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A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 01

By: Egmont0409



A FORMER investigative journalist well versed in analytical financial reporting and currently adrift from female interaction, is recruited to gather evidence that the chairman's husband is ripping off the failing evening newspaper company. Eliot finds the chairman's daughter is an A-list babe who perhaps conveniently for him is between dates. They come together passionately and it's unclear which of them is the seducer and whether their lusty liaison will adversely impinge on the investigation and inflame the ire of the suspected fraudster, Jenna's stepfather.

CHAPTER 1

Adjusting the collar of his knitted jacket, Eliot Nephew entered the café and sat at a table away from office-dressed people eating breakfast like lovers while others had the body language of couples on the verge of a break-up. Among them were lonely singles staring into space beyond the grimy windows or hunched over a newspaper or paperback reading into splendid isolation.

A gum-chewing server with a skirt short enough to highlight knobby knees sauntered over with a coffee pot and asked disinterestedly, "Coffee?"

"Mandarin tea."

"What?"

"Coffee is fine," Eliot smiled, enjoying his first conversation of the day. He looked at the bored cashier leaning over her magazine and said to the server, "What's the name of the cashier?"

"Kate."

"When you return to your station say to Kate I want to see her."

The server moved around topping up coffee cups and Eliot was watching a fat woman make three attempts to lift off her chair when a voice at his elbow said, "Yes?"

"Oh Kate, sorry. I was in a dream. What time is your lunch break?"

"From 11:15 to 11:45."

"Great, have lunch with me."

"Excuse me?"

"Kate, my name is Eliot Nephew, I arrived in this city after dark last night not knowing a soul and today is Friday and I don't wish to spend it all alone. I'd like to invite you to lunch to seek information."

"I'm married."

"So? I was thinking lunch not adultery."

"No thank you. I have a customer, goodbye."

Eliot took her withering look without losing his soft smile and watched her trim butt as she strode off and noticed she was a fan of seamed stockings. So was he. 

When Eliot went to pay for his breakfast Kate looked up and said, "Oh, it's you," as if the Unpopular Customer of the Week had arrived for service.

"Yes and I left a tip for the server and have booked a table for two for early lunch beside the pool at the Marriott where I am staying. If you don't turn up it will mean I eat alone for the second time today."

"You'll be..."

Eliot interrupted smoothly. "Please don't complete that sentence, as I suspect it is in the negative. Approaching lunchtime perhaps hunger could have softened your soul."

The surprised woman almost smiled. Eliot took his change, nodded and left.

Three hours and ten minutes later he was only half surprised to see her coming to his table. He stood and held out his hand in greeting and she looked at it nervously so he kissed her cheek. She sat down abruptly.

"You are very forward and that rather confirms you don't come from this city. What do you want? Remember, I have told you I'm married."

"A drink?"

"Do you mean alcohol?"

"Order whatever you wish."

Kate said coffee so Eliot ordered two white wines and as she opened her mouth to protest he said he'd ordered what he thought she really had wanted.

A little more relaxed after half a glass of wine and starting into her salmon salad, Kate said her name was Kate Mitchell and she was twenty-eight and lived on Parkland's estate. Her husband Thomas was a long distance courier driver.

"So you'll be lonely tonight?"

She smiled and said no, Thomas would be home around 7:30.

"What time do you finish work today?"

Kate continued chatting as if she'd not heard the question. She learned Eliot had come to Clouston City to become news editor at the Clouston Evening Clarion and would take up the position on Monday.

"I decided to come in early and find an attractive and intelligent local woman who could suggest where I should locate, what golf club and gym to join and tell me what she likes and dislikes about the city's failing evening newspaper and short-list for me some of the youngish, attractive and eligible women around town."

"Eligible as in marriage?"

"Well as a starting point in the sense of being available."

"God, you have a nerve expecting to quickly locate a loud mouth and indiscriminate woman to perform that role."

He replied slyly, "Yes, I suppose I am. Please be kind to me and tell me what I want to know."

"I don't play golf but I know the Marshlands Country Club operates the premier golf course in this region, the place to live if you are without pets or children and are well-heeled is Twin Towers Apartments overlooking the Lakeside Marina. You'll find unattached women galore at the restaurants fronting the marina. Two of the most eligible women in the city, Gloria Fields and Rachel Somerset, have penthouse apartments at Twin Towers. I have a friend Jenna Wynn who's just ditched her under-performing guy. She owns European Lingerie at Clouston Mall but please don't even hint that I recommended her to you." 

"Agreed. I won't invite you to have more wine because you'll be working with money and management may have rules about drinking liquor during work hours. What time are you due back?"

"Nine minutes from now."

"Well then, finish your salad in peace. Thank you for that valuable information."

They chatted about films and books until Kate pushed her plate away and dabbed at her mouth with the starched napkin and stood. 

"Thank you for lunching with me Kate. I found it a real pleasure." 

They kissed politely and as she turned to walk away Eliot said, "Your seams are remarkably straight." She waved with a hand behind her back.

Ordering another glass of wine Eliot wondered in what sense had Jenna's boyfriend been 'under-performing'. He thought the comment might relate to sexual performance or failing to win a salary rise but with a woman it could mean he had failed to propose marriage. And why had Kate specifically mentioned Jenna? Very interesting.

Eliot called for the number of European Lingerie and used it, asking to speak to the store owner.

A new voice came to the phone. "Jenna Wynn."

"Ah, Miss Wynn. I am Eliot Nephew and have been referred to you by an acquaintance of yours who shall remain nameless. I am new to the city and begin my new job on Monday and invite you to join me for dine tonight at the restaurant of your choice. This invitation may sound presumptuous..."

"It certainly is. What reply do you expect?"

"An outright refusal. At worst a 'No' shouted into my ear and the connection cut."

There was a pause and Eliot could hear the woman breathing, a little heavier than perhaps one would expect. That told him he was in with a chance. He must be careful.

"And why am I not doing that Mr Nephew?"

Eliot breathed out, intending her to hear that and hoping it might relax her a little.

"You sense I'm genuine because nobody would make up Eliot Nephew as an alias. Your mind is bursting with curiosity about three things: why you and who is the person who gave me your name."

"That's two things."

"Ah, that tells me you are sharp or intelligent or probably both Miss Wynn. It also tells you I am creative and interesting and already pose less of a threat to you than when this conversation started. You still remain vigilant wondering whether it's worth a blind date or should you insulate yourself to remain comfortable in yet another boring evening and thus avoid being drawn into a relationship that could go just anywhere."

"Let's skip the psychology Mr Nephew and I don't doubt that is your name. "What is the third thing?"

"Your instinct is to take up the challenge to find if this blind date totally out of the blue could end up turning into a good night out."

"You have a nerve."

Eliot smiled to help make his voice sound light and reassuring. "And that explains why I am calling Miss Wynn. I am confident about myself and assume that you being in business on your own account have a similar belief in yourself."

"I know nothing about you Mr Nephew and as you have decided not to reveal the person who told you some things about me that gives you an edge."

"My informant was asked to name any eligible youngish, attractive and available woman and the names she gave me were Gloria Fields, Rachel Somerset and you."

"Why me... those other two females are social high fliers?"

"My informant did not elaborate about them but did say you recently dumped your current boyfriend. I immediately thought that suggests you might be available tonight to brief me about this city and its peculiarities."

There was a long pause that ended with a sharp intake of breath. "Look Mr Nephew, you apparently know little about me which places us roughly on equal footing. This conversation could go on for an hour of more. You could be taking a risk yourself as you have no image of me."

"Correct but although I know little about lingerie business I have yet to see a short, fat and ugly woman in charge and I can say I am not short, fat and ugly. Please just agree to meet me at a restaurant and nominate the time."

"Leonardo's overlooking Lakeside Marina. It is late night for me so 9:30 would be fine. I'll book."

"That's late dining and you might be uncomfortable about that. Let's meet for lunch tomorrow?"

Jenna said no, 9:30 at Leonardo's was fine. She cut the call.

While Eliot swam twenty laps in hotel pool before taking a nap, five miles away Jenna completed checking incoming stock against invoices and meanwhile had given up attempting to guess which one of her friends or acquaintances had irresponsibly given Eliot Nephew her name and private details. After listing five names out of first seven that came to mind, Jenna realized it was futile to continue because she had nothing to go on. Miss or Mrs Big Mouth would doubtless reveal herself eventually.

The 27-year-old brunette with straight hair and ragged cut fringe wondered if Mr Nephew was one of those guys who expected sex on the first date. She smiled and sighed. Men! 

Reception buzzed Eliot at his requested wake-up time of 8:00 and he showered, shaved and dressed in a blue linen checked shirt, darker blue Italian cut suit and shiny black shoes, the socks two tones darker than his suit. He wanted to make a good impression even if Miss Wynn turned out to be forty-five and almost short, fat and ugly.

For a moment the maitre d' looked at Eliot's neck and Eliot thought there would be an issue over him not wearing a tie so he squared his shoulders and smiled and asked for Miss Wynn's table. 

She'd not booked.

Eliot said she may have booked under the name of Nephew and the maitre d' nodded and smiled, taking Eliot to a premium table.

Three single women entered separately and the two blonde's caught Eliot's attention but were taken to other tables. The conversation noise died at he looked at the entrance to see the maitre d' making rather a fuss over a brunette who appeared to be about six-two -- almost as tall as Eliot. She was in a knee-length white dress with a bright red throat scarf and had a face and figure good enough to stop many diners from talking as they took in the arrival of this A-class babe. Eliot's instinct told him it had to be his date but then his instinct was not infallible. 

He stood anyway and she followed the maitre d' and smiled at Eliot; he hoped that it was an approving smile. His hands curled into fists and then relaxed as he waited nervously.

* * *

Jenna arrived at the restaurant to be met by owner Leonardo Calvano who acted as maitre d' because it allowed him to befriend regular customers and to keep his finger on virtually everything. Leonardo greeted Jenna, one of his favorite customers, kissing her on both cheeks. He'd known her since she was ten when her parents first came to his late father's restaurant that he now owned.

"Your man awaits you," he said in faultless English, having been born in America as where his parents.

"Ah yes and how do you rate this one Leonardo?"

"This man rates highest on first impressions of any man you have been with in this restaurant outside of your family," he answered. Jenna who'd long learned to value the restaurateur's opinion raised an eyebrow and Leonardo smiled. He turned to lead her to the table and murmured, "See he is a couth man, and stands and waits for you, unlike that last cretin you brought here."

Jenna was almost knocked out of her red velvet 4.5in sling-backs at the sight of Mr Nephew. Ohmigod, she thought, when a quick look revealed he came close to being her dream man possessing a well covered head of shaggy tight brown curls that were sun-bleached near the tips, wide shoulders and yet at a guess a lightly muscled frame. She then sighed recklessly, in a whisper not even Leonardo would hear, "Welcome to my boudoir Mr Nephew."

Closer up Jenna confirmed he was indeed almost handsome with a firm jaw line and she then almost lost her footing when she could see the intense green of his smiling eyes. Her mind careered out of orbit and she imagined her nipples were already firming. Where was her mental discipline? God, she was aware she was attracted to him already and that's without knowing if he possessed tenderness, could be trusted, knew how to talk to a woman and would stay beside her patiently when she shopped. And those points were only the starters from her wish list.

"Good evening Miss Wynn."

"Good evening Mr Nephew."

Then Leonardo had to butt in. "Oh no, please no, enough of such stilted formality in my restaurant when you two are destined to become known to each other."

He pulled out Jenna's chair and seated her. "Mr Nephew, this is my dear friend Jenna and you are..."

"Eliot."

"There Jenna, say I am pleased to meet you Eliot, please call me Jenna."

"Run along Leonardo," Jenna laughed.

Leonardo pushed down both her shoulders. "Jenna, I must insist that..."

"Oh, all right. Welcome to Clouston Eliot. Please call me Jenna."

Eliot said thank you and then eyed Leonardo. "I take it you are the Leonardo of this restaurant?"

"Yes and no. My late father established this restaurant as Leonardo's and I was named after him and became sole owner on his death, buying out the interests of my mother and my two sisters."

Eliot smiled and said, "Leonardo, my name is Eliot Nephew. Please call me Eliot. It is impressive to see a restaurateur take an upfront role in his establishment. Although I have yet to eat and drink here it gives me confidence at seeing you prominently in charge."

Leonardo beamed and excused himself to service new arrivals. 

Jenna waited like a cat ready to pounce but when Eliot just smiled at her she knew she was expected to speak next. "So you are not just charming to women?"

"When I'm out formally I do try to be on my best behavior, more so when in the company of a beautiful woman."

Jenna smiled through her blush, thinking this guy could prove to be quite a handful. She accepted the challenge to display some style herself. "You have done very well as a new arrival Eliot, dining in what is unquestionably the best Italian restaurant in this city and, as you suggest, dining with a beautiful woman."

"You speak as eloquently as you dress, Jenna. I have difficulty accepting you can work a long day and come out to dine late and look as good as a freshly picked orchid. Even so, I look forward to seeing your rougher side as you have a touch of steel in your eyes and hold your back aggressively."

"Oh my, is that bedroom talk?"

Her challenger smiled smoothly and said not at all. "You play tennis and are trained in self-defense possibly and are almost certainly to be one of the prettiest fitness center bunnies in this city."

A waiter arrived and showed the label of a bottle of champagne to Eliot, stating it was with the compliments of Leonardo.

Jenna watched intently.

"That is most generous of him but this is a classy French wine with a international reputation. Do you think Leonardo would be offended if I exchanged this offer for an Italian wine, perhaps Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio/Verduzzo, providing my companion agrees?"

"Whatever you order will be fine by me," Jenna smiled.

"Yes, and a glass each of the Masi Pinot Grigio and would you prepare a bottle of Masi Costasera if available?"

"Yes we have that sir."

When the waiter left Jenna asked was Eliot aiming to get her drunk.

"Are you driving?"

"No, I'll be fine."

"Then I suggest you have the glass of white and two glasses of red and you should be okay unless you are a one-glass imbiber?"

She said three glasses sounded right but he should not allow her to have more. "Why did you turn down the champagne?"

"It was exceedingly generous of Leonardo, over valuing me but what price he puts on you I don't know. I shall dine here frequently and so he'll remember me as the guy who drinks Italian wine with Italian food."

"That's impressive. It suggests you are not an outright taker as so many people seem to be these days."

Eliot tilted his head slightly, "Thank you for that compliment and I hope you never become disappointed in me."

Jenna's gray eyes held Eliot's gaze. "Oh really, and why is that?"

Again he did not answer directly. "How often do you eat here?"

"At least once a week."

"Then that explains my wish to have you look upon me favorably because I would like to dine here with you again. In fact I am eager to win your friendship so that you may be encouraged to do some things with me."

Jenna's expression tightened. "What kind of things?"

Eliot continued calmly. "The occasional movie, to meet at a bar now and then and for you to introduce me to your community, for example the art gallery, your fitness center."

"Why me?"

"I only know two people in this city. Give me a break Jenna."

She frowned and said of course and apologized for her rudeness. "But the other person you know is a friend of mine, a woman, and I am female. Why haven't you sought a buddy?"

"Good question. The answer is I prefer to socialize with females and don't believe I'm alone in that. At the moment the only two things you and I appear to have in common is we like this restaurant and we both are between a relationship so that's sufficient for a great start to develop a friendship. So as a stranger in town I am very much in need of your goodwill."

Jenna said deliberately. "I would be dishonest if I avoided saying there also appears to be deep down a suggestion of sexual attraction between us. I know because I feel it."

"Then if that disturbs you let's bury it."

"No, there is no need to do that. What has brought you to our city?" 

She saw Eliot hesitate and that deepened her interest in him.

"Can I trust you to keep the reason confidential?"

"I trusted you enough to meet you here this evening after the oddest phone call I have received since my teenage years."

Eliot scratched behind his ear and said ouch, just as their entrees arrived.

When the server left them he said, "Do I have your assurance...?"

