue likely to attract hysterical outcries of the council being engaged in empire building. "Just call it a $50 million ballpark estimate. It will be built and commissioned for less than that unless you guys demand marble staircases and pricey chandeliers, copper roofing and original art."

Finally the Mayor thanked her son for his innovative thinking and wonderful looking new City Hall. Then drinks were served.

* * *

As the mall project entered its final month before completion of stage one Annie, well into her seventh month of pregnancy, was beginning to tire easy. So Gene bought her a golf cart to move around the sprawling site and cut back her work hours. She soon admitted that worked amazingly well and incoming tenants accepted it was better to phone her than wait for her to come to them. Gene also hired her another assistant experienced in events organizing.

Annie sent Gene a huge bunch of flowers as a thank you and before too long there was evidence most of her old bounce was back.

A week before the public opening there was a big party for construction crews who'd worked on stage one and most were now working on stage two. Annie attended that for an hour and later in the week spent two hours at the party for principals and managers of mall businesses.

The grand opening the following Wednesday attracted two network TV crews, presumably their program directors were intrigued to learn the country had a city called Rangoon Falls, that it was opening the first stage of a $128 million mall with the fascinating name of Petticoat Mall.

An area was set aside for VIPs and all the females wearing ankle length petticoats that Annie and her team had commissioned and the men all wore top hats.

It really was a gala occasion. Huge applause erupted when Gene, with Annie beside him and the chairman of the insurance company that held the cornerstone investment in the project and his wife, entered into the glass roofed mall quadrant in a Ford Model T. Behind them arrived the Clough sisters in an horse-drawn carriage driven by their brother. They were all dressed in their grandparent's clothes on loan from the city museum.

After the closing the party for VIPs began. Gene took the tiring Annie home and she kissed him and told him to really enjoy his big night.

The quadrant was really rocking by the time Gene returned with a big band keeping revelers rowdy and dancing while the quieter folk gathered in groups at the perimeters.

Gene danced with his mom and she told him the council now had all funding in place to allow its total relocation to proceed on schedule at the end of the month and for demolition to commence and construction to follow.

"That's great. Most of the opposition appears to have died."

"Well sooner of later folk know they are up against a brick wall went they take on City Hall," she smiled. "Some councilors are quibbling about costs but they realize that is only getting them space in the newspaper. Your campaign to really interest people in the rebirth of their city center has really taken off. People now seem to believe it will happen."

"And that's the mindset we need to make it happen. Thank you for your support mom."

"You're worth it darling. Your decision to limit commercial development up here to shopper-oriented services means state and federal agencies are now looking at relocating in new buildings in Main Street near us. We have you to thank for that."

"Happy to help my city mom. I've lost some commercial tenancies but not too many. Now this is confidential. A certain Government department is negotiation with me to develop a huge residential facility on my land on the far side of the mall."

"It will be for defense personnel as the new airport will be also shared by the military."

Gene noticed his mother's lack of surprise. "Ah you know about it?"

"Yes because Government prefers gaining cooperation from local government to avoid appearing to be riding roughshod over us by using special powers to overturn zoning restraints. But that very confidential Gene."

"So is what I just told you."

Late that night Lexie Street, Gene's realty consultant, appeared in front of him, weaving slightly and appearing very moist lipped.

"Do you like my dress?"

"Yes Lexie, it's beautiful. I don't recall seeing your husband today?"

"He's in Belgium on company business. Do my breasts appeal to you?"

"Lexie!"

"What? Where Annie?"

"I took her home."

"Well here we are, you without a wife handy and my husband is certainly not handy and I feel like sex. What do you suggest Gene?"

Lexie came in closer and placed her hand over his cock. "Oooh, what a wee fellow. Will it get big for me?"

"Lexie!"

"What? Answer me this truthfully Gene. In all this time we have worked closely together have you thought about my pussy?"

Gene looked around wildly but no one appeared to be listening to them.

"I-I might have."

Lexie smiled and squeezed her hand and she whispered, "Ooooh."

She asked was use of the word 'might' being entirely truthful.

"Yes I have thought about it, er occasionally."

"I bet you have."

Gene said, "Excuse me for a minute Lexie." 

She pouted and he scuttled away for two wines and returned to her.

"No I don't want more wine if we are going to fuck."

That was said rather loud but so was the noise around them; the band was now really into a groove. He hurried away and returned with a bottle of water and fresh glass.

She whispered, "Does this mean you wish to fuck me. I am ever so grateful what you have done for me by making me your realty consultant. I now earn twice as much as our next highest consultant."

"I'm very happy about that."

"Tell me about my cunt darling."

