All about Customer Service...

IC:

Weston McCann thought things were going pretty well in his life. He was in relatively decent looking man, and was in good shape for a man in his mid 30s. He had a loving wife, who he’d been married to for over eight years, and three wonderful young children. He had a decent job as a graphic artist that, although wouldn’t necessarily make him rich, was enough to keep his bills paid, and his family well provided for. They had been renting a nice place, and were in the process of looking into buying a house, when suddenly, his place of employment cut back, and he found himself out of a job, and their plans of having a place of their own were shattered.

For the first month or two, it wasn’t so bad…he was looking for work, but they had saved a bit of money, and they were able to keep up on their expenses, and it was actually somewhat nice to be spending time with his kids. His wife was still working, and going to school full time as well, so taking care of the children and taking care of the house fell to him.

Soon however, bills began to fall behind. As the months went on, and no work in his field was to be found, he began to apply for anything he could that could keep their bills paid, but to no avail. Their payment dates began to be missed. Bill collectors called continuously. One of their vehicles was repossessed. His wife’s wages were garnished by creditors, so they barely had enough to live on. They cut back on extras to get by, such as not going out to eat, and cancelling cable and their house phone, only keeping the cell phones and internet for him to keep looking for work, and to file his unemployment claims, and his wife to keep up with her school work. Rent began to fall behind, and their landlord began to hint that maybe they’d be better finding another place to live.

They tried for public assistance, but found that even on unemployment, he still made just a bit too much money to be eligible for help. Wes began to skip meals, just to make sure his children had enough to eat, and struggled to keep necessities in the house for his children so they wouldn’t have to go without. They were barely making it.

All the financial problems began to create friction between Wes and his wife. Arguments became commonplace as the stress of the situation kept building up, his wife blaming him for their situation whenever her frustration got the better of her. Wes began to become depressed, feeling like a failure as a provider, husband, and father. Things were looking grim indeed.

It was then, that he came across an ad online for a job opening. The ad was brief, and vague. It read:

Wanted: The Venus Corporation is looking for talented individuals with strong work ethics. Applicant must be healthy and able-bodied, as job will be physical in nature. Starting salary: $50,000/year with benefits. Use of company car. Bonuses possible based on performance. Room for advancement. Please fill out the attached online application, and submit résumés to the attached e-mail address…

Wes thought it sounded too good to be true, and doubted he’d get the job…but figuring he had nothing to lose by applying, considering the dire straits he and his family were in, he filled out the application and sent his résumé in as well. The next day, in his inbox, he found a reply asking him to attend a job interview. Thrilled, he told his wife, who was happy that things might be looking up. Dressing in his best clothing, which truth be told wasn’t all that impressive, he called a friend to babysit his kids and give him a ride to the address given in the e-mail.

His friend dropped him off in front of a large office building, and he took the elevator to the top floor, to a very posh looking penthouse office. An very attractive brunette receptionist looked up from the papers on her desk, and smiled at him, saying “Yes? Can I help you?”

“Umm…yes, I’m Weston McCann. I have a 10:30 appointment for an interview.”

The receptionist scanned at an appointment book on her desk and after a moment, replied, “Ah…yes. Here it is. Please have a seat, Mr. McCann. Miss Granville should be with you shortly.”

She motioned towards a row of comfortable looking leather lounges, where a few other applicants sat waiting, both men and women who looked to be as desperate for a job as he himself was. As he walked towards them, he thought he heard the receptionist mumble something. He turned around, looking questioningly at her and said, “Umm…excuse me? Did you say something?”

The receptionist seemed to blush, and said, “Oh…no, Mr. McCann. I didn’t say anything. Please, have a seat.”

Wes shrugged and replied, “Oh, I’m sorry…my mistake.” He walked over to take a seat and await his turn. He could have sworn the pretty receptionist has said…”This one looks promising.” Of course, he was nervous about the interview, and maybe had just been hearing things.

He quietly waited for about a half hour, and finally the intercom on the receptionist’s desk buzzed, followed by a woman’s voice speaking through it.

“Gabrielle, please send in Mr. McCann, please.”

Wes stood up, and taking a deep breath to steady himself, allowed Gabrielle to escort him in…

OOC:

The premise of this story is this…a bunch of wealthy patrons with sexually refined tastes have invested in a business, basically an adult escort service which will cater to their own specific needs (probably a well-used premise, but seeing as Wes’s life is similar to my own at the moment, and I'm a bit of a perv, the whole storyline appeals to me. *chuckles*). The business is the brainchild of Amelia Granville, a wealthy and well-connected socialite and her younger brother Aaron.

Amelia is the one in charge, and is the face of the business…which she named the “Venus Corporation”, and she does all the hiring, personally interviewing the would-be employees (it is up to the person playing Amelia as to how “in-depth” this interview process will be), and she prefers to hire regular people instead of professional escorts, for several reasons…her clientele have either become bored with typical escorts, were concerned about using escorts with multiple partners and wanted exclusive escorts at their beck and call, or were just somewhat sadistic and liked the idea of corrupting those who had no inclination for the “sex for money” business but have no better options, etc.

Amelia secretly has a soft spot for those who are unemployed or in financial trouble, and enjoys giving them a way out, albeit a very unorthodox one, but she also realizes that those who are living normal lives have a tendency to want to keep things secret as well, so as not to disrupt things at home, which in turn will keep what goes on at her business somewhat secret. Those working for her are told to present a front of being in a sales position dealing with customer service.

Aaron Granville handles a lot of the behind the scenes part of the business, such as investments, accounts, and such…although he does occasionally attend the interviews of the female applicants when the mood strikes him.

Initially, I will in particular be looking for a female role-player to play Amelia Granville to start with (aside from the name and the fact that she owns and runs the place, you’re free to personalize her however you like), but this will also be an open thread, as I see possibilities for the part of Wes’s wife, Aaron Granville, Gabrielle the receptionist, clients (male and female), other employees (male and female), etc.

Any of the specific ones mentioned above are yours to expand on as far as their backgrounds and appearance, but please keep them consistent with what has been already described above. Other characters, such as the clients or the other employees, are yours to create as you will.

As this is pretty much my first attempt at starting my own thread, I am pretty easy-going, but do have some expectations. I am looking for coherent writers who are willing to dedicate at least a paragraph per post (no one sentence posts, please), willing to be detailed and descriptive, and willing to be somewhat regular (although, have no fear, I won’t get pissed if you don’t post for a day or two. *chuckles*) Mostly, I’m just looking for writers who are creative and like to have fun. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see responses soon!

*Bump*

Amelia Granville

Amelia Granville

Amelia sat at the desk and pressed through the buttons slowly watching with a trained eye as the screen moved through the views afforded by the cams set about the building. Once more she clicked to view the waiting area and moved her hand to the cam switch to allow her to survey the applicants gathered so far.

The two men had already been through the “preliminary” interview and seemed “personable” enough, though not ... striking. The woman seemed very nervous, perhaps too much so. She had struggled to impress on the first basic interview and Amelia doubted that she would go on to complete the full selection process. She sighed allowing herself a moment to feel sorry for them all. It was obvious that they’d been through the interview-treadmill many-a-time before. The men in contrast had seemed almost over-eager to please, which would be all to the good if she moved them into the further stages of the interviewing process, but kind hearted as she was, she would not consider employing anyone who did not meet her exacting standards. Nothing would make her compromise her company’s reputation.

Sighing, Amelia turned away as she flicked the screen onto the wide view of the vestibule. Discrete and classy, was the way she described her “business address” and the same might have been said of herself.

Despite the suit and white blouse, Amelia’s British breeding was evident in every movement, every word that she spoke. Yet it was more than merely “ the accent”; her knowledge of etiquette, of “savoir-faire” clearly showed that she had moved in “elevated circles”. Amelia had realised very quickly that her experience within the upper echelons of English Society could open doors for her, though not in the way that had been expected,however.

Despite the tragic accident that robbed her of both parents, Amelia had chosen to shun their expectation that she would “make a good marriage and settle down” and used her talents for “business purposes” instead.

As the elder, Amelia had come into her inheritance first, but it wasn’t until Aaron completed his degree 18 months later that their business venture actually began to take shape.

Of course, following the draconian family traditions, Aaron had insisted in taking the lead in the business initially,believing that he had much more insight into how to develop their particular “specialism”.

Not only had Aaron underestimated Amelia’s “experience”, but he had also over-estimated his own business acumen. He was good with contacts, at attracting those who wished to enjoy themselves, but did not quite manage to work out how to turn this into a profit! And so it was that at the age of 25 Amelia took over the reigns, insisting on the move to America and an action plan to build up their project into a viable long-term business! And now, after 3 years of Amelia’s Directorship, “The Venus Corporation” was moving from success to success and the young entrepreneurs lived a life of “discrete class”.

With a satisfied smile, Amelia glanced back at the monitor taking in the view of plus upholstery and polished wood and watched approvingly as Gabrielle’s fingers moved deftly through the 3 dossiers in front of her.

It was Danielle’s change in demeanour that Amelia noticed before the cameras even picked up the arrival of the third candidate. She watched the smooth movement of his frame as he crossed to the desk. She noted the way Gabrielle smiled at him and how her eyes followed him as he moved to sit with the other candidates. He too was nervous. Amelia flicked the camera to peruse his face more closely and found herself smiling. Just maybe ... She mused. Maybe he would be just what the company needed. His face definitely would fit ... and, from what she had seen his body ... but ... just how willing he would be to take on the full range of work for the benefits offered, she could only wait and see ...

Flicking the switch to cut out the screens, Amelia turned and exited the tiny surveillance room which was housed adjacent to her office. She made her way to her glass desk and sat at it taking a deep breath to consider her approach before picking up the phone to buzz through to Gabrielle.

”“Gabrielle, send in Mr. McCann, please.”

Momentarily Ameila considered how to play the interview. She decided that she would proceed slowly. As with the other candidates, she would conduct that first part at her desk and then any subsequent sessions ...
Her eyes glanced over the cream leather sofas set at right angles, the low glass coffee table between them. Her cream and glass office had a feeling of opulence and yet despite it’s size an aura of ... intimacy.

