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The Babe Unmasks

By: Egmont0409



CHAPTER 1

Tired from the long flight from Australia where he'd been on a long working holiday after completing a lucrative management contract, Willis Westwood looked at the exhausted-looking young blonde standing in front of him and grinned as he always did at a pretty face above a pair of great looking tits... er natural ones.

"Are you collecting for charity?" he joked before she had time to open her mouth.

"In a manner of speaking yes. I lost my billfold in this terminal last night. It hasn't been handed in."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Sorry enough to pay my fare to New York?"

"Er not that sorry."

The face turned pathetic. "You are about the 30th person who has refused me. I only approached people whose countenance gave me hope."

"Well it's an odd request. Most people would think you want to feed your drug habit."

The pale blue eyes and forward thrust of chin remained unwavering. "I only did drugs in my first year, going through the experimental phase."

"So you're a university student?"

"Of course I am."

Willis said patiently. "Okay no need to snap my head off. What stage are you at?"

"I graduate in computer studies in May."

Willis said he graduated in computer science. He probed and she gave the answers, indicating to his satisfaction she had a higher than normal knowledge.

"If I put up the money what security do I get?"

"My word." 

She recited her home address in New York City. 

"Let's have a look in your bag."

"Why, there's nothing of value in there. Just some clothes and my diary, a cheap camera and..."

"Hand me your diary."

"This is wasting time. I could be contacting other people."

"Yeah and you could be picked up by airport cops for soliciting."

"Oh god." The chin slumped in confidence.

The young woman handed across the diary and he saw the address inside the front cover was the same address in Manhattan she'd recited to him earlier.

"Why didn't you call your parents to send you money?"

"Oh mo. I didn't think that's why. Give me my diary and fuck off."

"I'll tell you what. I'll keep the diary and give you my card and hand over four hundred bucks that will be ample for your ticket, to have a decent breakfast and to get home by cab. You come to that address with the money and if I'm not home give the money to my mother and she'll give you the diary."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Jesus babe, you are the one owing money."

"All right. But don't read my diary."

"Oh, records the length of guy's dicks does it?"

"God you are foul. It contains notes about what I think but perhaps that's too deep for you."

Willis said, "I'm due at my lounge. What's it to be?"

"Take the diary, give me the money."

"I already have the diary. Here's four hundred bucks. For goodness sake have a shower and tidy up before your mom sees you; she'd have a fit but if you do that make sure you don't allow anyone to rob you of my money."

"Thanks. Do I kiss you?"

"Yeah I suppose so."

She scowled at that pathetic response and kissed him.

"Well as least you can kiss lady. Actually can I have another one?"

"Fuck off sailor," she smiled, her first smile. You better run."

Willis winked and raced off.

Two days later Willis was about to open the door when the bell went. He jerked the door open and the young woman jumped a foot into the air in fright.

It was the airport waif.

"Sorry Monique. I was just on my way out."

"You know my name. You awful man; you've read my diary."

"God, don't be so punishing. I looked at just the inside front cover to get your name so either mom or I could call you by your name."

"Oh, sorry. Here's ten 100s. Dad said to give you the lot because you were a Good Samaritan."

"Nah just the four hundred."

"Do you want me to shove the lot up your ass?"

Willis laughed. "Whew, just what do they teach you at university these days?"

"The basics of survival."

"I'll grab your diary; it's just inside the door. Want to come for a beer?"

"Is that where you were heading?"

"Yeah."

"No thanks."

Willis scowled. "I knew you'd rudely reject my kind offer. Here's your diary. Fuck off."

She stood staring at him. "I suppose I could come with you."

"Jesus!"

They sat on stools at the bar, looking at each other closely.

"You look pretty good washed up. Show me your legs."

"Is that what a gentleman would ask a lady?"

"No never, but those honorifics exclude us."

She ignored everyone around them and slowly pulled up her loose skirt. "How far?"

"As far as it goes."

Still calm, she pulled her skirt right up until flattening against the mounds of her stomach and breasts.

Guys were peering behind Willis when he said, "Great legs and immensely pleasurable stocking tops and yes you are wearing something almost large enough to be called panties. Pull your skirt back down."

A couple of guys behind Willis went "Oink, oink, oink." He ignored them.

He patted her shoulder. "I have embarrassed you. I truly had no idea you had the guts to do that. I expected you to chicken out."

She smiled coldly. "I suppose I ought to say pull out your dick for me to suck?"

"God Monique. This is my local bar. Have a heart; that would get us tossed out and banned for life. Then where would I meet you?"

She said curiously, "Are we to meet again?"

"Yes, very regularly I hope."

She sipped her beer and studied him intently. "And exactly what do you think we have in common?"

"I have no idea. But over time we'll find out, won't we?"

She drummed fingers on the bar. "I was going to look up old boy friends to see what was doing but I suppose you could substitute. Will you come to my house for Christmas dinner?"

"Yes if you come for Christmas lunch at my house. I shall be cooking for my parents."

"What a can of beans followed by a can of fruit?"

"Something like that. You really are a cheeky bitch... aw and brave. God at LA in your position I would have died rather than scrounge for money."

"Well I did consider that possibility but then I got thinking about how I valued life. I am beholden to you. I guess I better let you have sex with me and then I'll have written off my debt."

"No you will not. No way would I slither up you on those terms."

"Slither up me? God no one has ever said that to me before. If you use that term regularly it's a wonder you ever get laid."

"Well I require some other compelling reason before you'll experience that from me."

Monique smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You appear to have wonderful legs."

"And you appear to talk a great deal for a guy. You're not bi are you?"

"God no. Monique please, Oh how could you?" Willis said, with some arm waving and two slaps to the head.

"Calm down. I accept from that denial and animated display you are not bi-sexual."

"Thank you. You must not frighten me like that."

Monique looked at Willis as if undecided he'd been seriously reacting to her comment questioning his sexuality. 

Later Monique left for home thinking about him. That was something she rarely did about a five-minute guy, er any guy she'd just met. He was well... a little unusual and that made him interesting. God all that talking from a guy was tiring.

He'd even surprised her when she was leaving. When she stood and said she was off although he stood he made no effort to reach out for her. She had to walk forward and kiss his cheek and say goodbye. Talkative Joe, the guy who slithered, then nodded instead of saying anything and looked grave.

Grave? Christ he expected never to see her again! Well that made him interesting. All guys expected to see her again, especially the dreamers. She repeated her Christmas Day invitation in three days' time and he appeared pleased to have the offer confirmed.

That evening when putting on her sleep-to-dream CD before jumping into her bed (the bed she'd thought in the depth of despair at the airport at LA she'd never sleep in again) Monique thought of her hero; a hero who slithered? He had to be kidding, she giggled, and reached for her phone.

Willis had another beer after Monique left with the image of her stocking tops burnt into his mind. He'd always thought the appearance of a woman at her stocking tops was indicative of breeding: slender thighs where the stockings top met exposed flesh classified a woman, providing she wasn't emancipated, as a thoroughbred. Say what you like about quality grandparents and parents, manners and intelligence but in his book slender upper thighs was the real measure of a classic-bred woman.

On the short walk home he thought about Monique's slender upper thighs. 

He entered the apartment and his mom chided him for not wearing a coat and he thought god don't women like to fuss, er older women. Monique wouldn't care if he wore nothing. Er maybe. There was not much he knew about her.

In the warm apartment the smell of cooking adding a little extra to the atmosphere. "Mom, dad... is it okay this year if we have our main Christmas Day meal around noon?"

"We have done so for the past five years. You father thinks he can eat more if he eats at midday and it works well for him also at Thanksgiving."

"Thanks."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you so anxious to have Christmas dinner at midday? For the past five years you did nothing but groan about it. Ohmigod you've found a woman mad enough to invite you home for Christmas dinner."

Willis shuffled.

"There I knew it. Charlie your son has found a woman who's taking an interest in him."

"What's the news about that?"

"They usually go out with him once and then dump him."

Charlie said slyly, "Perhaps this one is doing it the other way round."

Gloria looked puzzled.

"What?"

Gloria said it didn't matter so Charlie asked where was his dinner.

Gloria prodded away over dinner until Charlie said, "Will you shut up about this woman. The boy has said he knows virtually nothing about her and gave you her name. When he says he knows virtually nothing about her he means he knows fuck all. Now can I be any clearer than that?"

"No Charlie."

"Thank god for that. Christ how can you expect my food to digest when you go on and on like that?"

Silence fell until, "What kind of name is Monique Bolton-Rogers?"

"Gloria!"

"Sorry Charlie," she said demurely. "How was your day in the glory of retirement?"

He scowled. "Same as always. Boring."

Willis managed to conceal his grin. It was often like this at mealtime; one of the reasons he'd missed being at home when working his way round Australia.

Willis went to his room after helping his dad clear away and started packing away old books including old study books thinking he might as well get a few bucks for them. Other stuff he'd just dump. His mom was right, what kind of name was Monique Bolton-Rogers? One would think her parents had connections with dynasties or bred horses or dogs in England. For god sake, why couldn't people focus on normality?

At 11:30 he was ready to call it a day.

His phone went. Normally Willis would answer saying "Yeah?' but he'd punched in her number at the bar and therefore was forewarned the caller was Miss Bolton-Rogers.

An Australian greeting jumped to mind and he added a bit to it: "G'day, can't you sleep?"

She giggled, the sound dropping like musical notes. "Willis?"

"Yeah."

"I have been sprawled on my bed unable to sleep."

"What doing?"

"Willis!"

"Oh sorry. My mouth sometimes jumps ahead of my mind."

She now sounded prim. "I've been worried you might not wish to see me again."

"Who me?"

She hesitated. "Have you got someone there with you?"

"Of course not. Mom would skin me alive if I had a chick in my bedroom with the door closed."

"Well I wondered who else you thought I was addressing. Is the door closed?"

"Yeah and as I said there's no chick here. Besides I can't help but want to see you again."

"Oh why's that?

"I'm unlikely to get a better offer for Christmas dinner."

The notes of her laughter rang out musically again. She asked if he had a tuxedo and he said his dad's fitted him. 

"We dress formally for Christmas dinner. Please wear a tux. Oh Willis please don't chose one of those ties with flashing lights. Mother would not be amused.

Willis thought he should ask. "Why do you have a double name?"

"Bolton was mom's maiden name. Her father and grandfather made the family highly respect the family name and made dubious claims the Bolton name under different spellings went back to the eighth century and our lot was there at the start. Mom received a much more expensive wedding present from her parents than she might otherwise have received by deciding her married name would be Bolton-Rogers."

