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A Loser Rebounds Ch. 01

By: EgmontGrigor2011



A white Ford Explorer drove up the track to a ranch in Ohio in rapidly fading light. A guy, not yet eighteen in jeans and a blue and white checked shirt, came out of the house and walked over to the vehicle.

Andy Ash, a lean guy with unruly blond hair, had a bleeding lip and swollen eye. Looking concerned, the woman driver rolled down her window and said, "You don't look like a guy who's ready to take my daughter to the graduation dance Andy?"

"No ma'am and I apologize. Please tell Angelina my father forbids me to go."

"And he beat you to reinforce that message?"

"Ma'am I regret I cannot answer your question."

"I understand Andy. Please go inside and get your mom to go to the bathroom and bath your lip. Your brother and sister will be in the TV room I guess?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Then off you go."

Amy Williams sat in her car and waited till she saw a light go on in a bedroom. She then pulled her handgun from under the front seat and picking up a torch went to the door and knocked.

Carl Ash, wearing only jeans and an undershirt and reeking of whisky, opened the door. 

Torchlight blinded him. A shot rang out and a bullet ripped into his right shoulder. He fell screaming, not seeing his assailant who'd doused the light and had walked to her vehicle and drove off.

"Omigod your father has shot himself," Andy's mother cried. "This will disgrace the family."

They heard Carl shout.

His wife gritted, "The brutal oaf, he failed to kill himself. Do you want to finish him off or shall I do it?"

Andy was shocked. His father often beat his wife, occasionally when in quite a rage, but he'd not known his mom felt as strongly as this. Jesus if one of them shot him it would be murder.

"We should go and see if he's okay or not," he said. "Finish my attending to my lip later. Common let's go."

They found Carl had dragged himself to the sofa but had been unable to pull himself up. He was pressing his blood-soaked undershirt against his shoulder to suppress the blood flow.

"Try to fix dad up mom, I'll call the County Sheriff Office."

Amy Williams returned home twelve miles away and calmly told her daughter what had happened.

"Please don't cry darling and don't tell anyone, especially your father, what I've just told you. If you do break down, your father will want to know what's upset you and in all probability that could land me in really big trouble and I could go to jail. You're eighteen and it's time to be strong. Take my vehicle and go alone to the ball and just say that damn Andy Ash didn't show up and no questions will be asked. Many people there are used to hearing Andy being called a loser and know he was voted as the student most likely not to succeed whereas you and I know about the terrible time he's had at home because of his violent father."

Amy went to the front room with coffee and the three guys playing poker with her husband Bernie ignored her as usual and so she said, "Who's cheating tonight."

The guys looked at each other suspiciously and then eyed Amy and Bernie said, "What do you mean?"

Amy smiled. "I've heard women say that men who cheat on their wives also cheat at poker."

The guys looked at each other suspiciously.

Amy, in that attempt to establish an alibi that she'd been home all evening, said she'd be back with coffee and cookies in an hour's time.

The problem for the Sheriff was the lack of any evidence. All that Carl Ash could tell them was there was a knock on the door; he was blinded by some sort of light and was then shot. Carl had not seen anyone or even heard and talking or heard any vehicle driving off. His son Andy had been kicked in the face by a heifer and was in the bathroom with his mom attending to his cut lip at the time the shot rang out. The kids Peter and Kate had the TV up loud and had heard nothing untoward.

Next day the sheriff learned that Andy Ash had missed going to the high school graduation ball that night with Angelina Williams and sent two deputies to enquire with the Williams about that.

The Williams family appeared astounded to learn that Carl Ash had been shot the previous night and was in hospital.

Bernie said he had been playing poker at the time and that Amy had been home all night. Amy said that was correct at gave the names of the three neighbors who were visiting for a friendly game of poker.

The deputies then questioned Angelina. 

Amy nervously listed to Angelina being question and became proud of her daughter who at the time of crucial questioning, lied with the skill of a much older female. 

Angelina had burst into tears when asked had she shot Carl Ash by mistake instead of shooing at his son for standing her up.

Earlier Amy had calmed her daughter faking her reaction at the news while the deputies questioned Bernie. When the deputies turned to question Angelina she'd said, standing with hands on hips, "I wasn't surprised that Andy didn't show up. He's always been a loser and as long as I've known him and his behavior is erratic."

"God I told everyone at the ball last night the jug-head head stood me up. I'm now embarrassed to learn he didn't show up after being injured by a cow. And if you think Andy shot his father then forget it. Andy is a crack shot and if he shot at anything it would be between the eyes."

After the deputies left Amy said quietly to her daughter, "Is Andy a crack shot?"

"I have no idea. I don't even know if he can shoot. But as you know I've always stood by him ever since four years ago when he saved me from probable drowning down at the lake."

Her mum hugged Angelina and whispered thank you for supporting her mom. "Come on darling, let's go over and visit Irene and family."

As the two females drove off, Amy said to her daughter, "This is an unsettling time for them. Now remember, not a word about what you know about last night."

Irene was pleased to see them and was worried that someone might be back to shoot them all.

Amy was quick to calm her.

"Look Irene, we all know Carl is not the most popular guy around. My thinking is it would have been someone from a while back who came off second-best in a fight with Carl and bided his time to come to settle the score with a bullet to the shoulder. Anything else would have risked being caught up in a murder investigation that would have produced evidence of that fight."

"You could be right."

"Well Irene keeps a gun under your pillow."

"No way. I won't allow a gun in the house because Carl loses control at times."

"How do you kill injured cattle?"

"There's a rifle in each of the ranch pick-ups and that's where they stay. I told the sheriff that but he said Carl was shot by a handgun and I said we have no handguns around here."

The women talked on and Angelina went out to meet Andy who was walking back from the barn.

Amy said, "When does Andy go off to work with his uncle thru summer to earn cash to help him at college?"

"Andy leaves tomorrow early, before his father arrives home. Look keep what I'm about to say to yourself. Carl had been drinking for a at least three hours before he was shot and earlier in the evening beat Andy cruelly for no reason at all other than he didn't want Andy to go to the school ball. I lied to the sheriff and confirmed Carl's lie that Andy was kicked by a heifer. I didn't want the sheriff thinking Andy might have shot his father although I knew Andy was beside me at the time and he doesn't have a handgun."

"Yes it's a good idea that you get Andy away from here. Carl will be in a lousy mood now that here's disabled. Um would you mind if I gave Andy a check to help out with college?"

"Oh no please, we can afford to support him provide he works to earn money."

"I suggest this in case Carl becomes mean with the support you guys are giving Andy."

"Oh very well then; you are so kind."

Amy wrote out the check to Andy and handed it to Irene.

"Omigod for one thousand dollars, Amy you can't."

"Oh yes I can and remember Andy refused to accept a reward from us four years ago for saving Angelina from drowning. He didn't need the money then but he does now as he ventures out into the world alone." 

* * *

Andy spent all summer working for his unmarried uncle, crew boss of a small open-cut coal mine in Wyoming. Uncle Henry was even tougher than his younger brother, Andy's father, but the difference was Uncle Henry was fair and could control his anger.

The bituminous coal was hauled from the mine in trucks along a windy rough road along the side of a ravine to a rail loading facility two miles away.

Sullen Andy was taught to drive a truck and four hours after the beginning of that lesson he'd hauled his first load to the railhead. When he returned his smiling instructor punched Andy's shoulder and said, "Glad to see you made it back here in one piece boy because if you hadn't, the boss would have used his baseball bat on me."

Andy hauled six more loads that day, the other drivers grinning at him and giving friendly waves as they passed on the road.

The instructor next day sent Andy up on a Caterpillar 777F off-highway dump truck and yelled, "Take it for a short distance and then practice three-point turns."

"How?" Andy yelled, leaning out the window and looking down at the instructor from the cab of the huge vehicle.

"This is a test to see if you have aptitude. You figure everything out. Damage the truck and your uncle will grin and practice his baseball bat stokes on you."

Andy muttered, "Calm yourself, calm yourself. This is no big deal."

But he was shaking and scared he'd wet his pants.

He started the massive V12 engine that could haul a 90-ton payload out of the loading area and up the incline with ease, or so Andy had been told.

Holding his breath Andy worked the long shift lever and the truck crawled forward. He looked into the side mirror and saw the instructor holding up his hand clapping.

Andy expelled breath and thought the danger of being exposed as a hopeless idiot had vanished.

He wiped his forehead on a sleeve and shifted into another gear and watched the revs on the tach. He swung left to begin a three-point turn and searched for reverse. He completed the turn and looked up for his instructor who was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn what now?" he thought and concluded it would be a waste of time just sitting there. He drove in under a conveyer and a load of coal dropped in.

That left him wondering what now?

He said another 777 coming up behind him and so muttered, "Get out of here. Every five minutes Jimmy has been driving it home that in this operation time is money.

Andy was almost halfway to the railhead when Jimmy yelled by radio, "Andy where the hell are you?"

"About halfway through the ravine I'd say."

"Shit, damn, piss boy, you aren't supposed to do that until you have been signed off after the two-day instruction program."

"Now you tell me."

"Why you cheeky little shit."

"Andy keep going," interjected his uncle. "Jimmy I expect better control from you than this. You better start instructing Andy how to dump before he arrives. Time is money."

Another driver cut into the radio conversation. "I'm having my break at the depot Jimmy. If the kid knows how to stop 90-tonnes of payload I'll climb up and tell him what to do."

"Thanks Clint. God what a mess."

At the railhead Andy slowed and stopped calmly.

Clint jumped on to the sloping access ladder in front of the vehicle leading to the driver's deck and Andy drove off while Clint was still climbing, knowing time was money.

"You've got guts kid," drawled Clint.

Andy beamed.

"I wonder how many company and state regulations you've broken as a rookie? This could cost the company thousands if news of it gets out."

Andy began to shake. 

Clint ginned.

"Okay kid, do it just as you did with the standard dump truck," said Clint and began explaining how to dump the load.

That was completed with no problems. When Andy stopped to let Clint climb down, Clint said, "You're in the A-team now kid. You've got guts."

Andy whistled driving back to the mine, feeling he was almost a man and so proud of his performance.

Andy went back down the long slope into the mine and was heading to take another load when 70-year old Jimmy yelled by radio, "Where the fuck are you going kid? You come back over here and begin safety instruction. And how many trucks did you push off the road on your fool of a trip?"

"None. The guys appeared to pull well over and were grinning."

"Jesus is there no discipline around here?"

Uncle Henry cut in, "I could say the same thing about you Jimmy. Back to Jimmy and allow him to do his job Andy. By the way, congratulations."

Andy had been staying in his uncle's RV and after Andy completed training he moved into one of the six-man cabins and drove initially at daytime as a member of the E-gang. The guys thought it was a hell of a joke that Andy had delivered a load two hours after commencing intensive training on a 777. As far as anyone could remember, no rookie had ever got from out under of Jimmy's iron-fisted grip.

On the second night in the cabin with E-gang, Andy was introduced to real sex.

A girl called Mandy arrived at 9:00 that night and Mick whispered to Andy that the lights would go out and Mandy would visit each guy's bed and ask what about it.

"How much?"

"Seventy bucks?"

"What just for sex?"

Mick sniggered and said that was dirt cheap but then again so was Mandy.

"Tell you are a kid and want it for half-price."

Andy thought that was a good idea.

Andy was Mandy's second call.

Mandy said, "What about it."

"I'm just a kid. Can I have it for half-price?"

He'd whispered but apparently everyone in the cabin had heard the request.

And they all bellowed in laughter when they heard the stinging slap and Mandy yell, "You cheap-shot asshole."

When he heard one of the other guys with Mandy groaning endlessly Andy came out of his humiliation sufficiently to jack-off and came hugely.

"Thanks Mandy," he called.

"What's that asshole?"

The guys sniggered.

Andy turned eighteen on a Wednesday and on Saturday Uncle Henry took him to a nearby small city for dinner and then to an inconspicuous house at the edge of the business district.

Uncle Henry had told Andy he'd take him to a whorehouse (initially Andy though Uncle Henry had said horse house) to celebrate his coming of age.

Andy was disappointed. He'd expected the brothel to be like a palace with women in gowns and those big glass lights hanging from the ceiling and thick red carpet.

Instead it was an ordinary house, one level, with five or six bedrooms. Uncle Henry paid the fat lady and she pushed a button and four women in skimpy underwear appeared and chorused, "Hi boys."

Uncle Henry said mysteriously, "I'll take Bella, she'll have too much horse-power for you. Or did he say whore-power? Andy didn't remember to ask later.

He skipped the skinny woman with a hard mouth and wondered about the other two and finally settled for Alice because she had the biggest tits.

Alice took him to a tidy room and handed him a condom.

"Have you been with a woman before Andy?"

He said, "Yeah my best female friend Angeline Williams."

"She sounds pretty."

Huh?

"And what did you do, I mean how far did you go?"

"We kissed and messed around with our tongues and she pulled my hand down to her pussy and I made her wet with my fingers. That was real cool. You should have seen the look on her face, really angelic."

"I wish I had seen it. So this is your first time going all the way?"

"Yeah but don't be gentle with me. I want to fill you with cum."

"You'll be wearing this little thing young man," said the 30-plus woman firmly.

There was no foreplay but Andy got what he really wanted and that was to suck and play with her tits.

Alice gave him five minutes doing that and asked, "Do you masturbate?"

"Yeah at least twice a day."

That appeared to interest her.

"Right here we go Andy. I'll steer you in and you push up and down in me as fast and as hard as you wish. When your feel you are about to explode, pull out and I'll pull off the condom and let you spray my chest."

"Okay Bella."

"I'm Alice. So you wanted Bella who loves taking it in the butt?"

Huh?

"Are you coming Andy?"

"Nope," he said, picking up the pace and the hard action was beginning to make Alice pant.

"Are you coming Andy?"

"Nope. This is really good but are you too big for me?"

Alice gritted and applied pressure around Andy's plunging erection. That slowed him and he grunted and grunted again and pulled out.

Red-faced and panting heavily, Alice pulled off the condom and aiming the red and purple throbbing erection at her breasts, yelled as she was drenched over her tits, face and into her hair.

"Jesus kid."

"Sorry but I did say I wanted to fill your cunt."

"Next time you can fill Bella's butt. She'll probably ask for return visits."

Uncle Henry looked exhausted and that disappointed Andy who'd thought his uncle would be one of those guys who could go half the night.

"How did it go?"

Andy replied, "Okay but Alice moaned when I shot cum into her hair."

"Yeah she would because she'll have other clients wanting her tonight. Well you're a man now."

"Thanks. How did you go for you?"

He grinned. "I'd phoned through and booked Bella. The bitch had her older sister with her whose husband has been out of town for two months. Oh boy, did I have tits, pussy and butts coming out of my ears."

Andy was highly impressed.

"I'll drive Uncle Henry. You take a nap."

Henry slept all the way.

When Henry got out of the car outside his RV he said, "Gee it feels like my balls are about to drop off."

Andy thought that's what he'd heard about guys saying they'd been fucked out. He hoped one day that situation would be his pleasure to complain about.

The camp had a well-equipped gym and Andy went there every night, never missing a night until he began night-shift. Then he'd go to the gym as soon as he awoke next morning.

At the end of summer Danny went home for three days and was disappointed to learn that Angelina had already gone to her college. He'd intended to fuck her to demonstrate his newly-learned skills although he wouldn't say a hooker had taught him. Ordinary women appeared jealous of women who fucked professionally.

"Omigod, just look at you, you've become a man."

That really pleased Andy and he hugged his mom and when she hugged him back by reflex he grabbed a breast and squeezed.

"God Andy what are you doing?" she said, stepping back red-faced and eyeing him with a surprised look.

"Um sorry mom. You um look so cute."

Irene's smile returned and she whispered, "Well if you intend doing that again make sure no one is about."

Andy grinned and she smiled and holding both his arms down kissed him full on the mouth again and then said she was so glad to have such a fine-looking son who loved his mom.

Danny's father came in looking fit and said his shoulder was fine. Fortunately it had been a .32 slug and had been stopped by bone rather than shatter bone that a .38 slug would have done.

"You look good."

"Yeah all work, time to sleep and time to eat and go to the gym and not much time to play or loaf, but great pay. What I've seen of the ranch looks good."

"Well yeah, I've kept on the guy I hired to cover me while I was recovering. He's big into effective pasture improvement and convinced me to give more attention to maintenance because it makes things last longer."

"That guy or woman who shot you... anything?"

"Nah you know how ineffective law enforcement is in these parts and you can forget about it being a woman. No woman would have the guts to shoot me like that. It also requires brains to figure how to blind me with a torch so I have no idea who was about to pull the trigger."


A Loser Rebounds Ch. 01



Irene, listening to this, relaxed.

Andy waited at the gate for his much younger brother Peter (13, almost 14) and sister Kate (12) to be dropped off from school by one of their neighbors. Parents in the area worked a collection roster. Mrs Bentley greeted him warmly and asked was he ready for college and he said yeah and they chatted for a couple of minutes as he asked about her family, particularly her son who was now at college.

The Ash siblings walked the half-mile up the dirt road because Andy wanted to work into conversations how did they get on with their father. He was getting nowhere until his sister volunteered, "He never hits us like he hits mom or hit you when you lived at home."

Andy's decision not to stand up to his father was overturned abruptly next morning when his mom arrived back from taking her turn to make two trips to collect and take eight children to school.

Carl said to his wife, "I told you to have lunch boxes ready this morning for Andy and me because we are out the back fencing today."

"Sorry you did say that but I simply forgot. I'll do that now. You could have done the lunches yourself."

"You cheeky bitch."

Andy hear the sound of a slap and raced into the kitchen to find his mom holding her cheek and his father turned away as if nothing had happened.

Andy raced up to his father, spun him around and slapped his face hard.

His father roared in anger and went to punch Andy who calmly knocked his father almost sideways with a stinging slap where the first splat had landed."

Andy said angrily, "If you ever strike mom again or hit my brother or sister I'll come back home and kill you."

"All right, all right," said his father, holding his cheek. I hear you."

"Bang lunch together for us please mom... and no weed-killer otherwise I might eat the wrong lunch."

His dad scowled and his mom looked horrified at the thought of poisoning her husband.

Andy and his father walked to the barn and his father watched as Danny removed the rifle from the fitting behind the seats of the pickup and unlocked the toolbox bolted to the back of the cab and placed a loaded magazine into the gun.

"I don't scare easy," said his father, uttering his first words since the incident back at the house.

"I guess you don't dad. Here catch."

Carl caught the Winchester.

"Okay dad, shoot me if you don't wish to have me come back and kill you for beating mom."

Carl dropped the gun as if it had been red hot. 

Sobbing Carl reached out and Andy went forward to be hugged by his taller and heavier father.

"That's it dad, let it all out. You must know your family cannot be proud of you beating mom around like you do. And you must know the neighbors probably suspect what is happing. I leave tomorrow so won't be around to defend mom. I want you to get help. I suggest you begin by going to Doc Allen and telling him what your problem is. You won't be the only patient he's seen with your problem but at least he'll be dealing with it before it really gets around of hand."

Carl stepped back and sniffed he promised he would do that and pulled out his phone and made the appointment while Andy picked up the rifle, removed the magazine and locked it away and then wiped the rifle clean and put it back in place. 

Carl cheered up within an hour and Andy had one of the best days working with his father for a long, long time as they laughed and chatted as they worked and then drove over to see what progress the three ranch hands were making with repairs to the biggest hay barn.

They had a wonderful family dinner that night, everyone excited that Andy was off to college to get a real education.

During the night Andy was awakened by his mom slipping into his bed.

"Shhhh, it's only me."

His mom whispered and cuddled him and said they after going to bed Carl had said he had booked an appointment with Doc Allen to deal with losing control.

"He's always refused until now to admit he does have a problem," she said, drawing Andy's hand on to a boob. He only then became aware his mom was nude.

Andy never regretted what he and his mom did that night. The only thoughts he really were left with was he was surprised his mom wanted to do it with him and he assumed his father would have cheerful shot him had he found out.

To ease the financial burden on his parents, Andy had found a low-cost college offering a three year BS bachelor degree with dual majors in agricultural communication and journalism.

He'd never forget the farewell at the airport, all of his family dressed in their best while he was in jeans and sweat-shirt, doing his best to masquerade as a college student. He was so proud of his family and noticed his mom had her arm hooked through his father's am. That degree of closeness between them had not been apparent for some years.

When getting out of the SUV, his dad pushed five 100-buck notes into Andy's hand and said, "Here's some rainy day money. Your mom yesterday placed all the money for three year's tuition plus 15% to allow for fees increasing into your bank account. That leaves you responsible for your accommodation and everything else."

"Thanks dad, you guys are wonderful," Andy said hugging his dad, still getting used to the idea he could do that now. That hug between them in the barn when the rifle was loaded and offered to his dad, appeared to have partly stunned his dad, forcing him to begin to reconfigure his behavior.

He glanced across at his mom and saw she had lifted her sunglasses and was dabbing at her eyes.

After hugging his brother and his sister Andy hugged and kissed his mom saying loudly, "Bye mom, keep the house tidy". He then whispered "You slut" and she looked at him bright-eyed and whispered they must not do that again.

Like all students going away to college, Andy was severing physical and emotional ties with his family, albeit not completely. But for the semester at least, he was on his own and if he wanted close ties to substitute to fill the void left by leaving home, it was up to him to form them. He wondered how successful he'd be at that because he'd found it difficult making even casual friendships at school but hopefully the difficulties associated with that were behind him now. He'd also dated Alice the prostitute a few times, and had received some freebies, and he believed he'd learned a lot about socializing and in particular dealing with females, in Alice's case an older female.

While lined up ready to board, his phone went and he smiled when noting the caller was Angelina.

"Hi Andy, I think you leave for college tomorrow so I'm calling to wish you well."

"Thanks and you are just in time. I'm at the airport waiting to board now."

"Omigod so it's the big, big day for you, the biggest until you marry."

"Ha no one would want to marry me Angelina."

"I would if you fail to find someone."

Andy was quite shocked.

"That's lovely of you to say that Angelina. I've often had sexual thoughts about you."

He heard Angelina suck in breath and when the woman in the line just ahead turned to frown at him, he winked and was sure she was smiling when she turned away.

Andy asked Angelina about the start to her college adventure and she went on and on about it and that was it. They said goodbye with him saying take care and all she added was thanks. He must have been dreaming to think she had a soft spot for him. Angelina must have called him just so he'd ask how she was finding college. Her grandparents were paying big money for Angelina to attend a premiere college where her grandfather had graduated also in business administration whereas Andy was heading off to a low-cost college that would place him around 1500 road miles from her in their scholastic endeavors. 

Then the passengers began boarding and Andy felt his excitement mount. He would arrive a day earlier than necessary. He'd be in Munro Hall that had a shared lounge/kitchen and then four single bedrooms accessed from a narrow hall within the apartment. He wanted to grab the second or third bedroom because the living room with TV would be right against bedroom 1 and the same with bedroom 4 as it would be have a common wall with the living room/lounge in the next apartment. 

Also he'd made an appointment a couple of hours after he was due to arrive to meet an associate profession and an academic adviser who'd written to advise they had misgivings about his study program being potentially a little too demanding for him because he'd only just met minimum admission standards.

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 02



Andy had viewed a video of the state university several times but even so was shocked at the sheer size of the college's campus. To his untraveled eyes, it seemed as big as a small town.

He was processed through admission and went to Monroe Hall to grab the best bedroom and was in luck. No one else had arrived. 

All were double rooms and he picked bedroom 3 and unpacked and connected up his laptop to check that he had internet access. He emailed his mom, 'Arrived. Good flight. Room looks good. I am very excited.' He then used a map to locate one of the cafes.

Before leaving the room, locking the bedroom door and taking the two keys on the ring, Andy checked the quite extensive view over the campus and out to the hills. He was on the fourth floor. He picked up a thin booklet titled, 'Monroe Hall, Rules and Regulations'.

He flicked through and stopped quite shocked. Monroe was one of two mixed-sex residence halls. He'd not asked for that and in fact would have much preferred to be in an apartment with seven other guys and they could live comfortably without being told what to do by bossy females.

Nah surely they would have males on every other floor and females in between floors or the apartments had to be single sex communities. The thought of panties and stockings hanging to dry when he came in from his regular 6:00 am run rather put him off Monroe Hall because he was now expecting the worst.

Anyway the café food was good and the coffee great so that cheered him. His phone went.

Oh that would be his mom or Registration who'd taken his cell phone number.

"Andy Ash."

"Oh hi Andy, it's Mrs Roach. You are due to meet with Professor Allen and me in an hour's time. Could you come now, we've had two no-shows and we can resume other work when we've interviewed you."

"Okay I have a map and have located the room. I should be with you within ten."

"Five would be more acceptable."

The cheeky bitch then cut the call and for a moment he felt like being a no-show.

He was greeted by a guy when he entered the room.

"Hi Andy, I'm Fred Allen and this is Julie Roach. Because you only just scraped in to come here after a second assessment by Admission, we have examined your academic performance to date and have to tell you we here at the School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Journalism run intense courses and expect high standards."

"Yes I expected that because I want my degree to be worth something."

"Quite."

Julie said, "Your application said you grew up on a ranch and you gained lots of experience. Please define that experience."

"I've spent my entire life on a cattle ranch so know horses, dogs and Angus cattle intimately, always having to pitch in when I came home from school. Every summer I spent a month at my paternal grandparents' farm until they sold two autumns ago. They ran sheep and deer so I added deer handling and were there for their haymaking and fruit picking and I went home for more haymaking. In recent years I became proficient at plowing to prepare for supplementary winter green feed on crop rotation best practice and we also grew corn. I would arrive home from school and relieve dad and plow till mom came to get me around 9:00 for late dinner."

That sounds very impressive," said Fred. "What do you know about animal diseases?"

"Well vets do most of the treatment but rely on us for early detection. Things I've been taught to spot for cattle include calf scours, blackleg, foot rot, pink eye, ringworm and of course they can be tested for lepto and TB for example. Sheep problems I've dealt with include mastitis in ewes, pneumonia, coccidisosis in lambs and of course I missed experiencing bad things you hope to never meet include John's Disease and scrapie."

Fred grinned and said, "You have me almost thinking you are a post-graduate student. Now Julie will talk to you about what we think about your situation here."

Julie consulted her notes. "I note you have consistently scored well in English exams and that's good for journalism but I also noted you don't appear to have won prizes for writing or been on a school newspaper?"

"No and that's why I'm here ready to study hard Julie. I want to be groomed well in agricultural journalism. Every day in the newspaper you read people sounding off about agriculture, often without having a clue of what they are talking about and people write ridiculous things in newspapers putting the boot in about agricultural products and processing. Jesus I even read a letter to the editor about some woman who'd walked into a deer slaughter plant and learned, and I quote, some of poor darlings had their horns cut off and it had been twenty-four hours, she was told, since the deer had last been fed." 

"Well I would like a job where I'm qualified to write to educate people who spout off without knowledge of approved slaughter methods. And people also rant on about restaurants dumping perfectly good food and farmers tipping milk out because the collection truck failed to show up and the holding tank refrigeration unit had malfunctioned. Someone has to defend farming and industry against that bad-mouthing and also write to educate farmers and industry about good and bad practices and provide interesting examples relating to ethical issues and protecting their industry image by doing the right things."

Fred looked at Julie who nodded. Fred stood and held out his hand and Andy shook it.

"Congratulations Andy, please proceed on your chosen academic course. We both see potential in you and your replies to us were more than satisfactory. May you graduate well."

The stern lady said, "I completely agree with Fred. On paper I was worried about you but having heard you in the flesh I now believe I worried unnecessary. Off you go and enjoy life on this wonderful campus."

Gee what a bossy bitch, Andy thought as he walked off. She wasted his time and Prof Allen's time. She ought to stay home watching TV soaps and mop floors.

He then thought well what if she'd been right in her acute screening of applicant entry acceptances? Prof Allen would have squeezed her tit and said good girl Julie. Ah well perhaps it paid not to jump to conclusions and the Prof wouldn't do that to her if he suspected she was gay. How do you tell if a woman is gay? By the way she flicks out her tongue? He had no idea. He was just a dummy from a ranch.

Andy returned to the room and noticed doors to bedrooms 1 and 2 were shut. He knocked but there was no reply. He tried his key in both locks but it wasn't the right fit. Good they had privacy to their rooms. He assumed the newcomers would also be freshmen as that would be sensible room allocation matching. He recalled on the accommodation acceptance noticed he'd received way back, if he didn't like his apartment occupants he could apply for placement elsewhere but the next sentence had stated it would be advisable not to hold one's breath.

Andy heard the apartment door open and left checking on admin memos to students to go and greet the newcomer.

The guy was thickset, and weather beaten.

"Hi I'm Andy Ash. You're a day early too. Here to get a choice room?"

"I'm Rick Burgess. Didn't you get a list of fellow occupants?"

"No."

"Well I almost didn't come to this college when I read the list but it was too expensive to pull out. I'm to share with you."

"And that put you off coming here?"

"No you idiot. The other six who share this apartment are female."

"Oh fuck we'll never get the bathroom free."

Rick grinned. "We'll have to get the girls to agree to us being allowed to walk in on them in the bathroom but not the crap house."

They laughed and Rick said, "Oh here's your key and unhooked it from the ring.

"Thanks. I believe we are doing the same degree and that is why we are paired I guess."

"What Ag communication and journalism?"

"Yeah. My two brothers are already on the ranch so I wasn't required and thought I'd get this degree and then get a masters in something really specific."

"Good thinking," Andy said. "Um I was first here and...

"...and grabbed the best room for the least disturbance and the best side of the room."

"Yeah good guess. But we can toss which side of the room if you wish?

"No it's fine. I've spent summer sleeping in the bunkhouse because mom caught me fingering my bare-ass sister."

"Oh you wretched man, your own sister."

"Aw fair go Andy, I wasn't attempting to tail her. I was just having fun. God she has great breasts."

Andy laughed and said it appearance his mom had judged the situation accurately.

Rick, who came from only 200 miles away, looked sheepish. He was short of money too and they went into the city to have hamburgers and fries for dinner and on the way registered for a couple of old bicycles. They rode into the city and knew the cycles would be useful getting to lectures and other venues as well.

By mid-morning next day four other guys had arrived and Rick, looking angry, said, "I have an aunt who works here in admin. This thing about you and me sharing with six women is a load of crap. She advised that to tease me."

He finally laughed by mainly at the antics of Andy who was rolling around in fits of laughter. Andy had to admit he'd been sucked in as well.

Rick had curly black hair with curls that appeared to attract females and had a date tied up for the weekend by the end of classes on the first day. Andy appeared to be too untidy and too gruff to appeal to females looking for a date. Guys in their school outnumbered females.

On Thursday he received a call from that bitch counselor Mrs Roach.

"Hi Andy it's Julie Roach. We met the other day."

He thought what now. She probably had found his school counselor had comment briefly that he had difficulty socializing, particularly with females. She probably wanted him to have a psychology test.

But no, it turned out nothing like that.

"I live not far from here. I would like you to have a drink on Friday and stay for dinner."

"Is that allowed?"

"My husband will arrive later to join us so what do you think? In fact what were you thinking?"

"Nothing."

She laughed and said what he had been thinking wasn't a very moral thought.

He coughed to hide his embarrassment. 

"But on the other hand my impression had been you didn't like me so perhaps I should be flattered you were thinking of me like that."

God why couldn't she leave it alone, Andy thought. Anyway how could she really know what he was thinking? He decided to say nothing.

"Are you still there Andy?"

He said yes and she gave him the address and said 5:30 would be fine.

On Friday Andy hurried back to the Monroe Hall on his bike that had been stolen the previous evening but he's located it amid hundreds of bikes at lunchtime. Well he'd thought it was his. He attached his name on a sticker under the crossbar for easier recognition and one of the left handlebar for thieves to spot if they bothered about such things as rightful ownership. Actually it wasn't his bike; it was in slightly better condition. Well because the owner would find Andy's former bike?

Too late. Mike was already in the shower. He'd replied to Andy's shout to hurry up.

Poor Mike. It was the first time he'd really been away from home and he was homesick already. Pete had asked him in front of everyone while they were all watching an adult DVD what was wrong. Poor Mike had sniffed and said he was missing mom.

Well, two or three of the guys appreciated what Mike was on about but a couple of them, particularly John, had jeered Mike, making his eyes water. Andy, who for some reason appeared to be coming recognized as room boss, told John to can it. He kept on but when Andy stood he clammed up and Mike went off to bed.

Mike came out with a towel around his waist.

"Thanks Andy for sticking up for me on me the other night."

"That was fine. Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah quite a bit. Peggy Waters has asked me to take her to a movie on Friday night."

Andy gaped. Peggy wasn't much to look at but he'd never heard of a female asking a guy for a date. Jesus what did Mike have to induce that? Ah a sensitive but intelligent face perhaps?

Andy misjudged his timing and arrived fifteen minutes late.

A pretty girl opened the door and said, "Hi I'm Cathy. Mom and I were beginning to think you might have chickened out."

"No I stopped to watch a fight."

"I asked mom about the freshmen guys she'd dealt with and I liked the sound of you. I know what a Caterpillar 777F dump truck is. I sell tractors and other machinery at McKinney's pre-owned farm machinery although we don't handle specialized equipment like the 777."

"God I've never heard of a babe selling farm machinery."

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"For calling me a babe. I'm only used to guys teasing me about my job."

Andy recovered instantly and said he'd not tease her about his job.

"I'm Sarah."

"Hi Sarah. You have pretty eyes."

"Well are you going to kiss me?"

Huh? It took Andy almost thirty seconds to realize it was happening for him.

He kissed her and whispered could he touch her breast.

Sarah checked behind her and said yes.

He squeezed.

She stared at him momentarily and then slammed into him.

Holy fuck, thought the innocent young guy from a backwater in south-east Oklahoma.

"Quickly," she said, breathing heavily after that long kiss. "Mom will be wondering what's going on here."

On Saturday night Rick and Sharon, John and Rosie, Mike and Peggy and Andy were waiting in the lobby of a movie house when John said, "Oh-la-la. Look at this older sensation approaching." 

Andy beamed and the older sensation took Andy's arm and said, "Hi everyone, I'm Sarah." 

Andy really enjoyed seeing the expressions of everyone, especially John's stunned look. Grinning, Andy introduced Sarah to everyone.

After a light supper the couples dispersed and Andy regretted not having a car because he could have gone parking to see how far he could get with Sarah on their first date.

She rode home on the crossbar of his bike, not complaining he didn't have a car although she did say they could always use her car when they dated.

"I walked this evening for exercise."

"Do you like exercise Sarah?"

She giggled and said yes and turned her face toward him to be kissed and asked what exercise did he have in mind?

"Sex?"

She giggled and said that's why she'd asked her mom to pick out a likely guy for her.

"Does your mom not mind you having sex?"

"I'm twenty-six Andy. At my age mom would be concerned if I wasn't having sex."

They arrived at the family home and Sarah took Andy by the hand and said, "There's a campervan in the garage. We can use that. I dusted and aired it today."

They sat on one of the sofas and after a long kiss Sarah lifted her arms and Andy removed her top to find a pair of really cute and braless tits.

"Gee I love them," he said.

Sarah giggled and pulled his head down. Later she pulled his hand down and Andy wormed it in under her skirt and panties to find she was already more than moist.

"God I love being fingered," she said.

Andy required no further encouragement.

When he'd made her cum, Sarah asked Andy to pass him her handbag from the other sofa. She pulled out a condom for him and then a tube of lube.

"Shove it into my butt. I've longed to try a thick one like yours up there."

She turned away from him, pushed her butt toward him and lifted up her top leg, oblivious to Andy's hugely gaping mouth. He'd only even had anal sex once before; it had been the only way his mom would allow him to enter her. Andy also thought of something he'd heard guys say, that a girl might let you fuck her on a first date but never, never anally. Well he'd come to college for an education.

And he did receive something of an education from Sarah. She taught him what worked and what did work for her with sex, the two big things being how to help make things more comfortable with anal sex for the female and that she liked being stroked and not just over her pussy and tits. He couldn't believe she liked being stoked on her arms. Her arms! And if he had her warmed up and blew softly into her ear she would give the impression she was about to ejaculate.

Andy dated Sarah three times and that was three sessions of marathon sex. He loved it. But when she asked about his prospects of taking over the family ranch and he said that was unlikely, Sarah said that was too bad. She wanted a guy who had plenty of money to spend on her, now and in the future. 

Andy took the hint and didn't call her again.

He was in the gym early one afternoon and a blonde watching him lift light weights asked could he help to that. She couldn't even lift the weights an inch and he laughed kindly and said there was technique involved and she couldn't expect to lift that amount of weight just bent over like that.

"God you have a nice ass."

"I was asking for advice, not to be spoken to like that."

She began walking away.

"Leigh I apologize and accept I was out of order. Come back, this is a golden opportunity for you and it will strengthen your upper body to allow you to walk with your shoulders back."

She came back. Andy reduced weight on the bar and told her to lie on the bench.

"I can't help looking at your tits when instructing."

"I accept that and please call them breasts."

"Why."

She looked at him and smiled. "Could we please get on with this?"

They got along with it without mishap and she said, "May I take you to coffee in appreciation?"

Andy's smile showed all his teeth and she giggled and said she guessed that meant coffee.

They met again in the gym next afternoon and Leigh dropped her current boyfriend that night and the guys in the apartment boggled when learning Andy would be dating Leigh Sampson, a senior and the college's women's ski champion for the past three years.

The guys in the apartment held a meeting when they received a very adverse report from the room inspection team.

"Financial penalties are likely if general untidiness persists," John snorted, reading the warning. "They think they are the fucking Room Mafia."

Everyone agreed with that. 

"Well the terms and conditions we signed regarding occupancy explained we must commit to maintaining minimum standards," Andy said. "We need to run rosters like guys do in the other apartments we've been in and I've been in a couple of female apartments and they were as clean and tidy as if they were living at home."

Everyone agreed with that.

John said he nominated Andy as room leader. There were no other nominations and Andy's vote was the only vote against his election.

Before the week was out Andy had displayed amazing leadership qualities and after the next room inspection they found eight chits for a complimentary hamburger from one of the college café's with comments from the inspection team leader, "This is an amazing improvement. Well done boys."

Once Leigh was really into lifting weights she no longer had a purpose for Andy and dropped him.

He didn't bleat, coming to know this was how females were. The lesson had started with Angelina not even calling to say goodbye when she left for her college and then calling him on the eve of his departure to rant about her new life. She'd not called or emailed since.

Left without a date again, Andy emailed his mom with his weekly report and then emailed a copy to Angelina's mom, aware she'd appreciated learning from him how he was processing because she'd given him a thousand bucks towards his college survival. He then found the business card of the whorehouse and to his surprise received a reply from Alice who appeared excited that it was the first email she'd ever received from anyone. She wished him well and said she would be leaving the brothel at the end of the month to begin living with an older guy, a widower, who'd promised to cherish and support her.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 02



Andy didn't reply but hoped that association would lead to marriage and the guy could impregnate Alice. She was soft and kind and would make a good mom. He had this image of Alice walking along a downtown sidewalk hand in hand with two little kids and a smiling guy walking behind them. He never heard from Alice again.

The college electronic newspaper was advertising for a male reporter. Andy applied knowing it would be good experience and look good on his CV. There were about fifteen applicants waiting, apparently all with the same idea, and he was the last to be interviewed.

The editor Sally Jennings was quite attractive with big tits and she was also a senior.

"Ah Andy Ash. Julie Roach who chairs the newspaper's finance and censoring committee suggested I hire you. Will out coach me on weight lifting? Leigh says you are a good coach."

Andy thought gee females get to know everything by gossiping. "Yes if we can find suitable times."

"You appear to have a free time early afternoon according to what Leigh told me. We all have noticed an improvement in her deportment."

Eh?

"Yes we will find suitable times. So when can you start here Andy?"

Eh? "Um shouldn't I be interviewed?"

"Andy," she sighed. "You are already doing communication and journalism and you come highly recommended. Need I say more?"

"Um no."

"I also have a regular date but looking at you I seem much to like. I do have some time to myself. Need I say more?"

"What over your desk now?"

She grinned and said somewhere more private would be fine but there was no need to rush it. "Oh I do have a car."

"Right would you like to brief me about my reporting role now?"

"Oooh, a good keen young man. Aren't I lucky? You use your own room as your reporting office. We have six other reporters, four of whom are female. One of the guys in the chief reporter and the other is sports mad. What we lack are articles about guys who are really interesting and guys making great academic progress and how they find time to mix study with sport and yet still find time to date. Some interviews of freshmen guys how they find college babes or do they have to scratch around in the city for dates would be appreciated."

"Should I find out how many guys go to local whorehouses?"

"I think not Andy. Please join others like me who pretend such places don't exist and use your journalistic sensitivity. Oh some agriculture-related articles would be good."

"Oh that would be great Andy. I think many of our female readers would like to know home many ewes can a ram cover in a day and why bulls running with cows become so thin would be interesting topics, written in good taste and quoting learned professors of course."

"Do I kiss you?"

"Yes whenever you wish but discreetly."

Andy left the office feeling elated. Sally looked as if she'd be a great fuck but it wasn't that. This was his chance, perhaps his only chance while at the college, to make his mark. It would count a great deal if he became accepted as a good reporter and people actually read his stories. But he had to find the angles to created greater interest, just as he was being taught at lectures. He knew the rough formula of bulls covering cows -- I cow per month of the bulls age. So a bull starting at 24 months could be expected to cover twenty cows although not in one day of course. Hmmm perhaps readers would be interested to learn why a bull sniffs the rear of a cow and then lifts his head. Yeah that was it. Tell readers what they wonder about.

Returning to the apartment, Andy went into Mike's room.

"Hi Andy."

"Mike you are no longer homesick are you?"

"Hell no, I've learned to deal with it."

"I'm now a reporter with the school newspaper. Would you talk to me about your difficulty with initial immersion and they things that helped pulled you out of it? I would need to use your name and photograph you."

"Couldn't you use my name as Mike X?"

"No."

"Well I'd have to think about it."

"Mike it could help other incoming students suffering similarly to cope with the problem and make their roommates respond more sympathetically."

"Yeah and I suppose why not. When do you wish to do it?"

"In five minutes. You make coffee while I grab a pad and frame some questions. Let's talk in my room. Rick will be in late because he's at swimming coaching."

Andy emailed the story and photo to Sally late next afternoon and she called him an hour later and asked him to come down.

They kissed and she patted his ass affectionately.

"You have submitted an excellent story. I have polished it slightly and now it's damn good. It will go page three lead and that's very good for a new reporter. I have used your photo off your page on the college website to introduce you to readers."

"Wow I'm pleased to receive your praise Sally."

"Well yes and it was given on editorial judgment and is not related to what I'm about to say."

Andy wondered what she was about to say. Surely it couldn't be a promotion already to say a columnist?

"I kept thinking what you said yesterday about doing me over the desk. I-I've read about that but have never had the experience."

"What now?"

"Oh Andy you have read my mind, "Sally said, going over and locking the main and side doors and turning off all the lights apart from her desk lamp.

They kissed for a while standing by the desk until Andy said thickly, "May I get at your tits?"

Sally stripped down to her skirt and stood sighing as Andy worked enthusiastically on her tits that were bigger and heavier than he'd expected. She played with his hair and he lifted occasionally to be tongued and finally she moaned, ""Do it Andy."

He bent her over the desk and lifted the back of her skirt.

"Not in the butt."

He said smoothly of course not.

She was big. Usually it was a squeeze for him to get into a babe

But she appeared to close around him okay and on the third stoke, with Andy only working into a rhythm, she shuddered and he grinned and called, "That's one."

The shuddered again and he called "That's two" and she said she hoped he didn't mind but she'd been thinking about this during classes today and came up short on her note-taking but would pick up on that from her friends in that class.

When Andy felt ready he really pressed his hands into her tits and he pumped into the condom. She shuddered yet again.

"God that is a record for me. I must have gotten off ten times."

"Thirteen," Andy smirked and she dropped to his knees and made it two for him.

Andy dated other female students and actually never dated Sally. But once a week or so she was always good for a desk fuck.

Andy had long decided not to spend money going home for the short break and had arranged to stay in his room. But Rick invited him to go home with him and he accepted. Rick had a car and Andy cheerfully chipped in for petrol, eager to meet Rick's sister with great tits, according to Rick.

It didn't work out that way. Sister Lil had gotten herself a boyfriend and the way they kept touching suggested their touching went much farther than that. Lil's guy was there when Rick and Andy arrived.

Lil said hi and didn't bother to get off her butt but Rick's mom yelled to Lil to give her brother a hot welcome and that made Andy smile. When Rick's mom turned and looked at him steadily she said, "Welcome Andy Ash. Rick has told me so much about you."

She kissed him on the cheek as her husband, who was slapping Rick on the back only two feet away, and then she deliberately scraped both breasts over his arm and stared at him.

Jesus. He couldn't do Rick's mom.

But he did.

Rick's dad managed a bank went off late afternoon to visit his parents in a nearby city, taking Rick with him.

About 5:40 Andy answered the house phone and it was Mrs Burgess who had an accountancy business.

"Ah Andy, could you come down to my office at 63 Walsh Street? It's off Main Street City Hall is on the corner. Use Lil's mountain bike. I can't get the safe shut."

Andy was turning into Walsh Street when he thought why hadn't Mrs Burgess called a security firm or called one of her staff back to assist?

He entered the office. Mrs Burgess locked the door and then grabbed and kissed him hotly.

"You don't mind me doing this do you?"

Well what could a guy say without being a miserable jerk?"

"No of course. You kiss great."

"Oh Andy," she said, pulling him into her office and closing the door and then undoing his belt, rather expertly in fact. I was worrying I would be able to get you alone. Call me Helen."

"What do you want from me Helen?" he asked, attempting to sound vague.

She unzipped him and said don't be an asshole.

He wondered if that's where she wanted it and groaned and grabbed her hair as she scraped her teeth back up his rising dick.

Andy felt a heel doing this with Rick's mother but as it turned out it was an unbelievable experience.

She was superb at cock-sucking, better in fact than Alice, insofar as he could remember Alice's administration of fellatio. He squirted into Helen's mouth and wiped the leaking sides of her mouth.

"Jesus," she spluttered and spat a heap into a trash bin.

He eyed the sofa but she was already pulling him to the floor. She had her knees up and here was another female who didn't wear panties, at least not when he visited.

Pussy was neatly trimmed and he fell upon it and she inserted a finger into his left ear and screwed it around. That set Rick into attempting to please her. There was room for four fingers and she got all four and when he rubbed her clit with his thumb she heaved and came into his mouth.

"Go on," she purred, panting. She came again, this time big time.

"Right that's enough. I'm not into full-on adultery."

"Are you sure about that?" Andy said, fisting his erection slowly.

She eyed it, flushed and said what the hell and pulled him down on top of her. He felt on a roll and banged her so hard that he was moving her across the carpet.

He pulled out on time, ripping off the condom, and squirted over her big juicy tits.

"God for a young guy you can really fuck," she cooed and he believed her. She was sweaty and wore a happy look.

"You go home and I'll follow later. I can shower here. Lil will be home now and you might like to have a go with her."

"She has a boyfriend."

"Like her mom she likes to play around."

Andy decided not to make a pass at Lil.

He arrived at the house and heard her call, "Is that you Andy?"

"Yeah."

"I'm in the bath. Come in and kiss me."

He decided to ignore her.

"Have you been at the office having sex with mom?"

Oh shit.

He went in and saw her in repose, legs wide open, pussy completely shaved, newly so because there was a razor on the side of the bath.

"Kiss me and I'll come out. I'd like my share. You have another shot left?"

He shrugged and nodded and surprise that didn't confuse her.

Lil smiled and said she'd not tell anyone but her mom would know because she'd call her mom when it was clear to come home.

God women, Andy groaned to himself.

They did it on Lil's bed. She was okay but not a patch on her mom. Andy wondered if he'd get another crack at Helen before he and Rick returned to college but not to be and it didn't help when she pressed against him several times and once bit his ear with her husband back on but only feet away. God what a slut, er and over-sexed woman.

To Be Continued..



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 03



For obvious reasons, Andy had really enjoyed the break and told his pal that, without adding that he'd enjoyed sex with his pal's mother and then his sister.

Rick said he was pleased about that. "You stirred the conversations along and both mom and dad reckon you are a great guy. "Dad knew you missed that final putt to allow him to tie your score off the stick."

"Well not all putts drop."

"Yeah, yeah."

Andy asked, "Would you like to spend time home with me this summer? I'll be home for the three weeks before I return here to work on the city's newspaper."

"Yeah thanks and I'll let you know. I haven't heard from the 'Farmer's Monthly Journal' where I hope to work."

"Call them when we stop for coffee."

"I really don't know if I should. They might think I'm pushy."

"And what are reporters supposed to be?"

Rick grinned and said he'd think about it.

At the coffee shop Andy took Rick's phone, found the number for the Farmers' Monthly in the phone book and selected it. He handed the phone to Rick and said to make the call.

Rick looked at the name and number and hesitated. Andy walked away and began talking to an old guy sitting outside on a bench and eventually Rick came out smiling.

"Well the skinflint editor said he was about to make the decision and asked would I consider working for half the advertised rate and I said no."

"Good for you," said Andy and the old guy said, "Never work for cut rates otherwise the bastards will always stomp on you."

"Thanks for your advice sir," Rick smiled.

They said goodbye and walked away.

As they drove off Rick said. "The jerk gave me the job and said he expected me to work hard. I said I needed to do that for my college grades and he liked the thought of that. He will have the letter of acceptance in the mail within a day or two." 

They drove on back college and with a pause in conversation as Rick was probably thinking about his skinflint editor, Andy thought of his disgusting and treacherous behavior of fucking Rick's mother. He sighed thinking she'd been so great and had been unbelievable hot, physically and the way she ripped into it as well. In comparison, younger females could be almost called lethargic. 

* * *

Back in the grind at college, Andy's classroom performance was worrying him. His results for tests were on the wrong side of average. He reduced his social life and studied more. On field trips however, he was consistently in the top three when papers on those visits were submitted and marked.

Assistant professor Marks, when reviewing Andy's progress with him, suggested Andy he might be taking a too global approach to his classroom lectures and homework that he might benefit by studying in blocks.

"Do you understand?"

"I think so."

Prof Marks shook his head.

"I'll tell you what. I'll see if Janice Hall will become your study buddy. You are using Rick at present and he's only marginally better than you. Also Janice is weak on practical study whereas Rick is almost at your level."

"Well do you best Prof but don't be surprised if she says no way. I don't think Janice likes me."

That evening Andy had just emailed a great story about Carol Lind, an economics student who'd been a school girl gymnastic champ and now had left gymnastics behind her and was working to enter ballroom dancing competitively. He was pretty sure the article would make the lead in that week's edition of the college's electronic newspaper. The photos Carol had given him of her as a gymnast and a recent one in Latin American dress for ballroom dancing were stunning.

Yawning he sat back wondering whether to study or go out for a beer when the phone went.

"Andy Ash."

"Hi it's Janice Hall. Do you wish to meet me at Westmont Library in ten minutes to study? The library is open till 10:00. I've just eaten after coming in from field hockey coaching."

"Yeah that would be great."

She told him what to bring.

Janice was a green-eyed brunette. She greeted him coolly.

"Professor Marks insisted I do this and said he would remember my sacrifice when considering grades. The assessment is you are not achieving your ability and he thinks that's because you don't have much idea about how to study. Where do you come from?"

"Southwest Wyoming."

"Oh god, little wonder."

That comment offended Andy and he felt his right hand curl into a fist.

"He also said you think I don't like you. I told him why. Do you wish to have me repeat it?"

Rick sighed and said yes Janice.

"I told him lots of guys around here ogle at breasts and you are one of the worst. Are you going to run?"

"I'll consider that. In the meantime I apologize; my eyes automatically focus on great tits... I mean great breast."

He could see her anger.

"I'm sorry and I apologize for being a real jerk. Um I hope you are proud of your breasts."

She almost smiled and that gain quickly evaporated and she went on, "I felt humiliated being asked to try to pull you up into a better performance level, thinking why bother? And then crafty Prof Marks said you would be a natural to help me in field work that you probably know more than our lecturers and that's where I needed support."

"You want me to take you out and watch a bull mount a cow?"

She appeared to count to five and then said, "You are a very difficult person Andy."

"I take that is not a compliment?"

To his surprise she said she couldn't be sure. 

"In my opinion you are the best reporter on our college newspaper. You dig up interesting people and god only knows but you write sensitively and appear to turn the ordinary into something quite riveting. My father is an associate editor on a large newspaper. I worked all last summer on that newspaper and learned some things including how to recognized journalistic talent. I believe you have such talent because you make me want to read your article, in fact recently I've found myself looking for them."

"Well it doesn't take much to please some people."

Looking at Janice shaking her head, Andy regretted having made that quip.

"Andy, do you think females are brainless and exist only for guys like you to fuck."

Andy was shocked and had the fleeting thought that might have been the first time Janice had ever used the F-word.

He bowed his head and said, "I'm sorry for being such a jerk."

"Andy stop it. I don't want just an apology. I want you to change. You are good looking with a fine body and I see intelligence in your eyes. You are not brain-dead like some of the jerks around here and I include females. I see potential in you and now have figured out exactly why Prof Marks wants a salvage job done on you. It's because he thinks you are worth it. Worth it Andy, get that into your brain. Now let's study and yes you can show me a bull mounting a cow and at the same time tell me what you know about performance of the bull, conception rates of the bull, the effect of different feeds on mating success and blah, blah."

"Okay, we have a deal."

"Thank you Andy," Janice said, glancing at her watch. "We have two tours to maximize study time. Approach it with the relish as you do with some babe in your sights."

Andy thought it and said it, having reached a conclusion about Janice. "No guy would go out with you for long."

She stared at him. "Oh and why's that?"

"They won't put in the hard yards long term because you are too authoritarian. But I'm prepared to give it a go."

Janice flushed at that assertion but gave him no encouragement. "You'd be lucky. Now I've drawn you a chart that is an example of how to study any subject in blocks. Roam too wide and you lose focus and memory retention. And when you walk around campus you think about your study blocks from the previous night rather than ogle at breasts and think about pussy."

Andy wasn't quite sure he'd heard that last word correctly but was pretty sure he had. God this schoolteacher kind of young woman might have a hidden desire under her bonnet to experience a robust sex life, er robust wide-spectrum dating life.

"Right I'm all ears. Might I rest a hand on you thigh?"

"Repeat that comment Andy and stop at ears."

He did so and she said oh great, they were making progress already.

His ears burned.

They were invited by a yawning library supervisor to leave the premises at 9:58.

As Andy followed Janice out, looking at his ass and wondering had she ever done it doggy, she said, "The cafes generally are closed by now. Do you wish to come to my room for coffee; I have my own room?"

He said knowledgeably, "And I am obliged to exit the building by 11:00, according to the rules."

"I'm not a stickler for rules but if you think this is an invitation for you to unzip, forget it. You must learn Andy that not all women like to rush in eyes wide open, brains turned off and thinking what's so wrong about being fucked by jerks."

Christ she really was giving him an education, Danny marveled. Perhaps he should indicate he had some maturity. "Do you really think I expect women to react like bimbos?"

"Yes."

Oh crap. "I should head back to Monroe."

"I want you to come... er to accompany me Andy."

"Why?"

"Because if we are to succeed as study pals we need to bond and by that I don't mean sexually."

"Surely you mean not necessarily sexually?"

"Very well," she sighed. "I mean it's not necessary for us to have sex in order for us to bond successfully as study buddies."

The apartment was lovely, tidy and very personalized. The coffee was good and Andy had received the message that sex was not on the menu but as this woman had already proved herself as a useful study buddy in getting through to him. He decided to be pleasant and interesting.

"Tell me about your background Janice."

The question appeared to startle her but she switched on. 

"My parents run a very successful delicatessen/catering business in a city about three hundred miles northwest of here. I grew up with the growing business and over the years became involved in most aspects of the operation but while my interest in food deepened, I didn't want to become tied to a deli. I enrolled here to study food technology from the farm gate to processing and on to the consumer with perhaps then going on to study food marketing research in greater detail. I have two sisters older than myself who between them practically run the family business these days. My interests are in running, I run most mornings early, theater, movies, ice skating, skiing, small boat summer sailing, reading and watching TV. Pretty ordinary really."

After further chatting they agreed to run together in the mornings to strengthen their bonding and Andy said he'd have no problem with changing his time to run one hour later that at present in warmer weather.

Janice said, "Oh I hope that's not too late for me to have breakfast and to get ready for lectures. What time is one hour later?"

"Six o'clock."

"Omigod I meant no later than 7:00."

"I've compromise by an hour," he said firmly.

"Oh very well. I predict you'll be running a big corporation business one day."

Over time, Andy became aware his comprehensive of what he was studying and his confidence in his ability to perform academically were increasing. Therefore it came as no surprise when periodic tests and marks for assignments showed improved results and eventually he was congratulated for being no longer below the class median in grading performance.

He took Janice out on the strength of that after finishing work set-building for a theater production and Janice had finished night hockey practice.

When she pulled up in her car outside Monroe, she got out and invited him to drive.

That was a first.

