Getting Mary'd

Getting Mary'd

Part 1 - Mary Finds a Legal Solution

Allen, Barth and Cunningham (aka 'ABC') is a national top 100 law firm with offices covering the southern geography between Texas and Washington D.C., headquartered in Atlanta. The firm's practice is diverse, covering not only the usual corporate, M&A, estate planning, tax and securities common to large national firms; but frequently involving more esoteric subspecialties like atomic energy and trans Pacific trade. One of the firm's more lucrative corporate subspecialties is 'Life Sciences', centered in EPA and FDA practice, but with a strong presence in other regulated areas where toxicology and general human health exposure assessments are all-important.

The practice head for ABC's Life Sciences practice is Brad Tomkins. Although only 45, Brad is well-regarded in the firm. Working in Atlanta, Brad had successfully brought in several nationally prominent international clients on significant regulatory and litigation matters. He had demonstrated not only a grasp of the law and science, but an understanding of the regulatory culture in the various federal agencies with jurisdiction.

It was not unusual for a partner to pop-in for an unscheduled impromptu meeting with another partner. So it was not out of the ordinary for Nancy Hilton to appear, unscheduled, on a Wednesday in mid-afternoon. What was unusual is that Nancy had with her Mary Wu, a third year associate in Nancy's practice subgroup, the trademark branch of the Intellectual Property practice.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Sure, Nancy, what's up?"

"I think you know Mary?"

"Sure. Hi, Mary." Mary smiled and blushed but made no response. Mary was petite, not quite 5'2" with long straight black hair well past shoulder length and a pretty oval face. A frequent winning smile complimented her legendary shyness.

"As you know from the last partner's meeting we are partnering with the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce to build stronger commercial ties with Taiwan. What may not have hit your radar is the major role that Mary has played in making this happen. I intend to roll that out and make sure she gets full credit in due time. Meanwhile, there is an interesting development. I had originally thought that my trademark practice would be enhanced with more U.S./Taiwan interchange. I still think that is true. Meanwhile, the feedback we are getting now is that the ABC practice area that is of greatest interest to the attendees is Life Sciences."

"Wow!"

"I know."

"I would like to propose that you take the lead for our formal presentation. I have already tasked Mary with pulling together a Powerpoint presentation featuring Life Sciences, with just a couple of Trademark/IP slides. But for that to really work, I think you need to be the firm's lead spokesman. Does that work for you?"

"What is the date for the meeting?"

"May 6."

After a brief calendar check, he responded. "Okay, that date works for me. I would like to see the Powerpoint presentation beforehand."

"Of course. For your information, it will be in both English and Mandarin."

"Just show me the English. I will trust Mary on the Mandarin." Everyone laughed.

Over the weeks that followed Mary submitted draft presentations which Brad immediately recognized as adaptations of previous firm responses to Requests For Proposal's from other prospective clients. As the event loomed more imminent, Mary reached out to Brad by e-mail. "Mr. Tompkins, the event is only a couple of days from now. Do you want to meet ahead of time to plan?"

"Sure. I am flexible. Tomorrow afternoon?"

"Perfect!"

*****

At exactly 3:00 PM Mary knocked on Brad's door. "Mr. Tompkins, is this a good time?"

"Very good. But let's dispense with the formalities. Please address me as Brad. Not Mr. Tompkins."

Mary blushed. "Thank you. But that does not seem appropriate. I am only a third year associate."

"Mary, you are my colleague. What you are potentially doing for my practice is enormous. The very least I can do is to extent professional congeniality." Mary blushed again, obviously pleased.

"The event is on Friday. We are scheduled to present at 4:00 PM. Afterwards, there is a cocktail reception and then dinner. How do you want to play that scenario?"

"I think we should both fully engage. Are you comfortable with that?"

"Oh, absolutely. Should we attend separately, or try to hang together?"

"I had not thought about that. What do you think?"

"I would prefer to be seen to be your 'date' rather than considered to bbe 'possibly available' to social overtures by any of the delegation."

"I think I understand that."

"Okay."

"Is there anything else we need to talk about?"

