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Bobbi on a Mission

By: EgmontGrigor2011



CHAPTER 1

The sound of guitar strumming and tropical scents filled the air as dusk fell when Bobbi Joyce was called to reception on Mamba Island in the South Pacific to take an international call.

"Hi Bobbi a crisis is developing within the company and we need you home urgently to help deal with it."

"Is that you mom?"

"Yes and this is no time for jest."

"I'm used to people identifying themselves before talking to me."

"Even your own mother?"

"Well I guess you are the exception. What's up? You know dad doesn't want me near the agency."

"Your father is home under sedation and the empire is beginning to crumble around our ears."

* * *

Bobbi was on the long haul home, sitting at the window seat next to a woman who smelt of roasted peanuts and BO.

Perhaps one day, Bobbi thought, she would position in be flown in her company chartered aircraft.

According to her mom Pearl, the advertising agency was in its death throes. But her mom was habitually panicking although this did sound rather serious.

The debtors were closing in and her father had been unable to raise additional capital because times are tough.

Bobbi had said times were never so tough that there would not be some lender somewhere who wouldn't lend money at a hiked up interest rate. But that was not the sort of talk her mom had wanted to hear. Alice wanted Bobbi to say she would come home and save Shep Advertising Agency. Shep had been Harry's dog at the time he launched himself into advertising agency when leaving his cozy but boring position as director of advertising for James B. Walton Newspaper Publishing Group, a company that had slid into oblivious as a result of a merger some years ago. 

Bobbi smiled thinking that competing advertising agencies loosely called her father's business Shit Advertising Agency. The agency had pulled in its fair share of ad industry awards which seemed to suggest that scurrilous naming was more the result of jealous pique than well-founded professional-standard assessment. Bobbi sniffed and thought it didn't merely suggest the misnaming was scurrilous; it was scurrilous to the core. Jealous bastards and bitches!

The 36-year old recently 'retired' corporate attorney told her mom not to tell her father she was coming home as a White Knight because that would only add to his anxiety. Father and daughter had not shared compatibility ever since some years back Harry had arrived home to find his daughter being screwed by his older brother. Although recognized as a sexual predator, her father expected a sense of sexual propriety of others who were not his target.

The sprawl of Blewitt City (pop 887,000) looked ugly from the air but Bobbi was intimately familiar with her home town and knew even its Downtown was not without charm and its dry climate attracted retirees in large numbers. The city had two of the top fifty-rated golf courses in the country and Bobbi's name was on the honors board at one of them, the Blewitt Country Club, where she'd become junior club champion three years in a row.

As the aircraft circled to approach the east-to-west runway Bobbi saw the metallic blue Magellan Towers where she used to work on the 23rd floor as a partner and manager of the business law department. She'd been one of the partners to oppose the merger with Mason-Beck-Ulmer Law but unfortunately they were a minority and she resigned and was paid out when the merger went through.

Bobbi was travel weary after the long Pacific flight and then a tiresome wait for a connecting flight to Blewitt City. It was a mid-morning touch-down and when in the terminal she called the Rocklands Hotel and asked for Sue Webster.

"Mrs Webster."

"Hi Big Tits."

There was a pause and then, "Oh Jesus, Bobbi Joyce is back in town. Halleluiah! How are you darling?"

"I'm neither fat nor pregnant yet. Some of you have all the luck. I was told you were now general manager. Congratulations. Dad's company is in trouble, he's in bed under stress control and mom had called me home to get the agency out of the shit. She has twisted dad's arm to get power-of-attorney. It's best I don't go home."

"Come home and stay with us. Brian won't mind; he calls you the sexiest woman he's ever met, the pig."

They laughed.

Bobbi said, "What about a bed at the hotel, say for six weeks?"

"A small suite at long-term rates plus preferential rates?"

"Sweet as, baby. I'm at the airport waiting for my bags."

"Then when you exit turn to the left and look for one of our limos. I'm sending it now."

"There is no need, a cab is fine."

"Darling who's running this hotel, you or me?"

"Sorry, obviously old Bossy Boots hasn't changed."

