The Challenge

Wendy Thurston arrived in the office earlier than usual on Monday morning.  She wanted to be sure she had all her ducks in a row for the meeting.  Brian Sanderson, the nephew of Eugene Sanderson, the company founder, was meeting with her to discuss the situation.

Sanderson Manufacturing started out small but had steadily grown over the years as their product became more and more necessary.  Wendy had been with the company almost from the start.  She was part of a work-study program and when she graduated, Eugene Sanderson kept her on.  She knew the business from the ground up and became Gene Sanderson’s right hand. 

The last couple of years, Gene’s health began to fade and he was absent more than he was at work.  He trusted Wendy implicitly and gave her full reign to run his company.  All the employees knew Wendy was in charge. She was a woman running a manufacturing company with mostly male employees and she did it very well. She lived and breathed Sanderson Manufacturing and assumed that someday she would be the official CEO of the company.

Enter Brian Sanderson.  Gene Sanderson took a trip to the Bahamas and never returned. The plane he was on to ferry him between islands went down taking Gene, his wife and the pilot with it.  Wendy worked through her grief and kept things running as smoothly as ever at the company. 

One day, not long after the funeral, which she handled with her usual efficiency, she received a call from the law firm handling Gene’s estate.  The news shocked her.  Gene and Marjorie had never talked about any other family.  Apparently, Gene had a sister with whom he had been estranged for years.  Gwen Sanderson, never married, had a son.

When she received the call from Brian Sanderson, the nephew above, stating that he intended to step into his uncle’s shoes, Wendy was devastated.  “How could Gene do this to her?” She worked her fingers to the bone for Sanderson Manufacturing only to have the rug pulled out from beneath her by some upstart who had no knowledge of the company he was coming to take over. 

She was sitting at Gene’s desk when Brian Sanderson sauntered into the office.  Impeccably dressed as if he were going to some high-powered corporate meeting, Brian Sanderson had that air of privilege about him and raised Wendy’s hackles immediately.

“I’m Brian Sanderson and I believe you’re sitting in my chair,” he said in a clipped British accent.

“I’m Wendy Thurston and I have been running this company from this chair for quite some time.”

“Wendy Thurston, happy to meet you,” and extended his hand as he stood next to her waiting for her to vacate ‘his’ chair.  To take his hand, she knew she’d have to rise from the chair and she had to fight with herself to do so.  The minute she stood to shake his hand, he moved her over and took the seat.

“Sit down, Wendy. We have some things to discuss.” He said and waved her to a chair on the other side of the desk.  ‘How dare he,’said the little voice in her head.  She went to the other side of the desk but remained standing.

“Sit down, Wendy.” 

“I have things to do right now.  I’ll be back when I’m finished.”

“Wendy, Sit Down.  Whatever you have to do can wait a few minutes.”

“How would you know that you’re not familiar with our operation?”

“No, but I intend to become familiar and that’s what we need to discuss,” he said in a tone that was both authoritative and sexy as hell.

“I can imagine this is difficult for you but let me assure you your position here is secure, but I am the CEO now and I will make all the final decisions.  Your authority extends only as far as I allow.  I don’t plan to undermine you to the employees, but I have my own ways and I will expect you and others to adhere to them.”

The whole time he spoke she concentrated on his mouth, not his words.  He had perfectly straight white teeth behind lips that were almost ringed with a rosier shade than the inner portion.

Wendy continued to hear sounds coming from him, but she was not listening.  Instead, she was concentrating on his physical attributes.  He had one of those aquiline noses and eyes that were like cold steel beneath thick brows that almost knitted together.  His dark hair was stylishly cut and had just the slightest wave.  She imagined if he allowed it to grow longer, he would have almost curly hair.  She was thinking of running her fingers through those locks when she heard his raised voice.

“Wendy, have you heard anything I’ve said?”

“Hmmm”

“Have you heard anything I’ve said?”

“Yes, yes, I’m listening.” She hoped he didn’t ask any questions because she hadn’t heard a word.

