Chapter 6

On Monday, Sara found herself back in the office, back in harness. The weekend had left her feeling happy and satisfied, and she went to work with optimism and energy. Except for her usual, slightly difficult encounters with Mr. Henry Jefferson, Monday passed quickly and she was able to make considerable progress on two new projects, as well as on the planning for Steve Calvin's conference.

She had dinner with Ken and spent the night at his apartment. On Tuesday morning, she put on a different outfit she had brought with her. Ken was one of those men who wakes up early and eager, so when she sat at her desk with her first cup of office coffee she could still feel the warmth of sex inside her. For a few moments she thought about it, her legs crossed and her thigh muscles squeezing together. Then she went on with her work.

Later that day, Mr. Jefferson called her into his office. She sat in the chair he indicated and waited while he fussed with his pencils and the precisely placed items on his desk. Finally he looked at her. Not precisely in the eye; he rarely did. His gaze was fixed on her throat. Sara thought that he chose looking there so he would not have to meet her eyes, yet could not be accused of looking at her breasts.

"Ms. Compton — Sara, ' he said, in his irritating manner, "I am going to be making some management changes in the near future, and I want you to understand why I am making them. I want you to know that your work has always been of the highest quality. You know that your reviews have been very good.

"At the same time, I am sometimes concerned about the way you handle our customers. I feel you may sometimes become personally involved with some of them. As you know, I do not intend that our hotel should become known as one where our personnel act in an unprofessional manner.'

"Mr. Jefferson, have you had any complaints about my work? I believe you have received several letters from my customers which speak well of my service and that reflect well on the hotel.' Sara had learned not to let the little man push her around.

"No, of course not, and as you know, those letters are fully reflected in your records.' He gestured at a personnel file on his desk that was clearly hers. "It is just that I think it is time that we continued your development here, and so I'm putting you in charge of our Building Department. As you know, this position is usually filled by a man but I am certain you will be able to handle any aspect of it. And of course, I am always available with assistance if you need it. I will be asking you to take over there as soon as this conference you are working on is completed.'

There was nothing Sara could do, so she said nothing. In a while she was back in her office. Jefferson had indeed been moving people around to be certain they each learned all aspects of the business. But she had been in the business ten years and had done her time in the Building Department; long enough to know that, for her, the Building Department was a dead end. Besides, she was good at her job in Sales and had one of the best records in the company, both for new business and for getting the projects that she sold done correctly. There was no question in her mind that Jefferson was getting her out of sight so she could never again meet another Steve Calvin.

Tuesday night was always Jerry. He and his wife had an open marriage and this was a night out for him. He spent it at Sara's and they always enjoyed it.

Jerry told her about the other women he slept with and would sometimes tell her about experiences he heard from his wife. It seemed that she had regular boyfriends and on Tuesdays she entertained them at home. Jerry seemed to enjoy telling Sara about his own and his wife's adventures. Sara both enjoyed them herself and enjoyed the enthusiasm telling them seemed to give Jerry. She often wondered if Jerry's wife might be someone like her and thought about trying to meet her. But she never mentioned it to Jerry because somehow she sensed that he didn't want the two of them to meet.

'One of these years I'm going to figure this all out, ' she promised herself Wednesday morning as she soaped Jerry's back in the shower. It was a promise she made often.

Wednesday there was Staff Meeting, and she sat through the morning listening to Jefferson speaking in something between a drone and a whine. When she returned to her office after lunch, there was a message from Steve Calvin.

Sara looked at the message slip and felt sharp pang of desire. It was almost like a reflex: think of Steve, get hot. Sara closed her office door. Ever since Jefferson's remark about holding hands, she had kept the blinds on the glass wall of her office closed. She dialed Steve's number. He picked up the phone immediately. His voice registered real pleasure when she gave her name.

"Sara, it's really nice to talk to you. Thanks for calling back. Have you got a few minutes to talk?'

"Well, my door's closed, Steve, and yes, I have a little time.' Sara said.

"First, Sara, Friday night was one of the best nights I've ever spent. I mean that and I want you to know that it meant a lot to me, ' Steve said, sounding somehow embarrassed.

"Steve, are you trying tell me that you still respect me?' Sara replied; she had to fight to keep from giggling. "Thank you. But don't forget that I agreed to everything, and I'm sure you could tell I enjoyed every minute of it. I really appreciate your saying that, though. Now, are you just trying to set me up for a return engagement or do you want me to take on the whole convention?' By now, Sara was completely permeated with desire. She reached into a desk drawer for some tissues, using one to mop the perspiration from her forehead; the other went in her crotch.

"Yes, yes, I know I set you up. I'm sorry I set you up, but I'm not sorry about how it turned out. When I first saw you, I thought, 'That's one sexy woman', and I wondered if the real you was as good as the advertising. It was. And then on Friday night, I could see you really did enjoy it and that was the icing on the cake. A return engagement is a very good idea, but that's the problem.'

"You're getting married to your childhood sweetheart, ' Sara said with unconscious viciousness.

"Take it easy, Sara, ' Steve retorted, sounding annoyed. "That's not it at all. I've been pulled off the assignment, that's what, and I won't be coming back in your direction for a while. I wanted you to know about it and why, so you wouldn't think I was trying to avoid you or something like that.'

"Sorry, Steve, sometimes a girl jumps to conclusions. I'm sorry about the cheap shot and I'm really sorry about the change. What's up?'

"Hold on a second while I close my door.' Returning a moment later, Steve said, "The guy who is running the other side of this conference, in the East, screwed up. I got the job of pulling his chestnuts out of the fire — I just hope I don't get my nuts burned. I'm taking my whole team, so you won't see them again, either.'

"Steve, I don't think I did see them very much. By the time they came in Friday night I wasn't seeing, just feeling. It took me until Sunday morning to remember their names, ' she confessed with a laugh. "But that means I'll have to deal with a whole new group from your side. Won't that be a problem?'

"Well, ' Steve said, "the thing is so serious that my boss will lead your team, so he'll know most of the details. I've told him that what he doesn't know, you probably know already. I told him he could trust you completely, and I know we can. You're a real pro, ' Steve hesitated for a second and laughed. "And I'm not talking about the other thing.'

Sara laughed, too. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Steve, and you should know that Mr. Henry Jefferson is taking me out of Sales and Conferences after your meeting and putting me into the Building Department. I'm not very happy about it and I may look for another job.'

As she said it for the first time, Sara realized it was true. She pushed the thought aside to ask another question that was on her mind.

"But Steve, one thing I don't understand is that you seem to feel that Friday evening was so particularly special. It was special for me. I mean, I'd never taken on three guys before, and I really enjoyed it, but you seem to be saying something else.'

"Yes, I am. I decided that you're one of those special women who need a lot of sex. I'll bet you get laid as often as you can manage it, am I right?'