0 comments/ 11326 views/ 2 favorites Patiently Waiting for Marie By: egmontgrigor2010 CHAPTER 1 The three principals of nut distributors Billings, Jolliffe and Oliphant, their wide range of tree and in ground products marketed under the BJO logo, had just completed interviewing the three top contenders for selection as the company's replacement CEO. The previous CEO had absconded with an undisclosed amount of the company's money. A professional bounty hunter and had found him living in New Guinea with two women and she recovered all but $27,430 of the money and left him in a local jail waiting for charges to be heard against him for allegedly abducting two female hospitality hostesses. The whiskies were poured and the cogitation began, lasting the time it took the three men to all leisurely drink three fingers of undiluted single malt. "We have examined each applicant's merits, laying them open to the bone," Jeff Jolliffe sighed. "So who is it?" "I pick William Morrow." Herman Oliphant said. "And so do I," said Arnold Billings, removing a piece of wax from his left ear. "Wait up you two," coughed Jeff, the company chairman. After the former smoker's cough stopped he said, "Our Mr Morrow has only the second-best qualifications and he served two terms as a politician. Everyone knows you can't trust a politician. Furthermore we obviously agree that Mr Greenways is unacceptable because most of his experience has come via the IRS and everyone knows a taxman screws everyone." "Agreed JJ," Arnold said, "and to the reply to our question how many hours are day were they prepared to work, Mr Greenways said eight hours including an hour-plus for lunch, Mr Morrow said up to ten hours while the man with the outstanding credentials and experience, Mr Reeves, said for how many hours it takes." "Yes that was greatly appealing and I almost went for him," said Herman. "But he then laid down the conditions for that. He said he'd settle for nothing less than a million bucks starting salary and demanded our boardroom with its magnificent views over the city and harbor be converted into a company apartment for his exclusive use and because of his long work hours the company must provide him with women." "Yes, yes but why emphasis women when he made it quite clear that meant only one woman at the time," JJ said irritably. "What I didn't like was when he said he didn't want call girls and then had had the gall to suggest the pool of women for selection could include our wives, daughters and granddaughters. For heaven's sake, our granddaughters." "Some are of legal age," Arnold the director of imports and marketing said. "Yes," said Herman, director of administration, "and Jeff with you being director of finance and client liaison, it must occur to you that having our women in that pool could mean less trouble finding women for him and, as well, he is young and so is unlikely to want to choose our wives to take to bed and of course we should assume our daughters like being taken to bed." "Hmmm," said Arnold. "On the other hand it could rev our wives up if they all received a robust month or so of bedroom attention from this guy." "Well, we have exhausted our arguments and our whiskies have gone," Jeff said. "Which one is our preferred guy?" "Mr Reeves." "Mr Reeves." "And I go for Mr Reeves too. Bring him in Herman." * * * Nash Reeves (38) had worked as deputy CEO at a big trucking company since leaving the Army four years after competing service in the Middle East, retiring with the rank captain and specializing in the Army in logistics and he'd spent his last seven years as a member of a tactical development team. He was required to give his current employer two months' notice and that was timely because by then his apartment would be ready. That would involve conversion of the little used boardroom and the adjoining rooms wastefully used as storerooms. The directors had moaned that would be cramping them for space but Applicant Reeves had said why have a boardroom for just three directors when the chairman's office was plenty large enough for those irregular meetings. He said if they felt cramped for space they should look on the floor below their offices where there was a huge formal dining room scarcely used these days because most staff preferred to eat out. A small café would suffice. The three directors had looked at him as if wondering where his ideas had come from. Conversely, the applicant was of the opinion the entire place was a commercial museum, having been left practically untouched for thirty to forty years. He'd wisely asked what was the maximum he could spend on any one item without prior referral to the chairman. The board thinking he meant just on his company car set that figure at $25,000. Nash then said he'd be making some changes around the place, possibly big changes, to lower internal costs. Panic showed on the faces of the directors and they conferred and then announced he could change things on the first four floors of the building but not the fifth where their offices were. Any changes he thought of for their floor would have to be put to the board before a cent was spent on any proposed change. Nash had smiled and agreed and the partners relaxed. * * * Nash arrived at 9:10 on his first morning as CEO at Billings, Jolliffe and Oliphant and no one knew who he was. The three receptionists continued chatting about their weekend until Miss Harlow, the manager of HR, saw him standing there and shrieked, "Ladies this is Mr Reeves, our new CEO. The women ran into each other in their desperation to attend to him. "Miss Harlow, I waited three and a half minutes for service before you arrived and that is appalling. Please arrange to have these women fired." "Oh Mr Reeves, please. Omigod they have young families. Oh please," Miss Harlow said, looking at two of the women who were in tears and the third was so white-faced she appeared on the verge of fainting. "Very well Miss Harlow. I have listened to you. Please arrange for these women to have motivational training and issue them each with an official warning as a result of their misbehavior this morning." "Yes Mr Reeves but please excuse me: I don't know what motivational training is." "Then find out. Take me to the office manager please. I need to bawl her out over this before she take me around the offices." "Mrs Dempsey usually arrives a little late sir. She prefers to take her children to school herself because she doesn't think school buses are hygienic enough for her children." "Then please advise Mrs Dempsey if she cannot get to work in time she can resign her job here, where immediate effect." "But..." "Hush Miss Harlow. No bleating. I did say if she couldn't get to work in time. I'll make my own way around the offices unaccompanied. Actually I prefer it that way." Nash had to grin. Everyone in the offices he visited had their heads down working and when he approached each person then would look up and smile and say good morning Mr Reeves. At least the receptionists were efficient in getting everyone briefed. He stepped into the elevator behind a woman in a gray skirt outline a trim butt. He ran a hand down her flank. She spun around arm swinging to slap him but he caught the wrist in blinding speed and gently lowered her hand. She bared her teeth as if to gnash