2 comments/  83743 views/  18 favorites

The Christmas Bet

By: likebadfun



It was Christmas Eve, just before midnight. Away from home for the first time, John and Ben, both 18, were just watching TV in the small old house they had rented on the outskirts of town. That's all they could afford while going to university. They were a little bit high and joking around. Ben complained that his girlfriend was stuck up and wouldn't even let him get to first base. 

"She just pushes me away when I touch her tits. What kind of girlfriend is that? How can I learn anything that way?"

"Well Ben at least you have a girlfriend. I just keep striking out." 

"My cock is so lonely I'd take any female who walks through that door."

"Ben, when has any girl walked through that door?"

"Well, who knows, it can happen. And then, I swear I'll get some."

"Bet you no female comes through that door and if one does, you'd get no where."

"OK, two bucks says some girl knocks on that door."

"You're on but it has to be by 1am tonight so it'll be our Christmas present. And you have to get her to stay and do me too."

"OK as if that'll happen. Anyway I'm hungry what's in the fridge?"

"Nothing, forgot to shop. Here's a flyer from Benny's Pizza. Let's order in, it says he's open until midnight. That gives us 5 minutes."

Wu Mei was so tired. Her legs felt like jelly. She'd been working at the pizza parlor since 10am just like the last 5 days. She was exhausted and anxious to go home on the last bus in 15 minutes. Her life was very unhappy. She came to America 3 years ago, 42 yrs old, couldn't find a good job and her husband was refused entry because he did something stupid back in Shanghai. Wu Mei couldn't even afford airfare to visit him. Three years without a husband and no friends. She was stuck in this menial job serving tables for a really mean boss. Her boss, Benny, let everyone else go home earlier and she was stuck there for 14 hours! Worse, for Christmas she had to wear this silly costume: green stockings (not even panty hose but actual nylon stockings and she had to buy them herself or get fired) A short red velvet skirt and a sheer white blouse and a Santa helper hat. She also had to wear red panties and bra. She had to smile and tell everyone she was Santa's helper. Just a few minutes and she can go home.

"Hey Mrs. Zhou we have a delivery."

Wu Mei said, "Can't. You send delivery mans all home."

"Mrs. Zhou you do the delivery then."

"I can't. Last bus 15 minutes. Need go home."

"Do the delivery or get another job bitch. You think you can come to this country and just work when you feel like it? Take the delivery car home and bring the money in the morning."

Wu Mei almost cried. She was so tired and now this. "And don't forget to tell them you're Santa's helper!"

Bad snow storm, roads very slippery and a hard to find street but Wu Mei finally found the old house. It was hard to park the car (too much snow) and she worried about getting it started again. No door bell. She knocked and waited in the freezing cold.

"Hey John pizza's here."

"Then open the door dummy." 

"Hi, is that our pizza?" There was some Chinese woman standing there in a thin coat, shivering and holding the pizza.

Wu Mei said "I Santa helper, Merry Christmas. Pizza."

"Come in and I'll get the money."

"John, is it 1am yet?"

"No. Why?"

"Christmas present just arrived." 

He gave her the money and she fumbled to open her coat because her pockets were inside. The guys saw a middle-aged Chinese woman in a funny costume. They grinned and said "What kind of clothes are those?"

"I Santa helper" she pouted and put the money in her pocket.

Ben thought fast. "Would you like a drink?"

"Sorry, need go home." She headed back to the car. 

"Christmas present came and went. You owe me two bucks."

Wu Mei got in the car. It started but wouldn't go forward. She burst out crying. Then decided to knock on the customer's door and ask for help. 

"Hey Ben someone''s at the door. Go see. I'm busy cutting the pizza."

Ben went to look. The delivery woman. She was crying, saying something about the car not working. He said "You wait here I'll take a look."

When he came back in he spoke to John first "She just had it stuck in neutral, no problem. The bets still on. So watch me work."

Turning back to Wu Mei, he said,"I'm sorry, I checked everything and the car needs repair. But I'll try again later. Why don't you come in and stay warm?"

"Need repair? Can call fixer man?"

"Sorry, they don't work Christmas day. Can't get a repair man now. Wait inside, we'll try again later."

"No fix? What I do?"

"Just come on in, stay warm."

"OK, I cold."

Ben and John chatted with Wu Mei to make her comfortable and learned her name and the problems she was having since coming to America. They offered her a drink (a large glass of strong sherry). Wu Mei thought it looked like soda and knocked it back before realizing it was strong wine. She broke out coughing and the boys apologized for the mistake and went to the kitchen to get some soda.

"That sherry is strong stuff. How could you think it was soda?"

"I knew it was sherry, its part of the plan and it worked."

"Slime ball."

"That's me."

Wu Mei sitting on the sofa was exhausted and now the sherry was making her woozy. Slowly her eyes closed. Ben and John watched her slump onto her side. Her short red skirt rode up and they saw the tops of the green stockings and a hint of red panties.

"Woo May? Woo May? OK, she's out. "Let's take pictures and check her out." So they took a few pictures of her legs, skirt riding up, breasts pushing against her sheer blouse, red bra showing through.

She turned bringing her knees up. This revealed her panties completely especially when her legs spread apart. John started unbuttoning her blouse. Her eyes opened and closed again. She dreamed that her husband had come and was undressing her. Blouse unbuttoned, her red bra was fully revealed.

"Ben, I bet this is a 36B."

"You're on for another two bucks."

"My cock is hard."

"No kidding. Now pull her up so I can undo the tit-holders."

"Here's the label, 36B indeed."

They stared at her full breasts as they rose and fell with her breathing. The nipples were hard, probably from the cold. Neither had been this close to a naked woman before.

Wu Mei dreamed her husband was there and she wanted him so bad.

"OK, pull the skirt off."

"Looks delicious in red panties and green stockings!"

"Yeah but can't do anything through panties. Get them off too."

"I can't believe I'm seeing a real cunt. Not a picture even. Jeez my cock is so hard."

They stripped and looked uncertain as to what to do. Just then Wu Mei reached out, eyes still closed and bumped into Ben's long stiff cock. Her hand closed on it and pulled. In her mind she was rubbing her husband's cock. 

Ben went closer and started thrusting in her hand; his balls bumping her hand each time he thrust. John stared at her wet pussy wondering how they managed to get such a present. His cock throbbed and his balls hardened. His fingers found her cunt and started exploring the wetness. In and out and up and down he rubbed. He found a pink button and started squeezing. Wu Mei breathed faster. Her dreams seemed so real. Her hips rocked up and down. Her hand felt Ben's balls swinging back and forth. She had never had such a realistic dream. 

John's fingers rubbed her clit with one hand and her tits with the other. Squeezing the erect brown nipples and seeing them getting bigger. His cock ached. His balls ached. He had to do something to relieve them. Wu Mei gasped and opened her mouth. Ben moved his cock to Wu Mei's mouth and rubbed it on her lips. Such a real dream, her husband never put his cock there! She felt as if the dream would go away if she opened her eyes. It was as if she was not really dreaming. 

Ben slowly slid his throbbing cock into her warm mouth and felt it close. Tongue on his cock! Licking it all over. Wu Mei's dream was so real. How could she dream of a cock in her mouth when it had never happened before? How could her dream have a salty taste? 

John started rubbing his cock on her wet pussy. Sliding it back and forth, up and down. He was ready to burst as he slowly slid it in. Tight on his thick cock. So wet, balls ready to explode. Cock all the way in. Push farther. Squeeze eyes shut. It's so good! At last his cock had a woman!

Such a real dream Wu Mei dreamed. Dream cock much bigger than husband's!

Cock in mouth? Cock in cunt? Real dream? Her eyes popped open wide. No dream! Two boys fucking her! Cunt full of big cock thrusting. Can't scream, cock in mouth choking, hot, salty. She tried to push back but that just made the cocks in her go harder. She struggled but no use. She went limp. Ben noticed her movements but kept his cock in her mouth, his balls banging on her chin. John felt her hips pushing and thrust harder unable to control himself.

Wu Mei knew she was wet from the dream and felt pleasure from the cocks. First time in 3 years. She needed it. No worry about job. Just feel cock in cunt. Lick cock in mouth. Hips pushing. Mouth going back and forth. Taste that cock. Young cocks. Good. She spasmed as John thrust harder, his balls slapping her ass. She raised her legs to clamp on to him while squeezing Ben's balls and closing her lips as hard as she could on his cock. Just enjoy! Forget job. Just feel pleasure! As she rocked her hips and pulled John closer she could feel him suddenly jerk and gasp as he squirted into her hot pussy hole. At almost the same time, the cock she was greedily sucking suddenly shot a hot gooey salty stuff in her mouth. She swallowed eagerly. Never before had she imagined a cock in her mouth. She refused to let go of either boy until she was sure there was no more to cum.

As they pulled off her, she closed her eyes dreamily and slept. In the morning, when she woke, John asked "Would you like some breakfast."

"Me want sausages. TWO sausages. I LIKE."

The Christmas Bonus



Mary stood at her office window watching the snow falling. The decorations on the other buildings and houses in the surrounding community left no doubt as to what day was upon them.

"Christmas eve," Mary thought to herself as she walked back to her desk and finished putting things away. "Geez, how this year has flown." She put the last few notes in her top desk drawer and locked it. She logged off of her computer and shut it down. There was a knock on her open office door.

"You're sticking around for the party, aren't you?" Barbara asked as she poked her head in the doorway.

"Oh yeah. I just finished cleaning up. You going?"

"Yeah! Free food and booze? I wouldn't miss it. This place owes me at least that. Give me a few minutes and we can go up together," Barbara told Mary as she headed back to her desk.

Mary thought about Barbara's comment, that the company "owes" her. Mary picked up her phone and called her husband at his office in another part of town just to remind him that he was welcome to go to her company's Christmas party.

"I know Hon, but I don't think I can make it. I want to finish what I can of this project before being off the next few days," Rick said to her. "I'm sorry. But you know I have to get it finished by the end of the year. With the holidays and all, I'm cutting it close now."

"Well the offer is there. The boss made sure I asked you."

"I appreciate it, but... I'll see you when I get home. I'll make sure I'm not too late," he said.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight." Mary hung up and walked over to her file cabinet and pressed the lock button. "This company isn't the only thing that owes me," she thought to herself as she walked into her private bathroom. As one of the vice-presidents, she had a nice plush office on the 5th floor of the six floor office building. Not bad for someone who started in the marketing department almost fifteen years ago. She worked her way up to manager and now vice-president in charge of the department. She was doing well. Money, a company Mercedes, the office. 

Her husband, on the other hand, was still a project manager over at his much smaller company. A position he has held since before they were married, over 20 years ago. Where he was the primary bread winner for the family ten years ago, Mary's six figure pay check was more than double his. The difference in salaries had become a point of contention. The funny part was, Rick was the whole reason Mary has her job. 

Fifteen years ago, a friend of Rick's who was then a vice-president of this small but rapidly growing company, made an offer. One night while out partying, he asked if Mary would like to work for him. Mary wasn't happy with her current job so she thought about it and, a few days later accepted his offer. At that time, the company had about 25 employees. Now it had almost 250 with an employee satisfaction rate of over 95%. Paul had promised he would keep an eye on her and make sure she was happy with the job. Now, 15 years later, Paul is the president of the company and has kept his promise.

Mary finished freshening up her make-up in the bathroom and stood at the window of her office, still watching the snow. It was just a little after noon and the gray sky showed that there was plenty more to come before the night was out. She looked around the office complex and noticed the exodus of the employees whose companies were letting them off early for the holiday. Being her company's building was the tallest in the complex, she had a good view. Meanwhile, her company's employees were making their way to the sixth floor for their holiday celebration. 

Barbara poked her head in, "You ready to go up?"

"Yeah, let's go. Do you want to leave your purse in here? I'm leaving mine in here."

"Sure, I don't feel like dragging it around. Not saying I don't trust my co-workers or anything."

"Yeah, me too." Mary locked the door as they left.

Mary and Barbara went to the elevators where they ran into several other employees heading up to the party. When the elevator doors opened, they piled into the elevator car for the one floor ride. When the doors opened, they saw a huge Christmas tree decorated to the hilt. Waiters served everyone champagne in a glass with the company logo and year etched on them. Paul, dressed in a Santa coat and hat, sans beard, greeted everybody as they arrived. He gave Mary a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Mary."

"Merry Christmas, Boss."

"That's Santa Boss to you," they laughed. Paul continued on, making sure to greet just about everybody. The executive floor lobby was transformed into a bull roast. There were tables of food; roast beef, turkey, ham, shrimp, all kinds of salads and vegetables. There was an open bar with top shelf brands and at least six types of beer, domestic and imported. 

Before everyone dove into the food, Paul offered a little toast as thanks to everyone in the company for a successful year. Everyone raised their glass and took a sip. Mary emptied her glass in one gulp. 

Everyone lined up for the food. Mary intentionally stayed out of the line, letting the employees get theirs first. Mary is one of those bosses that looks out for their employees. "Higher positions should have more responsibilities, not more privileges." 

While she stood off on the side sipping her third drink of the afternoon, talking to different people as they passed, Paul walked over to her. "By the way, did you get your envelope yet?" he asked.

"Envelope?" Mary asked, "what envelope?"

"Your Christmas bonus envelope."

"No, ahh, well... I didn't..."

"Oh, that's because I haven't given it to you yet." Paul handed Mary a plain envelope. "This is for the exceptional year you have helped us have this year. I was hoping Rick would be here when I gave you this, but I take it he couldn't make it, again." Paul emphasized the "again" part. He knew it was a little touchy ground with Mary being Rick seldom could make the company parties.

"Oh! Well thank you, Paul. No, Rick had to finish up some stuff at work, so he won't make it. As usual." Mary went to fold it and put it in a pocket in her skirt.

"Don't you want to open it?"

"Oh, but of course." Mary tore the end open and slid out a check. She read the amount and was shocked. "Ten-thousand dollars?!?"

"Shhh! I wish I could have been, but I wasn't quite as generous with everybody."

In a quieter tone of voice, "But, Paul, ten-thousand?"

"Don't you think you deserve it?"

"Well..," Mary thought for a second still looking at the amount, "Of course I deserve it, but..."

"More importantly Mary, I think you deserve it. We've had a great year and a lot of the credit goes to you and your department. After the first of the year there will be a raise associated with this, but this should hold you until then."

"Thank you. Thank you very much, Paul. I don't know what to say. I could kiss you, but I don't think it would go too well in front of everybody."

"You're probably right."

"Look, I'll be back up in a minute. I want to run down and put this in my purse. I wouldn't want to lose it."

"That's a good idea. I'll walk down with you."

Mary and Paul caught an elevator down to the 5th floor. They walked to her office, Mary unlocked the door, and they went in. Mary opened her purse, slipped the envelope inside and then closed it. 

"You know, you could give me that kiss now, nobody will see us."

"I guess I could at that." Mary walked around from behind her desk and wrapped her arms around Paul's neck and pulled him towards her. She kissed him hard. "Thanks again, Paul. That was very generous of you."

"I know, but like I said, you're worth it. I hope Rick gets a kick out of this."

"Oh, Paul. I don't think he gets a kick out of anything to do with my job any more."

"Jealousy? Rick?"

"Jealous? Maybe. I just don't know. I think it's that macho bullshit. It's a pride thing. He even tries to differentiate my money and our money. He makes sure all of the living expenses and the mortgage come out of his check and then poor mouths that he can't afford a new car."

"Why don't you buy him one? You can afford it."

"He won't let me. I've tried. I even tried to put more money on the house payment to pay it off sooner, and he stopped me from doing that."

"I didn't know he would be that way about you're job. Maybe I shouldn't pay you so well, give me the bonus back." Paul laughed.

"I wish it were that easy. I've even opened a separate bank account to hide how much money I've been putting aside. I haven't even told him about the raises and bonuses for the last few years. I even pay his credit cards so he thinks it comes out of "our" account. It's gotten to be a game."

"This isn't too unusual. Although it is a little deceptive, you're probably doing the right thing by not letting him know exactly how much you make."

"Most men would probably love to have a wife that could support them, but not Rick. He still doesn't know how much extra I put down on our house. He still thinks we got a great deal from the bank just to keep the mortgage payments low."

Paul reached out and hugged Mary, "I'm sorry. If I can do anything, let me know." Mary hugged back and laid her head on his chest.

"Even when we make love, he acts like he's doing it with his boss, not his wife."

Paul let go of Mary, "How's that?"

"Well, it's hard to describe. It's just not the same. He almost seems like it is a job to do it. He just doesn't seem to enjoy it anymore."

"Maybe it's his job? You know, maybe he's burning out."

"I don't think so. He seems to enjoy his job as much as he always has. Frankly, his job has always been his first wife."

"You don't think he's, well, fooling around do you?"

Mary thought for a minute, "No. I don't think so. When he's not at work, he's with me. When he's not with me, he's at work. I don't see where he'd have the time." 

Mary hugged Paul again and Paul hugged back. He could feel himself developing an erection, which he didn't want. Mary is a beautiful woman, but she is also an employee and wife of one of his best friends. He too is married. He tried to pull his pelvis away from Mary's without her realizing what was happening, but Mary pushed up against him even harder. Subconsciously, Mary's need to be desired caused her to press even harder once she felt his hardening cock pushing against his pants. While hugging him, Mary began to rotate her hips, rubbing his cock against her pelvis.

Mary looked up at Paul's face and he at hers. She kissed him hard, opening her mouth and allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. Their tongues wrestled while they kissed. Paul could no longer resist, his hands roamed down Mary's back sending passionate shivers down her spine. Her softly squeezed the round cheeks of her ass as they continued to kiss. 

Mary slid her one left hand between them and down to Paul's cock. Through his pants, she began to stroke his cock. "Ooo, Paul. You're getting so hard."

"I know. You're not exactly helping matters any. We shouldn't be doing this."

Mary kissed him, "I know. I don't know what's come over me. Do you want to stop?"

"I don't know. Do you?"

Mary kissed him once again, "Not right now I don't. But I have a feeling if we keep going we may regret it."

"Mary, I've always wanted you. But I could never ask you to cheat on Rick."

"I've felt the same way about you Paul. I know it's wrong, but I feel like I really need you now. Right now."

That's all it took for Paul. He grabbed her hard and kissed her. Mary was so hot that she began pulling at his clothes. "Hey, hey, hey!!! Take it easy on the Santa suit. It's rented." Both of them laughed silly for the next couple of seconds. Paul slipped the Santa coat and hat off and threw them into a chair. Mary undid his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. After she pulled his shirt from his trousers, she undid his belt and unzipped his fly. His pants fell to his ankles. Paul slid the shirt off and pulled his undershirt over his head. Mary slid his shorts down and slid down to her knees in front of him. Paul's cock was fully erect.

Mary licked the head of his cock gently, tickling it with her tongue. Paul closed his eyes and tilted his head back as Mary licked the underside of his cock. "That feels sooo gooood," he whispered as Mary gently sucked and nibbled her way to the base of it.

Mary spun around on the floor shifting Paul against her desk. "I never thought I'd ever give Santa a blow job." Mary laughed.

"Just remember, Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice," Paul said with a chuckle.

"Well, am I a good girl?"

"Oh, you are so good at being bad." Paul reached down and brought Mary's mouth back to his cock.

Mary slid the head of his cock into her hot, wet mouth. She slid it in and out of her mouth, taking a little more in with each cycle until she was taking almost the entire length of his cock into her mouth. 

"Geez, Mary. If I'd know you were this good, I wouldn't have waited fifteen years."

Mary mouth fucked Paul for several minutes. Then Paul picked her up. He kissed her hard once again. Her unbuttoned her top exposing her red lace bra. Mary allowed the top to slide off her arms. Paul reached around behind her and unfastened her bra and slid it off her arms. 

"I've been dying to see these for years," Paul commented. Most of the guys around had been dying to see Mary's tits. They were the largest natural boobs in the company. At 42DD, they were quite an eyeful. 

"Mary, you have such nice boobs." He lowered his head and kissed each one of them. He sucked on each nipple in turn, getting them both fully erect. "They are gorgeous."

Mary just smiled, feeling appreciated. While playing with her tits, Paul lowered his one hand down and under her skirt. Mary spread her legs welcoming his hand to her pussy. Paul rubbed his hand against her pussy. Mary immediately began to purr like a kitten. Mary reached down and unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor. She then pulled her panties past her hips and thighs. Paul slid them off the rest of the way. Mary was now only wearing her red lace garter, natural colored stockings, and her red high heels. 

Paul turned Mary so she could lean against the desk. He kicked his shoes off and stepped out of his pants. He slowly knelt down in front of her, now completely naked. He kissed and licked from her neck, across her shoulders, across her boobs, around her navel, down to her pussy. He licked up and down the inside of each of her thighs, teasing her. Once he started licking her pussy, Mary went crazy. Mary loved to have her pussy eaten and it was one thing her husband was exceptional at doing. She had him well trained. The excitement of doing it with someone other than her husband was getting to her. What she was doing was taboo and that was one of the things making it so exciting.

Mary was not exactly known as being promiscuous. Mary had very few affairs over the years she has been married, really just one night stands. A couple of which her husband knew about. Mary loved giving blow jobs and there were a few guys that she just really wanted to suck off. But, she was very particular with who she fucked. Rick knew this from the time they were married and figured if he acted like it was okay, she was less likely to do it behind his back. Although Mary didn't exactly tell him about all of them, Mary did tell him about most. Actually, Rick seemed to enjoy her telling him. But this one, she had no plans on telling him about.

Paul continued licking Mary's pussy, sliding his tongue as deep inside her as he could. Mary had two strong orgasms as he did. Mary's pussy was soaking wet.

Paul waited for her last orgasm to subside before he stopped licking her. Then, while she was still seated just on the edge of the desk, he stood up and positioned the head of his cock against the lips of her pussy. "You're sure you want to do this?"

"Oh, yes, Paul. Fuck me!", Mary tried to catch her breath, "Please fuck me!"

Paul started pushing the head of his cock between her pussy lips. Slowly, his cock entered her. Mary leaned back onto the desk as Paul's cock penetrated deeper and deeper inside of her hot wet pussy. "Geez, you're so tight," Paul said to her as he pushed further inside of her.

"See, I told you I haven't been getting it enough." 

"I'm going to have to have a talk with that husband of yours," Paul said with a chuckle.

"If you do, he'll kill both of us," Mary said wide-eyed.

Paul began fucking Mary, sliding his cock slowly in and out of her pussy. He slowly picked up momentum and force. Mary was reaching another orgasm as he began to thrust his cock harder inside her. Once again it dawned on her that this was not her husband fucking her and this excited her even more.

After her first orgasm, Mary rolled over onto her chest. Because of the heels she was wearing, she was able to spread her legs a little further and still be at the right height. Paul stood behind Mary, lined up his cock with her pussy and re-entered her. Her pussy was so wet by now that it slid right in. Paul fucked her furiously, driving his cock all of the way inside her with each thrust. It wasn't too long before Mary had another orgasm. Her muscles tightened around Paul's cock as her felt his cum build to a climax. 

"Mary, I'm ready to cum. I don't want to do it inside you."

"No, don't do it inside me." The only man to ever cum inside her pussy was her husband. "Let me suck you off."

Paul slid his cock from her pussy and she slid off the desk and knelt in front of him. She took his cock in her mouth and sucked on it, taking it deep in her mouth. Paul's cock exploded, shooting his cum into Mary's mouth. She swallowed several times as she continued going down on him. She kept sliding his cock in and out of her mouth until she was sure he was finished and then swallowed one more time.

Paul helped Mary to her feet and kissed her. By that there was a rap on the window next to her office door. As Mary and Paul looked towards the door they saw Rick standing there acting as if he were applauding. Paul quickly put his shorts and pants on. Mary went to the door and opened it.

"Honey, I can explain," Mary started. 

"You can? You can explain why you're fucking your boss in your office on Christmas eve?"

"It wasn't Paul's fault."

"I'm sure it wasn't"

"Seriously. We were talking and, well, one thing led to another, and..."

"And the two of you decided to fuck as a Christmas bonus."

"Rick, it was my fault," Paul interrupted, "I let it happen. I'm sorry. Geez, I'm sorry."

"You let it happen?"

Mary jumped in, "He didn't let it happen, I seduced him."

"I'm sure of that. Can I ask why?"

"I don't know. Paul gave me my bonus and I went to thank him and, I guess we got carried away."

"A bonus? How much of a bonus deserves a fuck?"

Mary pulled the check from her purse as she dressed. She handed it to Rick.