"Bossy Boots loves you and will see you soon. I'll book you in for a complimentary working over at the spa. You mom told me you were slumming it up at a resort in Maba Maba south of the Equator. Try not to go to bed until tonight and you'll acclimatize quicker."

The women saw each other and shrieked and flew into each other's arms. They had known each other since starting kindergarten within days of each other.

In her office Sue unwrapped a hand-painted T-shirt for Kitty and a pull-along toy on wheels for Sammy.

"What's wrong?"

"Um Kitty is two and this T-shirt would fit a 7-year old and Sammy is seven and 7-year olds don't pull toys along. You don't know much about kids do you sweetheart?"

"Oh damn. Oh but I do have a brain; swap their gifts, the shirt is asexual."

"Oooh bravo, you always were the smart one."

"And this is for you my best friend."

Excited, hands shaking, Sue unwrapped the box and opened it and breathed, "Omigod."

"It's a smoothly polished jade pendant, not too large for you I hope, set in an 18k gold frame with bale what requires you to buy the chain of your choice. The color is called Imperial Green and is close to saturation with strong translucency, according to what the American craftsman who's gone native on the island explained to me."

"It's gorgeous. It must have cost two thousand bucks."

"No it cost less than half of that but you are worth it darling. Just look at it and shut up."

"It's so beautiful," Sue said, kissing her friend who'd been her bridesmaid nine years earlier.

After settling into her room with a great view out to the mountains, Bobbi called her mom.

"Hi I've just arrived and am staying at the Rocklands Hotel where Sue works."

"Welcome darling, I'm so glad you are here. I have an executive meeting of the bridge club early this evening and can call in on the way home if you wish?"

"Yes do that and we'll order up supper. How's dad."

"He accepts he has to stop worrying and try to remain calm. I told him you were coming home to sort things out and he groaned but said you probably have the brains and the horse-power to restructure the company and get it back into over-drive."

"Well that's something mom. I'm in room 24-25. I look forward to our reunion."

Bobbi answered her door bell and flew into the arms of the tall, dark handsome man.

"Andy my darling. Oh hi lovely to see you again. Can you stay?"

One of Bobbi's former boyfriends kissed her enthusiastically and said he could spare only a few minutes right now.

"You continue to look gorgeous," he said to the raven-haired beauty with luminous green eyes and an eye-catching figure. "Not having babies has allowed you to keep your shape."

She laughed and said congratulations; she'd heard from Sue that he'd married Sarah Johnston.

"Yeah thanks. I was in the Business Bar with some guys when Sue came in and told me you were here so I popped up just to say hello. We guys are actually negotiating a business deal if you can believe it."

"Well I was once shafted in a bar," Bobbi giggled. "They are useful for all sorts of things."

"Are you staying in the hotel for long?"

"I plan to stay no longer than six weeks."

At that Andy kissed her again and said Sarah would be in touch to invite her over to dinner. He slapped her ass and left, smiling with a face lit by some great memories of being with her in college days. Andy worked in his parents' vehicle dealership.

He turned in the passage and called, "You'll need a car."

"I'll call about a lease in a day or two. Bye darling."

God that was a sweet but all too brief encounter, Bobbi thought, but it excited her. The city was sprinkled with old friends and acquaintances in positions to help her deal with this business crisis. She no longer felt like a lone woman on a mission.

Later she had a great reunion with her mom Pearl who said she'd terminated the employment of the CEO who'd left two days ago, allowing Bobbi to take command.

"I thought I was coming in as an advisor?"

With inescapable logic, Peal said: "How can an advisor lead the shake-up of a business?"

* * *

Bobbi awoke in the morning, feeling stifled by jet lag.

She swam three lengths of the basement pool and felt decidedly worse.

After a breakfast of bacon and eggs and hash browns and a double-shot vodka tomato juice, Bobbi felt significantly better and thought she'd rely on black coffee to get her through the day.

No one at the company would know her of course because her father had refused to allow her to go near the place. Harry would now regret that bloody mindedness, she thought, but then figured perhaps it would be advantageous because she could fire under-performers or people surplus to requirements without being ripped apart by emotional guilt.