her teeth into his neck but heard him warn her not to bite. "Hi you are Jeff Jolliffe's daughter Marie." "How the devil do you know that you stalker?" "I'm the company's new CEO who is being paid to know almost everything. Your dad has your and your brothers and your mom's photo on his desk." "But you haven't been near here in two months, or so that is my understanding. Daddy has been worn out doing your job as well as his." "My contract starts from today. My contract with my previous employer terminated last Friday. I owed my loyalty to my previous employer until then, not to this company." "Well yes I really do know that. I'm and attorney, but most people don't act with that level of commitment. Please answer me how could you remember my picture two months after glancing at my face only once?" "Well during that glance I stood transfixed, believing I had glimpsed the most adorable female of our universe." She giggled and said god he was funny. "I'm Army trained and served in military intrusions into hostile territories overseas. It was part our duties to observe and remember things." "Oh that's very impressive." "Actually you have your dad's carriage and nose." "Oh god that nose," she giggled. "Don't get it altered. In ancient Rome you might have been mistaken for a daughter of the emperor." "Omigod, how can you make something as common as a nose sound so exciting?" "One gets a lot of thinking time in the Army. You civilians imagine we are killing people day and night." "Ah yes. Oh god the elevator hasn't moved or have you thrown the switch?" "The deal is you kiss me and like kissing me and I start the elevator. No tonguing." She giggled, hesitated, teetered and then stepped in and kissed him and appeared surprised her didn't grope. He just reached behind without looking and hit the right switch. "I've never said this ever about anyone but you are really amazingly interesting." Nash said authoritatively, "The first fifteen-second impression of anyone is usually the best impression. After that it's all downhill." She smiled and the elevator stopped at the 2nd and he stepped out and said, "Thanks for that gorgeous kiss. No doubt you will endeavor to meet me again." She smiled. It was morning coffee time when Nash reached the 5th floor. Jeff practically ran across the floor to greet him warming and then turning said, Nash may I introduce my wife Lily and my daughter Marie." "I have already met your daughter." Jeff looked very surprised. Nash looked at Marie and she looked back expressionless. Good god, she hadn't told her father that they'd met and how they'd met." "Oh pardon me, that's possible my mistake. I'm always meeting beautiful women but not this beautiful and you are a great looking woman as well Mrs Jolliffe. I'm pleased to meet you ma'am. I believe you are wearing Love Intention Purple?" "Good god, how do you know that?" "Army officer training ma'am." "Oh you are so bright, not at all what I expected. Please call me Lily Mr Reeves." "Oh please call me Nash." "And what do I have on Nash?" "Your mom would hope underwear." She almost hissed. "What perfume am I wearing?" "Ah this is difficult. I need to bend over and almost touch the frontal base of your neck to inhale a full sample." "Go ahead. But you won't get it." The test was done. "Well?" "No I don't know. It's one of the newer ones." "Well guess." "Ricci Ricci." "Omigod you are good." "But it's not Ricci Ricci is it?" "No," she giggled. "Well enough of this. Let's have coffee with the guys and their wives in Nash's new apartment. It was signed off last week. We are very impressed and we all want it Nash but if you put new vitality into this company, we will all agree you right to occupy our little palace will have been well earned." "Come through and take my arm Lily. I guess you don't have to prove your position to the other two wives but it never hurts to reinforce position." Lily clutched his arm and said happily, "Young man I wonder if you know too much for your own good." They all laughed, Lily and Nash leading the way. His first impression of his apartment, which it's entrance alongside a newly renovated service elevator that could be accessed night or day from the secure basement car park, was utter delight. The company had spent big on the conversion, incorporating latest developments in apartment fit-outs. "Christ Jeff, this looks amazing. "Well it cost us a pretty sum," he smiled. "We expect you'll be worth it." "Oh my," Lily said, looking around slowly and then she waved and called, "Hi girls." After the introductions Jeff made a short speech of welcome to Nash and he replied. And then Jeff handed over to his two fellow directors. Herman's wife handed Marie a bouquet of flowers and Herman said, "Jeff's daughter Marie came to our rescue three months ago when we lost our CEO. For those three months she has worked for us five days a week from 7 am to noon, carrying much of the minimum workload of a CEO apart from such things as leading forward planning, refining the business plan and marketing plan and drafting those new plans. The directors took over those responsibilities." "Somehow we got through and we are aware coming to us each morning would cost Marie a sizeable portion of her billings because she had to farm out some of her work and we cannot make up for possible displeasure of her clients and even the loss of some of them. But Marie saw her father was in distress, being unable to secure an appropriate fill-in person other than accountancy people and so, having worked in this company after school as a high school student and then as a college student before she went on to study law, she stepped in at her suggestion and performed amazingly well and for a part salary that we know fell well short of her professional earning capacity. Thank you for your wonderful contribution in our time of need Marie." "Thank you Mr Oliphant for those kind words and I really appreciate these flowers. I had no option to come here when I began to notice the stress that was beginning to grip my father. I though this would never do; and I knew what I had to do. I must admit in terms of what I feel I achieved here in my stopgap role and preserving my own business by working late into evenings, I producing satisfying results all round. It was a pleasure working here in an executive role and thank you everyone for working with me so cooperatively." After the polite applause Arnold stepped forward and said, "Marie step back here please." Arnold said, "The directors of this company have decided to reward you with a bonus. Please accept these keys. You father mentioned that in the lead up to your divorce there were large debts and you had to sell your lovely car as part of the divorce settlement and since then you have driven an ailing vehicle that is no credit to you. Marie and everyone please look down from this window and see what these keys are for." The small group joined Marie and Arnold at the windows and saw a sedan bedecked in flags and balloons. No one else in the company drove a vehicle decorated like that. Arnold said proudly, "Marie please accept from the directors of this company a quality vehicle. It is a new Infinity 6-cylinder FX 35 loaded with extras. Enjoy it dear girl." Crying happily Marie hugged and kissed all three directors. Everyone then