The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual relationships. If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*
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*Cynthia Martin*
*Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1991, 2001*
Please note the original copyright date. This was basically written ten years ago. As a result, you will likely find obsolete references. I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it; it's too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.
This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and is a sequel to -- and much longer than -- _Call Girls._ If you haven't read it, I urge you to do so. Without having read it, the actions in the first few pages will not make any sense.
Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_. The reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my intent. Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold face. If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.
More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr.org/~Morgan> If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at <morg105829@aol.com.> My books are now also being posted on <www.storiesonline.net> although at this writing there are fewer of them than on my site.
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*Chapter 11*
The next morning after their lovemaking, Cindy dragged Dan out of bed. Along with the Stewarts, they went to church early and then returned home to another breakfast Cindy prepared. With her heart in her mouth, she made croissants which turned out to be as light and flaky as Jan's best. She served them with omelettes which were also masterpieces.
Jan just shook her head sadly and said, "Pete, it's all over. I used to think I was a passable cook, but there's no way I could do this."
Cindy went over to Jan and hugged her saying, "Oh, you poor thing! Isn't it lucky you have such a talented house slave? Just think! I'm the only person that stands between poor Pete and starvation. You _can_ boil water though, can't you? With the boil-in-a-bag dinners they make now, you can probably survive," she replied with her eyes dancing.
Jan took the opportunity to spank Cindy but her hand in the process. She glared at Cindy while she shook her hand; her eyes were dancing, though, as she said, "Damn it, slave, make your ass soft when I want to spank it. You my hand."
"I'm so sorry, mistress. But why didn't you tell me you wanted to spank me?" It was all she could do to keep from laughing as she added, "I'm just a poor dumb slave, though, not a mind-reader."
"Damn it, Pete," Jan said with a grin, "why aren't there any decent slaves available any more? I guess the British blockade of the Slave Coast must really be affecting the supply."
They played in the sun all afternoon. Dan's tan was getting darker while Jan and Cindy looked like sprites with their golden tans, golden hair and blue eyes. When Dan gave Cindy the money from the previous evening, she grinned and said, "Thank you, darling. I appreciate your handling the financial arrangements. How about if we celebrate by dining at _Chez Nous_ again? I think I can get time off."
Jan was lying with her head on Pete's stomach. She had seen Cindy using Dan as a pillow and decided it looked like a great idea. Without even opening her eyes she said, "Beat it! And get out of my sun." Dan and Cindy again took a shower together. While she was fixing her hair, Dan put the few things he had brought with him back in his bag.
When they arrived at the restaurant where they had eaten ten days earlier, they were greeted by the hostess who then went back to the kitchen. Moments later the chef appeared to personally show them to the best table in the restaurant. In spite of it being Sunday night, the place was crowded. As they were being seated, he introduced the hostess as his wife, Marie, and himself as Marcel Legrand. He retreated to the kitchen and Marie smiled and asked, "May I bring you something to drink? Marcel was in such a rush -- you can see we're very busy -- he forgot to mention that you are our guests this evening."
Cindy looked puzzled and asked, "But why? You already gave us that lovely cognac when we were here last time. Why should Dan and I be your guests tonight?"
She replied, "You see how busy we are. This is all due to your help." She smiled and said, "There is an ulterior... is that the right word...? motive. He would like to sit with you later to see if you have any other ideas."
They ordered dinner and the change was instantly noticeable. The quality of the food was substantially better than it had been the week before. Dan ordered a bottle of white wine for them from the very short wine list. While they were waiting for their appetizers Marie brought out a small basket with two croissants and stood by the table while Cindy tried one. It was not very good -- in fact it was rather soggy. She excused herself from the table. Instead of going to the ladies' room as Dan expected, she went back to the kitchen.
When she didn't immediately reappear, Dan just shrugged and took some papers out of his bag and started to review them. After an absence of fifteen minutes, she reappeared and sat down again. She didn't tell him what she had done and he didn't ask. A few minutes later, Marcel appeared with another small bread basket. He signaled to Marie who came over to the table to join them. In the basket were four croissants. He offered one to Dan and one to Marie. Dan broke his and the steam came out. It was as light and flaky as the ones Cindy had baked that morning.
Dan didn't say anything. He watched Marie break one and take a bite. Her eyes widened and she took her husband in her arms and hugged him, exclaiming, "Marcel! _C'est fantastique!_ Never have you made such a thing. My darling, it's superb!"
Marcel just grinned and then kissed Cindy on the cheek, causing her to blush. "Marie, it's not me. It's this woman who made them. Have you ever had better? Anywhere?" Marie admitted she never had.
When the Legrands left the table, Cindy said, "Dan, these kids need help... financial help. The kitchen is a horror show! No wonder it's such a problem cooking well. And the wine list needs help, too. Marcel and Marie have every dime they have scrimped and saved in this place. He has access to some very fine wines, but no money to buy them. How can we help them get some money?"
Dan had been enjoying the meal immensely. In fact, the weekend had been the most wonderful three days he had ever spent. Not only was Cindy the most beautiful in the world but she was also one of the smartest. The biggest changes were in her attitudes and view of the world. Where formerly they didn't agree on the time of day, now they disagreed on almost nothing. He took the opportunity to tease her. Still looking at his plate he said casually, "Why don't you just lend it to them?"
"Daniel Burke, you're crazy! And you're mean! You know damned well I have about $80 to my name. The seventy-five from last night plus about five bucks left over from last week. I could lend them about enough to buy five pounds of flour!"
"You can do a bit better than that," he replied casually. He reached into his pocket and brought out a bank document he had intended to show her. It was a confidential internal credit memo listing bank officers and their lending limits. They were listed alphabetically by rank. Under senior vice presidents, Cynthia K. Martin was listed at $50 million, the highest personal lending limit of any officer listed; the listing for "current assignment" said "leave of absence." He passed it over to her without comment.
While Dan was rummaging through his papers, Cindy was trying to puzzle out how she could get the Legrands $25,000 which was her estimate of what it would cost to fix up the kitchen and improve the wine cellar. When Dan passed her the paper she was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn't pay much attention until her own name caught her eye. She read it and then reread it. When she looked up at him, her eyes were wide with amazement. "What _is_ this? Some kind of joke?" she exclaimed. "I'm fired. My current occupation is slave. What gives?"
"Did you ever resign?" Dan asked quietly.
"Resign? I was fired! As in, 'You're no longer employed here at the bank.' God, I'll remember Jen's words forever! Then I got violently ill." She looked at Dan with love in her eyes. "Honey, you missed it. It was not one of your mistress's better performances. In fact, I was disgusting!"
Dan appeared to be bored by the whole thing. "What's the problem? Are you sure of the wording? The exact wording?"
She smiled wryly, "I'm absolutely sure. Those words are engraved in my mind as if they were carved in stone."
He shrugged and said, "I guess that explains it then. You're no longer employed at the bank. You have been working at Deerfield rather than downtown Chicago. But you are still a senior vice president and senior lending officer, though." He looked at her and shook his head, adding, "But you don't look like most of the senior vice presidents. And I don't know if they would approve of your preferred attire these days."
"Preferred attire? Burke, have you lost it completely? My attire is my skin. What do you mean?"
"Usually Chicago Trust Company senior vice presidents are so conservatively dressed it's disgusting. Honey, you're usually naked."
Suddenly Cindy grinned. "That's okay. Yesterday I hope you noticed the chairman of the board? Madam Chairman with the bare mound revealing her beautiful cunt? Let's see... You also saw Jan -- all of Jan. She votes her parents' shares and her own. That's about 56 percent. Then Jen votes her shares and the Chapman's. That brings the total to about 85 percent. Then their and brother-in-law, Connie and Chip Cartwright, own another ten. That gets us to about 96 percent. Since Connie was a stripper for years she won't complain, either, so I guess I'm okay." She looked at him with a look on her face although her eyes were dancing, and added, "Don't you like the way I dress? I thought you liked to have immediate access to all my bodily openings?"
Dan's face was impassive as he just nodded vigorously. "Cindy, do you want to do it? Lend them the money?"
She smiled and said, "Hell, the bank can only say no. Let's try!"
It was after nine o'clock and the restaurant had nearly emptied when Marcel came out from the kitchen. Marie brought over coffee and cognac for the four of them. Marcel looked at Cindy with respect in his eyes. He said, "Madame, if you were to open a restaurant nearby, I would close up immediately. You're the finest chef I have ever encountered. How long have you and monsieur been married?"
Cindy smiled and said, "We're not. I'm Dan's mistress. Besides, I know almost nothing about cooking. Actually, I'm a banker."
Both of the Legrands' jaws dropped at her announcement. "A... banker? You mean, you work in a bank?"
Dan smiled and said, "The fact is Cindy is a senior lending officer at Chicago Trust Company. In that capacity she has a proposition to make to you."
Cindy proceeded to outline what she had in mind. Marie, who kept the books, left the dining room and came back with the financial records. While they were waiting, Marcel told them the reason for the croissants was they were thinking of opening for breakfast. When he heard it, Dan asked, "Have you and Marie had dinner yet?" Marcel said they had not. Dan smiled at Cindy and said, "Hon, Marcel cooked for us. Would you mind making a couple of omelettes for them?"
Cindy nodded her head, grinned, and disappeared into the kitchen. Marie returned with the financial records and Dan started to review them and list their cash requirements. It turned out that the store next door was vacant and the landlord had made a very attractive offer to the Legrands to take it over and join the two shops together. It would more than double their seating capacity since the kitchen, particularly with the new equipment, could handle both rooms. Dan made very careful notes as they talked.
Cindy reappeared with onion soup gratinee and a bottle of white wine for the Legrands. It was like the soup Jan had made her first day she was at the house and was superb. When the crust was broken, they both savored the aroma. A few minutes later she reappeared with omelettes, soufleed potatoes and two salads, and sat down again at the table. After taking a bite of the omelette, tears came to Marcel's eyes. "Cindy, this is the finest omelette in the world! You must be an outstanding banker because you could make a fortune as a chef! No one is in your class. No one!"
Cindy just shook her head and said, "Thank you, Marcel, but it isn't true. Janice Stewart is far better than I am. She taught me all I know about cooking which is only a tiny fraction of what she knows."
Then she reviewed the restaurant's financial numbers with Dan. When they finished, she kissed him softly on the cheek and said, "Honey, if I had a division I would take you into it as a senior lending officer. No one can analyze financials the way you do." Finally Cindy said, "Marcel and Marie, on behalf of Chicago Trust Company I am prepared to lend you $125,000." She indicated the terms and conditions and then looked at the two, waiting.
The two people were dumbstruck. Finally Marie said, "A bank would lend us money? So much money! But you can't, Cindy. We... We're not even citizens. No one lends money to immigrants. No one."
Cindy took Dan's hand and squeezed it. "Marie, there's an analyst at Chicago Trust who spent a couple of years trying to educate me. With some help from others, what he was trying to teach me finally sank in. You have wonderful food. Your business has picked up in just the last week. When you add breakfast service and enlarge the restaurant, you'll do even better. We would like to help you, if you'll accept our help."
Suddenly, Marie jumped into Marcel's arms and kissed him passionately. _"Mon cher,_ it's true! The streets in the United States _are_ paved with gold! My darling, could you imagine this ever happening in France? Could we go to a bank and borrow five francs?" She sat on his lap and he cupped his hand under her full breast. Suddenly, both Legrands blushed as they realized what he was doing.
Cindy got up from her chair and sat across Dan's lap. He took her breast in his hand and she moaned with pleasure. "Doesn't it feel wonderful to have your lover squeeze your tit?" she asked Marie softly.
"Tit? I don't know the word, tit," the said with a puzzled look on her face. Cindy grinned and cupped her saying, "Tits, Marie. Or boobs, or breasts." Since she was not wearing a bra, her nipples showed prominently under her dress.
The French blushed, but then grinned. Finally she just shook her head and said, "We must close up now. Marcel and I are going to just float home. Thank you so much. But what do we do now? Do you think we might get the money? How long does it take? Two or three months?"
Cindy smiled warmly and said, "I think it will be faster than that." They kissed and left the restaurant. While they were waiting for his train, she asked, "Did I do the right thing, Dan? I hope that memo you showed me wasn't someone's idea of a sick joke. Marie and Marcel would be absolutely crushed!"
Instead of answering directly, Dan replied, "How did you analyze the loan?"
"Two people working extremely hard trying to make a life for themselves in a new country. Honey, in the kitchen I saw a pile of English books. They want so badly to succeed. They deserve the chance. The numbers are okay, I guess, but it's a loan to them, not against their assets. What would you have done?"
Dan took her in his arms and kissed her. Again she heard bells and felt the electricity flow between them. When they parted he stroked her hair and held her close, murmuring in her ear, "Made the loan, of course."
* * *
The next day there was a Board meeting at the bank. It was a scorching hot day so Janice decided to wear a shirtwaist dress in a light blue shade that complimented her eyes. At breakfast Cindy told her about the events of the night before while Jan just listened carefully with her face impassive. When the finished the she said, "Jan, it will destroy those people if I can't get them the money."
Jan smiled warmly and said, "You can. If worse comes to worst, write a check yourself. Our account can cover $125,000 without any strain. Okay? Happy?"
Cindy took Jan in her arms and kissed her warmly. "Janice Stewart, I love you! If the loan goes in the tank, it only adds ten more years to my indenture."
"Ten years? Are you kidding? Make it twenty-five. Who ever heard of a slave making $12,500 a year!" Jan stuck out her tongue and Cindy laughed.
When Jan got to the bank, she took the elevator up to the executive floor. As she went towards Don Martin's office, the receptionist said, "I beg your pardon! Madame, visitors must be announced."
Jan stopped short and went back to the reception desk. A beautiful black was sitting there with the regular receptionist sitting beside her. The regular receptionist, Jean Robbins, was blushing beet and looking like she wanted to disappear into the woodwork. The black looked up at her attentively and asked, "May I help you? Do you have an appointment with someone?"
Jan smiled at the regular receptionist and said, "Jean, relax. This girl is only trying to do her job." She extended her hand and said, "Hi. I'm Janice Stewart. You must be new here. Welcome to Chicago Trust Company!" The was beautiful. Her skin was the color of light cocoa. She had lustrous brown eyes and exquisite black hair worn in a shoulder-length page-boy. "Wow! We must have hired someone with some judgment in Personnel recently. You're the most lovely thing to appear in this bank in years."
The took Jan's extended hand and was surprised at the firmness of her grip. She was puzzled. The name, Janice Stewart, was not on any list of officers. In fact, she couldn't recall seeing the name, Stewart, on anything. She had spent almost the whole previous night studying lists of names to try to avoid the kind of situation she had obviously just created. She smiled shyly, and said, "How do you do, Mrs. Stewart? I'm April Jefferson, the new relief receptionist."
At this point Jean Robbins said, "April, Mrs. Stewart is a bank director, along with her sister, Mrs. Chapman. Here comes Mrs. Chapman now."
Jennifer had been trying to sneak up behind Jan's back. When Jan spun around, the kissed and then Jen frowned at Jean. "Jean Robbins, I thought you were my friend. I was going to goose my and you went and spoiled it!" She extended her hand to April and said, "Hi. I'm Jennifer Chapman. I think you have my name on your list somewhere. Welcome to Chicago Trust!" Turning to Jan she said, "Come on, sis. We're keeping the overpaid executives waiting." The two disappeared through the door toward Don Martin's office.
When the door closed behind them, April exhaled loudly. "Wow! What was that? They have to be two of the most beautiful women in the world. Who are they? I know Mrs. Chapman is Chairman of the Board, but who is Mrs. Stewart?"
Jean Robbins had finally recovered. She smiled and said, "April, Janice Stewart controls the votes on about 61 percent of the bank's stock. If you said she owns the place you wouldn't be far wrong. Incidentally, not only are they beautiful but they're both smart as hell and the nicest people I have ever met. Maybe now you understand why things are changing so fast for the better around here."
One of the first changes made at Chicago Trust was to shrink the size of the board of directors. Now there was only Jen, Janice, Don Martin, Dan Burke, and Harry Simpson, the corporate secretary and general counsel. Because of the small number -- the prior board had numbered twenty-five -- they converted the former board room to a large conference room and used a small conference room separating Don's office from Dan's for Board meetings. Jen had given the chairman's office to Don and used the conference room on the infrequent occasions when she was in the bank on business.
As they approached Don's office, Mary Thomas rose to greet them. Jan stopped short and looked at Mary closely. "Mary Thomas, what's happened to you? You're looking younger and... Are you free for lunch today, by any chance?"
The woman was baffled but nodded her head. "Great!" Jan said. "Get us a private dining room for three people, will you? We'll eat as soon as we finish with the regular meeting of the Mickey Mouse Club." Mary just smiled and shook her head. She was becoming used to the irreverence that characterized the two sisters. She had no idea what they were thinking about but she made the reservations.
After greeting Don Martin, the three went into the conference room and Dan joined them. Jan grinned and shook her head. "You look like you got some sun over the weekend, Dan. Did you go to the beach? And by the way, don't you ever two-block your tie?"
Dan was tired from his weekend with Cindy. He was wearing a new suit but, as usual, his coat was off, his cuffs were turned up, his collar was unbuttoned, and his tie was pulled down. "As a matter of fact, no. I spent the weekend serving alternately as a punching bag and a pillow. I did see a great deal of our directors, though," he said with a grin. The two daintily stuck out their tongues and then laughed.
The meeting went very quickly. Don Martin now knew that Janice Stewart had an MBA in marketing and finance from Columbia and was a Phi Beta Kappa from Yale. Her sister, Jennifer, was also Phi Beta Kappa at Princeton and had a Ph.D. in political science. Although she didn't have a business degree, she knew a great deal of economics. Both women asked excellent questions. He knew he had the best board in the banking industry. When they completed the agenda items and adjourned the formal meeting, Harry Simpson excused himself to prepare the Board minutes leaving the four alone.
Dan's hands were folded on the table. He looked down at them and said, "Don, I think I should resign."
_"What?"_ Don exclaimed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I spent the weekend in bed with your daughter. You asked me to keep an eye on her and I said I would. But I'm sure that's not what you had in mind. I breached your confidence, so I better get the hell out of here."
Jan and Jennifer protested. Jan said, "Daniel Burke, you'll do no such thing! Do you know how much Cindy loves you? That's the correct word, but it's so inadequate. I know the signs well, and so does Jen. Dan Burke, if you told Cindy you wanted one of her for breakfast, all she would do would be to ask you how you wanted it cooked. And I don't want to bruise your male ego or anything, but she seduced you. And I have never seen a girl so happy in my life!"
Don asked quietly, "What are your intentions towards my daughter, Dan?"
Dan looked up for the first time and looked directly into Don's eyes. He said, "Don, I love her more than life itself. I want to marry her. I want her to be the of my children. I saw her with a small baby Saturday night. She nursed him at her and looked gorgeous and gloriously happy. She wants a lot of kids, too. May I have your permission to court your daughter?"
Don jumped from his chair and took the younger in his arms and hugged him. Then he gripped his hand and said, "Dan, it should come as no surprise to you to learn there is no one, _no one,_ I would rather have as a son-in-law than you. When is it going to happen?"
Dan grinned wryly and said, "You better ask Jan that question. She owns her."
Jan grinned and said, "How about January? Chicago is impossible in January. You two will love it in Hawaii then." Dan just shook his head. Then Jan changed the subject. "However, I understand you're using my slave for unauthorized purposes: making loans. What do you think of the _Chez Nous_ credit, Dan?"
"I think Cindy is the best lending officer this bank has. And I say that with my personal feelings for her put aside. Don, with your permission -- and yours, Jan -- I would like to give her some special lending assignments. You know, banks are always criticized for not supporting the local community, and particularly for not making credit available to small business. The reason is simple. We don't know how to do it. As bankers, we always retreat to the numbers... and those companies never have good numbers. We talk all the time about character loans but we never make any. Janice Stewart, I'll bet you $10,000 Cynthia Martin can and will."
Jan's face was impassive. She said, "How can she do the analysis? And speaking of things we don't do, who is April Jefferson? She seems very bright."
