WARNING - if you are a follower, this is not my typical Incest/Taboo story.
More of an erotic love story.
Bail out now if that doesn't appeal to you so I don't waste your time.
&&&&
'Hey Babe.'
'Hi honey.'
A quick kiss exchanged by a long time married couple.
'Keely, let's go out to dinner Friday night to celebrate Stephen's birthday. You will be gone next week right?'
'Yeah, I will be gone for maybe a month. Good news is I can fly back on Friday mornings and back out Monday morning. So not so bad.'
'What happened to your guy?'
'Stupid, really stupid. He was caught with the wife of the customer's CEO in a compromising situation.'
'Ok, caught fucking the wife?'
'Well, she was actually giving him a blowjob in their master bedroom.'
'Yikes! Hard to explain away that.'
'He tried saying it was her idea. But it didn't matter. I had to fire him, which I hated to do because I don't have anyone on the bench to take over. So, it will be at least a month till I can recruit or transfer someone over. A transfer would create a hole that I would have to fill anyway.'
'I am sorry babe. I thought you would be done with these extended travel gigs.'
'Me too Steve. Lesson learned, have a bench.'
'So you are out tomorrow morning?'
'Yes.'
'It's fine. It will be over before you know it.'
'I hope so, I hate sleeping alone.'
'Me too, but at least you will be in our bed.'
'Too bad the only thing we use our bed for is sleeping.'
No more sex in this marriage.
***
I have an American AirPass so I am treated like royalty. First class seats, special treats on the airplane. The wonderful attendant offered mimosa or any alcohol. I never drink in the morning although I was tempted.
No problem renting the car, One hour drive to the customer site. Right on time for the meeting with the CEO.
'Hi, Keely Hodge.'
'Ralph Donor. Also a sperm donor.'
Uh oh. Not a good start.
'Just call me Ralph, none of this Mr. Donor stuff.'
Not what I was expecting. His wife a stunning beauty, former Miss USA contestant. He, well to be polite, a balding fat ass. My guy was a Brad Pitt look alike. No wonder why his wife cheated.
'Ralph, Gary is no longer with the company. His behavior was unacceptable. I want to assure you I will fill this position with someone acceptable to both of us. Until then I will be the interim Account Executive.'
'That's fine, Sit.'
He motioned to a chair by a mahogany table. He sat real close right next to me.
Uh-oh.
I know men find me attractive. I have battled the stigma of a dumb blonde all my life. I can see it in his eyes.
'If you want to make me happy and retain my business... be the permanent AE. We can work well together. Day and night.'
He placed his hand on my thigh, pushing my skirt up.
Here we go again.
I pushed his hand down.
'Ralph. Let's be real. You do that again and I will terminate your contract immediately, pull all our resources that will cripple your company. In all likelihood drive it into bankruptcy. Your choice.'
'You wouldn't do that,' he said.
'Try me.'
'It was an accident. I didn't mean to do that.'
'You know that is bullshit.'
We sat in silence.
'What's your choice?' I asked.
'Welcome to Railway. So glad you are on the team Keely.'
***
Once I got Ralph straightened out, I had a good day, meeting some of his key managers. For each one, I had to give the company pitch over and over again. It went well.
Tomorrow more of the same and Wednesday then I can get into their day to day business. It's work, but it is fun. I knew nothing about their business so I took the drink from the firehose.
My usual when traveling is sit at the hotel bar and eat dinner there, then back to the room to call home, get ready for the next day and get a good nights rest.
Happy to follow that pattern again on my first night. Typically I avoided eye contact with anyone in the bar, keeping to myself. I used the time to mentally recap the day, identify action items that I jotted down in my small notebook. More notes to plan out tomorrow's meetings.
Special notes in the back for my interaction with Ralph. I should have pressed him to drop the lawsuit he filed on Gary.
A couple of glasses of wine and an awesome fettuccini al fredo. I was ready for bed.
I noticed a table in the bar that was making noise. Happy noise. Two guys and two women unwinding from the business day.. All professionals dressed in power suits. My kind of people.
I was about done with dinner waiting on the check to sign to my room.
I checked my phone while waiting. I didn't notice one of the guys standing next to me. His great smelling cologne caught my attention.
'Another round please,' he said.
I looked at him, he looked at me.
'Hi,' he said.
I had a brilliant reply, 'Hello.'
The bartender brought the drinks on a tray.