"Okay providing to promise to only whisper to me."

"I promise."

Gene looked around furtively. "Well most of the blonde hair around it is not allowed to grow but you have a trimmed 'V' above it."

"Have you seen it?"

"No."

"Oh great guess."

They laughed liked conspirators nervously planning a felon.

"And?"

"I'll find a little hole, much too small for me, being impossible to penetrate."

"Oh you are wrong there. My dildo will be larger than what you've got."

Smiling Lexie reached for his dick again and as she cooed "Ooooh" 

Gene looked to his right and saw a woman staring at them, appearing a little shocked. He focused and saw it was Paula, Annie's chief assistant. Her husband and the two people talking with them had their backs to Gene.

Oh fuck!

But that turned to relief when he saw Paula put her fingers to her lips and then she smiled and crossed her heart and turned to rejoin her husband, taking his arm.

Whew. Paula was signaling she'd crossed her heart and so she wouldn't tell. 

"You're not listening," Lexie sighed. "Could we go somewhere quiet?"

"Yes, go to my office. I'll be up in two minutes. Here's the key."

Gene tapped lightly on the door and Lexie opened it, handing him the key. She'd removed her dress and panties.

As he closed the door she said she'd left her bra for him to remove. "I have big nipples; you should see them."

Gene grabbed her and kissed her roughly and Lexie slammed her groin into him. 

Gene jerked her bra up and her tits appeared.




Petticoat Mall



"Ohmigod," she groaned.

"Oh great, fucking big tits with fucking big nipples."

"Oh Gene, fuck me. I'm protected."

She unzipped him and he pulled it out and pushed her back against the door. He didn't have to ask; she lifted up a leg and held it out sideways against the door, 

Gene's now dripping cock slipped into the more-than-ready Lexie with a huge squelching sound that almost had them panting.

"God that sounds disgusting."

"You lying bitch; you love the sound."

"Oh Gene," she said, pressing down and against him to get every bit of him into her.

Gene then pounded her and wasn't surprised she came first because she was so much on heat. She came the second time and he shot his load into her.

"Oh that was s-o-o-o great," she said.

"We must find the occasion to have a proper session one day baby. Use the shower. I'm going back down before too many people miss me."

"Kiss me darling."

Gene kissed her and said, "The woman I love is my wife."

"I know. So what's new?"

"Oh you mean business. Get me an option to buy the old Goldman warehouse site."

"It has been rezoned recreational."

"I know. Great fuck baby. Bye."

"I'm going to name my dildo Gene."

Gene grinned and closed the self-locking door behind him.

Moving toward the stairs Gene noticed a couple fucking in Annie office and grinned, closing the door softly. He then realized there was a white dress on the floor. Paula had been wearing a white dress. Downstairs he grabbed a wine and looked round and saw Paula's husband but no sign of Paula. Well, well... naughty Paula. Well with Annie reaching the stage where she wouldn't want sex and being jerked off by her was no real substitute, Gene thought either Lexie or Paula could be available when he required the real hot and moist substitute.

His mom was leaving and she kissed him and said it had been a wonderful occasion. "Oh Gene if you must have sex with someone other than Annie do it out of town. Annie is one very smart woman. I noticed Paula go up the stairs five minutes after you went up."

Blushing, Gene said, "Thanks mom. Good advice."

God he'd been accused of fucking the wrong woman!

Gene paused to have a word with Councilor Fred Perkins and his prim married daughter Avon. 

"Hi Avon?"

"You two know each other," Fred asked suspiciously.

"Dad I'm a tenant here."

"Oh yeah."

After Avon had left Gene said, "I'm thinking a modern aquatic center is needed in this city. Your other daughter Carol was in the US Swim Team wasn't she although she never got to the Olympics?"

"Yes, how do you know Carol?" Fred asked suspiciously.

"I don't; never met her. Someone told me and that gave me an idea, why not build an aquatic center for the council."

"Why?"

"To produce better swimmers for this city and attract big meets here. The current facility is a dog."

"Yeah but it takes money to build something like that."

Gene rubbed his chin. "I noticed the Parks and Recreation Facilities Account has just over ten million in trust."

"That's money bequeathed to the city."

"What for?"

"Well for new sports or recreational facilities..."

"Like a new aquatic center?"

"Well yeah. God doesn't that mind of yours stop ticking over?"

"Only when I fuck?"

Fred roared with laughter. "God you can be funny. Um did you get one into Paula. I noticed her go upstairs a little after you."

"No of course not. Look here she comes now, looking a little flushed."

"Well I'm not too old to have forgotten the flushed fuck look on a woman's face."

A minute later Fred looked up and said, "Ohmigod."