toured the apartment, Nash paying the closest attention, and they had to ease by the three people in the kitchen who were about to start serving a 4-course meal for the group as partly a farewell to Marie and a welcome to the company's new CEO. It was a fun evening as everyone was out to enjoy themselves. Jeff and Nash later stripped off the decorations before Marie, who'd only had two drinks, prepared to drive off. She kissed her father and then waved to Nash who said she must come and socialize with him sometime. She laughed and waved without answering. Nash put his arm around Jeff's shoulders as they walked back inside. "My apartment, that car, you do things in style Jeff." "Thanks buddy. Now lets get a look at this special whisky. The women know they have to drive home. Oh you must get your own vehicle. You may go up to $60,000 on my decision. Anything higher then you pay the difference." "Thanks buddy." CHAPTER 2 The receptionists snapped to attention at 9:10 on Day 2 when Nash came down to the foyer and chorused, "Good morning Mr Reeves." "Hi Mega, Verity and Mia. My this is an improvement." He pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back and said they were for their counter. "I have instructed Supplies to provide you with a suitable vase and to order delivery of flowers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and you may take turns at taking the flowers home on Friday evenings if they are still looking good." "Thank you Mr Reeves. We feel appreciated," Verity the senior receptionist said. And then Nash struck. He'd asked the office manager for a list of people in the company with personal assistants because the company appeared to have a large number. He found even assistant managers had PAs. He instructed Mrs Dempsey to email a directive on his behalf that everyone in the company, apart from the three directors who shared a personal assistant/receptionist, was to file a report to the CEO thoroughly justifying their retention of a PA. If they thought they could do without one they should say so. If they thought they should trial without one they should say so. If they thought they could share a PA they should say do. PA's not required would be given the opportunity to resign and accept a golden handshake or the alternative was to be made redundant. Needless to say there was bedlam within the company when that memo was fired around. Nash wisely left the building to purchase a car and to begin buying furniture for his apartment. By agreement with the company, furniture and furnishing were his financial responsibility and would remain his property. He called Lily Jolliffe after he left the office and asked if she would be his consultant to choose furniture. "What today?" "Yes, from 11:00 would be fine." "So you happily assume I have nothing else better to do and have no other arrangements?" "What I assume is you'd tell me if that were the case." "Oh." "You may care to bring another decisive person as a chaperone." "I don't require a chaperone. Why aren't you inviting Marie to do this? It seemed to me you are attracted to her." "Good spotting but this only is her second day back working a full day. I have brains Lily." She laughed and said good thinking. Marie would be up to her neck in work. "Think where we can go for late lunch. It will be on my personal credit card." "Good boy. I can see you know how to treat women. Some guys would only offer a hamburger." "Oh a hamburger. I hadn't thought of that." They laughed and Nash said he'd call for her in his new car if he could settle on a drive-away purchase. He got Lily's address. Nash said to the salesman who approached him, "Okay let's talk a deal of this red sedan for me to drive away the minute we settle." "We'd have to do a pre-delivery check." "Hasn't that been done on this vehicle? It's done some miles as a demo." "Well yes but not for the new client." "Let's go and see your boss. I don't want a test drive as I've had an earlier 5 Series and if I find anything wrong with it I'll bring it back." Nash negotiated what he considered a good deal with the manager at the BMW dealership. The guy didn't know Jeff Jolliffe but knew Herman Oliphant as they were in the same Rotary Club and so the manager got Herman to fax through a company order and the deal was finalized. The deal included Nash returning the vehicle within the next two weeks for the complimentary pre-delivery check. The fuel tank was filled and he was waved off and had plenty of time to purchase a heap of kitchenware and arrange for its delivery before he went to pick up Lily. Two nights later Marie called that she was waiting to come up. Nash pressed the release to give her access into the car park and he also pressed the release for the service elevator, having told her where to find it. She arrived and went to kiss him but hesitated. He stepped in and kissed her on both cheeks. She smiled nervously. "Mom insisted I call around and see if they was anything I can do to help." Patiently Waiting for Marie "There's plenty to do." Nash checked the time and it was just after 8:00. "Have you eaten?" "No I've just come from work." "Crazy hours plus irregular eating and sleeping can eventually kill even a strong person." "I know. I caught up heaps today. Two weeks ought to see me back to normal." "Right get juice or white wine from the fridge. Red wine is cupboard on left above the bench top. I hustle us up chicken pasta with cheese, a bit of onion and mushrooms, okay?" "I'll cook it." "I offered first. Scared I can't cook eh?" "Oh I'm sure you can do anything." She'd poured her wine. He told her to come over a give him a decent kiss. She kissed him, almost affectionately he thought. "I'm a divorcee." "Yes so I heard. Over it yet?" "It could take years." "I suggest not if you engage in a full out affair." Marie lowered her head and said the theory was fine but who wanted a divorced woman." "Don't make me kick your ass until you drop that woe is me position Marie." "You can't talk to me like that." "I just did, remember." "I'm going." "Please stay Marie. If you don't it probably will be the end of us." "What?" "Your mom has figured out I'm a little soft on you. She told me. Why else do you think she suggested you come here and help me settle in?" "This is lovely wine." "Yeah I agree. I've finished my wine. Pour me a wine please honey." "Don't call me that." "Okay providing you give me some damn good reasons why I shouldn't." She thought while pouring the wine while he got the chicken going in the skillet and had the pasta staring to boil and set the timer. Marie came with the wine. She sighed and said, "You calling me honey is okay." "You know I know fuck-all about pure psychology but I've had extensive training on psychological warfare and also train in interrogation techniques so it took in some of that stuff, quite a lot I suspect. Just allow me to handle you my way. Don't fight me, huh? "I don't want you attempting to control my mind." Without looking at her Nash turned the browning chicken and fished out the two rashes of bacon he'd started earlier, chopped them at great speed and had the small pieces back into the before they had time to lose much heat. Marie appeared impressed. "I am unable to control your mind significantly. All I can do is to try to help you adjust your