Emily's mind had been in turmoil ever since the incident at the office of her largest client. She felt equal parts of anger and guilt. The anger was directed not so much to Michael, the CEO who had taken advantage of her, but to herself, since she knew that she should and could have stopped him as soon as he had started behaving inappropriately. As for her feelings of guilt, she tried to put them out of her mind by filling her time with work and exercise at her gym. She still could not believe that despite the humiliating way Michael had treated her, the brief encounter had been the most intense sexual experience she had ever had. She tried not to think about the fact that sex with her husband, while loving and emotionally fulfilling, had never driven her to lose control the way that sex with Michael had. Since she had returned from her trip, she had tried to assuage her guilt by becoming more attentive to her husband, pampering him at every opportunity that presented itself. In bed, she concentrated on giving him pleasure, but despite all her mental effort, she could not suppress the intrusive images that flashed into her mind every time she made love with her husband. Even worse, she had been unable to orgasm like she used to unless her husband took her from behind while she imagined that the man behind her was Michael.
Despite all her mental anguish, Emily managed to continue living her life without anyone else noticing it. She had already decided not to ever tell her husband about the incident. At work, she had been congratulated for landing Michael's firm as a client, and the large bonus that she received as a result allowed her to rationalize what happened as a sacrifice that she had made for the sake of her and her husband's financial security. Now, as she prepared for her upcoming business trip, she again tried to put all other thoughts aside and focus on her work. She packed carefully, avoiding choosing the same clothes she had worn last time. Nevertheless, she still had to maintain the image that had allowed to become one of the most successful sales reps in her company's history, so her wardrobe was as stylish and elegant as usual. As she folded the silk thong panties she liked to wear, she reviewed the mental notes about the account she hoped to land. She had been pursuing the account for several months without making much headway. The purchasing manager she had been after had been very reluctant to talk to her on the phone, much less meet in person. After months of inactivity, he had finally agreed to meet and listen to Emily's pitch.
The meetings with the purchasing manager and his colleagues had gone well, Emily thought. She was now taking a short break in her hotel room before meeting the client's team at the expensive restaurant she had picked. She felt like they were close to signing with her, which would result in another large commission landing in her bank account.
Before leaving her room, she checked herself in the mirror one last time, making sure that her shoulder length hair was perfectly brushed. She confirmed that her light cream blouse did not have any stains. She removed a few pieces of lint from her black pencil skirt, which ended just above her knees, and stepped into her favorite high-heeled shoes. Emily thought she looked great tonight. She took the elevator to the hotel lobby and walked a few steps to the highly-rated restaurant which was right next door to her hotel.
Dinner had gone really well, Emily thought. Food had been delicious and the service had been top notch. The conversation with the client's team had been entertaining when it came to non-work related topics, and very productive when it pertained to the deal she wanted them to sign. Her meticulous preparation had served well, since Jerry, the purchasing manager, and his subordinates had peppered her with questions throughout the evening that she had been able to answer in detail.
Emily paid for the very expensive bill, leaving a generous tip, and bid farewell to all of Jerry's subordinates. Emily and Jerry were now walking to the hotel lobby discussing the next steps. She was starting to fade a little bit so she was ready to say goodbye when Jerry asked her if she had tried the cocktails at the hotel bar. She admitted that she had not, so he insisted they have one before ending their day. They sat down at the bar after a brief wait, and continued their conversation after Jerry ordered what he promised were the best White Russians in the city.
As one drink turned into a second one, Emily felt completely at ease. Their conversation had gradually progressed from work topics to a series of incredibly funny stories about Jerry's experiences growing up in a small rural town. It was only when the bartender made his final call that she realized how late it was. She thanked Jerry for the drinks, which he insisted were his treat, and stepped down from the bar stool. She stumbled a little bit, a sign that perhaps she had exceeded her alcohol limit, so when Jerry offered to walk her to her room she did not think twice before accepting his offer. He found him completely non-threatening, since he was not much taller than her, was probably twice her age, and was noticeably overweight. His balding head, thick glasses, and slightly ill-fitting clothes completed the image she had formed in her head of the type of guy she did not have to worry about.
