20 comments/ 16647 views/ 10 favorites Innocent Before, Guilty After By: Swilly Russ was looking down and watching as his cock disappeared into the leggy blonde on her knees before him, bent over, her ass high in the air to give him access to her hairless pussy. Her face was buried in a pile of pillows, and she grunted with each powerful stroke he took. He tried to keep himself engaged by tracing a hand down her trim waist to her wide hips. Grabbing them with both hands, he pulled her back on him aggressively, plowing deeper inside her. Liz moaned her approval, but Russ was rapidly losing interest. Sighing with resignation, he pulled his cock from her and flopped onto his back on the bed. "What the fuck? Why did you stop?" Liz groaned. "I was getting close." "This isn't working, Liz." "What isn't working, Russ? It seemed like it was working to me." "Us, Liz. We aren't working." "What are you talking about?" "What are we doing, Liz? We've been involved with each other for almost six months now, and frankly, there isn't much to us as a couple." Liz sat up on the bed and looked down at him, confusion showing on her face. "You're not making a lot of sense, Russ. We go to dinner, we go to movies, we go to plays, and we fuck like bunnies. That's what a couple does," said Liz with increasing agitation. Russ shook his head. "Christ, I sound like a woman," he said with a chuckle. "There really isn't much of a connection between us, Liz. I feel like you're a friend. A friend with obvious benefits, but still just a friend." Liz leapt from the bed and stood there with balled up fists, glaring down at Russ. "Fuck you, Russ. Just...just fuck you. All of a sudden, you decide we don't have a connection? Just what the fuck is that?" she screamed. "Calm down, Liz." "I will not calm down. I can't believe this. Did I just waste six months of my life for nothing?" "I've been thinking about this for a while now. It isn't as sudden as you think." "Why the hell didn't you say something?" "Liz, you're a beautiful, intelligent woman. I kept telling myself that I was just afraid of commitment, and I was being foolish." "And now you've decided that I'm not good enough for you?" screeched Liz. "It isn't that, Liz. It isn't about being good enough. You are a wonderful woman. That's a big part of why I kept trying to convince myself I was crazy to feel this way. If you sit here and ask me what's wrong with you, I won't be able to give you an answer. Because there is nothing wrong with you." "There's something wrong with you, then?" Liz queried. "I didn't say that, Liz. Look, I don't know what that little something is that clicks into place between people, but I do know it exists. I've felt it before. For us, at least from my perspective, it just hasn't happened. I don't think it ever will. It isn't fair to either of us to keep going like this." "I see," fumed Liz as she pulled on her panties. "Who is she, Russ. I mean, that's what this is about, isn't it? Who is she?" Russ sighed and rolled his eyes. "There is no she, Liz. This is about you and me." "Oh, bullshit Russell. Men don't dump a woman like me unless there is someone else involved. You're a fucking liar," she screamed. There were tears flowing now, and Russ got up from the bed. "Stay the fuck over there," Liz screamed. She grabbed the alarm clock from the dresser and hurled it at Russ, connecting with his shoulder. "Just leave me alone." Liz finished dressing and grabbed her jacket. "I'm going to tell you something, mister. I'm going to figure out who this bitch is, and I'm going to ruin it for you. I can't believe what a prick you are." With those words, Liz turned on her heel and burst from the room. She slammed the door as hard as she could on the way out of the house, and Russ sat alone in silence. Russell Abbott married young and was divorced by thirty. He had spent the previous five years chasing an array of women and bedding as many as he could. During the past year, however, he began to tire of it all. In truth, he had begun to mature. He wanted more out of a relationship than a blow job. He wanted a partner to share life with. At thirty six, Russ had become an adult. ********** Sheila swirled the wine in her glass as she looked across the table at her husband. She took a sip of the merlot before speaking. "This is a huge account for us, Dick. If we close this one, we'll reach twenty five percent of our revenue budget with one sale." "I still don't understand why you need to go on this trip. Mary is perfectly capable of handling this from the sales side, and Russ can certainly speak to the implementation end of things. You being there is redundant." "I don't really understand what the issue is, Dick. I want to make sure we put our best foot forward. That is me, not Mary." "There is nothing wrong with Mary." "No, there isn't. She is quite capable. But she isn't me," Dick. "You know it, and I know it. What's the real issue here?" Dick paused before answering, licking his top lip. "You like going on trips with Russ, don't you?" Sheila nearly spit out a mouthful of wine. "That's what this is about, honey? Dick, where do you come up with this stuff?" "You two have been traveling an awful lot together of late. So much so that I've begun to take notice." "You're quite aware of how well we are doing against our revenue projections, Dick. That has been the result of a lot of hard work by all of us. We need to travel in order to close business. It's my job, and it's Russ' job too." "That's very convenient for you both, isn't it?" Sheila gave her husband an incredulous stare. "Are you really suggesting that I have been having an affair with Russell Abbott? Seriously?" "I didn't say it. You did," snarled Dick. "This is ridiculous, Dick. I love you. Why would I risk that? Why?" "Oh, I don't know, Sheila. Russell is tall, handsome, outgoing, and funny. He is everything I'm not. Look at me. I'm a short, pudgy, balding man with little personality." "Dick..." "Stop. I'm not blind to how we compare." "Dick, you are the man I love," pleaded Sheila. "Please stop this now." "Right," Dick snapped as he motioned to the waiter. "Check please." Dick Ambery was the owner and Chief Executive Officer of a software integration company that specialized in customer relationship management systems. He was born into money, and had used that money to acquire, build, and sell companies at a profit. He seemed