"Of confidentiality? Yes, absolutely."

He looked around carefully and leaned forward. "I have been recruited by what I would describe as a few reputable and very concerned people to fill a vacancy on the Clouston Evening Clarion as a potential whistle-blower on suspected corruption. The severity of that challenge must surely convince you of the trust I have placed in you to say nothing about this."

If Eliot expected a banal response he was in for a surprise, In fact there was no reply because Jenna was looking at him, mouth open in disbelief. Her forehead exhibited a curled frown and she just stared at him intensely. Eliot shifted in his chair uncomfortably.


A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 01



Recovering, Jenna asked, "Who were those people?"

Eliot looked around again and almost whispered. "There were five of them and I have instant recall of the names of the two principals -- the company chairman Eloise Cruickshank and editor Brigit Wiseman. Do you know them?"

Jenna stiffened and fingered her neck scarf. "Yes. Eloise is my mother."

Eliot's face remained impassive and he showed no surprise, leaving Jenna thinking the guy was good.

He picked up his wine glass and looking at Jenna over its rim said, "So, your mother remarried?"

Jenna found herself admitting to that fact without restraint. "Yes, my father died in a small aircraft crash almost six years ago and mother quietly married their old friend Peter Cruickshank eighteen months later. My stepfather was executive editor at that time and soon after was appointed managing director, a position he still holds. Is he suspected of cheating the company?"

"I wouldn't know. The situation is from Monday I'll receive from your mother's group a monthly incentive payment of sufficient size to bring me here to look for evidence of misappropriation of money, goods and services. The contract is for six months with a review to be conducted at the end of three months with the Committee of Five having the right to abandon the arrangement at that point."

"You mean a written contract?"

Eliot grinned and asked did she think her mother was that stupid.

Jenna flushed and said of course she didn't think that. Eliot held out his left hand and she took it briefly and squeezed it and then withdrew her hand, giving him a shy smile. "So the criminal investigation branch of the police is not being called in to avoid harming my mother's excellent reputation in this community?"

"I guess that's part of it. What she did tell me was your stepfather is a very clever man with a ruthless streak. She can't imagine him leaving easy tracks to follow, so she's opted for a covert operation, hence me as whistle-blower being installed in a key position."

"But how can that be, the position of news editor is confined to the newsgathering and process operation? I know because I worked for the company during breaks while studying for my business administration degree."

That interested Eliot. "I too worked at a newspaper while completing a masters in financial management and on graduating became the deputy-editor of the newspaper's financial and business news department. I was found to be effective on investigations and was promoted to the general newsroom as chief investigation journalist. For the past two years I served as news editor on that newspaper and then was approached by a private investigator engaged by your mother's committee. The plan is for me to emerge as something of a financial genius and there will be a push for a review of the company's operational activities. I'll be editor Brigit Wiseman's appointee to the five-person review committee chaired by your stepfather and that will provide me with unrestricted assess to all departments including of course corporate administration files."

"My God, I knew my mother was bright but not quite that bright or should I say manipulative? Did she dream up that modus operandi?"

"Er, your mother and I spent an evening at a hotel discussing strategies."

"Oh."

"It was purely a business meeting; a very friendly encounter but purely business."

"Oh I see," Jenna said dryly, looking at him carefully.

Eliot said calmly, "She'd old enough to be my mother Jenna. I am about to turn thirty-one."

Her gaze wavered and she mumbled yes of course.

"Does she have a bit of a reputation?"

Jenna looked Eliot, her cheeks a little pink. "We both tend to rather like men." 

She braced as if expecting an embarrassing retort but instead was astonished when Eliot smiled and said their relationship was assured because he and her mother needed a trustworthy go-between rather than having to rely on risky phone calls or clandestine meetings. 

He grinned. "I take it you are on your mother's side?"

"Absolutely. Why don't you arrange a clandestine meeting with her and ask mom if she trusts me?"

Eliot showed no sign of discomfort said that was a great idea but rather inefficient. Jenna could brief her mother.

She flared, "My mother told you she had a daughter named Jenna Wynn and even gave you the name of my store, didn't she. Go on, admit it."

Eliot sampled the red wine offered by the waiter and nodded approval. "Either that or the alternative Jenna."

"The alternative?"

"By sheer fluke my slightly aggressive method to quickly set myself up with a dateable woman has led me to link with you. I know it must seem highly improbable but if you trust your mother why don't you ask if she told me anything about you?"

Gritting her teeth Jenna said the chances of a fluke linkage were one hundred million to one. "How did you find out?"

"If I tell you will you promise to take no reprisals?"

"On my loud-mouth friend? Oh, very well."

Eliot said before accepting her mother's proposal he'd investigated her mother and stepfather to check on authenticity of what he'd been told. He concluded what her mother had told him seemed highly likely. Through discreet enquiries he'd found Peter Raymond Cruickshank had no arrests record but he'd twice been questioned by the police over allegations of being involved in fraudulent activities and twice had been examined by tax investigators after they received allegations he possessed considerable undeclared income that would be subject to assessment for payment of tax.

"So where there's smoke there's fire?"

Eliot nodded and asked, "Has anything about your stepfather concerned you?"

"You could ask why don't I live at home."

"Why don't you live at home?"

"Because of his harassment. I'd found him looking through my diary and know my laptop has been interfered with but I encrypt my very personal files. He also molested me twice and on the second time I told my mother and she urged me to move out and when she saw my choice of apartment she upgraded me and pays half of my monthly rent."

"I see, in using that term molestation did you mean he attempted to bully you into sex?"

"No, the scumbag was too cunning for that. On both occasions he did not advance beyond the usually accepted bounds of passionate groping."

"I see, and on both occasions you two were drunk?"

"Less than drunk; shall we say stimulated by alcohol? I warned him off but he persisted and I finally had to hit him before he backed off. It was partly my fault because I allowed him to grope a little before realizing it was going beyond mild flirtation. On the second occasion he had exposed his erection but please, that is not to be repeated. I did not tell mom about that aspect of his misbehavior."

"Okay and remember never to be alone with him again. What led me to you was a photograph I opened on a social web page when searching for graphics including the name Eloise Cruickshank. I only looked at her briefly before sensing she was likely to be straight because I'd already uncovered enough of her husband to be suspicious of him. Obviously that was a mistake because had I gone farther I would have uncovered the fact she'd been previously married. The caption of the photo I turned up named Kate Mitchell and your mother. You were not identified, being almost out of the frame. It was only when you walked in here this evening I recognized you were the unnamed woman in that photograph. You will understand I failed to make any connection because to me you were Jenna Wynn and not Jenna Cruickshank?"

"Yes, I do now," Jenna smiled, reaching for his hand and holding it. "It all fits perfectly into place and explains why you would approach Kate Mitchell and purely by chance the loudmouth dropped my name on your lap. You thought Kate was unlikely to offer useful information and so decided to try me?"

"Exactly. Will you be my go-between?"

"Yes, but more than that. I wish to be dated by you and if that means being taken to bed, so be it."

That caught Eliot by surprise and his face reddened. "Um, that is very daring of you."

Jenna waited, twitching in her desire for a seductive proposal but he sat silent and their mains arrived.

CHAPTER 2

Jenna stood in her unlit apartment lightly stroking her left breast looking out to the city lights and thinking it should have been Eliot stroking her breast. What was wrong with him? Was he gay? 

She walked to another window of her corner apartment and saw the skyline sign of the 'Marriott' and thought of the poor guy going to bed with only his hand for company instead of being in bed with her bringing her to the first of several climatic cries.

Life was so unfair. She'd bit the bullet and indicated he was welcome to take her to bed and boy, did that switch him off. He looked like a mouse confronted by a cat. He must by gay? "Oh no," she cried but then an alternative flashed into her mind. His concept of ethics in this unusual situation meant he thought it necessary to ask her mother if it was okay for him to bed her adult daughter. Er to date her adult daughter.

"Oh no, oh no," Jenna cried, pulling off her bra, aware her nipples were stiff, pulling off her panties and then sitting to carefully remove her hold-up stockings. Her face was crimson in embarrassment as she visualized Eliot saying to her mother, "Is it okay by you if I fuck your daughter?" 

Jenna knew he'd not express himself like that but whatever he said to her mom it was likely to be interpreted more or less like that. Eloise might even think she should be the one to enjoy that privilege because she'd previously sampled one of her daughter's boyfriends... well, as least one but Jenna only knew about the treacherous Philip Brown.

Standing in the bathroom nude, cleaning her teeth in front of the huge mirror set in a wall of white mosaic tiles and looking at her gym-toned body, Jenna wondered what was wrong with her. Why weren't men lining up to lick, suck and squeeze her beautiful body, that is excluding her wicked stepfather. Had she become unapproachable? Why hadn't she ever found complete satisfaction with any of her seducers? Was she inclining towards becoming gay? Why wasn't Eliot Nephew in her bed, waiting for her to emerge from the bathroom, stroking his erection to impale her like a sword?

She spat and rinsed her mouth and put away the electric toothbrush. She'd had quite an amazing evening, perhaps ten times better than expected. Eliot had turned out to be a really gorgeous guy and the conversation around his mission had made him so interesting.

As they were leaving the restaurant he'd wanted to call her a cab but she'd said she would walk home because it was nearby. Jenna has quivered when Eliot had said gallantly that he'd walk her home because he felt responsible for her safety. That had sounded so heroic. The thought of having sex with him had started to make her body prepare for the event. 

He'd appeared very surprised that she was a resident of Twin Towers and said he would call her tomorrow if she would be kind enough to give him her card. She'd done that, hands shaking, wondering how could she lure him into her apartment without physically pulling him inside. She'd blurted would he like to come up for a night cap but he said he'd had enough to drink, kissed her cheek, and darted off to flag down a cab before in her confusion she'd had time to go for gold and invite him to seduce her. 

That had left her almost feeling he'd slapped her face. How could he be so cruel! It was unlikely she'd go out with him again.

* * *

Peter Cruickshank, home in bed, grunted and his wife Eloise's best friend Margo Fields sighed and asked him to hand her a towel quickly.

Peter went to tell the lazy woman to get it herself but the thought of her leaving a dripping trail to the bathroom convinced him it would be safer if he fetched the towel, as he'd not want Eloise to be suspicious that sex not involving her had taken place in her bedroom. 

Eloise and Margo's husband David had gone with twenty-two other pairs by bus to an all-day Bridge tournament and were not due back in the city until around 2:00 am. He pulled a clean towel from the bottom of the pile in the store cupboard to avoid Eloise noticing one was missing from the towel rack or from the top of the pile.

"Here, it's after midnight. Do you think you should be going?"

"Peter, don't be so mean. You can go one more time can't you? You are a multiple shot guy, unlike my spineless husband."

After Margo had driven off Peter opened the bedroom doors to air the room and turned on a fan. The cheating husband went through the kitchen, dinning room and lounge looking to remove any evidence that he had been entertaining a visitor, 

He closed the bedroom windows and turned off the fan and had switched off the lights when he heard Eloise's car turn into the driveway. Peter suddenly groaned, louder than when over the heaving body of Margo and rushed to the bathroom to empty the bathroom trash bin into one of Eloise's saved fancy shopping bags and hid that on his side of the dressing room. He returned the bin to the bathroom when he had to dash back and grab three of Eloise's used tissues from the stashed away cache to leave in the bin to ensure she didn't query why had the bin being emptied. 

Before switching off the light Peter looked into the bathroom mirror as if to read the guilt on the reflected image of a less than handsome face with a thickening jowl when his heart almost stopped beating. Right in the middle of the glass shelf under the mirror was a tube of Margo's distinctive Christian Dior lipstick.

Eloise entered the bedroom quietly not wanting to waken her husband because he'd be interested in sex rather than hearing about her trials and tribulations. David Fields was such a bore to travel with. Coming home he'd sulked because several times she'd muffed their chances of scoring well and, unusual for them, they failed to end the tournament highly placed. He was such a great player but socially he was a bottom-of-the-barrel guy. 

Little wonder David's wife Margo played around a bit and probably would have snaffled some fortunate guy last night. She sighed and felt a little excited, thinking that her investigator would arrive later that day ready to start working like a worm attempting to uncover wrong-doings at her publishing and commercial printing company. If it were found Peter had been cheating her substantially she'd have him prosecuted for his crimes. When he was rightfully imprisoned she'd tidy up by divorcing him and have him stripped of his illegally gained assets.

Mid-morning Eloise was in the bath when Peter entered with a cup of coffee. She had earlier draped a flannel over her breasts so that left him staring at his main point of interest. She was slowly closing her legs, hoping he wouldn't notice, when they heard her phone. 

"Fetch it for me darling."

"You've trimmed you bush. I like it."

"Anything to please you darling. The phone?"

He darted off and returned, talking to the caller in a reasonably friendly manner. Peter said, "Your mother is luxuriating in the bath. Have a nice day." He then handed Eloise the phone and departed, closing the door behind him.

"Hi darling."

"Hi mom. How did your Bridge tournament go?"

"I disgraced myself playing poorly, infuriating David Fields."

"Oh, he can exhibit emotion? I've often wondered how his sexy wife puts up with him."

"Are you sure sexy is the right word for Margo dear. She's only eighteen months younger than me?"

"You can be sexy when you try mom. And you do often try, according to what I've heard and I know your choice of intimate garments intimately, being your chief supplier."

"I really don't know what you are talking about dear."

They giggled.

"I've met him mom."

Eloise had heard that hopeful comment from her daughter more than once only to hear the disappointment later. Jenna was not a particularly good judge of men. Thinking the name Peter Cruickshank Eloise sighed. "I guess this one comes with the usual impressive bulge?"

"I wouldn't know mom. His name is Eliot Nephew. "

Eloise sat up as if stung by a bee, phone clamped hard against her ear.

"What?" she swallowed hoarsely.

"I didn't find him, he found me."

"Darling, that's enough. I'll meet you at Katrina's for coffee in thirty minutes. Is that convenient?"

"Yes, but unless he's in the room with you he won't hear this conversation."

"Thirty minutes," Eloise snapped and slammed her phone shut. Ohmigod! She 'screamed' soundlessly.

* * *

Twenty-five minutes later Eloise sat at the rear of the coffee shop located at street level under Twin Towers Apartments. Two minutes later her daughter arrived, wearing a beautiful blue and white sundress with spaghetti straps and hem far too high but it did exhibit a wonderful body that Eloise thought as being marred only by rather over-sized breasts. Men, however, might have a contrary view that the breast size was a plus, not a minus.

Waving brightly to her mother Jenna went to the counter and ordered her coffee, a pot of Earl Grey tea and two oat and date slices. Jenna noticed her mother was dressed in one of her shapeless white suits and once again wondered futilely why didn't her mother wear clothes that showed off her breasts and legs that were astonishing good for her age. 

They kissed and hugged fondly.

"You gave me a big shock using that name."

Her daughter smiled and said, "You loved being teased."

"You must know..."

Jenna said yes mother, she was aware of nature of the investigation and she applauded her mother's attempt to nail the scumbag.

Eloise did not every flutter an eyebrow at hearing her husband being slandered like that, knowing her daughter's distaste of Peter. "So he told you everything?"

"I have no idea but it certainly grabbed my attention. He found me via Kate Mitchell who was named along with you in a photograph he found on the Web. I was unnamed."

"Ah yes, I recall that photograph and being critical of the lazy photographer for not securing your name. But why would he want to talk to the unnamed person in the photograph when he'd located Kate who knows me quite well?"

"My understanding is he didn't find Kate a mine of information or being in the right position to know about you and your second husband.

"Your stepfather's name is Peter."

Finding herself ignored Eloise poured her tea and said so Kate identified who the other person was in the photograph, hopefully without giving any reason of his interest, and he went scuttling off to find mystery woman Jenna?

"Yes."

Frowning, Eloise asked, "But why?"

"Interpreting what I was asked, I am quite sure it was to find how trustworthy you are and how untrustworthy is your Peter."

"The scumbag, checking up on me, his employer!"