"Sounds wacky to me."

"And to me. Well Christmas Day is next week I could have been dead or in prison had it not..."

"Baby, please. I've got the message. I appreciate you are so grateful but I have no wish to be reminded of my gesture hourly or even weekly. You probably think romantically I did it out of a sense of gallantry whereas I thought if I didn't my mom would kick my ass."

"That's a lie."

"Well how about I thought under that chest with two nice looking lumps would beat a lovely heart of a girl her mom would want home for Christmas."

"Ohmigod, that's it. You wanted me home for Christmas. Ohmigod."

"Christ."

"Okay, okay. I'll get your mind on to something else Willis. "How's your dick."

"What?"

She giggled and cut the call. 

"I'll murder the bitch," Willis groaned.

Fifteen minutes later his phone went.

"I'm outside your apartment in mom's red BMW. Come to me. I need kisses."

"Okay, on my way."

Willis got into the car quickly. Although she was doubled parked no vehicles were approaching so he reached across and kissed her deeply. She pulled his hand on to her left breast and groaned. He reached down and unzipped and pulled his rapidly hardening cock above his briefs and grabbed her hand and pulled it down. 

But she resisted.

"No, no. Just kiss and play with my breasts."

Willis was really fired up and thought about shaking her to get her to see reason. How could she do this and not fuck?

The car's hazard lights were blinking and no traffic was moving in the all-residential street. If she cooperated he could easily pull her over on to his shaft, lifting her legs clear of the shift lever.

Monique pulled her tongue out of his mouth and pulled away.

She then pushed him by his chest toward the car door. 

"Go, go. I told mom I only wanted the car for half an hour and I have the drive back home."

"Jesus. Why didn't you give yourself time to kiss and then fuck?"

Monique said urgently, "That's why I fixed the time limit. I said I just wanted kisses. Now go, go."

Willis staggered out of the car all upset, his dick sticking out straight into the near-freezing night air. He gave the disappearing rear lights of the car a huge obscene gesture, swinging two fingers from his waist to shoulder height and in frustration screamed, "Fuck!" and staggered across the street into the lobby, stuffing his dick away. He figured it was probably as frustrated as he was.

They didn't communicate again until Christmas Day.

* * *

The doorbell rang and everyone looked at Willis. He was dressed semi-formally, as was everyone else.

"Er am I meant to get the door?"

"Yes," came the chorus. 

Everyone stood to get a better view of the mystery woman.

Willis opened the door and said "Jesus."

Those inside the room with good hearing heard a lovely voice say, "Actually it's Monique."

"Please come in Monique. You look yummy."

"Why thank you kind sir."

Into the room brushing past Willis came a vision dressed in a short Christmas green designer dress and a silk Christmas red bolero jacket.

"Ohmigod, you are so beautiful," Willis's sister Mira gaped and her boyfriend said "Jesus," producing a huge scowl from Mira.

The older people politely kept their spontaneous thoughts to themselves. 

Willis introduced Monique first to his mother and father, and cringed when his mom in her best white lace dress, purchased in a sale fourteen years ago, curtsied and said, "How lovely it is to meet you at long last Miss Bolton-Rogers." 

Then followed Gloria's sister Helene and husband Joe, Mrs Rankin from apartment 14 who had no one to asked her for a meal on Christmas day, Charlie's best friend and fellow liar, Salty Fellows and younger wife Angel who still made calls on men who lived alone for their $150 'donation' and Mira and her fiancé Jacob. He appeared more intent in getting a view down Monique's dress than greeting her.

Charlie asked Monique if she would prefer beer or gin. She asked, "Is there champagne?" and Charlie said he could mix her one-third beer and two-thirds gin and that might come close to looking like champagne.

Willis cringed.

Monique laughed and said, "I don't think so Charlie. Would anyone else prefer champagne?"

Everyone but Charlie said yes and Monique said, "Jacob, please get the six-pack of champagne just outside the door. My father brought it up for me should it be required."

Gloria said, "Hurry Jacob before someone steals it."

Christmas lunch at the Westwood's apartment that year really rocked. 

Yes the champagne got people going but Monique demonstrated she was an excellent party girl and began with a couple of foul but funny jokes that had some of the gathering rolling in laughter. She then dug into her carry-bag and pulled out a bunch of funny hats and she even managed to get Charlie wearing one. She dug into the bag again and pulled out a mouth organ, whistles, a clacker thing and in one final dive Monique pulled out a 30-button Anglo concertina 

Charlie went off and returned with his trusty two serving spoons and proved very adept at banging them together. Remembering she was the hostess and producing her almost-forgotten flute, Gloria said, "Let's be having carols." Both she and Monique exhibited fine voices and they began slowly with 'Silent Night'. 

Willis kept ducking away but rather than thinking he must have a weak bladder, Monique realized that he was now wearing an apron and really was the cook.

A real feast was served, starting with poached salmon on a bed of spinach, then Beef Wellington and roasted vegetables, followed by dessert. Everyone complimented Willis for the spread. He beamed and turned red in embarrassment when Monique announced a little drunkenly, "Monsieur Chef, you may put your shoes under my bed any time you wish."

"Let him have another helping of salted caramel cheesecake pudding first Monique," Charlie called and everyone howled in laughter.

Willis put Monique into a cab at 3:30 and she reminded him of the address and said 7:00 sharp. "We should have a sleep."

"You'll have to help your mom with dinner."

"No she's having in caterers."

"Oh."

Willis was getting the message that if her parents had in caterers and gave away half cases of French champagne then they must be quite well heeled.

"Would you like a kiss?"

She sniffed and said she'd like a whole lot more because it was Christmas but because he was so mean she guessed a kiss would do.

Willis kissed her and was grumpy because the cabbie was still laughing his head off after having heard Monique's loud declaration.

Bleary-eyed, Gloria woke her son at 6:40. "If you are going out to dinner you best get your skates on."

"Thanks," Willis said and looking at his watch yelled, "Shit" and dashed for the shower.

He returned to his bedroom to find his mom had laid out all his clothes. "I had the tuxedo dry-cleaned."

"Thanks mom."

"Don't rush, people are never early for their second big meal of the day."

Willis believed her and slowed down.

As the cab turned into West 85th and stopped outside an impressive dwelling Willis knew his secretive little bitch hadn't told him mommy and daddy were swimming in it and he felt uncomfortable now about showing up. He opened his mouth to say drive on when the door of the house opened and his secretive little bitch practically skipped down the steps, still wearing the same clothes she had on for lunch and without adding a tiara. At least that was something.


The Babe Unmasks



She opened the door and cried, "Come on, everyone is waiting because of you. Mind my lipstick."

Willis paid the cabbie and climbed out and let the offer of a kiss go.

"Are you grumpy?"

God the cheek of the kid. "How old are you?" he asked aggressively.

She replied sweetly, "Twenty-three. And you?"

"Old enough to be your father. Twenty-nine."

She giggled. "That's the same age as Ellen, silly." 

Fuck the unmasked rich kid giggled a lot. Was she on happy pills?"

They climbed the dozen steps and entered the lobby.

"Here," she said, pulling up her dress. "Touch my pussy. I'm not wearing panties. That might cheer you up."

She shaved. Well that was something. He'd picked up a woman lieutenant off a French warship in Perth, Western Australia, almost a year ago and his dick had actually become entangled in her mass of pubic hair; it hadn't been passion that had made her scream.

"May I push in a finger?"

"Oh I suppose so, it's Christmas. But don't suck your finger because you'll be kissing mom and her guests."

"Guests?"

"Yes we have thirty-two sitting down for dinner. We are with the younger people on the temporary table. Ouch how far are you going?"

At that unnecessary intervention Willis lost interest and sucked his finger. She groaned "Oh god" from watching that and dropped her skirt.

The mother came to the door of the dinning room to greet him.

"Mom this is Willis. I've told you about him. This is my mother Christine."

"Hi our hero," Christine said, kissing Willis on the mouth. She drew back dabbing at her mouth and eyeing Willis strangely.

He heard Monique sigh and whisper oh god and then, "Mom I'm sorry..."

"It's all right dear. It's Christmas. Mom was smiling again.

"Come with me naughty boy," she said, taking Willis by the arm. She giggled and whispered, "I've never tasted Monique before, never."

"Look I should go."

"You are staying right here young man. You are our star guest but Monique has told us to say nothing, absolutely nothing."

"Thank god."

Slim Christine, with a blonde rinse and the beneficiary of at least a couple of face jobs, smiled and squeezed his arm and began the introductions. 

A sea of faces passed before Willis including Monique's brother and two sisters and their spouses, the six-four and grossly overweight Sam with gray hair, who was Christine's husband/Monique's father, and a hot little number who appeared to x-ray Willis's cock judging by the attention she gave to his groin; she called herself Coco. 

With that done people began sitting when finding their nametag. Christine handed Willis a quarter-full skinny glass of champagne and picked up one for herself. "Taittinger, 'Comtes de Champagne' Blanc de Blancs, 1998."

"Oh very nice," Willis said, thinking the stuff they had at lunch tasted better than this. He wondered about a beer and eyeing Sam wondered how he and the wife got on at sex. He heard the choking noise beside him and Christine, redfaced, said, "You really shouldn't be asking how Sam and I get on having sex Willis. God you are awful. Well since you asked we find the best way is for me to bend over the dining-room table."

Quite appalled with himself, Willis nodded and said, "Very practical." Christ he hadn't just thought that; he'd queried out aloud.

Attempting to recover, he succeeded in digging a deeper hole. "You are so cute Christine, so frank with me."

"Well since you appear interested, when it's not a good time of month for Monique why don't you give me a call; perhaps we could arrange something?"

"Er good thinking," Willis said, wishing he could sink through the floor.

Willis sat the the head of the temporary table, looking right up to Sam at the top table. Sam waved a big mitt and Willis waved what he considered a puny mitt in comparison in return greeting. Monigue sat on his right and her sister Ellen on his left.

They chatted a lot about mostly nothing, sometimes the next two couples joining in. During a lull Ellen, who was twenty-nine and had two children, said, "All this sex you are getting is making you look radiant darling."

Willis decided against pretending she meant him. Actually Monique's reply could be interesting.

"Oh Ellen unfortunately for me I've been having my pussy reconfigured and have had successive lots of stitches in it for more than a month so no visitations."

"Oh you poor darling. So how do you account for your bloom?"

"Practically non-stop felattio including my surgeon and anesthetist." 

