Trading Places

by Anita Cox

  “That’s not your call,” he growled as he uncrossed his legs so he could lean closer. “Might I remind you that I outrank you and I’m your supervisor.”

  “Remind me all you want. This is totally up to Olivia. I’m not forcing her out at all.” My tension eased, seeing I had gotten under his skin.

  “She can take her own accounts or find a new job.” He stood from the chair as he re-buttoned his jacket.

  “We’ll see about that!”

  I fumed as I read my emails. That was, until I had an email from Charles Tucker and Hori Takahashi inviting me to a private dinner the following evening to discuss the future of the firm. Dickweed Dekker wasn’t going to get the upper hand on me.

  I grabbed my cell and called Sheila, my personal shopper. I told her what I needed and transferred a chunk of money to her account. I needed to look smart and sexy, but not too sexy. She knew exactly what to do.

  When Olivia returned, she had great news and the details of six properties. Three looked perfect, but one was a repo, making the deal even sweeter.

  I filled Olivia in on my meeting with Dekker and my email from the owners. “You’re going with me.”

  She shook her head. “I wasn’t invited.”

  “You’re going with me,” I insisted again.

  “I don’t have anything to wear.” She wrung her hands.

  “You will by five o’clock this evening. I sent Sheila off to shop for us both. Now don’t freak out, but we have to show them why we’re better as a team.” I frowned as a thought occurred to me. “Unless you are ready to go out on your own. Do you want to go out on your own?”

  “Hell no! I told you before, I’m more comfortable behind the scenes. That will never change.”

  I smiled at her, “Then Dekker can kiss my ass.”

  Olivia smiled back, but looked less enthused. “What am I going to do if they force me out?”

  “They won’t. Tomorrow night Tucker and Takahashi are going to see things my way. I promise.”

  Chapter 14

  I arrived at the bar before Stacy. My mind raced as I sipped at my martini. The bar was pretty empty as it should be on a Monday evening, but I had to make amends with Stacy.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Stacy said as she hopped up on the stool.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  I waited as she ordered her drink. She looked distracted and preoccupied.

  “Okay, I’m all yours.” She gave a half-hearted smile then took a quick sip of her drink.

  “I have no agenda. It’s just been too long since we’ve done this. It used to be our thing a few times a week.” While that statement was only partially true, I didn’t want to make her feel trapped.

  “Stacy, Candy, how are you?” Janette arrived right on time.

  “Oh, I didn’t realize…uh, I mean, I thought it was just going to be us.” Stacy looked at Janette and bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. That sounded rude. Forgive me, I just have a lot, uh, going on.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m here.” Janette waived over a waitress. “Dirty martini, extra dirty please.”

  Stacy looked back and forth between us. “I don’t understand.”

  “Let me get my drink, dear, then we can chat.” Janette could sound so condescending.

  Stacy gave me a confused look. The only thing I could do was give her an encouraging smile.

  Once Janette had her drink, she turned and smiled. “Okay, carry on.”

  I put my hand on Stacy’s wrist. “Do you remember sitting here with me? We were both admiring Enrique’s incredible good looks when you helped me take the first step out of my shell. You invited me to a party.”

  Stacy laughed. “I remember.”

  “Well, do you also remember how well you took care of me after my divorce? You let me cry on your shoulder and helped me find my way. Well, now it’s my turn.”

  Stacy took a larger sip out of her drink. “Well, okay…but I still don’t understand what that has to do with her.” She thumbed at Janette. Was Stacy jealous that I’d spent so much time with Janette?

  “Today, I stepped down as a judge and I’m going back into private practice. I’m going to handle your divorce.” Janette raised her glass to Stacy, then took a sip, smiling as she placed the glass back on the table. “For free, I might add.”

  Stacy let out a deep breath. “Well, that solves one of my problems. Thank you.”

  Janette winked. “That’s not even the best part of this discussion. Candy, you’d better tell her before I do.”

  I giggled. “I don’t know, as excited as you are, I might let you tell her.”

  “Someone better tell me something. I hate being odd-man-out!” Stacy gulped down the rest of her martini and held her glass up, getting the bartender’s attention.

  “Well, today I started looking at property.” Too add a little drama, I paused and took a long slow sip from my drink.

  “So what?” Stacy looked more confused by the minute.

  “To open my own swing club.”

  “There it is!” Janette clapped. “I’m forming a private corporation to shelter Candy’s name and assets.”

  “Okay?”

  “I want you to be part of the business. It means you only work a few days a week, mostly Friday and Saturday unless there’s a special occasion.” I leaned in, keeping my voice down.

  “Doing what exactly?” Stacy leaned in, mimicking me.

  “Teaching sex classes, of course.”

  “What? How do I know anything about anything?”

  “I have contacts that cover about everything,” Janette began. “BDSM, oral arts, Kama Sutra, you name it. You’re going to start visiting these people and become an expert.”

  “Have you considered I may not be interested? That I might have morals and standards? So you two are just plotting out my life now?” Stacy looked pissed. Her arms were crossed over her chest.