Jenna said patiently that she understood her mother had engaged Eliot to do a thorough investigation.

"Yes, of course, but..."

"Be satisfied mom. That convinced me he is being very thorough. He was probably attempting to find whether you are the complete innocent or are someone with an axe to grind and exactly why you don't trust your second husband."

"Darling, it irritates me the way you emphasis my second husband. Currently I am married to only one man."

"My impression is Mr Nephew aims to be very thorough. He now wishes to know if you approve of me acting as the go-between you two."

"What!"

"A go-between is..."

"I know what it means. What I want to know is why you?"

The reply astonished Eloise. "Because he trusts me mom."

Ohmigod, Eloise thought, she'd only known him for five minutes and she'd already fallen for him. That wasn't meant to happen, far from it. Such a liaison could blow the investigation asunder.




A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 01



"Jenna, I don't think you understand. I'm investing a significant amount of money in this investigation and want it to proceed smoothly."

"Name me a person your second husband doesn't like?"

"Well, for a start there's you and..."

"Exactly mother. Since I now scarcely talk to him, isn't it unlikely I'll say anything to him that makes him suspicious he is being scrutinized?"

"Well, I suppose that makes sense."

"And if Eliot and I develop a relationship that Peter finds out about, it will have to be accomplished openly so Peter has no reason to become suspicious?"

"What kind of relationship?"

"I want to invite Eliot to move in with me."

"B-but why?"

"He's made a huge impression on me."

"What, you two have had sex already?"

"Unfortunately no, I gave him the opportunity but he walked away from me."

"Thank God at least one of you is sensible."

"Mother his only reason for doing that in my view is he didn't have your approval."

"That's absurd"

"A lot of things about relationships appear absurd mother."

Eloise flared. "Stop calling me mother as it implies disapproval."

"Oh, how astute of you."

"What? Oh, I see. You can be such a brat at times. May I have time to think about this?"

"No."

Jenna then related how Eliot had contacted her, what he'd said to her and she described her first sight of him and how that had almost over-powered her and how charming he'd been to both her and Leonardo and said how impressed Leonardo had been.

"Well I never, how romantic for you," Eloise said warmly. "Who am I to stand in your way?"

"Thank you mom. You are kind in what you say to me. I'll do nothing to harm the investigation. Look, why don't you get Brigit to take Eliot to dinner at Leonardo's on Monday evening and invite Peter and you to meet her new appointee? Brigit can then reveal her thoughts on the need for a comprehensive review of all departments and leave it to you to take over from there. She can hint that Eliot's qualifications make him a good person to represent editorial and being new comes without prejudices." 

"Do you think that's wise, rushing into it?"

"Yes mom, I do. You have taken a courageous step in setting this up and the quicker you put things into motion the less time there is for any suspicion to form. You're in the driving seat so drive."

"Very well darling. I suppose my first duty is to call Eliot and welcome him and tell him he is free to seduce my daughter?"

"Just call and welcome him and say you approved of me being your go-between. I shall take care of the rest. Oh, this is all happening with Brigit's cooperation. It may assist my possible romance if you call her to advise you have confided in me and explain to her my need to be welcomed to the table when I turn up unexpectedly on Monday night if that arrangement goes ahead."

As soon as her mother left Jenna ordered another coffee and, disappointed Eliot hadn't called her, she called him. He didn't answer so she left no message. She didn't work weekends so called her store manager Eva who said they had been busy but there were no problems. She entered the lobby of the apartment building and checked her mail and found a message among the post.

'Hi, I called at 9:30 and the guy at the desk told me you were out. I have booked a table for us at the Thai Garden Restaurant just opposite here for 9:00 tonight. If you are otherwise engaged or if eating with me unaccompanied is without appeal, I'll survive being abandoned. You have lovely legs. Eliot.'

Lovely legs? Jenna tingled and that confirmed something she'd come to know over the years with increasing intensity: the start of a romance was always the best part, especially when tentative or had her worrying it was not proceeding as she expected. This one was screaming to her not to let him slip through her fingers and if he appeared in no hurry for her to drop her panties then that didn't mean he wasn't interested or was a deviant or he was a waste of time.

"Just be there for him, it will happen," she whispered in an attempt to train her mind to not expect the succulent Mr Nephew to be single minded about her vagina.

The guy had acknowledged she had lovely legs. She sighed as she walked to the elevator and thought what a turn on. Most of the males intent on more than befriending her usually waxed on that she was ever so interesting, looked so pretty and appealing or they simply avoided words and reached to cup a breast with a hand possessed by a carnally-focused twitch. Jenna couldn't recall any guy opening with a favorable comment about her legs. She knew she had great legs because her mom on a few occasions had mentioned it as fact in admiration and girlfriends mentioned it enviously.

Jenna's mind blurred and it suddenly cleared as the image revealed sent her heart racing: she'd pictured Eliot licking one of her lower legs.

"Perhaps he has a stockings fetish?" she murmured aloud and turned away in embarrassment when an older woman who'd followed her into the elevator looked at her curiously. At that moment the elevator stopped at the fourth, allowing Jenna to escape on to her level.

Jenna had just placed her handbag on the kitchen bench when her phone went. She dug it out and Brigit Wiseman said she'd just been talking to Eloise and said she and Jenna needed to talk.

"Come to lunch at 1:00," said the 38-year-old. "Ralph will only be there to eat with us because he's working on his annual report."

"Right, I remember where you live."

Brigit had been newly appointed as news editor when Jenna had spent her summer vacation ten years earlier working as an assistant to the civic affairs reporting team as decreed by her father to learn about the family business. They had become friendly and even more so when Jenna became Brigit's assistant the next summer. That friendship really developed over drinks immediately after Jenna father's burial when the distraught Brigit confessed to Eloise and Jenna that she and Athol had spent several weekends away together.

Jenna had expected her mother who'd become company chairman two days earlier to slap Brigit and snarl she was fired but to Jenna's amazement her mother patted Brigit's cheek and smiled saying, "He had impeccable tastes darling. A few years ago Athol and I agreed to have an occasional fling with someone else. He'd told me about you."

A little over a year later Eloise fired the under-performing managing director and replaced him with executive editor Peter Cruickshank and promoted Brigit to Peter's vacated position. After Peter's second failed attempt at seducing Jenna, Eloise accepted her daughter's resignation, subsidized her move into leasing a twin towers apartment and purchased the mall lingerie business as a going concern for Jenna in compensation for unwittingly exposing her daughter to the lecherous Peter.

After lunch Brigit and Jenna arranged the strategy for dinner to introduce new arrival Eliot to the company's two principals. Brigit then called Peter who said he was available and confirmed with Eloise she could attend.

"This is unusual asking us to dine with a subordinate," Peter said.

"I have been studying the background of our Mr Nephew," Brigit said smoothly. "He has a masters in financial management and worked before becoming news editor as a reporter making quite a name for himself in breaking top news stories. He is also an experienced business news reporter. I have a proposal to put to you and Eloise over dinner and I think we should involve him. Being fresh to our company he's more likely to take an unbiased global view and pinpoint areas through financial and business analysis where we should change our ways in order to improve turnover and bottom line profitability."

"I see and regard that as being constructive thinking, although the focus on analytical investigation and considered outcomes seems a little beyond your area of specialist knowledge, don't you think?"

"Yes, without question. But please wait for me to present my thoughts as a total package and allow Mr Nephew to comment. He comes to us fresh, with an open mind."

Peter said well he could agree with that point. It ought to be an interesting discussion.

"Well, Peter is curious enough to want to hear what I intend to propose," Brigit said gleefully to Jenna. "My whole instinct tells me that something underhand is going on within the company."

"But no evidence is known to you or mom?"

"Correct but if you intended to cheat a company you'd cover your tracks very carefully wouldn't you?"

"Yes and I imagine that's my mother's feeling. Thank you for supporting her in this manner Brigit, especially since Peter is your immediate superior."

"Please don't tell Eloise this but Peter made an all-out effort to bang me last year when we attended an overnight conference together."

"The scumbag."

"Exactly."

Jenna looked at the now a little dumpy and rather hard-faced mother-of-two affectionately, pleased that she'd shared that secret but hoped Brigit's loyalty to Eloise was not blinded but she thought that was unlikely. 

Jenna was aware Brigit, who'd half completed a law degree before switching to media studies had developed a cynical nose of a career newshound and as a senior reporter had taken almost two years off during at the birth of her first baby to complete her law degree, believing that would help advance her career. 

On the way home from that satisfying lunch meeting, Jenna detoured to talk to her mother.

"Brigit approved of my plan and has refined it," Jenna said as they sat in the 'summer house' her English-born mother had constructed because her parents had one in their garden. Jenna only ever drank tea when with her mother and knew it was mandatory if they sat in the summerhouse. They sat facing back to the house to spot Peter early if he approached.

Her mother said initially Brigit thought Jenna's involvement was risky and the dinner set-up to 'introduce' Jenna to Eliot was clumsy and the arrangement could easily make Peter wonder what was going on. "But I pointed out you'd always been a great little actress, a point Brigit agreed with and said you were also an accomplished liar when it suited you."

Jenna snorted but was ignored.

"I then said the company was well overdue for a comprehensive operational review and that turned her around. She said she'd work on making her review presentation sound authentic enough to what she called 'the good side to Peter' to accept. She argued that if Peter was confident any criminal activity was well-covered then he'd have no reason to object to a company-wide review with its idealistic goals."

Jenna smiled and said the phrase 'idealistic goals' sounded patronizing enough to relax her mother's cheating second husband.

"He's your stepfather darling," he mother said almost absentmindedly and was ignored. Her additional comment 'Peter should not be tagged a cheat' until that is proven' was also ignored but her next comment received intense attention.

"I called Eliot and welcomed him to the city. We chatted while I waited for him to disclose you and he had met and dined together. But he remained discreet so I had to tell him you had talked to me about it and the suggestion you act as our go-between. He seemed please about that and asked would I object if a friendship between you two developed and I said not at all.

"A friendship?"

"His very words darling but don't despair. He's obviously skilled at remaining cautious."

"Cautious?"

"He feels he must check you out first, not wanting to be landed with a sex bunny."

"Sex bunny?"

Eloise sighed and said she'd appreciate not being in a virtual one-sided conversation, that right now it was like being in conversation with a male.

"I'm sorry," Jenna pouted.

"By sex bunny I mean he knows you are young and obviously healthy so in all probability are interested in sex but he wants a relationship that flourishes post-sex."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes dear, some males think beyond sex and this is one of them. Actually I think he's very intelligent and very analytical and that's why he's here on my payroll darling."

Jenna said of course. "You know my run of men in recent times has been rather depressing."

"You've become sex-oriented darling but don't fret, we all make mistakes. Look what I did by filling the gap in my life with Peter."

They smiled and Eloise topped up the teacups.

"Did Eliot say how long he'd be staying at the hotel?"

"Yes, until he finds suitable lower-cost accommodation and believes he'll accomplish that within a week, even if it means buying an RV."

"But I don't wish to live in a recreational vehicle."

"Oh, so he's asked you already to live with him?"

"Mom!"

Eloise said dryly that Jenna had left herself open to that tease.

"Um, mom?"

"Yes dear."

"If I decide to upgrade to a larger apartment could I expect your monthly rental subsidy to continue at the current level?"

"Of course dear and even if he chooses to shift in with you and that would be rather nice for you, I must admit. As you know the payment comes from the family trust which your father set up and which is beyond the reach of Peter."

"Thanks mom." 

Back at Twin Towers Jenna went to the on-site manager's office and the weekend manager showed her the location of the seven vacant apartments and two that would become vacant on the following Monday. One of the latter was on the 17th floor of Sunrise Tower, immediately below the penthouses. Molly the manager then selected a section on a DVD that showed as an example of that class of apartment. It contained a master bedroom 10% larger than Jenna's present apartment plus a second bedroom with attached bathroom and a tiny study and the lounge/dinning room was 20% larger than her present layout. The rental increase would be $485 a month more than the rental for her apartment so she registered an expression of interest that included being alerted if anyone else expressed similar interest.

Within the hour Jenna was working out in the basement gym and then after showering went to the podium rooftop garden at the fifth level between the towers and swam for more than a hour, killing time.

To Be Continued...



A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 02



CHAPTER 3

Jenna, wearing a burnt orange halter dress glimpsed Eliot at a table but without making eye contact. Determined to rope in her man she posed at the reception desk, standing at an angle with her back to Eliot giving his roving eyes the chance to see her legs. Approaching the table with a friendly wave Jenna hoped he'd noticed she was wearing seamed stockings. His eyes did look a little bigger than normal, or was she imagining that?

He stood and they kissed, on the lips. She was reasonably successful in pressing her tightly restrained boobs against his chest and almost wet herself when she felt his right-hand slip smooth down over the back of her waist and a little way over her butt and then it moved laterally. At that and when his hand stopped she knew he'd been roaming to check if she were wearing a garter belt and his fingers had confirmed she was, stopping momentarily on a metal fastener. 

Jean's heartbeat soared triumphantly.

"God you look beautiful."

She choked back a whimper and staggered to the chair being held out for her. Jenna was annoyed she was acting like a lovesick teenager and acknowledged the fact that she hadn't had a satisfactory romance for nigh on two years was no excuse for misbehavior When swimming she'd rehearsed how she'd work Eliot around to come up to view her apartment and would then begin to undress him gently. She began to panic thinking the scenario she'd invented for that sequential seduction to take place was so complicated it would fail. Think girl think, she shouted to herself but her mind turned blank. She leaned back into her chair and on auto asked, "Did you have a nice day?"

"Yes indeed and actually very productive. I viewed several apartments and believe I have found one that may suit."

Still on auto, emerging from panic, Jenna said, "Oh avoid the hassle, move in with me."

She heard herself say that and sat up straight and said, "Oh I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that without build up."

Eliot, looking smooth in a light blue suit and a collarless shirt with an inner multi-color neckband, appeared slightly stunned and then smiled. "Does that mean the offer is being withdrawn?"

Jenna remembered she was twenty-eight and not a flighty fourteen-year-old. She realized she'd accidentally hooked him, so should wind him in carefully.

"I really don't know what to say," she said, placing a hand with spread-fingers helplessly on her chest, only to snatch that hand away when realizing his gaze was now fixed on her boobs.

Eliot encouraged her by asking her to say exactly what she'd meant.

"I-I can't, it's too embarrassing."

He smiled and said he'd heard what she'd said and asked did he look embarrassed?

She looked for approval or rejection in his eyes and convinced herself she could read soft understanding in them.

"I want you to know it was something I was thinking and had no intention of saying."

Nodding, Eliot asked exactly what had she been thinking.

"That I was lonely, between boyfriends and wasn't this a grand opportunity for you to come on live with me and see how we go. That's all. Pathetic thoughts really."

"I think they were delightful thoughts and deserved to be vocalized."

The wine waiter arrived and as Eliot mulled over the wine selection, Jenna offered, "I suggest a Gewürztraminer."

Eliot looked approvingly at Jenna and then pointed to his choice on the wine list, "This Gewürztraminer please."

As the waiter walked off Eliot said casually, "You have great legs."

She colored, only slightly and asked was he a connoisseur. He replied that term was much too exalted for him, being only an enthusiastic casual observer.

Scratching behind his ear Eliot said, "Where were we?"

Flushing, Jenna said calmly, "I had confirmed my invitation for you to consider living with me."

"Oh yes," he stalled.

His eyes indicated his mind was racing and that encouraged Jenna to think she was not the only one feeling a little awkward. She thought how sweet.

"Under what terms?"

"Oh, only the usual I would think, namely you behave acceptably, don't pig up the apartment, sleep where you choose, as it has two bedrooms, and you pay $485 a month which is the extra cost of moving from my apartment to a more roomier one with expanded views."

"You have already checked that out?"

"Yes, I tend to plan ahead."

He grinned and said then sleeping with her wasn't part of the deal?

"No," she smiled. "Consider it an optional benefit."