After looking at distaste at the building and entering Shit Agency, correction Shep Advertising Agency, on the 10th floor (and it occupied the 11th floor as well) Bobbi made her first decision. She'd have to relocate the company and rebrand it. This was terrible, the outfit gave the impression it was a pre year-2000 company, years divorced from reality.

At reception, always first impression of a company she sniffed, the youngest receptionist smiled a 'Good morning ma'am' while the two woman rested back on their chairs sipping coffee and having a cozy chat.

"Hi young lady," Bobbi smiled. In a louder voice she said, "I'm Bobbi Joyce, your new CEO."

One of the receptionists screamed as hot coffee spilt down under the neckline of her black dress and her companion swore.

"Not a good look ladies, in fact I'm gravely disappointed," Bobbi called and said to the younger receptionist to please take her to the CEO's office.

"I'm afraid you caught us at a bad time ma'am. I mean we were unprepared and for that I apologize."

"Aren't you going to add that it wasn't your fault, that you are only the junior?"

"No ma'am, I don't work in isolation."

"Oh great answer... um...?"

"Nellie."

"Nellie call me Bobbi and I congratulate you on your steadfast performance. You are the type of person we want around here."

"Here's your office Bobbi. I'm afraid your PA is not due to start till 8:30."

"And what time do you ladies in reception start."

"Eight-twenty for the seniors and I start at 8:00 to deal with couriers and early phone calls."

Bobbi checked and the time was 8:27.

"Could you please fetch me coffee."

"Yes certainly. The machine here switches on at 8:30 but the machine in the café will be up and running if you don't mind the wait."

"How did you know the machine servicing this floor switches on at 8:30?"

"I guess I was briefed when I started work here six months ago or just found out along the way."

"Don't rush fetching my coffee Nellie. Use my phone to call reception that you are being delayed by me."

"Thanks, I was going to call them from the café."

Hmmm thought Bobbi and booted her laptop and made a note under the name Nellie. Obviously not everyone in the boutique advertising agency was a deadbeat.

Seconds later a blonde arrived checking her watch and saw Bobbi and stopped in surprise.

"May I assist you or are you Miss Joyce?"

"Yes to the latter and please call me Bobbi."

"I'm Ursula Bohn, your PA. Welcome and I exist here to service your every need."

Well that appeared to be another name to add to the Good list.

Bobbi of course had seen on the website that the agency's PA to the CEO was Ursula Bohn, a college business graduate aged twenty-eight and who'd been with the agency three years.

Mrs Hansen, director of Finance and Accounting came rushing in to introduce herself, saying to Bobbi, "A receptionist had told me you'd arrived unannounced. I am so sorry I wasn't here to personally welcome you."

"That's fine. I gave no notice of my arrival time. Please call me Bobbi and take a seat for a brief chat before you take me around this little empire."

"Oh that's the term your father uses to describe this place."

"Yes I probably picked the term up from my mother. My father and I don't relate well."

"So the rumor says and thanks for being prepared to talk frankly to me. God this place needs some straight-talking. Please call me Lily."

Bobbi later added Lily's name to the Good list. In the meantime they toured to meet the mix of good, indifferent and bad people working in the empire of fifty-six people. Bobbi knew she'd have to wait to build a reasonably accurate list of those who appeared good, indifferent or bad but as she progressed through the offices she made a list in her small notebook of those who responded poorly at being introduced to her. That list was headed, 'Fire?'

Three days later the chairman of the board Luke Harris arrived and introduced himself and after that exchange of pleasantries said, "I didn't like your mother firing the CEO without consulting me."

"Was my mother obliged to consult you?"

"No."

"Would you have agreed with my mother's intended action?"

"No."

"Then perhaps she anticipated that and took the easiest route?"

The public accountant looked angry.

"Luke let us not start off with a row. My mother told me you lead the board well."

Actually he mother hadn't mentioned Luke or the board but Luke seemed to relax a little.

"Okay, I agree with that. Will you refer your proposed plans of action to the board before you act?"

"Yes and no. I'm thinking of a major restructuring and will put that before the board and I intended seeking approval of the board to look for a capital injection of $2 million and, when that is in the bag, to seek board approval to relocate and rename the agency but that's all. Internal management such as changing departments and hiring and firing people will be my sole responsibility as it was my father's responsibility before he became ill and appointed a replacement CEO now gone."