"Ten thousand dollars? That is a fucking good bonus," Rick said with a satirical tone.

"Rick," Paul said, "this is my fault. I started it. Please, I don't care what you do to me, don't hurt her. She loves you. This was purely sexual. There is nothing between us."

"Nothing between you? Nothing besides your dick." Rick paused. "I always had a feeling you were fucking him, I just never thought I'd be right." 

"This was the first time, Rick. Honest," Paul swore, "we've never done anything before."

"He's right, Honey. I've never done anything with him before. Honest. You know I'd have told you if I had. I've always been honest with you about this."

Rick looked at both of them. "I've always trusted you, Paul. Even though I suspected it, with all the money you throw at her, I never really thought you would do it to me."

"Rick, I'm sorry. Really I am. I wish I hadn't done it."




The Christmas Bonus



Rick changed his tone. "What? Wasn't she good enough for you?"

Paul hesitated, knowing it was a "catch 22" answer. Rick looked at Mary, "Was he any good. Did he fuck you good?"

Now it was Mary's turn to hesitate. "Yes, Honey. He was good. He was very good. I came 3 or 4 times."

"Well, as long as he was good. As long as he took care of what ever kind of thrill you needed. When were you going to tell me about it?"

"I'd have told you about it tonight, when I got home." Mary took a wild guess that Rick would have wanted to know.

Rick thought about it for a minute, staring into Mary's eyes to see if she was lying.

Paul was now dressed, without the Santa coat and hat. "Rick, look, can we finish this after the holiday. I know you want to kill me right now, but let's not let everybody upstairs know. Please?"

"I don't want to kill you. And I sure in hell don't want everybody upstairs to know my wife is a whore. A very high priced whore. As far as I'm concerned, it's over."

Paul reached out to shake hands. Rick hesitated but then extended his hand. "After all, it is Christmas."

Mary finished getting dressed and straightening herself out. "How long were you standing there?" 

"From the time you started making out."

Paul just looked at Mary. Mary asked, "Why didn't you do something then?"

"And interrupt your Christmas bonus? That wouldn't be proper."

Paul looked at Rick as they started towards the elevator. "If it's okay with you, can we just tell everybody that we were showing you around the building?"

"Yeah, they might buy that," Rick replied.

The three of them, Mary, Rick, and Paul all returned to the party. Nobody gave any indications that they were suspicious. Barbara walked over to them, gave Rick a hug. "Merry Christmas! I didn't think you were coming." She looked at Mary, "I was just getting ready to send out a search party to find the two of you."

Mary looked at Paul, almost ashamed, and then back at Barbara, "We just gave Rick the ten cent tour of the building. He's never seen anything besides my office." "Phew," she thought, got us out of that one.

Mary never left Rick's side for the rest of the afternoon. They went to a window to see what the weather was like. Mary looked at Rick, "By the way, when did you decide to come to the party anyway?"

"After I hung up with you I decided that I really hadn't been to any parties this year. I thought that I might not be showing my gratitude that Paul has been taking care of you here. I didn't know he was taking that good of care of you. So I thought it would be nice if I showed up."

"Honey, serious. That was the only time we have even kissed. I mean it. I had more to do with it than Paul. One day, I hope you understand."

"I understand. It's just a shame that I realized that I had been acting like a fool at the same time you needed to feel desirable. It's probably as much my fault as it is yours and Paul's. After all, I can't blame any man for trying to have you. You are one fantastic woman. I'm lucky to have you, no matter what I may have to put up with."

Mary pondered that she may have been wrong with what she had been thinking about Rick. Maybe he does understand. Maybe she has been reading things into what has been happening to them. Maybe it is her ego and not his. Maybe she just simply has to make sure she isn't the one that has changed. Maybe by not acting as though she is making all the money, Rick won't feel so inferior, if he feels inferior at all. From now on, she was going to make sure he had no reason to feel inferior.

The monetary bonus from Paul seemed quite inferior to the bonus shared by Mary and her husband.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!



The Christmas Bonus



"Miss Landry, I need you to have Alan Parks come to my office." Leslie Harper said as she pressed the intercom button. 

"Right away Ms. Harper" she slightly slurred. 

Leslie sat looking out the large window by her desk, holding an envelope in her hand. She could hear the merriment and laughter from the party going on in the outer office. She knew that as usual, most of the employees would be drinking Mary Cooper's alcohol laden egg nog and having a wonderful time. She knew this was her big chance. Her heart raced as she thought about what she was about to do. It was now or never, she told herself. The door opened slowly as Alan peeked in. 

"You wanted to see me Ms. Harper?" he said as he stepped inside.

"Close the door and have a seat please. " She said, her chair still turned away from the door.

Leslie turned around in the chair slowly as she heard the door close. She took a deep breath before she rose from the chair, clutching the envelope tightly in her hand. Alan sat there looking utterly shocked as his stunningly beautiful boss moved around to the front of her desk wearing only a sheer red negligee trimmed in white marabou with matching panties, red stilettos and a santa hat. 

"Now Alan, it is a tradition here at Revcorp that every year the employee with the best record gets a bonus." She purred as she hopped up on the desk. She crossed her long, shapely legs, letting him catch a better view of her panties as she did so. "That's why I called you in here today." She paused, tracing the corner of the envelope along the neckline of the negligee. "So here it is"

"Ms. Harper, I . . . " 

"Call me Leslie," she said as she slid off the desk and moved toward him. 

"Leslie, I have to say, I am really flattered, but, I'm . . . "

"Shhhh," she said, pressing her finger to his lips as she straddled his lap, lowering herself onto it gently. "It's time for your . . . bonus."

Leslie quickly pressed her lips to his, her bosom pressed firmly against his chest. At first he tried to resist, but the smell of her sweet perfume, and the heat of her body as it began to grind against his quickly word down his resolve. His hands moved to her hips, holding them gently as his tongue slipped past her lips. The kiss rapidly became more passionate as he gave in to the lusts that were now consuming them both. 

Alan had found himself thinking about his voluptuous boss many times, but never would think of betraying his wife. The egg nog had helped to lower his inhibitions just enough to ease his conscience's grip over him and let him enjoy the treat this beautiful woman was giving him. His fingers traveled slowly up her spine as his tongue probed her mouth, tasting a hint of the cappuccino she had been drinking.

Leslie's hips moved slowly as she felt the bulge in Alan's pants growing with each movement. She knew she had to have that cock deep inside her, but first she wanted a taste. She broke the kiss, staring into his eyes as a wicked smile crossed her lips. Without saying a word, she stood up, and knelt down in front of him. Alan watched tentatively for a moment as she reached for his zipper. 

As she slowly unzipped his pants, Alan reached down, unbuttoning them and lifting his hips as he allowed her to slide his pants and boxer briefs down. His rigid 9 inch shaft bobbed in front of her face as it was released from the fabric that held it captive. The tip glistened as a tiny bit of precum leaked from his little slit. 

Leslie's bright green eyes focused on his as she wrapped her long, slender fingers around the base of his shaft and leaned in. The tip of her tongue slowly lapped up the delicious liquid and swirled over the smooth skin again before she parted her lips. The head of his cock disappeared into her hot mouth as she lightly began to suck. Her tongue never stopped lavishing attention on his the bulbous tip, covering every inch of it over and over again. 

Alan groaned as he watched her feed his cock into her mouth inch by inch. Her curled, tracing along the veiny underside of his shaft as her lips worked up and down it teasingly. His fingers languidly played with her hair as she continued to suck. Leslie tilted her head slightly, allowing the head of his cock to slip into her throat as she took it all in. 

He was having a hard time controlling himself as this amazingly hot woman devoured his throbbing shaft. The entire time he kept thinking about how incredible it would feel to have her wet little cunt wrapped around his dick as well. He continued to moan as she skillfully manipulated his throbbing shaft with her lips. 

"Stop" he whispered as he gently pushed her away. 

Leslie looked up at him with a disappointed frown. Alan kicked off his shoes and began to unbutton his shirt as he stepped out of his pants. The frown quickly disappeared as she realized he was only stopping her to keep from cumming. He extended his hand, helping her to her feet. He took the santa hat from her head and tossed it aside as he stared into her eyes. She trembled with anticipation as he brushed her long crimson tresses over her shoulder to expose the delicate curve of her neck.

She shivered as she felt Alan's breath against her skin as he leaned in to kiss her neck. The feel of his gentle kisses made her juices seep from between her thick pink pussy lips. His hands roamed, caressing her body as he continued to tease the soft skin along where her shoulder met her neck. Leslie bit her lower lip as his strong hands cupped her breasts, giving them a gentle squeeze before his fingers moved to the thin straps holding up the negligee.

Alan slowly pushed the straps down as he kissed up toward her earlobe, catching it between his lips and sucking it lightly as he nips at it. His hands move back down, finding her breasts once again as he massages them. The faint scent of her sex fills the air as he continues to work her into a lustful frenzy. His thumb strummed over her hardened nipple for a moment before sliding down her flat stomach. Leslie moaned softly as he began to push her panties down, letting them fall down around her ankles. She quickly stepped out of them.

He slowly backed her up toward the desk, until the backs of her thighs rested against its edge. He placed his hands on her hips, lifting her up to sit on the edge of the desk. Alan stepped between her legs, letting the tip of his cock rub against her drooling pussy. Before he entered her, he craved a taste of her sweetness. 

He knelt down in front of Leslie, spreading her legs widely as her ass slid to the edge of the desk. Before she could even say a word, he buried his tongue deep inside her hot little hole, lapping at her honeyed juices. She gripped the edges of the desk tightly as her hips rocked ever so slightly. Alan's talented tongue had her past the point of no return. Her thighs trembled as the sensation swept through her body, making her shudder as she came hard. His tongue was drenched in her liquid lust as he continued to stab his tongue deep inside her convulsing pussy.

As her orgasm slowly subsided, Alan slid his tongue out of her dripping wet hole, giving her clit a tender lick. She shivered, still coming down from the glorious orgasm he had just given her. As he stood up, she pulled him toward her, her lips seeking out his for another passionate kiss. Leslie's tongue forced into his mouth, tasting herself on his lips and tongue as they kissed. 

The tip of Alan's cock rubbed against her lips, teasing her even more before she reached down and guided his throbbing cock into her aching pussy. They both moaned as they broke the kiss as he sunk deep inside her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him into her harder as the two engaged in another passionate kiss. 

His thrusts became harder and faster as Leslie's hips moved to meet his every thrust. The two lovers continued to moan into the kiss as their bodies collided, tangled in a passionate embrace. They were so enthralled in the act that neither of them noticed the door opening slightly and closing again. 

It didn't take long for the intensity of their desires to become too much for them to hold back. Alan could feel the cum boiling in his balls as he tried to refrain from cumming inside her just yet. Each deeply penetrating thrust bringing her closer to climaxing around his throbbing cock. Leslie wrapped her arms around Alan's neck as she felt her resolve weakening. Her muscles clenched tightly around his thick cock as her juices baptized it.

That was all it took to quickly send Alan over the edge. He could feel the thick hot cum quickly shooting up through his cock and emptying into her warm wetness. Her muscles grip him tightly, milking every drop from his pulsing cock. Leslie clung tightly to him as her body trembled, going limp after the massive orgasm. 

The two panted softly as they came down from their orgasmic high, staring at each other quietly. Neither of them said a word afterwards as they dressed, just smiled softly at each other, knowing that it would happen again if the chance presented itself. It wasn't until Alan was about to walk out of her office that anything was said.

"Merry Christmas, Ms. Harper" he said with a wink as he opened the door. 

As Leslie stood there, watching him walk out the door, she could feel the thick cum dribbling out of her well fucked cunt. She smiled as she dipped her fingers into the warm fluid, gathering a bit up and bringing it to her mouth. She knew she had to clean the rest up before she left or she would have a stain on her skirt. So off to the restroom she went. 

The party was winding down as the few stragglers that were left began to file out. Leslie's body felt drained as she made her way to the restroom. She peeked into each of the stalls, making sure she was alone before moving to the sink. She carefully rested one foot on the sink as she hiked her skirt up. Wetting a handful of paper towels, she began to wipe away the cum that was leaking out. 

Silently the door opened, as a figure crept in. Leslie looked up as she caught a glimpse of something in the mirror, realizing quickly that it was Ellen Landry. A look of embarrassment quickly spread over Leslie's face as she stood there, still clutching the wad of wet paper towels with her foot still on the sink counter. Ellen just smiled, holding something behind her back.

"I . . ." Leslie stammered trying to think of an excuse.

"Ms. Harper, I know what happened." She said quietly.

Leslie looked at her in disbelief. The thoughts of blackmail quickly filled her head before Ellen's voice broke through them all.

"Don't worry Ms. Harper. I am not here to threaten you in any way. I just wanted to ask you for something." She said with a sultry smile.

"What is it you want Miss Landry?" Leslie said in an uneasy tone.

Without saying a word, Ellen moved closer, putting the santa hat on her boss's head. Leslie just stood there looking dumbfounded as the girl stepped in closer, putting two fingers to the entry of Leslie's pussy and sliding them in slowly. Her eyes widened as she stared into her secretary's eyes. The feel of the two slender digits sliding into her velvety folds surprised her. She had never thought about another woman in that way before, but the tenderness in Ellen's touch was having a definite effect on her. 

Very slowly, the two invading fingers slid out, as Ellen lifted them to her mouth. Leslie watched in awe as the girl's tongue swiped over the glistening skin, tasting the sweet liquids. Her mouth felt dry as the overwhelming urge to kiss her rushed through Leslie's mind. She could not understand what was coming over her.

"Mmm even sweeter than I imagined." She purred. "Why don't you hop up on the counter and let me clean the rest up for you?"

Leslie just nodded and hopped up on the edge of the counter, her skirt riding up around her upper thighs. Her heart raced as she sat there looking at the young woman standing before her. Ellen quickly knelt down in front of Leslie, running her fingers over her boss's inner thigh as she looked up at her adoringly. The feel of her hot breath against the tender pink flesh made Leslie shiver.

Soon the feel of that velvety soft tongue dipping into her juicy hole was all she could think about. Languidly, it pushed in deep as possible, causing Ellen's nose to rub up against the tiny love button. Leslie gripped the counter, moaning loudly as the tongue continued to probe her wetness. It did not take long for the talented secretary to have her moaning in delight as she sped toward climax. 

Ellen loved how sexy her boss looked sitting there with her legs splayed, her large firm breasts bouncing as she drew in every heated breath, and the incredibly sexy look of sheer ecstacy on her face. The soft gasps and moans were guiding her, urging her on to continue the delicious task. Suddenly, she felt the muscles that surrounded her tongue begin to spasm quickly as a flood of womanly essence rushed into her mouth.

Hungrily, Ellen lapped up every bit of the juices as they spilled out. Leslie cried out as she shuddered and shook. Each movement made Ellen's nose brush against her clit even more, prolonging the incredible sensation to the point of near exhaustion. It was the most intense orgasm that Leslie had ever experienced, and now, more than ever, she wanted to taste herself on her lover's lips and tongue. 

Gently she pulled Ellen up and pressed her lips against the girls. Tongues tangled and soft moans and sighs were exchanged as the two kissed deeply. The taste of sweet lust clung to Ellen's tongue as Leslie lightly sucked it. Their bodies pressed hard against each other, their breasts rubbing tenderly against one another's. Finally the kiss was broken.

"That was incredible." Leslie purred as she stared into Ellen's eyes. 

"Thank You Ms. Harper." Ellen answered as she blushed.

"Now I think maybe you and I should go grab some dinner at Pierre's and discuss how I shall repay you for your . . . help" she said with a wink as she slid off the counter. With that, she walked out of the bathroom and headed back to her office thinking to herself this was the best Christmas party ever. 



The Christmas Bonus



Author's Note: Another long-ish story with the sex near the end. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One.

Gigake-America Industries Northeastern Headquarters was, rather than a single monolithic skyscraper, a series of tastefully designed buildings that sat on several acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Even in December, with a light snowfall on the ground, the place far more resembled the campus of some upscale college than it did the location of a branch of a massive multi-national corporation. It was one of these buildings, a gleaming eight story glass and steel structure, that housed their Media Relations division. The inside of the building was much like the outside. Unlike your standard cubicle farm, teams of four employees shared their own open-concept work space, with four work-stations housed together in what appeared to be a giant, doorless office. It was in one of these clusters that one particular group of three men and one woman spent eight or more hours of every day.

"Apparently it's not the Christmas Party this year," Joanna Cloutier said with some small degree of amusement. The lone woman in the group was a tall, slender beauty, her long brown hair pinned behind her head with chopsticks and her deep brown eyes behind the frames of five hundred dollar Armani wire-rim glasses. Her entire ensemble, from the tight skirt to the form fitting blouse, seemed like an elaborate effort to draw leering stares from passers-by who'd either be admiring the girl who was wearing it or wondering where she'd bought it.

"Nope. Winter Holiday Party," Phil Cooke confirmed, reading the same email. Phil was the oldest of the group, his greying hair thinning slightly at his pronounced widow's peak and slight creases around the corner of his eyes. He'd long ago been given the marginal distinction of being the "Team Leader", a title that had come with a three percent raise, required attendance at four staff meetings a month and ultimate responsibility for the performance of the team. None of them had said it, but the three other members of the team had all been glad to have not been given the title. 

"Another sad defeat for all of Christendom. I'll alert Fox News and the Pope," Alex Morrison said as he sipped his coffee. Tall, with sandy blonde hair and an easy smile that curved at his own irony, Alex had apparently never gotten the email that had said that "Business Casual" was the desired dress for the office. His hand tailored three piece suit looked crisp and freshly cleaned despite the snow and sleet that had covered the ground for days.

"Finally, the historical suffering of the Jews appeased through politically correct language from HR and what I'm sure will be a cheap plastic Menorah next to the hors d'ouevres" Josh Letowski sighed with relief. The phrase tall, dark and handsome could have been applied to Josh if you were willing to compromise somewhat on the handsome in favour of pleasant and and go for extra orders on the tall and dark. His six foot six frame was slouched effortlessly in his chair, his oversized dress shoes resting on his desk, "Truly, we really are the chosen people."

"Makes the hardships worthwhile, I bet." Joanna said dryly as she spun towards the centre of the grouping.

"I like to think of my great-grandfather at momentous times like these. Arriving at Ellis Island from Warsaw with only a ratty old suitcase and a dream" Josh said as he spun to face her, "How joyous he'd be to see the way we've progressed as a people."

"Speaking of progress," Alex interrupted the joking, seemingly quite pleased with himself. He waited for both Josh and Joanna to look up to him with worried looks on their faces. He reached inside his pinstriped suit jacket and removed what were unmistakably a pair of women's undergarments.

"You son of a bitch." Josh said angrily.

"In the building?" Joanna said, hoping the answer was in the negative.

"I was looking for a ruling on that." Alex said, relishing the worry in his co-workers eyes. He turned to Phil as Joanna and Josh turned to their team leader as well. "She doesn't work for Gigake exactly but she does work in the building."

"Sure, whatever." Phil sighed wearily as he typed furiously on his computer. 

"Fuck!" Joanna exclaimed as she kicked the wall of her cubicle gently.

"Wait, so what is she? A janitor? I may want clarification on the ruling." Josh asked, slumping sadly in his chair.

"At the coffee stand in the lobby. The little blonde." Alex said with a wink.

"Really?" Joanna asked, clearly impressed. Alex just nodded.

"You jackass," Josh said wistfully as he turned back to his computer screen "I'd get her so fucking pregnant."

Alex just smiled as he tucked the panties back into his pocket.

"Details?" Josh said, opening up a text document.

"Straight up missionary. Both of us got there. Works in the Building. Got the panties." Alex said, trying to remember everything pertinent "So...twenty?"

"Yeah, twenty." Josh agreed, typing a few numbers into the screen, "That lead is looking insurmountable."

Joanna just fumed. The topic they were now discussing was a contest that the three younger members of the team had been engaged in for several years and was referred to by them all as, simply, The Game. They had all been assigned to the team withing a few months of each other and, after post-work drinks, it had quickly been established that Joanna, Josh and Alex all shared a distinct interest in bedding eligible young women and that they were all somewhat prolific with their conquests. The topic had then turned to their relatively paltry Christmas bonuses for the year and Josh had proposed an idea. For the upcoming year, they would keep track of their sexual partners. Scores would be assigned based on the manner, success and deviancy from the norm of the sexual encounters. There were bonus points for groupings, bedding fellow Gigake employees and the successful retrieval of their partners undergarments. 

To make it truly interesting, Josh had also proposed a fundraising system. Any time a typo or factual error was caught in any official email or document the team sent out in response to a media query, twenty dollars would have to be put into a central fund by the offending party. Additional penalties would be assessed for showing up late to work, requiring help to meet a deadline and whatever else could be agreed upon. The accumulated money would sit in an interest bearing account for the year until the person with the most points claimed the entire pot. A collection of money that they now referred to as the Christmas Bonus.

Phil, who'd been out drinking with them when the game had been conceived, had initially resisted the idea both out of a sense of decency and because he didn't want anyone to later complain about a sexually charged work environment. It had been Joanna who'd convinced him to let them have their fun. She was no shrinking violet and had every intention of winning the pot at the end of the year. Phil had relented only when he saw how eager his team had been to avoid the monetary penalties that came with mistakes. The team's performance reviews for the last two years had been glowing. They'd been rated the best Media Relations team in any of Gigake's worldwide divisions for both of the last two years. 

"So what's the totals heading into December?" Alex asked confidently. He'd won the first year of the contest and come in a close second to Josh in the second year. He was confident that in the third year, he'd regain the cheap plastic tiara Joanna had bought and affectionately dubbed the "Slut Crown". The one Josh was now twirling around his finger like a gunslinger in the old west. 

"Alexander Edward Morrison the Third has...645 points. Fuck." Josh said glumly as he read the detailed score sheet he'd drawn up. "You know, it's really not fair. If your people didn't discriminate against my people I could have gone to your fancy boarding schools and gotten into your Country Clubs and I'd have some of that refined, dashing charm that your silly gentile girls go so crazy for."

"You're going to talk to me about the advantages of birth?" Alex said dismissively "If I had the Hammer, this would be over in June."

Joanna snorted with laughter. "The Hebrew Hammer" was how Josh referred to his apparently gargantuan penis. It had been written on the door of at least one stall in every woman's bathroom of the building that Josh Letowski was legendarily endowed. As a result of that or simply word of mouth every so often there'd be a visit to their work station from some eager female employee looking for Josh with what turned out to be a clearly fabricated reason to visit their peculiar little corner of the Gigake complex. It had only been on one stop in one of those bathroom stalls while reading a press release that the entire team had worked on that Joanna had noted that the clipped, precise handwriting on the bathroom wall matched the notes that Josh had scribbled in the margins of the release exactly. 

"Ten and one half inches of pure, Semitic fury," Josh said proudly, "And that's after the Mohel got through with me."

"Guys, not that I ever get tired of hearing about Josh's cock but do you suppose that we could possibly start looking over this thing regarding political bias in our broadcast division? Someone's going to need to fact check that one and run point," Phil implored. Phil had agreed to the game and even participated in an extremely limited way, contributing to the fund whenever one of his extremely rare mistakes were noticed and acting as arbiter for any disputes as to the rules, but he still felt the need to occasionally break up the discussion and get them focused.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Josh nodded but continued reading from the screen "Yours truly is racking up a strong second place with five hundred and fifty-five points, although I still dispute the idea that getting down on the Company Picnic doesn't count on doing it on Gigake Grounds. So that really should be five hundred and seventy-five."

Alex rolled his eyes at his continued protests. It had been ruled on repeatedly. 

"And Joanna 'The Sapphic Assassin' Cloutier is pulling up the rear, which I'm told she enjoys, with the pitiful total of three hundred and thirty." Josh said while shaking his head in disappointment, "You are just letting your entire sexual orientation down with that sad display of epic failure."

"You guys really need to give me a break on April and May," Joanna protested, referring to her brief absence from the contest, "Some sort of pro-rated score for the rest of the year."

"Uh, no." Alex said disdainfully, "Nobody here told you to have that brief, embarrassing run-in with monogamy."

Joanna sighed. She'd met Beverley, who she thought she may have had a real connection with, earlier in the year. Not only had Bev proven to be something of a clingy nutcase, she had also cost Joanna her first real chance at the title. She'd been neck and neck with Alex for the first few months. 

