Apologies for the delay in producing this chapter. Sometimes life just gets in the way! I appreciate all those who have been kind enough to leave positive or constructive feedback. I hope that you all enjoy this one.
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Things Ain't What They Used To Be
Jessica need not have worried about Emily. The younger woman seemed to feel none of the doubts or fears that Jessica herself had battled with during her early career as a Taylor prospect. Instead the young blonde had taken to her new career as a slut for Black men like a duck to water. Jessica had enjoyed seeing her once quiet and reserved friend discover herself sexually and watching her personality become more out-going and confident.
Emily's enthusiasm had more than justified the decision to fast-track her as a prospect. Jessica knew that the program was different for every woman but it was still very clear that her friend was racing in a few months through a process that had taken Jessica herself a couple of years.
Jessica's work-life remained fundamentally unsatisfying. The foisting on her of two college placements had been almost the last straw. The girls were nice enough but she hadn't trained for years as a corporate lawyer in order to become a glorified nurse-maid. She was also well aware that some time, perhaps not too far in the future, her life as a slut and her life at Rifkin & Harker were inevitably going to collide. What would happen then?
She'd had a glimpse of that. Mr Rifkin had called her into his office and after leering at her like a disgusting pink pig he had lectured her about her new ear jewellery. It could apparently bring the firm into disrepute. It might put off future clients. In normal circumstances it would not be permitted. However, since Jessica was such a valued member of the firm, according to Rifkin, he was ready to relent on this occasion on condition that Jessica remember that her career was dependant upon him. He pointed out that he could help her rise high in the profession if she met his requirements and followed his advice.
Jessica had almost laughed in his face. When was the last time she'd been allowed near an important client? Where was her career going acting as a glorified clerk? But for the distraction of her activities outside of work she'd have died of boredom long ago. She couldn't figure out what the old fart was getting at.
***
Samuel Rifkin had a look of concern as he watched the four young women walk past him. He'd been surprised when Jessica had got that piercing in the top of her ear a month or two ago but he hadn't followed his initial inclination to force her to remove it. He felt a little leeway would be diplomatic since the Founder's Dinner was approaching and he had decided that would be the night that he revealed to Jessica that he was willing to take her as his mistress. He would get what he wanted - Jessica - and she would get what she wanted - he would release the brakes he had been putting on her career. With the glass ceiling removed he knew her abilities would rapidly propel her up the greasy pole of career success. Which would incidentally make his firm plenty of money in the process. Rifkin smiled briefly at the prospect but then looked again at the four young women.
He didn't like that piercing and jewellery at all - not least because he didn't understand why anyone would get it. Was it some sort of a fashion thing? Well, whatever it was he knew that as soon as he had made Jessica his mistress he would clamp down on all such nonsense. After all it was his responsibility to ensure that Jessica and Emily were appropriate mentors for their two new graduate placements. It was part of their job to demonstrate how to act and how to look once one had joined the profession. The two girls came from the elite college that he was intending his own daughter would soon attend and so he'd thought Jessica and Emily were perfect and safe mentors for them. Now Jessica had got that piercing out of the blue and as for the Szostak girl...
Rifkin almost unconsciously watched the wiggle of Emily's hips in her tight skirt as she walked away from him. He felt his cock stiffen as he appreciated the blonde's curves. He had heard that she had left her husband but until that moment he hadn't really noticed the changes in her. She had always seemed a quiet young woman. Now she walked with poise and confidence. She seemed to have discovered herself. Rifkin scowled again at such nonsense. After the Founder's Day Dinner he would certainly have to re-assert his authority over his staff. They weren't here to 'discover themselves' they were here to behave appropriately and to make him money.
The aging lawyer's weak chin jutted forward a little. This was HIS firm and he was going to ensure that he ran a tight ship. Apparently they had to have women lawyers nowadays. Well, that was OK so long as they knew and kept their place. He pondered that Jessica was going to have to learn that one of the places he expected her to be was in his bed. Once again Emily Szostak's delicious rear-end swayed in his gaze. Sam Rifkin smirked to himself. Yes, Emily could also be brought to learn that lesson in time. He looked around at his firm's gleaming offices and the busy staff rushing to do his bidding and make his next million. He thrilled at his own power and prestige. Soon he would taste some more of the fruits of his position and their taste would be sweet.
Welcome To Our World
"But that's terrible - I know richer clients can have better representation but the law should be fair to everyone." Young Kathryn seemed genuinely shocked.
Jessica almost rolled her eyes. Had she ever been so naive - well, yes, she certainly had. Everyone had to learn sometime. "Criminal law is often weighted against minorities but corporate law has a whole extra dimension of bias."
Emily waved at the office they sat in. "Our firm employs the best lawyers and works for the biggest clients. Half our opponents don't even have specialist corporate representation. The judges mostly are drawn from people who worked for firms like this one. Even in this city you can imagine how it works out. If you haven't got the money and connections then you'd best pray you can settle out of court. Meanwhile, guess who the people getting the dirty end of the stick are - especially around here. It's the small businesses and working men who in this city are mostly," she shrugged her shoulders, "African-Americans."
"Oh no, you mean it's racist too!" Kathryn was outraged
Madeline shook her head and her long blonde pony-tail whipped along behind her. "That can't be right - not in this country."
Emily and Jessica both looked at each other. "You have to do a project for your placement, correct." The two students nodded and Jessica continued, "Well, how about the place of ethnic minorities in corporate law. Just keep an eye on all the cases you study and all the things you see around here. In your time with us that should give you a good sample on which to make a judgement."
For a brief moment Jessica thought to herself how much might change in those three months. If her next challenge as a Taylor prospect fell on the wrong (or was that the right) day then she could be showing her baby bump by the time these girls left. Little thoughts like that seemed to come into her mind almost every day recently.
Our Friend From London
The day at the office had gone very slowly. Emily was with the placements assisting a case across town and Jessica was left metaphorically twiddling her thumbs. Her thoughts were on last night at the club. It had been fun, of course, but she knew that it wasn't all that she needed. She'd been expecting her next challenge for the last couple of weeks but hadn't yet heard anything. That was part of the game now. The anticipation and the desire. The knowledge that you might have to drop everything at any moment to satisfy your Black masters or mistresses.
She almost jumped out of her chair as her intercom sounded. "Miss Lyons," came the voice of her boss, "please come to my office immediately."
Jessica's breath caught in her throat. Rifkin didn't call her to his office often and whenever he did she wondered if he'd found out about her other life. She knew that the consequences of such a discovery would be immediate and final. Once the prospect would have terrified her. Now she felt rather more ambivalently about it.
She moved across the open-plan office and past the more discrete interview rooms. Rifkin's office was, of course, separated from the main one and she had to knock to gain admittance and then be ushered in by his PA.