Before she could respond, Jack asked her: “Why are you coming to El's aid anyway? Didn't you tell me, when I hired her, that you thought she wouldn't be as competent as Andy?"
Warily, Gloria nodded. “I thought she had some flaws. I didn't know they were so big."
He nodded in agreement. “I'm going to post the position of CFO tomorrow. I hope, whatever you decide to do, you'll keep the best interests of the company in mind."
With that, he dismissed her. She went out the main door, avoiding El's office. It was as if she couldn't bear to see the tart again.
At quarter to four, Jack called El into his office and asked her to bring the other outfit. Once inside, she lay the suit on a chair and stripped yet again. She put on the conservative outfit. Jack could see that she felt more like her old self with the suit on. Jack picked up a folder on his desk and led her out.
They got into his car outside. Without being told, El pulled up her skirt and spread her legs for him. He absently stroked her naked flesh while he drove. She was quite wet to his touch.
"We're going to meet a man named Roger Andrews. He owns a plant that makes metal cabinets for various electronic devices. We have about twenty percent of his business and I think we can do better than that. However, Roger is… well, let's say he's a contradiction. He spouts Bible verses and he's active in his church, but I know for a fact that he also hides a big secret. When he was a young, he joined the seminary for a time, thinking he wanted to become a minister. But he got caught fooling around with a young student, a teenage girl, and got tossed out. He's walked the straight and narrow ever since, been married for years, but I'll bet he'd love to sneak in some lovin’ as long as he doesn't get caught. But we have to be careful.
"That's where you come in. As far as Roger is concerned, you are unmarried. I want you to find him so attractive you can't stand it. He's not an ugly man, although he's probably about twenty years older than you.” Jack paused. “Now, one thing. I don't want you to pretend you're a deeply religious person because I think that could backfire. I'd rather he thought of you as a fallen angel, a troubled girl who needs to be redeemed."
Ellen blushed but said nothing.
"So flirt with him, but don't be too obvious. I'm going to make an excuse to leave the room, to give him time to talk to you privately. Give him your phone number, if he asks for it. Maybe touch his arm ‘accidently.’ You know the drill."
El nodded. “You really think he might want to pursue me, even though he's married?"
"We'll find out. He may call you on some pretense, either at home or at the office. You are to be flattered and interested."
"And a little bit naughty?"
"You've got it. Ideally, he'll get into this thinking you need some counseling and he'll find out that you'd really like to fuck his brains out. Then we'll see what develops.
"Here,” Jack said, handing her a small cell phone. “This is pre-programmed to my pager number-just press this button here. Keep this in your pocket. The volume's turned all the way down, so Roger won't hear anything. When you get what you need from Roger, you call me and I'll come back in. Okay?"
El nodded.
They arrived within thirty minutes. They were met by Roger's assistant, a matronly secretary named Gladys. She escorted them to his office, a rather colorless cube with windows looking out over the factory.
Roger rose to greet them from behind his plain, functional oak desk. He was a trim fifty, with salt-and-pepper hair combed straight back. He wore slacks and a polo shirt. Jack shook his hand and introduced him to “Ellen, my executive assistant."
Roger smiled and shook her hand.
He really is quite handsome, El thought as his held her hand. She could picture him as a kindly minister, with a flock of adoring parishioners. She felt a little spark shoot through her. This may be an easier assignment than I thought!
Roger indicated they should all sit, then turned his attention to Jack. They were speaking in numbers: model numbers, profits, percentages-El tuned out. Instead, she concentrated on Roger, the way he moved, the words he used.
Once, while Jack was shuffling through some papers he'd brought, Roger glanced over at her, catching her staring at him. He smiled briefly, then turned back to Jack. El worried that maybe he wasn't interested in her.
But a few minutes later, he glanced over again, this time letting his eyes lock onto hers, just for a second. El smiled back. It became a tennis match, serve and volley.
Jack wrapped up his presentation, offering to give them a better overall deal if Roger would let them produce a new line of products for them.
"What's your offer?” Roger inquired.
"Well, I can tell you in just a minute. My production manager promised me some last-minute figures before I left. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'll call him and then we can talk business. Do you mind if my assistant stays here?"
"No, not at all.” Roger flashed her another grin. El knew this was her chance.
Jack pulled out his cell phone as he left, pretending to call the factory. El watch the door close behind him, then turned all of her attention back to Roger.
"So,” he said, breaking the ice, “how long have you been Jack's assistant?"
"Just a few days. He's bringing me around to some of his clients so they can get to know me. I'm really glad he brought me today.” She gave him her best, shy-but-sexy smile.
"Really? Well, I'm flattered. Tell me a little about your background."
El began telling her about her college education, but wove in a sad tale about coming from a broken home and how hard it had been, living on her own. When Roger inquired about her religious beliefs, she told him how she had lost her faith in the church when her mother died at the hands of a drunk driver.
"But God didn't cause that man to drink and drive,” Roger responded.
"I know, but it was just so unfair. I felt betrayed. My father ran away when I was two and I've never seen him again, and my mom, my anchor, the one who took me to church every Sunday, died three months before I graduated from high school. I felt abandoned, not only by my parents, but by God as well."
"Oh, my child, this wounds my heart to hear your story! Have you had counseling to help you cope with your tragedies?"
"No, sir, I haven't.” El blinked her eyes, trying to make tears form. “I probably should have. I went kind of wild after that, doing drugs and having affairs…"
"Well, I'd be happy to recommend someone-"
El blanched. “No,” she said quickly. “I'm really rather shy about it. In fact, I don't know why I've been telling you all this. There's just something about you that makes me feel very comfortable."
"That's very nice to hear. You know, I almost became a minister at one time, way back when I was about your age."
"Really? I'll bet you'd have made a good one. You have a way of understanding people. I'll bet that's why you're so successful."
Roger was clearly flattered. They chatted a few more minutes, then Roger checked his watch. El knew too much time had passed-if she didn't entice him now, the moment would be lost.
"I've really enjoyed talking to you. If you had been my minister, I probably never would have left the church."
Roger cocked his head. He hesitated for a moment, then said: “I'd be happy to talk to you again sometime, if you think it would help."
She feigned embarrassment, as if she were unworthy of his attention. “Oh, I'm sure you're far to busy to spend time dealing with my problems!"
"No, no. I'd like to help, if I could."
El pressed the button on the cellphone through the pocket of her suit jacket, then told him: “Well, why don't I give you my phone numbers and you could call me?"