Don and Dan looked at each other and Don said, "Jan, that's Dan, too. She has her degree from a local and is enrolled in a banking program nights. Of course our personnel people don't believe she has the right educational credentials, but we hired her anyway. We're going to put her in the credit program, but you know what a rat's nest that is. But why do you ask?"
"Could she do the analysis for Cindy? I'll bet Cindy could train her if you're willing. I'm sure she would be a hell of a lot better than some stupid classroom teacher. How about if I drive her out and introduce them?"
Don grinned and said, "It's your money, ladies. What can I say? Particularly when my chief credit officer says yes. By the way, Dan, what did Cindy say about your new job? Does she approve?"
Dan looked embarrassed and said, "Don, I didn't tell her. She thinks I'm still a lowly credit analyst and I like it that way. Can we leave it like that? She doesn't know I'm buying her condo, either. Do you know what Cindy is doing? She's reading apartment ads. She intends to be a wife and mother, so she's trying to work out how we're going to live on what I make as an analyst." He smiled warmly and shook his head. "God, I adore that girl!"
They left it that Dan would tell April about the new assignment. Jan asked him to see if it would be all right for Cindy to drive her home after dinner... about ten o'clock or so. He said he would find out. Then the two left for their lunch date with Mary Thomas.
The three women were ushered into a small private dining room, one of several used for important clients of the bank where business could be discussed in private. After they were seated and had ordered, Mary looked at them attentively. Jen didn't know what Janice was thinking about, but she had a pretty good idea. She left it to Jan.
On one hand, Mary was very puzzled. On the other hand, even though she had been with the bank for twenty years, she had never eaten in one of its private dining rooms so it was a real treat for her. She was looking at the two and thinking again how incredibly beautiful they both were. Then she almost fell off her chair. Janice Stewart had just asked her, "Mary, how long have you been in love with Don Martin?"
"For years," she said quietly. "At least fifteen, I guess." Mary suddenly turned beet red. "But... but... I never said it out loud before! Ever. Not even alone in my apartment." The woman's face crumpled and she began to cry. She looked up at them with the tears streaming down her cheeks and said, "I'll type my letter of resignation as soon as I get back." She started to get up from her chair, and said, "If you will excuse me, I'll leave now."
Jan and Jen kept eating their soup. Janice looked up and said, "Where are you going? You haven't had your lunch yet."
"I told you. I'm going back to the office to resign," she said as her sobbing intensified.
"What for? And why are you crying?" Jan asked kindly.
The question came as a shock. It startled Mary so much she stopped crying. She replied, "Well, I confessed that I love Don Martin..."
"And I love Peter Stewart and Jen loves Steve Chapman. So what? Jen and I are very much alike. Whenever we think of our husbands our cunts start running rivers. In my case my nipples become as hard as pebbles and I immediately think of our most recent lovemaking. I love it and I love him. Now what does that have to do with anything, least of all why you would want to resign your position."
"But you're married!" Mary wailed. "That's the difference."
"Oh!" Jan said with a grin. "So when are you going to marry Don?"
Mary looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "What are you saying? He doesn't even know I'm alive! I'm just a piece of office furniture except I've been around the office longer than any of the furniture."
"Well, let's fix that, shall we?" The talked through lunch. When they were finished, Jan asked about a health club that was supposed to be in the building. Mary knew about it. It was very expensive, she said.
They went down to it and Jennifer paid for memberships for herself and Mary. The went and stripped, putting on leotards Jen had purchased for them at the club's shop. As they changed, Janice noticed that Mary was very pretty but should lose about twenty pounds; her posture needed work, too. They took Mary to the weight room and put her on a machine between them. Mary looked on in amazement as the two women moved weights with no apparent effort. She realized they were both in perfect physical condition without a single ounce of fat on either of their bodies.
They swam in the pool, showered, and prepared to return to the office. It was almost three o'clock. Jennifer grinned at her and said, "Okay, sis, I guess I have the assignment. I think she'll be a beautiful bride, don't you?"
"Sure do," responded Jan with a grin.*Chapter 12*
April Jefferson was feeling good when she returned to her desk after an early lunch. She was scheduled to relieve Jean at the reception desk at twelve-thirty. She was very pleased with her new job at the bank. The people were very nice and things were starting to work out for her. Looking at her desk she found a note to see Mr. Burke immediately. Suddenly, her heart was in her mouth. _It must have been that trouble with the two women this morning,_ she thought. _But they seemed so nice! I hope he'll give me another chance!_
She went to Mr. Burke's office and knocked on the open door. She really liked him. She had learned that his door was almost never closed. People -- little people -- from around the bank were always dropping by to talk with him. He looked up from his desk and grinned. "Hi, April. Come on in and close the door, would you please?"
_At least he's kind enough to rip my ass in private,_ she thought. Closing the door, she sat down, sitting up as straight as possible. _Oh, God she thought, _this makes my stick out. What will he think?_ He smiled and leaned back in his chair. She thought he looked tired and said so. _What's wrong with me? He'll think I'm offering to take him to bed!_
Dan leaned back and grinned. "That's part of the problem that maybe you can help to solve. April, you don't want to be a receptionist, do you?"
"I beg your pardon, sir?" she asked softly. Dan liked the musical quality of her voice. She was a very well-spoken woman. "I like it very much. I'm very sorry for what happened this morning. If you give me another chance, I promise it will never happen again."
"What will never happen?" Dan asked, obviously puzzled.
_There's nothing else to do but tell him,_ she thought. _Here goes nothing!_ "This morning I challenged Mrs. Stewart at the reception area. I didn't think I was being rude... At least I tried not to be. I realize I should have known who she is, but I didn't. I'm going to study the lists even more carefully again tonight," she said softly.
Dan started to get the picture. He smiled warmly and said, "April, I'm sorry. I didn't call you in to bawl you out. I asked you in to see if you would like a new job... one more in keeping with your ability and education."
Now the was shocked. "I beg your pardon, sir?" Then she started to cry.
Her had spent her life telling her how ladies behaved and insisting that she act like one, so she kept her head up straight even though tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Do you know what it's like for a black like me to have a job in a place like this? Mr. Burke, I'm a refugee from welfare. I went to city schools in Chicago. I went to a lousy college. The only job I'm qualified for is to be a cleaning woman, cleaning offices and washrooms. I guess that's what I'll go back to."
Dan rose from his chair and went around the desk when she started to cry. He was down on one knee beside her and reached out and held her. It was the last straw. When April began to cry like her heart would break, he just held her close, feeling her warm body. As she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder, he could feel her body shaking with her sobs. As she began to regain control, Dan reached in his pocket and gave her a clean handkerchief which she used to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. Then she realized with a start what she had done. "May... May I take this home and wash it tonight, please, sir? I'm so sorry... I guess I'll go look for some other job. Thank you, sir."
Dan was down on one knee. He said, "April, we're having a real communications problem this afternoon. Look, instead of beating around the bush, maybe I should just tell you straight out what we have in mind. Okay?" She looked at him and nodded, utterly bewildered. "April, we would like to use you in special credit analysis reporting directly to one of our senior vice presidents. Do you think you would like that?"
"I beg your pardon, sir? I don't think I heard you correctly. Would you mind repeating what you just said?"
"We're forming a special lending unit under a senior vice president. She needs help with credit analysis. Would you take the job? She'll give you all the training you'll need. Are you interested?"
"Credit analyst? Me? Oh, Mr. Burke, I can't believe it! I hoped... Oh, God, did I hope! I hoped some day I could get into credit, but I knew, deep down, it could never happen. But you say it did! The answer is yes, of course. What do you want me to do? I'll do absolutely _anything_ to get such a job!"
Dan went back behind his desk and smiled. "Great! Now we're getting on track. Let me start at the beginning now that you know how the is going to come out. First, the whole idea was Jan Stewart's. Obviously, you didn't insult her this morning. She was impressed by you and asked for you specifically. As you may know, she and her sisters effectively own the bank. Do you like her?"
"Like her? Good heavens! Mr. Burke, sir, she is a lady -- a real lady. My worked for a when she was very young. She told me about them. She's the one who insisted I speak properly and act properly. She was always saying that was the way real ladies act." Her eyes began to tear again as she continued, "The other thing she used to say was that real ladies were kind and understanding. They respect other people. I guess that's what I think about the sisters."
Dan had been listening carefully. When she finished, he said, "April, I think you're absolutely right. I didn't think of it in those terms, but I think you have it right. She is a real lady. In fact, she's really more like a princess or a queen. But that's another story. You'll be working with Cynthia Martin. She's the of the president and my fiancee but she doesn't know that yet. If I look a little tired, it's her fault."
As he spoke about Cindy, Dan's face just beamed. She said, "You love her a lot, don't you, sir?"
"More than life itself, April. Look, there are a couple of things that are strange about this job. First, she is, in terms of personal lending authority, our most senior lending officer. Second, she's shown on the officer roster as being on a leave of absence. You'll know it soon enough, so you might as well know it now. She's Janice Stewart's house slave."
_"What?_ Did you say, slave?" April exclaimed.
"I sure did, and she is. I'm sure Jan or Cindy -- it's Cindy, by the way, not Cynthia -- will explain it to you." Dan's face had been very friendly and relaxed. Suddenly it became very serious as he continued, "April, I have a favor to ask. I have no right to ask it, and you have every right to tell me to go to hell. Your answer has absolutely nothing to do with the job I mentioned. Regardless of how you answer, you have the job if you still want it. Understand?"
"Yes, sir. And the answer is yes. I don't care what the question is, either. What is it?"
"I want you to tell a lie for me. I want you to tell Cindy, if she should ask, that I'm still a credit analyst. You can admit to knowing me or not as you chose. She doesn't know I'm the executive vice president, and I would rather she not know." Dan was looking down at his desk, not even wanting to look at the girl.
April got out of her chair without thinking and went around the desk. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, "Of course, Mr. Burke. I thought you wanted something else, like me joining Miss Martin in slavery. The answer to that's also yes. Do you understand? There is absolutely nothing I won't do for you, sir. Nothing! I see you love her deeply, but why is it a secret?"
Dan looked at her and saw the warmth in her eyes. He replied, "April, I really don't know." He smiled and said, "I guess I'm having fun with Cindy, teasing her." He explained that Cindy was looking for inexpensive apartments where they could live and have lots of babies. "We're going to have dozens, I guess. She adores the little things and I'm sure she'll be a world-class mother." He grinned and said, "I'm going to work to try to support the while she stays home, barefoot, and pregnant with a baby nursing at her breast. I can see her now, and it will be great!" April just smiled warmly.
He moved along with the conversation. "There's a stack of files here for you. I took the liberty of buying you a briefcase because you'll need one in the job and Jean Robbins said you didn't have one." He pulled out a beautiful woman-size attache case which he slid across the desk to her.
April opened it and her eyes widened. Inside it was fitted out with the best hand-held financial calculator available, as well as a woman's gold Cross pen and pencil set. Files were neatly arranged in a file folder attached to the lid. She looked at him and asked, "Do you deduct something from my pay each week until this is paid for, sir? It's absolutely beautiful! I would never have purchased anything so fine, but I realize that representing the bank I should look the part."
"April, it's a gift from me. After all, you're compromising your integrity for me. And one more thing: the name is Dan. It's really all I ever answer to. When I was in the Marines, I was a platoon sergeant; no one has ever called me 'sir' and I don't want people to start now. The files are to review with Cindy. Tell her it's her father's idea. The last thing is the manila envelope that's in the case. That's all the material she'll need to close a loan tomorrow." He smiled and said, "I guess that about does it... Whoops! I almost forgot. Can you stay late tonight with Cindy? Would it be all right if you didn't get home until about ten?"
"That's fine, sir... Dan. I'll call my mother, if I may. Here's a quarter for the phone call..."
"April Jefferson, how long have you worked at this bank?"
"Sir...? Dan? For almost six weeks. But why do you ask?"
"How much money have you seen go down the drain in that time? Thousands? Millions?"
"I don't understand, Dan."
"Young lady, when the bank asks you to work late, the damned least we can do is pay for the phone call to tell your you'll be late! Cindy will drive you home. Now beat it! And don't forget your attache case! Jan Stewart will be by to pick you up in a bit."
April was waiting just off the reception area when the women returned from the health club. Jan asked for April and she came right out. Extending her hand she said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Burke said you wanted to see me."
"April, I know damned well Dan told you to call him Dan. I go by Jan, Janice, or 'you hot cunt.' Very occasionally I answer to Mrs. Stewart. Okay?"
April grinned and said, "Fine, Jan."
"Let's go. I'm parked downstairs."
They went to the basement garage and Jan reclaimed her car. Soon they were on their way out to Deerfield. April luxuriated in the leather upholstery and the feel of the car. She said it was the most beautiful car she had ever been in. Jan grinned and said nothing. As they drove, Jan said, "April, I guess Dan probably told you that Cindy is my slave. Did he tell you why?"
"No, ma'am... Jan, he didn't. He said you or Cindy or both probably would."
"Jan, I was a prostitute until I got married. How that happened is another story. Anyway, my biggest customer was a guy named Hugo Bingham. Bingham hated my guts. My husband and I obtained the manufacturing rights to a new computer hard disk. We're about to start producing them any day now. At any rate, we needed money for tooling. I borrowed $20 million from the bank. My account officer was Cynthia Martin. Less than a month later, the bank sold the note to Hugo Bingham who immediately called it. Suffice it to say, I was not happy. He wanted me to return to him as his slave. We settled his hash but I was not too happy either with the bank or with Cindy.
"My bought the bank and fired the chairman. My sister, Jennifer, bought some notes Cindy had outstanding. She did to her what almost happened to me. She gave Cindy the choice of immediately paying the notes or becoming my house slave. That's what she elected to do. Because of some things that happened, I have come to love that girl. She's the most courageous person I've ever met in my life. She endured the most agonizing pain it's possible to conceive without a murmur. Anyway, she thinks she'll be my slave for about ten years. Please don't wise her up."
Jan grinned and added, "There's one more thing. Please don't tell Cindy that Dan is the executive vice president. It's his secret. Can you keep it for him?"
"I already promised him I would, Jan," April replied.
As Jan pulled into the driveway, Cindy was using the lawn tractor to cut the grass in the front lawn. When she saw Jan had company, she shut it off and came over to the car. "Cindy," Jan said, "This is April Jefferson. Your has assigned her to work for you as a credit analyst. She has some material to go over with you, and she'll be staying for dinner. You two can go over her stuff after we eat and then you can drive her home. Okay?"
"Of course," Cindy replied. She extended her hand and said, "Hello, April. I'm delighted to meet you." April took her hand in a firm grip.
"What can I do to help, Miss Martin? Mrs. Stewart explained the situation. I said I would do anything to be able to work with you, including selling myself into slavery. Can I help you? Please?"
April was wearing a cotton cord suit. The day was very hot -- well into the nineties. Cindy shook her head saying, "You don't know what you're volunteering for! Why don't you just wait out back. I'll be finished here in front in just a couple more minutes. Then maybe you can help me."
She got back on the tractor while Jan escorted April into the house. She looked around and said, "Jan, this is a small palace! It's so lovely." She told Jan about her and the for whom she worked. She said, "This reminds me of something else she said. She said that real ladies have homes that are beautiful, decorated in good taste, and yet are very homey and welcoming." She smiled at Jan and said, "I never understood what she meant before. But now I do. She was speaking about your home and about you. You are truly a lady!"
"Lady, hell! I'm a partially reconstructed whore," Jan exclaimed.
"No, ma'am. You're a lady. More like a princess or a queen, actually, but 'lady' is pretty close," April insisted.
Jan looked into the girl's warm brown eyes. She saw tears in the corners of them but not a trace of sarcasm. On impulse, Jan took the in her arms and kissed her warmly. "April, I'm looking forward to meeting your mother. You're the one who was born a queen or a princess."
April went outside in the back yard and waited for Cindy to appear. She saw the tennis court and the swimming pool and realized how big the yard was. It was completely private, shielded on all three sides by woods. It was beautifully landscaped with beautifully cared-for flowers and shrubs. Cindy came around after putting the tractor away in its shed. She grinned and said, "What would you like to do, April? I still have a lot of work, but it doesn't concern you."
The black smiled and said, "It sure does! You're my boss. If you're a slave, I guess I'm a junior slave. What do the slaves do around here and where are the slave quarters?"
"That's part of the problem. I'll tell you about it. Let's go." She took April up to her room.
"Oh, Cindy, this is beautiful!" the exclaimed.
"See, I told you I have a problem! We're not treated properly around here. Everywhere else, slaves get their ration of rice. Here, it's gourmet dining. Slaves have a right to sleep on the floor. They make me sleep here. I don't even have an outhouse. They make me use my private bath!" While she was talking, she was shedding her clothes and then turned to face the girl.
April's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "Good heavens! Cindy, you have the most beautiful female body in the world! No wonder..."
"No wonder what?" Cindy asked.
The smiled and said, "You know Dan Burke, don't you? He came in this morning looking like he'd been in a train wreck. I heard someone ask him and heard him mention a name: Cindy. That's you, isn't it?"
Cindy grinned and said, "I certainly hope so, unless he has two of us." Then she said, "Were you serious? Do you want to help? You're welcome to take a nap until dinner." April said she was certain, so Cindy told her to take off her clothes. "We can't handle banker's clothes. Besides, I'm wearing the slave uniform around here."
April grinned and stripped. Cindy noticed that the girl's clothes were inexpensive but very well cared-for. In moments, she was bare. Cindy whistled appreciatively. "Lady, did I hear you say something about women's bodies? Yours is exquisite!" She went up to the and touched tiny marks on her abdomen and looked at her with a question in her eyes.
April answered the unasked question. "Stretch marks from my pregnancy. I'm a and like so many black girls, unmarried. Do they show very much?"
Cindy shook her head and said, "April, I pray I can look half as good as you do after my first child." The was slender but with very full breasts. Her narrow waist flowed out to slender hips and down to beautiful legs. Her pubic thatch was a small patch of silken black hair above her nether lips. "Come on, let's go."
They went outside and the two worked on the tennis court and then the swimming pool. When they were finished, Cindy dove in and the followed her. April was only an adequate swimmer so after four laps she climbed out and just watched as Cindy surged up and down the pool. She looked like a trapped porpoise and moved through the water as fast and as smoothly a one. Finally Cindy pulled herself out of the pool and squeezed the water out of her hair. She pulled over two mats and lay down in the sun.
She looked at April and grinned. "Do you lay in the sun? You have a permanent suntan, I guess."
April said, "It can always stand some improvement." As Cindy lay with her eyes closed, the took the opportunity to study her closely. She could see tiny lines on her body and realized there were lines paralleling her slit that appeared to be surgical scars. She asked about them.
Cindy just lay on the mat with her eyes closed. "They are reminders of my runaway ego," she replied.
"But what are they?" April asked.
"They're whip cuts. The worst doesn't show. It's in my cunt." She smiled and said, "It circumcised my clit which has turned out to be fun."
"But who did this to you?" April insisted.
"April, I did it to myself. When it was over, I kissed the whip and thanked the person holding it. I meant it, too. I'm starting to feel pretty good about myself." Cindy looked up at the sky and estimated the time. "Come on. We have some more work to do."
They went inside and took turns in the shower. Then they went down to the kitchen where Cindy started the dinner. As usual, she prepared canapes and got the materials together for drinks. At five o'clock, Jan came into the kitchen wearing only her tiny black peignoir. Cindy kissed her on the cheek and said, "Dressing for dinner, I see."
Jan winked and looked at April. "Good heavens, girl, what a body! You're magnificent." April had been looking at Jan. With only the transparent peignoir which ended at her hips exposing her pubic area completely, she was magnificent and April said so. "I guess I've recovered from my career as a prostitute," Jan said wryly. Then she grinned and said, "April, are you game for some fun?" The quickly agreed, so Jan asked her to open the door when Pete came home.