  It wasn’t the reaction I had expected. I wanted to distract her from her broken heart, use Janette to stick it to Nick, her soon-to-be ex, and provide her with a lifestyle and income.

  “I could kiss you both!” She laughed.

  “You bitch!” I balked.

  “That’s what you get for stringing me along.” Stacy teased.

  I rolled my eyes and chuckled. “It was just that yesterday, I told you to wait to get into the freaky stuff and well…I had a change of heart. But if you’re not ready, I mean, I know it’s a bit much.”

  Stacy clapped her hands together like a giddy teenager. “I can’t wait to go to the classes. This is going to be so exciting…and it gives me an income. And it totally solves my current lack-of-sex issue.”

  “Don’t you worry about income, darling. Your ex has been stashing money away for a very long time and since it’s a marital asset, it’s half yours, even if he doesn’t think you know about it.” Janette grinned like a Cheshire cat.

  “How much money, exactly? And how do you know this?” Stacy’s eyes were opened wide.

  “Well, Candy called me last night. She knew I was thinking about stepping down and it just helped me make the decision. So I started doing research. As to how much, I’d say you’ll walk with maybe one to one and half million.”

  “Million!” Stacy choked on her martini.

  “Yes,” Janette said maintaining her smile. “Can you imagine the look on his face when we add it to the list of marital assets? I know the judge in divorce court. She’s going to rip his ass apart when she finds out he’s been hiding it from you. And, since there are no children, I’m going to fast-track the divorce. I’d say we’ll be done with everything in about two months.”

  “Two months!” Stacy put her hands on her forehead. “That soon?”

  “Unless you want me to stall…”

  “No, no…soon is, uh…good.” Stacy leaned back. “This is just a lot of information to take in.”

  I patted her knee. “I know. Now, let’s change the topic just a little.”

  “Yes, le
t’s.” Janette called the bartender over. “I’d like a round of espresso martinis and the bill. We really have to go after this one.”

  “Of course,” the bartender said, flashing a smile and a nod at Janette.

  I reached into my bag and pulled out the three properties I liked the most. “This one is perfect.”

  “It’s just a big barn. What the hell?” Stacy teased.

  “Privacy and exclusivity,” Janette interjected. “You can’t tell what it is from the outside.”

  “I see,” Stacy said nodding.

  “This one I like the most because the property is a foreclosure. I can pick it up dirt cheap and I’m going to have to dump a ton of money into it as it is. I can divert more funds into décor, sound systems and amenities that way.”

  Janette, with her legal hat back on, was reviewing the accompanying documents. “Candy, you can buy this for the balance of the mortgage.”

  “How much is that?”

  “Only thirty thousand.”

  “Only!” Stacy yelled.

  “Shush girl! That’s cheap for property.” She continued to look over the papers. “You know, you could have more than a weekend deal here. There’s a huge pond on the property and a few cabins. You could make this a retreat. Like a charming B&B but with less clothes.”

  I thought about what Janette said. “Something like that would require full time attention. I’m fighting for my job tomorrow night.”

  “Don’t. You’ll make more money and have more fun this way.” Stacy was teasing, but she could have a point.

  “Either way, if I leave it will be because I want to. Not because some man is dictating my life.” I was going to woo Mr. Tucker if it killed me.

  “There is a lot to figure out. Since you’re not really working right now, I could use your help. I can’t put it all on Olivia.” I stared at the photo of the barn. I had made this decision on a whim and now it was growing too quickly for my liking. I had to make sure Janette and Stacy didn’t railroad me…not that they would do it on purpose. But this was exciting and it would be hard not to get caught up in the moment.

  “I want to make careful, calculated decisions here. First thing’s first, I have to see the property. I’ve got an appointment Wednesday afternoon. After that, I’ll let you two know.” I gathered the papers and stuffed them back into my bag before Janette could stop me.

  “I know where you can find chairs that look like high-heel shoes.” Stacy blurted. “I saw them the other day when I was emotional shopping.”

  “Good, start making lists of your ideas. We’ll get together again and go over them. For now, I have a lot of work to do and a boyfriend to convince to join in on the construction aspect.”

  “Hey,” Stacy grabbed my hand. “Thank you. This is just the distraction I need.” She threw her arms around my neck and squeezed.

  I hugged her back.

  “Aw,” Janette cooed.

  What an odd bunch we were.

  Chapter 15

  Leaving my car at work, I took a cab to my new home. John was inside, deep in thought over sketches of some project he was working on.

  “Hello, handsome!” I dropped my bags on the table and wrapped my arms around his back, kissing his neck.

  “I didn’t think it was possible to distract me from this project, but you’re doing a nice job.” He turned around in his chair, slid his hands over my hips and planted a firm kiss on my lips.

  “Fantastic. I’m going to start dinner. I want those plans put up by the time I’m done.” I gave him a quick kiss then walked around the counter into the kitchen.

  “Deal. How’d it go with Stacy?”

  “Well, I really want to talk to you about something. I’d like to do it over dinner. But things went well. She’s thoroughly taken care of and distracted from what’s-his-face.” I washed my hands then started getting out the pans I needed.

  “Ah yes, the nameless ex. That stuff really works for you guys, doesn’t it?” John teased.