"God you little liar," Ellen giggled. "You had me going there for a moment."

Somebody wanted Ellen to share the joke but backed right off when she said, "No joke really. It's about missing periods."

CHAPTER 2

Sam recited Grace and dinner began with a choice of Alaskan King Crab Cocktail or Cedar Bay Oysters.

After that appetizer came Roasted Corn and Seafood Chowder or Seafood Gumbo or Spicy Chicken Soup.

Then followed the choice of Caesar Salad or Red and Yellow Beefsteak Tomato and Mozzarella Salad.

The choice of mains was Slow Roasted Rib-eye topped with Sautéed Mushrooms or Turkey with Oyster Sauce or Honey Baked Ham with Mixed Mustard Sauce.

With those went a huge variety of vegetables.

Later the choice was Orange Brunch Strata with Cranberries and Walnuts or Plain Yogurt or Apple Pie followed by nuts and cheese boards and coffee.

Between two of the courses Sam jerked his head at Willis towards the door leading to the bathroom so Willis followed orders, thinking no way would Christine have told her husband about the saucy conversations she'd had with Willis.

In the hall Sam slapped Willis on the back and hugged him, leaving him half-winded. "You did great boy pulling my baby out of that LA shit hole she'd dug for herself. I wanted to give you twenty-five grand but she said you wanted nothing. What is it to be young man?"

"I have accepted your thanks and given you the chance to make the offer in person but I must decline money. If we are paid for helping people in need what will happen to the spirit of being Good Samaritans?"

"Good words son and that's how I think. Then what about a great job?" 

"What kind of job?"

"Take this card and call me when you are ready to talk."

"Thank you sir."

"You call me Sam do you hear?"

"Yes sir," Willis grinned and Sam cuffed Willis over the ear and laughed.

Willis went back to the dining room, ear still ringing.

Waiting for mains Christine tried to get carols going but the response was pathetic and the move died after the first verse of 'Silent Night'.

By then Christine was swapping people around and after mains Willis was halfway up the table with Ellen on one side of him and her other sister Carolyn when Sam called, "My baby daughter Monique wishes to speak."

"Stand up please Willis so folk remember who you are. Thank you."

"Only mom and dad know a little bit of this story and now they will hear all of it."

Monique told of her ordeal of being without money and credit cards in LA airport.

People listened hushed and Ellen pulled Willis back against her quite substantial chest and placed her arms around him in clear view, presumably to show she was not up to dirty business.

People were turning to look at Willis and smile as Monique drew near the end of his story.

"I return the money to Willis a couple of days after returning home and he invited me out for a drink. For the umpteenth time I thanked him and he finally spluttered and asked would I please stop reminding him of my thanks hourly. He said I probably had the romantic notion he did what he did out of a sense of gallantry whereas he'd thought if he'd failed me his mom would have kicked his ass. I said bulldust and then he told me something I'll never forget. I believe I remember it verbatim. He said, well would I accept he'd thought under my chest with two nice looking lumps would beat a lovely heart of a girl her mom would want home for Christmas. I screamed, 'Ohmigod, that's it. You wanted me home for Christmas. Ohmigod. That's all except to say something appears to be developing between us, not consummated as yet. Thank you."

People clapped and shouted compliments like bravo and Ellen let Willis sit up straight and she and her sister kissed him while Christine had raced to Sam to be held while she cried and cried, body heaving.

Willis stood and motioned to Monique and she came running.

"Right folk it's Christmas and Monique and I are going to stand out here and sing carols and everyone is invited to step over and join us or stay at the table quietly drinking."

They harmonized rather well, beginning with 'Once in Royal David City". Christine broke from Sam's arms and came down to Monique and Willis singing and stood between them with her arms round them. Her best girlfriends were quick to follow and line up behind her. By the time they were halfway through the second carol there were only two unsociable types left at the table. Kitchen staff and waitresses gathered at the other end of the room and joined in.

When some people were leaving at 10:00, Willis decided to slip away as well. He said goodbye to Sam and Christine, enduring some very emotional hugging, and then went off and found Monique sitting out in the sunroom with her sisters.

"I'm off, thanks for the good evening ladies."

"Oh stay," Ellen said. "Grab a glass and join us."

"Thanks and that's kind of you but I think mom might like me in the apartment with them this Christmas night. I was away last year."

"I have a present for you," Monique said, jumping to her feet and giggled when Ellen giggled and said, "Oooh, can we watch?"

Monique opened the drawer of the sideboard and pulled out a package and handed it over while Willis reached for the present he'd arrive with and gave to Monique.

"Oh you shouldn't have," she said, lying.

He grinned, knowing what women were like over presents.

She watched while he tore off the paper of the very small package received and pulled out a credit card.

"What's this?"

"A platinum card. You need to sign it and go to the bank with ID and complete the transaction to access your new account."

"Account?"

Monique went close and whispered, "Yes I have opened a new account for you and deposited some money because I feel romance is brewing between us but the money is really my reward to you for saving me. I still have nightmares of the thought of being locked up with drunks, druggies and sex fiends. Now hush, this time I insist you allow me to be generous to you. My parents gave me $100,000 when I turned twenty-one and this is $10,000 of that original capital. If you don't wish to accept it, too bad. Either the state or federal authorities will eventually claim it if you leave it untouched."

"This is ridiculous."

She smiled and said she could be ridiculous at times.

He stamped his foot and she grinned and said, "Let me see what you have given me for Christmas."

It was two photo frames, not too fancy and gilded in gold.

"Ohmigod."

"I'm thinking of asking you to come away with me."

"Where to?" Monique asked looking rather pensive.

"Australia. Dad was stationed there and mom left it too late to come home to birth me so had me there. I have dual nationality."

"Australia?"

"Yeah it's down..."

"I know where it is you idiot. I'll have to get used to the idea before I decide."

"I accept that and you'll have at least a couple of months because I have to do some research before I return. I went and stayed with a guy who used to work alongside dad and he lives on this sheep station and says he'll have to quit eventually because it's not economic and his missus is teaching at a school to help make ends meet."

"Missus?"

"His wife."

"Oh of course. But how would you purchasing the place make it economic?"

"The neighbor's place is already up for sale but no one is buying. I purchase both properties and amalgamate them and employ this guy Ben as my station manager and he'll teach me the ropes."

"But don't you just feed sheep grass, ensure they have plenty of water and then hire some guys to drive them to market?"

"I said something like that to Ben and he was still laughing two days later."

"Oh. It's something like him saying to us his computer has gone down and does that mean the automated engineer inside has gone on vacation."

"Yeah and we could laugh for two days."

"I like the sound of Ben."

"Ben and Kate are the salt of the earth and we bonded. They have two sons, one an airline pilot in Europe and the other who's a recluse who does the maintenance work on a remote resort in the Fiji Islands. Neither boy is interested in returning to the land."

"Well you go to your mommy before she goes to sleep darling and I'll call in the morning."

"Darling?"

"Oh did I say that? It's only a name. Everyone uses it."

In bed that night Willis thought long and hard about Monique. God she'd taken her time to unmask herself. She was the daughter of wealthy parents whereas until arriving at the mansion today he'd thought of her as being virtually a street babe with a pretty face and lovely figure but nothing much else to take her through life by way of assets. Instead here was she giving him bucks, ten thousand of them. 

Jesus.

A couple of days later Monique and Willis were having dinner at a restaurant and she asked his straight out, "When are we going to have sex?"

"Soon."

"Well how long is soon?"

He squirmed thinking she'd already backed away from him once and said, "Christ Monique, I've only just met you. You don't want me ripping into you like a dog with a piece of meat do you?"

"Well that's me off sex for a while and I don't feel hungry."

"Um they haven't taken our orders. I'll pay for the drinks and we can go."

They didn't talk on the phone next day and that evening Willis went out with some of his former buddies, all but one now married. He was invited to a party to see in the New Year and was expected to bring some liquor and some food and a partner. He called Monique next morning and said nothing about not being in contact the previous day and she didn't mention it either but she sounded friendly, really warm in fact.

"We've been invited to a party to see in New Year's Eve."

"What by someone who knows us both?"

"No just some married couples I know. I was invited to bring grog and food and not to arrive without a partner."

"Oh how lovely. Sounds like a grown-up students' party."

"Yeah, I agree. It's likely one of the couples will invite us to stay over. Several couples live in the apartment block were the party is being hosted."

And the meaning of that is... you'll have to enlighten me."

"If that happens we'll be in the same bed and in that case I'd love to have sex with you."

"Oooh, can't wait. Please make sure it happens darling."

"Right um darling."

The day of the party had been nasty... bleak with near-freezing squalls. Late afternoon the wind eventually died and snow was expected later. Willis called Judd Stevens who was out but his wife Angela answered. Willis had known Angela almost as long as Judd whom he'd known since they were twelve.

"I'm glad you are reconnecting with us Will (most of his old buddies called him Will). I look forward to catching up tonight. Is there a message for Judd?"

"I wondered if there was any chance of a bed tonight for me and a pal."

"Is that one bed or two?"

"Um a girl pal. Um one bed."

"Will there's no need to be shy with me. You did it with me years ago, four times in fact."

"Did I? I can only remember once, oh perhaps twice."

"Guys are transient by nature as are their minds. I'm aware that couples who go to parties do it after the party, even those on their first date. Who is she?"

"Monique."

"Oh very good but Monique who?"

"Bolton-Rogers."

"How the hell did you latch on to her? And why of all females are your calling her a pal?"

"Oh we just met up. Do you know her?"

"Only from high school. He parents are mega-rich, especially her mom."

"I wouldn't know but they do live top shelf."

"Well I best tell the girls to dress up now that I know Monique will be there."

"I can tell her to dress down."

Angela laughed and said no, the girls liked a reason to dress up. "Oh you clever boy. I'll put you in the third bedroom that is smaller than the second one but is farther away from Judd and me. Then you two won't be kept awake by Judd screwing me half the night."

"Er thank you. That's being a real pal Angela."

"Yes and I really feel I am your pal. But Will, my childhood darling, if you are to have any hope of landing Monique never, never call her pal within her hearing. Being called pal by their guy would be about the number five big turnoff for a girl within the first week of meeting a guy."

"Oh really? What's number one?"

"Not having sex or having bad sex."

"But women are indifferent about having sex, especially at the beginning of a new relationship."

"Will darling. Have you any more delusions you'd like to discuss with me?"

Willis called Monique that he'd arranged for them to sleepover in the party block.

"Oh great, that makes me really excited. You'll need to pack condoms."