She'd needed this to be her year too. Joanna had been forced to take all of her accumulated vacation and sick days in the upcoming year and, as a result, had a solid month in January of time off. She'd planned on finally using the time to take the trip to Europe she'd always wanted to take during University but could never afford. Several unforeseen financial problems during the year had left her without much of a vacation fund however and winning The Christmas Bonus had been her last real shot at anything other than spending her time in her apartment, watching daytime TV.

Joanna often reflected on her participation in the contest. She knew that deep down it was something that most of her girlfriends would find repellent if they knew about but, the truth was, Joanna was every bit the slut that Alex and Josh were. She had taken to a monogamous relationship like a goldfish to the desert. She also took a great deal of pleasure from every new conquest so why not beat the boys at their little bit of Frat Boy nonsense? 

"What's the Bonus up to?" Joanna asked sadly

"Four thousand, seven hundred, eighty-four dollars." Josh said, opening up a web browser with a link to an on-line bank account. Joanna cursed her luck. Not only had Bev left her a billion obnoxious text and voice messages, she'd also cost her a chance at nearly five thousand dollars. 

"What should I do with my money?" Alex asked, attempting to sound as though he was idly wondering but the confidence shining through, "Rolex? Down payment on a new Benz? Set cigars ablaze with hundred dollar bills?"

"You're up by less than a hundred. And with a month to go and the 50 point bonus for any victories at the Christmas, I mean Winter Holiday, party I'm still in this thing" Josh argued, "And my money is staying right in the bank. So that when I finally meet the gorgeous young woman with the wide, child bearing hips and deep, accommodating vagina of my dreams I'll be able to buy us a palatial estate with enough rooms to house the many, many children she'll birth me."

"Work, guys," Phil piped in, somewhat more passionately than before,

"Not too late to get in on this, Oh captain, my captain," Alex said, finally finishing with his coffee, "Our fearful trip is not yet done, our ships not weathered every rack, the prize we seek not won."

"Yeah, you'd totally get bonuses for any bit of information you'd leak," Josh agreed with Alex.

"I'm not telling you perverts what I do with my wife. I actually have respect for her, my daughter and women around the world." Phil said, finally turning from his computer to join the conversation.

"God, I'd respect Carrie too." Joanna said thinking of the sight of Phil's gorgeous, curvaceous wife at the company picnic.

"You married so far above yourself it's not even funny," Alex said, the same thought in his mind.

"One day, you kids are going to realize how retarded you all sound right now." Phil said, smiling slightly at the truth of what they were saying. He had married well. 

The conversation was brought to a screeching halt by the sound of the heavy oak door just past the group of cubicles being opened. The four of them stopped their conversation immediately. Trevor Crawford was Gigake's Vice-President of Media Relations and someone who all four of the team members knew to be a stern and strict boss. The game they all played, a clear and egregious violation of just about every employee code of conduct Gigake had, would have earned all four of them an immediate dismissal from him if it had ever leaked out. Despite the high grades the four of them continued to get on their performance reviews, Mr. Crawford had not given them even the slightest bit of privilege or favouritism. In fact, he seemed to push the four of them the hardest, giving them the toughest assignments and disappointing the most in even their most minor failures. None of them had even known he was in his office. The four of them quickly sat in front of their respective work stations and began at least giving the appearance of being hard at work. To their surprise, rather than simply stroll directly to their cubicles, he seemed to be in conversation with someone.

"Let me show you the way around, Sweetheart," was what the team heard Mr. Crawford say before he began making his familiar early morning rounds. He arrived at their cubicles after only a few seconds and, behind him, was a young woman. Joanna was the first to turn to look at her and she, were she the type to speak coarsely, would have described the effect of the young woman as getting her instantly soaked. Joanna had never seen a girl like her. Impossibly, heart-achingly cute, with delicate blonde curls, bright blue eyes and a delicate button nose. Her body seemed as though it had been a rough draft for Jessica Rabbit that had been rejected for being too unrealistic. Her dress shirt bulged almost obscenely with the heft of her breasts while the narrow waist and gorgeously curved hips were invitingly on display in a pinstriped pencil skirt. Joanna felt as though she had to turn back to her work just to stop staring.

"Team, time for the morning briefing," Mr. Crawford said as the rest of the team spun around to face him. Joanna did rejoin the team and saw that Alex and Josh were just as enraptured by the blonde bombshell that stood before them. Even Phil seemed to give her the briefest of admiring smiles before looking up at the imposing figure of their boss. Trevor Crawford seemed as though he'd been sent over by a casting agency to fill the role of an imposing boss or, maybe, uptight Dean. His brown hair was grey at the temples and his stern, square jawed face seemed to be perpetually frowning. He was every bit as well-dressed as Alex was, even if the cut of his suit was not quite as modern as Alex's may have been.

"First things first. Phil, how's the rush response to the Broadcast division thing going." 

"In its infancy, obviously. We were just going over who had the cleanest plate and then put them on it full time." Phil replied

"Right, well, Letowski, you're still dealing with Germany about the mix-up last month?"

"Jawohl" Josh nodded, "We're going to do something jointly in the end like you guessed. We're just working out the translation and wording."

"Good, good." Crawford nodded in response, "And Ms. Cloutier, you're spearheading the co-ordination with legal about the recall from Pharmaceutical?"

"Absolutely." Joanna said, still trying hard not to stare at the mystery woman.

"So, by process of elimination that should leave it to Mr. Morrison, right?" Crawford said bluntly. Alex frowned. The team didn't fully understand why but as much as their Manager might have been strict with all of them, he was almost needlessly cruel to Alex. It didn't make sense to any of them. Alex and Mr. Crawford had gone to the same Prep School, both gone to Dartmouth and both been members of the same Fraternity. Alex's father and Mr. Crawford were both on the board of a local country club together. By what Joanna, Phil and Josh understood of the weird privileged world the two belonged to, Mr. Crawford should have looked kindly on Alex.

"Actually, sir, with the Congressional hearings coming up about the defence contracts the thought here would be that I devote myself to that, there's bound to be a mountain of requests in the next few days and Phil thought it'd be best if one of us immersed ourselves in the whole sordid affair. Kind of become the expert on the whole thing and handle that as it piles up." Alex said. Assigning that task had been the subject of the previous morning's meeting and Alex had been the unlucky one chosen after a spirited bout of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It would probably amount to many late nights for the next few weeks. 

"But there's nothing on your plate immediately?" Mr. Crawford asked as if Alex were a very slow, very simple child.

"Well, there's going to be all of the prep work and back and forth with the weapons people and..."

"You know, Trevor," Phil piped in, with some confidence. He was the only one on the team who'd been invited to use their boss' given name, "Alex may be right, that's a lot on any one plate for right now. Maybe I should handle the Broadcast thing and...

"No, Phil, that god-damn book is coming out next week and I need my absolute best on it," Mr. Crawford said, referring to the soon to be released tell-all from Gigake's former COO, a man Mr. Crawford was widely seen as being thought to be a favourite to replace, "So Mr. Morrison will just have to cut his social life short for a bit and buck up."

Phil nodded his agreement. Josh just smiled as Alex did his best to force an agreeing nod. Both knew that it would mean Alex would have much less time to work on widening his lead. 

"So, now for the pleasant stuff," Mr. Crawford said with only the briefest hint of a smile, "I'd like to introduce you all to my daughter, Jessica."




The Christmas Bonus



The four team members nodded their hellos. Joanna did as well and was greeted with a wide and bright smile from the beautiful girl. Jessica was such a mix of sweet and gorgeous it was all Joanna could do not to proposition her in front of her father. 

"She's going to be filling in for Mrs. Bircham at reception while she's recovering from surgery over the next month," he continued, "Just another one of the team."

"My exams all wrapped early and I could use the extra cash." Jessica said cheerily, answering a question nobody had asked, "Look forward to getting to know you all."

"I'm sure you'll get along famously," her father said, "But there are plenty more people to meet and these four have lots of work to do so let's move on."

"Bye," Jessica said with a friendly wave as her father lead her away from the group of cubicles the four shared.

"And Mr. Morrison, I'm going to need that report by the end of the week at the absolute latest. You need to shine on this one." Mr. Crawford added as he guided Jessica down the hall to the next group of cubicles.

The four team members waited for a few seconds as their boss and his daughter moved far enough away to be safely out of earshot. Joanna found herself cursing that the design of their workspace made it so that she couldn't watch Jessica walk away. When he was convinced that a safe distance had been reached, Alex simply slumped forward, his head in his hands and groaned. 

"Whichever one of you has the well-dressed voodoo doll in your drawer," Alex said sadly, "I'm begging you, just stop."

"I tried man, I'm sorry," Phil said, putting his hand on Alex's shoulder.

"Jesus fuck, did you see her? That picture on his desk must be ten years old!" Josh exclaimed, referring to the only evidence any of them knew of that Mr. Crawford had a family, "I think I need new boxers."

"Wow," Joanna simply exclaimed, still unable to get the girl off her mind. She looked over and caught Josh's eyes and both of their eyes went wide for a second.

"Dibs!" Joanna exclaimed, a clear split second before Josh shouted the exact same thing. 

"Fuck no!" Josh exclaimed, knowing he was beaten.

"Rules, motherfucker, rules," Joanna said with some glee, referring to a clause in the official rules of The Game that they'd written up. If a particularly attractive fellow employee was desired by all three of the contestants, one would have to make an initial claim so they wouldn't be inundated by come-ons and attention from the three of them. This would avoid or at least minimize the risk of a harassment claim. 

"Why does he hate me?" Alex said, ignoring the two of them, "I'm such a nice, well behaved young man. Every MILF I sleep with says as much."

"I really did think when you came on that the old school ties would work out for you," Phil said, chuckling just a bit as he kept patting Alex on the back

"I'd like to strangle that bastard with the old school tie" Alex groaned as he finally sat up. Across from them, Joanna and Josh continued their negotiation.

"Oh come on," Josh pleaded with Joanna, ignoring Alex's complaints, "You don't even know if she's gay and she's only here for a month."

"Oh yeah, like it'd be the first straight girl I banged," Joanna said, making quotes as she said the word straight. 

"But she's clearly the future mother of my children!" Josh kept at it, "Did you see those things? Those are, what, double D's? E's? F's? Think of the meals you're depriving my offspring of."

"Okay, weird and increasingly pronounced impregnation fetish aside," Joanna said, shaking her head, "Too much brain blood went down into that massive thing you've got there and it made you just a little late, a little slow. Better luck next time."

"Damn." Josh said, resigned to his fate. 

Alex turned around and caught Joanna's eyes. 

"Jo, I am going to make you an offer you need to listen to." he said, his eyes alight with a mix of anger and deviousness

"I'm not giving up dibs," Joanna shook her head swiftly. She was even surprised herself how much she wanted the girl.

"No, I respect the dibs," Alex said, wagging his finger, "But you're going to step that game up. You're going to get this girl. You can't let me down."

"I'll do my best." Joanna nodded, indicating she absolutely would give it her all

"No try, just do." Alex said sternly, "You need to get this one. And I will make it worth your while."

"How so?" Joanna asked with a crooked eyebrow, her eyes catching on to just how much Alex seemingly wanted this to happen.

"If you just get her. It's your standard fifteen points for a fourth floor employee." Alex said, "But if you get her panties and give them to me, then in accordance with rule five of the game that says that any one player can transfer his own points to another player if they think the conquest was especially magnificent, then I will give you every single one of my points for the year."

Joanna smiled. All of Alex's points would give her an insurmountable lead. Josh would have no hope of catching her no matter how magnificent his penis might be. Europe might still very well be on the table. She wanted the girl anyway, knowing it would be worth five thousand dollars to her? Joanna wanted her even more if possible.

"What do you want with her panties?" Joanna asked suspiciously.

"I am going to make them into a handkerchief," Alex said, patting the front breast pocket of his jacket where a white handkerchief currently sat, "And every time that fucking cocksucker talks to me I'll know that in my pocket are his daughter's panties. Panties that you took off of his daughter with your teeth. And I'll just sit around waiting for him to get a cold."

"I have to take her panties off with my teeth?" Joanna chuckled at the bizarrely specific revenge Alex seemed set on, not that it sounded terrible to her.

"Just speaking illustratively," Alex said with a shrug, "But if you don't, tell me you did anyway."

"Between you and Genghis over here, god," Joanna said as she turned back to her work station, "Straight guys are so weird."

"Just get it done and all the riches of my kingdom are yours," Alex said pointedly as he turned to start on the massive pile of work he knew he had to finish. 

"Yeah. This is just going to end spectacularly well, I can tell." Phil said with a shake of his head as he to turned to start on the day's work. 

Chapter Two.

The first few weeks of December really did not prove particularly fruitful for Joanna's attempts to seduce Jessica. Despite passing the gorgeous girl every day on her way into work, Joanna really didn't have the time to stop and chat as much as she'd have liked. Work was, as predicted, piling up and even most of Joanna's lunches were spent at her desk. Nobody on the team left their desks before six in the evening at which point, it seemed, Jessica had already gone home for the evening. What was worse, Joanna noted, was that every time she did find herself in the lobby there was at least one young male employee attempting to engage Jessica in some sort of conversation. Worse still, Jessica seemed the flirtatious type and usually the young men seemed to be making some sort of progress with her. Clearly the news had gotten out about the gorgeous new girl on the fourth floor and now the entire male population of Gigake-American's Northeastern Headquarters were circling like horny vultures. Joanna could feel Paris slipping away from her again. 

So it was on a very unusual Friday evening that Joanna had finished her last bit of work for the day and looked up at her computer to see that the time was a quarter to five. Even rarer still, the other members of the team also seemed done for the evening. 

"Wow. That was kind of a light day." Josh said, putting a piece of paper into the folders next to his computer.

"Speak for yourself," Alex said painfully, "I can still feel whip marks on my back

"You love the pain, admit it," Joanna said with a grin

"Usually, but Crawford makes for one frightfully ugly dominatrix," Alex said as he gathered his things into his briefcase. Josh looked at his watch happily.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but who's up for a drink or two?" Josh asked the team, "The Union Hall? Hot food, cute waitresses?"

"A drink or two and a waitress or two sounds right up my alley" Joanna nodded, they hadn't had a drink together in some time.

"I suppose I have some time to waste with you rabble before my arrangements with a lady friend," Alex nodded, "Phil?"

Phil shook his head.

"Can't. Friday night. Which means Carrie has put on a roast, there's mashed potatoes and gravy and we're going to curl up to watch the shows we Tivo'd this week," Phil said with a big smile, "Someday you three will learn that all the cute waitresses in the world pale in comparison to a quiet night with someone you love."

Josh, Alex and Joanna looked at him for a second before speaking.

"Was that English?" Alex asked first, turning towards the other two.

"I know those words but they seemed all jumbled and out of place," Joanna said, continuing to look confused

"I just heard Carrie's name and then gravy..." Josh drifted off, "Do you suppose she cooks in an apron?"

"Oh and a little floral dress," Joanna said dreamily.

"Hair all done up with a string of pearls and high heels," Alex added, sharing the fantasy

"Just waiting for you to get home," Josh nodded. Phil shook his head with pity at their banter as he put his winter coat on. 

"You kids will be a lot of fun when you pass these initial stages of puberty," Phil said as he walked from their cubicles.

"You go get her Phil! Get her for all of us! Live the dream!" Josh called out after him, causing the other two to chuckle a little as they all put their own coats on and got ready to leave for the weekend.

"Get who?" came the feminine voice behind them. It was Jessica, looking lovely as ever with a tight knit sweater pulled tight over her luscious chest and khakis covering most of the luscious rest of her. Her blonde, shoulder length curls still artfully framed her face. She was clutching a clipboard at her side and looking at them with a degree of puzzlement. Joanna did her absolute best to stay cool as she looked at her despite feeling as though someone had hit the thermostat.

"Oh, Phil cruises old folks homes for dates because of the high female to male ratio and hasn't been having much luck lately so we're cheering him on." Josh said with a straight face as he tucked his newsboy cap on. 

"O-kay," Jessica said with a disbelieving smile, "But can one of you sign for a package that came in for him just now?"

"I absolutely can," Alex nodded, taking the clipboard from Jessica and scribbling his lengthy signature on the dotted line, "Have big plans for the evening, Jess?"

"Ugh, I wish. Was supposed to see a movie but my friends cancelled on me," Jess said in frustration. Joanna brightened at the news and the opportunity.

"You should come for a drink with us," Joanna said with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm, she caught herself and added calmly, "You've been here two weeks and we haven't really gotten to know you."

"Really?" Jessica seemed taken with the idea.

"Nah, she doesn't want to be hanging out with us sad old bastards," Josh said, noticing Joanna's enthusiasm at her opportunity to win the points Alex had promised.

"You guys look young," Jessica laughed. Joanna thought she had a wonderful, infectious laugh, "How old are you?"

"Well, I still have most of my faculties at the ripe old age of twenty-six," Josh explained, "Joanna's hearing is going a touch as she's twenty-seven and good old Whitebread Fizzlebottom the Fourth there is basically George Burns as he's twenty-nine."

"I think I can keep up with you then," Jessica smiled, "Where do you fogeys drink?"

"The Union Hall," Alex offered, "Need a lift?"

"I do. My dad or Mr. Crawford I guess drives me in," Jessica said, seemingly embarrassed at her transportation arrangements.

"I can drive you," Joanna eagerly volunteered before frowning. No, no she couldn't. Her car was having work done at the moment. She'd cabbed it today.

"No, you can't," Alex corrected her, "But we can let Josh drive her and I can drive you and we should all get there safely."

"That sounds perfect to me," Josh nodded. Jessica seemed to agree and Joanna reluctantly agreed. 

"I'll just go get my coat and meet you out front," Jessica said as she made her way from the cubicles, Josh followed her with his eyes glued to the shapely, heart-shaped backside that Jessica's pants showed off very well. Joanna grabbed him by the back of his coat and spun him around.

"You respect the dibs!" Joanna said pointedly but softly

"But..."

"Respect. The," Joanna pressed her finger into Josh's chest, "Dibs!"

Josh frowned and growled but eventually nodded and went along after Jessica. Alex waited patiently as Joanna finished getting ready before leaving the building with her. Joanna noted that Alex seemed to live his life according to some hundred year old book of etiquette. He held the door for her every opportunity he got, asked her for her floor despite knowing they were both heading to the lobby and even took her hand to guide her over the few puddles that had built up within the parking lot. It was something she liked a great deal about him and rarely got to see outside of work. Joanna was a girl who liked expensive things and Alex, well, he definitely seemed expensive.

"You were, I thought, not terribly discrete with her," he chided gently as they made their way to his entry level Mercedes near the very end of the Gigake employee lot. 

"God, I know, I'm a spaz at times," Joanna agreed. Alex shook his head

"No you're not. I've seen you pick up dozens of girls." Alex recalled, "Do you actually like this girl?"

"I don't even know her," Joanna said positively before admitting to at least something, "But I'm maybe a little smitten."

Alex sighed as he held the door of his car open for her. Joanna smiled as he did and got in before waiting as he walked around to the driver's side and getting in. She thought about what he'd said and Jessica and how it related to the arrangement that Alex and Joanna had made a few weeks earlier. She'd begun feeling a little bit worse than usual about the whole thing. Joanna suspected her newly found conscience was the result of all of the Christmas advertising. It was all happy families and happy couples and Joanna hadn't had a relationship that had lasted more than three months since she was eighteen. 

"Look, I still want to win," Joanna said definitively, "It's just that, I don't know, don't you ever feel bad about the Game? Like we're dehumanizing it all?"

"No," Alex said, as if the idea seemed ludicrous to him, "I like sleeping with women. I'm good at it. None of the women I sleep with think they're getting into anything other than a night of fabulous sex. What's to feel bad about if we take something we'd do anyways and use it for gambling purposes?"

"But how would they feel if they knew?"

"I don't know. But I like to think the golden rule applies here. If I found out that a girl I slept with used sleeping with me in some elaborate game with her workmates in order to win something I would congratulate her heartily for it. I'd ask if she got bonus points for sleeping with me again and do my utmost to help her win," Alex said as he started up the car, 

"But if there was a girl you really did like?"

"Then, like Phil, I'd probably not include her in the game," Alex admitted before pausing and looking at Joanna, "You may remember yourself that I have not claimed all the points this year I could have."

Joanna smiled briefly but shook her head as she bit on one of her nails. Alex was referring to a night in early June where, fresh out of her relationship with Beverley, she'd met up with Alex and Josh for a night celebrating her return to the fold. They'd all gotten smashed to pieces and after Josh had picked up some girl, she'd found herself alone with Alex. They were both drunk and silly and didn't see anyone in the bar that tempted them and, much to both of their surprise, Joanna had suggested that the two of them go home together. Alex had drunkenly agreed and they'd had a fairly nice night together. Neither had been at the top of their game because of their drunkenness and Joanna's complete lack of familiarity with the equipment but both had reached satisfactory conclusions. 

Joanna had never been attracted to a man before. The next morning, as they recovered from their hangovers, she realized she'd still never really be attracted to Alex. But his charm and his sexual reputation in the workplace and the fact that his place had been closer to the bar they were at than hers must have worked some sort of wonders on her drunken mind. She hadn't regretted it, exactly, but in the end it had really only cemented her preference for women. Alex, unsurprisingly, had been a perfect gentleman about the whole thing. He'd never mentioned it to Josh despite Joanna knowing that the two of them had long since made a side agreement that if either of them had ever slept with her that they'd receive three hundred points. He'd never even brought it up with Joanna until that very moment.

"That didn't happen," Joanna said with a sly smile as she idly looked at her nails, noting that a manicure was in order.

"What didn't happen?" Alex said, doing his best to look oblivious.

"Exactly," Joanna nodded

Chapter Three.

The Union Hall was one of those places that seemed as though it was unsure whether it wanted to be an upscale club catering to the well dressed young professionals that tended to congregate at the bar or the students and working class folk who would huddle at a table with baskets of the slightly overpriced but better than usual bar food they served as they watched whatever game would be on one of the large TV's mounted in every corner. They seemed determined to cater to both crowds. There was cheap beer on tap but top shelf liquor available upon request. The waitresses were indeed cute but were dressed stylishly rather than sleazily. It would be packed on a Friday night but Josh was friends with one of the owners and so it was no surprise to Joanna that, as she pushed her way past the people huddled together at the front for warmth, she could see Josh and Jessica seated at the table that she'd come to think of their usual. She undid her pleated houndstooth Victoria coat and threw it over the seat next to Jessica as she sat down. 

"Good to see you two made it here ok," Joanna said, noting that both of them had drinks in front of them. Alex undid his own trench and sat down next to Josh. They were quickly joined by a pretty red haired waitress that Joanna recognized from a previous time here, dressed in the tight black t-shirt that bore the bar's logo and tight black jeans. She was holding a plate of food that she set down in front of Josh before turning to the new arrivals.

"Hey guys, what'll it be?"

"Vodka tonic with a lemon wedge," Joanna repeatedly quickly, nervously shifting her leg when she realized it was brushing against Jessica's. Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully before placing his order.

"The last time I was in here you'd just gotten in a case of the Highland Park Lunar Bottling. There wouldn't happen to be a bit left would there?" Alex asked hopefully

"I have no idea." the waitress said with a friendly laugh, "But I'd be happy to check for you."

"I wouldn't be imposing?" 

"I think I can manage," she winked at Alex "Anything to eat?"

Both Alex and Joanna politely declined the offer and their waitress went back towards the bar, leaving the four of them on their own.

"Mmm, yes, if it's not a smidge too much trouble, I was really hoping you might have a drop of the Chez Snooty fifty year old cabernet," Josh said, trying to adopt Alex's educated tone, "I find that it really is the only tipple delicate enough to engage my refined palette yet strong enough to wash the taste of the rest of the polo team's ejaculate from my throat,"




The Christmas Bonus



Jessica laughed at this, covering her mouth shyly. 

"The thing I love about you, Joshua, is that you seem restless in your dedication to show what a hollow and facile stereotype it is that Jews are naturally funny," Alex replied

"Speaking of, Josh, should you even be out tonight?" Joanna interrupted, smiling slightly at the banter she was now long since used to. 

"What do you mean?"

"Well isn't it one of the nights of Chanukah?" 

"It might be" Josh said surprised, "Am I not allowed to drink during the festival of lights?"

"I don't know," Joanna shrugged, "I thought you would."

"If it is Chanukah, I think it's alright," Josh said, picking up his burger and taking a bite, "and it means I'll be getting a sweet fifty dollar check from my Bubby any day now."