They heard the car come up the drive. April was waiting at the door and opened it as soon as Pete reached it. "Good evening, sir," she said softly. "I'm Slave April. I'm assisting Slave Cindy this evening." Pete's eyes bugged as he looked at the beautiful standing in front of him. She seemed to welcome his inspection and said, "I have full tits, sir, although they're not as firm as the mistress's or Slave Cindy's. Would you like to feel them? I'm slim and have a firm ass. It's also available for your inspection. The mistress believes I may be strong enough to become a field slave someday." While she was going through her recital, her eyes were dancing.
Pete just shook his head and ran upstairs. He took a quick shower and soon returned wearing only a pair of shorts. This time Jan went to him and melted in his arms. He picked her up, carried her into the living room and sat down in his favorite chair with Jan sitting across his lap.
The two brought in the drinks and hors d'oeuvres and both knelt on the floor with their trays resting on their breasts. Jan took her drink which was frosting on the outside of the glass and put it between Cindy's breasts. The didn't move; there was just a tiny shudder as the icy glass came in contact with her tender skin. "Is it cold enough, Slave Cindy?" Jan asked with her eyes sparkling.
"I think milady will be pleased," Cindy replied in a flat tone of voice but with her eyes dancing.
The dinner was magnificent. The two ate at the table. As they were finishing, Pete just shook his head. "April, this is torture. Can you imagine what it's like to sit here looking at three of the most magnificent pairs of in the world? Woman of the house, your lord and master is horny. What are you going to do about it?"
"Let's go up to the playroom," she suggested, leading the way upstairs to the master bedroom. The bed was turned down on both sides. Jan unbuttoned Pete's shorts and dropped them. Following her request, he got on the bed and she knelt between his legs. "Slaves, your master wishes to fondle tits. I'll be occupied so he'll use yours."
Pete was in the center of the bed. Cindy got in beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. His arm came around and cupped her firm breast. April watched what Cindy did and climbed in on the other side and did the same thing. Each of Pete's hands was cupping a beautiful tit. Meanwhile, Jan had gotten between his legs and began to work on his cock. She slid up his body and kissed him passionately. Sliding down his body, she worshiped it with her lips and fingertips. Finally she took his cock in her mouth and started to work on it.
April watched the woman in amazement as she took it into her mouth to its full length. _Where did it go?_ she wondered. _It can't possibly fit in her mouth. It's gigantic!_ Jan's head was going up and down as it acted like a vagina. Finally, the could feel Pete's body shake as he came in a flood. The sexual excitement caused Jan to reach an orgasm of her own, and she collapsed on the bed. Cindy moved down on the bed to where Jan was lying sprawled in exhaustion. She started to lick the girl's and tasted her wonderful love juices. April, seeing what Cindy was doing, went down on Pete, carefully licking his cock and getting the last traces of his semen. When they finished, the two returned to Pete's arms.
Again Cindy had a thought that had first occurred to her when she saw April nude for the first time. She leaned across Pete's body. April wasn't sure what Cindy was thinking of, but had a good idea. She met her halfway, and the two kissed. Cindy's tongue darted out and April had a taste of Jan's love juice that was still on Cindy's mouth, while Cindy reached across and stroked April's full breasts. The beautiful black moaned with aroused passion.
Jan had disappeared from the room and returned while the two were kissing. She had a corona lighted for Pete and a panatella for herself. Climbing into bed beside him, he cupped her and she moaned softly. "Why don't you slaves entertain us? Drink each other's nectar."
Cindy whispered quickly to April who first looked startled but then nodded. Cindy lay on her back and April knelt over her face with her legs spread wide exposing her to Cindy's mouth. The leaned forward and Cindy's legs came up to wrap around her neck, raising her so the girl could reach it with her mouth and tongue. Cindy's tongue darted out and began to probe the girl's vagina. She found her clit and licked it, then bit it gently with her teeth. April shuddered as she had an instant orgasm -- the first of her life. Meanwhile her mouth was active in Cindy's love box. Her eyes opened wide when she saw the cut Cindy described that ran across her clit. She tongued it and bit it with her lips, being rewarded with a flood of cuntal juice which she carefully licked up. The two maintained it through what seemed like dozens of orgasms until they both collapsed. Jan and Pete had been watching and were just shaking their heads.
Finally, they left the room and returned to Cindy's. Cindy gave the girl a pair of shorts and a tank top and put on similar clothes herself. Going downstairs, they cleaned up the kitchen quickly and then sat down at the kitchen table. April told her what had happened during the day.
Then she changed the subject. "Cindy, first, thank you. I have never in my life gone down on a woman. If someone had told me to, I would have vomited at the thought. However, if my first sexual experience had been with you, I would probably be a lesbian. You have a delicious cunt!" The girl smiled wryly and said, "Isn't that a terrible thing to say?" Then she looked at Cindy with a question on her face but with her eyes dancing. "There's only one thing. I thought white were supposed to taste like vanilla?"
"April, your is delicious, too! I think Jan called it nectar, and yours is." She grinned at the and asked, "But why doesn't it taste like chocolate? I thought all black did. Regardless, I loved it! Now, can we play banker just like the big kids?"
April retrieved her new attache case and put it on the table. Before she opened it, she just looked at Cindy and said, "I told your I would do anything for the opportunity to work with you. I was only thinking of the opportunity of getting into lending. Now I see that I was more right than I could possibly know. Cindy Martin, you're a wonderful person. Do you know something else? You don't treat me like I'm black. I'm not talking about discrimination, either. I've had the experience of seeing the nice people check off the little box that says 'Black'. I can see another tick mark on some chart somewhere for affirmative action. You treat me like a person. You seem to be interested in me; you kid, you joke -- you're just very nice. I'm really looking forward to this." The became very serious and added, "Cindy, I'm going to ask you for a favor. It's a very big one but it's within your power to grant. Will you grant me my favor? Please?"
Cindy smiled softly and said, "Of course, April. Anything. What's the favor?"
"Promise to fire my black ass out of your unit and out of the bank if I don't hack it." She looked into Cindy's eyes and waited. She saw an expression of shock and then... love?
Cindy stuck out her hand and said, "It's a deal. I promise to fire your black ass if you don't hack it. I also promise to see you get the biggest damned bonus in the bank when you do, though. And I'm sure you will."
"Cindy, thank you. I should warn you, though, I don't know very much. The schools I went to through were uniformly lousy. You've heard how bad the Chicago schools are? The you hear are the truth toned down in the interests of believability." She reached into her new case and took out the envelope Dan had given her.
Cindy opened it and found the loan documents for the Legrands along with a check for $125,000. It was ready to go. All she had to do was sign it as lending officer and authorized signatory. She also found a smaller envelope and opened it. It contained the results of pre-employment tests given to April at the bank. The IQ was reported as 140, the low end of genius. Other tests were similarly impressive. She asked April to come around the table and look. She showed the numbers to the and said, "April, you can do it, and I'm sure you will. Now let's get going."
They spent an hour going over the loan files. Cindy had a pad and made a list of things she wanted April to do for each one. There was a machine shop, a grocery store, a dry-cleaning establishment, and an auto repair shop. April took careful notes. When they were finished, Cindy said, "April, do you understand what I want? How long will it take you to get this stuff and finish the analyses?"
"I'll have it done by Wednesday morning, first thing," the replied.
"You will like hell! I just gave you at least a week's work lady. What are you trying to do? Kill yourself? Don't forget, your little needs his mother, too."
April just looked at her steadily and repeated, "Wednesday morning. Do you want me to bring them out to you? Could... Could I rent a car? I have a license."
"April, you said you know Dan Burke. You do, don't you?" The nodded her head. "Tomorrow, see Dan. Tell him I said you need the full array of lending officer plastic. Oh, and tell him to get you business cards. We'll start you as an assistant vice president. Is that okay?"
April's jaw dropped. "But you can't! That's... that's an officer. An officer of the most prestigious bank in Chicago. I can't be an officer!"
"Slave April, you're now an officer! Shall I get out the whip? You saw what it can do. I'm an expert on the receiving end, but I think I can figure out how to use it from the handle end, too. Do you want to try me?"
"No, I guess I don't. But I want you to know a couple of things, Cynthia Martin. First, I love you. There's nothing I won't do for you, understand? Absolutely nothing! The second thing is I won't fail you. I give you my solemn oath on that. You have just stuck your neck out for a slum nigger. Why, Cindy? Why did you do it?"
Cindy's eyes were bright with tears. She said, "April, I love Dan Burke very much. We used to fight all the time -- I mean constantly! It's very simple. He was completely right and I was totally wrong. He said you lend to people. That's our job. To lend to people you have to learn to judge them. I'm doing that. I judge that you're an outstanding person and will be an outstanding loan officer for Chicago Trust Company. The fact that you're female and black has nothing to do with nothing. I'm judging you as a person, April, and you passed the test with flying colors.
It was getting late. It was already almost eleven and it was an hour's drive to April's home in Chicago. Cindy checked her watch and said, "April, please call your mother. I'm sorry it's so late. Your little is going to miss you, and I don't want your to worry." The smiled and placed the call.
They went out, got into Cindy's little car and headed south. "This is a beautiful little car," April exclaimed. "And the seats are so comfortable. They're special, but I don't know just why."
"They're Recaros. They claim to make the best sports car seats in the world. It's kind of fun, isn't it." They sped south, headed downtown and then went to South Chicago.
It was obvious April was embarrassed by where she lived but didn't say anything. When Cindy pulled in to the curb where April indicated, there were a number of standing around. It was a very hot night as they immediately realized when they got out of the air-conditioned car. April nodded towards the car and the biggest just returned the nod. She had seen a light on in their apartment and knew her was still up. "Cindy, I know it's late, but would you like to meet my mother? I know she would love to meet you."
"I would love to, April. Lead the way."
April led the way up to a third-floor apartment and rang the bell. It was opened instantly by an black woman. She looked younger than Cindy expected, appearing to be in her late thirties. She hugged April and kissed her, then extended her hand and said, "I'm Mary Jefferson, April's mother."
"I'm Cindy Martin, Mrs. Jefferson. I'm very pleased to meet you. I apologize for keeping April out so late. However, she has just been promoted to a new position at the bank and I guess I'm her new boss. I needed to brief her on her new duties, but I'm very sorry it took so long."
"Mother, Miss Martin is a senior vice president of Chicago Trust Company. I'm working for her. She says I'm now an assistant vice president, but I don't believe that." She smiled at her and said, "Do you suppose we could have some tea? It's a long drive down from Deerfield and Miss Martin has to go right back. I wanted her to meet you, though."
Mrs. Jefferson hurried into the kitchen while April went into the bedroom. She came out holding a sleeping baby in her arms. She whispered, "This is my son, Cindy. He's a year and a half. Isn't he handsome?" The baby stirred and opened his eyes. Instead of crying, he saw his and smiled. She held him close and kissed him softly. After the baby nuzzled her shoulder and went right back to sleep, April put him back in his crib.
A few minutes later Mary Jefferson was back with tea cups and then carefully set the table for three. She went back to the kitchen and brought back a teapot and a small plate of cookies. The women sat at the table while Mary gracefully poured.
April looked at her and tears came to her eyes. "Mother, do you remember telling me how good people lived? What their homes were like? I didn't believe you. Now I do. I was in such a home today. Mother, it was exactly like you described it. The woman, Mrs. Stewart, _owns_ the bank. She really does! But she's so beautiful and kind. She treats me like a person -- like she's really interested in me. Thank you, mother, for trying so hard to teach me."
Mary Jefferson had been looking at Cindy closely. She spoke to April while looking at Cindy. "What do you think of Miss Martin, April?"
"Mother, she and Mrs. Stewart could almost be twins. They have the same color hair, the same eyes, and are almost the same height. I guess Mrs. Stewart is slightly taller. Oh, and Miss Martin's hair is longer. Isn't it beautiful?"
"That's not what I meant, April," Mary said softly.
"Mother, she is a lady. A real lady. Exactly like you described: a gentlewoman. Is that what you were asking?"
"Yes, dear, and you're right, of course. Miss Martin, it's a real privilege to have you visit our apartment. Thank you for giving my daughter her opportunity. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."
"Mrs. Jefferson, I'm sure you're right. I have only known April for a few hours, but I love her. I really do. I'm looking forward to working with her." The women talked for a while longer and then Cindy got up to leave.
When April walked with her back down to her car, she nodded at the big man who had been joined by two others. It was obvious they had been watching Cindy's car to be sure nothing happened to it. Cindy opened the door and heard April whisper, "Thank you, Sam." She drove off and April went back to the apartment and found her waiting for her. "What did you really think, mother?"
"Honey, I think you're absolutely right. She is a real lady. She has been hurt, hasn't she? Physically, I mean."
"Yes, mother. Tortured, I think. I have seen her naked, though, and I can't imagine a more perfect body. She's in love with another officer at the bank who is a wonderful gentleman. I'm sure they're going to be very happy together."*Chapter 13*
The next morning Jan went into the office of Illinois Technologies with Pete. Cindy learned they were planning to change the company name to The Peters Drive Company. By now she had become so expert in cleaning she finished her work in the house by ten, and then put on a pair of tight Levi's and a chambray she borrowed from Jan. As a result of her workouts on the gym equipment, her own clothes were now all too tight in the shoulders and too full on her hips. Getting in her car, she drove to _Chez Nous._ Since the restaurant had not yet opened for lunch, she knocked on the door and waited.
She was greeted by Marie whose face instantly turned apprehensive. When she said she had come about the loan, Marie ran back to the kitchen and returned with Marcel. From the way she was holding on to his hand, it was easy to see she was frightened. Marcel took her to a table and Marie brought over coffee. She sat next to Marcel and held his hand again, as if trying to draw strength from him.
"What... what's the problem, Cindy? Do they need more information? Or did they just say no?" Marcel asked nervously.
Cindy reached out her hands and held Marcel's free hand in her left and Marie's in her right. Then she smiled and said, "I apologize. I know how important this is to you and I'm sorry it took so long. I have your check here with me. If you'll loan me your pen, there are some things for you to sign and then you get your check."
The Legrands were stunned. Marie stammered, "Our check!? You mean, they said yes? They really did?"
Cindy's eyes were moist as she said, "I said yes, Marie. I said it on Sunday. I have the authority to lend a great deal more than this. It's important for you to understand that I'm lending to you and Marcel. The money is for your wine cellar, to fix up the kitchen and that stuff, but it's not why the bank is making the loan. I'm making the loan to you because I believe in you two. Do you understand?"
She opened the manila envelope and pulled out the papers while the two just looked at each other. Marcel just shook his head. "Do you mean, Cindy, that Dan was not teasing us? You're really a senior banker? But you can't be! The way you dress..."
Cindy looked down at herself and then asked, "What's wrong? I'm dressed." Then she grinned and said, "Oh, damn! I forgot to wear my senior-banker suit. Don't worry about it. The money spends anyway." Then she looked crestfallen although her eyes were dancing as she added, "I didn't think I looked *that* awful."
Marie jumped up from her chair, came around the table and hugged Cindy saying, "Oh no, Cindy! We didn't mean to your feelings. You are _magnifique!..._ magnificent, no? We're so very sorry. It's... it's just that in France... Well, there are no bankers like you in France. None!"
She took them through the papers and explained them. In minutes they were all signed. Finally, Cindy took out the check, signed it and gave it to them. She smiled and said, "In a short time, I'll be back to see you. I'll want you to think about using Chicago Trust Company as your bank. I hope you'll give us serious consideration."
This time the Legrands were just wide-eyed. "Do you mean... Chicago Trust Company would like us as... as customers!?" Marcel exclaimed. "But that's silly! It's only for the biggest companies and the wealthiest people."
Cindy smiled softly and said, "Marcel, in case you didn't notice, I just gave you $125,000 of my bank's money. You're a customer of Chicago Trust right now whether you like it or not." The Legrands just beamed and said anything they had or would ever have would go to Chicago Trust.
When Cindy left, she felt great. She didn't even wait to go home. Instead, she found a pay phone and called Dan at the bank. He answered on the first ring, "Burke." She didn't know that he had kept the extension he had when he was in financial analysis as a special line on his new phone. Mary Thomas was instructed -- and, in turn, told all of the other secretaries -- that if it were answered it was only to be "Credit Analysis, Dan Burke's phone." Cindy was the only person with the extension number; it was not listed on any bank directory.
"Dan, it's Cindy," she said softly. "I called for two reasons: First, I wanted to thank you for the most thrilling three days of my life. I love you, darling. The second reason is to tell you I delivered the check to the Legrands. I couldn't even wait to get home to call you. Honey, it was my greatest day in banking! Those two are so happy, they're floating. I feel so great about the bank and about myself. That's what you have been trying to tell me for so many years, isn't it?"
Dan smiled as he listened to her voice. "It is great, isn't it? Cindy, you've changed, you know. You're the nicest person on the face of the earth and I love you so much. I really do. I'm just sorry I have trouble telling it to you face-to-face. It sounds so dumb to me when I say it. Cin, I really do love you. Did you mean what you said a few moments ago? About loving me?"
"Isn't it pretty obvious? By the way, I was assigned the most delightful person the bank has hired in years, April Jefferson. Do you know her? She knows you, and I asked her to see you this morning. Did she? She needs all the paraphernalia of a bank lending officer. Incidentally, Dan, can I get you in my unit? First, I want you. You're the finest credit analyst in banking. Second, I'm trying to promote her to assistant vice president and she's only been in the bank six weeks. Darling, it's not fair to you! It's just not."
Dan smiled to himself. When Cindy's call came in, he had emptied his office of a group of senior lending officers so he could talk to her in private. Then he said, "Look, Cindy, let's face facts. You claim to be in love with a guy who has made a career of stepping on people's toes around this place. Your has been able to keep me here, but he can't afford a revolution. I'll tell you what I think I can do, though. If you need help on analysis, I can probably spring loose to assist. Fair?"
"It's better than nothing," she said, "But it's not fair. I'm going to talk to Jan and Jennifer. They'll fix it!"
"Honey, please don't. I thought you were getting used to having a low-paid analyst as the of your children?"
"Damn it, Burke, you're being screwed! And I don't want anyone to screw you, do you understand?" she exclaimed. "Except me, of course," she added in a small voice. "What about the officership for April? Will it go through?"
Dan laughed and said, "It just did. Incidentally, I hope you know it requires the approval of the Board of Directors to elect an officer? The Board was polled by phone and it was unanimous. She has personal lending authority to $500,000. That was your father's idea. He's a great believer in having people sign their own names."
He laughed again and said, "Hon, if it's okay with you, we're only giving her a car-rental credit card today. Your says there's a messenger coming out with material for Jan this evening. He'll bring the rest of the gear with him. He wants you to give it to her and I think it's only right. Incidentally, do you really like her?"
"She's a wonderful person, Dan. Beyond that, though, she's going to be a great lending officer." Her voice changed timbre as she asked, "Will I see you this weekend, honey? I miss you terribly. It's funny. I only sleep really soundly now when my head is on your shoulder."
Again Dan chuckled. "I'm glad to hear it. I, on the other hand, scarcely get any sleep at all. If you're not assaulting me sexually, you keep me awake with all the noise you make."
"Noise?" she protested. "What noise? I certainly don't snore, Daniel Burke!"
"No, Cynthia Martin, you don't snore. And I'm teasing you, too. Actually, honey, you do make noise, though. You make the most wonderfully warm happy noises deep in your throat. Remember the Chatty Cathy doll? You pulled a string and she would say something? With you, I just squeeze your boob ever so gently and I hear those wonderful noises."
"Wonderful, Daniel Patrick Burke! I'm like a windup doll. Except instead of pulling a string, you squeeze my tit! Thanks a hell of a lot!"
"Cindy, is there an Irishman lurking on your tree somewhere?"
"If you're asking me if there is any Irish in the family, the answer is hell, yes! A lot. Why?"
Again he laughed, this time with gusto. "Honey, there had to be! With your temper... Oh, well, I guess that's why Irishmen are usually big. We have to be to survive our wives. Darling, life with you won't be dull! But back to your kind invitation, I would love to come out, if you still want me. How about if I bring some string?" He laughed and hung up, just as she was about to explode again.
She stood there on the street looking at the telephone receiver. Finally, she just grinned, shook her head, and put it back.