"I thought we were going to a party."

She gave the village idiot the benefit of doubt and laughed. "Oh what should I wear?"

Willis scratched his neck and mumbled, "Angela mentioned something about dressing up."

"Oh Willis thanks. That's one of the most useful things you've ever said to me."

"Monique?"

"Yes darling."

"Um, do you like sex?" he blurted.

"Now why would you need to know that?" she giggled and cut the call after saying to call for her at 9:30.

Willis slid his phone shut. God he'd steeled himself to ask that question and failed to get a real answer. What was the use talking to women? And not leaving for the party till 9:30... god it would be half over by the time they arrived.

Willis left the apartment and for once his mom hadn't had to nag at him to wear his coat. He also wore his ski hat and went out into the snow. Why the fuck couldn't his parents live alongside a mall on Long Island? Er right alongside it, in the car lot?

He went to the nearby deli and picked out some of his parent's favorite snacking food. He'd already purchased a bottle of their special occasion red wine. It didn't seem proper to leave his parents seeing in the New Year in front of TV without him while he was rolling around drunk and looking for a bit of skirt to screw, er preparing to take Monique to bed. Monique was no longer thanking him every hour for saving her. No, instead of that his mom was asking every hour how was Monique and did he think she was the marrying kind. 

Jesus.

"Molly please box this stuff expensively with this wine and before I you ask no it's not for..."

"I know who it's for jug head. Guilty young people have been in all day getting us to box midnight feasts for the parents they'll abandon."

Willis was amazed by that. "How is it you women of thirty-plus..."

"Try your age twenty-seven darling."

"How is it women can see through younger people?"

"Because darling although young men and even young women these days wear masks and lie to older folk they don't realize how transparent they are."

"Jesus Molly you should be lecturing at university."

"And what's a university darling?" Molly mocked.

Willis took the change and handed back a twenty. "You and your husband have a New Year's Eve drink on me Molly."

"Oh darling, thanks. Irish whisky is what we'll be having. You have a lovely heart and some wee darling will be amazed at what she's ended up with after landing you. Give my love for this night to Gloria and her Charlie."

Willis thought was he out of his mind wishing for a mall. No way would one get personalized service to the nth like that in a mall. Providing one had the time it made shopping a real experience. His mom adored coming to Kitty's Deli and had done so when he was a kid and Molly's legendary late mother Kitty ran the outfit. He remembered Miss Kitty always had time to look at him and ask 'And how is the wee fella?' She'd hold out a sweet and not hand it over until she received a big smile and words of thanks. God and here was he thinking seriously about going into a part of Australia that would make parts of Utah appear over populated. Yes Miss Kitty the wee fella needs a new main drive for his head.




The Babe Unmasks



Arriving at 9:20 Willis could see when Monique opened the door she'd been crying. She draped her arms around him slowing, kissed him briefly and then whispered into his ear, "Bad timing. Sorry. I told mom and dad an hour ago that I might be going to Australia to live. It's been hell."

"Well I guess no time would be the right time to deliver them that news. So you are coming with me?"

"I don't wish to leave NYC but where you go I think I should go."

"Think?"

"I did ask for time Willis; it's a life altering decision."

"Of course. Take as long as you need. Where are they?"

"Waiting for you."

"Shit."

"Be strong darling. Both are used to manipulating people."

"Well I've been trained to counter that by professionals?"

"What at university."

"No at home. You've met my parents."

Monique managed a weak grin. She closed the door and led him to the lounge by the hand, squeezing it to pump maximum life into him.

"Mom, dad. You'll remember Willis?" Monique said dully. I'm off to finish getting ready."

"Oh yes I remember Willis but unfortunately the association is about to end," her mother said.

"Evening Christine, Sam. Where does one get a wine round here?"

"Now look here young man..." Sam began but Christine snapped, "Get him his drink Sam. Remember your manners."

Sam went to the sideboard to pour and Willis looked at Christine's evening dress and said, "I trust Monique's little piece of news hasn't taking the edge off the night you'll be having out?"

"Shut up."

"Talk to me civilly Christine or else don't speak me."

Sam strode over with the wine and said, "Now look here young man..." and was told by his wife to shut up.

Willis took the glass of red wine and said thanks. "Look I know you're upset but let's dispense with the Dodge City theatrics. Did Monique tell you at this stage I'm only considering a proposal I need to research and that she'd not made up her mind about accompany me?"

"Yes but..."

"Christine, at this stage it's simply a proposal and not the end of the world. Focus and pull out your business brain."

"How dare you."

"Look pal..."

Christine glared at Stan and snapped, "Shut up."

"Look ease off both of you. Use your business brain because that is not clouded with emotion, as is the domestic way you think. Monique and I are adults and are entitled to do anything we want without your consent. So that's the stake in the ground in this for you. At present I don't know which way Monique will jump because she doesn't know herself and being an intelligent young woman I would think she'd going nowhere until she'd in the position to make a proper valued assessment."

Christine looked at Sam and she shrugged.

Sam said, "We apologize for becoming over emotional and will apologize to Monique. This whole thing has screwed us up. She even denied you two have had sex, not that that's our business."

"We haven't."

"What?" Christine said incredulously.

"Can't you see? I wanted her to be sure. I've worked her up a bit to see if she were ready to commit but I sensed she was a little too over eager. I decided I would avoid a relationship until I was certain she was not beholden to me."

Christine said, "Ohmigod. I can't think of any other male who'd think like that."

Sam cleared his throat. "I'd offered you some sort of job and gave you my card, asking you to call me when you were ready. What would it take to persuade you to stay here?"

"Nothing if Monique finishes with me due to the pressure she's getting from you two and okay, I accept you have your positions. The thing is I know deep down she's not the person to put on a ranch or station as they call their huge farms out in the wops. At present I remain flexible."

"I repeat, what would it take to keep you here so Monique stays here?"

"Well if she wants me for better or worse buy us a business, a computer servicing business with contracts with schools and institutions for work too complex for the resident computer guys. Monique could take over the admin side." 

Christine said then he didn't mean selling computers.

"No everyone else is doing that. Both Christine and I have studied how to keep computers ticking over and how to extend their usefulness. She could complete her degree online."

"What if she doesn't want this?"

"Then it doesn't happen Sam. I have not discussed such a concept with her but I imagine like me she'd like the thought of paying back your investment so we end up owning the business."

"Okay," Sam said as Monique entered the room looking well patched up. 

She said, "It's quiet in here now so I thought it was safe to enter."

"Christine and Sam could you please excuse us?" Willis said. "My date is ready and we're behind schedule."

"Yes of course" Sam said and Christine stood and kissed her daughter and said, "We are making promising progress dear. Now you are not to worry; go out and really enjoy yourself."

"It's likely I won't be home before noon tomorrow."

"That's fine. I know you are in safe hands."

"Have a good evening to end the year," Sam said gruffly. "At least the New Year is looking a little brighter now."

Monique kissed him and stroking his cheek said, "Daddy whatever happens I'll remain your daughter."

Sam blew his nose.

In the cab before telling Monique about the discussion, Willis said: "I imagine that big guy half-terrorizes people on his payroll and yet at home he's on a leash and shows he has heart. How many people does he employ?"

"All up including partnership companies I believe the workforce tops three thousand."

"Jesus."

"It's a combination of his drive and vision and mom's money, capitalism and support. She's great at making the hard decisions. She sits on seven of their boards and chairs four of them."

"Wow. And here was I thinking she was a wallflower."

Monique pressed his hand and said, "I bet."

CHAPTER 3

As Willis closed the bedroom door Monique said, "I really like Angela and Judd is quite okay. I only just remember her. You have really nice friends... they seem to care for one another as a group."

"Yeah well people without excessive money tend to do that but some of them are cruising along very comfortably now, meaning the ones not home with babies so two salaries are coming in."

"What is your attitude about babies?"

"I like them."

Monique sighed. "You better hurry up. I'm almost asleep. Listen to all those sirens."

"You can't have citywide revelry without mayhem," Willis said, standing behind Monique to unzip the back of her dress. He kissed between her shoulders and said she had a wonderful body.

She pulled up a hand behind her to stroke his thick hair. "Yes you dirty man. You forced me into a leg show only the second time we met."

"Forced?"

"The way you asked and what you asked me to do: God it was so outrageous I was prepared to walk on water for you. Dad has that way with people. You appear to have it as well."

"What, your dad asks all his female personnel for a panty flash?"

"God you can be such an idiot at times. But I love you."

"Hey let's not get too carried away."

"Let's have sex Willis. I've been waiting too long. I'm leaking through my panties. If you don't grab me now I'm going through to Judd."

"Oh you wicked woman. You obviously don't feel beholden to me. You're just a beautifully little slut."

"Please Willis," Monique groaned, so he grabbed her.

As Willis' tongue licked over Monique's shaved pussy she released a huge sigh that almost rattled the permanently sealed windows. Of course that was not possible but she almost heard windows rattling and was almost pulling out a handful of Willis' hair by the roots. She eased back.

Willis pushed and pushed Monique's legs apart until she felt she was doing the splits but she'd quickly got used to the feeling once she relaxed. God no guy had stretched her like that before.

Minutes later she was almost bellowing that no guy had stretched her quite like that but finally it was in. She'd had her hand around it for a couple of moments before Willis had told her to feed it in and only then had really appreciated what to expect. She knew of course she was built to take even a horse with ease... oh those damn adult websites, they could get a girl into trouble with that knowledge because guys tended to think those disgusting sites were for male-only viewing. 

Monique was so sexed up she climaxed way too soon but squeezed Willis' balls and urged and urged him to come and he did. They fell asleep still connected, at least initially.

Monique awoke what she believed was four or perhaps five hours later and returned back from the bathroom without waking the slumbering ox. The thought of having more sex was a little too much for her; her head was killing her.

Monique thought she faced a no brainer decision. Staying in New York and operating their own business would suit her perfectly. She sighed, thinking in her mind she'd committed to Willis although she hadn't been allowed to verbalize it. Even before they had sex she'd said she'd loved him he'd practically jumped down her throat. Well guys get twitchy when there's soft talk and he would still be suspicious she was beholden to him despite any claim he made to the contrary. He couldn't help but think like that. Yes she'd go where he wished to go. Her father was still quite capable of half-wrecking the present concept by insisting their company service his smaller companies. She doubted Willis would want to be tied in like that. Perhaps it would be better if they did slip away?

Oh crap. What did everything have to be so damn difficult?

Monique awoke again after dawn with Angela slipping in beside her.

