The Architect

[slut_in_white]

The Architect (closed for Rocket1010)

Closed for Rocket1010

Megan Gainsborough had landed her dream job. Most architects spent years playing the intern after graduating from university, never doing anything interesting (or fun) - that is, if they got a job in the field at all. A few years ago, Megan had been lucky enough to meet one of the hiring managers at RLS Architectural Design during her presentation of her thesis project. He'd been impressed with her work, and encouraged her to apply at the firm when she graduated.

Since then, she'd secured the job and become something of a rising star in the company, known for her willingness to do whatever was required to get the job done, for her eagerness to please, for her enthusiasm for her job and for her raw talent. She was very good at her job. She'd been lucky enough to work on a few different projects, impressing the senior staff with her work and work ethic. She hadn't been given a project of her own yet, but she was still comparatively green. It would come with time, she knew. Of course, she was always looking out for ways to impress her bosses and get there that much faster.

Megan was a pretty young woman, in her mid twenties. She had long, wavy, auburn hair that she usually wore in a ponytail or braid to keep it from falling into her face. She was about 5'4", a little shorter than average, with a pleasantly curvy shape; wide hips sporting a firm, round ass, a narrow waist, and a perky C-cup chest. She got plenty of attention from men, but found most of them to be boring and self-absorbed - or maybe that was just the type she happened to attract at bars for some reason. Regardless, she wasn't keen on the idea of a relationship. She had too many work-related goals and wasn't interested in that kind of distraction. She satisfied herself with a few flings and one-night-stands here or there, but never anything serious. From her nights at the bar with her friends, she knew she could pull off a slinky black dress, but she always dressed professionally when at work. Most of her coworkers would be likely to describe her as "pretty" instead of "sexy" - not because she wasn't sexy, but because she wasn't the sort to show herself off like that at work. It wasn't the right environment for that sort of thing, and it certainly wasn't going to earn her any respect in a field still dominated by men. So she favoured clothes on the fancier end of business casual while at work. Pencil skirts or slacks with a nice blouse and, in the winter, a blazer. She worked hard to maintain her image as the picture of professionalism.

Of course, that didn't mean she couldn't have fun. She was generally quite friendly, happy and talkative around the office when appropriate. She knew how to get down to work when it was required, but she also knew the value of developing a good relationship with her coworkers. She didn't have that much in common with many of them, but she was likeable and made small talk with most people in the office.

Recently, Megan believed she'd finally hit her big break in the company. There was a big, important rush job that had come in. The project was being headed by Jack Trainor, one of the most well-respected architects at the firm. She'd spoken to him a few times, but didn't know him well - they simply hadn't crossed paths much before now. He seemed friendly enough, and he was the subject of more than a few crushes among the other ladies in the office - he was tall, handsome, and fit with a head of thick brown hair and a charming smile. Megan could certainly see why he was so popular. She might have had such a crush on him herself if she knew him a little better.

It was 3pm on a Thursday when she was called into Jack's office - he was senior enough to have his own corner office with a view she definitely envied - to meet with him and the company's CEO, Martin Sherman.

"I'm certain you two understand how important this job is for us," he said, leaning against the wall in Jack's office. Jack was sitting behind his desk and Megan was sitting on a chair in front of the desk, both of them watching Martin seriously. "I know the timeline on this one is tight. You'll be expected to put in a lot of long hours to get this finished on time, but don't think we're expecting this of you two without consideration for how much work and time this will be. Obviously any time you work past dinner, the company will pay for your food, as well as a generous bonus for your time. And you'll both be receiving a commission from the job and any related work. If you do well, I don't think I need to explain how much money that could be." He looked at Megan. "It's not every day when get such a fresh face volunteering for this kind of job. I'm pleased with your enthusiasm. Jack has the spec document for the job. I suggest you go over it this afternoon and get to work." With a curt nod, he left, leaving Megan and Jack alone.

Megan smiled brightly at her new partner, leaning forward a little and resting her forearms on the edge of his desk. "I just want to say, I'm looking really forward to working with you. I admire your work a lot."

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack Trainor sat at his large oak desk looking out over the city with a big smile on his face. Martin Sherman, CEO of RLS Architectural Design, had just called to tell him he would be the lead Senior Architect on the Gold Coast Development Project. The $50,000,000 development project would be one of the largest projects for the firm and Martin had tagged Jack as the key person to head up the project.

Looking out the large expanse of glass that covered two walls of his corner office on the 30th floor, Jack knew this was his opportunity to take the next step to becoming a vice president and then one of the owners. While Martin was the CEO and founder of the company, there were several men who were part owners and Jack aspired to be part of that elite group.

He looked down at the great view of the wide river running through the heart of the city unable to stop smiling. He had been with the firm since graduating from college as an architect working under the guidance of one of the senior architects. He worked hard and long hours, doing whatever menial task they threw at him, knowing that in the end he would someday get his opportunity to show the company that he was dedicated and deserving of being part of the ownership.

Once Jack took the rigorous state test and passed his boards to become a registered Architect, the company gave him more and more responsibilities. At first the projects were small and under the eye of his senior architect. But then he was given bigger projects and the day came when the senior architect no longer looked over his shoulder and he was allowed to plan and develop his own staff and eventually being promoted to Senior Architect.

He stood up and saw his reflection in the glass. At 37 his 6’2” and 190# body still had the athletic shape from his college days. He brushed his hand through his thick brown hair and thought for a moment about his days playing hockey wanting to go pro only to be cut short by a broken foot that never healed properly. With the dream of the NHL out, he turned all his energy to becoming a respected architect.

He had dated some but for some reason he never settled down to one woman. He and some of the other employees would go out on Friday or Saturday nights to the local watering holes. He met a few women who at first seemed interested but for one reason or another he never clicked with them. Even at the office he saw the looks of some of the women and thought about dating them but he didn’t want anything to stand in the way of his becoming an owner of RLS so he poured a lot of his energy into the task.

Martin had also told him that he wanted Megan Gainsborough to be the lead architect under him. Martin told him she had done exceptionally well on her last project and he wanted to give her this opportunity to show what she could do. As he gazed down at people walking on the path adjacent to the river, his thoughts turned to Megan.

She was much shorter than he and he saw her infectious smile in his mind as he recalled seeing her around the office talking to some of the other employees. She was always professional and the few times they spoke, he found her easy to talk to. The conversations were never long drawn out but rather quick, how are you and about how the weather is nice or nasty. She always wore her hair in a ponytail or braided and he sometimes wondered what she would look like if her hair was down. Their encounters were always short as she worked under another architect. But now they would be working closely and he thought for a moment about her curvy shape that could not be hidden totally by her professional clothing. He was thinking about her nice buttocks that swayed suggestively as she walked about the office when the buzzer sounded on his phone.

“Jack. Mr. Sherman and Megan are on their way up for the 3 O’clock meeting.”

“Thanks Janice,” he responded moving from the window to the front of his desk.

Megan walked in first followed by Martin and he noticed for the first time how her white blouse seemed to be stretched tight by her breasts that were restrained beneath the sheer material. They exchanged pleasantries and then Jack sat in his chair while Megan sat in one the leather guest chairs and Martin leaned against the wall, glancing out the large windows.

Martin started the conversation telling them both how important this project was to the company. He explained the need to get this job done in a short amount of time and they would be compensated well for their efforts. Jack made a good salary but extra money was always welcome. What he really wanted was to move up the corporate ladder and he saw this project as the perfect springboard.

