CHAPTER 9: CUSTOMER BENEFITS
"Welcome home, sir. How was your day?"
I stood just inside the kitchen, turning to greet Mr. Baldwin when I heard him entering through the garage. He grunted something, very unlike him, dropped his briefcase, and entered the living room. Mrs. Baldwin was coming down the stairs at that exact moment and walked up to me.
"Did you hear what he mumbled?"
I shook my head. "Not really... something about customers... I think. I think there were some four-letter words mixed in, too."
She looked me up and down. "And he didn't even react to you?"
I shook my head. That also is very unlike him. Mrs. Baldwin selected my outfit as something to catch his eye. It didn't. I was wearing a black leather top that wasn't a top at all but holding rows of shiny chains draped from one shoulder to the other. There was no coverage of my breasts or nipples, merely the illusion of some coverage. The skirt was nothing more than a garter belt with sheer frills attached to it. My stockings were sheer and dark attached to the straps below the frilly, sheer skirt. Naturally, no bra or panties.
She looked concerned. She patted my butt under the skirt that did nothing to cover. "I'll go pry. Make some drinks."
"Yes, ma'am."
As I delivered the drinks to them, I saw them deep in conversation. Mrs. Baldwin thanked me for the drinks and nodded. The nod was my indication that I should join them with one. When I returned, I saw her speaking quietly but firmly to him. He simply nodded and glanced up at me as I entered the room. I had never seen them express any form of displeasure with each other and seeing it come from her reinforced the impression I had of her in their relationship.
He nodded a final time, put his drink down, and stood. The action stopped me from sitting in the chair across from the sofa where they sat. He stepped right up to me, took me in his arms, and hugged me. He kissed my neck, cheek, and lips. Then, he looked me in the eyes. He reflected softness and regret.
"I apologize, Karen. I came home out-of-sorts and fussing over a customer situation. You welcomed me home warmly, as you always do, and I ignored you. All you do is give to us without asking for anything in return. Abby is right, it was very rude of me. Forgive me?"
I am smiling at both of them, "Thank you, sir. Shitty days happen, sir. I suspect there could be more. I'm a big girl. AND... I may not ask for anything but only because you two have given me so much."
He smiled sheepishly from his behavior and returned to the sofa next to his wife. She continued to probe, understanding that he needed to get out what was bothering him. He sighed deeply and took a long pull of his drink. The corporation has been in negotiations with another major company over the past weeks. The contract would be huge. Trinity was in the driver's seat for the contract and their strategy was developed and implemented perfectly. The regional salesman discovered a weakness. The customer was desperate for the product quicker than the documents required. They were in a financial bind and getting the product quicker would give them a stronger foothold in meeting their commitments. It was knowledge that allowed Trinity to squeeze harder on pricing and terms because they were the only ones capable of delivering that fast.
While he paused to sip his drink, I could see her pondering something. The way she was thinking about what her husband had explained, I wondered, for the first time, what her background might have been before they married.
"So...", she began, "it sounds like normal negotiations. You found a weakness and took advantage. It's what happens between companies. Why your reaction? You've done this before and there was always a celebration. You went in for the kill and won."
He smiled, "Of course... it's ego. I know this guy. He took over that company when it was sinking. He brought it back up to significance. Accepting our increased pricing and terms will be a blow to their bottom line. I could see it in his eyes when we shook hands at the end. For a while there he thought he was going to pull off a miracle. Instead, he is just going to do well. Ego."
"He doesn't blame you."
He chuckled, "No... it's business. As I said, I just know him from before. I wish there was something, something symbolic of my understanding."
She glanced at me. I didn't think anything of it. I was quiet during it all. "Something like what? A personal gesture? Some offering to soothe the loss?"
"Yeah. They will be here all day tomorrow and night to finalize the contracts and schedules. Most of their team will be gone, but the three top men will remain."
She leaned into her husband and whispered into his ear. They both turned and looked at me.
* * * *
I was wearing a magnificent dress Mrs. Baldwin and I searched for at the finest boutiques in the city. It was provocative, yet appropriate for the expensive restaurant setting. I did look stunning in it. A black spandex, sexy long dress with long sleeves, plunging V-neckline, and thigh-high slit. The dress was inches above the floor with my 5-inch heels but the slit over my left leg easily parted nearly to my hip when I walked or sat. Mrs. Baldwin loaned me her strand of pearls that hung between my breasts, drawing further attention to the plunging neckline. The back was non-existent requiring support built into the bodice. With the neckline plunging below my breasts, it left a good amount of my breast exposed. I felt like the delicious offering I was intended to be. The thong I wore was carefully selected so even it wouldn't be noticed through the form-fitting material. My legs were bare... the tops of thigh-highs would have been visible... and pantyhose are no longer even considered.
I was lightly holding Mr. Baldwin's arm as we entered the elegant foyer of the restaurant. This was the kind of place that if you needed to consider the price of meals and drinks, you probably didn't belong. The three customers were just inside the bar. They hadn't had the chance to order a drink so the timing was almost perfect.
As Mr. Baldwin made the introduction for me, I began getting the impression they might have an inkling of my joining them this evening. I wondered what impression of me had been left with them. The men were discrete but they each took in my body in the dress. Certainly, the plunging neckline but I made an effort to step to each of the men with my left leg so it would also be exposed. That was a suggestion from Mrs. Baldwin and it had the desired effect.
All through before-dinner drinks, dinner, and after-dinner drinks, the conversation was light, not about business, and stayed on safe subjects. The men were staying in one of the nicest hotels located just on the next block. Mr. Baldwin had arranged for their president to have a suite for their use for their conference meetings during their stay. After an exchange of telling looks between him and Mr. Baldwin, he made the suggestion that we join them there for a nightcap. Looks were exchanged around the table with furtive ones given to me.
I laid my hand on Mr. Baldwin's arm. "It sounds like a wonderful idea, sir. This has been a very nice evening and it will be more comfortable there." My warm and sincere smile to the men around the table seemed to seal the idea and we left the restaurant.