Need help with a plot for 2 characters (corporate man and HR woman)

[JChipperson]

I want to write a story based on 2 characters but I need help.

Here are the characters:

Character 1 is a driven career woman. She was unable to make it on the executive track so she transferred to HR where politics and bureaucratic procedures trump skill. She resents successful men and can't figure out that her personality repels the tall well built good looking successful men she so desperately desires. She believes they should be attracted to her success. She takes her resentments and frustrations out on any man who has HR issues, especially harassment. She is in her early to mid-30's so the window to have kids is closing. While attractive physically, her demeanor and dress insure she is only approached outside of work by men of status too low to be of interest to her.

Character 2 works for the same corporation as character 1. He is a man in his mid to late 30's. He is about 5'8" and well over 200 pounds. He's a former high school football player/wrestler but he has let himself go. He still has the muscle power but it is hidden under a thickening layer of fat. He is hairy but his head is balding. He is frustrated that the women don't come as easily as they used to. He has resorted to using the services of prostitutes and his telling of these tales at work (and other issues) has resulted in multiple complaints to the HR department. At one time he was respected for his technical ability but he is now one strike away from termination due to lack of social skills and harassment complaints. He has an axe to grind with the company (HR in particular) and women in general.

Now obviously these two character's paths will cross. I'm not sure of the best way to go about it. Here are some possibilities:

1. Character 2 is fired by character 1. He moves to another area. Later, character 1 sees him drowning his sorrows in a bar. She decided to torment him by flirting and teasing. Somehow he turns the tables on her.

2. The woman makes a mistake at work. Maybe an indiscretion with a coworker, maybe leaving out a cover letter for a job application with a competitor. Character 2 uses this against her.

 

[millenium_mann]

Some more options

Hi JChipperson,

Sounds like you are writing about my work. Here are some other options for how they could cross paths, If that is what you are looking for? If you were just looking for a vote between 1 and 2 then I like your #1 better.

3. Character 2 is fired by 1 and it is messy and mean, she takes personal vendetta against him so much so that he will never work in that state again. Fast forward 3 months, company is merged with a Japanese company and they eliminate most Middle Management positions including Character 1's entire HR department. 8 Months of searching Character 1 is almost broke and gets a position in a new state for which she has to uplift her life and move. Here comes the reunion. Day 1, she thinks she catches a glimpse of Character 2, Day 2 she hears about Character 2 (first name only) as the head of the department and that he is truly loved can do no wrong. Day 3 she meets him, Character 2 hasn't forgotten. So now you have Character 1, with no other options she needs this Job, and Character 2 has all the power.

4. Character 2, gets caught dipping his pen in Company ink (boning the hot 20 yr old receptionist in the copy room) by Character 1. This leads to imminent dismissal of both Character 2 and the receptionist but the receptionist is willing to do anything to ensure she keeps her job and convinces them that they can all work something out together (3 some)

5. President of Company wants to keep both Character 1 & 2 but knows their hatred of each other is keeping them both from being successful. He sends them both of to a group team working retreat in a remote location. They arrive at the location in a heavy snow storm but only after they arrive do they see no-one else is at the Team Building event, it was cancelled due to weather but they were never notified. So now you have both Characters stuck at a resort with no one to team with except each other.

 

[JChipperson]

Wow.

The kind of help I want is deciding on the plot that brings the 2 together. I also think my #1 is better but how does 2 turn the tables on 1?

Your 3 and 4 are both good.

Maybe an option 6. Character 1 is compromised by a younger attractive woman employee (character 3). 3 blackmails 1 into sex with 2.

I also need some names and a physical description of 1.

How do authors go about naming their characters?

 

[millenium_mann]

Naming Characters

I pick fictional character names from TV shows or just out of the air. You don't want to pick a name of someone you know or else you just keep picturing that person while you are writing. Or maybe that works for you? Could definitely work if it's someone that turns you on.

If you don't use option #3 I may actually write something with that plot.

 

[JChipperson]

Feel free.

 

[HeyAll]

What kind of story are you looking to make?

Blackmail? Slightly nonconsensual? Coercion? A hint of romance?

 

[JChipperson]

Blackmail and coercion. After the initial encounter character 1 has to come to terms with how much she enjoyed this man she had so much contempt for.

 

[Ldy_Sea]

Fat ass could be stealing from the company and is caught by HR chick who knew him back in the day so she forces him to excercise diet and become the man he was then she lets him impregnate her...

Or

She lets fat ass keep his job but he has to tell the hotter guys in the office she isw a hot piece of tail trying to get them to bang her.

or

He catches her doing something inappropriate and blackmails her to do him or he rats her out.

Of course theres always corporate retreats, conventions, recruiting drives at colleges or lots of other ways to have them travel together.