Jack glanced at Megan as Martin spoke, seeing her hanging on every word, a certain sparkle in her eyes. When Martin looked at Megan telling them how she volunteered for the job, Jack’s eyebrows raised a little. Martin had told him he was giving her this chance but now it seemed to Jack that maybe Megan was the one who wormed her way into the project. He wondered for a moment if she had used her womanly charms to get Martin to put her on the team but dismissed that thought. He knew from talk around the office that she was hard working and willing to go the extra mile to get projects done. He wondered if she was a lot like him and he took an instant liking to her.

After Martin told her he was pleased with her enthusiasm and she should start this afternoon going over the documents on the project, he excused himself leaving Megan and Jack alone. Jack looked at Megan seeing her bright smile as she leaned forward, telling him. "I just want to say, I'm looking really forward to working with you. I admire your work a lot."

Jack smiled back at Megan. “Thanks for the compliment. You sure know how to get on my good side,” he laughed. He wondered if she was just telling him she admired his work or if she really knew of his successes. There was no doubt his name was associated with some of the more successful projects in the company. Each year at the annual year end party, it seemed he was called out by Martin or one of the other owners on the fine job he did the previous year. The employees knew that Jack was ambitious and headed up the corporate ladder and he commanded a certain amount of respect. Jack also usually got what he wanted.

Picking up the thick packet of documents, he continued to smile at Megan. “These are the preliminary docs for the project. It is a huge development project downtown consisting of a 40 story hotel with a shops on the first three levels. Gold Coast Development is a very good client and this is, by far, the largest project they have thrown our way. I don’t think I need to tell you the importance of this project to the company and to each of us. We will be under a lot of pressure to meet some demanding deadlines from the client and Martin. Our job is put everything we have into this project and bring it in on time and under budget. If we do that we will both be rewarded for our hard work.”

Jack stopped for a moment and then continued. “Megan please review these this afternoon and be ready to meet the team at 8 am sharp tomorrow morning. We will be meeting with the structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers to get them started. Later we’ll bring in the interior designers once we have all the concepts nailed down. I have asked Martin to sit in on the start-up meeting since he has a very close personal relationship with the people at Gold Coast. You are to go over the timelines of the project and I will go over each department’s budgets.”

He stopped again, looking at the young architect he would be spending a lot of long hours. He wondered how she would hold up under the stress of the tight deadlines. Only time would tell as he looked into her eyes, seeing the bright excitement. “Megan I too am looking forward to working with you. Do you have any questions?”

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan couldn't help the short laugh that escaped her at Jack's comment about her getting on his good side. He was quick. She liked that, a lot.

He went over the project with her for a few minutes and gave her a set of instructions, then asked if she had any questions.

Megan, who was looking down at the information package in her lap, already open to the client's demanded timeline, took a moment to respond. "No, no questions at the moment." She looked up at him, smiling broadly. "If anything comes up, I'll drop you a line." She stood, nodding to him. "If not, I'll see you tomorrow morning!"

With that, she left, returning to her desk, where she immediately got to work on the timeline. She had a good eye for planning and detail, so getting to together with enough of a buffer to account for any problems was easy. By the time 6pm rolled around, she had finished a detailed schedule for the project, including estimates on the timeline for the mechanical, structural and electrical teams. She knew she was going to get some pushback on them - they were tight, but certainly no worse than the sort of timeline she and Jack were working on.

And that was probably her biggest barrier to building up her career. She disliked confrontation. She wasn't some passive doormat, so she definitely defended herself when she felt she was being taken advantage of, but that tended not to extend quite so successfully to asking other people to do things for her.

But then, this was why they paired her with someone who had more experience, wasn't it? She got up and gathered her work. Most of the office workers were getting ready to leave. Some of them with a deadline coming up were still working, but the office was slowly beginning to empty out.

Megan crossed the main office floor towards Jack's office and knocked. She heard his voice, muffled through the door, telling her to come in. She opened the door and got as much as a "Hey," out of her mouth before her mind was derailed momentarily by the view behind him. The sun was just setting, and the city below was beginning to light up for the night. She'd thought the view had been quite stunning earlier in the afternoon, but this was breathtaking.

She only missed a few beats before her mind came back to her, but she realized that Jack was looking at her expectantly, and she smiled sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, that view as amazing... Anyway, I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk? I was hoping to get some advice."

She sat down in the plush chair opposite Jack again and presented him with her work. "I've been trying to find extra time to give to the engineers anywhere I could, but they're still going to have to put in long hours for this project. I'm not..." She paused, wincing a little. "I've had some problems asking people to do extra work for me like this. How do you do it? How do you ask people to do so much extra for you?"

 

[Rocket1010]

When Megan left his office Jack pulled the financial files out and started to review the numbers. Jack had worked with Martin to come up with a fee for the $50 million dollar development. At 7 % their fee was $3.5 million and Jack’s job was to make sure the company stayed within that number or better yet do the project for less. Jack knew that bringing the project in for less would be another feather in his cap. He thought for a moment about Megan and wondered how she would hold up under the constant stress of tight deadlines.

He knew that when Megan finished her timeline for all the engineers, meetings with the client, city reviews, and state building permits, he would have to refine his numbers. But for now, Jack assigned dollars to each item based on his past experience. He was deep in thought when Janice’s voice came over the receiver.

“Jack I’m sorry to disturb you but Brad is out here and wants to know if you have a few minutes.”

Jack looked at his watch, seeing it was 4:30 pm and silently swore under his breath. “I can see him for a few minutes,” Jack said knowing the confrontation that was about to happen. Brad had worked on the last few projects with Jack and he would be pissed that he was passed over for this big project.

When Brad walked into the office Jack could tell he was not very happy. “Jack what the fuck is going on,” he sputtered. “Haven’t I always done a good job for you and the company?”

Jack didn’t offer him a chair and Brad didn’t bother to sit down. Jack didn’t like these types of confrontations but he knew it went with the territory. “Yes Brad you have done a good job in the past but the boss wanted to throw Megan into the mix.”

“That bitch. She walks around here like a fucking pre-Madonna. I bet she is sleeping with the boss and that is why she is getting this juicy assignment.”

“Brad that is enough. I don’t know why the boss wanted her on the job but he had his reasons and mine is make sure the project gets done and the boss and client are happy. You will get your shot at another project but it won’t be this one,” he said looking Brad squarely in the eyes.

“So I’m the one that gets fucked,” he stammered and walked to the door before Jack could respond. When the door slammed shut, Jack sat back and shook his head. He knew Brad was a hot head and that may have been one of the reasons Martin wanted someone new. Everyone in the company knew Brad didn’t do well with client relations. He knew too that he would soothe his ruffled feathers later but now he needed to do the budgeting before tomorrow morning.

Janice announced she was leaving at 5:00 and Jack knew a lot of other employees would soon be leaving. He liked the quietness of the evening when everyone was gone and there were no phones or interruptions. He was just finishing the preliminary budget when he heard a knock on his door.

He smiled when Megan walked into the room and started to speak only to stop and stare at the sunset behind him. Sitting back in his chair, he waited for her to take in the dazzling sunset and smiled when she looked back and him and saying sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, that view as amazing... Anyway, I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk. I was hoping to get some advice."

“You’re not the first one to be taken back by the sunset. I sometimes find myself mesmerized by the sights from up here. So what kind of advice can I give you?” he asked as she sat in the leather chair.

"I've been trying to find extra time to give to the engineers anywhere I could, but they're still going to have to put in long hours for this project. I'm not..." She paused, wincing a little. "I've had some problems asking people to do extra work for me like this. How do you do it? How do you ask people to do so much extra for you?"

Jack looked at the young woman and smiled. He liked it that she was willing to ask for advice when she was unsure how to proceed. To him it showed a sign of maturity to ask questions to make sure she was doing it right. Brad came to mind and he was one that never asked for advice and in the past made some bad choices that cost the company money.

