Chapter 2

Karen Jenkins was an unassuming woman. Yes, she had often been complimented on her looks since she was just a little girl, but she wasn’t sure she really earned all those accolades (Homecoming Queen, Prom Queen, etc.) and often wondered what it was that people found so attractive about her appearance. Of medium height, her auburn hair swept down her back almost to her waist. High cheekbones accentuated her hazel eyes which glistened while her smile could be both heartwarming or seductive depending on the situation. Combine her facial beauty with a pin-up figure and no wonder men and often women as well did a double-take when she entered a room or simply walked by.

She slipped on one of her low cut cleavage enhancing bras and a come-hither dress, for tonight was obviously going to be special. Roger had called from work to tell her he had special news to share. They would have a light dinner and he would tell her his news as they shared some after dinner wine. He hadn’t provided any details, just that he had some news, important news. She had read in his voice that there was a very positive element to whatever he had to share, yet there was also a hesitancy, a tenseness in his voice which made her wonder what this news was really all about. Oh well, she thought, I’ll find out soon enough, as she brushed out her hair and daubed a bit of perfume in some romantic spots.

She paused for a moment, thinking back to how they had met, at a career fair when Roger, representing Astron Industries, had caught her eye while he was talking with prospective hires. It hadn’t mattered then, as it didn’t matter now, that he was 21 years older than she. She was a senior at the local college and when he saw her, there was simply no way he was not going to meet her. After some small talk he asked her out and it wasn’t long before they were dating and within a few months he had asked her to marry him. Their only disagreement was that she wanted kids right away while he asked if they could wait until his position with the company was more secure. She had acquiesced and they were married soon after. Life as a May-December couple had been wonderful and now, she thought, maybe the news he had to share was perhaps something to do with his position with the company which meant they could begin thinking about children.

She met him at the door as she always did with a long and sumptuous kiss. Through dinner she tried prying his “news” from him but he seemed both eager and yet reticent, so insisted she would simply have to wait.

At last, with the dishes done and the wine poured they settled into comfy chairs in the living room.

“Come on now, you’ve kept me waiting long enough. GIVE mister!” She said smiling.

Again there was a hesitancy, as if he wasn’t sure exactly where to begin, but after an awkward pause, Roger began.

“I’ve got what you could call some good news and some ... well some news that we need to discuss.”

“Okay,” she responded, “how about the good news first.?”

He smiled slightly. “I’m not only getting a sizable bonus for my work on that last project, but I’m in line for a Vice-Presidency.”

“OH, ROGER!” She squealed as a broad smile covered her face, her eyes beaming with delight. She hurried over to his chair, sat in his lap and kissed him deeply as she did when there was the possibility for more later. “When do you start?”

“Well, it’s not exactly decided yet. There are a couple of other execs in the running as well. It’s all going to depend on...” He hesitated.