"I'm here on the chance of group sex."

They giggled and hugged and pushing back Monique's hair Angela whispered, "I hope you don't mind me saying this. He and I had sex a few times when we were nineteen. We'd known each other for years so I guess it was inevitable. I took him that summer to stay with my aunt and uncle at their apple orchard. I knew I'd get the chance to get the pants off him there."

"Who's he?"

"Willis you idiot."

They giggled.

Monique said, "If you want sex it will have to be with a strap-on. Like most guys our two guys drank more than they should have last night."

They giggled and Angela said she gave up female sex when leaving college and Monique said she did too.

"Do you want to come with me to my gym and swim some lengths."

"Will it be open?"

"Yes, it's only closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and Good Friday I think. As you know New York never sleeps. Swimming is okay but I can't face a workout. I can get you in on a 'Try Out' pass."

"Okay, let's go. We'll leave a note for the guys. Guys can read can't they?"

Angela thought that was hilarious.

Although they'd changed into bikinis, Angela lending Monique a real racy one, they sat poolside eating bagels and drinking fresh orange juice.

"God it's so beautiful doing this with a woman," Angela said. "Women are so civilized. My primate would already have me in the pool racing my nuts off."

"Your nuts?"

Angela said triumphantly, "That's why I don't have any. He's raced them off me."

Wiping her eyes Monique said, "God you are funny. What do you have on tomorrow?"

"Nothing. We both have the rest of the week off work. Judd will probably go to a bar because it's the first day of the New Year and then to a movie or game arcade."

Monique said they could go shopping."

"Oooh I'd love that. Two young blondes out shopping: watch out NYC."

"Darling ten thousands young blonde pairs will be out shopping."

"Oh there goes my romantic illusion."

* * *

Willis awoke and groaned and cheered up when he thought he'd be expected to return to hearty plowing. He reached out and felt nothing and opened his eyes and checking his watch saw it was 10:15. Where had the day gone? Ha a joke, he knew it was morning.

He went out of the bedroom scratching and met Judd coming his way, scratching.

"Are the babes getting our breakfast?"

"Nah," Judd said, hitching up his briefs. "The note says gone swimming."

"They'll be cold."

"Indoors and heated at her gym your dumb head."

"Oh yeah. I take it you mean Angela's gym. Monique gym will be on campus in LA."

Judd yawned and asked did Willis have to make it complicated. It didn't matter whose gym it was.

"You're scratchy. Didn't you get it last night?"

"I got too much. She kept me at it till she fell asleep riding me cowgirl. Have you fucked Angela?"

"Last time about eight years ago when you were thumping Helen Partridge."

"Oh yeah. I'd forgotten about her. Unfortunately gone to fat now. She married and has four little kids."

"Having kids appears to knock the shit out of women. Yeah I know what you mean about Angela being a go-until-she-drops babe. She's probably like that with housework as well."

"Yeah, She's a great babe. Wanna go to a game of ice hockey?"

"Yeah why not. Nothing doing around here."

"Bruce said to meet at noon for a few beers."

Willis yawned and scratched his nuts. "Christ I'd die if I had another beer."

"I feel that way as well. But as soon as we see Bruce and Duncan drinking we'll forget about never drinking again."

"That will be true Judd."

The young women arrived home to an empty apartment with the beds in a mess and toast crumbs all over the kitchen bench and on the floor and the milk left out of the fridge. Honey and jam were smeared over cabinet door handles.

"Oh here's a note."

"It will say they've gone out to buy us presents," Monique said.

"Yeah right. It says 'Gone hockie', hockey spelt with an i-e. Did either of those guys have an education?"

They laughed, taking off their shoes to rub their feet.

* * *

Willis took a call.

"Good early afternoon it's Christine. Is it okay to talk?"

"Yes. I'm in a bar preparing to go to watch ice hockey with three pals from last night. It's a junior game and one of the guy's kid brothers is playing. Monique went shopping with one of the girls but if you call her you'll get her."

"I want to talk to you privately."

"Just a minute, I'll walk away from people. Okay, shoot."

"I want you to promise me you won't go to Australia."

"Then it's up to you and Sam to make us a deal we can't refuse."

"That's blackmail."

Willis sighed. "That's bullshit Christine and you know it. All we require is a well-founded business deal. Buy a business for us and enter an arrangement with us that allows us to gradually buy down your stockholding."

"In effect that's us providing loan capital for you to gradually pay us back and you don't pay us a six-monthly return on capital."

"Who said we wouldn't? That's just your assumption. You and Sam fix the rate of annual return you require and we'll meet it."

"That will take you so much longer to acquire our stock."

"Then don't impose a heavy return or even don't impose one. Remember you objective is to keep your daughter in New York."

"You call that business negotiation?"

"I do and if it gets up your nose walk away from it. It's going to be such a fucking fuss going to Australia I might be better off looking for an alternative to your backing and stay here."

"Don't use the foul language to me."

"You don't have to listen; cut the call."

"God you are tougher than Sam, much tougher I should think. Look, just be reasonable and speak to me pleasantly and don't..."

"Fuck off Christine." 

Willis cut the call and grinned, waiting for her to call back.

His phone rang.

"This better be good Christine."

"Look I apologize for pressuring you so will ease back a little. What say I make up to $10 million available? You find the business that suits both of you and apply to me for the money required."

"Jesus."

"Oh so I'm considered to be okay now?"

"The truth is I took to you from the time I met you on Christmas Day and you know you would have tried to roll me had I not showed resistance."

"You are too clever for words. You knew I'd hang out for my daughter."

"Of course. Monique benefits as well as me through any deal done with you. What I get out of it is the price you pay for ensuring I don't take off with Monique following me. Monique and I will set up a company and appoint you company secretary so you can keep an eye in things. How does that sound?"

"All right for now," Christine said, sounding not too unhappy. "We'll talk terms when we have a proposal or more than one proposal in front of us. I'll also have to sell a property for liquidity to advance that cash so I lose income."

"Just keep telling yourself it's the price you have to pay. I mention this as a possibility but the company could have paid most if not all of that capital back to you by the end of five years or even sooner if we pick up an ailing company and turn it around. That's the sort of thing Monique and I have been educated to do and will be eager to take tentative steps at doing that."

"Well perhaps elephants can fly. Who knows? I have one request to make."

"Oh yes."

"I want you to complete an MBA."

"I can run our company without the need to acquire MBA ranking."

"Within the next ten years I'll step down as chairman of our group of companies and be replaced by Sam. You will be Sam's replacement if you have displayed a proven track record and come aboard as Sam's deputy a year before he retires."

"You are kidding Christine. You have a son and three daughters."

"None has that required edge that you appear to have Willis. You think and talk like a business-minded person and you have already shown you have grit and tactical vision. You knew when you cut me off I'd call back immediately and whine."

"Nah I had no idea."

"You are a fucking liar," Willis. "Keep my reason for getting an MBA to yourself please. There is no reason for even Monique to know at this stage."

"Heartless bitch."

"Now isn't that a laugh. I thought you'd say those exact words but I under-estimated you because I thought you'd say heartless bitch under your breath. Come to dinner tonight. I want Sam to become used to seeing you around. Did you and Monique... um?"

"Yes, wink-wink. She will be keener than ever on me now I reckon."

"God men and their ego," Christine sighed. "Bye." 

Willis rejoined his pals. "That was Monique's mom. She's worried I might attempt to take Monique with me to Australia."

"Will you?"

"Don't know Bruce. That's what the talking was about. I told the mom to make me a deal I couldn't refuse."

Bruce laughed. "We'll don't get too greedy otherwise the bitch might decide it's cheaper to have you assassinated."

Willis choked over his beer, causing the other three guys to howl in laughter.

A little later Monique called. "Are you really at hockey?"

"Yeah, over in New Jersey. Bruce's kid brother who's already bigger than Bruce is playing and he has the look of a champion."

"I was disappointed when you weren't home when we arrived back."

"Oh really? Sorry about that. You go home when you're ready and I'll see you this evening. You mom invited me."

"Why did mom call you?"

"To invited me to dinner."

"Oh of course."

"I'd like to see your shopping when I arrive."

"Would you really?"

"Yes of course. Monique I'm really interested in you even to the point of what you buy for yourself."

"Ohmigod, I never thought of you taking that level of interest. We could have a quickie in my bedroom before dinner. Mom and dad would never know."

"You do scream a lot Monique."

"Oh god do I?"

"Nah, just kidding. The only noise you make is kicking through the wall when you're climaxing."

"God Willis Westwood. Tease me like that and I'll have one of your balls out for breakfast."

"Fuck Monique. Don't say that, not even as a joke. It scares the crap out of me."




The Babe Unmasks



He sounded so serious Monique had no alternative but to believe him. "I'm sorry Willis, truly."

* * *

Monique greeted Willis with a big kiss and a huge body press. "Dad's still at golf, mom is in the kitchen. I'll be in my room."

As Willis neared the kitchen Monique called, "Say hi to mom in the kitchen Willis and then come and hang out in my bedroom. Go left at the top of the stairs and it's the second bedroom down that hallway. Mom and dad's bedroom and lounge are in the other direction."

Cunning bitch, Willis grinned. She'd shouted so her mom would know where he was going when he left the kitchen.

He walked into the kitchen and complimented the chef on the great aromas.

Christine said hi brightly and turned up her face to him and Willis brushed some flour off her cheek and she then kissed him fast and quite unexpectedly. Their teeth hit.

"Oh if you like kissing with an open mouth that's fine by me."

Willis didn't know what to say but suddenly thought she'd rigged that to happen.

"Um, sorry bad miss. Let's try again. He kissed with his lips firmly closed and felt her open mouth settle over his lips. He was almost surprised she hadn't grabbed his dick. He asked about her day and she said one word for it was boring; she'd been by herself for most of it. 

"Ah there's Sam now. I'll have to listen to his trials and tribulations over a drink. Why don't you go and find Monique. Another kiss please."

This time her tongue forced its way into his mouth.

Jesus.

Monique locked the door and after kissing him with an acceptable open mouth she said, "Here, drop your trousers and put some of this lube on and then fuck me doggie. I love the slapping sounds lube makes."

"Oh I thought you wanted it up your butt."

"God no. Not unless we marry. I want something new left for the honeymoon."

"Are we to marry?"

Monique said carefully "I haven't heard any talk about it."

Absolutely straight-face Willis said he hadn't either.