As he closed in he kissed her as usual only this time she didn't pull away as quickly as usual. He thought was this it?

As he drove off he asked, "Would you like a full meal or just a main and go back to your room?"

Janice answered, slightly choked he thought, "If we went back early what would we do?"

He sucked in breath and said, "Why fuck of course. We'd have more than an hour before curfew."

She almost was floundering. "What are you saying?"

He was used to women using a question as a ploy to give them more thinking time.

"It's time Janice and you know it is."

"Well okay I have been thinking about it for a few days myself. You don't really need me any longer."

"I see advantages in us keeping on as study buddies."

"What if I take up with another guy?"

Andy said then she should tell him and they would decide whether to keep on as study buddies. He said he liked the idea of having a study schedule with her because it made him to commit and it ensured they put in the hours. It must surely benefit her as well.

"It does and I'm happy to have sex with you tonight. I share your delight in being told by a professor you have lifted over the median line."

When they were back in her apartment, Andy realized Janice might not be all that sexually experienced when she asked did he want her to have a shower first. He said no because he enjoyed the smell of pussy and she'd laughed very nervously and had nowhere to hide her big blush.

He took it gently. She was still in black hold-ups and her bra was down around her waist. She was sitting against the back of the lounge chair with her legs apart and he was bent over ready to push it in.

He said lightly, "Watch this. It's really one of the best things about sex, eyeing the dick go into pussy."

Cheeks burning she said she usually had sex with the lights out.

"How often is usually?"

"Um a little bit more than rarely I suppose."

They both watched his length work in, the best part being the helmet of his cock forcing the inner lips apart.

Resting his knees awkwardly on the edge of the chair, Andy reached up and squeezed both breasts and began a gently pounding.

"Omigod please don't over-power me."

Andy didn't think he was capable of doing that because she was big-boned, fit and quite strong. What the fuck had her mom told her about college sex? He chatted to her gently and eased back on the pounding and it worked because she finally let go and they finished with a big gang.

"Wonderful," he said.

"Yes I think it was," she said, panting and looking somewhat distressed.

Perhaps not unsurprising, they never coupled again for sex. But all though college they remained study buddies and Janice's infrequent linking with boyfriends, usually rather quiet and always small guys, lasted no longer than two or three weeks before those guys faded away. 

Andy went home at the end of the college year, very pleased with how he'd finished.

'Uni Insider', the college newspaper, ran an on-line poll to assess its performance for the year and to solicit suggestions for changes for next academic year. 

Andy Ash drew the most votes as best rookie journalist (taking 92% of the vote) and also best journalist and his feature story with the longest heading ever published in the newspaper, 'How I Lied Successfully to Mom I Completed My Freshman Year and Still Remained a Virgin in Face of Unbelievable Temptations' was voted most humorous article of the year.

The editor, Sally Jennings, called Andy to the office and gave him the news of the results of the poll before publication.

She kissed him and said well done and reminded him those little triumphs would be noted on his academic record.

"Will you work for the newspaper next year?"

"Yes for sure. This involvement is laying a plank for my future career."

"Well as you know my time here has ended and I have been advised I will be graduating. There was a meeting of the newspaper management today where, on my recommendation, John Grant our senior reporter was named the new editor. I have just advised John. Can you work with him?"

Andy said sure, he'd only had minimal involvement with John but they had worked fine together.

Sally opened the door to the production room and called John to come out.

John greeted Andy who congratulated him on his appointment.

"Thanks pal. My first duty is to invite you to become chief reporter. Will you accept?"

Astonished, Andy said, "Yeah and thanks."

Sally smiled and said, "Andy that appointment means providing you keep your nose clean, you'll succeed John as editor when John completes his studies at the end of next year.

"Gee that would be a great honor and I look forward to that," Andrew said. "Come guys, let my buy you a drink."

Late next afternoon when Andy was assisting dismantling a theater set, the college's director of drama came up to him and said, "Andrew (she was a stickler for correctness with names) a vacancy for back-of-stage manager exists for next academic year. I believe you are my man. Will you accept? It will look good on your academic record."

"Yes Mrs Manners, I accept and thanks for the opportunity. I was expecting that position to go to a senior."

"I've watched how you get on with the work and stick at it until late at the night. You also get along with the backstage gang and you don't pester the make-up girls for sex, well at least not that I've noticed."

"Golly Mrs Manners are those girls really interested in sex?"

"Funny Man you may call me Macy from now on. You'll be expected to attend all production meetings and all rehearsals."

"Macy huh. Why can't I call you be your first name?"

"Omigod, go on like this and I'll be regretting making my decision."

Andy went home for the first two weeks of the summer recess. Everyone was pleased to see him, he thought thank god, and he was amazed how much the two kids had grown and he was pleased that his mom and dad looked pretty happy.

Next day he drove over to see Angelina Williams but only her mom was home.

Amy hugged and kissed him and he pressed into her and Amy pulled away red-faced and laughing, "Jesus Andy. "I'm an old woman."

He just laughed and thought actually she was two years younger than his mom.

"Is Angelina home yet?"

"Oh darling I'm so sorry. She has a close boyfriend and she's gone to stay with him for three weeks on his parent's ranch in Kentucky."

"Well that's a shame. I was looking forward to catching up. Please remember I called. I head back in two weeks to work on a newspaper in the city where my university is located."

"Oh that's such a pity and you'll miss seeing Angelina."

"That's okay. I guess the boyfriend comes here with her in a reciprocal?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps you could pass on a message that if she every runs out of boyfriends or finishes with a husband, there's always me."

"Oh I am so sorry but you know there's nothing I can do."

"Yeah sure. It wasn't meant to happen. "

""May I get you a coffee?"

Andy asked were wine or beer options?

"Yes darling. I'll have a wine with you."

When they were settled on the sofa and had a sip of wine, Andy said, "May I talk to you about something confidential."

"Yes certainly."

"I stupidly didn't think about it at the time but I've worked out it was you who shot dad."

"Yes," Amy said in a tight voice.

"I guess my lapse in thinking was the shock and I was still feeling rather wobbly after dad had clubbed me with both fists held together. You were there talking to me a few minutes earlier and had asked had dad belted me or words to that effect."

"Yes."

"Only later, much later in fact, did I recall I hadn't heard you drive away when I was still in the living room and after about a minute mom took me to the bathroom. Well thanks for being honest with me. Does anyone else know?"

"Not that I can remember. I was shocked too."

Andy raised his glass and said, "I salute you Amy. That act of violence you dished out to my father on my behalf has had a beneficial effect. It has subdued my father and he sought counseling. Mom says in all the months I've been away he's not hit her once."




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 03



"Omigod I never knew he was beating her as well. Perhaps that was fortuitous."

"You're a damn fine woman Amy and hard too. I hope I eventually find a woman like you. Here let me kiss you as a thank you for bringing dad to heel and for your college sponsorship. I needed that money but will be fine this year with the salary I'll be paid at the newspaper."

"Well just a kiss Andy."

"Sure."

But Andy was thinking if he couldn't fuck the daughter, why not the mother but he didn't give himself a good chance of success.

They kissed and the kiss went on. Gradually he felt her relaxing and then Amy started leaning into him.

He breathed into her ear, "Pull a breast out for me."

"No that's going too far. This is bad enough."

He resumed kissing and soon felt her mouth open. He opened his mouth and waited.

Amy's tongue touched his and withdrew quickly. 

He stroked down the side of her face and around the back of her neck above her dress.

Amy's tongue was back. 

He withdrew his tongue, keeping his mouth open and finally Amy's tongue tip was resting on his bottom teeth.

Andy advanced his tongue to waggle against her tongue and then stopped.

Her tongue plunged deeply into his mouth and he hoped she'd have the image in her mind of his erection entering her pussy, probably her bushy pussy. 

Her tongue retreated to just outside his mouth and his pushed out his tongue and began flicking against hers and Amy joined the dance and moaned.

Well that could be a signal.

Andy could feel the body heat building between them. He pushed down a hand and her outer knee swung out. His hand continued on to give her the impression it was unstoppable.

"No."

"Yes."

He dug into under the elastic rim and through a jungle of hair and pushed a finger in.

"No."

"Yes."

She hissed but nothing more and her thighs spread even further without pressure from him.

His finger became wet.

That was excellent and he waited for her signal and it came vocally.

"More."

He pushed in a second finger and began strumming her clit with his thumb and he felt the tiny bud swell under that gentle massage.

Finally she pulled her face away from his, breathing heavily and she said, "You may have sex providing it's right now."

He unzipped and pulled out his bent up erection painfully. 

Amy had rolled on to her back with one leg on the floor. She pulled back her leg on the sofa but made no effort to remove her panties and the unseen bra remained a fortress.

The message was clear. It was sex now and it had to be clothed sex. She hadn't asked for a condom to be used so Andy moved in and Amy pulled up her skirt. 

The sight of the flesh above the stocking tops stiffened Andy's dick. It began penetrating with Amy staring at him. She was surprisingly tight and a little dry but he pulled out, entered again and repeated that twice more and she that had lubricated to enhance his entry. 

Amy stared at Andy and she said she hadn't had sex for at least a year as if expecting him to withdraw in distaste.

Instead he grinned and said, "Well let's make this one really count."

"I call than an excellent idea."

Andy began pumping slowly and moving inserting another half an inch on every third or fourth stroke.

There was no complaint.

His crotch finally banged against her and she said, "So we fuck. You are big."

"Yeah and I need to be with a powerful woman like you."

"Oh your lovely charmer," she giggled. "Heave into and I'll try to help a bit."

The friction was great and Andy stared back at her and he settled into a good pace.

"You fuck very well," she said. "But I've had about enough. I have no wish to become sore because of lack of use."

"That's fine. Squeeze me IF YOU CAN," blurted Andy, as a rubbery vice with a slippery center did its best to severely compress his blood swollen cock.

Amy did three of four shakes as if she was experiencing some sort of climax.

"Hurry up," she snapped.

He experienced a couple of erotic thoughts that he was actually sliding up her butt and had half of one of her tits with a hugely engorged nipple in his mouth.

He pulled out, gave his dick a couple of stroke and came in streams all over her dress almost up to her chin.

"God what a mess. Haven't you had anyone to fuck lately?"

"I fucked my newspaper editor for our finale over her desk two nights ago. We did it three times I think. We were rather drunk."

"God you young people. Please fetch me a towel from the kitchen and help clean up this mess. God there's enough to impregnate 200 women here."

When Amy went off to shower and change, Andy made coffee and found a partly cut fruit cake and put that on the kitchen table with coffee.

Amy checked the sofa on her return and sat and chatted with Andy and that's where they were when her husband Bernie arrived. Andy stood and the two guys slapped each other's back and Bernie poured a wine for Amy, who'd put the other two glasses used earlier in the dishwasher.

"Beer or wine Andy?"

"Wine thanks."

Bernie chose beer and they settled in for a session that lasted more than two hours.

During that time Amy stroked his leg with her foot three or four times and that, along with her comment that she hadn't had sex for a couple of years, made Andy think well Bernie was quite a bit older than his wife. Perhaps he was playing around a bit, or rather quite a bit, before his interest in sex really waned.

As he was leaving Amy thrust something into the back pocket of his jeans.

When Andy got to his vehicle he found a check for 2k drawn on Amy's personal bank account. He called her that night to thank her and she said it was surplus money and he was in need, no matter how much he earned during summer. Neither did it have anything to do with the much-appreciated attention he'd given her.

Rick arrived and Andy fixed his friend up with one of Angelina's old friends and that gave Rick his first hayshed fuck and he raved on about the joys of rural life. 

Andy managed to be with Amy alone three more times before he and friend Rick left. He never got to see Amy's tits because each time they had clothed sex. He'd always remember Amy saying when he was about to come over her again in their final session, "Sadly my daughter has no idea what she'd missing."

Amy was a really good sort, Andy concluded. So unselfish.

"Well buddy was a great week we had," Rick said. "Those two overnight hikes I had were really great. What did you do when I was away with pretty Hilda... oh thanks again for setting her up for me? That girl could really fuck but dammit it she wanted to hike most of the day."

"I sprayed the winter feed crops against summer pests and carted unused hay from the main barns to make way for new hay and restacked the old oblong bales averaging 110 to 120 lb., almost 400 of them. A contractor will bale the hay this summer into 2000 lb. round bales. Newer technology and practices have finally caught up with dad again."

"And sex?"

"Yeah I grabbed my share from, er, old girlfriends." 

* * *

Andy began work at the 36,000-circulation 'The Town Crier', a city and surrounds newspaper that was equipped with all modern publishing technology. Initially the editor was very off-hand with Andy and appeared to have no interest in him and that was a shame. Well it was circumstances because the chief reporter and news editor had just been fired for faking news stories and until their replacements arrived, the editor directed the reporting team.

The editor said to Andy, "Go and find stories and call for a photographer if you manage to find anything."

Andy was placed in a desk paired for the City Hall reporter, Mrs Jeffs.

"The editor appears to have a grudge against me for some reason. I'm sure I haven't been having sex with his children."

Mrs Jeff laughed and told Andy to call her Wendy. 

"You would have known if you had had sex with Jill and Alan's children; they are both adult men."

They cackled away and Wendy said, "Alan always provides the university with a job in administration and a job in journalism for students and mostly, I regret to say, are duds. If they are female all they are interested in appears to be sex and partying and the guys are jerks and appear totally focused on booze and sex.

"I'll be different."

"Oh yeah and don't try to get my bending over. I'm not into adultery."

"Are you still young enough to have an interest in sex?"

"Andy, something tells me you and I will get along fine."

He said slowly, "Wendy?"

"I said no so don't bother to ask."

He ignored that. "Give me a good story to do to allow me to prove myself, something you have been meaning to do but haven't got around to doing it."

Wendy checked her computer.

"There's nothing I have suitable for you. Oh wait, here's one. Mayor Charles' wife twice a week works in this charitable outfit sorting out donated clothing for the trash container or the dry-cleaner if the garments are deemed fit for recycling."

"Okay, what days?"

"My note says Monday and Wednesdays. Today is Monday so wait a moment and I'll pull up the original email tip-off. Oh I see I paid fifteen bucks for that tip so must have thought it good at the time I got it two months ago."

"How long has Mrs Charles been doing this voluntary work?"

Wendy read the email and said, "Oooh it says here 22 years."

"Right, print out that email for me. Who is the best portrait photographer?"

"Thelma definitely."

"Get her for me."

Wendy snorted, "Jesus Andy lay off. You get your own photographer."

"Oh yeah? Can you imagine any photographer going out on an assignment with me when they don't even know I am working here?"

"Oh good point. Let me see where she is. Oh here we are, she's due back in fifteen minutes and is due out again at noon for a Rotary Lunch presentation."

"Great. Get her to report to you then you can introduce her to me and then we can be off."

"Look Andy a few pleases would be appreciated. How do I know you won't mess up? The editor will kick my butt if I waste time and resources."

"Trust me," Andy grinned, showing all his teeth.

"Omigod, I've been seduced. Okay I'll do it."

To Be Continued...



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 04



The manageress of the Orion Clothing Redistribution Center didn't want Andy Ash and his photographer to enter the sorting area.

"We are the Press," skinny Jill said.

"Well you can press right out of here, off you go," said the woman.

Andy said his piece, smoothly. "Ma'am we are going but I would point out this could be a heart-warming story and it would include an insert panel saying your facility is in need of high quality male, female and children clothing for all ages. You could get heaps of new donors who could become regular donors."

"I see. Well follow me."

Jill gaped at Andy and he winked.

Mrs Charles was reluctant to be interviewed.

"Ma'am just think of how the publicity of your laudable and unselfish public service will impact on our readers, publicizing the great work of this charitable trust and no doubt such exposure will do no harm at all to your husband's re-election chances."

"Sid was re-elected three months ago."

"Our readers have long memories ma'am."

"Oh very well."

"Excellent. Look Jill needs to get away for a Rotary function. Could she please photograph you with your four colleagues?"

"Yes of course. Come along girls."

Jill organized them and Andy got the names of each woman and how long they'd worked at the sorting hall as they called their area.

When Jill was finished Andy asked her to wait. "Do you have any awful ladies hats stored here?"

"Yes," said Mrs Peters. We have a collection in our lunchroom."

"Well off you go and pick four and Mrs Charles could you pick an elegant hat for contrast because you are the wife of the mayor and the thrust of this story is about your long service at the sorting hall."

"I'll get her favorite from the lunchroom," called Mrs Peters. "We practically have no demand for hats."

The women stood wearing their really dreadful hats except for the wife of the mayor whose hat would grace any modern garden party or outdoor wedding.

"Omigod, omigod," Jill said, shooting away and she then left, highly satisfied.

Jill arrived back in the office and Wendy said, "You are smiling. I gather from that it wasn't a disaster?"

"No anything but and Andy was simply amazing. He lined up the middle-aged women with similar skills as if lining up a babe to shaft. Take a look at this," Jill said, bringing up one of the digital hats photos into the viewing screen of her camera.

"Omigod," Wendy said. "That's a page 3 pic or even lower page 1 on a slow day for graphics."

"Andy came up with the idea and involved the women in such a way they just wanted to do it to please him. God Wendy you'd think he was a senior reporter from the New York Times."

The photo along with Andy's tightly-written story that received very little editing, appeared the bottom fold of page 1 of the broadsheet morning newspaper.

Next day the editor called up Andy for assignments like every other reporter

"You're a credit to the university Andy. Great work yesterday."

Wendy said, "Andy my younger sister is visiting and staying with us for a few days. May I line her up for a date with you?"

"No thanks Wendy. Most of the women I date end up pregnant if aged forty-two or younger.

And so the legend of Andy Ash grew at that newspaper.

Rick called Andy and said he was going fine, two major stories already. The editor had begun to treat him like a hot-shot.

"I'm calling to remind you we've done nothing about accommodation for our return."

"Oh shit, you said you'd do it but I accept some responsibility."

"How big a part?"

"Ow okay, I'm half responsible."

"What I suggest is you find a suitable apartment outside the university but within an easy stroll if you can. We are early and should get quite a good pick. Four beds are supposed to be the right mix for sharing. Any bigger number exacerbates problems incrementally including in-house noise. Try Walton Street. Sign up and pay the deposit and advise Admission of the address stating two sophomore males require two roommates to share. Oh and work in some points to attract applicant and state the cost of quarter share of monthly rental. You and I can pick the best rooms and for that we go 50-50 with the bond payment until we get rebated appropriately by the guys dumb enough to share with us. Have you got all that?"

"Yeah Rick. I get a decent apartment, possibly Walton Street, to sleep four. Sign the contract, pay the bond and advance rentals and get three-quarters of those payments back from the incoming roommates."

"Gee that's succinct. Are you a journalist?"

Andy was living in a very small in a rooming house. As soon as he finished work that day he began searching Walton Street for apartments to rents signs and inspected four premises that were only okay. He then found the perfect place, the bottom floor of a two-level building where the owners, a working couple, lived above the rented space.

The woman showed Andy through and he was delighted but frowned heavily when told the monthly rental.

"We have no wish to buy the lower floor of this property."

The pretty woman flushed and said it was worth a try and asked what he thought would be a fair rental.

He thought of the rentals of the places he had inspected, added fifty bucks and now the woman frowned.

Andy frowned and said, "What's your bottom figure? Now don't lie to me."

She flushed and said he'd have no trouble finding girlfriends.

"Oh but I do although I must confess they usually find me."

"That's what I mean."

Andy grinned and said, "Is your husband the jealous type?" She blushed hugely and asked what had they been discussing?"

"Attempting to establish was your husband the jealous type."

"God see what I mean. You are lethal."

Not knowing what the woman meant, Andy said: What's your bottom figure baby?"

She gave it.

He knocked $120 off it and she accepted, subject to her husband's approval.

"And here is the husband," said a guy coming through the front door.

"Hi, I'm Andy Ash and you have a very attractive but tough-ass wife but we finally have come to rental agreement. I'll run the apartment and my friend will back me whatever I decree. We are seeking two other roommates and obviously know nothing about them yet. We will accept only suitable people."

"You mean guys?"

"I would expect so. I never thought about women applying."

"There are actually more females than males at the university. I lecture there in economics. Hey I recognize you. You write good stuff in the 'Uni Insider' and now you are writing good stuff in our newspaper 'The City Crier'."

"Yeah and that blows my cover," Andy laughed.

"My husband is an associate professor," the woman said proudly. "I sell travel."

"I bet you two are good at your careers. My friend and I are both doing a degree in agricultural communication and journalism and therefore could be termed conservative students and am I correct that you have no objection to sharing here were females?"

"No objection," said the woman. "My husband and I are liberal thinkers."

Andy said gravely, "I wasn't thinking about on-tap sex but rather women generally are tidier in a shared apartment than males apart from the bathroom, and in most instances they are better cooks than men."

"Well this is all dandy by me," said the professor. "Now what rental have you negotiated Julie?"

She told him and the professor said, "You didn't attempt to try him on?"

"I did but he appears knowledgeable about rentals in this area and is shrewd and persuasive."

"I see. Well Andy, would you be prepared to protect my wife from unwelcome attention if I were away?"

"Yes of course. She's too cute to let anyone maul her."

"Right we are Ronald and Julie Burrows. Welcome as our prime occupant of this lower level space."

"Thanks Ronald. Could I come up for a beer and sign and hand over my check?"

"Yes sure. My thinking is you ought to be doing business admin and take the option of business negotiation and mediation. You could fly through. And with your maturity and apparent ability to deal with people, you ought to fly through your degree."

"Thanks. I respect your off-the-wall assessment. Please lead the way Julie. Where did you two graduate from Ronald?"

Andy called Rick Burgess later than night and Rick was pleased Andy had found a place so quickly and had secured it.

"What's the rent?"

He was told and whistled and said that was a bit steep.

"Wait to you see it before you complain."

"Okay buddy, I trust your judgment. I'm finishing writing a feature for filing at the 9 am deadline in the morning so must go unless there's anything else? Oh mom and dad send their greetings and dad asks would you like to spend the last few days before you return to college with us since your home is so far away?"

"Oh that would be great. Please tell them yes and that I thank them profusely."

At the end of summer, a most successful summer for him financially and in earning wide praise for some of his news-breaking stories and widely hailed feature articles, Andy stayed with the Burgess family. Rick's mom maneuvered Andy so that she got at him just the once and that was a relief because he felt bad about doing the dirty on his pal and Rick's father. Such was life, he sighed and she really was great at doing it. Rick's sister showed no sexual interest in Andy and that was fine by him.

Rick and Andy returned to college a day earlier than necessary and checked at Admissions for any response to their vacancy ad and were handed six responses. Someone in Admissions had bothered to find out at what level were the applicants with their studies and what degree were they studying.

Rick was more than pleased with their new accommodation and congratulated Andy for snapping up such a classy place.

"Yeah and I've been living here since signing up, at my expense and at a big discount. As I told you earlier, they're a very nice couple. He's a professor in economics at our college and his wife said she sells travel. I guess that means she works in a travel agency.

Julie knocked to say hi and after she left Rick said, "Jesus what a body."

"I hadn't noticed," Andy lied. "Besides remember it can be dangerous to foul your nest."

"Yeah right."

Two pairs of roommate applicants had already committed to accommodation, three other pairs were not considered because they were seniors. The final pair were accepted even though they were females and confessed to being gay. They were thrilled by the cleanliness and fresh décor of the apartment and didn't blink at the rental. Although they were the last on the list to be considered, they scored well by their friendliness, humor and energy and both claiming they were good cooks.

They were accepted a co-tenants and Rick asked, "Are you really lesbians?"

"Yes darling, sorry," Faye said, stoking Rick's cheek and pouting as if disappointed.

"In that case Di and Faye, what say if Rick and I put both beds together in one of your two rooms and your study desks and lamps in the other? If your laptops are wireless enabled you'll have no problem getting cheap Internet via the university because we are in range of the university's hot-spot."

The girls were delighted with about that.

Julie came down to welcome the new tenants who were having late dinner. She apologized for the interruption but was pulled in by Rick and invited to sit and she boggled at the loaded dinner plates.

"Omigod a roast dinner as good as any mother could make."

"Di was on dinner tonight, and she is brilliant," Andy said proudly, and introduced both girls.

"We are gay," Faye said, and the two guys waited nervously but quickly relaxed when Julie said, "Oh good for you two; so was I at college to protect myself from being ripped open by dogs of guys equipped like ponies and relentlessly on the rampage. Fortunately the mention of gay women totally deflates the dicks of guys."

The women screamed with laughter while Rick and Andy remained unimpressed.

When Julie left after two cheap wines, Di said, "God guys have you noticed Julie's body?

"No," they lied in unison.

The girls looked disbelievingly.

Andy then related the old story about wisdom of the old bull.

"The young bull looked at the pasture of forty heifers and said, "Hey Burt let's jump the fence and do a few."

"No Laddie, you go ahead and allow me to observe your style."

The young bull jumped the fence and raced into doing his job. He returned, looking weary, and only just managed to clear the wire.

"Fifteen hits, not too bad for a youngster," the old bull said.

The old bull ambled along the fence line, saved energy by walking through the open gate, and then went to work and then ambled back though the gate to the young bull and looked rather jaded.

"Gee you did all forty," said the young bull. "I admire your style and it does show that age plus experience really counts."

"The girls giggled wildly and even Rick laughed appreciatively, not having heard that joke before.

Dinner was cleared and the girls, who were freshman, suggested a meeting to draw up rules and a roster.

"Nah you two read your study notes and get ready for your first orientation," Andy said. "Here you are, I've already drawn up our rules and obligations."

Di read out the short list.

1. Be lovely to one another and be cooperative as a group.

2. Be clean, tidy and regard this apartment as you would your own home.

3. Have your rent-share ready on due date.

4. Have a great time with this communal living.

"Aw Faye said, sitting on Andy's knee and kissing him. "That is so appropriate and so liberal."

"Hey aren't you supposed to be gay."

"We are but that doesn't mean we are not friendly with men and will even kiss them if they are particularly nice."

Rick and Andy looked confused and both appeared aware this situation would require adjustment to their thinking about women.

At the end of that academic year, Andy held a party at a bar to celebrate his elevation to the editorship of 'Uni Insider', with his roommates and Julie and Ronald attending by invitation. The four roommates had signed to occupy the apartment next academic year.

Rick and Andy were the last to leave the party. As they walked home drunkenly Rick said, "Buddy I have a confession to make. I've been into Faye a few times."

"Bad boy."

"And I scored with Julie once."

"You asshole. You could have ruined everything."

"Well I was unbelievably tempted but Julie was a real disappointment. Have you done any of them?"

"No because I'm becoming a wise older bull. Just stay away from Julie huh?"

"I promise and perhaps I ought to stay away from our girls."

"Great idea as it will prevent a possible bust-up. Stand firm against severe temptation and you'll recognize in due course you have strengthened your character."

"How can you talk so sensibly when you are drunk?"

"I have no idea and thanks for not attempting to fuck me."

Rick laughed so much he fell off the sidewalk and Andy had to help him to his feet.

Andy spent that summer working in the public relations/company communications department of a multinational food company based in Chicago. He believed he'd performed credibly and when leaving in early September was invited by the director of communications to apply for a permanent position when he graduated.

"I would approve of your employment here on the strength of a bachelor degree because I am aware of your performance at the coalface, but that acceptance would be conditional on your taking an online masters in an area pursuant to our company's activities with completion within two years of your start."

"Thank Linda. That's most encouraging. Might I kiss you goodbye?"

"Yes and give me a big hug as well. You are a great young man Andy."

Andy went home and to his delight Angelina Williams met him with his mother at the airport but also with them was Angelina's boyfriend who watched as Angelina kissed Andy excitedly and was all over him.

During those ten days he spent at home, Andy attempted to get Angelina alone to nail her but the boyfriend stuck to her like a limpet, the asshole. Actually he was a nice guy.

Rick had secured a good newspaper job for summer but the newspaper ran into financial difficulties and shed a number of personal and Rick was one who lost his job.

He spent the remainder of summer working in the furniture-making factory owned by a friend of his father's after meeting the guy's daughter at a party and lived with the divorcee daughter until returning to college.

That final year at the state university was practically a blur for Andy because of his expanded workload. His class work including assignments were, as to be expected, much tougher, he'd kept on with his involvement with the theater, became an evening trainer at the gym and of course had to manage the newspaper. 

He lost weight and his interest in sex waned and he worried about that being permanent. What helped keep him together was his study pal Janice Hall. She was cruising with her work and helped Andy arrange his workload to ease the pressure. When it came time to study in earnest for final exams, he reluctantly accepted Janice's suggestion to drop his voluntary role as a gym trainer, 

Janice had latched on to a friendly guy halfway through her sophomore year. The following year when Andy asked would the romance last beyond the end of the year, she thought it would. 

With her usual forthright manner, Janice said she and Duncan were compatible in so many ways. "Between you and me, he has a smaller penis than you. God that one time you banged me I thought I was being split apart."

"Oh sorry, perhaps you should use extra lube for bigger guys?"

"There won't be any bigger dick guys plowing me thank you," she smiled.

Rick, who'd begun at the college as a more successful student than Andy, faded in the home run with his preoccupation with pussy and he was midstream in gaining his degree. Andy, on the other hand, kept on improving and received an award for the highest marks in his class for field work/practical knowledge in agriculture and academically finished a top ten student in tenth position. He picked up an award for outstanding service in journalism during the three years working for 'Uni Insider, the last year as 'an outstanding editor' and received a commendation for backstage service to the university's main drama theater.

Andy's parents attended the graduation ceremony and they went to dinner that evening with Rick and his parents. It didn't take the two mothers long to realize just how much alike they were. Andy was relieved Rick's mom Helen didn't attempt to hit on him that night. He decided her lust for him (and other guys?) had turned off and that wayward belief lasted until they were leaving when he kissed her good night and she tongued him while lifting a knee into his crotch.

Later Andy thought Helen would probably be one of those women who still wanted sex into her eighties. Wow but it might be better doing it in the dark at that age.

He'd regained his libido near the end of the semester when exam pressure was easing.

The more highly sexed roommate Faye had hit on him late one afternoon when she came in and found him alone.

Andy said hi and she said she'd bought new lingerie, did he wish to inspect it.

"Yeah," he said and followed her into the bedroom.

"I have it on," she said, pulling her dress off.

She pulled the bra up, Andy not having a clue whether if the bra was new, but at the sight of the puffy nipples he jumped her fully aroused and wanting it. 

She cooed at him to be a rough as he wished.

When Julie said she was sorry he would be leaving soon and they really had missed opportunities to be together, he'd said, "Like now?" She checked her watch and grabbed his hand and they ran up the steps to her living room where she lay in the sofa, panting in anticipation, to be shafted. 




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 04



Rick was right. She lay too inert to be a good fuck but at least it was cunt. However later he decided he should not have shafted her. He resolved to try to be less promiscuous. Well that good thought didn't last because Julie came home early next afternoon and said she was ready to rumble.

They were at it most afternoons for the next nine days before they were almost caught by Ronald arriving home earlier than usual. As a result of that scare Julie advised Andy that was the last time she'd commit adultery.

Sexually satisfied, Andy thanked her for the opportunity, knowing he was now big into sex again and had been bringing her off four times within the hour or so they'd snatched each day. But if it hadn't been for a neighbor across the street calling out to Ronald that she had some mail meant for him, she and Andy would have been busted.

* * *

Andy had secured a job in Chicago with American Silver Foods Corporation. In keeping with its corporate name, all its lines produced for the commercial trade such as hotels, catering firms, company cafes, delicatessens and restaurants and of course the numerous and varied domestic lines, were produced on contract by plants throughout Illinois and beyond. All output was packaged in the corporation's silver colored boxes and cartons and cans. Bottles had silver labels.

Linda Hoffman, director of communications, welcomed him back and Andy dutifully thanked her for arranging a permanent position for him.

"Well you proved yourself when you worked here over summer," she smiled and then said to her assistant that would be all.

When the woman left, closing the door, Linda walked from behind her desk and right up to Andy.

"Are you going to kiss me Andy?"

A little shocked, Andy who'd just turned twenty-two, kissed her and felt her tongue brush his lips.

He grinned, no longer shocked. He'd read this sort of thing was partly how corporate business worked.

She sat facing him and asked had he secured accommodation.

"Not yet. I'm in a cheap hotel."

"Ah may I speak to you personally?"

"Yes of course."

"I mean in a manner that employment watchdogs..."

She was beginning to stumble so Andy took the risk and asked, "I'm big into sex if that's what you wish to know."

She smiled and he saw her tongue tip just reach between her lips.

"Yes that answers the question I was about to ask. Well Andy and what about sex with women my age?"

She appeared to be a little younger than Andy's mom and that experience had been okay and so he said no problem.

Linda crossed and uncrossed her legs and Andy looked at her knees knowing she would be checking that out.

"You have nice legs."

"Oh do you think so," she purred and opened her legs.

"And good thighs."

She snapped them closed and went behind her desk, not to call personnel to terminate his employment, he was sure about that.

Linda opened a drawer and tossed him a key and said she kept a small apartment nearby, subsidized by the company, to sometimes stay overnight because she often had PR work and other events that meant a late finish. "You may stay there for a while. Here's the address."

"And will you visit to check on how I'm looking after the place?"

"I might. You excite me Andy but I'm not a bitch. I intend using you will push your career forward at every opportunity."

"Thanks and I understand the situation. Married women are not unknown to me."

She smiled and told him to go and on the way out to asked her PA to take him to marketing.

"Marketing?"

"Yes because that's what we do. It has its own promotions department where you'll work under Stephen Good."

"Thanks and you couldn't have made me feel more welcome to your corporate world Mrs Hoffman."

"Call me Linda when we are alone."

Andy went off telling himself not to rush to end any affair with her. Let her manage it as that would be in his best interest. She was in the position to propel his career forward.

The apartment was a studio, very small, on the fourth level with no views but so what? It was held as a sleepover. He could find an apartment more to his likening at a later date. Meanwhile his accommodation was free.

Linda arrived next evening not long after him.

"Hi I'm on my way home but have an hour to spend."

"Oh great you are my first guest."

She smiled and said no to coffee and said he was welcomed to have the occasional overnight guest when she had not advised she would be visiting.

"In future I'll give you at least 24 hours' notice by phone."

"Thanks. Sex?"

"Oh yes," Linda smiled, unzipped and removed her dress.

Andy eyed the fancy underwear and her firm and good-looking body and everything looked all class.

She pulled something from her handbag and he thought cheekily what a present already?

"These are my preferred condoms."

He accepted the 36-pack grinning.

"I suppose we don't have to use these all today."

She stared at him without acknowledging or changing expression and undid her bra. A faint smile appeared when she saw Andy lick his lips because they were little beauties, each large enough be more than to grab and secure a good hold. Meanwhile he'd removed his jack, tie, shoes and socks.

Linda removed her panties and patted his hairless pussy as if saying, 'here it comes for your darling'.

"Leave on your thigh-highs."

She stood waiting and her mouth opened into a big-O when he dropped his pants and briefs together and she saw the size of his erection.

"Oh good boy," she wheezed.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. Let's not spend time on foreplay. I'm sufficiently excited about this first encounter to be moist enough."

And that was true. Andy slid in as if his encased dick was a greasy pole. Linda was on her back on the bed with her legs hanging to the floor. But rather than fall on her and insert, Andy grabbed under her ass and pulled her towards him and on to his greasy pole.

That must have been a technique new to Linda because she was drumming her hands stretching out behind her head as she was pulled across the bedspread

They banged and Andy found the forty-six or perhaps forty-eight-year old was really into it, banging back at him and talking dirty.

He loved it.

When she was tiring she called to him to pull out, jerk over her and then finger her to bring her to a climax.

He pulled off the condom and she saw he was dribbling cum and complained, "Is that all" just as Andy gave his dick a couple of quick strokes with real squeeze to the purple helmet. His head jerked back and he fired three quick spurts, the first going straight into Linda mouth and the other two streams spatting her nose and eyes as she'd begun to sit up.

"Omigod, you pig," she yelled and spat semen over her stomach.

"Sorry."

"Get me a towel."

She said thanks and then admitted grudgingly, "I suppose it wasn't altogether your fault. I failed to stay on my back and read the signs carefully. Even so, you should have told me to expect torrents of cum."

"That's normal isn't it?" he lied, having had complaints previously from women caught unawares.

Linda sighed.

He wiped some remaining cum off her face and smiled, "Cum makes a perfect moisturizing skin cream as it contains protein and nutrients."

She rejected that as "typical of the bullshit men lay on women."

He just smiled, knowingly.

Linda left happily enough and said she'd call back within a couple of days or so. Andy doubted that but was wrong; for the next five weeks she called on him regularly and when he moved into his own rented apartment she maintained her visits for sex. His new home was in the same building and with only one bedroom like Linda's apartment but much larger, with a dedicated home office and good views. 

* * *

Andy applied for the corporation to sponsor him to undertake online studies to complete a Master of Science in Communication degree, majoring in technical communication.

Linda warned although she would recommend sponsorship it would not be her decision and all she could do was to voice her support. Andy said he'd expected nothing more.

He received back an offer that the company would authorize Andy's involvement in such study if he committed to stay with the company for two years after graduation with his degree or, alternatively, the company would pay all enrolment fees if he contracted to remain with the company for four years from his graduation date.

Linda said why commit for four years when the fees were not huge and Andy said yes the shorter contract would allow him greater flexibility to chase newer opportunities if that's what came up at the time and so accepted the half-payment of fees offer. He began studies six weeks later and had figured if he put in the effort he could complete in twelve to fifteen months. 

Linda had begun staying with him overnight at times whenever her husband, a marketing consultant was away for several days and she told Andy during breakfast one morning it was a cruddy degree if he intended to go beyond writing/communication, He argued in time track record meant more than academic qualifications and the M in masters would be sufficient to impress many recruiters.

"How long does degree study remain relevant anyway, apart from foundation aspects such as business ethics?"

"Well yes you do make a point. In that case you might consider staying with us longer and establish a worthwhile track record with us because we are a highly regarded internationally operating corporation. In time I could get you pushed into marketing to strengthen your bow."

"Ah talking about my bow, would you like an arrow?"

She laughed and said not right now. "It's Saturday morning and you can accompany me shopping. People will think I'm your mother."

"The way you fuck? I don't think so."

"Oooh," Linda smiled.   

A female phoned Andy and said she was Penny Wiseman and she lived in Chicago Downtown and had started study for the same degree he was doing a week after he enrolled. It had been suggested by the educational provider she should made contact with Andy.

"Oh that's great. How long do you intend to take to complete?"

"Twelve months if I can. That's why I believe you could be a useful prop."

"Well twelve months or a little longer is my goal to complete. Are you married or living with your family?"

She answered nervously, "No, why do you ask?"

"Well if you were married or even living at home you could probably find support whereas if you live alone you would need a prop. At college I had the same study-buddy for two and a half years and she and I helped one another enormously.

"She?"

"Yes."

"Um I don't believe it's necessary for us to meet. Rather we could phone one another occasionally to discuss progress and any problems."

"Good idea."

"Then you are not put off working with me on that basis?"

Andy said no. Any level of contact could be beneficial. He said he lived alone and would benefit from some academic liaison.

"Ah Penny?"

"Yes."

"There is no need to be nervous about me. I'll give you my mother's phone number and you can check me out. I have an honest mother, she is a rancher's wife in south-west Wyoming and I was born on that ranch."

"Oh you are doing well for a country boy."

"It takes all sorts Penny."

They agreed she would call him on Tuesday and Thursday nights to chat and they would also communicate by email.

Andy sat back and thought Penny sounded very timid. He would have preferred a more dynamic woman to have contacted him. But perhaps she was new to Chicago also and was learning to swim with the mass and to adjust to her new life. 

He wondered what Penny would be like to fuck but soon ran out of gas trying to progress his thinking on that one. 

It puzzled Andy why he so readily thought about the fucking potential of women he dealt with. Bad upbringing perhaps? He must stop looking at women as sex objects, not that he had any idea of how to approach that and Linda wouldn't be a good adviser. Linda saw herself as a sex object. Gee how many times had she been fucked as an adult. Twenty-eight years... now how many days was that and how many times a week on average would she have sex with however had caught her eye? God this was crazy, stop it and get back to studying technical communication you sexpot adulterer and goodness knows what. But his mom loved him.

Andy decided to invite his mom to come and see him and bring the kids and his dad if she wished. When she had dates sorted he'd send her airline tickets. Yeah this was a good idea. Now back to the technicalities of effective technical writing.

The job he had at American Silver Foods Corporation failed to ignite Andy. It was about as interesting as watching a TV documentary headed, 'The Sex Life of the Puritans Under the Spotlight.' He could imagine the presenter saying, 'Clearly sex life existed because the population of the Puritans kept increasing' and then the conclusion, 'Sex life in the communities of the Puritans existed, undoubtedly, but after endless researching we are unable to reveal anything about frequency, techniques or where it occurred or where it rarely or never occurred because unfortunately no documentation exists about such things. It would appear the reason for this is no one actually saw it happen'.

Yes well little wonder Andy's start had left him with little more than a big sigh of despondency. His manager placed him at a desk in the least desirable position possible, as a newcomer would expect to inhabit. 

He worked on jobs no one else wanted and vegetated but at least Linda was satisfying his sexual lust (and hers) and he considered it remarkable a guy at his young age should be regularly committing adultery. Most of the day he fretted but at nights he studied and often had Linda until she dropped out to nap, exhausted.

And then one day his section manager dumped four manuals on Andy's desk and said, "These publication or overdue for revision. You have five months to complete and present each manual to the appropriate technical committee to review, meaning each change to text must be effectively indexed so that it can be clearly identified by the review body and easily located to be properly weighed as being appropriate. Notations why you made the changes should also be added as postscripts.

Jesus, snorted Andy watching the waddle of the retreating manager. Why hadn't he opted to become a technical writer rather than an agricultural journalist or why hadn't chosen to stay working for low pay on the ranch?

He picked up the first manual and cringed: 'Guide to Correct Interpersonal Relations for Males and Females in the Employ of American Silver Foods Corporation.' First reaction was the manual must not have been updated since it was written in 1912, but no it had been written in 1986 and updated three times since.

"How the heck had that title survived three reviews?" he marveled.

He drew in the company's widely recognized tin can logo incorporating the letters 'ASFC', used a thick marker to cross out the title of the existing manual and wrote a replacement title, 'Correct Behavior in Our Workplace'. He would prefer just 'Workplace Behavior' but anticipated the review committee might find that too simplistic and radial, not sounding like a management edict when read aloud. He added a notation there was no need to use words at the start of the new title, 'A Guide to....' because workers would recognize it as a guide and not confuse it with a paycheck.

Well that wasn't taxing work. Andy thought he'd consider switching to the next manual to inject variety but once look at the title sent him back to continue reviewing the workplace behavior guide. 

The second manual was titled: 'A Guide to Avoiding Cross-infection of Illnesses at American Silver Foods Corporation Headquarters and Subsidiary Offices, Not Claiming Excessive Alcohol Consumption or Illegal Drug-taking as Sick Days and Menstruation Days Don't Qualify as Sick Days Unless Bleeding is Excessive (see definition of excessive page 98). 

Andy thought the publication date had to be 1845 and checked the inside title page and found the publication date was actually 1975. Turning away from it, he hit on a possible new title, 'Booze, Drugs, Halitosis, STDs, Thrush, and Etcetera.' The demand for such a publication could be so great that management could sell copies to employees.

He finished the task in thirteen weeks, doing some other brief jobs beside, and the manager Stewart Lawn was pleased after quickly scanning some of the pages.

"Very good it would appear Alan."

"It's Andy."

"Oh yes of course. Look can you write speeches?"

"I daresay I can."

"What does that mean?"

"It's more tentative than saying oh yes I can."

"Hmmm. The CEO has asked me to write a speech for the director of marketing who appears flummoxed."

"I'd rather not. You see I'm not a marketing graduate."

"Yes, yes and some who are perhaps are not, if you get my drift?"

Andy said politely perhaps he did.

"Well go to Larry and say Paul thinks you are the guy to help him write his speech."

Andy wandered off wondering who the hell was Paul. He asked a woman in pink wearing a bra (he could see the straps) but with one boob really down low and she glared and asked what he staring at.

Smoothly, not at all embarrassed, Andy said, "I was looking for an intelligent person and noticed you."

"Oh really?" she said, patting her hair, and reconstructing the glare into a smile. "How might I help?"

"I have to find a Paul but don't know his surname."

"Well we have 530 employees in this building and the thirty of them are probably in Paul's team. The only Paul I know is Paul Friedman, director of marketing."

"Oh brilliant. That's it. Thanks and hey just a tip, you might need to tighten the strap holding up your right tit."

"Oh thanks. No, Omigod, what did you say?"

By the time she's spluttered out all of that Andy was ten paces away and accelerating.

The moon-faced PA said Mr Friedman was not seeing anyone that day.

"I'm from PR and tech communication. I'm here to help Paul with his speech."

"Oh thank goodness, Mr Friedman is climbing the wall in frustration. He's already snapped four pencils, his Italian sunglasses and eaten a flower from a vase.

"Please tell him help is nigh. My name is Andy Ash."

"Oh you're the guy who renamed the sickness guide 'Booze, Drugs, Halitosis, STDs, Thrush and Etcetera' and suggested management agrees to it being sold to employees for five bucks. I was at the senior management meeting when it was discussed and everyone was rocking in laughter. They accepted Mr Lawn's recommendation that 2000 copies be printed and sold for $5.50.

Andy sighed. He'd given Stewart Lawn that copy and recommendation to print 1000 copies and sell them for five bucks a copy as a joke and also handed him the intended copy titled, 'Sickness and You.'

"Do you think they will sell copies Mrs Young?"

"Yes I do. Line managers will be told to instruct staff to buy a copy for work and another copy to have at home to check policy before calling in sick. Come I'll take you through."

"Thank you possess great looking tits."

"Oh Mr Ash. My husband calls them heavy hangers. You are such a lovely man."

Paul snarled, "I said I didn't wish to be disturbed."

Mrs Young said firmly, "I was only..."

"Only nothing. Get out and take this young guy with you."

"Paul don't be grumpy. I'm a tech writing specialist, here to exorcise you pain you are experiencing from attempting to write your speech. Would you like to tell me about it Paul, calmly and gently and don't garble."

Paul appeared to count to five, lost his heavy scowl and said, "I'm in a mess. My wife has been shocked by my behavior..."

"Paul I'm not here to be bored about you talking about your life or wife. Who are these people you will be addressing?"




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 04



"The Consumer Protection Society... it's their national annual meeting."

"Oh those jerks. They'll hang on to every word, looking for something to sling back at you as verbal missiles designed to discredit you."

"Omigod Maggie. He understands. I'm saved."

"Now that it's calm in here once more, I'll leave you two to it. I'm really impressed at the way you handle children...er I mean your effective way of calming any situation Mr Ash."

"Thank you Mrs Young. Two coffees and a plate of sandwiches in fifteen minutes please."

"Certainly Mr Ash. You remind me of the manner of one of our past presidents when he was young."

"Surely not Abe?"

"Oh Mr Ash," she chuckled. "You are so funny."

They watched her leave and Andy said, "Paul what would you like to speak about?"

"Product quality control, correct and effective consumer information on all labels, our work in consumer protection, our responses to consumer requests for information and to their responses, our..."

Andy said stop right there and sat and pulled out his notepad.

"Right Paul, imagine you are talking to your wife after unhurried sex. She asks you this question: How do you guys at Silver handle product quality control? Don't race Paul, talk as if you were answering her with you wanting to delay her from asking are you ready to go again."

Paul loosened his tie and began.

Coffee and sandwiches arrived.

At 12:30 Mrs Young opened two bottles of beer for the guys and at 1:00 the lunch trolley arrived and the guys took a break and ate and talked about women who had sex on the brain.

At 2:43 they were done.

"I have enough to write the speech you'd like to deliver Paul, in your words and just polished up somewhat. You have been given a delivery time of twenty minutes you said?"

"Yes and I'm told they are fiends for sticking to schedules."

Andy grinned, "Well the fiends are professional complainers."

"Andy you understand the scene so well. It has been a privilege working for you."

"Thanks. And may I say you are an excellent communicator when the right switch is pulled. You have to learn how to cope when things begin to screw up. Taking a few deep breathes and going for a walk often are all that is needed."  

They shook hands and Andy received a slap on the shoulder.

Andy left the office and stopped to say goodbye to Mrs Young. She turned and looked through the open door behind him. "Omigod he's whistling, out of tune but he's whistling." 

In the elevator heading down, Andy heard the only other occupant, a beautiful redhead coo, "Are you ready for elevator sex?"

"Give me five minutes to think on that one," he smiled, straightening his tie at the mirror. Of course he was alone in the car, just fantasizing. He stepped out at his floor whistling an obscene college ditty.             

To Be Continued...



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 05



Linda Hoffman, director of communications, came into the section and went into the office of Stewart Lawn, manager of the technical writing team. Within two minutes Stewart called Andy to his office.

Wondering what this was about, Andy walked between the lines of desks of writers and their researchers and heard one smart-ass send the room into silence when he called, "You weren't here long Andy."

Cheeky slut, Andy mused, but at least someone in the pack knew his name.

There was silence in the manager's office as Andy entered and then Stewart said importantly, "Do you remember Mrs Hoffman Andy?"

Well he knew her intimately enough to known Mrs Hoffman had a scar on the center of her right butt cheek from a fall from her scooter when she was six.

"Sure. Hi Linda."

Steward said sternly, "Andy our director might prefer being called Mrs Hoffman."

"No Linda is fine coming from Andy."

"Andy, she said. "I have received a call from Paul Friedman at the wind-up of the national convention of the Consumer Protection Society. He could barely speak. He reported that yesterday morning he received a standing ovation at the end of his address and minutes before he called, the society's president announced the majority of the 2300 delegates had voted Paul Friedman as the outstanding speaker at the plenary sessions and she presented Paul with the society's medal as top convention speaker. Paul was so emotionally awed that he had difficulty speaking to me. He added he owed everything to you."

"Well perhaps I boosted his confidence and rearranged a few of his words. It was Paul who gave the address."

"I would think he excelled because he had confidence in the prepared speech he was delivering," Linda said. "Our chairman is worried about the speech has to give at a plenary session of the International Food Processors' Organization in Rome next month. Paul and I agree we should talk to Mr Shields about you and we would like your response."

"Yeah go ahead Linda but tell him I only work one-on-one with the client with no aides present. I have to set up the right atmosphere before squeezing the client to speak openly to me."

"Well we have a problem here," said Linda. "Our chairman is an investment banker who knows sweet all about what we do."

"That's fine, I can talk to people who really know what we do and why. Then I have to tap into Chairman Shields to find out what he knows and doesn't know about us."

Stewart frowned and said that could be embarrassing for the chairman being stretched out like that.

"I believe I have the skills to handle that, having observed for some years how women handle men as if they were boys."

Stewart frowned and Linda giggled.

"Stewart and I have been discussing how to reward Paul. We have been at war, like so many of our competitors, for years with the society, and Paul's outstanding efforts would have improved our standing with the society no end. Have you any suggestions?"

"I should think air tickets to New York and complimentary hotel accommodation for two for three nights would be perfect. Don't say 'and wife' when making the presentation. For all we know Paul might like to take someone else."

"Who?"

"Well Mrs Young could be a candidate."

Linda spluttered, "But Paul is almost debonair while Mrs Young..."

Andy sighed and said, "Well we don't have to work out Paul's thinking. He can manage that and in answering your disbelief, don't they say that opposites attract?"

"Well yes."

As soon as Linda left, Stewart tapped on the desk of Miranda Lott, who sat behind the Lead Writer.

"Linda and everyone behind her, would you please move back on desk. Andy Ash, would you please move up here to occupy this desk in reward for meritorious service in improving the image of the corporation."

Stewart left the office to avoid complaints. But there was no bickering. Andy was asked to explain what this was about. He said he'd been asked to write a speech for the director of marketing and it had wowed the convention of the Consumer Protection Society.

"Consumer Protection Society," someone said in a quavering voice. Everyone crowded Andy to congratulate him and his elevation was accepted.

On Friday two weeks later, Paul went for a long weekend to New York City and on that same day Mrs Young called in sick.

The following week when Paul dumped new assignments on the manager of the technical writing team and checked on work in progress, he chatted to each member of the tech-write team and left Andy till last. They chatted and Paul ended the interchange loudly when saying, "Oh Andy. You are due at the chairman's office for lunch at 1:00. He wants help to compose an address to the International Food Processors' Organization based in Rome."

Paul walked off smiling while Andy dropped a pencil and turned to look under Miranda's desk, knowing she wore very short skirts. Lifting up he whispered,          "Very nice. Are you doing anything tonight?" 

"God no," said Miranda, who'd been holding her breath.

"Dinner at my place?"

Her mouth opened and her tongue fluttered.                      

A couple of week later, Linda used her key and walked into Andy's apartment carrying a bottle of French Champagne. He was on the sofa reading a comic.

"Something tells me you are having it off with Miranda Lott."

"Yeah."

"Is she any good?"

Andy said diplomatically, "Not as good as you."

"Well I must say I rather it is Miranda than some of those other sluts in the office."

"Are you talking guys or females?"

Linda laughed and kissed him and then kissed him again when he said, "You know I only associate with classy women."

She laughed while he wondered how Alice was coping with life and had she left the brothel permanently.

Stripping off Linda said, "Let's have a couple of drinks and then I think it's time we had anal."

"Good I've always wanted to hear you scream."

She giggled and told him to get his clothes off.

After that evening, when Linda behaved like an out-of-control whore, Andy no longer thought of her as being classy, not that it mattered to him. He liked a woman being a woman.

Before leaving for the office next morning, Linda said, "The chairman just loves his speech. He told me to give you a week off.

"Would you like to go somewhere for a week?"

"No that would really earn me the title of slut. Go with someone else but if you take Miranda it will be noticed"

"Okay I have an engagement party coming up in New Mexico soon. I'd like to take my parents and younger sister and brother."

"Well submit a budget to me. We will probably give you a bonus to cover half of the outlay."

Andy thought that was very generous.

He called his mom that night.

"Hi beautiful."

"Oh hi darling, I'm aware I'm overdue for a call from you. And how's my big-shot?"

"I'm small fry in Chicago and even within our company, but I'm still on the up and that pleases me. What's news?"

"Oh your sister and brother both appear to be doing well at school and we've had a great year with the ranch, making up for those previous two summers of drought. It's going pretty well. Your father has a few days a month moody...."

"Like a woman?"

She laughed and continued on to say everything was fine, really fine."

His voice rose in excitement. "I'm calling to say I wish to take you all to Angelina William's engagement party at Clem's home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the 8th of next month, staying three nights in hotel suites.

"Omigod I can't believe this. Omigod."

"Well write down the date and work out with the family what three nights away do you wish to have. The party begins at lunch on Saturday. I've received an invitation to the event from Clem and Angelina and she's added a note to bring my family. I'll confirm with her when we have the bookings."

"Have you been in regular contact with Angelia?"

"No this just came out of the blue, first an email asking for my postal address."

"Why would she spurn you but invite you to her engagement party?"

"You know women mom. They are aware of their weaknesses more so than males. She believes if she came close to me it could wreck her loyalty to her chosen one."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes."

"Well so do I, now you have explained that. I always thought it was strange the every time bar one occasion when you came home she was away."

"Mom is anyone listening?"

"No they are all watching a TV show, laughing their heads off."

"Well this spurning as you appear to regard it with Angelina also has to do with guilt. I saw her mom when I was last home and Amy confessed to me she'd shot dad. I pushed her into that, having worked it out she could have been the only person with real motive when she saw me injured. She went on to say she'd long suspected I was a beaten kid and you were probably beaten as well."

Andy said, "Amy told me she'd confessed to you not long after the shooting."

Irene whimpered, "Yes she did."

"She told me no one else knows what she did, not even Bernie but I believed she lied, that she must have told Angelina otherwise how could she have sent Angelina to the ball without me and cautioned Angelina to be careful what she said when questioned by the sheriff or his deputies to avoid sending her mother to jail?"

"Omigod."

"Mom I decided not to confront Angelina about this, to allow her to keep her guilt to herself. Please don't discuss what we have just discussed with anyone else."

"I won't, I promise and I'll tell you this Andy, if it hadn't been for Angelina's guilt in collaborating illegally with Amy, you would have been the person she would have lined up to become engaged to."

"Yeah life can be tough eh? But life goes on as well you know."

Irene quickly got the conversation back on track. "Well I'm so excited about going to New Mexico. Santa Fe is a hugely historic place. This will enhance the kids' awareness of America and its history. I'm off to tell them as soon as the TV show ends and will call you back."

The family arrived in Santa Fe without Carl who revealed he would be scared of flying. When Andy offered to drive him, Carl told Andy confidentially, "The truth is I don't like Angelina's mother. She always looks at me funny like as does Angelina for that matter."

Andy would never forget seeing Angelina running towards them in a short skirt, skimpy top and tits swaying as she ran. Oooh she looked prime for fucking.

Angelina hugged his mom first but Andy didn't mind that. She'd get to him eventually.

She did and kissed him fully, pressing hard into him and then standing back a little, leaving one arm around him and brushing his hair back and laughing and saying didn't he ever do his hair.

