TRAVEL COMPANION
Anne takes the offer -- but can she believe the assurances?
Dan Connell was used to being in control. His grooming, his bearing, lively eyes that seemed to take in all his surroundings, all pointed to a man of class. At a few inches over six feet in height, he made an imposing figure as he strode confidently into the showroom and was immediately beset upon by an eager young sales assistant, anxious for his first sale on a Monday morning.
Striding by the neatly arranged gleaming luxury cars he dismissively waved off the salesman and headed straight to the reception desk.
"Can I help you, sir?" the girl asked as she looked up from her computer monitor.
Uncharacteristically, he faltered for a moment as he took in the beauty before him. She was tiny, barely five feet tall, wearing the corporate blouse of the car dealership, which had a vee neck stopping just short of showing the upper edges of her bra. Her makeup was understated, light shadow bringing out the blue in her eyes. Her wavy blonde hair was perfect.
Gathering himself, Dan asked for Doug Stanway, the dealer principal, and stepped back a moment, realising he had been staring.
"Of course, sir," she smiled back. "Please take a seat and I'll ask him right down."
She need not have bothered. Stanway was skipping down the stairway from his office to the showroom as his phone started ringing, having seen his top client enter moments earlier. The pair enthusiastically shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and headed back up the stairs to Stanway's office.
"Coffee?"
"Please Doug. Short black, no sugar."
Stanway picked up his phone, placed the order and sat back in his chair expectantly.
"Tired of your 300SL already?" Stanway ventured.
"Not likely. It's a masterpiece. What I want is a custom black limo for some of my overseas clients. First impressions are important. I also want to ask you about the gorgeous creature you have at your reception desk."
"I'm not surprised," Doug shot back amiably. "Everyone who sees her falls in love with her. Or lust. You're all too late though. She is already married to a great guy. She's hit on daily by a variety of customers and visitors but she's all class and very definitely a one-man woman. Forget her, Dan and let's talk about this limo."
At that moment, the receptionist entered with a tray containing the two coffees, and some sweet biscuits on a tray.
"Short black for you sir and yours is the usual Doug," she smiled as she set the tray on the coffee table in front of them and quietly retreated from the office.
"Dan, DAN! She's spoken for man. You practically raped the girl with your eyes."
He shook himself back to reality as the door shut and for the next hour or so the two men were locked away in the office talking business.
A week later, Connell reappeared at the dealership with a younger man of middle eastern appearance. Dressed in a smart, tailored suit and sporting an impeccable hairdo and fashionable facial stubble, he nodded to Anne as Connell asked for the boss. Anne idly wondered why it took two of them to sign off on a purchase that Connell would normally make alone.
Connell returned, alone, the following Monday, ostensibly to change some details of his order, trailing Doug into a private conference room. The details of their discussion were so minor that Doug wondered why they could not have been settled by phone. As Dan rose to leave, he paused and quietly asked Doug for the receptionist's name.
"Please Dan, don't go there," Doug pleaded. "She's happily married for God's sake. Leave her alone."
He wilted under Dan's steely gaze.
"It's Anne," he muttered.
"OK. Would you please show her in here for a few minutes? I want to talk to her. I think I might be able to do something good for her."
Doug knew resistance was useless. Besides, Anne had shown in the past that she was more than capable of seeing off unwanted suitors and he was confident she could look after herself. He led her to the conference room, ushered her inside and returned to his office.
Dan stood as Anne entered the board room and gestured towards a seat.
"Hi," he began. "I'm Dan Connell. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. You're probably wondering what this might be about."
"Hello Mr Connell. I know who you are, and I presume that asking for me has something to do with the order that the boss is currently processing for you."
"I'm going to be direct, Anne. I didn't build my businesses by beating around the bush. I know you are married and very happy with your lot in life. How much do you think your house is worth?"
"I beg your pardon?" she rallied. "What business is it of yours whether I am or am not married, or what value I place on the roof over my head?" Her beautiful face flushed with anger.
"Please Anne, hear me out. What is your house worth?"
"OK, let's play this game. It's in a good neighbourhood and worth around $750,000. It is mortgaged of course."