thinking to get you out of this post-divorce hole you've fallen into. Everyone knows being shot at is traumatic but they don't realize something like divorce can be traumatic and that can last long after the court has done the deed." "Jesus I've learned. Oh how I've learned that." Nash clinked his wine glass against hers and said, "Hard to believe you'll be a better person after your divorce isn't it, I mean in terms of maturity?" "Please don't attempt to load me with that bullshit." "Easy Marie. Try to maintain constant calmness but don't worry if you do blow occasionally. Now where were we about sex?" "We were nowhere and you damn well know it," she said calmly. "Oh sorry. What I was going to suggest is that we should allow our relationship to meander for say a month before we contemplate having sex." Marie said struggling, "What is this about OUR relationship?" "It really began from tonight don't you think?" "That is nonsense. I'm here on the whim of my mother." "So you didn't want to come?" She considered that. "I didn't say that. The truth is I was interested in how this place looks with furniture in it and some paintings on the wall..." "You may help hang paintings and mirrors after dinner. So tell me how do you think a relationship starts?" "All right you win. We appear to have started a relationship of some kind and already a couple of times it had almost severed because of your audacity." "But it didn't severe?" "No." "That's saying something. But enough of my questions and now tell me about yourself Marie Jolliffe." The body language and facial expression suggested a revolt was in the making. But then the bell went indicated the pasta was ready and Marie felt obliged to say the chicken was beginning to catch. "You get the chicken while I drain the pasta," he said and she obeyed and said, "Mmmm. Lovely smells." And for that moment at least Marie was not in negative mode as a struggling divorced woman. As requested, Marie talked about herself through dinner and while they cleared away and as they hung three of the pictures, one a print, one a photograph and the third an excellent quality water color by a local artist. They were having coffee at almost 11:00 when Nash said, "How are you finding your new car?" "Oh I like it. It looks so stylish." "It looks so much like part of you?" She giggled and said she could restyle herself but alas her car was doomed to retain its basic appearance. "It will be safe in the lock up if I stay the night won't it?" "Yes." "Omigod did I just say that?" "Yes but keep calm. That's just you taking another step toward breaking truly free." "Yes quite right."' "Where do you wish to sleep?" She looked very calm when she said, "You decide." "You should sleep with me." "That could lead to sex. You did say we should wait a month." "Indeed I did but that was my point of view. Now that you are aware I don't care a fuck you have the tag of divorced woman, you may have developed a hugely compatible and sexually aroused feeling toward me." "You have the mind to become a great attorney." "Heaven forbid." They laughed and she said, "Let's go to bed." Nash couldn't fault that suggestion although he accepted he must be careful. Marie was helpful. As they kissed before walking off she said she ought to be okay because over past months she had used a dildo. "Right." "I mean I shouldn't be tight or dry." "Right." "Say something." The words were ready. "Perhaps we ought to indulge in plenty of foreplay to get you relaxed, hot, lubing well and your cervix retracted." "You seem to know a lot about sex for a guy." "I become very interest in most things I do." Alas, in the short walk to the bedroom doorway something apparently began to change for Marie. She looked in at the bed, stopped abruptly and scrubbed her hands up and down on her flanks and she blurted, "I'm sorry I'm not going through with this." Nash, his patience taking a big hit, forced a laugh and said no it was fine and asked what did she wish to do, suspecting what the answer would be. "I must go to my apartment." "Okay let's gathering your things and I go down with you and wave you off." As Nash watched the doors come down and the car move away slowly he muttered, "You poor stupid bitch." He felt like punching something but expelled deeply instead, just as he'd trained to do to 'put a lid on it'. Nash jerked off in the shower and felt calmer. Within ten minutes he was asleep, oblivious to what might be rushing through Marie's mind. Late morning next day the receptionist to the executive floor, known as the 5th Floor called him. Nash had not appointed a PA. "Mrs Jolliffe is here to see you accompanied by two other ladies." Prison officers to take him away for the mental abuse of Marie? Nash had to chuckle. "Hi Lily," he said, kissing her. The fact she actually pressed forward a tad rather than jerk away told him Marie had not delivered an emotional outburst to her over last night. "Girls this is the guy we are here to serve," Lily said a little pompously. "Nash this is Clara Murchison, a long retired design consultant and Nash this is Felicity Sharpe, a not so long retired color and décor consultants. We three went through college together although we are becoming somewhat hazy about those days. Now that all purchases of immediate things to make yourself comfortable plus a few knickknacks are here, I felt we must arrange everything studiously to achieve the right flows. If you don't like anything where we have place it then move it. We have brought lunch and you are invited to join us at 1:00." "Gee this is amazing and what a great team you guys appear to be," Nash grinned wondering if Felicity was the mother of the younger Felicity Sharpe, the gorgeous promotional manager of the city's Cultural Events Center. It would be rude to ask and to have the mother say oh no, her daughter looked nothing like that Felicity Sharpe with her Miss International looks. The office manager Mrs Dempsey had been up to collect the responses about the retention of PAs for processing and said not a word about the uproar throughout the building from near hysterical PAs about the uncertainty of retaining their jobs and Nash knew she would have been taking the complaints full-bore. "Mrs Dempsey may I call you Della and you call me Nash? I believe your first name is Della." The tough-faced, tough attitude woman was totally taken aback. Nash said smoothly, "I'm not sorry I bawled you out over punctuality on my first day here but what I want to do is to compliment you for the manner in which you coped with that verbal assault. In the Army we found frontal attack over unpunctuality was the only method that produced instant solutions with offenders. The only other alternative was to shoot them." "I'm not sure I would have taken a bullet so stoically Nash." They laughed. "I've checked out your personal file Della and there's nothing in it but evidence of top professionalism in management. You're a good woman to have working here." "Thank you sir, I mean Nash." "Very good. I take it staff particularly females are curious about the new apartment." "Yes Nash, very much so." "Well could you please invited all line managers and that includes you of course, to come to the apartment at 5:00 if they wish and take a drink and walk around the place. I'm afraid viewing invitations