"Mostly just logistics. Can I get a ride with you to the event? I can get an Uber to get home. I just think it makes a better appearance if we arrive together."

"Absolutely. And I will get you home afterwards. No Uber will be necessary." Mary blushed again. "Why don't we exchange cell phone numbers, just in case something comes up."

"Great idea! Thank you. See you Friday."

*****

The event was a clear success. The Taiwanese business people attending Brad's presentation were major players and the questions which followed were insightful and relevant. Mary's language skills facilitated communications on both sides. On several occasions she had extended dialogues in Chinese to enable her audience to fully grasp the nuances of a question, followed by an extended dialogue with Brad in English. Some of the delegation seemed to be bi-lingual. It did not escape Brad's attention that there were slight, but noticeable, nods of approval as Mary translated both questions and answers between Brad and the delegation.

The cocktail party and dinner which followed the presentation was attended by a larger group including local politicians and civic leaders. Brad introduced Mary to many of the local civic leaders as an important ABC resource as a function of the combination of her legal training and language skills, producing still more blushing smiles from Mary. At the end of the dinner, Brad signaled Mary with his eyes, then thanked their dinner companions for a pleasant evening. Brad and Mary walked together to the parking garage. "Mary, you were terrific. Thank you so much."

"Oh it was great fun. I learned so much. I almost hate that the event is over now."

"Well, I feel that there is a great chance that there will be work coming out of this, and if there is, I will certainly be asking for your help."

Another blush. "Thank you, I would like that very much."

They arrived at Brad's car. "Where am I taking you?" Mary gave Brad the address of her apartment, which he recognized as only a few blocks from his. "No problem."

Once in the car Mary seemed absorbed in thought. "There is something that happened this evening that I feel like you should know about."

"What's that?"

"Remember that you told me to call you 'Brad' and not 'Mr. Tompkins' because we are colleagues?"

"Sure. That's the way it should be."

"Well, it's probably a cultural thing, but the delegation picked up on the fact that at some point I called you Brad, not Mr. Tomkins. They also very carefully reviewed our business cards, noticing that we are in different practice groups. In Taiwan, it would be unthinkable for a junior person, especially a woman, to address a man so organizationally superior in position in such a casual way...unless she had earned that right...usually in a very specific way."

"Are you saying...?"

Another blush and a nod of the head.

"My gosh Mary! I am so sorry. I would not want to embarrass you for the world."

"You don't need to be sorry. I am not embarrassed. I am very happy. You have given me more stature in their eyes because they now see me as someone who is completely trusted and protected by you, a very important person in the firm. I will be treated even more respectfully by them in the future. I just thought you should be aware. I am a very good eavesdropper. They just don't know what I know."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's pretty common knowledge in our office, that you just don't date the women who work for ABC. There are lots of women who might be interested but you just don't go there."

"Well, I can't deny that that is a personal rule."

"Why do you have that rule?"

"Mostly because my position makes it too risky. There are almost no practice chairs who are female, much less, single, and none that I feel any special attraction to. In fact, there are only a few females at partner level who are single or divorced, and, again I feel no particular attraction to any of them."

"When you say 'attraction' do you mean sexual attraction?"

"Well, that's certainly part of it. But it's more than that. I am not sure I can completely define it. It's intelligence, it's also how the woman comports herself. I am turned off by loud, aggressive women. I really can't articulate it but it's lots of things all put together. I enjoy the feminine side of women, not wanna-be gladiators. A tattoo is completely a deal breaker. A just can't begin to go there. There are probably other things as well, but those come to mind immediately."

"That's interesting. I never dreamed that men thought that way." After a brief pause she asked, "Do you find Asian women attractive?"

"Well, I have never dated an Asian woman, but there were very few Asians where I grew up. But that doesn't mean it couldn't have been. I find you extremely attractive, for example, but much too young for me."

"Why am I too young? I am an adult, capable of making my own decisions."