"I always wanted to know, what is Chanukah anyway?" Jessica asked honestly, Joanna and Alex also turned towards him for the response. Josh put down his burger and thought for a second before responding in hushed, revered tones.

"You want to know the story of Chanukah?" Josh asked the three. 

"Sure," Alex nodded before both women nodded as well. Josh looked from side to side, almost as if checking for eavesdroppers, and then leaned in towards them. 

"Well, a long time ago in ancient Jerusalem, there were these two brothers that had to move away from their neighbourhood because the evil Romans wanted to build a park where they lived. Needing money to stop the construction, one of the brothers found the map to the treasure of the famous pirate, One-Eyed Willy. Assembling his truest friends, the two brothers set out to find the lost gold to save their house. But the evil Mama Fratelli and her three sons, including the ferocious, disfigured Sloth stood in their way and...

"Yeah, Josh, I'm going to go ahead and stop you" Joanna said shaking her head, "Because that's the plot to The Goonies."

Jessica laughed at the news while Alex rolled his eyes, regretting being taken in even for a moment.

"What do you want from me?" Josh said with a shrug, "I don't know, something about oil and not enough of it but god intervened and then there was enough oil. Do things need big stories anyway? Can't it be about fun and Latkes and presents?"

"You're not really that devout, are you?" Alex asked as he scratched his head.

"The bacon cheeseburger I'm eating you didn't tip you off?" Josh said, taking another bite of a decidedly non-kosher meal. As he did the waitress returned, setting down the drinks that Alex and Joanna had ordered.

"But you take the holidays off," Joanna said, sipping her drink

"I'm not seeing the contradiction," Josh laughed "You don't show up on Christmas despite not being especially high on Jesus. My Jewish identity is just something I've seized upon to distinguish myself from you white devils."

The conversation continued like that, back and forth, for most of the night. Old stories were told and Jessica added some of her own stories to the group. She was in her very last semester at college, not needing any credits to graduate and was relieved to be finished with it even if she was not entirely certain as to what she'd be doing with her life afterwards. She gave as good as she got when the jokes started flying and it struck Joanna that the gorgeous Blonde seemed as though she'd been one of their crowd for years, rather than hours. Joanna and Jessica both found themselves drinking lightly while Josh and Alex seemed to be enjoying themselves to slightly greater capacity. As the night wore down, both of the men seemed well in their cups.

"Josh, you've slept with our waitress, haven't you?" Alex asked, pouring himself a glass of the very expensive whisky he'd been drinking. He'd long since simply asked for the bottle.

"I have," Josh nodded, motioning for Alex to pour an equal measure for himself. Despite his giving Alex a hard time about it he'd had to admit it was a very nice drink, "Her name is Marie, she's got a place over on Miller Road and she's putting herself through nursing school."

"Admirable." Alex nodded, "It is admirable indeed to put oneself through the rigours of higher educations with the hard earned money from a physically and emotionally taxing job. And then to devote herself to the care of others? A fine woman who would make a goodly wife."

"Agreed." Josh said appreciatively, "And lest you think she's all dull virtue and godliness, you will note that on the most recent cocktail napkin served to me, she's entreated upon me to return with her to her humble abode on Miller Road and please her sexually in a way that only I, and several men in the pornographic film industry, can."

Josh held up a cocktail napkin to Alex that did appear to have something written on it. Alex took it from him and examined it closely.

"My respect for our amber haired server only grows with each passing minute," Alex said, slurring his words slightly, "A heart as pure and an aim as true as she has combined with a lust for passionate coupling and a mouth on her filthy enough to make even a hardened New Englander such as myself blush a deep crimson? Why the man who wins her affections is a lucky one. My hat is off to you sir."

"While, I make no claims to desiring her hand in marriage just yet I can't argue with your assessment of her," Josh nodded, "And in appreciation of her fine spirit, I will spend the night endeavouring to deliver unto her the most phenomenal examples of that too rare treasure that is the female orgasm."

Across the table, Jessica looked at the two strangely while Joanna simply sipped at the last remaining bits of her drink, ignoring them.

"Are they always like this?" Jessica asked, amused by the silliness.

"More or less." Joanna conceded, embarrassed that she'd actually slept with one of them. If either man heard them, they gave no indication of it. The waitress they spoke of did return with the bill for the tab they'd run for the evening and handed it face down to them.

"You guys have fun?" she asked with a smile

"We did, Marie." Alex smiled as he looked up at her from his seat, "It was an evening of the purest seasonal cheer marked by good food, fine company and exquisite service. What is the biggest tip you've gotten this week?"

"Are they both this drunk?" Marie ignored his question and asked one of her own to Joanna and Jessica, "Because Josh is only of any use to me if he's not totally soaked."

"You're on your own," Joanna shrugged, pulling out her purse, before being waved away by Alex and his credit card.

"You two barely made a dent in this bill," he said, putting his card down on the small tray, "Now Marie, I want you to think of the biggest tip you've gotten this month, no, this year. Then double it. Then double it again. Then add it to the total as your gratuity."

"Is he serious?" Marie kept talking to the girls, "I don't want to take advantage of him if he's drunk."

"But you'll take advantage of me while I'm drunk?" Josh asked indignantly

"His name is Alex Morrison. As in Morrison St. and The Morrison Building downtown and the Alexander E. Morrison Opera House and ninety percent of the rest of this city," Joanna informed her, "So if you don't take his old family money it's just going to get older."

"Alright," Marie laughed uneasily, "I just don't want him calling and complaining in the morning that he tipped me six hundred dollars on a two hundred dollar tab,"

"Marie, my dear, I will only ever call on you for another evening of such merriment or, when your studying is done, to tend to me in my sickness." Alex said warmly, "Call this your Christmas bonus."

"Ok, thanks I guess," Marie said, taking Josh by the hand and leading him up to his feet, "Now lets get a cup of coffee in you, Big Fella and get you in some semblance of working order."

"Bye guys." Josh waved to them as he unsteadily followed Marie to the bar.

Marie returned a little while later with the receipt for Alex to sign. He did so, wishing he'd thought to tip her even more, before getting to his own feet somewhat unsteadily. He promised the girls he'd call a cab rather than drive himself home and then it was just Jessica and Joanna left at their table. Joanna looked over to Jessica with a nervous smile and got one back in return. They both sipped on what remained of their drinks. Joanna ran through her mind for any measure of questions to ask, really only particularly interested in finding out if Jessica was straight or gay or somewhere in the middle. Nothing had come up in the earlier conversation and she couldn't think of how to ask that without sounding terrible. She did, however, have something stick out to her. Something she'd often wondered about. Something Jessica may know the answer to.

"Do you know why your Dad hates Alex?" was the question Joanna had thought to ask, 

"Kinda," Jessica nodded, "My dad just hates people who have things given to them. Who come from money and never really have to work to get anywhere."

"But Alex works really, really hard even though he doesn't have to. And he's obviously very generous." Joanna argued for him

"I didn't say it made sense," Jessica shook her head, "Or that it wasn't annoying. God, I mean, I only took this job because my graduation present was a pat on the back and I really want to take a trip next year."

"Where to?" Joanna asked the younger girl.

Jessica explained that she'd majored in Art History and that she desperately wanted to see Rome or Greece or something along those lines. Joanna eagerly nodded along, she'd taken an art history course or two and it was something she'd always been fascinated by. Joanna asked her questions about her particular areas of interest and both agreed on several places that were absolute necessities. They talked about clothes and their shared love for several designers, Joanna lamenting how much of her meagre paycheck went on over-priced fashions and Jessica wishing she even had that opportunity. Throughout the entire conversation, Joanna pulled nearly everything from her seductive bag of tricks. She asked questions about Jessica's past, made innocent excuses to gently touch Jessica's hands or shoulders and even brought out the big guns, pulling the chopsticks from her bun and letting the dark, luxurious, silky down her back with a shake of her head. 

"God, you are just gorgeous." Jessica said appreciatively. Joanna still couldn't tell if there was any attraction behind it or if it was just girl talk.

"Stop, I'm a straight from work mess," Joanna said with a little forced modesty. She did look good and knew it.

"Are you kidding? You look like you should be modelling in a, or at least editing a fashion mag," Jessica said appreciatively,

Joanna smiled at the compliment.

"Last call!" came the loud call of the barman, coming over the now relatively quiet chatter of the last few remaining drinkers. Joanna tipped back the last bit of her drink, letting the sweetness rest on her tongue before letting her last drink of the night slide down her throat.

"Hey, can I ask something?" Jessica said, as she gathered her things

"You can," Joanna smiled as she began doing up her coat.

"I don't want to go all the way back to my folks' place tonight, you said your place is nearby, right?" 

"Yeah,"

"Maybe I can crash there tonight?" Jessica asked hopefully, "Have another drink?"

Joanna looked at the beautiful girl for a second, looked into those blue eyes and knew two things instantly. The first was that, if she wanted to, she absolutely could have taken Jessica back to her apartment and have gotten her into bed. She didn't think Jessica was coming on to her exactly but she could see the spark of the possibility that she'd seen dozens of times before. The second thing she knew was that the guilt she'd been feeling earlier in the day was reaching a boiling point and, because of the circumstances of why she'd been trying to make her move, she knew that she needed to turn her down. 

"Wish I could, Jess," Joanna lied while thinking of a plausible reason to turn her down, "But my place is being fumigated so I'm crashing with a friend myself,"

"Oh," Jessica replied while doing her best to hide some disappointment. Joanna gave her a thin smile even as she felt her heart race. Even as she said it, she wished she could take it back. Every brief, fleeting glimpse at the beautiful blonde girl weakened Joanna's resolve to do the decent thing. It took Joanna every last bit of moral fortitude to complete the walk out of the Union Hall, past a necking Josh and Marie at the bar, and into the cold December night. 

Chapter Four.

The following Monday was a cold, wet one and Joanna was not eager to get out of bed. She hit the snooze alarm two or three times more often than she should before waking one final time and, upon seeing the time, frantically rushing through her morning routine. Her car still hadn't been ready and she knew she must have been the world's most annoying taxicab passenger as she grumbled and groaned at every red light and momentary delay. She couldn't help it though. The ticking clock was a drain on her already taxed bank account. The trip to Gigake's campus was completed after an interminable to Joanna but fairly standard twenty five minutes and, after paying the cabbie with the exact amount of her fare, she raced into the beautifully designed glass front building as quickly as she could. She dashed up the stairwell rather than waiting for the elevator and tore through the lobby, shooting a quick smile and glance over at Jessica which was more than enough time to take in the breathtaking sight of Jessica in a scoop-neck blouse, and using her ID card to open the door to her work place. A quick sprint to the four-person work space took every last drop of energy she had. She arrived at the open, four-person work space completely out of breath, all three of her teammates were already there, working away. 

"What does the clock on your computer read, Mr. Letowski?" Alex said, not turning to acknowledge Joanna's presence and continuing to type away.

"It reads nine-twenty seven, Mr. Morrison," Josh answered, also not turning around.

Joanna grimaced as she rested her hands on her knees.

"That would be a contribution of fifty-four dollars to the Christmas Bonus, wouldn't it?" Alex continued

"A little sensitivity for your fellow employee, Mr. Morrison" Josh replied. Joanna thought for a brief second he was referring to not holding fast to the rules of the game with her car in the shop but that was quickly dash, "It's a fifty-four dollar contribution to the Winter Holiday Bonus."

"A thousand apologies, friend."

"Hey Jo," Phil did turn around to her, "Crawford hasn't been by yet so you're more or less safe." 

Joanna smiled weakly at that. Between car-repairs and the holidays she was so concerned about the fifty-four dollars that any actual repercussions in the work-place had completely slipped her mind. She sat down and called up her online banking profile. She cringed when she saw her account's balance but completed the familiar process of transferring money into the interest bearing account that held the year's take. 

"Ugh, I think I'm going to be having a Big Mac for Christmas Dinner." Joanna sighed as she opened her own e-mail account to start working on the requests she'd gotten.

"You're welcome to come by," Phil offered warmly, "After enough badgering Carrie finally convinced both of our folks see us rather than making us flip a coin. All the trimmings." "I may just have to take you up on that," Joanna said. She'd been wondering what she would actually be doing for Christmas ever since Joanna's mother had informed her that coming home would not be an option as she'd be on a cruise with her new boyfriend.

"Josh? Alex? More the merrier." Phil continued

"I usually do Chinese food and a movie," Josh offered as he turned towards them, "But yeah, sounds nice. Provided you won't make me swear allegiance to Jesus or anything."

"Alex?"

"I would give my left arm to be there Phil," Alex did not turn around as he answered. He continued to still be so swamped under that he couldn't stop working for a second. "But the live re-enactment of Brideshead Revisited every year around the Morrison family Christmas table is not to be missed by any serious fan of overwrought emotional turmoil."

Joanna had really only gotten settled in for a few minutes of work before Mr. Crawford had come by for the morning briefing.

"How're things progressing people?" he asked

"Everything's right on schedule, sir." Phil answered quickly

"Good, good." Crawford said with the smallest hint of a smile, "Listen up, I need one of you to do something for me."

"Oh?"

"Nothing major. But the Banquet place lost track of which of the divisions had which rooms so we're going to need to call them and confirm things for the Holiday party." Crawford said before adding what all four knew would be coming, "You can handle that, can't you Morrison?"

Alex, who still hadn't stopped working, didn't miss a beat.

"Absolutely, sir. You leave it to me." 

"What I thought." Crawford nodded before smiling at the rest of them, "I hope you're looking forward to it. Because there just may be a few surprises this year."

This earned nods and polite smiles from the team before their boss excused himself to continue his rounds.

"Does dressing up as Santa for the third year in a row still count as a surprise?" Josh wondered, breaking the silence.

"I can handle that Alex, if you like." Phil offered helpfully

"No, no, I'm fine." Alex assured him, his fingers still flying furiously at his keyboard, "You are going to close the deal on Jessica, right Jo?"

"Alex..." Joanna didn't entirely know how to break it to him that she had no real intention of doing so. 

"It's fine if you don't," Alex shrugged, "Because if you don't and I win then I will win the Christmas Pool. And I will buy a brand new set of Williams Polesitter Irons with the graphite shafts that I've had my eye on."

"I can't say I'm surprised but I didn't even know you golfed, Alex." Josh said

"I've never played a round in my life. But I saw them the other day and they struck me as a particularly exquisite choice for a murder weapon."

This brought a bit of a laugh from the other three who turned around and got back to the day's requests.

Chapter Five.

The Gigake Media Relations Division Winter Holiday party was, as far as these things go, actually a fairly nice event. The banquet hall was an old, turn of the century church that had been renovated and converted into one of the pricier corporate gathering places in the city.. There had clearly been an effort made to make the room warm and comfortable, even if none of the decorations gave even the slightest hint of any particular religious faith's holiday. There was an open bar, several food stations and even a large table full of elegantly wrapped presents. Josh, Alex, Phil, Phil's wife Carrie and Joanna were all seated around a table near the front of the room. A prime seat that they'd won by again being named the most productive team in the division. The party was in full swing around them, with appropriate seasonal music being piped in and the sound of restrained merriment coming from all of the packed tables.

"I still can't believe that none of you brought dates." Carrie said, looking at the three single members of the team. All three of them had, indeed, come to the party alone. Even by their usual standards, Alex and Joanna had dressed well, with Joanna in the little Versace dress that had been another of her unexpected financial mis-steps and Alex in french cuffs and his typical suited extravagance. 

"They're not really the dating sort, hon." Phil said as he kissed his pretty Blonde wife. Phil had dressed down for the event. A Christmas sweater vest and khakis.




The Christmas Bonus



"You don't bring deer to the woods, after all." Josh explained as his eyes scanned the room. "You just bring the gun."

Alex smiled in agreement and Joanna shrugged. There was a harsh screeching sound over the speakers as the music came to a screeching halt, eliciting groans of displeasure from the room. 

"Come on, music!" Someone called as people grumbled at the interruption to their fun. There was some light chatter as someone fiddled with the CD player near the front of the room. 

"Hey, what about the piano! Can anyone play?" came another voice. There was, indeed, a small grand piano on the small stage at the front of the room. 

"Morrison, you play a little, don't you?" Harry Thomas, the leader of one of the other teams and someone that the team knew had been friends with Alex in high school. Alex laughed at the request.

"A tiny bit of jazz. Trust me, work on the CD player. I couldn't be more out of practice." Alex said, taking a sip from his drink.

"Come on!" came another request. That entreaty was soon joined by more and more people from throughout the room, all asking for Alex to again fill the room with music. It even grew into a bit of a chant of his name. It soon grew to the entire room, with only the people at his own table not joining in. He finally threw up his hands in mock surrender, stood up and took off his coat as he walked to the front of the room. 

"Harry, I will get back at you for embarrassing me like this," Alex said, drawing a laugh as he took a seat at the piano bench. He let his fingers run over the keys a bit before beginning to play. The piano was clearly in good use as the familiar strains of "Let it Snow" began filling the hall.

"Well the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful," Alex began singing, his voice a rich and pitch-perfect baritone. A crowd began assembling near the stage.

"God, he's so good." Carrie said with a laugh as she sipped on her champagne. Like most of the women in the hall, she was looking on with quite a bit of admiration at Alex's performance.

"Didn't Alex book the room?" Phil said, looking vaguely annoyed as he saw the look on his wife's face.

"Uh huh." Josh said, clearly annoyed.

"So he'd have had to specially request the piano be here, right?" Phil continued, even though Carrie caught the jealous look on his face and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Mmmhmm" Josh sipped on his beer.

"So why..."

"This is your first time meeting Alex, is it?" Joanna said wryly as she saw a good number of the female employees in attendance congregate around the piano. One or two bold ones even slipped what Joanna assumed to be phone numbers into the large tip glass on top. 

"C'mon honey, let's dance." Carrie said, standing up and yanking Phil to his feet. He smiled and walked after his wife. Josh also stood up.

"Excuse me," Josh said, finishing his beer, "I need to go write something in the woman's bathroom."

Josh walked off, giving Joanna no real impression as to whether or not he was serious, leaving Joanna sitting alone at the table. She sat there and sipped gingerly at her drink, lost in her own thoughts. She sighed with frustration. She still had Jessica on her mind. The entire week she'd had to avoid her as best she could, feeling ashamed every time she saw her. She was such a cute, smart girl and Joanna wanted her very, very badly but even the few times Jessica had tried striking up a conversation since their night at the bar, Joanna had just felt worse and worse that she'd agreed to try and seduce her just for the sake of the game. Joanna wished she could have been a better person, have not agreed to Alex's challenge and been able to pursue Jessica honestly. Then, as she thought of her already booked vacation days, she wished she was a worse person so she could have gone after Jessica, gotten her, and won the Bonus. She was lost in that confusing mix when Josh returned to the table.

"You won't believe it Jo," he exclaimed happily, "You see those two over there."

Josh pointed to a nearby table where two pretty brunettes were sipping on Cosmos and occasionally looking Josh's way with a giggle. 

"What about them?" Joanna said, not really caring.

"Well, they both recognized my name and they both, I repeat both, seem to want to find out that the legends are, indeed, true." Josh said as he hastily assembled his things, clearly looking to make a hasty retreat from the party.

"Congratulations." Joanna sighed

"That's not even the best part, they're both Alpha Omega Pi's!" Josh said

Joanna just looked at him with a shrug.

"Sisters! Sorority sisters!" Josh explained, "We always had the 200 point bonus for sisters but we never clarified that it had to be blood or even family relations."

Joanna gave him a forced smile.

"Harry Connick Jr. up there can sing until he drops dead and he won't have enough time to make up this ground on me." Josh said, waving in the direction of Alex. Alex was still surrounded by a group of swooning women, having switched from "Let it Snow" to "Blue Christmas"

"Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree," Alex sang as he returned Josh's wave with a nod of his head, clearly misunderstand the purpose of the greeting, "Won't mean a thing dear, if you're not here with me. I'll be so blue..."

"You have a cigarette, right Josh?" Joanna said. She knew he would. Josh didn't smoke but he kept a pack on hand in case a pretty young thing with a nicotine addiction asked him for one as a conversation starter. He nodded and reached into his pocket and handed her the pack.

"Here you go, a consolation prize." Josh said before looking back to the two girls he'd apparently be sharing the evening with and gleefully exclaiming, "It's a Chanukah miracle!"

Joanna nodded as she watched Josh practically skip off in the direction of the two girls who were also making their preparations to leave. Joanna shook her head. She didn't know if Josh was more excited to be winning the contest or about to engage in an orgy with two girls that Joanna concluded were very pretty. She didn't pay the matter much thought though as she made her own way out of the banquet hall. She was nearly at the front of the building when the door flung open. Jessica was walking in the door and the two practically collided.

"Oops, sorry." Jessica said. Joanna just stood there, spell bound. Jessica was wearing a red velvet shirt, red velvet skirt and red velvet hat, all with the traditional white fur trim. The skirt was relatively short and the top was low cut to show a deep valley of cleavage. She looked like what any red blooded heterosexual man, bisexual or Lesbian would most like to ask Santa for. 

"Wow, Jess, I mean, you look..."

"Ridiculous, I know." Jessica said with a laugh, "But my dad is dressing up as Santa again and he insisted I come as his 'Helper' for when the gift giving starts so I thought, fuck it. Give him a heart attack in return for the humiliation."

Ridiculous had not been the word Joanna was thinking of. 

"You look unbelievable." Joanna said, smiling.

"You leaving?" Jessica asked

"No, just going out for a smoke." Joanna said, showing the pack in her hand.

"You smoke?" 

"No. Not for years. But need one now." Joanna said as she took a step past the gorgeous, seasonally dressed girl. She was only a step past her when Jessica's voice stopped her.

"Can I ask you something?" Jessica sounded frustrated. Joanna turned around. At a bit of a distance, with the red stockings and heels of her outfit visible, Joanna thought Jessica looked even better. She could feel herself heating up.

"Sure."

"I mean, you like me right?" Jessica asked, "And not like, friend like me. You want to sleep with me, right?"

"God yes." Joanna exclaimed, her voice seemingly releasing days of tension.

"OK, right. So you're hitting on me all night at the bar and you're as bad as any guy in terms of checking me out so why didn't you take the shot when I asked to see your place?" Jessica said, looking more way more puzzled than hurt. Joanna sighed.

"It's complicated." Joanna said, "Can we talk somewhere?"

Jessica nodded and the two of them found a small, unlocked room in the corner of the hall. It appeared to be an administration office as there was a large wooden desk at the back of the room and a xerox machine in one of the corners. Jessica hopped up to sit on the desk as Joanna closed the door behind them.

"So what's up?" Jessica asked

Joanna launched into the full thing. About the game and how stupid it was. About the vacation time she'd booked and her desperation to go somewhere nice. About Alex and his stupid offer and her shame at accepting the challenge and how, when it came down to it, she couldn't go through with it. About her regret that she hadn't just approached Jessica honestly and made a legitimate advance. To Joanna's surprise, Jessica seemed to take it all in stride, even chuckling at certain bits.

"So, let me get this straight," Jessica said when Joanna was done, "You three are in a year long competition to sleep with the most girls."

"Well, when you say it that way it sounds skeezy and gross." Joanna said, acknowledging that it was kind of true. 

"And I was some sort of big year end prize?" she continued

"At first but..."

"And if you give my panties to Alex, you get five thousand dollars." Jessica said, getting to the shameful end. Joanna could barely stand to look at her.

"That's about it."

"I mean, sure weird and a little juvenile and everything," Jessica said, "But, I mean, alright."

"Excuse me?" Joanna said, looking up to see Jessica's smiling face.

"I mean, I got them on sale for three for thirty dollars." Jessica said, still shaking her head with some disbelief, "I'm working a reception job to pay for a trip of my own. So if you want to cut me in on this for, oh, let's say fifty percent of the pool then you are more than welcome to them and I will come out pretty significantly ahead."

"Really?" Joanna said, relieved that the news was being taken so well and Jessica was, shockingly, a willing conspirator. 

"Yeah," Jessica said, hopping off the desk, "I mean, why not?"

Joanna breathed a big sigh of relief. 

"That's very, very cool of you." Joanna said, "The game works on an honour system so we can just tell the guys that..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I said I'd help you win" Jessica said as she stepped closer to Joanna, backing her up against the door, "I didn't say anything about helping you cheat."