"I see. And how will you justify restructuring and relocation to cost $2 million."

"When I get around to that Luke I'll discuss that will you before placing formal proposals before the board."

"You are making me nervous."

"Luke I say this kindly so please don't be offended. If you think you might not be able to stand the pressure of me driving the agency forward then you might have to consider resigning. But perform as you are required to do as chairman and I'll be very happy to work with you."

"You sound like a tough young lady but are you tough?"

"I'm not the one who should comment on that Luke. I guess exactly what I am will soon unfold. I suggest you keep this comment to yourself. Already I've placed a question mark over your son's ability to hold his position of creative director. At this stage it's just a question mark until I have learnt more."

"You wouldn't."

"My mother has brought me in to make the hard calls Luke and I have no intention of disappointing her. Shall we have coffee?"

"Yes thanks. We really need to talk in depth Bobbi." 

Joey Hadley called on Thursday night.

"Hi it's Joey, down in the lobby. I saw Sue in the mall last evening and she said you were home, staying at the hotel and would be lonely."

"Hi Joey and that's lovely of you to be thinking about my welfare but it's late."

"Only 9:30. I remember you as a babe who loved being shafted."

Smiling Bobbi said sarcastically, "It seems you haven't lost your shyness Joey." 

He laughed and said she was always one for a good laugh and Bobbi gave him the room number.

As Joey entered the room and kissed her, Bobbi kissed him back and thrust into him and didn't let him go.

"We can just have a beer and talk if you wish," he said hesitantly.

"No let's have sex if you're up to it."

"I'm up to it," he leered and pulled her hand on to his boner. "And I was considerate and brought condoms."

"Oh good for you. I feel like a good work out Joey."

"I'm here to service your juicy cunt baby."

"Oh god," Bobbi groaned. She felt she'd grown a little beyond that sort of talk but the fact was Joey was here, within reach. 

She reached for his belt.

On Friday afternoon at office drinks, Bobbi stayed for half an hour. She thought most of the people looked worried and then Charlie Harris, creative director, brought her a fresh wine and stood talking as the other two people drifted away. He was particularly friendly and spoke very positively about the potential of the agency. Ah so daddy had delivered a quiet word and Charlie had spread the word that an axe could swing on jobs.

"Charlie why are there no representatives of clients here?"

"Because we decided Friday night drinks should be the opportunity to develop our internal culture."

"Has that worked?"

He looked blank and asked what she meant.

"I won't bring this up at Monday's management meeting Charlie but as from next Friday I want client representatives to be here for drinks but numbers must be kept between a dozen and twenty because we don't wish to be overwhelmed. I'm relying on you to spread the word and to ensure it happens."

"Yes Bobbi, anything you say."

"Oh thanks. In that case could you provide me with a thoughtful report by next Wednesday midday about how your department operations, what you think about its quality of output, the way your department interacts with clients, the quality of your resources including personnel and perhaps some thoughts of where to from here."

"You mean should the agency refocus?"

"Yes. I've noticed we are not involved in direct marketing and internet advertising unless clients specifically request it. How can we perform well in those areas without specialists and the marketing of those two services?"

"Um I have no idea... um less we plan and development in those areas."

"Exactly and give me your thoughts because those areas come directly under your department of creative services. If we do push ahead could you cope?"

"Oh hell yes Bobbi. I'm the director."

Oh god, she sighed.

She left to prepare to dine out with her mother.

Next evening Bobbi went to dinner at Sue and Brian's home. She sat with Kitty on her knee playing with Bobbi's necklace beads and Sammy plucking at the front of his T-shirt told her for the third time, "You brought this for me from the South Sea Islands and no one at school has a shirt like this with so many colors."

Brian arrived with a guy and they came in and beamed at both women and both said a big hi Bobbi.

Brian got to her first to kiss her and managed to grab a piece of her butt and squeeze without being noticed, or not noticed as far as she could see.

Thomas McDowell came on to her more gently and his kiss just brushed her lips and the sexiness of his dark eyes looking down on her almost left Bobbi breathless.

"Um how's Maria?"