  “Indeed.” I started cubing up chicken. “It seems to take away the power they have over you, especially when you’re emotionally crushed. They become no one.” I desperately needed a change of topic but did not want to discuss the club with John quite yet. “How was your day?”

  “Tedious at best. A potential client brought me blueprints of a building they want me to do something with. Problem is, I’m just not feeling it.”

  I really needed to get this dinner done. John had just given me the perfect lead into the club discussion, but I didn’t want to be distracted. I wanted this discussion to have my full attention.

  “Then don’t take the project. It’s not like you’re hurting for business.” I dipped the noodles in the hot water then stirred the sauce.

  “Damn that smells good. What are you making?”

  “Chicken pad Thai.” I smiled while I cut the green onion. There was something heartwarming about cooking food that someone appreciated.

  John began rolling up the plans. “You’re right. I probably should skip out on this project. I don’t like the people or the structure. I’ll sleep on it and make up my mind in the morning.” He shoved the plans in a cardboard tube and leaned it against the wall.

  “I’m going to grab a beer. Do you want something?”

  “Diet Coke sounds great. I had a few martinis, so I don’t really want to drink anymore.”

  John went into the other room, returning with a beer in one hand and a glass of Diet Coke in the other. “I’ll just put it on the table.”

  “Great, this is almost done.” After a few minutes, I dished out the plates, putting a lime wedge on the edge and carrying them to the table.

  John dug in. “Oh my God! This is delicious.”

  “So, I had an idea last night and today, I sort of just took action.” I watched him as I took a fork full of food.

  “That’s good, Hun. What’s your idea?” John took two more forks full of food, which completely cleared his plate.

  “Do you want more?” I asked.

  “No, this is good. Tell me about your idea.” He leaned back, taking a swig from his beer.

  “I, uh, started looking for property for a business.” I looked down at my plate, swirling the noodles with my fork. “The thing is, I was sort of hoping you would be willing to help me with the building.”

  John scrunched his eyebrows. “Of course, I will always help you. What sort of business do you want to open?”

  I slowly chewed my food, taking every second I needed to form my thoughts. There was no way to go around it. So blurting seemed like a great idea. “A swing club.”

  The shock on John’s face was as evident as a Zeppelin in the sky.

  “That’s like turning your ganache into your meat and potatoes.” He leaned his forearms against the table.

  I knew my words from the night before were still swirling around inside John’s head. “Just because I own the business doesn’t mean I have to be there having sex all of the time, John. It’s a business, and as my significant other, I want you involved. I also very much value your opinion and expertise.”

  Flattery always worked. Right?

  John sat quiet for a few moments. I used the time to finish my dinner. The tension in the air was growing so thick, I began to wonder if I could cut it with my fork.

  “How can I help?” John made eye contact and kept his face calm.

  “Don’t you think we should talk about this first?” My stomach flopped. Maybe I shouldn’t have finished my dinner.

  “There’s nothing to discuss other than how I can help. If this is strictly a business, then what’s there to worry about?”

  “John, I just finished telling you this would be an occasional thing. Now I’m planning on opening a business that’s centered around sex. You have to feel something.” I scooted my chair closer to him.

  He smiled. “Well, it is going to benefit me as much as you. Since neither one of us have really experienced this before, we’ll just have to address
problems as they arise. So now, tell me how I can help.”

  He seemed resolved so I nodded. “Wednesday, after I move in, I have a four o’clock appointment to go look at a potential property. I want you to go with me. I know nothing about structure or construction so I’ll need your help. I don’t want to buy a building that is going to fall in on itself.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll bring my camera and some tools.”

  “Tools? I haven’t bought the property yet, I doubt you can just tear into it.” I laughed.

  “No, silly. I’m going to take some measurements so if we do decide to buy it, I can start drawing up plans right away. It takes a lot of time, you know.” He grabbed my hand. “And you’re not buying it alone. We’ll go in on it together.”

  “John, no. You don’t have to…”

  “I’m going to marry you some day, Candy. Do you think I want to be excluded from any part of your life?”

  “Marry?” My heart started to race.

  “I know you’re nowhere near ready now, but some day.” He stood from his chair, pulling my hand up, helping me out of mine.

  “But the thought of being surrounded by sex has me aroused. So I’m going to drag you upstairs and have my way with you now.”

  The burning look in John’s eyes told me he was dead serious. So I smiled and let him lead me to our bedroom.

  “Now, be a good girl, and do what I tell you.” My heart leapt yet again hearing his low voice. “Stand still.”

  I did as he asked, standing still as I could. He pulled my shirt up over my head and undid my bra, sliding it off. He leaned over, taking a nipple in his mouth.

  “Take my shirt off,” he demanded.

  I tried not to smile, thoroughly amused that he was being bossy. I had to stand on my tiptoes to get the shirt over his head.

  “Now the pants.” He looked down at me, eyes ablaze with lust.

  I unbuttoned his khakis and slid them down to the floor, shocked that he was going commando. His erection stared me in the face while I held his pants, waiting for him to lift his feet.

  “Open your mouth,” he growled.