Monique, appearing embarrassed as if inadvertently mentioning marriage, said cutely, "Come on, get it in but there's not rush. Dad will whine about his game over a wine and he'll go to his dressing room to change. He won't come to see us and if mom comes and sees the door shut she'll just walk away because she is trained to do that."

"Have you been fucked many times in this room?"

"A few times. She caught me at it once."

"That would have made you gush."

"How the hell did you know that?"

"Same thing happened once to a girl I was with but her mom wanted to join us."

"Oh how embarrassing."

"The daughter wanted it to happen but I was too shy."

"Oh my poor darling. Were you only eighteen or even younger?"

"No nineteen."

"Yes I suppose that's a bit young to become a mother fucker. Mom could be interested. Should I ask?"

"Jesus Monique."

"Sorry, just teasing."

Soon Willis was feeling tremendously horny. Not only was the slap, splat of his groin against Monique's butt being amplified erotically but the increased suction in her cunt felt almost as if a layer of skin was being sucked off his dick although there was no sense of pain. He loved it and slowed down to allow the eroticism to last longer. He grabbed a swinging tit and she purred, "Oooh that's what I like; squeeze hard."

They both climaxed, not even in a sweat, but showered, together.

Both cherry-faced, they entered the kitchen. Looking at her now doe-eyed daughter Christine laughed and said, "God what have you two been doing?"

Willis said guiltily "Nothing" while Monique said, "He's a big liar mom; we were fucking." He was saved further embarrassment with Christine asking him to pour wine.

Sam arrived and said to pour him one too. "Bring yours out Willis; I want to talk to you."

Oh a complaint from Christine that the visitor won't open-mouth kiss her? Willis snorted to himself not to even think about it.

"Christine said you have attempted to broker a deal with her, loaded very much your way, as a way to keep you from returning to Australia and luring Monique with you."

"Something like that."

Sam eyed him. "She also said you talked like a businessman."

That comment made Willis take the conversation seriously.

"She said you want to buy a computer software servicing business plus add-ons like website design and development I guess."

"It's the area that interests me."

"Well amidst a recession it's a foolhardy time to buy a computer-based company. Not only are the sellers sharks bent on ripping off a buyer but revenues will be down because of the slower business economy."

"I realize that."

"Look I'm not attacking you. Do you want my help or not."

"Oh yeah Sam. Shoot."

"We have something that may be just right for you, a company in need of turning round and bringing back into profit. It's a victim of poor management rather than the state of the economy although it is being pinched."

"What kind of company?"

"Earthmoving rentals."

"That's not my specialty; I'm into computers."

"Can you operate a digger?"

"Actually yes, a bit. I worked on a ranch draining contract during my first summer at college, chasing the big money by working long hours."

Sam grinned. "Then you have far more experience than I expected."

Willis relaxed.

"The operations center is in New Jersey with a branch in Manhattan and another on Long Island. You'd have managers to drive the hires from the depots and deal with all problems. Your job would be inside with the admin team and rebuilding structure and hiring and firing principals and building good systems to get that bottom line looking healthy again. The outfit is in such a fucking mess we'd be crazy to quit it right now. You can appoint Monique as your assistant if that's what you want."

"Why are you doing this, um making this offer?"

"Christ I was told your were so awesome you almost blew Christine away. She's at me to throw you a challenge to keep you here in New York."

"Oh yes of course. Take me out tomorrow to look over the outfit so I can decide."

"I run the corporation. My operations manager will assign someone to act as your tour-guide and consultant."

"Oh yeah, of course. It sounds like something we could get our teeth into Sam. While doing that if I find a computer business..."

"We already have one that I'd like to see having fewer chiefs and more Indians and expanded. Christine wasn't aware it existed because it's a company within an investment group. Do well with earthmoving rentals and I'll probably let you loose on the computer company, er both of you if you are still together by then. Let's see how you go first. That computer company is too valuable to place in the hands of a rookie. Do you play golf?"

"Poorly. I only play when I have nothing else to do. I'm on a sixteen."

"My handicap is twenty-two."

"Oh shit, when I said poorly it was no reflection on your ability."

Sam laughed and said it was unnecessary for Willis to suck up to him.

Willis cringed but once again was saved by Christine who came in and said, "Are you guys ready to eat or should I hold dinner?"

"No we are done here. Willis is interested enough to take a look."

"It sounds promising Christine," Willis said, sucking up.

She beamed. "Sam played to the equivalent of a 15 handicap today so was in a great mood when he arrived home and he agreed to think of an alternative to us buying a computer company for you. I told him I thought it would be a bad time to buy a servicing company."

Sam was studying Willis impassively but grinned when Willis winked at him.

Helping Willis get into his coat Monique moaned, "But we are into computers not diggers. You ought to have held out."

"If your are going to moan I'm heading back to Australia, alone," Willis grinned, tickling her under her chin. He looked down and saw the swell of tit flesh and licked his lips.

"You can forget about getting hold of those again Willis Westwood until you head us back into the computer business."

"You come with me tomorrow so you know what we are talking about."

"Okay. I really didn't mean to moan and I ought to tell you I was not keen about the Australian wops."

"It never occurred to me you would be. But I have to take a stand somewhere to develop my future. Right?"

"Yes right. You can play with them if you like."

"Nah, I'm tired after last night and am off to me bed. You're a great fuck Monique."

"Oh my Prince Charming."

They settled into a long kiss, keeping the cab waiting.

* * *

A guy called Jerry Pike, manager of internal audit, took them on tour from 10:00 till 3:30. It started a little badly when driving to the Manhattan depot Willis suggested stopping for coffee.

Jerry stiffened and said he thought they were on a high-powered fact-finding mission.

"We still need coffee," Willis insisted.

Jerry found a place with parking.

"Come on Jerry, don't sit there and sulk," Willis said. "Sam wouldn't like it to learn you were unfriendly and uncooperative.

Walking into the premises Monique took Jerry's arm and pressed against him, not that he'd feel warm flesh between their thick coats. She sighed thinking doing that would make her a valued assistant to Willis.

Jerry asked why was Willis so brusque.

"He's on vacation and finding it difficult thinking about returning to work."

"He's way too young to take over this business."

"Dad feels he's a genius."

"No kidding," Jerry said. "He seems so disinterested."

They sat and a young waitress skidded over and took the order.

"Jerry exactly what is wrong with this business. Now no bullshit, understand."

"Huh," Jerry said, eyeing Willis with new respect. "Into the heart of the matter eh?

"Is there any other place to begin real-time assessment?"

"Huh? Er no."

For the remainder of the day Jerry remained devotedly at Willis's elbow making Monique feel somewhat neglected. So over lunch she decided to make Jerry pay for that and asked, "How do you manage your sex life with your onerous business responsibilities Jerry."

Jerry boggled.

"Monique knows about the juxtaposition between helping to drive a business and responsibilities to pleasing the little lady or a whole group of ladies Jerry. She wants a frank discussion."

"Really?" said Jerry.

What followed fascinated Monique. The dirty little creep had a wife and a girlfriend who claimed she wasn't getting enough sex from her husband.. God Monique hadn't thought lunch with Jerry would have been capable of holding her interest.

"What is it like having sex with two different women?" she asked.

Jerry who possibly looked more like a lay preacher than a top business executive adjusted his glasses and looked at Willis.

"She is expecting you to be full and frank Jerry otherwise she'd not asked such a specific question."

Jerry cleared his throat and then launched into his experience of long-term comparative sex.

As they left the restaurant Jerry said, "Now where were we?"

"We only have head office over in New Jersey and that branch operation to do," Willis said helpfully.

If Jerry thought Willis was not up to it then he would have changed his mind at HQ. After a fifteen-minute discussion with the CEO Willis thanked him and said they'd just have a look round and talk to some people."

"Not without me you won't," said the CEO.

"Oh Mr Nash please," Jerry said. "Mr Westwood has Mr Roger's authority to make a full and independent assessment."

"Not on my territory Jerry. He and Miss Bolton-Rogers go nowhere without me."

"Mr Nash please."

"No."

"Mr Nash," Willis smiled. "If you obstruct my mission I could physically disable you but Mrs Nash might not approve of that. Instead please allow me to call Sam over to deal with you."

The CEO backed down as soon as Willis pulled out his phone. "I'll be here if you want me."

Later as they headed to the Lincoln tunnel Willis said, "Jerry if I were you I'd talk to Sam about sending your irritable Mr Nash away for a couple of days and you move in with a team and do a thorough investigation. After seeing a look in his eyes I'd only describe as alarm when we arrived unannounced, and you stated what we were about, I reckon he could be involved in ripping off that company."

"But he's been there eighteen years and..."

"He's nearing retirement age Jerry. What a prime time to be naughty to set up some extra retirement cash."

"Well I'll do as you suggest."

"Good man. Leave it to Sam to make the decision. Say I rocked you by suggesting it and then if it goes wrong I'll be blamed."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. And think who'll get praised if a serial thief is unmasked?"

Willis got Jerry to drop them off at Sam's home. Christine was out. Upstairs when Willis was slapping the lube on his dick and the top of Monique's thighs, she asked, "Do you want to have anal?"

"No leave it for the guy who marries you."

"Oh... then who will that be?"

Nice try, Willis thought. "The guy's whose marriage proposal you accept I would think."

"Oh."

"Jerry was okay after he warmed up."

"Very informative actually. God and during lunch he saying he liked sex with the girlfriend best because his wife wasn't into anal."

"Ah so that's what gave you the idea just now. Hold on, here we go... into pussy."

"Aw."

They were in the dayroom having coffee when Christine arrived, looking very prim in a business suit.

"I had a board committee meeting. Go up to Monique's room... I won't mind."

"No thanks Christine. I've decided to only do it at weekends," Willis said, holding a straight face. He could hear Monique trying to hold back giggling.

"Oh Willis, do you think that is fair to Monique?"

Sam checked in and when told Willis was there asked Christine to tell him to stay to talk.

Willis said fine when Christine asked if he could stay. "Suggest Sam comes home early and we'll meet my folk at our local bar for a drink. You guys should meet them. They have met Monique and really like her. They are just ordinary folk, a little older than you guys."

That was arranged.

Sam listened to Monique and Willis report their impressions.

"Neither of you mentioned suspicions about Greg Nash."

"I wanted to give Jerry time to get to you about it."

"Well he has and has been asked to lead the investigation. He can't believe Greg would stoop to do such a thing and I said the majority of crooks start off being straight. What did you guys think of Jerry?"

"He's very thorough and committed, perhaps a little bit too uptight," Monique said thoughtfully. "Oh polite as well."

