Erin Wilson put the finishing touches to her make up before tying her long blond hair into a tight bun. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was a model of neat professionalism in her business suit with buttoned up blouse. Her confident looks hid her nervousness - today was an important day and she knew it. Play this right and her career could skyrocket. She slid her small slender feet into her closed-toe heels, grabbed her laptop case and left her Berlin hotel.
It was rush hour on the Berlin subway but Erin was well prepared and gave herself plenty of time to get to the office. This was her first business trip abroad since graduating college and she was leaving nothing to chance. She had memorised all the stops and even knew the exact fare cost. To the people around her, she could have been a lifelong Berliner.
The carriage was crowded, certainly no seats left, and as the train left the platform with a jolt, Erin looked around for something to hold. She could only find a hand bar directly above her but her petite 5 foot 2 frame struggled to reach it. She stretched her arm as long as possible, and although she was just able to reach it, this caused her blouse to push up exposing her toned tummy to the whole carriage including the top rim of her pink underwear. She never realised this and wondered why the group of teenage boys in the corner were sniggering.
"Maybe one or two hairs became out of place," she thought, now obsessed with that idea.
She waited for the next stop, and carefully felt her bun, tightly correcting any hair she thought was misplaced.
"That should do it," she thought, content with herself.
As the train moved off, she again stretched her arm to reach the high bar. The teenage sniggering resumed.
"Idiots!" she thought.
She arrived at her office with plenty of time to spare. Brandt International was a major global law firm, founded in 1973 by Hans Brandt but now run by his 32 year old brunette daughter Claudia Brandt from their Berlin HQ. It was Claudia who spotted Erin's potential during a headhunting trip to Harvard University, and had no hesitation offering her a graduate position with Brandt's Boston office when she graduated.
Erin's first six months passed with flying colors and she quickly developed a reputation for her professionalism and diligence. Therefore, Erin was thrilled when Claudia invited her on a business trip to Berlin to meet an important American client and finalise some contracts. In fact, this client is worth so much to the firm that he is responsible for 45% of its revenue. Erin knew this, knew how important this meeting was for her firm and her career. She was going to bring her A game. She was not going to let Claudia down.
"Thank you so much for inviting me to this meeting Ms. Brandt," beamed an enthusiastic Erin upon seeing Claudia for the first time again since Boston.
"You're very welcome Erin, and please call me Claudia," she replied as the two exchanged a firm handshake.
"I presume you are up to date with all the documentation," the CEO asked.
"Absolutely," replied Erin confidently.
"Great. I'll introduce you to Mr. Charles Jackson," said Claudia.
The building was bright and modern, albeit very clinical with a reliance on glass and steel. Mr Jackson was waiting in Conference Room A which would be his office for the day. He was in his mid-fifties, quite tall but thin with a full white moustache and still wearing a cowboy hat, which amused the Germans in the building. Despite the laughter lines around his eyes, his gaze could be quite piercing, almost intimidating, which is an asset he often used to his advantage. He looked and acted exactly as one would expect of a powerful Billionaire Texan businessman.
"Charles, allow me to introduce Ms Erin Wilson who will be walking you through today's proceedings," proclaimed Claudia after entering the conference room.
Charles pushed his chair back, stood up and looked down at Erin with her professional yet faux half-smile and outstretched arm. "Pleased to meet you, sir."
"My my my," bellowed Charles, "I want to shake your hand but I'm afraid I'll accidentally snap it right off, uh?"
He gestured to Claudia and they shared in a laugh with Erin left standing awkwardly.
"I can assure you she is one of the brightest sparks to come out of Harvard for a very long time. I'm sure you'll enjoy working with her," Claudia assured.
"Very well, take a seat my dear, we've a lot of work to get through," replied Charles.
Erin sprang into action. She was back in her comfort zone. No more embarrassing small talk. She retrieved all her color coded documents from her bag and set them up in perfectly aligned bundles on the table, like an expert marksman dismantling a rifle. With the gentle whirl of her laptop's fan and the click of her pen she proclaimed, "Ready when you are."
Charles smirked. He admired her work ethic.
"Well I'll leave you to it," said Claudia as she left the conference room.
The day went very well for Erin. She had expert detailed answers to all of Charles' intricate questions and even surprised him with a few improvements to the existing contracts that would put his firm on a better footing with his German suppliers. At lunch, Erin sat alone in the conference room eating her salad box while Charles and Claudia chatted and laughed in her office. They were on very good terms.
A few hours later, and the work day had finished. Erin and Charles got through all their detailed work in no small part to Erin's diligence. There were just a few minor issues to be resolved the following morning before Charles's flight back to Texas.