“I don’t think you are and I hope this isn’t an indication of your work ethic.”

“How dare you come in here and question my work ethic?  The fact that you have a job and a company is because of me.  Gene Sanderson taught me everything and trusted me with his company.  Although he recently died, he was gone more than he was here.  This company kept going and growing mainly through my efforts.”

“Obviously, I’ve touched a nerve, I apologize,” he said in that clipped accent that sent shivers up and down her spine.  He may have spoken the words, but his demeanor told her he didn’t mean a word of the apology.

The smoldering look she sent him would cower a lesser man and for a moment he thought about how she would look with her hair undone and draped over his knee. He would love to see some of that heat directed toward him and not in the way it was now.  He wanted to tame some of that passion – spank some of that sass right out of her. The thought traveled from his brain to other parts of his body and he shifted in his chair. ‘Don’t be a bloody fool,’ he told himself.

“So do you agree with my proposal?” he asked.

Wendy had no idea what he proposed, she hadn’t paid the slightest bit of attention as he talked. 

“Let me think about it,” she said as she turned to walk out of the office.

“Ms. Thurston, we are not finished.”

“Yes, we are.”

“Why that cheeky little vixen,” he said to himself.  He felt a sudden itch in his palm and slapped his hand down hard on the desk. He couldn’t help but think about how good it would feel to apply his hand to that saucy little bottom as it swayed its way out of his office.  The sting didn’t do anything to deter his thoughts.   ‘Damn his uncle for not preparing her for this.’  Based on what Brian had learned from the attorney, it was his uncle’s plan to slowly bring him into the company and see how he and Wendy worked together.  If things went as planned, they would each be offered each a fifty percent stake in the company.  The more he thought about it, the more he suspected his uncle had other reasons for what he’d done.  Unfortunately, his unexpected death had put a wrench into things and now Brian was left figuring out how to make it work.

He sat back in his ‘new’ chair and thought about Ms. Thurston. He hadn’t known what to expect when he walked in that morning.  The attorney hadn’t given him a clue other than that his uncle thought highly of her as evidenced by the plans that had never been fully formalized.  He never expected the sixty-three inches of dynamite and sass he’d met this morning.  He was a sucker for strawberry blonde hair and freckles and Wendy had them both.  It was the green eyes that did him in, though.  That and that attitude.  He had a feeling he was in for big trouble and somehow he had to keep the upper hand, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

Wendy wasn’t sure what she was going to do when she left Brian Sanderson’s office.  Yes, she had to acknowledge it was his office.  Unfortunately, everything she needed to work was in there because she had been using it for weeks.  She only knew she had to get out of there and away from him before she did something awful – something like give him the finger or smack that smug little smile off his face. ‘Damn you, Gene, what the hell were your thinking? I don’t deserve this.’

She walked out onto the manufacturing floor and was inundated with questions about who was the guy in the suit and what was happening.  An employee meeting needed to be scheduled immediately to answer the employee’s questions and assuage their fears about their future employment.   After talking with several of the workers, her temper had cooled enough to go back and face Brian Sanderson again. 

Wendy walked into the office and Brian was talking with Connie Belson, the administrative assistant. 

“Don’t you knock?” he asked.

“Never have before, Gene always had an open door policy.”

“Good manners dictate that one should always knock before barging in.”

She could feel her blood pressure starting to rise and hope it didn’t show on her face.

“I’ll try to remember that for the future.”

“Please do,” he told her and then told Connie he would check back with her later.  Connie rolled her eyes at Wendy as she passed her by on the way back to her desk.

“I was out on the manufacturing floor and there are a lot of questions being asked.  I think it would be best to schedule an employee meeting quickly to let everyone know what’s going on.”

“You do, do you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, I guess that’s the first thing we agree on, Ms. Thurston.  How do you want to handle this?

“As you so succinctly pointed out earlier, you are the CEO and you make the final decisions.  It would really behoove you to tell me what your expectations of me are first though, don’t you think?”

“You know, Ms. Thurston, I sense that you don’t like me very much.”