The shorter blonde girl pushed into Joanna and kissed her, her plump, soft lips pressing against Joanna's thinner, darker ones hungrily. Joanna was caught off guard at first. She was still caught off-guard by Jessica's reaction to the news, this was something entirely unexpected. Her confusion only lasted a second though, the warmth and the power of the kiss knocked her right back into gear and soon, Joanna was as much the aggressor in the kiss as Jessica was, the soft, warm lips that Joanna had admired so now being bitten and pulled on gently as they kissed. Their tongues pressed together softly and sweetly at first, feeling each other out. To Joanna's continued surprise, Jessica seemed every bit as experienced and interested as she herself was. There was no let up in the kiss, each woman willing to let the other one take charge for a while before reasserting herself. Joanna thought that Jessica must have put on some sort of mint flavoured chap-stick or lip balm and was savouring every cool, sweet bit.

"God," Joanna moaned as she finally broke the kiss, beginning to kiss and bite at Jessica's neck, getting soft moans from the girl in response, "I'm so glad you caught me before I had that cigarette. I'd have tasted gross."

"Mmmm" Jessica moaned as she undid the buttons on Joanna's coat, "It's not talking time."

Joanna nodded and, with two hands firmly on Jessica's firm, beautifully shaped ass, she lifted the younger woman away from the door and back up onto the desk. She tossed her coat to the side and went back to kissing Jessica, her hands cupping her face and pulling her into it. Jessica's own hands finally were able to undo Joanna's coat and, after some ministrations, tossed it onto the small couch in the corner. Joanna began undoing Jessica's shirt, her hands expertly finding the zipper at the back of her outfit's top and pulling it down to the small of Jessica's back. The red and white garment was the next to be casually tossed to the corner, letting Jessica's substantial, bra-clad breasts free as the tight top was stripped from her. The bra was the next garment to go, with Joanna first yanking the straps down with her teeth before Jessica reached behind herself and undid the hooks of the lacy garment. Joanna couldn't help it. She had to marvel for a second as Jessica's breasts came into view. Their significant size was something Joanna had expected but their flawless, teardrop shape, how high and firm they sat on her chest and the tan colour that matched the rest of Jessica's flawless skin was something she hadn't predicted. 

Joanna didn't waste any time. She dove in, slowly kissing down from the top of Jessica's neck to the tops of her breasts, then down along them, letting her soft tongue trace around the small areola, causing the light pink buds of Jessica's nipples to stiffen to hardness beneath Joanna's ministrations. Joanna switched between the two orbs, wanting to pay each an appropriate amount of attention. Jessica wrapped her hand in Joanna's brown locks, gripping the warm, hungry mouth to her. Jessica moaned her encouragement. Her breasts had always been especially sensitive and Joanna seemed an expert at knowing just what to do to set her off. One of Joanna's hands would see to the one her mouth was not actively either licking, sucking or gently biting at, her hands filling with the soft flesh and gently kneading the flesh, her fingers occasionally rolling the nipples around softly. Jessica could hardly decide if she liked the attentions of Joanna's hand or mouth better. She was glad she didn't have to decide. 

"You...oh, oh my god...you do sleep with a lot of girls don't you?" Jessica said appreciatively. Joanna didn't reply. She was busy kissing down lower, her hands sliding the skirt up Jessica's thighs before finding the delicate material of her lover's panties. Joanna slipped her fingers into the waistband of the soft material and began sliding them down Jessica's athletic, toned thighs. True to her word, after Joanna had slipped them down Jessica's thighs, knees and calves, she leaned forward and took the garment in her mouth, yanking them down the rest of the way while gripped tightly in her teeth. Joanna giggled at the sight of it but was soon back to moaning as Joanna's mouth was quickly back on her, kissing its way up her thighs.

"Be...oh goodness..." Jessica's words were cut off by Joanna's mouth coming to it's apparent destination. Joanna licked along the length of Jessica's lips, noting the considerable wetness her earlier efforts had induced and savouring the taste. Joanna loved how unique each woman she was with tasted and Jessica seemed the sweetest of them all. Whether it was something natural or just the end result of the considerable anticipation she'd had being satisfied, Joanna didn't know. She didn't much care either. She spread Jessica ever so slightly with her fingers, letting Jessica's small, stiff clit catch her tongue. Jessica gave a satisfied moan and Joanna let her tongue swirl around the stiff little bud. Her attention to Jessica's clit was skillful, relentless but playful. She alternated between rapidly licks and soft, playful rolls. Jessica groaned, squeezing her own breasts. Every new touch from Joanna's tongue was a new one, keeping her off-guard. With everyone she hoped the next would be the exact same only to be delighted by the new technique Joanna applied. 

"I'm going to..oh fuck yes...oh please" Jessica moaned, feeling the pressure build up inside her. Joanna took that as a sign to divert her attentions elsewhere. She again parted Jessica's lips with her tongue, pressing her mouth deeply against Jessica's sex and licking artfully inside her. She was as skillful with her tongue deep inside, Jessica thought, as she'd been with every other part of her body. Jessica could barely believe what Joanna was doing to her. She'd been with two girls in college but they were late night hook-ups. Weird things where neither one really knew what they were doing. As she bucked her hips and moaned with delight as Joanna's deftly experienced tongue worked inside her, she wondered if she'd ever been with anyone, male of female, who'd actually known what they were doing. Jessica again moaned with disappointment when Joanna removed her tongue but groaned as her tongue was back at her clit and, replacing the tongue inside her, were two of Joanna's fingers, sliding into her swiftly. Joanna crooked them ever so slightly and, upon finding the desired spot, began stroking it quickly towards her as her mouth clamped around Jessica's clit, sucking it gently into her mouth and then going back to frenzied licking. 

Jessica couldn't take it. It was almost so good as to overload her senses. She almost thought about asking Joanna to stop, to let her brace herself. But she just kept bucking her hips, her moans now high pitched, breathless and ragged.

"I...I....Oh fuck...oh fuck...cuh-cumming!" Jessica screamed as she felt herself finally being pushed over the edge, her entire body shaking and squeezing as she felt herself gush her cum over Joanna's face. Joanna didn't let up for a second, kept fingering and licking at her, even though the walls encircling her fingers began squeezing so tight at her fingers that Joanna idly thought they might break. She just kept licking, kept fingering, savouring the feeling of the girl cumming due to her exertions. Jessica just shook, panting and moaning as Joanna kept at her, not relenting for a second. Every few seconds a fresh wave of her orgasm would tear around her, like aftershocks after a massive earthquake, causing her to shake again. 

"Oh god, oh god, oh god" Jessica repeated as she felt herself finally descending. Joanna finally stopped slightly, kissing and biting at Jessica's quivering thighs. Joanna smiled as she looked up at Jessica, the sight of the beautiful girl in the contented, satisfied after-effects of a powerful orgasm really was a sight to behold. 

"How was that?" Joanna asked softly.

"Good, god." Jessica moaned appreciatively before she shifted a bit, "Although I think my ass is a little numb from sitting on the desk."

"Want to, mmm," Joanna kissed gave Jessica another lick, getting an appreciative moan in response, "Get dressed and go back to my place for the night?"

"I do," Jessica said, "But I did promise my dad I'd help do the gift thing at eleven."

"What time is it?" 

"Clock says 10:30." Jessica said, motioning to a small wall clock hanging above the photocopier.

"Damnit." Joanna said with a frown. She didn't want to wait for more.

"I know," Jessica said, running her fingers through Joanna's hair, "It means we can only fuck for twenty, twenty five more minutes tops before it."

Chapter Six.

The tiny couch in the office's corner had proven a far better, if still cramped and uncomfortable, spot for their efforts. Joanna had, after divesting herself of her little black dress and her appropriately slinky underthings, joined the rest of their clothes on the floor. Jessica had marvelled at Joanna's body. She was tall, willowy and graceful. Everything about her just seemed so elegant. Joanna had rejoined Jessica on the couch where they'd kissed hungrily some more and Jessica had returned some of the attention that she'd received to Joanna's smaller, perky breasts. 




The Christmas Bonus



Joanna was finding Jessica to be a particularly engaging lover. Not particularly experienced, maybe, but eager, energetic and quick to learn. She was also refreshingly creative. When Joanna had begun going down on her again, Jessica had instead leaned over onto her side and motioned for Jessica to do the same, albeit in the opposite direction. True, now both of their legs were hanging over the sides of the cramped little loveseat but both of their heads were between the others thighs, eagerly tonguing the other one. 

"Oh god, don't stop, don't stop," Joanna took a break from her own work to encourage Jessica's efforts. Jessica was energetically rubbing at Joanna's clit, her tongue deep inside her folds. Jessica was actually mildly relieved that she'd managed to distract Joanna long enough to stop. Jessica had proven particularly orgasmic beneath Joanna's expert touch and had soaked the couch with two more climaxes of her own with Joanna yet to achieve her first. Jessica desperately wanted more of her own but she was beginning to feel a little selfish and inept. So, with two of her fingers plunging in and out of Joanna's slick cunt, it was a welcome relief to hear that she was making some degree of headway.

"Fuck me, oh god yes, fuck me," Joanna implored, feeling the delicate soft lips on her clit as she gripped and squeezed around the two fingers inside her. She could feel herself finally getting there, the velvet-y smooth licks bringing her closer and closer to a delicious, well prepared climax of her own. Joanna always enjoyed that one big climax after coaxing several from the girl she was with and the one she felt, the one that felt as though it was being built layer by layer within her, felt like it just might demolish her. She wanted to sit back and enjoy it but she maintained her efforts on Jessica best as she could, her fingers frigging the younger girl's clit quickly. Both women were bucking their hips at each other, with Joanna's verbal encouragements met with Jessica's muffled moans. Joanna knew she was close, knew that Jessica's constant attentions were about to get her there. The dam finally broke when Jessica added a third finger, stretching Joanna's pussy tightly around the third invading digit and proving too much for the brunette to take. 

"Fuck me you dirty little...oh fuck...fuck...FUCK!" Joanna closed her eyes, threw her head back and felt her toes curl and her body enjoy that familiar, exquisite release. A short, powerful burst of pleasure that caused her to clench her legs tightly around Jessica's head as she rode out the emanations that gripped her entire body. Her own fingers seemed to do the magic for Jessica one last time as she felt and heard the Blonde's muffled cries reach a heightened pitch and her body shake for the fourth time. The two women gripped each other tightly as they both felt themselves gradually slow and then stop, each of them breathing heavily and kissing the others nearest possible body part. 

"That, I mean, wow," Jessica said finally as she sat up. There was an ear to ear grin on her beautiful, glistening face, one that Joanna knew matched her own. She sat up beside her and gave Jessica another long, soft kiss. Both chins and tongues wet with the others juices. The kiss was tender and sweet but short, as both of them knew they'd enjoyed each other for their allotted time.

"We should get back to the party." Joanna finally said as she reached down to the collected pile of their clothes, finding her underwear.

"Mmmm, I hate to say that you're right but you're right." Jessica said, slumping back against the couch. Joanna dressed relatively quickly, only needing Jessica's help to zip her dress back up at the back. Jessica soon followed and Joanna enjoyed the sight of the gorgeous, busty blonde getting back into her Christmas get up. 

"Looking for something?" Joanna asked as she saw Jessica look through her pile of clothes.

"Your prize. I'm assuming I can still wear them out of here and you can claim your spoils tomorrow." Jessica said, still naked from the waist down.

"Sure, here." Joanna picked up the silky little things from the desk and tossed them to Jessica.

"Careful," Jessica said as she caught them, "Those are worth thousands of dollars apparently."

Joanna giggled and took in the view of Jessica completing her ensemble. She still had to shake her head at just how beautiful a girl she'd been with and not to mention how badly she wanted to be with her again. She didn't know when she'd get the chance but she knew that she'd make every effort to make Jessica's presence in her love life a fairly permanent thing. The two finished getting back into somewhat respectable appearance and, after a final long and lingering kiss at the door, walked out of the administration office and into the banquet hall. The sounds of the Holiday party were still going strong as they walked back towards the party that Joanna had only just left and Jessica had never gotten to. They stopped again at the doors and, after a glance to make sure nobody was around, shared a sweet kiss.

"I just have to be there for a few minutes." Jessica said, "I'll find you when I'm done and we'll head to your place? Provided the fumigation is finished of course."

"Mmmm, hurry up." Joanna said, playfully letting her hand squeeze Jessica's butt one final time. Joanna stood and watched Jessica enter to a loud cheer and saw that Mr. Crawford was, indeed, dressed as Santa and in the process of handing out gifts. She thought briefly about going in to watch Jessica's humiliation but, feeling the pack of cigarettes still in her jacket pocket, decided against it. That was sex that demanded a smoke afterwards. 

She was just about to turn and walk out when, nearby, a door opened and from it emerged a gorgeous young woman that Joanna vaguely remembered from one of the other Media teams. She was straightening her skirt and, when she noticed Joanna, shared a knowing smile with her before quickly walking back into the party. Jessica could hear the unmistakable tune of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Major-General's Song" being whistled from within the room the young woman had emerged from and, to her complete and total lack of surprise, Alex emerged soon after. His whistling not being interrupted at all as he effortlessly re-did his tie into it's perfect double-Windsor knot. 

"Hello there, Jo." Alex said with a smile as he caught sight of his friend, "I trust you're having an excellent Winter Holiday party as well?"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." Joanna said coyly.

"Of course you don't." Alex said, finishing with the tie and moving his attentions to his cufflinks, "I'm sure you came to the party with your dress on inside-out."

Joanna just raised her eyebrows and gave him a sad little shake of her head. She knew perfectly well her dress was not on inside-out."

"Thought that would make me give something away, did you?" 

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," he said, his eyes aglow with his own latest conquest. Joanna knew that if she looked anything like he did, he didn't need to see a tag on the back of her dress, he'd just know it. "Still, I did hope you found somewhere better than I did."

"What is that place anyway?" Jessica asked. It was dark and she couldn't see inside but it looked quite small and cramped.

"I believe it's a janitorial supply closet." Alex said, "Who knew the smell of bleach could be such an aphrodisiac."

Joanna just shook her head a little in disbelief.

"Going out for a smoke?" Alex said, looking at the pack in her hands.

"I am. Want to join me?" Joanna offered,

"Tempting, very tempting," Alex said as he looked at his watch, "But that little red-head on Jenkins' team is meeting me in the closet in...five minutes. Damn. Not enough time at all."

"You're a filthy pig, you know that?" Joanna said with a disbelieving shake of her head and just the merest hint of a smile.

"To quote the great Tracy Marrow, a personal hero of mine," Alex said, returning her smile with a wink, "You don't hate the player. You hate the game."

Epilogue

Joanna looked out onto the city from her balcony. She'd been there for days now and still the sight took her breath away. Paris was everything she'd ever thought it would be. Ever since she was a little girl she'd dreamed about staring out at the Seine and the lights and, now that she was doing it, it was one of those things that more than lived up to her expectations. Her imagination had paled in comparison to the real thing. She thought she could look at it forever. It wasn't even that crazy a thought. Gigake had a Paris Division. Her French wasn't that bad. She clutched the heavy cotton of her bathrobe around her tightly against the chilly January air but didn't move to walk inside. She wanted to soak up every second of this view. 

"Jo, if you're going to look, look, but at least close the freaking balcony, I'm freezing my butt off." 

Joanna turned and smiled. Jessica was on her stomach, propped up on her elbows in the bed, the delicate white cotton bed sheet just covering her backside and leaving her back bare. Those large, perfect breasts only partially pressed against the bedspread and her blonde curls falling messily around her shoulders. Joanna had left her sleeping after a particularly spirited bout of sex after the day's sight-seeing and hadn't expected her to be awake for a bit. 

Joanna smiled as she walked back in to the room. Paris was nice and all, but this was a sight.

The End



The Christmas Bonus



At the age of twenty-four, Belinda Moore knew this was the last year she could vie for the Inspiring Young Women's special Christmas bonus that the company gave out each year. She could, of course, compete against the rest of the firm next year, but that special Christmas bonus was only available to those under twenty-five in the dynamic public relations firm. She knew once she turned twenty-five the competition for the yearly bonuses would get fierce. She also knew that in the male-dominated company in which she worked, the Inspiring Young Women's bonus was her best shot at picking up an award and bonus.

She had worked hard and tried to ignore the rumours that the bonus was only ever given to pretty young promiscuous girls who flirted around the office and with the senior partners. The bonus was a hefty monetary prize plus a two-week holiday at Bedarra Island on the company's tab. She desperately wanted that holiday. She had dreamed of it for the last three years that she had been with the company. She wanted to feed the dolphins and laze on the beach while toned and tanned pretty people brought her drinks with little umbrellas in them. She sighed as she fantasised once more about the wealthy people who sailed there to stay at the exclusive resort. 

She wished it could have been her last year instead of the new girl who won the award after being with the company barely a year. Jealousy had raged in her private thoughts, but the girl had not spoken of her trip when she returned. She looked nervous and giggled whenever anyone mentioned it or asked her about her trip. She was still the bubbly girl who flirted constantly with all the senior partners and associates, but her attitude seemed to completely change and she accepted a transfer to the northern office without a word of complaint.

Belinda couldn't work out the change in the girl. She had never been the sharpest tool in the shed, but she had tried hard in her team. She had thought that the girl would be telling everyone who would listen about the fabulous resort and the amazing time she was sure to have had. Belinda loved the idea of not having to attend another drunken Christmas shemozzle at her parent's house in favour of visiting a paradise like Bedarra Island. "Oh, the freedom of not having to deal with family drama this Christmas," she smiled as she dreamed of the vacation she wanted so badly. She had saved a nice little nest egg to extend her stay there an extra few days. 

Realising that the girl's transfer opened a spot on the team she wanted to be on, Belinda became determined to change her fortunes this year. She had worked hard to be part of the teams that created amazing charity events, and she was able to move within the circles of those that mattered in the prestigious company. These circles eventually included the senior partners once she had been accepted by the teams who ran the PR for the more prominent events.

She had fought her peers to come to the attention of the senior partners, and she felt sure that this year she had a real chance at winning. She tried to tell herself not to get over-confident, but she was sure she had done everything possible to show her hunger to please the senior partners every time she ran into them. She was sure that maybe one or two of them even knew her name by now which was a big boost to her dreams of winning the bonus.

Belinda entered the conference room and looked around at the team she had worked with for the past six months and smiled as she took her seat. They were beginning the organisation for a regular event on the social calendar. The senior associate who led the team resumed talking about the need to keep the media away from a particularly prominent political couple during the fundraiser for IMA's. It was a political train wreck waiting to happen to have a senior front bencher attend the controversial charity event. His wife, though, was insistent that they make a show of support for the cause that helped the "poor boat people" as she put it. Officially known as Irregular Maritime Arrivals her language alone in calling them poor boat people was enough of a politically incorrect gaffe to make the papers. 

The charity event was to raise funds to aid the care of those illegal immigrants in detention centres as they were processed. In addition to this, the proceeds were also used to aid those allowed onto the mainland to settle into communities that had populations with similar cultural backgrounds. It was a good cause and one Belinda truly believed in herself. She put one hundred and ten percent into doing the best she could for the small foundation that came under political scrutiny and pressure from the public who did not understand the legal minefield surrounding the issue.

Belinda heard all that was said and was able to join in the conversation even though when she took note of what she had been absent-mindedly doodling, she was surprised. There was her vision of a beach on Bedarra Island that beckoned her in her daydreams. She frowned at it momentarily before returning to the conversation at hand. 

"Something wrong Belinda?" Nick asked.

"Oh? No, nothing at all," she replied quickly.

"You were frowning as we were discussing the guest speaker. You don't approve?" He probed her further.

"Well." She said thinking to herself that she didn't approve of yet another socialite taking the stage to drone on about something she couldn't possibly understand. "I actually think that if we could persuade an IMA who had been acclimatised to our culture, and was a productive part of society to get up and talk about their experiences, it would open more wallets than Lady Gainsford- Pickering. Do we honestly need to hear a heart-warming speech about doing the right thing and that the privileged owe it to their fellow man to look after them in some way. Some of these people might like to see what the money they give to the charity can do. In real tangible terms."

The people around the table stared at her and at that moment she wished she could have sunk down into the floor. As the newest member of this team, it wasn't her place to question the leadership of the team let alone the decisions the group had already seemingly made. 

"Did you have someone particular in mind?" Nick prompted her, but this time it was him that was frowning.

"Have you heard of Tarsin Nurr? He is a University lecturer and originally came out with a wave of people from the northern pacific. I think an educated man such as himself would be wonderful to listen to rather than the same old 'dig deep it's for a good cause'we trot out every year. I think people demand greater transparency these days, greater accountability even." Belinda answered sounding more confident than she felt. She still wished that the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

"I see," he nodded and there was an uncomfortable silence for several moments before he said, "What do the rest of you think about Miss Moore's proposal?"

"It was just a stray thought, not a proposal!" Belinda hurriedly tried to back-pedal out of the situation I which she found herself. Why did he always call her Miss Moore at times like this? It made her feel foolish, like she didn't belong in the room with the other members of the team. Failing at one of these meetings could see her thrown off the team despite the amount of work she had put in to get here.

"So you wish to withdraw your proposal to change the guest speaker?" There was a challenge in his eyes and a half smiled played across his lips betraying his amusement.

"I stand by what I said about changing the guest speaker but it was hardly a proposal to be tabled, more an opening for discussion, a thought that we could share and discuss amongst the team. A proposal would take preparation time to put together properly," she spoke fast in a rush of nervousness. Not wanting to be seen to back down she was hard pressed to take back the thought she had voiced out loud.

"You seemed to have given this more thought than you words belie though. It took you only a moment to furnish a suitable replacement. Is this Tarsin Nurr a friend perhaps?" Nick seemed to be testing her, even playing with her. It was like a cat that had a mouse cornered. The half-smile stayed perfectly in place showing his amusement.

"It's true that as preparation for being part of this team, I researched the subject heavily as I do for all our events. Tarsin's name came up often in my research and I watched a webinar in which he gave an amazing speech about his life. I am sure I could link you all into the podcast if you would like to see for yourselves and make a better-informed decision. Had this been a proposal, I might have already had it at hand and ready to go. I am afraid I had not been prepared to make that thought into a full proposal at this meeting," Belinda glanced down at the floor again just wishing that hole would appear to swallow her.

Nick drummed his fingers on the table loudly, his gaze remaining on Belinda. From what he knew about her, she was smart, innovative and creative. She worked harder than most of the girls her age that this firm hired. He tilted his head as he studied her letting the drumming of his fingers make them all uncomfortable for a few moments longer.

"Okay, free reign. Put your thoughts and ideas out there on the table for all to see. You must have something going on in that pretty little head of yours Stacey. Share your thoughts on what we could do to make the event better than the format we followed for the last few years," Nick turned to the youngest of his team. Stacey was a beautiful young woman who he assumed was hired and placed in his team by a senior partner who had designs on making her the next Christmas bonus for the senior partners.

"We could maybe make it a themed event. Instead of black tie maybe go with a nautical theme?" Stacey suggested, and Belinda stared at her wide-eyed unbelieving that anyone on this team would suggest such a grossly inappropriate thing.

"Good God," Phillip, a man in his early thirties and on the fast track through the company rolled his eyes. "Why is she even on our team, as if I have to ask?" There was a murmur of assent around the table and Belinda could see the girl was unsure of the problem with what she had just said.

"Stacey, it might be a bit hard to look serious if the media think we are mocking the very cause we are promoting," she said softly without accusation. "The boats these people come in on are awful places, not sailboats and yachts and we could be seen as being a little insensitive."

"Oh," she said wide-eyed, "I didn't..."

"We know, but maybe someone else has a different idea," Belinda cut her off before she could dig herself any deeper into the hole she was already in.

Nick was impressed with Belinda's handling of what could have been a drama filled situation if Phillip had been allowed to go on unchecked. He encouraged a few others to table some ideas then set up two teams to tackle a new proposal each for revamping what was even to him an old and tired event.

"Go work on your proposals. We'll meet first thing in the morning. The event is approaching fast, and if we want to suggest wholesale changes to the agreed upon format, we will have to present them to the committee within a week," Nick announced. He then then waited as people began to pack up their equipment and leave. "Miss Moore, a moment, please." Belinda looked up and turned back to the table letting everyone file out past her.

"You worked hard to get a chance to have a choice of teams to join after your last success," Nick had begun to drum his fingers on the table again. "My client base holds some prestige but it's not quite in the big leagues. So it begs the question, why choose this team and then be reluctant to contribute decent ideas?"

"You're right this team holds some prestige and for me, so do you. You tend to choose causes and events I can believe in; you work with charity organisations that address things that matter, or at least to me. It's easier to work hard if you believe in what you are doing," she said simply. 