A knock sounded at the door. Amelia stood instructing “come in” and walked towards the door in greeting.

” Mr McCann ,I’m Amelia Granville, Managing Director of The Venus Corporation .. “

She noted his surprised expression, whether at the sight of her office, the sound of her accent or the fact that she calcuated that she was in fact younger than he.

”Please, do take a seat ... “

She waved him to the leather chair in front of the desk.

”Thank you Gabrielle,”

She took the proffered file.

”That will be all for now ... “

Amelia clearly caught the woman’s expression, but knew Gabrielle knew better than to betray her thoughts by word or gesture in Amelia’s presence.
The door closed promptly and Amelia moved to sit smoothly on her own beige leather chair. She was all business and formality as she flipped open the file and turned a few pages with obvious concentration before raising her head to meet his eyes, her gaze holding and searching his before asking softly.

”So ... Mr McCann ... tell me about yourself ... and why you want to work for my company...?”

Settling back, Amelia gave him her full attention awaiting his response ...

When Wes was led into the office, he felt somewhat intimidated by the obviously lush and expensive furnishings. When he saw the woman before him walk around the obviously expensive glass topped desk, and approach him, he was doubly taken aback. She was younger than he would have expected, and quite attractive as well, but it was the other things about her that caught him off guard. Her business suit was obviously expensive, her hair meticulously groomed and styled, and her everything about her demeanor, from her posture to the way she approached him, exuded confidence and elegance.

She greeted him, her voice displaying a distinctly British accent.

” Mr McCann, I’m Amelia Granville, Managing Director of The Venus Corporation .. “

He had to admit, he was surprised. In the past, any jobs he’d applied for, he’d always dealt with someone from a human resources position…never someone who obviously was upper management, much less the person who ran the company. He felt butterflies in his stomach, wondering again if he was out of his league here.

"Keep calm,” he thought to himself, thinking about what could be gained if he got the job. They could catch up on all the bills. He would have use of a company car, and enough money to afford a good daycare for the kids. They could start looking at getting a house of their own again.

He took a deep breath to steady himself, and one last thought flashed through his mind before she spoke again. “Stay focused here…you NEED this job.”

Miss Granville motioned to a leather chair in front of her desk.

”Please, do take a seat ... “

She then looked at the pretty young receptionist questioningly, who in turn, handed her a file, which he assumed was his application information and résumé. Miss Granville glanced down at it quickly, and dismissed her assistant.

”That will be all for now ... “

The door closed, and Miss Granville moved back around, and lowered herself into her chair gracefully, and began to scan through the file before her, while Wes watched her a bit worriedly, hoping his information was impressive enough.

Finally her eyes raised from the papers before her and met his.

”So ... Mr McCann ... tell me about yourself ... and why you want to work for my company...?”

For a moment, he was caught off guard. He had expected her to comment on his job history first, not information about himself personally. Still, he recovered somewhat quickly.

“Well,” Wes said, keeping his voice steady, “I’m married, and a father of three, I have an Associates Degree in Commercial Art, and formerly, I had worked as a graphic artist for the past eight and a half years, until cut backs caused me to lose my job at my last place of employment.” He paused, pointing at his résumé, adding, “As you can see, attached to my résumé, I have a letter of recommendation from my last supervisor.”

She flipped through the pages, and nodded, and he continued, “I’ve been unemployed for a little over nine months now, and taking care of my children and basically working as a…well, “house-husband” I guess would be the closest thing I could come up with, for a term for what I've been doing.”

He paused, again, feeling more and more inadequate. “I’ve been trying to keep busy, going online and trying to do jobs freelance, and also looking for work, and applying for any openings I can find, but unfortunately, the job market right now isn’t all that good. There are a lot of people right now looking for jobs.” He blushed a bit, chuckling embarrassedly, “As you probably already know, beings you’re seeing plenty of applicants here too, I suppose.”

He looked at Miss Granville, and her face revealed nothing…he had no idea of how he was coming off to her, and he felt his anxiety growing. “Damn! This is going badly,” he thought despairingly, “I’ve probably blown my chances, even if my qualifications were up to their standards to BEGIN with.”

Still, he continued, “Umm…well, as far as why, I wanted to work here? Well, I’ll be honest with you, Miss Granville. I’ve been laid off for nine months, and frankly, the prospects of me finding a job have become pretty grim. I have a family to think about…to support, and take care of…and I can’t do it on what I am receiving for my unemployment benefits. I need work. When I saw your ad online, it seemed like it was too good to be true, to be honest, but for some reason, I applied anyway, simply because…well, I had nothing to lose, but that’s not quite it. For some odd reason, I got a good feeling about it…as if my luck might turn around.”

“Great,” he thought to himself, as he watched her reaction, her eyes widening slightly, and her lips showing an amused smirk. “Now she probably thinks you’re desperate, and crazy to boot. You may as well just cut your losses and get out of here…”

Wes sighed, standing up, and finished by saying, “I’m not sure if I’m what you’re looking for here, Miss Granville. I know my qualifications probably aren’t the best, and I’m not sure what it is your company actually does here, but I am a hard worker, and I always give my best effort. I give one hundred percent to whatever I do. Now, I have the feeling I’ve kind of botched my chances here, if I had a shot at this job in the first place. I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer and was probably over-shooting my ambitions here. I do appreciate you taking the time to see me, however, and I apologize if I wasted your time. It was nice meeting you, Miss Granville. Good luck with your hiring.”

He nodded at her, and turned to leave, mentally cursing himself for his stupidity…

Amelia Granville

“Well, I’m married, and a father of three, I have an Associates Degree in Commercial Art, and formerly, I had worked as a graphic artist for the past eight and a half years, until cut backs caused me to lose my job at my last place of employment. As you can see, attached to my résumé, I have a letter of recommendation from my last supervisor.”

Amelia gave the merest of nods, sufficient to confirm that she was indeed in possession of the paperwork. Silently she assessed him, betraying no emotions as he continued to describe his life as a “house-husband”.

“I’ve been trying to keep busy, going online and trying to do jobs freelance, and also looking for work, and applying for any openings I can find, but unfortunately, the job market right now isn’t all that good. There are a lot of people right now looking for jobs. As you probably already know, beings you’re seeing plenty of applicants here too, I suppose.”

Still she remained silent calculating that in the right environment he would be a dynamic and confident man and realising that despite her initial impression, he was in fact as desperate for the job as the other candidates she had interviewed that morning, though his crumbling demeanour clearly showed that he did not realise that there was much about him that already impressed her.

“Umm…well, as far as why, I wanted to work here? Well, I’ll be honest with you, Miss Granville. I’ve been laid off for nine months, and frankly, the prospects of me finding a job have become pretty grim. I have a family to think about…to support, and take care of…and I can’t do it on what I am receiving for my unemployment benefits. I need work. When I saw your ad online, it seemed like it was too good to be true, to be honest, but for some reason, I applied anyway, simply because…well, I had nothing to lose, but that’s not quite it. For some odd reason, I got a good feeling about it…as if my luck might turn around.”

Her face did betray a smirk then. Despite his circumstances he was refreshingly honest. She could imagine him to be trustworthy and discrete and found him to be an intriguing combination of characters, which to her mind showed much ... potential...

“I’m not sure if I’m what you’re looking for here, Miss Granville. I know my qualifications probably aren’t the best, and I’m not sure what it is your company actually does here, but I am a hard worker, and I always give my best effort. I give one hundred percent to whatever I do.”

It was on her lips to offer some word of encouragement, but he rushed on.

”Now, I have the feeling I’ve kind of botched my chances here, if I had a shot at this job in the first place. I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer and was probably over-shooting my ambitions here. I do appreciate you taking the time to see me, however, and I apologize if I wasted your time. It was nice meeting you, Miss Granville. Good luck with your hiring.”

She watched as he turned to leave, hiding her surprise that he seemed to have “given up” before even really trying and yet in a perverse way his dignity impressed her.

”Luck ... “

She pronounced the word softly, letting the clipped vowel hang in the air.

”I’m not sure I believe in luck ... “

She noted that he stood frozen with indecision and perhaps curiosity.

”But fate ... that is something I definitely believe in Mr McCann.”

She leaned forward her expression earnest, unconsciously affording him a view of her clevage showed off to advantage against the cream blouse.
As if recalling herself, she sat back formally once more and addressed him softly.

”Had your qualifications or experience not been acceptable, you would not have gained an interview and at the moment you failed to impress me, you would know about it.”

She allowed herself to quirk a smile.

”Like you, I tend to be very ... forthright ... “

Taking her focus away from him, she buzzed her intercom and spoke brusquely.

”Coffee Gabrielle, please.”

She did not specify for how many. Turning back to Wes, she was business-like once more.

”Mr McCann. The Venus Company has positions on many levels. As to your suitability as a candidate, only time would tell. All interviewing processes, especially with a range of candidates and posts available take time. If you wish to submit yourself to this process, then regardless of the outcome, I am sure neither of us would be wasting our time.

Her expression was enigmatic.

"However the choice is yours."

The door opened to admit Gabrielle with a tray. Amelia waved for her to put it down upon the coffee table. She noted with approval that it was set for two.

Amelia rose to moved to one of the plush sofas.

”Thank you Gabrielle.”

Amelia murmured accepting the cup from her assistant’s hand.

”Will you be wanting coffee Mr McCann?”

Gabrielle enquired as Amelia knew she would.
Sipping demurely at the aromatic brew, Amelia feigned disinterest, but all the time, willed the man at her desk to agree to remain for the remainder of the “interviewing process”.

Weston McCann

As Wes moved toward the door, he heard Miss Granville voice behind him.

”Luck ... “

Wes stopped, her voice holding him motionless for a moment. Miss Granville paused a moment, before adding, ”I’m not sure I believe in luck ... “

Wes turned around, his curiousity getting the better of him. She met his eyes, and Wes was enthralled by the intensity of her gaze as she spoke again.

”But fate ... that is something I definitely believe in Mr McCann.”

Miss Granville leaned forward as she spoke, and Wes’s breath caught in his throat as her ample cleavage was revealed to his gaze. He wasn’t sure if this was intentional or not, but his gaze was drawn there like a moth to a flame.

