Chapter 1

When he graduated from college with a business degree in marketing, Frank Childress imagined himself receiving congratulations from a large consumer goods manufacturing company for his fantastic introduction of a new product. He dreamed of his victory and the promotion he would earn due to his outstanding product development.

However, six months after graduation, Frank found he had no job offers from even small consumer goods companies. While he had thought his degree would open doors for him, Frank found that it opened none. Without a Master’s Degree, no company of any significance was interested in talking to him.

Six months after graduation, Frank was living with his parents in Fort Worth, Texas. Reading the daily newspapers for job openings was totally depressing. After being on his own for the past three years, now living under his parents’ roof was the last thing he had expected.

Frank answered an ad from a small cosmetics manufacturer seeking someone in the Dallas/Ft Worth area to serve as a company merchandiser. It was a job far below what he believed his potential was, but he was becoming desperate. He needed an income to live on his own.

After accepting the job, Frank took his father’s advice, “Do any job to the best of your ability. You will be rewarded for your efforts.”

By the time Frank was twenty-six, he had turned the merchandiser job into a sales position. He was moved to cover the Midland-Odessa area of West Texas.

Perhaps the best thing about his new job was the woman who had the apartment across the hall. Her husband was working abroad, and she needed someone to warm her bed. Frank was available and willing. Over the next year, the woman took Frank to her sex school and taught him everything he would ever need to know about pleasing a woman. When he wasn’t traveling his territory, he was in her bed and earning an A+ in sex ed.

Frank was now thirty-five years old. He had earned high praise for his territory management and his conquest of women. He had worked for several cosmetic companies and now worked for an elite line with a fat salary, paid expenses and less travel. He lived in a new and stylish condo with new furnishings. Frank remained single with a few girlfriends, but nothing serious. Just the way he liked it.

As part of his business routine, Frank went to Austin every other week. He had three large department store customers there that required his attention for at least a full day. He typically stayed in a Marriott Hotel, ate well and drank expensive scotch. He lived well on the road at his employer’s expense.

On this particular trip, Frank was inside the cosmetics island with his saleswoman, Jackie. “Frank, we have a new woman working in the store for Arden. I want to introduce her, but I want your word you won’t try to spoil her.”

“Who have I ever spoiled?” he asked.

“Carly is a sweet woman. I’ve never even heard her use profanity. She’s been divorced for a couple of years and is a little shy. I know when you see her tits and ass, you’ll be all over her. I don’t want you breaking her heart.”

“You think I’m into tits and ass?”

“I know you are, Frank. I have worked with you for three years and have learned everything about you. Lord knows I’ve offered you my body many times. You always turned me down.”

“That’s because we have a business relationship,” he pointed out. “Besides that ... I know your husband, and he’s big enough to tear me into small pieces if he thought I was jumping your bones.”

“She’s coming over here now,” Jackie whispered. “Remember that you are going to be nice.”

Frank saw the woman approaching them. He guessed her to be thirty, and Jackie was dead on. This woman had an excellent figure. He decided she was very attractive. Not really beautiful, but a handsome woman.

“Frank, may I introduce Carly Chisum?” Jackie said. “She works for Arden and has been here for a little over a month.”

Frank held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Carly. Are you a part of the Chisum family that settled Texas and has a big cattle ranch?”

The woman smiled at Frank when she answered. “That’s my ex-husband’s family. I just kept the name when we divorced. My maiden name was Higginbotham, and I preferred the shorter name.”

Frank and Jackie both laughed. “I can totally understand your decision,” Frank replied. “Have you been working in the cosmetics business long?”

“I started two years ago after my divorce,” Carly answered with a frown. “I worked for Revlon for a couple of years. So, I learned the business from them. This job I have now pays better and has better hours. And I’d have to say my supervisors are nicer.”

“I think you’ll enjoy working in this store,” Frank suggested. “And you’ll get to work with Jackie. That will be a bonus.”

“Be careful of him,” Jackie said. “He has a silver tongue and will be taking your panties off before you know what’s happening.”

Carly looked at Frank and smiled. Her look suggested she was thinking that his getting into her panties didn’t sound like a bad idea.

An hour later, Frank was in the stock room checking inventory when Carly came down his aisle. “Is this your space too?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “I need to get a couple of things for the counter.”

Frank watched as she reached for the items she wanted. He had to admit that Jackie was correct when she said this woman had a great ass. Now he was wondering what kind of panties she was wearing. “Do you live near here?” he asked.

“It’s not far,” she answered. “When I got this job, I moved into a new apartment complex fairly close by. My commute is only about fifteen minutes. Why do you ask?”

“Oh ... I was just wondering if you’d join me for a drink after work. I’m in town for three days and two nights every other week, and it would be nice to have someone to talk with.”