OK guys, This chapter is NOT like the last couple, with all that physical discovery and assorted Naomily smut. Sorry about that...but the plot needs to move on a bit, so shagging will have to take a back seat for a few thousand words. Not that Emily and Naomi are actually having a break from shagging...its just I'm not peeking in on that side for a while. Patience...my little smut monsters. It will come!

So the dreaded envelope has arrived. The Jupiter Investments Annual Ball is imminent and Naomi has been invited to bring her significant other to the party. Will Emily be brave enough? Will Naomi want to expose her love to the scrutiny of her work colleagues, let alone the alpha male Richard Hurst?

All will be revealed, but first a little twist to the tale. Emily has been going to job interviews for a week or so. The one she's attending today might prove interesting?

Reviews will be treasured and re read several times! Thanks in advance...

Emily

I just made it to the bus as the heavens opened above me. Fuck, that was close. Being in the city means mostly not bothering with a car (I hire when I need one), but sometimes Bristol public transport can be fickle. And I did NOT want to arrive at this interview looking like I have been through a jet wash on the way. Its my best suit for one thing, cleaned and pressed until it looks brand new. Underneath it a crisp white top, buttoned up to the neck. Cleavage is my sisters principal weapon, but as I'm going to a job interview, I want to look as business like and professional as possible. Naomi may spend hours rhapsodising about my tits, but she's biased. I barely got out with my new knickers intact as it is this morning. We don't seem to be able to keep our hands off each other, although its been a good fortnight since the lunch with Katie, My darling sister would no doubt be gagging at the amount of gay sex I'm having right now, but it never seems to get old.

Despite the lesbian clichés, I'm happy to spend virtually every hour with Naomi. Except when she's working of course, and in view of the fact that only one of us is getting paid at the moment, I've redoubled my efforts to get a job.

Bob was true to his word and I have a glowing copy reference from JI in my bag, personally endorsed by the CEO. I bet the nib on his Mont Blanc bent with frustration as he signed it. Bastard. Every time I fall back on Naomi's bed, smiling and panting at the amazing sex we've just shared, I have a little twinge of regret as I remember all the hours I wasted underneath that corporate shagmeister. Being fucked by Richard was usually short and boring anyway, but I still regretted the fact that he knew my body as well as my true love does. Only Sarah...and then only for the briefest time, was as familiar with the Fitch merchandise. But its a cross I guess I'll have to learn to bear. I just hope time fades the memories of my affair with my ex boss.

Anyway, I sighed as the bus pulled up outside the tall black glass and steel tower. I took a deep breath, straightened my skirt and checked my appearance in the shiny doors before pushing them open. Straight across the crowded lobby, with its normal retinue of anxious sales reps sitting uncomfortably at reception with their briefcases on their laps, then directly to the slab of grey marble masquerading as a desk. Two identikit blondes appraised me as I approached. Over made up and sleekly dressed, they were the epitome of corporate front desk staff. A plastic smile on both sets of lips, laser whitened teeth gleaming as they waited for me to make a selection.

I suppressed a sight of despair. Why the fuck was I anxious to get back into this shark tank, I thought for the hundredth time?

Because you need the money, my mind answered back. Naomi and I had already agreed that we both had to accumulate as much cash as possible over the nest 18 months. Enough to buy our dream.

After one evening's mind blowing sex (Naomi doesn't serve up any other flavour) we'd both been delighted to discover that our dreams of escape from the corporate world were almost identical. She wanted to travel...preferably to hot, distant places for 6 months, then we'd settle in some small seaside village. Maybe renting mopeds to pink and pasty tourists? My own dream was fascinatingly similar. A Greek island maybe...a rocky coastline and the warm sun. It turned out we had both seen the Jason Bourne films where his German girlfriend had disappeared to a hamlet on the coast of Corfu after the murders and mayhem. Renting motorcycles to tourists no less. OK, neither of us fancied meeting the lovely Franka Potente's ultimate fate at the end of a snipers sights, but luckily I don't think even Richard Hurst has that sort of reach...

But first... I need to make some serious money. Katie might have shocked me to the core by actually stumping up for a pricey lunch ( I asked the waiter for the receipt so I could have it framed...no really). But my savings are dwindling daily, despite Naomi insisting on treating me like a royal house guest instead of her lover. I have great trouble making her accept any money off me, even for groceries so I've made my mind up to jump back into the corporate world for one last year and a half's grind.