She leaned back again, breaking the spell, and regaining his attention again, and his gaze returned to her eyes, his face noticeably reddening in embarrassment as he hoped she hadn’t noticed her effect on him. She smiled as she continued speaking, which made him believe she had, however.

”Had your qualifications or experience not been acceptable, you would not have gained an interview and at the moment you failed to impress me, you would know about it.”

He found himself surprised, and took a step towards her desk without realizing his feet had moved.

”Like you, I tend to be very ... forthright ... “

She took her gaze from him, and clicked a button on the intercom., taking the time to ask for coffee from her assistant before turning back to him and continuing.

”Mr McCann. The Venus Company has positions on many levels. As to your suitability as a candidate, only time would tell. All interviewing processes, especially with a range of candidates and posts available take time. If you wish to submit yourself to this process, then regardless of the outcome, I am sure neither of us would be wasting our time.”

"However the choice is yours."

Gabrielle entered the room, bringing a tray with two coffee cups on it, and set in on the coffee table near one of the plush sofas, and thanked her assistant as she handed Miss Granville a cup. Gabrielle turned and looked questioningly at Wes.

”Will you be wanting coffee Mr McCann?” Gabrielle inquired.

Miss Granville sipped demurely her eyes, not seeming to take note of him, and he replied, somewhat confusedly, “Err…Yes, I suppose I’ll have some.”

He moved over to the other sofa and took a cup from Gabrielle, who smiled reassuringly at him, and then, to his surprise, winked at him in a manner he almost found to be flirtatious when her employer wasn’t looking.

She then turned and nodded to Miss Granville, who waved a hand, dismissing her, and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Feeling a bit befuddled, Wes sat down, grateful to be drinking his coffee for the moment so as to hide the fact that he was perplexed by the turn this interview had taken.”

After a moment, he set his cup back down, looking at Miss Granville again.

“I apologize for the…well, the awkwardness earlier. I’ve never been all that good interviewing, and it has been quite some time since I had last been on one. I was a bit nervous, and truth be told…well, I need a job badly enough where there is a lot at stake here.”

He looked at her, and her expression was a mystery to him, again revealing nothing, but her eyes seemed to watch him intently.

“Please continue,” Wes said, “I’m ready to finish the interview, if you’ll still have me, and if I haven’t made too much of a fool of myself.”

Amelia Granville

“Err…Yes, I suppose I’ll have some.”

Amelia seemed to focus on the enjoyment of her coffee and dismissed Gabrielle leaving her alone once more with her interviewee.

“I apologize for the…well, the awkwardness earlier. I’ve never been all that good interviewing, and it has been quite some time since I had last been on one. I was a bit nervous, and truth be told…well, I need a job badly enough where there is a lot at stake here.”

She eased back in the sofa, turning slightly so she could watch him from the comfort of the upholstery.

“Please continue, I’m ready to finish the interview, if you’ll still have me, and if I haven’t made too much of a fool of myself.”

She smiled and inclined her head slightly to show her willingness to continue. She allowed the amusement to remain on her lips, breaking her glacial professional aura. Almost conversationally, she enquired.

”Do you like leather, Mr McCann?”

She let the question hang in the air for him to reply in any way he thought fit.

Slowly stroking the surface of her sofa, she continued.

”I love texture ... “

She let her eyes wander about the room and murmured as if to herself ...

”The cool smoothness of glass, the transparent purity.... the solidity of wood, it’s willingness to be fashioned and shape ... “

She almost seemed to loose herself in her reverie ... and then snapped her attention back to the man seated adjacent to her.

”In your experience, you must have shown creativity. Tell me ... how might you design a room for your ... personal use ... in a way that it would reflect you ....?”

She watched him considering his response as she gestured to a door which in fact led to the surveillance room.

”Let’s make it easy ... Imagine that is your door. let's say the door to a hotel suite of your own designing and that by taking me through that door you could show me all your creativity, all your qualities, all the attributes I might be looking for.”

She leaned forward and set the empty cup down, her expression intense.

”Just ... what ... would you be showing me, Mr Mc Cann ?”

She waited with anticipation, knowing that the way he responded to this open question would be very telling ...

Miss Granville smiled at Wes, and it put him at ease...until her next question, which caught him totally off-guard.

”Do you like leather, Mr McCann?”

He nodded, and said, "Well...umm...yes, I suppose so."

He noticed her hand gliding along the leather sofa, fingertips running along the seams, in an almost playful manner, and almost despite himself, part of his mind wondered what her touch would feel like on his skin.

”I love texture ... “

”The cool smoothness of glass, the transparent purity.... the solidity of wood, it’s willingness to be fashioned and shape ... “

He listened intently, becoming somewhat uncomfortable as she mentioned the other furnishings in the room, her voice taking on an almost....erotic tone, as if she were describing qualities she liked about a lover.

Her attention shifted back to him, and her tone returned to normal.

”In your experience, you must have shown creativity. Tell me ... how might you design a room for your ... personal use ... in a way that it would reflect you ....?”

He sipped his coffee, as he thought about the question, and then replied.

"Well, I'm not an interior designer, but if I had the ability to design my own office? Well, I'm a man of simple tastes. A nice wood desk, maybe cherry or a nice oak, depending on the color of the walls. I imagine maybe a warm off-white colored wall....something to look bright, yet not cold and impersonal. A dark colored throw rug, maybe...oh, I don't know....forest green in color. Hard wood floors most likely, simply because they look nice, yet are practical and easy to clean...some nice paintings, possibly scenic in nature to make the room seem more open. A nice picture window with a pleasant view..."

He trailed off, not sure what else to add. She had been watching him intently as he spoke, and seemed satisfied with his answer. She then turned and gestured to a door on the far side of the room.

”Let’s make it easy ... Imagine that is your door. Let's say the door to a hotel suite of your own designing and that by taking me through that door you could show me all your creativity, all your qualities, all the attributes I might be looking for.”

She set her cup down, and her gaze became almost raptor like in its intensity...as if what he said here was the most important question she had asked him so far. ”Just ... what ... would you be showing me, Mr Mc Cann ?”

He thought about the question for a moment before answering.

"Well...the furnishings and such," he paused momentarily as he tried to formulate his response properly, "wouldn't be able to express everything that I am. I could show my creativity, I suppose, and an attention to detail. I know the things that I like, and could certainly design a room specifically suited for me...but in that particular example, whatever I designed wouldn't be for ME, per se."

"As a hotel suite, it would be for the people who would be staying there. I wouldn't presume to guess that my specific tastes would be what the majority of people would like."

He shrugged, trying to gauge her response so far, before continuing.

"If the hotel room is for the people staying there, I would have to do a little research beforehand, find out what the majority of customers liked, and go from there. Sure, I could add my own personal touches after, and I suppose for certain customers with refined tastes and deep wallets, things would have to be adjusted on occasion, but most of what I would put in, would have to be for the person paying for the room to make them happy and comfortable. After all, like they say...the customer is always right..."

He looked at her questioningly, hoping his answer was acceptable...

Amelia Granville

”So ... you’d show me a generic room, that you’d change to meet the needs and pockets of every occupant?”

She summarised flatly.
She hadn’t been entirely disappointed by his answer, but he had missed an opportunity she noted.
She watched the confusion on his face before she continued.

”You may not be an interior designer, but I have plenty of those already ... “

She waved casually indicating her office.

”I would have thought there was more to you than one who is generic, who fits chameleon-like into any given situation.”

Her eyes assessed him curiously.

”Qualifications, references ... many people have those. Most can be trained in specific skills and given relevant experience.
I welcome ... individuality ... I'm not looking for the norm ... or the conventional.“

She stated, wondering briefly if she had been wrong about him, but rapidly concluded that she had not.

" No, what interests me is Wesley McCann, the man ... "

She let that disclosure hang in the air, then continued almost conversationally.

”Mr McCann, I asked you to describe a room that could show me not only your creativity, but more importantly all your qualities and attributes that would set you apart from ... the crowd.”

She leaned back and smiled softly hoping to put him further at his ease.

”Perhaps the hotel room example was a poor one ... “

She conceeded.

”As you rightly say there is nothing ... individual ... about such a venue.”

She paused, as if to consider.

”And ... though you have the good fortune to be a family man, perhaps it would not be too much of a leap of the imagination to consider what an apartment, a “bachelor pad”, of your own creation might look like?”

She leaned forward again.

”If you had a place of your own, a venue to ... entertain ... every object, the furnishings, thelighting, the decor, all the contents, every single feature, they would all tell your guest something about the man you are ... ”

She paused, satisfied that he was listening closely.

”... you might be more practical in your design of a hotel room, but I wonder what choices you would make if you were given a venue to furnish and equip ...purely to enable you to entertain, an associate, a client ... a lover ... “

The final word dropped softly from her mouth as she eased forward slowly.

”Our business ... is all ... seduction ... “

Her words were quiet, yet distinct. They were more the truth than he could imagine at that point, more than he had to know ... at present...

” ... and ... satisfaction ... “

Her tone was suggestive, hinting at what was, before continuing,

”Many of my most senior personnel take a lead in corporate ... entertainment ..."

She told him softly.

"Discrete and personal service is essential in our line of work Mr McCann and I’m looking for someone who can present himself positively; who can communicate by their appearance, their words and every aspect of themselves just what is is The Venus Corporation stands for.”

She ran a hand down her thighs as if smoothing a non-existent crease.

”How well do you think you match that job description Mr McCann?”

Miss Granville seemed a bit disappointed by his last reply, after he spoke. Obviously it wasn’t what she was looking for, and Wes was even more confused than ever…yet she hadn’t dismissed him yet, so maybe there was still hope.

From the things she was saying, she wanted a description of an apartment that would show what he liked, yet…would be appealing to the opposite sex as well. The “bachelor pad” reference was an enigma,,,,he had been married for quite some time now, and before that, he had a small, efficiency apartment he could barely afford…working at a furniture company, while going to college didn’t exactly pay well, and most of his furniture then was hand-me-down stuff he’d received from yard sales and such.