“Well Megan there are a few ways you can ask for someone to do something for you,” he said seeing her eyes focused on his. He liked that she was looking at him and not nervously glancing around like some people. It showed that she was a person not afraid to look her boss in the eyes and he felt a certain air of confidence in her demeanor.

“You can force people to work long hours, not caring that they may have families of other commitments. Doing it that way you run the risk of them balking at your request and that is not good. It affects their work during the day and then also their home life.” He paused for a moment noticing the slow movement of her breasts moving up and down with each breath.

“Megan you don’t have to be their best friend either to get them to do what they are paid well to do. You could use your feminine charms to get what you want, acting like the poor helpless woman or teasing them to get what you want. But that would not work in the long run.” He was sure she saw his eyes glance downward and then back to her face.

“I found the best way to get people to do what you want and work extra hours is to have them buy into the process. There are some people who will never buy into the process since they only look at their job as something they need to do and they are not interested in working long hours. We are paying them a good wage and most of them want to do a good job. We have to convince all of them that for this short period of time, we need their commitment. You have to tell them that there is a reward of doing a good job at the end as well as possible monetary rewards.” Jack paused again waiting for Megan to say anything if she wanted. She nodded her head and then he looked at his watch.

“Megan it is getting late and I have the budget pretty well done. After tomorrow’s meeting you and I will work closely to go over the numbers and compare them with your timeline and make any adjustments. I know there will be some balking from the teams but that is to be expected. Everyone wants to have all the time in the world to complete their assignments. You and I have to work closely to keep them all on the straight and narrow path.”

Jack wanted to get to know her a bit more. If they were going to work shoulder to shoulder on this project, he wanted to know more about her and so he asked. “There is a sports bar just down the street Megan. I was planning to get something to eat before heading to my apartment. Do you want to join me or do you have a boyfriend waiting for you?

 

[slut_in_white]

The implications of Jack's comments hadn't been lost on Megan. He'd told her she could use her 'feminine charms' to get the engineers to do what she wanted which, of course, suggested that he thought she had enough such charm to get away with it. And she hadn't missed the way his eyes slid down her body upon making that comment. The attention, subtle as it was, was still unexpected enough to draw a small smile to her face while he explained.

Despite that interesting little piece of information, she still paid close attention to his actual suggestions for how she deal with her problem. She'd have to think more on it, but at least now she had a starting point. She just needed to figure out how to sell the idea of working these long hours to the other employees.

Megan was still thinking about the advice Jack had given her, so his next question caught her a bit off-guard.

"There is a sports bar just down the street Megan. I was planning to get something to eat before heading to my apartment. Do you want to join me or do you have a boyfriend waiting for you?"

She looked up at him, tilting her head to one side for a moment, and then smiled. His question about her boyfriend had, again, been very subtle, but she still caught the implication again. She couldn't assume that his interest was any more than cursory, but still, to get even that much attention from a man like Jack Trainer was flattering. A slight blush rose on her cheeks at the question and she shook her head. "No, no boyfriend. I haven't yet met a guy who is willing to be more understanding about the number of hours I put in at work." She paused and smiled, a genuine expression of gratitude. "But sure, I'd love to grab some dinner with you. Let me just go pack up my stuff."

She hurried out of his office and to her desk, straightening it up and preparing it for tomorrow. She put anything she might need into her bag in case she wanted to do a little extra work tonight from home. Then she straightened and paused. She weighed in her head the idea of 'relaxing' her normal office attire. On one hand, it might seem a bit unprofessional, but she didn't get the idea that this was supposed to be a 'work dinner'. And on the other hand, she was enjoying the subtle little comments that Jack had been making about her looks and was tempted to encourage them a bit. She couldn't imagine it going beyond those little comments - partly because she knew that there were plenty of reasons an office romance was a bad idea, and partly because she got the impression that someone like Jack could have any woman he wanted. Still, she liked that he was noticing her, and she couldn't help but want to make him notice her a little more. After all, she didn't have to go overboard, she decided - just a few little changes appropriate to the more relaxed atmosphere, nothing to suggest that she was doing anything besides letting down her hair a little.

Megan tugged the elastic out of her braid and ran her fingers through her hair, leaving her long hair cascading down her shoulders with a little more curl than usual. Then she unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse - revealing a small triangle of skin just above her cleavage, so that just the barest hint of the top of her cleavage was visible. Then she pulled on her jacket and headed over to the elevator where Jack was already waiting for her.

 

[Rocket1010]

When Megan mentioned she did not have a boyfriend, Jack could see the hint of a blush on her cheeks. He knew from just looking at her that she could probably have any man she wanted. But he also knew from her remarks that there must have been some failed relationship when she chose her work over the man. He didn't want to pry too much into her private life right now knowing that working closely together, he would learn more about her.

Jack was pleased Megan accepted his dinner offer and watched her hurry out of his office, seeing the slight sway of the ass cheeks with each step. He wondered for a moment if she was swaying suggestively for him. 'Boy some guy is missing out,' he thought as he gathered his papers and placed them in the file. Turning to his computer, he closed out of the budgeting programs he had opened.

Smiling he wondered what Megan would think if she knew of his taste for watching porn on his computer after hours. Grabbing his coat, he didn't bother to tighten the tie he had loosened earlier in the day. Most days he dressed casual but because of a client meeting early in the day, he had worn his Brooks Brothers dark blue suit with a white shirt and red power tie. Grabbing his laptop bag he stuffed a few papers inside and headed to the elevators to wait for Megan.

Standing at the elevator, he surveyed the office noticing only a few office lights still on. Normally he was one of the last ones to leave at night. He was looking at one of the offices, seeing Bob Allen, head of the structural department looking over some papers. A sound from behind him caused him to turn and he smiled at the sight before him. Megan was walking toward him and she looked completely different than what he normally saw around the office. Her long hair, usually in a braid or ponytail, now hung down, cascading over her shoulders.

But it was something else that made his eyebrows raise slightly. He noticed the top two buttons on her blouse were undone, giving him a view of her bare skin just above her cleavage. He saw her looking at him and realized that he was caught staring at her. Thinking quickly he said, "you look great Megan. I usually don't see you with your hair down. You should wear it that way more often." Jack wondered for a moment if she was teasing him, using some of the feminine charms he mentioned in his office. If she was, it was working. He found himself more interested in getting to know her better.

The two of them looked like any other couple on the crowded downtown street while they walked the few short blocks to Hank's Sports Emporium. Some of the men and even women turned their heads as they walked together to the bar. Jack could tell the men were eyeing her cute ass and abundant breasts as they made small talk about the office and some of the people they both knew, laughing when they had the same thoughts about some of the employees. Jack knew that office talk was dangerous and he was always guarded in what he said about someone, never knowing when or if it would come back to haunt him.

Hank's was an old establishment that served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The owner, Hank Hancock, updated the place with televisions on the walls tuned to the latest game or sports story. The noise of some of the games was loud and there was always some group of men and women watching the games and rooting for their favorite team. They found a booth along one of the walls and waited for the waitress to come take their drink order.

The waitresses were another thing that Hank thought of when he modernized the old time bar. The waitresses were dressed in skimpy outfits that showed off their feminine assets. The skimpy outfits were a hit with the men but Hank went one step further. He had hired male waiters from the nearby college and these boys had bodies that would make any woman swoon. Hank insisted the men wear tight pants to show off their packages and Jack wondered if some of them stuffed them to make it appear they had huge cocks. Their shirts like the ladies blouses were purposely open to show off their best attributes.