particularly adept at finding the talent he needed to turn marginal companies into thriving enterprises, and he was smart enough to stay out of the operations. Dick had met Shelia six years prior at a convention in Orlando. She was a rising sales star in a competing company. Rather than buying the competition, he courted and married their top sales person. Dick and Sheila often joked about how they got their start, teasing each other it was a business decision. Sheila was five years his junior, and only twenty five when they married five years ago. ********** Russ and Sheila met for breakfast in the lobby of the Copley Place Marriot in Boston. They went over their strategy for the meeting later that morning, making a few minor adjustments to the PowerPoint presentation. When they were happy with the result, Sheila saved the file to the hard drive and shut down her computer. Russ had been with the company for two years, delivering significant results. He had previously worked as a consultant in product development for several software concerns, providing him with an excellent understanding of how these systems worked and what they were capable of. After breakfast was finished, Russ handed the valet his parking ticket and walked outside to wait for the car. Sheila joined him a moment later, and they chatted while they waited. Noticing a bit of lint on the lapel of Russ' suit jacket, Sheila picked it off and brushed her hand over the spot a few times. Russ smiled and thanked her. The valet pulled up with the car, Russ handing him a couple dollar bills and making his way over to the driver's side. When they were both seated and buckled in, Russ began the half hour drive to the client's offices in Natick. Sheila was quiet during the drive, struggling to stay focused but drifting back to Dick's accusations in her mind. She was both sad and angry that he had insinuated a relationship with Russ that wasn't there. Furtively glancing at Russ as he drove, she found she did have to agree with Dick's point about his attractiveness. He WAS handsome, but not in a Brad Pitt, pretty boy way. He was a manly handsome, and his looks and demeanor promised just the right amount of danger. Sheila found herself blushing and had to stifle a giggle at her own expense. She pushed the thoughts away and focused on the upcoming meeting, mentally preparing herself for battle. After arriving at the client, Russ pulled the car into a visitor's space and walked into the building with Sheila. They were escorted into a conference room that held a long, light colored oak table and a dozen chairs covered with burgundy upholstery. "Mr. Jones will be in shortly," said the petite blonde receptionist. Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Water?" "Water would be great," replied Russ. "Make that two," Sheila added. The receptionist smiled and departed. Sheila connected her laptop to the projector and turned it on, ensuring everything was in working order. A moment later, the door opened and three men walked in. The apparent leader stepped over to Russ and held out his hand. Russ stood, taking the man's hand with a firm grip. "Bob Jones. Pleased to meet you." "Russell Abbott. This is my colleague, Sheila Ambery," Russ said, nodding towards Sheila. Bob reached across the table to shake Sheila's hand. "These two gentlemen are my head of operations and head of finance, Ed Strauss and John Nash." After a near comical round of hand shaking, everyone took a seat. The receptionist appeared with a tray of bottled water and some pastry, placing them in the center of the table before leaving the room. Sheila cleared her throat to garner everyone's attention. "We've prepared a presentation in response to your request for a proposal. Since you're seeking to upgrade all of your systems, this is a great opportunity for you to obtain the full benefit of such a change. We are proposing three different options for you, each with a different cost point and range of benefits." "Okay, let's see what you've got," replied Bob. Sheila got up and dimmed the lights, then started the presentation. Russ watched Sheila as she spoke. He knew she was angry that Bob had come over to him upon entering the room, even though she was the lead on this. She worked hard to achieve success, and did not care for being taken lightly because she was a woman. An attractive woman. Tall, with sandy blonde hair that fell to her shoulders and sporting a fabulous figure, Sheila downplayed her beauty as best she could. She wore glasses that she didn't need, nearly always wore her hair up, and her clothing and makeup were always understated and conservative. Some women used their sexuality to try to get ahead in business, but Sheila did not. She felt that once you played that card, you will never have the respect of the men you are doing business with. She was bright, intuitive, and personable. He thought, not for the first time, that Dick was quite a lucky bastard for landing this gem. The presentation took a little over an hour to complete, and Sheila opened the floor to questions once she had finished. "Thank you for the work it took to put that together," Bob said to her. "Three different platforms, three different options. The one thing I didn't hear is why we should use an integrator at all. Why wouldn't we just work with the software vendor for implementation?" "You can, and many people do," replied Sheila. Ed gave her a questioning look, and let out a sarcastic chuckle. "So why are you here then?" he asked with irritation in his voice. "Ed," admonished Bob with a grimace. "How about we let her speak?" "It's okay," said Sheila with a smile. "It's actually a very good question." "Our business is predicated on service. I will be truthful and tell you that this implementation is a significant project for our company. However, our bread and butter is ongoing support. A satisfied client will continue to work with us. That is a win-win for everyone. That is how both companies succeed." Bob nodded at Sheila. "Go on." "We have a team that is dedicated to your company. If you have a problem, you won't end up on the phone with a fellow supposedly named Todd, sitting in a cubicle in a foreign land, speaking a dialect of English that you can't quite understand." Ed chuckled at that in spite of his challenging attitude. "You will have direct access to members of your dedicated team, all