"The adulterous bitch is living with the guy who upset our short marriage. We divorced eight months ago and her mother says the guy has decided they shouldn't marry because they are having so much fun living the wild life."

"God you are lucky you got out of that woman's clutches."

Thomas looked at her quite shocked.

"I hadn't been prepared to think like that."

"Oh Thomas, you're not still bleeding over her are you? Face up to it, she was a bitch."


Bobbi on a Mission



"Bobbi," called Sue, sounding a little desperate.

"No it's okay," Thomas said. "No one has spoken to me so forcibly like this. It came as a shock but Bobbi's right and she went through college with Maria so would have had opportunity to appraise her."

"I shouldn't be interfering."

"No it's okay really."

"Thomas are you dating regularly?"

"No just the occasional old friend who comes forth feeling sorry for me and introduces me to someone."

"Do I appear to be sorry for you?"

"Hell no," he grinned.

"Then date me, that's why you're here isn't it?"

"Actually I come here for dinner every third Saturday."

Bobbi slapped a hand over her mouth and cried oops.

"I just thought dear Sue was..."

"No and I wasn't even told you were in town. I met Brian as usually for a couple of beers at a bar one street over and he made no mention of you being here."

"God what an embarrassment I am. Sorry everyone."

"Brian we all need a drink," Sue cried. "And yes Bobbi I invited you to dinner tonight knowing Thomas would be here but I didn't tell anyone about that er coincidence."

Bobbi said, "Oh yes, that coincidence. My wine please Brian; I'm in need of it."

Bobbi then volunteered to put the children to bed because she'd stayed up to see her.

"Have you any idea what to do?"

"Um no Sue apart from the basics."

"Go with her Brian and tell her what to do. Thomas come with me to the kitchen and sit while I fill you in about my best friend."

Bobbi wondered if the lack of performance in bed was the reason why Thomas' wife had left him.

CHAPTER 2

At Bobbi's request, Luke Harris called a special meeting of the board to receive the CEO's restructuring plan.

Luke was a public accountant and tax specialist, deputy chairman Lucille Rogers was an attorney and the third outside director Mark Banks was a business analyst. The two company directors appointed by Harry Joyce were his wife Pearl and Mike Moretti, director of account servicing and planning.

Bobbi had worked closely with Luke, who was still sore at her for firing his son Charlie. She'd found Mark hugely useful in helping her with her restructuring plan and new business plan.

"You want the board to raise $2 million capital? Lucille said in disbelief.

Bobbi smiled bleakly. "Yes because I have no business track record in this town and therefore no credibility to be the person to approach lenders."

"And you want to trim and adjust and downsize our operation and move into much more expensive premises?" her mother asked.

"Yes mother. Perhaps Mark should explain this to avoid me being a henchwoman working in isolation."

"Bobbi used me as a sounding board as she's entitled to do with me as a director when she worked on her framework for restructuring," Mark said. "Then she hired me to go through every aspect of her restructuring plan and new business plan that I did, at times using specialist consultants. What you are now receiving," he said, watching Bobbi handing out the documents, "is the plan that Bobbi and I have signed off on and you will also find sections where the specialist consultants signed off on the work they were hired to appraise and recommend modifications."

"Good god, and how much has this working group cost us?" Lucille Rogers asked.

"You are fortunate our new CEO selected an advance course in company strategy when completing her MBA."

"My question is focused on the bottom line Mark."

"I can answer that," Bobbi said. "Billing hours were tightly controlled and I expect the final cost to be approximately $38,000 in consultancy fees and for the amount of expert feedback involved I consider that figure is well worth the expenditure."

"Yes will it doesn't appear to be outrageous to me," Lucille said. "I've seen companies billed for $40,000 or more to receive information they already possess. We appear to be breaking new ground."

The chairman said, "Right if there are no more questions I propose we study these reports over the next two days and meet on Friday at 9:00 and hopefully we can make the required decisions and make our announcements at a full staff meeting at 3 pm."

"Isn't that rushing things?" Mike Moretti asked.

Bobbi said, "It's as simple as this Mike. We as a company have lost money on one out of every three months during the past two years and the decline in earnings continues at increasing speed. We need urgent action to fend off the threat of insolvency." 