As they waited for the waitress or waiter to come to their table, Jack took a moment to take in Megan as she looked around the establishment at the various televisions showing sports highlights from the previous night. She looked great with her hair down around her shoulders. But what drew his eyes was the slight expanse of skin exposed above her cleavage. She had left a lot to the imagination and he was sure she did it on purpose. But that was ok with him. It had been awhile since he had been out on a date and though this was not a date, he found that he enjoyed being here with her.

When he looked up at her face, she was still looking at the other patrons in the bar. He noticed the expression on her face, seeing a certain resolve that he took to mean she knew what she wanted. When she turned from surveying the bar, he gave her a warm smile and wondered if she knew he was staring at her breasts. If she did she didn't seem to mind and while he didn't know her very well, he was pleased Martin had picked her to be his right hand man, so to speak.

"Megan I like to get to know a little about the person I will be working closely on my projects. I think it helps to know some things about each other. I'll tell you a little about me and then I would like to hear some things about you." He paused for a moment, seeing her look squarely into his eyes just as she had done in the office.

"I come from a small town in Northern Ohio and was raised with three sisters and one brother. My dad works in the local steel plant and my mom teaches school. I went to school at State College to get my architect's education and played on the hockey team. My dream of making it to the NHL fell short when I was injured and the scouts were not interested after that. I have always been fascinated with how buildings were put together and when I was young I played with Lego's a lot. My dad told me at a young age that I would be either designing or constructing buildings. I chose the former because it intrigued me."

Jack paused for a moment, looking out into the crowd for the waitress. "I dated a little but with all the responsibilities at RLS, I find that I don't have a lot of free time outside the office." As he finished the sentence, he saw a waitress and waiter approaching their table. The waitresses' breasts were bulging out of the skimpy outfit with the benefit of a pushup bra and the waiter looked like he had just finished lifting weights with his tight abdomen muscles staring at them.

"After we order, you can tell me some things about yourself," he said as the redheaded waitress gave them each a sweet sensual smile.

"Hi and welcome to Hank's. I'm Darla and this is Jimmy. We will be taking care of you tonight. Can we start you off with something to drink?" she said in a low sensual voice meant to invoke images of lust.

Jack looked at Megan. "I'll have a merlot and what would you like to drink this evening Megan?"

 

[slut_in_white]

Normally, Megan found the light get-to-know-you chat that inevitably happened the first time you have a lengthy conversation with a new person to be rather dull. Jack was surprisingly different. His story about his goals of joining the NHL were unexpected, and lent him a new dimension she found herself very curious about

Frankly, she hadn't been paying much attention to anything but Jack from the time they'd left the office, so she hadn't noticed just how skimpily dressed the waitresses were at the restaurant. He was a natural conversationalist and she really enjoyed their light jokes about working at RLS on the walk down. Once they got into their booth, she was taken both by his story and by the way he continued to subtly check her out. Since he apparently didn't mind doing so, she let her gaze wander over his body for a moment as well. Since they were sitting at a table, she couldn't see anything below the waist, but now that she was taking the time to really look at him, she realized she wasn't surprised at all that he had once had hockey dreams. Nor was she surprised at the number of mild crushes on him that were going around the office. He was built like an athlete, broad in the shoulder and with biceps she could see under his shirt, now that she was looking. What caught her attention the most, though, was his hands. They were large and strong, and from the type of design work he did, she had no doubt about their dexterity. She wondered idly if they were still calloused at all from his hockey days, or from whatever form of exercise he preferred these days...

The approach of the waitress snapped her out of her thoughts, and when she looked up, she realized for the first time how very little the waitress was wearing. Though not bisexual exactly, Megan had an appreciation for a fine feminine body, so she didn't mind the view, exactly. She just thought it strange that Jack would take her to something like a Hooters... until she spotted the waiter, and realized that it was an "equal-opportunity" restaurant. Her lips quirks up in amusement while Jack ordered, and she took the opportunity to ogle their waiter a little before she ordered herself. "Chardonnay, please."

The waitress gave a sultry nod and a wink, and the pair left the table to continue their work. Megan turned her attention back to Jack and smiled. Suddenly, the fact that he'd been checking her out since they'd arrived seemed much more flattering, given the number of other "pleasant views" that were easily available and in much more revealing clothing.

"Well, I suppose it's my turn! Let's see... I grew up in California, with one younger brother. I was very much the class nerd when I was younger. Rather awkward too, I must admit, but I got good marks in school and I always did well in math and science. I got into dance when I entered middle school." She smiled, a little self-deprecatingly. "It's amazing how much less awkward one becomes when one isn't so chubby. Once I entered high school, I was encouraged to enter some kind of STEM field, but I've always had a bit of a soft-spot for art, and I didn't want to leave that behind entirely, so I ended up going to school here for architecture. I figured, why not, it's a good combination of the math and science side, and there's some opportunities to draw. It seemed too good to be true! In my last year at school, I met one of the hiring managers at RLS - Lewis, you know him, right? - and he encouraged me to apply when I finished school."

"As for my personal life... Well, my whole family is still back in California, so I live by myself with my cat. I don't have a boyfriend. I've had a few potential ones, but they all bailed once they realized I was serious when I said I usually put in at least 10 hour days at work." She sighed. "Ah well. Maybe someday I'll find someone who can understand why I put so much time into my work. I really do love my job. It's worth it to me. I guess I just need to find someone who feels that way about his job, too." She laughed lightly. "Or maybe I'll just end up married to my work," she joked, grinning at him.

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack leaned back in the booth and smiled while the waiter and waitress looked at Megan for her drink order. He saw her eyes survey the two and noticed she seemed to linger a bit longer on Darla's assets before turning her attention to Jimmy, her eyes quickly taking in the his body from the hips down. Jimmy was either well endowed or he put a lot of packing in his tight pants. the quirky little smile on Megan's face told Jack that she was not a prude. He had heard some rumors floating around the office about some of the women. He never enquired about who they were talking about but he had heard vague references about them working long hours and having no social life. There are always some people who mistake career goals in women who work long hours and label them as prudes. If men do it and give they are just climbing the corporate ladder.

He made a mental note of her request for Chardonnay. If they were out on a job or with a client he had an idea of what kind of wine she liked. He wondered if she drank beer but held back asking as she turned her attention to him now that the waitress and waiter left. Jack smiled as he saw her eyes roam up and down his torso and wondered if she was comparing him to the waiter. When her eyes moved back to his, they locked on them and she began to tell him a little about herself.

Jack listened to Megan tell him about some of her past. She seemed to be so at ease talking to him as if they were simply friends and he was not her boss. He liked that quality in her so far. In the office with Martin she seemed to have an air of confidence and Jack could sense why Martin was impressed with her. Megan appeared to not be squeamish like a lot of people are when they are in the prescence of their boss or some authority. Jack wondered how she would do when she had to meet with the clients from Gold Coast and give them an updated report on the company's progress.

There was also no doubt that she was smart and from what Martin told him she was very talented. As she told him about being chubby, he tried to imagine her that way. He glanced down at the tiny bit of cleavage showing under her blouse. If she had been chunky when she was young she definitely blossomed into a very beautiful woman.

He looked deep into her eyes as she began and wondered, 'Why is it I never noticed her in the office. Was it because of the braided hair or the ponytail she wore so often or was it because I was too wrapped up in my own little world.' Sitting across from him was a woman who worked in the same office and one that he never really noticed before. He saw her in a totally different light now and he was enjoying listening to her talk.

"Yes I know Lewis. He is a great asset to the company and I'm sure he saw a lot of talent in you," Jack commented with a smile. Lewis was their marketing director and attended a lot of schools in search of talent. He was very picky about who he asked to send in resumes for potential employment. Jack turned his attention back to Megan.