Gene looked at the stairs and saw Lexie coming down, straightening her top.

"God Paula has been having it off with Lexie Street. You never know where you are with women these days," Fred complained.

"I wouldn't know Fred. When I'm away from home I keep zipped up. Oh I'll talk to you earlier next week about a possible site for the new aquatic center. I should have an option on one by then."

"Yeah, yeah. Paula and Lexie... I can't believe it."

"Perhaps they went up for a pee Fred? Sometimes it doesn't pay to jump to conclusions."

"Well a long pee," Fred grinned. "Paula went up almost twenty minutes ago."

Vera Williams kissed her godson and said to Gene, "Stan and I are going. Great occasions and brilliantly executed. You naughty boy putting that glow on Lexie's face like that."

"Who me?"

"Yes I saw you go up a few minutes after her. Did you also get to Paula?"

"Who me?"

"Oh no, probably not Paula. Here comes Councilor Young looking overly casual. He would have been the one to have sex with Paula. Ben Young and her husband Bruce are great friends. But you wouldn't think a pastor's son would commit adultery would you?"

"I have no idea of the rules of engagement for sons of the clergy Vera. Did anyone nail you tonight."

"God you are revolting," she laughed. "Good night darling."

It was almost 4:00 when Gene arrived home. Annie awoke sleepily and asked was it dawn.

"That's still a couple of hours away." 

"Did you have a great time darling?"

"Yeah, really great."

"Well some great news. The mall opening was featured on both network channels. The newsreaders really liked the name of our mall. Both channels ran a map to show where our city is located. None of those ignorant people appeared to have any idea of our existence. One included a brief history mentioning your grandparents and that Lily's name lives on and showed a shot of the hotel."

"That's good publicity for the city and just could attract some outside interest in the mall. You guys still have space to let in stage two."

"Yes I must crack the whip on Lexie."

Work on stage two of the mall project would be completed well ahead of schedule because two of the bigger firms working on its construction had joined together to win the contract to build the new City Hall. They were confident of getting the job and they did, the council appointing them as consortium construction contractors and Gunter Development Group won the construction management contract. The principals involved had drinks at City Hall, with the Mayor, Councilors and senior executive attending. In her short speech the Mayor mentioned the initiative of Mr Gunter "for getting this enterprising move rolling."

Only two weeks later, acting on the advice of her medical consultant, Annie stopped work to wait out the remainder of her pregnancy.

"Darling find someone else to have sex with until I'm back in action again," she said kissing Gene.

"Aw, I really don't I should."

"I disagree. You are as eager for sex as your are for your dinner."

"Well there are risks."

"Look, pick someone we know. That must reduce risk."

"But I don't know any other woman well enough to fuck her."

"What about that newspaper editor? You've spent hours with her over recent months."

"No, Maggie has two small kids."

"Ah good boy. Then what about Paula?"

"Paula?"

"God Gene are you thick. My chief assistant who is now replacing me."

"Oh that Paula. Does she fuck?"

"Ohmigod Gene, don't you know anything? All women fuck."

"But she's married."

"True but her husband is away a lot on business so she must get horny."

"What do women get horny?" Gene asked, playing the innocent.

"I refuse to answer that. Just use your imagination. How do you behave when you can't find your favorite toys? No don't take that too literally."

"Oh you mean frustrated rather than horny... that she becomes frustrated because she is missing having sex and begins rubbing herself on the corner of her desk and..."

"Yes dear, you have the picture."

"Will she be hard to lay?"

"I would think not darling by the way I see her looking at you on occasions."

Gene scratched his nuts and that made Annie smile. He was pleased to see that.

"No more questions please darling. This has been harder work than being on-site. Just take it easy with Paula, don't rush at it like a bull at a gate."

"I'll have to think about it honey. It doesn't seem right to me."

"It's quite okay with me Gene, believe me."

Actually Gene was a little nervous about hitting on Paula. At the mall opening party it had been different because people had been drinking for a couple of hours, possibly more. Obviously it would be hopeless pulling it out and saying to her, "Suck this baby." She might go berserk and complain to her husband or the employment authority. Perhaps he should give Lexie a call?

He sighed and in the shower looked down as his dick and complained, "Decisions, decisions."

Next day at the mall Paula, who had been appointed mall general manager two months earlier, called Gene who now had his thoughts split between mall development and City Hall.

"Hi Paula, what do you want? I'm busy."

He heard a thud and then Paula yell 'Fucking rude bastard' and wondered if a mall general manager with considerable responsibility for engendering good public relations ought to be using foul language.

"Are you still there?" she demanded.

"Yes. What happened?"