He laughed expansively without restraint and she smiled, head down.

After their wine was poured Jenna briefed Eliot about dinner plans for the next night to set the scene for an internal company management audit with him being nominated by Brigit to be one of the key participants.

"Well, well, nicely managed," he said. "It allows the investigation to be fast-tracked and for you and me to be seen together without raising suspicion."

"Exactly."

"Um," he said hesitating. "You confirm you want me to share your body?"

"Oooh, what a lovely way of putting it. I was desperately holding back, afraid if I reacted hotly you might think I was a slut."

Eliot did not reply but looked horrified and that reaction was enough to satisfy Jenna. She gave him her best smile and sat back in her chair to allow the server to place the starter of crabmeat and noodles on a lettuce leaf. Eliot had a spicy soup. As they ate they touched knees and she was disappointed when his moved away abruptly but within a few seconds was back. She pressed her knee against his and said calmly, "I like men because of what they can do with my body."

He looked at her a little startled and then grinned easily and raised his glass in a silent toast and locked eyes. That indicated to her she was a little confusing for him.



They finished in just on an hour and by then Jenna had wisely had allowed Eliot to take the lead but he was wise enough not to refuse Jenna's insistence that she'd pay because she'd made the invitation to dine. As he accompanied her across the road he asked, "Would you like to grab an overnight bag and stay with me tonight?"

As they reached the sidewalk she threw her arms around Eliot and kissed him and led him into the foyer and said she'd return within ten minutes.

She returned in twenty minutes, which he'd half-expected. She'd probably spent some of that time on making herself even more presentable to him. An extra ten minutes would be nothing if that assumption were correct. On the other hand she could have been on the phone to one of her friends exchanging recipes. Really? He grinned and wondered did it matter. With the thought of her being committed to having him between her spread thighs made him walk tall and proudly up to her as Jenna emerged from an elevator.

They almost skipped to the sidewalk like two kids freed from homework and hailed a cab.

In the hotel foyer Eliot's confidence dipped when she pulled him back as they were passing the foyer and said to him he should give notice he would be vacating his room in the morning.

"What if it doesn't work out," he said.

Jenna leaned against him, nibbled his ear and whispered, "I'll put it in for you if you've forgotten what to do."

Cheeks flaming he walked to the desk while his imminent roommate dawdled towards the elevators looking virtuous, beautiful and very happy.

Eliot loped to the elevator looking confident again but that didn't last. As he entered Jenna seized him, went "Grrrrrrr." Loudly and kissed him as if she were in the bedroom. He had to push hard to get her off him and smiled apologetic to the middle-aged couple looking at them wide-eyed. As the expressionless graying woman clutching her guy's arm as the left at the third level she said rather wistfully, "Have a great night you two."

"What was she on about?" Jenna asked and Eliot was unable to decide if she were teasing.

He entered his hotel room without being attacked again.

Jenna looked around, commented it was smart and he was tidy and added her apartment was twice the size.

"Thank God for that. I need space."

"And the new apartment will be another third larger and overlooks the lake and the side view is down to the garden swimming pool on top of the podium."

"Fabulous. It sounds as if I should be paying far more than under $500 a month."

"My offer which you appeared to have accept was $485. I presently pay $260 and my mother pays the rest from out family trust and she has told me she is happy for that arrangement to continue."

Eliot paused at pouring wine. "You mean your mother fully approves of me sleeping with you?"

"Yes, but I may have phrased it somewhat more delicately."

"I-I'm not sure..."

"It's all yours for the taking darling, so don't get on your high horse. Surely you must know women are much more proactive with their lover these days."

Eliot's instinct was to be cautious. "It's rather too earlier for the term lover don't you think?"

"Darling, perhaps you should first look at what's on offer," she cooed, unzipping and hauling off her dress.

Eliot finished pouring and looked up, the emptied half-size bottle of wine falling on to the carpet. His mouth opened and stayed that way until he gurgled, "Ohmigod."

Jenna was standing, one hip cocked up higher than the other, a hand on her lower hip and fingers of her other hand running through her brunette hair. She wore a purple silk and white lace half-cup bustier to which were strapped her purple and black topped and seamed stockings. Her shaven pussy was uncovered.

Eliot stared at the legs and said hoarsely, "Please turn around to give me the back view."

The cheeks looked firm but his eyes were lower down. "You have legs made in Heaven."

Jenna turned smiling and holding out her arms said, "Come to me Eliot."

Eliot required no further encouragement and nor did he later when they staggered to the bathroom, she using it first. They were both exhausted and their drinks lay untouched.

At dawn Jenna gobbled Eliot awake and she left half an hour later for her apartment to wash her hair and prepare for the new working week. At 8:00 Jenna went down to the office of the on-site manager and signed a termination agreement of her current lease and the lease on Eliot's and her new apartment, advising he would sign when moving into her current apartment that evening. 

* * *

Eliot strode into the hotel bathroom whistling and as he entered the shower crowed, "Boy oh boy, can she fuck."

An hour later he walked between imitation Grecian pillars of the entrance to the black glazed five-level building of the Clouston Evening Clarion, in his accustomed style of a newspaperman, laptop under one arm, munching a bagel and carrying a 10oz paper cup of coffee. In the elevator he went to editorial at the third level above the prepress floor. Commercial printing departments and the pressrooms were three miles away in the industrial area of Prairie Flats. 

A trim redhead receptionist was putting her handbag into the bottom draw of her desk. She smiled and asked, "Mr Nephew?"

"Yes, but call me Eliot."

"I'm Maggie Grant, Mrs Owens's assistant but she doesn't start until 9:00. Please follow me, Mrs Wiseman is expecting you," she said, knocking on the office door marked Executive Editor, Private.

"Please enter. I shall see you later."

"Oh hello Eliot, "Brigit said, closing her lipstick container. "Or should I say our worm?"

Nick frowned and put his fingers to his lips, a signal that left Brigit arching her right eyebrow.

"One never knows," he whispered, referring to the possibility that the room was bugged.

"Do you think so," she whispered and he replied, "I wouldn't think so but why not eliminate the threat by bypassing it?"

She nodded and began the induction, impressing Eliot by putting him on the spot instantly, "What do you think of our newspaper?"

"Thoroughly workmanlike, light on flair and no evidence at all in being original and about as stimulating as a wet sandwich."

Brigit's face turned most unfriendly and she shifted in her chair defensively but Eliot cut her off at the pass, smiling and saying if she chose to ask him a direct question she could not expect a purged answer.

Hostility eased off Brigit's shoulders and she almost smiled when saying, "I see. I shall remember that. And of course you come filled with answers?"

"Yes, improving the content and overlook appearance of the newspaper is my direct responsibility under your supervision as I recall you saying to me at my final interview. But the newspaper in its present form is dying and neither you nor I can stop that. We can delay that, yes, but death is inevitable."

"Why, just because its happened elsewhere due to circulation erosion through competing media particularly TV and changing social patters and greater competition for the advertiser's dollar?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

Eliot said surely she did not expect a lecture about the need to constantly assess market trends and giving due attention to future projections and expectations and reviewing historical patterns.

She almost grinned and said, "Welcome to the team Eliot. You just may have the balls to push through reforms. Finish your coffee or would you prefer real coffee?"

Brigit picked up her phone and asked Maggie to bring in coffee for two.

Reading his face Brigit said, "I tend to be a little uncouth at times so get used to it.

He grinned and she smiled and that told him he was onside again.

She confirmed the circulation area contained 477,300 people aged 15 and over. The morning newspaper The Daily News circulated roughly one in 5.9 households while in the past fifteen years the Clarion had slipped from going to one in 7.3 households and was currently reaching one in 9.7 households. She smiled when Eliot winced.

"Yes," Brigit said, "if it wasn't for this company operating the largest commercial printing business in the region we could not afford to operate our newspaper at the current level. What is your comment on that?"

"I don't have to tell you that the company is subsidizing people to read its newspaper. You'll also know the way out is to divide the city into say four zones and launch four free newspapers crammed with local news and advertising."

"Doing that tosses aside 143 years of newspaper tradition, which would be enough to make me cry."

"You need balls to get on with the job."

Brigit grinned and said she was quite sure she was going to really like Eliot. She already liked his attitude. "Nothing is sacred with you, is it?

"No, but don't fret. A new day always dawns and people tend to get over decisions they feel are treacherous."

Nodding, Brigit said, "Well it's time for me to introduce you to senior people. You know about dining out at 7:30 this evening"

"Yes. I'll be on my best behavior."

Brigit stood and adjusted her bra, unworried that Eliot was still seated, looking at her. She said Eliot should know that the chairman was as straight as an arrow in business, firm and believed strongly in family traditions. The managing director at times could become hard and even cruel with personnel but performed his role more than adequately. "He's away today at meetings out at the plant but you'll meet him this evening."

They walked out of the other door in Brigit's office straight into the newsroom and Eliot knew instantly he was entering the heartland of a real newspaper. A pity it was in its death throes.

"Eloise told me yesterday you will meet your accommodation requirements in an unusual manner," Brigit said delicately.

Eliot, who imagined her nose was twitching in pressure to gain more detail, decided to string her along. "Unusual? I'm not sure if I know what you are suggesting?"

Pushing up against him to whisper, Brigit said, "Eloise believes you and her daughter plan to sleep together."

"Oh that, why didn't you say," Eliot said earnestly. "Please forgive me but I tend not to talk about my personal relationship with women. All I can say to you, being my boss and being entitled to know a little more about my whereabouts, is I move into Jenna's apartment when I finish work here this afternoon and next Monday or hopefully on Sunday afternoon we will move up the tower to a larger apartment."

"Oh God Eliot, not only does Jenna posses an admirable disposition and is intelligent and articulate but she has a body to die for. Are you aware she models at charity shows, modeling lingerie available for lithe women in the twenty-five to thirty-eight age group? If it weren't for her large breasts she might have become a star model. Jenna has turned down huge offers to appear in girlie magazines but was paid $10,000 for being on the front page and a four-page inside spread for Lingerie Fashion International magazine and was hailed as the only non-professional model to have ever been LFI's cover girl."

"Large breasts did you say?" Eliot asked. That was intended to bury the conversation about Jenna and worked perfectly. Brigit tossed her head back and snorted, "God, you men!"



Chief sub-editor Jed Mason, finishing the crossword in that morning's Daily News said snapped, "Go away, can't you see I'm busy." 

In alarm the woman sitting to his right whispered, "Jed!" He looked up and saw it was Brigit.

"Jesus, sorry Brigit," he said smiling and stroking his mousy-colored moustache. 

"Meet Eliot Nephew your new boss," Brigit said through almost clenched teeth. "His first duty will be to retrain you to treat your editor respectfully."

"Yeah, and to encourage you to dye your moustache," Eliot said, knowing he would be in breach of protocol covering behavior and personal comments of managers in relations with subordinates.

Conversations and work around them stopped, with particularly women including Brigit looking a little tight-lipped at the newcomer.

"Got you going there for a minute, didn't I Jed," Eliot laughed smoothly. "Buster Ingles sends his regards or was that love? He warned me not to drink with you at lunchtime."

Aware that the newcomer appeared to be a bit of a tease, faces relaxed. 

Jed laughed and shaking hands slapped Eliot on the back and roared, "Buster Ingles, now there's a legend."

Eliot smiled. "He said the same thing about you. I thought all the old misfits had been cleaned out of our industry?"

Everyone within hearing distance laughed and eyes were on Eliot. None of them had ever seen Jed handled so adroitly. The newcomer must have been forewarned. Jed was the kind of guy who found handling relationships difficult because of the stresses associated with the chief sub's role. 

Eliot look around the table and said, "Hi everyone. Will meet you later. We need to get Brigit back to doing real work."

Brigit, looking far more relaxed, did a 180º turn and said, "This is our chief reporter Mrs..."

"Hi darling," Eva Mitchell said, floating into Eliot's arms, looking as if she'd been there before.

Piercing whistles and a few handclaps sounded.

"This is Eva Mitchell or Eva Norris as she was then, heroine," Eliot said proudly, addressing reporters who were on telephone calls or looking up from their laptops. 

"We were on the Mt Assid Times together, eight years ago when the chopper we were in hit a wire stretched across a gulch and went down and fortunately landed amid a grove of young trees. It was my first newspaper and I was only two weeks into reporting while Eva had been there almost two years. The chopper hit the ground and burst into flames. Eva pulled the pilot out first because flames were licking his butt. Then she pulled me out. I was screaming with a compound fractured arm but she carried on, dropped me clear. As she was pulling the pilot clear the fuel tanks blew and seared the back of the pilot, setting his clothes alight. His bulk had sheltered Eva. She calmly stopped to rip off his outer clothing and brought him alongside me to recover consciousness. Eva straightened my arm as best she could and used a piece of her skirt to apply a tourniquet. Eva, who amazingly suffered no ill effects from the crash, said she wanted to keep an eye on me so we lived together for ten months I moved on and she met and married Rex. End of story." 




A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 02



Eliot kissed Eva on the forehead and people applauded.

* * *

After settling his bill Eliot picked up his two bags from the hotel baggage room and left by cab for Twin Towers.

At reception a guy with a lapel nametag identifying him as Leon asked Eliot for ID. After Eliot had signed the tenancy lease document he was handed a keycard. He looked around the apartment and in the dressing room checked out Jenna's cache of underwear and whistled in admiration, Eliot called Jenna and told her briefly about his day and asked what time would she arrive. She said no later than 6:30 and laughed delightedly, thanking him when he said he'd have a bath ready for her. He then spent an hour in the basement fitness center and back in the apartment showered and turned on Jenna's bath. He then waited anxiously wondering if she'd be embarrassed having him there and thinking it was all happening too quickly. He blamed himself for acting over emotionally in the rush to get to her pussy.

"You've spoilt it, denying her the courtship that women prattle on about," he groaned aloud and snarled, "Jughead!"



The door opened and Jenna stood transfixed, staring at him.

"Oh I worried needlessly," she beamed. "Despite your call I carried home this crazy thought you had developed cold feet and had departed."

"No, I had no such thought. How could I after the glory of last night?"

"Oh darling," she cried and leaped at him to hug and kiss him, the slamming of the door still ringing in his ears.

"Oooh, I've been thinking all day of doing this," Jenna said huskily, unzipping him and dropping to her knees.

Perhaps it was because he'd been a little uptight but when Eliot looked down and had the security of seeing Jenna's tongue flick out and wet the side of his cock that was scrambling into full erection he gasped, realizing he'd come within an ace of ejaculating. He'd scarcely touched her! However his mind was filled with erotic images.

Jenna didn't finish him off. As she felt him tense she slowed and cupping his butt through his trousers said she would prefer him to shoot it over her legs after they returned from dinner. The erotic images of doing that flooded Eliot's mind aggressively but he remained in charge and the latent flash point passed without mishap. 

Eliot found a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge along with a bottle of peach schnapps, added crushed ice to the glass and took into the bathroom what appeared to be Jenna's favorite drink, a Bellini. He carried a bottle of beer for himself and sat and listened to her say at length what a wonderful man he was and sensibly ended that when she saw him yawn. She smiled sweetly and asked him to describe in detail about his day and laughed when he repeated his answer to Brigit's question what did he think about the newspaper and splashed around helpless in laughter when he related the their encounter with crusty Jed Mason and Jed telling his editor to buzz off.

"Oh God, people will talk about that for years," she said, wiping away tears. "Those two hate each other's guts."

"It's just a matter of demarcation and perceptions and I'll talk to Brigit about it," he said. "Jed is very much old school, with a master's degree in English from Oxford in England and came to the newspaper as deputy chief sub-editor after being fired as headmaster of an elite boy's school somewhere in New England when falling off the stage drunk on Parent's Day, according to what his old mate at my last newspaper told me."

Eliot then spoke about the joy of unexpectedly being reunited with Eva Mitchell again and recited what he's told the newsroom about Eva saving the life of the helicopter pilot and getting him clear of the wreck.