"As for my personal life... Well, my whole family is still back in California, so I live by myself with my cat. I don't have a boyfriend. I've had a few potential ones, but they all bailed once they realized I was serious when I said I usually put in at least 10 hour days at work. Ah well. Maybe someday I'll find someone who can understand why I put so much time into my work. I really do love my job. It's worth it to me. I guess I just need to find someone who feels that way about his job, too. Or maybe I'll just end up married to my work,"

Jack liked the way she grinned and laughed but he could tell that she wanted a relationship with someone but for now she was dedicated to her career. For some reason Jack was pleased to hear that she was not in a relationship at the present time. He knew they would be working long hours together and the one thing he didn't need was his right hand man running off to satisfy the whims of some man. But there was another chord that struck inside him. For some reason he couldn't put his finger on, he was taking a liking to Megan and they had only started working together a few hours ago. He told himself to rein in any thoughts about the two of them until he got to know her better.

"It looks like we have the same dilemma," he chuckled. "We both work long hours and it seems there is never enough time outside the office for other things......" He let the comment trail off when out of the corner of his eye, he saw their waitress, Darla, making her way toward their booth. The way she was sauntering through the tables, it was evident to Jack that she was trying to catch his eye or was she trying to catch Megan's eye.

When Darla brought the drinks, she leaned over toward him, letting him have a good view of her ample cleavage. When he looked up at her, she gave him another wink and then stood at the edge of the table. He saw her glance over to Megan, checking to see if she was wearing a ring. Darla looked back at Jack and with a huge smile on her face commented, "Is there anything else I can get you hun," she asked with a slight sexual innuendo hint in the tone of her voice.

"Not right now," but check back in a few minutes and we will be ready to order," Jack responded.

When she left to find another table to flash her feminine charms, Jack looked at Megan and smiled. "Hey .... maybe we should pick up our servers and they could be our distraction from the long hours at the office," he laughed as he picked up his glass of Merlot.

Looking into her eyes, he offered a toast. "Seriously Megan. We will be working some long hours together." Jack lifted his glass to Megan. "Here's to working together," he said reaching over the table to clink his glass to hers as the male waiter came to the table to take their order.

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan chuckled at Jack's suggestion that they pick up their servers, and considered making a comment about how that might have been a good idea - she hadn't been laid in too long. But then she decided that was too crude for someone she didn't know well, and he was technically her boss on this job. Not exactly appropriate.

Thankfully, the waiter came over, so she didn't have to decide on a more appropriate response. He smiled brightly at her when he reached the table, his gaze wandering none-too-subtly down toward her cleavage. "So, what can I get you?"

Megan smiled, feeling a little flattered by the attention, despite knowing it was probably as much for tips as it was out of actual attraction. "I'll have the burger, please." He nodded and noted it down, then took Jack's order.

Once he was finished, he turned his attention back to Megan and lifted one of his eyebrows, smirking suggestively. "Anything else, honey?"

That drew a quick laugh from Megan, and she shook her head. "Not right now, but I'll let you know," she promised, letting the slight innuendo of her words hang in the air.

The waiter seemed pleased with that, so he nodded and smiled brightly, then left to go hand in ther orders to the kitchen.

Megan, meanwhile, blushed a bit, suddenly aware that flirting with a scantily clad waiter might not have been such appropriate behaviour in front of her boss. It was just, he was so relaxed and easy to get along with, she was having difficulty remembering the usual boundaries of propriety she observed with coworkers, especially those more senior than herself. "Sorry, was that too much?"

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack liked the small chuckle Megan made when she commented about picking up the waiter and waitress. 'Megan seems to have a good sense of humor,' he thought as he watched her eye the waiter and telling him she wanted a burger.

When the waiter turned to him, Jack ordered a Black and Bleu Burger, one of his favorites and then he smiled as the waiter turned his attention back to Megan as if Jack did not exist.

He chuckled when the waiter asked her if she wanted anything else in a come hither tone. The way she quickly laughed and told him she would let him know with a certain air of other possibilities brought another chuckle from Jack. Jack was sure that the wait staff were taught to be pleasant at all times. Some of them liked to tease their customers, giving them visions a sexual romp in the hay but he was sure that some were on the prowl.

The way Megan blushed and then looked at him, made Jack think she might be a bit embarrassed or crossed a line. "Sorry, was that too much?"

"Oh no Megan I don't think that was too much," he said with a laugh, "In fact I'll bet he goes back to the kitchen thinking he might have a chance with you," Jack laughed again, taking another sip of wine. Jack envisioned the waiter going back to the female waitress and telling her Megan might be interested in him.

He realized that he had not had so much fun with a female companion in a long time. It was nice to relax and enjoy talking with someone about other things than just work. He also liked that fact that Megan seemed to be at ease with him even though he was her boss. If they were going to work closely together for long hours, it was good to know that she was someone he could talk to and kid around with.

Jack looked into her eyes and told her. "I want you to feel comfortable talking to me Megan. Even though I'm your boss, I believe that as a team we need to have an open line of communication. If we don't have that communication, it will affect our work. I may get pissed off and yell at you for something you did at work but I want you to know that I realize I'm not perfect either. I make mistakes too and I want you to feel free to have an open channel of communication. I can be tough and will demand a lot out of you but I am willing to listen if you have a valid argument."

Jack could see Megan mulling over his words. He always felt a good line of communication cleared the air but he is the boss and is responsible for this project. He wondered how Megan would take criticism when he would take issue with something she did wrong. "Brad Peters came into my office today yelling and screaming that he should have the assistant position rather than you. One thing he never understood was communication with anyone. If he did he would be sitting there and not you. I have a feeling Martin sees you having a good future with the firm and he wants to see how you perform. I say we give him our best and it will work out for each of us."

Jack paused and watched for her reaction. The waitress and waiter came sauntering to the table with their food. Before they got to the table, Jack added, "I think Hank teaches all his waiters and waitresses to tease the customer with subtle innuendoes. Probably makes the customer feel wanted with the attention they give them in hopes of getting a bigger tip. What do you think Megan?"

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan couldn't help the wide smile that spread across her lips as Jack explained, quite passionately, that he wanted them to be comfortable with each other. She decided that she liked him. He was clearly good at his job, confident and comfortable as a leader, and very involved with the people he worked with. He knew the value of a good working relationship. She appreciated that. "Thank you, Jack. I appreciate that a lot."

Though she didn't say it, she was also pleased with how upfront he was about how he would react if she screwed up. Mistakes happened. He didn't pretend like they were okay - there would be consequences if she made one. But at the same time, he recognized that they were going to happen sooner or later - no one is perfect, and from his little speech she got the impression that what mattered more than the mistake was her willingness and ability to fix it. He seemed like the type to care about results. She could respect that.

She was still considering that when he casually added the little anecdote about Brad. She didn't know him personally, but she knew him by reputation: good at his job, but a terror to work with. Frankly, she understood why Martin had chosen her over him - she took pride in her levelheadedness, something Brad clearly lacked. Still, she recognized the casual mention for what it was - with a temper like Brad's, if he felt slighted, there was a good chance he was going to confront her about it. Jack was offering her a warning of what was coming. It warmed her to him even more. Not only was he shaping up to be a competent and approachable boss, but he looked out for those working for and with him. She couldn't imagine a better personality to have in a boss.

"Thanks for the heads up," she said, her tone full of genuine gratitude.