This job, if I get it...will be the key to our dream. I was on £40k gross with JI, including some generous sales bonuses, but this job is in a different league. American Express are looking for a senior regional sales manager. Based in Bristol, but covering the whole South West and South Coast, its a real step up. Apparently, if I'm successful, I would be working with another senior regional sales manager to coordinate national sales teams and build a strategy to grow the already enormous business. Apart from the London area, which is about 10 times the size of anywhere else financially, this was the prime patch for Amex. I loved the idea of working with a large and geographically spread out team. The reps I had working under me at JI were few in number and locally based. This would be a whole step up. Not to mention the salary...£50k basic and at least another £25k in team bonuses. At that sky high rate, I could do this for a year and then make the decision whether to bring our travel plans forward.

But of course...I wasn't the only candidate, despite the glowing reference. In fact I was the very last one to be seen. My recruitment advisor had only just managed to get me in on the short list by begging. This was my one and only opportunity to shine. Hence the best suit and buttoned up appearance. Sacrifices had to be made...

"Good morning" Tweedledee said sweetly and flashed more of her blinding teeth.

Tweedledum merely hinted at a smile now...no point in wasting energy on a lost cause.

"Morning" I said briskly "Emily Fitch to see Sharon Harrison?"

She consulted her sleek grey monitor and clicked the designer mouse efficiently.

"Thank you Miss Fitch" she said, looking up to my face after clocking my ring finger to make sure it wasn't Mrs Fitch. Fat chance, I smirked inwardly, although Mrs Campbell-Fitch would sound extremely nice... "Ninth floor...there is a lift to your right. Mrs Harrisons PA will meet you there?"

I made my way to the lift, knowing without looking that the rent a smile women would have already dismissed me from their minds.

The expensive steel and chrome lift whooshed quietly to the ninth floor and slowed as it reached my level. The doors made almost no sound as they parted. As I stepped out, a pretty girl with short red hair smiled at me and held out her hand.

"Hi...I'm Laura, Sharon's PA? If you'll follow me Miss Fitch...I'll let her know you're here. She's just finishing up an interview...so if you could take a seat...there?"

She indicated a plush leather chair underneath several large, gold framed montages of various American Express Corporate Affinity cards. The whole place stank of money. Lots and lots of money. Donald J Trump, eat your heart out, I said to myself...this is real wealth. I have no idea how much Amex is actually worth, but its probably north of $20 billion dollars. And its old money. Money thats been around since the 1850's. None of your nouveau rich gold plated towers in New York. The whole place said 'class' in big fuck off letters.

I was only there, with a cup of coffee provided by the admittedly cute Laura (stop that right now Emily Fitch...newly outed lesbian), for a couple of minutes before Sharon appeared. In her late thirties, elegant and expensively dressed in a blue blouse and black skirt, she looked the part of the senior sales director she was. I took another steadying deep breath, put down my cup, thankfully without my hand shaking, and stood to meet her.

"Emily?" she said warmly, gripping my hand firmly "Really nice to meet you...can you come this way?"

I could and I did.

Forty five minutes later, I was leaving her office with a broad smile on my face. The interview was as good as any I had been through in all my working life. She asked a lot of searching questions, listened carefully to my answers and made lots of notes. I had assumed a short list of candidates of maybe 4 individuals. I was also expecting to be politely thanked and told I would be informed of the companies decision within a week or so.

But that was not what happened. Instead, after the forms had been completed and the questions answered, she sat back in her high backed chair and regarded me with smiling eyes.

"Well...thanks for enduring that Emily. I know its an ordeal, but a necessary one. So I'll be frank...you are the outstanding candidate for the position. I took the liberty of telephoning your line manager at JI...Bob, earlier?"

I nodded dumbly...this wasn't standard practice at all from a big company boss. Maybe after she'd decided on you...but not before...

"I must say he sounded very disappointed to lose you. I gather, reading between the lines that you might have had some...personal issues...with the CEO?"

Now that did gob-smack me. Bob was nothing if not discreet, but I suppose what isn't said is sometimes as powerful as what is. I held my breath and waited for her to continue.

"...but thats by the way. He assured me that you were the best, most productive National Accounts Manager he'd ever worked with. Praise indeed from a guy who's been around for 25 years? Whatever the...issues...you had with Richard Hurst..."

I blinked at that name...she obviously believed in employee research big time. Unless Richards reputation was that much common knowledge in Bristol?

"...they did not affect your capability to do a fine job for JI. Well, one thing about Amex, Emily, is that we take a very dim view of senior staff taking advantage of their positions. You're judged on your ability to produce profit. End of. I guess what I'm saying is that after meeting you today, I'm willing to take a chance on you. I think you'll do a great job for us. The position is yours...if you want it?"

My mouth briefly hung open like someone who had just had an unexpected heart attack. A job offer at interview is virtually unheard of at this level. They might take a punt on a junior sales person or a number cruncher (sorry Naoms) but senior sales staff set the tone for the whole team. OK, I'd done all the personality assessments and Rorschach stuff before arriving today, but even so...

