*** Conference ***
Five years had passed. Clarissa had grown immensely in that time, both as a woman and a student. In addition to her 'gender studies' which were extensive, deep, and satisfying, the resort, knowing her tenure would be limited to her youthful years, encouraged more worldly academic studies. She matriculated into an online, distant-learning program.
After losing touch with her former college 'woke warriors' and being touched, a lot, by the industrious men they had raged against, she discovered those men to be kind, gentile, generous, and respectful of mutually respectable women.
She inquired politely during post-coital pillow talk about their careers. They were woozy, pliable, and talkative, almost boastful, about the details of their successes. She discovered the best of them were engineers turned entrepreneurs. So, engineering and business filled out her study curriculum.
Upon exiting the elite resort program, she was stunned to discover the largesse deposited from her first resort encounter. The Drake Industries preferred stock made her a multi-millionaire.
She was now roaming the corridors of the Drake Industries annual shareholders meeting. Her portfolio was in the top ten of shareholders but dressed in her sexy but fashionable woman's business suit, she was assumed to be someone's money honey, or even arm candy, and, basically ignored by the money managers whose jobs involved playing with someone else's wealth. But Clarissa was here because she was managing, and augmenting, her own money.
Everyone was gathered for Mr Drake's keynote speech. The top shareholders were seated in the honorific first row, including Ms Connors, to the surprise of many of the others. Mr Drake strode onstage to thunderous applause and posed behind the podium.
"Welcome all. I am so glad to see you here. We have had a spectacularly profitable year to all of your benefits. The dividends will be posted and deposited at the end of the convention."
His hand gestured to the front row.
"And a special welcome to our founding investors whose foresight and loyalty have been richly rewarded."
He paused momentarily to sweep his hand from one end of the front row to the other. And did a double take, stunned to see a familiar face and body wearing an expensive wool business suit. Her legs below the skirt were long and muscular-toned, and wearing red stilettos.
He hadn't seen Clarissa since his suntan lotion duty and its pre-event coaching. He had forgotten about his winning offer way back when. Now here she was, gracing his convention with her luscious presence.
He gathered his mind and continued his speech. When finished he left the stage to the care of his underling executives and their detailed presentations.
When the activities broke for intermission, Clarissa followed the crowd into the hallway. As she was being chatted up by a mutual fund manager, a burly black-suited security guard with the typical white coiled wire earpiece came to her side. Addressing the money man, he performed his task.
"Excuse me, sir. I need a moment with Ms Connors."
The man deferred to the football linebacker-sized security dude.
"Ms. Connors, if it wouldn't be an inconvenience, Mr Drake requests your indulgence for a private conversation."
"Of course. When?"
"Now, if you're available, or he can rearrange things to meet your needs."
She set down her drink on the high-top table
"It's okay. I will make time now."
She stepped off in the direction indicated and the guard followed at a polite distance, giving her directions from behind.
The money man just stared as she walked away. Who WAS this woman that Mr Drake deferred himself to her schedule and convenience?
Clarissa arrived at the hotel penthouse suite's door. Her escort reached past her and opened it. She stepped inside and saw a few men intently listening as Mr Drake, his back to her, spoke to them.
"Yes, I agree that a stock split will increase the affordability of the shares to smaller investors. It's good finance, and as the number of shareholders grows, good for politics. More skin in the game."
He looked around at his exclusive audience who had stopped looking at him. He turned to the direction of their stares.
Clarissa stood tall in her heels, her hands folded in front, the blazer hiding but hinting at her centrally exposed breasts and cleavage. It didn't take long for Mr Drake to wrap things up.
"Gentlemen, thanks for coming, and thanks for your counsel. Please excuse me as I have a very important appointment with one of our earliest and biggest investors.
The men filed out, each giving her a polite greeting. The guard watched them leave and then closed the door when Mr Drake dismissed him with a wave.
Clarissa stood still while Mr Drake looked her up and down. Then he slowly stepped to her, took her hands, and executed a bijou dual kiss.
"You wouldn't believe how often I thought of you after that fateful night. Where is she? What is she doing? And now here you are. It's so wonderful to see you."
"You always knew where I was. Why didn't you return?"
"My dear, you were like a sexual drug; I was terrified of becoming addicted to your enchantments. Like any addiction, total abstinence was the only path to follow."
They silently held hands, staring into each other's eyes. Mr Drake's voice was slow and tentative, fearing rejection of his request.
"There is the main investors' banquet tonight. I would be honored if you would accompany me. Would you grace my table and, frankly, the whole affair... please?"
"I can't say no to such a gallant request. Of course, I'll come. When may I expect you to get me?"
"Unfortunately, I have a prior reception with some boring institutional investors. It's really not their money and still, they are the clingiest people I have ever met. I won't insult you by their presence. I will send my personal bodyguard to collect you. Now let's sit and catch up."