Still, the way she had spoke about seduction, the tone of her voice so...sensual...in tone, brought to mind the things he imagined back then…the things he wished he could have afforded when he was single, and looking for casual sex back then…quite a few things came back to him. He found himself creating a getaway in his mind designed to impress a woman such as her...

He took a deep breath hoping this was what she was looking for.

“Well….if I was creating an apartment specifically to entertain and…well, impress women, I guess…I suppose for one thing, it would have plenty of space. Maybe a skylight in the main living room area to see the stars and make it feel less enclosed. Nice artwork on the walls....maybe something abstract. A fireplace with a plush carpet in front of it…”

His eyes shifted upwards, starting to get into the idea and imagining what he’d design such a place to look like, and a small smile played across his face as he continued.

“A comfortable sofa, and glass coffee table, not unlike these,” he said motioning to the ones they were sitting on, “the walls a soft, darker shade to make the room feel more intimate. Soft lighting…a large television in case my guest and myself felt like relaxing with a movie…”

“The kitchen would be bright and have all the proper tools to cook, and the refrigerator and freezer well stocked with foods that appeal, maybe steaks or chicken, fresh vegetables and such…I’m a pretty fair cook, and women do tend to like that. Some bottles of wine, or maybe some champagne…chocolates…strawberries…whipped creme...for dessert.”

“A nice dining area with an intimate feel to it…a smaller table made just for two, but a nice polished cherry or even mahogany dining room set would look nice…fine china and glassware...dim romantic lighting, and candlelight…maybe wall sconces…fresh flowers in a centerpiece...”

“The bathroom, aside from the typical functional things, with stylish fixtures, of course, would have a large whirlpool, perhaps…large enough for two, in case things got very…well, romantic and we somehow lost our clothing…”

He blushed a bit at his mental slip, realizing the “we” reference he just made, which caused an image to appear in his mind as to what Miss Granville might look like without clothing. He had to clear his throat before continuing. He was getting a bit flustered here, and had an idea she could sense it.

“Umm…well, the bedroom…would have a large four poster bed, comfortable, with….either silk or satin sheets…large wardrobe and dresser…with a mirror...”

He broke off, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it, and looking more directly at Miss Granville, somewhat surprised at himself that he saw such a place…a “love-nest,” so to speak…in such detail in his mind. He noted that she had a slight smile on her face, which made him feel a bit more confident, however.

He had to admit, imagining a place where he could bring women purely for the purpose of seduction had been fun, surprisingly. Being happily married, he knew he probably shouldn’t have enjoyed the thought of it quite that much, but he couldn’t deny the appeal of the idea…

“Hmm,” he thought to himself, “I guess maybe they...design pre-furnished apartments for singles, or something.”

He could see the appeal of a service like that, but again, figured that an interior decorator would have been more suited to that kind of task, and she had said earlier that that wasn’t what she was looking for. He was still unsure as to what she had in mind for him as far as what his job would be…that question seemed…vaguely unanswered yet. The atmosphere in the room had subtly changed, though…he couldn’t exactly define how, but it had.

Wes looked at Miss Granville, and asked, “I’m not sure if I answered your question, as far as me matching the description you were asking about…if I would fit in here, I mean. I hope I at least answered the first part, though.”

Amelia Granville

Amelia Granville

“Well….if I was creating an apartment specifically to entertain and…well, impress women, I guess…I suppose for one thing, it would have plenty of space. Maybe a skylight in the main living room area to see the stars and make it feel less enclosed. Nice artwork on the walls....maybe something abstract. A fireplace with a plush carpet in front of it…”

Amelia remained silent and merely nodded, a gesture she saw went unnoticed as her interviewee seemed to become ... absorbed .. in his description ... his ... fantasy ...

“A comfortable sofa, and glass coffee table, not unlike these, the walls a soft, darker shade to make the room feel more intimate. Soft lighting…a large television in case my guest and myself felt like relaxing with a movie…”

She stopped the quirk of her lips, but only just. Instead she settled back comfortably on the sofa turning slightly, one leg hitching up to watch him intently.

“The kitchen would be bright and have all the proper tools to cook, and the refrigerator and freezer well stocked with foods that appeal, maybe steaks or chicken, fresh vegetables and such…I’m a pretty fair cook, and women do tend to like that. Some bottles of wine, or maybe some champagne…chocolates…strawberries…whipped creme...for dessert.”

She allowed her smile to break forth then..
He was a fascinating combination of innocence and ... so much more.
Without even knowing it he hinted at the erotic ...

“A nice dining area with an intimate feel to it…a smaller table made just for two, but a nice polished cherry or even mahogany dining room set would look nice…fine china and glassware...dim romantic lighting, and candlelight…maybe wall sconces…fresh flowers in a centerpiece...

His words were simple, yet stiff effectively created an ... alluring image. Increasingly Amelia was realising that he displayed an impressive eye for detail.

“The bathroom, aside from the typical functional things, with stylish fixtures, of course, would have a large whirlpool, perhaps…large enough for two, in case things got very…well, romantic and we somehow lost our clothing…”

She noted his blush. It was clear that he found it difficult speaking of intimacy and sensuality in this context, yet he had persevered, seeming somehow driven to complete the task, to please even impress her ... ? And he had done well, so much so that she noticed a distinct change in his ... demeanour as he continued ...

“Umm…well, the bedroom…would have a large four poster bed, comfortable, with….either silk or satin sheets…large wardrobe and dresser…with a mirror...”

He halted, paused and seemed forcibly to shake himself as if to escape the thrall of his own imagination.

“I’m not sure if I answered your question, as far as me matching the description you were asking about…if I would fit in here, I mean. I hope I at least answered the first part, though.”

She watched him beginning to slip back into uncertainty. With just a boost of confidence and the right approach she could see that he would work out very well ... But she could not afford for him to back track into self-doubt once more ...

”Your answer was very ... illuminating Mr McCann ...”

She praised him softly, bestowing her approval on him.

”As for the latter part ... “

Her gaze intensified, her eyes holding his, searching them as if she knew his every thought, his imaginings ...

”I think you’d fit in perfectly, Wesley ... “

For long moments there was silence; a frisson passing between them, punctuated by a flick of her pink tongue across her lips before her smile widened and she rose.

”Let’s go to lunch ... “

She took the few steps across to her desk and reached to pick up a small leather briefcase. Sliding the strap over her shoulder she turned and noted her interviewee, still seated in mute confusion.

”You’re hired Mr McCann ... “

She told him with a mischievous grin.

”We just have to work out what your position and terms of employment might be ... “

Her eyes sparkled with mirth at his reaction. She was pleased for him, pleased to be able to help such an obviously “decent” man out of a desperate situation, but above all, she was pleased for herself, for her company. He was a rare find and held such potential ... But experience told her that the next stages had to be handled right. No matter how desperate a candidate was, the pace and extent to which he was introduced to the full range of services he would be required to perform had to be carefully tailored to his values and sensibilities. Wesley McCann might be more complex than many, but from what she had seen, she believed that she should take a ... personal ... interest in her new protege. The anticipation made her senses race.

Buzzing the intercom Amelia spoke to her receptionist again.

”Mr McCann and I are going to lunch. Have a car called will you?
Assign Matthews to process Simons, Dean and Kitchener. You have my notes.”

The instructions were brusque.

”And Mr McCann..?”

The query came softly. Amelia paused to consider.

”Action Protocol five. I’ll confirm details by 3.”

There was a pause and then.

”Right away Miss Granville.”

Without further exchange, Amelia clicked the button to cut the contact.

” ... so ... Mr McCann ... I take it that you’re willing to accept my invitation ... ?”

Amelia queried good-naturedly, secretly wondering exactly how much Wesley McCann would in fact agree to by the end of the day ...

”Your answer was very ... illuminating Mr McCann ...”

Wes looked at her curiously, wondering how he'd fared in her judgement to her question.

”As for the latter part ... “

She paused, looking into his eyes intently, and Wes felt his nervousness rise...had he gotten the job, or had he blown it somehow?

”I think you’d fit in perfectly, Wesley ... “

He was pleasantly surprised...obviously he'd hit what she wanted right on the head, and he smiled slightly, his eyes drawn to her lips as her pink tongue daintily ran across them, and then turned into a dazzling smile.

She rose from her seat.

”Let’s go to lunch ... “

She walked smoothly to herdesk picking up a leather briefcase and sliding the strap over her shoulder. Wes was confused...was the interview over?

She turned, looking at him, a wide grin on her face.

”You’re hired Mr McCann..." She paused, letting her approval sink in, and Wes was stunned, his mouth gaping for a moment in shocked surprise. He actually DID it! A wide smile broke out on his face.

Amelia added, "We just have to work out what your position and terms of employment might be... “

Amelia turned back to the desk, buzzing Gabrielle on the intercom.

”Mr McCann and I are going to lunch. Have a car called will you?
Assign Matthews to process Simons, Dean and Kitchener. You have my notes.”

While Amelia spoke on the intercom, Was's mind whirled. He was filled with happiness...this job would save them. If the ad in the paper was accurate, at the very LEAST he'd landed a job that paid $50,000 a year...plus benefits, and a car to use. He could start to plan on getting his family pulled out of debt...they wouldn't have to find another place to live because he could catch the rent up, as long as the landlord would be content to await his first paycheck...

Her voice started him out of his reverie.

” ... so ... Mr McCann ... I take it that you’re willing to accept my invitation ... ?”

He winced a bit at first, in habit, at the mention of lunch...remembering he only had twenty dollars in his wallet at the moment...but then realized with this job, he'd soon he'd be able to afford to do things like this more often. The thought cheered him. One day of excess before his first paycheck wouldn't hurt...he could order cheaply.

"Yes," he replied, smiling, feeling more confident than he had in a long time. Things were finally beginning to turn around, "I'd love to have lunch with you."

He smiled at Amelia, extending his hand, shaking hers when she finally accepted it. His emotions were getting the better of him, relief and happiness making his eyes tear up.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Granville...you have no idea how much this chance means to me and how much I appreciate it. I promise...I won't let you down."

“Yes, I’d love to have lunch with you.”