"Then I agree with Luke's proposed timetable," Lucille said. "Bobbi, will you be available by phone day or night during the next two days to take any questions from us?"

"Yes certainly."

"In that case Bobbi," Luke said, "I suggest you call that Friday staff meeting as soon as we have finished here. If we decided not to proceed or call a halt pending further information I can tell the meeting the company is losing ground a bit and what we are doing about it." 

Lucille asked, "Do you have any idea where we should relocate Bobbi?"

"Yes it's all in those reports in front of you. I've secured an option to take the 3rd floor of Magellan Towers, being vacated in a month by an advertising agency that I noted in interest was unable to afford the rent in these trying times. But not to worry, that agency is Warren and Beck Advertising, set in the old ways and is crumbling at the seams. Our business plan shows how we go forward creatively using proven methods and reshaped services and marketing appropriate for the times."

"Omigod, Lucille said. "And here was I wondering if you would prove to be timid. I guess I have the chance to become a convert when I study these reports?" 

"Oh yes Lucille," Bobbi smiled. "Those reports document where this company has been, where it is now and where it's heading. These form the blueprint for this company's future. Be not afraid."

"You are almost turning me into a disciple already Bobbi. If it all rings true when I read it then I might be able to come up with that $2 million for you. You'll need to weed out the deadwood and recruit specialist for new areas to join the team to drive us forward."

"That's already underway Lucille."

"Yeah that's true," Luke blurted out. "My son is one who Bobbi has chopped from the payroll."

"Omigod, Luke I'm sorry. Did it have to be done?"

"I'm afraid so Lucille. Bobbi sat with me and went through performance data and it became clear while Charlie has undeniable creative talent, his poor management performance hauled him down. He never should have been promoted to become a director." 

Divorcee Thomas McDowell, Brian and Sue's friend, arrived at the Business Bar of the hotel where he was to meet Bobbi for their first date. 

Bobbi arrived at the bar a few minutes late to find him talking to two guys. Thomas kissed her and introduced her to Benny Davison and Nick Cole and they said they had to get home (it was 7:15) and Bobbi thought a good idea if they had dependents.

"Did they go because they didn't like the look of me?"

Thomas laughed. "You be the judge of that. Nick saw you enter and said, "Jesus look at the babe who's just walked through the door and Benny said, "Oh la-la. Take a look at those .... Um..."

"Earrings? Bobbi offered.

"Um breasts."

"Oooh and so they liked the look of me?"

"It appears so. They almost began hyperventilating when you walked straight toward us."

"Well I'm sorry to break it up for you."

"No it's fine, they both have wives and youngsters at home waiting for them."

Bobbi asked did he work with them.

"No Benny is general manager of a small advertising media printing company and Nick has had his own webpage design company for seven years but says this current drop in business activity is slowly pushing him towards the day he might have to bail out."

"That's interesting. And what about you, I haven't been told what you do?"

"I'm an independent advertising research and marketing consultant dealing exclusively for clients who wish to start advertising on the Internet or are already advertising online but are disappointed with the results they are getting. Sue told me you work in advertising in your dad's boutique advertising business."

"Yes that's correct. Do you have Nick's phone number?"

"Yeah do you fancy him?"

Ignoring that, Bobbie said, "Please call him and invite him to come back and talk to me about a job. He might not have reached his vehicle yet."

Nick arrived back at the bar three minutes later.

"Nick I'm CEO of Shep Advertising Agency and we are looking to expand our Creative Services Department to deal with Internet advertising. The business plan calls for a full service unit from marketing to win clients through to design, launch and site maintenance to any level the client requires. At present our company only designs for existing clients who request the service and we put the execution of such projects out to contractors."

"Jesus are you offering me a job?"

"Well at this stage Nick we need to talk. Come in next week and talk to us and listen to what we propose. If you have the right credentials and experience you might be interested in heading the section that we tentatively plan as a, eight-person unit."

"Oh I would like to hear more. I guess Thomas told you I have my own website design and development business. The truth is its dog eats dog in the small design business right now and clients are become more and more tight-fisted."

"Yeah well we are looking beyond this economic downtown and it would be good for us to start off lean and mean and compete hard for business."