day, every day of the year. We won't try to sell you modules that you have no need for. We strive for your trust, and we behave in a trustworthy manner to earn that trust. Of course, we will save you money on implementation too. Our billing rates are significantly less than the billing rates the software vendors will charge." John spoke up for the first time. "Wouldn't the software vendors understand the product better?" he asked. "Not really," Russ chimed in. "I worked as a development consultant for two of these companies. I was more involved in development than nearly anyone else in these companies. These folks move resources around as needed. That works for some things, but you end up with an awful lot of half knowledgeable people using that approach. I know what these systems can and can't do, and I won't lie to you about their capabilities." The question and answer period continued for about forty five minutes, and Russ shared some technical information with a member of the client's technology staff. Finally, Bob glanced at his watch. "I have another meeting coming up soon," he said. He reached a hand out to Sheila, and they shook. "I'm sorry I underestimated you," he said. Sheila smiled. "I hadn't noticed." "I thought you said you were truthful," Bob replied with a raised eyebrow and a grin. "You did a great job, and you know your shit." "Thank you, Bob. It was a pleasure." They all shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, and the receptionist guided Russ and Sheila back to the exit. The meeting had gone very well, and Sheila had to contain her glee as they walked to the car. Once they were seated, Russ started the engine and looked over at Sheila. "Damn. You did an incredible job in there. Hell, you even managed to pull a smile out of that grump Ed." "Thanks, Russ. We make a pretty damned good team, don't we?" "Seems like it. I'd be shocked if we don't get a green light on this one." "You and me both," responded Sheila. They drove back to the hotel making small talk, high on their performances. When they arrived, Russ gave the key to the valet, and he and Sheila went into the bar. They each ordered a celebratory glass of wine and sat at the bar to savor what they hoped would be a victory. "What time is your train back to New York?" asked Russ. "Not until seven. I made a late reservation in case we got caught up late." "Makes sense. I wish I was going back," said Russ with a wink. I have meetings the next two days. I'll make do. I think I'll have dinner in the north end tonight. I love the Italian restaurants there. Choosing which one is always the toughest part." "If you're trying to make me jealous, you are," quipped Sheila. "Never crossed my mind," chuckled Russ. "Well, as long as I'm here, I may take in a spa treatment this afternoon." "Decadent. I have some work to do, but I'm going to get a workout in, and maybe a swim." "Work will be there tomorrow, Russ. You should reward yourself today." "Maybe," Russ replied. He excused himself to use the rest room. While he was gone, a somewhat inebriated man approached Sheila, plopping down onto the stool next to her. "Is this seat taken?" he asked with a slight slur. "Can I buy you a drink?" "I have one," Sheila responded. "Well how about another, then?" He was leaning in toward Sheila, causing her to lean away from him. Russ returned at this point, sizing up Sheila's body language. He walked over to the other side of her and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. She had seen him approach from the mirrored wall behind the bar, and she leaned into him, happy that he had caught what was going on. "Are you ready to go, honey?" he asked, loud enough for the man to hear. The drunk looked over and nodded at Russ. "Sorry. I thought she was here alone." "I guess I shouldn't leave my beautiful date unattended. I'll remember that next time," Russ snapped. He guided Sheila out of the bar, his arm still around her waist. She giggled as they walked through the lobby. "Can I keep my bag in your room until I leave? I left it at the desk, but I need it if I'm going to the spa." "Sure. We'll ask for another key too." They approached the desk, and the clerk obtained Sheila's bag and provided them with another room key. They rode up the elevator and walked down the hall, and Russ opened the door, allowing Sheila to enter first. She tossed her suitcase on the luggage rack in the room, opening it and rummaging around for something to wear to the spa. She found what she was looking for, holding it up. "Can I use the bathroom?" she asked Russ. "Sure, go ahead. I'll go in after you." While Sheila was busy, Russ dug through his luggage and located his bathing suit, a t-shirt and athletic shoes. He replied to a few emails as he waited, and several minutes later Sheila emerged from the bathroom. She had let her hair down and removed the glasses, and was wearing black yoga pants and a workout tank. Russ had to will himself to look away, because she looked incredible to him. She gave him a smile and moved to the door. "Okay, toodles. Off to the spa," she said. "Have fun. I guess I'll see you before you leave, but if not, great job again." Sheila smiled again, and left the room. Russ changed into his gym clothes, grabbed a key, and left the room. He made his way into the fitness center, and as usually happened when he traveled, he had to make do with the limited equipment available to him. He worked out for nearly an hour, then walked into the adjoining pool area, grabbing a few towels and finding a lounge chair. He removed his shirt and shoes, then lowered himself into the pool. He started to swim laps, moving effortlessly though the water. He had been swimming for about ten minutes when Sheila appeared and took up residence on a chair at one end of the pool. She didn't realize that Russ was the swimmer, at least then. Reclining in the chair, she grabbed her cell phone and called her mom, discussing the trip and various other life happenings. As she spoke, she was mindlessly watching Russ swim, admiring his form, movement, and physique. She wasn't consciously doing so, but she was transfixed. Sheila finished her call and hung up, then glanced at the swimmer once more, this time conscious that she was leering. Damn, she thought. That guy is freaking hot! A moment later, Sheila blushed bright red when Russ climbed from the pool and walked in her general