That evening, as promised, the messenger from the bank brought out all of April's materials. The next morning she heard the crunch of gravel as April come up the driveway. She knew it was April because the car was being driven so slowly. It was clear that the was being very careful. April came up the walk and Cindy opened the door for her and gave her a kiss. As usual, Cindy was naked.
When she closed the door, April gave her a light pinch on the ass. Then she said, "I've heard of tight asses before, Miss Martin, but yours is as tight as they come."
Cindy stuck out her tongue and said, "Thank you, Miss Jefferson. Is that what they taught you in school regarding getting along with your superiors in business? Pinch their unprotected rears?"
April was a of wide-eyed innocence and she made tears come to her eyes as she said woefully, "Miss Martin, I told you the Chicago schools were lousy. You mean we're not supposed to pinch the boss? But I'm sure I have something about it in my notes, somewhere!" Cindy just laughed. April followed her up to her room and waited while she took a shower and dressed, again putting on her Levi's and chambray shirt. The went down to the kitchen and Cindy poured coffee for them.
Taking the package delivered from the bank, she changed her demeanor. "April, I have some things for you. I was asked to give them to you personally." She first gave her engraved business cards which said, "April Jefferson, Assistant Vice President, Chicago Trust Company," along with the address.
Cindy put out her hand and said, "April, let me be the first to congratulate you. You were elected an officer yesterday by unanimous vote of the board of directors. I don't know if you know it or not, but it takes a vote of the board to elect an officer. The reason is officers have the authority to commit the bank. You have personal approval authority to $500,000 per loan. It's not given to everyone nor given lightly. Do you understand?"
April was just shaking her head, stunned. She whispered, "Do you mean I'm an officer of the bank? A real one!?"
"You sure are," Cindy replied, "And the approval authority is real, too. It means you can lend up to half a million dollars on your exclusive say-so. Incidentally, there may be a few noses out of joint. You skipped the rank of assistant treasurer. And your salary is now $60,000 per year." She grinned and said, "That was Jan's doing, I found out. She said otherwise she would have to pay you overtime for last night, and she _hates_ paying overtime." She then gave the her cards including a corporate American Express card. Cindy was having fun watching the who could not believe her good fortune. It made Cindy feel very good just to watch her. She noticed that April had dark circles under her eyes; she was obviously very tired.
"Let's get to work, April. How are you coming on your assignments?" Cindy asked.
The smiled and opened her case. In it were neatly labeled files for each of the loan applications. April took the files out and, one by one, reviewed them with Cindy. Inside each folder was the list of questions Cindy had raised on the application, the answers, and a neatly written recommendation for action. They went over the recommendations one at a time.
When they finished, Cindy leaned back in her chair and said, "Wow! You did it. April, I wasn't kidding on Monday. I did give you at least a week's worth of work and many officers would take a month. I was serious when I asked to review your progress. Never in the world did I think you would have it all done! It's great.
"Now, lady, it's crunch time. You're a lending officer. Do we lend? If so, why? If not, why not? Incidentally, none of them is looking for even half a million, so these are all yours. What are _you_ going to do?"
April just sat there, stunned. Suddenly, the authority given to her began to sink in. _I can say yes or no. Me! All by myself. That's what Cindy is waiting for. Oh, my God! What do I do?_ she wondered.
She took the file on the grocery store first. "I lend the money to these people. The owner is Korean and his whole works in the store. They have fair prices and excellent produce. The loan will enable them to expand. They are good people." She looked at Cindy and waited for questions. Instead, Cindy just nodded impassively and asked for the next file.
"On the dry cleaner the answer is no. I asked around and their reputation is mixed to poor. The quality of their cleaning is not very good. I don't think they're aware of air-quality problems with dry-cleaning solvents, either. I'm not sure they care that much about their customers." She looked directly at Cindy and said, "I think it's some kind of a front. I don't think they need the money and I'm not giving them any." Again Cindy nodded and asked for the next file.
April sat up even straighter in her chair as she opened the file on the auto repair shop. She looked defiant as she said, "The analysis says no, but I say yes. The owner is an ex-con; he learned auto mechanics in prison. Two other ex-cons work with him. They do beautiful work at fair prices. They're respected in spite of their backgrounds. Incidentally, they served time for armed robbery, burglary, and auto theft respectively. They're all black and it's a black neighborhood. They were turned down by the SBA on moral grounds. Sam wants the money to buy a new lift and an engine diagnostic machine. The total is $85,000 and I will personally guarantee the note." She looked at Cindy who just nodded and asked for the last file.
"This one I don't know about. It's a machine shop and I don't know anything about them. The numbers look okay and the owner checks out okay, but I need to know more," she said.
Cindy spoke for the first time. She asked quietly, "What do you need to know?"
"I need to look him in the eye," the responded.
Cindy still didn't say anything. Asking April to wait in the kitchen, she went to the library, called Dan, and again he picked up at once. She was so excited, she bubbled, "Dan, I love you! And I love April! That girl is so good! Here's what I want you to do..." She gave him the information on the Korean loan for $125,000 and the loan to the auto repair shop for $85,000. She asked for the checks to be ready within an hour; they would drive by the bank. Then she said, "Dan, the lending officer is April Jefferson. She's using her personal authority. Honey, she has the knack! Honest, she does. Do you have any more Aprils hiding there? I'll use them." They talked a few more minutes and made arrangements for the weekend. She returned to the kitchen and returned the files to the girl.
April looked like she was waiting for the ax to fall. She had a handkerchief in her hands which she was twisting in her fingers from nervousness. Cindy realized she was being cruel so she grinned and said, "Thank you, April. That's taken care of. The checks will be ready in an hour. How about if we go by the bank, get the checks, have some fun, and then look at a machine shop? Dan tells me Dad has some more files for us, too. Are you game?"
The looked at Cindy in utter amazement. "But... But... But what about the loans?"
"Honey, you just made two and rejected a third. What's the big deal? That's your job."
"But..."
"I told you, April, you have personal authority to $500,000. Those two loans are yours. Do you understand? Your analysis was unbelievably good, by the way. How were you able to do so much so fast?"
The beamed at the praise. She reached out and hugged Cindy and kissed her softly, whispering, "Oh, God, thank you. Cindy, you have done everything you said you would do. I just didn't believe you or believe it could happen to a like me. But you made it come true."
"No, April. You did. There's a great deal of very hard work in those files. I'm so proud and so happy for you." She grinned at the and said, "I'm thinking of a new uniform for our unit. It's what I'm wearing now. What do you think? I don't think that lovely cord suit would last six seconds in a machine shop. Care to join me? I'm sure we wear the same sizes -- except for your oversize tits, of course."
April was now relaxed and she grinned, "Look, honkie! I can't help it if you're flat-chested. My likes his woman to have he can grab hold of!" Then she shook her head and said, "Cindy, that's the worst lie I have ever told in my life! Flat-chested? Even I can't buy that one."
The two went up to Cindy's room. April quickly stripped and put on an outfit identical to Cindy's. It fit her perfectly. They drove the rental car to a local outlet where April turned it in, then stopped at a store for a belt for the Levi's and a pair of moccasins. The then headed downtown. Cindy waited in the car while the black ran in to the bank. She was back in fifteen minutes, grinning from ear to ear. She looked very cute in her tight jeans.
When she was back in the car, she couldn't wait to tell Cindy what had happened. "I ran into one of our more pompous officers -- an assistant treasurer. He was appalled at my attire and was going to take it up with personnel. Then your came along. He pointed out that, first, I outranked the guy and an apology was in order. Furthermore, he happened to know I was going out to see about a loan to a machine shop and my dress was most appropriate." She smiled warmly at Cindy and added, "I really like your father!"
She gave Cindy directions to the grocery store. They found a place to park and the two walked in. By now Cindy's tan was almost as dark as April's skin. They were a lovely pair, one with silky black hair and the other a golden blonde. They entered the store and asked to see the owner, Mr. Kwan. A about forty years came out from the back room, looking very attentive. April extended her hand and shook hands with him. She said she was from the Chicago Trust Company and they were there to talk about his loan application. He ushered them into his back room where a corner served as his office.
April then introduced Cindy and said, "Mr. Kwan, we're here about the loan application you filed with us last week."
"Ah, so. You need more information. What would you like to know?" he asked.
"No, sir. It's not that at all. The bank has approved your application. I have your check with me. We're looking forward to working with you and I want to thank you for your business," April said quietly.
The man's jaw dropped. "Approved? But... But who approved it? Chicago Trust Company? There must be some mistake. That bank doesn't lend to small stores... To immigrants." He stammered and shook his head and added, "I only filed an application Chicago Trust because the SBA requires bank loan rejections before they will consider helping. It's all a mistake."
At this point Cindy entered the conversation. "Mr. Kwan, there is no mistake. The loan was approved by Miss Jefferson here. She's an assistant vice president and approved it herself. She exercised her personal authority. She'll be your contact at the bank if there are any questions." Cindy smiled warmly and continued, "I'm a senior vice president; Miss Jefferson works for me. I came with her only to assure you that we do want your business. After all, everyone in the United States came from somewhere else -- or their ancestors did. This even includes the Indians. Are there any questions? If not, Miss Jefferson will ask you to sign some forms and then give you your check."
The poor was stunned. Finally he pulled himself together and ran to tell his wife. The woman came back along with three teenage children. With great ceremony he introduced his to the officers of a major bank that was lending money to them. While Mrs. Kwan hurried off to prepare tea, her husband signed the loan papers and April took out the check. Using her brand new Cross pen, she signed the check and passed it to him.
"But you... you can sign an official check?" A girl... and black?" he stammered.
Cindy said quietly, "Miss Jefferson is one of our brightest officers. April, please give Mr. Kwan your card so he'll know how to reach you." April took one out of her brand-new card case and gave it to him. Mrs. Kwan returned with the tea and served it with ceremony. The boys brought chairs for everyone. The Kwan's oldest child was a girl, Nancy. When she joined them, her showed her the check and April's card.
The girl's eyes widened. She asked diffidently, "Miss Jefferson, you look quite young. You have been to graduate school?"
April smiled warmly and said, "No, Nancy, I have not. I came out of the Chicago schools. I've been at the bank for only a short time. However, I'm convinced that the bank is a wonderful place for someone who is willing to work." She nodded towards Cindy and said, "Miss Martin is also quite young. She does have a graduate degree. She also has the highest personal lending authority in the bank. If you're interested, when you finish school, please call me. We're expanding our activity with small business and I'm sure you could help us." She smiled warmly and shook hands with the family. Finally, Cindy welcomed them as customers of Chicago Trust Company.
When they were back in the car, Cindy asked, "Well, how did it feel? You made your first loan."
The was leaning back in the seat with her eyes closed. They were headed towards her neighborhood in South Chicago. Still with her eyes closed she said, "Fantastic! The was so happy! Cindy, I think I did the right thing. What do you think?"
"Honey, I told Dan I thought you're on your way to being the best lending officer the bank has ever had. That's what I think. By the way, tomorrow, write a letter to the dry cleaner denying the loan. They're tough to write sometimes. Would you like me to do it for you?"
"No, thank you. I can do it." She opened her eyes and looked at Cindy and asked, "Could you have dinner tonight with my and me? I think we will want to celebrate. Do you think Jan and Pete would mind? I would love it if you could. There are a couple of nice places we could go." Cindy agreed and said she would call Jan later.
Following April's directions, Cindy pulled up at a small auto repair place. It was obviously converted from a service station and the apron was used to park cars awaiting repair. As April got out, a big came out from the service bay. Cindy recognized him as the who had looked after her car on Monday night. April wasted no time. She shook hands and introduced Cindy who thanked him for watching her car.
He said quietly, "That's a mean machine. We don't want anything to happen to it. What brings you ladies down this way?"
April said, "Sam, I came to give you the loan you applied for at our bank, Chicago Trust Company. Can we go into the office and handle the paperwork?"
The big was stunned. He said, "April Jefferson, that's not nice! You're a good girl, and that's the first mean thing I have ever heard you say. What's got into you, child?"
April just walked into the office leaving Sam sputtering on the apron. Cindy walked in and found a chair to sit on while Sam reluctantly followed them inside. April still had not said anything. She placed her case on his cluttered desk, moved some papers to the side and laid out the loan agreements. Sam just watched.
In a flat tone of voice she said, "Sam, sign at the marks and date it today." She gave him her pen which he looked at quickly and then signed. Now he had an amused expression on his face. He was playing along with her little joke. She checked the signatures and then took out the check, carefully signed her name and gave it to him. "Thank you for your business, Sam. I want to welcome you as a customer of Chicago Trust Company!"
It was as if someone had hit Sam behind the knees. He sagged to the floor and sat there looking at the check. He murmured, "It's an official check, made out to me for $85,000. And you signed it, April! What's going on around here?"
"Mr. Smith," Cindy interjected, "it's real. April is an assistant vice president of Chicago Trust Company." Turning to April she said, "You better give Sam one of your cards." Turning back, she continued, "April works for me. I'm a senior vice president and division head. I want you to know that this loan is being guaranteed personally by April. In spite of the SBA turn-down, she thinks you're going to make a go of it. The bank is backing you and she's backing the bank. In other words, Sam, she's trusting you. Are you going to be worthy of her trust?"
In the meantime April had handed him one of her cards. He looked at it, studied it, and then jumped to his feet. He ran into the shop and came back a few moments later with his two men. One of the with him had also looked after Cindy's car. Sam Smith quickly explained what had happened. Then he asked Cindy if he could have the keys to her car. She gave them to him, looking puzzled.
Sam was now beaming. He just shook his head and finally said to Cindy, "It is Miss Martin, isn't it? That's the name?" Cindy nodded. "Miss, I've known April Jefferson for years. In spite of everything I've done -- and I'm sure not proud of it -- she's trusting me. Is that it?"
"Yes, Mr. Smith, that's exactly it," Cindy said. "I want to join April in welcoming you as a customer of Chicago Trust Company."
Sam looked around outside the building and then returned. "This is really on the level, isn't it?" The nodded. He shook his head again and added, "Usually, the only way things ever happen around here is with a TV crew around the good deed for the evening news. There is none, is there? This is a straight business deal, based on trust. You're trusting me." To their amazement, the big -- he was almost six feet six -- sat down and started to cry.
April jumped up and knelt on the greasy floor beside him. She hugged him and asked, "Sam, what's wrong? Did we you in some way?"
He looked up at her. In spite of the tears, there was a beaming smile on his face. He said, "Get up child! You'll ruin your clothes with this grease." She said it was why she was wearing jeans. He continued, "It's the first time in my life anyone has trusted me with money. April, I will repay it on time and in full. I can't thank you enough!"
Then he went and got coffee for the girls. They drank their coffee, chatted, and then got up to leave. As they went out the door, the Mazda was being backed out of a service bay. It had been washed and Sam said the oil had been changed. Everything else was fine. He was insulted when Cindy offered to pay him. The three waved as they drove off.
They found the machine shop and walked in. The owner was a big named Henry Kowalski who spoke with a heavy Polish accent. When April introduced herself and then Cindy, she made sure quickly to give Henry a card. Cindy took the lead. She said with a smile, "In spite of our appearance, Mr. Kowalski, we're bankers. Miss Jefferson gave you her card; I forgot to bring mine. I'm a senior vice president and division head at the bank. You have requested a loan of $250,000 for new tooling. Frankly, neither Miss Jefferson nor I know a darn thing about machine tools. Nevertheless, we have come to talk about the loan. Will you show us around?"
When Henry took them into the shop, the noted that everything was very clean and orderly. Kowalski gave them safety glasses and showed them the machine tools and how they worked on metal. There were two Poles and two black apprentices working. The two workers spoke little English. They went back to the office and he explained exactly what the new tools were used for and how they would be used in the business. As they were talking, a pretty woman came in who was introduced as his wife, Trudy. She kept the books for the company. When the four sat down in the tiny office, it was apparent Kowalski was very uncomfortable. Finally he said with a note of sadness, "I'm afraid you cannot loan us the money. We understand. Trudy and I are not even citizens. You can see my two countrymen do not speak English very much, and I don't speak it very well. We were hoping, is all."
April caught Cindy's eye and slowly nodded twice. Cindy surreptitiously made a "thumbs up" sign. April rose and held out her hand. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Kowalski. It has been very interesting. Chicago Trust Company is prepared to lend you the $250,000 you applied for. If you still wish to go ahead with the loan, I can be back with a check tomorrow. Is that soon enough?"
The Kowalskis were stunned. They looked at each other and then at the girls. He stammered, "But the committees... the paperwork..."
Cindy said quietly, "The committee, Mr. Kowalski, is Miss Jefferson. She's making the loan to you on her personal authority. She has just committed the bank. The decision is official and final. I hope you'll accept our offer and become a customer of Chicago Trust Company."
"But... she can commit the bank? By herself?"
Cindy smiled and said, "She sure can. So can I, and in even larger amounts of money than she can. It's the way we like to work at our bank. Do you think Poland has benefitted from its bureaucracy? Scores of people filling out forms and signing them, sending the people everywhere for one more signature or one more stamp. Has it been good for Poland?"
He gathered his in his arms and kissed her. She started to cry with happiness. He then kissed each of the and said, "I knew it would be wonderful for us if we could get to the United States. You have made it more wonderful than we ever hoped." He looked at the two and added, "That's another difference. You must be the two most beautiful bankers in the world. Thank you so much."
Cindy asked for permission to use the telephone. She called Jan at the office and explained she had been invited out to dinner. Then she quickly told her about the events of the day. Jan said, "Cindy, I couldn't be happier! And I get to use my beautiful kitchen and cook something good for a change.... I think we'll have hot dogs. I don't always burn them too badly." She chuckled and hung up.
The headed for April's apartment. It was nearly four o'clock.*Chapter 14*
When they reached April's apartment, Mary was out with the baby. The girls sat at the kitchen table while April skimmed through the mail. She came to one letter, opened it and quickly skimmed it. Then she crumpled it in her hand and started to cry.
"What's wrong, honey," Cindy asked. "What was in that letter?"
The looked up and said, "It's that time again. I hate it!"
"What time? What do you hate? Who is the letter from?"
"It's from Ron Jackson. He's my baby's father. He's Ronald Jackson, Jr. It was a great concession for Ron to acknowledge paternity... as if I ever slept with another guy. He sends $100 a month in child support."
"'That time'? What time?" Cindy persisted.
Tears were flowing form April's eyes. "Ron plays football. Have you heard of him? I doubt if you have."
"There's a Ron Jackson who plays free safety for the Bears. That Ron Jackson?"
April was startled by Cindy's knowledge. "That's him. The defensive players have a beauty contest with their women every year at the end of training camp. God, it's awful. It's like a slave auction with each guy pointing out the best points of his girl. We're all naked, of course. They give demonstrations fucking us in front of all the others. We're supposed to like it, I guess."
"How have you done?" Cindy asked quietly.
"I won the last two years. Ron is assuming I'm going to defend my title. Last year he featured the milk in my tits. He had me feed Ronnie way before we left. He wanted my jugs to be loaded with milk. Then he made me drink brandy and offered my milk to his teammates. He said it was a Brandy Alexander. It went on all night, with two of them hanging on my tits while Ron fucked me when he thought of it. The previous year I was three-months pregnant. He demonstrated how to fuck a pregnant woman. It's absolutely disgusting!"
"Why do you do it?"
"It was a condition of his admitting paternity. Now I'm stuck with it, I guess."
"The hell you are! April Jefferson, you're a queen and you let that bastard treat you like a slut. You detest it and he can't really like it. Just tell him no!"
"But Cindy, I think I still love the son of a bitch! I can't help it... I do."
Cindy could see that April was miserable. Finally she asked, "What leads up to it? What do you do?"
The looked startled. "Mom will take care of Ronnie while I move in with Ron. It's the way it's worked. Why?"
"Why do you move in with him?"
"Because he wants to fuck me." The girl's face was expressionless as she said, "That's the correct word, too: fuck. Not make love. Just fuck, as in fuck my ass off. You know what? He really isn't very good, either. He just gets himself off and will often go out for a beer with the other studs who brag about how they just fucked the asses off their women." The began to cry like her heart would break. "It's such a disgusting scene and many of the aren't much better than whores, if they're any better at all."