“So far, Mr. Sanderson, you haven’t shown me very much to like.  Not that it matters whether I like you or not.”

“It matters to me, Ms. Thurston.”

“You have a very funny way of showing it.”

“I am what I am.  My British background was probably very different from your American upbringing.  My mother was an enigma.  Although she never married, a fact that was considered a flagrant faux pas at the time, she insisted that we comport ourselves according to the strictest protocols of society. So my ways are a product of my childhood and education.”

Wendy wasn’t sure if this was a backhanded apology for his boorishness or just a statement of fact.  Either way he was still a snooty upstart as far as she was concerned, but one she would have to learn to live with or find another job.

He continued.  “Why don’t we schedule a meeting for 4:00 today?  We can go to lunch to discuss how we are going to handle this.  Is that agreeable to you?”

“That’s fine, but what do I do in the meantime.”

“Why you do your job, of course, just like you have been doing.”

“Today is payroll, and I was going over the time cards when you came in and took over.  Everything I need is on the desk in front of you.”

“I see.  Well, come take what you need.  I will need to see the final numbers before they are submitted to the accounting office.”

She smirked, hopefully to herself.  ‘So much for Mr. Bigshot.  Nothing like coming in and acting like a know it all when you don’t know a thing.’

“Payroll is handled by an outside company.  I’ll be sure to send you everything before I submit this week’s report to them.”  She gathered what she needed from his desk and walked back to her old office.  Connie followed her in and closed the door behind her.

“What’s with him?” Connie asked.

“He’s Gene’s nephew and apparently the new owner of the company.  Aren’t we just the lucky souls?”

“He acts like he has a stick up his ass.”

“As far as I’m concerned, he is an ass, so the stick probably fits really well.” Wendy said and laughed at her own joke.

“What’s going to happen now?”

“Your guess is as good as mine Connie.  We’re meeting for lunch to determine my new role and what we’re going to say to the rest of the staff today.  Will you see that all are assembled in the conference room at 4:00 today?”

                            _________________________________________

Brian Sanderson took Wendy to one of the better restaurants in town.  He was the epitome of gentlemen-like behavior; opening the car door, pulling out her chair. She was impressed.

“Ms. Thurston.”

“Please call me Wendy,” she asked.

“Wendy, I fear we got off on the wrong foot today.  I appreciate everything you’ve done for Sanderson Manufacturing.  I’m sorry things turned out as they have, but what’s done is done.  Believe me, I was as surprised as you when the attorney called.  I never met Uncle Gene.  He and my mother did not communicate and my mother never talked about him.”

“Gene Sanderson was a lovely man.  It’s too bad you never met him.”  Brian seemed annoyed she interrupted his train of thought. 

“To continue, I don’t think you know, but my uncle had a plan that was never formalized. His plan was to have me come over and learn the business and see how we worked together. When he was ready to retire, he was going to offer it to us fifty/fifty.  I could be mistaken, but I think was an attempt at playing matchmaker.”

Wendy couldn’t help it, she started laughing and shaking her head.  “Gene didn’t even know you.  How could he ever think we could possibly get along?”

“You have to remember, he didn’t know me. I don’t know what his thought process was but he knew we were about the same age.  Based on your past performance, he assumed you would put Sanderson Manufacturing first and work with me to grow the company into the future.  Can you do that?”

“I can do that as long as you climb down off your high horse long enough to give us a chance.  High handedness doesn’t work for me.  I’m willing to work with you as long as you treat me with the respect I’ve earned and deserve.  I will not be treated the way you treated me this morning.  I like my job and I’d rather stay with Sanderson, but I couldn’t possibly work with the pompous ass that walked into the office this morning.”

“Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you, Wendy. I may have been a little high-handed this morning, chalk it up to nerves.  What I said, though, still goes.  I won’t undermine you, but the final decisions are mine.  I too want to be treated with respect.  I will not tolerate being called names or have you talking down to me.  Not in private and definitely not in public.  Understood?”

“Respect is earned, Brian. I will do my best but do not expect me to refrain from stating my opinion.  You may make the final decision, but any disagreement I have will be voiced.”