"For me to date a junior partner or associate, no matter how attractive, is just asking for trouble from a sexual harassment point of view. I am perceived to have a powerful position in the firm. The conventional wisdom is that an attractive young professional like you is vulnerable to being taken advantage of by a powerful older man like me. And with secretaries and paralegals it is even more so."

"But it isn't harassment if both parties want the same thing."

"That's why they call it 'He said, She said'. The controversy often doesn't start in the moment. It frequently happens later. Even weeks, months or years later. Jealousy can play a role. Even a specious controversy can be damaging to someone in my position."

"Wow. I never thought about what that might be like for a man like you. Is it too personal to ask what you do to meet women? The internet? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"The one thing I will tell you is that I have zero interest in internet dating sites. Zero. I do not begin to understand having a computer as a filter to mutual attraction. So yes, there are dry spells. I like female companionship as much as any man I know, but sometimes, it's just not in the cards."

"I know about 'dry spells'. I live there."

"Why? You are young, beautiful and single. Atlanta is filled with attractive young men who would be crazy about you."

"That's the problem. The only guys I ever seem to meet just don't have the maturity. And on the few occasions when I started to think that maybe sex could be a possibility at some point the guys seemed to go nuts. They became jealous, possessive, manipulative and controlling. I am only 26. I am not ready to even think about being married or whether I want a family. I am focused on my career. I happen to think that sex is normal and healthy but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for me right now."

"Well, I have a different kind of over-hanging issue. After my divorce, I made the decision to go ahead and get a vasectomy. So for those women who happen to be looking to have, or add to, a family, I am a non-starter."

"Brad, I understand what you have told me and I respect the need for your rules. But I just want you to know, everything about you seems perfect to me. That is my building just ahead." Brad pulled up at the curb.

"I loved working with you on this event. I just hope that we can do more together. Good night!"

*****

The next day, Brad had just turned on the Braves game when his cell phone rang. Mary Wu was calling. "Hi, Mary, what's up?"

"I hope I am not interrupting you."

"No. I just turned on the Braves game. What's going on?"

"I have a document, potentially for signature, that I would like you to review. This is a follow-up to yesterday. But I think it's very timely. Do you have time to take a look?"

"Sure, just email it to me."

"I know I could do that, but since you are only a few blocks away. I need to get some exercise and, anyway I would prefer to walk over and get your input in person, just in case changes are needed."

"Okay, we could do that. When?"

"I am ready now."

"Okay. Would you like me to come by and pick you up?"

"No, no! I want the exercise. I should be there in about 15 or 20 minutes."

"Okay."

*****

Brad's doorbell rang 15 minutes later. Mary looked absolutely hot, wearing short shorts and a tank top, carrying a manilla folder.

"Hi, Mary. What is going on?"

"This is something that just came to me overnight. Tell me what you think." Brad opened the folder and began to read.

"Know all men by these presents:

This Agreement is voluntarily entered into as of this date by the Parties identified hereinafter. The Parties are:

Bradley Tompkins (hereinafter referred to as 'Man') and Mary Wu (hereinafter referred to as 'Woman').

This document has been drafted and prepared by Woman, solely to facilitate and make possible a sexual connection between Woman with Man. There has been no request or suggestion by Man that such a document be prepared.

Woman acknowledges that as of the date of this Agreement, Man has never, at any time, touched Woman in any inappropriate way. Further, Man has never at any time suggested even the possibility of sexual contact between Man and Woman.

Woman further acknowledges her willingness and desire for sexual engagement with Man, including, but not limited to, vaginal, oral and anal sex; fantasy enactment including dominance and submission, bondage, role-playing, fantasy enactment and, without limitation, such other sexual activities which are determined to be mutually consensual.

This agreement may be cancelled at any time, by either party, upon written notice." Mary's signature appeared at the end.

Brad finished reading the agreement then studied Mary's face. "Is this really what you want?"

"I want this more than you could possibly understand. I want you to know that you can trust me to be your discreet sexual partner. There are absolutely no strings attached."

He took her hand and led her into his bedroom. She stripped immediately, kneeling naked before him. "As you have probably guessed from the Agreement, I am sexually submissive. I have dreamed of this moment. I want this."