She accepted his hand and shook it, finding the grasp firm and cool, despite the obvious emotion he could not conceal in his expression or words.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Granville...you have no idea how much this chance means to me and how much I appreciate it. I promise...I won’t let you down.”

She beamed at him, finding an urge to reach out and ruffle his hair. She found his eagerness to please endearing ... and hopefully that and his obvious gratitude would prove ... useful.

”I’m very sure of that Mr McCann ... I’m noted for my excellent judgement ... “

She reassured him preceding him towards the door.

She walked just in front of him, pausing as he closed the door and fell into step beside her.

”Despite appearances, you’ll find that we’re a very ... intimate company ... a close team structure ... yet ... I’m looking for someone with ... personal flair ... “

She halted by the reception desk and glanced at Gabrielle.

”Your car’s outside Ms Granville and everything is arranged as you asked ... “

A meaningful gaze was exchanged.

”Thank you ... “

The simple gratitude and nod made the young woman beam.
With an answering smile Amelia made her way across the foyer.

”I expect efficiency, but above all ... loyalty ... and discretion ... “

She continued leaving the building not blinking as she found rolls outside.
A man rushed to open the door. She acknowledged him with a nod and slid elegantly inside, waiting only until Wesley had joined her and the door was closed to ease back into the leather upholstery with a satisfied sigh. Silently the car pulled away. She noted her companion’s eyes taking in the glass partition between themselves and the driver and sighed in feigned relaxation as she unbuttoned her jacket and crossed her legs allowing her skirt to hitch up slightly.

”Would you say that you were loyal ... and discrete ... in your work life ... and personal life ...?”

She enquired softly waiting for his reply.

”The nature of our business can involve some areas of ... confidentiality ... would that be a problem for you Mr McCann ... keeping your home and work life separate?”

Wes followed Amelia to the evelvator and through the lobby, and he couldn't help but watch the way she moved as she walked. She kept her head held high, not sparing a glace to those around her, exuding confidence...yet her body moved smoothly, in an almost unconsciously sensual way that Wes found very alluring. He found his eyes shifting to her bottom, watching the way her skirt moved, and her trim, athletic looking legs , more than once as they crossed the tiled lobby floor.

"Stop it!" he thought, mentally berating himself for the slightly lewd thoughts invading his mind, "You're a married man, and she's your boss now! Don't get caught looking at her ass and lose the job before you've even STARTED!" He shifted his eyes back to where they belonged, his face flushing slightly.

He couldn't help himself, though...his eyes trailed down again. He had to admit, she was a very attractive woman...beautiful, in fact...and the confidence and her sexy British accent only made her more interesting to him.

They went through the glass double doors outside, and Wes was again impressed...there was a Rolls Royce parked out front, and a driver waiting for them, who opened the door at the sight of Amelia. She slid gracefully into the car, and Wes, yet again feeling like a small guppy in a large ocean all of the sudden, followed her into the car, sitting on the plush leather seats next to her.

He'd never been in a car so beautifully fancy and elegant, but it didn't surprise him much that Amelia owned one. She seemed to surround herself with beautiful things...yet somehow, outshone them all.

She settled back into the seat with a contented sigh, as he looked around, noting the darkened glass partition seperating them from the driver for the sake of privacy.

He turned back to Amelia, smiling politely at her. Her shapely legs were casually crossed in front of her, the way she was sitting revealing a bit of her lower thigh, and her jacket was unbuttoned, as if getting out of her office had caused her to lower her professional boundaries slightly. It was a very good look for her...Wes had to admit to himself. Now that the "shield" had come down slightly, she seemed a bit less intimidating.

She smiled slightly at him. ”Would you say that you were loyal ... and discrete ... in your work life ... and personal life ...?”

Wes thought about the question for a moment before answering.

"Well, as far as past jobs I've had, I've always tried to be reliable...a good worker. I guess you could say I was loyal...I was never one to job hop. Every job I've had, I've given my best, and the shortest time period I worked at one employer was a bit over two years. That was my last employer...where I was laid off from. The two jobs before that I was there for six years each. The first job I quit to go back to further my education, and the second job I left because I thought i was moving on to a better opportunity. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. As far as discretion? Well...there were always office gossips, I suppose, but I wasn't one to go doing it myself. I was usually too busy working to be bothered with that kind of nonsense."

He shrugged slightly, as he added, "As far as my home life...well, my wife and I have been together for fourteen years, married for over eight of those. We had our share of rough patches...before we had kids, she left me for awhile and we were seperated for about three months. Eventually worked things through, and got back together. I don't advertise our home life issues to others...no one really knew why we seperated, and I never elaborated, because the way i saw it, it wasn't anyone else's business. I know that she sometimes talks about our business to her girlfriends, but over the past few years, I've been a bit too preoccupied with other things and don't really have many close friends I spend time with anymore, and even when i did, I've never been one to air my personal affairs."

Amelia nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer, and then asked another question of him...

”The nature of our business can involve some areas of ... confidentiality ... would that be a problem for you Mr McCann ... keeping your home and work life separate?”

He smiled at the question. "Well, I'm definitely not a corporate spy, if that's what you mean. I know that work issues need to stay in the workplace."

They both laughed a bit, and he continued.

"Well, a long time ago, I had a job I hated...I worked at a furniture factory flipping chests and dressers, and nailing pallets to the bottoms of them all day to go down an assembly line. This was before I went back to school for my commercial art degree. Anyway, my supervisor there had a bit of a Napolean complex...he was a smaller guy, and didn't like anyone taller or...well...bigger than him, I guess. There were four or five of us that he gave a hard time to all the time, and it got so I just EXPECTED him to yell at me whenever he walked by, even though I always did my job and did it well."

"I would come home from work angry about things that happened there, and take it out on those around me, being irritable and hard to live with. I quit the job, and when I got a new one, I made a bit of a vow to myself."

"When I'm at work, I concentrate on my work, but once I walk outside the workplace, I don't give a second thought to things going on at my job until the next day when I walk in the doors. Thinking like that has served me well...I was much happier with that outlook, and my wife didn't have to suffer through the long boring stories of how my day to day work went."

He chuckled a bit at his own joke, and then looked at Amelia, meeting her eyes, and asked...

"Speaking of day to day work, may I ask you a question, Ms. Granville?"

She nodded, and he went on. "Well, you said I was hired, Ms. Granville...but I still don't know much about what it is your company actually does or have any idea what I'll be doing. What exactly will my typical daily work entail?"

Amelia nodded as Wesley talked about his work ethics. She smiled approvingly as he spoke of how hard he worked and how he stuck to a job rather than “Job hopped”. Her smile widened as he spoke of the “nonsense” of gossip in the work place.

She remained silent as he spoke of his marriage. To her 14 years seemed like a lifetime, an impossibility almost to devote to 1 person. Rapidly she calculated in her head - very married and with children ... it didn’t look good, but then he spoke about being separated for a time ... and then about how he now kept work and home separate ... all the time she took mental notes. One skill that set Amelia Granville apart from her contemporaries was that she was a good listener; she took everything in. And since being in the car her companion had become more talkative and more relaxed and definitely willing to answer her queries more extensively.

She nodded when he asked if he could ask a question and listened once more as he queried:

“Well, you said I was hired, Ms. Granville...but I still don’t know much about what it is your company actually does or have any idea what I’ll be doing. What exactly will my typical daily work entail?”

She smiled then.

”I did say that and I also said that we would have to determine what position and terms of employment might be ... applicable ... to your skills and background ...”

She chuckled as if at a private joke.

”The formal part of the interview is over with, you, Wesley McMann are just what I’ve been looking for ... “

She eyed him in an almost predatory way.

” ... and all will become clear over lunch ... and a further corporate briefing before contracts are drawn up ... “

She could see that she had not really clarified anything for him, but the car drew to a halt before he could question her further.

” ... Just trust me Wes...”

She purred as the door was held open for her.
Her hand touched his knee lightly, so lightly that it might have been an accident, except for the brief squeeze before she slid out of the intimacy of the car and turned to await her companion’s exit.

” ... just enjoy your first company lunch ... “

She purred linking her arm with his to walk towards the double doored frontage of a very select and unassuming establishment.

”As soon as contracts are processed, you’ll be issued with an expenses card, though you’ll find that our company has an account with this particular ... establishment ... “

She smiled as they entered the cosy interior.

”Afternoon Ms Granville. Good afternoon Sir ...”

They were greeted respectfully.

”The Conservatory today, Martin”

Amelia directed the uniformed attendant as with a demure “ .. of course Ma’am..” they were directed to a light and airy room the roof of which was glass with a roof to floor glass frontage. Within the decor was predominately green and what might be described as “organic”. Foliage seemed to be tailored to grow up and along the walls, giving a natura, yet ordered appearance. Tables were set out at a surprising distance apart and consisted of intricately woven wooden pieces, yet the seating was luxuriously upholstered to afford maximum comfort and the tables were adorned with the best linen.

Amelia made her way to one particular alcove which like the others was set discretely apart, yet which afforded the hint of a view of the other customers.
Sliding into the chair proffered by the Maitre d’ Amelia, she relaxed back and beamed at the man who seated himself on the second chair set at a 90 degree angle from her.

”A perfect luncheon setting ...”

She murmured as she nodded to the hovering man, her attention rather on Wes’s reactions.

”You say you have little social life at present. Part of your role will be PR. We have a reputation for keeping our clients satisfied and the personal touch is what we do best ... “

A platter with olives and a range of tiny hors d’oeuvres arrived together with glasses of martini which were set before either of them. Again just a nod of acknowledgement as Amelia continued.

”You have children, you say. One factor which will influence your role with us is just how flexible you might be re: work hours. How would evening work suit you? Or a contract where your hours are split into days on and off duty...? How .... flexible ... can you be?”

She queried, biting into an olive.

When they'd walked into the restaurant, Wes was struck by how stylish and elegant the place was, and felt somewhat self conscious in the cheap suit he was wearing.

"Thank God I wore the suit and tie, and not just a dress shirt and slacks," he thought to himself. This was the kind of place that a person like him would have to schedule reservations for month in advance, and more than likely STILL no be able to get in...and yet, Amelia had gotten in at a moments notice. It definitely showed she had influence.