"April, it's your life. But if it were me, though, I would tell him to get lost. I would stay right here. If he wants to go out on a date, fine. Anything else, shove off. He's left you with a lovely baby. But his level of support compared to what he earns is ridiculous. Honey, why don't you stop it right now?"
Just then Mary Jefferson returned to the apartment. April brightened immediately as she told her about the events of the day including her title, her big raise -- she had been making less than $18,000 a year -- and the loans she had made. She finished by saying, "Mom, it's working out! You said I could make it and I'm starting to. I'm thrilled."
Cindy said quietly, "You are making it, April. Please take the opportunity and break it off with Ron."
Mary Jefferson became angry and asked, "Did you hear from that bum again? April Jefferson, your would roll over in his grave! He died fighting for his country... to protect us. And to protect that trash. Ron Jackson needs a good kick where it would him the most. Cynthia Martin and her have given you the chance of a lifetime. It's your opportunity. You don't need his lousy hundred dollars. Please, honey?"
They made arrangements for a neighbor to come and look after the baby while the three women went out to dinner. The place they went served very good food and they had a fine time. Cindy saw that, indeed, Mary Jefferson was a lady. She had been appalled at the degrading acts April had been forced to perform by Ron Jackson.
Cindy used the dinner to get on April. Finally, she asked, "April, do you really love Ron?"
"I used to. I did at first, but God, he's changed. He used to be sweet but now he's all caught up in that macho shit. Remember the other night? We were used by Pete and Jan, I guess. But it wasn't the same thing -- it wasn't even close. Cindy, there was love in that room running rivers. When it ended, I felt wonderful. With Ron and his friends I feel like a piece of meat. What can I do?"
"Honey, as the anti-drug folks say, 'Just say no!' Make it simple. If he wants to see you, it will be on your terms. Make him take you out on dates, to dinner, dancing, the movies. But don't you dare sleep with him! If he wants to sleep with you -- and if you decide you want him -- I'm sure you can find a church somewhere." Mary Jefferson just nodded.
"But, Cindy, he _expects_ me to sleep with him," April protested.
"You're wrong again. He expects to fuck you... to get his rocks off. You said it yourself: He goes out for beers with the after fucking you. Incidentally, do you too?"
"Me? Of course not! don't..." Suddenly her eyes widened and she exclaimed, "But we do! Cindy, you and I... we came dozens of times. It was so great! But... But you can do that with a man, too?"
"With Dan, I've for over fifteen minutes straight. Of course I look like a discarded rag doll when he's through with me... No, that's not right. I look like a discarded rag doll that's been left out in the rain. I'm wringing wet, the bed is soaked with my sweat and my cum... I'm swimming in it."
"But what do you do?" April asked puzzled.
"I change the bed, put on clean sheets and go to sleep on his shoulder. It's great. Now will you promise? You'll really try?"
The looked skeptical but promised that she would.*Chapter 15*
It was late August and the weather forecast was for very hot and humid weather. There was a director's meeting at the bank so Jan put on what she referred to as her banker's suit. In the last few weeks she had not seen much of Cindy except at night and on weekends. She was now fully occupied with her banking activities. In spite of it, though, she was taking care of the house and garden, as well as doing all of the cooking.
She had agreed to have lunch with Jen and Mary Thomas again. When she walked by the receptionist, Jean Robbins gave her a cheery greeting. When she got to Mary Thomas's desk she stopped short. Mary was beautiful! She had lost the extra twenty pounds she had been carrying and looked like she had also lost nearly twenty years in age. Jan just grinned and walked into Don Martin's office. He welcomed her and they chatted a bit. When Jennifer joined them, they all went into the conference room.
The directors meeting moved along the way it always did. Jan and Jen always did their homework. The questions they asked -- which were usually numerous -- were always sharply focused and to the point. When the meeting concluded, Henry Simpson withdrew to prepare the minutes, leaving the four alone.
Don Martin moved back from the table and slumped down in his chair. Then he just grinned at Dan. "Burke, is there a bank board like this one in the country? And just think, we even get paid! We sit with the two most beautiful bank directors in the world. But that's not all. They always keep us on our toes and keep reminding us what we're in business for: maintaining our strategic focus."
He looked at the sisters and his face became serious as he added, "I'm being absolutely serious. The greatest service directors can perform is to hold management accountable: to make sure we know what the hell we're doing. I don't think there's a board in the world as good as this one. Thank you for the privilege of working with you."
Jennifer was going to make one of her usual jokes but didn't. Instead she said, "Don, thank you very much. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I appreciate it very much, and I'm sure Janice does, too. We're very flattered."
Dan said, "Please don't feel flattered. Don was telling the simple truth. You two are the best there are. May I thank you, too?" Then he grinned and said, "Speaking of thanking, Jan, how can I thank you for your hospitality all summer?"
"Don't thank me, Dan. Thank Cindy. It's been her body that's been so hospitable to you. But are you ever going to make an honest woman of her?" She turned to Don Martin and said, "That was not for your ears, Dad. To you, she's the very of deportment." She looked at Martin and asked, "Don, it's none of my business, of course, but what ever happened to your wife? I've never heard you speak of her."
When Don looked up she saw a look of pain in his eyes. He said, "She was killed by a drunk driver fifteen years ago. She was standing on the sidewalk at an intersection waiting to cross the street and got clobbered." He smiled softly and said, "Jan, thank you for what you've done for my daughter. There are no words I can say except thank you."
Just then the phone rang in the conference room and Dan answered it. He listened for a few minutes, told the caller he would call back and hung up. Then he started to laugh. His laughter grew in intensity until he almost fell off his chair. When he finally controlled himself, tears of laughter were running down his cheeks.
The other three were looking at him as if he had lost his mind. "Okay, Burke, now what's so funny," Don asked. "The least you can do is let us in on the joke."
While he was laughing, he just pointed at Jan and Don and continued with his gales of laughter. Finally he controlled himself enough to talk. Dan wiped his eyes and shook his head saying, "The joke's on all of us, I guess. It seems word is getting around town about credit availability for small business at Chicago Trust. An enterprising reporter from the _Tribune_ just called our public relations people. (We're going to have to clean house over there, too.) Anyway, since we never said anything, they didn't know anything. They just regurgitated the usual pompous bafflegab about how we're a bank for top corporations and wealthy individuals. The reporter was stunned. Usually, whenever a big city bank makes a $5,000 small-business loan there's a press conference called to announce it." Dan nodded to himself and said, "I guess that's only fair, too. What's the reporter's adage, 'Dog bites is not news; bites is.'? For most big banks small-business loans are sufficiently rare to rate a press conference. But at any rate, what do you want to do?"
Jan and Jennifer instantly understood the PR problem. Jan said, "Should we announce the program and be flooded with applications, or should we just go along with the word of mouth? Incidentally, Dan, how is the program going?"
"I'm prejudiced, Jan. Because it's Cindy's and I love the girl, I can't be very objective. However, let me put it this way: She has made over 150 loans in about six weeks. Of course, most of them are not yet due for their first payment, but I checked this morning, anyway. Over 125 have been paid. That means people are paying early. It's really funny. Some of these people come in -- I met a Mr. and Mrs. Kowalski yesterday. He has a machine shop. For some reason, the guard sent them up to me. They were looking around the lobby in awe. They came to thank me for the faith we had in them and to thank us for having such wonderful lending officers. They couldn't stop talking about the remarkable twins who visited them. They were talking about Cindy and April, of course.
"Anyway, they wanted to know if the bank had any money left. I assured them we still had a couple of bucks. They said they have some friends who they would highly recommend, but they didn't want them to be disappointed. They gave me all the information and I passed it on to Cindy." He shook his head and said, "By any measure, it's a smashing success. At least I think it is."
Jennifer spoke up for the first time. She said, "Dan, I talked at length to my and Steve's, as well as to my sister, Connie. Their opinions are the same. This program is to be maintained and expanded. Dad and Chapman said the same thing. However, they're concerned about what the bank examiners might say. If there is the least question about any of the loans, they will buy them at their face value and pay a fee to the bank to service them. This program must continue at any cost! Does that convey the wishes of the owners of the bank... or at least 96 percent of it, or so?"
Dan was looking down at the table top. When he looked up at Jen, she could see tears in his eyes. He said softly, "What I just heard is the Cliffords, Chapmans, and Cartwrights are backing the small-business loans with a 100-percent cash takeout, if necessary. Is that correct?" Jen just nodded. Dan looked at Don and asked, "When do you think a thing like this last happened?"
Don got up, went to Jen and kissed her warmly, then kissed Jan. He replied, "We just witnessed the first time in the history of banking. Burke, how does it make you feel? This is backing that's utterly without precedent. The owners of the bank are saying the risk is totally theirs -- not the FDIC's, not the depositors' -- theirs! Ladies, all I can say is, speaking for Dan and the entire management of the bank, thank you for your support from the bottoms of our hearts! You make me feel very humble."
They decided to let the PR people continue in ignorance because they didn't want to make a big deal out of what they were doing. As they were about to break, Dan asked, "Jan, I have a favor to ask. You know I bought Cindy's apartment. Could you tell her the buyer is a bachelor banker who wants it redecorated? Just tell her to do it the way she would like it. I'll bet my last dime she wouldn't do it again today the way it's done now. Tell her she'll get standard decorator's fees. Since she's always looking for money I think she'll take the job. Will you ask her, please?" Jan replied that of course she would.
The left for lunch, picking up Mary on the way out. When they were seated, Janice looked at Mary and said, "Wow! You're gorgeous. Now when is the wedding?"
"Wedding?" Mary responded with a grimace, "A better question is when is the first date." She looked at Jan with a question in her eyes and asked, "Do I really look all right?"
"Mary Thomas, you're exquisite! Now how are you going about trapping him?" The woman looked puzzled; she didn't know what Jan was talking about. Jan continued, "I guess you don't know it, but I used to be a prostitute. May I give you some tips? There have been more in my bed and in my cunt than I can count, so maybe I can help you. First, are you experienced with men?"
Mary just laughed bitterly. "Experienced? I heard you use the word 'cunt' a moment ago. I hardly know what the word means, let alone what it's used for. For all practical purposes, I guess I'm still a virgin. Isn't that disgusting?"
Jan just grinned and said, "I think it's kind of cute. But are you sure you want to catch him? Because I guarantee you will if you really want to. Do you?"
"Jan, you could have my for breakfast if I could catch Donald Martin. I adore the man." The woman grinned wryly and shook her head. "That's a problem, though. In fact, it's a conundrum. Right now I would happily trade my for Don. On the other hand, when I get him he would probably want to use them for the first time ever. What should I do?" There was a puzzled look on her face but her eyes were dancing.
Jan said she would take care of it. Jen signed the check and they went down to the health club. This time, when they worked out, Mary was using the same weight loading and doing as much as they were. They swam nude and she realized the woman had a perfect figure, with a small patch of curly pubic hair. Her were full and very youthful-looking with tiny tip-tilted nipples like a nineteen-year-old's. Jan just shook her head sadly.
Mary's eyes widened with concern. "What's wrong, Jan? What did I do?"
Jan grinned and said, "That wasn't for you, Mary. It was for Don. The poor soul doesn't have a prayer! It's going to be like shooting fish in a barrel." Again she shook her head sadly. "Mary, it's going to cost you your hunting license, you know? What you're going to do meets anyone's definition of unsportsmanlike conduct!"
Instead of going back to the office, the women went to a fine department store. When Janice asked her about underwear, Mary just shrugged. She wore serviceable briefs and bras. Jan wrinkled her nose and bought a number of very low cut bikinis that didn't fully cover Mary's pubic hair. Then she bought three bottles of expensive musk oil in the largest size the store had. Carefully, she explained to Mary exactly how to use it and what to do. Before leaving her she said, "One more thing: When you get back, go to the ladies room, put on a new bikini and throw away your bra. Your are absolutely gorgeous. Flaunt them! Now get with it, and good luck!"
Mary blushed when she heard what Jan said. Then she whispered, "But Jan, my nipples will show!"
"They sure will, won't they" Jan agreed.
* * *
Late the next morning, Janice received a call from Mary Thomas. The woman was bubbling. "Jan," she exclaimed, "It worked! Oh God, did it ever work. I'm utterly destroyed, but I feel like I could conquer the world." Jan asked what happened and Mary said, "I did exactly what you said. (Incidentally, all my bras are going in the trash tonight.) I drowned my slit and my -- Don calls them -- with the musk oil. We were working late, as usual, and I asked Don to come over to my desk for a minute. There was some dumb thing in the typewriter I was working on. He leaned over me to read it and got a whiff of the musk oil, or me, or whatever. Anyway, he asked, 'What's that wonderful fragrance?' I said it was probably me and if he kissed me, he might like it even better.
"He did, Jan, and it was exactly the way I've dreamed it for fifteen damned years. There were bells and electricity and I just melted. I felt a wonderful wetness in my -- that's what he calls it so that's what it is. Then I kissed him again, got up, went into his office, locked the door and took off my clothes. When I slipped off my skirt, I was only wearing that tiny bikini you made me buy. He reached out his arms and I came to him. Oh, Jan, he took me and took me..." She sighed and continued, "We went to his apartment and it went on all night."
She laughed and added, "Today was the first time in twenty years I wore the same outfit two days in a row. I felt so deliciously wicked! All the girls on the floor just look at me. I feel so proud. It's a riot! I'm the CEO's secretary and one of the most senior people in time of service, so no one dares to say anything. So they look at me and I just laugh. Oh, Jan, I feel so great! Now I know what a is for!"
"Mary, I told you. By the way, I won my bet. You got him into bed with you the first night."
"What did I lose? Am I your slave now, too? I don't mind, of course. I'm just asking," she said with a merry little laugh.
"I'll deduct it from your wedding gift," Jan replied. "Incidentally, was there any discussion of marriage?"
"There sure was. That's another reason I called. Don wants to know if he can rent your slave tomorrow evening. He wants to get a week from Saturday. He claims we've lost almost fifteen years already and he's not prepared to wait another fifteen minutes. Anyway, he wants to ask his daughter's permission at dinner. Dan will be joining us. Can you spare her?"
"That's the silliest question I've ever heard! Of course. What time and where?"
"Could she come by the office? Her would like her to see his office and I would, too. Is that okay? At six?" Jan agreed immediately and Mary raised another question. "Did you have a chance to ask her about decorating Dan's apartment?" Jan said she had and Cindy was looking forward to it. "Maybe you could suggest she borrow Dan for a couple of hours late tomorrow afternoon. She can try out her decorating ideas on him. Is that possible?" Jan said she thought it was and hung up.
That evening, when Cindy got home, Jan passed on her father's invitation to dinner the following evening. Cindy was excited so Jan said, "Incidentally, since you're going to be downtown, why don't you see if you can borrow Burke and try out your decorating ideas on him? He's male and a banker. Does that make sense?"
Cindy grinned and immediately called Dan. They agreed to meet at her old apartment at four o'clock. Then she continued to prepare dinner. In spite of her work schedule with the bank, she refused to allow Jan to do anything that she considered to be a slave's duties.
The next day at four she found Dan sitting by the door of her former condo, waiting for her. She still had her key and opened the door finding the apartment exactly the way she had left it months before. As she walked through it, she felt ill. Finally she said, "Dan, what was I thinking of? This place is absolutely awful! She grinned at him and said, "There's one thing, though. The carpet is pretty thick. Since everything is going into the trash anyway, could you take me on it first? This way it doesn't matter if our juices flood the damned thing." While she was talking she was stripping off her clothes. In moments she was standing naked before him.
Dan quickly stripped and picked her up in his arms. Then he carried her to the floor-to-ceiling window and laid her on the carpet. He whispered, "Darling, your charms are exposed to anyone in Chicago who cares to look. Does it bother you?"
"Not as long as they can see that magnificent weapon of yours at the same time, darling. Let them eat their hearts out." Their lovemaking in the afternoon was wonderful, and Cindy was soon asleep in Dan's arms. He had taken a blanket from the bed and spread it over them.
At five-thirty, he squeezed her and her eyes opened instantly. He whispered, "Do you want to take a shower or sleep a few more minutes?"
She snuggled closer to him and whispered, "Sleep. I can take a shower anytime. You can just eat out my later so I don't leak all over Dad's furniture." She closed her eyes again, and a few minutes later woke up with Dan's tongue probing her cunt.
Exactly at six, they walked back to the corner office. Don had correctly estimated that anyone who might inadvertently tip off Dan's new job would be gone by then. Mary Thomas was sitting at her desk and, when Cindy saw her, she stopped so abruptly Dan walked into her back. She looked at the woman and said, "Mary Thomas, what have you done? You look younger than I do, and you're simply beautiful. Can we have lunch together, soon? I want to know what you did." Mary nodded and smiled warmly as the couple walked on in to Don's office.
She kissed her and he showed her the office. Not much had changed since Horace Paterson had left but now it had a totally different feel. Then she realized what it was. Now it was a working office that fit her like a glove. He was at home in it. With Paterson, it had always seemed to be more of a stage set. Surprisingly, her seemed nervous. When he left the office, he didn't even take his attache case with him which was a first as far as Cindy knew.
They went to the best restaurant in Chicago with Mary Thomas joining them, but her still had said nothing. They were immediately seated, with Mary sitting at her father's right. His nervousness appeared to be increasing by the minute.
Don Martin wasted no time. As soon as the maitre d' withdrew, he said, "Cindy, I asked you to have dinner with me for a reason. I would like your permission to marry Mary Thomas. I hope you'll approve." His eyes were down on his service plate and he didn't even look up.
Cindy looked at her in amazement. He was sitting like a schoolboy waiting for his report card and expecting the worst. Mary Thomas was also looking down at her plate with her hands folded in front of her. Cindy could see her knuckles whiten indicating the tension the woman was under. Moments passed and the tension built.
Cindy then jumped up from her chair, went to her father, hugged him tightly and said, "Dad, I'm so happy I could cry. Do you mean after all these years I'm going to have a again? And, Dad, you couldn't do better. You just could not! Mary Thomas is the nicest person I know."
She kissed him quickly and went to Mary who stood up when she came around the table. Mary was looking hopeful but there were tears in the corners of her eyes. Cindy took her in her arms and kissed her. Suddenly, Mary broke down and started to cry. Cindy heard the woman whisper, "Oh, my darling daughter! Thank you so much. May... May I be your mother? It would make me the proudest person in the world to have such a beautiful young woman as my daughter." As she held her, Cindy realized what a perfect figure she had. Mary Thomas was utterly exquisite. Cindy returned to her seat and sat down.
Don Martin signaled the head waiter for the champagne he had ordered. Before anything else could be said, Mary said softly, "Cindy, you may change your mind. I must tell you that I have slept with your father. I let him... fuck me! I did, and I tried to help him as much as I know how. I have to admit that isn't very much, yet. But I had to tell you, and you may not wish your to marry a woman who would do such a thing." Again, Mary's eyes were focused on the service plate in front of her.
Cindy's reaction took her completely by surprise. She started to laugh and her laughter grew in intensity. Soon tears were rolling down her cheeks. She wanted to take Mary in her arms again and hug her. Instead she just shook her head. She said, "Mary, Dan fucks me so often I can't keep count. Only it's not fucking, it's making love. I'm sure Dad made love to you, didn't he? When you kiss him, do you feel electricity? Do you hear bells?"
The woman was looking at Cindy with surprise on her face while she slowly nodded her head in response to her questions. Cindy continued, "When he looks at you, your starts to flood with your juices. You want to wear a pair of plastic baby's pants so you won't soak your chair, don't you?"
Now Mary was just grinning and nodding. She said, "You mean I didn't invent this? It's happened before? Cindy, I love your so much! I can't get enough of him, or get close enough to him. I guess that's why I love it when he's inside me. It's as close as we can get." Mary blushed beet and said, "Regardless of where he enters me, too."
"When did it happen, Mary? It couldn't have been very long ago," she asked.
"The night before last. We would have had dinner last night but... but I didn't get home the night before to change."
Cindy's had just been watching the exchange with amazement. Finally Cindy just grinned and said, "Hurry up and get married, and Dad. Someday I'll be released from slavery and Dan and I will get married. It's great to learn that there will be someone who knows how it's done."