My brain happily caught up with current events as Sharon carried on looking at me, waiting for an answer. I heard my mouth close with an audible click before I managed to get some words out.

"Wow..I mean yes...that would be brilliant Sharon" I said, then paused to collect my thoughts. She'd just offered me a stunning opportunity. The least I could give her back was coherent speech?

"Sorry...just a bit stunned" I said "Of course...I would love the opportunity to work for you...for Amex. The answer is definitely yes"

She grinned at my response, then closed the folder she was holding with a decisive movement.

"OK then...We'll need your banking details for payroll and at least one more employment reference before we set a start date, but I've looked at your file, there should be no problem there. By the way...do you have an American Express card yourself?"

I smiled back.

"Yes...have done for a couple of years now. It comes in handy when my twin sister invites me to lunch...its usually on me!"

We shared a comfortable chuckle at my sisters little 'habit'.

"Good" she said, "otherwise I would have organised one on your behalf...can't have our star sales people using the competition? Course, you'll be on a generous expense account anyway...for entertainment and business expenses, so we'll upgrade your existing card to Platinum. I find it a real benefit at airports and hotels"

I smirked internally at that. A Platinum Amex card...Katie will go as green as my current card.

"Right then" Sharon said, pushing back her chair. "One last thing then. You'll need to have a quick chat with the other senior sales manager. Her office is one floor down, you'll be sharing a good sized corner suite. Plenty of room. I've arranged for your desk and computer to be installed tomorrow. So...if you speak to Laura when you leave, she'll show you the way. It's like all big offices Emily...a rabbit warren until you get used to it. Welcome to American Express...I look forward to seeing you in a week or so?"

She held out her hand and I shook it, still not quite believing my luck. Not just a job, a well paid one with a fucking platinum charge card attached. Plus a proper office, not the broom cupboard sized one I'd had at JI. This was turning out to be a very good day.

As Laura walked with me to the lift, I was already buzzing with excitement. I couldn't wait to get outside and phone Naomi. She was going to be so proud of me...

We got to the next floor down and walked through a long row of desks to the corner of the building. Floor to ceiling tinted windows gave the place a bright and airy look without being too harsh. There were at least a couple of dozen men and women working at computers and talking on hands free phones. I guessed this was the telesales or customer contact department. But in seconds we were approaching a large glass walled office. This time the glass was frosted, so I couldn't see inside. But on the double doors, glass again, a scripted sign read 'Senior Sales Managers'

I flushed with delight at that. "Thats me" I thought happily. Everyone who I'd met so far at Amex was cordial and pleasant. I just hoped that the person I would be working with most closely would be too. I would need a lot of help at least at first. Sharon had let slip it was a she...so at least it wouldn't be a Tony Stonem clone.

Laura opened the door after politely knocking and ushered me inside. I fixed my face in a smile and prepared to meet the woman I would be working with for the next year or so.

"Hi Sarah" Laura said brightly..."this is..."

The blonde head at the desk on one side of the office was bent over some paperwork and I heard a soft voice say "Just a minute Laura...I'll be with you in a sec"

The smile on my face stayed put, but my heart went down in my chest with a heavy thump. Suddenly the pieces of a jigsaw I hadn't realised I was assembling dropped into place. The hair, the voice...the name.

She looked up then and our eyes met across the silent office.

I don't know what was going through her mind, but mine went something like this.

"Oh no...oh fucking hell NO. Sarah?...Sarah fucking Hall?...are you kidding me God?"

The face opposite me showed the same amount of shock I was experiencing. My first love...the girl I blew out because my family wouldn't accept I was gay. The only other person on the planet apart from Naomi I'd ever given my heart to? Jesus Christ on a unicycle. I. am. Cooked.

"E...Emily?"

XXX

Naomi

I've had to go over this presentation for the board at least a dozen times, even though all the figures stand up. It's not that I've suddenly lost the ability to use Excel, but my mind is on what Emily is going through this morning. She stayed up late last night and for once it wasn't down to me making her come over and over. We did make love, but it was earlier, after that £30 bottle of Margeaux she'd insisted on buying from Majestic. I've told her a hundred times that she doesn't have to pay anything, living at mine. I absolutely adore having her here (and yes, in both senses of the word) and its almost as cheap living as two than one, but she insists, if we have alcohol with supper, that she buys it.

I suppose I can understand that. Like me, she has been independent for a while and it is hard giving that up. But spoiling her is a pleasure...and she is very generous with her thank you's... Very, very generous.

But last night she had to complete what looked like a twelve page pre interview set of question and answer papers online. One of those stupid ink spill things, which always look exactly like ink spills to me, and some sort of extended psychological test. Along with an essay on her 'greatest achievement'.

