Chapter 15

"Andrea has managed to get a meeting of the board called for later this afternoon," said Stanley.

In the week since the slave auction, Vickie had been making plans to rebuff the move she knew Andrea would be making with the board. She had paid off the rest of the million dollar settlement with Lena Taylor and Stanley has secured the woman's signature on a no disclosure agreement. She had talked with each board member personally, some assuring her she had their support, a tenuous thing at best, while others were evasive, a sure indication they intended to vote against her. As far as she could determine, the vote was going to be close, so Vickie had been arranging some personal trysts with several board members who she felt might be swayed by her feminine charms, attractive body and bedroom behavior.

Andrea, on the other hand, had been doing the same, for she too reasoned that the vote could go either way. In two cases, not only did Andrea and Vickie bed down the same board member, but their trysts were on consecutive nights with one board member having to postpone his bedroom appointment with Vickie in order to meet Andrea for some bedroom antics. The competition was fierce and the topic of conversation in the office and the board room.

"It's going to be close, isn't it?" asked Vickie of the corporate lawyer.

"Perhaps not as close as you think," he responded.

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that I'm reasonably sure that Andrea will be disappointed by the end of the day."

Vickie smiled. She knew how shrewd Stanley was and how great at persuasion. She also was aware that despite all her and Andrea's willingness to climb into bed with the members of the board, ninety-nine percent of their decision would be based on sound business sense and the advice of those they trusted most. Stanley had been with the firm for nineteen years and had represented it quite successfully. When he talked, people listened.

"I appreciate what you've done on my behalf, Charles. I intend to see you are rewarded."

"I am well compensated for my services, but if you would like to personally thank me," he said, a gleam in his eye.

He was virtually the only executive in the firm with whom Vickie had not been to bed, but Vickie had other things on her mind at the moment.

"Perhaps another time," she said, obviously dismissing him.

"Yes, another time," he replied, heading for the door, a slight smile crossing his face.

"The meeting is set for two o'clock," Whitcomb told Andrea over the phone. "The board has asked you and Vickie to wait in the other conference room until the vote is taken. Then, they will call you in and announce the results."

"Am I going to win?"

"I can assure you Vickie is not going to be pleased," said Whitcomb.

"Good, the little bitch can just stew in her juices."

Andrea stifled a yawn. She had been out until almost four a.m. doing some last minute "convincing" of one of the members of the board.

"When I'm back at the head of the table, I won't forget what you've done for me, Lawrence."

"I could come over now," he suggested.

"Not just yet. Let's wait until the vote goes down."

"Making me wait for your favors again, Andrea? I always had to pay my way into your bedroom, didn't I?"

"Come now Lawrence, this is business. You get me what I want and I'll give you what you want."

"Very well, I'll see you this afternoon."

"Yes, this afternoon," she replied, hanging up.