do not extend below line managers." "That's understandable. I shall issue the invitations on your behalf and organize light catering. I believe we ought to make this something of an occasion to engender mutual goodwill. Your reputation around here goes something like this: "He's very good looking but God he sure acts like he's still in the Army." "Omigod," Nash said. "That possibility of earning that mantle never entered my mind." "Well I wouldn't rush to dispel it Nash. If you hadn't gained that reputation your memo over PA justification would have come close to producing a revolt whereas everyone has been thinking and scribbling like mad while only bad-mouthing you." "And you believe that's good?" "Oh yes. Everyone knows we know have a real commander in charger of this outfit." "May I kiss your forehead?" "Yes of course." Nash touched her forward with his lips and said, "Thank you for helping to put my mind into proper perspective about this outfit as you call it. You must understand I have rather a jaundice view about the genteel culture that pervades this outfit, er this commercial establishment. Thanks to you I now see that the kick ass approach must be used alongside plenty of velvet glove in this ye olde environment if it is to be changed successfully." "Thanks. You are a complex and interesting, very interesting character Nash and good luck. You'll need if major change is envisaged. For a start you are up against three with the directors whom you may find bask in their comfort zones. I must be off and work with my assistant manager to process these reports expeditiously so that you can attend to fermenting uncertainty. Jennifer fears assistant managers will be next to be hung up on hooks. At a better time I must talk to you about introducing six monthly performance reviews. The directions have knocked back my recommendations to introduce performance reviews three times in six years." "Well things have changed. Can you introduce it and keep additional expenditure below $25,000 in extra expenditure?" "Yes if it were introduced progressively. It entails using an outside consultant and as team leader he or she will be heavier involved initially than in future occasions." "Then promise me will keep the consultancy fees and other costs below $25,000 and there will be no need to refer the project to the directors. I will simply advise them the project is underway." "So you are permitted to got up to $25,000 on any new expenditure without reference?" "You are very smart Della. Rip into the project but consult with me fully. No way do I wish this to misfire." "Yes sir. May I kiss your forehead?" "Yes." Nash felt the lips just touch his skin. She asked, "Um why the forehead and not the lips?" He grinned and said because it tended to inhibit carnal thoughts. Della grabbed the reports and was still laughing hugely when leaving the room. Nash watched her ass through the door and thought that meeting had gone exceedingly well. He and Della were now relating well and tactically it was very successfully because she would now work at improving the somewhat distorted view some people within the company might have. Er did have. At 4:30 that day fifteen PA's tearfully assembled in the meeting room where the head of HR and Della the office manager announced the services of those women were redundant to the company's new change of direction in administration. The hapless women were then told about their exit options. Della announced there were three immediate opportunities in clerical work with another two or three coming up but the highly paid PAs facing termination indicated no interest in those positions. "Does Mr Nash require a PA?" asked on of the women. Fifteen pairs of eyes focused on Della. "No sorry. I have been instructed to leave the PA station in place because it will be used occasionally when assistant is required. The assistant is to come from the secretarial pool." "Those people will be under skilled." "I've explained that to Mr Nash but he said secretarial workers in his company had to be fully up to speed or else they would ship out. Those were his exact words," Della lied. "God this company is going to the dogs," one of the women sniffed. "We are better out of here." In an incident that appeared to evolve like something from a Hollywood movie, a beautiful woman walked into Nash's office, the face of the distraught receptionist showing over the women's shoulder. "It's okay Janice. I'm always prepared to see visitors who arrive at the start of cocktails time." "Hi Mr Reeves. Mommy told me I must come and see the work she and her girlfriends did on your apartment."' "Why Miss Sharpe, welcome." "It's Felicity. Actually my name is Mrs Felicity Buckle but my husband and I agreed I should continue calling myself Miss Felicity Sharpe because I became so well known in amateur theater and especially in skating with that name and now that I am in professional promotion work that name is even more value to me." "Would you like to call your husband to tour the apartment with us?" "No he's away somewhere. I didn't take much notice where he said he was going. Being handsome and something of a hunk he earns huge money leading parties of Asian women on tours of the country." "Then you can stay for dinner?" "Oooh I'd like that but I can't cook." "But I can." "Wow and do you drink cocktails?" "A maximum of two before I switch to wine." "Oooh what more could a girl ask for? There must be one other think but it's right off my mind?" "I guess it will come back to you over time. Let's get that quick tour out of the way and then I'll haul out my cocktail book." "Oooh Nash. Your hospitality is simply amazing." God what an amazing difference to the woman who visited three nights ago, Nash thought, dabbing away some drool. However if she kept on like this, just a few hours of her company would becoming rather too much although when fucking she might cease talking. Yeah that would be a great way to modify her behavior. He assumed she did fuck carrying on the way she did. She did. When oohing and aahing her way through the apartment Felicity sat and bounced on the bed and said, "You know darling I'm feeling really lonely tonight." Yeah well there was a time for everything. He laughed and pulled her up from the bed and neatly sidestepped as she attempted to slam into him. In the same movement he swiveled her around by her hand and they were back facing door again. "What happened?" she asked vaguely. "Didn't you want a cocktail?" "Oh yes, that was mentioned wasn't it?" Much later when they were back in the bedroom and Nash's ears were ringing from almost nonstop mindless and high-pitched chatter she said, "Drop your pants and let me see what I have been holding on to? Surely the evening had to get better. He obeyed his commander and pulled off his pants and briefs. Nash wasn't aware Felicity's mom procured men, usually married man, for her daughter's pleasure with Donald being away so much. He was also unaware that Felicity liked to tease. "Omigod that's a solid piece. It should be in the Smithsonian in Canada." "Don't you mean Washington?" Nash said sternly and she giggled, really enjoying herself. "Please undress me." Well there wasn't much to do. Nash jerked off her shoes and eased her out of her dress and decided to leave on her