"That's good thinking. Um let me buy you guys a drink."

Bobbi smiled and said no thanks. "Go home to your family Nick. Just don't forget to come in and see me next week. I'm fully committed on other things this week on restructuring and a proposal to move to more upmarket premises but that will be finished by Friday. Here's my card."

"Thank for being prepared to put a proposal to me. Bye Bobbi. Bye pal, I guess you spoke to Bobbi about me."

Thomas shrugged.

Bobbi and Thomas went to the hotel's Italian restaurant where she'd booked.

After ordering a bottle of red wine they agreed on, Bobbi said, "This dinner is on my company account. You did well speaking to me about Nick. Do you know how he rates as a web designer?"

"Yep but he won't require my endorsement. He'll show you examples of his work already operating on the Internet. I'm surprised your company is employing at this time of economic pinch."

"I was brought in by my mother to take the company forward, not to sit on my butt."

Thomas grinned. "Sue warned me you can be a hard bitch but the said you also are a lovely person."

"Yeah well Sue talks too much."

"I know where your company is located. Are you planning to move to the fringe Downtown where rents are cheaper?"

"Is this conversation confidential between just you and me?"

"Sure shoot."

"I have an option to take the third floor in Magellan Tower."

"Jesus, that's absolutely prime real estate and that means big rents. Hey but there's an advertising company on part of the 3rd floor. I've done some work for them."

"Yeah well they are moving out to the Downtown fringe. It's obviously their CEO and I have different philosophies."

"Um what is your business experience?"

"Don't be so fucking rude."

Thomas scrambled to apologize and looked sheepish when Bobbi began giggling.

They ordered and she said, "Thomas I'm thirty-six with a law degree and a MBA with emphasis on company strategy that I completed part-time during my first three years working as company attorney with a manufacturing firm. I was head-hunted by law firm Bishop Peak Whittle and eighteen months later became a partner and managed its Business Law Department, with distinction I believe. And then three years ago BPW was gobbled in a merger that I opposed and when it went through I resigned and was paid out. I was near burned-out anyway."

"I crossed the Equator to laze my days away on Maba Maba Island and became bored and before I knew it I was offered a position as attorney to the island administration. Then my mother called me home to save my father's company and here I am."

Thomas said her education and experience background were impressive.

"Thanks. Well foremost I have the mind of a lawyer but the philosophy of 'courage rewards the bold' and so far I have managed to mix them well. I believe my plan that has been gone over by consultants, will push all the right buttons for our boutique advertising business. My plan hangs on securing a large capital injection, the relocation and surviving a name change."

"God a name change is as big a risk as borrowing money in the current business climate."

"Yes well remember I did say courage rewards the bold. The name will be given a minor adjustment."

They ate and conversed pleasantly and finally left the restaurant.

"Do you want to come up?"

Thomas said, "Um to your room?"

"Yes and you are welcome to stay the night."

"Um how many beds are there?"

"Just the one, king size," Bobbi smiled. "If you are feeling this is too early for sex I could wear panties so you don't slip in by accident during the night."

Thomas tensed and glanced at the exit route.

"Let go Thomas. Just because you were burnt once it does mean all women interested in taking you to bed are nasty."

"No of course not. I'll accept the invitation to come up to your room."

They entered the room and he said, "It's a suite with separate bedroom."

"Yes Thomas and there are two sofas in this lounge. Oooh if you decide to stay you could sleep out here."

"No I want to sleep with you."

"Oh Thomas, hold and kiss me."

Bobbi emerged from the bathroom nude.

Thomas, eyeing her magnificent body, licked his lips.

"Thomas if you are not comfortable doing this, the time is to back out now."

"N-no, it's fine. I'm hooked."

She smiled and said, "Dig it out for me Thomas. I'm really ready to eat it."

"Eat it?" he said nervously.

"It's just a figure of speech," Bobbi smiled, reassuringly.

Thomas had a big cock and big balls and was big on using them.

Several times he had Bobbi almost out of breath and when they finished she was awash with their fluids and he carried her to the shower.

Bobbi was tired and sweaty but ever so happy and she told him to fix them a drink while she showered and rested before they went at it again.

"Again?" he croaked, losing his smile.

