Chapter 13: Endgame
Ed and Harry spent another hour and a half mapping out what Harry should do the following day to expose Olivia Freemont. Ed laid out a very detailed game plan. While Ed was sure that Harry had the strength, stamina, and intelligence to pull it off, he knew that Harry didn't have the training. The hour and a half mainly boiled down to a crash course in interrogation techniques.
Ed left Harry with a written description of the plan. At home Harry read and reread the document until he was certain that he had it branded onto his brain. Then he went to bed early. He was going to need plenty of rest and all of his strength if he was going to pull this off.
He arrived at his office at eight o'clock sharp the next morning. It was one of the few times that he got there at the same time as Gloria.
"Are you sure about this?" Gloria asked him apprehensively.
"Hell, no," Harry answered grimly, "But, we don't have any alternatives. I've got to make this work."
Gloria nodded glumly and said, "I've set up what you need on your laptop. The icon is clearly marked so that you can find it easily when you need it."
"Thank you," he said as he took her in his arms and gave her a deep, searing kiss.
"What was that for?" she asked breathlessly.
"Luck," he said with a sheepish grin, "sort of."
Gloria kissed him again and said, "That was just in case the other one didn't take."
Harry let go of his beautiful secretary and began walking toward his office as he asked, "When is Ms. Freemont due?"
"At nine-thirty," Gloria answered.
Harry went into his office to boot up his laptop. The file he needed had, indeed, been clearly marked. It was a jpeg file marked, "Ugly Duckling".
He got up from his desk to prepare one or two more things before Olivia Freemont arrived. He needed to have everything in place and at the ready when she arrived. He wasn't going to have time to look for things once she got there.
Olivia arrived at 9:20am, ten minutes early for her appointment with Harry. As per the "advice" that Gloria had given her the last time she had been there, Olivia was dressed much more conservatively. She wore a tailored business suit with a blouse that buttoned all the way up to her throat. Even so, her low-key attire could do little to hide the generous female curves beneath it.
Gloria smiled as she saw Olivia enter the outer office.
"Good morning, Ms. Freemont," she said brightly, "You're a bit early, but I'll let Mr. Brinkton know that you're here." Gesturing toward one of the plush chairs across the room she added, "Please, have a seat. I'll be right back."
With that she rose from her desk and walked into Harry's office.
"She's here," she said pensively after she had closed the door behind her, "Is there anything else that you need me to do?"
"No," said Harry, "Just keep everybody away from here for the rest of the day. Remember that no matter what you hear, or think you hear from in here don't come in. I can't be interrupted if I'm going to pull this off. Understood?"
Gloria nodded.
"Good," said Harry grimly, "Send her in. I might as well get started."
"I have a better idea," Gloria said, "She's a little early. Why not just let her stew for the next ten minutes or so. I might set her up better."
"Good thought," said Harry, "Let's do that. At nine thirty sharp I'll call on the intercom."
"Right," said Gloria, "Be careful, Harry."
"I will," Harry answered.
Gloria gave him a quick kiss then went back to the outer office.
"Mr. Brinkton will be ready to see you shortly," she said to Olivia, "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you," said Olivia nervously, "I'm good."
Olivia fidgeted in her seat. She hadn't been this nervous about a business appointment since the first time she had run a scam. Part of it, she knew, was the fact that things hadn't gone as planned from the start. But, she also knew that most of her anxiety was because of Harry Brinkton.
Just the thought of him was making her nipples harden.
"Get a grip, girl," she thought, "He's just a man. You'll take control of him just like you do any other man."
Deep down, she knew that she was lying to herself. She had jilled herself to completion three times the night before, fantasizing about Harry. That and her anxiety over this meeting had prevented her from getting much sleep. She'd slept for a total of around four hours, and that was in small half-hour to forty-five minute bursts. On top of that she had been too nervous to have any breakfast. It was going to take all her strength just to get through the morning.
She was shaken from her thoughts when Gloria said, "Mr. Brinkton will see you now. Just go right in."
As Olivia walked into the inner office she was greeted by a very different Harry Brinkton than the one with whom she had met several days earlier. That Harry Brinkton had been curt and business-like. This one was warm and welcoming.
He rose from his chair, as she entered the office, with a big grin saying, "Ms. Freemont, thank you for coming. You're looking well."
The last time Olivia had seen Harry he had put his hand firmly on the small of her back and guided her to a small chair in front of his desk. This time Harry strode across the room to greet her, putting his arm around her waist and letting his hand slowly caress her hip. He pulled her close to himself as he guided her to the couch at the far end of the room.
Even through their clothing Olivia could feel the heat of his hard, masculine body. Her nipples hardened into little diamonds.
In front of the couch was a small coffee table upon which was set an open laptop between two mugs of hot coffee.
As they arrived at the couch Harry stepped away from her and said, "Please, sit down. Relax a little."
"Thank you," Olivia said, looking a bit puzzled.
"I realize," Harry said, sitting down beside her, "that our last meeting was a bit terse. But, as I'm sure you know, that's not entirely unusual with first meetings in business."
"Certainly," Olivia responded, trying to sound calmer than she felt, "I understand."