"God, that's so amazing. She is heroic as well as being sweet." 

Jenna related another story about Eva. The news editor of that time and Eva were having a dispute with the editor saying Eva was dreaming if she thought she had a chance of becoming executive editor."

The testy Scot immigrant challenged that the only chance Eva had of going anywhere was on to the subbing table or into the women's department where perhaps in twenty years she might make women's editor and Eva spat she demanded her right...

Jenna said just at that moment her father walked into the newsroom, coughed to gain attention, and asked and what right was that young lady?

Jenna, in her final year at university, was spending a few days of the Christmas break learning the ropes on the sub's table. 

She recalled, "I was petrified and really liked Eva as I had been out on reporting assignments with her and building up my confidence she constantly gave me the impression I was God's gift to journalism. I rose to go to her side but Jed told me to sit down. By then the entire newsroom had come to a stop."

"She said to dad, 'Oh, Mr Wynn, how nice to see someone with a highly refined mind who has an appreciation of equality for women, at least for those who deserve it'."

"Dad said, 'You have become too big for your boots Mrs Mitchell. Report to the women's department on Monday'."

"I should have known when dad used her name he must possess some regard for her. He tended to remember only names of people who mattered. He turned to walk about of the newsroom and Eva shouted, 'Mr Wynn, I shall report to the women's department on Monday as instructed but only if you assure me I have equal opportunity within this company to eventually advance to executive editor if fairly judged to have the required skills, knowledge and whatever else is required'."

"A few gasps could be heard but nothing like those expressed after my father said tersely he'd do no such thing. Eva then called clearly and confidently that he should be prepared for a legal fight even if that meant her action risked bringing down the newspaper by destroying its reputation for fair play.

Eyes flashing, Jenna said, "Dad strode to her, towering over her, and very calmly said, 'Follow me Miss Wynn' and they walked into the executive editor's office. We all looked at her emerge fifteen minutes later, expecting to see her begin to pack her possessions from her desk. She began working and looking up, snapped why was everyone staring at her." 

Jenna said ten minutes later the chief receptionist Mrs Owens entered the newsroom and posted a notice on the board. The nearest sub-editor jumped up and read what it said: 'The vacant position of deputy-chief reporter will be filled by Mrs Eva Mitchell as from Monday'. 

"People rushed to congratulate her. I suppose you can guess she was in line to become news editor until it was suddenly announced a fortnight ago by my mother the position had been awarded to you."

"Oh."

"Yes oh. She didn't complain."

"Who acts as deputy when I'm away?"

"The deputy chief-sub."

"I'll have a word with Brigit to appoint Eva as my deputy. Under the reorganization I have in mind she will win higher promotion than that but it all depends if we nail your cheating stepfather beyond reasonable doubt."

"I'd like to see you reward Eva. Will you have a place for me?"

"Sure, if your father is arrested I'll push your mom to declare you as the new managing director. Although this company will be restructured, if we do it right we had the opportunity of turning it into a money-making machine."

"God, you are confident. You are thinking community-based newspapers, aren't you?"

Eliot said yes but he'd prefer her to think no more about it in the meantime. "If you think about it you may inadvertently talk about it. I want your stepfather out of here if he's a crook before I put the restructuring concept to your mother. We don't want any defense law team alleging we trumped up instances of fraud against you stepfather to get him out of the way after he opposed restructuring."

"I see, good thinking. Off you go. I'll wander in around forty-five minutes from now. Too soon and it might appear a planned tactic."

"Yeah. You have boobies and legs to die for sweetie but what I most like about you is your brain."

"Liar. Other men would lynch you if they heard you saying that," Jenna laughed. And the way she looked at him left Eliot in no doubt that she also believed she'd scored top shelf. Was she the one? He knew he was likely to keep asking that question.



CHAPTER 4

Leonardo patted Eliot on the shoulder and said, "Ah, so tonight you meet the boss. Please follow me." Eloise was already seated beside her husband so Eliot was guided to sit beside Brigit who held out a cheek and he kissed it.

Looking lovely in lavender with her hair piled high she said, "You know Mrs Cruickshank as she sat in at your final interview?"

"Yes of course. Hi," Eliot smiled and Eloise said hi and invited him to call her Eloise.

"And this is Peter, head of the family," Leonardo said helpfully. "Peter meet you new employee Eliot Nephew. Eliot dined here two evenings ago on his arrival and proved to be knowledgeable about Italian food and Italian wine."

"Ah, that explains why you greeted him with affection," Peter said, as if to impress on Eliot he was no fool. 

Peter hesitated and offered his hand. Eliot shook it firmly and smiled. He said he'd not expected to meet the managing director and chairman socially on his first day on the job but accepted it was a family company and appeared to demand performance from its personnel.

"Yes and obviously you have been well briefed," Peter said. "Normally Eloise and I don't dine with staff but Eloise has convinced me Brigit has good reason for requesting this gathering to launch discussion on a comprehensive business review."

Eliot looked surprised and lied he knew nothing about an agenda and Peter in turn looked surprised.

Eloise said lightly, "Eliot is here to be briefed if you see merit in Brigit's proposal."

Leonardo cut in smoothly and asked, "A beer Eliot?"

Eliot looked at what Peter was drinking and said he'd have a Martini, vodka based with no olive.

"Ah, same as Peter but he has an olive. Another glass Peter?"

"Yes Leonardo." 

The two women had barely touched their drinks and Peter finished his. "You have done well to befriend Leonardo so early. That guy can read people like a book so it was more than your knowledge of Italian cuisine that impressed him. You look good and show style by the way you are dressed. Leonardo looks for things that tell him about character. I must read you CV."

"It's already up on the computer darling," Eloise said. "I'm sure you'll be impressed."

That was the opportunity Brigit needed. "Peter, for almost four years we have talked about conducting a thorough review of our company's activities. On Eliot's last newspaper that is three times the size of ours but with a much smaller commercial printing operation, he chaired a specialist team of five to review the current management plan against current activities and after that study the committee produced a draft strategic plan, totally ignoring the current one and completing that they wrote a new draft business plan. At that stage corporate heads and department managers commenced a thorough review of the drafts, the original committee staying on in an advisory role. The comprehensive review took fifteen months from the time it commenced until the decisions of the board to adopt both plans and order implementation."

Peter clicked his tongue and watched his fresh drink arrive. "It seems we are lucky to have secured your expertise Eliot. Of course if those blueprints for future action were adopted only a few months ago it's far to early to assess results."

"Correct."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Ignore the fact that a comprehensive study and review is overdue and commission it simply because it's the right thing to do."

Peter sucked his olive and looked out the window. "Oh Jenna is crossing the road and heading here. No she isn't, she's going next-door. No, here she comes. She must join us. Eliot, I would be under criticism if I appointed you chairman when the other five participants have longer service with the company and all would be far more familiar with our activities than you would be."

"That is the benefit of starting with a new brush," Eloise said.

Peter sipped his Martini as Eliot spoke. "It's a middle management task force. Appoint me as chairman, selling that decision on the fact I recent chaired a similar task force and make it clear you are part of the committee ex-officio. You would then be free to chart progress and the direction of the study. That way you keep your finger on the pulse without spending four hours every weekday afternoon engrossed in tedious appraisals."

Eloise seized the opening. "I don't think you should become involved in boiler room work Peter."

Brigit said she agreed with Eloise and both women turned on Eliot when he took the contrary view.

Eliot said looking thoughtful, "No, I think it's proper for Peter to have hands-on involvement if that's what he wants. We'll need to engage outside experts to conduct three associated independent research programs and perhaps Peter can supervise the pre-commissioning work on those?"

"Research, that sound's expensive." Eloise said nervously. "And three surveys; why can't they be combined into one?"

Peter smiled and said he not give combining surveys a chance of being approved because he had a good idea what Eliot was on about.

Peter continued, "One, we need an advertiser's level of satisfaction survey to identify the strengths and weaknesses, as they see it, in advertising in the Clarion and among other things to ask how our services to them could be improved."

"Two, we conduct a readership survey of the Clarion to identify the needs and perceptions of different age groups and establish the precise reading interests of people in different age groups and to what extent do those preferences change according to the residential location of the various respondents."

"Three, we conduct a survey of our commercial printing operation to identify the level of customer satisfaction, what we are doing right, where we could be doing better and question why people chose Clarion Print or why they don't use Clarion for their commercial print needs. How is that for an assessment Eliot?"

"Spot on. Have you conducted such surveys in the past?"

"Yeah, the last one was commissioned way back in the 1980s. Market research has been talked about but we've chickened out because of costs, at least that's my read of it. In my time we talked about it three years ago but everyone seemed to think they knew the reasons for the continuing decline in readership stats of the Clarion and we knew Clarion Print was a gold mine because we had the best print personal and machinery in the city and our service was unmatched. Look, there's Jenna talking to Leonardo. I go over and invite her to join us."

As Peter left the table Eloise hissed, "Have you lost you sanity Eliot? We had Peter against the ropes about his wish to have hands on involvement in preparation of the draft plans and what do you do? You smiled at him and invited him to the table to be as manipulative and interfering as he wishes. I'm terribly disappointed that you did that."

Eliot smiled at her soothingly and said. "Peter was determined to be involved. If he had been excluded under pressure what would he have been left thinking?"

"How the hell do I know? I'm only his wife and business superior."

Brigit said Eloise should cool down for a moment and listen.

Eliot said Peter would have been aware of the pressure to excluded him and would have asked himself, 'Why am I being excluded?' What a wonderful way to arouse suspicion in a man, particularly if he is ripping off his wife and the company."

"Y-e-s!" Brigit breathed and after a brief delay Eloise sighed and said Eliot was quite right.

"I will learn what areas Peter wishes us to exclude and that will then make me very suspicious. Whenever he's out of the office for a day or longer I will then poke around in those areas. Having him associated with us initially will make department heads less suspicious when the committee begins digging. We must remember he could be using various key persons to enrich himself if that's what he's doing. In respect of fraud I think the most likely places to look would be big-ticket items. With editorial it would be computers and travel, with Peter perhaps receiving secret payments for insisting all company business travel goes through one firm. Then there's the purchase and sale of vehicles, machinery, servicing contracts, newsprint, office supplies, commercial printing supplies... well, that's enough."

"Well that is enough for now," Brigit said. "Here they come."

Eliot stood and Peter smiled and said, "Eliot may I introduce Jenna, who is Eloise's daughter."

"Hi Jenna," Eliot said. "Oh my, you are most attractive."

"Why thank you Eliot," she said, smiling and dipping her head and shoulders slightly.

"Look, please take my place next to Brigit. I'll take the end of the table. Here comes Leonardo with an extra chair followed by a waitress with an extra place serving. What role do you have within the company Jenna?"

She replied she'd left the company sometime ago and now operated a business at Clouston Mall.

"What kind of store, restoration hardware?"

"No," she giggled, playing along with him. Have another try."

"Nails?"

"No."

"Er, lingerie?"

"Yes, how clever of you."

"Am I in line to see samples?"

Jenna laughed loudly, making Peter twitch. The other two women were amused by the frivolity and well-tuned deception of their younger dining companions. Jenna asked what sample would he like to view?

"A bustier, I'm really big into bustiers." Eliot said throatily.

"Oooh, I'm wearing one. Would you like a peek?"

"Um, we have people here who could be embarrassed. Perhaps we could stay behind for a few drinks."

"Thank God this inane conversation has ended." Peter fumed. He glared at Jenna who was shaking in suppressed giggling.

Eloise broke the awkward silence by asking, "Eliot, do you have a clear understanding of the business sense of the word 'rationalization?"

"Yes ma'am, he replied. "It means the organization according to sound business management principles to increase efficiency. I accept the view that it is a process to be used progressively rather than regressively and particularly in respect of your company, going on what you have outlined to me and what I have deduced from reading company annual reports for the past five years. The impression and I emphasize impression I get from such background reading is that overall the company is in something of a back slide. That makes it timely to begin a full review of operations. When the investigation begins we will find many things that are right on track and difficult to improve but we'll also be pinpointing areas of concern where there is evidence of bloat and and/or lack of direction. This of course is supposition from a person who has just completed his first day on the payroll but I am left in no doubt my suppositions will be underpinned by a well-directed task force."

"In that case Eliot," Peter said angrily. "From tomorrow after lunch and each afternoon thereafter I want you working on this review, beginning by hand-picking your four co-investigators and you will be appointed chairman. Once I have approved of your selection I want your task force meeting each afternoon and to push their review along."

"Thank you Peter."

Peter glared, "I take it implicit in your comments is I am responsible for some of the ills of the company?"

"Yes, without doubt Peter because you role is that of principal driver. But others are involved including the chairman, the board of directors, department heads, company planners and outside consultants. Presumably that same team is capable of assisting to sweep the company forward when the new plans to generate more specific momentum are adopted by the board. I guess if I fail to lead the task force to produce a whole range of acceptable and effective initiatives my head will roll."




A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 02



"Yes," Peter smiled at little grimly, and if you fail to show up for work tomorrow I'll take that as capitulation."

No one laughed.



Peter was first to finish coffee and rose saying, "Come on you lot."

Jenna said calmly, "Eliot and I are staying on." 

Peter stared at her. "If you plan to show him your underwear I suggest you take him across the street to your apartment. The fine reputation of this restaurant must be upheld."

"Good idea," Jenna said, jumping up and saying, "Come on Eliot. I live very near to here."

"You two make a fine looking couple," Eloise said, coming forward to kiss her daughter and speaking as if she were planting a concept in Peter's mind.

"You should return to work for the company," Brigit said.

"What, as my under-study?" Peter said, smiling as Jenna rolled her eyes and turned her mouth into a thin line.

"What a great idea," Brigit said.

Eloise appeared to be shocked and said, "I really don't think that is a good idea."

"I'll think about it, Peter said gruffly. "You daughter is commercially very talented."

"I'd think about it too if something develops between Eliot and me," Jenna said slyly, reaching out for Eliot to take her hand. "Running my mall business has interfered with my love life."

Eliot said thank you for being invited, adding the gesture had increased his interest in the company enormously. He pulled out his credit card but Brigit said it had been a business meeting so would go on the company's account.



Relaxed and comfortable now Jenna had hooked her arm through his, Eliot asked, "How did you think that evening went? We had completed the business discussion as you arrived."

"My stepfather is puzzled by you. It is possible that he might not even like you because you are three inches taller than him and just as muscular but you have a flat belly. I'm sure he won't see you as a threat but in his mind he'll be half crazy with the thought of you fucking me."

"I see, then why did you begin flirting with me?"

"To make him grate inside and to present him with the explanation which leaves him unsurprised when he learns you are I are living together. He'll be jealous of you but I figure only for a while and at that point he's off my back."

Eliot said he thought it was crazy of Brigit to suggest Jenna should return to the company. Eloise had looked horrified.

Jenna said initially she thought similarly but then saw it had the effect of taking the emphasis off Eliot. "Brigit is rather smart; she'll know the less Peter thinks about you the better you will be left undisturbed to complete your mission. She has now raised the possibility of me returning to the company and he knows that will make my mother happy because I am to be her successor. She and I and the family trust control 62% of the stock in the company. Peter had accrued 7% through my father and the remainder of stock is held by our bank, the investment arm of an insurance company and a private investment company of which three of the five partners were old buddies of dad's."

Eliot said that was interesting information because although the outside stockholders were named and their holdings reported in the annual reports there was no background on them.

They walked into the foyer of the Sunrise Tower.

"What are we going to do now?"

The casualness of the question gripped Eliot. He'd been waiting for this. Until now it had been a dream run and could not be expected to last. She had made it so easy for him, allowing him to enter her life without making him feel like an intruder. She'd wanted sex but after twenty minute or possibly ninety minutes if they were creative and took it slowly, then what? She'd want more than a quick bang and being left alone to nap while he did his thing, not that she'd expect him to watch sport on TV hunched up and switched off posing like Neanderthal Man.