"Bob's team have picked up some high-profile worthwhile events and clients that could give you equal prestige. Probably more so than my teams," he countered.

"That's true but he also handles more people of a disreputable nature than ones I respect. I did not want to find myself cleaning up a media nightmare because a spoilt star could contain their partying excesses," she said without rancour and as much honesty as she could summon.

"I have just as many nightmares waiting to happen, yet you can reconcile those it seems. Part of being in this firm and these teams is being part of the clean-up crew. We all have to do it. We are the fixers," he said slowly considering her again.

"Well, at the risk of sounding like I am a kiss-ass, I did my homework on all the senior associates who run these teams. You don't need a clean-up crew nearly as often as the others because you are pre-emptive. You weigh the risks at any given event, and like we just did, you table the risks and look for solutions before the problems arise. I would imagine that you plan to have one of the team placed strategically within reach of the politically incorrect politician's wife all night at this function," she challenged him with the last statement.

"So you thought my team would be an easier job than the others," Nick was enjoying trying to bait the young woman. Mostly the younger members of his team were the vapid beauty queens he was made to take on, or they were too timid to say boo to a goose. This girl was different, and he liked it.

Belinda took her time before answering trying to think of the best way to answer that particular challenge. She stared at him for a moment before finally answering, "I am not exactly sure that I thought about it being easier or harder. My preference is to make sure the mess doesn't occur in the first place than have to clean it up afterwards. That is why I chose your team or more specifically you as a mentor. Unlike Bob and Dave, you are respected by everyone in the company. You get the job done without all the posturing and gloating. You're seen to be fair-minded..."

"You don't have to suck up," Nick held up his hand to stop her, "You're already on the team, but you still didn't answer my original question. Why be so reticent to share your ideas? The change of guest speaker was a decent proposal."

"I worked hard to get on this team," she said softly, "I'm not like Stacey or the other pretty girls who float around this company and seem to do no wrong. I can't afford to speak out or rock the boat too much, I'm still a junior and if I move up in this world, I need to be seen as a team player." She hadn't included her dream of winning the Christmas bonus she so badly wanted.

"No, you are not like Stacey, or what was that girl's name who won the junior bonus last year?" he began drumming his fingers again. "I can never remember they are rarely here longer than six months. I imagine Stacey is in the running for it this year." He said offhandedly not realising the sensitive nerve he had hit in the woman still sitting at the table with him.

"What?" Belinda exclaimed before she could stop herself. Nick immediately turned and scrutinised her. "I mean," she tried desperately to back pedal. "She is lovely and sweet but her suggestions are hardly an asset to the team."

Nick roared with laughter and seeing Belinda frown he realised she had no idea what the Christmas bonus entailed despite being at the company for the last three years. This fact made the situation even more hilarious to him. She was too smart, too confident and had a unique look that made her attractive rather than superficially pretty like the dumb bimbo's he got lumped with every year. It suddenly occurred to him why she had chosen his team to be on. Each of the last few winners of the Christmas bonus had come from his team just like he was sure Stacey would.

"I guess you had better go see what you team is doing then before Stacey has them all agreeing to dress up like pirates on the night," he continued to laugh as Belinda left the room. Nick watched her go. She was good he had to give her that. She had him believing the reasons she gave for joining his team over some of the other more high profile teams. Her reaction to the bonus though had him thinking otherwise.

Belinda worked with her half of the team to come up with a new proposal for the event. It not only included a new guest speaker, but also an additional idea that they all agreed would work to their favor. They provided a list of interesting and socially active MIA's that they could place at each table. These people could tell their stories at various intervals during the night or at least regal their tables with relevant anecdotes and information thus demystifying the issues surrounding the charity in question.

Nick had begun to watch her carefully, whatever her reasons for joining his team were he could not fault her work in any way. The reality was that everything she did and proposed only enhanced the events for which they were responsible. She was good with the other people in the team, especially Stacey, for which was hugely grateful. Had she been over twenty-five he may well have floated her name for a Christmas bonus award himself.

On more than one occasion over the following weeks he saw her speaking with the partners and trying to be flirtatious, and it concerned him that she was trying to vie for the junior Christmas bonus. He had been ignoring the games of the senior partners for years. He wasn't sure what exactly what winning the Inspiring Young Woman bonus entailed, but he was damn sure it had nothing to do with their work at the company. As soon as they won though, they were gone fro his team, so he never gave it much thought. It was that purposeful ignorance that found him constantly saddled with the bimbo's who sought to climb the corporate ladder with their looks rather than hard work and determination. 

What happened on Bedarra was the worst kept secret in the company or so he thought until now. Maybe his executive position made him privy to more about the senior partners but he still found it hard to fathom that no one had noticed that not one winner of that particular bonus still worked at the company.

It concerned him that he might lose a young woman who was proving to be a valuable asset to his team. He told himself that she was too smart, too confident and not a bimbo over and again to ease his concerns. Seeing her begin to flirt with the senior partners irked him, though, and the fact that he cared bothered him just as much on a whole other level.

*****

The IMA event was an outstanding success. Nick and his team were the shining stars of the moment in the company. The outcomes of the event had doubled the donations to the charity and by Nick taking on the role of minder for the high profile politician and his wife the press they received was glowingly favourable.

With the name of their company so often being touted as the fixers for errant celebrities, it was a welcome change of pace to be in the spotlight for a charity event. Nick received a hefty bonus as well as an invitation to dine with the senior partners that weekend. Nick was a fair man, and he knew it was mostly due to the revamping of the event through Belinda's well thought out proposal that his team was being lauded. Despite his reservations, at the lunch with the senior partners and he told them as much. He even went so far as to suggest she be put on the executive track the following year. He had meant it. She would one day be a successful team leader, but he admitted to himself, putting her in a position of returning the following year would end any concerns about her going to Bedarra Island.




The Christmas Bonus



Late in November, after the hubbub of the large event had died down things had returned to normal in the team.They were working on a Christmas event that had been in the pipelines for some time and needed little more than the basic overseeing. Phillip came to him with a look of concern.

"Look Nick, you know me. I don't care what people do in their down time or anything outside work," he began and Nick could feel a problem in the making from his tone. Phillip was on the executive track and rising fast because he was a workaholic. Single minded and dedicated. 

"Yeah, so who is the problem?" Nick was abrupt. He didn't have time for rumour and gossip, and he was surprised that Phillip of all people had come to him with a conversation that started as it had.

"Belinda Moore," Phillip said in a deadpan voice.

"Come again?" Nick was more than a little stunned that Phillip would have a problem with the hard working woman. There were few women in this firm aside of the assistants, and she was one of the few who he thought could hold her own against the corporate climbing men. "I thought she did a good job on that last campaign."

"Look Nick, I am a big enough man to admit when someone else is an asset to the team, and she is," Phillip admitted.

"So what's the problem then?" Nick was confused now.

"I heard her talking to one of the other guys on the team this morning. She thinks she has the Inspiring Young Women's bonus in the bag now," He looked around and lowered his voice. "I've been on this team long enough to know that anyone who wins that award never comes back. They quit or get transferred almost immediately." Nick stayed silent but began to drum his fingers on his desk. "Look," he began again with a deep breath, "You realise she makes the rest of the team look good right?"

"She brings a lot to the team yes," Nick said noncommittally.

"Then you have to fix this, make them take Stacey, for fucks sake the girl is a moron!" Phillip stated the obvious.

"You don't normally care about this sort of stuff, why this time?" Nick sat back in his chair studying Phillip.

"Making the team look good and enhancing our client's prestige isn't enough reason?" Phillip sidestepped the question.

"Like you said, I know you, Phil," Nick's fingers began their incessant drumming again.

"I like her," he shrugged. "She doesn't just coast along on everyone else's work like newbies usually do. She helps everyone on the team out, sometimes to her detriment. You see the way she handles the air head, does half her work for her too." The fact was Belinda had covered for him more than once when he was called to his son's school when he wife was out of town on business, and it was the nanny's day off. She was thorough too and caught mistakes before they made it to Nick's desk negating the usual ear bashing and reworking of files that would usually fall to him. As far as he could tell the whole team liked her, and that was a hard feat to accomplish.

"I dunno what to tell yah, Phil. It's not my decision," Nick said mirroring the other man's shrug. "Tell her what you think, that the bonus is a one way ticket outta here."

"Ben tried. They had a bit of an argument about it," Phil admitted not sure if he should have said anything at all now. "Look, we all know Stacey should go, and good riddance," Phil rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying Belinda doesn't deserve a bonus. If I weren't sure it would mean we would lose her from our team, I would be in here telling you to give it to her. You know as well as I do how these things workout every year."

"I dunno what you're talking about," Nick hedged. He was a senior associate because he learned long ago to just ride the tide and ignore the less than savoury practises of the senior partners. "Phil you'll probably be a junior associate next year and leave the team yourself, why do you care what happens to a junior in the firm? Or is there more to this story than you're telling me?" Nick raised his eyebrows.

"Shit no! Not that I don't think she is attractive. She is a darn sight better looking than half the bimbo's that get placed in our team, but it's not like that. I'm married. I have kids for fuck's sake. I don't have the time to mess around with anything like that." Phil was indignant, and Nick believed him.

"Look Nick," Phil knew he was pushing his luck now harping on at Nick. "Ask anyone on the team they will tell you the same thing. Just think about it. You don't want to lose both of us next year," he said with a chuckle and left the room.

Nick had kept a close eye on Belinda since she put together the proposal for the IMA function. Everything Phil had said about her was true. He also knew that she covered for members of the team from time to time and had begun to mentor Stacey so that she looked a lot better at her job that she was in reality. She was an asset not just to his team, but the firm and would, he had no doubt, climb the corporate ladder despite the glass ceilings imposed on women here.

He hadn't been bothered that she had joined his team to win the Christmas bonus. He knew she wasn't typical of the past winners, for starters she was far too smart to sign any waiver precluding her from talking about what happened on Bedarra Island with the senior partners. She read the fine print on everything and had found several issues that could have become large ugly issues for the team before they got out of hand. Still he knew some incredibly intelligent people who had run into bad situations because they thought they knew what it entailed, but indeed didn't. 

He looked out of his glass fronted office at the cubicles that housed his team, or at least the most junior members of his team and watched Belinda. There was something about the woman that drew him to her. His mind began to wander again, and he pulled it back with a shake of his head. She wasn't the typical ballsy type of woman who usually made it in this firm, in fact, to look at her one would think just the opposite. Rather than corporate suits and pants of the typical female executive in tis company, she wore an older style of dress more reminiscent of the fifties or sixties, maybe even earlier he mused. It was a look from that era of tight bodices and full skirts. Demure and feminine was an apt description for her style. Not that he followed the fashion, it was more that being in public relations was good at knowing a person by how they dressed and spoke, what they liked to eat and by the friends they had. 

He searched for one word to describe the girl, and all he could come up with was pleasing. Lovely went too far, inoffensive not far enough. Each time he wrangled with a one-word descriptor he came back to pleasing. Could she be pleasing enough to come to the notice of the senior partners rather than the obvious candidate Stacey? He didn't think so but obviously Phil did and from the sounds of it several other members of the team did too. 

Perhaps he had been too cavalier in his dismissal of the notion, in which case Phil was right he should do something about it. He didn't usually interfere in this sort of thing, but this time he admitted to himself he cared just as much as Phil seemed to.

*****

Belinda returned to her desk after a particular boisterous team meeting where difference of opinion were tabled and debated by the team. Once again, she had found herself playing peacemaker and finding common ground between the opposing sides as Nick leant back watching her with that self-satisfied lazy smile of his.

If she didn't respect him so much, she could easily see herself hating the man. Everything she had said about him was true, his attention to detail, social skills and connections saw almost everything he touched turn to gold. He groomed his team accordingly, gave them all chances to shine in their own right and was unscrupulously fair when they brought their ideas to the table. She had found that out after the IMA event when she received a small bonus cheque and an invitation to apply for the executive track next year.

He wore his success with an arrogance born of a man who knew he was the best at what he did. It was that arrogance that rankled her and in her private thoughts she imagined one day wiping that smug smile off his face with her own brilliance. She gave a soft snort of derision knowing that day was a long way off yet.

When she left the meeting, she had found her mail sat in the centre of her desk. She looked through the envelopes noting a simple hand written address with no sender or company stamp to be seen. She ripped it open and pulled out the single page of typed information her mind reeling as she read it.

2004 Inspiring Young People Award: Angela Cane: Resigned, Married, Unresponsive to contact 2005 Inspiring Young People Award: Susan Stace: Resigned, Married, Unresponsive to contact. 2006 Inspiring Young People Award: Anna Rotondo: Resigned, Married, Unresponsive to contact. 2007 Inspiring Young People Award: Maggie Vella: Resigned, Married, Unresponsive to contact. 2008 Inspiring Young People Award: Celia Bartoli: State mental health facility, 2010 -- current. 2009 Inspiring Young People Award: Lucy Hill: Transferred in-house. Whereabouts unknown. 2010 Inspiring Young People Award: Rebecca King: Transferred in-house. Whereabouts unknown. 2011 Inspiring Young People Award: Ashley Cork: Transferred in-house. Whereabouts unknown. 2012 Inspiring Young People Award: Kathy Nagy: Transferred in-house. Whereabouts unknown. 2013 Inspiring Young People Award: Lydia Musso: Transferred in-house. Northern State Office. HR File as at June, 2014. I dare you to find Lydia or the others in any of our offices yet she is still being paid by the company as are the other transfers on that list.

There was no signature, no further information just the list of names and the dare. Belinda screwed it up in a ball and threw it in the bin assuming that one of the others vying for the bonus was trying to psych her out. Belinda opened the rest of her mail unaware that she was being watched by several sets of eyes. She was glad it was almost time to leave for the day. She felt like she was coming down with a cold and just wanted to curl up in a blanket in front of TV with a mug of hot soup.

At five on the dot and feeling feverish, Belinda gathered her things and stood to leave for the day. She felt a little light headed and hung onto her desk for a moment until the dizziness past. 

"You okay?" Ben asked seeing her sway slightly as she stood.

"I'm just getting a cold, I'll be fine," she smiled. "I'm heading home to bed now anyway."

"Wait up, and I'll give you a lift," he offered seeing how pale she looked. "You can't catch the bus like that. 

"I'm not getting on the back of your bike either," she laughed. "I'll be fine honestly, see you tomorrow."

"I'll call you a cab then," Ben said, "You look like you're about to keel over."

"Problem?" Nick asked seeing the two of them arguing quietly as he was leaving for a meeting with a client.

"Nope, everything is just fine," Belinda said quickly with a smile. Nick looked at Ben and frowned. 

"She's sick. She could barely stand up a moment ago. I was telling her not to take the bus, but she won't accept a lift on my bike and was arguing about taking a cab to be safe," he explained. At that moment, another wave of dizziness made Belinda sway, and she sat back down heavily.

"I'll be just fine in a moment," Belinda said. "I just haven't eaten much today."

"Call HR and get them to text me her address. I'll take her home," Nick said calculating how late he could be this meeting. "Come on Miss Moore, let's get you home." He took her arm and found her skin was hot to touch she was obviously running a high fever. 

"I'm fine," she said again as she got to her feet and swayed unsteadily. 

"Yes of course you are," Nick said sarcastically. "One foot in front of the other now. Do you have any paracetamol or something to get rid of your fever?"

"Yes but they make me drowsy," She complained.

"Drowsy would be an improvement at this point don't you think? Nick shook his head. "Stacey grab a bottle of water from my office would you and meet me at the elevators."

"Sure," she scurried off as Nick supported the unsteady Belinda as they walked. Ben caught up to them and took her arm on the other side.

"I feel like I am being escorted from the building," Belinda continued to complain. 

"You are," Nick said easily, "And you won't be welcome back until you are well again. Find your cold tablets," Nick said taking the bottle of water from Stacey. 

"I don't know where they are. Honestly, I will be just fine if you would all just let me go home and rest," Belinda became frustrated as she dug around in her bag. Who did Nick think he was ordering her around like a child? She was embarrassed by the way everyone was carrying on. 

"Belinda, honey," Stacey's high piping voice cut through her frustration. "Let me help, I am sure I can find them for you. You don't look very well at all, and we are your friends, let us fuss a little it's what friends do." She took Belinda's bag from her and kept talking. "Remember that time you told Ben to go home early and makeup with his girlfriend because he was so grouchy and then covered for him, well he owes you one," she winked at Ben. "Ooh and remember that time you..." she stopped talking as Nick cleared his throat. "What I am trying to say is you are always helping us out now it's our turn, and you have to let us." She pulled the packet of tablets from Belinda's bag triumphantly, "Here you go."

"Thank you, Stacey," Belinda leaned against Nick's chest as she freed her arms from her captors and took two of the plain white tablets with a mouthful of water. "I feel better already," she smiled. "Thank you Ben for caring and yes please Nick, it seems I could use a lift home." She took her bag from Stacey and walked into the elevator gripping the handrail to steady herself finally admitting to herself that she really was unwell.

Nick keyed her address into his GPS and drove silently watching the woman beside him doze in her seat as the tablets took hold. She lived in an older suburb where the timber houses were constantly being knocked down to be replaced by modern concrete monstrosities that passed for homes these days. 

Pulling up at the address he had been given he looked at the quaint little cottage style house that had been subdivided into duplexes and shook his head, "You gotta be fucking kidding me!" This girl was the definition of fifties and sixties style kitsch. He dreaded to imagine what it looked like inside but found his curiosity was such that he had to find out.

"Miss Moore," Nick shook her gently, "You're home." Belinda mumbled and blinked groggily. "Wait there, and I will help you, do you have your keys?" He got out and walked to her side of the car opening the door and helping her to her feet. She leaned on him, and he helped her towards the house.

A young woman of a similar age to Belinda came out of one of the duplexes, "Oh gosh, Bindy, what happened?"

"She's come down with some sort of bug that seems to have got worse as the day went on," Nick explained. "Can you find her key for her I don't think she is making much sense between the fever and the cold medicine?"

"Of course, follow me," she took Belinda's bag and headed towards the duplex on the right side of the cottage digging through the bag on the way. At that point, Nick bent down and picked up the drowsy young woman and carried her the rest of the way and inside to the living room laying her on the couch awkwardly.

"I'm Pam, by the way. Bindy is my cousin," she introduced herself as Nick stood up. 

"I'm..." Nick began and held out his hand, but she stopped him.

"No let me guess! No wedding band, so you're not Phil. You're not young enough to be Ben," she went through the list of the team members aloud discarding them all, and then looked at him with a smile. "That means you must be Nick the team leader."

"You are correct," he acknowledged as he looked around the small duplex. Everything was perfectly ordered and looked like an early TV sitcom had thrown up its entire set into her living room. From the glass bowl of fruit on the kitchen bench to the coloured glass vases full of fresh flowers on the small tables, it was exactly what he had imagined from the outside. "She talks about work a lot does she?"

"Yeah, I guess. Probably so she doesn't have to listen to me talk about mine," Pam laughed. "You're not quite what I expected, but then no one ever is I guess."

"I have a meeting to get to. Tell her I said I didn't want to see her back at work until she is feeling completely better," Nick had to get out of this time warp he smiled to himself. If he left now, he could still make the meeting. "You'll look after her won't you?" Concern touched his voice momentarily. 

"Bindy was right. You're a good guy. That why she chose your team in the end," Pam smiled. "She said you were fair. She likes that you have no hidden agenda's or favourites unlike where I work. I wish I liked my boss as much as she likes working for you."

"Don't believe everything you hear about me," Nick chuckled. "I'm sure she has just as many unpleasant things to say."

"Just one," Pam smirked but kept it to herself. "Thanks for bringing her home, this cold has been coming on for a few days but she wouldn't admit it."

"Nice to meet you Pam," Nick said and left the apartment hurrying to his car and heading back into the city faster than he should have been going. 

*****

The following days at work seemed to be stilted as the team worked towards the next event without Belinda. Nick rode the team hard to pick up on the shortfall once he realise how much Belinda did not only on her portfolio but to help the rest of the team out. Stacey surprisingly seemed to have a good handle on what she was doing, and Nick gave her credit for attempting to help out the others though most dismissed her without even listening to what she had to say.

Nick called a meeting on the third day to check on the progress but if he was honest with himself he had wondered if anyone had heard when Belinda might be returning. Unsurprisingly Stacey had been in constant contact which made sense to Nick. Stacey had obviously been keeping her informed of what was happening here, and Belinda had been guiding her via the phone. 

"She has pneumonia or pleurisy or something like that," Stacey said. "She will be out for the rest of the week probably. She gets breathless when she talks to me, so she's still not good." 

"I called her as well," Ben volunteered. "She thinks it was just that she got run down, and a few bugs got her all at once like a super form of flu."

"That's what I said," Stacey frowned at him, "Didn't I?" She looked up at Nick who nodded.

The rest at the table murmured, and Nick spotted Phil rolling his eyes, but he thankfully said nothing. The event was on track and any issues that might arise on the evening seemed to have been dealt with already. With the lead into Christmas occurring around them at the same time, his team had been given the unenviable task of organising the company Christmas party this year. He tabled the idea and invited suggestions and proposals from the team. 

"There is that party boat that cruises the river called The Island," Stacey lead the conversation. We could make it a beach theme. It is summer after all and I am so sick of those pseudo winterish parties. Santa could be wearing his boardies, and we could have white boomers, it could be a lot of fun." 

"Girl's volleyball team could be interesting," Mark mused from the far end of the table with murmurs of assent from male voices around the table and a grin from Stacey. 

"What else?" Nick asked.

"People book these things months in advance. It would be hard to get in anywhere like The Island I am sure," Phil grumbled. 




The Christmas Bonus



"Come up with a better solution," Nick said. "Unless of course you are just here to criticise the only person who has spoken up so far." Phil's constant eye rolling and the abrasive talk when it came to Stacey was becoming tiresome for Nick. Like it or lump it, she was part of the team, and they needed to all work together regardless of personality clashes.

"I say we have it here. We can decorate accordingly, get caterers and a bar of some description. We could organise it on one of the floors that are not so over populated so as to have room for everyone," once again there were murmurs of assent from around the table.

"One thing in favour of that idea is the constant complaints that people had to travel to far. Or go home and change only to end up back in the city when it's on a Friday night. They can just stay, come as you are casual so to speak," Dom spoke up uncharacteristically. He was a quiet man who sat back and took everything in only offering his input when he had something relevant to say. Like Nick, he was a trouble shooter. Seeing problems before they arose and working a solution to the issues he saw.

"You're in favour of Phil's suggestion?" Nick turned his gaze on Dom.

"People work a lot of Saturday's anyway, so having it here negates the complaints about where it's held and coming on a weekend," he said thoughtfully and leaned back in his chair. "Having said that it would need to be more than the usual after hours style celebrations that go on here from time to time."

"Fine you work with Phil on a proposal, I'll email out the budget and deadline information. Mark you work with Stacey on the island beach theme proposal. Ben give Belinda a call and she if she wants to work with you from home, she can email in her idea's," Nick issued commands as if organising a battle. If he knew Belinda at all she would be going stir crazy at home, work was her life from what he could see.

Since Belinda had become sick the week before, and Nick had come to realise what an integral member of his team she was, she had dogged his thoughts constantly. In an effort to cure himself of thinking about her so much, he had done a little digging into her personnel file. She came from a typical split family, the youngest of three children. She graduated with a high-grade point average just short of the honours role and had taken this job straight out of University. 

The CV they had on file was impressive in that she had been a member of various organisations either in a part-time capacity or as a volunteer during her University degree. He could see that she did indeed care about causes like the ones they worked on. As much as he wished he could have found some skeleton lurking in the words there to rid him of his thoughts, he was glad he hadn't. Digging into her HR file had not given him a reason to dismiss her from his thoughts, and now he found himself wondering about her life outside the company even more.

He kept trying to tell himself it was just the novelty of having a woman on his team that was not an airhead that had him wanting to know more about Belinda. The truth was though that he felt her absence from the office and his team quite keenly. He worried about how sick she must have been to have so many days off, when she had shown herself to be such a workaholic up until this point. 

Over the following days, Ben had said nothing about whether he had got in contact with Belinda and what they were working on if anything. Frustrated Nick called Ben into his office on Friday afternoon. 

"You haven't said if you got hold of Belinda or if you are working on anything for a Christmas party proposal," Nick said as Ben sat down across from his desk.