direction. He grabbed a towel from a chair a few spots down from where she was sitting. "How was the spa," he asked her. "Ah...it was fine," Sheila replied, half fumbling for words. Had he seen her staring, she wondered? "I think I'll take a swim myself," she said, standing and removing her cover up. Russ quickly glanced at her as she approached the pool. She was wearing a black one piece Speedo suit, and it looked wonderful on her. Sheila entered the water quickly, diving under the surface and swimming to the far end of the pool. She splashed around down there for a while, calming herself, before finally leaving the pool and returning to her chair. Innocent Before, Guilty After "I think it's time for the hot tub for me," Russ said. "Want to join me?" Against her will, Sheila blushed again. This is ridiculous, she thought. Nothing's happened. He has a nice body. Why am I being so silly? Damn Dick and his stupid accusations. "Sure. Might as well enjoy the few hours I have left here, right?" They settled in on opposite sides of the tub, hitting the switch to turn on the jets. A few minutes later, a couple arrived, looking to join them in the tub, and then a third person followed. Russ moved around and was now sitting next to Sheila, chatting about next steps with the client. She was engaged with the business discussion and had put the uncomfortable moments of earlier behind her. They went up to the room around four. Russ changed into jeans and a t-shirt first, then relinquished the bathroom to Sheila. She showered, dried her hair, and put on some makeup in preparation for her departure. When she was finished and packed, Russ went downstairs with her and helped her hail a cab. Flagging one down, he put her bags in the trunk. Sheila gave him a quick hug before getting into the cab. "Good work today, Russ. We have this. There's no way we lose this one." "Let's hope so," he said. The cab pulled away, and they gave each other a wave. Russ turned and headed for the T, figuring he'd take the train to the North End. He settled on Mother Anna's for dinner, and had mussels for an appetizer along with a delicious veal dish for his entrée. Adding wine, espresso, and tiramisu, Russ was stuffed when he left to stroll the north end. The remainder of the trip went well, and Sheila had received an email from Bob Jones that he was awarding them the contract. Russ returned to New York and began working on an implementation plan for their new client. Everything was great, or so Russ and Sheila had thought. On Friday of the next week, Dick's assistant called Russ and asked him to come see Dick in his office. Russ finished an email he was writing, and then strolled over to see what Dick wanted. He entered the office, and Dick asked him to close the door behind him and sit down. "What's up, Dick?" Russ asked. "I was going to ask you the same thing, Russ." "Well, you know we closed the Boston deal, and it's about seventy percent we will close another. That turned out to be quite a productive trip." Dick let out a nasty laugh. "Sure was. In every way, huh?" "Excuse me?" said Russ, clearly confused. "How long has this been going on with Sheila?" Russ looked at Dick as if he were crazy. "How long has WHAT been going on with Sheila?" "That's the way you're going to play it, Huh? Tell me Russ, are you really going to try to convince me that you don't find Sheila attractive?" Russ gave Dick an inquisitive look. "What is this about, Dick? Of course Sheila is an attractive woman. There's not a man in this place that doesn't think you've hit the jackpot with her. So what? I'm not alone there." "But you couldn't leave it at that, could you? You had to have her." "Listen, Dick. I don't have any idea what in the fuck you're talking about," said Russ, raising his voice. "You really pissed off that girlfriend of yours, Russ. Did you know that Liz actually paid a detective to accompany the two of you on that Boston trip?" Russ burst out laughing. "She what? Wow. I thought she was normal, but I guess I was wrong." "Oh, you were wrong," said Dick, pulling a letter sized envelope from his desk. He reached inside and pulled out a picture, placing it on the table. The picture showed Sheila with her hand on Russ' chest, and the two of them smiling. It was taken as they waited for the valet to bring the car, just after Sheila had plucked the lint from his jacket. "That is an out of context picture, Dick." "Oh? How about this one?" Dick asked as he took out a photo of Russ and Sheila clinking wine glasses in the bar. "Very cozy, no? Of course, it didn't stop there, did it? Oh, no." The next photo showed Russ with his arm around Sheila's waist, and several more as they walked out of the bar in that manner. "Did I mention the detective heard you call her honey?" "Dick, I can explain every one of these pictures." I'm sure you can," Dick said as he cut Russ off. The next picture showed them at the desk together, and the next showed them entering Russ' room together. Russ felt sick to his stomach as the pictures kept coming. The hot tub. Back to the room together. The hug as Sheila was leaving. The sheer volume of pictures told a story that was difficult to dispute, even though it was untrue. "I have never laid a finger on Sheila, Dick. This isn't right. Did you even talk to her?" "Oh I talked to her. Last night. Sheila has been served with divorce papers. She will leave this marriage just as she came into it, thanks to my prenuptial agreement. She gets nothing. Nothing. And she is out of a job. Not only is she out of a job, but I'm going to do everything in my power to see that she never works in this business again. Maybe she can get herself a job in a grocery store somewhere," Dick chuckled. "You're making a huge mistake here, Dick. I mean it." "No, Russ. You made the mistake. You and that slut soon to be ex-wife of mine. Needless to say, Russ, you're finished here too. No need to pack your shit up. That is being done as we speak." "This is crazy." "Get out Russ. Now. I don't want to see you on these premises again. Understand?" Russ could see that any discussion was pointless, so he got up and left Dick's office. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his door and walked out amidst a mad buzz going through the entire floor. ********** Sheila pulled the last cigarette from the pack, bringing it up to her mouth and lighting it with the disposable lighter. She exhaled a plume of smoke, then looked at the empty pack and shook her head. Eight years without a cigarette down the drain, she thought. Her sister Emily sat across from her wishing she had some way to make things better for her older sister. She shuffled through the pictures again and shook her head. "Too bad it isn't true, Sheila. You could certainly do worse than this hunk," said Emily, not quite joking. "Thanks, Em. That's not really what I need to hear right now." "Sorry." Emily shrugged. "What are you going to do?" "I don't know. Obviously, I need a job. Then I need a place to live. Then..." Sheila's words trailed off and she began to sob. "I just don't understand. Dick has always had a jealous streak, but nothing like this. Lately, he has gone over the deep end." "Napoleon Complex, Sis. It was bound to come out sooner or later." "Funny, Em." "I'm serious. Men can be so damned insecure." "I loved him. I still do. I just can't get over how he could believe I did something like this." "I guess you're a victim of a perfect storm of circumstance. What with Dick's insecurities, your business travel with an attractive man, and that crazy ex-girlfriend of his, you've gotten screwed without even getting screwed." "I'm still in shock." "I know. You're welcome here for as long as you need, Sheila. We'll get you back on your feet. Don't worry honey." "Thank you, Sis," said Sheila with a sigh. "I wish I could just have my life back." Sheila took a last drag on her cigarette, then stubbed it out in an overflowing ash tray. "I'm going to go take a nap, Em," said Sheila as she stood. Emily could hear Sheila sobbing as she cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. Her heart ached for her sister as she felt an anger burning inside her. This little prick needs to pay for this, she thought. And pay dearly. ********** Anger burned inside Russ as he pulled the weight from the floor, posting a personal best raw seven hundred pound deadlift. At least I got something out of being fucked over, he thought, realizing that he was able to turn that anger into performance. That thought began to take hold in his mind when his cell phone rang. Russ reached down and picked it up from the floor, deciding to accept the call when he saw the caller ID. "Russ Abbott," he said into the phone. "Russell. It's Bob Jones." "Hello, Bob. What can I do for you?" "I hear you and Sheila got yourselves in a heap of trouble over there, Russ." "Actually, Bob, we may be in a heap of trouble, but we certainly didn't do anything to get into it." "I heard some rumors," Bob explained. "You both got fired?" "Yes, we did. Evidently it seems that the owner of the company, Dick, who also happens to be Sheila's husband, came to believe that Sheila and I were having a fling." "She didn't strike me as the type to behave like that. She was all business." "She isn't the type, Bob. It's a bit of a long story, but I had an angry ex-girlfriend who hired someone to follow us around and take pictures while we were in Boston. It seems that she took a handful of them and painted a picture of infidelity that just wasn't true. She swore that there would be repercussions to my ending our relationship, but I never would have thought her capable of something like this." "I thought stuff like this only happened on reality television," quipped Bob. "I wish that was true, Bob." "Well listen, Russell. Let me get to the reason I called. We were ready to award the contract to you, but we're going to hold back for a while. It was you and Sheila I was impressed with. If you two aren't on the account, I'm not moving forward with that company. This isn't a rush thing for us. We can limp along with our current systems until you get yourself situated again." "I appreciate the vote of confidence, Bob. I have to tell you, though, that the longer you wait, the more revenue you'll be costing your company. I really think this implementation is going to help you immensely." "And that, my friend, is why I'm going to wait for you to get settled. It's rare to encounter that kind of honesty in the business world. It is rare indeed." "Well, thank you Bob. I'll keep you up to date on what's going on with me." "You do that, Russ," said Bob, hanging up the phone. Russ finished his workout, while the beginnings of an idea brewed in his head. He shaved and showered, then walked out to his car. He had yet to speak with Sheila, and decided that he should at least apologize to her. After all, it was Liz that caused this, and she was his responsibility to deal with. Fishing his phone from his pocket, he dialed Sheila's number. The phone rang numerous times, and Russ figured it was going to voicemail. "Hello?" "Sheila? It's Russ." "Oh, hi." "How are you holding up?" Russ asked her. "Not so good, Russ." "I'm so sorry, Sheila. I...I'm sorry that you got caught up in the shrapnel of my bad relationship." "It's not your fault, Russ." "Yes, it is. Well, I mean, it's actually Liz's fault, but you're an innocent bystander." "So are you, Russ. You can't control the crazy things other people do. Besides, it isn't your fault that Dick is so insecure that he was all too receptive to bullshit like this. I'm still in shock that the man I am married to had so little faith in me. It hurts, Russ," Sheila said, trying to stifle a sob. "I can only imagine," said Russ. "What are you doing? Where are you staying?" "I'm staying at my sister's house for a while. Drinking wine, smoking cigarettes, and crying. Very productive." Russ sighed into the phone. "Look, if there's anything I can do to help, I will." "Thank you, Russ. I guess I'm just going to need some time to mourn and mope before I get back on my feet." "Yeah. It would be nice to be able to speed time up, wouldn't it?" "I wish. Did you speak with that bitch Liz at all?" "No. Fuck her. She isn't worth my time and effort. At least I know I made the right decision dumping her from my life. The fact that she went through the trouble she did says an awful lot about her as a person." "Yes it does, Russ. I'm going to go. You keep in touch, okay?" "Okay Sheila. I'm sorry again." "Hush. Bye Russ." "Bye." ********** Sheila sat at Emily's kitchen table, mindlessly watching the smoke from her cigarette curl into the air as it rose up toward the ceiling. "Three months," she said to her sister. "One interview in three months. A salesperson at the top of her