At that point Don reached into his pocket. He took Mary's left hand and gently slipped a diamond ring on her third finger. She looked at it and squealed, "Oh, Don! It's magnificent!"
He stood up and she rose, too. In spite of the crowd that was now filling the restaurant, when he took her in his arms and kissed her, their passion just flowed between them. Mary had her arms around his neck for support as her joints turned to jelly. When they finally parted to breathe, there was applause from the people in the restaurant who had been watching. Mary then both surprised and delighted Cindy. She just waved to the crowd. The applause had not bothered her a bit.
When they were seated again, Cindy raised her glass in a toast. She said, "To my father, Donald Martin: a -- a gentleman -- who tried to teach me what it really means to be a banker, and to Mary Thomas: the most beautiful, kindest and nicest person I know: May you be as happy together as you deserve to be. Mary, I haven't had a for more than half my life," Cindy continued with tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "I was only eleven years when my was killed. Dad saw me through puberty, through dating and through college. He tried to be both a and a to me. Now, though, as I contemplate marriage and all that means, I can look forward to having a to talk to, to counsel with, to confide in, and to love. Mary, I only hope you'll learn to love me a little bit as much as I already love you."
Mary had been looking down at her service plate while Cindy offered her toast. When she looked up, there were tears streaming down her cheeks. She said softly, "Cindy Martin, I couldn't love you more if I nurtured you in my womb and nursed you at my breast. I love you, darling daughter, very much. Thank you for being so generous, so welcoming, and so sweet."
Don said very quietly, "Thank you both so very much." Dan blinked back tears in his eyes and smiled at both of the women very warmly.
While they were eating dinner, Mary asked Cindy to be her maid of honor, while Don asked Dan to be his best man. Cindy took the opportunity to ask her why it was Dan was still in credit analysis instead of in a division. Don repeated what Dan had told her previously: "Honey, I love Dan and respect him. However, when diplomacy and tact were being passed out, he was hiding behind the door. We can't run the bank by ourselves. If I tried to promote Dan, there would be a revolution. I did get him a raise, though. Doesn't that help?
"Incidentally, Daughter, congratulations on the job your division is doing. It's spectacular. And I have two pieces of news for you: The first is the owners of the bank are backing your lending with their personal net worth. I've been instructed to continue your activities regardless of what the bank examiners think of the credits. They will buy any loans that may be questioned at their face value and pay us a servicing fee besides, but we _will not_ call them. Do you know what that means?"
Cindy was stunned. "It means I'm lending their personal money, in effect. Not the depositors; their own. Is that right?"
"It sure is. I have _never_ heard of that happening anywhere. You can't get stronger support than that. The other news is I'm assigning a new to your unit, Katherine Chang. She's fluent in about a dozen languages including three dialects of Chinese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Vietnamese, and a bunch of others. She's also a mathematical genius and a delightful girl. Maybe she can extend your culinary abilities." Her grinned and added, "I have it on good authority that you have learned how to boil water. And, I understand, you even get it right at least two times out of three."
He agreed to send Kathy out with April the next day.
Before they left, Cindy joined Mary on a visit to the ladies' room. While there she told the woman about sleeping with her head on Don's shoulder and his hand cupping her boob. Cindy put her hand inside the woman's blouse and squeezed. Her was very firm and full.
Mary just moaned softly and said, "That feels so good, Cindy. Almost as good as your doing it." Her eyes flashed as she said, "I can't wait! And I promise to let you know how your tip works."*Chapter 16*
Cindy heard April's car come to a sliding stop on the gravel driveway at nine-fifteen the next morning. She heard running steps and was waiting at the door to open it. April was standing there, breathless. There were tears in her eyes as she said, "Cindy, I'm so sorry! We came as fast as we could. There was a mix-up on instructions. Kathy was told to meet me at eight and not seven. It's not her fault. Please be nice to her? All the fault is mine, and as the senior I take all the blame."
Looking at her impassively, Cindy asked, "What action should I take, April? You're fifteen minutes late."
April ran up to Cindy's room and picked up the whip she knew was in the closet. She ran downstairs, gave the whip to Cindy and then walked out the back door to the whipping post. Cindy followed her, still without saying anything. "I think fifteen lashes would be fair, one for each minute. Could you them, please? Eight on my back and seven across the front? Please try not to cut my nipples." The stripped off her clothes and stood with her back to the post and her arms wrapped around it, forcing her full to protrude.
Cindy took the whip and just dropped it on the ground. Then she took the in her arms and kissed her softly. "You would have done it, too, wouldn't you? Why? Why on earth would I think of beating you?"
"To show me the meaning of promptness," the replied simply. Cindy motioned her away from the post and spanked her once on her firm bottom. April squealed and asked, "What was that for?"
"That's for showing off your oversized tits. I'm jealous and you know it, so it serves you right!" Cindy grinned and stuck out her tongue. April smiled and began to get dressed again.
A simply gorgeous Eurasian was standing in the doorway. From the look on her face, she was completely baffled by what was going on. Cindy went over to her with her hand out, "Hi, I'm Cindy Martin. You must be Katherine Chang. Welcome! Now let's get inside out of this heat."
The went inside and gathered around the kitchen table having coffee. When they were finished, Cindy led the way to the private gym. She and April had been using it daily for weeks. Kathy watched as the two girls stripped and started on the exercise machines. As Cindy moved against the weights, the was amazed at both the total weight she was moving, the ease with which she was doing it, and the extent of the girl's muscle development. There was no fat at all. After working for five minutes, she turned and said, "Kathy, this is a game any number can play. Or do you have a doctor's excuse? Get your ass in gear!"
The grinned and stripped off her clothes. As instructed, she was wearing the "divisional uniform" of skin-tight Levi's and a chambray shirt. After she stripped, she stood posed for Cindy's inspection. The just whistled softly. She had lustrous black hair, improbably green eyes, and very full breasts. Her body had the grace and sleekness of a and at five feet six, she was quite tall for an Oriental woman. But except for her head, she was virtually hairless. Her mound was bare.
Cindy showed her the array of equipment and she began to exercise, too. After forty minutes, they quit and went swimming. April had improved dramatically and Kathy was very good to start with. The three moved up and down like porpoises. Finally they pulled themselves out of the pool and flopped on mats to dry off.
Cindy looked at Katherine and said, "Do Orientals tan, Kathy? My black friend here is just soaking up the sun for the hell of it. Do you?" The girl said yes and smiled. Cindy looked at her and said, "How was the bank lucky enough to get you? I've seen your credentials and they are spectacular. What are you doing in the bank, and what are you doing in my unit?"
The blushed and looked very cute. She spoke softly with an intonation that was at once very musical yet with overtones of British speech. She said, "I've heard so much about you, I felt I must try to work with you. April tells me that you're a slave and she's a junior slave. Does that make me a second assistant slave?"
"We'll work that out," Cindy said with a grin. "But you interest me. You said you've heard so much about me. What could you conceivably have heard? And where?"
"Miss Martin, perhaps it's my Hong Kong heritage, or perhaps it's an accident of nature. Whatever it is, I have an ear for languages. I pick them up very easily. It has become a sort of hobby of mine. The nice thing about Chicago is there are people here in some numbers from almost everywhere in the world. So I spend weekends in these foreign-language communities. It was in these communities I began to hear of the 'twins who aren't.' It seems there are two who are the most beautiful in the world. They travel around in a small car that's now quite famous. They dress the same, they move the same, they are the same height and weight. Except one twin is gold and the other is brown.
"It seems these twins are senior executives at the most important bank in Chicago. Nevertheless, they seek out people to help. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are. If you're working hard and struggling to succeed, they will find you and give you the money you need to prosper. It's the American miracle. The streets are not paved with gold, but there are the twins. Everyone prays the twins will visit them, someday. It is said there are guardian angels that look after the twins. They can go anywhere in Chicago safely. They are revered as living saints."
Kathy smiled warmly and added, "One more thing: They're always reported as being kind and friendly and warm. Never do they look down on people. People are always treated with the greatest kindness and respect. I suppose that's why they are so loved." She looked at Cindy and said, "Obviously, you and April are the twins. Now that I've met you, I'm sure the are true. Thank you for giving me a chance to be in your unit. I hope I will be worthy."
Cindy looked at April and said, "Wow! What do you think, partner?"
"She's correct, Cindy," she replied quietly. "I know it's true. I can see it at home. I can go anywhere, at any time, in complete safety. I don't have to worry about my or Ronnie. It's as safe as church. As for Kathy, what can I say? She's outstanding... and beautiful, of course."
Cindy swallowed hard and told the what she had learned from her father. She finished by saying, "Last night I had dinner with my father. He told me we have the full backing of the Cliffords, the Chapmans and the Cartwrights. That's about five and a half _billion_ dollars." She explained what was meant and Kathy started to cry. "What's wrong, hon? I thought it was good news?"
"Miss Martin, you're telling me that three of the wealthiest people in the United States are willing to back us with billions of dollars of their own money so we can help immigrants, blacks, and God-knows-who! Why on earth would they do such a thing? It's unheard of!"
"It's because they feel they were lucky and want to help others without making it charity or making a big deal out of it. That's simple enough." Then she quickly told of the backgrounds, ending with Janice Stewart. "This is her house, of course. I adore the girl. She's also the smartest person I have ever met -- and the most beautiful." She stretched and Kathy saw her muscles ripple under her skin. She said, "Let's go, troops. We have money to give away."
Late that afternoon the swung by Henry Kowalski's machine shop. He had recently taken delivery of his new tooling and had asked them to come by and see it. The walked into the office with Cindy in the lead. When Henry saw her come in, his eyes lighted up like a Christmas tree. Then he called to Trudy who came running in. After kissing Cindy and April she quickly retreated. The other from the shop came into the office, too. One of the Poles put his hand out and murmured something in Polish to which Kathy immediately responded. The looked astonished.
In no time Henry and his two countrymen were all talking at once in Polish. Kathy held up her hands, smiled, and said something quickly in Polish. The two machinists took turns with rather lengthy speeches. Kathy merely nodded. After the first spoke, she translated for Cindy and April and then did the same for the second.
"The are delighted to be able to personally thank you and thank the bank for the wonderful tools they now have to work with. They are the finest the have ever seen; they have never worked with anything nearly so good. Now they will produce to the highest quality standards in the world! They swore it! It will be made in USA!"
There were tears in her eyes as she finished. She said to Cindy, "These men are so proud! They told me how hard they're studying English. They can't wait to become citizens of the greatest country on earth." At that, she started to cry and Cindy held her tightly. The looked up and whispered, "They're right, you know? It is, and you're the greatest American of them all. They love you, Miss Martin." With that the kissed Cindy softly on the lips and then recoiled in shock. She exclaimed, "My God! I didn't mean... Oh, I'm so sorry!"
Cindy gathered the in her arms hugged her, and kissed her softly, murmuring, "I'm not sorry at all. It was a delicious kiss, and I love you already, Katherine Chang. But for Christ's sake, the name is Cindy or Cin or Slave. It's rarely Miss Martin. Clear?"
The grinned and wiped her eyes. Then they were served little sweets that Trudy Kowalski had made along with coffee. When they left, the entire staff was in front of the building to wave goodbye. As they drove off, April said, "Kathy, while you were talking to the Poles, I was talking to the black boys. First, one is out of reform school and the other is a school dropout. Second, they love their jobs. The Poles are really top machinists -- the very best in the world. They're very proud of their skills and are really working with the boys. The are working with them on their English. They wanted to say thanks, too. Their last words were that your money is very safe."
The loan volume picked up to such a degree Cindy got April a car like her own. They needed more transportation and she decided the GTX had become a bank trademark. Volume climbed in terms of both number of loans and average dollar value per loan. Meanwhile, Kathy Chang proved to be invaluable because of both her analytical and language skills.
Late one afternoon, Cindy met April in a small luncheonette in South Chicago for coffee. April reported on recent events with Ron Jackson. It seemed that Ron had been calling. He couldn't believe she was not going to defend her title. Finally, he waited outside the apartment for her one day and grabbed her when she came out. It turned out not to have been a smart move. "Sam Smith took him from behind. He told him that if he ever grabbed me like that again he would be eating his balls for breakfast." April grinned as she added that, even though Ron was a football player, he was a defensive back who stood six feet one and weighed 195. "Sam is six feet six, weighs about 275, and it's all muscle."
"What happens now?" Cindy asked.
"He asked me out for a date," she replied. "He was sort of cute. Sam asked me if that was all right with me, and I said I would have dinner with him if he promised to behave himself." She grinned and said, "He didn't answer, Sam did. He said Ron would certainly behave himself or it would be the last thing he ever did in his life. Anyway, Cindy, would you and Dan join Ron and me for dinner at the Pump Room? Ron's buying, by the way. I said you would come and chaperon. He doesn't know what the word means, but he does know he's paying the bill. Will you?"
"Partner, it's a deal!" Cindy exclaimed. "When will we do it?" They scheduled it for the following night. Ron would pick them up at April's.
The next evening Cindy went over to the Jefferson's. April wasn't home yet, so she talked with Mary and played with the baby who was already starting to toddle. April arrived with Dan shortly before five-thirty and disappeared into the bathroom to shower and change. A little before six she reappeared looking very nervous. Cindy looked at her and whistled softly. She said, "April, you look devastating!" The was wearing a new dress she had bought for the occasion. It was perfect on her, looking at once very demure and very sexy.
Dan looked at her and just shook his head. Mary looked at him with a question in her eyes. Dan said, "Mrs. Jefferson, all I can say is they just are not making bankers the way they used to. No one has ever whistled at me."
Cindy said with a warm smile, "That's just because you're beat up, battered and generally shot to hell. Aren't you lucky that you keep me in such a constant sexual daze I don't even notice?" She leaned over and kissed him softly and lovingly on the lips, making warm sounds deep in her body while she did.
"Did you hear that, Mrs. Jefferson?" Dan asked plaintively. "Those noises? I can't get any sleep with her. All I do is squeeze her tit lightly and she makes those noises for at least the next twenty minutes."
"Right, fink! The Chatty Cathy doll," Cindy interjected, poking him sharply in the ribs with her elbow. "Mrs. Jefferson, do you recall a little doll where you pulled a string and it says something? This creep says he squeezes my tit and I start making happy noises for the next twenty minutes. I ask you? Then he says he's going to bring out a string next time, and does! How would you like to be compared to a windup doll?"
Mary Jefferson smiled warmly, held up her hands and shook her head saying, "You keep me out of this, lady!" Then she said, "I hope you two have many children. You make me so happy just watching you. I have never seen two people as deeply in love or as attuned to each other as you are. It's truly wonderful to see." With her face serious she added, "Mr. Burke, I think it's wonderful what the bank has done for April. The opportunity Miss Martin has given her is beyond belief. My husband fought and died for this country and there were times I was very bitter about it. I didn't think black people were given a fair chance. Now I think Tom is smiling, wherever he is. His is succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you both."
Mary had seen a warning in Dan's eyes when she started to thank him. She didn't know what was happening, but she didn't say exactly what she had started out to say. When she changed the direction of her remarks, she saw him relax. He replied, "Mrs. Jefferson, I'm just an analyst at the bank. On the other hand, I've been around the bank for quite a while now, so a lot of people talk to me. The talk in the bank now is about the brilliant young assistant vice president who is minting money for us. No one knows who she is, where she came from, or exactly what she's doing, but whatever it is, it's great!"
Just then there was a knock on the door. April opened it and admitted a very good-looking who looked like the trained athlete he was. She introduced Ron Jackson to Cindy and Dan. Mary Jefferson just nodded. Dan noticed that both Mary and Cindy's eyes were cold as they looked at Ron. There was none of Cindy's usual warmth in her greeting; she was very distant and formal.
Ron Jackson was very uncomfortable. He was wearing a suit and tie and it was obvious he wasn't used to it. He held the door and they went downstairs. Reaching the sidewalk, Cindy noticed Sam Smith standing close by, watching. Ron was driving a big Mercedes SEL sedan that he had borrowed for the evening. He self-consciously held the door for April who gracefully got into the car. Dan assisted Cindy and they pulled away smoothly. Almost nothing was said as they drove to the Ambassador Hotel, the site of the Pump Room.
When he drove up, a valet parking attendant opened Ron's door while another opened the passenger-side doors. Seeing April and Cindy, the man's eyes widened. He motioned to the doorman and instantly they were greeted like royalty. Ron thought he had been recognized but then he saw the doorman salute and say, "Welcome to the Pump Room, Miss Martin and Miss Jefferson. We're honored!"
When they reached the maitre d'hotel's stand, there was a flurry of activity as their table assignment was being changed. The maitre d' personally seated them at the best table and asked, "Miss Martin, I hope this table will suit? You may have any table in the house if you would prefer another?"
Cindy smiled warmly and thanked him. The maitre d' was black. He went up to April, extended his hand and said, "My name is Howard Washington, Miss Jefferson. Thank you for what you're doing. You're a credit and an inspiration to black people everywhere."
April shook hands and replied, "You're too kind, but it's Miss Martin you should thank. She's my boss and my inspiration. Mr. Washington, the credit is hers. She's the one who taught me what little I know. Then there are the owners and the top management of the bank. Miss Martin's father is president. They gave me my chance. Please thank them."
The beamed and said, "Thank you all. Please consider yourselves guests of the Pump Room this evening. We're grateful you would think to come here." With that he disappeared.
Ron Jackson had been watching with increasing bafflement. When Washington withdrew he asked, "What's that all about, April? What's going on? You're my woman and I have a right to know!"
April sat up straight in her chair and there was fire in her eyes. "The hell I am and the hell you do, Ron Jackson!" She looked at Dan and said, "You could tell Cindy and my were not delighted to see Ron. Has Cindy told you anything about Ron and me?"
"Only that he's the of your little boy. That's about all," Dan replied quietly.
"Well, that's a good place to start. I was on the pill but Ron made me stop. He wanted me to become pregnant to prove his manhood!" Turning to Ron she asked, "Have you had your contest yet?" Ron nodded. "Who won?"
"Kelly's woman. God, was she great! She took three at once: Kelly in her and another guy in her ass and a third guy in her mouth, all at the same time!"
"Dan," April said, "that's the contest. I won the last two years. All the are naked, of course. Last year I had just given birth to Ronnie. Ron made me drink a lot of brandy and wouldn't let me feed my baby. By the time we got to the party my were aching with all the milk in them. But that didn't last long. I was the life of the party! I served Brandy Alexanders all night long -- from my nipples, of course. There was usually a smelly jerk hanging from each tit, up a storm. All Ron did was to fuck me occasionally and a couple of times hit me across the face because my jugs weren't refilling fast enough -- his teammates had to wait!
"Dan, could you imagine doing that to Cindy? I could imagine you giving her the brandy. I could imagine her nursing you at her tit." She smiled warmly and said, "In fact, I could see the idea going through her mind when I told her about it the first time. Her thought was that it was something you would enjoy. It would be another way for her to give herself to you. But a meat market? It would be over your dead body, wouldn't it?"
Dan had been sickened by the recital. He just nodded once and held Cindy's hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Still holding her hand he looked in her eyes and saw incredible warmth and love. Without making a sound he saw her lips form the words, "Thank you, darling."
Ron was sitting abashed. He said, "But April, that's not it at all. It's just a way for the to have some fun. We spend all that time at training camp and it's a way to blow off steam."
"Fine, Ron," she said quietly. "Why don't you do what most of your teammates do, then? Hire someone." She started to say more, then stopped and started again. "I was about to say I would do it if the money were good enough, but I stopped. There's no way in hell the money could ever be good enough. I would die first."
"But why did you do it then?" Ron asked plaintively.
"Because I thought I loved you and you wanted me to. Now I realize you can't love me. Ron, you just love yourself. Incidentally, I see you're having problems on the field. You're getting beaten too often. I don't know if you're losing a step or if you're giving your moves away. Are you working hard in practice? Have your coaches said anything? Does anything show in the films?"