Willis said someone should work on Jerry to beef up his skills in dealing with people and also to coach him how to behave when the going got tough. "Otherwise I thought he excelled."

"Those are useful comments guys and I do have a concern he buckles a bit when confronted, giving the impression he wants to go away and hide. I'll do something about that because he's a key member of my executive. He has a keen eye for spotting discrepancies in figures and can identify problem areas in a business from just studying performance figures? 

CHAPTER 4

Gloria came back from the phone. "That was the phantom, your son who is scarcely here for meals these days."

"Well if you had a babe with a body like Monique's you'd be waiting around for the next time she felt like dropping her panties."

"That's disgusting and anyway you know I've never touched a female in that manner."

"How do I know?"

"Because I've mentioned it, more than once."

"Right so he's not coming home for dinner?"

"He called saying he'd meet us this evening down at the bar, usual time. He'll be accompanied by Monique and her parents and said we could go on with them to dinner if we'd like to do that."

"It's our best night of the week on TV."

"I know and I haven't had time to get my hair done so I said no thanks."

"What will be talk about over drinks?"

"I don't know Charlie. Perhaps you could tell us about those days when you used to get those dirty hands of yours on to plump girls at the plant when you were assistant manager."

"Who told you that?"

"You did, again and again and again."

"All right, no need to nag."

Gloria said he wouldn't need to talk. He could sit quietly and stare at Mrs Bolton-Roger's breasts."

"No Monique's."

"God you filthy old man."

Charlie grinned in pleasure.

Seated at a table, Charlie said, "Here they come. God the mother has bigger boobs."

"Charlie Westwood. Please behave. Stand and smile please."

"What for?"

"Stand Charlie or I'll hit you over the head with your beer bottle."

Charlie stood and smiled. He managed to look at faces rather than tits.

Willis completed the introductions and Charlie said quietly to Christine. "Um handshake or kiss?"

"Kiss me on the cheek Charlie or open mouthed if you wish to be intimate with me."

She's said that so softly that Charlie hoped no one else had heard but then his hearing wasn't all that good. But then he saw Monique looking at them, hand over her mouth and giggling. Oh Christ.

He kissed Monique on the cheek, delicately and she said very sweetly, "That was very lovely Charlie."

"My pleasure young lady. That top really suits you, being so tight."

"Charlie!"

"Yes dear." Receiving that rebuke from Gloria, Charlie decided to cancel out that by waving to a waitress only to find big Sam was already on to that.

"I'll fix the orders Charlie.

God Sam was trying to run the show.

"Willis opened a tab as we came in," Sam smiled. "Willis tells me you were chief supervisor overseeing a team of two supervisors and fifteen mechanics and support staff over in New Jersey when you retired."

"Yeah, working mainly on forklifts and a couple of cranes for heavier lifts."

"Do you know anything about small earthmoving equipment."

"Like that used domestically and on tight sites?"

"Yes exactly."

"I've done time on most wheel and track machinery and as a lead mechanic also diagnosed and repaired heavy stuff including earth moving and aerial and reach equipment."

"I see. So are you able to analyze records of machine usage so can detect if the time machines are used is understated um, like the clock hours wound back."

"Yes there are ways to police that through cross-checking and comparing normal and abnormal patterns of usage from vehicle logs between servicing."

"Oh boy. Charlie here's my card. Tomorrow or within the next few days could you phone and we'll have a few beers over lunch somewhere. It is possible we can engage you as a consultant on an investigation."

"I don't want my tax situation messed up."

"Well we can talk about you tax-free remuneration can't we?"

"Like VIP paid corporate hosting?"

"You've got it Charlie. I can tell you have a business head on you."

"My wife acts as if I'm a no-hoper."

"You ought to know women have to think like that Charlie to avoid feeling threatened. Does Gloria nag you?"

"Does she what."

"Join the club Charlie. Women do that to boost their sense of importance."

Christine asked, "What are you two talking about so quietly?" 

Sam appeared caught on the hop so Charlie said casually, "Sex."

"Oh god," Gloria groaned. "I can't take my husband anywhere without embarrassment."

Christine linked arms with her and they laughed loudly when she said, "I know exactly what you mean." 

* * *

That evening Willis gained greater acceptance in the Bolton-Rogers household (Sam didn't use the Bolton appendage). When the four of them were leaving the restaurant Christine asked, "Would you like to stay the night Willis?"

He joked, "What with you?" 

They all laughed heartily.

Sam and Christine went to their bedroom after saying goodnight and Monique and Willis stayed down for coffee, aware they'd have a long night ahead. It was their first non-restricted session.




The Babe Unmasks



In the bedroom Monique waited to be undressed. He stood behind her, as he'd done on earlier occasions, and pulled down the zip of her dress and then reached and cupped her breasts. Monique reached back to link her hands gently behind her head and she purred, "Oh darling, please fuck me."

Willis thought he'd never tire of that routine and utterance but knew in time he would. 

Oh so they would be together for some time would they? He sighed thinking he couldn't remember having made that decision although it was obviously everything was narrowing down to produce that result, eventually. Well she was a great fuck. She liked being with him and they appeared pretty compatible although she nagged a bit when he became vague. She also liked most things he liked doing and those things combined were good enough reason... he hesitated hearing part of his mind saying don't even think it. But he continued... they were good reasons to marry her. Well why not? He would otherwise be heading in no particular direction and kids were okay and some guys reckon wives cook better meals and do more for you than live-in girlfriends.

He had her stripped apart from the stay-ups and he touched her above the stocking tops and said, "I like you being slim at this point."

"Then place me on the bed and lick me there... even chew a little but leave no teeth marks."

Willis's erection almost tore through his pants. "Okay."

"But you get your clothes off first."

"Okay dear," he said dutifully.

She smelt so unbelievable good there and the skin was so soft. He could also smell pussy of course. She squeezed her thighs against his ears and Willis licked and sucked. He thought, could there ever be anything better than that. He reached under her with a wet finger and slowly inserted it.

"Oh yes," Monique groaned as if a finger up the butt was better than best for her. His tongue had just reached inside her pussy when she jerked and he tasted her for the first time. He liked it but hadn't a clue what it tasted like. It just tasted good.

They did it first as missionary. Willis couldn't believe it. Guys reckon that position is reserved for couples in retirement homes with a nurse having to put it in for them. Still it had just happened. He'd been climbing up to kiss her and Monique had taken him in hand and inserted him and began thrusting to get him all the way in. Wasn't she just the cutest thing.

Then he drew out ready to spray her belly but she urged him to fuck her tits so who was he to complain? She scooped some natural pussy lube to place between the boobs and a minute later when he was heading for first curtain call she actually took two squirts into her mouth and allowed some to dribble out. She'd done that staring at him as if it say, "Master I'll do anything for you." 

Well she was okay enough to love and protect and please, wasn't she?"

"Have you enrolled online to complete your degree?"

"What?" she replied, eyes glazed and looking like she didn't care what he was raving on about. 

Returning from the bathroom after a rest, Willis found Monique with her legs drooped over the end of the bed.

She cooed, "Let's enjoy deep impact please. Be careful because you still look big."

"Uh-ha," Willis said gleefully. 

Sometimes women would be worried about being pushed out of shape doing this one. He was confident Monique was in good enough shape and robust enough to cope. His dick was excited, ready to go. Later when he finished, bathed in sweat and dropped Monique down after pushing her butt back over the bed he yawned and sighed joyfully, ready to sleep big.

"Now what can we do next," Monique said.

She noted the look of despair on Willis' face and wiping him dry and said, "Come on, I think that's enough for tonight. Let me hug you to sleep my girl-pleasing guy."

She watched him fall asleep and she yawned and her eyes rolled searching for sleep.

* * *

Monique and Willis had breakfast with her dad in the morning. Sam eyed them and asked, "Well have you come to a decision>"

Willis looked at Monique who shrugged "I'm more interested that Monique but I can see this clearly as a stepping stone. Yes, deal us in."

"Monique."

"Yes."

"I'd like a bit more enthusiasm."

"Yes daddy dear and thanks for giving us our big chance."

Sam nodded and said that was more like it. "Well I'll visit Greg with my company attorney this morning and suspend him for 30 days on pay pending an internal audit while we search for suspected irregularities. He'll be advised if he objects I'll call in the cops."

Willis frowned, "Won't he do a runner?"

"He lives in a very expensive house and fortunately I hold the mortgage so there can be no sale without me being advised."

"Good, Monique and I can start in the morning."

"I planned to go shopping."

Willis said, "Decided what you want to be darling, a retail specialist or a businesswoman."

"Do we have to engage so quickly?"

"Yes," Willis insisted. "Before others who are implicated are given too much time to cover their tracks."

Stan agreed. "So where will you start?"

"Monique will sit in Greg's office and handles all incoming landline calls and receiving people who visit asking for Greg, noting numbers and caller ID and she'll begin searching Greg's drawers and files looking for anything of possible interest. And then where I start I have no idea."

"Well." Monique said, pausing to draw attention, "If I were to defraud the business I'd do it with the smallest team possible and the farthest distance away I could from HQ."

"Long Island branch," Willis said, rubbing his chin.

"I like it," Stan said. "You have to start somewhere. Both of you come in after 11:30 today and sign on after reviewing your contracts. You get a car Willis, you don't Monique."

Monique sighed, "Well what can an assistant to the acting CEO expect?"

The acting-CEO barked out his first order. "Monique, you have till Friday to apply to finish your current studies on-line. If you fail to do so you'll be suspended without pay."

"Yes sir. I promise to follow orders."

"Right we are making progress here," Stan said. "Willis I need to tell you something about your father being of assistance to us."

* * *

Stan brought Christine up to date that evening.

"And are they both still at the office?"

"Yes searching for incriminating evidence. Willis and I swooped on the Long Island branch late this morning and he pulled a real fast one, calling in the assistant manager and then accusing the manager and deputy to their faces of cooking the books and under-reported hire-outs and hours machines were worked and pocketing the difference.

"The manager hotly denied it and I was sweating I'm telling you. I was thinking Christ Willis you have landed us in the crap now but the guy actually sweating was the deputy so Willis hit him hard verbally saying we'd deal if they confessed and handed the money back. They'd be fired without the police being brought in providing they identified the master-mind."

"Well I was staggered. Phil Purdy spilt his guts and of course Craig had no option but to confess and both pointed to their company CEO Greg Nash as being the organizer."