The waitress headed over to them and Jack made his quip about tips, lightening the mood at the table quite effectively. Megan laughed, but by the time she had a chance to respond, the waitress was within earshot, so she simply said, "Probably," and left it at that, not wanting to discuss that particular theory in front of Darla.

"Can I get either of you anything more to drink?"

Megan considered her empty glass - she'd been sipping on it regularly throughout the conversation, and she'd gone through a lot more than she had expected to. The conversation was flowing freely and time was passing faster than she had expected. She knew she shouldn't drink much more - getting drunk in front of her new boss seemed like a bad idea - but she could handle a glass more, she was certain, and she was enjoying herself so much...

"You know what? Sure. I'll have another glass, thanks!"

Darla smiled and nodded, and got her response from Jack, before turning away, her hips swaying invitingly. Megan watched her go, smirking a bit. "I'm honestly not sure if she's fishing for tips or if she's honestly interested in you." Megan kept her expression as innocent as possible while she added, "I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter. You'd be quite the catch, I think."

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack chuckled when Megan uttered, "probably" as Darla the waitress approached the table with their food. He wondered what she thought about the waiter and waitress teasing them for bigger tips but the waitress was close and he could tell Megan didn't want to talk when Darla was near.

The food she set in front of them look delicious. Hank's was your typical sports bar, serving burgers and wings to the sporting crowd. It was a good place to get something quick if you wanted or you could watch any number of games on the televisions, or play some of the word games.

When she asked them if she could get them anything more to drink, Jack looked at Megan see that her glass was almost empty. Only a swallow of chardonnay was left in the bottom of the glass. He didn't have to wait long as she told Darla she would have one more drink.

Darla turned to Jack and winked, asking him, "can I get you another drink," she cooed in her best sexy voice.

"Sure I'll have another Merlot," he answered.

Darla didn't bother to write the order down as she winked again and then turned to leave. One thing Jack noticed about the wait staff at Hank's, they barely wrote anything down and seldom got the drinks or food order mixed up. He noticed that Megan was watching Darla walk away and he too watched her ass jiggle a little with each swaying step.

Picking up his burger, Jack looked at Megan who had a smirk on her face. He bit into the sandwich as she told him. "I'm honestly not sure if she's fishing for tips or if she's honestly interested in you. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter. You'd be quite the catch, I think."

As Jack chewed the juicy meat he thought about her comment. 'Did she think he was a good catch?' They had only met a few short hours ago even though they worked in the same office environment. Jack had heard some of the rumors around the office but he dismissed them as rumors. He never pursued any of the women because he wanted to keep an arms length from the female employees for fear of the office rumors and politics. But that is not to say he didn't daydream or fantasize about some of them. In the privacy of his office he would sometimes think about starting an affair with a particular woman but then he would think that there was nothing like a good scandal to ruin his chances of being a owner.

He looked at Megan and said, "I think it is a bit of both Megan. I have been here before and seen her go after other patrons like they were fish in a barrel. I think it is part of her job to tease the men and maybe the women to get them to part with more of their money." He paused for a moment and then continued. "As for interested in me, she may be but I'm not really interested in a one-night stand and to me that is all she would be. It would be highly unlikely that her and I would hit it off for a long term relationship."

Out of the corner of his eye Jack saw Jimmy headed their way with two wine glasses. He stopped talking as Jimmy put one in front of him and then placed a new napkin coaster in front of Megan. Before he set the glass down he opened the napkin and Jack saw some writing on the inside.

Jack picked up his wine glass and drained the last bit of liquid waiting for Jimmy to leave. Before he did, he smiled lecherously at Megan. "I hope this satisfies your taste," he commented setting the glass on the napkin before turning to leave.

The laugh started at the bottom of his throat and rose quickly into a series of chuckles seeing Megan staring at the napkin. "I'm curious what he wrote on the napkin," he laughed. Looking at Megan he smiled. "Looks like I'm not the only one who is in the fish bowl. Maybe you and Jimmy can double date with me and Darla," he teased. Jack knew this would never happen but it was fun to tease her to see how she would react.

Taking a sip of his wine, he asked, "So tell me Megan, since we are going to be working together for a long time, what are the rumors you've heard about me being a good catch?"

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan hadn't expected the waiter to give her his number - she had thought that Jack had been right, that they were flirting for tips. Apparently she'd been much more alluring than she thought. She looked thoughtfully at the number written on the napkin, and seriously considered the idea of taking Jimmy up on his offer.

Only then she felt Jack's gaze on her and suddenly, she didn't want to sleep with Jimmy anymore. She wanted to spend more time with Jack instead.

She grinned at his laughter about the note and peeked into the napkin, checking the phone number surreptitiously. He asked about the rumors she heard and she smiled a bit teasingly. "Oh, just little things, here and there. I've heard some of the ladies at work find you, um, unusually attractive. Guys who work relatively sedentary jobs don't usually look like you, I mean," she admitted, blushing a bit. She wasn't sure what she was doing - some part of her recognized that this sort of behaviour was utterly inappropriate for a woman out to dinner with her boss. But she was enjoying herself *so much*, and surely just a little flirting was harmless, right?

 

[Rocket1010]

He watched Megan lift up the napkin again, looking at what was sure the waiter's phone number. When she grinned at him and left it lie under her glass of wine, he was surprised to find himself somewhat relieved. He had no ties to this lovely woman sitting across from him but he was glad she didn't pick up the napkin and put it in her purse.

He saw the teasing smile on her face as she started to answer his question about the rumors at work. Jack smiled when he saw her blush after making the comment, "Guys who work relatively sedentary jobs don't usually look like you, I mean."

'Was she one of the ones attracted to him?' he wondered while taking another sip of wine. He was surprised that some of the women would be so enamored with him, always picturing himself as reasonably good looking but never thinking of himself as a heartthrob. He dismissed any notion that sparks were flying between them at the table. It was true though that when he had seen her in the office, she was all business and dressed so differently. Glancing down to the open buttons on her blouse, he found himself thinking about what lay beneath the layers of clothes.

As they finished their meal he wanted to ask her if she too had a crush on him but thought better of it. They were out to dinner as business associates and not on a date. Sipping the last of their wine, he said, "Megan I think it is time we get out of here. I have some work to do before tomorrow morning's meeting. Thanks for the wonderful evening. I had a lot tonight and I'm looking forward to working closely with you. I can see already that Martin is a man of vision and we should have fun working together ........" His voice trailed off when he saw Darla come sauntering to the table once more with a big smile on her face. "Was everything to your satisfaction?" she cooed.

"Everything was just great," Jack responded looking at the large expanse of cleavage skin. He was amazed that her breasts did not spill out of the tight outfit.

"Would you like some dessert? If you don't have room for it now, I'm sure we have something you two would love to take home and enjoy!" she chimed. It was evident that Darla was not talking about food.

"I think we'll pass on the dessert," Jack responded looking at Megan, seeing that she too wanted to get out of the sports bar. In the background Jimmy, the waiter, approached the table. Darla turned to him and said, "they're all full and don't want any dessert," with a little dejection in her voice.

"That's too bad," the muscular waiter added. "Maybe another time." He looked at Megan and smiled. "You know how to get a hold of me." His eyes cast down to the napkin still under the wine glass and at Megan as if to silently tell her he was always available.

Jack paid the bill and then he and Megan left the bar to walk back to the office building. When they got into the crisp night air, Megan stumbled on a crack in the sidewalk. Jack was quick to catch her before she fell and smiled as her breasts rubbed against his arm.

'Her stumbling was not intentional or was it,' he thought as they started back to the office garage to get their cars. "Those two were something else weren't they," he said and then added. "I should apologize Megan for taking you there. I never expected them to hit on us like they did. Next time we'll go to somewhere more quiet."