Ron was taken by surprise. He didn't realize April knew anything about football. As a matter of fact, it had never occurred to him that she knew anything at all. He looked at her for the first time and was shocked. Suddenly, he realized how beautiful she was. But there was something else that he didn't understand. The behavior of the people at the Hotel Ambassador was completely beyond his experience. They were talking to girls! Then a new thought occurred to Ron. He asked April, "What do you do, anyway? I guess I heard you're with some bank. But what do you do? Clean? Receptionist? What?"
"Mr. Jackson," Cindy replied coldly, "April is an assistant vice president and lending officer of Chicago Trust Company. She works for me. She's well on her way to becoming the finest lending officer the bank has ever had." Cindy was disdainful as she continued, "I've heard of male chauvinist pigs in my time, but you are the absolute worst!"
Jackson was stunned. "She's... She's an _officer?_ In a big bank? What is this, anyway? Is this 'affirmative action comes to Chicago,' or some kind of shit like that?"
"I thought it was, Ron," April interjected, "But it isn't. As a matter of fact, I consider Cynthia Martin to be my closest friend and confidante. The first time I reviewed loans with her, she didn't say a word. She just looked over my presentations and asked me what _I_ was going to do. She didn't ask what I thought she should do, mind you. Cindy... Miss Martin asked me what I was going to do. I told her. She still didn't say anything. I thought it was all over for me at the bank. I asked her what we were going to do. She said, as matter-of-factly as she could, 'We're going to pick up the checks, silly. You just made two loans.'
"Ron, I can't tell you how she made me feel right then. I felt I was ten feet tall. You saw Sam Smith watching you tonight? He has one of the first two loans. He served time in prison for armed robbery. No one would lend him ten cents. Chicago Trust Company lent him $85,000."
"April Jefferson loaned him $85,000," Cindy corrected. "It's one of the best loans on our books. His business is booming now, I'm delighted to say. And it's all April! Now, Mr. Jackson, what are you doing with all of your money? Let's forget the $1,200 _per year_ you're contributing to support your son. That's an utter disgrace, by the way. You're making something in the neighborhood of six hundred to seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. How much do you save? What are you going to do when your career in football is over? What else can you do?"
Ron was shocked. He told them his agent took a lot of it. When April asked how much, he said it was about half when everything was added in. She said, "Ron, you need a keeper! You give your son one hundred dollars a month and your agent about twenty-five thousand! For what?"
Ron Jackson was abashed and said nothing. Cindy and Dan had gone out to the dance floor. He nervously asked April if she would care to dance. She rose gracefully from her chair and they went out on the floor. He took her in his arms and was surprised when she maintained a separation between them. He looked around and noticed that the busboys and the waiters were watching them closely. _It's almost as if they're her bodyguards,_ he thought. The music was slow dance music. He had never danced to music like this before but found April moved like a dream in his arms. He whispered, "April, you look absolutely beautiful tonight. I've never seen you look better!"
She looked at him, smiled wryly, and said, "Ronald Jackson, you have never seen me, period! You saw a hot cunt. I was a conquest. You made me do things to myself that are disgraceful and disgusting. I still almost vomit thinking about some of the things I did because you asked me. I don't think you have ever thought of me as a person at all!"
Ron didn't know what to say. Finally he said, "April, we play at home on Sunday. Would you and your friends like to come to the game? Could we try to start over?" He smiled at her and she smiled back. He continued, "They are really friends, too, aren't they? Who is Dan Burke, by the way? What does he do?"
April's eyes sparkled. She asked, "Can you keep a secret? If Cindy finds out, I'll kill you, understand?" Ron nodded, puzzled. She said, "Dan is executive vice president of the bank and Cindy's boss. The only thing is, she doesn't know it. She thinks he's just a credit analyst! And Ron Jackson, if you even _hint_ at his position, I'll murder you!"
She smiled warmly and moved closer to him. He could smell the perfume coming up from between her breasts. Ron said, "What's that wonderful smell, April? Your perfume is overpowering!"
"It's me, Ron. I'm wearing something called musk oil. It enhances natural smells. It's just me," she said softly. Then she looked up at him and said, "Were you serious? Would you like to start over?" He said absolutely yes. She continued, "In that case, fire your agent. Send all your money to me at the bank. We will set up an investment account for you and I will pay you an allowance. You'll get $2,000 a month."
He moved away from her and there was an expression of shock on his face. "April, are you crazy!? The payments on my Porsche are more than that!"
"That's easy enough," she replied, smiling sweetly, "we'll give it back to the leasing company. I'm sure they'll be happy to have it."
They continued the discussion at the table. Ron fought, but April was adamant. It was her deal or no deal. Finally, he said with the greatest reluctance, "Okay, April. It's a deal. But who's going to tell my agent? I don't have the guts."
"I guess I'll do it," April said. "By the way, there's an agent's fee you'll be paying. It's 5 percent off the top and goes to Ronnie's education fund. When the season is over, I expect you to go back to school and get your degree. We'll talk about a career for you later."
"But, honey!" he protested, "That's a lot of money. I don't know what 5 percent is, but it's a lot of money for a baby."
She again smiled sweetly and said, "There are two points in what you just said: First, you damned well better learn what 5 percent of your salary is. Second, education is expensive and getting more so. Your son is smart as a whip and he's going to get the best education possible. Daddy, you're paying!" She said, "By the way, I need to see the existing contract. Do you have a copy?"
Ron sheepishly reached into his coat pocket, pulled out an envelope and passed it to her. It was the proposed new contract with his agent. April skimmed it and then read a couple of the paragraphs closely. She whistled softly and passed the contract to Cindy.
After reading it quickly, Cindy shook her head and said, "Ron, I thought you used pistols to commit highway robbery. Obviously, I was wrong. That's the most outlandish contract I've ever seen!"
"What's wrong with it? It's better than most of the have. I think it's pretty good," he protested.
By this time Cindy had passed it on to Dan. When he finished reading it, he asked Ron, "Are you serious? Is this really better than most of your teammates'?" Ron assured him it was. Dan grinned at Cindy and said, "There's a great new-business opportunity I'm going to pass on to your father. We're going into the sports agency business. Even our normally extortionate trust division pricing is only a small fraction of this!" He looked at Ron again and said, "What you're hearing, Ron, is envy. I always thought our fees for trust services were out of sight, but this guy _really_ knows how to price. It's an interesting split: You take the career risks and he takes the money."
April took a small notebook from her purse and wrote for a few minutes. When she was finished she tore out several sheets and gave them to Ron to sign. "What's this?" he asked.
"It's my contract as your agent," she replied. It consisted of three sheets torn from her purse-sized notebook.
Ron looked at it and asked, "When do I get the real one? I'm used to having a contract."
April just shook her head sadly and looked to Dan for help. He said, "Ron, it is a contract. It doesn't need to be long or typed or anything else. Just sign it and Cindy will witness your signature. Someone from the bank will be in touch with you soon. I was very serious about helping the other ball players, too. Your contract is the worst I've ever seen and far worse than I would ever have imagined."
Ron was very quiet for a while. Then he looked up and asked, "There's something else, though. All the people -- the busboys, the waiters, the car-jocks -- treat April like she's a queen or something. What's going on?"
Dan looked down at the table and then looked at Ron. He said, "Ron, I'm an analyst at the bank. April is senior to me, now. However, I have been there awhile and maybe I have a friendly face." Cindy rolled her eyes and then grinned as he went on: "People talk to me about a lot of things. The word on the street is 'the twins who aren't.' They are referring to Cindy and April. The dress alike, they're the same height, and they're both beautiful girls.
"Cindy is a division head in the bank. Her division is new. It specializes in what we call character loans. A character loan is one where you're lending to the person more than to the company. Bankers talk about them a lot, but no one ever does much. Cindy and April don't talk. They lend money. Apparently the word is spreading among the minority communities about them."
He grinned and continued, "Cindy runs around in a little rocket. Rumor has it she just got one for April, too. It seems that it's the most famous car in Chicago. She could leave it anywhere with the motor running. If anything happened at all, it would be someone turning off the ignition to save her gas. Apparently, that's what you saw tonight. These people know what the are doing. They may have helped a friend or a relative. All I know is they are the best lenders this city has ever seen." He smiled at Ron and said, "Does that answer your question?"
Ron just shook his head. "Do you mean April lends money? Real money? I thought they just took applications and some committee said yes or no."
"In some banks I guess it works that way. In fact it's the way it used to be at Chicago Trust until Cindy's took over the bank. He believes that people should make loans, not committees. He said one time that a loan committee is just a device to syndicate the risk. If a loan goes bad, it becomes the committee's fault, not any person's. Since you can't fire a committee, nothing happens."
They finished up the evening and Ron drove them back to April's. When he got there, he moved to kiss her but she just backed away. At this, he blew up. "April Jefferson, what _is_ this shit? I've fucked your ass off, girl, and now you won't even kiss me?"
April just looked at him coldly and said, "No, I won't. Good night, Ron. Send the tickets to me at the bank. And thank you for the evening. It was nicer than I thought it would be." She got out of the car and joined Dan and Cindy who were standing on the sidewalk.
They went up to the apartment. As soon as the door was closed, April broke down in tears and went into Cindy's arms. Cindy held the tight and just listened to her cry, while Dan, like all men, was baffled in the presence of tears. Mary Jefferson took him over to the table and poured him a cup of tea that he accepted gratefully.
Meanwhile, April was slowly regaining control. With tear-filled eyes she looked at Cindy and said, "I lost him, didn't I? I'll never see my baby's again! He'll just call me in the morning, cancel the contract and tell me to go to hell!" She began to cry again, even harder than before.
Cindy helped her to the sofa, sat down with her, and just held her. She murmured, "No, you didn't lose him at all, honey. Ron saw you for the first time tonight. You were absolutely correct in what you said to him. You were just a hot -- a trophy for his wall. Now he doesn't know what to make of you, but you're a lot more important to him than you ever used to be. Can you stay out of his bed? Please?"
"Cynthia Martin, I hate you," April said while trying to smile through her tears. "Just because you have a who is a woman's dream, you ruin it for the rest of us. Damn it, Cindy, there are only two people like your father and Dan. Mary Thomas has one of them and you have the other. What are the rest of us supposed to do? We have to make do with ordinary humans."
"Oh, you poor thing! You have the world's most precious little baby to keep you warm. Besides, have you ever taken a good look at Burke? He's a wreck. Aside from the fact that when he touches me I turn to mush, I can't figure out what I see in the guy. April, you're a and you're making $60,000 a year. How am I going to make it being barefoot, pregnant, with one baby nursing and a toddler pulling at my skirt made from a used flour sack? Hell, I'll bet you make double what he makes and there will be five, then six, seven, eight... all trying to live."
April kissed Cindy softly and said, "Mother, would you please explain to Miss Martin the ins and outs of welfare and food stamps? She's going on the dole, poor thing."
Cindy's face was sad although her eyes were sparkling as she said, "I was thinking about serving Dan a Brandy Alexander, but we can't afford the brandy! What can I do?"
April looked thoughtful and finally suggested, "Use rubbing alcohol? It's cheaper." Cindy poked her in the ribs and laughed.
The next day, April went into the bank. She was amused at the physical arrangements. Her office was next to Cindy's -- an office Cindy had never seen and didn't even know she had. While everyone else in the bank was wearing the most approved business attire, she was wearing her now-famous uniform of tight Levi's and a chambray shirt. Kathy Chang's office was next to hers.
They both used Cindy's secretary, another Cindy had never met. The girl initially resented working for a black female assistant vice president claiming that she was a senior executive's secretary. April pointed out sweetly that she had three choices: First, she could remain Cindy's secretary and work for Kathy and her; second, she could take a demotion and a cut in pay and become her secretary and handle Kathy's work, too; or third, she could quit. The elected the first option.
April went into her office to call Ron's agent, Jack Scott. Then she reconsidered and told the secretary to make the call. The was very good at telephone tag. Her phone buzzed; the secretary said Mr. Scott was on the line. She picked up her phone and said, "Good morning, Mr. Scott. It's good to talk to you. I'm calling about Ron Jackson's contract. I'm now his agent and will be taking over his affairs. Please also send over his Bears' contract and any other contracts to which he is a party."
Scott was stunned. "Who is this? The secretary said something about a bank, but I didn't catch it."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Scott. I'll have to speak to her about it. She should speak more clearly. My name is April Jefferson. I'm an assistant vice president of Chicago Trust Company. I have been named as Mr. Jackson's new agent." She paused a moment and then added, "I believe you heard the rest of the conversation."
"But... But that's impossible! I'm Ron's agent. I gave him the new contract just yesterday. It's all agreed."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Scott. It's neither agreed to nor signed. Frankly, we're thinking about turning it over to the District Attorney. There are statutes regarding both theft and fraud. That's the most outrageous contract I have ever seen in my life. Now, can we keep this pleasant? Please just send over the materials by messenger this morning. You have made more than enough on Ron's services to afford it. Are there any questions?" Scott sputtered but agreed.
Then April called the Chicago Bears office and asked for the general manager. She introduced herself as Ron's agent and she could almost hear the choke. He said, "Did you say you're Ron Jackson's agent? A girl? I can't believe it!"
"It's true nevertheless, Mr. Clancy. Ron has had a good career with the Bears. The reasons I called are twofold: First, to introduce myself. Second, to ask you how Ron is doing. There are two parts to that: First, the better the Bears do, the better Ron can do. Second, you're in a very competitive sport. Your players wear out, grow old, get injured. You have to have a fresh supply. I want to know how many more playing years you think he has."
"Miss Jefferson, if you don't mind, I would like to call you back. Can I reach you by calling the switchboard at the number listed for Chicago Trust Company in the phone book?" Clancy asked.
"Of course you can, Mr. Clancy. I think it's a fine idea, too. Please do," April responded and hung up.
The phone rang moments later, but April let her secretary answer. She heard the say, "Good morning, Miss Jefferson's office. May I help you?" A moment later her phone buzzed and she picked up. The said, "A Mr. Clancy from the Chicago Bears, for you, Miss Jefferson."
"Hello again, Mr. Clancy. Thank you for being cautious. Are you satisfied? While I was waiting for your call I asked my secretary to type up my agent's agreement with Ron. The original is handwritten and executed; I could send that along, too. I'm sure you need it for your records."
Clancy acknowledged and then relaxed. "Miss Jefferson, may I speak frankly and off the record?" She agreed instantly and he continued, "In honesty, we're not too happy with Ron. He's getting beaten too badly and too often. If things don't improve in one hell of a hurry, I'm not sure if he'll be back at all next year. Is that honest enough?"
"It certainly is," April said. "Thank you for your opinion, Mr. Clancy. That's about the way I had it figured, too."
"You _did?"_ Clancy exclaimed. "You're kidding! You did say you're his agent, didn't you?"
"That's right, and I'm also the of Ron's son. Nevertheless, I do watch football games and I think his play is lousy. Not being an expert, though, I wanted your opinion. You gave it and it conforms to my own. What's the problem? Let's face it: football -- for the players, at least -- is hardly a lifetime career. I'm planning for the future for Ron, or trying to."
"Miss Jefferson, may I ask you a personal question. Are you the April Jefferson I've heard about? The who won the defensive players' beauty contest last year and the year before?"
"Yes, I am. I was expecting Ron's baby the first year, and had recently given birth last year. That's how I was able to serve Brandy Alexanders from my tits. I suppose that's what you were referring to." Clancy said nothing. "Since then I joined the bank. I didn't see Ron from the end of the season last year until last night. That's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I'm now his agent and would like to make certain arrangements regarding his finances. When would it be convenient to go over them with you?"
"How about right now, Miss Jefferson?" he asked.
She agreed and drove right down to Soldiers' Field where the Bears had their office. When she parked, her car was recognized by some working on the grounds. Instantly, a detached himself from the group and sat down to keep an eye on it. She winked and waved, then ran into the office. She had just introduced herself to the receptionist when Clancy came out.
He looked at her attire, then looked through the glass doors and saw her red GTX in a visitors parking spot. Clancy's eyes widened. He stuck out his hand and said, "Jim Clancy, Miss Jefferson. Won't you please come back to my office? Would you like some coffee?" She accepted and they stopped by a small canteen, poured two cups and took them back to his office.
When they were seated he looked at her thoughtfully. April was sitting up straight in the chair, just looking at him. Finally he shook his head and said, "It's absolutely none of my business, Miss Jefferson, but why did you do it? You're a queen or a princess. Why did you allow yourself to be degraded like that?"
April heard genuine personal concern in his voice and realized he was not pursuing a prurient interest. She replied simply, "I thought Ron loved me, Mr. Clancy. I know now I was just used... degraded is an excellent word. But... But it was even worse than that. He forced me to degrade myself! I did it. He just asked." With an effort, she smiled warmly and said, "Enough of that. Would you please call me April? I prefer it. All my clients do."
He grinned back and held out his hand across the desk. "It's a deal, April, if you call me Jim." He looked at her and said, "Now I really see what they mean. You're the most beautiful I've ever seen. And you're one of 'the twins who aren't.' I'm right, aren't I?"
"Yes, Jim, I am. Does it matter?" she asked quietly.
"In one way it does, April. I can be certain you're acting in the best interest of your client. All I hear on the street are people who are in love with the 'twins who aren't.' You two have done more that's good for this city than any thousand politicians around. Incidentally, do you like football? Would you like to come to a game?"
She grinned and said, "As a matter of fact, I love it. Ron asked us to come out on Sunday for the first game. We said yes, but come to think of it, I don't know where he'll get the tickets."
Jim made a call and spoke quietly into the phone. He hung up and grinned. "The owner, Mr. McCaskey, would like you to be his guest on Sunday. You referred to several. Who are the others?" April said it would be Cindy and Dan Burke. She quickly explained who Dan was and the position Cindy thought he had. Clancy said, "I'm sure Mr. McCaskey would love to host the executive vice president of Chicago Trust Company. I hear great things about Dan Burke, too."
April quickly made arrangements for Ron's paychecks and arranged to dump all the expensive toys Ron had leased. Clancy just shook his head finally and said, "God! Would our life ever be easier if all the agents were like you. I'm delighted. But are you prepared for Ron crying when they come and take his toys away?"
April said, "Jim, I thought about that a lot so I brought something for you to give him. It's Ronnie's and it usually works with him." She took a baby's pacifier out of her pocket and gave it to Jim without cracking a smile. Clancy saw what it was and howled with laughter.
When she rose to leave, he kissed her and said, "April Jefferson, you're a piece of work! Could I possibly refer other players to you?"
She smiled and said, "According to Dan Burke, we're going into the business as a service of our trust department. Cindy thinks he's going to suggest it to her father. The fact is, it was decided by him last night." She grinned and said, "Please preserve our little secret? It really is kind of cute."
Clancy quickly agreed and walked her out to the car. The watching it rose to his feet and saluted when she came out.
* * *
It was the day before the Labor Day weekend and Kathy was riding with April as they visited customers and prospective customers. April asked Kathy what she had planned for the holiday weekend. She and Cindy had noticed that the never spoke of her private life except for her hobby of visiting foreign-speaking enclaves in the city. The replied quietly that she had no plans.
"Kathy, I happen to know Cindy and Dan are going to be in Deerfield over the weekend. She does absolutely everything out there. I know it's not Jan, either. It's Cindy: She insists. I intend to be a slave over the weekend and do her work for her. Do you have any interest in helping?"
"April, would Cindy mind?" Kathy asked. "I would love to if it was all right with her."
"Honey, there's one more thing: I'll be naked all the time. Since I've done it before under far more degrading conditions, it doesn't bother me at all. I don't think it's fair to you, though." April glanced over at Kathy and said, "Please forget I said anything, will you?"
"No, April, I won't," Kathy said with more determination in her voice than she had ever heard before. "I've done many worse things in my life, too, and I love Cindy. Please?"
April smiled and agreed.*Chapter 17*
Early Saturday morning, Cindy was awakened by Dan gently squeezing her breast. It had become a game with them to see how little pressure awakened the other. She smiled because she never woke up during the night but instantly awakened when he was ready to take her. Now she was on her back with Dan moving between her legs. Quickly he brought her to orgasm and was keeping her there. She dimly became aware of someone else in the room but was beyond caring at this point. As usual, she fainted as Dan came inside her.