“Wendy, I’m quite sure you will state your opinion loud and clear but be warned my decision will be final.”  A leveling finger and stern look accompanied the statement.

“Please don’t point your finger at me. And if I continue to disagree.”

“Then I’ll just have to take you over my knee to make you see the error of your ways.” Wendy looked at him, her mouth agape.  “Did you just say what I think you said?”

“What do you think I said?”

“That you would take me over your knee if I continued to disagree.”

“That’s what I said.”

“You are a boorish man and I don’t see how I am ever going to work with you. Maybe it’s best if I give you my notice right now.”

“Wendy, don’t be such a prude.  It’s only a statement.  Of course, it’s one I wouldn’t mind coming to fruition.  I think it would be of great benefit to you and us, but I would never follow through.  Although, in my area of the world, it’s been done - maybe not recently, but it’s been done.” 

Ignoring the look on Wendy’s face, he suggested ordering lunch so they could decide how they were going to handle the employee meeting later that afternoon.

Once again, the man left Wendy speechless and unable to know what to do.  Should she stay and have lunch or get up and leave and start dusting off her resume? The thing was she felt a pool of heat in her lower regions when he said he would put her over his knee.

‘What the hell is wrong with me,’ she asked herself.

After the initial shock wore off, Wendy decided he could damn well buy her lunch.  She ordered the most expensive thing on the menu and dared him to make a comment. Yes/No answers regarding his input on the employee meeting were all she gave him.  The longer Wendy failed to engage in more than yes and no answers, the more Brian became agitated.   After toying with the food on her plate, she requested a take- out box and then ordered desert. Anger was rolling off Brian in waves and his steel blue eyes were cold as ice.

“You can’t eat your entrée and then have the audacity to order dessert.  You are acting childish and petulant.”

“Am I? 

“You’re damn right you are.  I take back what I said earlier, I think a trip over my knee is just what you need.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Taunting me is not a good idea Wendy.  I thought I was dealing with an adult, but I was wrong.  You are acting like a pouting, sulking child.  Naughty children get spanked and if you continue to act like a child, you shall be treated like a child.  If you know what is good for you, you will straighten up right now.”

Brian asked for the check and when the server brought it, he rose from the table.

“Are you coming or not?”

“I don’t have a choice, you drove.” 

“I’m quite sure there is cab service. Shall I call one for you or do you have your phone."

Wendy knew he had called her bluff.  This was a man used to getting his own way and confident in his skin.  She could either buckle under or start looking for another job, something she didn’t relish.  She loved her job and knew it would take a while to find something as good as what she already had.  Standing up and looking straight ahead, she followed him to the car. 

She couldn’t see the grin on Brian’s face.  “I have her just where I want her.  Well, not quite, I want her over my knee.  Soon, very soon.”  He thought to himself.

He opened the car door for Wendy and noticed she didn’t have her takeout.

“You forgot your ‘doggie box’. Go back and get it,” he ordered.

“No, I don’t really want it.”

“I don’t care if you do or not.  Go get it, I paid for it and if you’re not going to eat it, I’m sure we can find someone that will be only too happy to have a good meal.  I see a man standing on the corner right over there with a sign.  Now go get the box.”

Now Wendy was the one who was teaming with anger.  “That supercilious twit, with his oh so proper accent and upbringing, how dare he treat me like this?” She stood there staring at him.

“I said go and if you don’t go by the time I count to three, I swear I will spank you right here and now.”

Not wanting to take a chance because she was quite sure he wasn’t idly talking, she huffed back to the restaurant.  A spanking from him might be fun but she sure didn’t want one here in public and he was just brazen enough to follow through on this threat.  She took as much time as she dared getting to the restaurant and returning to the car with the box.  Once she was settled, he started the car and drove right over to the man with the sign.

“Give him the box.”

“But I was going to have it for dinner.”

“You were willing to leave it at the restaurant. You relinquished your claim to it as far as I’m concerned.  Now hand him the box.”