"I threw my phone at the wall."

"Oh.

She snapped, "Yes oh."

"Okay, did you row with your husband this morning?"

"Yes I did. Incidentally what's his name?"

Two names popped into Gene's head, Elvis and Bruce. He thought it was likely Paula might marry a Bruce so said Bruce.

"Oh well done. If you remember this is my first day at filling in for Annie as well as doing my own work. I need to be briefed."

"Jesus, sorry. I've been hooked into drafting my construction schedule for City Hall. I have a meeting with the construction chiefs late this afternoon. But you are more important than any Critical Path planning."

"Who me?"

"Yes Paula, you are one of my chiefs aren't you or don't you see yourself like that?"

"Oh yes I do but I never thought you did."

"Okay that will do for now, I'm busy."

"You insens..."

"Paula grab a golf cart and pick me up now. I forgot your reason for calling. It certainly wasn't for ego massaging. Now Paula!"

Remembering his wife wanted him to fuck Paula, Gene hurried down and stood outside the entrance to administration. He only had to wait thirty seconds before Paula whizzed across the quad to him. He jumped it and kissed her.

"What the hell?"

"Just saying sorry for being an insensitive oaf."

She grinned. "Where to?"

"Over to stage two. First of all you circle the site, looking for anything that shouldn't be there or going on, such as men fighting, or shifty looking guys loading stuff on to a truck rather than unloading because that means they are probably stealing stuff from us. If you see anything untoward you call one of the contractor's offices and alert them and diary the time and nature of your call."

They did that and saw nothing untoward.

"Right diary nothing untoward and the time of notation."

Gene said they would now walked through each building looking for guys slacking about or recording faulty-looking finishing work.

"How can I identify faulty-looking workmanship?"

"Put on this hard hat and follow me. I'll demonstrate."

"Do I look sexy in this hat Gene?"

"There's nothing much sexy about you Paula," Gene said, forgetting his wife wanted him to fuck Paula.

"Pass me the axe."

He looked puzzled and said what axe and she mumbled it didn't matter.

Two hours later they were finished. Paula had recorded thirty-two items they'd brought up with the various foremen that in their view required urgent remedial action.

She looked at her notes and said, "Ohmigod, what if I go through by myself and miss some of these things?"

"I do a backup inspection Tuesdays and Thursdays and read your reports before proceeding so know what has been located, what action if any has been taken and pick up some things you may have missed."

"Thank god for that. I won't be so nervous now."

"Oh another thing. Wear an overall when you make your inspections Paula. You look too sexy like that and some of the guys could get ideas."

"Y-you do think I'm sexy?"

"Yeah some parts of you."

"Like what?"

"Eyes, lips, legs... that sort of thing."

Paula started the drive back to the quad. "What kind of remark was that?"

"I'm sorry Paula."

"No don't be. Come on tell me."

"I'm just glad we are employing a good looking, competent and pleasant executive like you."

Surprised he's said that without any innuendo, Gene looked up because Paula was driving down the center of the road and said, "Truck approaching, pull to your right."

Paula over-reacted and slewed the cart, almost tipping them out as it bounced on to the sidewalk with the two wheels on the right hand side off the ground.

"God Gene. Please take over the wheel."

The truck went by and Gene continued their short journey.

"Gene are you hinting you have a real interest in me, I mean personally?"

"No Paula. Just because Annie is heavily pregnant it doesn't mean I'm casting around."

"Are you sure? I'm willing to assist if you are."

"No my business mind tells me that would never work, what with you and Annie so closely involved."

"Then can I find someone for you?"

"No Paula, I'm not casting around, truly."

They drove on in silence.

Gene was surprised he'd lied; it was probably there for the taking. Well he supposed what he'd mentioned that Annie and Paula were in a close business relationship made sense although he couldn't imagine Paula saying to Annie, 'Your husband is fucking me' but it could impinge on the relationship in Paula's guilty mind.

He'd done the right thing, truly.

Paula said quietly, "I understand I'm regarded as a good fuck Gene."

The cart lurched and Annie yelled, "Truck coming."

They passed safely and Gene grinned and said, "I'm not sure either of us ought to be driving this thing and Annie laughed but said no way would she walk on her twice-daily tours.

Paula dropped Gene off at the stairway leading to admin and thanked him for his helpful input.

"I'll do my best to meet your standards and expectations," she said, almost glumly.

She brightened when Gene said, "Let's meet for lunch tomorrow at the Balcony Restaurant and you take me through mall trading figures and bring your diary listing comments from our traders. It's critical at this early stage we are acutely sensitive to everything."

"Yes I agree. Bye."