Andy felt a big boner coming on and that pleased him and he pulled the luggage trolley closer to hide the rising pants tent.

On the return flight home the family parted again at Denver, Andy flying back to Chicago. His mom and the kids had a change of flight ahead on the way back home.

They'd had a great time and Andy had never felt so close to his family. They'd shared a double-bedroom suite with twin beds in each room in an historic hotel that completely awed the kids. Andy and Pete shared one of the rooms and they were still in the pool when Irene took sleepy Kate off to bed. They'd had a lively dinner with Clem and his parents and paternal grandparents and Angelina and her parents.

Andy and Pete had been up at dawn to go exploring on hotel bicycles, returning well after 9:00 to find they had to drag the females yelling and kicking out of their beds. Kate at twelve was already focused on shopping and shopped for hours with her mom while the two guys went off looking for adventure. Andy knew what it was like for Peter growing up on a ranch and not getting off it much because there were always chores to do. In contrast other moms would frequently call with their daughter to leave to play with Kate or her mom would take her off to play with someone.

Andy told Pete he knew about the loneliness but there was light ahead.

"Not long after your fifteenth birthday girls will begin inviting you over and you'll be invited to mixed birthday parties and guys will invite you to go camping as a gang with only a couple of dads and this social expansion to your life will go from there. You believe me, don't you?"

"Bloody oath."

Andy managed to keep a straight face and asked where Pete had picked up that very impolite term.

"From my friend Terry. He's from England."

"Well just remember not to use it in front of ladies."

"Okay but what's a lady... grandmothers?"

"Um women who don't use bad language."

"Mom uses four-letter words when she loses it."

"Um mom is a lady. There always are some exceptions. Do you know what a prostitute is?"

"No."

"What about a hooker?"

"Yeah they are babes who charge for sex."

Relieved to have a way out, Andy said, "Well your mother wouldn't regard hookers as ladies, but there is no need for you to repeat this conversation."

"Nah I won't. Anyway that conversation wasn't something I'd remember."

At Denver when Andy was about to go to look for his flight, the kids kissed him and their mom hugged and kissed him warmly.

"Thanks and I really mean that Andy," Irene choked. "I feel I've been to heaven."

Irene burst into tears when Peter (or Peter to her) said to Andy, "Thanks pal, I didn't realize I had such a cool guy as a brother. Take care and get me to visit you in Chicago sometime."

"I'll come if one of your girlfriends will take me shopping," Kate said, demonstrating her increasing sharpness in thinking and opportunism. 

* * *

Chairman Joseph Shields returned from Rome elated that he'd been elected to a high-powered working party to investigate how to get over-runs from bulk food canning and drying plants moved to collection points around the world for distribution as part of aid projects in Third World countries under the auspices of the United Nations. The committee had elected him as its convener

The committee was due to meet in Jakarta, Brazil, Algiers and twice in London before the convener would return to Rome to deliver\ its report and recommendation in Rome in nine months.

"Wives accompany us when we travel," Joseph said at the monthly meeting with executives of the Silver corporation. "My French wife lived several years in Algiers as a girl and her parents now live in London, so you can imagine how excited she is about this," he beamed.

He said to the CEO Carlos Rizzo, "I forget to mention this Carlos but my speech appeared to go down extremely well. I was told later that was for two reasons, it actually was a speech of substance and it was worded in such a way that real-time translations coped with it without difficulty." 

Joseph remembered to recognize Andy's contribution. "I give full credit for that to your guy who got me relaxed and then opened me up to speak as if I was talking to my kids when they were young. He then tinkered but I still felt it was my speech and of course he'd brief me I must take ownership of my speech and practice it several time to perform like a star. Yes, that's what he said to me, to one who tries to avoid public speaking, to perform like a star. And you know what, when speaking to that assembly of almost fifteen hundred people I had that image of myself on the spot-lit rostrum in that vast arena. How that young man managed to do that with me I have no idea."

"Well thanks for that report Mr Chairman," said Carlos. "I suspect young Mr Ash is beginning to reveal hidden talent. I'll talk to Mike as chair of human resources about this. Come to my office please Mike as soon as we finish here. Let's attend to Mr Ash when he's fresh in our minds."

Linda called Andy when she left the meeting.

"Hi Linda. Itchy for it?" he whispered into his phone.

She squirmed and said no, she had a dinner party to go to that evening at a friend's place, starting early. I'm calling to let you know you are being considered for relocation. I have no idea where or when but believe it will come with a title and salary boost. Demand a car if it's not offered. The chairman was almost raving about your assistance with his speech."

"Yeah so I gather. He just called me with praise. He's landed some big appointment and appears excited about that. He says I may have to go with him to Rome when the report is being considered by the parent body."

"God what a boost that would give to your personal profile," she said. "That one mission would put you on the international map and you may very well come under the eye of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization's recruiters for a senior appointment. The FAO is also based in Rome with offices in other countries."

"The FAO? Why would I wish to become involved with that bunch of twits?"

"You sound keen to go to Rome?"

"Yeah but that's different. The internal food processors group is an outfit that makes decisions quickly and acts quickly and doesn't get bogged down in procedural matters and political and diplomacy stone-walling.."

Linda said coolly, "Don't speak ignorantly Andy. I can tell you many of those people you see on TV at major UN meetings feel they are making contributions that will count for something. I've been there many times because my father was a senior admin guy with the UN in New York. Also I did my major submission for my MBA on how much the FAO gives billions of dollars of free information and support to needy countries on development initiatives. It really is a huge network and makes huge differences to advance counties to improve food sustainability. In fact I did my thesis on aspects of the FAO work. I'll give it to you to read sometime. My dad was so proud of me for keeping going with it, expecting I would give up due to the bureaucratic entanglements at both ends of the project."

"I apologize for showing my ignorance."

"Well who knows, there may be more truth in what you said that what I think. However I'm delighted you can admit you might have shown ignorance. That is a sign of a maturing young man."

"Thanks mother."

"Ouch."

They laughed.

The fellow master's degree student Penny Wiseman called him that night, apologizing for the delay in getting back to him.

"That's okay."

"With this study buddy proposal, may we just talk on the phone, never to meet?"

"Okay. Are you ugly?"

"Not particularly so."

"Are you in a wheelchair?"

There was no response.

Andy waited and then said, "Well that's okay. Let me know if you ever decide we should meet. Now we are on easy road at present but will be climbing a hill that will come on to us at a gallop since we are trying to get this done in twelve months. I've received everything and had completed the first two sessions and my first assignment. What about you?"

"Two sessions and two assignments. I have more time than you even though I have my baby to look after. I'll align my schedule with yours and that will make this buddy-study thing more manageable. So let's start compiling a monthly schedule over twelve months with two sessions and one assignment crossed off and then we'll discuss that first assignment."

"Great idea. Did you work in business admin?"

"Yes before the car accident two years ago I was manager of accounts receivable for a large store. I have been taught to have an orderly mind."

"Great that will assist me. My mind floats a bit, quite a bit actually, but then I'm in the creative side of business. I'm in technical writing."

"God and you call that creative?"

"Apparently there are some who think I'm creative in how I approach and manage my projects and with technical writing I write formally but am dedicated to the K.I.S.S principle.

"Keep it simple stupid or KISS," Penny said.

They laughed and she remembered to give Andy her email address.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 05



"Penny, now down take this the wrong way. When we discuss things do you mind if I sound flirty at times."

"I wouldn't think so."

"I work better with women when I relate that way."

She laughed and said well go ahead, that she might even get to enjoy it.

When the call ended Andy felt sympathetic toward Penny. Life could be such a shit for some people but he bet she loved her baby and her baby would grow up understanding and wondering why weren't all other mothers in wheelchairs.

"God we are prisoners of the way we think," he mused.

Early next morning a woman in a black business suit came up to Andy's desk and introduced herself as Glen Fryer. "I'm to take you to Mr Rizzo."

"Who the hell is this guy Rizzo?" Andy teased and he was sure Glen turned white. He heard some gasps from behind and heard Miranda directly behind him whisper, "Jesus."

"Mr Carlos Rizzo is the chief executive of our multi-billion dollar corporation."

"God I thought this organization appeared to be so well run the CEO must be female."

Glen now looked at him impressed but shook her head and said Mr Rizzo was a guy.

"No please don't," he heard Miranda mutter and so Andy didn't ask and how was it that Glen was so adamant that Mr Rizzo was male.

As the elevator car rose, Glen leaned against Andy and whispered had he ever had sex in an elevator.

At first Andy thought he was dreaming but then felt Glen's breath just above his collar.

"No because there usually are other people in the car like now. But give me the green light and let's see how far they'll let us go."

Glen shot across to the other side to stand beside an elderly couple.

"Did that young man pass wind dear?" and Glen said loudly to the woman, "Yes."

The elderly man and women were the last to leave the car and Andy winked at the woman who smiled back.

As they went to their selected floor Glen said, "I really can see why they wish to promote you. It's because you are so different. God you got my going back there."

"You have a great ass Glen so I am interested. When you stop teasing but holding back, I'll take that as a signal you want me to kiss it."

Andy pretended to be disgusted at the hand sign she gave him.

Carlos Rizzo came forward to shake Andy's hand and he heard Glen gasp when he said, "Hi Carlos, so this is what the best office in the building looks like."

"Young man, to your credit you are not shy and managed to word that so I could be offended."

"Or feel guilty."

"Now I am offended."

They laughed like old pals.

Glen will take you through to the chairman of staffing and our director of HR.

"Mike Orlando and Liz Carter."

"So you know the names of senior people here?"

"Only the ones who count Carlos. Your wife is Hannah, a former Hollywood starlet in several big films. Her parents the McGill's are on a ranch where she was born, not ten miles from my parents' ranch."

"In Wyoming."

"Yeah. Her folk are a mite nearer to Gillette than my folk."

"I know the area. I've been there a couple of times. Will Hannah know you?"

"She might if she has a great memory. I was the 15-year old kid who rode off against her over the jumps at Casper years back in a final and she didn't win. But I remember her as being most gracious and she actually kissed me and held up my hand to the crowd."

"Great story, I'll remind her. She didn't like fighting to gain recognition and that's why she never was comfortable in Hollywood. Well off you go. Great meeting you...er..."

"Andy and I'm not offended. You have 500-plus people worldwide to try to remember their names. I'm flattered that you bothered to say hi. That makes you a top admin guy in my book."

"Now I'll remember you," Carlos grinned.

As they went out into the foyer to enter the boardroom, Glen said she couldn't believe it when he'd called Mr Rizzo Carlos to his face. "You will be the youngest person by far to have called the CEO by his first name at a first meeting."

"Well I hope he remembers me," Andy said and patted Glen's butt cheek low down and squeezed.

She slammed his hand away, and stopped and spun around, eyes blazing.

"Don't ever again touch me like that. Even if you are a rising star I'll slap you."

"Come on Glen admit it. You liked it."

"There's a time and place for everything Andy. Figure that out and one day you might find me better disposed toward you."

"Oh so pussy is being put on ice. That's so sad."

"God you are impossible. Please don't make it so I have to report you. Mr Rizzo would probably take your side and forced me to go to mediation."

"I'll back off Glen. Sorry but you are so damn attractive."

"So it's all my fault?"

"Yeah now you mention it."

She sighed and opened the door.

The meeting lasted almost two hours but he left satisfied, and that included leaving the two negotiators feeling they hadn't been bled dry.

He called Linda. 

"Hi out with it'. I have my sister here. She's in town overnight and I'm about to leave for a business round-table conference followed by a formal dinner that Larry will also attend.

"Who's Larry... your husband?"

"Yes and I supposed you wanted to take me out for dinner?"

"Yes."

"Just a minute, I'll ask Lorna. She knows about you and me."

"Yea Lorna will go to dinner with you but she says that's all. She's married."

"And so are you."

"Asshole. Well what did you get?"

"Seventeenth on the executive ladder."

"God and you're only in your early twenties with a lowly bachelor's degree for studies that most of use never knew existed..."

"Well I won't apologize for my age. My title is executive director, external branding. It's a new department that will be located in part of the 33rd floor. My chief responsibilities will be to develop our corporate image at home and abroad at levels above public relations and sponsorship and to assist to increase the profiles of our senior executives within international trade organizations, international aid organizations and with international consumer protection organizations."

"Jesus and how will you achieve all that?"

"That's my initial job. And then I expand staff and am ultimately expected to have a department that occupies the entire 33rd floor."

"And where will internal audit go?"

"That's their problem, not mine."

"Who do you report to?"

"Carlos."

"Holy shit. There will be gnashing of teeth over this. Did you ask for a car?"

"Yes and a park on the executive floor."

"Good. And what kind of car?"

"A mid-sized Mercedes because I argued I will be dealing with visiting international VIPs."

"Omigod. I pick it won't be long before you jump up the ladder past department directors."

"I don't give a shit about that. My focus will be on the effective development of my department and attempting to confine it to floor 33. Small is best I reckon."

"Who will be your first appointment?"

"I've asked for Glen Fryer to be my operations manager. She has an MBA. I think I heard her shriek 'No, no for that asshole, when Liz Carter approached her with my request. Mile Orlando suggest I make myself scarce before Glen came charging in and I ran. Mike said Glen might think differently after thinking about it overnight, saying Glen was always on about the prospect of exciting challenges ahead without saying what challenges."

"She might mean babies."

"Ha."

Linda said, "Well I'm almost off. Here's Lorna."

The woman who picked up the phone identified herself as Lorna Wells. 

"Hi Lorna, I am so delighted you have agreed to accompany me to dinner this evening. Shall we start with drinks somewhere?"

Instead of answering immediately, Lorna yelled, "Linda are you sure this is the guy you talk to me about? This guy sounds charming and ever so correct. He doesn't sound like a rude and demanding guy who only thinks about one thing."

Andy smiled when he heard Linda reply, "Take the risk and deal with the consequences."

The meal backed by good wine and interesting conversation and they were close enough to walk to Lorna's hotel."

"Will you come up?"

"No and thanks for the invitation."

"Oh."

Andy embarrassed Lorna and kissed her deeply and said, "In the morning you'll appreciate that you remained true to your marriage vows."

She sighed.

"Perhaps so. Well just one more kiss and make it last."

In the morning after being at the internal chief attorney's office to sign his new contract and read and affirm other documents before signing, Andy went to his office where he'd been working. Miranda had moved back into her former desk and scowled at him. All his things were dumped in the aisle. Everyone else in that line had moved back to their former desks.

Stewart Green came out of his office and apologized.

"Congratulations Andy on your huge elevation. We have been notified by email."

"Thanks."

"I'm sorry your exit has come to this. I tried to stop it but found myself outnumbered."

Andy said loudly enough for even people at the rear of the room could hear. "You are paid to manage Stewart. Deal with it." 

Andy walked out without looking back and thinking jealousy was really a bad thing, making good people behave like that.

After stopping for coffee in the café, Andy went to the 33rd floor. It was open planning and he was ignored.

"Mrs White," he called to the manager in her office behind him. "Please come out here."

The middle aged woman came out and he said, "We haven't met. I'm Andy Ash and will be taking over this entire floor but that is some way off yet. Please introduce me to every member of staff in this room and then reorganize this space so that I'm left with approximately one-third of this general area along the outer windows. Chest high screens will be arriving later this morning to provide a temporary division. I can advise you I will require no further space for at least the next twelve weeks for my new department. I apologize for the short notice of this change, and that you all will be shifting to a new location in due course, but those decisions have been made for me."

Andy knew none of the auditing staff and so the introductions were cool but not noticeably unfriendly.

When that finished he thanked Mrs White and said she was an accountant, could she please work out the cost-sharing of space and apportion the appropriate share to his department and also issue a photocopying password for his department."

She said, "And phone usage for this floor to be apportioned equitably."

"That won't be necessary. I'll arrange to have the landline phones removed. All my people will be 21st Century people and communicate entirely electronically."

"And the name of your department?

Andy scratched his head and said you know Annie... um may I call you Annie?"

She smiled and said yes.

"You know I'm so green at this sort of thing and my elevation is so new I haven't a clue of what my department is called. My titled is executive director, external branding and so I assume it's the External Branding Department."

Annie smiled and said she'd find out for her own use and would advise him.

Miranda arrived while two cartons of his person effects on a trolley.

Mrs White's eyebrows rose when Andy kissed Miranda on the lips after she'd apologized for her reaction to his leaving the department on promotion when he'd only been there for such a short time and her behavior had led to an unwarranted display of ill-feeling.

"Jealousy can be such a bad thing," said Mrs White but received no other reaction than two brief glances.

"All staff wish me to represent them to ask that you to return to our section at 5:00 this evening for 30 minutes of drinks and an official farewell. Mr Lawn has approved this. Oh boy, did he bawl us out."

"Thank you Miranda, my fall of respect for my fellow workers in your section has been salvaged and thanks. I'll see you at 5:00."

Miranda pulled down Andy's head and kissed him again and left with her trolley.

"Andy that woman would be a go lay for you."

"Thank you Annie. Now let's go into your office and discuss your gripes with this change."

"Oh don't bother with that, get yourself settled in. So far everything is fine."

Ten minutes later Glen entered and Annie said, "Oh good morning Miss Fryer. I do believe this is the first time you've entered this department."

"Yes. I'm here to see Mr Ash."

"He's over there on his phone. Oh he's free now."

"Oh hi Glen welcome to my department whatever it's called."

Employees hearing that laughed.

"It's either the Department of External Branding or the External Branding Department. That's one of the things I need to discuss with you, plus your car and to tell you no way will I..."

"Hush Glen, let's sit over in this far corner and chat quietly."

"No way."

"So you are forcing me to make you sit?"

Glen lost her nerve.

"Very well I'll do what you ask."

"There are two chairs in the corner. You choose where to sit."

She chose the one with her back to the windows. They talked so quietly so no one could hear.

She asked which name he preferred.

"External Branding Department has a less officious tone to it, would you degree?"

"You surely mean agree. Yes," she said making a note.

"We have immediate access to an E-Class Mercedes that has done 4000 miles or you may order a new vehicle with delivery in two to fifteen weeks depending on accessories and upgrade packs."

"I'm not really into goodies. What colors are available with delivery within two weeks?"'

She consulted her notes and said, "God I can't believe they are giving you a Mercedes". Here we go, Sand Beige, Mars Red, Diamond White Metallic, Capri Blue Metallic."

"What is the color of the pre-owned model?

She flipped a couple of pages and said, "Black with black interior."

"That's it. I'll have that one."

"Oh dear, it has extra goodies, a sunroof and rear view camera."'

"I can live with that. Now let's talk about this challenge facing you of becoming my operations manager. Pull your chair closer."

She made no move.

"Please."

She moved three inches closer.

"Please move to within a foot of me. What I am to say is confidential."

She moved even closer than that.

"Okay I realize your present position gives you prestige, being on the highest rung of the PA ladder. You could come across at no loss of salary and plus your own PA."

"Why are you so determined to get me?"

"You will be a beautiful companion to have beside me when we travel and I believe you'll be great in bed."

She appeared to miss that last comment.

"Travel?"

"Yes don't you travel with Carlos?"

"Never, his wife always accompanies him and she used to be a PA."

"Do you like travel?"

"Yes not that I've done much."

"How does Rome sound?"

"Omigod."

"Am I beginning to seduce you?"

"I heard what you said about bed but with you, no way."

"Are you planning to marry soon?"

Glen said that was none of his business.

"I suggest you do answer."

"I do plan to marry by my mid-thirties. I'm twenty-seven."

"Well I have no plan to marry. You could run with whoever you like here and commit to being my sex partner when we travel."

"I can't understand you are being so strange about this. One would think you either want me or don't want me as a sex partner."

"Well here's how it is. I intend to wait for a woman who is to marry shortly. A rather large number of marriages end in divorce and if she is involved in divorce I hope to be next cab on the rank. So this is all about strategy. I don't have sex with you on American and that leaves you free to find lovers and possible become engaged to one. While overseas you pose as my fiancé and that will lead to me gaining closer family contacts in more relaxing situations than offices..."

"...to allow you to project our corporate branding more intimately involving longer exposure."

"Yeah you've got that right darling."

"Don't call me darling. God I can see why our chairman and CEO are bolting on to you. You think outside the square and are devious to boot. I had no intention of talking to you about my career and here I am talking about your proposal to change my career direction."

"Oh and where was your next step from being our top-ranked PA?"

"I have qualifications to secure a high position in public relations."

"Exactly and what am I offering you?"

Dropping to a small voice Glen said, "Something that sounds like 60% minimum in PR and the remainder advanced development of business relationships."

"Yes and the sex content might only be 0.002%."

She went "Ohhhh" as if complaining and laughed.

The tone of that laugh and her more relaxed manner suggested to Andy she'd decided to come over to him but would want to see the color of money.



To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 06



Glen Fryer, or Glenys as she now called herself in gaining elevation within the corporation, transferred to the new External Branding Department being formed from scratch. Andy Ash, executive director of external branding, arranged for Glenys to be sign on as operations manager with her pay rate to be no less than her existing salary and for her to advance a year in seniority in grading on the staffing list.

Andy left it to HR to allocate Glenys' job benefits, noting that she would be involved in overseas travel and he was delighted to find her salary lifted considerably when placed in line with other operations managers within the corporation's US structure. 

The audit department had been completely relocated, floor 33 had been renovated and two receptionists appointed. Glenys had appointed PAs for herself and Andy and the quality furniture and fittings were elegantly high-class in keeping with the image Andy want for the department that would deal with VIPs.

Andy and Glenys had worked long hours with internal support completing a strategic plan and an operations plan, both of which had been approved by the CEO.

To brand itself, the department's mission was simply, 'Our Department's goal is to make American Silver Foods Corporation better known internationally.'

CEO Carlos Rizzo had joked Andy should erect a sign promoting its mission. A few days later Carlos was astonished to find that brief mission statement had been carved into the white speckled marble floor of the lobby of floor 33 and the sunken lettering painted in black.

"What do you think?" Glenys asked, coming out to greet Carlos and finding him reading the inscription.

"Initially I thought it was a bit over the top but now I say, "Very cool."

He asked Glenys how was she getting along with her new boss.

"It's very challenging."

Carlos laughed and taking her arm suggested Glenys should never take Andy on head-on.

"Oh we have never fought. He challenges me by pushing me farther than I ever expected and I'm being surprised myself at my performance. He supports me 110% and now has me telling everyone that everything we do needs to be perfect or at least near perfect. We have a staff of eight with eight more due to start throughout next month and that should be about it."

"Oh excellent. And you two are off next week to Rome?"

"Yes with our chairman to find ways to assist him to win election to the executive of the organization he has target and see advances to this corporation to gaining that exposure. His delivery of the investigating committee's report could achieve an election advantage for him."

"Yes Glenys. Look, may I ask is there anything going between you and Andy?"

"No but this is for your ears only. We have a pact, not on homeland soil."

"Well that's great. When in Rome... is what that say. Well good luck and lots of success. Now this is for your ears only. I was bawling Andy out for taking you with him to Rome when he pulled out the operations plan and showed me where that intention was recorded, or should I say almost hidden, and of course I knew I'd signed off that document. Then he looked me in the eye and said where he goes, you go, that the entire thrust of the department's planning was framed on that tandem perspective. He then had the damn cheek to ask did I want to abort the operation and fire him."

"Omigod."

"It's fine. Neither of us raised our voices. For a young guy he's a cool and mature operator."

They went into Andy's office that was almost as large as Carlos's, with emphasis on almost.

"Hi boss."

Carlos frowned.

"Who will run the show while you two away?"

"Our hostess in training is a former office manager for a large firm and is perfectly capable of running the department while we are engaged in branding work in other countries. Don't you recall my report to you discussing the necessity to appoint a person with such skills so that the office runs effectively in our absence?"

"Ah yes, now that you've refreshed my memory," Carlos said smoothly. "Yes and I did agree that flag-bearing, as you put it, is essentially what branding is all about." 

* * *

The day before Andy and Glenys left for Italy to support the corporation's chairman, they were invited to Joseph Shield's club for lunch to meet his wife who would travel with them and to discuss travel procedures.

The chairman and his wife would travel first-class and the other two in business class on the 9½ hour flight direct with Delta Airlines.

It turned out that although Inés had been born in France, she immigrated to America when she was twenty-two and married Joseph three years later. She revealed she was an American citizen and regarded herself American and had retained a bit of a French accent to assist her family to understand her when they conversed in English. Inés was elegant and charming and said she could also make herself understood in German and Italian. Andy told her she would be an asset to the team and that pleased her.

Inés said, "You two, um this is delicate..."

"No not yet," Glenys said and the two women chuckled while the men looked at the ceiling.

Joseph said he was quite good with French, was quite fluent in Italian and could also make himself understood in German.

"What about you two?

Glenys said French and some Italian and Andy surprised Glenys by saying he was quite fluent in Spanish.

"Well that has us rather well covered on the international circuit," Joseph said. Looking at Andy he said, "I suppose you picked up Mexican Spanish from friends at school and farmhands on your parents' ranch?"

"Yes and particularly from one of our ranch hands who spoke a more formal version of Spanish."

"Good because you will find the people we rub shoulders with speak Spanish more formerly."

Joseph and Inés were in their mid-fifties and Glenys had said to Andy it would be like travelling with one's parents. Therefore he was pleased during their first meeting to see the two women already bonding rather well, so perhaps Inés thought for them it would be like travelling with one's children. He didn't reveal that conclusion to anyone, thinking it would be diplomatic to ignore age gaps and most other gaps. He intended to work with a business development focus even in social situations.

On the way back to the office in the Mercedes, Glenys asked, "Well what do you think?"

"I've had a little bit to do with Joseph so knew he was okay. I found Inés surprisingly good and appeared keen to be friendly. I feel she certainly won't be an impediment to us. I guess I was expecting a haughty Frenchwoman who would turn off people we were targeting if she was with us. Our first job is to help our chairman to make significant impact."

Glenys said, "I noticed you made no mention of what we have planned or have ready to tie up?"

"Correct because I believe the best strategy is to let him have a half day on Italian soil before we wind him up. The one exception will be when he comes through to talk to us on the aircraft. I'll then tell him about dinner plans and our analysis of the organization's executive members. He should have a chance of winning selection to that committee because he has good drive and ideas and partly because he's observed that executive will be aware there has been little American involvement in its activities for years although there are several Americans on the executive's advisory team."

"Well let's make him into a winner."

Andy said carefully, "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight in my apartment?"

"Yes but you said we wouldn't have sex on American soil."

He smiled. "That was just bullshit. You were against coming to work in my department and I figured if I pushed sex to the side and linked your duties to the travel, you'd think about sex and travel and abandoned your resistance."

"Oh your idea of inspired strategic thinking was it?"

"It appeared to work effectively."

Glenys sighed and said he didn't like to lose, did he?

"And you don't like giving in."

She smiled and said, "Yes I'll come to your apartment and yes Andy, I will have sex with you tonight. I have been inclined toward having sex with you for some weeks."

"I'm aware of that. I can read signs. Women think men don't notice casual gestures such as the subtle brushing, crossing and uncrossing of legs and the silent stares as their languor of frustration makes them emit increased body heat."

Glenys giggled. "Their languor of frustration... are you a literary genius?"

"Unfortunately no; those words just jumped from my mouth."

Glenys entered the apartment and looked around with interest because she'd not been in it before. It was tidy and minimally but tastefully furnished with some quality prints of modern pastoral scenes on the walls.

She looked at the long narrow mirror just inside the room as Andy closed the door and said, "Should we mess around now?"

"I was thinking of that. Then we can have a drink while I cook mustard chicken breasts and serve them on rice."

"Yummy."

He grinned and said he thought yummy whenever he took more than a passing gaze at her body.

"Well men do that, even quite old guys."

He countered: "I've seen women look at other women surreptitiously and sometimes the look is more lusty than envious."

"Yes I've seen it too and it appears to have become more noticeably over the years."

Andy came up behind her and cupped her breasts and she pushed back into him.

"Omigod you are hard already."

"Marco tends to be eager to cut loose."

Glenys said, "You have a name for your penis... why Marco."

"After Marco Polo."

"But why Marco Polo?"

"Because my cock is an explorer too."

Glenys giggled and really liked that, probably because it helped her to relax.

Andy popped out a tit.

She was startled. "How on earth did you do that?"

"Years of practice. You are young with firm breasts and you have a low neckline. It was just a matter of inserting my hand in at the right angle to slide under your bra to the base of that breast and just scoop it out."

"Years of practice and doing it almost every night I think. I admit I felt your hand and suspected you would just tweak the nipple."

Andy tweaked the one that he'd scooped out and said her nipples were up as hard as his cock.

"Andy", she cautioned. "I'm excited enough already without you winding me up. Please get on with it."

He took her to the couch and she climbed up and leaned over the arm and hitched up her skirt and spread her knees with coordinated ease.

He grinned, thinking it was obvious she'd been banged on a sofa before, possibly many times. She'd thoughtfully pulled up her top and hitched her bra up over the breast still in it and pushed the breast Andy had earlier down under and clear of the bra so that they now both hung down swinging, ready for him to reach out and squeeze.

She lifted each leg to assist in the removal of her panties.

Andy licked his lips and thought she was oh so cooperative, licked his lips again and stuck his face between her legs and sucked the hanging down protruding inner lips of her pussy. That was greeted with groans and he worked a hand through below his cheek to touch her anus to assess reaction.

She gave a long groan.

Oh boy.

He pulled his head back a bit and chewed her butt. Glenys jerked and groaned as if she were fucking and he licked over her ass cheeks, pulled them apart and spat over the anus. He worked his tongue in a bit and she groaned, "Oh fuck Andy, make up your mind. I'm on fire and need your hot cock inside me."

Andy thought if she needed it quickly he should take the fastest route. He steered his erection into her pussy and they were up and away fucking hard fifteen seconds later and sweated and puffed into a robust session.

As they rested she said, "Tell me about yourself Andy and I mean your real self... not what I just see and hear."

And so he talked about his life and his thoughts, not holding back when Glenys urged him to speak about family relationships. 

She asked him had he ever touched his mother and he sighed. Go on she urged. Tell me all.

Andy couldn't understand his mood because he was allowing her to dominate, ceding control to her. This was so unlike him but then again his other lovers had never bothered to be this intimate with him, Linda being the worse as if everything was mechanical with her and she had nothing to share. Yeah well that was it, shallow Linda.

Before telling Glenys about what he and his mom had done in bed that night, he excused himself and returned with two glasses of wine.

He told her, everything he could remember that she might be interested in.

"Should I be ashamed?" he asked.

She giggled and said she was not the right person to ask because she'd had sex with her mom a couple of times.

"Only a couple of times?"

Glenys turned pink and smiled and him over the lip of her wine glass and said probably twenty times would be more accurate. It had been during the summer when she was waiting to go to college. Her sister was away and her father would be home late some evenings, playing twilight golf. 

"It just happened," she said. "We were in the pool and one of her boobs slipped out. I still think it was an accident. I said I'd put it back for her and, um, I kissed the nipple and then she said softly for me to suck it."

"That doesn't sound like an accident. I mean why couldn't she push it back into her swimsuit?"

"I-I don't know the answer and I'll never ask. I was just glad it happened because it launched us into a great mother-daughter summer. Should I be ashamed?"

"Hell no."

"And I don't think you should be either. Look I allowed you to touch my anus because I've never allowed it to happen and now I think I shouldn't wait any longer. Can we work into it in Italy?"

"Yes and a great thought. We have something to really look forward to."

"Is it that good?"

He smiled and said there was no answer because it appeared people came to different conclusions about it.

Glenys said then she had to find out for herself and was told yes. She then cuddled him and went to sleep and when she was properly asleep, Andy eased out of her embrace without awakening her and grabbed a bagel before showering and dressing and then cooking their meal. He was most impressed with Glenys as a sex partner and thought it would be great if she settled into becoming his lover. He was due for one and probably she was too. 

Linda called to wish him well with his mission in Italy.

"I can see we are drifting apart."

"Yeah it appears so," he said, seizing the opportunity to turn a screw, "but it's mostly circumstantial I think. I had the pressure to get my department up and running from scratch and you had six weeks in our markets below the Equator with the director of product development showing the corporate flag to existing clients and looking for more opportunities. I've read the joint report and you two appeared to do very well."

"Thanks. Um you'll be travelling with Glenys?"

"Yeah and I wouldn't mind having a go if she's interested. Initially she was very cold toward me when I squeezed for her to join me to run the department and with this visit to Italy approaching I think her manner toward me has softened. I hope you won't mind if she does allow me to get a leg across."

"I'm not your keeper," Linda snapped and ended the call.

Andy sighed. Well it was cooling off between them. He'd benefited from her taking him under her wing when he'd first started with the corporation and been very supportive and offered valuable advice following his promotion and facing the difficulties of establishing a new department that dealt in little that was tangible and poorly understood by most within the corporation. But she'd got what she'd wanted from him. It would appear her husband either didn't fuck her or perhaps he required days or weeks to get over it when they did bang. He hoped she had the sense to find a replacement lover and severe her naughty liaison with him. He ought not initiate the end to the affair and make an enemy because Linda was probably in line to be Carlos's successor as CEO. 

* * *

When arriving in Rome, Andy and Glenys were focused on winning and as soon as they'd cleared customs and retrieved their luggage they were at the train station and reached the hotel in reasonably quick time. They were a bit miffed that Joseph had not come through to say hi to them when on the airplane.

"Joe will be coming in a limo and we probably got here before them," Andy gloated.

Glenys giggled and said to Andy there was no need to try to win every little thing. He ought not to be petty. He ignored that and asked the receptionist to change the two single rooms.

The woman spoke excellent English, well she was from Scotland she revealed, and asked if they would accept a complimentary upgrade. The always-a-winner grinned and said thanks and said his boss would be on a premium floor and they would not wish to be on the same floor.

"His name please sir?"

The reception checked and said, "No Mr Joseph Shields and his wife will be two floors above you. They are not here yet, probably caught up in traffic near-gridlock somewhere."

Andy beamed and his look made Glenys giggle.

In their elegant although rather cluttered room they unpacked and swung into action. They checked the silver tin containers that had been closely inspected at customs despite being clearly marked identified as 'International Conference Gifts' and were relieved the 10 miniature tins correctly labeled to represent a can of Silver Corporation branded cherries had their contents all intact – a complimentary pair of can-imitation silver earrings that surprisingly looked more like a jewelers' crafted original than a can of peas and cufflinks with a silver can-like emblem at the center-piece.

With everything checked off, Glenys took the gifts with the list of the names of the nine executive members of the International Food Processors' Organization and its executive director to the hotel service bureau and asked the supervisor to have the gifts delivered to the rooms of each person on the list.

"We shall have no problem with this Miss Fryer," said the woman speaking with a French accent. "We do this all the time being a hotel that specializes in conferences. I shall request feedback on all deliveries and sent a copy of my summary to your suite." 

"What now?" Glenys asked, returning to the suite.

"Relax and go shopping. I have just called Joseph. I'm to go to his suite in fifteen minutes and rehearse him in his delivery of the summary of the investigating committee's comprehensive report. He insists on calling it a steering committee and I've given up on attempting to change him on that. He also said that he's confirmed there are five candidates standing for the two vacancies on the executive and I confirmed the set up for Joseph's dinner tonight; it's a great room and it's the menu choices he wanted."

The 'seasoned' traveler who'd been to Canada twice and Mexico twice, said to Glenys who'd never traveled outside of the US, "Take care to avoid getting lost and find somewhere great to have lunch. I'll be back here waiting for you by 1:00."

"Oh god I'll get lost for sure and where are the stores anyway?"

Andy laughed and said he never thought he'd ever hear a female say she couldn't find stores. The house phone went and he answered and said, "Yes she is almost ready to go out exploring. She's so excited about the prospect of having a memorable shopping experience. Oh that's great, she'll like that."

He grinned and said, "That was Inés. She worked for a French company here in Rome for three years before she married and knows central Rome very well, saying little ever changes in Rome. She'll meet you in the lobby in five minutes and advises you to wear no heels or very how heels."




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 06



"Oh darling, you are so wonderful," Glenys said, rushing in to kiss him. "I was so nervous about venturing out alone in this noisy and dirty city but from what I've read it bursts with color and atmosphere and charm. I now feel I can look for its qualities."

"Get your ass to the lobby," he laughed, smacking that piece of anatomy and she squealed and went over to change her shoes.

Joseph welcomed Andy into the larger and even more ornate suite.

"I've just read your report about tonight's dinner and must say the estimated cost is astronomical."

Andy said slyly, "And I have been informed that acceptance of delegates is seven out of nine. I wonder why that is Joseph?"

He said grumpily he had no idea.

"I got Glenys to include details of the dining room a copy of tonight's menu. This is your investment in your future to be influential on the international stage."

Joseph smiled and conceded that was indeed a high acceptance rate and said they were seven of the nine people who'd elect the two new executive members.

"You are very bright Andy. I'll kick your ass if I'm not elected and will win a medal on you if I'm elected. And yes, this is my investment in my future. Now let's rehearse my speech so that I shine as a presenter."

Andy checked his watch.

"Let's wait for..."

He turned and answered a knock on the door.

"Hi come in Maria. This is the big boss Mr Shields."

"Hi Maria."

She performed a slight curtsy and said good morning sir.

"Joseph, Maria is the hotels chief interpreter and speaks eleven languages. She is here to coach you on your opening, when you'll say, "Good afternoon my colleagues in the international supply and distribution of food. It is my honor to address you."

"That is already how my speech starts."

"Yes of course, but Maria is here to coach you to deliver that opening in this order, in Italian, French, Spanish, German and Japanese and then you repeat in English.

"Japanese?" said Joseph shakily.

"Mr Shields, think of it as a breeze. You will have an ear-plug and you'll hear me from the translation box say that phrase and say, now repeat after me. We will do that for your greeting in Italian, French, Spanish and German. Get it?"

Joseph wiped his brow and muttered yes.

Later Glenys into her and Andy's suite highly excited.

"Oh we had such a lovely time, both of us had older men approach us and I had my ass pinched. Inés is not at all stuffy, and treated me as if she was a mother introducing her daughter to high society. She said when she worked here she had so much sex she could barely walk at times. She'd such a character. Oh I was buying lingerie for you and she insisted on paying. Look."

Andy said sarcastically when seeing the bra and panties, he didn't wear bras and had no hope of getting in those skimpy underpants.

"Oh I mean for me to wear for your pleasure," she giggled. "I want to look good for you. Let's go for lunch. Inés showed me this hideaway café favored by lovers, mostly adulterers."

"Sounds nice," Andy said, thinking why eat McDonald's when in Italy?

During lunch Glenys startled Andy by feeling his cock.

He looked startled but she said not to worry, many of the women were doing it.

Andy was too shocked to look.

Andy escorted Joseph to the Grand Hall were 400 delegates of the International Food Processors' Organization were about to resume to hear the final presentation for that day.

"You look great Joseph," Andy said, checking him out.

"Thanks I feel fine," he said, inserting his single tiny earphone.

Using his lapel microphone Joseph said, "Yes I can hear you Maria even in this ante-room. Could we run though the greeting in Japanese twice for my last practice? Thanks."

The presentation of the report went very well. 

The greetings in the various languages where receive stoically and then before beginning the final greeting in English, pretended to wipe his brow and said, "Gee I can relax now."

That was greeted with laughter and applause.

The organization's president thanked Joseph expansively for presenting the highly technical report on redirecting over-run production from plants in affluent counties for redistribution in needy countries through existing aid channels.

"That was an outstanding report from you on behalf of the team of which you were convener Joseph. Good luck at standing with your bid for election to the executive tomorrow."

When the session was closed, many delegates began wandering off to one of the hotel's various bars.

Andy stood by while Joseph dealt with delegates who'd come forward to congratulate him.

When that ended, Andy said to Joseph, "Here I'll take your attaché case. Come with me. I've learned which of the bars most of the executive members favor. You delivery was great."

"Thanks buddy. I'm on a high. The president wishing me well at tomorrow's election was unexpected."

"It could be in your favor, or a kiss of death. Who knows? I regard it as positive because I've found because of his Irish wit, the president is very popular. But get in here and try to individually charm some executive members. Oh good, the president is here. Start with him. Well everything is set for your dinner at 8:30. I'm off to go out to dinner with Glenys and we'll fly out to London at 10:00 and so will be there by the time the executive vote is held. All the best Joseph and you should easily win election providing your hosting goes well this evening as I'm sure it will."

"Thanks young man. You're a fine operator and have done much to assist me. Enjoy your few days in London and Paris." 

* * *

Andy and Glenys in Chicago mid-morning after being seven days away and they went straight to the office.

As soon as one of the receptionists saw them she said they were required immediately on the executive floor and were to wait until Mr Rizzo was free to see them.

"Why?"

"I have no idea," said the receptionist.

They went to the executive floor where they found Carlos was free and the receptionist showed them in.

He looked pale and worried and didn't smile or even greet them.

"Bad news I'm afraid," he said. "There's been a palace revolution. In Joseph's absence the board has suspended him as chairman pending an investigation at his bank where he' head of new loans. There are allegations he has been accepting bribes to favor certain applicants over others. The deputy chairman of our board and I have already found one instance where Joseph organized a $1.3 million shipment of five lines of tinned vegetables to new client from one of our suppliers. That new client supplies food to a network of hospitals in South America and its American agent told us he paid Joseph $150,000 to facilitate the deal and insists it was not a bribe, simply the way to 'grease wheels' to get the supplies shipped expeditiously."

"I can't believe this," Andy said. "Joseph is a good guy."

"Yes and I thought so too," Carlos sighed. "But these days in business who are the good guys? Anyway that's all we've found so far and have advised the bank because this might be relevant to its investigation to find if Joseph is guilty of corruption or anything else. I must stress this is all supposition at this stage but the signs are not looking good for Joseph who has just been elected to the executive of the International Food Processors' Organization. He and his wife were supposed to have arrived back two days ago but it was a no show and we found they never boarded the aircraft in Rome. We have failed to make contact with them. Do you know where they are?"

"No and he made no mention of not flying back here on schedule," Andy said.

Glenys, who appeared as shocked as Andy was, said, "I guess this could be relevant but Joseph's wife Inés said when I was shopping with her they'd sold their house recently for a great profit and she was so sad that Joseph had recently sold his very valuable classic Mercedes."

"Oh boy, oh I don't like the sound of this," Carlos said. "I best get back to the bank's CEO."

"Look guys, this will come as a bombshell," Carlos said. "The acting chairman received the full support of the board to close down your department immediately, and I did that yesterday. The acting chairman described the expenditure in establishing the department as unwarranted, that branding exercise would have no effective advantage to the corporation and the expenditure on it to date was hugely extravagant. I received a huge rap over the knuckles."

"Jeepers," was all Andy could say while Glenys remained silent.

"Glenys I'm not satisfied with my replacement PA, you can have your old position back if you wish. I'm sorry it has come to this but there's no way that I can ignore directives from the board. Could you please leave us, wait outside."

She left.

"I'm sorry Andy but the acting-chairman ignored my protests and he says you have to go as you have embarked on a reckless spree of extravagance. Your car is to be returned immediately and I'm to negotiate your exit."

"Is this fair?"

"No Andy. My advice is to negotiate hard. Hire a consultant if you wish. I'm obliged to have our chief attorney and HR manager beside me when I talk severance with you. When would you like to start?"

"Ten in the morning. I'd like to have Linda Hoffman act as my consultant, but only if she wishes to do that and it will not harm her status in this company. Linda helped me assimilated into this corporation's culture when I started work here."

"No it won't harm Linda to work with you. Get her to call me if you wish and I'll give her that assurance and yes we can meet at 10:00 tomorrow. Leave the car here as normal in the morning and give me the keys. I'm really sorry about this but if the board wants you gone, that's it and the deputy chairman claims he has the majority of the board behind him. I'd like you to know I had you ear-marked for bigger things. You could fight this legally of course but that would simply take the lid off this affair and in the end you would still lose. You might have to go beyond Chicago to gain another position."

"Yeah and news will get out I've been fired and no other corporation will want to touch me."

"I agree and that's life. Sorry."

They shook hands and when Andy came from the office Glenys, white-faced, rushed up to him.

"What now?" she said almost in tears.

"I'm gone, but not fired. I have been invited to negotiate my severance."

Glenys' face hardened.

"Well that's it. I can't have anything more to do with you because you're a loser. You would contaminate me. Anyway I was only with you because at that stage you were on the up and there were benefits for me."

Andy stared at her hard and shook his head. He walked away without saying a word.

The doors to the department on the 33nd floor were locked and a notice stating no entry was taped to one door.

Andy kicked between the doors powerfully with the sole of his shoe and the doors flew open with just a small amount of shattering of wood. He removed his personal effects and left the building... until next day.

Andy was angry but felt powerless. The wheels were in motion and even if successfully appealed to Bruce Allen the acting-chairman, his position in the corporation would never be the same. He felt done for and called Linda.

She was on the phone and called back.

"Hi, welcome home. I've heard rumor of disturbing news about our chairman."

"Yes and that's what I'm calling about. I'm being shown the door."

Linda was shocked by Andy's news and sounded very sympathetic after he'd told her everything.

"Yes I am prepared to support you. I'll go and see Carlos to ensure this would do no harm to my career and will call you back.

Next morning Linda walked into Carlos' meeting room alongside Andy and Andy faced Carlos and his two advisers and asked what the offer was.

"A year's salary plus your standing entitlements in full and that's it."

Andy said that was a reasonable starting point and asked about compensation.

"No compensation is being offered."

"Our disgraced chairman brought this about, not me," Andy said. "He pushed the proposal for an external branding department as proposed by me through the board, not me. I expect to be generously compensated for being the victim (Linda had advised him to argue that and use the word 'victim' with emphasis).

"Victim?" Carlos said, startled, and his two aids both made notes.

"Yes absolutely," Andy said. "I was given a task to perform and worked my guts on to launching the new department to the best of my ability and now this, being no longer wanted because of the misbehavior of the corporation's hand-picked chairman. God the media will have a field day if this gets out."

Carlos's aides whispered to him and he said, "My side needs to confer with me. Let's take a break a resume in thirty minutes. Agreed?"

"Yes that will be fine," Andy said. "I have laid the framework and now could benefit by chatting to my consultant."

Andy and Linda went out for coffee. 

She asked why had he given the impression she'd not already advised him. She'd told him to raise the issue of compensation and to emphasis he was the innocent victim caught in the fallout over suspected wrong-doings of the corporation's chairman.

"Yes of course you did, but they now believe the vindictive and grabbing bastard with big ideas of how to screw for more money is me, not you. That let you off the hook I suggest?"

"Omigod, you devious prick," Linda giggled.

"What now?"

Linda said, "You've run out of ammunition. I suggest you don't mention media interest again because they might not take kindly to that, although the thought already planted will not leave them. I suspect the drafted agreement already binds you to a totally confidential agreement in which you undertake to talk to no one about details of your settlement."

"So you see a settlement as likely?"

"God yes, they know better than to allow you to charge around like a wounded bull seeking revenge. What you must do now is to reinforce the arguments you have laid down and keep pushing for more money until we think they are with their backs against the wall and would know to go further the board would hammer them for paying out excessively."

Andy sighed. And how will we know when they are at the brink?"

"Carlos will appear overly casual and we'll smell fear from that end of the table."

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

At 11:50 Carlos and Andy shook hands. It was all over and after the signing of the amended severance agreement, Andy was handed a check for $644,000 (Linda had suggested he ask to be paid out of his three-year contract as well as compensation) and he took Linda to lunch.

They began with French champagne.

They toasted each other's good health and success in business and she removed a shoe and ran that foot up Andy's leg.

"Are you still interest in me?" he asked.

"Of course. All that high drama has made me feel sexy. What happens for you now?"

"I'm thinking of going home to the ranch for a bit to get my head clear of this."

"Do you wish to resume ranching?"

"Hell no."

"Then I suggest you stay in Chicago for at least two weeks. You just might receive a call because news of this will get around fast."

"Who'd want me?"

"Perhaps one of the recruiters who call Carlos to find out why you were let go."

"You mean pushed?"

"Let go, fired, pushed, invited to look elsewhere for a job. They all are words that basically mean the same thing."

Andy grinned and said that was one way of looking at it.

"Okay I'll wait two weeks before moving to pay out of my lease. Will you call around every night and stay some nights?"

Smiling, Linda said that's what she had in mind. "You know I like to fuck."

Andy said, "You know I think this fuss over Joseph will just die. He's been too smart for them, selling up, getting a position of prominence in Europe. It's suspected he has taken bribes but while 'incentive payments' and 'service payments' can technically be called bribes, if Joseph was brought back to face corruption charges he might provide too smart again and convince the judge on the day than in the way he performed an incentive payment was just that, a payment for him to get off his ass and make things happened and the results show that did happen."

"You could be right and the bank might find the people that Joseph brought to them for personal reward are damn good new clients and they may decide to abandon their pursuit of Joseph, providing they find none of their money is missing. You know if you are right and this happens, you really would be the victim."

Andy said, "In that case was I paid out adequately?"

Linda laughed. "Did you see those three pairs of very white knuckles at the far end of the table before you said you were happy with what was on the table?"

"Yeah and Carlos looked to be sweating. Either that or they were faking."

"Who knows and does it really matter? Get a job soon Andy and you'll have money to invest."

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 07



CHAPTER 7

Three days after his severance from Silver Foods Corporation, Andy received the second call from someone wishing to speak to him about a possible job offer. The first call had involved a position as operations manager for a food supply business that serviced a network of restaurants.

Andy said he could be interested subject to a salary and conditions.

When he said the offer was peanuts, the woman from a recruitment agency asked could he afford to say he wasn't interested in a salary of around $75,000 after being dumped from a premium company in the food supply chain? He switched off his phone without replying. What an unprofessional bitch.

The second call, four hours later, sounded far more interesting.

"Hi Mr Ash, it's Rebecca Marsh. I represent a company that is a competitor to the company you have just finished with and would like to talk to you generally about employment prospects. We have three vacancies, two existing and one coming available at the due of the month with the retirement of the incumbent because of ill health.

"Was the job toxic?"

"No of course not and... oh Mr Ash, I really hadn't expected humor from you."

"Why not?"

There was a pause, and she said, "I require this to be confidential."

"Very well, agreed."

"Our chairman was at a meeting last night and was chatting to the deputy-chairman of Silver Foods who during general chat told our chairman that you had a brilliant career severed by their chairman's inexplicable behavior. Your name wasn't mentioned but your title was stated. So when I was told about this I looked up Silver's web site, found the company executives list, got your name from there and went to your webpage and go your phone number from the page that hasn't been removed yet."

"Well done. You deserve to be talking to me."

"In that case would you be willing to meet me at 4:00 this afternoon as a bar to talk further?"

"Are you attractive?"

"Mr Ash!"

"I apologize. That reaction tells me you a sensitive."

"Yes indeed and that means sensitive to sexist comment."

"Well that's it Rebecca I guess. I have offended you and..."

Rebecca cut in. "The company comes before my personal feelings Mr Ash."

Andy was invited to nominate the bar and he chose one within walking distance of where he lived. He called Linda and she sounded pleased he'd received two calls already and said anyway she would not have called that evening because she had an appointment to get her hair colored.

"But you are a natural blonde. You should stay blonde."

"Perhaps I should have said highlighted. Blonde hair fades and loses luster."

"Gee and I obviously don't know everything."

"No you don't you conceited brat," she laughed.    

Andy entered the bar and looked for a female in a dark business suit with auburn hair.

She was pretty, a bit over-weight and aged about fifty.

"You are damn attractive," he smiled.

She frowned and said Mr Ash?"

"Yes and I'll have a dry white wine please."

She hesitated and then ordered.

"The company I work for is North-West Food Packers and Distributors Ltd. The company executive chairman is Wallace Marsh and I'm his wife and personal assistant."

"In that case why aren't I appearing before the manager of HR?"

"My husband hires senior executives after I submit my recommendations. Eight years ago when Mr Marsh married me I resigned as head of the company's HR department.

"Okay, here's my drink and thanks. Let's talk business provided the position you have in mind comes with a salary of $175,000 minimum."

"It does."

They talked for more than an hour, Rebecca making notes.

"Well that's enough background and fills in the gaps from your CV that I downloaded from Silver's website but I have three areas of concern. The first is your academic qualifications. They are scarcely impressive, not even when you complete your masters shortly."

He remained silent.

"Aren't you going to argue that?"

"No because I have to agree with you but I am more than adequately equipped to perform in my chosen area of communications and promotions for agricultural-based industry."

Rebecca said, "The second concern is your relative lack of coalface experience as an executive." 

Andy said, "The facts on that cannot be rebutted but I was promoted to create and head a new department based on my performance to date and because of their perception of my developing potential."

Rebecca said, "Well yes, I wouldn't expect senior management at Silver to be incompetent at selecting the right people for particular tasks."

"Your third concern?"

"Well please don't be offended. This is purely my gut feeling. On the phone I had this feeling you could be a compulsive womanizer."

"Well how could I be offended? You are engaged in assessing me for a senior position involving the ability to perform and to display leadership qualities and to be a person of charm and upstanding in character, etcetera. You have every right to make such an enquiry as being relative to this situation. Look do you know Linda Hoffman, director of communications, over at Silver?"

"Yes I do. I've met her several times at industry conventions and social functions."

"Well I began at Silver in her department and she will be a good referee for you. You have my permission to question her about my moral behavior insofar as she has observed and heard about me. Little happens at Silver without Linda knowing about it. She also accepted my request to act as my adviser in exit negotiations when I left Silver last week."

"So you weren't fired?"

"No not in the sense of committing any wrongdoing. I was caught in a palace revolution concerning our chairman. The acting chairman Bruce Allen had been unable to get his mitts on the chairman who apparently failed to return from Italy where I'd been with him on business. The chairman had pushed to get my department established because he believes in branding and the acting chairman, with the chairman AWOL, and claiming he had the backing of the board ordered my fledging department be abandoned and ordered that I had to be let go. Under the terms of my severance agreement, I'm unable to be specific about the reasons for my severance. I was upset at being cast aside but happy with the payout that included hefty compensation. Perhaps Mrs Hoffman can tell you more."

"Well it would be useful to talk to her. The position on offer with our company is director of communications and product branding."

"Wow Rebecca, that's really up my alley. I notice your glass is also empty."

Rebecca laughed and ordered two more drinks.

Linda called Andy next morning to say Rebecca Marsh had just called.

"So you are lining up to join the enemy?"

"Yeah and that's a laugh if I get the job."

"What does your agreement say about working for any rival company within 200 miles or whatever?"

"It doesn't. I checked for that before I went off to talk to Rebecca to avoid wasting time. I thought that was a standard clause in severance agreements."

"So did I. God I was almost killing myself giving Rebecca an assurance you were of sound moral character."

"Well aren't I?" Andy said indignantly and he to wait until Linda stopped hee-hawing. 

"Oh you can be so funny," she said, and listened to Andy thank her for being so supportive.

"What kind of job are they talking about?"

"Director of communications and product marketing."

Suddenly Linda had lost her humor.

"Jesus that company is almost as big as we are and that's my position here and you are only a kid?"

"Now don't get bitchy. You did promise something good would come my way."

"Yes I did," she sighed. "I'll call in soon after 5:30 and will want to be told how good I've been to you. I waxed on to Rebecca about you no end and said they were fools here at Silver to have let you go."

"Wow and for that I'll try to get your off on multiple orgasms."

She cut the call giggling.

Two days later, Andy went to the company headquarters of North-West Food Packers. Wallace Marsh greeted him warmly and outlined how the company operated and its aims and objectives.

"We've done some intense enquires and are satisfied you really were the victim of a palace revolution. Carlos Rizzo told me someone had to be the fall guy because the acting chairman was out for blood. Now this is very confidential. Carlos filled me in completely. From the comments Carlos made, I think old Joseph will get away with this. He's been smart enough to more or less out-fox them, to ride on the criminal edge but not wallowing in it. One has to ask, with all the expense to get him back here and to take him to trial, would it be worth it, particularly when there was a chance a judge could rule that old Joseph had been naughty but his actions just failed to reach the test of criminal actions?"

"Well I did like him because he was quite a character and in my opinion had excellent business vision. But now he's had me kicked in the guts."

"Would you shoot him for what he's done to you?"

"No I guess not. It was the acting-chairman flexing his muscles who was really to blame for me being let go."

Wallace grinned. "I'm glad you said that. Joseph and I were good friends. Right let's talk salary and conditions. Rebecca and I agree we want you on our team." 

* * *

Andy left the Gillette Campbell County Airport after flying in via Denver and, renting a Dodge Charger, heading for the ranch. At Rebecca's suggestion he was taking a 10-day break before starting his new job two days before the guy retiring finished up, so he could brief Andy about what they did and where they were at with uncompleted assignments.

As the miles peeled off Andy grinned thinking about the previous night. Linda had arrived, having phoned earlier saying she could stay the night.

She used her own key and as she entered he uncorked at bottle of champagne and said, "Celebration."

"Omigod you have been hired," she said, and kicking off her shoes, ran to him.

They kissed and she grabbed her butt and pulled her in hard against him and she began grinding.

"No let's have some drinks and go out to dinner," he said. "I've booked in at a new restaurant called Celebration for Lovers."