His mind went back to when they had been getting out of the car. Amelia's hand on his leg as they'd exited the car, giving it a light squeeze...well, it had given him a few indecent thoughts. He found himself wondering if all newly hired employees received this kind of treatment...lunch at a fine restaurant, a ride in a Rolls Royce...or did she find him...attractive? The idea momentarily made him feel flattered, surprisingly.

"No," he thought to himself, "I must be mistaken...a woman like this could have any man she wanted. Why would she want to mess with a unemployed, married man, and go to these lengths to do it? No...this is just a business meeting...nothing more."

He had to admit though, the idea that she would had appeal...he found himself very attracted to her. If he wasn't a married man, he probably would have tried to make a move already, although a woman of her bearing probably would find such behavior crude and uncouth.

Shaking his head to clear out these distracting thoughts, he took a seat next to Amelia, who smiled at the ambiance of the place.

”A perfect luncheon setting ...”

"Yes, this place is amazing," Wes agreed. "I don't think I've ever been to a place quite like this before."

Amelia smiled at him, seeming satisfied that he enjoyed the atmosphere, and then spoke.

”You say you have little social life at present. Part of your role will be PR. We have a reputation for keeping our clients satisfied and the personal touch is what we do best ... “

A platter with olives and hors d’oeuvres arrived, and the waiter set glasses of martini in front of them. Wes had never tried a Martini before, and sipped from the glass, finding the taste quite enjoyable.

”You have children, you say. One factor which will influence your role with us is just how flexible you might be re: work hours. How would evening work suit you? Or a contract where your hours are split into days on and off duty...? How .... flexible ... can you be?”

She bit into an olive, after she finished speaking, and Wes found his eyes drawn to her lips, and randomly wondered what it would feel like to kiss her, as he formulated an answer to her question.

"Well," he replied, "my wife works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at present, and goes to college full time at the moment. She's trying to get a degree as a medical Assistant, and then plans to go on for nursing to get her LPN and RN. Eventually she wants to become a midwife. As you can understand, she is away from home often. Being unemployed, I couldn't really afford to pay for babysitters, so I was pretty much house-bound, for the most part, as we only have one vehicle presently, and no close relatives to watch the children."

Wes blushed slightly. He believed in being forthright, but his current financial situation somewhat embarressed him...especially when speaking of it to Amelia, who probably hadn't ever had the same financial difficulties. He worried he might be boring her with the trivial details of his life.

"My wife is gone alot, so I would need some sort of daycare or someone to watch the children...but with the salary quoted in your ad, I should definitely be able to arrange something...maybe a nanny to come in occasionally, as long as I could find one that's affordable. I'm afraid my first few paychecks will mostly be devoted to trying to catch up on some of our bills...and truth be told, I don't necessarily like the idea of my children being raised by strangers continually."

Most employers he'd run into before didn't seem to care for excuses an employee had about their daily lives causing issues with work. They were only concerned with job performance. Still, he wanted to lay all the cards out on the table. This job was important to him...but his children were more important.

"Well, my wife works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at present, and goes to college full time at the moment. She's trying to get a degree as a medical Assistant, and then plans to go on for nursing to get her LPN and RN. Eventually she wants to become a midwife. As you can understand, she is away from home often. Being unemployed, I couldn't really afford to pay for babysitters, so I was pretty much house-bound, for the most part, as we only have one vehicle presently, and no close relatives to watch the children ...
My wife is gone alot, so I would need some sort of daycare or someone to watch the children...but with the salary quoted in your ad, I should definitely be able to arrange something...maybe a nanny to come in occasionally, as long as I could find one that's affordable. I'm afraid my first few paychecks will mostly be devoted to trying to catch up on some of our bills...and truth be told, I don't necessarily like the idea of my children being raised by strangers continually."

She had remained silently, merely sipping her martini and nibbling at the tidbits which lay before her. Devoted .. but.. desperate, she noted mentally as she silently planned her stratagem. The children might be a hindrance, but also a good ... lever ... should things prove tricky ...

”Quite rightly...”

She murmured.

”Though the right person, someone consistent who would raise the children as you and your wife wish to ... as you say that would be expensive, but would allow both your careers to flourish ...”

She sipped at her glass once more.

”I know I certainly welcomed having someone else to raise me besides my parents ... “

She toyed with her glass and sighed, lost in reverie before eventually snapping her attention back as the waiter approached and topped up both their martinis.

”My parents died ... although not when I was small ... “

She smiled. The expression did not quite reach her eyes.

”Which I’m told is a blessing ... at least I was old enough to understand ... to cope ... but ... “

She picked up an olive.

”I don’t think any child is ever ready for the loss of a parent, much less both ...”


Popping the savoury into her mouth she seemed to mentally shake herself.

”Given what you said ... perhaps you might prefer to work in blocks?”

She licked her lips as she continued conversationally.

”Given what you’ve told me about your current financial situation, I’d assume you’re ideal would be a full time job...?”

She watched him nod the affirmative.

”... then perhaps we could base you in the city ... have you on 24 hour calls for blocks of days ... 3 days on, 3 days off? An arrangement of that kind might suit you best?”

She beamed at the waiter who presented them with menus. There was a range of deceptively simple fayre; the cuisine was made from the best of ingredients and prepared with skill and attention to detail. There were no prices to be seen.

” ... Mr McMann will be ordering for me ..”

She told the waiter.

” ... but for now kindly bring us some iced still water and a bottle of Chablis ...”

She turned an almost mischievious grin towards Wesley.

”I’m not a vegetarian and have no scary allergies so ... do your worse ...”

So saying she sipped at her martini once more and took in the sight of the secluded diners around them...

Wes listened as Amelia mentioned the loss of her parents sympathetically...he had lost his as well, his father when he was twenty-one, and his mother a little over four years ago. She displayed a sad longing for a moment, and seemed vulnerable for the first time since he'd met her. He found it attractive...hiding behind the 'all-business" facade, there was a sensitive woman. The veil didn't stay down long however, and she quickly reverted back to business.

”Given what you said ... perhaps you might prefer to work in blocks?”

He didn't quite understand what she meant, and listened as she elaborated.

”Given what you’ve told me about your current financial situation, I’d assume you’re ideal would be a full time job...?”

He nodded, replying, "Yes...full time would work best, if that option is available."

”... then perhaps we could base you in the city ... have you on 24 hour calls for blocks of days ... 3 days on, 3 days off? An arrangement of that kind might suit you best?”

Before he could reply, the waiter who presented them with menus. The names of the food seemed somewhat foreign to him...he was not a veteran of fine dining, and he noted there were no prices listed. remembering the small amount he carried in his wallet, he hoped that dinner would be covered under this expense account Amelia had mentioned, but still decided he would eat as cheaply as possible...maybe just ordering a salad for himself.

” ... Mr McCann will be ordering for me ..”

Wes looked up, surprised, he had no clue what to order, but assumed Amelia was testing him again, and he wasn't about to fail it. She looked to the waiter, and added...

” ... but for now kindly bring us some iced still water and a bottle of Chablis ...”

The waiter left to bring the wine, and Amelia turned to him, flashing a dazzlingly playful smile.

”I’m not a vegetarian and have no scary allergies so ... do your worse ...”

He chuckled, feeling a little less tense...she might be testing him slightly, but at least it wouldn't be a pass or fail kind of exam.

Wes looked at Amelia and said, "The schedule...three days on and three days off, would work I suppose...although, if need be, I can work whatever works best to suit, provided i can find proper care for the children. I'm curious about the on call aspect of the job, though. I guess I've never had a job like that before...usually when i think of a job where someone is on call, I imagine doctors or nurses...that sort of occupation. What would I be doing to be "on call" for?'

Before she could answer, the waiter returned with the wine, popping the cork and asking Wes if he would like to sniff it, which he did not understand, displaying a confused look on his face which Amelia found amusing...she grinned, barely suppressing a laugh, as Wes declined and waved it away.

The waiter looked at Wes and said, "Are you ready to place your order, sir?"

Wes quickly scanned the menu, deciding that lunch time should be a meal that wouldn't sit heavily in the stomach, something simple he could recognize, yet still taste good and be fancy enough to impress his dinner partner.

"Umm...Ms. Granville here will have...the salmon with herb butter, I guess."

The waiter nodded, and commented, 'Excellent choice, sir...and for you?"

Again, thinking of his limited funds, and trying to be frugal, he said, "I'll just have a caesar salad."

"Very good, sir," the waiter commented, taking the menus, "I shall bring it out shortly. Please, if you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask."

The waiter left, and Wes turned his attention back to Amelia, awaiting an answer to his query...

Amelia sipped at her glass as Wesley McCann ordered. To an uninformed eye, she was relaxed and casual, but to those who knew her as a business woman knew that she was taking in every detail.

She gave the merest smile as the waiter praised the choice of dish for her and noted that Wesley seemed to relax more reassured by the approval. She herself made no comment as to the choice and turned her thoughts instead to how best to answer the query about being “on call”.

They watched the waiter leave. She knew that her companion was awaiting an explanation and Amelia knew it was important that she choose her words carefully.

”Venus Corporation is a very new company, with a new and I like to think innovative concept ...”

She began.

”Despite what you might have seen, the number of our key staff is small, which enables us to guarantee a quality, discrete service.”

She paused and seemed to change tack.

”This company is still very young. The concept was created in England, London to be precise, which as you may know is a hub of business and social interaction with the additional complexity of class and title to consider ...”

She wasn’t sure if he was following her line of reasoning.

”This city has many of the same characteristics, but without the enforced barriers of bloodlines and education ... “

She gestured around the room.

”You’d be surprised how rigid England is socially and economically. There are no such restrictions in the States. If one dresses well, had relevant knowledge and the social graces, well .... money is a great leveller Mr McCann ... “

She halted as the food arrived. Sensing that a brisk service was required the waiter moved away promptly. Taking up her fish knife, Amelia leaned forward and continued.

”Our business is hospitality and PR all rolled into one. If you like it’s an elite form of tourist guide, restaurant Maitre d’ and customer service combined. From the moment the client arrives in the city one of our representatives is put at their disposal.”