"Sorry Nick, I've just been swamped, the others are working on their proposals so much that I have been picking up the slack with our other clients. Belinda and I have been emailing, and I went over last night to look at some of the stuff she has been working on for it," he explained. "I guess I have just been doing the Christmas stuff after hours and not pushing it here. Did you need to know the idea?"

"I know what the other two teams are working toward so its only fair," Nick said easily but it rankled him that Ben seemed to have a secret working relationship with Belinda. "How does your girlfriend like you spending so much time with another woman after hours?"

"Ha!" Ben laughed. "She likes Belinda as much as I do. She cooked for us last night at Belinda's place while we worked on our proposal. We're gonna blow everyone's socks off; I hope."

"I see," Nick was somehow irritated by the man sitting across him now. "So blow my socks off," he challenged.

"It won't sound as good coming from me, and I don't want to let her down," Ben hedged. "We were hoping to deliver or proposal in Monday's team meeting, together."

"A general theme is all that is needed at this time," Nick frowned at him, after all that is all he had from the other teams he admitted grudgingly. Surprisingly he found himself not wanting to disappoint Belinda either.

"Think Hollywood blockbuster," Ben said. "Is that enough of a general theme?"

"I guess it will have to be, for now," Nick said good-naturedly but the whole conversation had irked him and knowing that made him even more irritable. "You said she would be back on Monday?" 

"Yeah, Pam hid her wallet and keys to make her wait until she was completely better," Ben laughed. "She said that was your instruction from when you took her home." He emphasised the word 'your.'

"I will be anticipating big things Monday then," Nick said. "Go and enjoy your weekend," he dismissed Ben from his office his irritability showing his voice. Ben for his part seemed not to notice.

"Yeah, the girls are getting together to do something for the proposal tomorrow. I have organised to meet up with them at that little place in the West End that Dom keeps telling us about for lunch. His friend's a chef or something." Ben seemed to consider the statement. "It'll be just me and half a dozen beautiful ladies, so I would say my weekend is looking good." 

Nick stared at him with an unreadable expression. Ben more than respected Nick. He liked him as a person and could imagine if they had met at a social gathering they would have been friends, so he offered an invitation.

"You are more than welcome to come too, Nick. About one if you have nothing else planned," Ben smiled, "it should be a fun lunch. You can meet my girlfriend if you come."

"I might just do that," Nick nodded but didn't commit himself, "It might ruin your attempt to blow my socks off if I know about your proposal though."

"It might but I doubt it. The invitation is there. Otherwise, have a great weekend," Ben left the office unsure whether asking the boss to join them for lunch was a wise move after all.

*****

Belinda had endured a week of not only being unwell but also her a week of her cousin's company. It wasn't that she didn't like her cousin, Pam. On the contrary she thought of her as a sister, it was more that she liked her in small doses. 

Each of their respective parents had helped them buy the duplex in which they lived. It was an older style cottage that Belinda had fallen in love with and when she had discovered that it had been renovated and converted to a duplex with twin small apartments she called her cousin immediately. Pam who had been wanting to move out of home for ages had jumped at the chance. It had been an easy sell after that with the parents coming on board easily now that they had finished their University degrees, and both had decent jobs to pay the mortgage. 

They had promised to look out for each other, and their families tended to leave them alone for the most part much to the girl's relief. Both children of divorced and remarried parents their extended family was large and as volatile as it was eccentric. Belinda had grown to love her isolation from the family drama's and the solitude having a place of her own afforded her while having the company of Pam whenever she felt like it. While she was sick though, Pam had not left her alone for more than a few minutes at a time except when she went to work.

Pam was a teacher and having the excuse of a sick relative she had left school with the kids right on two thirty each day rather than attending the usual after school meetings. Belinda found herself with only a few hours each day of peace and quiet. She had become so ill in those first two days that she slept more than she was awake, so she hadn't noticed it. As she regained her strength Pam's constant presence, although well-meaning, had made her grouchier than she might have been otherwise.

Feeling much better, though not recovered, she might have gone to work on Wednesday except for Pam taking her wallet and handbag. When Belinda demanded them back, Pam reminded her that her boss had said not to return until she was fully recovered. She was over the moon when Ben called and told her about the Christmas proposal and threw herself into it as a project she could do at home. She quickly took the reins from Ben sending him emails and inviting him over for dinner, with his girlfriend of course, to discuss what she had done.

Ben was happy to let Belinda run with it and enjoyed seeing her outside of the company in an atmosphere of friendship rather than just business. He had liked her ideas and had agreed wholeheartedly with the theme she finally decided on as they weeded out the weaker and more problematic ideas. He was amazed at how much she had accomplished on her own working from an old and less that optimum laptop. He kept his work going at the company as well as helping out Stacey, which he had promised Belinda he would do.

Having fun with the whole idea, Belinda invited a few friends, Pam and Ben's girlfriend to go Op Shopping with her on Saturday. They would then have a photo shoot at her place on Saturday night to capture some images she could use in her presentation on the Monday. While she had labelled it as work, it was going to be fun. She had been working so hard since making it into one of the prestige teams that she had barely had time for a social life lately.

The women all piled into two cars and raced to the older parts of town to see what they could find. It was close to one when they went to meet up for lunch at a boutique brewery that Ben had suggested, having heard about it through the guys at work. 

"You look a bit pale," Pam admonished as they sat at a table and looked over the menu's while waiting for the second group of women. 

"I didn't think I would be this exhausted. I guess I am not one hundred percent fit for duty yet," she gave a wan smile.

"How about I drop you home after lunch. Then you can rest while the rest of us finish shopping," Pam encouraged.

"But I..." she stopped as Pam held up her hand.

"We all know the look you're going for. Have a little faith in us. There is no shame in needing a nana nap when you have been so sick all week," she cajoled.

"Let's see how I feel after some food," Belinda said noncommittally. 

The rest of the girls arrived, and Belinda got swept up in the excited babble about everyone's discoveries from the out of the way Opportunity Shops they had visited. Ben arrived shortly after and was swept up in the conversation as his girlfriend introduced him to each woman with the tag of the best bargain they had found.

"Fuck!" Ben exclaimed and looked at Belinda apologetically, "I should have told you I invited him."

Belinda looked around, and her jaw dropped open as she saw Nick walking confidently toward them. "Yeah, you should've. Why would you do that?"

"Hey Nick, glad you could make it," Ben stood offering his hand in greeting. 

"Thanks, I happened to be free, so I thought, why not?" He said easily taking the proffered hand and surveying the table his eyes landing on Belinda.

"I'd introduce you to everyone, but I don't have all the names straight yet myself," Ben laughed. "This is my girlfriend Angie."

"Nice to meet you," she smiled.

"The pleasure is mine," Nick nodded. He turned his gaze back to Belinda, "Good to see you Belinda. You're feeling better I trust?"

"Yes, much, thank you. And thank you for a lift home the other day I didn't realise how unwell I was at the time," she said quietly. She had never seen Nick in anything aside of the dark suits he wore to work, and she was taken aback by his casual look of jeans and a button up shirt.

"Perhaps you'd like to introduce me to your friends?" Nick gave a half smile.

"Oh, of course," she almost squeaked as if she has been scolded. "This is Penny, Alison, Kelly, Ellen, you've met Pam and Angie, and well, you know Ben," she giggled nervously.

"Nice to meet you all," Nick said looking at the crowded table. "Give me a hand Ben," he said as he pulled a smaller table to the end of their table to make it longer, and people from the end rearranged themselves. "I don't want to sit at the end if that's alright. I do it every day at work. Swap with me, please Penny."

Belinda found in that one move that she would be unable to escape Nick as he came it sit beside her and picked up a menu. "So what looks good," He said conversationally to the table. Nick remained relaxed and easy going keeping up with the conversations around him as they ordered and waited for the drinks to arrive.

"You seem a little tired are you sure you're fully recovered?" Nick asked quietly as the conversation flowed around them.

"I'll be fine once I eat," she smiled. "Shopping with these girls is an extreme sport and I admit I am glad we organised to stop for lunch when we did."

"I was trying to tell her to go home and rest after lunch," Pam chimed in from the other side of Belinda, "That way she will be primed for the fun tonight."

"What prey tell is on the agenda for this evening then?" Nick asked smiling at Pam's enthusiasm.

"Well, we take everything we found today and do a bit of a fashion shoot to the theme of Bindy's work proposal," Her smile was infectious. "It's like dress-up corner for big kids," Pam laughed.

"You'll have to excuse her, she is a kindergarten teacher, she doesn't realise that grown-ups don't usually get excited about dress-ups and finger painting," Belinda said apologetically.

"Not at all, I'm fascinated. Swap seats with me..., Bindy," he asked with a perfectly straight face and stood to move between Pam and Belinda.

"While I'm on my feet, I might go and find the bathrooms," Belinda said quietly and turned her back to Nick scowling at Ben as she did so. She was halfway across the room when Angie caught up with her.

"Ben's really sorry, Bindy. He honestly didn't think Nick would take him up on the invitation to join you guys for lunch," Angie whispered.

"I know," Belinda smiled. She liked Ben and Angie and was happy to call them her friends she just wished she had known that Nick might show up. She would have dressed a little better and made sure her make-up covered the fact that she was still a little worn out. "I just wondered how it came up in conversation and why Ben invited him."

"Apparently Nick's been a little preoccupied at work this week and even a bit grouchy so Ben thought he could use the distraction of doing something fun," Angie said. "Ben thinks Nick is a pretty good guy and would like to know him a bit better I think."

"I get that," Belinda sighed, "I can't blame him for that I guess." They made their way back to the table, and Belinda determined to make the best of things. Formulating something along the lines of what happens outside work, stays outside work, to say to Nick she saw that she needn't have bothered. Alison had filled her place at the table beside and was flirting outrageously with subtle touches on his arm and perfect, soft smiles as she laughed lightly at something he said. Belinda did a double take, feeling like Alison was intruding into her life somehow and took the vacant seat at the table. 

"Oh, Bindy your back!" Alison said in mock surprise, "You don't mind swapping seats with me do you?" 

"Not at all," Belinda mirrored the other woman's smile, "I am sure Nick would rather not sit next to me, he sees me all week at work." Nick's eyes narrowed briefly as she spoke, but his easy-going demeanour quickly fell back into place.

"I haven't seen her at work at all this week," he said to Alison loud enough for her to hear. "The team will be glad to have her back on Monday."

"Any other good looking guys on the team," once again Alison's hand rest lightly on Nick's arm. 

"I am not sure I am the best person to ask," Nick said in a dry tone. "I'm not in the habit of checking out the other guys, maybe Ben has a better eye than I do, but my guess would be that Bindy would be the best judge." For some reason having Nick call her Bindy rather than Belinda or his usual Miss Moore, sounded strange in her ears, like it was wrong, or something and it made her frown slightly.

"Sure they're all gorgeous guys but unavailable I'm afraid," Belinda shook her head sadly.

"Does that include you?" Alison asked in a soft flirtatious voice, "I don't see a wedding ring."

"Ben doesn't wear one either, yet Angie sits right there," Nick answered without answering her question directly. He was enjoying the confusion on her face as she tried to make sense of what he had said. He knew he had made it entirely plausible for her to think that he had a girlfriend at that point even though the last relationship he had ended over eighteen months ago. 

Having been deterred Alison lost her fascination with him and while still flirty she seemed to lose the eagerness to engage him in conversation. She had given him the opportunity to declare that he was available, and he hadn't taken it. So she moved on to other topics saving only a few flirtatious glances and gentle touches for him at times where their conversations met to make sure he knew what he was missing.

Belinda giggled to herself. Alison was a hunter of men. She enjoyed the chase and capture but always found some small reason to find fault with them after she had ensnared them and then went on the next hunt. The fact that she was beautiful and very photogenic was an absolute bonus for Belinda and her plans for tonight. Alison's predatory ways had never bothered Belinda much, but seeing her with Nick, her boss, had bothered her more than she cared to admit, and she relaxed seeing Alison back off a little. It could have been messy to have him involved with one of her close friends.

With a full stomach, Belinda found she was more exhausted than she had felt when they arrived and as the meal was ending Belinda swapped seats once again and spoke quietly to Pam. "I'm feeling a bit off-colour, it might be better if I went home and let you girls finish the shopping without me," she whispered trying not to be overheard.

"Sure, I'll let the girls know, and take you home," Pam said with concern. She had thought she would have to fight Belinda on this topic and was glad that she had seen sense.

"Go where?" Nick asked from across the table as he had tried to listen in on their conversation but had only heard the last snippets of what Pam had said.

"I'm going to drop Bindy home to rest, while the rest of the girls finish off the shopping," Pam said despite the kick Belinda gave her under the table.

"I'll take her," Nick offered, "Then you can continue with the shopping tour with the rest of the ladies."

"That'd be great," Pam grimaced as Belinda kicked her again, "But I think I should make sure she gets tucked in."

"I can do that. You go have some fun," he stood up and offered his hand to Belinda, "Shall we go?" 

"I guess," Belinda replied and stood not taking his hand. "Just give me a moment to make sure they have my list, please." 

"It was very nice to have met you all," Nick announced to the table. "I'll go get the car and meet you out front take your time. I'll be a few minutes."




The Christmas Bonus



"Geez Pam, you couldn't have come up with a better excuse to drive me yourself," Belinda moaned.

"You'll be fine," Pam smiled. "He's a nice guy. I don't see what your problem is."

"He's my boss," Belinda rolled her eyes.

"No, today he is your friend," Pam admonished. "Leave work at the office and treat him like the friend he is silly. It's not like he's asked you on a date. Though he's tall and good looking, I wouldn't blame you if you were interested."

"It's not like that," Belinda sighed. "Then stop acting like it is and let him give you a ride home."

"Fine!" Belinda said in frustration. "See you back at my place in a couple of hours then," Belinda grumbled and stood farewelling the group similarly.

She went past the front desk to pay for her part of the meal in the quaint little bistro only to find that Nick had paid the complete bill for not only herself but all her friends. She was stunned. The small bistro that was part of the boutique brewery was not an expensive place to eat but still there had been nine people there. She walked out to the front and waited barely two minutes before Nick pulled up and let her into his car.

"Thanks for this," she said with a smile. "Thanks for lunch too, you really shouldn't have paid the whole check for us."

"My pleasure," he said as he steered back into the traffic. "Your friends are very entertaining. I enjoyed myself."

"I'm glad," Belinda replied. "Were you at a bit of a loose end this weekend?" 

"Not exactly but Ben made it sound like it would be a fun diversion and he was right," Nick said. "Though I think Alison might have eaten me alive if she knew I was single."

"But you said... what did you say exactly?" Belinda tried to remember the exact conversation, but it had seemed like he said he had a girlfriend.

"She mentioned that I had no wedding ring so that I could say I had a girlfriend or was single. Rather than answering I moved the focus of the question onto Ben and Angie and that he didn't wear a ring either," he shrugged. "How she interpreted that is not my problem, I did not however lie about my status."

Belinda couldn't help but giggle at the tone in his voice and his reading of her friend. "You're probably right. You would probably be partially devoured as we speak if you hadn't pulled off that sleight of hand."

"I have dealt with women like her before," he nodded. "It's all about the conquest until they hunt a hunter. Then it becomes a battlefield. Not my type of thing thanks anyway." Nick chuckled as Belinda continued to giggle softly. "She not too bad though, she doesn't poach another woman's territory if today is anything to go by."

"No, she wouldn't do that. She is lovely once you get past her vanity. That sounded worse than I meant it," Belinda looked up at him, "I mean she is good looking, and she knows she can get what she wants most of the time with flirting. Not just men but women too, there is this one sales girl that just melts every time Alison pours on the charm and gives her enormous discounts."

"That's a handy skill to have, is she in sales herself?" Nick asked.

"No television, she is a production manager, I think, she changes job titles depending on what show she is working on, so I never get it right," Belinda said thoughtfully.

They continued to talk in general about her friends for the rest of the drive home. Pulling up outside her place, Nick walked her in saying, "I told Pam I would make sure you got tucked in."

"There is no need," Belinda demurred.

"I insist, plus I like your company," he followed her inside her small duplex. "It's been a strange week at work without you there. I didn't realise what a big part of the team you had become until you were absent."

"Nick," she paused seeming to struggle to find the words. "I know I don't need to say this but can we just you know make an agreement that whatever happens outside work stays outside of work. I mean if you are going to show up like this and meet my friends and you know things might happen. Well, I just don't want it to be awkward at work the day after, you know?"

"What sorts of things happen?" Nick was amused and intrigued by where she was going with this, and he wondered not for the first time if she had been thinking about him as much as he had her.

"Well, like if you and Alison had gotten together and inevitably broken up. I wouldn't want that to affect the way we deal with each other at work," she tried to explain. Nick considered her for a long moment silently. He found he felt disappointed that she had spoken of Alison, not herself. 

"I see," Nick continued to consider the young woman his mixed emotions making him bolder than he might have otherwise been. "What if it was just you I came to see today? What if I told you I was interested in getting to know you better? What if a group date was an easy way to accomplish that with no harm or foul on either of our behalf? Would that be in the vicinity of what happens outside of work stays outside of work?" He asked as if posing a hypothetical situation but was, in fact, telling her the truth.

Belinda stared at him. Her jaw was working, but no sound came out. She sat heavily on the couch and looked between him and the floor. "Hypothetically, yes," she finally said her voice quiet showing she was unsure how to respond to his questions. "Is that what just happened?" She felt a heady mix of pleasure and apprehension at the thought of a work romance. If it went badly, she would be the one to pay the price.

"Possibly," Nick said uncertain of her response. "Let's face it I am hardly in a position to ask you out to dinner while we are in the office without it seeming like I was taking advantage of my position over you there."

"I'm not sure this is a good idea. I mean I am just getting to be known there as a woman who can compete on an equal footing. If anyone finds out I am dating a senior executive then all that hard work and any chance for a bonus go out the window," she said refusing to look at him.

"I know it's not a good idea. It's quite possibly the worst idea I have ever had, but I want to get to know you better and what better way than in a group situation like at lunch. Ben invited me, not you, so who would think twice about it," he spoke quickly as if trying to convince himself rather than her. It was feasible that they could start to see each other socially even if it were through surreptitious means.

"I guess," Belinda said, "Just friends hanging out getting to know one another." She finally looked up at him. Although quite a bit older than her; she thought Nick was a good looking man and way out of her league, until now. She could see the relief in his features as she seemed to accept what he said.

"What if you don't like what you find in getting to know me. Will the rule still apply or will I find myself transferred," she let him hear the concern in her voice.

"Somehow I doubt that there are any skeletons in your closet that will make me think badly of you," Nick came to sit beside her on the couch.

"So I probably shouldn't mention the body of my last boyfriend that I have buried in the backyard," she gave a sly smile, and Nick burst out laughing.

"Probably not," Nick chuckled.

"Okay, forget I said anything then," she leaned back in the couch cushion. "What happens now?" she asked.

"Now you invite me to stay for the photo shoot tonight like your friends all did. I told them I didn't want to intrude, but they all insisted, even Ben," Nick chuckled. "He's a nice guy. I like his girlfriend too."

"You can come on the same conditions as Ben, and the other guys are coming," Belinda said seriously.

"What's that?" Nick was suspicious.

"Do you own a tux?" she grinned at him.

"I think it's best I stay out of the photo's considering the reasons behind them," Nick made a quick excuse not to have to leave straight away to change. 

"That's disappointing," Belinda said making his arch his eyebrow questioningly. "I was hoping you would take me along for the drive, and I could get to know you better by seeing your place."

"Nothing much to see," he shrugged, "It's just a box I live in. Besides you're supposed to be resting."

"You expect me to rest after dropping that bomb on me," her eyes went wide. 

"No one is more surprised than me. It wasn't until you were away from work that I realised just how much I admired you. I always thought you were beautiful, smart and stylish as well as an asset to our team, but there is more to you, and I want to get to know it all. 

"You think I'm beautiful?" she asked in a whispered surprise and immediately blushed.

"You are," he said with certainty, "I don't think it, I know it."

"Most people would call me interesting, and my style eccentric or quirky," she looked at him dubiously.

"I'm not most people," he said seriously turning to face her. "I didn't plan this. I have never once considered a relationship with someone from work, but you have found a way into my thoughts, and I need to see where this goes." He realised she would need a lot of convincing before she let herself fully relax with him. 

Belinda rested laying along the couch with her feet in his lap. Nick was happy to be talking about family and growing up in similar places. The age gap between them came up more than once but more from his side than hers, and she seemed unperturbed by it. Checking his watch after some time, he finally pushed her feet from his lap. 

"I better go meet the other men folk. The girls will be back soon, and I think I will let you all go through your shopping in privacy," Nick stood and stretched as Belinda sat up.

"Men folk?" Belinda had a confused expression. 

"Ben's roped in a few friends to help out with your photo shoot. I said I would meet him for a few quiet drinks before we came back here. I would have just dropped him off if things had gone differently between us," he said so as to not seem so cocky about her agreement to get to know each other better outside of work conditions. "Don't get up keep resting, they'll be back soon and you'll need all your energy."

"I feel like I should hug you or something," Belinda tilted her head, "But I don't want to give you any of my lingering germs."

"I'll take my chances," Nick bent and cupped her chin kissing her lightly on the lips and smiling. "I've have wanted to do that all day."

*****

The evening went fabulously with everyone laughing and joining in the fun. It seemed that Nick was comfortable among her friends and was enjoying himself as much as she was. Ben's friends became the life of the party. They got into character as stars of the silver screen, one of them even had a great voice and began crooning old songs as they listened to soundtracks from the era.

Belinda had fallen asleep watching the shenanigans and trying to force her eyes to stay open as she sat leaning on the arm of a lounge chair that had been covered with fake fur. She woke in her bed however to find her place immaculately clean and thanked her stars for such good friends. 

Padding around the small apartment, she grabbed some juice and the camera they had used the night before. Loading the photo's onto her laptop, she smiled as she browsed the formal shots they had begun with and laughed out loud at some of the informal shots that had been taken inbetween poses and costume changes.

Alison, of course, loomed large wrapping herself around one or other of the men in attendance. There were a few casual shots of Nick, but he had stayed out of the posed pictures they had planned for their proposal. He had laughed that she had too much time on her hands and had better come back to work if she went to this much trouble for a simple proposal that didn't even involve a paying client.

Her phone jingled with an incoming text, and she smiled seeing it was from Nick. She read, "Good morning beautiful, how did the photo's turn out? Here is one I took that you should use in the proposal." 

The picture was of her, asleep in the old armchair on the porch. She laughed and sent back, "Good morning. Thank you, but I think I will go with the scripted shots they turned out very well."

"Alison's not the only one who knows how to get their own way" He sent back.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but you are not as skilled at flirting as she is" Belinda hit send and laughed.

"You'll see. I'll call you tonight." She shook her head and sent back a smiley face. She wasn't sure what he meant, but it made her smile that he thought he could get what he wanted by being charming.

Late that afternoon Ben and Angie arrived to look over the final proposal. "You did an amazing job," Ben congratulated her. I don't feel like I have contributed much," Ben said looking over the digital presentation. 

"Of course you have. I couldn't have pulled this off on my own. I was so unwell, and you have been so supportive keeping me in the loop with work and working on this project with me. Letting me get overly-creative when there is no paying client to impress," she gave Ben a wide smile.

"Would you let me make a few changes? Just so, I feel like I did something for it. Nothing drastic just an extra photo or two and maybe pull that one out," he pointed at the screen where a shot of Angie and Allison fought over him in a tug of war.

"I love that picture," Belinda gasped.

"Okay, you can keep that one in if you let me add this one," he pulled a picture from the email he had logged into, and Belinda burst out laughing. 

"No way!" Belinda said continuing to laugh.

"Come on Bindy, it's gorgeous! I wish I looked that perfect when I slept," Angie cajoled. 

"Where did you get that?" Belinda knew very well but wasn't about to let on.

"Nick sent me a whole heap this morning. He took quite a few on his phone last night some of them are pretty good," he opened up a few others from the email and let her see. Belinda was relieved to find that he had taken shots of some of the other girls too even if she did seem to feature heavily in the shots.

"Just let him change a few things and then look at the proposal again," Angie smiled. "Let's decide what we're having for dinner." She saw the look of concern on Belinda's face. "If you don't like what he does to it you can always change it back."

Once they moved far enough away Angie confided, "It's a guy thing, he thinks if his name is on it he shouldn't have let you do most of the work. Let him have his couple of pictures that one of you is awesome, I kid you not."

Belinda understood where Ben was coming from and had no doubt that if he had have just done his own thing while she was away from work she wouldn't have felt right about it either. He was good to include her and let her run with her idea the way he had.