hold-ups and that was it. She had a great body and he went for it and thankfully the chatting stopped. And then the constant groaning began and got to him. She groaned even when he wasn't touching a sensitive part. He speculated the poor woman must have been fucked so many times over the years she'd lost all feeling of sensitivity and was simply adlibbing. He rolled on a rubber and he banged her and had her squealing and dribbling and her tongue was busy licking and her mouth sucking and that was good. No words, no groans. He rolled on a new condom and she pulled up on to her knees and spread her butt cheeks for him, saying nothing but dribbling excessively it appeared. She was like many Army nurses and female officers. Um to put it politely it was simply a matter of pushing straight in the butt rather than working slowly. As he began stroking she squealed on and on like a stuck pig and was thrashing her clit like crazy and then for the first and only time she climaxed whereas he'd to ejaculated four times and they were big ones. "Could you take me home now? I'll stuff myself with paper towels." Good gracious. Actually she only partly inserted one paper towel. Her apartment was not far away and as he was about to leave she leaned through the car window and gave him the best kiss he'd received in years. "Good night darling. Mom knew you'd fuck well. Perhaps we might do this again?" "Yeah, yeah," Nash said, making sure he head was out of the window before accelerating away. Shaking his head he thought peace at last. That woman probably could service a full strength company of soldiers by herself and just yawn and douche. Or was that being unfair? CHAPTER 3 The next day after his bout with Felicity, Marie called Nash. "I'm sorry." But the time he'd struggled for a suitable reply she'd cut the call. Nash was tempted to drop it but he believed he had a duty to fuck her and see if that would push her into a big leap forward. Yeah like screaming happily she wanted to be fucked again. He smiled and thought it was unlikely after months skirting depression she would be a good fuck. Guys tended to think that's what women do and they found it difficult to accept when they found a woman who couldn't fuck well and even worse, a woman who simply didn't like to fuck. He grinned and though what many women would know there were guys who couldn't fuck for shit, er he wasn't quite meaning that. He went out to the receptionist and handed her the address. Patiently Waiting for Marie "Oh that's the apartment of Mr Jolliffe's daughter." "Yeah spend this on flowers for her for delivery at 8:30 this evening. She appears depressed." "That all of this?" "Yeah is my money, not the company's." "God what I'd do if receiving three hundred bucks of flowers from an admirer," said the recently married young woman a little recklessly. Nash eyed her and wonder well exactly what would you do honey? Jeff strode into Nash's office early next morning his face dark as thunder. He was waving a long email. Nash's phone when and he saw the caller was Marie. "Hi Marie did something arrived for you?" "Yes for me. Flowers. I was swimming in them last night. The guy took several trips to bring them all in." "I won't mind if you decided to give some to friendly neighbors. I just wanted to make an impact so you'd keep on thinking about me. I'm in a meeting. Bye." "Bye you lovely man." "Are you sniffing round my daughter?" charged Jeff, diverting from his mission. "If I were, would you object?" Jeff scratched under an armpit and said grunted no. "She hates men these days and that almost includes me simply because I represent the enemy. Initially we took her to two different psychologists but she refused to cooperate and both were female." "This is bad Jeff. She ought to have been out of the hole long before this." "What hole is that?" "Never mind. I managed to get my hands on her the other night and she was cooperative and smiling and suddenly her lights went out and then she was gone." "Yeah she'd been like that for eighteen months. All I can say is those mood swings are now far less frequent. She loses it and just shuts down. Well I best get back to my office." "Weren't you here to rant at me?" "Yes it was over this," he said tossing the email on to Nash's desk. Since you are scratching attempting to possibly become my son, I best go easy on you. One screaming Jolliffe at a time will be enough for you. Oh by the way my wife is in love with you." "I promise not to have sex with her." "Yeah be a good Asshole." It was an all-staff memo from Della advising that the new CEO had approved the introduction of six monthly performance assessments, with small upward salary adjustments for the highest rated performers while all others would remain on existing salary levels. Jeff stopped reading and called Jeff who was on a call. He got through with the next attempt. "While I have you in a good frame of mind about me, do you really want us to drag the introduction of productivity assessment in four stages?" "Ah you cunning swine. So introduction of four stages keeps each wave of expenditure under $25,000." "Clever boy Jeff." "Staging will probably load extra dollars on to the scheme. Well it appears almost everyone at the club where I lunch introduced the system years ago. I'll send you a memo now authorizing full introduction ASP." "Thanks pal. I best not cut your club membership. It appears we do get some benefit from the fraternization of old billy goats." "Goodbye Asshole." When Janice delivered the signed memo with a copy, Jeff raced down to Della and found her in the middle of the main admin office. Casually he handed her the copy of Jeff's authorization. She shrieked "Omigod," causing everyone who wasn't looking at them already to look up. Della leaned heavily against the boss and kissed him on the mouth. "Omigod," Della groaned, stepping back and realizing what's she'd just done in a moment of mad professional passion. "It's okay everyone. Della has just learned she's to have the overdue baby she's always wanted." Nash left Della standing red-faced in the middle of the huge room with her people clapping and calling out congratulations, unaware her over due 'baby' was the project she's set her heart on introducing as a progressive advance for the company. She attempted to explain her delight but when her people found it was only a reference to the dreaded performance assessments, their interest dropped like a lead balloon. At 5:30 next day Nash was reading the HR manager's report that termination of the fifteen PAs would save the company $678,400 in salaries over the next 12 months, it was possible some of the people no longer with assistants might leave claiming they were being overworked and that could result in an expensive replacement program. On the other hand the terminations had indicated that some people had been given assistants simply because they asked for assistance and not realizing the need for assistance occurred only at peak periods. Pattie Harlow also noted she and Della the office manager were working together to develop what they were calling a 'hot response pool' of secretaries who could cope with one-off demands for their talents. Nash nodded approvingly and looked up to find Marie in a stunning red dress leaning against the door jam studying