game, and no one even wants to talk to me?" "It's obvious that Dick has lived up to his name. He swore he would see to it that you wouldn't work again, didn't he? Clearly, he's doing it. You should sue his sorry ass." "With what proof, Em? With what proof?" Sheila stubbed out her cigarette, then immediately lit another. "Sheila. You need to stop. You are beautiful, smart and dedicated. You can do anything. Sitting around here smoking two packs of cigarettes a day and feeling sorry for yourself is getting you nowhere." "I guess you're right Sis. Well, at least I can say that my love for that bastard of an ex is gone at this point. It's evolved into anger. And at this point, hatred. I hate that bastard." Emily smiled at her sister. "That's a step in the right direction, Sis." ********** Russ was once again sitting across from Bob Jones at the conference room table in Natick. "I have a business proposition for you, Russell," Bob said. "I'm listening, Bob." "I want this project done, and I want you to do it." "I don't have the resources, Bob." "That's where the business proposition comes in. I'll provide the seed capital. I want you to build an organization and we'll be your first client. You grow the business, and we'll come up with a plan for you to buy me out when the time comes. As you've said in the past, win-win for everyone. Except maybe that prick Dick Ambery," chuckled Bob. "It's funny that you should mention it. I've already been considering just such a thing. I understand that Dick has already lost a number of annual maintenance contract renewals. If I can provide an alternative, I'm reasonably sure he would lose a bunch more." "Sweet revenge," winked Bob. "Let's just say that would be an added benefit," replied Russ. "It's not in my character to go out of my way to fuck anyone, but I won't lose much sleep if Dick takes a beating." "We have a deal then?" asked Bob. "We have a deal." They spent the remainder of the afternoon hammering out the details. Within a week, Russ emailed Bob a business plan and set of projections. After some back and forth, they had an agreement in place, and Russ worked with an attorney to create the company. Once the initial funding was received from Bob, Russ began to implement the business plan. He needed to start by building a staff. His first stop found him sitting across from Sheila at Emily's kitchen table. It was now three months since Sheila had admitted and accepted her hatred of Dick. During that time, she had pulled herself together, ending the smoking and self-pity. She decided that instead of fighting a losing battle, she would go back to school and prepare for a different career. Russ listened to her describe what had gone in her life over the past six months. It must have been hell for her, he thought. "I have a proposition for you, Sheila. I've been in contact with Bob Jones, and he has provided seed capital for a business venture. He wants me to build an organization that can implement that project for him. They would be my first customer, and we can build the business from there." "We?" repeated Sheila. "I'd like you to come work for me. With me. I'd like you to be my partner. Equity ownership." "I...I don't know what to say." "The thing is, I know there is a need for us out there. In case you didn't know, Dick seems to be losing both clients and talented employees to his competitors. I guess not everyone bought his story about us. Anyway, the point is that we can build something, and possibly even screw Dick in the process." "Oh my God," said Sheila with a smile. Emily put a hand on Sheila's shoulder. "Sis, if you don't say yes, I'm throwing your ass out on the street." "In that case," said Sheila as she reached a hand out to Russ. "I'm in." They shook on it, and Russ left the two women, moving on to his next stop of the day. "Wow," said Emily. "Wow, wow, wow!" "I'm a little in shock," admitted Sheila. "This is exactly what you needed, Sis. Ownership too? If only you had that with Dick." "I have so much to do," exclaimed Sheila. "There's only one question," quipped Emily. "Can you really work alongside Russ without dropping your drawers for him?" she giggled. "He is fucking hot!" "I have in the past, Emily." "You're a stronger woman than I am, Sis. I'll tell you that." "You're a nut, Em," Sheila said with a chuckle. ********** Russ and Sheila spent the next month building a team of people who immediately began working on the Jones account. They drew heavily on prior coworkers, drawing people from Dick's company as well as others that had already left. Dick was growing increasingly agitated that both employees and clients seemed to be leaving his company in droves. Russ was quite satisfied with the progress the team was making on the project, while Sheila had managed to close business on several new accounts and inked deals for a dozen annual maintenance contracts. Russ found himself spending more and more time working on new business development with Sheila. Because of the nature of the business, the company didn't need to acquire office space. Russ considered it a wasteful expense, because most often employees were visiting client's sites. Staff members were more than happy to work remotely from home when not engaged with a client. Whenever they needed to have a large group meet together, they either met at Russ' Centerport home that overlooked the Long Island Sound, or they arranged space at a conference center. Getting the business off the ground had consumed them both, leaving little time for anything else. Sheila was still living in Emily's home, but found herself spending less time there as the months went on. When they weren't traveling, Russ and Sheila worked out of his home. It was becoming increasingly common for Sheila to spend the night there instead of driving the forty minutes to Emily's house in Babylon. In fact, Sheila had taken over a closet in a spare bedroom, maintaining a small wardrobe and a bevy of personal items. Emily quizzed Sheila on a daily basis about her relationship with Russ. In truth, she often found herself daydreaming as they worked, admiring the way he carried himself and moved about. He had a quiet confidence about him, but at the same time seemed humble and nearly clueless about his attractiveness, making him even more appealing to Sheila. When he looked at her, it was as if his eyes bored into her soul, and it made her panties