Chapter 1

Name's Jennifer Corbitt. When I started at twenty six at the local newspapers, everything looked bright. I was the new cub, the smart, sassy, street savvy reporter in sneakers and a T-shirt. Just a kid.

We young turks cub made ceaseless jokes about all the 'older timer', reporters behind their backs. 'Hey, any woman over 35 still working at a paper this small, gets what she deserved', we'd laugh. My mouth water for a shot at the big leagues. One by one, my peers took flight. Before I knew it, twenty years flew by,

but I never took flight.

As I undress for bed, I realize how cheep I look in faded jeans and a tired T-shirt at my age. Just never caught a big break, that's what I told myself. It certainly couldn't be my refusal to play company bullshit games and dress up in perky little business suits, like all the other young ass kissers around here. The same ones I train, so they can go off and chase all those big stories that were supposed to be mine. It just be some sort of 'character flaw' that's keeping out of the big leagues, but... what?

I blocking out how hard it's gotten recovering from 2:AM deadlines, or needing caffeine just jolt myself to work every morn, let alone the humiliation of secretly dying streak of 'gray' out of once auburn curls. I'm only 37 for god's sake! Okay, almost 39.

But then came Katie.

Fresh out of college, the twenty one year old cub reporter had perky subtly bottle blonde hair, sparkling brown eyes, full pout collagen lips, artificial beaming smile, and the friggin' bod of a high school cheerleader to boot. Yup, this was the 'new' girl! Cute little 'Katie Burns' was mercilessly cheerily fixated on doing whatever it took to rise the top.

I tried not to think about her, I really did. I tried to ignored her, just like my humiliating streaks of gray, or my extra ten pounds I'm battling, or the nasty little varicose veins I'd spotted for the first time last night.

I took her to lunch, to size her up. A pleasant little sidewalk bistro. She insisted I have a Ice tea, and when I returned from the bathroom, I tried to make small talk as I sipped away and she ate her salad, though Katie seemed distracted and barely listened to me.

I made my pitch that, since she was the new girl in town, I'd happily offer her my personal confidential advice in office politics, to help her steer clear of trouble spots and teach her the ropes of reporting.

I became miffed as the prissy little thing picked at her garden salad, her casual dismissal of me releasing something deep inside. I didn't like being ignored, yet this girl's callous attitude was doing something to me. Katie paused took a little vile of water from her purse and placed it on the table.

"What's this?" I asked, eyeing the small vile of clear fluid.

Katie didn't answer. I started wordlessly across at her, heart pounding for some reason. The fact she ignored me again and only started at the vile of water made it worse.

She finally looked up, forcing a strained smile as she fondled the vile of water and chirped.

"Jennifer, do you know I've read everything you've written?" My pursed lips broadened in approval.

"Really?" I couldn't help but relaxing. Maybe I'd misjudged her.

"... used to respect you too. Geeess... Advice? Even followed your stuff in when I was in high school." She pressed me with relentless enjoyment, watching my face fall as I toyed with my straw with my tongue.

"High school..." I echoed, a soft gasp of humiliation escaping my wet puckered lips as I pulled away from my Tea and lowered my eyes.

"Katie... what the point of all this? what do you want?" I asked

"Look, 'Jenny', I don't mean to be rude, but I'm afraid 'advice' from an someone as clue less as you is a joke. Despite your denial, you KNOW what I wanted the minute our eyes locked, even though it scared the shit outta you."

Wow. She didn't fool around, did she? I felt myself by breath quicken, my cheeks becoming warm and my body responding to this pretty girl's voice dripping with sarcasm. Why was her belligerence wrapping around me like a warm blanket?

I forced a polite laugh to cover my arousal and embarrassment and tried to sound together.

"Okay, Katrina. Let's get down to it then. Why... er..." I blinked in confusion. "... why are you h-here?"

" I'm here for your job stupid." She winked.

I bit into my straw as I inwardly exploded with rage. Little bitchy comments were one thing, but my job? MY JOB? I was mortified she'd dare to... well... say it out loud like that. I also was breathless over the 'stupid' bit, and was confused how much MORE turned on I'd become at the little twit actually suggesting she'd fucking well replacing me, to my FACE no less!

"Jenny, Close your mouth. It's over. Face it -- you're almost old enough to be my fucking mom, and you haven't had a scoop in years. You'll just sit here in this shitty little rag as I quickly got bored ands ditch your job for my rightful spot at the major newspapers.

As Katie toyed up the little vile of water again on the table, something approaching an orgasm bolted through me. I should be throttling her, not squeezing my thighs together, right? As I finished my tea, I became furious at my vulnerability to her.

"The cute part is, I DO believe you're a little... smitten with my watching someone younger like myself who's got the talent, chops and burning ambition you've pissed away long ago..." Katie smiled winningly at me.

I responded to the challenge in her voice, the lively contempt in her eyes incensing me, mingling with my anger as I staved off actually coming right in front of her... was too much...

"... am I right? Are you getting a certain... kick from being below me? Your face keeps lighting up the more I speak. I mean, why else would you just stand by and watch a pretty younger girl walk all over you and take your job, right?" The insolent girl smirked at me.

I fought to keep from touching myself. The very Idea of demeaning myself before this cruel little bitch who despised me and was just after my job sparked another wave of self disgust which quickly warmed me inside, melted my weakening resolve.

"Jennifer... are you okay sweetie?" She smirked.

I stilled myself, taking a deep breath, realized I'd finished my now empty glass of tea. What's the matter with me, I started to sweat. What in god's name is making me almost have an orgasm from the cruel words of this younger woman who was being so merciless to me?

"Maybe this will make you feel better, here..." The younger reporter's eyes gleamed as she threw her packet of salad dressing over to me, and I caught automatically with a startled excitement.

"Jen, will you squeeze some dressing out and rub it all over your nipples for me? Just reach under your blouse real quick. Hurry up!" Kate managed without breaking up,

As for some god awful reason, I quickly sat up and squirted a hand full of the cold Dressing into my palm, and inhaled deeply as my fingers pressed the creamy Ranch Dressing over my now tender receptive and hardening nipples, as Kate watched me with a cruel smirk, and my cheeks inflamed at my display.

"Jennifer, your turned on right now, aren't you? Answer me..." She insisted.

I didn't want to answer as I sat there, shamefully blood rushing to my scarlet face, burning my ears. rubbing my own nipples. Thoroughly humiliated and angry as hell. But the bulk of my rage was squarely on my own shoulders, for not telling the little bitch to fuck off. I hated how each new indignity was more exciting and intoxicating than the last. Admitting it to her... would just...