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan couldn't stop grinning. While she didn't think she was going go take Jimmy up on his offer, that he was so insistently interested certainly boosted her ego a little. And she wasn't even dressed to be sexy - her outfit was more professional than anything else. Though, maybe Jimmy was one of those guys into the schoolteacher/librarian look.

She was pleased about how much fun she was having with Jack. She knew this project meant a lot of time working together after hours. It was a relief to know that they seemed to be striking up a good working relationship, or maybe even the beginnings of a friendship... Her mind ran away with her then, considered the idea of something a little different from friendship, something that involved her getting to see the musculature she could catch a glimpse of here and there through his shirt. She banished the thought quickly. That was a fantasy, nothing more. Even if she were willing to risk the scandal of an office relationship, she doubted that he would be.

It was lost in those thoughts that Megan, not paying enough attention when they stepped outside, tripped over a raised sidewalk. She grasped instinctively at Jack, pulling herself against his arm to keep her balance. Once she felt her feet under her again, she realized that her breasts were crushed against his arm, and she blushed brightly.

It was a relief when Jack just smiled and started to apologize for bringing her to that restaurant. At least he wasn't annoyed with her apparent clumsiness.

She laughed light-heartedly when his apology was finished and shook her head. "Oh no, don't worry. I had a lot of fun with you," she told him honestly, a wide, genuine smile on her face. "And, to be quite frank, all that attention from our waiter was good for my ego." She grinned, shrugging. "I suppose some ladies would be offended by what happened in there, but you'll have to try a lot harder if you're trying to offend me," she promised. She winked at him and then headed to her car. "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow morning. It'll be a long day tomorrow!"

 

[Rocket1010]

The blush on Megan's face was not lost on Jack when her breasts were crushed against his arm. When she regained her balance, he saw the expanse of her cleavage seeing the tops of her white bra. It was an inviting sight and Jack had to remind himself that they were coworkers and not lovers.

Jack was glad to hear too that she had a good time in the bar. He was surprised to hear her say the waiter's attention was good for her ego. Most women he met in business seemed to have large ego's to go head to head with men. Maybe Megan was different. He laughed at her comment about having to work hard to offend her. The way she winked and smiled at him made him wonder what it would take to offend her.

"Yes it will be a long day tomorrow. We have a lot of things to take care of so get a good night's sleep and I'll see you bright and early in the morning." he replied. After making sure she was on her way, Jack climbed into his BMW.

On the drive along the river to his condo, his thoughts turned to his new assistant and he wondered if she was up to working the long hours. That night he tossed and turned in his bed, each time waking to think about the restaurant and Megan. Finally dawn came and after showering, he dressed in a blue shirt with red tie and haggar slacks. It would be a casual day putting the pieces of the project together.

Arriving at the office before anyone else, he settled into his leather chair and watched the city come alive. He was lost in thought about Megan and the project when he heard a knock on the door. Looking at his watch he saw it was still a half hour before the staff would arrive. "Come in," he announced watching the door open.

 

[Rocket1010]

The blush on Megan's face was not lost on Jack when her breasts were crushed against his arm. When she regained her balance, he saw the expanse of her cleavage seeing the tops of her white bra. It was an inviting sight and Jack had to remind himself that they were coworkers and not lovers.

Jack was glad to hear too that she had a good time in the bar. He was surprised to hear her say the waiter's attention was good for her ego. Most women he met in business seemed to have large ego's to go head to head with men. Maybe Megan was different. He laughed at her comment about having to work hard to offend her. The way she winked and smiled at him made him wonder what it would take to offend her.

"Yes it will be a long day tomorrow. We have a lot of things to take care of so get a good night's sleep and I'll see you bright and early in the morning." he replied. After making sure she was on her way, Jack climbed into his BMW.

On the drive along the river to his condo, his thoughts turned to his new assistant and he wondered if she was up to working the long hours. That night he tossed and turned in his bed, each time waking to think about the restaurant and Megan. Finally dawn came and after showering, he dressed in a blue shirt with red tie and haggar slacks. It would be a casual day putting the pieces of the project together.

Arriving at the office before anyone else, he settled into his leather chair and watched the city come alive. He was lost in thought about Megan and the project when he heard a knock on the door. Looking at his watch he saw it was still a half hour before the staff would arrive. "Come in," he announced watching the door open.

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan woke up at dawn the following morning in her little apartment. It was small, but it was quite nice and, more to the point, it was downtown. She rolled out of bed, showered, dressed and put her makeup on. She was excited to get started on the project, and to work with Jack.

She was tempted to leave her hair down today, but she didn't want it interfering with her work, so she compromised by tying the front back and leaving the rest of it to fall around her shoulders in natural waves. She couldn't help but recall the look Jack gave her when she showed up at the elevator looking a little more relaxed. She wanted to see that look again. Knowing that it would be a long day, she went with something a little more comfortable, though still professional; a looser, more comfortable white blouse and a pencil skirt.

She arrived earlier than she had expected, but it was probably good. It gave her a chance to talk over some of the finer points of the schedule she'd prepared with Jack before the meeting. She wasn't at all surprised that he was already there when she arrived - he was well known for his very long hours.

She knocked on the door, her folder full of papers in her arms, and he called for her to come in. Pushing the door open, she smiled brightly at him. "Morning! I thought we might want to go over the schedule before the meeting starts."

 

[Rocket1010]

A broad smile formed on Jack's face when he saw Megan walk through the door. She seemed very happy as she greeted him. There was something about her looks that caught Jack's eyes. He remembered her in the office as one who wore her hair in braids or a ponytail.

"Well good morning Megan," Jack replied watching her move inside his office. "I think that is a good idea to go over the schedule. Let's lay the papers out on the conference table," he said getting out of his chair.

Moving to the table, he took in her white blouse with one button undone instead of the two last night. He was a bit disappointed that she was not showing more of her cleavage. But as his eyes cast downward, the pencil skirt she chose showed the outline of her hips and calves. He smiled and when he looked back up to her face she was smiling. He had the feeling she knew he would look and for a moment he had a few carnal thoughts. But then he caught himself. They were co-workers and had a lot of close work to do and besides was her boss and it wasn't good to have an office affair.

When they sat in the leather chairs, Jack said, "Let's see what you have for the meeting," Reading through the schedule he was impressed with how quickly she grasped the concept of the project. "Hmmmm this really looks good,"he mused.

Looking at her he said, "there are a few things we will need to change when we compare this with my budget but we will tackle that later. I think your schedule looks good but I want to warn you. You do know you are going to get some gruff from structural don't you?"

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan couldn't really claim that she didn't like the way Jack eyed her when she leaned over to spread the papers out over the conference table. She knew an office romance was a bad idea, but they could have a little fun without it becoming a problem, right? Like try had last night at the restaurant; a little harmless flirting and a little looking never hurt anybody. Besides, having a comfortable relationship was going to be helpful over the next few weeks.

She couldn't help the glowing smile that spread across her face when Jack told her she'd done well. She knew that it wasn't as if he was giving her a medal, and he wasn't known for being stingy with praise, but he did have a reputation for only giving it out when he honestly felt it was deserved, and from the look on his face, he was surprised and truly impressed by how well she's done for someone so new to this scale of project.

She was standing across the table from him when he warned her about the blowback she was going to get from structural, and she winced. "I know. But there really isnt any way I can avoid it. I mean, I pored over it again last night after dinner to see if I'd missed anything, but there really isn't any more time to give them." She sighed. "Well, I suppose today's as good a day as any to start using that advice you gave me."