"Oh is that what you think of me?" she smiled.

"Well just for tonight. Remember you are married."

"Yes and will you come to my forty-seventh birthday party in three weeks? Some of my very close girlfriends want to see what you are like."

"Is that wise, um your husband...?"

"He can't be there as he'll be in Canada and I'll require a partner at the table. You will be introduced as my contemporary working at our rival company."

"Yeah I'd love to come. So you'll be forty-seven."

"Oh did I say that?"

"Yes."

"How old did you think I was?"

Andy had to think fast, older or younger?

"Forty-five."

She laughed and said he was a flatterer.

Andy went behind the breakfast bar and returned with the shopping bag.

"Oooh, what's this?"

"A present for standing by me and I believe playing a significant part in my getting my new job."

Linda slowly pulled out an elegant handbag.

"O-m-i-g-o-d. It's a Prada."

"What no good? I'll take it back."

"Oh no you won't, this will become one of my prized possessions. How could you buy this without consulting a woman, or did you consult a woman?"

"No I went into a handbag store and saw this one in a glass cabinet and an Asian salesperson came up and I asked for the price. She old me and I said anyone paying that for a handbag is mad and she laughed and said they had more expensive ones in the special viewing room. I then though well you might treasure this and that's the effect I wanted. I said, please wrap it."

"Oh Andy, you wonderful man. Feel it, look at the craftsmanship."

"Yeah pretty cool eh?"

"You fondle it and drool while I fetch some nibbles."

"You can nibble me if you wish."

Talking a second to stop reminiscing, Andy looked at the majestic mountains and patted his dick and remembered how they'd been awash in sex that night. God Linda was fit for her age. Little wonder her older husband was away so often; he would be out of her reach recuperating.                          

Andy stopped and phoned the Williams's, expecting he might get Bernie as he'd be in for dinner by now but hoping Amy would answer because she would recognize his voice and sound excited.

"Angelina speaking."

"Holy shit."

She giggled and said, "I think this caller must be Andy Ash."

"It is and howdy baby."

"Baby? Andy I'm a married woman."

"Not to me you're not. My problem is I can never get my hands on you."

"Andy please. Oh god why am I feeling like this?"

"Just tell your mom I called to say hi and I'm home for a few days. I'm about to drive in and surprise my family. Any chance of having your to myself while I'm home?"

"Yes," Angelina said, breathing heavily. "Clem is not here with me, he's working in Texas for a fortnight and suggested I take some of my vacation and head home. I know he doesn't like my father much and my mother bosses him. We could go out riding tomorrow. I've been here two days and have ridden every day. I love it."

"Why not pack a picnic?"

"Oh god that would make mom suspicious."

"About what?"

"Oh what am I saying? I have no idea."

"I'll be over at 10:00. Don't pick a too robust horse for me because I haven't ridden for quite some time."

"Yes sure. I-I'm surprised you still like me."

Andy decided to risk it, to kill the thing that had blighted their relationship."

"Your mom told me some time ago you knew at the time who shot dad."

Andy heard Angelina breath out heavily and then, "Yes mom told me last night that you now knew that. I cried and cried as if a great weight had lifted from me. Oh Andy I'm so terribly sorry I failed to tell you I knew. I let it drift until I believed it was too late to tell you and you might get mad and dob in mom."

"Well I can understand your reaction but I'm surprised you didn't at least think I might have considered your mother a heroine for doing something I didn't have the guts to do at that time."

"I messed up Andy and I'm so sorry."

"I forgave you the moment I got over the shock after your mom told me you knew. But you kept evading me and I wanted to tell you, face-to-face that I knew your priority thought was to protect your mother. Be happy about life now baby. All is well."

"All is well," repeated Angelina. "Don't be late tomorrow; I can't wait to see you again."

Andy felt hugely elated.

When two hundred yards from the homestead he sat on the horn as he flew up the rise and everyone came racing out of the house.

Pete recognized him first.

"It's Andy," he yelled, and was first to reach Andy's window as the vehicle stopped.

He said to big brother, "Hi pal."

"Hi Pete. You look taller."

"Hi mom, hi dad, gosh Susie are you becoming a beauty."

His mom leaned through the open window to kiss him and then Susie did the same, pulling down his head to kiss him on the forehead.

Andy got out of the car and his dad shook his hand and slapped Andy on the back affectionately.

They walked into the house, his mom leaving against Andy, their arms around each other's waist. Andy didn't know why, perhaps it was he and Angelina unburdening at last, but right now was the first time since he was about ten or twelve that he really thought of the Ash's as being family, HIS family. It was a great feeling.

Next morning it was his mom's turn on the school run and Andy said he'd do it for her. He let Pete drive it to the gate. The kids all loved being collected in the Charger and as the parents remembered who Andy was when the kids yelled out, he received big welcomes during the two trips to collect all of the kids. He loved it when at the school one of the girls walking off with Pete turned and looked back at the red car and said, "It must be real cool having a brother like that." Pete appeared to develop a swagger.

Back at the house Andy dropped a couple of condoms into his back pocket thinking well perhaps he could get lucky. His mom, as if reading his mind, said that Angelina was visiting without her husband and Andy must behave himself and remember Angelia was married.

"Do you think I'm interested in younger skirt like her mom?" Andy said, swatting her butt. "You know I like them carrying a bit of age."

"Oh god," she said, blushing hugely.

He liked it and she could see that and smiled.

Bernie was friendly and Amy was all over him whereas he just said "Hi" to Angelina and she replied hi and kissed his cheek and said it was good to meet up again.

Andy felt the great desire to grab her and ask her to invite him to have sex. It was an absurd thought but he couldn't help how his mind appeared to connect with his penis at times.

Amy insisted they have coffee before they left and fussed with the food already packed in the saddle bags and insisted they take a rug.

"Why do you need a rug?" asked Bernie. "You could sit on a log."

"Dad I'm a lady now, not a kid."

Andy glanced at Amy and was astonished at the look on her face as she stared at them. It was a look of absolute approval as if she were looking at a young just-married couple.

Jeepers.

As they rode off, Angelia said, "My mother greeted you as if she were greeting the home-coming of the brother I never had."

"Oh yeah?"

"Andy I want to know what you think?"

"Okay well I've had that similar feeling over the years and when I realized she was the person who shot dad. I had this huge thought she'd shot him to warn him off from every hitting her son again."

"Omigod I wonder if she knows?"

"Well I'll tell you this Angelina. The more I find out about people, the more complex people appear to become. I think it's very likely your mother doesn't know and the best thing to do is not to raise it with her."

"I think you're right."

"I'm sure I am. Remove your shirt and bra and let's canter."

"Why?"

"Oh so I'm not to receive a lecture."

"No."

"Because you have great tits and I wish to see them move as we canter."

"Then you remove your shirt as well."

"Okay."

When Angelina removed her bra, Andy sucked in his breath hard.

She heard that and giggled and watched him ogle.

Angelina said, "They are just breasts."

"I know but better than most women's."

Boosted at hearing that she said, "You may wish to know that for years I had this urge to show them to you."

"In that case why didn't you?"

"I was worried you might bawl me out for being a stupid cow."

"Well perhaps once I might have been hesitant in giving approval but not now. Let's canter and let them wobble freely.

They cantered through chewed down grass over the fertile terrain of an ancient river  bed that for centuries had since often flooded with silt during heavy rain storms. They rode abreast up a half-mile incline and then slowed to a walk over rougher terrain, both allowing their horses to pick their way.

"Let's go to Lone Pine Hill where we used to ride our ponies when we were kids."

"Okay."

They dismounted and after attending to their horses made no effort to put their shirts back on.

"What a glorious view," he said. "I'd forgotten how grand it is."

"I like coming back here," Angelina said. "It seems to restore my spirit."

"Nature does that," he said, not wishing to pry and possible spoil their oneness.

Andy spread the rug roll he'd tied behind his saddle and they flopped down on to it.

Angelina said with very little shyness, "You wish to penetrate me don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well I'm not sure. I have been faithful since my marriage."

Andy the opportunist said casually, "Why don't we fool around and see where that takes us?"

She lay on her back and stretched her arms beyond her head and Andy fell upon her and sucked a nipple and she sighed an opened her legs, obviously already ready to more than fool around but Andy was so busy attack both breasts that he missed her more than subtle invitation to proceed.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 07



"Andy," she said sharply. "Stop fooling around and stick it in me."

Well, where was romance? Andy didn't seem to have that on his mind either.

He jumped up, unbuckled and unzipped and almost had the first leg out of his jeans when he over balanced and fell towards Angelina. Fortunately she'd been watching and waiting, cupping her throbbing pussy with her jeans stopping her getting at it. She squealed and only just rolled clear and Andy hit the rug and yelled the F-word.

"Exactly, and that's why I want. Please quit clowning about."

"Sorry," he said, red-faced as he pulled off his jeans and underpants while stretched out safely on the ground.

"Omigod," Angelina said, eyeing the purple-headed monster. "Is his smaller brother available?"

Andy managed to laugh and attempted to pull off her jeans but she yelled for him to stop until she undid her belt and top button.

"Now don't you hurt me," she said concerned, having watched him roll on the condom.

Andy smiled but was wondering if this would be his worst fuck ever.

But Angelina saved the day.

She rolled on to her side and lifted up a leg for Andy to take her from behind. He saw the moist pussy had opened and it didn't look unduly small to his well-trained eye.

"Let me feed it in," Angelina said, taking him in hand. "I've had them just as big as you at college and coped okay. The trick is not to rush it. With me feeding it in, no rush is likely. And then you can bang away to your heart's content or until I get hungry, whichever comes soonest. Oh speaking of cum, climax into your condom and then I won't smell of male cum if mom decides to sniff around me."

When in as far as it would go, Andy built up stroking speed and she cooed and said it was lovely and perhaps when they met up again in a few years and her butt had widened, he might like to give her an anal adventure, or at least attempt it. She squeezed and Andy groaned and blew and she jerked into a series of shudders.

Andy didn't mind they'd only been at it for twenty minutes because he was now hungry.

And watched her pussy juices dripping and she knelt back on to him, legs slightly apart, and cut the cold pizza. He was certain she was positioned that way to allow him to see her dripping pussy. Oh boy, what a woman.

"How was that for a hearty fuck my darling boy," she cooed, passing him a plate containing two slices of pizza.

"Absolutely perfect," he said, well once they got to the insertion stage it was. He then lied that he'd always dreamed of fucking her from the age when his mom had explained to him why his penis had begun to behave oddly.

"What you meant erections and wet dreams?"

He nodded and she confided, "I had decided to let you have sex with me on that night of the high school graduation ball."

"Um might I now have that fuck I missed?"

"What before we've finished eating?"

"Yes."

"What a great idea," Angelina said. "Let me put our unfinished food back in the tin to protect it. I like this idea of being fucked in place of fucks that had never occurred.. 

"I can think of hundreds of reasons why we should fuck," Andy claimed rather rashly and Angelina giggled.

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 08



Andy Ash, having his first meal of the day on Sunday at 4:00 pm after attending a party the previous day that began at noon for lunch and wrapped up about 9:30 pm that night as far as he could remember, received a call from a babe called Mystique who now called herself Misty.

He had no idea who she was or what she wanted but assumed he was about to find out.

"A name like yours suggest a high-class model or... um..."

"A hooker?"

Andy realized he was in trouble. "Oh I could never say that."

"You didn't," she said icily. "You left it for me to finish your sentence."

He muttered sorry and was told not to worry, she'd had women even suggest that to her.

"I am not working as a model who takes bit parts on TV advertisements," she said. "I took time off for a break and have decided not to resume work for the time being."

"Oh that's nice. Why?"

"Why?" she said icily and added that was none of his business.

"My stepmother appears to have a wrong opinion of you. She told me you are charmingly urbane, good-looking and really know how to talk to women."

"Oh really? And who is step-mommy?"

"I call her Rebecca. You probably call her Mrs Marsh."

"Yes I work alongside a Rebecca Marsh. What is your father's name?"

"Wallace."

Gary was shocked into silence.

The babe demanded, "Why has that switched you off."

"I-I confused about this. Why would Rebecca refer you to me? She is very suspicious that I, um, that I exploit women."

"So you think this is a test?"

Andy swallowed and lied he hadn't thought of that.

"Ah I know. Rebecca told me you had come to work for them after being pushed out of your previous job. She would have interviewed you initially because she always interviews applicants for executive positions. You are scared that you might make a pass at me and I'd run and tell mommy."

"Um this supposition is becoming rather deep and loose. May I ask why are you calling?"

"I'm calling because I'd like a young male to come and have dinner at this apartment with me. I'm missing young male company. My husband is half-way through an eight-week specialized training course in surgery in Edinburgh, Scotland. I'd also like Jennifer to see you."

"Is Jennifer your maid?"

"God this is hard going. No Jennifer is my 5-month old daughter. I don't wish her to cry in fear through not being used to the sight of young men when her father comes home. Gary my husband would be devastated."

"But that would last only a few hours. I've heard babies are very adaptable and I know males are used to being rejected to females."

"Oh I hadn't thought of that. Anyway can you come over for dinner?"

"When?"

"As soon as you finish what you are doing."

Andy wondered if she thought he was masturbating. Perhaps not.

"What say in an hour's time?"

"That's fine, I'll try to keep Jennifer awake," Misty said, giving Andy the address.

Andy pushed the buzzer and heard Misty call, "Come in, I left the door unlocked because I need to sit and express milk."

Not really taking that in, Andy marched in and stopped, the flowers he was holding out were shaking.

"Er gee."

"Oh that's intelligent comment. Haven't you seen a woman expressing surplus milk before?"

"God no."

"Oh I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking but as least you get to see my boobs instead of wondering about them."

Well that was as good as an invitation. Andy took a good look at her tits and his mouth watered.

"Would you like to taste some milk?"

"Andy's mouth went dry and he gasped, "No thanks."

"I haven't set you up Andy to give me something to tell Rebecca about."

"That's fine."

"Stand over Jennifer by the window. I put her bassinette there so the light softens your face and you won't look so menacing to her.

The kid had its eyes shut and Andy went, "Goo, goo. Glug, glug and made a hissing sound.

"Oh you've had experience with infants?"

"No."

Andy looked back down and had a wondrous experience. The kid opened her eyes and Andy saw those were the most incredible blue eyes he'd ever seen."

"Her blue eyes are incredible, much better than yours."

"Oh thanks Andy. I thought when you were over here your eyes were glued to my boobs."

Standing with his back to Misty, Andy said, "You are not wearing lipstick, you have a dimple only on the left side our your mouth, you have had your teeth whitened professionally, your ear studs are blue, probably sapphires, your hair has a light colored streak through the middle and your tits are 34D, probably up from your natural 34B.

"Omigod," she said, sounding astounded. "Smile at Jennifer and leave her to go to sleep because she'd just been fed and winded. Sit beside me and try expressing milk. Rebecca said I may well be impressed by you and she wasn't wrong about that. Go wash your hands first."

Andy sat beside her and holding his hands clear said, "Kiss me."

She sighed and said well he was a fast worker. She kissed him sweetly.

He took the bottle and circled the nipple and squeezed.

"No that's not the right technique and don't be so hard. I'm not a cow."

She taught him the gentle coaxing technique and he marveled.

Misty then finished the job and said, 'Would you like to taste my milk?"

He nodded and reached for the bottle in her hand but she said, no from the nipple.

Andy sucked fearlessly, knowing it was only milk rather than something revolting and suddenly Misty was cooing, asking did he like it, and she was stroking the side of his face. Andy's cock leaped erect but he didn't mind. This was supposed how it was meant to be, er perhaps, woman using her wiles to get man used to having a baby enter their life.

Hmmm.

"Now don't be greedy," Misty laughed. "Lift up and kiss me."

Two minutes later, Misty put on her bra and top and started dinner while Andy was told to put the bassinet against the wall by the bed in the main bedroom and to be gentle because he'd be carrying precious Jennifer.

Andy performed that task fearlessly and arrived back in the kitchen to find a wine had been poured for him.

"Where's yours?"

"I haven't drunk alcohol since I conceived Jennifer and won't start again until I no longer feed her.

"Then have a wine. You fed her last a half hour ago."

Misty sighed.

Andy had just arrived in his office next morning when Rebecca came in looking for a fight, slamming the door shut.

"I trusted you referring you to Misty."

"Yeah and I performed well; I didn't drop Jennifer."

"I'm not talking about that Andy. You slept with her last night."

Andy laughed and said no way.

"You did. Misty told me you stayed the night."

"Yeah that's true but did she tell you I slept on the lounge sofa, alone."

"No."

"And did she tell you we did or didn't have sex?"

"No."

"Well we didn't."

"Oh god. Oh Andy, I am so sorry. Here let me kiss you."

She had Andy in a big hug when someone knocked, the door opened and Brigit, the young blonde computer graphics designer, came in and saw the couple embracing.

"Omigod, I apologize," she said red-faced and she darted out and closed the door softly.

"Omigod," Rebecca groaned.

Andy grinned and said, "See how easy it is to get the wrong impression."

"Don't rub it in," Rebecca groaned even louder. "What do we do?"

"We do nothing and reply on Brigit being mature enough not to spread her dirty thoughts around the office."

Rebecca left and went out and with relief saw Brigit was still the only one to have arrived in the general office.

"Did you wish to see me Brigit?"

"Coming," she said and closing the door said, "Do I get a kiss too."

Andy sighed and kissed her and told her to sit and went around his desk.

"Brigit, I wish to tell your something."

"I don't think Mrs Marsh is your type Andy and would not be one to spread around what I saw."

"Eh?"

"I don't think you two were about to have sex when I came into this office a few minutes ago."

Andy nodded and gave Brigit a condensed version of that had happened from the time he'd visited her stepdaughter the previous evening."

"That's a perfect logical explanation and I believe it."

"Thanks for being so level-headed and reasonable Brigit. Now what did you wish to discuss."

"Mom has given me two tickets to an ice show on Friday night. I wanted to know if you would come with me and then take me to dinner."

Andy thought of his recently imposed no fraternization policy and then thought of how Brigit had just let him and Rebecca off the hook.

Late on Saturday night, Andy was in Brigit's bed in an apartment she shared with two other females who were not home yet. He was filling her tight cunt with hot dick and though that activity was immensely more enjoyable than being in his own apartment and suffering because of his inflexible no fraternization policy.

"Wet your finger and work it up my butt Andy."

Oh yes, 100 times better than being alone and spanking the monkey. 

* * *

Andy called Misty and said he thought he should not visit her again because he had no wish to spike her relationship with her husband if neighbors began to talk, etcetera, and Rebecca had become snarky about his visit.

Misty sighed and said she agreed, she had her marriage to think about and he had his career to protect.

"It's a bit sad really," she said. "Sexually you were the best fit I've ever experienced and it was just that one night and now poof."

"I'm sorry."

She said she understood and said goodbye and cut the call.

He'd only dated Brigit the once and she didn't appear upset that he didn't follow up and ask for further dates, so that was fine.

Perhaps more concerning was there were now long gaps between Linda's visits. She appeared to be losing interest in him. Was he becoming less appealing to women? Now that could be a real worry. Perhaps that's why guys married, so they had a fallback position?

That same week he received two contacts from the past: A letter from Angelina to say they were moving to Texas and she would like him to remain in contact and a phone call from his college buddy Rick asking Andy to be best man at his wedding.

Of course Andy accepted because he considered Rick a real neat guy. Also Rick had said some of the guys and girls from college had been invited and so it could be a bit of a reunion.

And that's how it turned out. It was a great wedding, the bride appeared just right for Rick in Andy's opinion and Rick's mom tried to woo him to have sex with her but he escaped her clutches.

Andy claimed he was now reformed and half believed that statement.

He went early to be with Rick, spending two full days with him before the wedding day and they both agreed, drunk of course, they were the best pals ever.

Apart from Rick, the wedding was a cultural shock to Andy and left him feeling almost disoriented. Only one other former college pal wasn't married. Four guys he and Rick used to run with were married and three females he and Rick used to sleep with quite regularly where there with husbands and they all had at least one kid being looked after back home.

Rick returned to Chicago feeling his life was stagnating. Married guys appeared to have this idea that unmarried guys were having a ball and perhaps they did some of the time. But those married guys didn't realize as bachelors got older the girls they used to date thinned out dramatically because they married and were no longer accessible. Rick also had the sneaking feeling that despite the complaints of married guys about being tied down and told what they could eat and what they could do, they really did appear to be happy.

The former editor of the college newspaper Sally Jennings was at the wedding and Andy had been shocked to find that Rick had plowed her at least once every ten days for his last two years at college. Rick who'd plowed Sally a few times hadn't been aware his best mate had even known Sally.

Then Sally had asked Andy was he married?

He replied no.

Was he engaged? 

No.

Was he going with just the one woman regularly?

No.

Were the women he was dating single or married?

At that point he asked nosey Sally could they talk about something else.

"God you have the morals of an alley cat," she said, walking away from him.

Andy more or less slunk back to Chicago. Linda welcomed him back after calling in for sex two nights after his return and he didn't see her again for four weeks. 

Rebecca said she wasn't talking to him because he'd dumped Misty.

He confronted Rebecca, "For fuck sake, Misty is a married mother."

"So? Where is your chivalry? My stepdaughter was relying on your support in the absence of her husband. She is starved of communication with younger people."

Andy walked away knowing Rebecca was in one of those females moods that no matter how the guy represented his position, she would counter it viciously.

He soldiered on, not really enjoying life and losing his interest in sex and women and assholes who had nothing better to do than to try to put him down.

Six weeks after the wedding, Sally Jennings-Adams called saying she and her husband were about to visit Chicago for a few days and she would like to see him.

"But not for sex," she laughed easily. "My interest in being sexually rampant has gone. I would just like to continue contact, that's all. Perhaps we could go to a show and late dinner?"

He agreed and a day later called Sally back at the smallish Midwest city where her husband was junior partner in a firm of accountant and he recommended they go to a touring Chinese show based on dance incorporating amazing acrobatics. She agreed and Rick also said he'd meet them at the airport and take them to their hotel.

As it turned out he saw Sally and her husband six times during the 10-days they visited and they obviously had a really great time. Most of that time he was partnered by a young divorcee and she and Sally shopped several times together.

"Let's stay in touch," Sally said at the airport when she hugged and kissed him. "I always had a soft spot for you. That was mainly because for a college guy you were not only interested in sex but were reliable and committed to what you had to do. Plus I like your smile."

"Yeah I'll have to watch you two," Paul her husband laughed. "I'm glad you two have now leveled out to be ex-college friends."

Andy laughed thinking Sally must have told Paul that Andy was one of the guys who banged her regularly at college. Well it was obvious Paul wasn't offended and when the women went shopping, Andy and Paul had a couple of great sessions together bowling, chatting and laughing away very much like he and Rick used to carry on. That reminded Andy he rarely bonded with guys; he appeared driven toward females. Perhaps his father beating Andy when he was a kid/teenager had established that pattern?

He wondered if Sally had a mothering instinct to see him settled and she felt he should be doing a lot more with his life. At the wedding she shamelessly had revealed she'd been fucking his best friend Rick while also fucking him. When she'd called about her plans to visit Chicago he'd almost said spitefully, "Sally who?"

Instead he'd said listlessly, "Hi Sally"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes but I'm pining because I'm not married."

"Oh Rick is married and you are not; so it's wedding envy is it?"

"I suppose so."

Yes well she had gone on to discuss his feeling as if she were his mother.

* * *                                             

Andy buried himself in his work. He led a team on a two-year project to progressively rebrand the company's product labeling so when on the shelves of supermarkets and other stores, the products took on the 'family appearance' to consumers. It was a fundamental but the company had allowed its product range to grow like Topsy with no effort to coordinate labeling to attract consumer recognition.

Well the results, handled commercially with advertising support as 'product re-launchings' proved more successful in added sales than expected and he received a $10,000 and was told to arrange a 10-day vacation. He went to Mexico and returned refreshed and feeling his life was back on track. The resort where he stayed most of the time was packed with American businesswoman seeking renewal as well and, like Andy, many of them appeared to accept sex was a wonderful way to relax and he found himself in big demand.

"How was it?" Rebecca had asked when he returned to work.

"Oh great. The resort was over-run by females looking for sex. I banged myself stupid."

"Yes and it serves you right fouling up a great opportunity to enjoy rest and renewal."

She walked off muttering, leaving Andy wondering why she couldn't see how fit and rested he was, and oozing good health? It would appear Rebecca was one of those females who didn't find sex enjoyable/relaxing. Oh poor girl. Well sexually she'd never been attractive to him. In manner, he could picture her as the charge nurse in a theater where all the vasectomies were performed. 

* * *

As the end to Andy's three-year contract approached he began thinking of not negotiating contract renewal. It had been more than a year since he'd last seen Linda; they had just drifted apart. Perhaps she'd finally remembered she was married or perhaps she'd found a sex machine closer to her own age?

A couple of weeks later Sally called.

"Are you engaged yet to a motherly woman?"

"What are they?"

"Oh god," she giggled. "I'm phoning because my sister who works for a newspaper in a big city in California and is visiting us, mentioned last night the company is looking for a director of business partnerships. The newspaper sponsors community projects and wishes to grow that activity. Our uncle is the CEO. I thought you have had a bit of newspaper experience and lots of promotional and marketing experience."

"Thanks for the thought but I have a well-paid job here."

"The newspaper will pay up to 200k for the right person."

"Eh?"

"Oh I have your interest do I? The newspaper has a weekly circulation in excess of 230,000."

Andy boarded a flight to California late afternoon on Friday and was interviewed next morning.

He'd recently gained his mater's and it appeared he satisfied expectations academically and he had the impression he created keen interest when he explained in detail the work he'd been doing since leaving college and that he'd had worked as a reporter while at college.

One of the interviewers spoke to Andy in Spanish and he believed he'd replied reasonably fluently.

He was asked why he was seeking the position. He said a former girlfriend had told him about the position, saying she thought he would be a good fit. Her uncle was their CEO.

That raised interest and led to notes being made.

Andy was taken to lunch by the convener of the panel and the director of new business. William Jennings, the CEO, joined then fifteen minutes later.

"So you knew my niece quite well at state university?"

"Yes Sally was editor of the campus newspaper and recruited me. She left at the end of that year, I became chief reporter during my sophomore year and editor the year after that."

"Do you have press cuttings?"

"We published electronically but yes I have downloads of a range of my articles with me."

"May I take a look?"

Andy handed over the scrapbook and chatted with the other two guys while William studied the portfolio.

After lunch the director of new business took Andy on a tour of the plant. Andy liked what he saw and caught an early evening flight home that day. He believed he'd created a good impression but none of the executives appeared overly enthusiastic about him. Well they had other candidates to interview and would spend time checking up on him.

Four days later the convener of the panel, HR director Judy Donald called.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 08



"The position you interviewed for could be yours subject to final negotiations. Are you still interested?"

"Yes but I have two other irons in the fire," Andy lied.

They settled into negotiations but stalled when it came to basic salary.

Andy said 175K was too low.

"What were you expecting?"

"Over 200k. You guys want this scheme developed and that will take hard work and long hours. You have to pay for my type of expertise."

"We have other people short-listed."

"Well Judy, so be it. I remain interested but to get me for that three-year contract you have to convince me it's worth me coming out to California. Good money would do that."

Judy called three hours later.

"Would you sign on for a salary of 200k?"

"Well that's a big jump from your initially offer Judy and I expect that's near your top offer. Okay I'm required here in terms of my contract to give a month's notice. The contract has two months to run. Send me the contract with letter of offer and I'll take it to my attorney. I see from your website the guy I am replacing had no field staff, just a PA. Is that correct?"

"Yes and do you have a problem with that?"

"No because this type of narrow-focused promotional activity works best on a one-on-one basis."

"That what we think too. Your PA will be Mr Jennings' niece, Lola Jennings."

"Fine and perhaps we you receive my signed contract you'll put her in contact with me. That way I can start on Day One ready to go without much procedural stuff and briefings to hold me back from field work. What will my vehicle be?"

"You are involved in prestige work. Our fleet are generally Fords. I'll see what I can do."

"Good. I'll buy new lightweight suits. Thanks Judy."

When Andy had heard the name Lola his initiate and ridiculous thought was she sounded fuckable. Well as she was the boss's niece he should not exploit and plunder her. Anyway she could be the ugly sister and though of calling Sally as asking her to confirm that. But instead he called Sally and said he was waiting to receive the contract for the job.

"Oh great, that's wonderful. Paul and I will continue to see you because we visit Lola once a year. I believe you will be very comfortable with Lola as your PA."

Comfortable? Andy sniffed when the call ended. He would have preferred a PA who was as hot as the Californian sun. Hey where was his change of attitude about women? Andy grinned and thought his time at the resort in Mexico had refocused his interest in sex, lots of it. Well okay women were also good for their company, their conversations and ability to think but those things were simply the add-ons. Sex is what drove a guy through life, er especially in his younger years.

Two days after Andy couriered his signed contract back to the publishing company, he received a call.

"Good morning Mr Ash, I'm Miss Jennings calling from California."

"Oh hi Lola, call me Andy. Is it warm and sunny out there today?"

"Actually it's misty rain."

"Oh."

"Just joking Andy. Yes it's another day of blue sky and sunglasses are necessary. I'm surprised you knew who I was?"

"I know of no other Miss Jennings now that your sister is married and I had been expecting your call following HR receiving my signed contract."

"Oh I should have guessed. Sally told me you were a really switched on guy without a lazy bone in your body."

"And may I ask what else she told you."

"Oh just girl to girl things."

Andy believed that was the end of that.

"Lola I'm not married so have time on my hands. I wonder if you could send me a hard-copy of the company's induction manual, company annual reports for the past five years, the strategic and business plan of our department and..."

"Plans? We've never planned anything until signing heads of agreements."

Andy frowned. "Then how do you target projects and know when those groups were last approached, the history of projects and..."

"Your predecessor Mr Noble was old school. He relied on memory and cultivated relationships."

Andy sighed.

"Well don't blame me. I just answer the phone and do the word processing."

"Did you find that challenging?"

"Heavens no. It's rather boring."

"Would you like action?"

"You mean sex? Sally told me about you."

Andy laughed easily and said, "No your uncle might frown on that. I meant do you really wish to become immersed in our business unit and help make it tick and advance to meet goals and to grow as a business."

"Oh god."

"Um do you understand what I'm saying? You're not blonde are you?"

She giggled and said Sally he told her Andy was very upfront.

"Yes I am a natural blonde as is my mother and both grandmothers. I also possess a well-regarded bachelor's degree in business administration and a diploma in advanced business finance. Some might say I'm no dumb blonde."

"Lola I'm..."

"I enjoy the dumb blonde image and like many of the dumb blond jokes. I took your comment as it was meant to be taken and that was lightly. No apology is required."

"I appreciate you saying that. Do you date?"

"Is that something you should be asking me, your business underling?"

"It was another inoffensive comment. I wish to know about you. Well let me put it this way, are you ugly and unhappily married to a guy with a beard who sweats excessively?"

She giggled and said he should wait to find out naturally. I'll print out heaps of stuff from my computer including what our budget is and look forward to your arrival. Call me whenever you wish."

Andy arranged to see Rebecca and handed her his resignation.

"I've been expecting this," she said. "I've dealt with some enquiries about you so concluded you were serious about not renewing your contract. Wallace and I will be sorry to see you go because you have performed well for us and brilliantly well with the redesign of our product range and those inspired re-launching as part of the North-West family of products. But you are young and on the move up. My feeling is you are best-suited for entrepreneurial work."

God Rebecca was claiming to have feelings, Andy thought.

"It's funny you should say that. The company I've targeted had an opening in that kind of business and I've landed the position."

"Well congratulations and please accept you will be required to work out your notice. I must start looking for your replacement."

"Thanks for all you've done for me Rebecca. You alone saved me from drowning commercially."

"Well I thought you were worth it and that you would rebound given the chance. It didn't surprise me I was proven correct in that assessment."

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 09



When boarding a feeder flight at LA Airport, Andy Ash felt he was turning the page of a new chapter in his life. Thanks to Rebecca Marsh's instinct in hiring him when he was at an all-time low, the two of them had pushed his rebound and he believed he was heading for a job that was tailor-made for him. He wasn't an admin guy.

Entering the busy terminal, Andy looked for Lola. She said she would wear yellow.

He noted a fairly good-looking broad with sunglasses perched in her hair. She wore a yellow shirt but also wore white shorts. Oh gee, just look at those stunning legs. He could lick those all night.

He looked around for a babe in a business suit and then a voice behind him said, "Andy?"

"Lola?" he said, spinning around and gaped and looked at those legs.

She murmured, "Do I kiss you?"

Without bothering to reply, Andy kissed her.

"Wow," he said.

She said she was equally impressed.

"You are everything Sally described to me. I recognized you as you entered and saw you look at me as if looking at a hooker."

"I noticed your yellow top and then caught sight of your legs, that's all."

She smiled. "That's surprising; Sally said you were a tit-man."

Andy hid his embarrassment by digging into the inside pocket of his jacket to pull out his sunglasses and said he had over-weight luggage to collect.

"I sold most of my surplus stuff via the Internet including my skis."

"You should have kept your skis. Utah is fairly close to here and Colorado is the next state."

"I can always start again. I enjoy buying new gear."

It was simply, friendly and if somewhat stilted conversation and Andy thought well they were just getting to know one another and she probably felt the man-woman sexual thing clicking between them as well.

They went out wheeling his luggage and Lola said, "There's your new car ahead of us, the Taurus. I ordered black because it's the classy business color."

"Right in that case I won't change it."

She looked surprised.

He smiled and said a joke and she said, "Oh god, I have our company's only executive with humor as my boss."

As she laughed, Andy focused on her tits for the first time. They weren't large but were well pointed and wobbled. Obviously his PA wasn't wearing a bra. He had no idea what that meant but what he did know he liked her being braless.

The company's administration was on the top four floors of an eight level building. Andy was on to top floor, occupying an office suite next to the directors of marketing and PR/Promotion. The company's main income streams were from the newspaper, the TV broadcasting and radio division and from the commercial division that was ailing due to the digital revolution. People were now printing their own pamphlets and low-volume publications and even birthday and Xmas cards. 

"We have an executive lunch in your honor at 1:00," Lola smiled and adjusted her sunglasses as if to force him to notice something about her wobbled. "Meanwhile I'll run you around the executive floor and then down to HR to complete formalities – your photo for our website is one thing they require."

Andy said, "I know that publishing is done away from here but do we have our own IT department?"

"Yes of course. This is California and we are advanced in technology."

"Is that so... then why do we have analogue phones?"

"I have no idea of what you are talking about."

"These are not digital phones and anyway I want us connected to the switchboard via mobile phones so we get our calls wherever we are. You will be out of the office much of the time with me and we won't want to come back to the office to find heaps of messages awaiting attention. Clients want instant contact and instant decisions. I suppose California is not up with that yet?"

She colored and said, "Are you serious about engaging me in field work?"

"Of course, that's what our operation is about and won't be accomplished sitting all day behind a desk."

"Omigod how exciting."

"Yeah well let's skip meeting the executives. I can do that over lunch. Take me to IT first please and then I'll be directed to HR."

"HR will be waiting for you. I um gave your ETA when requested."

"That's fine. If they ask say the naughty new boy has gone on a self-guided tour and probably is lost."

"Are you sure you've worked for a corporation?"

"You cheeky bitch."

Lola appeared relieved to see him laughing. 

The female IT manager was younger than Andy. Well that's how IT worked, he thought and suspected early burnout or death by boredom was the fate of IT eager-beavers desperate for stardom.

They introduced themselves

"Eiliyah, what kind of name is that?"

The dark-skinned Muslim said calmly, "The name my parents gave me sir. They were not born in this country."

"Great name and you call me Andy. I'm not much older than you."

"But you work on the executive floor."

"Eiliyah when I say..."

"I understand Andy. I welcome you to this company."

"Do you know Lola Jennings?"

"I certainly do. She has the body of a film star."

"Perhaps I haven't noticed," Andy grinned. "She's my PA. We will be working away from the office a great deal. I want those ancient phones in our office suite replaced by digital phones and for us to have cell-phones capable of having calls to my and Lola's office switched though to us after five rings."

"I understand. That will require our outside telecommunications provider to be contracted for that work."

"Well you do it for me please Eiliyah. I'll have an authorization down to you by 2:30 today but I'd appreciate you starting with the preliminaries. What person do I get to sign the authorization?"

He said, "The director of operations."

"Fine I'm lunching with department heads today, I'll get the signature then. Lola will take care of the paperwork. Please call her now and describe how she needs to word the requisition."

The HR director came out and recognized Andy when one of her troops was at the counter working with Andy on paperwork. 

"Oh Andy, you have arrived," she said. "Welcome."

She held out her hand for a handshake but was kissed. Andy heard sniggering behind him.

"Judy don't you lot around here who kiss?" Andy asked and the pink-faced Judy said, "Well perhaps they do in other companies. This company is rather conservative but if you can change that Andy, we won't object will we girls?"

"No Mrs Donald," they chorused.

Andy went to his nearby hotel and unpacked and had coffee and read his company's newspaper in case he was asked questions about it during lunch. He returned to the office and smiled when Lola glanced at the wall clock.

"Mom called to check that you'd arrived. Sally used to talk about you and so mom is interested to meet you."

"What about you father?"

"Pardon me?"

"Does he also wish to meet me?"

"I-I have no idea. Of course he talks and has opinions but he doesn't engage in conversation about people like mom does."

"What does he do?"

"He carves up people."

"Oh he's a mortician?"

"I don't think so, said Lola, looking slightly flustered.

"Mom doesn't want you eating alone on your first night in California."

"Then I accept with thanks. I'm not surprised you have a lovely-natured mother having met her daughters."

"God Sally is right, you are a natural charmer."

Andy challenged, "Should you be talking to me like that?"

"Oh I'm so sorry I..."

Andy closed her mouth with a kiss.

"Omigod."

"It's okay, I won't tell anyone you kissed me," Andy whispered smoothly and stepped back in case Lola took a swing at him.

"You are not supposed to do that with your staff; it's in the office handbook that you returned and falsely signed as read."

"I tend to mix business with pleasure and it was a real pleasure to sneak that kiss."

"I-I am not sure I approved."

"Never lie to me Lola," he said cheerfully. "Where's the requisition form?"

"It's on your desk, where else? Andy please don't get me into trouble. I feel as if you are driving me headlong in a direction I know not where."

"I'm bringing you up to speed baby."

"Andy please, that word baby is on the list of words managers and department heads must not use in addressing staff or clients."

"Baby I have this view that rule books were never made for me. You and I are involved in entrepreneurial work... we cannot be like ordinary people." 

"Working with you, if it's going to be like this, could be disastrous. You don't know what this company is like."

Andy said, "Lola if we deliver results to exceed expectations, we become virtually untouchable but no one is invincible of course."

Judy Donald introduced Andy to executives as they drifted in and he grabbed a drink.

The crew appeared friendly enough. One of the last to enter was Ian Wright, director of operations.

"Nice to meet you Ian. Could you sign this requisition please and keep the copy?"

"This should be submitted to my office."

"Well Ian, I'm a guy who makes things happen by making them happen."

Ian checked out the document.

"This sounds an extravagant measure and there is no estimate of cost."

"Write in $2500. It will come in under that."

"Christ on a couple of telephones?"

"Look at it this way Ian. My PA will team with me out in the field. How much do you think it would cost for my department to add a junior to deal with incoming calls?"

Ian looked grumpy when he signed the form and kept his department's copy.

"I sense we'll work in very well Ian. You have good understanding of the need to back-up me in my flashy style of wooing in new business relationships to carry the company's flag forward. I bet you don't see spending money on sponsorship is a company extravagance as would accountants."

"I am an accountant," Ian grinned. "Come let's grab a drink. You know I have this feeling you will make things happen, unlike your successor who spent most of his day waiting for people to contact him."

Uncle William arrived and ignored the bar and went straight to the buffet table and began serving. Others lined up behind him.

William sat at the head of the table and people rushed to sit close to him.

Ian and Andy went to the food last and sat at the far end of the table, the last of the ten people to be seated.

William asked, "What do you think of our newspaper Andy?"

"It looks fine, solid, orderly, and rather dynamic in layout and that's good but my overall impression it's a little bland."

"It's a little bland?" William said and some executives stopped eating as if waiting for the blast.

"Yep well you asked for my impression. As you know, readers are also interested in actual content and if it says to them, 'hey read this, it's good', that's what they do."

"Well I'd have to do along with that as Rex here, our editor-in-chief would agree."

"Our readers are more conservative than readers in LA," Rex said.

"Well I'm a newcomer so really know nothing about your newspaper. When was the last comprehensive readership survey commissioned?"

Rex glanced at William and said, "Sometime ago."

Andy pressed for a more accurate comment. "Like ten years ago?"

Rex muttered, "Approaching five."

"I see. Well I worked on a newspaper as a reporter and was there when the editor was raging about being turned down for a requested readership survey for the fourth year running. My dad is a conservative rancher and many times I heard both he and grandpa say, 'Times are a changing and so are people and markets'. I was home recently and dad had decided to use contract hay balers using balers costing $40,000 and punching out 1200 lb. bales. Dad used to come in from baling completely saturated in brown dust and spitting grass seed, and exhausted from stacking small oblong bales. One day he went to a baling demo of the latest equipment and came home and said, "You know I can't believe it. The guy in the tractor pulling the baler was wearing a white shirt and tie."

"The moral of this is, times are a changing and if we don't keep up with speed we begin to fall behind. I wouldn't hesitate to say if you're not doing full consumer research every three years you are risking heaps. Christ hand-held phones and other palm devices are changing everything. Our newspaper has an online website but I wonder if it's designed with the flexibility to download on hand-held devices? I have to ask, omigod, where is this technology revolution taking the newspaper industry?"

"That you for your thoughts Andy," William said sharply. "We survey when we perceive the need to survey."

Rex said, "Agreed but the message Andy is giving is do we really know how often we should survey? And I say then when we receive the survey data we need to look at trends and not just examine raw results."

Betty Clews, the director of finance, said she couldn't understand why it was costing the company considerably more to hire Andy than it did his predecessor?

Andy answered that. "Because Betty I know how to grow this company's sponsorship business and to expand measurable benefits better than it's ever been done here before. Within six months you will be aware of the results of my performance and understand I'm being paid appropriately to deliver. Prepare yourself to really see this company immersed in involvement in its community at a depth and extent you might not have thought possible. My progress will be monitored and measured. Be not afraid Betty. Think of me as an effective entrepreneur rather than an executive liability."

William said, "Betty there are community groups out there wanting to raise money and/or to involve local support without having much of an idea about how to achieve their aims effectively. Through Andy they will have access to expertise within our company and some of our money, hopefully not too much, to seed their venture. When that works and if the venture proves successful we get some of the credit and our publishing company becomes seen as an effective partner within its community and that's something money alone cannot buy." 

"We are already committed to the city's annual flower show this summer and one of Andy's first chores is to get that project up and cracking so that for the first time in perhaps thirty years the event will have major impact. Now these things are confidential. It's eleven years since this city last staged a rodeo and Andy is looking at a night rodeo at the fairground late this summer, to organize a fund-raiser for the Mayor's Citizens Emergency Relief Fund and another major event involving the company and its name will be a Citizens in National Dress street parade complete with street performers, bands and cheerleaders squads. As well there will be other localized events, some quite minor."

Betty, obviously now impressed, began to clap and that lead to full applause.

"Tell us a little about yourself Andy."

"Well I was just a quiet kid off a ranch in Wyoming. Actually on the eve of high school graduation I received notoriety being named as a loser and much to my parent's embarrassment. My graduating classmates voted me the student most likely not to succeed. I didn't get to the graduation ball because just after dusk my father opened the front door to a knock and was shot in the shoulder. The assailant was never traced despite a full investigation led by the county sheriff and dad was left bewildered by the random attack that he insisted had been unprovoked."

"We'd had a couple of tough years on the ranch because of summer droughts and so I went to a state university with the lowest fees I could find and gained my degree in agricultural communications. I worked on the school electronic newspaper and was editor in my senior year and had worked on the city's newspaper during my second summer. After graduation I was hired to work in the PR and communication department of a multi-national company in Chicago and was promoted to help brand the company internationally. I then joined a rival food processing company as head of its PR and promotions department where I gained kudos for suggesting and then directing the re-design of all its food lines so they had a family group look to them. During that two-year program I managed the re-launch of each product as change was progressively introduced and from there I've come here. Oh I also picked up and online master's degree majoring in technical communication. End of story."

David Beatty asked, "Weren't you rather young for such positions of responsibility and for that matter, even here?"

"Well David, does it matter how young you are in communications or for that matter in IT in this age providing you have the knowledge, people skills and possess the maturity to handle authority appropriately? I believe I can motivate a horse to kick off its shoes. And I say it's better to be young in charge than aged and out of touch and holding academic qualifications largely irrelevant although I concede still possessing the relevancy of experience."

At that William stood and said, "Thanks Andy. I have more than a hunch you'll be a great acquisition to this company and welcome."

He then left and the assembly drifted off with Betty coming up and shaking his hand and saying he was very impressive and should call on her if he ever required sympathetic counseling. 

"It's true you are so young."

Ian Wright walked along the passage with Andy because their offices were close by. The director of operations said, "Andy what Betty said is true. You are impressive. I'd like to invite you to lunch on Sunday to help with a family problem. My eldest daughter is in her senior year at high school and is a pain in the butt to us being unable to decide what to study next year. She wants to go to my old university, San Diego State."

"Tell her to take a BA and then decide."

"She's been told that but us, by teachers, by school counselors."

"In that case the problem is simple. She needs help to focus."

Ian looked ready to bang his head. "Focus on what?"

"Where she thinks she'd like to be in the next five to ten years; I guess she hasn't thought that through. Okay I'll come and talk to her. Is she allowed to drink wine?"

"Yes, no more than one glass a day."

"Great then get her sitting with us and drinking wine. She needs to feel relaxed and when I begin I want you and you wife staying with us but applying no pressure, no rebukes. Your daughter must remain relaxed."

"And you think it's that simple?"

"Yes but I have been known to be over-confident."

"Well I skin a cat."

"May I invite Lola to come with me? I'm thinking she's the perfect foil for me, being somewhat more conservative but is a clear-thinker and is a year younger than me with a good degree."

"Great idea." 

* * *

Andy entered his office and saw Lola and Eiliyah watching a technician testing the new phone system for its ability to switch internal calls, calls via reception and direct-dial external calls through to the mobile phones if not answered within eight seconds.

"Oh good, quick work Eiliyah."

"You appeared to be a guy in a hurry. So I took the risk knowing you'd front up with the signed requisition as promised."

"Oh the requisition," Andy said sounding vague.

Eiliyah gaped. "Oh Andy this could get me in real trouble for breaching company procedure."

"Oh what's this?" Andy said, pulled out the signed document. 

"Andy, you are a very naughty man teasing me like that. You really scared me. I wasn't to know you were teasing."

"I'm sorry Eiliyah and I compliment you for your excellent service."

"Good boy. Thank you."

The phone system worked as designed. Eiliyah went back to her office and as soon as the technician tutored Andy and Lola on their new phones he left.

"Do I kiss you?"

"No," Lola giggled.

"Well the penalty for denying me is you have to accompany me to lunch on Sunday."




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 09



"Well lunch will be okay. But I'm not going to be alone with you after dark. I have a boyfriend."

"How serious is it?"

"Not serious."

"Then you might like to think about giving him the push."

"Andy!"

"Sorry. It's to lunch at Ian Wright's home with his wife and his elder daughter who can't decide what to take at college next year."

"Then you should do a BA and decide at the end of three years."

"I think she's failed to focus."

"You mean to figure out her working future."

"Good girl, exactly."

"I can't believe you have become this friendly with Ian Wright. He's the most difficult person on this entire floor to relate to and is grumpy to boot."

"Well I'm a professionally skilled communicator."

"Omigod, is there no boundary to you self-confidence?"

"I've never bothered with such negative thinking. When can I touch your beautiful legs?"

"Andy!"

"Oh sorry. You are thinking of Section 11, sub-section 1, of the company manual, page 63. Quote, No manager of department head shall address a subordinate in a sexist or demeaning or any other inappropriate manner."

"My god, you have actually read the manual."

"Well yes because it was important to me. Section 11 is the most likely section that I will have to defend myself against alleged breaches."

"Alleged?"

"Yes definitely alleged until proven otherwise." 

Andy paused, thinking this was it.

"Lola I wish to ask you something personal."

She sighed and said it was surprising he'd even asked for permission and told him to proceed.

"Are you prepared to have regular sex with me? I have needs you know?"

She replied calmly although looking rather flushed, "I know nothing of the sort. There is such a thing as restraint and there's always masturbation as a back-stop."

Eh?

Eyes wide open, Lola said she'd been waiting for this moment and went over and locked the door.

She returned and said, "Take me over my desk the way Sally told me you used to fuck her."

"Um er... I was only making an exploratory approach."

She said there was no need to bother with preliminaries and sweeping items on her desktop aside, she laid back, legs wide open.

"Er Lola?"

"Shut up Andy and just do it."

"I-I can't," he said, looking down dismayed.

"Oh dear," she said. "My big shot fucker from Chicago has been sexually stymied by a hot Californian babe bred for promiscuous sex."

Eh?

She regained her footing, dropped to her knees, unzipped her sexually stymied boss, and gently fed some of his limp dick into her mouth and gargled.

Yes gargled.

The primeval call of why Andy was placed on earth penetrated to his brain and the brain sent the required impulses to his dick until it rose to fill Lola's mouth. Choking, she had to pull it away.

"Omigod," said the blonde heroic hottie, wide-eyed again when surveying the impressive result of her resurrection.

"You are a regular shaver," she said, approvingly as she pushed her butt over the edge of her desk and lay back.

"D-do you have a condom?"

"No and if you dare walk away I'll scream. I'll assume you are clean; shove it in my man."

Assuming he was going where many before him had ventured into the 23-year old, Andy stretched his way in and they both whimpered like two three-day-old puppies wanting comfort and dinner.

Her pussy seemed to know what to do, seizing him and its little ridges scraping his dick in a gentle, slippery and yet very tightly griped massage and he applied a gentle rhythm until his eyes bulged and he groaned and flooded the area around her cervix.

"God that was s-o-o-o beautiful," she said. "I got off twice and feel so dreamy."

He pulled out with a disgusting plop and she giggled.

Her eyes widened and she called, "Quickly hand me the box of tissues. I oozing, being awash with semen."

They were back in office mode, looking innocent and businesslike, and with the door unlock before anyone came knocking.

"You'll probably never fuck me again but I must tell you Andy, I'll remember that as an unforgettable experience."

He smiled and patted her cheek and (puffed up by self-importance) speculated perhaps that was the first time Lola had been fucked by a master stud. As for probably never fucking her again, she must be joking!

At the end of the working day Lola drove homeward in her bright yellow VW Beetle, followed by Andy in his new Taurus. He found it very okay but he would have preferred something more exotic but accepted he was only a lower-rung executive.

He visualized the mother with long sweeping hair, this week colored lilac, her tits spilling in all directions, no tummy excess because of recent liposuction and her welcoming pussy throbbing at the sight of him.

Instead Lola introduced him to Agatha, a tall, severe and rather over-weight woman with her hair cut short, her face was fearsomely lined and her only make-up was lipstick.

She said good evening and looked at Andy distastefully and murmured she had expected him to look more gentlemanly.

Huh?"

"Agatha has been our cook and housekeeper since I was four," Lola said sweetly. "She is so precious to the family." 

Lola led the way in and Agatha gripped Andy's forearm painfully and spat, "If you touch Lola you wear a condom, do you hear?"

"Yes ma'am."

A short, beautifully proportioned and elegantly dressed blonde greeted them in the living room. Andy was apprehensive thinking perhaps she might be the gardener but that appeared doubtful.

"Mom this is Andy the Seducer as Sally called him."

"Oh you gorgeous sexual lout," said mom, holding her lips up to be kissed.

Andy performed dutifully and resisted squeezing a tit to gauge her reaction.

"Darling, please call me Diane. I can't believe you have banged both my daughters."

Andy turned to murder Lola but she looked so cute grinning and winking at him that she was instantly forgiven for being a loud-mouth on the phone to her mother.

"I find top quality irresistible," he replied, turning back to Diane. "Do you date?"

She clutched his arm for support, laughing almost hysterically.

Agatha muttered "My god" and walked off, probably to fetch an axe.

"Shush you two. Dad might hear you," Lola whispered.

"He's out in the garden shed masturbating," Andy thought Diane has said, but perhaps she said contemplating.

"Come out and meet dad," Lola said hastily, as if beating her mom to the draw. "And see our Grecian-styled pool."

Andy who'd already regarded the house design as lavish and a bit over the top, simply gaped when he saw the pool area. It looked like something from a Hollywood set.

"Mom used to be a director of B-grade films," Lola said. "She had our pool modeled on set designs for the pool in 'Rebecca Does Babylon.'

B-grade movies my ass, thought Andy. Not with a title like that.

They found Hank, whom Andy learned was chief surgeon at a private hospital, in a Lotus position on the tiled floor of the bathhouse. 

Lola called "Hi dad" and draped a gown over his shoulders and Hank stood and clasping the gown to cover his genitals, turned and welcomed their visitor.

Andy drove to his hotel three hours later, becoming lost twice, and thinking about the highlight of the evening. No it wasn't the suspicion that Diane used to make X-rated movies. It was Agatha.

The French meal she served was out of this world, leaving Andy thinking Agatha should be head chef in an exclusive eatery in Paris. She was fantastic.

Andy and his attractive assistant Lola lunched next day with the president and promotions officer of the city's Floral Society, and two representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the publishing company's commitment to assist in the public re-launch of the society's annual flower show.

The president, Rachel Dicaprio, said the society was grateful for the offer of the Gutenberg Times and Printing Company to provide financial and technical support for the promotion of the flower show.

She outlined the planned program and asked Andy what he thought.

"From the membership's point of view I think it sounds very appealing and offers a lot. Well done. But I suggest you promote a theme to gather in greater public interest to make your show a real hit."

Rachel said she could be interested in that and asked what his suggestion was.

"For dramatic impact we should adopt a national theme, although not America."

She said that sounded rather unpatriotic.

"Well I suggest British, Dutch, French, Japanese, or Russian. Pick one."

Rachel looked at her promotions officer, Hana Ishimoto, and said Japanese.

"My thought too," Andy said. "Well I'll get on to that immediately."

"But I need to put that to my executive to win approval and our next meeting is not until three weeks."

"Then I'll give you twenty-four hours to phone executive members Rachel. Time is of the essence and we have such little time to pull this off. Leo I'd like you to get your chamber to involve the city council into running a Japanese Week to coincide with the flower show and we'll have schools studying Japan beforehand and the results of student's projects including artwork will be on public display during the two-days of the art show."

Lola said, "Wow I'm really excited by this concept as the city does have an influential Japanese population and one of our sister-cities is in Japan. I can really see this taking off. But Rachel, as Andy says, there is so much to do. We must have your society's commitment or rejection of a Japanese theme within 24 hours."

"Very well," Rachel said reluctantly.

Driving back to the office, Andy said to Lola, "I need you to call the Japanese Cultural Attaché or whatever that person is called in Washington to discuss what we are planning. Give that person the dates of the flower show and press for Japanese Government participation and say we will be pressing for support from our State Department to bring two of Japan's to floral artists to appear at our Flower Show."

"They won't play ball. They will want to look at a three-year time lag."

"Do you want me to make the calls?"

"Um no, I'll become pushy like you."

"Good girl."

"Andy you upset the president when using the term our flower show. It's her society's show."

"We are co-sponsors. I used we in the collective sense. Anyway this event will become much too big for the society to comprehend let alone handle by itself."

That appeared to frighten Lola and she blurted, "Oh god, this has the potential to become a colossal flop."

"Tut-tut Lola. Think positively."

Sadly the project did flop, hugely with the flower show being cancelled.

First the Chamber of Commerce decided not to become associated with the project. Andy went alone to the council to argue on the strength of its sister city link with Japan to support the venture but was informed the council would not be interested because it had no link to Japan: it's sister city link in that part of the world was in Korea.

Half of Rachel's executive resigned, protesting about being pushed into the clutches of corporate sponsors.

Lola left for a health farm for treatment for a nervous breakdown. She'd claimed to Andy he had too much horsepower for her and he countered rubbish, that she and her sister were sexually the best-fit imaginable.

"No you fool. I mean mentally."

Andy didn't understand what she meant.

He then asked the company for $50,000 to fund a flower show sponsored by growers and florists was told to stick to his budget of $5000.

Andy was livid and thought of resigning because the outfit consisted of a bunch of wankers. But he decided to stay and later that day was shocked when he was fired.

Andy charged into William's office about the rejection of his request for his flower show budget to be increased to $50,000 and the CEO told him to shut up and that he was fired.

"What? Are you mad?"

"Fired means fired Andy. You have been behaving like a wanker and are a misfit here. Now leave this office or else I'll call security. Oh don't forget to pick up your check as you leave."

Andy left with his termination check, stunned. He wondered what the hell had happened? He had also lost his vehicle and walked back to the hotel feeling hugely dispirited and though that was how most people probably felt much of the time. He sniffed and wiped away a tear and thought perhaps he was not quite ready for a role as an entrepreneur using other people's money.