melt. To her frustration, however, Russ remained a gentleman. For his part, Russ was not immune to Sheila's charms. As time went on, he had found himself increasingly drawn to her. He'd watch her take off her glasses and lightly bite on the end of an arm when she was deep in thought, finding it adorable. In fact, Sheila had a number of quirks, and he found them all endearing. He spent far more time working than he ordinarily would have, because it afforded him the opportunity to spend time with her. As much as his feelings had grown for Sheila, he respected her enough to maintain distance between them. Of course, this was becoming an increasingly difficult task. During the evenings that Sheila stayed at his home, Russ often spent half the night staring at the ceiling, fighting his urges to go to her and wishing that Sheila would knock at his door. On a night in mid-January, a winter storm had descended upon the area. Snow was piling up fast in near blizzard conditions, and it was clear that Sheila was spending the night at Russ' home. They were working on a proposal for a new customer when Russ cut the conversation short. Innocent Before, Guilty After "You know what, Shelia?" Russ asked, interrupting her. She looked at him quizzically. "No, but I have an idea you're going to tell me," said Sheila with a grin. "We're taking the night off. We've been working nearly non-stop for six months. We need a break." "With this storm, it isn't like we can go anywhere, anyway." "We don't need to. I'm going to light a fire, and we can cook dinner and have some wine and relax. There will be no conversation about business allowed. What do you say?" he asked expectantly. "It sounds delightful," said a smiling Sheila. Russ positioned some logs on the andirons in the fireplace, adding some kindling. Within a few minutes, he had a blazing fire going, which threw light and heat into the room. He opened a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass, then settled onto the couch near Sheila. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to romance me, Russ." "Who says I'm not?" he asked with a wicked grin that made her giggle. "Emily has been torturing me about you." "How so?" "How so? Russ, you're an attractive man who has spent months by my side. I'm practically living here. Do you really think my sister isn't curious if something is going on with us? Who wouldn't be?" Russ took a sip of his wine and stared at Sheila long enough to make her blush. He decided it was time to stop being a gentleman. "Are you?" he asked Sheila. "Am I what?" she replied, trying to dodge the question. "Are you wondering is something is going on with us?" repeated Russ. "We haven't done anything." "That isn't an answer." Sheila was biting her lip and her breathing had become a bit labored as she stared at Russ. She tried to look away, but he put a finger to her chin and turned her face back toward him. "Is there something going on with us?" he repeated. "Yes," Sheila whispered. Russ put his glass on the end table and brought a hand to her cheek, then drew her in close, gently kissing her lips. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes, then leaned in for another kiss, then another, her lips parting and his tongue slipping past them, dancing with hers. Their kisses became longer, hungrier and bolder. His hands began to touch her, his fingers unbuttoning her blouse and pushing it back off one of her shoulders. Russ broke their kiss and nibbled his way down her neck, lower still, to the edge of her bra. Pulling the strap down over her shoulder, Russ freed one of her breasts, exposing the erect, light colored nipple to him. He gently bit it between his teeth, causing Sheila to take a sharp breath and grab his head in her hands. He used his tongue then, licking, sucking, his hand pinching her other nipple, still held prisoner in the bra. Sheila was moaning her approval, her hips gyrating slowly as she squeezed her legs together tightly, trying to get some stimulation on her needy cunt. Russ kissed his way down her tummy, opening the button on her slacks on the way down. He slipped onto his knees on the floor, between her spread legs, and pulled her slacks down and off. She lay back on the couch looking down at him, one tit exposed, breathing heavily, her black lace bikini panties the only thing between his full lips and her naked cunt. She prodded him with the heels of her bare feet as if she were spurring a horse. Needing no further encouragement, Russ pulled her panties down and off, tossing them aside. He nuzzled the neatly trimmed sandy blond bush with his nose, breathing in the smell of her before he used his tongue to part her lips. The taste of her exploded onto his tongue, tangy and pungent. As always, the taste brought out the beast in him, something primal and instinctual. He slowly fucked her with his tongue, licking her insides as he turned his head from side to side, nearly pulling out of her completely each time before thrusting back inside her. Sheila lay back, thrusting her hips and moaning, pinching her nipple with one hand, pulling at his hair with the other. She started to shake violently, months of sexual tension that had slowly built up erupting all at once as an orgasm wracked her body, her screams filling the room, Russ relentless until she pushed him away, able to take no more. He sat on the floor with her legs draped over her shoulders, watching her as she lay back and looked at the ceiling, catching her breath. After a few minutes, she looked down at him and smiled. "Wow. Where the hell did you learn to do that?" she joked. "I have never cum like that before in my life." "It must be the wine," Russ said with a smile. "That was a hundred and sixty bucks a bottle." "Ah. That must be it," replied Sheila as she sat forward. "Come up here," she beckoned. Russ rose and sat on the couch next to Sheila. She leaned over and kissed him while moving a hand down and grabbing his stiff cock through his jeans. She unbuttoned him and slid the zipper down as they kissed, then reached a hand down into his briefs, squeezing and stroking him, her fingers finding the head of his cock already dripping and slick. Pushing Russ back, she bent over and swirled her tongue around his cock head, tasting him for the first time. The taste made her hungry for more, and Sheila took him into her mouth. She slowly bobbed her head up