Part 2 (1/2)

Penny, Which? Wear a summer dress, walk on my hands or lose my knickers?

John x Ha! Hed added a kiss! What was he trying to say? I started to wonder whether hed really asked his wife about me or whether it was just a trick to put me off my guard. Every time a voice inside me warned me to be cautious another told me to be daring.

John, Ill come if you wear a kilt. We can shock some genteel country folk by doing handstands together....

Penny x Not much chance of him accepting on those terms, but at least I get to kiss him back. This time he replied quickly.

Penny, Hmm! Tempting, very tempting. But unfortunately I dont have a kilt. I think my wife has one from her Scottish dancing days, but shes pet.i.te and it wont fit me. Do you have any that would fit me?

John x The cheeky b.u.g.g.e.r! Hed mentioned his wife again. Better back off for now.

John, Im a big girl, but not that big..... Looks like we are going to have to postpone that drink for the time being.

Penny x I hoped that Id not pushed him away too quickly. After 30 minutes, the joy Id been feeling drained away. After 45 minutes, I felt a mixture of annoyance and regret. What was I playing at? Were we flirting or joking? I was not sure. Whatever my thoughts, they had to be put on hold because Phil entered the office and sat down with a large sigh. Hed clearly had an eventful meeting with Mike.

”Okay, hit me with it,” was my starter for ten.

Phil was a good lad. He was young and hard working, bright but inexperienced. He had good grasp of psychology (always useful in this line of work) and had recently graduated with a good degree. He was personable too, the pick of an excellent bunch, and with careful guidance I could see him going far. For now, however, he had to learn how to do the donkeywork and that meant devising and running the administrative systems I needed.

”Do you want the good news or bad news?” he asked.

”Good news first, please,” I replied.

”I think Ive found the people to fill the vacant positions in the marketing team.”

”Thats good. So what is the bad news?”

”Youve got three vacancies in Mikes old team.”

”s.h.i.+t!” I exclaimed. ”Whats he playing at?”

Phil settled back in his chair.

”Not sure. Not sure hes playing at all. The moment I arrived in his department I was collared by three of his sales reps. They were p.i.s.sed as h.e.l.l at Mike being moved.

”Well, they would be, wouldnt they? The old boy network will naturally stick up for him. Dont worry about it.”

”Its not the men its three of the women. They want to move with him.”

How weird, I thought! Perhaps he weaves a magic spell that I dont know about yet. I nodded to Phil to carry on.

”It overlaps their territories so theyre confident theyll build sales quickly. They all fit our desired profile. Their sales records are pretty good. Two have school age children and the other has grandchildren. All have contacts from previous sales jobs. They want to work with Mike.”

”Hmm. What about Mikes money concerns? Did he raise that?” I asked.

”Well, he said that h.e.l.l accept the temporary drop if these three can join him. I get the feeling that h.e.l.l quieten down if he gets his way on this, or prepare for battle if he doesnt. What dyou want to do?”

”Leave it with me. Ill check with Dave. Sounds okay to me. Anything else?”

”Nope.”

”Okay. Ill keep you posted. Thanks. Are you off now?” I asked.

”Not yet. Few things to round off.”

Phil was good. He had no problem working for a woman and we got along well. He was fresh out of college, part of a new generation that accepts the way the workplace is changing.

I sought out Dave to confer on the latest developments. He did not immediately jump at the idea and rubbed his chin in thought. Something was disturbing him. He asked if recruiting three salespeople for Mikes old team would be any more difficult than recruiting for the new one? I thought not. The job information we sent out would be slightly misleading, but I could explain the changes at interview. The differences were not so great that we needed to worry. The starting salary would be the same. Dave finally agreed but as I left he said something that set off alarm bells.

”Mike may become a problem. Find out more about him - it may come in handy.”

Chapter 5.

Back at my desk I started to wind down for the night. I locked away sensitive information and tidied my desk. Before logging off, I retrieved my e-mails to see whether there were any final issues to deal with. Id forgotten about John, so it was a surprise when another e-mail from him appeared in my inbox.

Penny, Thanks for playtime. It was fun. I hope we can enjoy more banter in the weeks to come. Before that resumes, however, I want to give you the chance to walk away if you wish. You are an attractive woman. I like you. In saying that I dont want you to read more into these comments than is in them. I love my wife. I love my kids. I have women friends and Id like you to be one of them. If I flirt it is because I think you find it fun too. But enjoying a mutual attraction does not mean Im going to make a pa.s.s at you (that will have to remain a fantasy).

If you are okay with this, then we will become friends. If you are not, then I still have a pleasant memory of meeting a smart and s.e.xy woman. That is a lovely thought to keep in my head if that is all you want to give. My wife does not usually interfere in my personal friends.h.i.+ps (unless she feels threatened) and we have become much more relaxed in recent years. Our relations.h.i.+p is a strong one.

Hope to hear from you soon.

John x Who was this guy? His arrogance p.i.s.sed me off. f.u.c.k him.

That evening I settled down with my Bernice Rubbens again. Try as I might, I could not concentrate. Mixed in with my anger was a spine-chilling excitement that I could not shake off. What had he called me? ”Smart and s.e.xy.” ”A Fantasy.” Why does he tell me he wont make a pa.s.s at me? Why not? b.a.s.t.a.r.d. No guy has ever talked to me like this.

The hours pa.s.sed and still I could not read my book. I put on music, but I did not listen to it. I tried to watch a film but the moving images were just a backdrop. Slowly it dawned on me why Im angry at him he dares to resist me. He dares to resist me. And that realisation had a strange effect. My thoughts kept returning to our e-mail exchanges. He makes me laugh, no denying it. Hes fun. Hes intelligent. Hes s.e.xy. I must stop thinking like this. Hes too old for me. Hes married. Hes got kids. Hes got ”ups and downs” in his life. Maybe he is just after a fling. Dont trust him, Penny. Play it cool.

The word 'danger keeps forcing its way into my thoughts but my mind wanders back to his eyes. The prospect of looking into them thrills me. Why do I want to trust him? I never trust men. As I lay in bed, the minutes ticked and questions invaded my thoughts, circling around like vultures gnawing at old wounds. Why does this hurt? Dont let him in, Penny. Dont let him in. By 2am, my eyes finally got so heavy that I dropped asleep. For a few hours I was free of the conflict raging in my soul.

Chapter 6.

Following my conversation with Dave, I asked Phil to find out more about Mike. I told him not to be too obvious - to start by finding out what he could from members of his former team as un.o.btrusively as possible. Naturally, he quizzed me.

”Im still concerned about Elonas complaint,” I said. ”I want to be sure that there is not a pattern to his behaviour.”

”If I start asking about him, wont they start wondering why?”

”Just spend time with them in the canteen, get to know them, see if they talk about him. If they do, then join in the conversation. Just take an interest.”