Wendy handed over the box and kept her face turned to the window on the drive back to the office.  She hurried out of the car and to the office door when she heard him tell her to meet him in his office.  She kept right on walking.

“I mean it Wendy.  Meet me in my office now.”

Knowing it was easier to find another job while you still had one, she obeyed his request.  She walked into his office, with him following close behind.  She heard him tell Connie to take a couple of hours off since she would be staying past closing time due to the meeting.

When Connie left, Brian closed the office door, locked it and pulled down the shades. All of a sudden Wendy had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and she knew exactly what was going to happen. ‘Do I bolt or stay?’ For the first time, she didn’t feel so assertive. She didn’t have time to think about bolting because on the way to his chair, he took hold of her arm and drew her with him.

“Tell me you’re not going to do what I think you are?” she asked with more confidence than she felt.

“If you think you’re getting spanked, then yes I am. After that, you can do what you want. Quit your job, have me arrested or anything else you can think of, but you are getting this hiding.  As far as I can tell, it’s long overdue.”

Wendy was fighting him tooth and nail.  It didn’t matter, he was so much stronger, he just overpowered her and before she knew what was happening she was staring at the carpet. Her legs still flailing, he managed to scissor his leg across hers but not before she managed a good kick.

“Damn you, girl. Hold still.”

Her legs may have been pinioned but her hands were still free and she used them to punch away at any part of his body she could access. 

“You’re like a wild animal.  This spanking is happening and it’s only going to get worse if you don’t settle down and accept what you have coming.”

“The hell with you Brian Sanderson.” 

Brian managed to grab her hands in one of his and held them behind her back while he pulled a ruler from his desk.  He brought it down hard across her buttocks.  Her body jerked and he heard her intake of breath.  Seconds later, he started spanking her in earnest. He was enjoying the staccato sounds of the ruler smacking her bottom and wished he could see her backside color as the ruler did its work. 

The longer he spanked, the less she fought until he finally felt her body go limp.  He smacked her several more times and then placed the ruler back on the desk.  He stood her up and told her to go stand in front of his desk. 

Wendy’s face was all blotched and probably as red as her bottom..  She was trying desperately not to cry, but the spanking hurt and although she yearned to rub out some of the sting, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She stood there with watery eyes and a running nose and Brian could still see the fire smoldering right below the surface. 

“Well, what’s it going to be Wendy?  Are you going to quit?  I’m not going to fire you but you should know that if you decide to stay, if you act like you did today, you’re going to be spanked.”

She turned and walked out the door without saying a word.

Brian Sanderson worked on his speech for the employee meeting later that afternoon.  He wasn’t sure whether Wendy would be there or not so he didn’t know if he should include her in his talk or even mention her.  Hell, he didn’t even know if he would be there.  Wendy may well be filing a police report to have him arrested for assault and battery.  He didn’t know what possessed him.  Granted he had been thinking about spanking some of that sass out of her from the beginning but he should never have acted on it.  The year is 2015 for God’s sake, not the 19^th century; it was an utterly irresponsible act. He didn’t know his Uncle Gene, but he was pretty sure he would be turning over right about now.

An hour passed and when no police showed up to arrest him, he figured he was in the clear. Connie returned from her long lunch and asked about Wendy.

“We had a disagreement, and she left.  I don’t know if she’ll be back.”

“There is a problem out on the floor, what do you want to do about it?”

“What kind of problem.”

“Something with the latest shipment.”

“So get someone to fix it.”

“That’s the thing, Mr. Sanderson.  Wendy is usually the one who deals with matters like this.”

“Damn,” he said. 

“Well, tell the supervisor to deal with it.”

“Mr. Sanderson, if they’ve sent the wrong item and we accept the shipment, we’re responsible. He doesn’t have the authority to sign for a shipment this large.”

The phone in the outer office rang, and Connie answered the phone on Brian’s desk.  Wendy was on the other line, and Connie related the problem.

“Is that Wendy on the phone?”  Connie shook her head yes.

“Give me the phone,” he said as he practically grabbed the phone out of Connie’s hand.