"We were presented with the evidence. The bastards had a dummy set of books printed and fifty percent of new business that was brought into the office was put through their books, billing and receipting were also done through that illegitimate accounting. As you know thirty percent of our business out there is cash business. They were milking us beautifully but unfortunately for them they had a record what the four of them have milked from us during the past three months when the scam began." 

"They made an extra effort to attract new business and repeat business from those new clients or casual clients so that an abnormal slump in ongoing business would not be apparent. It was beautifully managed. Jerry is already out there going over the books. Fortunately for us there is a paper trail leading to payments to Greg from the bank account they operated at a different bank to the one we use. We are bringing Greg in tomorrow to get his confession and he'd be fired. I'll have a legal team with me."

"Why not call in the police?"

"I had decided to do that if the siphoned off money exceeded $150,000 because the time wasted assisting the crime squad with their inquiries, legal fees and court appearances and hold-ups can amount to big money. It appears they have siphoned off between $96,000 and $110,000. The books are not quite up to date but Jerry is attending to that."

Christine said the bastard. "You said there were four involved?"

"Oh yeah, the manager of the hire office was the key person in the scam. He orchestrated everything. Greg got 50% and the other three shared the other 50% of profit. How they wound back the hours registered on the machines by auto-logging is not clear yet, if in fact they even bothered to do that. Perhaps they did some re-programming. The thing is the money they turned over is all profit because their operation had no salaries, fuel bills and over overheads to pay. God, the audacity of the jerks. I've demanded they pay back what they stole or I'll get them sent to jail. Those three out at Long Island agreed to do that and signed a legal undertaking they'd do so by Friday. If it had been a huge amount over a much longer period they would have been unable to afford to do that if they had spent the money. As it is two of them say they will have to get bank loans."

"What about Greg?"

"Yeah he'll have at least $45,000 to pay back but can't skip out on us because we hold the mortgage on his house that is worth more than $800,000."

"This is excellent work Sam. Um what if the scam has gone on much longer and they had been operating a different set of books?"

"Jesus, I better get Jerry to get a full team over there to do a total audit."

Christine asked to change the topic.

"Okay, at least I was bringing you up to date."

"Yes darling and thank you. You're a good boy. I'm worried about those two."

"Why, Willis is fucking his nuts off and Monique is chugging around like the Fairy Queen."

"But where's the commitment?"

Sam hated these obtuse discussions that women seemed to revel in.

"Who says they need commitment."

"I do."

"Oh."

Christine said Willis would be nothing without Monique.

"Bull...er dust. I cannot believe some of what I'd call the natural business attributes Willis is displaying. He's decisive, focused and cuts to the core and appears to act like the consummate commander."

"Darling, have you been drinking?"

"No, this is my first one all day."

"Willis has had no business experience."

"He's had sufficient to know what it's about. I think as I said, he has the instincts to empower him with the attributes."

"So you say. Well it's to our advantage to bring him on. We need a strong-arm guy to succeed you when you are ready to easy back although I'm not saying you need to hasten that."

"What are your thinking? I know you."

"You and I hit the global cruising ship scene."

"Oh yes. Sounds interesting. But young Willis has quite some way to go."

"I know. Do you want sex?"

"Good grief Christine, you had it two nights ago."

"Well can't a girl pick up her tempo without being criticized?"

"Of course you can. Here comes daddy."

"Ooh daddy, what do you have in mind for little me?"

Sam was stuffed next morning so didn't appear for early breakfast. Christine was able to focus on Monique after the preliminaries.

Monique said, "God you look like the cat that has had all the cream."

"Sex always gives me the lift I require; you will come to experience that darling."

"So you destroyed daddy last night?"

"On no darling. One has to learn to allow your man to live to play another day."

"That's revolting mom, something like the spider and the fly."

There was no way to answer that, so Christine said, "Why aren't you moving in with your handsome prince?"

"Why are you short of room here or require privacy?"

"Don't be absurd. You may move him in here with you if you wish, we have heaps of room."

Monique didn't respond to that.

"Come on Pumpkins, what is it?"

Monique kept her gaze lowered. "Mom I don't think he'd fully decided about me yet or even dropped the thought of going to Australia."

"Do you want to go to Australia?"

"No, of course not."

"Then drop him."

"Aw mom," Monique screeched.

"Ohmigod, I'm sorry baby. Obviously you love him."

"Yes," sniffed Monique, clutching her mom.

They both heaved into crying, clutching one another for support.

Wiping away tears Christine said, "Your father is committing to Willis, preparing the pathway to eventually hand him the keys to the kingdom, with my authority of course."

"Well prepare daddy for possible disappointment," Monique sniffed.

"Do you think he is attempting to manipulate us to get the best possible deal?"

"Mommy I don't believe my Willis would stoop so low; what you see with Willis is what you get."

"Yes dear. Well you father and my plan for a soft-landing into retirement will be toppled if Willis goes Down Under. We'll have to resume our search for the optimum replacement for your father.

Monique said listlessly, "That shouldn't be too difficult."

"If only you knew darling. I wish it could be you or another member of the family, but not to be. It takes a person with that special edge."

"I'm sure it does mommy. He's bullying me to finish my degree."

"So your father told me. He was most impressed."

"God is everyone against me."

"Finish your degree darling and I'll slip you $50,000."

"Mommy that's a bribe."

"Oh so it is dear?"

* * *

Monique lied. She told her parents and Willis that she was required to spend two weeks back in LA before she could switch to complete her degree online. Everyone agreed she must do that and the next day Willis took her to the airport and waved her off, saying her salary would resume when she returned to work.

Three days later Monique was in Broken Hill, Australia, and on Wednesday boarded the Bush Mail Run and was booked to stay with two fellow tourists from England on Ben and Kate Hackshaw's sheep station till the Saturday pick-up.

"It was so hot, 95 degrees and that was in stark contrast to when she'd left JFK with light snow forecast for that night.

The driver said, "The average property out here is 80,000 acres."

How big what that? Monique wondered. She remembered Manhattan covered 15,000 acres. But this was red desert and water was as precious as gold. Interestingly when they came close to the Darling River the ground had almost a green tinge. 

The three of them got off at Aramuda Station and a jolly woman with a red face, hair that hadn't been cut in years and wearing male clothing greeted them.

"Hi I'm Kate your hostess until you are picked by the Saturday Bush Main run."

"I'm Monique Bolton-Rogers."

"Oh I say, an American. We mainly get Germans and Poms dropping off here."

"I'm Cecil and this is my wife Mrs Bridges; we are English."

"Oh Poms. What's your name luv?"

"Mavis."

"Oh you're pregnant."

"I-I was sure no one could notice yet."

"One of my jobs it to mark in-lamb ewes darling. You develop an eye for it."

Monique reeled away laughing and sweating uncontrollably and Kate said, "God an American with real humor, that's a change."

The Poms went to their room and Kate said to Monique, "Get your gear off and jump into the pool. I'll grab some beers."

"Get my gear off?"

"You're getting hot thinking about it luv. Strip and jump in. That Pom bloke will be massaging his wife's guts and thinking about what's below that until dinner time."

Kate returned with beer in cans she called tinnies with a cooler wrap around each one. She stripped off and waded in to join Monique,

"Are you running away from a lover?"

"No I just was interested to find out what the Outback meant."

"Hell on earth, that's what it means sweetie. Only the insane live here."

Next day the three tourists toured some of the property with Ben in his rugged SUV and the next day Monique drove the SUV following Ben and four guys on farm bikes driving 4400 rams and hoggets to the shearing shed. They shepherds stopped every two and a half to three hours to 'wet their whistle' which was to have a tin mug of tea and 'a bite' to wash down the dust sticking to their throats.

"Are you glad you came out and settled here?" Monique asked Ben, not saying she and Ben knew a guy at present back in New York, Willis Westwood.

"I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world my pretty one."

Driving Ben and the boys back early that evening Monique asked did Ben ever have any notable Americans comes to visit.

"No,"

"What about that guy Clint West or some name like that boss. You thought you'd suckered him into buying the place."

"Will Westwood is his name Morrie. Never heard nothing from him. He's gone bush back in the city."

Arriving back in Broken Hill and spending the night, Monique took a flight via Dubbo to Sydney almost 725 miles away and a week later returned to New York, absolutely satisfied Willis would be out of his tree to buy Ben and Kate's property because he was too intelligent and sensitive to bury himself in that inhospitable territory where people pretended they liked living.

Monique arrived home to find her parents were out so she went to bed, leaving not sign of her arrival, and slept for fourteen hours. It had been a grueling trip and an expensive on because she'd traveled at short notice at peak rates. Still it had been worth it. She knew Willis would be a fool going to Australia to buy that ranch and if he did she'd not be going with him. At least one of them had their mind sorted about their future. She'd made the decision to go without him because he was already immersed up to his butt in business.

After showering Monique went down and startled her mom.

"Oh hi when did you get back?"

"Last night and you guys would have been asleep."

"But it's most evening."

"Yeah I was a little sleepy. All that preparatory work at university."

"Oh, how strange. I had a call chasing up on your as being a no-show."

Monique had to think quickly. "Mom that admin is a complete fuck-up. They are at least a week behind in data entry."

After chatting to her mom Monique wandered off and called California to arrange to transfer to on-line completion. The service was so efficient is took less that ten minutes to complete subject to her sending a check for the difference in fees and signing and posting back a transfer document being emailed to her.

Before Willis began plowing her later that evening in her bedroom she said, "My transfer to on-line study is all but completed."

"Good girl; I knew you would take your study seriously."

Earlier during dinner Monique had been brought up to date with the scam crisis. 

Confronted with the evidence and confessions against him, Greg Nash had broken down and confessed and said he accepted what was coming to him. He was amazed he would only be fired but all retirement benefits would be honored providing he paid back the $53,744 Jerry and his fellow investigators had calculated he'd stolen."

Greg had told Sam he was sorry for skimming off some money. After all his years of devoted service he felt the need to soup up his retirement funding at the company's expense.

Sam told Monique he said: "Fuck off Greg and arrange the payment of that almost fifty-four grand you greedy bastard. I never wish to see you face again."

"So you weren't sorry for him."

"Sorry for him Monique? I felt like ripping out his guts."

"Sam," Christine complained. "We are having dinner."

CHAPTER 5

The family and Willis went to LA for Monique's degree conferment in June and at midsummer they went to one of the finger lakes upstate where Sam had rented a lake house for a small fortune. He wouldn't allow Willis to contribute and Christine told Monique firmly that she and Willis would have to share a bedroom because friends would be coming in relays to stay a few days.