Everything was gone, his career, his woman, his quest for power.

Everything.

A street hooker offered him a quick dip for fifty bucks.

"Shove off you harlot," he snarled.

She slapped him and he walked onwards with a bleeding nose.

Fuck her!

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 10



A bout of despondency wasn't unknown to Andy Ash, but this time it lay on him heavily and he felt like a dog without a bone. He'd lasted in his job in California just five days.

"Jesus, that won't look great on the CV," he muttered. He sighed and thought perhaps William would have forgotten who he was if a future employer called to confirm a work record.

Andy caught a flight to LA, grinning he went to terminal 4 at LAX and used his Executive Platinum Card with American Airlines, compliments of Gutenberg Times and Printing Company, to enter the lounge. When being paid off he'd overlooked handing in his card and had not been asked for it. 

Occasionally Andy got this feeling, like he had now, that something was about to happen. He looked out the window to see if an airplane was heading straight for the building. But no, well perhaps it was approaching unseen.

Fifteen seconds later he figured that wasn't it. He looked to see if a great babe was approaching, her eyes raking him.

Nope, all he could see was a flight attendant pushing an old woman in a wheelchair.

Ah well. He went off for more food and a beer and returned to think on about his future. So far the only sensible thought was to return home and sulk -- er to help out on the ranch.

A guy in his mid-fifties sitting just beyond him cussed.

Andy saw the guy had opened his laptop and was now closing it.

"Are you having problems with the computer sir?"

"Out of battery. I was emailing my wife in San Francisco with an update."

"Here use my laptop. I'll open the email program for you."

The guy hesitated and said perhaps the greeters could send the email for him.

Andy ignored that as walked over and handed his laptop to the guy who thanked Andy, looked at the email program and said, "Ah same as mine."

"There you go. There's nothing like helping out a fellow traveller."

"Where are you heading?"

"Probably disaster."

They laughed and Andy returned to his chair and table.

The guy returned with the computer and introduced himself and said, "Thanks. I would have had my ass kicked if I'd not emailed my wife about now as scheduled. She is fearful about me flying. I was interested in your comment that you are heading for possible disaster. Want to tell me about it?"

"Sure but let me get you're a drink. Name your poison."

Andy returned with two beers and then related his story about coming to California.

"Well that's tough tittie Andy and it sounds as if that outfit was not ready for the likes of you."

"Yes that's a fair assessment. I should have done the research on them, but I was too eager to head west. I wasn't looking forward to winter in Chicago."

"Well I'm impressed you didn't badmouth that publisher. I'm a publisher, my main magazine being the 'Western States Monthly Farm Journal'."

"Oh really? I've read that since I was a kid. Dad has a ranch in Wyoming. You circulate in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and the seven states west to the Pacific."

"That's right."

They chatted and Evan Archer learned about Andy's degree and the fact he'd worked as a newspaper journalist, albeit not for long.

"Andy I have this thought I might be able to offer you a job. But I need to talk to you more. I'm heading to Albuquerque. You'll know where that is."

"Yes but the closest I've been to it is Santa Fe. Went there to an old girlfriend's wedding."

"Is that so? Would you consider travelling with me at my expense so I can learn more about you? And if it looks good you'll be invited to come home with me and pass the inspection of my company secretary and I'd really consider hiring you."

"You mean the HR manager I guess?"

"No my wife, the company secretary."

Andy laughed and Evan appeared to like that.

"Take my ticket to the desk and this hundred bucks and ask for a seat beside me. The flight leaves at 4:00."

"Success," smiled Andy on his return. "So if I don't measure up I'm dumped in New Mexico?"

"You've got it young man. So you better impress."

As their flight took off, Evan asked, "Do you know anything about agriculture in New Mexico?"

"Very little I admit. Let me see, it's typical high desert county, sunny, wide temperature variations, plenty of wind and rain is not overly abundant. The climate in places is good for growing tree nuts, chili peppers, cotton and um onions. Perhaps surprisingly it has more dairy cows than beef cows and is the fastest growing dairying state. If memory serves me correctly it has 20,000 farms spread over 40 million acres which suggests some of them are large."

Evan asked him what he knew about haymaking and the sale of hay, beef cattle rearing and seasonal chores, farm animal diseases and regulations affecting farming, conservation and production.

The answered came rat-tat-tat and Evan said wow.

"Have you press cuttings with you?"

"Yep in one of my bags checked through. By the time we get to Albuquerque they might be on their way to Turkey."

Evan like that humor.

"We publish monthly and I have a freelance journalist based in each state who contributes a monthly round-up as part of his or her base pay and they get paid for other articles they file and are published and those articles must be original and exclusive to us."

"I see, I wondered how it would work. So you were thinking of offering me the New Mexico position?"

"No but I would like you to interview the four journalists short-listed for that vacancy, with me observing until you make the final choice and I then consider your recommendation."

The new correspondent was hired next afternoon.

Evan said, "Come on we must get out to the airport. I'm taking you to San Francisco. I made the booking for you as soon as we arrived when I confirmed my flight back. Pass the test and you will be offered a new position of operations manager/deputy CEO. I'm the publisher and CEO. My wife Frances complains I work too hard and she doesn't like me travelling and so you'll answer her prayers, providing she likes you. Frances is my second wife and is forty."

"Oh crap," Andy thought. Evan would catch him and Frances doing it and then it would be all over for him, yet again. He almost said no thanks and walked away but he had that feeling again, that something was about to happen for him, and so decided to go to San Francisco. He knew if he got this job he had to stick at it for at least three years otherwise he would be considered unemployable. 

Evan had said he'd told Frances about Andy. She would interview him because she recruited all senior people and attended to their training and all other matters.

"We are too small to have a HR department," he explained. "We have twenty-two people in editorial and production, eleven in advertising and fourteen in administration plus Frances and me. Printing and distribution are done by contract. We also publish a 'Western States Farming Annual' with a January-December Calendar insert and a six-monthly 'Western States Trends & Products Agriculture Review'. The farm journal is available by subscription only and the other two publications are provided free to journal subscribers but they have 50% advertising content."

"Sounds like a good money-spinner business," Andy said.

"It is," Evan grinned. "I used to be a farm machinery salesman and then became sales manager for the company. My boss's son, who was a journalist, wanted to buy the farming journal that was struggling to keep afloat. Lester groaned to me his father was too blind to see a golden opportunity and I said why didn't he sound me out. I had inherited money and wasn't happy with the return I was getting where I had it invested and that led to me bankrolling Lester."

Evan's voice lowered. "A year later he married and almost six months after that Lester, his wife and my wife were returning from Colorado when they were hit by a truck hauling cement and only his wife Frances who was asleep in the back survived. She agreed to partner me in the business and Frances and I married some months later. Now that little story explains our common interest and our age difference."

"Yeah and they must have been tough times for you Evan."

* * *

At the airport, Andy saw Evan wave at a woman and she waved back. Andy was relieved as Frances walked towards them, to see her straggly black hair, puffy face and unfashionable clothes. She probably had very small tits as well.

He was saved from himself!

"Hi darling," Evan said, and Andy was pleased to see them kiss affectionately. 

"Another safe landing for you," she said and at that Andy realized she had reason to be a little paranoid about travel safety.

"And you must be Andy Ash."

"Yes ma'am, good evening."

"Oh please call me Frances," she said. "Welcome to San Francisco. Have you been here before?"

"Just the once and we were under tight control. I was a member of my high school's 4-person debating team and we won the Wyoming competition and our prize provided by a travel company was three nights here in San Francisco. We thought the visit was the neatest thing ever."

Frances laughed and it was a genuine laugh and she had great teeth. Those assets added to the warmth with which she'd greeted her husband had Andy already thinking she was a very nice person.

"I was in the senior debating team at my college," she said. "But we usually came last in any contest."

"I played tennis for my high school," Evan said and Frances and Andy glanced at each other and smiled.

When they came to the car he knew Frances would have chosen it for safety reasons, a Volvo S80.

"Could you kindly drop me off at a hotel?" he said but Frances said, "Evan told me you were charming. A bedroom at our home is ready for you."

Next morning Evan drove off to the office in his Ford Explorer. Frances poured Andy another coffee and began reading his CV.

"Evan didn't mention you had worked for these two multinational food processing companies."

"My late grandpa used to tell me, never give anybody all the information in one dollop. Leave something that is memorable to deliver last."

Frances laughed and said some good advice never dated.

"I'm only doing this because I should be doing it. Evan has already told me he wants you on board and that's it. He wants you to do all the travelling and the thought of that makes me very happy. I gather he told you how we came to be together."

"He did, briefly. Life can suck at times."

She sighed.

They talked about duties and then discussed salary. Frances said Andy had to remember the company was small, not a corporate, and salaries had to reflect that. 

He couldn't get her past $90,000 and so accepted the offer. It was a huge cut on what he'd been earning but he had to remember even now he was without a job.

"If you accept this position you'll need a vehicle to travel thru California and to some of the closer states we circulate in such as Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and perhaps Utah but on the other hand you might find it advantageous to fly-drive even to those states and into Southern California. You will be expected to take the most efficient method for time you'll be away according to the purpose of your journey." 

She poured more coffee. "As discussed early, Evan thinks it's essential to visit each correspondent twice yearly and to call on some of our biggest spending advertisers. I'd like to put you in a Volvo, the model one down from mine but well-optioned. I made enquiries this morning and can secure a near-new gold colored one, the 6-cyclinder all-wheel-drive model that would be useful outside of California."

"Sounds good to me."

"Excellent. Come and we'll look at the car now and then we'll go to the office."

Andy had expected the company to be in two-bit premises and therefore was pleased that it occupied a two-level building that appeared recently refurbished in a commercial district with a concentration of small offices and domestic appliance and home furnishing businesses.

"We moved here four years ago from a dump and did up the building eighteen months ago," Frances said. "It was like coming out of the Dark Age. The bonus was plenty of parking space in the basement for staff; clients park in front of the building."

"It looks a great," Andy said politely, aware his fall from corporate high-rise prestige was now complete.

He smiled but inwardly cringed when Frances said her problem was to place him in a suitable office.

"What about the basement?" he said, meaning that as a quip but it fell rather flat.

"I like your attitude," Frances said. "First I'll get your signed on and then hand you over to Evan to tour the premises and for him to develop an operational plan for you. We will not be explaining to personnel the reason why you have been engaged."

"It's an expensive solution for you."

"Indeed and Evan did hire you to satisfy my fears. I was eager to grab at that but now after learning more about you in depth I can see your ranching background, your academic qualifications and corporate business experience, although somewhat truncated, form an astonishing appropriate mix for our third-tier type of business. We have money to grow our business if you find ways to enhance it."

"You could hire consultants who would have the specialized knowledge to advise about expansion."

"It may come as no surprise to you to be told Evan and I don't hire consultants."

He winked and said, "I like you frankness and pragmatic approach Frances."

She smiled. "Thank you. You appear have taken up well with Evan and I have been hoping you would like me. You have the looks, presence and background to deal with some of the younger business types who come to look over us and our activities when they are thinking of entering long-term advertising commitment with us."

"I'd be happy to do that. Gee you do flatter me though."

Frances practically giggled as they walked out of the basement.

Andy only just stopped short of patting her butt affectionately. Frances had unexpectedly delivered enlightenment for him: his future lay in small business ownership.

Um very profitable small business ownership and he had the feeling in his fall from grace he'd landed in the perfect incubator for learning intimately about the small business ownership model from the ground up.

"I could also be coached to fill in for both you and Evan if you wish to go away on business together or on vacation.

"That is part of the plan I've already formed mentally," Frances said. "But you must forgive me for saying this: the first thing I need to know before I take you down that road is can I trust you?"

She was right about that of course, Andy acknowledged to himself, but he still felt like snapping at her: 'You cheeky bitch'. Instead he said, "We don't see the harbor from here."

"Still thinking like a corporate employee?" the cheeky bitch laughed.

"Ouch," he smiled and Frances obviously liked that. She was okay.

Evan spent more than an hour in his very untidy office outlining to Andy his duties. Obviously Evan had given Andy's immersion considerable thought.

Frances joined them, bring in coffee, and then Evan and Andy began the tour, he being introduced as their new operations manager who's chief responsibilities would be the coordination of activities and direct liaison with external editorial contributors and Andy would also act as deputy CEO.

The production editor Bess was a long-legged redhead with great tits and a wedding ring. Andy told himself leave it, that only fouls the nest and so he chatted with her without displaying charm and probably left her unimpressed.

The chief reporter Al Nixon was a guy about Evan's age and those two obviously were pals. 

"Ah so this is about allowing you to ease back in pace so you can keep up with your younger wife," Al said grinning.

"You're fired," Evan snapped.

"I usually get fired twice a week but Evan knows he'd never be able to attract the perfect bowling buddy to replace me," Al said. "Ever been on a farm or ranch boy?"

"Al, boy used in that sense is a derogatory term. Use it again and I'll invite you to the basement."

Al's mouth fell open.

"Okay I said that without thinking and I apologize. Do we shake?"

"No that apology is sufficient."

Evan said smoothly, "Andy was born on a ranch and stayed there till he went to college where he studied agricultural communication and journalism and went on to gain a master's in business admin and he's worked as a junior executive in writing and product promotion for American Silver Foods Corporation and represented the corporation internationally at a top level in Rome."

"Um I'm just an agriculture reporter who never trained formerly," Al confessed.

"Yeah but you have something that I don't have much of Al and that's leading-edge experience and you lead a team of journalists operating throughout CA."

Al said, "Sorry about my bad start Andy, you sound really okay."

"Will catch you later Al, I best press on and get the boss back to productive work."

"I thought of warning you about Al but was interested to see how you would handle him. You did that impressively."

"Thanks Evan. I guess you realize I have learned there's at least one Al in every office."

Evan grinned. "In that case you expected to meet an Al as you expected to meet a Bess. God why do women like her wear their dresses so short. I also observed you so studiously attempting not to look at her breasts. It was quite funny and you will have left her wondering if you were gay."

They laughed and Andy took the liberty to slap Evan on the back. 

But Andy wasn't happy. He was bleeding, thinking he'd landed back in work in a pit. The whole outfit was full of little people and since leaving the ranch it had been his goal to become a VIP. Oh well, there was nothing left but to get on with it. He followed Evan into the admin department and gaped: at least half the staff in the big room appeared to be long-legged blondes with well-developed chests.

Jesus.

They returned to Evan's office and Frances said to Evan, "Good boy for avoiding taking Andy to meet Caroline."

She explained to Andy, "Caroline is our business and advertising manager. She's being relocated to make way for you. Omigod, the language, the tantrum and she twice said she was resigning but I notice she had people helping her to move. Let's stay clear and go to lunch. After lunch Andy I'll get you to stay clear to allow Caroline to cool off and they I'll introduce you to her but before that, to delay that meeting time, I get Selena to take you on a drive-by of some apartment buildings that may appeal to you. Selena was in real estate before she came to us as my PA."

"Don't dislocate your neck attempting not to look at them."

"Evan that's enough of that disrespectful talk thank you," Frances said.

Andy said, "What was that advice Evan?"

They laughed and Frances said, "Omigod men."

They were eating in the nearby café when a tall brunette in a sweater showing good... er...a black sweater entered, ordered and came over that cuffed Evan over an ear and kissed Frances and waited to be introduced, her arm around Frances and Frances held her hand on the hand on her shoulder.

"Andy Ash, this is my stepdaughter Natalie Archer. Natalie is Evan's only child. She knows why you have arrived here."

"Hi Nat, er Natalie."

"Nat is fine, most of my close friends call me Nat."

Andy eyed her chest and looking back at the family saw Evan rolling his eyes (God did that mean he actually had humor?), Nat was frowning and Frances appeared to be sighing. Didn't they know there was only one reason why women had pumped up breasts when they weren't lactating? Women needed educating about that.

Natalie filled the vacuum at the table. 

"Mom said you are off a ranch in Wyoming. Wyoming and Montana are my two favorite states, although I have no problem with CA."




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 10



"Good thinking," he smiled at the 30-year old or thereabouts. "What do you do?"

"I'm company accountant for a law firm near here. I often come over to lunch with the folk."

"So I might see you again?"

Natalie colored and looked at the table and her food arrived.

When the waitress left, Frances said, "Natalie is a recent divorcee. If you ask nicely she might date... I mean show you around."

"Mom!" Natalie hissed but Andy was up to the challenge.

"That's a great suggestion. I'll appreciate being shown around because these are new waters for me. I don't even where we are in this place."

"Our office is in South San Francisco just off Airport Boulevard and very near to the famous Route 101. Also lucky for you we are close to the main airport," Frances said. "It sounds to me you do need a guide."

"I need to buy a bike and explore with GPS navigation."

"Oh Natalie is always cycling. She can show you all the good trails."

Andy heard Natalie hiss at her mom but she remained looking down at her chicken salad. He thought the two women working against each other like this were a scream.

"Nat will you be free to take me to a good bike store after work?"

"I-I..." she looked at his boyish look appealing for her to say yes and she said, "I guess so."

Andy was sure he heard Frances suck in breath and resume breathing. Yes those two were hilarious.

When Frances had introduced Andy to her PA Selena Mencia, a short dark-haired woman with whoppers, he decided she would be Spanish and greeted her in Spanish. Selena looked surprised but only half as surprised as Frances as Selena and Andy chatted rapidly in Spanish as she asked where he wanted to live and laughed when Andy said in an apartment and close enough to the office so he wouldn't get lost.

Selena then said, "I do speak English. Frances will be thinking you are talking dirty to me."

"No I picked up some of the words," Frances smiled. "Well off you two go. Take my car Selena." 

Her PA said, "The vehicle company phoned while you were at lunch and said they were ready to install a replacement sound system in the C60 because they couldn't locate the fault. Only the upgrade is in stock at the moment so asked me what we wanted. I'm aware that Andy will be traveling long distances and told them to go ahead and to only charge us for the extra for the upgrade. But crafty Dan said well perhaps they could wear the extra cost because he was still working on you to get Mr Archer into a Volvo."

"Well done. I love your efficiency. No go and try to find something appealing to Andy and don't over-excite him. My impression is he's female-focused."

"Oooh it sounds as if I shall have an entertaining afternoon."

"Selena!"

"Away we go looking for something that might appeal to our conservative Mr Ash."

Conservative Mr Ash? Andy decided this big-tit babe had a wicked sense of humor.

"Andy, Selena marries in two months."

"That's okay. I'm gay."

Selena shrieked in laughter and the younger couple enjoyed seeing the look on Frances' face.

They drove off and Selena said are you looking for a large apartment building half-occupied by horny young women."

"No thank you. I'd like a quiet place when ladies in long gowns drift into the elevators and drop a scented handkerchief and say quietly, "Oh dear."

Selena said she'd called her former real estate office and had been given some addresses. 

"There's one address that could really appeal but if you intend to start work at 8:30 to 9:00 it could be a real drag getting across here from Daly City."

"I'm habitually an early starter."

"Good let's go to that address. Do you like big breasts Andy; you've gazed at mine at every couple of minutes."

"They tend to interfere with my wide-angled vision. Are you suggesting my eyesight is deficient and has become sexually focused?"

Oh she liked that one, cackling on like a hen announcing it had just laid an egg.

"Tell me about this place."

"Many of our homes in this city are not brick or concrete. This we are going to is smallish on a short no-exit street. The elderly couple owning it and looking for income have turned the upper level into a self-contained apartment with its own internal stairway access to the front porch exit. They have not managed to let it yet because they are holding out for $1600 a month."

"High price for what you get, huh?"

"At 727 sq. ft. and only one bedroom you could say yes. But it is beautifully finished with hardwood floors and scatter mats but alas the laundry is in the garage where the renter has one vehicle space and room for storage but the crowning piece is the renter has an uninterrupted view out into the Pacific. I was surprised it hadn't gone quickly but I suppose viewers think that rent could almost get them a full house."

They arrived at the location and Andy agreed it was a bit of a hike to get there but it was a quiet neighborhood and he like that. He even liked it better when taking in the sea view.

"I really like the location."

"There's a 9-mile paved cycle commuter route near here into the heart of San Francisco downtown and several others included a 4.5 mil looped of Lake Merced."

"I more than like it. Can you take me in?"

"No I'm afraid not. I no longer hold a license. But you might decide to try your luck and knock on the door."

Forty-five minutes later Andy returned.

Selena asked, "Well?"

"The couple are not that old, in their early fifties and he still works as an architect's draftsman but is getting ready to take early retirement. His brother has a ranch within two miles of dad's boundary and he recalled our ranch because dad has Limousins whereas all the neighbors including his brother have Angus and Herefords of crosses of those two breeds. He's called the real estate office to say I dropped in and have decided to take the apartment. I will call in tomorrow at the office with my credentials. I'm taking the place for $1600 and Mrs McArthur, who is Mexican, was delighted I can speak Spanish because her English is not good. In return for me paying that asking rental she's agreed to me eating with them each night that I'm home and I drop in for breakfast anytime I wish each morning. She's up by 6:30 to get Dougal's breakfast because he likes to read the newspaper after breakfast before he leaves for work."

"Omigod and girlfriends staying over, what did they say about that?" Selena asked.

"She said of course that was okay and he muttered something that I thought was okay or else a jealous retort."

Selena said, "God you have fallen on to your feet. I bet she'll mother you and for you it will be almost like living at home."

"Yeah it looks a comfortable set-up and I'm wildly happy about the cycle trails."

"When I get back to the office I'll call the dealer and ask to fit a hitch-mounted cycle carrier."

"Thanks. You should ask your friend who gave you those listings to give you a slice from her commission. She'll know she's done fuck-all for the letting."

"Yes I must do that. Andy are you sure you should use that F-word to ladies?"

"Oh gee, sorry Selena."

She laughed and said he was such a groveling asshole.

At that, Andy knew who to call on if he had troubled with Frances. Selena sounded like one of those persons who had a golden tongue."

Next day Andy signed up for the rental and took delivery of his vehicle and found it a little austere in performance and handling, but as Frances had pounded the message home, it was designed completely to be a safe vehicle. The color was copper and not girlie gold and style also pleased him and he thought the sound system was great. He'd followed Frances home and when she asked him did his like his vehicle, he kissed her.

"God what are you doing Andy?" she said, attempting to swat him like a fly but he was too quick for her. 

"Thanking you for being so nice to me. If you want a kiss to get you really going, just ask?"

"Oh god. Um would you be offended if I pass on that generous offer?"

He teased, "Omigod Frances, you really do know how to handle yourself."

She glanced at Andy, looking somewhat confused.

Andy said he never read manuals, could she show him how everything worked.

Frances sat in the driver's seat and he stood outside the open door and followed her instruction attentively. She then asked him to tell her how to operate some of the systems she'd demonstrated and he carried that out effortlessly.

"You are an amazingly good coach for a female."

She sighed and then said he was impressive as a quick-learning student.

"Ah here's Natalie. Kiss her and come in for coffee before she takes you out to buy a bike."

Kiss her? Andy almost thought he hadn't heard Frances correctly.

Natalie came up and patted the butt of the car and said, "Nice wheels."

"Yeah. They think I'm worth it."

"Regard Frances as my mother; I do."

"Yeah right," Andy said, and kissed her. He held on carefully, aware she'd tensed hugely.

He said quietly, "Relax Nat, get used to another man kissing you. I know I've yet to prove to you whether or not I'm a jerk but let's be friend huh, and friends are allowed to kiss."

"I'm sorry but you must understand..."

"I don't and am not interested other than to say I know you have been badly wounded. Your mom had obviously decided I'm the guy to pull you back on to your feet and I'm willing to do that. Whether or not we have sex will be totally up to you Nat, um I mean insofar as the first time."

"I'm older that you are. I've just turned thirty. You should look for a female without problems and enjoy yourself."

"Do such females exist?"

Natalie laughed and said she could see her mom having problems handling Andy.

"I'm relaxed now. You may let me go. I've come to take you to look at bikes." 

"Excellent I'm so grateful."

Natalie said, "Aren't you going to kiss me again?"

"Not now but you can kiss me whenever you wish."

"Like now?"

"Yes."

She kissed him and said she was sure he was the kind of guy who could restore her to full confidence again.

"Mom has helped me a lot but I'm left with this sexual hang-up as you so correctly perceived. The truth is I know I need you."

"Great. Let's go in for coffee before we push off."

Stepmother and daughter kissed.

"How was your day?"

"Almost problem free and very productive."

"Did Andy make a pass at you?"

"Yes."

"Did you slap him?"

"No he talked me out of that."

"Good. I had the feeling he could handle you," Frances said and turned to Andy.

"Tell us about this rental apartment you signed up for this morning."

Andy's phone went. He excused himself and went away a short distance and conversed in Spanish. He returned to the table smiling.

"That was my landlady. She's a motherly type and says I'm to call her Theresa. She's about fifty. She says I'm not to buy linen because she has plenty and will also do laundry for me twice a week. She says she and her husband are very happy they have rented the apartment at last because the conversion cost heaps of money. When I settle I get you guys across for dinner."

"Can you cook?"

"I hope so Frances."

"Mom he's teasing. He is a former university student who probably lived off campus because he wasn't big into rules and the females would have insisted the males cook some of the time. We certainly did."

"Oooh Nat, so you were into mixed flatting at university."

The red-faced Natalie said, "Mom don't listen to him."

"I wasn't aware Andy was attempting to slur you."

"Well possibly not but he definitely was out to embarrass me."

"You ought to be pleased dear. You used to like being teased before things turned sour for you."

Andy said, "Nat I can't keep apologizing, it just isn't..."

"No it's fine and mom is right. I used to like being cleverly teased and mom knows colleges are not the place to look for virgins."

"Er right shall we be off?"

As Andy had unrestricted private use of his vehicle, they went in it, principally to ensure the cycle fitted at the rear without problems, but Andy also wished to gain more experience with the vehicle with all its gadgets. He ended up buying a near-new Soma Double Cross DC painted midnight silver simply because he liked the look of it and the mechanic said if he wasn't into specialized cycling and wanted a bike for urban riding, with the flexibility to go off road, he'd buy that bike. It was fitted with disk brakes.

The guy was better than a salesperson (the one female and two male salespeople were with other buyers). He put the bike on a stand and sat Andy on it and took great care to adjust the riding position to the position Andy seemed to favor.

"Oh the other thing," said the mechanic. If your pre-owned bike gets stolen you haven't paid out big money."

The guy even wheeled out the paid-for cycle and gave Andy tips on mounting it on the holder.

Natalie and to Andy, "Do you want me to see where you'll be living?"

"Why?"

"In case you invite me over to join you on a bike ride."

"Would you really want to ride with me?"

"Yes of course. Even mom knows you'd not a jerk."

God don't women have anything else to do but to talk about men? Andy headed for Daly City.

Although Andy's car was without the navigation system, to his astonishment he went to the house like a homing pigeon. Well it did help having San Bruno Mountain State Park to his right as he drove along Hillside Blvd and then turned on to John Daly Blvd and from there he had the streets fixed in his mind.

Natalie practically gaped.

"For some time I thought you were lost but you have got here as if you have lived here. I can show you a faster route but I must say well done."

She glimpsed the sea as they approach as she said, "Oh this is an excellent location for you being a country boy and that's the Thornton Beach State Park along this part of the coast. Oooh is that your house?" she asked, looking where Andy was looking.

"Yes I take possession tomorrow."

"Oh look, there's a plump woman waving for us to come over."

"Oh gee, how embarrassing."

"It's not. I'd like to see where you will live."

Andy half cringed.

"Mrs McArthur has a vivid imagination I think. She will be thinking you'll want to shift in with me."

"Well that's not a problem. Have you asked her could women stay with you overnight?"

"Andy, answer me. Andy where are you going in such a hurry? Andy wait for me."

They drove back to Natalie's parent's place where she'd left her car. She said she lived two miles away close to where she worked. She shared an apartment with two females but added it was nowhere as nice as Andy's.

"You heard me raving on to Theresa. God it was hard to get a word in edgeways with her. I think she will really spoil you."

"Yeah and I can't wait," he grinned. "It could be better than living at home."

Andy spent next day learning more about how the company operated and that evening shifted into his new apartment. He could tell Frances was almost beside herself with curiosity and eased that by inviting her and Evan for dinner on Saturday.

"Oh thank you, thank you. What should we wear?"

"Casual like you wear around here. It's only a small home, not a palace."

Natalie followed Andy over, wanting to help him shift in. He attempted to say he had all his possessions in two bags so didn't require help and was ignored.

Theresa greeted them. "I've made you dinner and there's enough for Natalie as well."

Andy cringed and mumbled thanks whereas Natalie called loudly, "As that's so lovely of you Theresa. We were going to order in pizza."

"Young lady, please eat good food for good health. Pizza is crap and that figures coming from Italy."

"I think it's made just a few streets away from here," Natalie presumably joked and Theresa bellowed in laughter and wiping her eyes said Natalie was so funny.

Natalie carried the lighter travel bag up the stairs ahead of Andy with the second bag, opened the door at the top of the stairs and called "Omigod."

Andy rushed in, fearing the worst, and boggled.

The table top was ringed with lit miniature candles and in the center of the table was a bottle of sparkling wine in a chiller and beside that two wine glasses. The table was set in two settings in the two larger gaps between candles.

"Omigod, Theresa knew I'd come to see you settled."

"That woman's out to mother you," Andy said and Natalie looked at him big-eyed.

Andy kissed her without a word and she kissed him back.

He opened the wine and they sat and he poured.

"Cheers to your new home."

"Thanks," he said. "Good health. Will you stay the night?" 

"I'll stay late and have sex, but will go home."

He said gravely, "I cannot believe what I just heard."

"Well I can guess what you want and mom told me last night to let myself go and pretend the past never happened. She said if I didn't I risked losing a happy future, and that's when I believed what she was saying."

"You are a honey Natalie. Would you mind if I go down and invite the McArthur's up. They will be dying to know what I thought of this little welcome."

"Yes please do it and I'll suggest to Theresa we all have dinner up here tonight and I'll help carry. I worked as a waitress before I went to college and during my freshman year."

To Be Continued...



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 11



Theresa had prepared a great meal and it was such a convivial occasion with laughter flying thickly as the wine flowed after Dougal fetched another bottle although Natalie, knowing she would be driving, only consumed two half glasses.

When Natalie went down with the McArthur's to help Theresa, against Theresa's protests, to clear dinner away Andy snuffed out the candles and put them on to the tray left at the top of the stairs. He unpacked his two bags and put away his clothes and toiletries and placed a few decorative things around the kitchen/living room.

Natalie came bouncing up the stairs, saw the framed photo waiting to be hung and said, "Oh your family. May I look?"

"Of course."

"Oh I see where all of you children got your good looks... from your mother. She's lovely."

"And she's lovely in disposition as well. My father is a hard man, generally uncompromising."

"Do you miss your mother?"

Andy said not really, he knew she was there and he usually called her twice a week just before her bedtime.

"Oh that's so lovely."

Natalie pushed him on to a lounge chair and sat on his knee.

"My god Theresa loves you."

Andy grinned and said, "They have three daughters."

"Yes I suppose that's it but I would suggest you don't let her corner you."

They kissed, their first really long kiss and their tongues touched.

Natalie said, "You can play with my boobs. You're always looking at them but I know that's why they are prominent like that."

Oh not another reminder of his addiction, Andy sighed.

"Go on."

He hesitated and she fumbled around and pulled one out for him. It had a perfectly formed stubby nipple without creases and the areola was pale pastel pink.

Yummy.

He dived in and she squealed, gripping his hair around his ears and that told Andy this was real... she really was waiting to be fucked.

He slobbered, waiting for the rebuke.

"Oh god, that's wonderful. I love a clean-shaved lover who slobbers."

Eh? How many lovers had she had before marriage, probably no more than two and who were they and how far had they got with her and how often? Did it matter? No.

He came off the nipple and held his face up to be kissed.

She palmed both smoothly shaven cheeks and kissed him, her tongue sinking deeply into his mouth and waggling a riot.

Oh boy.

He unzipped.

She didn't wait for the invitation. Her hand darted in like a ferret and then he heard her swallow heavily as she gulped, "Omigod."

"Some women like them big," he growled.

"And I'm one of those because I have a big cunt. It's just that I hadn't thought you'd be so big."

Cunt? The foul-mouthed bitch, Andy grinned. And gee, she'd just confessed to having had thoughts about the size of his dick. Fucking females, a guy never knew what they were thinking.

He unbuckled and undid the button at the top of his pants. He then eased out from under Natalie, allowing her to drop into the chair. Andy then pulled off her panties, Natalie co-operating, and he eyed a beautiful pouty and hairless pussy.

He knew it was ridiculous but he had a proud feeling of joint ownership. This was his idea of the perfect cunt and it was on offer to him.

Andy held both her legs, encased in black light denier stockings, up high and looked down and saw one of the black straps crossing the creamed bare patch of thigh to the garter belt and felt his already fairly stiff erection gain perhaps another quarter of an inch. He began licking the soles of her feet.

Natalie became a bit jumpy when he did that but when he licked around the bump of protruding ankle bone and circled it with his tongue, although that was over a stocking, she began to almost behave as he was licking around her outer pussy lips.

Gradually he worked his way up, drawing his tongue alternatively over the backs of both legs and when he reached the top of her stockings and lifted the strap to lick under that, Natalie lost it.

"Oh god, shove it in me quickly. I'm about to climax."

Andy proved he was the guy for the occasion. Out of nowhere it seemed, he managed to produce a condom and rolled it on efficiently and then pushed into Natalie who was conveniently oozing natural lube. 

Holding Natalie's legs out wide, Andy propelled his dick in as far as it could go and when their groins collided Natalie shook into a huge sigh and came in shudders.

Andy ploughed on and she came again and he continued.

Natalie squirmed a bit and then settled. Only then did Andy realize she was working to widen her other orifice down there.

Hey this wasn't Christmas or his birthday or Independence Day.

Natalie puffed, "Are you aware of what I'm doing."

"Sure thing baby and you guessed correctly I'd be interested."

"Well this is a special occasion with me being experiencing sex with a guy again. Don't expect to get this every time we fuck."

Andy thought with satisfaction ah, so she was expecting him to fuck her regularly.

When he felt her hand move away he pulled out and rolled on a fresh condom. He lifted her butt and spitting into the small opening, gently worked in his sheathed dick.

They didn't speak. Apparently she knew what was involved and because of that Andy made no effort to calm her and to enquire how was it for her; she'd already know that and he was sure she'd let him know if it wasn't going well.

When halfway in, Andy folded her left leg and pulled that up against his chest and hanging in to the leg for support gently began to pick up pace.

Well Nat was a big girl and not only in height, Andy thought in satisfaction and the anal shafting proceeded smoothly. He could feel his balls hit Natalie's hand on each thrusting stroke and assumed she was now beating her pussy and clit. When she moaned into a big climax and collapsed, Andy pulled out and pulled off the condom and tossed it toward the table.

Natalie dropped to the floor and, looking up at him, began sucking his dick.

Gazing at her, his teeth biting gently into his bottom lip, Andy thought he really liked her.

She pulled away as his head snapped back and the first shot splatted into her left eye and hair and she shot his pulsating cock back into her mouth probably to avoid further facial spraying.

After the third major stream, pressure easing, Andy straightened and looked down at her.

Natalie pulled out his dick and licked away the final small oozing of cum.

She then looked up at him. Her hair was a mess, eye makeup was askew where she'd taken a shot in one eye and had wiped it away, and she smiled up at him, her face sweaty and cum dripping from both sides of her mouth.

Oh Natalie, what an unselfish and hugely into it lover. Andy felt woozy and in need of a breather but he was on a high. Looking at Natalie and stroking away cum from one side of her mouth Andy knew he loved her. She had performed magnificently, needed a man and she deserved to be loved.

After a short rest he made coffee, Natalie then showered and a few minutes later Andy walked her down to her car.

They kissed and he said, "I love you."

"I daresay you do amid euphoria. But tomorrow will bring different feelings."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," she smiled. She got into her car and drove off, smiling, her face alight with expression, but what was behind that expression Andy had no idea. But obviously she had enjoyed herself and was back into a life of fucking and relating intimately with a guy... or with guys. It was enough for him to know she was happy.

Frances came into Andy's office next morning and said, "Good gracious what have you done to my daughter? She called me early and said she felt as though she was walking on air. What did you do it her?

Andy came from behind his desk and kissed Frances.

She pushed him away and yelled at him to stop touching her.

"What did you do to make Natalie like this?"

"Frances I'll tell you when you're old enough." 

"Blah," she spat, or a word that sounded like that, and flounced out of the office. 

Andy had just begun to read the company's business plan when there was a knock on his door.

He looked up and said, "Hi Caroline. Come in."

Andy saw Caroline Meredith glance around the office and he said, "What do you think?"

"At present it's tidier than when I occupied it."

"But lacks a woman's touch... no wall paintings or flowers."

She almost smiled and sat.

"I have a huge problem. We appear to be losing one of our journal's principal advertisers, Kaiser Farm Supplies. They take the center two pages of the journal each issue and inside front cover, and the company takes more ad space in our annual and two six-month reviews, all up spending approximately $155,000 per year."

"What's the problem?"

"In the last issue of the journal we ran a two-page ad immediately in front of Kaiser's centerspread and two pages from the same rival firm on the two pages following."

"Jesus," who was the idiot..."

"I was in Montana winning a new contract when my deputy did the dummy layout. I accept full responsibility."

"Get the idiot in here and..."

"She resigned an hour ago and has already left."

"What have you done about it?"

"I phoned Kaiser's sales manager to discuss the situation and he said they had sent the required months' notice of cancellation of contract and then hung up. I called their director of operations and he listened to my apology and the reception I had received from his manager and he said he wouldn't hang up on me but he'd heard enough and was ending the call."

Andy swore.

"Have you reported this to Evan?"

"Yes and he said you now handle operational matters."

Andy nodded.

"Well get ready, we leave in fifteen minutes to confront Kaiser's chiefs."

She said if he was an idiot, "That's three hours' drive away."

"Yes and three hours back and an overnight stay if we can't get to see the CEO right away. There is no way will I call first because surprise gives us an advance. Either come or stay here. It's your choice."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You decide. You are an executive and ought to be capable of making an executive decision."

Caroline hesitated and then said, "I must see this through. I'll call my husband and child-minder now. Is there a chance we'll be back tonight?"

"A good chance but we can't count on it."

Leaving for home, where they expected to arrive around 7:00 pm, Caroline paid homage.

"Omigod I admire you Andy. The CEO of Kaiser told us in front of his operations manager and sales manager, if we hadn't shown up to offer a face-to-face apology they would have gone through with the cancellation. In an afternoon you have saved this company a huge slice of revenue."

"I call it a team effort. I can recall you struggling to hold back tears and saying to them you accepted full responsibility and such an abominable fuck-up would never occur on your watch again. They were highly impressed and accepted your offer of a free adverting banner across each line of our annual calendar insert and the inside back cover for a complimentary advertisement in this year's annual review as compensation."

"You think they were impressed that I used the F-word?"

"I think the whole phrase 'abominable fuck-up' impressed. They probable though that was original grovel and it was unbelievable it had come from a woman. I know I thought that and was duly impressed."

They drove in silence for almost a mile and Caroline said, "How may I reward you Andy? It took you to make this work."

"Well I suggest not sex."

Caroline blushed hugely and said, "I-I only thought that."

"Look just do your best for me and the company. That's all I ask."

A half-mile of silence followed.

"Andy if you really want sex..."

"Caroline I said no. God if I fucked you what would you think of me the next day?"

"An asshole," she said cheerfully. "I'm beginning to really like you."

Andy grinned and thought that was a turnaround for him. Females usually thanked him for fucking them and here was one thanking him for not doing it. It was difficult to know where you were with women.

"In the men's room during a coffee stop, he called Natalie.

"Hi it's Andy. Are you walking or waddling today?"

"What? Oh god Andy you are foul."

"Well?"

"Perhaps I am," she giggled.

"I had to rush south to try to save the day for a huge advertising foul-up and took the advertising manager Caroline with me. We will get back soon after 7:00."

"You don't sound unhappy so I guess the rush journey was worthwhile."

"Yep we achieved success. May I take you out to dinner tomorrow? I'll hit the sack early tonight."

"Why not come to my apartment for dinner and give the girls the chance to look you over."

"They won't be looking for a gang-bang will they?"

"Andy Ash. Don't be so gross!"

"Sorry, perhaps we better go out just as a couple to avoid me embarrassing you."

"No way. You'll come for dinner at the apartment and show just what a good-mannered charmer you really are."

* * *

Now that Andy was on board and pulling his weigh, Evan devoted more time to business analysis and planning. On morning he called Frances and Andy in to his office for a meeting and they sat at his side table.

The discussion was about the market strength of the company.

"It worries me to find 29% of our subscribers live in California and 59% of or advertisers are based in California."

"Why don't you be happy with what we've got?" Frances said.

The men looked at her and then looked at each other and winked, suggesting Frances wasn't really interested because the thought of perhaps striving for a better balance wasn't her idea. 

But as it turned out Evan also found Andy thought attempting to balance subscriptions with advertising seemed pointless.

"You could spend money and effort to achieve what? No much at all in my opinion. It would be a bit like attempting to flow water uphill."

Frances clapped and Evan scowled.

Andy continued. "We don't need an accountant with fancy computer software to work out what we already know. This outfit is based in CA, a huge percentage of manufacturing and services throughout our full circulation area is based in CA and added to that our salaried reporting staff are all based in CA and work longer hours for us than do our contract field reporters."

"Yes and we all know that," Evan said gruffly.

"Evan what Andy is describing is the reason for the imbalance you have raised and the reason for that is this outfit in based in CA and that automatically places a huge leaning towards CA reporting and advertising sales. He could have said we only have one salesperson resident outside of CA and that is Rosie in Denver."

"Yes all right Frances and you two stop calling this flourishing business by the derogatory name of an outfit." 

Frances and Andy glanced at each other and grinned. Evan saw and said, "This meeting is over."

"Not it isn't," Andy said. "If you want reform, stop barking up the wrong tree."

"Okay then shoot."

"I know this is not your idea Evan but other people are entitled to have ideas. Why not look at the cost of servicing some of our states and what revenue would be lost from canceled advertising, or pressure for reduced advertising rates, if we dropped off some states."

Looking horrified, Evan said, "Exactly what are you saying Andy?"

"Well Evan, I'll fly a kite. Would we be harmed or would we become more profitable if we no longer circulated in the northern states meaning Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming?"

"Jesus it took the previous owners blood and guts to build circulation in those states."

"There you go, barking up another tree Evan. You are focusing on sentimentality and I guess readership and their advertising support, whereas Andy is focusing on a possible way to strengthen our operation."

"Well I can't see how cutting five states in his hypothetical example would strengthen the company."

Andy grinned. "Well you won't do it without researching the situation and then pay to gather the data and then get a professional to assess the situation."

"That would be a great way to handover a suitcase of money."

Andy pressed on. "Your advertisers pay you money to get results from consumers. For exactly the same reason you would pay that professional appraiser for information you don't have and probably can't get without outside professional assistance."

"Well I see your ideas as functional as a leaky sieve."

"Okay Evan, let me put it this way. Why isn't the 'Western States Monthly Journal' circulating in, say, the Dakotas, Nebraska and even Kansas?"

"Well for starters, they are not Western States, stretching that far out would be more difficult and more expensive to... oh crap I see where this is going. And more expensive to service, and Andy I'll add, for a questionable advantageous return."

"He's not bad is he darling?" Frances said to Evan. "Young smarty steered you to dig your own hole."

Evan grinned. "Come on you lot, let's find a place for a decent lunch. We can go by cab to allow us all to have a few drinks. I'm against extending our circulation area but not against retraction if the figures stack up and perceived fallout from advertisers is not great. Perhaps I should look first as Washington and Oregon. Analyze how they perform and then see how some of our other states compare with Washington and Oregon. My feeling is we'd never chop Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado."

Andy nodded and said, "Actually you could look at chopping all outlying states and concentrate on developing CA alone. Alternatively you could change totally to an online weekly newspaper and allow anyone anywhere to access the newspaper beyond the cover page for a fee."

"Please muzzle him Frances. One step at a time with this appraisal thanks and I'm mindful we don't attempt to fix what's not broken. Come on. Let's go."

They ate at a Mexican restaurant and when Evan went off to water his pony, Andy said to Frances, "Well what do you think?"

"I think he's now on the right track. I'm aware we don't make much money out of Washington and Oregon at the end of the day. But we must talk to a sample of advertisers before we decide whether to chop any. I'll suggest to Evan that he includes Idaho in his appraisal. I'll help him identify the weakest link and then use that as our model. In the end it might be only Washington that goes. That's what I think."

That night Andy thought he was like a fish out of water in this company. Although the company was sited it a big city, it would be more at home in a small town. At the same time it had offered him sanctuary and he was grateful for that. He'd wait for his three-year contract term to expire and then move on which now became plan B. Plan A had been to wait until Evan opted to retire and then Andy thought he'd take out a big loan and buy Evan's share of the company. Frances wouldn't be too bad as a business partner because she concentrated on finance and HR and largely kept her nose out of planning and kept right out of day to day management.

Yeah well Plan B was to move on and pick up as much management experience as he could and develop management systems in companies and then make sure that management fully understood its business beyond what was apparent. That made him think Evan needed to have market information at its fingertips to monitor trends instead of moving to catch up after potholes appeared and to realize business growth opportunities had been lost or parts of the business had become unsound.

Andy sighed, thinking he wasn't getting much sex. It had been ten or eleven nights since Nat had stayed with him. Obviously her interest was with her flatmates but she still liked to be fucked, occasionally. He should look for another pussy, a female who'd remain in the background because it would be best if he didn't dump Nat. Her stepmom enjoyed seeing him and Nat together.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 11



Rather than do the big sweep across all states twice a year to liaise with contract journalist and say howdy to advertisers as Evan had done, Andy had modified the system to go to two or three states at a time and he grouped CA into north and central to visit quite regularly and tied in the southernmost region of CA with a visit to Arizona and New Mexico. He now had the sweeps fine-tuned and the system was working well and meant he was not away from the office for overly long periods. 

Evan quite unintentionally land Andy with the covert pussy he wanted. At a meeting with Andy and Frances, Evan suggested Andy should take Caroline on his 'sorties' as his visits to two or three regions were called, to make the company's presence felt more significantly.

"What do you mean?" Andy enquired and actually thought the idea had merit when Evan said the contract reporters would see the close tie-in between advertising and operations that included them, as would advertisers.

"You should put the idea to Caroline. Her husband might hit the roof with her being away for up to four days with a guy."

"I already have and Caroline said it was a good idea provided it timed to avoid clashing with her team's deadlines. She thought advertisers would like having a rep from our senior management present if they had beefs or even suggestions to make and she said her husband, a planning engineer, said to her it could reduce some of the stress she faced through lack of direct contact with her market segments.

"Well I don't know," Andy said slyly, not wanting this thought as his idea.

"I agree with Evan," Frances said, "and Cliff would be aware Caroline is a devoted mother and he knows you are years younger than Caroline and you and Natalie are a number."

Yeah a number that didn't quite add up, Andy thought sourly.

He grumbled it would put another day on each trip, being bogged down by a female because they didn't like putting in long days and travelling long distances at a time.

"God Andy," Frances said. "Being thirty-five doesn't make Caroline an old woman. She swims long distances at least three times a week and runs with her two kids because she's big into fitness."

They talked on about it and decided one paired-sortie should be trialed.

"Where is your next planned sortie?" Frances asked.

"Utah and Colorado," Andy said, thinking damn because he worked in the mornings and evenings to allow him to ski afternoons.

"Oh excellent, Caroline will like that," Frances said. "Allow and extra day because Caroline is big into snowboarding."

Huh?

Caroline came running into Andy's office without knock. She was so excited.

"Evan has briefed me. We can grab time to go skiing."

"Skiing?"

"Yes I'm big into skiing and snowboarding. Um Andy, I don't know how to put this without embarrassing you but I won't mind staying at your regular places and suggest double suites would be fine."

Huh what was that telling him? He needed convincing she was serious about this.

"We are friends right?"

"Ah yes of course," he said and looked at the top of her head instead of her tits.

She patted at her head and asked was there something wrong with her hair.

"Nope I thought I saw a spider on the wall."

Without turning to look, Caroline quickly took a couple of sidesteps and asked about schedule.  

Andy and Caroline flew to Salt Lake City and picked up a Ford rental and drove to their motel. While Andy waited to drive to the unit to unload his bag and laptop and Caroline's three bags and laptop, she registered.

"I changed our suite for a smaller suite with a view of mountains and the price is about the same."

"That's fine."

"Um it only has a king-sized bed."

Andy eyed her and she squirmed.

"Okay Caroline, you have made your intentions clear. Please change our bookings to suit in Colorado as well including at the ski chalet."

"Y-you don't mind."

"What with a sexy woman like you, of course I don't. Providing you don't bend over in front of me you'll be safe."

He looked away grinning, hearing her big sigh of relief.

The room was tastefully furnished. Before Caroline could made herself even more nervous, Andy grabbed and kissed her heavily and felt her relax.

"Do you wish to see me nude now?"

He smiled and said, "No let's get into it and call on Alan who works from home. Um I would prefer a slow seduction but let me see your tits now."

Caroline pulled her top up to under her chin and pulled down her bra and out popped a couple of beauties.

"Oh yummy," Andy said. "You have a great pair Caroline."

"I've had children and they become bigger and have dropped..."

"What's the problem? They look great suckers and playable to me baby. Come on, let's attend to chores and hurry back here. I can't wait to get at you."

"Do I have time to do my face?"

"Yes of course."

Driving to Alan's home, Andy briefed Caroline about Utah's agriculture saying as to be expected, sheep, cattle and dairying were the mainstays with poultry increasing in cash returns and hay, corn and barley were the main crops. Dairying was big, returning about 20% of all off-farm sales and of course downstream processing was big as well."

"God you know a lot."

"Not really but I regard it as part of my job to know such stuff and what I related are simply statistics. They tell one nothing about the tough row to hoe to get farm production reared or grown and off to market because water supplies are short on the land up here and at times the climate can be harsh."

Alan's wife Anne had prepared lunch that, the visitors had after their working session with Alan.

When Andy was assisting Anne to clear Caroline asked, "Do you welcome the twice yearly visits by Andy?"

"I sure do and more so than by Evan because Andy has worked as a journalist and relates better to me and what I do. He knows about the need for motivation because it can be tough dredging up new stories. He's urged me to keep better records and diary updates to bring up files on say when a new processing plant I wrote about at the time the intention to build was nearing completion so I could update readers with pictures and quote the company's expectations. Before that I just relied on getting an invitation to the official opening of the plant but of course sometimes the invitations never arrived.

"So he's taught you about systems?"

"Yeah."

"And he's done that with me as well and now my people are the better for it."

"I'm surprised Evan allowed you two to travel together. You are very attractive."

"Alan I'm married with two young children."

"Oh Caroline, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, no offence taken."

The couple representing 'Western States Monthly Farm Journal' had a busy and what they considered was a very productive day, arriving back at the motel just before 7:00.

"I feel we have already more than paid the cost of our time in Utah and we have another day to go."

"I hear what you say," Andy said. "But now we are in our time. Let me get these tits out."

"Andy I should shower first."

"Nah I want you raw and dripping fluid over me."

"Omigod a man not afraid of the smell of a woman. Oh fuck Andy, rip into me. My sex life has become so boring."

Andy ripped out his stiffening erection, pulled up Caroline's skirt high and told her to hold it clear. He picked her up, turned back to the door and she leaned back on to it and leaving him to pull aside her panty leg and spit heavily on to his free hand.

"Don't bother with a condom," she said, too excited to wait for that delay.

But by then Andy, knees bent to balance her weight, was already feeding in his dick.

Caroline sighed and pushed the skirt she was holding over his head and worked to free her breasts.

She gathered her skirt back in as Andy began building his thrusting rate. He saw the bared breasts and gave a deep guttural growl, "Oh fucking beautiful tits" and slammed into one with his mouth. At that Caroline bucked and mewed into her first orgasm.

"Kiss me," she cried plaintively.

They kissed and lapped tongues and that drew Andy into his first ejaculation.

"Keep going Andy you filthy man, who's fucking an innocent mother like this."

Andy was to learn being with filthy-mouthed Caroline and her busy fingers, he didn't require much of a rest that night, apart from their meal break. She told him later she couldn't believe it herself how she'd taken to him with all her systems on go and on full power.

They finished calls on Thursday working from Denver to Colorado Springs where they spent another sexy night. On Friday they dragged themselves into an early start and spent a glorious day at Breckenridge. From there they drove back to Denver where they had a meal and checked in the rental car and caught their 8:20 flight to San Francisco.

"Omigod Andy," Caroline said quietly as the aircraft took off. "Thank you, thank you. I guess I'll never again feel so sexually liberated."

"Don't forget to tell your husband you are exhausted because you skied for six hours today."

"I won't and Cliff knows on-the-road work is tiring. He'll get whatever he wants if only one round. I hope you haven't stretched me so much that he'll notice."

Andy shrank in his seat a bit, wondering if the woman next to Caroline had heard that.

As they left the aircraft Andy said, "Well that was really successful I feel as a business trip and my sorties will never feel the same again, especially at nights."

"Oh they will Andy. Let's ensure are reports support the concept of tandem sorties. I never wish to travel alone again and we need to juggle timing around my monthly cycles."

"Oh god," Andy groaned, making Caroline giggle.

They settled into that tandem format and everyone became so used to that no longer were eyebrows raised.

After the second sortie, Caroline confided to Andy, "Cliff my husband says the good results I'm producing from directly relating to clients in making these trips and you pushing me into skiing, cycling and horse-riding has raised my energy levels and the sex he's getting is the best it's been. We have to thank you for that Andy. I was so enthusiastic about our time in Montana that he wants me to return on a family holiday and do the things you and I did."

"Um not with the kids watching what we did at the motels I hope?"

Caroline had to slap her hand over her mouth to muffle her screaming laughter.

The drift between Andy and Natalie continued until they no longer dated and yet they'd never formalized a breaking up and when they had dinner or a weekend lunch with her parents, they continued to act as if they were more than good friends, although they'd arrived separately and would depart in their cars, driving off in different directions. Frances had asked him a couple of times what was wrong between Natalie and him and Andy had replied nothing he could put his finger on and Frances had snapped, "That's more or less what Natalie says. I really can't understand you two."

At that Andy thought of saying well join the club, but kept his mouth shut. He'd only be asked to explain what that meant and on it would continue.

With four months to go before contract renewal, he told the two principals at the end of one of their regular meetings that they should begin looking for his replacement.

Their reactions interested him as they were about what he'd expected. Frances had said, "I'd thought it would come to us" while Evan said, "You really don't want to leave us do you?"

"It's time I attempted to climb the corporate ladder again."

"Is it because I've only cut Washington from our catchment area?"

"No and you still need to make the tough decision about Oregon. I had a good career shaping in corporate business and then I stumbled. I have more maturity and business experience now and so the timing is right to attempt to leap forward. You'll need to replace me because we now have systems in place here that have produced efficiencies and improving the bottom line that will erode unless they are managed Evan let's face it, you now operate as if you were semi-retired."

"Thanks Andy. I wasn't looking forward to telling him that."

"I am productive with my liaison with our people and all the planning I do and working with you Frances on business analysis."

"Yes and I agree that has to be done but the glue that holds everything together is done at the coalface, by Andy. We must replace him."

Andy began looking for his next position and found nothing that set him alight and registered with three recruitment agencies. The advice he received was not to make a real bid until within two months of becoming available.

He agreed with that but then Frances recruited the replacement, a woman in her mid-forties.

And then totally unexpectedly Linda Hoffman called Andy. When she identified herself using her full name he almost said who?

They chatted. She asked where was he working and he said for a small company based in San Francisco and that he was thinking it was time to move on.

"That's music in my ears," she said.

"Oh," though Andy, thinking she was now CEO of Silver Foods and had called him, possibly to fill a spot."

"I was head-hunted from Silver Foods as CEO of a growing company that supplies foodstuffs to hotels and restaurants, catering firms, cafes and the like. We are growing the business and the directors now want us to look for other opportunities within Illinois. I am soon to be appointed executive chairman."

Andy's heart lifted a couple of notches.

"Before I begin looking for my replacement as CEO, I thought I should regain contact with you and talk to you about that position."

"Yeah good thinking."

Linda said she'd come and stay overnight if he thought that was worthwhile.

"Yes business and sex?"

"God Andy, you can still catch a girl on the front foot. Um my interest in sex is waning."

"Well let's play that by ear; you'll know what you want. Do you know this city?"

"Not very well."

"Well I love it and will show you around. It's a city that can love a person."

"Omigod I like you talking to me like that. Are you married?"

"No and have been in and out of relationship and at present are left with strays. My landlady is supplying a steady stream of daughters of friends of hers."

"Married women?"

"Mostly."

"God Andy, can't you see that stops you from meeting women who could attract you into marriage."

"Yeah I do but when pussy comes at you, what is a guy like me to do?"

Linda sighed and said perhaps she was to blame for that, making it too easy for him to have a casual bed companion almost on tap.