 

[Rocket1010]

He listened to Megan's response about the structural department's proposed argument with the amount of time they would be allotted. Jack knew it was an assumption they would complain but it was founded on past projects. They always complained. Other departments would also complain but they were easier to deal with since structural was in the lead.

Gathering up his notes, he told her, "I expect about 15 people besides us. After I start the meeting, I'll turn it over to you. Martin and I will be there so you don't have to go it alone."

The intercom buzzed and Jack knew it was time. Janice's voice rang out in the room. "Jack it's 8:15 and Martin called to tell you they are ready for you in the large conference room."

"Thanks Janice. Tell them we are on our way,"

Janice gave them both a big smile when they came out of his office. "Good luck." Jack nodded and thanked her and then they walked through the office to the stares of the employees. Some had smiles others just looked on with wishful smiles on their faces. Outside the large conference room, Jack stopped and looked at Megan.

Putting his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her closer as a friend or coach would when they wanted to give encouragement. The smell of her sweet perfume filled his nostrils as he leaned close to her. "I know you will do well Megan."

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan really appreciated Jack's vote of confidence. She knew she could do this. She knew she would ace it. But that didn't prevent her nerves from jangling a little as she walked towards the conference room. His comforting arm around her shoulder and his encouraging words did a lot to calm the nervous butterflies in her stomach. Of course, they were simply replaced with more butterflies, these a bit warmer and more aware of his closeness. She caught a breath of the smell of his after-shave and his cologne. She had to wait until he stepped away from her for her head to clear, and then stepped into the conference room with a bright smile on her face.

She knew most of the people there, at least by reputation, and had spoken to about half of them. She greeted various people while she took her seat near the head of the table and waited for Jack to begin. His introduction was short: pleasant, but to the point. He introduced her quickly, and Megan stood up, smiling broadly. She still had a few nervous butterflies, but she ignored them in favour of what she was going to say.

She had the full attention of the room for most of her explanation of the time-line. She stole a few glances at Martin, who seemed pleased with her work. It gave her the extra boost she needed to keep her cool when she was abruptly interrupted.

"You're insane if you think we can hit that milestone in two weeks." A slightly older man, a bit portly, cut her off mid-sentence with his complaint. Patrick, she was pretty sure his name was. One of the heads of structural. As promised, he was a problem. Several other people in the room were glowering at him; at lease Megan wasn't the only one who thought he was being rude.

"Everyone has tight deadlines on this project, not just you. We all have to put in the extra mile for this particular project. The client needs it quickly." She smiled. "I put in fourteen hours yesterday just to make sure this meeting could be held this morning. I did it to give the rest of you an extra day on your timelines. I'm giving everyone the most time I possibly can, but there are only so many days in a week."

She knew she'd hit the right notes - Patrick wasn't the only one who looked disgruntled about the timeline she presented, but her mention of the extra work she'd done yesterday to give the rest of them some extra time had softened most of those faces. Patrick still looked pissed, but at least he seemed to recognize that he wasn't going to get much support now that she'd admitted to working longer hours than most of the rest of them.

The rest of the meeting was a bit smoother. She spoke a little more about her timeline, then Jack took over again to give a quick overview of the budget. From there, everything was finished, and Megan and Jack found themselves walking together back toward Jack's office. "That wasn't nearly as bad as I expected," Megan admitted, smiling.

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack listened to Megan go over the timelines with each department, noticing a lot of nodding as she explained the need for each department to meet the client's deadline. Looking over at Martin, he saw the look of approval written on his face. 'Martin knew what he was doing putting Megan on his team,' Jack thought as he turned his attention back to Megan.

He was impressed by her composure in presenting the facts and making good arguments as to why each department needed to comply with their schedule. He watched her carefully, seeing her in a whole new light. She was good looking, smart with a quick wit, and very professional in her presentation. 'I think the client is going to like having her on the team,' he thought as she turned and looked at him as if silently asking, "how am I doing?"

Then came the interruption he was anticipating. Patrick was definitely pissed about the time he had to do the structural analysis and design plans. He and Martin watched and listened carefully as Megan explained her stance. While not many people were happy, they accepted their fate but he knew it was not going to rest well with Patrick. Jack knew Martin would have a private word with him.

When Megan turned the meeting over to Jack he quickly went through the teams budgets telling them that he and Megan were going to review the budget compared to the hours and there may be some slight changes.

"I hope we get more hours," Patrick said offhandedly. Jack ignored him, not wanting to argue in front of the team. The meeting soon ended and as they walked back to his office, Megan commented about how it was not as bad as she expected.

"You did very well Megan," he told her smiling and winking at her. "One thing to keep in mind in the future. Those people don't care how many hours you and I put into this project. They only care about their hours. But all in all you were very convincing to Patrick. I haven't seen him shut his trap so quickly. Another thing to keep in your back pocket. If they want more hours, they can negotiate with the other departments."

Arriving at his office. "We have a very busy day," he commented holding his office door for her to enter. "We have to finalize the budget and get it to Martin, lunch with the new client, and then we have to review the preliminary floor plans so structural can get started."

He caught another whiff of her perfume as she passed him in the doorway and he smiled. Visions of her open blouse from last night filled his brain. He shook his head, wanting to continue the thought but knew it was dangerous to have an office affair.

Guiding her to the conference table, he smiled and said, "Are you ready to get started?"

 

[slut_in_white]

Megan was pleased by Jack's response to the meeting. He seemed almost proud of her, which was certainly a good sign. She recognized that he was staying physically closer to her as they walked into the office than he had yesterday, and she wondered idly if their flirting last night had changed the nature of their relationship. She wasn't certain whether that was a good thing or not, but she was certainly enjoying it now.

"Are you ready to get started?"

Megan nodded. "Definitely."

The day was as long as promised, but they got a lot done. She spent most of the day in Jack's office so they could work more closely together. Most of their conversations were entirely about the work they were doing, but there were a few little flirty comments back and forth.

Regardless, she recognized the slightly jealous looks she was getting from various women around the office when they left for lunch. Few people spent as much uninterrupted time with Jack as she was, even if it was just for work. She couldn't say that she minded the attention - it was only natural to be pleased with having something so many other people want, especially when it turned out that this time with Jack was far more enjoyable than when would have expected.

When they reached the elevator, the doors closed, leaving them alone for a few moments. Megan chuckled. "You're quite popular, you know. I feel like half the office hates me for getting to work with you."

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack was impressed with Megan's skill as they poured over the budget, comparing it to her project timeline. There were a few changes but for the most part her timeline was right on. At the end of the morning, there was more money and time that could be allotted to various departments but they would make no changes now. If they could do the work within the timeline, the company would make a handsome profit.

Some of the stares from the employees were not lost on Jack as he and Megan walked to the elevator. If she were a man, the stares would not have been so blatant. Jack noticed a smile on Megan's lips as they slipped into the elevator. When the doors closed he was surprised to hear her say how popular he was around the office.

Jack looked at her smiling face but also took in her outfit that showed off her womanly charms more than he remembered. He chuckled and said, "I'm not sure about being so popular. As for half the office hating you, I don't think that the case. They're probably wishing they were working with you. Martin told me you were an up and comer. He picked well to have you on this job. Smart and good looking and I know the client is going to like you."

Lunch flew by and Jack was right, the client Bob Anderson, loved her. Jack sat back and let her answer his questions and was impressed when she started spouting budget numbers that she had only seen this morning.

After lunch, as they walked to the office, Jack saw Megan in a whole new light. Not only was she capable of handling the job, but he found himself thinking of her in a more friendly relationship setting than just co-workers. "You really wowed Bob at lunch," he told her as he held the door for her. "I think we are going to make a great team."