Jack downed his second Manhattan and said, "Five hundred bucks says you can't do it."
Frank smiled into his glass, his friend and business partner was on the way to a glorious drunk. The conversation was getting sillier every second.
Jack signaled the bartender, pointed to his empty glass and refocused his attention on Frank. "No answer hotshot? After all, aren't you the master cocksman?"
"Where do you get these ideas Jack?" Rob asked with some amusement. "I thought we were going to talk shop tonight?"
Jack said, "Would you believe the television? That movie was on, 'My Fair Lady?' The one where the professor transforms the cockney girl."
"And from that movie you got the idea for me to seduce my secretary?" Frank said with some amusement.
"Not just seduce," Jack answered. "Seduce is too easy. I want to see you transform her; from the boring; efficient secretary to a wild animal. A woman whom you control with your mind and body."
Rob laughed and chimed in, "The idea has merit, I think I would have a piece of that bet. It would be highly entertaining if you could pull it off Frank."
"I think you're both nuts," Frank said. "Maybe you ought to lay off the sauce a little."
"Not up to it huh?" Jack laughed at his pun. "We thought you were a player, a ladies man. I must admit transforming your secretary would be a tall order."
"Maybe he isn't the stud he thought he was," Rob said, clearly baiting Frank now. "I mean she is the original ice queen. Christ, a guy's dick would freeze up and drop off if he fucked her."
"Yeah, she's an ice queen," said Jack. "But I bet under all those loose clothes her body isn't bad. She's a little plain but not the paper bag over the head type of girl. Isn't that true Frank?"
Frank sighed dramatically, "I never really looked that close Jack. She's my secretary and a good one at that."
"That's the point," Jack said excitedly. "She's totally non-fuckable, much less any man transforming her into a nympho. I see why you might not want to take the bet."
Frank was getting pissed now, "Ever hear of a little something called sexual harassment? I'm going to jeopardize everything for a bet?"
"I must admit it would be tricky, it would take finesse. A guy would need to be clever and resourceful. He would need to seduce her, then get her so addicted to him she would be his willing slut." Rob shook his head, "No, you are right Frank. You could never pull it off."
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "Frank has plenty of finesse in business and seduction but to actually pull off a transformation? Never!"
His jab and sly smile hit home and Frank made his decision. "Alright wise guys, you're on! Be prepared to pay up, you're going to lose!"
Almost immediately he wanted to cut his tongue off. What was he thinking of? Carolyn was a good secretary and a truly nice lady. The operative word was lady of course. The idea of Carolyn Walker as a wild sex goddess was too far out on a limb.
Rob's voice broke into his musings, "We need a few rules, this isn't just 'I got in her pants' and you win. We want a total transformation. The way she looks, dresses, even acts. You unveil her at the office Christmas party on December twentieth."
Rob laughed and started to speak but Frank cut him off. To his own amazement he heard himself say, "No worries; she will be mine; totally. When do I start?"
"Is tomorrow too soon?" asked Rob. "Today's the ninth, that gives you a little over six weeks for this great metamorphosis."
Six weeks to turn a rather plain women into his sex slave? Talk about your egos. Frank realized his had just reached out and bit him on the ass. How was he going to pull this off?
***
Carolyn slammed the door of her brother-in-law's car and ran to the entrance of the small business where she worked. Her eyes were full of tears and she kept her head down. In the elevator she fought the urge to totally break down, if she started crying she may never stop. She didn't know how much longer she could live with Janet and Tim. Day after day of her sister reminding her that Carolyn only lived with them out of the goodness of their hearts. Of course Caro was an unpaid babysitter cum housekeeper, to say nothing of the fact that most of her salary went to them. Janet had always conveniently chosen to forget that.
In her office she wiped her tears and tried to calm down. Routine tasks like making the coffee and booting her computer helped and soon she stopped shaking. Her work at the consulting firm was important to her, especially now. She eventually hoped to sock away enough for a place of her own but it wasn't easy. Fifteen minutes later she was back to her usual self, quiet, efficient, emotionless. Good thing, as she needed all her faculties around her when dealing with her boss.
Franklin Thomas Bennett was a power broker, an 'A' personality all the way. His ability to exert his influence on people was one reason he was so successful in business. Along with his partners; Rob Waller and Jack Connor; they had made the small consulting firm a thriving business. Waller and Connor worked behind the scenes; but Mr. Bennett was the driving force. Oh yes, he was a human dynamo in every sense of the word.
Caro sipped her coffee as she thought about the last week in the office, he had been different. She couldn't put her finger on it but it was almost like he was assessing her. She noticed him watching her more, seemingly sizing her up. It was disconcerting to say the least. She was perplexed because he never noticed her, she did her job and did her best to blend into the woodwork. This attention was definitely not him, he was usually wrapped up in his own world. He had quite a reputation around town, a lady-killer who consistently collected notches in his headboard. And why not? Way over six feet with a hard body; blonde hair and blue eyes; he was definitely easy on the eyes. But it was his attitude with women that set him apart, he had the knack of making each feel like they were special. Anyway his ladies always seemed to come back. Who was she kidding? Like she knew what kept his women on the string. She was definitely not in Franklin Bennett's league.