"You'll find food in the fridge," she smiled, knowingly.

On Friday the board approved the strategic and business plans with minor changes and deputy chairman Lucille Rogers said she would begin scouting for a $2 million bank loan.

One of the directors said, "The bank might request a seat on the board."

"Tell them no, not until their lending to us reaches ten million," Bobbi frowned.

"Good god, hopefully that will never occur."

"Good Lucille and that means we won't have a banker taking up space in this boardroom."

Everyone looked at Bobbi as if she knew how to crack the whip.

That evening twenty-four clients and agency support people were guests at Shep Advertising Agency's Friday's cocktail hour and Bobbi was pleased at the extent of interaction she saw and made sure she was introduced to every guest.

The following Tuesday Bobbi took Nick Cole, the independent web site designer, to lunch and that ended with Bobbi telling Nick she'd courier him his draft contract within the next 48 hours. The agreement was Nick would start with the agency in two months when the business, with its name changed to Shepherd Advertising & e-Business Design Agency, would have shifted to its new location.

He said he could start earlier but Bobbi said no, the eight weeks delay would give him time to end his business commitments to existing clients although what he did in his free time after leaving the agency each day was er his business. He was pleased about that because that flexibility meant he could continue with after-sale services until those contracts ran out.

"When you begin working for us as chief web site designer I would be pleased if you liaise with your department manager to use the services of your friends Thomas the consultant, whom I've got to know quite well, and Benny who owns a printing company. There is no need to tell them I suggested that we use them where appropriate. We need the muscle of independent support to get our new department up and running quickly."

"I agree and both those guys operate the type of support we need," Nick said. 

The relationship between Nikki and Thomas quickly development beyond sex; they became pals and called one another just to talk, as if they wished they were together.

Even talking to him on the phone was enough for the moment for Nikki and Thomas didn't attempt to end the call quickly like most men did. And when Thomas and Nikki talked on the phone, even late at night, they didn't talk sex. It was so encouraging for her, making Nikki feel she was having a romance as opposed to having an affair.

Shep advertising pitched successfully to win the multi-million dollar account of Amalgamated Food Lines, the biggest single supplier of foodstuffs to restaurants, cafes, hospitals and other institutions and delicatessens within 300 miles of Blewitt City and that announcements in The Blewitt Morning Herald was followed less than a week later by Banking Direct advising the agency's board deputy chairman Lucille Rogers that it would grant a $2 million loan to Shep Advertising for restructuring. The bank was already a client of the advertising agency and had been so for almost fifteen years.

Shortly after that, the agency closed for business at noon on Friday for the relocation and reopened for business at noon on the following Monday in Magellan Towers under its new name of Shepherd Advertising & e-Business Design Agency.

A two-page spread about the new look advertising agency appeared in the business section of Saturday's Herald with company chairman, Bobbi's mom, announcing the relocation and restructuring and describing her daughter's 'leading edge' initiative from being an expert in e-Business, as spear-heading the unrivaled online business support for corporations, small businesses, Government agencies and service organizations. No mention was made about how Bobbi had suddenly acquired the knowledge and experience in advertising and new technology to have become an expert in e-Business. But the image painted by the feature looked impressive. Her father couldn't believe his eyes when he read the blurb on Saturday morning.

"Who's this guy Shepherd now involved in the company and where did Bobbi gain this sudden expertise?" were some of Harry Joyce's startled questions but his wife Pearl urged him to keep calm and to look at her photo and ponder whether her cleavage was diminishing because of advancing age.

Well, Stage One of her reconstruction plan was completed, Bobbi thought on Monday afternoon with the office almost under siege by the number of calls coming in from enquirers wondering about Shepherd Agency's supposedly magic formula for actually making online business worth the investment involved.

She looked at her engagement ring that Thomas had presented her the previous evening. She thought they both ought to have a great chance of making it in marriage this time because they seemed so compatible and were aware of the pitfalls. There was a good chance she could conceive providing those shots Thomas was able to deliver were fully charged.

Only time would tell, as was the case of her restructuring efforts she was delivering on behalf of her father. As it was said in business, the risk-takers were in line for the greatest rewards if the upsides went their way.

THE END