him. "Oh hi, looking for a job?" She smiled and folded her arms under her breasts while still leaning, emphasizing her upper curves. "I have finished a file after working on it all afternoon and was about to start another one when I thought why not stop, go out and buy a new dress in an attempt to turn myself into a reformed woman and then invited Mr Nice out for a drink. Then perhaps early dinner and then a movie but he must get me home before I turn into an ugly bitch again." "Great ideas. I feel you should not be alone with me again until you are absolutely ready." "What gasping and dripping?" He leaned back on his chair and smiled. "Oh boy, I think you are really trying to get better. Can you visualize yourself gasping and dripping?" She blushed hugely and muttered 'Jesus'. "I try not to think about that. It only makes me tense." "Then don't think about it. Simply write down ten times your effort to feel better is working. And then hours later if you remember write down that same sentence again and keep on doing that and one day will remember you haven't written that note to yourself for quite sometime. Or better still one day you'll write up the start of your repetitive one-line and throw the pen down and declare that you don't need to write that shit any more." "You think that will really work don't you? In the Army I guess you wrote down ten times every hour of every day kill the drill sergeant?" Nash grinned and said it paid to believe in some things. "So you want me to become a schoolgirl and write my lines twice a day?" "Yes." "Why?" He said effortlessly because he believed it could work for her, reinforcing her belief in herself. "Okay then I'll do it, just to keep you happy. But please understand I believe shit is always shit." "I'm pleased you will commit for my sake. I await the day when you will be gasping and dripping over me and laughing and yelling, "Oh god, I've got back my life." "You over dramatize Nash but I must say I rather like that concept." "Great and think about this but don't answer. When did you last think about sex in that light-hearted manner?" Marie eased off the door jam and stood straight. "Omigod, I am progressing mentally." Nash jumped up to fetch his jacket. "Come on, enough of that stuff. Tell me about the flowers." Nash stood with the potential 'ugly bitch' at 11:15 outside her small apartment. "Will you come in?" "Not tonight thanks." "Please kiss me." Walking from the elevator minutes later Nash thought that was honestly the best kiss he'd had from anyone for some time. She'd pulled his hand onto her breast and when his hand with her hand over it hit a bump she sounded quite astonished when she said, "Oooh, my nipple is up." Nash had ignored that and said one more kiss and he would go and their tongues touched, very briefly. As he walked home Nash thought it could be a long time before Marie was ready for sex and then again it might not be. He sometimes liked confusing himself. Early next evening he found Janice in his office adjusting a stocking. "Oh hi. I can be late home tonight." Oh, oh. Watch it buddy this could buy you big trouble. "Janice you haven't been married long." "That's okay. He's out with the boys tonight and who knows what they get up to." "You must not tempt me." She looked at him straight in the eye and said she was sure and her behavior toward him would not change and no one would ever know. "I'm sorry Janice but I cannot become involved promiscuously with non-executive staff. With someone in management I might get away with only a reprimand if found out." "That's not fair." "Life's not fair Janice and who knows, this may have contributed a little bit towards your perception of morality that one day you might thank me for, but I'd not want to bet on that." "Good night then. God I'm disappointed." "Me too. You have great legs Janice." She smiled wanly and left. God he felt horny. Nash was too restless to work and so closed down for the night and entered his apartment via the steel side door near the service elevator. He was opening a bottle of wine feeling ready to weep into the glass when his phone went. "Nash here." "It's Della. I worked on just a little too long and will miss my train. There's a two-hour wait till the next one." "Having to rely on public transport is crap isn't it?" "Well it works for me most of the time. I've just called my husband and Gary suggested I stay the night in a hotel and have a good meal there." "Great idea." "Will you come a have a drink with me?" "Yes why not? Give me five minutes to get down to the front door. I need a quick shave." "Why what are we going to do?" Della laughed. As Nash shaved he thought had Della been thinking sex? And then he thought why not dig in if she were willing? They would be off the premises and she was a senior manager. They went to a reasonable hotel close by and Della said she better book in before she went for a drink "Gary will be expecting me to take the cheapest room even though it's my money," she said. As the receptionist was processing the card he whispered to Della, "Let me sleep with you." The short-cropped honey-blonde who was tall but a little over-weight, blushed beautifully and nodded. When the receptionist handed Della back her card Nash said, after reading the girl's nametag, "Jools may we convert to an upgrade on this card please" and handed across his personal credit card. "Premium double sir?" "So you're not full tonight?" "No sir." "Jools what about upgrading me and my new girlfriend to a one bedroom penthouse suite? We are both aware if you are pushed hard enough you have the discretion from management to do that." "Yes sir, your wish is my command." "You're a jewel Jools. Here's a fifty towards a new pair of shoes." "Thank you sir. Now you two have a great night." "Wouldn't a ten been a sufficient tip?" Della asked, as they rode the elevator. "Honey you must understand, the price hotels of this class charge for a penthouse suite a complimentary bottle of French champagne goes with the occupancy." "So we score with champagne. God little wonder you are our CEO being as manipulative as that," she giggled. As they were leaving the elevator she said, "Oh I'll have to go out and buy nightwear." "Honey let's get some of that champagne into you and your shyness will have evaporated. The room will have complimentary toothbrushes for two and toothpaste. You don't need sanitary pads do you?" "No, I'm clear," she squeaked and was then backed into a wall and kissed soundly. The suite was great although the view was pretty average. Well it was a complimentary upgrade. Nash could tell by Della's expression and appearing to be biting back on voicing superlatives, she'd not been inside such a classy hotel accommodation before. He loved seeing this. "How much would they charge per night for this suite?" "This is a better than average hotel but not the top. If you hit them when they were doing specials you might get it for $300 or fluke it at $250." "Omigod." "Rooms like this in top hotels could cost you more than double that a night." A bellboy knocked and Nash called enter. "Your complimentary champagne sir." "Thanks, put it on the coffee table," Nash said, slipping the guy a bill. Nash began opening the wine. "Get your tits out baby." "Nash," she choked. "I'm developing a tummy roll and my