“Wendy, this is Brian.  Where the hell are you?”

The next thing Connie heard was “I know you’re not here, but I don’t know what to do about this shipment problem.  Hold on while I put the call on speaker.”

“Okay, Wendy.  Do we or do we not accept the shipment?”

“Mr. Sanderson, this is your company, and as you so succinctly told me earlier, the final decision is yours.  I suggest you follow your own advice.”

“Wendy, are you still pouting?”

There was silence on the other end.

“Okay, okay.  I’m sorry.  I was wrong.  I don’t know what came over me.”

“A large dose of testosterone topped with an even bigger dose of pomposity,” he heard her say.  He stifled the laugh that was trying to erupt.

“You may be right, but it doesn’t solve the current problem.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“What do you want me to do, grovel?”

“It would be a start.”

“Wendy, I don’t grovel.”

“Then I suggest you make your first CEO decision,” he heard her say and the line went dead.

“How dare she hang up on me?” he thundered and slammed down the receiver. He let loose with a few strong epithets before he went out to the floor. Connie couldn’t help but snicker as she watched him storm out of the office. He must have looked fierce as he strode to the loading dock because not one person acknowledged him.  He signed the damned authorization without question and went back to his office.  Wendy Thurston raised his hackles like no other person, male or female, ever had before. ‘Why was that?’

Wendy Thurston was having the same conversation with herself.  She had called Connie to check on Brian Sanderson’s mood and perhaps start smoothing the waters.  Instead, she made it worse by hanging up on him.  He frustrated the hell out of her, but she had more of a clue than he did.  She understood her attraction to him.  He was easy on the eyes and even though his authoritative manner rubbed her the wrong way, literally and figuratively, his behavior matched what she always imagined she wanted – a man to take charge. She never imagined it happening at her workplace. 

Maybe that was the answer.  She thought about it some more and decided to go back to work and have a talk with Mr. Brian Sanderson.  She’d come right out and ask him if he was attracted to her in a personal way.  If he answered yes, she would suggest they could pursue it out of the workplace and then, just maybe, they could separate their work and personal lives.  If he could manage to treat her as another valued employee at work, then she would let him take charge of her in their private lives.  After all, he wouldn’t think of spanking Connie, would he?  Maybe she’d ask him that question too?  It might make a good segue for her suggestion.

She decided to wait until a few minutes before 4:00 pm before she arrived at Sanderson Manufacturing; knowing the employees would be in the breakroom for the scheduled meeting.  She slipped in the door unnoticed and sat in the very back of the room.

She couldn’t help but admire the positive way Brian strode into the room.  He was definitely a “take charge” man.  He thanked Connie for her assist in arranging the meeting and then began to tell the employees that he planned to conduct business in much the same way as it was under his uncle’s stewardship. 

Hands raised, and Brian acknowledged John Atkins.

“Yes, John, what’s your question?  By the way, it’s nice to meet you, and I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to ask a question.” Brian said.  Wendy was impressed that he knew John’s name.  He must have studied the employee files while she was gone.

“Where’s Wendy fit into this plan?  She’s been with this company since the beginning and since your uncle has been pretty much an absent owner the last couple of years, she been running the company?”

Wendy watched Brian and although he maintained his composure, she could see the twitch in his eye.  It made her feel a little stronger knowing he was human after all.  She hadn’t been sure anyone or anything could penetrate that buttoned-up exterior.  She continued to watch him hem and haw for a few moments before she spoke.

“I think I can answer that question, John.”  Wendy stood, and all eyes turned to the back of the room.  She enjoyed the shocked look on Brian’s face.  She could see the wheels turning as he wondered what she was going to say.

“I met with Mr. Sanderson this morning, and he assured me that my position here is as secure as yours.  He’s offered me the opportunity to stay on if I wish and that we would work together to maintain the integrity of Sanderson Manufacturing.  I am mulling over his offer and will make a decision very soon.  Does that answer your question, John?”