and down on his stiff prick, stroking him with her hand and swirling her tongue around the glans. Russ held her hair back as he watched Sheila work on him, the sight exciting him as much as her ministrations. It didn't take long for him to start to thrust his hips in time with her movements, and with a grunt Russ exploded into Sheila's mouth. She didn't stop until she was satisfied she had drained him, finally releasing his cock and kissing it before looking up at Russ with a smile. Sheila stood and removed the remaining bits of clothing she still wore as Russ watched her. "I think it's time for bed, don't you?" she asked as she slowly walked toward the archway that led out of the living room. Russ yanked his pants the rest of the way off, and then followed Sheila into his bedroom, realizing that she had never before been in there. She was already laying on top of his bed, naked, arms and legs outstretched. Russ yanked off his t-shirt and climbed onto the bed between her legs, running his hands up the side of her thighs, her waist, and settled them on her tits. She looked up at him, feeling that his cock was once again hard and was resting on top of her cunt. "I want you inside me, Russ. Now. Please." Russ shifted slightly, then guided his cock into Sheila. He leaned back and watched as each inch disappeared inside her, and when he was in to the hilt, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her tight against him, causing her to grunt. He then leaned forward, laying his body on top of hers, and kissed her as they began to move together, slowly at first. In a flurry of kisses and nips and scratches and grunts and moans they carried on, growing more and more aggressive, an overly sensitized Sheila cumming twice before Russ finally finished, pounding her hard into the bed as he filled her with his cum. Spent, they curled up together and had the best night's sleep that either of them had enjoyed for months. In the ensuing months, they had repeated the night's activities many times over. It was on a sticky night in May that they were laying together, coming down from the high of another encounter. Russ looked over at Sheila, who was curled up on his shoulder. "Can I tell you something, Sheila?" "Do I have a choice, Russ?" said Sheila with an amused grin. "I have fallen head over heels in love with you. I want to build something here. Something more than just a business." Sheila sat up in bed and looked down at Russ, a sad smile on her face. "I've been thinking about us a lot lately, Russ." "I sure as hell hope so." "No, you don't. Russ, we just aren't working." Now Russ sat up as well, staring at Sheila with shock. "What do you mean we aren't working?" "You're a joy to work with. You're a ton of fun, and you're a great guy. You are, by far, the best lover I have ever had." "So..." "But my heart just isn't into it Russ. God knows I've tried. I've tried, but the friendship and sex just aren't enough. I've been in love before. This isn't it." Russ let out a huge sigh. "Just like that old Meatloaf song, huh?" "Kinda," said Sheila with an understanding look. "I'm sorry." "You don't need to be, Sheila. "I'd rather you tell me than live an unhappy lie." "Well, I am anyway," she replied. "I really am sorry." Sheila rose from the bed and grabbed her robe, wrapping it around her. She leaned over and gave Russ a tender kiss. "I guess I should sleep in the other room." She touched a hand to his cheek, then silently walked from the room, leaving Russ alone with his thoughts. ********** Russ watched Bob Jones from the other side of the conference room table. He had asked Russ to come up to Natick to discuss some important matters. Russ assumed Bob wanted to be bought out, and was prepared for the discussion. "I've had discussions with a few people about the business, and I've got a pretty good idea of what it's worth," Bob continued. "My best guess puts that number at around a million and a half dollars." "So you want me to buy you out for seven fifty?" asked Russ. "No. If you want to buy me out, you'll have to come up with one point five million," Bob replied. "What? That doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense, Bob. I've always known you to be fair. Why are you trying to screw me?" "I'm not. There's another player in this, Russ. It seems Dick Ambery wants to merge what's left of his business with this one. He's willing to pay a premium for the business. He'll buy us both out for three million." "Dick?" "Yup. Did you know that Sheila is back together with him, Russ?" "Yeah. I heard. She walked away from her stake in the business without asking for a thing. Dick asked her to come back, and she didn't hesitate for a second. I guess she never stopped loving that man," reflected Russ. "Love is strange, Russell. That's why you never shit where you eat, son. You best remember that." "I reckon so," said Russ. "So what do you say, Russell?" "I guess we should sell, then." "One other thing. Dick wants a non-compete clause from you. For the next ten years, you can't compete with him on the east side of the Mississippi." Russ paused for a moment, frowning. "Make the deal," he said. Bob stood and offered a hand to Russ, who grabbed it and shook on the deal. "You take care of yourself, son." "Thanks, Bob," said Russ as he left the conference room. ********** Russ took one last walk around the empty house, pausing to look out the bay window in the living room that looked out at the water. The sun was sparkling on the small waves and a few sailboats dotted his view. He was going to miss this place. A short while later, Russ was on a plane, rising off the runway at JFK and headed south over the ocean. He glanced out the window to his left, looking down at the island, watching the Atlantic Ocean lap at the shore. He loved Long Island, from the Queens line all the way to the Montauk lighthouse at the easternmost tip, from the rocky north shore to the sandy ocean beaches of the south, he loved it. All of it. The plane banked to the west, and the setting sun painted the few clouds in the sky a fiery orange-red color. They were beautiful, Russ thought to himself. The sense of sadness he felt was slipping away as each mile passed behind him. Heading west, as so many had before him, he began to find himself full of hope. And hope, just as much as air, food, water, and shelter, was among the most basic of human needs.