"Well Claudia, you have a tough little cookie on your hands here," said Charles as he was leaving for the elevator, "Make sure you don't loose her."
Erin looked at the floor, a little embarrassed. Claudia expressed her thanks and the elevator closed. Erin's posture finally loosened a little after the long day and let out a tired sigh.
"You did great Erin," said Claudia, "you should be very proud of yourself."
Erin said that she was proud but was looking forward to soaking in her hotel bath to recharge after the day.
"Oh," exclaimed Claudia, "I guess that was my fault. I forgot to tell you. We are meeting Charles in an hour. It is important we entertain our top clients when they are abroad."
Erin's heart dropped a little because she was so tired but she understood providing clients with 5 star restaurant meals and expensive wine was part of the business, especially at this level. Erin enquired where they were going.
"A spa," said Claudia, "the best in Berlin."
Erin wasn't sure how to process that information. She stood motionless for a few seconds and then the most logical concern came to her logical mind, "but I don't have a swimsuit or even a bikini with me."
"Oh don't worry about that," said Claudia, "you can get everything there. Quick, the cab is waiting."
In the cab ride, Erin's mind was a flurry of activity. She was suddenly finding herself in a situation where both her boss and her client will see her in swimwear. She could feel her cheeks blushing at the thought of that. She was always embarrassed to wear revealing clothing. She had considered joining the swim team with her friend in college but didn't want everyone seeing her in a one-piece. She didn't even like people seeing her toes.
She never mixed business with pleasure. The mere idea that her bare torso and her bikini cleavage would be looked at and remembered by her colleagues was deeply embarrassing to her. She wondered how she could even face tomorrow's meeting knowing that the memory of that image would still be fresh in their minds. She could feel her palms getting sweaty and her brow furrowing.
But she knew she couldn't get out of this without hurting her career, and she thought maybe the sauna would be so misty that visibility would be poor. She lifted her chin with that comforting idea and composed herself. She had some hope that she would get through this.
Erin and Claudia arrived at the spa's opulent reception. The receptionist informed them that Mr Jackson had already arrived and was in the male changing room. Erin sighed heavily. Claudia asked for two premium packages for females to be charged to the company. The receptionist gave one bundle to Erin and one to Claudia and directed them to the female changing room. In the bundle, Erin could see sandals, a towel and a robe. She assumed her swimwear was mixed somewhere in the middle.
As they entered the changing room, her logical mind perked up again and she wondered how the receptionist gave her the correct size because she wasn't asked. This was puzzling her. Erin and Claudia had lockers side-by-side. Erin unwrapped her bundle but found no swimwear. She rolled her eyes and told Claudia that the receptionist had made a mistake.
"Oh no no," explained her boss, "this is a nude sauna. Did you not study German culture before you arrived?"
Erin's legs literally gave way and she sat on the bench, her mouth wide open with disbelieve and panic. Claudia was now naked from the waist down.
"Come on Erin, let's not keep Charles waiting, or do you like that view of my bush that much," winked Claudia.
Erin was in a tizzy. Her head was spinning, "Um...no...ah...what," she muttered in a daze. She looked up and saw her boss's bush literally inches from her eyes.
"Oh gosh, sorry, I mean, what...what should I do?"
"Well," explained Claudia, "stop staring at me, stand up and get undressed. Then put on your robe and sandals and we'll meet Charles."
Erin started removing her clothes slowly. With each article she tried to wonder how she was going to get through this. She guessed this was normal culture in Germany but she suddenly longed to be back in America. Claudia, her boss, the woman who interviewed her and hired her, was now standing completely naked. Her massive DD breasts with large light brown areolas drew the attention of anyone who looked in her direction, including Erin who had now removed her blouse but was still clutching it to her chest. Claudia sensed the attention.
"You should see the looks I get from men when I go topless at the beach," she smiled, "but yours are cute too. Not as big but cute. What are they B cup?"
Erin just nodded while simultaneously looking at the floor. She dropped the blouse to the bench and slowly removed her bra, making sure not to look up. She felt the cool air of the locker room on her naked breasts and her face grew hot with the embarrassment of this uncomfortable situation.
"Aw you have awesome nipples Erin. Very suckable," exclaimed Claudia, "I'm jealous."
Erin bit her bottom lip and pretended she didn't hear that comment and quickly put on her robe. She removed her underwear underneath her robe and slid her feet into the sandals. She could feel her whole body trembling with anxiety.
Charles, dressed in his robe, was waiting for them outside the door.
"Ah here are my two favourite lawyers," he boomed, "you sure know the best places in Berlin Claudia. Great work today Erin. I hope you enjoy the relaxation here this evening."