When she re-joined him after ordering pizza, she agreed to his changes and knew that Nick had gotten his way in a rather devious manner. She might not like what he did, but she had to give him credit for how he went about it after she had said no. After the final changes, three photos of herself and four of Ben made it into the proposal along with those of her friends.

They finished the proposal along with the last of their pizza as Angie watch Big brother on TV. "This has been fun," Ben said. "We're going to hang out even though its done now right?"

"Of course you big goofball," Belinda laughed. "We're friends aren't we?"

"We were always friends, but I am glad I have got to know you better," he gave her a quick awkward hug.

"Angie your boy is hitting on me," she called out and laughed loudly as Ben began to protest.

"He can be a bit handsy, just ignore that. I wouldn't worry unless he sticks his tongue down your throat," Angie waved away the incident like she would an annoying fly.

"And on that note, we're leaving," Ben announced and hugged Belinda properly. "Thanks for all your hard work, I appreciate it."

"You did enough of your own hard work, roping in your friends and getting the boss on side, you still have to explain that one to me."

"Tomorrow," Ben laughed.

Belinda went back in and tidied up the pizza boxes and glasses. Then she went to get ready for bed. Her phone rang just as she was about to crawl between the sheets and she smiled, "Hello."

"Hey, how'd the proposal go?" there was amusement in his voice.

"That was playing dirty," she tried to sound angry and failed.

"Well, I don't have Allison's great tits to work with now do I?" he chuckled.

"So you do think she is gorgeous, or at least her tits are," Belinda once again tried to sound angry.

"Sure she is beautiful, I'd have to be blind not to see that but she isn't my type," his voice still held amusement. "I like a woman who looks just as beautiful asleep as she does awake."

"I disagree but I should be grateful I am not drooling from the corner of my mouth in that photo or something equally horrendous I guess. You got what you wanted, it's in the proposal," she sighed dramatically into the phone.

"Was there ever any doubt?" Nick chuckled. "How are you feeling though, you'll be right to come into work tomorrow, won't you?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I just need an early night. You're in bed with me as we speak," she grinned into the phone.

"I'm not that easy. You can't just kiss me once and expect to take me to bed!" Nick protested.

"Me thinks you protest too much," she laughed.

"Yeah, who am I kidding, I'd get in the car right now and drive over if I thought that's what you wanted," he admitted.

"Not tonight, I have a headache," she giggled.

"Sleep well, Bindy," he murmured.

"Thanks you too, see you tomorrow," Belinda put her phone beside her bed after setting the alarm and turned off the light. Visions of Nick swam in her mind as she allowed herself the freedom to think about what he had proposed yesterday and indulge in fantasies she had always shooed from her mind as being implausible. 

*****

Belinda stood nervously to the side of the meeting room as the short multimedia presentation played. When it was done, she looked out at the rest of the team to try and gage their reaction but the group stayed silent waiting for Nick to speak.

"Three good, solid presentations, thank you all for the work you put into them. You all stuck to the brief and your costs come in under budget though some pushed that upper edge a bit harder than others. Now comes the opportunity to speak your thoughts, to give a critique and or a rebuttal. Stacey you can open, you always have something lively to get us going." Nick opened the table to discussion. He knew which he preferred but as always he wanted it to be fair.

"Mark and I wrote a few notes during the presentations," Stacey began and at this point I think we would like to withdraw our proposal and throw our weight behind the Silver Screen idea. Combining with the company awards would be a bonus, and I have a few idea's around that if we get that far and Belinda does mind a few tweaks."

"I think with a few tweaks that the proposal could be made into the invitation and could be emailed out to staff within a week to give them plenty of notice," Mark agreed.

"Slow down, I still have to take it to the senior partners and it's good to have a couple of good solid back-ups in case they don't like it. What's your thoughts, Phil?"

"The Silver Screen proposal is great. I have to admit I like the idea. I am not sure we could pull it off given the time constraints though. I guess I am game as long as everyone realises it will mean putting in some long days around this. Particularly with our current event schedule," he seemed to be checking his calendar on his iPad as he spoke.

"Looking through the packet they gave us as well as the digital display, seems like a fairly reasonable timeline and Belinda's done most of the working checking availability along with the costs. I imagine if you got the go ahead for this today, most of the work could be done with little disruption to the other events," Dom spoke in his usual measured tone having heard what the others said.




The Christmas Bonus



"Decision made then. That was fairly painless this year, well done Ben and Belinda. I'll let you know what the partners say this afternoon before we leave," Nick spoke with authority, "Now how are the timelines for the real events coming along?"

The meeting dragged on for another hour as they each spoke about the projects they were working on. Belinda paid special attention and asked a lot of questions so as to catch up after her absences. She could feel Phil's impatience aiming its acerbic tongue at her, and she stopped asking questions and just tried to remember the things she needed to know. 

Finally, back out at her desk Belinda went through all her notes again. She knew no one would blame her for lagging behind on some of the event organisation, but she hated letting the team down. She watched as Nick left for lunch time meeting with the partners and then buried herself in her work again. Her phone buzzed several minutes later, and she blushed looking at the message briefly and then hid it to savour later when she was on her own.

"You look lovely today. I found the neckline particularly distracting during those first two presentations." She could almost hear him say the words in that amused tone he so often used. While the message made her happy it also created a sense of anxiety that she catch up on everything faster so as not to let him, more so than anyone else, down.

Of all the people who came to her aid it was Stacey who came and sat with her and brought her up to speed. She had a large secretarial pad in which she had been taking notes just as Belinda had suggested weeks ago.

Nick came back late that afternoon and called the team into the conference room. Once they were all gathered he looked at them seriously. "Silver Screen has been given an enthusiastic go ahead, however, the timeline is going to be tighter than we originally thought and the dates that have been tentatively booked will have to change."

There were arguments about the feasibility of going ahead now and how to best approach the division of work. Nick took control of the situation. "Belinda send Mark your presentation to tweak for the invitation with the new date. Mark run it past Ben and then me before it gets sent out. Stacey and Belinda spend tomorrow rebooking everything for the new date. Ben stick with Phil and Dom on the planned events as you have done most of the work on them, and they are of higher priority than the Christmas party. Mark will join you as soon as he is done with the invitation," Nick looked at the stunned group. He usually led by letting them all come to an agreement. It was rare that he showed just what a good team leader he was in a crunch because situations like these rarely arose in his teams.

No one argued. Instead, they discussed plans of attack and wrote out lists and itineraries for the following day. The conference room emptied quickly, and Nick watched as they went about making everything work for him. He was proud of this team. They were a cohesive unit despite the varying personalities and abilities. He wasn't sure how to tell them he had just been offered a partnership and wouldn't lead them again next year. He smiled as he watched Belinda with Stacey, he knew how to tell her though, and he was looking forward to it.

"Let me give you a ride home?" Nick pressed send after typing the message into his phone and looked out of the plate glass wall that separated him from his team. 

He saw her check her phone and respond with a simple word, "Yes."

They had all worked late, and Nick finally told them all to leave an hour after they should have left the building. 

"It's late," Ben said. "Do you want a lift?"

"No, I'm fine. Nick already offered," Belinda said quietly not wanting anyone else to hear.

"He's a good guy. See you tomorrow," Ben touched her shoulder in a small sign of affection and walked after the others to the elevators.

Nick waited another five minutes after seeing the others leave before emerging from his office. "Ready to go?" He asked happily.

"Whenever you are," she returned his smile and they walk side by side toward the elevators.

Once they had settled into his car, and he had pulled out of the parking garage he asked, "Dinner?"

"Are you sure we should? I mean... You're my boss giving me a lift home," she was enjoying the attention he gave her, but she was still unsure about the whole dating her boss thing and how it could backfire on her."

"Yes I am sure we should, I have some news that might make this a whole lot easier for both of us," he turned his lazy smile on her.

"Do tell," She said curiously.

"Over dinner?" He asked again.

"Alright, but only because I am curious now," she gave a small laugh. "Can we make it somewhere out of the way?" She said softly as she reminded herself yet again that she had far more to lose than him in this situation.

"I know just the place," he pulled onto the freeway and headed south. He manoeuvred through a small business district and down a surprisingly well it laneway before pulling up across from a tiny Italian restaurant.

"This place isn't very well known, but they have the best food," Nick said enthusiasticly as he climbed from the car. He walked around to take her by the hand before they crossed the street.

"It does look cosy," she smiled as they were greeted warmly and shown to a table.

"So what's your news?" Belinda asked somewhat impatiently once the waiter had taken their drink orders and left them to browse the menu. 

"Let's decided what we want to eat and order first, so the waiter doesn't continue to hover and interrupt us," Nick replied knowing her curiosity was killing her.

She let out a large sigh but began to study the menu. She loved Italian food and found the choice hard to make. "What are you having?" She asked as Nick put down his menu.

"The linguini Del Mare," he said, "What about you?" 

"Would you think I am boring if I went for the lasagne? I am suddenly craving it," she asked.

"No way. Why would I care if that's what you want?" He chuckled, "I don't expect you to change a thing for me, and I highly doubt I would ever find you boring. I believe you called yourself interesting, and I agree," his smile was genuine as he said it.

"I did?" She looked surprised.

"We were discussing your style at the time but yes you did," he nodded. The waiter returned with their drinks and some bread Nick had ordered with them and took their order for their meals.

"Okay, we have our drinks, and the waiter has our order," Belinda said. "Spill this news of yours."

"I've been offered a partnership at work," Nick said casually as if it was something that happened every day.

"What!" Belinda was stunned, "I mean congratulations!" she recovered but the look of surprise stayed on her face.

"Thank you," Nick grinned, "It's a hefty buy-in, but I can handle it and I'll make it back in the first year." He was voicing his thoughts out loud. "The best part of it is that I won't be your team leader anymore."

"You're leaving the team? But it's your team! What will happen to everyone now?" She could feel her anxiety rise with each question.

"Someone else will take over my portfolio on the ground level, and I will oversee it from the top," he explained. "I'll still be around it's just that I won't be your direct supervisor. You'll have another line manager." He was confused by her tone he had thought she would be as happy as he was about not being in the same office together.

"Oh God, it's going to be Phil isn't it? Please tell me it won't be Phil?" Belinda looked up at him with worried eyes.

"Bindy, stop for a minute," he reached out and took both of her hands in his. "Listen to what I am saying please. We, you and me, can date openly if we want, I won't be on your team. People won't judge you for sleeping with the boss."

"I heard you. You're right; I am sorry it's great news," she said flatly her mind racing with reasons she could use to move teams if Phil took over the reins.

"Bindy, look at me," he said gently. "You have been given the approval to start on the executive track next year, things were bound to change at work, and this is just another thing that is changing. Whether we are together or not, things at work couldn't stay the same forever."

"I know, you're right," she forced a smile. "I am happy for you truly, wow a partner! That's awesome." Nick kept hold of her hands and shook his head.

"I nominated Dom to move up and lead the team. I know Phil has a short fuse that he still doesn't quite have a handle on," he looked at her with the amused half smile she knew so well.

"Really?" She immediately brightened and smiled genuinely at him. "I wonder what I will have to do to get the kind of attention from Dom that I am enjoying from my current team leader," she said with a sly smile. Then she burst out laughing as Nick scowled at her.

"So tell me more about your partnership?" She asked now that her mind had stopped racing with what-ifs about what would happen to their small but cohesive team.

"It's a typical management position, overseeing teams. I'll be hobnobbing with the clients that the Senior partners don't deem worthy of their time," he let go of one of her hands and took a sip of his drink as he talked. "I'll be attending a lot of events and it would be nice to have you with me." He knew he had suddenly gone from a secretive getting to know you agreement to open dating in one swoop, but the more he got to know her the more he wanted to be with her.

"Whoa there, Mister," she let go of his hands and held them both up before her. "Why the sudden rush, I thought we were just friends getting to know each other better, for now."

"We were. I mean we are," he said taken aback by her reaction. "We still have this year to finish out but by next year, I was hoping we could be a bit more open about dating. No one will accuse you of sleeping your way up the corporate ladder." Nick knew that damaging her reputation at work was a big deal to her.

"It's just that," She lowered her hand back to where he still held his on the table. "I like this whole take it slow getting to know you thing we have at the moment. I am enjoying the flirting and having a secret. It's good that it won't matter so much if we get found out next year, but for now can we just keep whatever this is, away from work."

"You got it," he said softly regretting how he handled this evening, for a moment there he thought she was about to tell him that she wasn't interested in dating him at all.

"Thank you," she said and took a sip of her drink. "I do like what I know about you so far and I just don't want to ruin it by worrying about what the team thinks."

This time you're right," Nick agreed with her. "I know I am rushing you a bit but in my defence I am a little surprised that a beautiful young woman like yourself is interested in getting to know me better at all. I don't want you to change your mind."

"You realise your quite the eligible bachelor yourself," Belinda laughed softly, "I am sure I don't need to remind you of my friend Alison." She stopped speaking as the waiter placed their meals before them, and they ordered fresh drinks.

They chatted quietly about any other topics aside of work laughing at shared experiences of growing up in the same town despite the disparity in their ages. At one point, their laughter rang out making other dinners look in their direction but mostly they spoke I hushed tones.

They left the restaurant as they had arrived hand in hand and on the way home Nick took the turn up to the local lookout they had been talking about over dinner. Realising where they were going Belinda gasped and looked at him. She was about to protest when he cut her off and chuckling said, "Aw come on Bindy. All the other kids are doing it." She dissolved into giggles as they made their way up the dark winding road to the top of the small hill. 

There were a few cars spaced out around the flat top of the hill that served as a lookout in days gone by. Nick pulled up at a spot not close to anyone else but with a spectacular view of the city. Shutting off the engine, he left the radio on filling the car with a dull green glow and took her hand as they stared out at the twinkling lights.

"I guess it's too much to hope that you put out on the first date," Nick chuckled softly.

"I don't think I have ever done it in a car, and I am in no hurry to remedy that situation," Belinda wrinkled her nose. "If you play your cards right though I might let you get to first base," she grinned.

"I never understood the bases analogy, I wasn't lucky with the girls back then," he turned to look toward her, ""But I think I can wing it." He leant over and kissed her, his hand moving to cup her cheek as the kiss deepened.

"I bet you bring all your dates up here," Belinda broke the kiss and stared into his eyes.

"Sure, I'm a smooth operator like that," he bent his head to kiss her again and lowered his hand trailing it down her neck and over her shoulder. He felt her hand touch his halting his movement a moment before she broke the kiss again.

"You're getting into second base territory there," she used a warning tone that made him chuckle. 

"I better get you home before things get out of hand then," he grinned and sat back up adjusting himself carefully.

"Thank you," Belinda smiled and leaned over to kiss him again. "Tonight has been wonderful." She looked out over the city one last time before they drove off.

*****

The following weeks at work had become chaotic with the teams working on several events simultaneously. Nick and Belinda continued their flirting via text message and evening phone calls with the occasional ride home and dinner on nights she worked late. If anyone noticed anything, they never acknowledged it but Belinda was still very careful to hide her phone from prying eyes.

The events themselves became like dates as they usually found a few minutes to sneak away together, and although they were seen to leave separately, Nick always drove her home. Even though they continued to get closer, Belinda never let him get very far past second base. She was enjoying taking everything slowly though as time wore on she could tell Nick was becoming frustrated.

It was closing in on the date for the Christmas party and when most of the teams would take annual leave aside of a few who had to work on New Year events. Belinda was glad her team had taken on the Christmas ones instead, and she looked forward to the break. She still hoped to win the Christmas bonus for Inspiring Young Women, but she wasn't as desperate about it now that she had Nick.

After an event a few days before the Christmas party he drove her home as had become their practise. Having made the arrangements that day for a secret rendezvous, she turned to Nick as he pulled up outside her place and shut off the engine with a grin.

"I have something for you," she smiled. 

"A cure for blue balls," he groaned exaggeratedly.

"Sort of," she pulled an envelope from her handbag and handed it to him. Belinda waited for him to open it and scan the contents. "The cure will more than likely be in that hotel room after the Christmas party."

"You're not worried that the people at work will find out?" He asked surprised. 

"There are plenty of rooms in that hotel how would they know we shared one?" she smiled slyly.

"I know I moan and groan a lot, but I'm a guy it's what we do. You don't have to do this if you're not ready," he gave her an out. 

"I know," she leaned over and kissed him deeply. "Now you do too. Sweet dreams," she giggled and stepped out of his car hearing his groan. 

The next few days flew by in a rush as last minute preparations meant they were all on the go. It was important to them all to impress the other teams as they had not yet heard what would be happening the following year once Nick became a partner. Several team members had already had offers from other senior executives to join their teams, but the small group had decided to try and stick together as a team.

Each time there was a team meeting around this sort of topic Stacey remained strangely quiet or excused herself from the room. More out of curiosity than concern Belinda followed her one day and found her sitting near the water cooler looking down an empty corridor. 

"Stacey what's going on with you lately?" Belinda asked quietly. "You not your usual bubbly self."

"I'm really gonna miss you next year," Stacey stood up and hugged Belinda tightly. "I didn't think it would affect me so much but I will even miss Phil's constant eye rolling." She said sadly her eyes becoming glassy.

"What do you mean, were sticking together next year, all of us," Belinda said patting Stacey's back.

"Not me," Stacey said with certainty. Belinda looked at her critically. "I haven't been entirely honest with everyone on the team, but I was warned not to be." She said in hushed tones. Belinda could hear the wariness in the other woman's voice.

"Hey, wanna come with me for my finally costume fitting?" Belinda said cheerily, "If we ask Nick nicely we could leave early and if you feel like we can stop for a coffee before going home." 

"Hell yes, I have been dying to see your costume!" Stacey brightened immediately. 

"Let's go tell the guys we need some girl time," Belinda laughed and guided Stacey back into the conference room. 

The girl's left the guys to finish up for the day and hurried from the building. It was rare that Belinda left early, particularly for something as mundane as a costume fitting. She had justified it by saying to their stunned expressions that she and Stacey had bigger things to worry about than whether their tux was dry cleaned or not.

"I warn you it won't look as good without the hair and make-up and jewellery," Belinda smiled as she walked with Stacey. The walked quickly towards the seamstress she had chosen to remake an outfit she had found on the shopping trip she had gone on with her friends.

"I have a great imagination," Stacey grinned. "Thank you for bringing me, I don't have that many people I count as friends but you are one of them."

The seamstress put the dress into the dressing room for her, and Belinda pulled a pair of black stilettos from her tote bag, leaving the bag with Stacey. It took about forty-five minutes for the final adjustments to be made and the alterations to be marked out. 

"I know exactly what you need to complete that outfit," Stacey said as they left the small shop. "I bet you haven't even thought about it, come with me." She grabbed Belinda's hand and ran down the street laughing, "I hope we make it before they shut!" After running for about ten minutes, Stacey finally pulled her into an old tobacconist store she had never noticed before.

"Hey Stan," Stacey said cheerily.

"Where you been girl?" An ancient looking man stood up from behind the counter and greeted her.

"Making an honest living for a change," she winked. "You always made an honest living just some folks didn't know any better. Never short changed a customer that I heard about." He barked with a throaty laugh that turned into a breathless cough.

Belinda watched intrigued by the conversation as Stacey asked for a long black cigarette holder with a decorative gold and white end and after paying for it handed it to Belinda with a grin.

"Bet you didn't think about that, but it will make the costume trust me," Stacey said happily. "Thanks, Stan," she blew him a kiss and he mimicked catching it in mid-air and putting it in his pocket, or at least that is what Belinda hoped he was doing.

"Let's go grab a drink," Belinda said. Her curiosity about Stacey had peaked with what had just happened, and she still wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with her at work.




The Christmas Bonus



I hung up the phone, already knowing what to give Jim, as I pulled back the covers to climb in bed.

"Merry Christmas, Jim!" I whispered as I wrapped my lips around his thick cock.

Readers, have a safe and happy holiday!



The Christmas Bride



Shelly stood before the mirror viewing her bridal gown of white satin, intricately trimmed within tiny mother of pearls in addition to white lace. In less then one hour she would be Mrs. Austin Weston her sweet heart and one true love from high school. Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation, her lips lined in the softest pink lipstick, while her cheeks showed just a hint of blush; her dark chocolate brown hair cascading in delicate curls down her back, Meg, her maid of honor placed a diamond tiara gently on Shelly’s head. Meg’s dress was green satin and white lace, a crown made out of Christmas flowers, her long brown hair flowing down her back.

Austin stood next to his brother Josh dressed in black matching tuxedos, shiny black dress shoes, bow ties and white dress shirts. Their black hair did not have one strand out of place. The wedding march begins to play from the organ that carries the music throughout the cathedral and into the street.

Meg ambles slowly down the aisle before Shelly and her father; Austin as well as Josh feel the same knot in their throats as they witness the most beautiful bride ambling towards them. Shelly appeared as a princess and felt like she was a princess marrying her prince. Her eyes began to fill with liquid pools of tears, her pale pink lips held an angelic smile as she and her father takes their places with Meg at the alter. A silence falls upon the Cathedral as the wedding begins. . .

They are now united from this day forward as husband and wife before God and their witnesses; they sealed their vows with the holy kiss. Shelly felt her head begin to spin slightly as their lips met and she struggled to regain her composure for she would not ruin her wedding day.

The ballroom where the reception was held was identical to Cinderella’s ballroom where she first met her prince. Shelly smiled as she had regained her strength. Their wedding gifts were under a Christmas tree by the brides and grooms table also decorated in a Christmas theme. They were so blessed on this Christmas Eve.

They smiled in each other’s eyes as they waltzed around the ballroom floor, once they sat down at the table Shelly has noticed blood droplets on the sleeves of her dress, Austin noticed a small amount running slowly from her nose. He gently patted the blood droplets away from her face.

“Are you feeling alright baby?” He asked apprehensive that something was dreadfully wrong.

“I am just slightly weak; I think it’s just the excitement of being a Christmas Bride.” She told him bravely with a weak smile.

Shelly and her father waltzed around the ballroom smiling and laughing when she collapses! Austin runs to her side while Shelly’s mother runs to her daughter as well. Shelly is unconscious and rushed to the hospital where the diagnosis is not what they expected. Doctor Morris looked at the new groom and this was one time he really wish he did not have to tell a husband the news.

“Mr. Weston, I am sorry to be the one to tell you this… your wife is dying, I don’t expect her to last past midnight. You and her family might want to spend her last six hours with her.” He told them wishing for some miracle.

Austin went into shock; he collapsed into his brother’s arms. Shelly’s mother fell to her knee’s crying out a heart-wrenching scream, while her father stumbled backwards to a chair. Meg tried to console Shelly’s mother through her heartbreak of losing her best friend.

Austin walked into the hospital room where his bride lay fading away; he would not accept that there was not any cure for her rare blood disease. They did not even have a name for it, only that she developed it in the last twelve hours and it was ravaging her white blood cells faster then they could administer transfusions. Her mother sat vigilantly at her only daughter’s deathbed, holding her pale fragile hand while she cried a thousand tears and prayed for a miracle to take place. The death rattle could now be heard emulating from Shelly’s fragile body and Austin held her in his arms as he wept holding between his fingers the crystal Christmas bride from their wedding cake.

“Shelly, please do not leave me now. How am I to go on without you to guide me in our dreams?” Austin cried as he maneuvered his body against hers in the hospital bed.

Shelly’s parents sat silently as the clock strikes midnight. Shelly’s breathing becomes rasped as her vitals began to fall. Austin held onto her tightly crying and fearing if he let go that shelly would leave him then.

“Please do not take her away from me. Shelly I love you and I wish I could go instead of you.” He sobbed into her shoulder as his tears fell upon her. 

Josh held Meg in his arms as she cried her last good-bye to her friend. “Who is going to help me with my make-up if you go away? Shelly, please, I don’t think I can make it here without you.” Meg cried out her pain-filled words.

Shelly’s father fell to his knees beside her deathbed calling out to the Heavens above, at that exact same moment she flat lined… It was as if the Heavens had opened up in her hospital room when a brilliant light lit the whole room. Austin cried out as death took his bride away from him.

“God no! Shelly come back please, please come back baby. Oh my God she is gone!” he cried holding her lifeless body in his arms.

A beautiful Angel dressed in a deep red gown with a crown of roses on her head raised her hands above the lifeless Shelly, a brilliant gold light glowed from with her body as the angel had begun curing the rare disease and returning her to her husband, family and friend’s. Outside her window, the angel’s could be heard singing Silent night. 

Merry Christmas