Andy met Linda at the airport and thought she still looked great although she would be fifty by now, er perhaps fifty-one or maybe fifty-two. He couldn't remember. 

"This is a lovely car."

"Yep the new model. I got it early last year."

He explained what his work involved and noticed Linda didn't interrupt apart from clarifying a couple of things. She obviously was in recruitment mode.

They went up to her suite and she made coffee, chatting. And when they began sipping coffee she said, "I hope you can accept I have decided not to sleep with you again."

"Because you might see complications ahead if you recruit me?"

She looked surprised and said yes, mainly that but she was also slowing down sexually.

"Good thinking," he smiled and thought that rang her bell sweetly.

They went around the city like tourists that day and stopped off at a bar for a couple of hours when she said she was tiring.

"See what the problem is?"

"Yes and the way to handle it is to adjust sensibly."

"My husband no longer seeks sex from me but one of our male friends has retained spark and we get together quite a bit."

"Way to go Linda. For a while I thought you and I had it made and we sure went at it like rabbits. It was good while it lasted but we both knew it wouldn't last. Fifty is not old."

"Fifty-two and I know I should be doing exercise but I really don't like doing it, so don't and I really like only walking through parks and gardens."

"As any experienced farmer will say, you reap what you sow."

Linda smiled and him and said, "You are maturing into a lovely man. Don't leave it too long."

"What masturbation?"

"Marriage you fool. God no one makes me laugh like as schoolgirl as you do."

They dined that evening at one of San Francisco's renowned seafood restaurants and they both agreed it was a real dining experience.

Andy walked Linda from the car to the entrance doors and said, "My co-boss will be calling for you at 11:00 in the morning. She is a bit austere but loves shopping. When I arranged this with her I told Frances to answer any questions about me."

"You are taking a bit of a risk aren't you?"

"Frances and her older husband Evan know I am intended to leave them within the next couple of months. I have given Frances no reason to hurt me."

Andy kissed her and left for home after arranging to take Linda to the airport at 4:00 next afternoon.

She was waiting in the foyer when he arrived, all ready to go and had six shopping bags and was wearing a new coat and hat.

"You look happy."

"I am, god we had such a wonderful time."

"Excellent and I gather Frances is fine."

"Yes and I managed to turn her light on and we did had fun. I invited her to visit us and her husband in Chicago."

"We?" Andy said, his stomach churning.

"Yes and she said you'll be receiving a great farewell because you have almost single-handedly turned their profitable company into a real money-spinner. Frances said as my CEO I can bet on you getting things done and problems solved insofar as humanly possible."

"Good girl Frances."

"In my view it was no risk at all. Frances is immensely in awe of you and is so sad you and her daughter couldn't make it stick."

"She was a good fuck while it lasted," Andy grinned and Linda told him to stop that talk, that he was speaking to a lady.

Andy's huge grin embarrassed Linda. 

To Be Continued...



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 12



Andy headed for Chicago in the mid-size Volvo he'd been driving that Francis and Evan Archer had purchased for him and the company senior management people had chipped in and presented him with a Bulova Wittnauer black ceramic diamond dress watch.

"Evan, Frances, you guys... you have been great to work with," he choked at the presentations and had to blow his nose before he could say more.

Andy set off for Chicago and stayed off that night in Salt Lake City and took the contract journalist Alan and wife Anne to dinner and next day headed for his family home in Wyoming. The kids appeared to have grown, although he'd last visited the farm only a month earlier and next day he headed for a night in Sioux City and reached Chicago next afternoon.

After a few hours' sleep, he called a couple of females he'd known carnally. The first said she had married and never to phone him again and the second said she was married and where could she meet him.

Paula stayed at the hotel with Andy two nights and went home before her husband, an airline pilot, arrived back in town. Anyway she'd only taken two day's leave, allegedly to attend a favorite aunt's funeral.

God she'd developed into a ball-drainer," Andy sighed. Now why couldn't he marry a babe like that, er perhaps not quite so sexually demanding? He had another couple of hours' sleep and then called Linda. She welcomed him back to Chicago and invited him to come to the office whenever it suited him.

"Like now?"

"Yes," she said, sounding pleased, and gave him directions.

The administrative headquarters of Thurso Fresh & Frozen Foods, established in 1910 by two brothers from, yes Thurso in Scotland, was on the 9th and 10th floor of a good-looking building in West Adams Street, in walking distance from Andy's hotel. He though it was an impressive address.

Andy eyed everything as if he were the business owner because that was how he operated, only this time at the age of thirty-two, he had more executive power than he ever had. He knew Linda well would allow him to do things his way because she would be confident they'd be right for his style of management.

There were two women at reception, neatly dressed and smiling and an older woman sat behind them had the appearance of having some authority. Some historic photographs of the company were on the wall. He made a mental note to have a photograph of a modern activity of the company hung at the back of reception so people approaching for the first time would see that this was a company not locked in its past.

"Good morning sir. Welcome to Thurso Fresh & Frozen Foods. How may I help you?"

Andy was left with a good impression. The young woman looked great and was word-efficient with warm delivery.

"What a pleasant welcome. I'm Andy Ash, here to see Mrs Hoffman. She's expecting me."

The young woman lost her smile and turned quite pale. 

"A M-Mr Ash is our new CEO. Y-you can't be him. You are not m-much older than me."

The middle-aged woman seated back from the counter came around and smiled at Andy and said, "Do you have a problem Libby?"

"Um this gentleman c-claims to be Mr Ash."

"Well I daresay the gentleman knows who he is. Good morning sir, how may I help you?"

"I'm the new CEO Andy Ash. Could you kindly take me to Linda?"

The woman sucked in extra breath and to her credit she didn't miss a beat. The stairs or elevator sir, it's only one floor up?"

"The stairs please."

"I will come around to you from a side door. Oh please meet Libby Young and Mrs Thelma Ross."

"Hi girls. I apologize for being young but someone has to break the mold."

The two women laughed nervously.

"Welcome to the company," Thelma said.

"Thank you Thelma. I love your necklace."

"It was a wedding present from my maternal grandmother. My grandfather gave my husband a shotgun."

"Oh sounds like excellent selection of gifts to me but the downside is you could borrow the shotgun but your husband wouldn't want to wear the necklace."

Thelma said nervously, "I think not sir."

"This way please Mr Ash."

Andy turned to the woman and said asked her for her name and title.

"Mrs Jill Hopkins and I'm office manager. I'm sitting with the receptionists because both are new and I'm assessing them."

"Good work Jill. You are in management so please call me Andy."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as you know you are Jill Hopkins. It's my style. I'm big into the team approach to management as opposed to the autocratic style."

"We actually have a bit of both around here. In the ten months Mrs Hoffman has been here she's made real progress despite having an autocratic chairman opposing her changing much at all, but she's won the battle and he left last Friday."

Andy invited Jill to compose a confidential report about the things that required changing in her department about improving the working environment, how efficiency could be increased and other things that could make people happier with their workplace.

"I've never heard top management talk about making workers happier." 

They reached the top of the stairs and Andy said, "Are you happy in your work Jill?"

"Yes of course."

"And why is that?"

"I'm paid well, I have a lovely office and largely things in my department are run my way."

"I suggest when speaking to your people casually you ask them are they happy working for you and what could be changed to make things better for them."

"Goodness that sounds rather revolutionary."

"Actually it's called personnel management. I'll talk to you more about that soon. How many staff do you directly manage?"

"Twenty-nine."

"That's a big team. The happier they are working for you the better it will be for everyone."

"Well yes, I can see what you are getting at."

Andy smiled at Jill. "So callers all go to the ninth floor and if their business is up here they are either brought up here or the person they wish to see goes down to bring them up. I notice the button on the elevator to the 10 was operational only with a key. Was all this Linda's work?"

"Yes."

"I thought so."

Linda appeared from an office and said, "Hi Andy, welcome to your new business home."

"Thanks Linda," Darcy said, moving in and kissing her on the lips. 

He then turned to Jill and said, "I worked in Linda's department years ago, my first position after graduating."

"Yes and even at that early stage, before long I recognize Andy had exceptional talents."

Andy smiled at the office manager. "Thanks for bringing me up her Jill. We must chat soon."

Linda took Andy's arm and said, "Well people will now hear that you kissed me on the lips and we used to work together and I regarded you then as a boy wonder. Come in and view the office suite the executive chairman occupies. It might be yours one day."

After a brief chat, Linda took Andy around to meet the six executive officers including the company secretary who worked on that floor and then they returned to Linda's office she said she'd agreed to the two changes he'd required to be made to his contract and the document was ready to be signed. Andy checked the two changes against the draft contract he'd brought with him and was satisfied when Linda emphasized no other changes had been made.

Andy confirmed that by checking his salary ($189,000) and provisions for profit-sharing. Linda called in the company's attorney and the document was signed and Andy received his copy. He'd was almost back to where he'd been at the height of his short corporate career in California before being fired and it had taken him a little over three years to gain that lost status.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

The attorney left and Linda called in her PA, introduced Andy to Gail and gave Gail the contract to file.

"Andy, something is going on that I can't tell you about regarding the ownership of this company," Linda said. "I have been given assurances that nothing will change here, that the operation will continue as if nothing has happened."

"You mean a sale?"

"Yes but that's all I can say."

Her phone went and she talked in a low voice to the caller and then said. "Omigod, when? She then listened and said, "In thirty minutes. I'll be there."

"Shut the door please Andy."

Linda said solemnly, "The sale was finalized by our two cornerstone stockholders, with the consent of the other eighteen other parties holding the remaining 22% of stock, at 10:00 this morning. New conditions were demanded by the buyer and the result will be that this operation will be fully integrated into the buyer's own operation as a division. The agreement was everyone here will have to reapply for their positions."

"Andy I assure you I knew nothing about that integration condition of sale. Our 7-member board decided to keep me out of the sale process because I was a salaried officer of the company. The purchaser is Silver Foods Corporation and our board was also aware of course that I had held a senior management position in that company. For some reason the board decided that made it inappropriate for me to be involved in negotiations, even as an observer or a consultant. I failed to agree with that thinking but it was a legitimate decision of the board that left me high and dry."

"Silver Foods eh? This might be the shortest job of my career. Silver Foods might not want me back on board again."

"Oh yes they will. That caller was the new chairman of Silver Foods, a professional director brought in to quell discontent within the board ignited by feuding between the board chairman and his deputy. Both were voted out of office by the board when an extraordinary meeting was called to perform that act and to elect the new chairman Donald Grace. Donald just called me to say thirty minutes ago Silver Foods CEO Carlos Rizzo went to step into an elevator on his office floor when he collapsed and soon afterwards while being assessed by paramedics died, apparently the result of a cerebral aneurysm."

"Good god, that's terrible."

"I agree and this will distress many people beside his family. Well I've been called to an emergency meeting of Silver Foods' board where Donald expects I'll be appointed CEO-designate, with me assuming the position of CEO the day after the funeral. I had been Carlos' deputy CEO and was fired on the instructions of that previous out-of-control chairman and I came here as the company was looking for a new CEO."

"God what a mess."

"Indeed," Andy said, his mind analyzing the situation. I believe the directors of Silver Foods, a company listed on the Stock Exchange, will wish to minimize any fall in the price of its stock and they will want you dealing with stock market officials, advisers and the like. Therefore you should appoint a three-person management committee to run this company with me as chairman until things get sorted out. You need to give me two good thinkers and administrators from your executives, the best two."

"Yes I agree with that and agree three in the best number. I'll call Barry the attorney now to transfer my executive authority to you. I know I can trust you not to mess up. If you disagree with any major issue with your two committee personnel then defer it or else call me. Our board members here are investors without much knowledge of running a business."

When Linda had gone to her meeting, briefing her PA that Gail was now temporarily working for Andy who would work in his own office, Andy called a meeting of all the executives in the boardroom.

What a first day mess to have to clean up, he groaned to himself but not believing it. He thrived on challenges like this. 

Linda had scribbled the names of the executives and where they would sit at the table and indicated Andy should sit at the head of the table.

The four males and two females trooped in and looked angry at being called to a meeting without notice.

Andy smiled and enjoyed stunning them.

"Linda apologizes for her absence. She has left me to deliver the big news. At 10:00 this morning papers were signed for the sale of this company to Silver Foods Corporation."

Most of them looked stunned. Rex Pennington turned belligerent and demanded, "Why weren't we told of this?"

"That is something you ought to ask your board members who made this deal, voting to exclude Linda from negotiations because she had previously worked for Silver Foods and was a salaried executive of this company."

"Well Linda was horrified to learn the plan for this to be a simple change of ownership, with an agreement that this company just carry on as it always had and then only to learn at the eleventh hour that agreement was dropped and in order to achieve the sale, this company's board minus the excluded Linda, agreed to this company being absorbed into Silver Foods as a division. So where does that leave us? Even Linda has no idea."

The group began muttering.

"Please there is more," Andy smiled. "There's a good chance Linda will bounce back in control. She's at a meeting right now where it is possible, and she thinks probable, that the board of Silver Foods will appoint her designate CEO of the corporation following a tragedy about an hour ago when Silver Foods' CEO Carlos Rizzo collapsed and died at the elevator at the floor of his office of a suspected sudden brain hemorrhage. Until she came here, Linda was Carlos' deputy."

"I suggest you talk about this now and get it off your chests."

There was a burst of chatter until Rex said, "What about you, virtually a boy; how do you intend running this company?"

"I know people nearing retirement age like you Rex think of young people as boys or girls. I'm in fact thirty-two and actually worked for Silver Foods until four years ago in Linda's department. Well will you all please listen to this statement from Linda I recorded before she raced off."

"Hi team, this is Linda. I've been called to an urgent meeting as Andy will have told you. He knows he's just stepped in the door as CEO and although I have assigned him executive control, he has suggested he operates with two of you as a three-person executive with himself as chairman. I think that's a sensible idea. If I am appointed CEO of Silver Foods I shall personally manage the absorption of Thurso Fresh & Frozen into Silver Foods, so you can look forward in that event of being treated fairly by someone who knows you rather than ruthlessly by someone afar who only thinks about the bottom line." 

"Andy asked me to propose two of you to join him on that committee. It was a tough call and has nothing to do with seniority. I worked closely with Andy at Silver Foods so know his thinking and his style. Therefore my decision is partly based on computability with Andy and I recommend Andy should appoint Dianne and Thomas. Keep smiling guys."

"Dianne and Thomas," Andy called. "Are you willing to join me on the executive steering committee? There is not pay incentive I'm afraid."

They both said yes. 

Rex looked ready to explode because he was the company's operations manager.

"I don't accept this shoddy arrangement at all."

"Control your temper Rex. This company is now temporarily without its captain and I need you to pull your weight. I want loyalty to the company from you, not dissent in this hour of need."

"And if I decide to fight you all the way?"

Andy smiled. "Aw come on Rex. I'm not going to be pushed into threatening you. Linda's comment at the start of her message was, 'Hi team'. Let's all work as a team. The task for our team is to keep this company running as if Linda were here. Now does anyone have questions?"

Andy was asked about job security but said he had no idea. If anyone was to go it could be him.

"If this company becomes a division of Silver Foods it won't require a CEO, it will be headed I would think by a general manager. That person could be me or if they wanted someone experienced it could be you Rex or a person like you. Who knows? I don't. My thinking is we'll have some answers, perhaps not all, within ten days. I suggest we all sit tight and wait and see."

"Dianne and Thomas, could we meet as a committee back here at 4:00 today. Thanks everyone. I apologize for being young and being the bearer of the bad news that sucks. Jeepers this has been a horror first day initiation for me."

Andy walked out and closed the door behind him to give the team the opportunity to talk mutinously. He entered his office and Gail came in and he scowled.

"Oh dear, behaving like children were they?"

"I can tell you I'm not happy."

"Oh dear, would you like a back rub. Whenever my husband..."

"No thanks, that was a kind offer but no thanks," he said to the mousy brunette and wondered who the hell would want a back rub? He then attempted to work out what his reaction would have been had Gail been a tall, big-tit blonde and had asked did he want a back rub? He thought he was a selfish despicable guy not even fit to run a hot dog stand.

Thirty seconds after Gail had left without rubbing anything, Rex the operations manager entered.

Christ what now!

"We had a quick meeting and I was asked to deliver the result because I was declared the worst offender. We agreed unanimously to do our utmost to back you to the hilt in keeping this company ticking over. I apologize unreservedly for acting like an asshole at your meeting. I know I'm still sore as not being considered for the CEO position but I guess it's my trigger temper that was partly the reason for that. Would you like to come and see my little world?"

Andy said he had already been into Rex's office with Linda.

Rex grinned and said, "Yeah but this time we go through the Green Door."

Huh?

Andy followed Rex into his office where Rex punched in a code on the door lock pad and they went through the green door.

Andy gaped and Rex appeared delighted at that.

"We are so advanced with our distribution system this is almost mid-21st Century technology, borrowed quite extensively from air traffic control systems at airports and coastal defense monitoring systems except we used radio signals for feedback rather than plot by radar. I'm a former civilian radar technician in the USAF."

"Our competitors have heaps of people taking telephone orders, those orders appear on-screen to other operators who sort the orders into sectors and forward the orders for deliver either by phone direct to drivers who might be carrying sufficient extra supplies not to have to come back to base, or else the drivers return to base pick up their new orders and even wait for more orders before going out. Some restrict orders from say 6 am to 10 am and then 1 pm to 3 pm. And that's how it is in most areas of the country."

"Yes, I have some idea of how that operates," Andy said, looking at the huge wall screen.

"What you have here," Rex said proudly, "Is the heart of our monitoring center -- the map of greater Chicago. The moving red dots represent the positions of the portion of our fleet of sixty-eight delivery vehicles that are on the streets at present. We can change that big screen to focus on close ups of any either outlying sectors or full the screen just with downtown and we can slice that into quarters if necessary and zoom up the area. That green light is our warehouse base. And rather a delivery service that is pretty standard from 7 am to 4 pm or so, we are aware some of our customers operate 24/7 so we'll deliver 6 am to 9 pm 24/7."

"Gee that's impressive."

"Yeah well it's what customers want, not what we want."

"We only accept email orders. Each customer has a code and so our computer reads that code and channels the order to the correct vehicle where the driver gets the print out that is out of reach so he or she doesn't attempt to read the orders while driving. The delivery vehicle driver at the next stop feeds the delivery orders into his or her onboard computer. If the computer reads there is sufficient stock on board for a complete delivery, that order is printed out and the computer subtracts those products from the database of onboard products. Even if there is one product short, the onboard computer alerts the driver and the driver decides whether to send that order notice to the warehouse for packaging ready for later delivery or to a mobile warehouse. Those mobiles are up to eight large vehicles we park on bits of land we lease divided into refrigerated and non-refrigerated areas. The driver walks through and packs the orders and affixes barcodes." 




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 12



"Ah I get it. The delivery driver comes in, zaps a box with his barcode reader and gets confirmation the order packed is 100% correct and packs that and then other packed orders and then drives off to make deliveries, saving a huge amount of time by not having to return to base. What's more, and the eight articulated trucks are a lot cheaper to buy and run that eight outlying warehouses with all the necessary duplication of support services."

Rex said in surprise, "Have you seen this system in operation elsewhere?"

"When I worked at Silver Foods they had much more basic system operating to link separate plants on the same site and at corporate HQ, the stationery department had service storage areas on every second floor linked by computer to record stocks held in those self-service mini stores and draw-offs and who had taken what, but nothing remotely elaborate as this. No what I said was the logical outcome after I had understood how the front end of the system operated."

"That's impressive Andy. So I suppose you will show VIPs this system?"

"No, it's your baby. I would prefer you did the honors. You have done brilliantly with this system. It must have significantly reduced staff numbers and increased efficiency hugely."

Andy was left with the impression that comment went down well. 

Rex said yeah, quite right.

"Andy our daughter will be home this weekend for the first time in four years. Would you like to take her to a movie?"

Andy was about to say no thanks but he had nothing arranged and here was Rex apparently making a peace offer.

"Yes I could do that. Please have her call me," Andy said, passing across his cell phone number.

"Gee I expected you to say no and would have lost a hundred bucks betting on that."

"I'm just back in Chicago after almost four years Rex. Right now it would be stupid for me to act as if I have dates on tap."

Linda phoned Andy to say she'd been appointed the CEO-designate of Silver Foods and the appointment would be announced and become official on Friday as the funeral would be on Thursday afternoon."

"I have to go, people are lined up waiting for me.

"Thanks. Everything is ok here I think."

He was not thanked for having everything under control to give Linda one thing less to worry about. Ah well, he was only doing what he was being paid to do.

Rex called Andy on Friday night apologetic, saying his daughter had been angry with him attempting to arrange a blind date and so it was off. He apologized and Andy said it was okay. 

Andy went looking at apartments to rent with a real estate salesperson on Saturday afternoon and learned her husband had gone up north for the weekend hunting. She accepted his invitation to go to a movie and then took him home and banged him. He'd signed up for an apartment late that afternoon and so, all in all and especially being all in Kath deeply, it had been a very satisfying Saturday.

Linda called Andy at 10:30 Monday to find how the Monday morning executive conference had gone.

"Very well I think. I guys appeared bending over backwards to support me."

"I knew your charm would lead to that. I'd picked Rex would confront you, you'd handle him well in front of everyone and that would have impressed them and left Rex thinking he'd behaved badly."

"You should be a CEO, you have excellent foresight."

"Yeah and it helped that Rex called me to confess."

They laughed.

"Oh man, is Rex impressed by you. I think he say you as a kid and expected you to be like a kid and found he'd got that very wrong."

Andy thought a reply was unnecessary.

Linda cleared her throat.

"Andy I regret this but I have to do it. I will be sending a letter to all your people tonight announcing their jobs are confirmed secure and their terms and conditions will remain unaltered and that the company will be absorbed into Silver Foods as a division and headed by a divisional manager. The only job to go is yours and I won't be replaced."

"Yeah well I'd worked out you'd have no choice but to follow that model for a divisional structure. So what's the deal?

"The package is two months' salary and a letter saying we are sorry and either $10,000 in compensation or a position here at Silver Foods."

"What as your deputy?"

"Yes. The deputy doesn't wish to work for a woman and he's requested to take early retirement. He is prepared to accept his entitlements and to take an early retirement payment of $10,000. Neat arrangement, don't you think?"

"Nothing less than what I would have expected."

"Right, now for the terms and conditions..."

"Don't bother. I'll catch up on that stuff later. I expect you to treat me fairly. Oh what is the salary?"

Linda said $210,000."

"See what I mean? Will Rex be appointed divisional manager here?"

"Yes and I'll call him now. It wouldn't hurt if I were to say to him I conferred with you and you recommended the appointment?"

"No go ahead."

Rex and four other executives rushed into Andy's office with commiserations.

"We are shocked you are being made redundant," said the marketing manager.

"Yeah well jobs don't last long these days," he smiled. "Let's meet in the boardroom for drinks at 4:30. Rex really has something to celebrate. Congratulations pal," Andy said, stretching across to offer a handshake.

Rex shook hands and said, "Thanks, Linda said you endorsed her plan to offer me the job of divisional manager. I wish I could have done something for you."

"That's fine. Well you have Gail as your PA?"

""Yes for sure. She's very efficient."

"Then invited her to the boardroom at 4:00 and asked to get some food in. We may as well party, with hot food arriving at 5:30 and we terminate at 6:00."

Someone asked when the merger would occur and Andy said knowing Linda she wouldn't mess around. "She'll have new stationary printed within the next couple of days and signs changed during the weekend so you guys will be trading as the division from daylight Monday. Customers will have to be advised this week and signs on vans will be changed progressively."

When everyone had arrived in the boardroom and was holding a drink, Andy thanked everyone for not being unduly concerned to have substantial change hovering over them. Luckily for this company, Linda had taken over the helm of the purchaser. 

"Well success in your new role Rex and don't rush to change things. As an old boss of mine in CA told me, don't try to fix it if it ain't broken. Well here's a toast": We wish you success Rex."  "Thanks guys," Rex said. "I need you all to back me because I have no intention of letting Linda down."

"What will you do Andy?" asked the company secretary."

"Oh I shall leave here Friday evening and start Monday over at Silver Foods as Linda's deputy. The current deputy CEO has decided to take early retirement. Linda, being mindful of a making me her protégé seven years ago when we were both at Silver Foods took that information to the board and the board endorsed her recommendation that I be the new deputy."

People boggled before they began kissing him (the women) and shaking his hand.

"Were you offered compensation for losing this job?" someone asked.

"Yes a fat wad of money. But you guys probably don't realize what Silver Foods is... it's a huge corporation that operates throughout the Americans with smaller markets elsewhere. Our operation here is just a minnow to the big fish but my bet is Linda will want this company operating in Illinois' next four largest centers. As you know there has been talk about that for some time now."

* * *

Linda introduced Andy to the seven senior executives who shared her floor and to their support staff. He greeted the two executives who'd been there when he was 'let go' by the corporation several years earlier, Barry Black, executive officer, offshore marketing, and chief financial officer Rosemary Hull. Linda and Andy went down to other floors where he met section managers who included the obviously pregnant Glenys Fryer, or Glenys Olsen as she was now, and they kissed indifferently.

Andy was somewhat embarrassed when in the elevator back to the senior executive floor Linda asked him, "Didn't you bang Glenys in Italy, and banged her in London and in France before you both returned to find your department had been closed down and you were let go?"

"You could be confused."

"Liar," she laughed. "God Andy you can do much better than that."

"Oh yeah, then introduce me to this crème de la crème of womanhood."

"Oh I say, you've gained a more polished education have you?"

Andy ignored that.

"Well?"

"I might soon," Linda replied.

Andy's first assignment was to investigate expanding its newly integrated fresh and frozen food distribution business into the large Illinois cities of Aurora, Rockford, Joliet and Naperville and have his report to Linda within ninety days. He engaged a consultancy company to present him with profiles of the fresh and frozen food supply and distribution business in those cities, how many hotels, restaurants, catering firms, cafes and the like were in those cities plus public and private hospitals and other institutions or organizations with a monthly spend of $15,000-plus in buying in food. The survey was also required to list the companies supplying/delivering food and their approximate market share.

The consultancy's executive director said hmmm and then, "This will be an expensive survey and will take many, many hours involving many people."

"Well I await your quotation," Andy said. "It would not surprise me if your competitors in this field are aware that councils have most of these statistics because commercial and other non-domestic kitchens have to be registered and inspected, the Chambers of Commerce carries out business surveys and there are other rapid ways of collecting the information we require for you to collate and analyze."

The red-faced woman said yes of course and to Andy's surprise that firm came in with the lowest quote and the best statement of methodology. It got the contract. Obviously someone in that business knew more than the boss did about such surveying.

Returning from lunch that day at a nearby café, Linda said, "Would you like to go to the opening of an art show with me near my home on Thursday? A bit of culture would do you some good."

"Yeah, yeah. Okay. Is your husband away?"

"Yes but you will be returning to your home after the show ends or perhaps after supper."

Andy conversed with to a panel of three advisers at another consultancy firm, who charged out on an hourly rate, on the best methods to break into the food supply and delivery service in regional cities from scratch. He wasn't asked to be specific about what cities he had in mind. The consulting was over within an hour and Andy was handed a video of that discussion after he paid for the consultancy. The message was unanimous: Don't attempt to start from scratch as the possibility of failure would be high. The recommended way to penetrate new territory was to buy one or more competitors. From there it ought to be possible to expand aggressively.

The woman made a useful suggestion at the end of the session that the aggressor should think twice about buying the weakest and probably the cheapest company because time would be wasted in getting that company up to strength. The strategy had to be to launch a well-planned preemptive strike and strike heavily. 

* * *

Andy drove in his company car, a Lexus, to Lincoln Park and found the art show was at an expensive looking gallery. The collection was small with very big prices.

Linda was talking to two women and Andy walked over to look as a painting of three young business women with their shoes off and feet in the water of a fountain with a high-rise cityscape behind them; and around them appeared distressed by a heat wave.

"What do you think?" asked a woman, coming up beside him.

"I like the look of the female on the left, she has the nicest smile."

"So you like women with nice smiles?"

"I feel attracted to them, yes."

"What about the merit of this painting and comment on the price?"

Andy looked at the short-haired platinum blonde with incredibly light blue eyes, baby eyes actually, and her smile with wide and lovely.

"Are you the artist?"

"No," she laughed.

"Well I could buy a quality car for that amount of money."

"Ah yes, but in five years' time what would be the relative value of the two?"

"I've seen figures on average a car will have lost 65% of its value by the end of year five. This painting may have held its value, increased its value or left the buyer holding a rip-off as much depends on its true value when it was purchased. Also if the reputation of the artist climbs then that artist's best paintings will rise in value according, depending on demand of course."

"Oooh, an intelligent and I feel very informative reply. I'm Addison Ryan. Linda is my mom's best friend. I'm supposed to talk to you over art and make such a big impression on you that you will date me. That will make Linda happy but my mom will be angry because she's hoping I'll get back with Roger Davy but he sucks."

"I see. Well you have lovely hair, great eyes and smile but how great are your breasts."

She replied daringly, "Don't reply on my biased opinion, fondle them and come to your own conclusion."

Andy smiled and said, "That comment was supposed to send you running off to mommy and then Linda would kick my butt."

"Well at least you don't sound predictable and for a guy you do have a lovely smile, almost boyish."

"Alas one day I hope I'll grow out of that."

She laughed.

He said, "Linda threatened to introduce me to the crème de la crème of womanhood. Is that you?"

"Linda used that term when speaking to me. She said although she didn't actually know any young women of that would reach that exalted level, I would be a few notches above the sluts you probably run with."

"Yes well Linda would say that."

Addison giggled. "Linda told me she'd known you for some years, in fact helped you start your career, and now you are her 2-I-C. I can see you two would get along very well."

"Yes we do and always have."

"You are very young to hold down that position in such a large company."

"Well I do have talent."

"Oooh, and you fearlessly admit that and yet you were afraid to grope my boobies in public?"

Andy was getting a little tired of chatter going nowhere. "Are you that desperate to attract a new guy?"

"Oooh, there you go again. Linda did say you could be challenging."

Andy glanced at her reasonably prominent breasts and said, "Perhaps we should date. You have spirit as well as looks and certainly you do sound interesting. What about my place this Saturday night and bring a toothbrush?"

Addison's mood appeared to change and she asked was he attempting to make her dislike him?

"No and you know what I said could not be called revolting. I could throw in a meal as well and I do have a couch."

"Very well, I will date you this Saturday. Just a movie and dinner, nothing else."

"Okay. Do I have to come up here or will you come down to the city?"

"I live and work not far from your offices. I'm the junior partner in Thompson and Ryan, Public Relations Consultants Ltd. Alf Thompson is mom's brother. We do project presentation for real estate companies, law firms and accountancy practices."

"How old are you Addison?"

She said without hesitation thirty-five.

"Would you consider contracting to do a two-stage project presentation for me once Linda approves my project report? The first would be to our board and if that wins approval, then I'd need you to present the project concept to the senior personnel plus some key staff of the division that is to have its role expanded."

"I would be interested Andy. You'll need to visit the office and see examples of my presentation on screen."

"Yes of course."

"Did Linda suggest you ask me this?"

"I had no idea of who, when or where she'd introduce me to the woman she had in mind for me to meet, although being invited to accompany her to this function I was suspicious that this might be the occasion."

"I don't understand why she decided to set up this meeting?"

"Well think of it this way, Linda manages present situations, I think concepts and she thinks I date women who won't impress her and she has met one or two of them."

"Ah I see and I guess because you think concepts you already visualize me being in bed with you and with that project she gave you to develop, already you see it through to the stage of presenting it to win approval?"

"You are very intelligent for a woman."

Linda smiled and said, "You asshole."

A woman coming up beside her said, "Has this man insulted you?"

"Not particularly mom. He said I appeared very intelligent for a woman."

"Young man you are very rude."

Andy smiled and said, "In this instance I guess I deserve that rebuke Mrs Ryan."

"Mother this is Andy Ash, Linda's pick for me to possibly fill the dating vacuum following my dumping of Roger Davy."

"Is that so?" Mrs Ryan said disapprovingly. "I don't like her choice and I don't like her interfering."

"Andy will accompany us to supper mother. That will give you the opportunity to assess him."

"Well I don't know about that," Mrs Ryan said vaguely, walking off.

And said somewhat puzzled, "You are thirty-five and your mother still attempts to manage who you date?"

Addison smiled and said the problem was her mother was not trainable but he had nothing to worry about.

"Why because you don't intend dating me?"

"Actually I was about to say my mother has no influence on whom I date and I live Downtown, not up here."

Andy laughed and said they appeared to have interesting conversations and Addison said she agreed. Andy she he'd not stay to go out for supper and would call on her early in the morning at her office.

Addison handed him her card and said, "You would feel awkward having Linda attempting to orchestrate two women attempting to assess you over supper."

"Again you exhibit intelligence and have lovely boobies and a gorgeous smile. Good night Addison."

She appeared about to say no please stay, but bit her lip and then smiled and said, "Until tomorrow then."

In the morning Addison was about to unlock the door to the offices on the second floor when a guy appeared from nowhere on her right and said, "Good morning."

She jumped about six inches and identified the threat, er the person.

"Oh it's you."

"I carry two coffees and a bacon and cheese bagel for me and a scrambled egg bagel for you."

"Oh I'm holding a cottage cheese and tomato bagel. May I swap for your egg bagel?"

"Yes sure. Should I smash our way in or can you handle that key?"

She ignored that, unlocked the door and led him in, switching on the lights and told him to leave the door unlocked.

"For your safety?"

"Because we sometimes have early-calling clients."

They sat having breakfast watching a DVD of some of her presentations.

"Yep you are fully professional and appear very effective. I shall hire you when the time nears. Bye."

"Don't you wish to wait and meet Uncle Ben?"

"What to secure his approval as a suitable date for you?"

"Actually I was thinking of allowing you to convince him I should do your presentation. We usually work only with professional and institutional groups."

"Whoops, and my apologies for jumping the gun. No you just tell him you're doing it for a pal. How could he reject you and your pal?"

She smiled and said to call her sometime Friday about the movie. She would try to select a movie showing plenty of legs and breasts." 

"Oh you think that would satisfy my movie expectations?"

"Yes."

"Good girl," and he tensed slight as if expected to be kissed but wasn't.  Andy joined the tits and legs on the crowded sidewalk as predominately females rushed to offices to begin their work day. Carried along by the mass he thought he was developing more than a passing interest in a leggy platinum blonde called Addison Ryan.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 12



Andy and Addison, hmmm.

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 13



Andy stopped and looked across at Addison waiting for him just inside the movie house. She was dressed in short brown and he noticed people galore glancing at her. The neckline was low, perfect for him to scoop out a breast and suck during the inevitable slump in his midway interest in the movie, 'Jane's Vacation Misadventures'.

Oh dear, a movie for bimbos.

He hadn't touched her and disappointingly she hadn't touched him when during the midway slump she leaned over and whispered, "This is crap. Shall we go?"

They rose and left, started a mini exodus.

"Oh I am so sorry Andy," she laughed. "I was suckered."

He held up his arm and she looped her arm through it.

"It sounded interesting but the theme failed to find a good scriptwriter."

Addison nodded in agreement and he looked down and saw the swell of breasts.

Andy licked his lips.

"I feel like sex," Addison said. "What about you?"

Huh?

"Where do you want it?"

She looked horrified and said she wasn't into anal.

"Me neither," he said, misleading her. "Actually it was a joke, I was meaning did you want it here on the sidewalk?"

She clutched his arm hard against her side and laughed.

"You are so difficult to assess," she smiled. "At times you give the impression you are not mature while other times you speak impressively."

"Yeah you have me figured, I'll all over the place," he confessed but she laughed as if thinking he was jesting. "My place?"

"Great idea. My place is a bit difficult. I live with my uncle."

Addison spotted his worried look and laughed.

"And also living there are Aunt Julia and my eighteen-year old cousin Marsha."

He grinned and said his place was small but he lived alone and therefore found it roomy enough.

They entered his apartment with Andy thinking she couldn't intend having sex; she didn't fit the profile of a fuck on the first date female.

He turned and found she had already removed her dress.

Jesus.

"Um yes please make yourself comfortable."

"I would think very comfortable," she smiled. "We are here for sex."

Even Andy's dick appeared confused but as Addison began unfastening her bra it leaped to Andy's support to be shown ready and able.

He hurriedly undressed and she eyed his dick and said, "Wow, does it have a name?"

Andy said shyly, Marco."

She giggled.

"What?"

"I think it's named after Marco Polo and its mission is to explore the depths of pussies."

Andy was shocked that she could be so knowing, so intelligent.

"Um something like that," he said, scratching an ear and she giggled and said if he was sure about being in good health she would require a condom.

"I'm confident I'm okay and you?"

"Yes," Addison said simply. "Very confident."

"I usually wear a condom and it sounds like you usually require it too."

She nodded.

"So what's so different this time?"

"When I saw your erection I shivered in anticipation and my nipples felt they were about to pop off."

Andy looked at the extended nipples on a great set of tits and thought oh yeah.

"I then had this great urge to feel you inside me, um without the thin shield, um flesh against flesh. May I suck it now?"

"Go to it," Andy grinned, sitting back on the sofa, arms spread out along the top of its back and displaying an expression of great expectations.

He wasn't disappointed and assumed Addison would have performed fellatio on hundreds of guys, er scores of guys, in around 15 years of sexual activity. By the time he was through thinking that, he'd leaned over her steeply and had her surprisingly hot swinging breasts in his hands.

She spat him out to murmur, "Sorry I sweat a bit when having sex."

"Who doesn't?" he exaggerated and was rewarded by Addison getting almost all his dick down her throat.

Jesus.

Ready to move on, Andy reached over and gently rubbed her anus.

Addison bucked and shuddered, shouting "Oh fuck" and that made him squirt over her face.

She sat back on her heels while he scurried off to grab a couple of towels.

"What the hell did you do to make me lose control?" she scolded.

"Nothing," he said, sounding innocent. No way would he suggest to her she had a sensitive rectum that was screaming out to be penetrated. If he did that she'd have a fit and say he was lying and probably walk out on him. Yes there were some women who didn't understand the sensitivities of their body.

She sounded in control again and said, "Ready for the big event. I don't want you to suck my cum until you know me better. I'm really leaking."

Andy slid joyfully into one of the best-looking and juiciest cunts he'd had the pleasure of penetrating. He slid right in till their groins collided so quickly that he appeared not to be the only one surprised.

"Goodness, you appear to be exactly the right fit. I thought it would be slow and possibly a bit painful."

"Well remember you've already cum. Your body now awaits my cum."

"Um not inside me please."

"Okay."

"Unless you really wish to drench me. Actually why not?"

"You decide at the time," he said like a gentleman. "Stop me withdrawing when the time comes if that's what you want."

"Okay and please start hammering me."

Hammer her?

Andy grinned hugely and said, "I'll really enjoy fucking you."

"Omigod," she wailed. "Have I found a real stud at last?"

Andy picked up speed and she pushed back at him and her hands worked over him frantically.

Holy turkey! This was great, so unexpected and it was Addison who'd pushed for sex.

"This is what we were placed on earth for," he enthused, saying something he often used when expecting to fuck himself half blind.

"Yes another of man's playthings," she replied philosophically and panting.

"Ma'am may I impregnate you," he cried boldly, almost hallucinating and she sighed and said perhaps she ought to think about that before it was too late.

"Rubbish, you're only thirty-five," he said grabbing and squeezing her tits and giving her an extra hard bang and she yelled into a big release.

He eased off a bit but kept up the rhythm.

"Oh god, you'll have me worn out at this rate. I must be home by 11:00 otherwise my aunt worries and we haven't eaten yet."

Andy sighed and pulled out and jerked over her while she gazed at him er fondly. 

Yes fondly.

He wiped her stomach and chest and she smiled and said she must shower.

Addison went off to shower saying, "We must do this again. Oooh you are a good lover."

"Well I like you and love your cunt."

"God you are hopeless," she giggled.

Andy phoned for delivery of a chicken and a beef roast dinner and was told it would arrive in forty-five minutes. He patted his swinging dick as he went over to open a bottle of red wine. Wrapping in a soiled towel, he decided to shower when she came out. It had become a great night. 

* * *

The first firm of consultants confirmed they were making good progress on the four-city expansion concept and should have a report ready for Andy in two weeks.

He approached the second firm of consultants and said he wished to discuss strategy planning and was told Rosina would be best for that.

She called him and Andy through three hours should cover the discussion he required.

"Can we do this without interruption and meet say tomorrow?"

She said their meeting rooms were booked for tomorrow but they often used meeting rooms at a nearby hotel. They agreed to meet at the hotel at 2:00.

Andy was feeling a little horny but knew he could wait. Addison had gone to Michigan with her family to a cousin's wedding for ten days. 

He was shown the room and Rosina arrived flustered and ten minutes late.

"I'm sorry. A client took me to lunch and it was difficult to get away. Talk, talk, talk... mostly rubbish.

Andy stood and kissed Rosina. She looked surprised but didn't object. 

"I'll pour coffee."

She smiled and said thanks and asked him to brief her.

Andy told her Silver Foods was looking at expanding into Aurora, Rockford, Joliet and Naperville, in no particular order or preference where to start. It was time to become more specific.

He placed the coffee in front of Rosina who was making notes. She'd turned slightly sideways to give him access with the coffee. Andy placed the coffee down and drawing his hand back brushed across her breast.

She appeared not to notice and he didn't apologize for touching.

They worked away on strategy and that confirmed some of the things Andy had already worked out and she opened a big issue. Andy had thought that Silver Foods should hit Aurora (population 193,000) and Naperville only 10 miles away first, and simultaneously build or buy a warehouse as close to the city limits of Aurora as possible and service the two cities from that after buying an existing fresh and frozen distribution company in either city. But Rosina suggested different thinking. Why not go in slowly on Rockford, 80 miles to the north-west of Naperville and use that experience to build a model for company expansion, giving everyone establishing that satellite business time to get everything right.

Rosina argued with Rockford's relative isolation, the pressure would be on everyone to get the new business up and running effectively as soon as possible under Silver Foods systems including linking to the supply chain. It would prove a real test.

"Once that ability to expand successfully, you then could decide whether to run Aurora, Naperville and Joliet (population 152,000 and only 20 miles from Naperville) as separate entities or run them under a regional base centered on say Naperville. 

She said, "Even under regional management you could still run your mobile supply trucks at those cities, loading at the end of day or first thing in the morning at the regional warehouse that would in turn be supplied from the main warehouse in Chicago less than an hour's drive away except at rush hours."

"Now you are getting me thinking," he grinned, allowing his knee to press against hers and this time she didn't pull away."

"Well we are being paid to be of some use to you. Once you decided what way to recommended you can put your cost-accountants at Silver Foods on to this."

Andy decided no he wouldn't try to hit on her. He was getting in deep enough with Addison to consider being sexually loyal to her. He closed his laptop.

"Well that's us finished," Rosina stretched, "unless you want me to stay? We still have forty-five minutes of time to run and there's wine in the cooler."

This time the 40-year old had her hands behind her neck when she stretched and yawned.

He looked, she grinned.

Andy said resolutely, "I really think I should go Rosina. We'll have a drink to celebrate when we have tied all this investigation together."

She sighed and said, "As you wish. I must agree that must have been a productive session for you."

"Worth every cent, I should think. I admire the way you think Rosina."

She smiled and said a friendly goodbye as he left the room.

Andy walked out with the image of his dripping dick nearing Rosina's hairy pussy. He'd just turned down a possible great fuck. He must be insane or alternatively morality was being to infiltrate him.

He sighed.

* * *

For some time Andy had been thinking he should gain a higher qualification and decided to take a doctorate in business management online. Such study part-time could take up to eight years but he set his target to complete in three years and then began searching for the appropriate online facility. He registered and began studying for a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, an area where he'd been specializing and where he was presently focused. He'd satisfied the highly ranked online university with his business experience to date and was enrolled and appointed an online mentor. 

* * *

Addison called from her office.

"Hi I arrived an hour ago and have just finished being briefed. Uncle Ben said it was about time the family met you and invites you to dinner this evening."

"Sure that would be fine."

"Can you be at your apartment at 4:30? I'd really like it before pre-dinner drinks Andy. I really have missed you... and Marco of course. I think seven days max is long enough for me to be away from you. I'll get a cab over to your place."

"Fine and Marco is telling me to say do my best not to be late."

She giggled.

Addison buzzed Andy's apartment.

He said sternly into the security microphone, "Who's there?"

"Little Red Riding Hood," she said in sexy falsetto.

He grinned and pushed the release button to allow her to access the lobby.

Andy opened his apartment door and stood just inside.

When Addison entered he scooped her into his arms and said "Bed?"

She dropped her handbag and kissed him while Andy kicked the door shut and she said, ""Oooh yes, you sexy man. God I missed having you close to get my hands on you."

Presumably that was meant to be sexy and flattering. Andy worried that Addison might be merging as the clingy type.

He tossed her on the bed.

Addison pulled off her panties, reached under her top to unfasten her bra and then positioned on to her hands and knees while Andy ripped off his clothes. He lunged onto the bed and slobbered over her pussy with a wide-opened mouth and Allison squealed and rapidly jerked her cunt against his mouth.

They were both ready, hanging out for it and any idea of foreplay was abandoned.

Andy thrust in his dick and Addison gasped and quavered, "Hi Marco."

They banged away, she yelling to him to "Squeeze my tits" and Andy demanding, "Squeeze your cunt around my dick" and then they became really foul with their comments and both finally exploded.

They lay back panting.

"God Andy I have this huge feeling I want to be your whore?"

"That's fine," Andy said and wondered what to say next, and then it came to him.

"I'd like us to advance sexually Addison but advise you to do nothing that will cause you to lose self-respect."

"I hear you," she said softly. "I have been thinking about rolling one of your balls in my mouth and, um, licking over your rectum. I've read about that in books.""

"Well there's not need to rush until it," he said gently. "Wait until you are ready and know I have just showered. If you lick my anus one day you might wish to insert your tongue."

She said carefully. "Some guys have urged me to do that to them and have tried to shaft me up my butt. I've always said no. But if I'm keen to become your whore I must be thinking of becoming more sexually liberated. I must get you to talk to me about what you know about anal sex."

"Sometime Addison, there is no need to rush it. We're having fun doing what we have been doing, right?"

"Right," she smiled, and clasping his half-erect cock. "Have we time to go once more?"

He had no idea but why bother about time when wet pussy is available on tap?

Uncle Bob met them at the door and said, "You're late."

"I'm unaware of what the offence is but I'll plead guilty," Andy smiled. 

Addison said, "Uncle Bob this is Andy Ash who has commissioned me to do a couple of presentations for Silver Foods Corporation that I've told you about."

"Yes to take us outside of our core business area."

"Careful Bob, that adventure could result in blowing your business plan to shreds."

They men shook hands and grinned, Bob saying, "At least you are not tentative like some of Addison's male friends.

"Oh you must give me your impressions of these guys Bob. At present I don't have much idea of Addison's judgment and sense of proportion and I guess I could add her good taste."

"Andy I could tell you heaps but then again I have to remember I have to work with my niece in partnership as she so often reminds me."

Bob led the way in, followed by Addison. Andy pinched Addison's butt and she shot forward and only just stopped slamming into her uncle.

A woman came into the living room, face red from being at the oven or whatever, and pushing her hair straight.

"This is the head of our home April."

"Oh hi April. I'm Andy Ash."

"I know your name and what you do and have been told you are respectable and handsome, with great hair and stand tall and straight. I must say at least this time you are a guy that meets our expectations for Addison."

"You mean suitable to father her children."

"Oh god," Addison wailed.

"Well actually I meant to escort her to the movies and the like," April smiled. "You enjoy teasing women don't you?"

"Ah yes, good spotting April. May I help in the kitchen?"

"Oh my, that's a first for any of Addison's boyfriends. Mostly they are only interested in eating and getting alone with her."

"You are Bob make it sound as if Addison's boyfriends had failed to please even her?"

"Yes well my niece is rather too classy for most men," April said, and Addison slunk off to the kitchen. "That is bound to produce failures and disappointments from mismatching."

"So the jury is out on me?"

"Well," April said and stopped.

"Go on April," Andy goaded. "You don't have to pussyfoot around me."

"It's promising, very promising. Addison says she's never met anyone like you."

"Does she know anything about sex?"

"Oh god Andy, you can't ask me something like that," Alice said, hurrying off to the kitchen.

Bob said dryly, "Was that a tease?"

"Yes."

"Thought so. What a ripper."

They laughed and went through into the dining room where Bob poured drinks.

They sat for dinner, Alice apologizing to Andy that their other daughter had started at college as a day student and was a field hockey practice and when that ended the coach would announce the team for Saturday.

"She's worried that she won't make the team," Bob said.

Addison entered carrying the sliced rib-eye beef and said, "Rachel always under-estimates her natural-born abilities and her determination. She'd romp into the team."

"You are almost too pretty to be performing that servitude role Addison," Andy said, and she half-stumbled.

Andy caught Alice staring at him and he winked and she blushed and looked away. 

The door burst open and a tall, thin brunette burst in yelling "Holy fuck, I'm to play center forward, the main striker. I can't..."

She saw the grinning guest the table and stopped her momentum and her mouth clamped shut.

"Congratulations," Bob beamed.

Alice scolded, "Alice that language is unacceptable in this house."

"Well done Rach," Addison said and Andy stood and smiled at Addison's cousin and said, "What a great time for you. Come and sit and tell us all about it."

Rachel looked at him closely and squawked, "Omigod Addison's found the real man she's long wanted."

The remainder of dinner was a great occasion. 

Bob went out and fetched in two more bottles of wine and eventually the room became rowdy. During the wait after dessert for coffee, Andy said to Rachel, "Are your wearing panties?"

Alice spluttered some wine on to the tablecloth but made no comment while Rachel said of course.

"Stand and hold up your skirt so I can see your thighs."

Rachel who was sitting across from Addison and Andy stepped back from the table and raised her skirt, displaying slender thighs.

"Okay and thanks."

As Rachel sat looking at him curiously, Andy said, "Do you have access to the gym at college?"

"We all have almost unrestricted entry and use of any gym equipment, but I never go."

"Well in my opinion you need to build up your thigh muscles to speed your turns and sprints and, of course, to increase ability to play at full power for longer periods. I played field hockey and we had a new coach who'd played international hockey in his younger days. He turned us bunch of also-rans into one of the teams to beat in the interschool hockey and we finished that year runners-up in the zone competition. I worked in the gym at college to gain credits for college service involvement and learned quite a bit about the preparation of athletes to get them into shape. I can write you a program if you want. It will develop muscle but not unduly so and if anything you'll look great in a bikini in summer."




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 13



"Oh yes, speedier turns and greater endurance will improve my game, I know that relates to strength. Oh thanks, please write me a program. Um what about improving my breast development?"

"You are a bit behind your contemporaries eh?"

"Yes and it has been such a bitch."

"Then I suggest more sex to release more hormones."

"Oh god," Alice wailed while the rest of the family laughed and eyed Andy as if wondering was he a knowledgeable adviser or a charlatan. 

Andy and taken Addison to her home by cab because he knew he'd be drinking and as he stood waiting for the cab weaving slightly, he knew that had been a wise decision.

Addison was giving him sloppy kisses and she said, "I believe today you became a winner with my second family. God at one stage I thought Rachel was going to offer it to you and her mom calling you her handsome boy and pushing her fingers through your hair."

"By that stage she was half drunk."

"Yes but the interesting fact is I've never seen her like that. I believe she thinks you are very cute. You have the right touch to really tease her and she likes it. Probably her father and her brother used to tease her. My dad is too pragmatic to know how to tease."

Andy said, "Oh here's the cab."

"I wish you weren't going. I'd like you to fuck me."

Andy stroked her face and said, "Do you wish to move in with me; I could apply for a larger apartment in the same block I'm in without breaking my lease?"

"Could I let you know about that?"

"Sure, give me a kiss. I must go."

Andy enquired about a larger apartment next day and was told two basically furnished apartments were available. He went and inspected them and took the more expensive one with good views over many rooftops. It had two bedrooms and the kitchen was entirely separate. He like it and knew he could afford it. He shifted in that evening and knew he was on to a winner because of the view and it was on the right side for sunsets. The following evening he purchased some more furnishings including two paintings and a couple of throw mats, two floor lamps and an additional coffee table.

On the third afternoon he picked up Addison from work when she called she was ready and drove into a different parking area and she didn't appear to notice. But she did notice the change of elevator and said, "We are going to the wrong elevator."

She saw him stupid grin and said, "Oh you've changed apartments in the expectation I'd say yes."

"You were ready to come. But first you wanted to discuss the move with your mom and with Aunt Alice."

"They both have no objection and believe I'll be very happy."

"And both told you to marry me as soon as you can?"

Addison turned beetroot red.

"I'm sorry and I think it's lovely they wish you to live like a decent woman. I'll marry you."

Addison gaped.

"Truly I will but let's not rush it. Let's talk about it eight weeks from the day you move in."

"Omigod," was all Addison could manage and began to shake. She was hugged and kissed.

A month after Addison moved in with Andy, she presented his proposal for expansion into the areas beyond the boundaries of the former Thurso Foods' distribution area to the board of Silver Foods Corporation, the company that had acquired and merged Thurso Foods into its operations.

Addison had prepared the film to illustrate aspects of the proposed project brilliantly. It included interviews with Andy and general comments from his consultants, aerial views of the four cities and statistics of their fresh and frozen food servicing operations and the estimated business share of the principal food distributors in each city.

"Mr Ash will now complete the presentation," Addison said.

The chairman said, "Thank you young lady. The use of film, graphics and succinct comments in that presentation on such a complex proposed expansion plan has allowed us to clearly grasp the fundamentals of this proposal. Well done."

Linda who'd bawled out Andy for the amount of money he had spent on the investigation, squirmed in her chair and glanced slightly apologetically at Andy.

Andy said, "We have spent a lot of time and money developing this expansion concept to ensure you, as the board of this company, go into this venture with eyes wide open. Initially it might seem expensive and perhaps even fool-hardy, but I have used our company resources and paid consultants to gather a raft of information and produce staged development, complete with estimated costs, to indicate just what is involved and to demonstrate with projections of estimated earnings in the years ahead."

Andy said, "Clearly those figures beginning five years out when the four-city business group has completed full three years in operation as a business group, we expect to have reached profitability to justify this out-reach program. Our business is selling product and distributing it. Given that we are correct in all our appraisals and the drive to generate the new business succeeds to achieve or even exceed our projected targets, then this expansion will go down as one of the landmark trading decisions in the history of this corporation."

"All the information I have referred to you is contained in the report Miss Ryan will hands to each board member and the CEO in a couple of minutes. I now conclude with the principal recommendations which are:

1.That we proceed with this venture.

2.That we begin with Phase 1, which is to start up a branch of our fresh and frozen distribution business in Rockford.

3.After successful establishment has been proven and assessed, to use that experience to simultaneously established branches in Aurora, Naperville and Joliet, with a regional warehouse established in Naperville to also service Aurora and Joliet.

4.That a regional manager be based at the Naperville warehouse who shall be under the control of the corporation's fresh and frozen foods divisional manager.

5.That at the start of Phase 1, suitable existing distribution business be purchased in Aurora, Naperville and Joliet with a suitable handover date be negotiated to fit in with the corporation's outreach master plan."

"Our consultants agree without reservation the best way to go by far is to expand by acquiring one or more existing fresh and frozen distribution businesses to quickly gain significant footholds in those four separate markets and to expand from there."

Andy then asked for questions and dealt with them.

The chairman thanked them and Andy and Addison left the meeting.

Addison asked, "Do you think the board will give the green lights this afternoon?"

"No, they will instruct Linda to hire an independent business development consultant to review our proposals."

And that's what happened but it only delayed board approval by two weeks.

Linda, Andy and Addison then presented the proposed project to divisional manager Rex Pennington and his executives at the corporation's fresh and frozen foods division. Rex had been regularly briefed about the project by Andy from the time he began working on it.

The expansion project was then handed over to the corporation's business development team with Rex appointed as project manager. 

Linda was very happy that Andy and Addison had 'found each other' as she called it and they often had a meal out together, sometimes with Addison's mom as well.

Andy found after delivery of his report for the four-city expansion proposal, work was becoming a little boring, too routine for his likening. On deciding that, he took Addison out to dinner as usual and proposed.

She said, shocked, "But you said two months and we'd talk about it?"

"Yeah but that was then. Oh getting cold feet?"

"No," she said, smiling sweetly. "But I often have wondered if you would."

Andy had the waiter top up their glasses.

"Do we fit well together?"

She said yes.

"Do we argue?"

"No."

"Do you have to hound me over anything?"

She thought and said no, he was such an obliging boy.

"Then I let's get married, I've only thought of marrying two women and the other one is now married."

"Okay let's do it. You buy me a ring and take me to show Aunt Alice and Uncle Bob and my parents and your parents and then we'll get married."

"That sounds fine. I like it. But if you really want an engagement party we can have it."

"No if people wish to congratulate me they can do it at the wedding."

They purchased a ring and showed it to Addison's virtual foster parents, her parents and Andy's parents.

She loved being at the ranch and met Angelina and her parents. Angelina was pregnant and had with her a great little two-year old boy who followed Andy around like a dog.