He tossed in a question, "What would you like to do?" He expected it to be countered and it was, he being reminded it was impolite to answer a question with a question.

"Let's go for a swim."

The effect was surprising. Her face lit and her eyes sparkled, a reaction he would have expected had he suggested they go shopping. "Oh you darling man; how romantic."

Well, he'd hit the right button with that one.

"We'll have a leisurely time because the pool area doesn't have to be vacated until 11:00."

A leisurely time? He'd been expecting a quick dip and a bit of groping to warm up and then to rush back both with rosy cheeks to the apartment to finish off in a colossal bang. That was his idea of romance, not to give her a fake race of just one miserable length of the pool where he'd allow her to win by half a body length and she'd act cutely in misguided triumph.

It took Eliot two minutes to strip and change into board shorts and to follow her instructions to grab two towels and two robes from the bathroom and to pack a bottle of sparkling wine and peach schnapps into protective neoprene wraps, and add to the basket a plastic container of ice and two non-breakable flutes because unprotected glass was banned from within the pool enclosure. 

Jenna took another four minutes doing what she had to do and emerged in a body-clinging one-piece black swimsuit that showed off her legs magnificently but triggered an alarm in Eliot's head. He'd noticed it was a racing swimsuit. How could he have been so blind to a body like hers, shoulders far more developed than usual for her basic physique? This babe had been a professionally trained competitive swimmer. The shape of her legs was toned muscle rather than sculpted cellulite.

He relaxed knowing there was nothing he could do about it beyond swimming his heart out.



The beautiful pool area complete with a sandy 'beach' was deserted. They fooled around in the 60-foot pool with a shallow extension on one side and a foot bath between that shallow area and the 'beach' until Jenna tucked her freed breast away and challenged Eliot to a swimming race.

He was asked to nominate the number of lengths and opted for three, thinking he could flay water for that distance but any farther and he'd be gone, probably to the bottom. Manfully he offered to give her a five second standing start but she laughed and said he was so gallant but no, they would set off together. She called 'one-two-three-go' and they were off, Eliot deciding to take her by surprise and swim like a maniac to turn first to convince her he was good. 

He surprised himself to be probably three lengths ahead of her at the turn but at the final turn she was only a length behind. He went for it and unsighted cracked his hand against the end of the pool. Yellow and red lights exploded in front of his eyes and he gasped for breath.

"God, you're good," she said in admiration, puffing a little while he coughed and spluttered.

"Darling, are you all right? You've ever so red and your eyes are popping."

"S-swallowed water," he lied.

"I couldn't catch you," she laughed. "You won by half a body length. Amazing, but then my distances were 200 and 400. What were yours?"

"Short as possible," he coughed.

"Here, you need something to focus on," she said, pulling out a boob but he wasn't interested.

"Oh dear, let's swill that water out of you with a Bellini."

She jumped out of the pool athletically, leaving Eliot to wade across the pool and made his exit via the infant's shallow area. He reached the table feeling much improved to find her top pulled down to the waist.

"Er, people from the closest apartments can see you?"

"So what? All women have them and show me a man who hasn't seen a pair. The only rule here is genitalia must be adequately covered at all times but if you want sex we can pull a double sun bed under those palm trees. The swingers here do that at weekends."

"Cheers," Eliot said and made a great show of enjoying his drink. In an attempt to effectively divert Jenna he asked, "What attracted you to me?"

Obviously she had fallen into an amorous mood because she pretended to look shy and said, "The size of your nose suggested something to me that put my pussy into a spin."



They walked to the apartment appearing to be quite calm, although exchanging very long glances from rather hooded eyes. Jenna made two unsuccessful swipes with her keycard, ill-timing the pulling down of the door handle on both occasions. She stood back, handing the card to Eliot and he failed with his first swipe. He succeeded with the second but when pulling out the card dropped it.

"Oh why are you doing this to me?" Jenna groaned, pushing him aside as he bent to pick up the card.

He had no idea what she meant until walking into the room behind here ready to bleat but the sight of her, swimsuit left around one ankle as she leaned over the dining table, spreading her legs and already panting was explanation enough. He staggered over to her, removing his swimsuit and dropping to his knees found her pussy with his tongue and knew that was not the taste of treated pool water. He completed only thirty seconds of probes before she shuddered and groaned, wetting his face. Jenna turned over and lifting her right leg high and supporting them with her hands wailed, "Bang me." 

Eliot was only too happy to oblige because she now had him really wound up and in rather a short time she had him seeing yellow and red stars in front of his eyes again. Then she was heaving against him telling him what amazing seducer he was. Eliot was too tired from his long and varied day and long evening to attempt to clarify who was the seducer. He felt he'd been rather inadequate because she thought in terms of romance and already knew she really liked being brought to the brink and then allowed to fall back to be slowly drawn up towards the summit and the process repeated again and again until one of them unavoidably exploded. It was too early to say that he loved her and anyway didn't yet know where he stood on that issue. He'd tried to be romantic. 

"I'm so overwhelmed by your adorable body."

He though that might hit the spot.

"Oh, you disappoint me," she sighed? "I thought you might have been transfixed by my personality and adorable brain."

Eliot almost panicked, having no idea why he could have so fundamentally misjudged her. That was his trouble with women: he focused on sex as being the core of the relationship.

She laughed and said not only was he an accommodating lover for her but he reveled in sexual connection and didn't waste platitudes on her in telling untruths that he mostly admired her for her intelligence and airs and graces.

"I hadn't noticed you project a persona likely to appeal to a proud mother and impressionable aunts," he said, attempting to be flippant.

"Damn right," she giggled. "That's what I like about you Eliot. You are so upfront and true. Please carry me to the bathroom and after I've cleaned up take me to me bed. You will be tired after your really big day. In all probability this has been a defining day for us."

Eliot hastened over and kissed her to thus avoid putting a wrong fix on what she'd just said. What did she mean by 'a defining day for us?" Did it mean he'd been accepted into the family? That was unlikely not with sour Peter eye-balling him so intently. Did it mean she had decided to marry him? That was unlikely if she were intelligent. Did it mean she'd decided he was good enough to be her regular lover until he moved on? Well, he was tired and running out of questions so that would do as his number one choice until she expressed herself more clearly.

Climbing into bed ten minutes after Jenna, Eliot assumed she was asleep, but as he settled she snuck right up against him, an arm loosely over his chest. He smiled and dropped off to sleep, very contented. He awoke during the night and found her gone so padded out to the kitchen and found her sipping an energy drink.

"Want one?"

He nodded and sat at the breakfast bar.

Taking the unappetizing colored drink that reminded him of regurgitated bile after a hard-drinking night during his days at university he mused, "You seem to really like sex. You'd said you did but I really had difficulty believing it because it was early in the piece and I've never had a woman say that unless in screaming ecstasy."

"So I'm a liar am I?"

He rejected that notion and asked how often did she like doing it.

"Every four hours."

He spluttered his mouthful of drink across the breakfast bar.

"You animal."

"Sorry."

"What an idiotic question to ask me. How would I know?"

"It's unlikely you would."

She scowled as said at a rough guess somewhere between every four hours and every four days. But how would she know? It depended on the guy and the circumstances. All she knew any longer than four days she worried that she was being rejected.

He tried another tack, thinking he was coming up empty handed over sex. "You look less than relaxed?"

Jenna's reaction was to look as if that was the dumb cluck question of the month. Then she sighed and thanked him for asking.

"When I kissed mom goodnight at the restaurant she whispered she wants me back working alongside her."

"Oh dear," he said, earning the withering look he expected.

"Are you thinking I'd get in the way of your undercover investigation?"

"No, not really. That would depend on where you were placed. My concern is the image I have of your lecherous stepfather taking in the sight of you bending over a filing cabinet and feeling his lust rising."

"Yuck, how revolting."

"But it's the truth, isn't it?

"Yes."

"Well, hear this. I believe you would be of greater assistance to this undercover op working on location than you would be working at jamming a large mammary into an under-sized bra cup."

"What a disgusting way of describing my vocation as a top artist in boosting women's sense of confidence and worthiness in themselves by improving the way they dress."

"I was teasing," Eliot said indignantly.

"Well I could have been too, just a bit," Jenna said, turning to toss the sodden dishcloth into the sink.

* * *

Next morning after clearing the incoming mail and instructing staff, Jenna called her mother and said she wanted to take up the offer to rejoin the company.

"So he approves, does he?"

"Yes."

"I'm surprised you two have had time to talk," Eloise said dryly.

"Even you would have to rest between bouts mother."

They laughed, both aware that Eloise was at an age when she would be slowing down sexually.

"He's so wise mom. Eliot thinks I cannot prepare myself to become your successor by working in a mall."

"That's scarcely rocket science."

"Don't be rude. He suggests somewhere useful but away from profit centers which are target areas of Eliot's appraisal."

"Yes indeed, that rather limits where to place you, I suppose commercial printing..."

"A hot area."

"Well, circulation and new subscriptions..."

"Mom, I'd die in that cesspit of complaints and unachievable targets."

"But that virtually means admin which places you near to him?"

"Yes, but that's okay. Suggest to 'him' you want me back and ask 'him' to find a worthy position for me."

"He'll place you where he can see you. Oh God, I have this image of you bending over a filing cabinet with him leering behind you and you not wearing panties."

"That's so disgusting mom," Jenna said, breaking into uncontrolled laughter from which she recovered only to be sent off again when Eloise laughed and said it really wasn't funny and she'd suspect Eliot would share similar thinking.

"Let your second husband decide mom. He'll put me in a position that is unlikely to expose corrupt activities."

"Yes, good thinking. You are such a clever darling. Just promise me you'll never submit to him. Peter can be rather persuasive."

"I promise mom. He'd have to out-muscle me to get his satisfaction."

"Oh God..."

"Don't worry mom. It's not going to happen."



* Conclusion to come. 



A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 03



CHAPTER 5

A nagging thought about the arrival of this new guy Eliot unnerved Peter Cruickshank. Eliot had arrived out of obscurity and was obviously admired by Eloise and had been seized by her over-sexed daughter as a new trophy. To rub it in, Eliot's manager Brigit was treating him like some sort of guru. If it hadn't been for Jenna almost nailing the guy over dinner he'd been suspicious that the guy had been brought in as a future senior executive. It seemed Eloise and Brigit also had a carnal interest in the guy. He'd keep an eye on this newcomer.

At that Peter's nagging thought changed into a jealous pique. What did that guy have that he didn't unless it was only a matter of age? His suspicions were further eroded when in bed after coming home from the restaurant he had to tap Eloise twice on the hip before she sighed and rolled over for him. She would have been all over him had she been engaged in some sort of intrigue although what sort of intrigue Peter couldn't decide. It was doubtful that Eliot had been recruited to be his successor as he had at least another fifteen years before he'd consider retiring or heading off to spend his retirement fund in the company of a chick who looked rather like Jenna if that honey wasn't Jenna.

Eloise was okay but she was rather predictable and wasn't out to milk him dry as were today's cock-addicted hot chicks such as Lisa, accounts section supervisor. If a guy wanted to be taken to the limit obviously Eloise wasn't the one for that simple because she was losing her bedroom focus and agility. Still, she was always there for him and continued to give him the impression she loved him creaming her tits. Yes Eloise was right for him and had acknowledged that by promoting him into the top tier of business professionals in the city and at the same time was unwittingly allowing her husband to increase his personal wealth. She was so trusting it was pathetic and that had made it so easy to exploit her and her company. 

Peter smiled recalling he'd recommended a change of auditors to Eloise and she took that as a recommendation to the board and it was approved. He held control because only he ever saw the preliminary report of the auditors and he sorted out auditors so they understood the complications in excessive amount of overtime worked by some commercial printers (old machinery requiring excessive maintenance) and the excessive amount of wastage between the amount of paper stock coming into the company and that amount actually going out the doors as deliveries to clients and their distributors (print runs being redone because color-registration was sub-par or mis-numbering of pages, etc). Oh yes, wasn't he a wicked man!

When the auditors claimed the wastage was excessive for industry standards for comparable plants Peter's answer was so were the company's standards. When an auditor remained unconvinced at that explanation Peter had a truckload of price lists that the company's logo had been printed upside down (a common printing error) to the auditor's offices and thereafter the volume of wastage was never again questioned as that was drummed into any new person on the audit team before they left to begin the audit of CCCP (Clouston Clarion Commercial Printing Ltd). 

Yes, Peter smiled. He was far too clever for Eloise and her board. When residing in Delaware as a young man he'd formed his own limited liability company, Mono Enterprises Company, as a trading enterprise and now used it to bill his clients for printing contracts and to receive 'goodwill' payments for introducing suppliers and services companies and appointing them as principal suppliers to the Clouston Evening Clarion Printing and Publishing Company, of which CCCP was a subsidiary. He traded as a sole entity and ran the company correctly including paying all taxes and filing all required reports and paying all fees via the accountant acting as the company's registered agent. 

It all worked very smoothly, with Peter also raking in payments on individual company vehicle purchases and sales and on individual travel transactions. But the largest payments came from Peter's underhand printing contracts that involved fiddles using Clarion printing's paper stock and printing personal to output his contracts he personally secured under his own trading company. He did not pay Clarion printing for using its resources including labor materials and looked after the invoicing himself. He wasn't too greedy, keeping volumes low enough to remain unnoticed and only had to pay the commercial print manager a monthly cooperate-and-keep-your-mouth-shut payment to allow his fraud to perpetuate undetected. The only interest of printing personnel was being paid, rather than who was paying them and why. 

Peter was in line for his illegal operations to top the $3 million mark in net profit by the end of the year. That was the advantage in running commercial operations with virtually no 'overheads'. A lot of creative accounting was involved and Peter kept two legitimate clients whose work he put through the company's system as 'Peter's Clients'. In this clever move accounts personnel were instructed to put all incoming correspondence, orders and payments on jobs marked 'Peter's Clients' to him to transact. When payments from those two legitimate clients were received that money would be channeled into the company's revenue flow, thus setting up internal recognition that Peter had a couple of clients who were pals that he personally serviced fully. That meant if any nosey auditor or in-house executive asked anything about Peter's personal clients there was a blemish-free paper trail to which accounts personnel would display. 

For a secret payment of $5000 the commercial print manager accomplice had printed Peter a full set of company receipts, invoices, contract forms, quotation forms and client registration forms that he kept at home and kept all transactions loaded as encrypted files on his laptop. If any of his secrete client's had an auditor inquiring about an invoice number any accounts person was unable to find that query would then be referred to Peter. He'd access his illegal set of accounts and supply the required information. 

There had been only two such enquiries during the five years he'd been skimming the company's business and both had been dealt with so smoothly no suspicion was aroused. Peter had found it so simple that he itched to double his illicit income but wisely counseled himself to stay small and involve no one else. He suspected few of his clients were legitimate business persons which afforded him even greater protection, making everything appear legitimate. None of his clients knew who actually printed their order because Peter would advise he would put the job out to a print broker.

Late that morning Peter visited the company's recently promoted business promotions officer. Sloan had been the assistant officer and found it difficult to believe that Peter was willing to promote her to the vacated post as she'd been in the deputy position for only three months.

Sloan looked at him in delight as he entered her office. "Oh Mr Cruickshank, how lovely of you to call."

"It's Peter to you Sloan now that you are an executive."

"Oh Peter, thank you."

"I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with me?"

She smiled and said it was she who ought to be inviting him to lunch to express her gratitude.

Peter laughed and rubbing his fingers over his chin asked how far would she go to deliver her gratitude.

Sloan blushed and looked nervously at the door. Without looking Peter said her PA was not at her desk.

"You know I'm married."

"Yes, and that guy ought to be still thinking about his good luck. How about it Sloan?"

She blushed and whispered did he mean sex.

He nodded and she rubbed a hand over her left breast and said, "I really don't..."

"Please yourself," Peter said brusquely and moved to leave the office.

"Wait."

He continued walking.

"Please wait."

He stopped and Sloan came over to him. "I've never done this before."