When she awakened, she found Kathy Chang standing by the bed. The was exquisite in her nudity. She smiled and held out a coffee mug to Cindy, saying, "Good morning, Slave Cindy! How do you feel this morning? Since it's the Labor Day weekend, Slave April and I decided you needed a weekend off. I have coffee for you and breakfast will be served when you're ready. How do you feel?"
Cindy ran her fingers through her sopping-wet hair and moved to a dry place on the bed. Leaning back against Dan's shoulder she said, "I feel like a truck just ran over me, since you asked, and I'm sure I look like a survivor of a shipwreck."
Meanwhile, April had done the same thing with Pete and Janice. She marveled at the way the two were so attuned to one another. Pete took a shower with his and then left her alone with April who said, "Mrs. Stewart, I have never seen anything like that in my life! How do you feel?"
Jan stretched and grinned, saying, "April, I couldn't feel better! What a way to start the weekend. On the other hand, what a way to start any day! And it's Jan, not Mrs. Stewart. Remember? Now that my brain is getting in gear, April, what are you doing here, anyway?"
April told her that since it was Labor Day, Slave Cindy should have some time off. She and Kathy Chang were substituting, and breakfast would be served soon. Since the weather was supposed to be sunny and very hot, Jan padded downstairs nude. She found everyone was naked, including the men. They ate a wonderful breakfast the two had made and were quietly sipping coffee.
April was looking at the scars on Cindy's loins. They were fading fast but were still visible. Cindy had never told her what had happened, but had said only that it was her own fault. She raised the question again, and Cindy ran her fingers over the scars. She told them about the dumb bet that Jan and Pete had pleaded with her not to make and its outcome. April and Kathy just looked at her in amazement.
Kathy said, "Are you saying, Cindy, that a can get you to beg for release? That's silly! I've been worked on by experts and it's never happened to me."
"The only orgasm I have ever had in my life was with you, Cindy," April chimed in. "And that's only because you're a woman and know how we're built."
"Are you two innocents saying it can't happen to you?" Cindy asked? The two looked at each other and then nodded in unison. Cindy looked at Jan, rolled her eyes and shook her head sadly. Then she said, "Jan, do you feel like starting the weekend with a bang? I'll make a bet with you. Fifty dollars against another month on my indenture. The bet is that Dan can get one of the begging for release before Pete can."
She grinned at Dan and kissed him softly. "The big lug is really coming along, too. You have heard of Irish foreplay, haven't you? 'Brace yourself, Bridget'? Dan is really learning." She grinned at Jan and asked, "Do you want to make the bet? Frankly, it will make my agony worthwhile to see a couple of volunteers go through what I went through."
Jan reached over and shook her hand. "It's a bet, Slave Cindy. Now, which guy gets which gal?" They flipped and Dan got Kathy while Pete would work on April.
The two were excited about the prospect while the looked at the two luscious bodies. Dan looked at Pete and said, "The things we're forced to do sometimes: being forced by our wives and mistresses to handle other women." He looked at Kathy's perfect body with her remarkably full breasts and shook his head. "Pete, war is hell!" They agreed that since the day was so beautiful, they would play by the pool.
They all went out to the pool and pulled up the mats. Pete and Dan had talked and decided to get revenge. Since Jan and Cindy had used them as pillows all summer, they agreed that since they had to do all the work for their women's bet, the women would be the pillows for a change. Cindy lay down across Dan's mat and he rested his head on her belly. Although he had shaved that morning, when he turned his head and nuzzled her satin skin he scratched her with his beard stubble. She winced and looked at Pete and Jan; Pete had done the same thing.
Jan lightly stroked Pete's cheek and sighed, "The things we have to do for money, Cindy. Isn't it awful?"
The two laughed and the women grinned. Responding to instructions the two knelt alongside facing the men. Cindy grinned and just shook her head sadly as Dan began to move his fingers lightly across Kathy's body. The girl's skin was smooth and as soft as satin.
Kathy didn't know what to expect. She had never fully told her to anyone at the bank, nor, indeed, to anyone else in the United States. Cindy and April thought she was from Hong Kong and indeed that was where she had been when she was able to get an entry visa for the United States. Actually, she was a native of Shanghai where her had been a prostitute. She had taken her small south and later died in Vietnam.
Kathy, while only ten years and an orphan, had her first sexual experience. She was enslaved by the North Vietnamese and was used with a prisoner. She still remembered him vividly: an American who they believed had information of value to them. He had been hideously tortured, and the Vietnamese used Kathy against him. She was made to fondle him and sexually arouse him without allowing him release. Several times she was beaten bloody when she gave him the release he needed so desperately. And finally she managed to take him inside her just enough to lose her virginity. It was the closest she ever came to cuming and was the last time she had ever been close to a man. Remarkably, she had never used her body since, even on occasions when she was starving. She was amused because she knew she was physically incapable of achieving orgasm.
Dan's fingers continued to move lightly over her body. It felt so good! She was kneeling in the bright sunlight with people she really liked. Dan and Cindy were talking quietly about the apartment Cindy was working on; he seemed totally unaware of what he was doing. At his request she spread her knees farther apart making her slit more available to him. But he seemed to ignore it. To the extent he was concentrating on anything, it was her breasts. His touch was so gentle and soothing! She found she loved it. Once in a while, his fingers would move to her slit and fondle her. It was like the touch of flower petals: It was so soft and light; it was as if she was imagining rather than feeling.
Strangely, she found that she was breathing faster. Her nipples had hardened and she heard herself making small noises she was completely unaware of. Dan was returning to her with increasing frequency now and she was amazed to find she was now wet there. When his fingers entered her now, she made soft welcoming noises and tried to move her loins to take him into her even deeper. _What's happening?_ she wondered. _This feels so good!_ She could feel a strange sensation in her loins she had never felt before. She felt as if he were taking her up a wonderful mountain; she desperately wanted to reach its crest. Glancing over at April, she saw the with her eyes closed and her back arched causing her magnificent to protrude still more. Her nipples were engorged and she was moaning softly.
Kathy could feel herself reach the crest. She screamed as she achieved release. But she hadn't. Dan had stopped. She realized her eyes were closed, and she opened them with a start. She looked at Cindy who was propped up on her elbows, watching.
Her friend just shook her head sadly and murmured, "Fun, isn't it?"
Kathy tried to return the smile but couldn't. It too much. Dan began to move his fingers again. This time it was much faster climbing the mountain. To her astonishment, when he touched her nipple, she screamed in pain and ecstasy. She couldn't believe it could have become so sensitive! He continued to work on her with unbelievable gentleness. Now she realized she had truly become a sexual plaything. He was just playing with her! Yet he somehow seemed to know exactly what she was feeling. She lost count of the number of times she reached her crest. She tried to look at April, but couldn't bring the girl's face into focus. Her whole being was concentrated in her loins.
Astonishingly, she realized she was weeping. Although she was still upright on her knees, tears were flowing from her eyes in a continuous stream. She was sobbing and didn't know it! She was saying things but she didn't know what. Finally, at her highest crest, Dan stopped again.
It was the end! She screamed, "Please release me, Dan! Oh God, please! You must." She collapsed face down on the mat with her knees under her body. Now she was crying like her heart would break. She didn't know what she was saying or doing. All she could do now was feel and all feeling was in her cunt.
Again, he touched her nipples and again she screamed. Her scream rose to a wail as she cried, "Don't Dan! Oh, please don't! It hurts so much." She could feel her tears pouring down on the mat as he took her back up her mountain. She was just babbling now. Again she was at the crest but this time he took her over! Her loins started to shake and fluid started to pour out of her poor in an increasing flood. She didn't know what she was doing. She even forgot where she was. All she knew was she was feeling an exquisite sensation in her loins that didn't stop.
Moments after Kathy started to spend, Pete had April over the edge. Both were in the same position. Cindy and Jan could see the sexual juices pouring out of the two girls' cunts in a flood. Cindy winked at Jan and said softly, "I win! That's fifty dollars and all it cost me this time was a belly chafed by Dan's whiskers. It was a lot easier than the last time!"
Jan just shook her head but said, "I love you, darling Cindy."
Meanwhile the had the two in continuous orgasm. Minutes passed and Dan could see Kathy was about to pass out. Her loins were still jerking involuntarily; the was shaking herself to pieces. Dan pinched the girl's clit, and that did it. She collapsed in a dead faint. He turned, kissed Cindy softly, and asked, "Do I get half? I had to do all the work."
She raised an eyebrow and said, "Since when do you call that work? She's exquisite, isn't she?"
He just nodded and smiled. Then he got up, went inside, and returned with two light blankets. April hadn't fainted. Pete had let her down slowly from her crest and was now gently caressing her beautiful buns. She was just making warm happy noises. She had carefully stretched out her legs and was now lying face down on the mat. The fact that she was lying in a pool of her own juices didn't seem to bother her a bit. Jan took the light blanket and lay it over the girl. Then she kissed her softly on her cheek. April just murmured happily and went to sleep.
Cindy gently straightened Kathy's legs and covered her, too. Then the four went over to the tennis courts leaving the two asleep.
When the wetness Kathy was feeling finally awakened her, all she could remember was the most extraordinary set of sensations. She opened her eyes and realized where she was. She saw April lying nearby and got up to go to her... or tried to. Her leg collapsed under her. It was as if the muscles in her groin wouldn't work any longer. She lightly rubbed her abdomen and found she hurt. Her muscles were so sore! Finally, she got to her feet and went over to April.
The was just awakening. When Kathy's shadow came over her, she looked up, smiled weakly, and asked, "Who won?"
Kathy sat down quickly and said, "I think Cindy did. How do you feel?"
"Like a truck ran over me." April replied ruefully. "How do you feel?"
"Not that good," Kathy replied with a grin. Then she said, "Just remember, Assistant Vice President Jefferson, who got us into this. I just follow the lead of my seniors."
"Right!" April grinned. "And how many times has Cindy told you to think for yourself? You just followed me right over a cliff! I hope you learned something. I know I did."
Kathy became serious and asked, "What did you learn, April? I learned I'm still a woman. That's worth a lot to me. How about you?"
"Pete made me cum. I didn't think it was possible. Believe it or not, Kathy, the only other time I ever did was with Cindy eating my cunt," April replied softly. She looked up at the girl's face and said, "Can you imagine? A like Cindy eating a black girl's cunt? It was utterly unbelievable."
Kathy helped April up. The rubbed her groin and said woefully, "I'm not sure childbirth was this bad. I think I was in better shape an hour after Ronnie was born." Then she grinned and said, "But I feel great in a strange sort of way." The two hobbled over to the tennis court.
Jan saw them come over and said, "And what are you two slaves doing? The least you can do is wash off the pool deck. Then go to the slave quarters and take a shower. You two are wrecks!" Kathy saw Jan's eyes dancing as she gave them the orders.
They washed off the deck and their mats and then went up to Cindy's room. Kathy was pensive and April asked her about it. The looked at her with her eyes bright. "April, please don't take it the wrong way, but could I find out what a black tastes like?"
April looked at her and smiled softly. "Provided I can find out what an Asian tastes like, too."
The grinned and climbed on Cindy's bed. Kathy took April in her arms and kissed her lips. The was wonderful, and she lightly stroked April's and body, while April caressed hers. In no time the were licking each other's cunt. They were both surprised at the amount of vaginal juices they were licking up. When they finished, April said, "Why don't you taste like soy sauce? I thought everything did?"
Kathy grinned and said, "Why don't you taste like chocolate? I thought all black women did."
The two laughed and April told her it was the same thing Cindy had said. They shared a shower, washed their hair and went back to the pool. April set up the barbecue and began to cook hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch. Kathy went inside and brought out beer in an insulated chest, as well as an Oriental salad she had made.
She watched the two couples in utter amazement. Here there were six people, all naked. The just stroked their women who purred like cats. After lunch to her surprise, Dan took Cindy on the lawn. She watched as Cindy first took his magnificent sex in her mouth, then spread her legs wide to welcome it inside her. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
About two o'clock, there was a call from the house. It was Don Martin and Mary Thomas who had driven out from Chicago. Don saw that they were all nude. Kathy turned beet as she realized she was naked in the presence of the president of the bank. Don just shrugged and began to undress Mary. When he was finished, she undressed him and they went over to the pool.
Cindy went up to Mary and kissed her warmly saying, "You look great, Mom. I hope you don't mind our homemade nudist colony?"
Mary replied, "Honey, a few weeks ago I would have passed out in shock. If someone said I should take off my bra, let alone all of my clothes, I would have died of shame. Now I guess I'm proud of my body. Your likes it and I hope you do, too."
"Mom, if my friends knew how beautiful my is they would not believe it." She grinned and said quietly, "But unless you want to hear a grown cry tonight -- and be unable to have you touch him, let alone be able to enter you -- you better put some sun protection on him. For that matter, unless you really want a fried ass and fried boobs, you better get him to put some on yourself, too." She grinned at Mary and said, "I wonder what fried would taste like, anyway?"
Mary returned the grin and replied, "Better than broiled buns, I think. Thanks for the tip."
A little later, Jennifer and Steve Chapman arrived. The group spent a lazy afternoon swimming. At the end of the afternoon, they had a series of swimming races. To everyone's surprise and Jan's chagrin, Cindy won at 1,000 meters. Dan had used a stopwatch and timed the race at a respectable time for an AAU race. Pete won among the men.
Jan said to Pete, "See what happens when you work my fingers to the bone at the office? I get beaten in my own pool! By my own slave! What is the world coming to? My God! The next thing you know, she'll be wanting her freedom."
Later, they served dinner cooked outside. When Mary Thomas came up to Kathy, she looked at her and began to laugh. The was wearing a light windbreaker... and nothing else. She looked at Mary with her eyes dancing, but with a rueful look on her face. "I can't help it. I'm cold," she said.
"Did you ever think of clothing?" Mary asked.
The brightened and said, "My! What an original idea! I'll have to think about that." Then she said, "We've never met before, ma'am. I'm Kathy Chang."
Mary smiled warmly and took Don's arm saying, "Darling, there's someone here you need to meet. This is Katherine Chang."
Don put out his hand and Kathy took it in a firm grip. He said, "Kathy, I'm Don Martin. I guess you work for me. I hope you'll pardon my... informal attire? Anyway, it's a great pleasure to welcome our newest assistant vice president. Like April, you now have personal lending authority of $500,000. Recognizing her experience, though, we're upping her to $1 million." He smiled warmly and said, "All I hear are truly outstanding reports about you. Thank you for joining us."
To his shock, Kathy's face crumpled and she ran to Cindy, sobbing like her heart would break. Cindy was shocked but took the in her arms and held her while her shoulders shook with her crying. "Please help me, Cindy," she cried. "I can't be an officer. I just can't."
Mary looked at Don meaningfully. He retrieved his clothes and slipped on his pants and a shirt. As he did he saw Dan doing the same thing. They went over to where Cindy was sitting on the grass still holding the in her arms. When Dan took her in his arms, Cindy ran to get dressed. With one hand he zipped up the jacket the was wearing and waited as her sobs faded. Then he asked softly, "What's wrong, honey? Why can't you be an officer of the bank?"
The looked up and there was a look of near-terror in her eyes. "Because an officer is a respectable person. I'm a fraud! You think I'm from Hong Kong. In one way, it's true. But I'm really from Shanghai. My mother was a prostitute and I was a whore. I even worked for the North Vietnamese. You can't want a whore like me. You just can't!"
Jan Stewart overheard what Kathy said. She looked at the two meaningfully and they withdrew. She took the in her arms and held her. Kathy looked up and saw great warmth in her eyes. Jan said, "Kathy, I was a prostitute, too. Only I didn't do it to live; I did it just for the money. You couldn't have been very old. How were you when you were a prostitute?"
The whispered, "I guess I was just a whore. I had sex to try to survive. I never got any money.e Sometimes I would get a few grains of rice."
"How were you?" Jan persisted.
"I was almost ten when it began. I guess it lasted until I was thirteen. Then I escaped. I made my way north and finally I swam to Hong Kong."
"You poor thing," Jan cried. "Katherine Chang, you're going to be an officer of Chicago Trust Company, do you hear? My God! A child survives in a war-torn land -- several, in fact -- and manages to reach the United States. She gets an education and performs brilliantly. She's one of the most exquisitely beautiful women its ever been my fortune to lay eyes on. Her performance as a lending officer is outstanding." She turned Kathy's head and made the look at her. She said, "Katherine, what's it going to take to get you to accept the promotion? I will not accept no as an answer. Do you understand? How about an immediate cash bonus of 100 percent of salary? Will that do it?"
A kaleidoscope of emotions passed over Kathy's face. She said, "Do you mean you want me in spite of all I have been? I can't believe it!"
"No, Kathy. You misunderstand," Jan said with great warmth in her eyes, "It's _because_ of everything. What you achieved is beyond human understanding. The obstacles you have overcome... I can only stand in awe. Isn't the bonus big enough? I'll double it."
Kathy just slowly shook her head. Then she hugged Jan tightly and said, "Oh God! Mrs. Stewart, I can't thank you enough! No wonder Cindy is your slave. May I be your slave, too? I can't tell you how honored I am to be offered such a position. Of course, a bonus is out of the question. I'll accept the position, though. I won't pretend I understand why you're doing this, but I'll take it. Thank you."
Finally it was settled. When the people started drifting home, April gave Kathy her car to use. She was staying overnight and was going to the Bears' game the next day.
* * *
Sunday was also bright and clear but not as warm as the day before. A cold front had come through and the temperature was only in the upper 70's. Dan, April and Cindy all squeezed into the little car and drove to Soldiers' Field and up to the special clubhouse gate. As a sort of joke, April and Cindy were wearing their "uniforms." The combination of the car and the girls' dress caused them to be immediately recognized. They were waved into the special parking area and greeted by Jim Clancy. He escorted them up to the owner's box high above the field.
There, the three were warmly greeted by Mike McCaskey, owner of the Bears. When he was sure Cindy wasn't looking, he winked at Dan with whom he served on a couple of civic committees. The sat down to watch the game.
To Clancy's surprise, the three guests were genuinely interested in it. Dan and April focused their binoculars on Ron whenever the Bears defense was on the field. Late in the second quarter, Dan whispered something to April who nodded. Then she said, "pass," then "run," then "pass," then "pass."
Clancy had been watching with increasing interest and surprise. Finally he said, "Would you please tell me what you're doing?"
April put down her binoculars, smiled at him, and said, "I was just calling the play Ron was set for. He's tipping it every time. Jim, if Dan and I can see it from here, it's damned certain the quarterback a couple of yards away can!" She then explained what Dan had picked up. Jim watched for what she had told him. He didn't need binoculars. The three started announcing the play Ron was expecting in unison.
Then Jim went to Mike who was talking with Cindy and explained what they had just found. Jim then picked up the phone and called the defensive spotter in the press box. He relayed their findings to the bench.
Jim just shook his head and asked April, "How much do we owe you? My God, how could we have missed it? Maybe because it's so damned obvious, I guess. Now let's see what happens."
When the defense came off the field, they saw the defensive-back coach take Ron aside and speak to him. With the binoculars, April could see the expression of amazement on Ron's face. Then she could see him get mad. The second half was totally different. Ron had made the Pro Bowl two years earlier, but in the second half he played even better than he had in his Pro Bowl year. He made six unassisted tackles and intercepted two passes. He was named the defensive player of the game.
April, Cindy, and Dan were waiting for him when he came out of the locker room. April went up to him and kissed him softly on the lips. When he tried to take her in his arms, she backed away. She smiled and said, "That's enough of a reward. Hell, it was only one decent half of football in the first game of the season against a nothing opponent. As a matter of fact, a kiss is too much."
Ron just shook his head but took them out to dinner at a small Italian place. They had beer and spaghetti and then parted. April took a cab home while Cindy and Dan went back to Deerfield. Ron was left standing on the curb without even another kiss.
To be continued...
* * *
Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome. Let me hear from you. morg105829@aol.com
*Cynthia Martin* Copyright (c) 1991, 2001 by Morgan. <morg105829@aol.com>
All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying, or by any information and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author
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