Author's note:
It has occurred to me reading submissions that what the reader gains from the piece often depends on the point of view that it is written from. I have written this story from both the male and female viewpoint, the two stories are in some ways complementary. For the alternative version please read Spanish Contract – Venessa.
Spanish Contract – Jeff
Jeff sat across the boardroom table, folding his documents into his briefcase in anticipation of the meeting coming to a close. In reality he had little to do during the course of the three days. He was there primarily because he knew the product inside and out and he spoke a little Spanish, but the clients conducted the meetings in perfect English and what sticking points there were had been legal and contractual, and Venessa had ironed these out.
Prim little Gill was typing away into her laptop, she had been a study of concentration, not wanting to make an error to allay any accusation that she was not a valuable part of the team. The thought that she had used her influence as the Managing Director's daughter to wrangle a comfy vacation had crossed everyone's mind at least once. Gill rounded off the last of the minutes and Venessa leant back with a polite smile on her face. You did not have to speak Spanish or English to recognise a triumphant smirk lying behind it. Whether the Spanish gentlemen were not used to dealing with businesswomen or whether it was just this particular businesswoman, was not clear, but they had yielded on most points and the contract had been settled very much to their detriment. Venessa stood and shook hands, Jeff followed suit and Gill clicked the laptop shut. They were done, and with the return flight not booked until Friday they had a couple of days to kill.
*
Venessa tilted the front car seat all the way back as they drove to their rented villa, Gill shuffled over in the back seat to prevent herself from being squashed.
"Did you enjoy that?"
It wasn't clear immediately who she was talking to, so Jeff kept concentrating on the road. Venessa shifted her long slim frame in the seat, loosened the top button of her blouse and rolled the window down a fraction.
"It was a good experience", Gill piped up from behind.
"They should have sorted themselves out, they were not prepared for us. If I was working for them..."
"We wouldn't have the contract." Jeff finished.
Venessa laughed and closed her eyes. She rolled the window back up.
"That's just letting more hot air in. We'll just have to sweat it out."
*
Jeff let them into the villa. The shirt was sticking to his back from the car ride back, so as bags and briefcases were dropped in the hallway he made his way to his room. He dropped his clothes on the bed and slipped a pair of swimming shorts on before heading back out, through the open plan living area and kitchen and out onto the veranda. The pool was still with barely a breath of wind to ripple the surface. It had been unused since they had arrived, the late hours of the first days saw to that. He dropped the towel on the edge before diving in to break the still surface. Swimming had been his thing once and his muscles responded well to the familiar strokes that used to keep them so toned.
After a few laps he heard the slap of two flip flops coming out to join him. Gill's towel joined his at the poolside, she had changed into a black bikini which contrasted against her pale skin. She edged her way into the water down the steps.
"It's cold!"
The water was warm enough, it was the steamy early evening that made it appear cool.
Gill's bikini seemed a size small for the extent of her curves, but she splashed in before Jeff had a chance to fully assess the situation. which was probably just as well. Gill was no catwalk model, but in a company with so few women, her presence walking up and down the offices always created a stir, and a few ill advised comments from married men who should know better.
Gill swam right up to the end where Jeff had rested. As she arrived she brushed past him grabbing the edge of the pool with both hands before wiping her long dark hair away from her face.
Jeff wanted to say something to break the tension but he realised that he stopped himself, he realised he was the only one who was tense.
"I learnt some Spanish today, from the waiter at lunch." Gill said.
"Those guys? Make sure you know what it really means before repeating it in front of anyone."
Gill giggled.
"I thought you were cooking tonight." Venessa's voice cut the air. She stood in the open doorway a thigh length robe covering her swimsuit.
"Are we not going out for a celebratory dinner?"
"You did say you'd cook." Gill added.
"All that fussing around in the market this morning, we want to see what the chef has to offer. Besides I am not driving all the way back into town." Venessa finished.
Jeff swam over to the shallow end and stepped out. As he cleared his eyes his towel was thrown over his head.
"I will be marking it out of ten. For taste and presentation." Venessa grinned and strutted of to one of the loungers.
Jeff dried himself off, and headed for the kitchen. He fetched the bits and pieces from the refrigerator and laid them out on the worktop. He stopped for a moment. He wanted to see what Venessa was wearing under her robe. She was out on the road most of the time, so she did not create the impression in the company that Gill did, but she was the more classically beautiful. She was tall and slim, if she was past her best in her late thirties it was hard to imagine how good she used to look. She obviously looked after her self, probably had a strict diet and exercise regime to keep that feminine shape even if her close cropped blond hair spelt business. However her general demeanour of ruthless aggression soured the overall picture.
He wouldn't have to move far to catch a glimpse, the patio doors gave a panoramic view, but Venessa had moved right down to the end. Jeff stuck with the vegetables, he didn't want to seem like a pervert, even if the thought of what might be outside was killing him.
He started to chop away.
*
The meal came and went with only a few barbed comments about its quality. At the end the plates were clear and two empty bottles of wine stood on the table with Venessa off to get a third.
Gill had not changed after swimming, she had thrown a summer dress over her bikini, and now she was preoccupied, twiddling her fingers through her tousled hair. Venessa had changed, she had come back through the villa wearing her robe so Jeff had missed out. After a shower she had put on a pair of light cotton trousers that were tantalisingly translucent and a short purple blouse.
"There's nothing to do." Gill complained.
"You should be relaxing," Venessa returned, refilling Gill's glass before placing the wine on the table, "you're on holiday".
"Let's play a game."
"I spy?" Venessa said drily.
"I have some cards."
Gill got up and headed off to her room. Venessa turned to Jeff.
"Fancy a game of snap?"
Gill returned, cards in hand.
"What shall we play? What does everyone know how to play?"
"Know how to play poker, Gill?" Venessa asked.
