They stepped into the elevator together. As the door closed behind them, Erika Sawyer caught her reflection in the metal covered doors. It wasn't mirror-like, but you could still make out the shapes of people.
If she didn't know the woman looking back at her, Erika would have thought it was a stripper or maybe even a hooker. The blond woman in front of her was dressed in a tiny black dress that clung tightly to her body. She had the body of a stripper too – long legs and large breasts.
Erika would never dress like the woman in the reflection before her now, for she was much too conservative for that. After all, she was a young career woman, happily married to the best husband in the world.
Her friends often kidded her, calling Erika and her husband the Barbie and Ken Couple. The physical similarity was hard to argue with, but William always insisted that his wife was a lot hotter than any version of the famous doll. That comment always made her smile.
But now that she was looking at Slut Barbie's reflection, the family joke was loosing its luster. She wasn't sure what she was doing on a hotel elevator dressed like a whore. I can't do this, she thought to herself. Then she said it out loud.
"I don't think I can do this. Look at me; I don't look like a professional marketer. I can't believe I let you talk me into this."
For months, Howard Fenster had been trying to convincer her to use her feminine assets when dealing with customers. This is the trucking business after all, he'd say, and these guys appreciate a beautiful woman.
Erika always knew men found her attractive. Even before she grew into a woman, men had taken notice of her. People always told her to take part in pageants and take advantage of her beauty.
Despite all that, Erika had always wanted to make it on her own abilities, but it hadn't been easy. She was on her second job in three years since graduating from college and she hadn't gotten any farther up the ladder than assistant marketing representative.
On the other hand, William had been promoted twice since college and was one step away from management. She loved William with all her heart, but still a little bit of competitiveness had worked its way into their relationship. She so much wanted to keep up with him.
"Don't worry about it," said Howard, breaking her hypnotic gaze. "You look just fine and Phil's going to love it. He'll be hanging on your every word."
Erika was now looking at the numbers rising on the panel by the door -- 11, 12, 13, 14. She felt a shiver rip through her body. How can I even think dressed like this; I feel so uncomfortable, she thought.
"Anyway, you're not much of professional marketer if you never make a sale, are you? Need I remind you what this contract would mean to our company? And think of the bonuses we'll get."
Erika looked over at Howard's image on the doors now. Even the distorted reflection couldn't improve the reality of him. The middle aged marketing manager had been hitting on Erika for nearly a year. She could never imagine what made him think she'd be interested – the disgusting little troll.
Why on Earth would she choose to fool around with Howard Fucking Fenster. She couldn't think of any less appealing human; he was a squat little creature, married with six kids. She certainly had no interest in him.
Yet, here she was in an elevator following his advice, "dressed sexy" for this customer meeting. The two were trying to move the contract process a little faster down the track.
Howard had been chasing this customer for years. The Grade A Trucking account would be a major win for the company and would get him that long awaited promotion to vice president. But it wouldn't be easy. Phil had made it clear that Howard and Erika's company had to offer the best value in truck parts.
Yet, Howard had seen Phil take the occasional glance at good looking women and having this hot little bitch along couldn't hurt. And man she was hot, Howard thought, looking over at the statuesque blond.
Erika had it all hair, face, tits, ass and legs. The honey blonde was taller than Howard and had to have a 40-inch chest. She was fucking perfect, and he wanted her in the worst way. Looking at her in the tight, short dress was only strengthening that desire.
It seemed like he'd been working on this little bitch forever and wasn't about to give up. He'd never seen a chick hotter to get ahead in business, and that was the kind of flaw a guy could use. But first she was going to help him land this elusive whale. They finally reached the 26th floor and Erika's trance ended when the doors opened. The two marketers moved down the hall to Suite 2619 and Howard knocked. The door was opened by a handsome gray haired man dressed in just a pair of slacks and an open collared shirt. The smiling gentleman warmly greeted his guests.
"Hello Howard, how are you? I see you brought your young protégé along."
"Thanks for inviting us. I hope we can answer any questions you might have about our proposal," Howard replied.
The trucking executive invited them to have a seat and got them drinks. Howard began to run down the advantages of going with Certified Parts, as Phil sat down on the other side of a davenport from Erika. She thought he was a pretty good looking man despite his age. He was tall and looked like he was in good shape.
"Let's see the proposal," he said to her coworker.
"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't bring it," Howard stammered. "I messenger was supposed to bring you a copy."
"How the hell am I supposed to evaluate a proposal if I don't even have it? I think we better cancel this meeting until you're better prepared."
Howard had been trying to get this meeting for weeks and now the whole thing was in jeopardy. Why didn't he bring a the proposal to the meeting? He begged Phil to let him run and get a copy.
"I can get it and be back in just a few minutes." Actually, it would take more than an hour to drive across town and back, but he couldn't let this opportunity get away.
"OK, but hurry back. I've got an early plane tomorrow and I want to get to bed early tonight."
"Come on Erika; let's go."
"I'd like to stay here if you don't mind," Erika said. "I'll keep Phil company until you get back." Good thinking baby, Howard thought. You're getting the hang of this now.
After Howard left, Phil spoke to Erika for the first time, offering to refresh her wine. She began to talk about Certified and what a great company it was. The company offered state of the art supply chain management she said.
"We'll see what your proposal says when Howard gets back."
"Honestly Phil, I can tell you whatever you want to know about the proposal."
"Really? The way you're dressed, I thought you were just the eye candy." What a rude SOB, she thought. The fear and embarrassment she once felt at this whole situation was now beginning to turn to anger and resolve. She was really quite tired of men thinking she was stupid just because she was pretty.
"No. I'm very much a part of the team."
"Really?" Yeah, really asshole, she wanted to say. However, she held her tongue. That's when she realized that he had been avoiding looking at her since she walked in. Maybe she was intimidating him.
"Yes. Don't you like the way I'm dressed?" Put him on the defensive she thought. See how he likes it.
"Sure." Ok. I wonder how far I can push him, she wondered.
"Do you think I'm attractive?" she asked moving toward him on the davenport.
She wasn't ready for what came next. The trucking executive turned and looked her straight in the eye.
"Hell, I'd fuck you in a minute baby. Is that what you're asking?"