Gene watched 'I'm a good fuck' drive away and sighed.

He checked his phone messages and as he entered the office his PA said his real estate consultant wanted to meet him at the warehouse site at 4:30 for a meeting with the consortium of four owners.

"Jane call Mrs Street and say 4:30 today is fine."

That meeting was successful. The owners were worried Gene would not make a reasonable offer. He said the location was perfect for his project and he was aware the settlers had received two independent appraisals and the prices were fairly close but were the sellers aware the estimate for clearing the site of the reinforced concrete structure with only the roofing lumber being salvageable, the remainder requiring to be carted off and dumped paying high fees, was $180,000?"

That obviously surprised them and the spokesman said they'd not thought clearance would be so expensive. Gene offered them $300,000 less that their asking price and the four partners went into a huddle and when they broke up the spokesman said okay providing the offer was unconditional.

"Excuse me while I speak to my consultant."

"Nice tits," Gene said to Lexie.

"Thank you but for goodness sake Gene focus on this deal. You are considering paying three and a half million. Do you have a redevelopment deal on this property tied up?"

"No and I'm sweating."

"Well as your consultant I say no way should be go unconditionally. What is the project you have in mind?"

"Can I trust you Lexie?"

She scowled and said, "You trusted me enough to fuck me without a condom."

He grinned. "A new civic aquatic center."

"Ohmigod, all the city buses pass this site and that would be great for older kids and parking is quite easy at this end of the CBD."

"So I proceed?"

"My instinct says proceed but that's not being very professional."

"That concurs with my instinct."

Gene turned back to the group. "Okay guys, I buy at that price we discussed and the deal is unconditional. Talk to Mrs Street about preparing the sale agreement and I'll be available to sign at your convenience any time tomorrow and lodge 10% of the purchase price with your attorney followed by the balance in thirty days providing my attorney can confirm we have clear title with no encumbrances on the property. Please excuse me. I have an important second meeting to attend."

They shook hands and Gene winked at the very happy Lexie.

As soon as the meeting with the successful contractors demolishing the old City Hall was finished, Gene called Councilor Perkins and said he required an urgent meeting. Fred said he was home and invited Gene to call round.

Gene greeted Fred's wife with a kiss to the cheek and she talked about Annie and the pregnancy and Gene told her to call around one afternoon because Annie would welcome the visit. Fred carried a tray with two glasses and a bottle of whisky and led Gene to the study.

"I need you to deliver three and a half million within three weeks to secure the site for the new civic aquatic center.

"But we haven't secured authority to look at that project."

"Fred some foreign buyers were interested in the warehouse site and I got in and snatched it from them. If we'd waited for the council to have seventeen meetings and umpteen reports we would have lost this opportunity."

"Who is this 'we' young man?"

"You and me Fred. Remember I discussed the concept with you?"

"Yeah discussed and what commitment did I give?"

"None."

"Yeah well remember that."

"I discussed the new City Hall with you and didn't ask for a commitment, only to open a door or two."

"I thought you'd bring that up. Where is the site?"

"The old Goldman warehouse."

"But the council is thinking of a CBD open park on that site with one of those playground things. It rezoned the land recreational to prevent any other kind of development."

"What kind of development is a aquatic center."

Fred pulled and ear lobe. "Ah, smart guy eh. It's recreational."

"So I sign in the morning to buy the site at a price under the seller's two independent appraisals. I'm paying $3.49 million."

"What with no development signed up? You're crazy."

"It's the largest unit title in the CBD, even larger than the council's City Hall site that is in two titles. It's a hugely valuable piece of land Fred and you know it."

"Yeah but the council doesn't buy land on the say so of a developer or anyone else off the street for that matter."

"Fred my old pal. I know that. But I reckon if Fred Perkins told his buddies they should secure the Goldman warehouse site to a new aquatic center then some councilors would listen, wouldn't they?"

"Some yes."

"And I have the ear of the Mayor who will become a grandmother soon and I'll say to her our kid is likely to want to become a swimming champion."

"Your mom would not fall for bullshit like that."

"True but I can be more convincing than that. Nice whisky. Now Fred just think about this, you and I delivered a new City Hall to the city when it was overdue for replacement and it's time to prepare to deliver a aquatic center worthy of this city and close the old dump down. There are probably health issues associated with that outdated water treatment system and..."

"There are but keep quiet about that."

"Well Fred we must be responsible about this. At this stage all we are doing is acquiring a site. Now if you wish I could get sketch plans drawn up and a proposed layout. After listening to you my thinking is we push the center back on the site and have a lovely kid's playground between it and the frontage with Main Street where mom's can relax in the sunshine..."