"Your first is the one you remember, although I guess you mean you're not yet committed adultery. It probably is similar to that eventful time you first opened your legs."

"God Peter, someone may hear us. I'll consider if you can assure me if we will have complete privacy."

"Yes. Wait for me in the foyer of the Princess Hotel at 1:00. The company has a private room there and only I will be registered as the user. We can order room service lunch so it's best you take a two-hour break."

"Very well. I'll think about it. I'll call you if I decide to accept."

"That's an unnecessary call. Call only if you can't come."

"I really..." Sloan didn't bother finishing because Peter was almost out of the door and she knew he had no interest in hearing anything negative.

Sloan arrived at the Princess early and went straight to the bathroom and used to vending machine to get a pack of three condoms, thinking an older man like Peter might find one condom sufficient. She'd never purchased condoms before and had the feeling everyone was looking at her despite being the only person in the room. She returned to the foyer where Peter was waiting for her. She flushed when he said, "Been for a nervous one or to buy condoms?"

In the elevator he pressed the button under the blue notice marked Premium rooms. She thought nervously it was unnecessary for him to go to all this expense, they could have gone to the back seat of his car? She then she figured the company would be paying for this philandering. The twenty-five-year-old almost gushed in excitement.

Inside the beautifully appointed room Peter put her at ease immediately, saying, "Don't image me as your father. Picture me as a guy a bit older than you who loves to fuck younger women." 

She'd been thinking he was old enough to be her father and suddenly that image dissolved, being replaced by one of his white and somewhat hairy ass rising up and down over her, her legs over his shoulders. She began to have a little difficulty breathing.

"Do we do it now?"

"No, slip off your panties and put them in your handbag. Keep your high heels on because they make you look sexy. Then sit on that lounge chair. If you feel like showing me you pussy, do that. Otherwise don't. There's a menu on the table beside you; choose what you want to lunch. Champagne?"

"You mean sparking wine?"

"I mean French champagne."

"Oh God yes." 

She took the flute and ordered chicken pasta and sat with her legs closed. He sat on his chair and after calling through the order unzipped and pulled out a flaccid penis and that disappointed her. Perhaps he couldn't get it up without considerable assistance.

Sloan opened her legs and hung them over the arms of her chair. "If I slop some champagne on to my pussy will you come over and lick it?"

He grinned and she watched in amazement as his dick stiffened and the purple head seemed to look directly at her vagina. Oh God, he's got it trained, she thought.

Two-and-a-half hours later Sloan was back in her office, feeling a little stiff and as if her pussy was stretched and on fire. She'd taken the biggest pounding of her young life, far in excess of what she'd received on her wedding night. That Peter, he was a animal. He had her sweating, and groaning and cooing and falling into unrestrained releases. He'd coated her internally and externally with semen, refusing to put on a condom after she admitted she was 'protected'. 

She'd felt it was all over when her returned to the bed with a lubricant, saying he wanted to finger her rectum. She permitted that, nervously thinking he probably wanted to take her anally but she only done that once previously and had not enjoyed it. It her amazement Peter was so good that he strummed her up and she could hear herself pleading with him to put it in where by then he had two fingers stretching her. After three glasses of champagne she was ready for anything and certainly was taken on a journey she'd long remember. As he sweated over her she fingered herself into release after release until she heard him groan into his release. She then almost lost consciousness, feeling exhausted, depraved, abused and mentally bereft.

Peter ran a bath for her and carried her to it, talking to her kindly although he looked rather exhausted. He then showered, keeping an eye on her. He later washed and dried her and after she had consumed two bottles of water she agreed she was ready to return to the office.

Sloan collapsed on to her office chair and was almost sleep when someone knocked on her door. She had no option but to invite the person in.

"Hi, I'm a newcomer in editorial, Eliot Nephew and you were out of the office when I was conducted on the royal tour. I've just popped in to say hi."

As Sloan straightened up to reply Eliot said, "Are you okay? You appear to have been run over by a truck?"

He seemed pleasant and Sloan new he had no authority over it. She had to talk to someone so let loose. "I've been a stupid, stupid woman. I said yes to a lunch invitation from someone around here and that turned into a bout of sexual excessiveness. I stupidly engaged without resistance when the going got rough." 

She began sobbing and held out her arms. Eliot rushed around the desk to comfort Sloan.

"Peter Cruickshank?"

Sloan's eyes bulged and she appeared on the verge of panicking. "How could you say such a thing?"

Eliot sensed he was being fended off. "Look, it doesn't matter. You need some feminine counseling. I know the right person to assist. Please stay put."

Eliot rushed off and told Brigit what the problem was and Peter Cruickshank seemed to be the villain.

"Oh God, Sloan's not long married."

"Say nothing about my suspicion it was Peter. Later she may be just the person to recruit for real insider watchdog information. We must play this carefully."

"All right. Take me to her and then leave us. I'll take her to the executive bathroom. Send Cathy my PA up to talk to me. She'd need to keep everyone away. We'll have to get Sloan into a fit state to go home."

Half an hour later Brigit called Eliot to her office. "Sloan is a little better. She's been ravaged. I'd really like to remove Peter's testicles."

"I'll hold him while you cut," Eliot offered, deadpanned.

Brigit laughed and the tension eased. "The problem was Sloan has only known gentle guys around her own age. She's fairly slight, possibly sexually inexperienced and never has been used like a piece of meat before. But there's nothing we can do about it. She's insisted it was not rape, that she acquiesced out of gratitude because Peter ordered her promotion."

"And today he set out to collect?"

"It clearly looks that way but the poor darling was only just coherent and it was a nightmare for her to talk about it."

"Well, let see what eventuates. Does she have tomorrow off?"

"The next two days. She reports to Peter so I asked the office manager to authorize it and to call Cathy. Peter doesn't have a designated deputy. Usually he delegates to the office manager, financial controller or chief accountant and that worries me."

Eliot, standing to leave, asked why was that?

"Eloise told me over lunch that she's invited Jenna to rejoin the company and Jenna has said yes. Eloise said she asked Peter this morning to find Jenna a suitable position and suggested perhaps Jenna could be appointed his deputy."

"Oh God," Eliot said, slipping back on to the chair. "This thing is getting out of control when our investigation hasn't yet started."

"Come on," Brigit said, standing and picking up her handbag. "Let's go out for a drink."

* * *

Eliot had assumed Brigit meant coffee but she shepherded him into a bar. They sat in the corner of the poorly lit and sparsely occupied premises because it was only just after 3:30, just ahead of the first arrivals of early-finishing workers. Eliot had brought two vodka Martinis to the table.

"The big problem is where to look where the company has been creamed off, if indeed that's what Peter has been doing, " Brigit said, clicking the glass against her teeth as she sipped her drink.

"He'll be doing it," Eliot said. "He knows Jenna will assume control of the business when Eloise is ready, leaving him out in the cold. I reckon he will have given himself eight to ten years to build his nest-egg and is probably already five years along the path. Obviously he's not been stupid or overly greedy otherwise the external auditors would have picked up on him and no informer has come forward to blow the whistle."

"So rather than chase your tail you have to think of the most logical place to start."

"Correct Brigit. So we go for the high ball. What area of the business does Eloise have the least amount of interest?"

"Commercial print."

"Correct, and it's the largest profit center and being located three miles away from her office is comfortably remote from her and being the largest profit center is the area best known to Peter. It also operates two shifts five days a week and usually only one shift on Saturday and maintenance is performed on Saturday afternoon and on Sundays if required. Who is to say the presses are not running on Saturday afternoons or even on Sunday?"

"Peter wouldn't be that bold, would he?"

"I don't really know him but he's arrogant enough to try anything. He may even be calculating enough to have his ill-gotten gains stashed away so if he was caught red-handed he'd be prepared to be locked up for six months or up to ten years or whatever sentence he receives, knowing that big pot of real gold awaits him."

"Do you think the authorities should be called in?"

"You know the answer to that which is why I was recruited. The first thing the authorities would ask is 'where's your evidence?" We have nothing but suspicion. The other thing is we'd like to force a confession and recover that pile of gold wrestled illegally from the company."

"You have no hope of getting him to confess or recovering that pile of gold."

"I know Brigit. But I live in hope. What do you know about management at Clarion Print?"

"Not much. Managing director Bruce Tillman is near retirement age as is general manager Walter O'Connor. The operations manager is Wes Gould who rarely smiles and has the look of a criminal. He won his position through being the best guy available with a reputation for technical brilliant unmatched by any other applicant when the job came up five years ago."

"When?"

"I said five years ago, the same time Peter was appointed group managing director. Oh no, there could be collusion."

"Yes, or simply two guys have a common bond as new appointees.," Eliot said. "I must look up their appointment dates as a matter of interest."

"Yes, we should go into the backgrounds of both guys."

Eliot said indeed. He asked if Brigit could appoint chief reporter Eva Mitchell as deputy news editor.

"That would buy me a fight with chief sub Jed Mason as his deputy has traditionally acted as deputy news editor."

"Well, times have changed. Find a trade off to keep Jed happy. I trust Eva and don't know the others. Eva could start the background research on Peter and print manager Wes Gould.

"Okay," Brigit sighed. "I accept the necessity to keep flexible if this catch-the-crim effort is to succeed. We'll be left with people in positions they may not merit but according to Eloise you'll be reorganizing company structure anyway, with me losing my job."

Eliot said it would depend on what the board recommended and Brigit of course would have input. "All I can say at this stage I would probably recommend major restructuring. At the very least, and I emphasis that, you'd be offered the position of editor-in-chief of the community newspaper group."




A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 03



"Oh dear, what a let-down for a career journalist."

"You will face three options of going elsewhere, accepting the role or digging in and accepting another bonus-related position to grow the size and prestige of the newspapers within the group and contributing to increasing profitability. A bonus based on profitability might be something not to be sneezed at."

"Okay, so where do you see your future role if you stay aboard?"

"Initially learning the ropes as general manager of commercial print and then to succeed Jenna as group MD when she succeeds the current chairman who hopefully will be besotted by her third husband."

"God, you are an optimist," Brigit grinned, lifting her glass to the bartender and raising two fingers. 

She said, "By the way, I must compliment you for the caring concern you showed for Sloan on discovered her condition after her ordeal. In my opinion you behaved immaculately and made astute decisions that saved that poor young woman from being exposed for her moments of madness to everyone around her. I still cannot believe that you as a male could exhibit such tenderness to a woman you'd only just met. Compare yourself to that brute who ravished her and you'll realize what I'm on about."

"I saw her as a person in need of help, not as a woman and not as a man. To me the distinction was unnecessary."

"Well, I salute you. No other man I know of would have acted quite as you did."

"What about your own husband?"

"Ah yes. That really does prove my point. I'd expect him to decree: 'Stupid young bitch... she got only what she should have seen coming. Call the medics'. Perhaps that makes you understand what I'm saying."

"I guess it does. Thank you Brigit and I really mean that."

As they parted she said, "Oh, I have just thought of something about your comment of the presses running at weekends. Every time they run the job and times are logged as part of maintenance scheduling. The loggings are mandatory and if no job was put down that would be noticed and followed up."

"Ah good, leave that with me."

Two days later Brigit announced Eva Mitchell had accepted the additional responsibility of acting as deputy news editor and the deputy chief sub-editor would have the additional role of the new post of deputy features editor. She appeased Jed the chief sub by arranged undercover parking in the company parking lot he'd been on about for some years at the time of annual salary and benefit reviews.

"Why have I been given this appointment?" Eva asked Eliot a little tersely. 

He laughed and teased, saying it had little to do with her past feat in saving his life except he required someone at his side he knew he could trust. It also was not related to sex because he accepted she was happily married. 

"You were news editor designate before my arrival and are destined for a senior role if and when reorganization of this newspaper occurs. I, too, have an additional role to perform." Eliot then quietly briefed Eva about the investigation and said as soon as the city edition was put to bed each day he'd like her to hand over to her deputy and then to work alongside him, starting by thoroughly investigating the backgrounds of Peter Cruickshank and commercial print operations manager Wes Gould."

"So only Eloise and Brigit know about this investigation?"

"Yes, and Jenna who is likely to rejoin the company soon. Brigit will approve all unauthorized expenditure you find necessary to make without prior consultation."

"Are you sure about that? It sounds like you have authority over Brigit?"

"Only insofar as this investigation is concerned," Eliot smiled bleakly. "I report directly to the chairman. We are not certain we will uncovered anything; it could be an expensive exercise in fertility."

"But you don't think it will be?"

"No but enough said."

CHAPTER 6

Eliot had decided not to say anything to Jenna about her father and Sloan but just before midnight on the day of that dreadful incident Sloan called to thank him, saying she felt very much better and thanked him profusely.

As Eliot put his phone back on the bedside cabinet and thinking he had no explaining to do, Eliot felt Jenna's arm snake around his neck and she pulled him to her.

"A sexy-voiced young woman calling you at midnight. What are you up to your naughty boy?"

As Eliot began the story Jenna sat up, turned on the light at looked at him appalled as Eliot continued. When he finished she slammed a fist against the padded bed-head and snarled, "The repulsive, evil jerk."

"Calm down," Eliot said nervously. "Sloan accepts responsibility for making it too easy for him."

For that Eliot received a withering looked followed by an incredulous look when he urged Jenna to say nothing to her mother.

"What!" she yelled.

"No one at the office is aware of exactly what happened. It was handled as if Sloan suffered food poisoning."

"My mother has the right to know."

"The need for this investigation to proceed as smoothly as possible is greater than your mother's right to know. Just remember, Sloan could be of use to this investigation."

They glared at each other in mounting tension until Eliot's gazed drifted to Jenna's chest hidden from him by the sheet. He felt a stir in the area of his groin and said with yokel simplicity, "You look extremely fuckable when riled."

Initially she appeared outraged but a smile leaked through and her teeth showed in a non-threatening manner. She pulled him on to her chest and whispered, "Then do something about it darling."

Instantaneous sexual gratification is one of nature's great elixirs. They finished in a sweaty hug and not moving went to sleep contently. 

In the morning Jenna thanked Eliot for telling her about her predatory stepfather's outrageous action. "I'm more than ever decided about my return to the company where hope to assist to help nail the jerk for fraud," she said.

"Then you will succeed better if you conceal your contempt of him," Eliot advised. "You ought to keep in mind this is about suspected fraud."

"Yes, you're right. I'll not wait to put my business on the market. I have a girlfriend in the same business although she is unlikely to pay market value."

"What about offering it to your employees?"

"I don't think so. They are young without money."

Eliot grinned and suggested she should at least talk to them about it. They would have family perhaps with money to lend short-term and Jenna could consider bankrolling the operation until the young women found their feet financially. 

"Y-e-s," she said thoughtfully as she kissed her lover who was off to make it to the office for his 7:30 start time.

She left for the mall an hour later and went to the south wing and talked to Georgette Young, who was just opening her lingerie shop, assisted by her daughter.

After the usually friendly greetings, Jenna said, "Georgette I need to find a buyer quickly for my business because I'm returning to the Clouston publishing company. I have a friend who is interested and my girls could be interested but I'm seeking full market price."

"Sorry Jenna, but our specialty is supplying to older women. We are not interested..."

"But I am mom. Please."

Georgette looked at her daughter thoughtfully and said to Jenna she'd have coffee with her at 11:00. By then she could be interested."

* * *

Released from his newspaper duties at 1:00, Eliot then began a recruiting drive to secure the four middle management executives for his task force. Not unexpectedly their superiors all opted to be the representative but when Eliot described the painstaking grind they pointed to their deputies and all four accepted Eliot's invitation. One was from commercial print, one from new subscriptions and circulation, one from administration and one from advertising. They were told they'd meet from 1:00 to 5:00 each weekday, beginning the next day.

Eliot had to wait almost an hour before Peter was free to see him.

Peter congratulated Eliot for the 'crisper look' to the editorial pages of the Clarion and noted it now had a more localized content, made possible by the tighter presentation of national and foreign news coverage and reduced use of 'patsy' articles from subscription services.