thighs are thickening." He didn't ease back. "I'm used to that. Once I've finished pouring I'll get completely stripped." "Are you for real?" "Yep." "And you'd like me totally nude and sitting back here drinking champagne and acting as if I did this every day?" "Yeah I'd really like that but you decide your level of exposure." "Do you like looking at women's bared breasts?" "Oh yeah. I became a dedicated titman from the age of fifteen." "You men," she giggled and began to strip totally. Nash finished pouring and went to her. "You appear to be slowing down." "God Nash even at home I get dressed in the bathroom." "This is simply a Nash Night Special darling. I have no wish to change your home habit or place you under unreasonable pressure." "That's hard to accept," she laughed but not looking as if she were laughing. Nash stepped back and whisked off his clothes. "Omigod, you poor man," Della said, stepping forward and kissing scaring on his chest. "Oh that, just an Army occupational hazard. I was only wounded the once and that makes me lucky. This is the best side of the chest to take a bullet. If it hadn't taken part of my lung I wouldn't even have been evacuated. I was one lucky boy, no main arteries severed." "Omigod, no wonder women hate war." "Fewer that 5% of guys actually love it when they get into action. Some of that 5% are incredible what they are prepared to do under fire but let's not talk about it. We are here to fuck." "Well that too but we will need to sleep," Della said, removing her panties. Then her phone went. She spoke to her husband and said she was watching TV and was thinking of having a shower and then to call room service for food or to eat out." "Yes I am aware it will be cheaper to eat out than in the hotel restaurants." "Yes it has three restaurants." "No I got my room for one-twenty, very reasonable for the inner city I thought. How are the kids?" "What you've got them both asleep already. You are very clever." Nash sat back, allowing his erection to subside and sipped his drink. He was aware that after the mention of children Della would now have a hard decision to make: whether or not to proceed with adultery. Silently he handed Della her glass. "It's okay, I've committed adultery before. I've decided I wish to do this. I've kept looking at you lately and thinking how it would be to have sex with you. This will answer that question and add to my sexual experiences and then I'll be back to being a pretty good family person again." "Cheers. You could easily get rid of most of that fat by taking greater care about what you eat. "Shut up," she said and tossed a cushion at him but slow enough for him to fend off without spilling his drink. "I love eating ice cream and hamburgers remain one of my favorite meals. Just look at you, I bet you eat fuck-all." "I think I eat plenty but some woman who see me eat say I don't eat much for a guy and I steer away from all other courses but the main course at meal time." "How boring." "Actually I enjoy my food and I love cooking. Oh that's another thing. There's no butter in my kitchen." "Oh then how do you make pastry and pancakes?" There was no reply. "Oh you don't and I bet if I made you a meat pie you'd just pick out the meat and hope not much flour was used to thicken the gravy." "You have great understanding." "And you eat fruit and nuts and grass?" "Not grass," he laughed. "But I tell you what. I bet I could still easily fit into my suit I had when I was twenty. How would you go on that challenge?" "Please can we talk about something else? Oh I know, do you like having sex?" Much to his delight, Nash found that when sliding into Della, with her nipples up like sentries, her vagina wrapped around his entering erection like a soft and warm glove, giving his a great familiarity although he knew beyond doubt he'd not entered this specific tunnel before. It gave him that special feeling of being welcomed home and he was glad he was wearing a condom because he felt like impregnating her, er not without her consent, or not being overly serious about this fanciful feeling of simmering lust. "Fuck me, fuck me hard Gary... Omigod, I meant Nash. Oh I'm so sorry Nash." "It's fine, it's made no difference. As you probably can feel I remain hard as a tube of steel." "Bite a nipple Nash, I deserve to be punished." "If you want punished have this instead." He pushed a dry finger, his smallest, into her rectum. "Oh no Nash, not up there." But it was too late. "Oooh why is this feeling so nice and I'm not being stimulated in having a fecal evacuation." The shock from that outburst caused Nash no problem other than losing rhythm in his pumping and he thought someone must have been feeding Della gross misinformation, probably her mother. He thought as this was probably a one-off encounter he ought not introduce her to the new world of anal sex, er the new world for her. They banged away and she yelled into a couple of releases and then he pulled out, ripped off the rubber and blew over her chests and on to her face in raking ribbons of thick semen. "Omigod, you are just like the guys Gary and I see on adult DVDs. He just dribbles it out." Nash appreciated hearing that bit of intimate information but he would have preferred the name Gary or 'my husband' being mentioned in such delicately intimate situations as this. They showered separately, dressed and then went down for dinner. They both chose steak and Della said she chose steak because she thought they would be fucking again when they returned to their room and then again in the morning. Nash was amused to see the elderly woman seated behind Della say something to her companion, probably her husband, and they moved with their plates to another table. As they walked to the office next morning Della said that she'd never been fucked so many times and fucked so thorough within a 12-hour period in her entire life. "Then you're never lived until now." "That's for sure," she laughed. "You sure can fuck Nash but that secret will remain with me. I feel you have taken me to the moon and back." Nash smiled weakly and cautioned, "Della don't forget you have a husband, two young kids and an extended family." She sighed and said yes and she was happy about that. "But for those twelve crazy hours when we were awake I felt I was in your world and enjoying it. I never believed I would enjoy anal sex. You are a master at fucking and must have a glorious life." "Della don't be under the misapprehension that I stay in grand rooms in hotels and fucking great babes day and night." But obviously she wasn't interested in having her dream bubble deflated by an idiot who didn't appreciate he had it all. CHAPTER 4 Nash and Marie were keeping in touch by phone and after the mass flower delivery they'd met for coffee twice in the following month and then her parents invited Nash to dinner and he reciprocated and on both occasions Marie was present. Nash made no attempt to get her alone and she also kept her distance. The thing was each time they met she appeared to be somewhat happier and more relaxed and when she laughed the sound rang clear instead of being muffled, as if being held back. This progress, although perhaps to be expected, encouraged Nash to maintain contact because he had this feeling that she would prove to be worth it.