Linda Hoffman, director of communications, came into the section and went into the office of Stewart Lawn, manager of the technical writing team. Within two minutes Stewart called Andy to his office.
Wondering what this was about, Andy walked between the lines of desks of writers and their researchers and heard one smart-ass send the room into silence when he called, "You weren't here long Andy."
Cheeky slut, Andy mused, but at least someone in the pack knew his name.
There was silence in the manager's office as Andy entered and then Stewart said importantly, "Do you remember Mrs Hoffman Andy?"
Well he knew her intimately enough to known Mrs Hoffman had a scar on the center of her right butt cheek from a fall from her scooter when she was six.
"Sure. Hi Linda."
Steward said sternly, "Andy our director might prefer being called Mrs Hoffman."
"No Linda is fine coming from Andy."
"Andy, she said. "I have received a call from Paul Friedman at the wind-up of the national convention of the Consumer Protection Society. He could barely speak. He reported that yesterday morning he received a standing ovation at the end of his address and minutes before he called, the society's president announced the majority of the 2300 delegates had voted Paul Friedman as the outstanding speaker at the plenary sessions and she presented Paul with the society's medal as top convention speaker. Paul was so emotionally awed that he had difficulty speaking to me. He added he owed everything to you."
"Well perhaps I boosted his confidence and rearranged a few of his words. It was Paul who gave the address."
"I would think he excelled because he had confidence in the prepared speech he was delivering," Linda said. "Our chairman is worried about the speech has to give at a plenary session of the International Food Processors' Organization in Rome next month. Paul and I agree we should talk to Mr Shields about you and we would like your response."
"Yeah go ahead Linda but tell him I only work one-on-one with the client with no aides present. I have to set up the right atmosphere before squeezing the client to speak openly to me."
"Well we have a problem here," said Linda. "Our chairman is an investment banker who knows sweet all about what we do."
"That's fine, I can talk to people who really know what we do and why. Then I have to tap into Chairman Shields to find out what he knows and doesn't know about us."
Stewart frowned and said that could be embarrassing for the chairman being stretched out like that.
"I believe I have the skills to handle that, having observed for some years how women handle men as if they were boys."
Stewart frowned and Linda giggled.
"Stewart and I have been discussing how to reward Paul. We have been at war, like so many of our competitors, for years with the society, and Paul's outstanding efforts would have improved our standing with the society no end. Have you any suggestions?"
"I should think air tickets to New York and complimentary hotel accommodation for two for three nights would be perfect. Don't say 'and wife' when making the presentation. For all we know Paul might like to take someone else."
"Who?"
"Well Mrs Young could be a candidate."
Linda spluttered, "But Paul is almost debonair while Mrs Young..."
Andy sighed and said, "Well we don't have to work out Paul's thinking. He can manage that and in answering your disbelief, don't they say that opposites attract?"
"Well yes."
As soon as Linda left, Stewart tapped on the desk of Miranda Lott, who sat behind the Lead Writer.
"Linda and everyone behind her, would you please move back on desk. Andy Ash, would you please move up here to occupy this desk in reward for meritorious service in improving the image of the corporation."
Stewart left the office to avoid complaints. But there was no bickering. Andy was asked to explain what this was about. He said he'd been asked to write a speech for the director of marketing and it had wowed the convention of the Consumer Protection Society.
"Consumer Protection Society," someone said in a quavering voice. Everyone crowded Andy to congratulate him and his elevation was accepted.
On Friday two weeks later, Paul went for a long weekend to New York City and on that same day Mrs Young called in sick.
The following week when Paul dumped new assignments on the manager of the technical writing team and checked on work in progress, he chatted to each member of the tech-write team and left Andy till last. They chatted and Paul ended the interchange loudly when saying, "Oh Andy. You are due at the chairman's office for lunch at 1:00. He wants help to compose an address to the International Food Processors' Organization based in Rome."
Paul walked off smiling while Andy dropped a pencil and turned to look under Miranda's desk, knowing she wore very short skirts. Lifting up he whispered, "Very nice. Are you doing anything tonight?"
"God no," said Miranda, who'd been holding her breath.
"Dinner at my place?"
Her mouth opened and her tongue fluttered.
A couple of week later, Linda used her key and walked into Andy's apartment carrying a bottle of French Champagne. He was on the sofa reading a comic.
"Something tells me you are having it off with Miranda Lott."
"Yeah."
"Is she any good?"
Andy said diplomatically, "Not as good as you."
"Well I must say I rather it is Miranda than some of those other sluts in the office."
"Are you talking guys or females?"
Linda laughed and kissed him and then kissed him again when he said, "You know I only associate with classy women."
She laughed while he wondered how Alice was coping with life and had she left the brothel permanently.
Stripping off Linda said, "Let's have a couple of drinks and then I think it's time we had anal."
"Good I've always wanted to hear you scream."
She giggled and told him to get his clothes off.
After that evening, when Linda behaved like an out-of-control whore, Andy no longer thought of her as being classy, not that it mattered to him. He liked a woman being a woman.
Before leaving for the office next morning, Linda said, "The chairman just loves his speech. He told me to give you a week off.