“Yes, Wendy, thanks.  I hope you decide to stay.  I think I can speak for the rest of us too.”  Most heads shook in agreement.

“Thank you, Wendy,”  Brian said. “Are there any other questions?” he asked.  There were a few more questions, and if he didn’t know the answer he told the questioner he would find the answer and get back to him.  He looked to Wendy a couple of times, and she watched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw, but she remained silent. It may not be groveling, but squirming was as good.  She was impressed though that he acknowledged he had a lot to learn, he hoped to get up to speed soon.

“If there aren’t any other questions, this meeting is over. If you want to stick around,  Connie has set up some refreshments.  I’d love to meet each of you personally but if you want to take off, I understand that too. Thank you for coming.”

When he stepped away from the makeshift podium, he looked for Wendy but she must have left. He hung around, meeting the employees who stayed behind and when the last of them left he went back to his office.  When he opened the door, he saw Wendy was sitting in a guest chair.

“Hello Wendy,” he said with a slight smirk on his face.

“Hello, Brian.”

“Have you come to make amends?”

“I believe you’re the one that has to make amends.”

“Maybe we both do,” he told her.

“That’s a good first step.  I have a proposition for you.”

                                                                                                              

“I await it with baited breath,” he told her.

“Maybe you should refrain from the comments since that’s what got us here in the first place.”

“Funny, I could have sworn it was the spanking.”  He watched the color creep up Wendy’s  neck, and she started to stand.

“I’m sorry.  I couldn’t help myself.  Sit down and let me hear what you have to say.

”Wendy accepted Brian’s apology for his last sarcastic remark.  She took a big breath and began laying out her proposal.

“This is difficult for me to say.  However, it needs saying.  I’m attracted to you, more than I care to admit even to myself.  What I want to know is, do you feel the same about me?  I am not asking for any kind of commitment just a simple yes or no answer will do for now?”  She stopped talking and waited for Brian to respond.

“Is this a trick question?

“No, just give me an honest answer and frankly if it is taking you this long to respond, the answer must be no and you are gaging how to make it more palatable.”

“So now you ask the question and answer too.  Let me answer for myself, is that even possible for you?  You always seem to bring out the worst in me, or shall I say, think the worst of me?”

“I apologize.  I’ll be quiet while I wait for your answer.”

“Before I respond to your question, are you asking for a personal or professional answer?”

“Geez Louise, Brian. Respond to the damn question in any way you want.  I’m telling you that my body responds to you in ways that scare the hell out of me, and you’re asking if it’s personal or professional.  Professionally, I can’t ever remember getting wet panties before.”  She watched his face as he tried to conceal his mirth.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me, Brian Sanderson.”

“I’m not laughing at you.  I’m merely surprised.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation like this before.  The answer is yes; I am attracted to you both personally and professionally.”

“Okay, then my proposal is that we keep things professional here in the workplace.  By that I mean you treat me as you would another colleague, male or female.  Outside of Sanderson  Manufacturing, we can pursue all the kinkiness you’d like.”

“Does that mean you would come back to work?”

“Under the conditions I outlined, yes.  I like my job, I’m good at it and frankly Brian, you need the help.”  He couldn’t help but smile at her accurate assessment of his current abilities. 

“Okay, we have a deal.  I won’t spank you at work anymore. Everything else remains as I stated at our first meeting.  I still have the final say. Agreed?”

“Agreed.” He rose to shake her hand.  When their hands grasped, they both received a shock and laughed.

“Now that we have that settled, care to give me an assessment of how the meeting went?”

She proceeded to tell him her thoughts and complimented him on the way he handled the meeting.

“I especially liked that didn’t pretend to know everything but were willing to learn.  I think that goes a long way toward making the employees trust you.”

“Good.  That is what I wanted to convey.  Now to more important matters.”  Wendy’s head shot up. “What now?”

“Will you have dinner with me this evening?”

“I’d love to.  I’m pretty hungry.  For some reason, I missed lunch,” and her face got that telltale blush he was beginning to expect when she was embarrassed.