On the flight home Addison said, "I found your mother is so adorable but your father scared me a bit and he looks vacant at times and yet he was well-mannered. He doesn't lift a finger around the house."

"Yeah that's a good impression of my dad," Andy sighed.

"You are not overly keen about my mother."

"Yeah that's right but I'm not thinking of marrying her."

The wedding invitations were sent out and cousin Rachel was chosen as chief bridesmaid and Andy's pal from college, Rick, was chosen as best man. It was supposed to be a small wedding until Addison's mother, Emily Ryan, got into the act but Andy advised Addison and he did not want a big wedding and he restricted her to a list of twenty people.

"But it's not possible to reduce eight-three people to a list of twenty?"

"Try it you could find it easier than you thought."

"Addison?"

"I think Andy has got it right."

"God Addison, he's got you under his thumb already."

Addison ignored that.

"Oh Emily, that list of twenty is to include you and Allan."

Emily burst into tears and fled.

"God you are a tough cuss," Addison sighed. "She was almost coming around to your thinking."

"No one slanders my betrothed," he said.

Addison looked at him rather enthralled. 

* * *

Linda called Andy to his office at 11:30, saying she had the board chairman, Donald Grace, with her and they wished to have a meeting with him.

Andy scratched his nuts thinking he might be asked to add Springfield and Peoria to the expansion project.   

After the exchange of greetings, Donald said, "Linda tells me you are soon to marry that young woman who assisted you with the presentation to the board about the four-city expansion."

"Yes, in two weeks."

"Congratulations. Any plans for after the honeymoon?"

"My plan is to continue working here unless you want to let me go."

Appearing to ignore that, Donald said, "And your wife?"

"She is unsure of what her next move will be. She and her business partner have received a buyout offer."

"So Linda has told me," Donald smiled. "We are looking at expansion of the fresh and frozen business and with that in mind, the board would like to set up a base for such expansion in Australia. It has been suggested you might be our man to explore that possibility. Our thinking is you'd be away for four to six months."

"That certainly sounds like a challenge and I could be interested but would need to know details and would need to talk to my wife-to-be."

"Yes of course. Well Andy you do sound interested. I'll leave it to Linda to fill in details. She was at that board meeting of course and the details of how this is to be executed are over to her."

Linda said she'd take Andy to lunch in fifteen minutes.

He called Addison.

"Hi have you and Bob considered that partial or full acquisition offer for your business yet."

"We were discussing it but I saw you were my caller so I've interrupted our discussion to talk to my darling."

"I've been offered a temporary posting in Sydney, Australia, to look at setting up an operation for Silver Corporation to establish its fresh and frozen sale and delivery business, starting there from scratch of course."

"When?"

"I'll know more when I return from honeymoon."

"Omigod you could be there for months?"

"Yes and there would be no entry problems into Australia because I'd be looking at setting up a multi-million dollar American investment business that would employ Australians."

"This is what you wanted, a new challenge. You'd want me to accompany you I assume?"

"Either that or I don't go."

"Oh you are dumping on me. I can do without this."

"No I'm not landing the problem on you. All I ask is would you be interest in going if you guys accept the offer or you can sell your partnership?"

"Yes."

"Find that's all I need to know at this stage. Have a joyful day."

"You have dumped on me. Bye Andy."

To Be Continued...



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 14



Although 'dumped on' as she called it, Addison did what Andy expected of her and said she'd go, to allow her lover to accept a post in Australia to gain experience as an international operator.

The wedding was held in the garden of Addison's parents in Lincoln Park and followed by a sit-down meal in their huge 1930s-built house where the sliding doors between the dining-room and living room were opened and a temporary table brought in to easily seat the forty-eight guests.

Andy was proud of his mother Irene who looked so beautiful in her first new dress in years; one of Emily's friends had attended to Irene's hair and make-up. His father Carl dressed in the dark suit he wore to funerals and left Andy with the impression he looked like the funeral director but later on, with a couple of beers in his belly at the reception, Carl had people listening fascinated to hear him talk about breaking in wild stallions that had escaped from Indian reservations. It was bullshit of course but it was pleasing to Andy to see his father cut loose.

Emily had buried the hatchet with Andy and actually complimented him for demanding a small wedding because she was able to mix and mingle at the wedding and at the cocktails before they sat for dinner and she knew almost everyone and they all knew her as the bride's mother.

"I can't believe how all my friends think you are so handsome and such a charmer that they are ever so jealous I have you for my son," she said to Andy, kissing him, before they sat to feast.

Andy met Linda's husband Allen at last and had the impression he was meeting an embalmer, an ultra-serious guy, thin and balding badly and wearing rimless glasses towards the tip of his nose. Linda looked gorgeous and Andy wished Addison had tits as large as Linda's but perhaps she would by the time she was 50-plus.

The marriage ceremony had gone well and Addison, in an exquisite white gown and cute white lacey hat, had looked radiant throughout, the best he'd ever seen her. The row she'd had much earlier with her mother that Addison had no right to wear white had ended in tears on both sides when Addison screamed at her then she'd marry in black and invite all the neighbors.

It was a wedding he'd always remember and hoped he'd have no reason to marry again.

Addison and Andy slept that night in a hotel downtown and they left next day for their honeymoon in Hawaii. They would then return for tidy up their affairs, vacate their apartment and send their personal affects to storage and for Andy to sell his car and many of his personal effects. He had a strong feeling he'd be made director of South Pacific operations with a seat on the parent board in Chicago. He'd already had the idea of establishing his own board of the subsidiary company in Australia that would have branches in New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti.

The newly-weds had arrived at the hotel too drunk to have sex and they giggled and agreed they'd make it a special night by not having sex.

Addison went off to the bathroom to vomit.

She returned and asked Andy to get her painkillers for her headache.

"Where will I get painkillers at this time of night?"

"In my handbag."

"Oh."

"I sometimes get headaches."

"Oh I never knew that."

She hiccupped and said he'd never asked.

Andy lurched to the bathroom and missed the bowl and decided it was easier to aim into the bath and completed one of the longest pees he'd ever had.

He returned to the bedroom to find Addison was in bed dressed in her lingerie.

"You are wearing your underwear," he accused.

"Well why bother taking it off when we're not having sex?"

Andy experienced the inability to answer that.

He got into bed and hit something hard with a foot.

"You are still wearing your shoes."

"Oh am I?" she said vaguely. "I suppose that occurred because I have something on my mind and need to unload."

"Good god, you're pregnant."

Addison said hotly, "You are attempting to divert me."

"What then?"

"I've decided I don't want to go to Australia."

Andy coiled, ready to strike by he managed to say quite calmly, "Why not?"

"Because I'm American," Addison said and slipped into sleep.

Andy thought he should have a beer but once up made coffee instead, thinking he'd feel better off next morning if he avoided any more alcohol. He poured the coffee and then pushed that aside and sipped from a bottle of water instead, thinking he'd feel better in the morning if he stuck to water. Now where was he?

He went to the bed and shook Addison awake and asked, "Where was I?"

"You're drunk."

"That's only because I drank too much wine, champagne, beer and cocktails."

Addison said, "You wanted to ask me why was I American."

"No I didn't. You had indicated you didn't want to live in Australia because you were American."

"I only said that to befuddle you to avoid telling you the deal on buying our agency has fallen through and Uncle Bob told me at the wedding, he cried when he'd heard that news because he'd gotten used to the idea he could take early retirement. I will tell him I'll buy him out unless you really object. I have plenty of money in bonds and other stuff and can top that up with a bank loan and buy him out. I'll do that and keep on working here and wait for you to return from Australia."

"Don't get a bank loan. I have stocks I can sell, and they are not junk stocks. I'd much rather invest in you."

"Then why don't you buy Uncle Bob out and work with me?"

"But you are American?"

"What?"

Addison sighed when she saw her new husband had fallen asleep.

Andy awoke just before 6:00 am and shook Addison. She groaned and said what.

"Where am I?"

"In bed with your wife."

He yawned and said yeah but they didn't get married."

"Yes we did and you looked so handsome. I almost wet myself in happiness."

It was as if Andy hadn't heard that and he said he was hungry.

"God don't you think of anything else but food and sex?"

"I say to myself often these days I love you and I'm so lucky to have you."

"Oh darling, let's..."

"Let's save it till we wake up tomorrow morning in Honolulu."

"Oh yes, great idea."

"I have another great idea. I shall call Linda and say I wish to resign from my job because I've received an offer from my wife to join her working in public relations, an offer I can't refuse."

"God would you do that for me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Andy said smugly, "Because I'm American."

Addison held him and kissed him and said, "Suck my cunt darling."

"Why?"

"All American men suck their wife's pussy each morning because that's what wives want from their husbands."

"Okay. Where do I find it?" 

* * *

They arrived early afternoon in Honolulu after a 9-hour flight with the only memorable incident being Addison whispering fiercely to Andy that no way was she interested in qualifying for the Mile High Club.

"I should have known you'd want to pull me down to your level," she hissed.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Never you mind. Please get me coffee."

"Jesus women," he muttered. It was daylight but what was she so shy about?

The heat hit them when they left the airport terminal.

"Oh joy," Andy said, beating his chest with a fist.

"Omigod and you said no to my suggestion of Dallas, saying Texas would be too hot at this time of year."

"Oh did I?" Andy said vaguely, turning to watch two babes in tiny white shorts and well packaged at the chest approaching and probably chatting about nuclear physics because neither was blonde.

"Have you come here for the sex?" Addison snarled.

"No for the relaxing tropical weather. Just you wait till you acclimatize; you'll then think you are in heaven with the best looking man on the beach at your side."

"Who will that be?" she said grumpily, making Andy think really Addison should never consume more than two alcoholic drinks per session. He'd raise that with her when she was back in her usual easy disposition. He wondered while they were in Hawaii would she want to fuck or would she have other things she'd also like to do?

It came right for them next day.

Late morning they went on to the beach, Addison wearing a black one-piece swimsuit and probably thinking she looking like a Hollywood starlet what with her platinum colored hair but received only a few barely interested looks.

They had lunch in their room after sex because Andy was bursting with energy after a four-mile run at 6:00 and then spending two hours in the gym before he returned to awake her.

"God you were great," Addison said eating melon and strawberries. "Am I glad I married you."

"Thanks sweet," Andy said, drinking chilled water and thinking she was coming out of her mood. He patted Marco furtively because they were pals and the assumption was Marco would know a honeymoon was big time for a penis. 

He went down to the beach while Addison went 'on an errand' whatever that meant.

Andy was wearing beach shorts because Addison had snapped in the morning he looked obscene showing that amount of sausage under his impossible tight swimmers.

"They are Australian Rip Curls, designer gear."

"Well I'm telling you they show too much of your gear," she's snorted.

A young guy with a beer belly was standing down a bit from almost fully prone Andy and looking bored when he raised his sunglasses and looked behind Andy and plunging a hand towards his dick shouted, "Holy crackamoli." 

People around him turned and looked where he was gazing and most didn't swing back to look at the sea and watercraft.

Andy turned and gulped. Holy fuck. The center of attention was Addison who'd decided to join the beach culture. She was wearing a flimsy white and pink bikini, made to look like coral, and matching big straw sunhat, turned up at the sides and she was wearing big black round sunglasses. The contrast of the bikini against her olive skin and lithe body made her look gorgeous.

"Hi," she said nonchalantly, dropping her basket and sitting beside Andy.   

"Hi," he said, glaring at the guy who started it all. The guy took his hand off his dick and gave Andy an obscene salute and turned away.

A fight and a double arrest were alleviated. 

"Notice anything?"

Andy grunted, "Yeah you're wearing a hat."

Addison sighed.

He turned towards her and said, "And I think I can smell pussy."

"Oh god," she said. "You are an incorrigible asshole."

But she looked pleased.

Linda called Andy and sounded sad.

"The chairman was livid you had pulled out of the South Pacific Expansion Project. He wanted you fired and I said you'd always indicated you were resigning and so he was too late. He said and I quote, 'Well be generous to the Asshole. He was quite useful to us in the short time he was with us."

Andy sighed.

Linda said what sort of exit package did he require?

"A generous one and keep Addison and me in mind whenever your outfit seeks external PR and promotional consultancy."

Linda asked how the honeymoon was going.

"A bit slow. Addison is acting almost frigid."

"She'll acclimatize in a day or two and then will be all over you."

"I hope so."

She laughed and said, "I know so. I've been to Hawaii a few times and know the ropes."                 

Addison and Andy returned to Chicago fucked-out. Well it had been their honeymoon.

Addison went to the office mid-afternoon and Andy checked that he'd had sufficient sales of stock complete the buy-in. He called Addison and she whispered she felt like sex. 

Andy thought that was a terrific thing to say to him and felt so much in love with his wife. He told Addison he was cashed-up and three days later he, she and Uncle Bob had a meeting with attorneys to progress the deal. Andy decided to stick with the agency's established name, Loop-a-Doo Public Relations Consultants. He rather liked the name and complimented Addison for coming up with it.

"Uncle Bob created it," she smiled. "You might think him as being stodgy but he is creative to the core."

"Um which of us is to be the senior partner?" he asked as they went to the meeting.

"Neither of us, we will be equal partners unless you have an objection?"

"No that's fine."

"But I will be named managing-partner."

He said, "Hey wait on but is that fair."

"Okay you take the responsibility with the title to be responsible for employment disputes, client ravings and abuse, taxation issues and..."

"Hold it, I have no issue Addison with you being named managing-partner. The responsibility will stop you becoming bored." 

She sighed and avoided saying the managing-partner had to be a responsible person and a stickler to rules and to know intimately how the business ran.    

"Will I get a car?"

"No we do most of our business within the Loop. Go by cab and if you need a car, rent one."

"You sound like a very efficient managing partner."

"And you sound like you are trying to get up my skirt."

"No," he said indignantly, "that was a genuine compliment."

"Oh sorry. You are difficult to read at times darling."

On the first day on the job, Andy looked out into the main office and said, "Christ they are all females and all are blondes."

"Few are real blondes darling. Uncle Bob and I preferred employing females because they tend to fit all jobs better than males."

"Bob you traitor," Andy murmured and turned to find his wife smiling at him.

"Just take it calmly, don't rush into anything. We have seven PR specialists and we all are supported by seven other people."

"That ratio seems wrong."

"Fuck the business rules Andy, what we have here is what Uncle Bob had found works best for him and when I bought in I had to agree with him. The specialists are our creative people and the support staff perform normal office functions and do the routine work for the specialists."

"Ah I see. Do you and I get to do the plum jobs?"

"No are main task is to keep work coming in and ensure the work being done is billed correctly and we tend to work on the crummy accounts that none of the specialists wish to handle and fix up what's gone wrong."

"You mean they choose what work they wish to do?"

"Yes but if you can think of a better way I'd like to hear it."

Something told Andy to be cautious. "Um I'll just take it calmly and not rush into answering that."

"Oh darling, what good technique you are exhibiting. Come and meet the girls."

"Girls, attention please. Here he is, my darling Andy."

Andy attempted to lighten his feet to avoid sinking through the floor.

"How was the honeymoon Addison, one of the blondes called.

"Oh you know, a lot of in and out... of the stores."

There were shrieks of laughter and Andy eyed the main door.                

"Say something Andy," called a blonde he later learned was a top operator, Kate Gates.

"Hi everyone I'm glad to be here and you all appear energized and that's good for PR work. I've worked on newspaper, done a bit of PR work and have worked in small companies and a couple of international corporates so have been around. I like the idea of lounging around here and watching everyone work."

There was silence.

"Um that was meant as a joke."

The silence seemed sinister.

"Come on girls, don't be such a tease. Laugh."

The girls responded to Addison and they did laugh.

Addison took him down between the two lines of desks and introduced each female and they all kissed him and he was disappointed none of them had big tits. Did that equate to small brains or was it the reverse?

Addison then showed him the studio used for film and still camera work, the lunchroom, the photocopy and storeroom and the changing room and shower and toilets.

"Um?"

"Uncle Bob used to go across the street for coffee and have a pee at their toilet."

"Great man for creativity was your Uncle Bob," Andy said, and that earned him a warm smile.

"Right I'll see you later."

"Are you going across for coffee already?"

"No Addison," Andy smiled patiently. He said he was going out to find work.

"Where?"

"I have no idea," he lied.

"Here are your business cards I had printed for you," she said, eyeing him apprehensively. "Honey in future I'd prefer a little more detail rather than you saying you are going out without any plan."

"Okay."

She smiled and patted his butt.

The receptionist at the Loop Promotions Center said, "Our director normally requires an appointment to be made."

"Darling this is an abnormal visit," Andy said, attempting to work his sexiest smile.

"I'll see what I can do," the 50-year old said sternly and went off with his card.

Bob spent his time eyeing passing breasts on the sidewalk and the woman returned and said, "Come this way please sir."

She puffed up the one flight of stairs and introduced him to Mrs Stevens.

Mrs Stephens put down the layout she was examining and said, "Thank you Mrs White."

When Mrs White closed the door behind her, Mrs Busty Stephens said rudely, "Why are you here? We have our specialist agency doing this work."

"Is that an example of its current work?"

"Yes."

"May I have a look?"

"I don't see why not. It's ready for signing off for printing."

"God what unimaginative layout although the graphics look excellent and at a glance the first bit of text I read is lively enough."

"I see, and you think you could do better with the layout?"

"My team and I could, yes. Give me four hours to work up an alternative at no cost to you. Is the file of everything assembled for this presentation?"

"Yes but I can't allow you to take this original material out of my office."

Andy removed his watch and wedding ring and pulled out his wallet and placed them in front of Mrs Stevens and said, "I'll leave these possessions with you. If I'm not back with an improved presentation inside four hours you keep my possessions."

"But that's your wedding ring."

"I'll buy another if I fail to deliver and my wife mightn't spot the difference."

"God I'll be called irresponsible for allowing this and will probably face a rap from our president."

"People who take risks mostly succeed. Come on sweetie, take the risk and put everything in that plain paper bag. I trust you not to spend the money in my wallet or attempt to use my credit cards."

Andy rushed into Addison's office.

She removed her reading glasses.

"You need reading glasses?" he gawked

She appeared more embarrassed that perhaps if he'd caught her using a dildo.

"I have an eye weakness, yes."

"Then let's see if we can get it corrected. No one looks sexy in reading glasses. We have a rush job. I need to use your most creative girl and the best layout specialist."

"Kate and Claire. You're not out to seduce them with this madcap folly are you?"

"Stop putting ideas into my head. Come on, get them into the art room. You may stay as an observer."

The women opened the portfolio and were wowed, noticing that agency doing the work on contract was J Crombie-Angus, a big name agency. They boggled when finding it was a promo for the upcoming Loop Annual Festival.

Addison asked in awe, "How on earth could you get your hands on this material?"

"I have to say modestly, initiative and awe in prospecting. The Loop Promotion director didn't know me so I left my watch, wedding ring and wallet behind as security and they become hers if I'm not back to her within four hours."

"The wedding ring," chorused the women as if Andy had sold his soul.

He cracked the whip, the women including Addison responded, and Andy was back in front of Mrs Busty Stephens, eyeing what he thought she ought to regard and her pride and joy, two hours and three minutes after he'd left her office.

"You can't have..."

"We perform for our clients," Andy said pompously, thinking a bit of grand-standing mightn't go amiss.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 14



Mrs Stephens thought the alternative presentation by Andy's team was far superior, more dynamically interesting and injecting mojo (whatever that meant).

"Then instruct J Crombie-Angus to use this layout. Here's our letter releasing our work to you without charge."

"They will refuse."

"Tell them to use it or else and in future you'll determine who does the layout work."

"Yes I will do that," Mrs Stevens said, attempting to hide her breasts behind folded arms. May I visit your outfit... I mean establishment?"

"Yes of course, it's called Loop-a-Doo PR."

"That's Bob Thompson's outfit. I often see Bob at functions."

"He's retired and I bought him out."

"Well Andy you have proven you have drive and initiative. Yes I will come and visit your office tomorrow. I know where it is... say at 10:00 for coffee."

"Yes perfect."

"Um Andy could you not linger when glancing at my breasts?"

"Wonders are to behold."

"Oooh Andy you flirt. Please call me Elaine." 

And that initiative was how Andy achieved a double whammy. Loop-a-Doo received billable PR work from Loop Promotions that totaled $64,000 during the following twelve months and J Crombie-Angus frequently engaged Loop-a-Doo on sub-contract when it became overcommitted and also paid Loop-a-Doo to come up with original thinking to appease some of J Crombie-Angus' more demanding clients.

That close association between the giant agency and the minnow had eventuated when the vice-president of production at J CA, Mary-Anne Angus, invited Andy to lunch. He boggled when she came out to greet him because they were strapped up so high but he quickly found she was all business (and lesbian he learned later). Also at the lunch in the boardroom were the agency's three partners who appeared bent on proving why Loop-A-Doo should not be invited to do any of their agency's work. But none of the negative bullshit moved the hard-ass Mary-Anne (daughter of the deceased co-founder) and she delivered the terms of engagement with Loop-A-Doo for sub-contracting for spillover work and for consulting for original proposals.

"Our sleepy little agency is on the move," Addison complained when they'd sneaked home for a midday fuck, licking the tip of Andy's dick clean after she'd seduced it into an explosive delivery. 

"Yeah I noticed it's a bit tight in the main office will those new recruits. It reminded me of you."

"You are sheer filth, disgusting and foul," she giggled. "But then I suppose I can see the analogy. We'll have to find new accommodation."

"Nah stay, let's take over the entire first floor."

"I'd love that but I've made enquiries but both tenants told me to get lost."

"Mind if I have a go?"

"No be my guest."

Andy rolled off the bed and Addison yelled, "Andy you haven't finished me off."

She was ignored and she yelled that she'd buy a dildo.

He heard that and yelled as he prepared to enter the shower, "Get a double-header and do you butt at the same time. I'm off to get more working space for our people."

She thought yeah, they'd not steered into anal yet. Gee it was obvious he'd left it to her to choose when she was right for that.

"Asshole," she yelled and then giggled, thinking she could have chosen a better word of mild abuse. 

Andy went to the company that managed their apartment building along with others. The hard-faced manager eyed him as if expecting a complaint about trash or noisy neighbors. He wondered if she'd spent her early life as a prostitute and then managing that place before coming to this job.

"Good morning Mr Rush."

"Call me Andy. Howya doing Rosie? Getting enough?"

She appeared amused.

"I hope you are taking care of your pretty wife."

"Yeah Rosie. She gets everything she needs and a little bit extra at times."

Rosie showed her bad teeth in a smile.

"Rosie I'm afraid you're going to lose us."

"B-but you are our premium tenants in Granite Building."

"Oh sweetie, I'm sure you use that line every time a tenant says it's time to move on. Look Rosie our business is booming. I note you have space on the 12th and 23rd but I'm afraid we are committed to 2nd floor occupancy. We'll have to find it in some other building unless...."

"Unless what?"

"Omigod Rosie, you were listening. "Unless you can clear out those other two tenants and give us the entire floor."

"Um what about just one of them?"

"Oh Rosie, I'm sorry about your attitude. I expect to find a more accommodating manager in another building."

"No wait. If you take the entire floor we can lift you to our whole-floor premium rate."

"Sorry Rosie but with the world economy is down at the moment. Only fools pay premiums. We'd want the entire floor on our existing base rate."

"I see. And what other concessions?"

"None dear Rosie unless you are thinking nookie. We know you guys have to run your business to get adequate investment returns. You kick those other two occupants upstairs and you still get the same income off that floor and you know you are always paid on time."

"Yes on time. Well you get back to work pinching the butts of all those blondes you have in your       At 4:00 Rosie waddled into Andy and Addison who were discussing the need for an office manager.

"Oh hi Rosie, take a seat while I poor us coffee," Addison said. "We haven't seen you for such a long time."

"Your husband was in my office and pounded me just after lunchtime."

"Oh bad boy Andy. At her age Rosie would be satisfied with just a finger."

Andy looked appalled and the two women cackled.

"You take over all of the first floor from this coming Monday at the same base rental."

Addison gaped until Andy said smoothly, "The coffee darling."

"Oh yes," she said and almost tripped over a chair.

"H-how, how did Andy manage it Rosie?"

Andy waited for Rosie to delivery, expecting not to be disappointed.

"You be careful to hang on to your Andy darling. He's such a charmer and knows how to mentally squeeze a woman. Most men lack those skills."

"Rosie that's good advice I fully accept and thanks for being so accommodating. Look you were in the business as a practitioner and then as a Madam. What can you tell me about anal sex?"

Grabbing his coffee, red-faced Andy ghosted out of the room.

Before people left work on Friday they had to load their work possessions into cartons that coincided with the number Addison has placed on their chairs and desks and side cabinets. 

The two other tenants moved out on Saturday morning and Addison and Andy helped the two workmen they had hired to shift the desks and cabinets of the people who were being moved into the vacated areas. Meanwhile two fit-out guys who'd already measured up, worked to close off space for an a larger film and camera processing room and the newly appointed IT manager arrived with a contract cabling team who began build building a computer cabling network connecting each desk throughout the entire first floor so that all the laptops would be connected to the new server. That would allow all work in progress to be checked on by either manager that all work could be backed-up with a copy of everything backed-up simultaneously off-site in case of emergencies.

"Well this ought to do it," Andy said as he and Addison were the last to leave and headed to early dinner. "We are now approaching the optimum size for current management and IT demands. If we go much larger we'd require more space and have to hire more managers and that begins escalating overheads."

"I indicated earlier when we were reorganizing space and you greeted that with a lack of enthusiasm."

"Only because you were promoting it as your idea," he grinned. "No I have thought through all the possibilities and decided why grow bigger and bust our gut? We should just increase efficiencies and profits and then wait for someone to offer to buy us out."

"I'd probably say no. However if we were made a great offer what could we do?"

"Start up a business consultancy from scratch."

Addison thought for a moment and then said she could be interested in that.

"What I can't understand is why have we grown so rapidly since you became a partner?"

"Well I found some new business and are reputation began to grow and we become known for our successes and I pushed for three business magazines and two on-line business news websites to do articles about us and lo, clients began seeking us out. Everyone likes a reputable high performer."

Addison yawned and said well that was enough business. Her head was spinning.

"Pregnant?"

"God you can be a clown at times," she said, taking his arm and squeezing against him as they walked. 

* * *

In early June the office was handling three large promotions and Addison reluctantly stayed behind when Andy went off to his Brother Pete's high school graduation. The family was pleased to see him and they all attended the ceremony. Pete received the math prize. He would be going on to Andy's former college at the end of summer.

They had a great time at dinner and Pete was over the moon when his father Carl and brother Andy announced they were combining to buy Pete a pre-owned vehicle next day.

Their mom Irene thought that was a wonderful idea and kissed both her men. Andy had noticed his mom and dad appeared to be a lot happier that he could ever remember and now they were holding hands.

"Will I get the same treatments when I graduate next year?" asked Sister Susie.

"Of course you will, we do things fairly in this family," said her father. "I suppose you'll want a pretty pink car with a ribbon around it."

"No anything will do providing it's a V8 soft top," replied his perky daughter.

Next day Peter chose a Ford F150 pickup in excellent condition and Andy was so happy handing over his share of the money, remembering how hard it was for him all through college not having a vehicle.

"I'll be able to pull the chicks with this pickup with its upgraded sound system," Pete boasted.

"Pete don't let dad hear you talking like that. Oh you're lucky because he's in deep conversation with Bert Bridges about your insurance."

Andy had just dropped his hire car off at the airport in Wyoming when Addison called.

He said, "Hi darling, I'm at the airport waiting for my flight. So the approach has come?"

She ignored that. "Great I missed you. How did it go?"

They chatted and then she said, "How did you know we have been approached by another business?"

"Just a hunch."

"Well you were correct. Two guys from J Crombie-Angus arrived the day you left and chatted about working closer together and then I knew they were itching to have a look around and I obliged them. My feeling was they were blown away and I suspect they'd thought we'd just have a couple of rooms and a small team."

"Spies eh?"

"Yes."

"But not necessary evil spies?"

"No. I've just received a call from the managing partner of J Crombie-Angus. They want to meet us, I mean he wants to set up a meeting of their three partners and you and me. I said yes and a restaurant lunch is arranged for 1:00 on Friday."

"Yeah well Friday's is a good time for our industry. Are you happy about this?"

"I don't know."

"Well that's being honest. Let's go to lunch on Friday and see what the bastards want, eh?"

"That's inappropriate language and probably grossly unfair."

"I love you and will see you about 4:00 if you come to the airport we can fuck."

"Andy!"

"Oh yeah I remember, you don't wish me to talk honest like that."

She sighed.

Arriving at the apartment, Andy found Addison had left work early and had a roast in the oven and was in a gown, with her hair down and she poured drinks.

He grinned and kissed her, grabbing both cheeks of her ass and she squealed and began almost to pant.

"I've seen a gynecologist. She sees no reason why I haven't been able to conceive and suggest perhaps I should stop working. That would reduce stress and I could learn to relax more and perhaps associate with women with young babies."

"What would that do?"

"Develop my feeling of imminent motherhood."

"That sounds like bullshit."

Addison said well he didn't know everything and she expected him to be open-minded and supportive.

"Oh yeah."

They had sex again after dinner and Addison went to bed to relax reading.

Andy worked on his doctoral studies. 

Lunch on Friday was top quality and the three partners from JCA, two guys and a rather manly woman with hard eyes, were polite, very friendly and not at all dominant.

Eventually the cards were on the table:

1. Outright purchase.

2. A majority sale with Addison and Andy remaining on at their premises to manage that operation as JCA promotions subsidiary.

3. An outright sale with Andy offered the opportunity to buy in as a JCA partner. A management position would be available to Addison.

"Well thanks guys," Andy said. "We could be interest in any one of those proposals but we need to talk so will contact you on Monday. Tell me, why is the partnership offer open to me, rather than to us both or to me rather than Addison?"

The steely bitch said, "I don't want another woman as a partner and because you are the acknowledged innovator and mover at your agency."

"Well yes because I specialize in those areas. Anyone could do it."

"Oh yes," said Jan. "Then why did that agency only begin to buzz after your arrival?"

"Well Jan thanks for being upfront. If you don't want my wife as a partner, then you don't get me. However, if the price is right Addison and I might decide to sell. I'll call you on Monday morning."

Addison was livid as they entered the cab.

"That bitch, why did you say you'd call her on Monday instead of the suave Bruce Malcolm?"

"Because that bitch you have just defamed, is Mrs Jan Thomas, only child of James Crombie, founder of JCA and is the principal stockholder in that company, according to my research. She will now know I know and will be telling her colleagues to tread carefully because she now sees us as clever shits." 

"Well I think...."

"Hold it. If what you are about to say concerns their proposal, let's both sleep on it and discuss the proposals with clear minds in the morning, leaving emotion out of it. We must examine the proposals put to us plus the one not stated and that is we telling them to get lost. That one is a negative and so was understandable they didn't mention it." 

"Okay I agree but why do they want us?"

"Greed. They want our clients and our people and to continue trading under our established and reputable name."

"God why can't you be like normal people and not know such much."

He grinned and said that was a come down. The other day when he commented about her gynecologist's recommendation, Addison had accused him of not knowing everything. 

"Yes I did say that and there's no need to have such memory recall. Anyway I'm still right; no one knows everything.

Andy grinned and grabbed her thigh.

"God no, not in a cab," she hissed.

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 15



Addison stared at Andy in shock, looking almost as if he'd just said there was another woman in his life. He'd told her if the business sold he wanted to switch to an academic life and climb to the status of professor at a college's department of media studies.

"I can't believe this. You'd have to start at the bottom."

"My thinking is a year as a lecturer to prove that I can teach successfully, then promotion to senior lecturer follows and I publish papers and then see how it goes from there, probably associate professor in four years or so, whatever it takes."

"This intent is such a shock. I didn't bother to ask because I thought you would automatically want to buy a business."

Andy said, "We could buy an apartment close to the university or college where you can relax and mingle with the wives of other academics who have infant children and..."

"Omigod, you are making this sacrifice for me?"

"Yes to a degree. I was mindful of the environment you wish to have. But I'm not thinking the bustle of Harvard or say Princeton."

"Oh god, you want to stake me out into nowhere, that university you attended?"

"Well it's my best chance of (a) finding an understanding of my quest, (b) being hired, and (c) gaining rapid promotion because I proved myself to them as a student."

"If that kudos was ever recorded with admiration."

"Er yes."

Addison sighed. "I can't believe you wish to give away everything we have ground away to achieve, but okay, go for it. I can't say that living and working within the Loop is living in Eldorado."

"I'm only giving up a fat salary because what I have achieved in business counts hugely for my academic appeal. I've had real-world business experience and in the process have found what works and what doesn't."

Addison said well first things first. She couldn't imagine JCA accepting the demand of $2.6 million to buy a business in rented premises.

"Oh woman of little faith, they'll pay close to it because they get a busload of talented people whom we have slaved away to help train, they get our work in progress, our record of impressive profitability and they buy our highly valuable goodwill and the high recognition of our trading name."

"Yes but..."

"And they are greedy darling. They want what we've got and we don't really know their reason for that apart that they don't have a promotions department and it would take big investment to establish a department the size of our business and the two offices are only three blocks apart."

"Well I don't know."

"Darling of little faith, be prepared to locate. I've already written to my old university."

"Omigod, it there no end to your optimism?"

"When I was fired by that publishing company in California I learned my lesson, and that was the way forward was to gather in the people you need to have with you to go forward. I'll never make the mistake of out-jumping my support again. On this occasion I have spent hours converting the woman at JCA you call a bitch to my way of thinking."

"Have you physically seduced her?"

"God Addison, don't be insane, I'd much rather seduce your mother."

"Andy!"

"Oops sorry, but you know what I mean."



Next day Addison and Andy received the call and went to the offices of JCA where they met the three partners and the company's internal attorney.

"We have here an unconditional sale and purchase agreement," said the smiling managing partner, Bruce Malcolm, "We made no secret of the fact that we want your business..."

Andy interrupted. "What are the outstanding issues Bruce?"

"Oh just the one, price."

"You're dissatisfied we're not asking enough?"

Bruce choked on that but Jan said, "Very droll Andy. We'll pay $1.8 million and not a cent more."

"Well fancy that," Andy grinned. "Addison and I thought you guys might try to beat us down. Well let's get this over with. Yes or no, we want $2.3 million."

Andy heard Addison suck in breath because they had agreed their bottom line would be $2.1 million.

"No way."

"Well guys and Jan. You wanted to buy our business. We are happy to carry on and cream off profits. Thank you for your time and..."

"All right, $2.3 million," Jan snapped.

"And you guys?" Andy asked, and he two partners nodded, looking relieved.



"God you can chisel," Addison laughed and they left with a signed agreement conditional on their attorney's approval.

"Well I'm still a nice guy I believe," Andy said. "I put a bottle of champagne to cool before we left home. Let's go home and fuck."

"No we will not," Addison said sternly. "We have a whole floor or loyal people to return to with the news. They probably have heard rumors."

"Well their jobs are secure, only their bosses are changing, so what have they got to beef about?"

"God you need taming and to learn about humanities," said his wife, shaking her head. 

* * *

Addison had never been to Lunsdon before and in fact had never heard of the city, but to Andy it was a little like arriving back home. He used to stay there as a boy some summers when his maternal grandparents lived in the city. It was where his mother had been born. 

Unable to make up her mind where to relocate, although knowing she no longer wished to live in Chicago, Addison had finally agree to come here with Andy as he wanted a place to lick his wounds. He'd been devastated to find that the instructor's job he was offered at his old university had a salary of $45,300.

"That's chickens shit," he'd whined to Addison and she asked what he had expected. Hadn't he done the research?

He went to his laptop and when he found out some of the truths he almost dropped the defenseless laptop and jumped on it. 

"It could be at least 18 years before I became a tenured professor," he howled.

"Well how long did you think it would take you?" she asked sympathetically.

"Six years, perhaps a little more."

She rolled her eyes and managed to get out of the room before she fell into a giggling fit.

Christ he must be losing it. He should have known, having been a university undergraduate.  



"Well what's your first impression of Lunsdon?"                       

"Well downtown looked rather attractive," Addison had to admit.

"And generally the folk look homely?"

"I guess so."

"And it looks better than you expected?"

Before she could answer, Andy had turned their new imperial blue all-wheel-drive Cadillac RX into a suburban street and pointed, "That's where mom was born and where my grandparents lived."

"Oh look, it's for rent, furnished."

Andy's mouth fell open.

Addison took charge and said, "Well let's rent it for a couple of months." 

She had no wish to wander aimlessly around the county. What they needed to do was to dig in temporarily and consider their business future.

They drove back to the city and Andy went across to the rental department of the real estate office named on the faded to rent sign.

He returned smiling and said he'd negotiated a great deal, subject to an inspection. Most people seeking rentals at present wanted them unfurnished.

Addison giggled and said a great deal like he'd achieved in the purchase of their new vehicle.

Andy though she was so cool.

They followed the rental agent to the home.

"Omigod, it's great and so homely," she lied but really did like the hardwood floors and the garden out back with an orchard was a dream. "For some reason I thought it would be a dump."

Andy beamed at her and that made Addison feel good. He signed off the condition and Maggie the agent handed over the keys.

Andy cheekily said, "Maggie could you drive Addison around showing her where she can buy stuff she needs here to make us more comfortable? I'm off to look around for job possibilities."

"Oh we'll go shopping together and discuss what appeals," Maggie said. "I love shopping and have no further appointments until this evening."

"Oh fine. Call me if there are big decisions to make Addison but you know my tastes. Buy what you wish and have fun."

They kissed and Addison appeared a little stunned that she was being abandoned.

As Andy walked off he heard Maggie say, "God you fell on to your feet finding a guy like that."

Andy drove through the city knowing he had no recall about where business opportunities were. He recognized one of the cinemas, toy shops, a bike shop and his favorite place for eating because they served great ice cream dishes. Er but this was now.

He continued on to the edge of the city's commercial area without seeing anything of interest and returned home with a bottle of expensive wine.

"I'm not drinking alcohol until after the baby is conceived, born and weaned."

"What are you pregnant? Did Maggie say you were?"

"No you clown. I'm setting myself up to do everything to aid conception. Maggie told me some interesting things."

"Like what?"

"It was girl's talk."

"Oh."

Addison thought he must get back into work. He was so hopeless to have around when he didn't have a bunch of problems to work on.

"I have news."

"Omigod he'd managed to find something to work that, something presumably that paid more than $14:90 an hour?"

"I'm going to write a book," he said proudly.

She sighed.

"Addison please show an interest."

She said okay and asked what he would write about.

"Oh I haven't progressed that far yet."

"Then write about women with larger breasts. You ought to be an authority on that by now."

He looked quite hurt so she said he must stick to something he really knew about.

"Like what?"

"Business you idiot you know business and you should work to make it funny."

He looked hurt again and said business wasn't funny and then she appeared to trigger him.

"Well I thought it was when I began working with you with your irreverent approach to almost everything. For example you make our people involved in fuck-ups feel as if the fault was yours and they always were smiling when you had finished with them."

"Addison that's brilliant."

Was it? Well Addison liked the look on his face and thought she'd wait and see. She left Andy undisturbed where he was working in the sunroom looking out to the garden until it was time to call him to dinner.

He arrived in the kitchen and pinched her butt. She yelled and jumped six inches. Hadn't the idea been to settle in peace and tranquility in a genteel neighborhood to allow her to become stress free?

They finished the meatballs and she served coffee with the two iced muffins she'd purchased when out with Maggie.

Addison wondered when he'd asked what had she purchased when out with Maggie and she'd said nothing, why hadn't he praised her for her restraint.

"This muffin is really tasty. Did you find them in a cupboard?"

She sighed.

"You haven't asked me about my book."

Omigod, she hadn't enquired and he'd think she wasn't interested.

"Oh how's the book going?" she asked brightly.

"I had four false starts."

Omigod his mood would turn lousy and he'd pace the bedroom for half the night.

"But I finally got going and completed the first chapter and have edited and revised it."

"Omigod. What a very short chapter?"

"Thirty-two pages ain't short."

"Please let me see it."

"We were talking about the book."

"What? Oh Andy, keep your mind above your belt. Please allow me to read the first chapter."

"I'll let you read it only if you promise to laugh."

Addison thought for a woman who could fake an orgasm, it wouldn't be difficult to fake a convincing laugh.

Andy brought in his laptop and she asked where the printout was and he said he read on-screen and so could she.

"Get my glasses please."

That request was ignored and so she tried a different approach.

"Please get them for me honey, there're in my handbag on the bed."

"I might see your dildo."

"I don't keep"... oh god... "I don't have a dildo," she lied, knowing it wasn't in a handbag.

He returned, handed her the glasses and she began reading, starting with the title, 'Laughs, Mayhem & Survival at the Office' while he began clearing away.

"I'm not sure about the title," said his favorite critic.

"Originally I called it, 'Avoiding F-ups at the Office.'

"Oh this title is immeasurably superior," she said.

She giggled reading the first two lines: 'Dolores, a saggy-breasted blonde in scratchy pantyhose and sporting jingling earrings that looked like beer can tabs, sloshed the coffee she was carrying and dropped the F-word.'

Two paragraphs down, Addison laughed aloud when reading that the supervisor berated Dolores for entering the office thirty seconds late and Dolores replying just because their manager hadn't had sex with Nancy for two weeks, it wasn't fair of Nancy to be so bitchy with her.

Halfway down the second page the cackling Addison had removed her glasses to dab her eyes.

"Are you faking it?" Andy enquired, looking concerned. "This isn't sex you know. You are meant to be assessing my writing."

That comment worried Addison. Omigod, what was he saying? Did he know?

He had turned away. She read on.

Five pages later she had to grab the table to save herself crashing to the floor in laughter after reading about the serious Mr Sims, the financial controller, who'd come into the copying room to find Wanda was sitting half naked on the photocopier to get a good photo-copied image of the tattoo on her butt placed in a position where she couldn't see it without a mirror. 

'Mr Sims blinked. And blinked again and was quite convinced Wanda couldn't be misusing the photocopier thinking it was alternative to going to a commercial tanning booth. He coughed discreetly and asked would Wanda be long. Caught by surprise, such had been her concentration to keep still while her butt was lit intensely, Wanda leaped off the machine, lost her balance and slid into the storage cabinet of photo-copy paper, toner cartridges and other consumables, knocking the cabinet across the aisle. That impact toppled a narrow open sided steel stand of hundreds of meticulously filed backed-up computer tapes recorded over the past twelve years. Shrieking, Wanda fled the main office through the side door, unintentionally showing everyone her new tattoo. 

Later Wanda called her supervisor to apologize for her stupidity and said she would be away for three days under doctor-prescribed sedation. Catty fellow workers alleged the time Wanda had said she would be away would be her estimated time it would take to restore order in the copying room.'

"Oh god darling, this is so funny. If you can keep this up this book will be a best-seller. If your agent can get it accepted you ought to get a million bucks gross if it sells a million and a quarter copies."

"Really?"

When Addison had lunch with Maggie three days later, she mentioned Andy's book project and Maggie said, "Oh he'll need some advice about finding an agent and how to set up a proposal. Mom's had two books on floral art published. I'll get her to visit and you might like to talk to her as well about getting pregnant. Mom trained and worked as a midwife in her earlier years."

Mrs Stevens read two chapters of the draft novel, laughing away, and when finished she said to Andy, "Are you sure you're not a published author?"

"Of course not. I had to write up studies at university but that's normal."

"Andy I could contact my agent about this when you have completed your draft novel. If she's interested she'll want to receive a proposal and three sample chapters to consider how far she goes with this. I'll help you with that. Actually I have filed my hard-copy proposals and you could use that same format because it worked for me."

He thought that was a great idea. Mrs Stevens said they were new to the city and would they like to come for lunch Saturday with her and her husband.

They accepted and she'd also invited Maggie and her husband Don and her other married daughter with her female partner.

The older daughter's partner kept flicking her eyes at Andy and he wonder why a lesbian would be interested in him.

Fascinating.

As they went to choose their meat from Don at the barbecue, Petra whispered, "Your zip is undone."

That left Andy wondering why a lesbian would look there.

"Would you like me to zip you?"

Jesus.

Andy managed to turn away from everyone and zip up. It was no big deal only Petra had managed to make it one. Well just between her and Andy. 

She called him next day and asked was he alone.

"No I live with my wife."

"I mean is she in the room with you?"

"No."

"I'd like you to know I'm bio."

"Well Petra that information is no use to me but hey, if we meet again could we just be friends."

"Okay. I guess that means you are not offended I was after a piece of you."

"Correct."

"Bye sweetie."



"Who called you?" Addison said, coming in with flowers.

Andy knew he was innocent and therefore there was no reason to lie.

"It was Petra, calling to let me know she is bio."

"She'll be biodegradable if I get my hands on that slut. What did she say?"

"That she found me attractive and would like me to know she was bio. I said I wasn't interested but if we met again would we just be good friends and she said okay and cut the call."

"Do women often do this to you?"

"Occasionally."

"Have you had sex with any of them?"

"Not since you and I began going steady."

"Well if you ever are tempted please wear a condom, that's all I demand."

"Okay but you must realize I'm getting all the sex I need from you."

"Oooh darling. But that could change into my pregnancy if I get that far."

"You will. Be patient. Anyway isn't that why guys have a mother."

"God Andy, you practically loathe my mother."

"Oh yeah."

"What about your own mother; have you... um?"

"No of course not. Those creeps are called motherfuckers," he said, squirming a bit.

"Well perhaps Petra could come in useful after all. Or Maggie."

"Yeah she could be a stopgap."

"I thought so. I've seen you look at her breasts."

"I can always masturbate."

"Somehow darling I can't see you preferring hand ahead of pussy. Just be careful if the need arises. We don't have many friends in this city and Maggie and I took to each other almost instantly, and no we haven't."

"Haven't what?"

"I knew what you were thinking."

Andy thought she was becoming so astute and wondered if she were pregnant.

"Actually now's a good time for me."

Andy looked at his laptop.

"What? And don't say you should be writing?"

"Okay let's do it on the sofa."

Addison said great, she should keep her butt lifted after the event with her legs over the back of the sofa.

"Isn't that carry on an old wife's tale."

"Probably and if you must know Mrs Stevens said there's a lot of truth in many old wives' tales."

Andy was kept busy going to a gym in the morning, running there and running home. He'd have late breakfast with Addison and then concentrate on his doctoral work, spend time with Addison and they'd then have dinner and he'd slope off to work on his novel. 

"Busy, busy," he sometimes would say to Addison, but she thought although that was so, he was not all that happy.

Addison's father had surgery for a hernia and she went home to be with her mother at the time of the operation and for a few days after because her mom tended to panic at times and anyway she said she'd not seen them for quite some time.

Addison had suggested to Andy it might be less stress on her mother if he were not there and he'd no desire to reject that suggestion. 

While she was away Addison and Andy talked by phone every late afternoon. It turned out to be a double hernia (one of each side of his groin) and that extended the recovery time a bit, partly because her father was over-weight. Addison decided to stay on longer and said she was having a great time catching up with old friends.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 15



An hour after that discussion, Maggie called Andy and said Addison had just called her to say she would be staying away a little longer.                               

"I'd like you to come over for a decent meal."

"Um thanks, that's a lovely invitation."

"Philip is out of town overnight but that's all right isn't it?"

Oh-oh. 

"Yes Maggie," he said, but knowing he should have slid out of the invitation.

Andy couldn't get it out of his head that the two women had conspired to set him up for sex.

How did he know that?

He had no idea.

Wasn't Maggie capable of being neighborly without any thoughts of fucking him?"

Um yes... possibly.

And if she pressured him for it he could always manfully say no, couldn't he?

Andy sighed. Just because he'd chased after cunt it was unfair to think of Maggie being keen to chase after cock.

He walked over because Addison had the car and Maggie and Philip lived about a mile away. On the way he stopped and bought a bottle of highly recommended red wine. 

Maggie had said 8:00 so he arrived at 8:00.

"Oh hi, you are looking debonair. Sorry the kids wanted to go to bed early and already are asleep."

The oldest kid was five. Andy couldn't believe a five-year old would want to go to bed early? Well if she'd had a hard workout at school that could be possible.

"That's okay, I'm sorry I missed them," he said. "Do I kiss you?"

"Oh yes please and not your usual peck."

They kissed lushly. 

There was no other word for it. And as she'd stepped away Andy could she her nipples were showing under her tight green satin shirt. He was sure they'd not been that prominent when he'd arrived.

"You kiss beautifully," she smiled and walked off, leaving him to close the door and then to follow. Why the hell was she talking to him about kissing? That was her asking for it.

Maggie took the wine, looked at the label and said thanks, one of her favorites for special occasions.

She placed the bottle on a sideboard and said, "Come and sit with me. Dinner will be a while yet."

She pulled the front of her skirt high and sat, lounging back.

The skirt had landed to rest high up and Andy could see the flesh above her stocking tops.

"Take a good look Andy. I have always liked you looking at me."

Jesus.

He swallowed and almost asked for water to delay this feeling he had of inevitable seduction. This was one of the few times he'd been seduced by a woman and suddenly knew what it was; that there was a risk his indiscretion could go wrong and cost Addison the best friend she had in this outpost of a city.

"Um the John?" he croaked and she gave directions.

Andy turned right into the passage and went into the kitchen and back to the front door via the dayroom and let himself out and walked to Wentworth's Restaurant. He'd just ordered a meal when Maggie called.

"Sorry."

"God it's a long time since I've had a guy run out on me. I've always tended to act a little over-sexed. What's your explanation?"

"It appeared to me we were both hanging out for it," he lied.

She said that's what happened before two people sated their passion.

"I couldn't help thinking that in the morning you would have lost your respect for me and that could ruin your friendship with Addison."

She laughed and said well didn't they think differently.

"I was thinking I hadn't had a really good bang for a long time and you'd be the guy to deliver for me. I'm left wondering had we had done it, would you have lost respect for me?"

That comment excited Andy. She may have unintentionally given him the chance to end this amicably. 

"Nah you would have been another string to my bow. I would have fucked you every chance I got even if I caught you outside the house while Philip was inside with the kids."

"Omigod Andy, you animal. But I know what the ultimate result of that would have been... we would have been caught out."

"Oh Jesus," Andy groaned, holding a hand up in triumph. He was sure they'd got their relationship back to the level of being just friends.

"Yes," she said, "and one or both of our marriages could have been affected and my parents would probably have disowned me. I've been a naughty girl four times since my marriage but those blips occurred far away from home and in circumstances they could not have been repeated. It's the repeats when you are most likely to be caught out."

"Oh I didn't realize that," Andy said. "Well good night Maggie... oh some time you must show me your tits."

"Andy, don't be such a pig. Please treat me as a happily married woman."

The call ended with Andy thinking phew, that was a close one and providing Maggie didn't have a girly chat to Addison, he'd probably pulled it off. 

Next day Addison called, obviously highly excited.

"I was feeling off color and mom made me go to the doctor. He told me I'm pregnant."

"Oh thank god."

"Andy!"

"Sorry, what wonderful news mommy and it's all due to your stubbornness."

"My what?"

"Your determination to get pregnant."

"Oh I misunderstood. Thank you darling. Um did you and Maggie have sex last night?"

"No."

"But you were supposed to."

A bell rang in Andy's head and he recalled his vague thought yesterday about a conspiracy between the two women to push him into having sex with Maggie.

"Suppose to what?"

"Maggie asked if it would be okay to invite you to dinner and I said of course and I suggested she try to have sex with you. We talked about that and she agreed."

God the way women carry on with girly talk made them seem incomprehensible at times, Andy thought.

"But why?"

"I wanted Maggie, who has been pregnant twice, to make sure you were performing the right moves to heighten the opportunity for me to have my eggs fertilized."

Andy began feeling as if he were running a fever. He also felt very uncomfortable and had a strong desire not to engage in a conversation like this.

"Gone on," he managed.

"Well there was to be nothing to it really. "You would bang Maggie and she'd report to me whether or no she thought you are capable of impregnating a woman."

Andy was thinking of all the idiotic things he'd ever heard..."

"Don't you think that was a brilliant idea and brilliant for Maggie to allow you to be her sperm donor?"

"Um."

"Of course you do and I bet she would have been a great fuck. Tell me what happened."

"Oh god, no. He didn't have to be put through all that again?"

"Right from the beginning darling and don't you dare miss out a bit." 

* * *

Addison arrived home and they have a great couple of hours together and then she called Maggie and said to come over when Philip was home and could mind the kids.

Maggie was delighted to hear the news about the baby and as she entered the living room Andy was leaving it.

"Andy come back and kiss Maggie."

"Oh hi Maggie," Andy said lamely.

Maggie lifted her head up to be kissed and Andy obliged.

"Let's have a drink to celebrate the pregnancy," he said, avoiding eyeing Maggie's breasts.

God she must have a tighter bra on, he thought and wondered how did he know that if he'd purposely avoided looking at them? Perhaps he required counseling?

"Just mineral water for me please darling, I'm pregnant."

He almost strutted in with the drinks.

After ten minutes Maggie said she had the dinner on so better go.

Addison kissed Maggie and was told Addison was such a clever girl.

"Show Maggie out please darling," Addison, obviously basking in the acknowledgement of her motherhood.

Before Andy could open the front door, Maggie grabbed his arm and spun him around and asked, "Do you want to see my tits?"

He swallowed and went, "Aah, um..."

"You were supposed to say an emphatic no," she said sternly. "Instead you dithered, trying to tell yourself to say no. You are a pig Andy."

He was tempted to go 'Oink, oink' but thought she might hit him.

To her credit she did kiss him goodbye and he noted her nipples were stiff again.

* * *

Andy cleared away after dinner while Addison had a bath and then went into the bedroom.

She looked flushed from the hot bath and pretty.

"How is the book going?"

"Slowing to a halt I think. I'm losing interest."

"And your studies?"

"Going fine, ahead of schedule at present and I'm happy about that. The support I'm getting from instructors and my telephone peer group is really helpful."

Addison said then he should put away his draft novel and concentrate on pushing ahead with his studies.

He scratched the back of his neck and said yeah, good idea.

"As for you Allison, why don't you look for part-time work? Your reason for seeking a truly peaceful environment has now been met."

"Maggie's friend Trish had earlier asked was I interested in doing part-time work from home – basic accounting."

"Well there you are, I can work here in the bedroom and you work on the dining table."

Addison said she would look into that.

Next afternoon Trish called with a box of paperwork and gave Addison the code and other details on how to access her computer at the company where she worked as chief accountant. It was supposed to be on a month's trial but three days later Trish called and told Addison she was hired and would be given an immediate increase in the hourly pay rate.

That news pleased Andy because he liked seeing his wife being appreciated and rewarded as well as being happy about being working again.

They settled into a rough routine of working for two hours, and going for a walk, working another two hours and then having lunch and so on. Andy thought he'd drop gym and that would give him another two-hour working slot but Addison wouldn't hear of it.

"You have to get out of the house and going to the gym and the run to and from it is good for you. I don't want a fat husband."

The fear of being over-weight was sufficient for Andy to agree with Addison on that one.

During one of their breaks Addison asked Andy what were his future hopes.

"To stay here preferably until I graduate, but stay for a year at least. Somewhere along the line I expect the call to come."

"What call?"

"Occasionally my brain leads me to a belief, like when I knew you were the woman to marry."

"You thought that before we began discussing going steady?"

"Quite some time before."

"Right are we to have a boy or girl?"

"I have no idea. The feeling or thought just comes."

Addison sighed, knowing it was difficult getting information from him when he was like this.

"Very well, when and from whom will this call come from?"

"As I said, I have no idea."

She sighed.

"It will be someone wishing to tap my expertise for solutions or getting change done."

"Who?"

He looked at her vacantly and she squeezed a breast and asked him did he want sex and in an instant her boy was back, looking very interested. 

* * *

Addison had a relatively easy pregnancy and at five months when she mentioned she missed her friends back home, Andy suggested she call her mom and asking what they were going at the beginning of July.

"Why?"

God why did women always wanted to know why? Andy fumed and said, "Because we could go and stay with them for a bit. You'd like to see any friends who are around."

"How long is 'a bit'?"

"Two hours if your mother was like she was last time I stayed with them."

Addison waited patiently, saying nothing presumably to avoid provoking him.

"Two weeks I suppose and then if you are wearing okay then two weeks at the ranch."

"Omigod, you mean a whole month's vacation?"

"Well yes. You've been bunkered down here with me all this time without complaining."

"Actually I have complained often."

"I know but I pretended not to notice."

She giggled and said god what had she done to deserve him.



They arrived in Chicago on the first day of July and had a great time with Addison's extended family on the 4th. He mother was unbelievably civil to Andy and Addison's theory was it was because he had sired what was soon to become her latest grandchild and it would almost certainly be a boy because the other two were girls.

"No it's a girl."

Addison who was resting her legs on a sofa in her mother's reading lounge said "What?"

Andy said forget it but Addison said how did he know it would be a girl.

He shuffled his feet and she said in awe, "The feeling just struck you."

"Yeah but I'll thank you for not mentioning it to anyone."

"I can't. Mom would have a fit."