"Thank you Anne. I want to make you an offer and I want you to take a whole week to think it over, discuss it with your husband and come to a decision by nine o'clock in the morning, one week from today. I will be here to accept your decision either way. Whatever you decide will have absolutely no impact on my business dealings with your employers.
I have a two week business and vacation trip booked. Unfortunately the lady who was to accompany me was injured in a traffic accident last week and will not be out of hospital for at least three weeks, though thankfully the doctors say she will make a full recovery.
Would you consider being my guest for this vacation?"
Steam poured from Anne's ears. She was so angry she couldn't formulate the words to convey what she wanted to say. She jumped out of her chair and headed for the door, the trace of a tear appearing at the corner of her eyes. Dan blocked her path.
"What the hell do you think I am!" she snarled.
"You are a very beautiful lady and you promised to let me finish."
She sighed and slumped back into her chair, arms folded across her chest in a classic defensive pose.
"OK. I don't like where this is headed. It's totally inappropriate but say your piece."
"Fine and thank you again," he began quietly. "I fully realise that my request is most unusual and that both you and your husband would be unlikely to agree. Let me therefore make the offer of restitution for your two week absence. I would pay you the value of your house, plus an additional $100,000 for furniture and fittings, transferred to the account of your choice within one hour of your departure with me. If the vacation is cut short for any reason, the money stays in your account for you to use as you wish.... and before you ask, I am not inviting you as my sex partner -- simply as my guest. You will have your own room. You will not be asked to do anything that you are not comfortable with. The trip is planned for a week in the capitol where I have conventions to attend and a second week in Fiji for rest and relaxation before returning here. I would be honoured to have you with me as my companion. Should you accept, bring with you clothes for the first couple of days. We will shop in the capitol to select a suitable wardrobe for the rest of your holiday since I do not want to put you to the expense yourself. That wardrobe will of course, be yours to keep. Please tell me that you will at least consider it."
"You need to get a grip Mr Connell. Perhaps you've been watching too much television. Has there been a re-run of Indecent Proposal? I'm sure you can hire a professional escort for much less than you're offering and probably get your rocks off as well. I'm shocked that you would even think that I'd be interested in such a proposition and even if it costs me my job, I can give you the answer right now. NO."
With that she swept out of the board room and still flushed and angry, stormed down the stairs to return to her desk.
Later she saw Dan and Doug engaged in animated conversation as Dan prepared to leave. The pair shook hands, parting on their separate ways, Doug going directly to Anne's work station. She was ready for the axe to fall.
"I'm very disappointed that you allowed that to happen, Doug," she fumed. "I suppose you're here to talk about a redundancy package. I'm not some sort of slut to take money for favours."
"Whoa there young lady! Stop right there! Dan is a long standing and valued customer of our dealership who spends millions every year, but that does not buy him special privileges of the nature you are suggesting. He asked for a private word with you. I agreed. I have no idea what the two of you discussed but I can assure that whatever it was it will have no bearing at all on your employment. You really should know me better than that."
An uneasy truce followed as they each returned to their work.
Anne was still angry when she arrived at home. Instead of starting to prepare dinner, she turned on the TV, opened a bottle of chardonnay and sipping quietly, waited for her husband. As the local veterinarian his hours varied greatly. His suburban practice was centred around dogs and cats, but he also had a number of nearby farming clients so he catered for horses and cattle also.
Bryan sensed all was not well when he saw Anne in the TV room.
"What's up babe?"
Anne burst into tears. "You'll never believe it. I'm going to resign. I hate the place."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"NO! .... Yes. I'm just so shaken up that I can't even think straight right now."
She emptied the glass she was holding in one swallow. It was obvious she's been crying and Bryan sat beside her and took her gently in his arms, kissing her cheek.
"You've heard me speak of that super rich Dan Connell, who is some sort of a big wig investor in oil?"
Bryan nodded but chose not to speak.
"The bastard thought he could buy me to go away with him for two weeks."
"WHAT!" Bryan exploded. "I'll kill the bastard. What the fuck does he think you are -- a common prostitute?"