He picked up the tray, looked at me and flashed an amazing smile at me.
'Nice talking to you,' he said.
I said, 'Me too.'
How stupid was that?
He returned to his table.
They were having fun.
I wish I had a group to hang out with. So unlike me.
Back to my room, I called home. Boring day for everyone. I left out my interaction with Ralph.
***
The next night, back in my bar seat. I ordered a steak. Made my notes. Five meetings with key managers. They shared scary stories about Gary. The CEO;s wife was not the only one he hit one. Damn. I need to spend more time on site with all my customers to make sure the AEs are in line.
I was halfway done with my steak when the good smelling guy approached the bar for another round.
'Hi again,' he said,
My mouth was full. When I replied a bite of steak shot out of my mouth.
I was so embarrassed. He was gracious. No laughing, no comment. He waited for me.
'I am so sorry. That was disgusting.'
'Don't worry about it.'
'Let me try again. Hi again.'
'Oh, changing the script on me.'
I laughed,
I said, 'Hello again.'
He said, 'Nice talking to you again.'
'Me too again.'
He took the drink tray back to the table.
***
Another good day, this time seven meetings to document in my notebook. I had my head down, scribbling. I didn't notice the good smelling guy right away.
'You look like you work way too much, always making notes,' he said.
I said, 'Guilty.'
'Well if you would like to unwind and try to have fun, please join us at our table. We work hard during the day then have fun at night.'
I looked at the table at the guy and the two attractive women.
'It's not that kind of fun, we are a sales team. We work together and play together, nothing sexual.'
'I am sorry, I didn't mean to,,,;'
He took my hand and kissed it.
'You are forgiven.'
'Hey, we are going out to dinner tomorrow night. The food there is great but we want to explore. What do you think? Care to join us?'
'Thank you for the offer. I have 10 meetings tomorrow, so a lot of followup.'
'You need to turn it off... miss hello.'
'Oh, Keely.'
'Evan.'
'Nice to meet you Evan.'
'Keely, give it some thought for tomorrow night. If not, the night after, but the ladies will be gone.'
'OK, let me see what I can do Evan.'
i laid in bed after calling home and finishing my plan for tomorrow. Evan was right. I work too hard. Maybe I should join them for dinner. Why not?
I always have time in the morning to complete my notes. I am going to do it.
***
The table was empty. Where are they? Damn I was ready to break my mold.
Oh well, I pulled out the notebook, ordered a wine and went to work. I had completed 5 of the meeting notes when I heard a raucous group enter the bar. It was them. Yes!
They settled in. Evan approached the bar, I guess he is the drink runner.
'Hey Keely.'
'Hey Evan.'
'Well?' he said.
'If the offer still holds, yes.'
'Great! What are you drinking?'
'Just house Chard.'
'Well I will do better than that.'
He ordered some French wine which I did not recognize.
He took the tray and I followed him.
He put the tray down and pulled another chair up.
'Hey gang! This is Keely. Look out! I think she is in ops and she works too hard.'
I said, 'Guilty. I run an IT ops company.'
They are sales people. So outgoing. The women were very attractive, I am sure they are a big hit with the male prospects. Same with the guys, big hit with the female prospects.
'introductions please,' Evan said.
The first woman on my right started.
'Hi Keely, I am June. I am in charge of this ragtag group.'
The guy across from me said, 'Hey I resemble that remark! Hey Keely, Jim here. You don't look like an ops person, too pretty. Our IT team looks like a bunch of refugees from an ugly camp.'
June said, 'Jim, really?'
'OK, only some of them fit that description.'
Next to him was the other woman.
'Keely, Kelly is my name.'
'We are one letter different. How cool!' she said.
'I agree with Jim, you are way too attractive to be in ops.'
She winked at me. Must be interested in me. I never know how to handle it when a woman comes on to me. Men, I can handle them. Happens all the time.
Sales people are uninhibited. I like to say that they have never met a stranger. They will tell you their life's story at the drop of a hat.
Evan said, 'Keely is joining us for dinner.'
'That's great,' Jim said.
Kelly said, 'I want to sit next her.'
Another wink. Oh brother, this will be interesting.
'Let's go, I am driving,' Evan said.
The five of us piled into his car. I was ushered into the back seat sandwiched in between Jim and Kelly. I would have preferred to sit up front with Evan, but June has the rank and grabbed that seat.