"And people would want me to tell them their fortunes but I'm not into that stuff. Mom's mother had it big and she even located a lost child on a couple of occasions just sitting in her kitchen. But she had it big whereas I have only a little bit of it."

"Of what?"

"Dammit Addison can we drop this?"

"Of what, what power do you have?"

"I've never been told. It's some kind of perception but usually it's cloudy and I have to wait for the event to happen to learn much about it. But just a few minutes ago I saw a little baby with a bit of blonde hair."

"Omigod, I do so much want a girl but I was too afraid to find out what it will be in case I was disappointed and that would not be fair on my baby. God I'll want to kill you if it's a boy... oh no, I don't mean that."

"You don't need to worry."

"Oh really and why not?"

Andy shrugged and looked at his feet.

"Oh I know, you believe in the feeling."

"Yeah and thanks for understanding. We can drop it now can we and it's our secret?"

"Yes of course. What name do you favor?"

He said Karen and she said omigod, so did she and he said yes he knew that.

As he walked away Addison said, "Stop. I've never told you I favored Karen, You said it was dumb to start thinking names a long way out, that we should do it in the last few weeks before birth when we'd really be switched on."

"Yeah that's true."

"So the name Karen just appeared to you?"

"Yeah but it's not the way you think. You left the list on your computer in the kitchen unattended about two weeks ago and I saw your number one for a girl was Karen and number one for boys was Zac."

"Oh god, why do I feel your power of thought is superior to mine?"

"The answer is simple: you are female. Oh and add logic to that superiority."

She reached behind her for a pillow but he was out the door before she was ready to throw one of her mother's treasured cushions.



Andy's brother Peter was home from college and working on the ranch and his sister Susie was so excited about having Addison staying and they talked for hours about college and sex. 

Addison was aware she already liked Irene but being two weeks with her she came to adore her and was aware Irene had more than a fondness for her. Irene was so calm and so efficient about everything she did and Addison noticed that the two children and their mother occasionally hugged and when they sat they sat very close. She rather liked seeing that and wished her mother had been an open and loving person like Irene.

It was rather like the time she'd experience being at home in Chicago, only more intensified. People would drop in for coffee and stay for dinner and Andy and family did the same with other neighbors and then someone would call to say they were having a cook-out and Karl and Irene would take their crew along with a couple of baskets of meat, fresh fruit, cookies and bottles of drink and half the district would be there.

The older women just adored having a pregnant woman in their midst and suddenly Addison found she was meeting other young pregnant women, and some not so young, and she had wonderful interaction.

With three days to go before leaving for home, Addison asked Irene what she could tell her about Andy's power.

Irene said the obvious: "So you know about it?"

"Well yes, only because of a couple of things he attributed to a feeling. But he was reluctant to talk about it. I wish I could have met your late mother because Andy said she had the power intensely."

"Yes that's true, and it skipped me. But my mother is very much alive."

"What? Oh I'm so sorry. I'm sure Andy didn't say she was. I guess he spoke of her in the past tense and I just assumed she had passed on."

"Would you like to meet her?"

Allison's eyes bulged, "Oh god yes."

"It's a bit of a drive; they live almost a hundred miles from here. We could go tomorrow if you wish."

"Oh yes please."

"I'll call them now to make sure they are home. Mom will tell you what sex your baby will be if you want to know."

"I-I... yes please. Omigod she will be our baby's great-grandmother."

Addison would always remember meeting Mrs Roberts because she didn't say the expected, like she thought the baby would be female. She touched Addison on the side of the face and said, "You and my grandson will be very proud of your long-legged and charming blonde daughter and I believe there will be another child to follow."

Addison hugged Mrs Roberts, tears flowing.



Addison was very tired on the long drive back to their home from Wyoming, although they'd stayed two days about midway to break the journey at a small resort and had a Jacuzzi in their luxurious cabin. 

At home she stayed in bed all next day.

That evening Maggie arrived after her children had been fed with dinner for Addison and Andy, not unexpectedly because the two women had talked on the phone for half an hour before Maggie left work.

Addison let it slip without meaning to. She said, "We met Karen's great-grandmother..."

"Who's Karen?" Maggie asked, sounding mystified and of course then got the full story.

Next morning Addison, re-energized, was up and had the breakfast ready for them when Andy emerged from the shower after being at the gym and running home.

Addison confessed she'd told Maggie about Karen.

"That's okay," Andy said. "She's your best friend her and you would have been bursting to tell someone. Did grandma tell you the next baby would be a dark-haired boy called Luke?"

Wide-eyed, Addison yelled, "No and why didn't you tell me that earlier, like when we were still in Wyoming?"

"Steady baby, you're wet your panties. That was just a joke. I'm sure gran can't see that far out."

"God I could screw your neck. You really had me going then you hound."

"I hope Karen has humor."

"Of course, Karen will be... oh you point is I have no humor?"

"I think you do generally. You just struggle with the teasing kind of humor."

"Go to the bedroom and study bad boy Andy."

"Yes mommy."

Addison felt movement that was more like shudders than kicks from Karen.

Or was that laughter?





To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 16



The sun was shining, the birds were singing and every woman, even the elderly, eyed by Andy appeared to have big breasts and long legs. He knew this was not so, that he was just horny and Addison was uncomfortable in her final stages of pregnancy and kept pushing him away.

Andy was trudging through the city on a quest for his wife: Addison wanted him to buy some crème brulee.

He'd said no one sells that, he'd buy custard and mix some super thick cream into it but she began to cry and alleged he was being mean to her and so he drop his Ph.D studies and walked the mile into the heart of Downtown muttering.

Andy saw a magnificent pair of tits approaching and when he finally lifted her eyes he recognized Maggie.

"Hi how is it?"

Andy croaked, "It's time."

She smiled and said no it wasn't, Addison still had another six weeks to go.

He eyed her like a guy coming out of a desert after three days and nights lost and without water.

"Omigod you're coming with me," she said, pulling out her phone and calling her office. She then said, "I'm taking you to mom's house, they are away in Texas."

"Thanks," Andy said, feeling better already and hoping he'd be offered more than coffee.

Maggie stripped off in the lounge and watched as Andy stretched the elastic of his underpants to get it over his thick erection that was already higher than the top of his underpants.

Her eyes bulged and her right hand circled into cock-pulling mode and she trembled Dribble ran down the side of her mouth as she screamed "Omigod" and rushed him.

They wrestled, hands moving frantically and they almost toppled to the floor, but Andy braced and they kept them balanced although their teeth clashed when their mouths searched for a kiss. They finally got a kiss going, breathing through their nostrils like horses ending a half-mile gallop.

Maggie pulled away, gasping for more air, face aflame, brow already sweating and she croaked, "Be not afraid, grab pussy."

Andy slapped a hand against the bald beauty and there was an immediate slurp because she was leaking. He pushed three fingers at the opening and apart from Maggi's bit of a yelp, they slid in like a cartridge into a firing chamber.

"Do you want it?" he growled like a randy wolf arriving out of exile from the timberland.

"Oh yes, yes, yes," she said, slobbering kisses deep into his neck.

He slurred, "Condom?"

"Fuck waiting for a condom, give me all you've got. I'm protected."

Andy dropped her to the floor and that's what he did, gave her all he had, banging against her groin in heavy passionate bangs that had her releasing every three or four minutes until, sweat dripping down both of them, he grabbed both her tits and pushing up and bending his back he yelled "Cunts are the most under-rated thing in the world" and erupted in big deliveries of semen into her depths.

Panting heavily, Maggie said, "God that was awesome. I better get back to the office."

"Just a minute, I'm still revved up," said her best friend's husband. 

Andy flipped her over, pulled her back to him by her hips and plowed into her doggie, squeezing her tits and enjoyed the encouragement he received from her mouthing an endless string of obscenities.

As Maggie drove him back toward her office she said, "I haven't been fucked like that since a couple of New Year's Eve gang splashes ten and eleven years ago. I can meet you again on Friday lunchtime.

"Fine. You're a great fuck Maggie. I knew you would be."

He then remembered his reason for coming Downtown.

"My reason for coming Downtown was to buy crème brulee."

"The only place I know that sells it is Desiree's Deli, I'll drop you off there."

Andy arrived home and called he was sweaty and needed a shower.

When he entered the dayroom overlooking the sunny garden he found Addison asleep.

Andy fetched his computer and read a couple of extracts associated with his studies and finally Addison awoke, stretched and smiled a greeting.

He watched her eat the dessert, slowly, almost catlike in movement and savoring every teaspoon of the enriched delicacy. When she finished, he came across to take the dish and she noticed his bulge.

"Oh my poor man, just watching me eat made you hard."

He nodded and smiled. Well it was the truth.

She sighed and said, "Come here my boy. I'm sorry I'm off penetration at the moment but I'll jerk you off."

She told him he could squirt over her tits because she was about to have a bath and would change her dress.

Andy was nervous she would notice it was a smaller eruption than usual. But he worried needlessly. Perhaps it was the fear of being found out. Addison's chest received a heavy splash.

Next morning when Addison watched Andy scoff his breakfast, she saw him tense and stop eating.

"What?"

He looked at her and said it was about to happen.

"What is?"

He resumed eating and she clicked and said he'd just experienced the feeling.

"Yep."

"And you don't know what or when?"

"Correct. Shouldn't you be eating?"

"I feel a bit nauseous."

"I heard mom say to someone once that letting a mare rub your shoulder with her face gets rid of that for pregnant women." 

"Andy Ash, that's complete bullshit."

He grinned and helped her to her feet.

She called from the bathroom to lightly brown her a piece of toast and spread it with only honey.

He brought it in along with the herbal tea she usually drank these days. 

"I'm glad you are feeling better."

"Thanks to you. I thought of your grandmother and began to feel better."

Andy looked at her thoughtfully.

She said, "I'd like you to drive me through the park later. We could have late lunch at the kiosk restaurant. There won't be many people about to stare at me at that time of day."

"Some of them look at you in admiration."

"Who?"

"Women with big tits."

She screamed in laughter and Andy knew she was happy again.

In the restaurant he said to Addison, "Whenever you feel off-color think of my grandma."

Addison stared at Andy.

He looked away and said, "What?"

"You think I've managed to establish some kind of wave length with her."

"That's bullshit and you know it," he said. "God you women have crazy thoughts at times."

Addison didn't look overly convinced; she thought he looked evasive.



Six days later as Andy kissed Addison before he left on his run to the gym, he placed his phone on her bedside cabinet.

"What are you doing?" 

Usually he never bothered about phone calls while out running saying callers could leave a message.

"I think it could be today."

He had gone and she yelled "What about today?"

But she received no reply and then knew what he'd meant, the call.

She sat up and switched on the bedroom TV and kept the controller and his phone within easy reach.

But the phone didn't ring. But when he went off to get bread and milk after lunch his phone rang.

A number but no name came up on the display. She didn't recognize the number.

"Addison Ash speaking."

"Oh Addison, are you guys in America or living somewhere exotic? It's Jan Thomas, of J Crombie-Angus."

"Oh hi Jan. We are still in the Midwest actually."

"Oh great. And how are you?"

"Pregnant and well."

"Oh that's great. Um is Andy around."

"Almost always but is out at the moment. May I get him to call you?"

"Yes please darling. Could you say this is an SOS? He'll know what that means."

"And I don't," grumbled Addison as she slid the phone shut after Jan said goodbye.

"Omigod, JCA is in financial trouble or the business is failing, probably both, and they are desperate to keep that quiet. They need someone to extricate them and believe Andy is the man. Omigod, I can deliver Karen at the hospital where mom has been on the board of trustees for zonks. Oh happy days Karen, we are about to leave this hole. If it hadn't been for this house I never would have stayed."

Karen kicked. Whether or not that was approval, Addison had no idea. 

* * *



After a tearful farewell from Maggie, with Allison doing her bit, Chicago's high-rise skyline loomed up ahead of the couple.

"We are coming home," Addison said, sounding a little nostalgic. She knew not to weep, knowing that made Andy uncomfortable.

"Yeah and home is where the heart is."

"Good boy," she purred.

Andy had always referred to Wyoming as home but now realized his allegiance had shifted. In that case he should sharpen up on local politics and local issues to feel more attuned to his adopted home territory.

"You can drop me off and then go to the office if you wish."

"No I'll go in tomorrow in time for the board meeting at 9:00. I still think our old apartment building would be fine if there's a suitable apartment available."

"I'm sorry darling but we are rich and I wish to be housed in something more upmarket."

"The assholes will rip us off; property owners are addicted to squeezing the affluent."

"I start looking tomorrow with mom and the daughter of a friend of hers who is a property specialist, although not working where I'd like to live. Both of them know value and can sniff out rip-off rats."

Andy grinned. "Well as I said, locate where you wish. I only need a bed and sufficient space to allow me to get away from the noise of a howling baby."

"Our baby will not howl."

"You ought to be writing fiction," he laughed and had his ear lobe pulled sharply.

Andy's mother Emily came out to greet them and even kissed him as if awarding the top prize for being best bull of the show.

Emily stroked her daughter's stomach and said, "Oh my darling grandson."

"It's a girl and her name is Karen."

Both women looked at Andy shocked, Emily's eyes filling with tears and she said she didn't believe him and Addison looked murderously at her husband.

"Do you know the results of the scan?"

"No mother."

"But he does?"

"No mother."

"But then how can he say such a thing to me? I want a grandson."

Addison sighed and said, "He knows mom and I believe him. Now let's talk about something else."

"He can't know. He's a man and one I don't particularly like because he has wandering eyes."

"Mom shut up otherwise we'll book into a hotel and you know dad will be angry that you forced us to do that."

Emily began bawling and Andy thought well that's it, they were off to a hotel but then Addison turned and winked at him and somehow that little thing dissolved his aggression.

He whispered, "Don't reveal" and Addison whispered, "No way."

Andy headed for the offices of JCA next morning and sat across the street having late breakfast. He crossed the street to arrive at the boardroom right on the dot. He had much to smile about because he'd negotiated a contract for a year with salary of $350,000 and a bonus of up to $350,000 to be apportioned in steps relating to improvement in gross profit. He'd assured Jan Thomas and her father James Crombie he could move ruthlessly to lead the company into full recovery in twelve months providing present conditions remained no worse and nothing unexpected arose to torpedo the recovery.

Well neither of them would be dumb enough to expect a miracle within a couple of months. The contract promised him the experience he needed as part of his Ph.D studies at being involved in problem-solving and reorganization and the partners and Jan's father, the chairman, had agreed to Andy using this project as his required degree dissertation if approved by his online university.

Andy shook hands with the other two partners and then was introduced to the other two board members, an attorney and an accountant who was a taxation specialist.

Andy listened as the company's situation was outlined, with a slide presentation of its slide toward insolvency and graphs showing staffing numbers, department earnings and costs and other business statistics.

"Well Mr Chairman," Andy said when the presentation finished and all eyes turned to him, "it's a classic case of costing rising and of slowing of money coming in because the company has lost momentum and that has cost it market share. The way back to profitability means working urgently to increase billings, slashing costs to allow debt to be reduced and analyzing how loans could be restructured along with tweaking your business plan."

They all nodded, unimpressed, because Andy was telling them what they already knew. What they had been unable to do was to curb the rot, let alone stop it. 

"I have the advantage of coming in from the outside and not being emotionally attached to the company and its people," he said.

"First of all Mr Chairman would you prefer a long grind to achieve full recovery or to take the quick and painful path?

James, chairman and biggest investor in the company said, "We should bite the bullet so I believe we should opt for the quick route. He looked at the three partners and they all nodded, looking gloomy, although having no idea of what was in Andy's mind.

"Okay this will be brutal and even you guys in this room take a hit."

"Go to it Andy," said James. "You are in charge of the fight back and we promise you 100% cooperation even if it hurts."

Andy didn't smile.

"First of all Mr Chairman, your honorarium is suspended as from midnight tonight. The payout to investors will be at 50% of last year's payouts. You two outside directors must agree to accept a cut to 50% in fees that you received from this company in the past twelve months. You all must hand in your company cards to our financial controller as you leave this meeting; they will be suspended for twelve months.

"Legitimate expenses will be reimbursed on application together with receipts. All leased vehicles will be handed back as soon as their return has been negotiated. All air travel is suspended for twelve months unless specifically authorized by my office. All items of capital expenditure exceeding $1000, irrespective of how the payments are to be staged, must be specifically authorized by my office. Immediate steps are to be taken to reduce staffing by 20% and by that I mean 20%. The public relations wing of this company is to be housed in your existing space in this building and a decision how that is done and how many of its staffing are to go is for the partners to decide but I recommend that firings or revenue producers be based on revenue production, or rather lack of it. Firings of non-revenue producers should have the weakest links targeted."

"Jan would you please line up the three people on this payroll, not partners, who would be best to assist me in this slash, burn and regrow initiative and I'll pick one of them as my assistant and we would need one PA to share. That's all for the moment and, oh yes, your existing benefits being suspended will be restored in one year from today, perhaps a bit sooner. Oh and please don't fire anyone who has been successful at finding or generating new business. We desperately need those people."

"That's all for now Mr Chairman."

"Oh thank you Mr Grim Reaper," James said, and even he looked shaken. "I know we must do this if we are to avoid having to sell the business." 

Jan took Andy to a meeting room that was already set up as office to house him and any assistants. The big table had gone and there were two desks and a small meeting table plus a desk set up outside for their PA in the usual remote PA mode.

A thick arm bruiser (female) was already sitting at the station.

Andy whispered to Jan he was most impressed and she smiled at him for the first time ever.

"Please get us out of this Andy. We are relying on you. You shook us to the core in there and I'm sure that was needed. No person but an outsider could have done what you just did and gotten away with it."

Well even a smile from Jan was an incentive to succeed.

"Maria this is your new boss, please do your best for him. Mr Ash, this is Maria Delgado."

Andy spoke rapidly to the woman in Spanish and she looked ready to hug him.

He switched back to English and said, "Maria my assistant and I have the duty to get this company back on an even keel. Some people could come up here ready to rip us apart. We'd appreciate an early warning."

"Sir my husband's good-for-nothing drunken uncles behave like gentlemen when they visit us. They've learned the hard way."

Andy grinned and told Maria to call him Andy.

Jan went off and called fifteen minutes later to say she had the handpicked people on call with one to be his assistant.

"Do you have a recommendation?"

"No. You'll be able to pick the tough-ass."

The executive and two managers arrived, each with a résumé sheet.

Andy read those documents rapidly but knew he wouldn't be selecting someone with the most impressive work record. There were two females and one male. He chose the one with the biggest tits and no, it wasn't the male. Felicity was the assistant manager of the new business team.

"Okay I've decided to pick Felicity," Andy said. "It was close and thanks for presenting so well Ruth and Paul."

When the other two had gone, Felicity asked, "What did it for me?"

"You have a tough-ass manner and you have worked in new business. Those two assets are like gold to me."

"Then I can be assured of increased pay."

"A bonus when we finish, perhaps. You'll just be cruising working with me."

"Liar," she said, not turning a hair.

Andy grinned and Felicity said she'd go and clear her desk. "Who'll tell my boss about this appointment?"

"You can. Your manager will be relieved you have been seconded because he or she will know their position is safe because top management wouldn't be insane enough to cut both managers from new business."

"You are ruthless," Felicity said. "Oh by the way I'm married."

"Funny you should say that. So am I. Are you disappointed?"

She smiled and left.

Andy thought well from what Felicity had said, it would appear their workforce was expecting something to happen. He called Jan and asked could his appointment and the reason for his appointment be emailed to all staff.

"Already done, at 9:01 this morning."

"Good girl. May I send you a brief statement to send out to everyone?"

"Of course. I'll arrange for our IT manager later to give Maria uploading access to the all staff network."

The message read:

'Hi I'm the new guy at the top to carry out what the board of this company wants and that is to turn this company around. Mrs Felicity Adams has been appointed my chief assistant and Mrs Maria Delgado is our PA, your first point of contact. My first duty to return this company to profitability is to reduce staffing by 20%. If you are willing to take 10% of your salary as a bonus and leave as soon as you complete your existing assignments then please call Maria and arrange to see Mrs Adams. I have the business experience and the track record of performing well under adversity and to be confident I can turn this company around to give all remaining employees the confidence they will be working for a leaner and more efficient company that has won the fight and is gaining its biggest market share ever. It is my hope that only the timid and under-performers will leave or will be fired, and they know who they are. Thanks for reading this. If you have any complaints about my robust management direct them at this company's recent change of managing partner, Mrs Jan Thomas.'

Andy Ash

Director of Change Management

J Crombie-Angus

Meeting Room 2

Felicity arrived back pushing a trolley loaded with her office effects. She was surprised to see a 50 in. video screen had been attached to one wall and a screen projector hung from the ceiling.

"Fashion movies for you, porn for me," Andy joked.




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 16



She looked disgusted and said, "I wasn't given the opportunity to agree to this appointment."

"No."

"Was that an oversight?"

"No."

She sighed and dropped that query.

"Which is my desk?"

He grinned and she said then it must be the one where he was not sitting since he wasn't getting off his butt. So she had humor.

Andy said, "I suggest forthwith you suspend all close relationships you have with people in this company although there's no need to snub them. This is because right at this moment, apart from the partners, you, Maria and me, everyone else is potentially in the firing line. Have you read the email I sent out?"

"Yes. Then you'll understand the situation and what I had just said about suspending relationships will make sense."

"Yes."

"Excellent. How many departments do with have in this building with a director or manager?"

"Seven."

"Well with Loop-a-Doo that makes eight. Please email all eight department heads in charge to attend a meeting in this room at 9:00 am tomorrow and bring their company credit cards to hand in. Please advise attendance is compulsory."

"They might not like you adding that."

"There will be a great number of people not liking what we will be doing."

"I guess so. I'm on to that now. I'll ask for an immediate confirmation from each person."

"Good girl."

"Actually I'm a woman."

Andy drinned and said that was meant as a mild endearment.

Felicity glanced at him and said it that case he could use it as often as he wished.

When Felicity said she'd done contacted all department heads, Andy asked her to take him on a tour and to introduce him to department heads and to explain how everything worked and the interrelationships worked.

"Shouldn't a more senior person be doing that?"

"I don't particularly like any of the partners."

She looked at him, appearing highly embarrassed.

"What?"

"Nothing. Perhaps I can get used to you."

"I'll record our conversations during this tour and of anyone who speaks to us. I'm propose eventually publish a paper on how this works out as part of a higher education dissertation."

"I see. So you are scholarly as well as confrontational."

"Yes and perhaps I also have a far softer side?"

"And how does that emerge?"

"It evolves through sexual liaison."

Felicity swallowed and asked could he forget she'd ever asked that.

"Yes but remember Felicity, you were the person who said I was confrontational."

"Yes," she sighed and added she was also the person who'd said perhaps she could get used to him.

They returned three hours later from the tour plus having a short break for lunch.

"That was well done, you remembering the names of everyone who mattered to us and many of others of our 144-person workforce in this building. Do you know how many are employed over at Loop-A-Doo?"

"Seventy-eight I think."

"Jesus. That's huge for a PR wing."

"I would have thought so. But the partners paid a huge price for the business and I guess they poured in the people and support resources to really make it work but I'd think as a business it's now insolvent."

Andy handed Felicity a memory stick.

"Please hand this to the person who manages our website. It's my CV. We are officially known as the Department of Change and Mrs Thomas said our section of the website went live this morning after being tested."

"Should I check this before taking it through to Johnny?"

As you wish.

A few minutes later Felicity cried, "Omigod."

"What?"

"You and your wife were the owners who sold Loop-A-Doo to our partners."

"Yes."

"And were apparently paid a big price."

"For something that didn't involve ownership of bricks and mortar, you could say that. But what price do you place on good-will, a list of solid clients and audited bottom-line profitability of a growing business?"

"I have no idea but ask should you be disclosing your association with Loop-A-Doo?"

"Yes because I believe in full disclosure as much as prudently possible to open the way to earn trust. Actually it's logical to think people in the advertising division would have found out anyway."

"God how will the partners react if we are forced after analysis to close down Loop-A-Doo?"

"At least ruefully I'd think. But it won't close because it makes good sense to add PR to the advertising mix. Part of our job will be to return Loop-A-Doo to a lean and mean business entity as it was when the partners pushed to purchase it."

Felicity scratched a breast and was saying something. Andy dimly became aware she was saying something and shook his head to clear his thoughts and said, "Sorry Felicity, I missed that."

"My real job here is as a cost-accountant and I know how the company has squeezed in the past year or so in a vain attempt to shave costs to get the books balanced. I agree that cutting staff, especially support staff and low income earners would produce big savings for the company but I cannot believe you can just march in here and write to all staff and say volunteer to resign and you'll get a 10% of your annual salary as a bonus. This company's partners are not that stupid in running a business that they would hand that level of governance over to you."

"Yes and quite right Felicity. I can see you have something between your breasts, er your ears. Once the directors agreed to me being hired as change manager, I had to submit my proposals to the partners and we worked through my intentions in the implementation of my program and their ticked off most and rejected only a few. One they ticked was my idea of offering a 10% of annual salary bonus to anyone whose resignation we accepted."

"Well thank god for that and please you are not to mention my breasts ever again. I must now work on the staff list and in association with supervisors and managers, work out people we cannot afford to let go."

"Oh excellent and don't forget you'll have Maria consulting you over appointment times to talk to people who wish to offer their resignations."

"Yes," said Maria, who'd knocked and opened the door and was walking in when she heard that last comment. "Here are six people already who are willing to leave us."

"Omigod," Felicity said. "We are underway with the blood-letting." 

* * *

Leaving the office, Andy joined the commuter rat race for the short trip from the Loop to Fullerton Station in Lincoln Park and walked the mile and a half home. That made him even keener to be living within reasonable walking difference of the office. Well Addison knew he'd want that.

He arrived home and she half-waddled towards him and kissed him and took his jacket and he had slung over his shoulder and said he looked like a guy you was short of a beer.

He liked that.

She pulled off his loosened tie and told him to take off his shoes and put his feet up.

"Where your mother?"

"Here," Emily said, arriving with a Martini, beer and mineral water on a tray. "Now let's hear all about your day as Hatchet Man."

"Mom!"

"Oh sorry, Addison called you that. I thought I was allowed to use it as well."

"Addison!"

"Sorry darling, what is your title?"

"Director of Change Management."

"Oh how stuffy whereas Hatchet Man sounds really exciting."

Andy smiled because he liked her enthusiasm and determination to be interested in his work.

He outlined his day and told them about his Mexican PA and his curvy blonde assistant.

"Which one has the big tits?"

"Addison!"

She ignored his mother and he said he didn't appoint either woman.

"I asked which one?"

"Both I would think."

Addison said disbelievingly, "You only think? " 

She giggled.

"You two are disgusting," Emily grizzled.

"How did the apartment viewing go?"

"Viewing? Addison signed up on the third one we inspected."

"Yes for six months and then monthly extensions. It's beautiful and is a corner apartment so is sunny for most of the day. It will be a beautiful environment for baby."

"Her name is Karen."

"Mom pleaded with me not to use that name in case it ruins her chance of the baby being a boy."

"What?"

"Andy please be pleasant to my mother. We are in her house."

"When can we move in into the apartment?"

"Andy you are very rude. I have two weeks to go before Karen is scheduled to arrive so mom says I should stay here close to the delivery facility and I have agreed and then perhaps two weeks after delivery."

Andy didn't like hearing that but knew it was the better that having Addison by herself in the new apartment.

He said well perhaps that was a good idea.

"In fact, thanks Emily. I understand having a mother around at this time is very desirable."

"Well said Andy." Emily smiled. "This is also a beautiful time for me."

Addison has a list of things that needed to be done to the apartment and a list of things Andy could purchase to make the apartment more comfortable for them.

"Mom suggests you stay at the apartment Monday to Thursday nights and come back here for weekends."

He agreed with that suggestion. 

* * *

Karen arrived two days after the predicted due date and Emily thought she was so gorgeous that Andy heard her whispering to Karen to forgive her for wanting Karen to be a boy.

Andy had made progress with getting the apartment as Addison wanted it and was also getting all the sex he wanted, and from an unexpected quarter.

Jan Thomas, the female partner of the advertising agency where Andy was performing as Hatchet Man, invited him to lunch to catch up on progress. As they were arrived at the Atwood Cafe two younger women were leaving and both kissed Jan and she introduced her niece Robyn and Robyn's friend Alicia to Andy who'd already been caught twice in thirty seconds by Alicia looking at her breasts. Robyn had them, presumably, but Alicia's caught Andy's eye, so to speak.

Aunt and niece were talking about family when Alicia casually asked Andy where he worked and she called him two hours later.

"Hi it's Alicia West, a friend of Mrs Thomas' niece that you met just outside Atwood a couple of hours ago. I'm calling to find if you date?"

Andy's mind raced of course. But he felt obliged to inform Alicia he was a happily married man. She downplayed his bumbling confession and said mildly, "I was only interested in dinner and talking. What were you expecting?"

"Er dinner with you would be awesome," he said, not suggesting she wear a low cut dress to really display her bountiful real estate. 

"Do you mind me being predatory?"

"No," he said, heart picking up pumping rate. 

"Then we'll eat at my apartment. My partner is in northern Canada involved in a geological survey at the moment and I'm lonely."

It couldn't be this easy, er not unless she were a hooker, Andy thought, but hookers didn't have a reputation for offering meals.

"I would prefer eating at a restaurant because..."

"And that preference conflicts with me eating undisturbed with you at home and I'm the one doing the asking," she said smoothly.

"I-I did say I was married."

"You did."

Andy was on the verge of saying no when Alicia gave him the address and time. He was thinking where the location of that street was when she cut the call.

Feeling guilty, with his exhausted wife and new mother at home, probably thinking he faced another lonely night in their new apartment clutching his dick and thinking home sex could be some weeks away, Andy heard the buzzer and pushed the unlocking security door and headed for the elevator.

Alicia caught Andy totally by surprised, greeting him as she opened the apartment door. She was dressed in black lingerie including black patterned thigh-highs and the type of bra made her tits bulge out to greet him.

"I apologize for looking like this; I hadn't expected you so early," she lied.

Yes lied because he was twenty minutes late, having arrived outside the apartment and then walking around looking for a liquor store, and she had time to dress fully from the time he'd pressed the buzzer at the entrance. God what a lying bitch he gloated. 

Alicia took the bottle with thanks, placed it on the floor and fell upon him.

Andy obliged, sinking to the floor as she got her tongue into his mouth.

Phew.

"I'm desperate for it," she moaned. "Nick has been away twenty-five days and will not return for another six weeks."

Oh how convenient, Andy thought. It would be at least a month before Addison would probably feel like sex, according to her. He must remain appealing to Alicia to cover that period.

"Gee I can't believe how damn attractive you are," he murmured and was rewarded with a big floppy bared tit being pushed at his mouth.

Andy couldn't remember unbuckling, unzipping and pushing his trousers down while she writhed her weight over top of him but then, during one of those squirming moves, she positioned herself correctly and Marco slipped into a slippery wet cunt.

Oh beautiful.

She squeezed and he almost exploded, managing to hang on by a thread.

"No condom," he croaked.

"It's okay, I trust you to be clean," she said recklessly. "Can I fuck you?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

She pulled off him, sat over him and went to town, mouth open and gasping, saliva flying from her mouth, tits swinging wildly in different patterns that practically hypnotized Andy and he erupted, hugely and the slushing slapping between their two bodies increased noise level lewdly.

"You've ejaculated and we've only got started," she groaned.

But Andy panted heroically, "Keep going."

He telegraphed a thought to Marco that if he let the master down now, Marco could say goodbye to this delectable cunt forever.

Now Marco became the hero and carried on like a true athlete.

At the end of the evening, when Alicia kissed Andy at the door, she apologized for forgetting to feed him.

"Now that my sexual frustrations have been completely erased, I w'll have the meal ready for us when you arrive next time. Tomorrow evening, same time?"

"Oh you sweet, gorgeous woman; that would be lovely."

"Oh I love you stroking me with inflated language. Would you mind if I talk dirty tomorrow night; that really gets me going?"

"I'd love it. As I told you, my wife has just delivered a baby. My cock is in need of prolonged exercise."

Alicia giggled and purred, "We are two of a kind, absolutely sluts."

Andy didn't regard that as being offensive. 

To Be Continued



A Loser Rebounds Ch. 17



Andy walked into the main office of Loop-a-Doo Public Relations Consultants Ltd at 5:30 for the meeting where everyone employed there would hear the dreaded news. He fancied he could smell fear in the air.

The CEO Toby Collins announced, "Attention everyone, this is Mr Andy Ash, who is to deliver the bad news as part of JCA's need to restructure in order to survive in this dog-eats-dog world of advertising and the growing disloyalty of clients."

There was silence as Andy walked to the rostrum. "Hi everyone, my job had been to get JCA up and going again. This subsidiary has been particularly had hit because in a severe economic downtown clients tend to quickly put their wallets away when it comes to spending on public relations, promotion and events organizing. In plain words, for some months this section of the business has been eating its head off. My job is to retrench, reorganize and send the business of JCA back on to the road to profitability. The board has given me powers to achieve this and I am forced to be ruthless and let some of you go. Those people who are going earlier today received their letters of a suggested exit plan. I suggest your people leave this meeting now to avoid additional stress. The company regrets the fact that it has come to this and you who have received that bad news have been asked in that letter to carry on to finish work in hand and to immediately make an appointment with my department to discuss your exit."

The grim-faced Toby Collins led out thirteen other people. Some of them were weeping and two shouted, expressing their hurt, but were ignored. For once Andy didn't have a ready smile.

Andy addressed the eighteen remaining people.

"What you have just witness is the dirty end of business but at times it happens. Some of you may decide to leave us but of course that's your choice. I need to tell you that in my analysis JCA needs its public relations and special projects crew more than ever. In better economic times the income stream this subsidiary has been generating was significant and with costs trimmed and downsizing of human resources in the face of current reduce demand for services, PR will remain vital to JCA's client appeal. The partners of JCA are now very much aware of these adjustments and the flow-on effects now they have viewed our new business plan."

"Your operation in this building ceases from this Friday and on Monday you guys will have your own floor in the building JCA occupies, the floor immediately below the first floor of advertising business. Those premises are being renovated as we speak to my specifications because I know how a tightly-knit PR operation works. I approached Kate Gates late yesterday and I'm delighted to announce Mrs Gates has accepted the title and responsibility of director of JCA PR division. Regrettably your section's distinctive name of Loop-A-Doodle Do is buried in this reform. In my view this gives your department wider appeal that stretches far beyond the Loop." 

"Salaries and conditions remain the same but each of you will be paid a $300 relocation payment as an apology from JCA in recognition of the upset this reform might have caused; it may have been an anxious time for some of you. I now believe we have one of the best PR teams in all of Illinois and it's up to Kate to massage the talent out of you guys. That's all from me. I now invite questions or comments and expect you to be frank."

"I'm Mary, began one of the newer recruits...."

After almost an hour of questions and comments, Andy was sure the concerns about their ongoing employment had reduced, and in some instances would have evaporated for some of the remaining crew.

With some of the pressure lifting off him, Andy was back on track with his studies, helped by visiting Alicia only twice a week. On Saturday mornings he continued to meet with a peer study group in the city. The seven online students were all studying for the qualification of Doctor of Management Organizational Leadership and periodically an associate professor from the university traveled to Chicago for one or two-day intense lectures and discussion at the university's study center in the Loop. 

* * *

Andy loved Karen although not showing the intensity of bonding that Addison did and he couldn't believe how the doting grandmother, Emily, had become so kind to him, no doubt keen not to upset him in any way to risk having Karen removed from her life. Karen was the only one of the three grandchildren that Emily had attended the birth and Addison said that counted a lot but the father said defensively that his daughter was the best looking and cuties of the three babies.

"But you haven't seen my two nieces, only photos."

"That doesn't matter Addison, he replied illogically. "I just know."

At last Addison and Karen arrived at the apartment to live and when the date for that had been arranged, Andy had severed his relationship amicably with Alicia.    

Karen didn't appear to mind she was placed in her own bedroom for the first time. The problem was Addison fretting Karen wasn't in the same room with her and she wept and finally Andy growled to shut up and go to sleep.

That little hiccup cured itself within two nights and Addison celebrated by jerking Andy over her tits, unaware that had made Andy bond to her gain. They had light penetration two nights later and within a week were banging away as well as they had in the past. 

"God you haven't lost your technique. I guess you found someone to hump while I was out of action?"

Of course he lied and she had the nous to take it no further.

In the following three months, Andy and the three partners met each day at 4:00 in the boardroom and worked for at least two hours examining every aspect of the business. They had a timetable and before they began to review the activity of a particular department of the business, Andy and his assistant Felicity would have spent at least four hours discussing the team and performance with the head of that section.

The partners and Andy would then look closely at the director or manager's summarized views of how his/her section was operating, review the stated strengths and weaknesses and discuss the possible improvements within that department.

Before long it became accepted that the company had hired trained people and then had done little beyond tokenism in on-going education to advance the knowledge and lift the skills of its workforce.

Andy didn't have to say to the partners they hadn't been doing their job because they acknowledged that in their admissions. They agreed that when this comprehensive review was completed, Andy and Felicity must work with each section head to devise a formal training regime.

It also became apparent the partners spend a great deal of time with principal clients and that posed a problem for Andy: if that wasn't done or that time spent with clients was reduced significantly, what effect would that have on the company? How does one place a value on goodwill? He thought that could be part of his research for his degree course dissertation. He intended beginning his dissertation fulltime when his contract with JCA ended.

This increased contract with the partners also increased Andy's contact with Jan the managing partner because there were always follow-ups from their daily joint meeting to pursue. Jan and Andy began having lunch at a nearby café as often as three times a week and although her hard-eyed look didn't soften, it became obvious to them they'd become friends.

Jan invited Andy and Addison to her place for lunch one Saturday and Emily jumped at the chance to come into the city and mind Karen and she did that again when Andy and Addison left the city with Jan and her husband David to spend the weekend at the Thomas's cabin in the country. David was a university associate professor in psychology and he and Andy got along okay although Andy regarded him as a cold fish.

He and Jan misbehaved when David and Addison went to the nearby town to buy provisions that Jan needed. Jan was still in bed and Andy worked away reading material as part of his academic studies. Eventually he went for a pee. Similar assuming Jan was still in bed he pushed opened the door and walked into the only bathroom and found fully nude Jan facing him.

She eyed him and jiggled her breasts and said, "Oh good morning, what do you think of these for an old girl?"

Probably it was to cover his embarrassment but Andy couldn't remember afterwards if he'd answered that question. He could recall he moved in and said, "May I touch?"

Jan simply looked at him and so Andy took that as a yes and jiggled them. She lifted up her face to be kissed and it was all on. She dropped to her knees and, unzipping him, pulled his flaccid dick into her mouth and Marco rose to the occasion.

Jan spluttered and puffed, "My goodness, you're well stacked."

Andy liked that despite thinking that was something guys said to females.

She worked on him until he came into her mouth and she spat out that semen into the bath and she asked, "What now?"

"Lean over the bath."

"Oh no, not anal."

"There's no thought of that," he said, aware he wasn't wearing a condom. He spat into his hand and polished his dick and slid into her rather dry pussy that took him with ease. 

As they banged away, Andy thought that Jan, aged fifty-four, was the oldest women he'd ever fucked. It was better than he'd expected. Although she had some wrinkles forming, none networked over her breasts and her cunt was very like most others he'd plowed and that was quite a finding.

She came hugely and he came and she said, "Well I had been wondered if you could satisfy a woman and having released hugely, my biggest in years, I guess that's my answer. However I don't think we need to do this again."

Mean bitch, thinking selfishly, Andy sighed and cleaned up and went boating on the lake. He was paddling back from about half-mile down the lake when the others arrived back from shopping. Jan, David and Addison were having coffee on the lawn under an umbrella when he came ashore and pulled the kayak up on to the grass.

The remainder of the weekend went smoothly, with a great dinner party on Saturday night. Jan and David had invited a couple from a cabin half a mile away who arrived with three bottles of French champagne. 

* * *

One evening after beginning his eighth month with JCA, Andy was nursing Karen who'd gone to sleep in his arms. He broke the news to Addison his work was almost finished with the company.

"We are well back into profitability. The partners got their company credit cards back last month and on Friday Jan announced I'd agreed they could lease cars again and this week section directors and managers get their company credit cards back. I told Jan today I reckon I should finish up on about the 18th or 20th of this month."

"And then what?"

"Well I have a year's study ahead of me. I would like to stay handy to the Loop because I meet my peer collaboration group here each Saturday."

"What about somewhere near mom and then I could go to work and leave Karen with her."

"She might object?"

"Oh yeah? On days when she has other commitments, you could do your goo-goo, ga-ga thing with your little princess, couldn't you?"

"Yeah I suppose so."

"Andy!" 

"Yes, I'd love that. I doubt if Emily would be tied up all day. You need my support to get back to work."

"Thank you darling. That makes me more confident about returning to work."

They went apartment hunting as soon as Addison found work. She'd gone to the final interviews of the top three candidates and won the position as assistant admin manager of a large furniture rental business that operated only in Lincoln Park.

The next weekend Addison, Karen and Andy went apartment hunting with an agent and while they wanted something very modern, they ended up with a large older condo on the top floor of a 4-level plus basement garage in a quiet neighborhood within a few minutes' drive from her parents' home. It had a 20 ft. cathedral ceiling in the living dining area, a separate kitchen and half-bathroom on the lower level and two bedrooms and shared bathroom on the mezzanine floor. The monthly rental was $2600 and because it had views of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan and was so roomy, although in need of renovation. They took if after the management company agreed to immediately have the kitchen and living area walls and ceilings repainted and the hardwood floors of the living room/dining room and entry renovated.

"In that case we are getting value for our rental," Addison asserted, although Andy didn't really care because they had plenty of money. The rental for a modern apartment he'd really liked had been $4250, so he believed he'd already saved heaps by lowering his sights.

They purchased a small car for Karen when they took over the apartment a week after Andy's work with JCA ended, up to four months earlier than original expected. He received the full $300,000 bonus plus a gold watch from the chairman (the largest stockholder) and three partners.

A farewell party was held at a restaurant for section heads, the partners and wives/partners. Daniel Wiseman, senior art director when speaking on behalf of section heads, presented Andy with a voucher for a 'luxury pamper' for two nights at one of Chicago's top hotels, paid for by donations from section directors, managers and staff.

"You arrived here as 'Hatchet Man' and depart as a hero Andy, having rebuilt and got this company's operation back on track and heading toward good profitability."

Addison wept, feeling so proud of her husband. Earlier in the day Andy had given Maria and Felicity gifts in recognition of them in sticking with him, especially in covering the nasty yards in the first two weeks of the rebuilt when people had to be let go.

He left the company totally satisfied with his efforts plus with the support he'd received, and hoped the partners wouldn't mess up again.

Next day Andy and family caught a flight see his family and there was great excitement at the airport at Gillette with 'the other' grandmother seeing her first grandchild for the first time. Andy's much younger sister Susie had come home from college especially meet baby Karen. It wasn't difficult to tell who was the most excited, Grandma Irene or Aunt Susie. Susie had great difficulty leaving Karen's side in the short time she was home and Karen, long weaned, slept in Susie's bedroom that only night Susie was home. Susie had bonded with Karen but Addison had really bonded with Susie for displaying such over-the-top interest in her niece. 

When the women and Karen went to town and Andy's father went off to help a neighbor, Andy took the opportunity to visit the Williams' because his mom had said Angelina was home. He went having no intention of having sex with his onetime girlfriend and just as well. Her mom Amy still looked good but Angelina had 'gone to pack'. She had a double-chin, and thick upper arms and the extra weight around her midriff and butt made her appear, well, unattractive. Her small boy wanted nothing to do with Andy and was whining constantly about going home. When Andy picked up the younger child, she vomited, just missing him.

Andy didn't stay long. Amy said they'd all be over later to see his daughter and wife.                   

In the aircraft heading back to Chicago, Addison and Karen asleep and both looking beautiful, Andy sighed and thought once again ranch life wasn't for him. It was too isolated and involved too much routine for his liking. So what was he? Basically he was someone right in the middle of action that more often than not required off-the-wall decisions.

So he was a businessman?

Andy thought back on his checkered career and winced and then grinned, thinking it could be called a sexy career with all that up and down momentum. He decided he was a businessman with no fixed abode... a nomad businessman. He had no quarrel with that term.  He decided that next day he'd buy a Jogger Stroller because Karen was holding her head up strongly and beginning to sit without falling over. The question was to wait for Addison's approval of such a purchase and risk having the proposal vetoed?

Andy waited until Addison stirred and asked sleepily where were they? He ignored that and said they should buy a Jogger Stroller.

"Good idea. You could then run her over to mom on the way to the station when you wish to go to the city or visit a girlfriend.

She yawned.

What the hell? He said indignantly, "Girlfriend?"

"I really don't mind Andy. Just leave it."

But he hadn't had it off with anyone else since Addison and Karen had moved into the apartment with him. This was so unfair.

"But there isn't anyone," he protested.

"I know darling but hot pussy does tend to pop up for you."

He didn't know what to say. Perhaps honesty might help.

"Yes you're right."

"There you go. Even I feel better that you said that. About the Jogger, what color are you thinking because I will be seen using it at times."

"Shall we go with Karen and choose it?"

"Oh lovely. You are so considerate to me."

Andy had Karen all next day and got organized for intense study while she was sleep or not eager for attention. As soon as Addison phoned late afternoon that she was on her way home to collect them, Andy got Karen ready and took her down to the lobby to wait for the arrival of mommy in the black Ford Fiesta hatchback. 

He waited patiently, as he'd taught himself to do, while mommy fussed over baby. Andy knew it was important for Addison to lock back into being a mother and for Karen to regain recognition after the six and a half-hour break (Addison worked six hours a day).

The parents purchased a black stroller, the only color they could agree on. Andy grinned thinking Addison had wanted a flat pastel pink while his top preference had been high-gloss bright yellow for high visibility. But matt black was great. She'd chosen high-glass black but he made the switch when she wasn't looking.

Seven days a week, weather and other commitments permitting, daddy and baby would set off at 9:00 and return by 10:30 on a run that avoided heavy traffic fumes and then into the big park where they'd stop at the swings where two of the swings had kiddy safety frames. Karen quickly became big into swings and initially would bawl when lifted out but gradually that changed into sullen acceptance that her highlight of the day until mommy's return home was over.

Andy often saw other fathers, and mothers or child-minders with high-speed Baby/Infant Joggers and, with nothing much else on his mind beyond Karen's safely, he began thinking of which of those women would be good to fuck.

To his disappointment he failed to come up with a top-runner in his selection... but one morning and athletic-looking woman with loosely clad jumping tits headed his way in the park.

He almost ejaculated. Well that was only his wishful thinking. Oh boy, she was top-runner.

"Hi," he greeted, attempting to keep the wolf out of his smile.

"Great morning," she smiled and waved.

Well they were the two best guys on the run, Andy thought immodestly. So why wouldn't she twist her bouncing boobs toward him when she showed him all her teeth in that great smile?

He then thought she could be a cop out to catch motherfuckers like him.

That thought was a big deterrent and Andy's fire died.

Next day Andy was placing Karen into the swing's safety frame when Mrs Gorgeous came up beside him and placed her sleepy-looking young guy in the frame next to Karen.

After the exchange of greetings, Mrs Gorgeous said, "I hope you don't mind me standing so close but these are the only two swings for infants. I'm very sweaty."

"Do you sweat when you have sex?"




A Loser Rebounds Ch. 17



She hesitated only fractionally and then said yes without any sign of panic. And she didn't pull out handcuffs and a Taser.

"Yes as a matter of fact I do."

"Then it's inevitable you'll sweat when you run."

She laughed and said yes that was logical.

He hoped she'd ask did he enjoy the sweat on the bodies of women he grappled but instead she said her name was Erica Fox.

"Andy Ash."

"I know. We're in the same building. Your gorgeous wife drives a new Fiesta. Someone pointed you guys out to us."

Andy wondered how she'd slipped under his radar, living in the same building and he not been aware of that.

"Ray, Johnny and I moved in three days ago. This is Johnny and my Ray is in insurance. My neighbor Janis told me your baby's name is Karen."

"Yeah but Karen is too shy to talk to strangers yet."

The tits bounced as Erica laughed.

"Shouldn't you be running in a sports bra for good support?"

She looked at him thoughtfully and then said she ran without a bra to feel free.

Andy wondered and she filled in for him, saying, "This might make you disgusted but I run without panties as well."

"And hope the wind doesn't catch you unexpectedly in that short skirt?"

She laughed and said she'd had a few very close calls.

Andy looked down and said, "Johnny has fallen asleep under that gentle motion."

"Omigod your remembered my baby's name and used it?"

"What?"

"Most men either don't remember baby's names or don't bother to use them if they do. Even my husband tends to call Johnny my baby instead of using Johnny's name and regarding Johnny as partly his."

"Is he?"

"God," she laughed. "You're even a bigger tease than my father and I guess you know in this conversation with me, you have been provocative, and perhaps dangerously so with some women."

"Yes I know. I believe I can judge how to talk to women and usually know to tease and provoke or to back off or to even run off."

"Well you are the most interesting male apart from family that I've met in a long time. Oh look your baby has fallen asleep."

"Karen."

"I was testing to find if you would sternly or gently correct me. You did it perfectly. What do you do?"

Andy sensibly didn't say he was an opportunist seducer of women with bouncy breasts.

"I'm a nomad businessman."

"Oh one of those who's called in to fix up the mess?"

"Yes," he said in surprise.

"Don't be surprised, I instruct undergrads in business."

Andy was really surprised.

"You do."

"Yes but I've taken a year's leave to have Johnny and start him off into life."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty-six," she replied without fuss and Andy looked at her boobs and she giggled and said no they were thirty-fours.

"Sorry."

"I can see that you are not. I think you are a titman."

He scratched his head and looked up to her and said, "And you know too much."

Erica smiled, "Where are you at in your career?"

"I've just finished a hatchet job to get a company up and running again and have taken a year off to begin my dissertation and then to defend it."

"What for a master's?"

"No a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership. One day I might wish to leave the jungle of commerce and puff a pipe in an ivory tower."

She laughed and made no attempt to defend the academia.

They talked on and finally Erica said, "Would you and your wife like to come to our apartment for dinner on Saturday? Please bring Karen."

"Yes sure. That sounds perfect."

"If Ray decides to cook it will be," she smiled.

Andy ran off to complete his circuit while Erica stayed at the swing. She appeared most impressed that Karen didn't wake during the transfer to her three-wheel Jogger.

"I've found a great friend for Addison," Andy said into the air as he ran and felt very happy about that. Without saying it, Erica had left him with the impression she was not available for sex.

"I don't need to fuck every woman that catches my eye," he said, enjoying his freedom and smiled at the elderly couple on a seat that stared at him in censorship fashion.

Studying was a long, hard grind and when running most days with Erica, she proved a great help to challenge Andy's thoughts and to raise new issues to extend his thinking. Andy would meet her husband Ray in the basement gym three times a week before dinner and Ray, who was five years older than Erica, talked about some of his business experiences and that was useful to Andy as well.

Andy completed his studies and received his diploma the following July. 

* * *

Late one Saturday morning Addison asked, "Well Doctor Ash, what now? You have your higher degree that cost you hours of torture and a large around of money in fees. So do you look for work and do you wait for the call?"

Andy scratched his left ear and said he thought he'd wait for a bit. 

"So you'll wait for the call?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

Addison sighed, "Men" and walked off.

Andy thought well he had a wife who was earning good money, a baby and a big amount of money invested and had finished an educational grind. He should sit back and watch the flowers grow.

His phone called him out of physical and mental inertia.

"Mr Andy Rush?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Please hold for the President."

Andy thought he should have told the cheeky bitch he didn't hold for anyone, not even the White House.

"Mr Rush?"

"Yes."

"Hi Andy, Neville Kay speaking, president of Golden Investments Corporation here in Chicago. We have pulled together fourteen investment funds located coast to coast. Everything is set to go apart from an acceptable marketing plan to drive this big initiative our research department has come up with. My niece Linda Hoffman told me last night that we should talk to you. Actually Linda said you were the guy we are looking for to lead our marketing development team."

"Well this approach interests me Neville. Perhaps we should meet?"

Andy didn't say anything to Addison about that call and she forgot to be nosey because she and Karen were getting ready to go shopping with Grandma Emily.

"I'll go out to lunch," he said.

"Fine and I'll talk to you tonight about getting motivated. Unless you do I don't think you will get out of this lethargy."

"Oh you are so right darling," he said, kissing Addison and slapping her ass.

"Am I?" she said in surprise and grabbed him and kissed Andy again and said he was such a nice boy.

* * *

Andy arrived home to find his team asleep after a bout of shopping in hot weather.

He ordered in pizza and apple pie and placed a bottle of champagne in the fridge to cool.

About 6:20 Karen awoke and cried for attention. He sat in the streaming summer sunlight and left Karen to Addison. She came out smiley and looking soft and said hi it was lovely to see him. Andy wondered how many women in the same circumstances would have come out with a baby on their hip and scowling yelled, "You lazy sod. You must have heard crying. Why didn't you get off your butt and attend to baby and allow me to sleep on?"

Well lucky for him Addison wasn't like that and the other thing was he wanted her up and talking to him but he didn't want to wake her.

"Hi champagne?"

"Oooh."

See, she knew with absolutely certainty he didn't have to rush and say oh he had good news to tell her simply because she knew that was a waste of breath because he'd tell her without prompting when he was ready. 

He got the champagne, put his glass on the coffee tabled and took the smiling Karen by tucking one mitt under her ass and tipped her under his down-stretched arm (something that Addison disapproved of) and at the same time he handed Addison her drink. He then held Karen in both hands and lifted her up and kissed her and received back Karen's best and biggest smile. He expected that because Karen was in love with him.

He placed Karen sitting on the rug and mom and dad clinked glasses and said cheers. Karen rolled over, lifted up a bit and then sat herself up, steadying the wobble.

"Karen sat up by herself!"

Dad said yes it certainly looked like it.

Karen's next trick was to half turn her trunk to smile open-mouthed at them.

Even her father was deeply impressed by that.

"Omigod," Karen is growing up, Addison sniffed, and Andy thought that claim was rather premature.

Andy got off his butt to answer the buzzer and the pizza and pie were delivered.

"Omigod, aren't you a good husband and father," Addison cooed on the strength of one and a half glasses of champagne. She made no effort to get up and serve but that was okay with Andy, knowing she'd slogged her guts out shopping and dealing with the temptation to buy things she didn't want.

The three of them sat at the table, Karen in her high chair, being spooned slush her mom had prepared earlier in the day.

The time suited Andy to make the big announcement.

"The call came just before you guys left to go shopping."

"Omigod."

"The big news is we don't have to move but I might get a sleep-over studio in the Loop for week nights."

Addison said good because that meant she could keep her job and keep Karen in familiar surroundings.

"I'm to be offered a six-month contract to work as part of a three-person executive team to develop a marking plan in preparation for the launching of a new franchise throughout America to be called Small Car American Dream, a name I came up with over lunch today with three principals of the investment group."

"Omigod, you guys are going to make and sell cars."

"No just promote the sale of pre-owned small cars, aged 18 months or newer, with engines of 2000 cc (120 cu in) or less by branding their desirability because of rising fuel costs and higher emission control standards. The parent company has amassed capital of $2.2 billion to sell Small Car American Dream franchises to licensed retail car dealers. Our parent company will advance secure loans for development of our branded yard to its BBB-approved car dealers who take up our franchise."

Addison said, "Well that sounds enterprising provided the company can avoid being scandalized by crooked franchise holders."

"Another team is responsible for that. I'm to lead the three-man executive that includes a franchise expert and a marketing expert plus a support team. My responsibility is to put everything together so that we emerge with a fail-safe marketing plan."

"Hmmm," Addison said. "Every dealership should have at least one pink car branded with the Small Car American Dream logo to catch the eye of women buyers."

"Good idea, I have noted that darling."

Andy said he had incentive to succeed with this project because the CEO of Golden Investments Corporation would retire at the end of the year and the corporation chairman had offered Andy the position of deputy CEO, subject to the approval of the board meeting next week. That position would allow Andy to be groomed to become the new CEO.

"Have you accepted?"

"No because I wanted to know what you thought and I wish to research the corporation first."

"Well if you find it's a respectable company rather than a suspected money laundering outfit then I say take it Andy. I really feel you are about to lift your career as a business professional up quite a few notches."

"Yeah and I think that too. Um what do you think about a brother for Karen."

They looked at Karen who had slumped back in her high-chair and was almost asleep.

"Leave it darling," Addison said. "There's no rush. We are still enjoying Karen full on. Let's wait till that ebbs and then we can start all over again."

At the swings next morning, Erica listened to Andy's news with interest and congratulated him. She then looked at him deeply and said, "You know Andy I really feel I know you well now. Have you ever thought about having very regular sex with me?"

When thinking about how to answer that without appearing to be a slut, Andy could almost hear Marco calling to him to pounce.

"Do you mean have I been driven half-mad at the thought of your bouncing tits and bared pussy as you run?"

Erica blushed and said coyly yes.

"No can't say I have," Andy lied.

Now Erica appeared to be the one thinking about her reply to avoid sounding like a slut.

THE END