"Thanks Peter, I'm not surprised to hear such decisive comment from you, being a longtime newspaper man."

Peter looked pleased at the comment and grinned. "Brigit said at the editorial board meeting the other day that it was amazing that you had bad-tempered Jed Mason almost eating out of your hand. He scares her shitless, not that she'd ever admit to that."

They laughed and Eliot handed across the names of his committee of four for approval and suggested Peter email them, copied to their principals, appreciating their support and anticipating they would give the project their best shot and briefly explain the objectives and adding he would personally be keeping a close eye on the project.

Peter frowned. "They are smart enough to figure all that out, don't you think?"

"Yes, but the real purpose of your message is to underpin the point you have confidence in their chairman without actually stating that."

Grinning, Peter said, "Well, why don't you draft the email for me?"

Remaining straight-faced Eliot handed Peter the draft email he'd already prepared. It was read and Peter smiled approvingly and said, Well done, you have senior exe potential. I'll have my PA send this off as soon as you leave, copied to you. Thank you."

Peter then looked at the door so Eliot knew it was time to depart. Looking at the smoothly-groomed guy in his $2000 suit he thought what a lazy asshole and wondered where the creamed off backhanders were secreted. He glimpsed the computer notebook on the desk half-turned toward him and noting the screensaver revolving behind a log-in slot long enough for eight or perhaps ten keystrokes breathed bingo, assuming that device could hold all of Peter's black-hearted secrets. Oh Eliot, he mused. How could you be so callous about a guy who must be considered innocent unless proven guilty? Then Peter's not a stealing scum bag? Oh yeah?

Peter handed Eliot back the draft email and called, "Luciana send off this email Eliot will hand you. Shut the door behind you Eliot."

Eliot handed the paper to the raven-haired beauty who had 'sex pot' written all over her and wondered if she could actually use the computer keyboard in front of her. She'd not been at her desk when he'd arrived.

"Hi Luciana. I'm Eliot Nephew from editorial. Are you a temp? I was introduced to Gabriel the other day."

"No Gabriel is no more, gone after finding herself unexpectedly pregnant. Her husband was supposedly unable to make babies."

That encouraged Eliot to think uncharitably guess who impregnated Gabriel? He smiled and said he hoped Luciana would enjoy working for the company.

"Oooh, I will," she enthused. "Peter is ever so sexy. All my previous bosses have been ogres in comparison.'

"Keep your legs crossed," Eliot whispered and was told he looked pretty hot.

Eliot went to the far end of the corridor where the last door was marked private.

He knocked and entered and the frosty Mrs Adams gritted, "Yes?"

Well, at least Peter will be assured his wife is not having it off with her PA, Eliot grinned.

"Eliot Nephew to see Mrs Cruickshank."

"Has she summonsed you here?"

"No, I've just dropped in."

Mrs Adams consulted her diary. "Two-twenty is the only slot I have available today."

"Forget it."

He was almost out of the door when Eloise's office door opened and she tossed a file on Mrs Adams' desk and looking up smiled. "Oh hello Mr Nephew. Are you here to see me?"

"Yes, you had asked me to personally report to you after my first few days here."

"Please come in for a minute. I am busy today but have time for you. Hold the delegation Alice."

"Yes Mrs Cruickshank."

Eloise closed the door and Eliot took the liberty of kissing her cheek simply because he was the current preferred choice of her daughter. He whiffed expensive perfume and felt her chest and belly push into his side and thought, naughty girl Mrs Cruickshank.

They stepped apart.

"I haven't seen Jenna this happy in years. Whatever you are giving her is obviously very good for her."

Holding a slight blush Eliot answered adroitly, "Attention and kindness are two big ingredients to companionship, don't you think?" 

He received a huge smile.

They stood close to whisper in case the room was bugged. 

He whispered, "I noticed a computer notebook on Peter's desk. I was reporting to him on the group I've appointed to the taskforce. Is that his personal notebook?"

Eloise nodded and shook her head when asked if she knew the access password but cheered Eliot when adding Peter took it home with him and kept it in the safe to which she had access.

"Would you and Jenna like to come for drinks at 4:00 on Saturday and perhaps stay on for dinner?"

"Yes, that would be lovely. I'll ask Jenna to confirm."

Eloise opened the door and thanked him for calling, saying she looked forward to seeing him and Jenna on Saturday night.

Eliot nodded a goodbye to Alice and she acknowledged, the frost gone off her smile. He spent the remainder of the afternoon working on a briefing document that he emailed to his project team before leaving for the apartment just after 6:00, ending a work day of almost twelve hours but knowing a few people worked just as long or even longer.

* * *

Jenna seized Eliot as he stepped into the apartment, her tongue halfway down his throat as soon as he'd said, "Hiya babe with pinkie cheeks. He reached for a breast instinctively (or perhaps hopefully) thinking he was being urged to perform but the hand was brushed away.

"I've sold my business."

"What?"

"Are you deaf?"

"No, just surprised. I thought it would take days if not weeks."

"I invited a competitor in another wing at the mall to consider buying it but she said no and then hesitated when her daughter said yes. Two hours later the mother Georgette Young and I had agreed in a goodwill price and stock at cost subject to a stock-take on Saturday afternoon. We went to her attorney and signed and sale and purchase agreement, with settlement on Monday. My manager works with Georgette until next Friday and Georgette's daughter works with me until closing on Friday to learn the ropes of my operation as part of the deal."

Jenna looked so happy and said she'd walk away with almost $30,000 as she'd paid her mother's loan earlier in the year. Mall management had agreed to the transfer of lease of the premises.

"Oh that's great," he smiled, patting her butt but she was too fired up to be interested. "What happened about an employee buyout?"

"I put it to them while waiting for Georgette's response but they all backed off as if I'd tossed a bomb at them."

"How long will the stock-take take?

"About three hours."

"Good, I've accepted an invitation from your mother for drinks at 4:00 and to stay on for dinner, accompanied by you, of course."

"We can't. The Adams's have invited us to their apartment for drinks. You know since you're moved in there has been a noticeable change. The women around here are so much friendlier."

Eliot gave her a knowing smile.

"What?"

"Now you are with a guy they feel reassured you won't be after their man."

Jenna scoffed and was halfway through rejection that assertion when, "Oh God, you probably are right. Well that makes me more than ever determined to go to the Adams's."

"Sorry but your mom takes priority. She didn't say anything but this is her way of getting Peter used to seeing me around."

Jenna took that calmly. "God, you're even right on that one. I'll call Jennifer and apologize for you stupidly committing us to a Saturday night engagement without consulting me."

"Sorry."

She grinned and said he appeared to have gotten the message. Jenna made the call and said Jennifer had suggested a cook-out beside the pool on Sunday and would call back with a time when she could book in a gas grill. Jenna looked at the wall clock. "The professional packers are due in ten minutes. Best you change as I want you to mark the boxes being packed by room and principle contents."

* * *

Jenna arrived home on Saturday afternoon almost walking on air. She'd spoken on the phone twice during the day to Eliot so they were up with each other's news.

"How was the bike ride?" she asked, kissing him hungrily. "I saw it when I parked. It looks a real beauty. I might buy one."

"Oh, that would be great; we could go adventure riding together. Try mine to see if you like it. You'll quickly lose those few extra pounds..."

"I beg your pardon!"

They frolicked, laughing, Eliot pinching the love handles that only recently had begun to appear while she grabbed his butt cheeks which she thought were less that firm.

"Cliff the cycle dealer said there are almost 220 miles of cycle tracks separated from road vehicles within ten miles of his store. I'll happily buy you a women's model of the hybrid like mine that can be used on pavement or over dirt and moderate hilly terrain."

Jenna burst into tears.

Looking aghast Eliot hugged her and asked what was the matter.

"So many things are happening since you came into my life."

"Is that good or bad," he asked, somewhat bemused, looking down at her pink face marked by tear tracks.

"Good, oh very good," she said, sniffing and wiping away tears with her palms. You know, apart from mom, that's the first time anyone has offered to buy me something of value."

He hugged her and said, a little misty-eyed himself, "Come on you chump, undress while I run you a bath and make coffee."

Jenna emerged from the bathroom already dressed in lacy underwear and hold-up stockings. He looked at her with interest while she looked at him critically and said, "Those shorts and beach shirt must come off and you must dress formerly."

"But it's only drinks beside the pool."

"It doesn't matter," she sniffed. Mom and Peter dress formally for poolside drinks."

Peter appeared to have been lectured about being on his best behavior because his greeting was warm. After shaking hands with Eliot he actually patted him on the back and he kissed his stepdaughter correctly and spoke to her almost charmingly.

During a lull in conversation over dinner Peter said suddenly to Jenna, "When will you be ready to return to the company?"

"Any time from Monday week. I've sold my business, effective on Monday."

"Oh darling, how exciting," cooed her mother. "A good price I'd hope."

"Yes, although the bulk of it is the return of my paid-up investment in stock."

"So you can start on Tuesday?"

"No Peter. I'd like a week off. Management has redecorators working on the larger apartment that Eliot and I are moving into tomorrow evening so I require time to settle in and buy new furniture and soft furnishings and a bit of artwork."

"So this thing between you two is more than just flash passion?"

"Yes."

Eliot added greater detail. "We have found we are very compatible and think beyond sex when together."

Peter looked shocked at the mention of sex but Eloise laughed and said, "Well done you two, I'll fetch champagne."

"I'll get it," Peter said smiling, as if his unease about Eliot had evaporated. "I suppose you mean French?"

"Of course." Eloise said indulgently as if hearing distant wedding bells.

After pouring the drinks Peter said to Jenna, "Arnold from human resources resigned today. Do you think you can manage that department? You do have a business admin degree?"

"I think so, as our company structure is still attuned to family management principles rather than cooperate leading-edge organization and my understanding is we don't apply formal job assessment appraisal to determine across-company performance related remuneration?"




A Wicked Stepfather Pt. 03



"Yes, that's correct. Josephine the assistant manager is considered too young to step up to manage the department but another year would make the difference. Being a recent graduate she is right up to date with regulatory compliance and has been here long enough to absorb our management culture. Work in close consultation with her and you should have no problem. I'll send you a job offer setting responsibilities, remuneration, benefits plus the extra benefits your mother will insist you received."

"Thank you. Then Monday week then?"

"You haven't sighted the job offer yet."

"Peter, if my mother is involved in this I've no doubt that acceptances is only a formality."

"Thank you darling," Eloise cooed. "It is so lovely having you back."

When Eloise went to the bathroom while Peter went off for another bottle of champagne, Eliot said to Jenna, "That guy is brilliant. He's found the answer to parking you away in HR where you are as far removed from his areas of fiddling that you could possibly be."

"Yes, my thoughts too. But you have ears and what you hear could be important to our mission. You must become super-friendly with Sloan. She's about your age so that could be easy. And she cycles to work."

CHAPTER 7

Eight weeks later Eliot had the evidence he wanted to nail Peter. Once they had extracted the information from Peter's computer it was just a matter of hooking everything together and linking to hard evidence where they could find it.

Peter had gone to a publishing convention, taking his new PA. The chairman and Eliot took immediate action. Eloise opened the home safe and handed Peter's laptop to Eliot who had a computer forensic expert with him.

"That swine is not intending to indulge in business at the convention so has not taken his computer," Eloise said darkly.

The computer guy booted the computer and then grinned. "This will be moderately easy. He's used a cheap encryption program. Amuse yourselves while I crack it with my gear. It will take anything from half an hour to four hours. 

As Eliot followed Eloise out to the day room he said, "Up to four hours. What can we do Eloise?"

"Let's watch a DVD. We could do something else but I'd not do the dirty on my daughter."

"Oh I'm so relieved," Eliot sighed. "You know if Gus busts the coding we can't use the computer as evidence because we would be up on computer cracking crime charges."

"God that's so unfair."

"But it will show is where and how to look."

"Oh and we have to find footprints?"

"Exactly."

It took ten days for them to work on the copies of Peter's files they secretly possessed.

Eloise called in police criminal investigators and handed over copies of documents she possessed linking Peter to 127 hours of unauthorized press running and told them to seized Peter's notebook and passed on information given by the forensic guy including the unlocking password.

The cops first took in the commercial print manager Wes Gould for questioning. ,When finding the amount of evidence the police possessed. he folded and confessed and a promise the police prosecutor would plead leniency for him if he gave evidence against Peter about any crimes.

Eliot and has team had also uncovered a racket on buying and selling company vehicles and for travel and accommodation and once the police demanded evidence of kickbacks paid by those organizations in lieu of facing charges of collusion, they all cooperated fully.

The police with Eloise present confronted Peter. After initial denials looked incredulous when examples of his swindling were read out. He then was cautioned and went quietly, not looking at his wife. 

At the precinct he denied everything but lost his color and confidence when he was arrest and indicted on eleven charges of criminal activity. His attorney persuaded him to negotiate a lesser term of imprisonment for confessing. Peter balked at first because the police said not way would leniency be sought unless he divulged the whereabouts of all or most of his horded ill-gotten gains. The word 'most' offered Peter flexibility so he gave information that led to the recovery of $1,367,944. Eloise and the board agreed that deal was acceptable and the deal was made, no one except Peter knowing exactly how much money awaited him when he would leave jail.

Peter received seven years imprisonment on convictions relating to conspiring to defraud, theft and for betraying the trust of his company as its senior executive.

Eloise had filed for divorce the day her cheating husband was arrested.

Two hours after the celebratory drinking began, Eloise, Jenna and Eliot were left alone in their section of the bar.

"Well Eliot, what now?" Eloise asked. "You'll come off your investigation salary as from tonight but you can stay on as news editor at a salary typical for that post if you wish. I will be recommending to the board we pay you a bonus of $150,000."

Jenna said, "Eliot could you see if the kitchen here will do us some sandwiches or filled rolls. I want to talk to mom for a few minutes."

Eliot returned with a plate of sandwiches.

Eloise poured from a new bottle of champagne. "Eliot this is Jenna's idea and I concur completely. The suggestion is she takes over immediately as director of the printing works with a seat of the board and you become managing director of the newspaper company. Then when I retire Jenna will become executive chairman of the group. How does that sound?"

"I accept providing I am authorized to begin negotiations with the board of The Daily News, accompanied by your Eloise, over the merger of our two companies on equitable terms, using outside consultants to appraise valuations."

"What has brought this on?" Eloise asked. 

"I had lunch last week with an old pal who works for the News. As you know the News is privately owned. Well the management committee required $15 million in capital for new presses and other expenditure and the family has turned them down. A revolt is likely and executives are threatening to leave unless their final ultimatum is met."

"And what's your solution."

"We build a new office block for News editorial and advertising personnel and merge all other departments."

"That's brilliant mom. Our newspaper presses can easily output both newspaper."

"What about our investigation into publishing four community newspapers?"

"That day is at least three years away. The chance to acquire the assets of the News is now. Morning newspapers are fairly secure according to the experts but evening newspapers are doomed except in exceptional circumstances."

"So you are saying this is a business decision that will appeal to me and my board?"

"Yes Eloise. But we need to move fast and open negotiations to build a morning-evening newspaper consortium."

"Well let's do it. I know the matriarch of the Fraser family. I will make an appointment to see Emily Fraser tomorrow. With you of course Eliot."

"What about Jenna?"

"No, leave me till negotiations appear to be going somewhere. I suggest you ask Mrs Fraser if she's interested in proceeding to leave preliminary talks between you two and her son Robert who is managing director of their private company and herself. She rules the purse strings. Robert is in his early sixties so might be considering retiring as his family is mostly in Europe. Mrs Fraser might be looking for a buyer."

"But outside buyers will see outdated presses."

"Yes Eliot. And we ought to point that out to Emily at the right time. Now I've not heard talk of marriage between you two?"

"We are talking about it mom. Just watch this space. I was waiting for you to get rid of your husband."

"Don't you dare put that label on him Jenna. Simply refer to him as my Ex."

THE END