She tasted the salmon approvingly.

”The level of salary is primarily dependent upon the hours you work, but also linked in with the level of service each representative is able to provide ... “

She sipped her glass and watched Wesley.

”That’s just a summary ... “

She murmured leaving an opening for him to comment ...

Wes listened carefully as Amelia describe her business.

”Our business is hospitality and PR all rolled into one. If you like it’s an elite form of tourist guide, restaurant Maitre d’ and customer service combined. From the moment the client arrives in the city one of our representatives is put at their disposal.”

She took a bite of her salmon approvingly. Wes ignored the salad in front of him, watching her as she continued.

”The level of salary is primarily dependent upon the hours you work, but also linked in with the level of service each representative is able to provide ... “

She took sip from her glass, concluding, ”That’s just a summary ... “

Wes had been paying attention to what she was saying, but had also been watching her intently, because...well, she was a pleasure to look at.

Amelia was beautiful and intelligent, of that, there was no doubt...but she was also confident, classy, refined, and an engaging conversationalist to boot. All qualities any man would find appealing...seemingly the perfect package.

Wes was still confused though, and hoping to not appear thickheaded, asked, "So, the job is essentially to take company executives out on the town and show them around? Like take them to clubs, restaurants, and such? It sounds easy enough, I suppose.

"But...um...well, not to try to talk you out of you hiring me, because I'm grateful you did....but i have to ask...why me? I have never worked in public relations or sales, and don't really have experience shmoozing clients and such. I'm not adverse to learning, but I have never done anything like that before."

"Another question I suppose I better ask is about the salary, seeings it was mentioned...I realize I'm new and just starting out, but the ad in the paper...was that accurate for entry level? $50,000 a year, benefits and a company car? If so, it sounds like a dream job, especially given the duties you've mentioned....almost too good to be true."

"I saw in the ad that there were bonuses and room for advancement, which makes sense in a new firm, I guess...especially if I'm coming in at ground level and you're still hiring basic staff. I'm just wondering what bonuses or perks are available, I guess, if I do happen to perform well. I apologize if this is coming off too blunt, but I am motived to try to make as much money as i can, and I do like the idea of eventually working my way up. Every job I've had in the past has been a dead end...I'm just wondering about how advancement works....as far as how much time invested before consideration, or what I have to do to attain it..."

“So, the job is essentially to take company executives out on the town and show them around? Like take them to clubs, restaurants, and such? It sounds easy enough, I suppose.”

She didn’t comment, choosing instead to continue eating her salmon as he continued to question her, his queries proving as illuminating as the interview had been. Finally he seemed to run out of steam, so she sat down to sip her wine.

”Eat your salad ... “

She told him smoothly, taking him by surprise.

”If you sit with a client and refuse to touch your food it doesn’t make your guest feel comfortable .. “

She instructed mildly looking anything but uncomfortable as she watched him begin to eat, content to drain her wine glass then take up a glass of iced water.

”You’ve grasped the basics ... “

She commented finally.

”But that’s hardly anything new is it? As you realise, just taking clients round and “smoozing” is hardly a niche market ... “

She sipped again, watching him consider.

”Remember the interview ... the decor ... like I said, I have no shortage of interior designers. What I’m talking about isn’t a tour guide with a bright umbrella, a pink sunhat or herding groups around. Our company deals with very individual 1:1 service. The timetable to be client-led, tailored for there needs, needs which may change by the hour ... the minute even ... hence the “on call” aspect of the job ... “

The waiter came to clear the dishes.

”Fraises de la maison”

She murmured to the waiter as he departed with a respectful,
“Bien sur, Madame..”

”Look around this room ... “

She instructed him.

”Look carefully ... “

She paused as his eyes turned to the other occupants. There were but 8 tables, most of which were couples, apart from a table set for 6 in a spacious glass frontage at the far end of the room. Most were male female, though on one table there were 2 ladies, another 2 gentlemen. They looked comfortable, occupied with the conversation at their table and oblivious to their surroundings and the activities of others.

”Every table here is taken by a mix of client and Venus Corporation Representative ... “

She looked up as a platter of strawberries arrived accompanied by a dish of vanilla cream. Two glasses of sparkling wine were served along side it.
Amelia took a strawberry and bit into it following Wesley’s gaze. In the far corner the couple seated were seated cosily, she smiling flirtatiously, he leaning across to kiss her cheek. She watched for Wes’s reaction.

”It’s important to build a rapport with our clients ... “

She told him softly, sipping her wine.

”.. that’s one route of advancement. If requests for your services come in, then it raises your profile and in turn your benefits package ... “

Again she took a strawberry, dipped it in the cream and extended her tongue to lick at it.

”As to your question, why you ... personally I think you know how to make a woman feel that she has your full attention ... “

She bit the strawberry and licked her lips.

”You have charm ... looks ... and many of the ... personal .. qualities I’m looking for ... “

She finished the strawberry.

”We provide training in the relevant social and cultural etiquette. We believe in ... experiential learning, rather than leafing through dusty leaflets though... “

She picked up a strawberry and held it out a small distance from his mouth.

”And ... I think you’d put in that extra bit of attention to please a client ... “


She watched him eat the strawberry.

”You have to understand, Wes ... “

Her arm rested on his arm as she leaned towards him to share her confidence.

”The people we deal with ... they have hectic work schedules ... they often don’t have time to make ...social ... arrangements ... business and money is attractive from the outside ... but ... “

She halted and gave a shrug.

”Running a company can be very ... lonely ... sometimes .... “

She leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his lips.

Look around this room ... “ She instructed him.

”Look carefully ... “

Wes looked around, noting that most of the tables were occupied by groups of two, most seeming to be couples. They all looked very at ease, and were enjoying their meals, going about their conversations. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be noticing, until she elaborated.

”Every table here is taken by a mix of client and Venus Corporation Representative ... “

His eyes widened in surprise, as he watched a couple flirting and the man leaning over the table to kiss the cheek of a lovely young woman seated in the corner...and realization dawned on him, as he watched, stunning him into silence. If what Amelia said was true...

A platter of strawberries arrived accompanied by a dish of vanilla cream, as well as sparkilng wine, but Wes barely noticed, his mind trying to process what Amelia had explained to him.

”It’s important to build a rapport with our clients ... “

She took a sip of her wine, and then continued.

”.. that’s one route of advancement. If requests for your services come in, then it raises your profile and in turn your benefits package ... “

He turned to look at her, as she took a strawberry, dipped it in the cream and extended her tongue to lick at it.

”As to your question, why you ... personally I think you know how to make a woman feel that she has your full attention ... “

She bit the strawberry and licked her lips, the action seeming very sensual to Wes.

”You have charm ... looks ... and many of the ... personal .. qualities I’m looking for ... “

”We provide training in the relevant social and cultural etiquette. We believe in ... experiential learning, rather than leafing through dusty leaflets though... “

She picked up a strawberry and held it out a small distance from his mouth, and without thought, his lips parted to accept it.

”And ... I think you’d put in that extra bit of attention to please a client ... “


She daintily pushed the strawberry in his mouth, and Wes's mind whirled and he slowly chewed.

”You have to understand, Wes ... “

Her arm rested on his arm as she leaned towards him, her face moving close to his as if sharing a secret.

”The people we deal with ... they have hectic work schedules ... they often don’t have time to make ...social ... arrangements ... business and money is attractive from the outside ... but ... “

She paused, shrugging, and then added, ”Running a company can be very ... lonely ... sometimes .... “

Wes was shocked, as she suddenly leaned forward, kissing him. Without thought, he instinctively returned the kiss, enjoying her soft lips pressed against his, the scent of strawberries and creme, mixed with her perfume seeming almost a heavenly aphrodisiac to him...wanting to let it go on, and on, and on...

A powerful, almost unwanted thought ripped through his mind, his conscience screaming at him...

"You're a married man!"

He quickly pulled away, his tongue licking his lips nervously, tasting strawberries, and for some reason, he started to apologize, although he had no clue why, as he hadn't initiated the kiss.

"I...I'm sorry...I didn't....I mean....I didn't intend to..do that..."

She leaned back, looking at him as if amused, her eyes staring intently at him...her gaze seeming somehow more...blatantly seductive...than before.

He took a deep breath, clearing his throat, having a hard time speaking. Finally, he asked, "So...I'm to take clientelle on....dates?"

She smiled, giving him a slight nod, and then he asked, his voice seeming strained, "But...what if they want...more than just companionship...more than dinner and conversation?"

Everything seemed strange and surreal, as he came right out and asked the most important question running through his mind. He paused, trying to word it appropriately, so as to sound less offensive, not to her, but to his own sensibilities at the strange turn of events this lunch had taken.

"What if they want...to get...umm...intimate?"

The kiss hovered lightly. She felt his lips move and press. She felt the pressure increase, his body relaxing. She felt him drawing into the moment.
And then he drew back abruptly. ... guilt ... she surmised.
Wordlessly she watched his confusion. Watched him battling with his conscience.


“I...I’m sorry...I didn’t....I mean....I didn’t intend to..do that...”

Watching him, she still remained mute. She knew in reality it was his wife he was apologising to. Yet he had enjoyed the kiss and had enough skill and instinct to be more than ... satisfactory ... in their line of business....

“So...I’m to take clientelle on....dates?”

That wasn’t exactly as she’d put it, but he had grasped the additional dimension to the job, so she nodded.

“But...what if they want...more than just companionship...more than dinner and conversation?”

He was obviously shocked, but not outraged and not dismissive she assessed.
This was where she would have to tread very carefully.

“What if they want...to get...umm...intimate?”

She smiled. He was decent, not at all coarse, not prone to fly into a temper.
More and more she approved of her choice.

” ... what if they do ...?”

She spoke softly giving him time to consider.

” ... intimacy has many forms ... “

She leaned forward and kissed him, on the cheek this time.

” ... you have a good marriage ... you know what the real thing is like ... “

She coaxed.

” ... that’s why you would be ideal for this line of work ... “

Her hand covered his and gave him it a reassuring squeeze.

