Author's Note: This may be silly. Lester may be slightly out of character. Honestly, I didn't know how to end it! I kind of wrote myself into a corner. Hope you are alright with this ending.

1057 Words

Chapter Seven, Conclusion

Stella was ecstatic. The boss! She'd had men in authority before, but Lester would be a triumph. All the secrets he must know! Plus, she couldn't wait to share this news with certain high and mighty people who thought they were smarter and more powerful than she.

She couldn't wait to see their faces: Becker, Jess, Connor, Abby, and Matt. Emily. Having Lester would put them all in her power. She was giddy in her giggling.

She smiled as she heard the door to the study open. Lester strutted in, wearing an actual smoking jacket with bare legs peaking from beneath it. It appeared to be the only thing he wore.

"Oh, I've always wanted to see one of these!"

"Really?" he asked. "Have a feel. It's velvet."

Stella got up, and ran her fingers over the velvet of the jacket. "Luscious," she whispered.

He smiled. "Indeed."

Stella was close now. She leaned toward him to kiss his lips.

And Lester coughed in her face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. How frightfully rude of me."

"It's…fine," she said. "Why don't we sit?"

"Fine, fine," he said.

They sat together on the sofa, Stella scooting closer. She ran her fingers along his legs, moving up and under the smoking jacket.

Lester caught her hand. "Not yet," he said with a coy smile. "You are eager, aren't you?"

She smiled. "I am."

"Well, you have to wait."

"Why?"

"Because, I have a little surprise for you."

Stella played with his hair. "What?"

"Let's just say there is something being delivered here."

"For me?"

"Yes," he said, sweetly with giggles.

"Oh, Lesty! Give me a hint!"

"Nope."

Then the bell rang. Lester popped open his mouth playfully. "That must be it!" he cried with glee. He walked to the study door. "Don't go away!" he said to her, in a playful, giddy voice.

She shook her head. "I won't!" she called back.

Lester smiled as he left to answer the door.

Stella sat, her eyes trained on the study door, waiting for her surprise. In it walked.

"Hi!" cried Jess Parker. "We brought Chinese!"

"What?" screamed Stella, jumping up.

"And beer," said Becker, strolling in, followed by a beaming Lester.

"Why…what…are they doing here?" she screamed.

"They're making the delivery," Lester said. "You will stay?"

Becker and Jess nodded.

"Oh , it smells heavenly, "I'm starving! " cried Lester.

"Stella looks cold," said Becker.

"Yes, give her your jacket," said Jess. "Be a gentleman."

"Right you are. Here Miss Blanch," said Lester pulling off the smoking jacket to reveal that he was not naked underneath. He wore a suit, with the pants rolled up to his knees. He draped the jacket over Stella.

"Movies are here!" cried Abby's voice.

Stella turned to see Abby and Connor walking in with several DVDs .

"Excellent! Can't have a party without entertainment, can we?" asked Lester to Stella. He was still giddy with Joy.

Stella was not.

"What flick are we watching?" asked Jess.

Stella stood dumbstruck. She watched as they flitted around, dishing up food and babbling with each other.

"Knock, knock," said Matt, entering the study. "Who wants Thai?"

"I do hope we brought enough," said Emily, walking in behind him.

"Oh, lovely," said Lester. "Come, join the party. I love Thai food."

Stella stood in disbelief. Her face was red with fury, and embarrassment. They were mocking her.

"You'll all pay for this!" she screamed.

"We've already paid for the food," said Jess.

"And the movies," said Connor, appearing as clueless as Jess.

Stella fumed. She stared daggers at them all. "You will wish you'd never crossed me!"

"We already do," said Becker, popping a cracker into his mouth.

"Oh, Miss Blanch, don't forget your coat," said Lester. "I believe it's still lying in the hall way where you…uh, dropped it."

Stella said nothing, but turned to go.

"One moment," said Emily, walking up to her. "I do not enjoy these games. I warn you. I have ended the lives of creatures larger and more ferocious than you. I am not as civilized as I once was, or as the people behind me are now. Hurt any of them in any way, and you will see why I survived so long through a multitude of anomalies. Do you understand?"

Stella turned white. She nodded, then left quickly.

"I love you," said Matt with an expression of adoration.

Emily smiled. She turned to Lester. "I apologize for threatening her in your home."

"No need. It was very entertaining and I am in your debt, Lady Merchant. Here, have some brandy, compliments of the house."

"Thank you," said Emily, accepting the glass graciously.

"That was brilliant," said Jess.

"It was," said Abby.

Emily blushed. "I hope she heeds my words."

"She'd be stupid not to," said Connor.

"If she doesn't," said Becker, "We'll deal with her."

"Quite right, there is safety in numbers," said Lester. "By the way, thank you all for coming so promptly."

Jess giggled. "You sounded desperate when you phoned."

"He was desperate," said Becker, with a chuckle.

"Indeed," agreed Lester.

"James!" called a female voice.

"In the study darling."

"I don't know who sent me that email, but there was no special sale," she said, stopping as she saw the people in the study. "Oh, excuse me. I didn't know we had guests."

"Colleagues, dear. High time you met them," he said, introducing her to each one. "We ordered food."

"Prawn cracker?" offered Jess.

Mrs. Lester nodded. "Thank you," she said, taking it. "It's delicious. Well, look at this, a party!"

Lester smiled.

Mrs. Lester looked at him. "James dear, are you feeling all right?"

"Fine. Why?"

"You never have people over, unless I force you. Plus, you're much happier than normal."

The others giggled.

"Am I? Must be the day we had at the office."

"Was it special?"

"Yes, dear. We all went fishing."

His subordinates all stifled laughs. Jess nearly choked. Luckily, Becker was more than eager to perform lip to lip resuscitation.

"Fishing?" asked Mrs. Lester. "At the office? That's unexpected."

"Well, dear, in our line of work, we sometimes encounter the unexpected."

"Amen," whispered Connor. Abby laughed.

"Fishing," repeated Mrs. Lester. "How odd. Well, did you catch anything?"

Lester looked at his team and grinned broadly. "Just a barracuda, dear."

The End