Dinner went well.  Once Wendy lowered her hackles, she realized that Brian was charming and not as haughty as she had originally thought.  She appreciated his courtly manners and loved listening to an accent that now sounded delightful. Learning his colloquialisms and recognizing his dry wit and sense of humor would take time but it was time she willing to spend.

When the evening was over, he drove her back to Sanderson Manufacturing to pick up her car.  If he was waiting for an invite back to her place, he was disappointed. Wendy wanted to test their working relationship a bit before she hopped into bed with him. She thanked him for dinner and a lovely evening before giving him a chaste good-night kiss that she quickly broke off before it expanded into something more. She turned the key and drove off watching him in the rearview mirror.

She tossed and turned most of the night thinking about the events of the day.  It was certainly a day she wouldn’t forget anytime soon.  Her life had changed today and time would tell if it was for better or worse. One thing she knew for sure, she couldn’t wait to explore whatever ‘kinkiness’ Brian had in mind.  She broke out her vibrator and thought about being naked and draped over Brian’s knee – the orgasm that followed came fast and furious.

Brian too spent a sleepless night.  He wondered where his agreement with Wendy would lead? Was it wise to get personally involved with her?  After all, his uncle intended her to become his business partner, could he juggle his personal feelings and put them aside at work? Right now, all he could think about was getting her into his bed.  The thought of undressing her and running his hand down her curves excited him.   Her lips were feather soft, and he wondered if the rest of her skin felt the same.  He imagined her bare-assed naked over his knee as he pinked her bottom.  Damn, he was going to have to take another cold shower to relieve some of the sexual frustration that had built up merely thinking about her.  Working with Wendy was not going to be easy.

The next day Wendy was in early and going over what she had missed the previous day. She was sitting at her desk when Brian arrived.  He stuck his head in the door to say good morning and asked if she had time to go over some things with him. 

“Sure, want to come in here or should we meet in your office?”

“Why not neutral territory.  Let me get settled and we’ll meet in the conference room in about fifteen minutes.”

“Sounds good to me,” Wendy replied.  ‘Wow, this is a whole new man.’she thought to herself.

The meeting started off agreeably, but it wasn’t long before the two of them began butting heads.  The congenial atmosphere of the night before had disappeared, and their raised voices caused Connie to come over and close the door.  They went back and forth with Wendy telling Brian he should learn a little more about the business before he started changing things.

“As I’ve said before Wendy, I will listen to what you have to say, but the final decision is mine, and I’ll take responsibility if it fails.”

“You bet you will, and I’ll make sure everyone knows it was your decision.”  As far as she was concerned the meeting was over, and she walked out of the conference room and slammed the door behind her.  Brian shook his head.  This was going to be harder than I imagined; he said to himself. Going over the plans again convinced him it was the right thing to do. Now all he had to do was get Wendy on board or forge ahead without her. He didn’t want to do that. ‘Damn, she was a headstrong woman and needed to get a rein on her temper. A firm hand was needed; too bad he had agreed to her workplace terms. He’d love nothing better than to take her over his knee right know to make her see the error of her ways.’  That thought raised more than his hackles.

When Wendy left the conference room, she walked out on the manufacturing floor.  The humming of the machines always soothed her.  She thought about Brian’s plan as she walked along inspecting the different venues.  ‘He might be right.  It’s been a long time since we added a new product and complacency in their business never worked for long.The competition was always knocking at the door.’

She walked back to the office area and stuck her head in Brian’s room. His head was down and looked engrossed, but his fingers were drumming out a beat on his desk.  ‘I wonder if he’s thinking about drumming a beat on my ass. Damn, she said to herself, now I have damp panties again.  I’m going to have to remember to bring in a spare pair because I have a feeling I’ll be needing them on a regular basis.’

“You have a minute?”

“That depends.  I’m not sure I could keep my hands to myself if we have another go round like before.”

“Maybe we should wait until tonight then.  Dinner, at my place?” she asked.

“Is humble pie on the menu?” The smirk on his face told her just what she wanted to know. Another gush of wetness and she’d soak right through to her jeans.