”If our clients wanted to hire an “escort”, they would fast forward through the formalities and have sex as soon as possible.”

She directed his gaze to the room again.

”In our business, every word, gesture, even touch ... is important ... “

Her hand slid and her arm linked with his drawing him out of his seat and breaking his attention which seemed to be rapt on a couple across from them.

”There’s no harm in making someone feel good ... that’s what the Venus Corporation is about ... it's about the process, and the form that takes depends on the ... rapport .. between our representative and the client ... it always has to be good, but sometimes .. it might become ... intimate ... “

She drew him up from his seat;

”Let’s head up for coffee ... “

She murmured guiding him out to the plush hall and to the elevator.

”Coffee, 5B ... “

She told a passing member of staff as the doors closed.

”To make things clear, our role is to meet the needs of the client. It’s my job to match client to personnel available, but there is never any obligation for you to do anything you’re not comfortable with ... “

So saying she stepped out of the newly opened door.

”... as long as you treat the client with respect and courtesy at all times ... “

They found themselves in a corridor with 3 heavy wooden doors.

”Shall we?”

She turned the key that was in the lock of the nearest door and stepped into it inviting him to join her. They stood in the dimness until she flicked a light.
She paused and let him take in the sight.

The room was far from complete, but as his eyes scanned the spacious room he could see that the room already contained elements of the room he had described during his interview. Sofas, a plush carpet were already in place, as was the television.

Amelia snapped another switch and side lights displayed the warm dark shade of the walls ...

”The bathroom you described is pretty standard here ... we still have work to do in the kitchen ... and the dining area furniture and other ... touches ... should be here tomorrow ... “

She took a step forward, taking his hand and drawing him through the room and off to the right.

” ... as for the bedroom ... “

She stood aside and let him see the four poster.

There was a lot to explain, but she was sure that words would only cause him to take flight.

” ... wouldn’t this be perfect ...?”

She purred, moving towards him, a hand on his shoulder, pressing to his chest.

” ... this is just as you imagined it ... “

She coaxed drawing him towards the bed.

” ... but you’ve probably imagined a lot more ... “

She murmured kissing his lips, letting her teeth nibble gently as she released them.

” ... haven’t you ...?”

She moved her head sideways and kissed his neck, nipping it teasingly, testing his responses and then finally slipping her hand down his body to cover his crotch.

” ... it’s just business ... remember ... “

She murmured, easing around so the back of his legs nudged the poster bed.

” ... and it always pays to keep the boss happy ... “

She offered.

The ball was in his court. If unresponsive, she would treat it as a joke and know how to proceed, however ... she just couldn’t second guess how he might respond ...

She said quietly,” ... what if they do ...?”

She paused, seeming to judge his response, but he was stunned silent...did she want him to become a paid escort...or a male prostitute? She continued speaking, and Wes listened, trying to process it all, his mind whirling...

” ... intimacy has many forms ... “

She leaned forward, kissing him again, on the cheek, and he felt his face flushing, whether in embarressment, guilt, or...arousal...maybe a mix of all three.

” ... you have a good marriage ... you know what the real thing is like ... “

He nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment...part of his mind, the more ethical part, rebelled at the concept she was suggesting...but another deeper, long-forgotten part of his mind found the concept somewhat...interesting, to say the least. The conflict between the two was leaving him confused and conflicted by the notions she presented.

” ... that’s why you would be ideal for this line of work ... “

Her hand covered his and gave him it a reassuring squeeze.

”If our clients wanted to hire an “escort”, they would fast forward through the formalities and have sex as soon as possible.”

She directed his gaze to the room again. He glaced around, seeing all the couples around him again, this time with the knowledge that they were client-escort couples. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves, having a good time. Nothing seemed forced on either side...he could not tell who was the client and who was the escort. Amelia kept speaking as he looked around.

”In our business, every word, gesture, even touch ... is important ... “

Her touch on his amr drew his full attention back to Amelia, as her hand slid down his arm, linking with his, drawing him out of his seat. He allowed it, beginning to stand, as she continued,

”There’s no harm in making someone feel good ... that’s what the Venus Corporation is about ... it's about the process, and the form that takes depends on the ... rapport .. between our representative and the client ... it always has to be good, but sometimes .. it might become ... intimate ... “

She drew him up from his seat, smiling reassuringly at him. He thought about exactly what the Venus Corporation did...the way Amelia presented things, it truly didn't seem like a bad thing...except for the fact that there would always possibly be a chance that a client would want to take things to the next level.

The idea of having sex with a stranger for money left him conflicted. Of course, he was a married man, and although he had come close a few times, when his wife and he had seperated, he had never cheated on her...and yet, what man didn't imagine being with other women, at times?

It was fun to fantasize about...only in this case, not only could this fantasy possibly become a reality, but he would be making a decent living doing it as well...and right now, they needed a way out of the situation they were stuck in.

Maybe it wouldn't come to that point...if the client only wanted someone to spend time with, and not to wanting to have sex, Wes thought he could justify and even enjoy the job, eventually...being around fine restaurants and clubs, having conversations with intelligent, powerful people...there WAS an appeal to that.

However, he suspected that sex something that was typically expected...and he didn't know if he could go through with something like that.

”Let’s head up for coffee ... “

She whispered, guiding him out to the posh, elegant hall, her arm linked through his as they made their way to the elevator.

”Coffee, 5B," she told a passing member of staff as the doors closed.

Once inside the elevator, she turned to him.

”To make things clear, our role is to meet the needs of the client. It’s my job to match client to personnel available, but there is never any obligation for you to do anything you’re not comfortable with ... “

Hearing this almost made Wes breath a sigh of relief...maybe he could keep this job after all.

She stepped out of the elevator, adding, ”... as long as you treat the client with respect and courtesy at all times ... “

They stood in a corridor with 3 heavy wooden doors.

”Shall we?”

Wes nodded uncertainly, still on edge, wondering if any more surprises awaited....rightly so, as it turned out.

She turned the key that was in the lock of the nearest door and stepped into it inviting him to join her. He followed, standing in a dark room, the only light coming from the open door they had just entered though. He heard a light switch click, and his jaw dropped at the sight before him.

The room was far from complete, but as his eyes scanned the room....this was almost exactly what he had described to Amelia in the interview in her office!

They stood in a spacious living room...the sofas, a plush carpet were already in place, as was the television. Amelia snapped another switch and mood defining side lights dimly lit the warm dark shade of the walls.

"How...how did you do all this...and so quickly?"

She smiled, dismissing the question with an elegant wave of her hand, and then continued.

”The bathroom you described is pretty standard here ... we still have work to do in the kitchen ... and the dining area furniture and other ... touches ... should be here tomorrow ... “

She took a step forward, taking his hand and drawing him through the room and off to the right.

” ... as for the bedroom ... “

She stood aside and let him see the four poster bed, he had described in her office.

” ... wouldn’t this be perfect ...?”

She said, her voice containing a sulty tone, that made his heart begin to race. She moved towards him, putting her hand on his shoulder, her body pressing against him, gently guiding him.

” ... this is just as you imagined it ... “

His eyes met hers, seeing a hunger there, and he knew his eyes must look the same...he had never wanted a woman like this before...everything about her seemed to be designed to arouse and stimulate, both in mind and body, and he almost felt like a deer caught in the headlights.

” ... but you’ve probably imagined a lot more ... “

She leaned foward, kissing his lips, her teeth playfully nibblilng for a brief moment before releasing them.

” ... haven’t you ...?”

"Yes..." he admited, feeling aroused and guilty at the same time. He knew it was wrong of him to feel this way, but the guilt was overpower by a sheer desire and lust he hadn't felt in a long time...he wanted Amelia...wanted to see where this would go...

She kissed his neck, causing him to shudder as he felt her teeth nipping it teasingly...and then he felt her hand slowly sliding down his testing his chest, over his belly, causing a low moan to escape him, when her hand found his crotch, which was already beginning to bulge, making his arousal obvious to her.

” ... it’s just business ... remember ... “

She murmured, easing around so the back of his legs nudged the poster bed.

” ... and it always pays to keep the boss happy,“ he heard, as his found himself sitting on the bed before her, before he realized it.

He felt his hands move as with a mind of their own, arms encircling her body, his hands finding her ass, running over the cheeks tentitively, as if afraid she would pull away.

When she didn't, he smiled, and guided her down onto the bed beside him, pulling her in for a deep kiss, his lips finding hers, and parting them, his tongue finding hers and then dancing and intertwining together, as their bodies pressed and moved against each other...

” ... but you’ve probably imagined a lot more ... haven’t you ...?”

His softly spoken yes encouraged Amelia. Once more she reminded him that it was just business and so far, he was certainly pleasing her ...

She smiles as his hands found her ass. His touch was tentative, but exploratory. She flexed and murmured in response. They exchanged a smile as she felt him easing her down onto the bed. This time it was he who moved to kiss her. Pulling Amelia closely, gone was the tentative, guilty embrace. She felt his tongue easing into her mouth, dip and explore. Giving a genuine gasp of response, Amelia responded with equal questing, their bodies pressing together, mussing the pristinely made bed as limb pressed against limb, her hands moving lightly to explore his body, with gentle touches. His hands in turn moved shyly to touch her.

Finally when their lips parted his arm was around her as he lay on his side, his body half turned over hers. She smiled wordlessly up on him and reached up to ease his tie loose and then reached up to his shoulders urging him to discard his jacket. As he sat up to do so, she too raised herself up just long enough to pull off her jacket and discard it.

”That’s better, isn’t it ...?”

She murmured as they lay together on the bed. Her hand moved to his shirt and began to slowly unfasten the buttons.

” ... we have time to get .. comfy .... “

She murmured as she pulled the front of his shirt open, dragging a well manicured nail down his skin with a chuckle.

” ... I’m sure you have all sorts of ... hidden ... talents ... “

She coaxed him ....

” ... since I met you, I’ve been wondering ... just what you’d be like in bed... “

Her words were playful, but held a serious undertone.

” ... and ever since you requested a four poster bed ... “

She raised an eyebrow suggestively ...

” ... how would we make use of that I wonder !?!? “