Brad lifted Mary back to her feet kissing her open mouth slowly and sensuously. Her mouth was in a state of complete surrender, her arms around his neck. He picked her up and carried her tiny body to the bed. She immediately positioned herself on her knees between his legs. Her mouth was irrisistable. Within a few short moments he was exploding, spasm after spasm being greedily accepted by her mouth.

"That was a great beginning! I don't know how, but I have always known that you were exactly the kind of strong protective man that is most attractive to me. Of course, I heard other women at the office talk about you, about how you don't date women from the office. I am very shy as you know. When you explained why you have that rule, I really understood that you have to protect yourself. Last night when we got in the car you asked where you were taking me. Every bone in my body wanted to say 'to your apartment', but of course I didn't."

"I thought about you all night, fantasizing, trying to think of a way to earn your trust. I was encouraged by the fact that you thought I was pretty and that guys would be attracted to me. When you said you had had a vasectomy it was like a sign from the heavens. You are the perfect man for me! This morning, I got the idea of a possible legal solution to the 'He said - She said' dilemma. So I decided that, for once, I would go for it and not be shy."

"Mary, I think that you have converted me. I know that with you, I will never need the agreement you prepared. I have full confidence that you are as aware of the need for being completely discreet as I am. We have lots to talk about and learn about each other. I think we can be very good for each other." Mary snuggled closer, smiling.

"I will confess that last night when I asked where I was taking you, the words just popped out of my mouth without thought. But as soon as I said it, I recognized that you might have understood that I was inviting you to go home with me."

"I know. I thought about that, too. But if I had said 'take me to your apartment' it would probably have tripped an alarm for you, and then, I would probably have felt rejected and crushed. The way it has worked out we both know we are just starting something that will go on for a long time."

"I want you to know that I am going to enjoy learning every inch of your body and every corner of your mind. To do that properly will take a very long time. And that's just the beginning."

"I can't wait!"

"When did you discover that you are submissive?"

"From the time that I was a teenager, I have always been drawn to romantic fantasies where a handsome powerful man chooses me to satisfy his sexual needs."

"And have you been in such a relationship?"

Mary blushed. "I am not a virgin, but I have only had limited sexual experience, a couple of very short term relationships. I have never had a sexual experience with a man like you."

"Can we agree that I should fully explore your submissive nature?"

"Oh, yes!"

"Can we also agree that up to this point you have set the sexual agenda?"

Mary blushed. "I thought you liked the blowjob."

"It was wonderful in every way. But now, I am going to set the agenda. I am going to take what I want."

"Oh God! YES! Tell me what to do."

"I want you to be completely involved in this moment. Do not hold back. Give yourself up to pleasure and sensation. Let yourself be completely vulnerable."

"Yes, Sir."

He started with a slow sensuous kiss, the tips of two tongues teasing each other with promises of mutual pleasures to come. Then his kisses were on her neck and throat, her hands in his hair. His mouth found the nipples of her breasts hard and very responsive to his kissing and licking. His hands were on her bottom, holding her core firmly against his hard abdomen. He had complete awareness of her pervasive wetness, again underscoring her arousal. Her legs were open and had begun to wrap around him. His focus moved lower, past her abdomen to her mound. He used his tongue to explore her slowly, aware that she was moaning softly, her hands still intertwined in his hair.

His mouth found her sex and he began to lubricate her with saliva. Her vocalizations increased in both frequency and volume. He turned his attention to her clitoris and used his muscular tongue to full advantage. Her orgasm followed quickly. He paused, but only momentary. He applied more saliva to her sex, then returned to the sensual overwhelming of her clitoris.

"Ohhh My God!!!" Mary shivered and was overcome by another orgasm. Brad again lubricated her sex with saliva. This time, however, he positioned himself to enter her. Mary was quivering in anticipation. His first thrust produced only minimal penetration. He continued, methodically, until he was finally fully inserted. Mary was far beyond simple sighs or moans, she was crying out on each thrust. She orgasmed again but Brad did not pause, driving himself into her core, again and again until he finally exploded into her.