I tried to distract her by whispering that her clever little tongue was definitely her greatest strength, but for once she shrugged my attempt at seduction off and carried on typing. I gave up. The wine and sex earlier had made me sleepy and I slunk off to bed alone. Thinking that I really didn't like the experience. Strange that, because I always liked my solitary time in the past. Even when I wa shagging up a storm at Uni, I made sure I had at least a few nights every week on my own. But Emily Fitch has sunk that little habit without a trace. Unless she is in my bed...even after, what 3 weeks? It feels too big without her.

I must have dropped off pretty quickly because when the bed dipped beside me and warm arms surrounded me, the clock face showed after midnight. She murmured something sweet and loving in my ear, but the combination of her lush body against my back and my sleepiness sent me off again in seconds.

In the morning, she slept in for half an hour while I got ready for another days grind at JI. When I got out of the shower, pausing only to smile dopily at her sleeping form in my bed (still have difficulty believing I actually have her in my life) I dressed quickly, waiting for the coffee machine to beep its completion. I now know that the aroma of fresh coffee is the best wake up call I can give her...unless you count the times I use parts of my anatomy to do the same...but there was no time for that this morning. I grinned as her nose twitched at the delicious smell coming out of the kitchen. Pulling on my dark grey suit over a black tee, I pushed my feet into some flats and waited for the Colombian brew to complete the wake up call.

Sure enough, as I turned to slip on my watch and bracelets, I heard a sleepy groan from behind me.

"Naoms?" she said huskily. I wondered for the thousandth time if there could possibly be a sexier sound in the universe than Emily Fitch first thing in the morning...then decided there wasn't. Not possible.

"Coffee babe?" I said breezily, looking over my shoulder as she raised herself on one elbow and blinked at me.

"Oh please..." she whispered "Whats the time gorgeous?"

"Just after 8 Ems...you have ages yet. I'll pour you a cup and you can sit back for a while. Your interview isn't till 10.30...is it?"

"Yeah" she yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she sat up. My mouth dried instantly. We both slept naked, had done ever since we started living together (because thats what we're doing although neither of us has given it a name yet. Partly because it would just give Katie more ammunition to throw at Emily on her daily phone call. We're taking it slowly, we both intone seriously, if asked. Yeah, right. Emily has spent precisely one night at home in the past 3 weeks. And I missed her so much, I got up at 1 am and took a taxi over to her place. We ended up having rough sex in the hallway of her apartment before collapsing on to her bed to sleep. After that we gave up pretending and she moved some of her stuff in here. She hasn't put her place on the market yet, but I see a fair few estate agency sites on her browser history (not that I would dream of checking her online history...that would be a bit stalkerish)

Anyway. One glimpse of Emily Fitch's naked tits and I behave like a cartoon dog presented with a juicy bone. I fucking drool.

Emily caught my look and grinned evilly.

"No time Naoms...you have the bus to catch and I've got to iron my top..."

I groaned theatrically as she covered up those magnificent specimens with the duvet.

"Bitch" I said without malice "Now I'm gonna spend all morning, when I not worrying about your interview, imagining those gorgeous tits in my hands...fuck I love them?"

"I know" she smirked "you might have told me once or twice?"

"Well, it needs saying" I said "its a serious matter...not to be taken lightly?"

Again I got the cheeky grin.

"OK, I promise..whatever the result of the interview...and they aren't gonna offer me the job even if it goes well...you know what these big corporations are like hun...they take fucking ages to make up their minds...but whatever...I'll ring you and let you know how it went. Then tonight when you get home...I was thinking ravioli and some of that nice Italian red we've been saving? Then you can have me and Tiramasu for dessert?"

My fanny clenched again at that mental image. We hadn't exactly been down the food/sex route yet. But Tiramasu and a naked Emily? Impossible to resist.

I poured her a coffee while my libido settled back into its cage. Hopefully her interview would go well, she would be here when I got back and maybe even the frilly apron would get another outing. Life with Emily was just about as good as it gets.

XXX

But this morning was going as slowly as molasses. I kept looking at the clock. 10.30...she would be in there now. 11.00...half way through...11.45...surely she would be out by now. I kept staring at my phone as if it would ring by force of will. When it did I intended to duck out quickly, fuck Tony Stonem and take it in the ladies loo.

But by 12.30, just when I was getting ready to have lunch, it still hadn't rung. I considered calling or texting Emily, but decided against it. Maybe the interviews had run over. The last thing she needed was an irritating ring tone now. I waited.

Finally at 1 o clock I gave up and put my phone in my bag...she must be still there, maybe that was a good sign?

It wasn't until 2 o clock that my phone buzzed. I had lost my appetite, so settled for a fruit bar and a bottle of mineral water for lunch. So I was back at my desk when the call finally came. Both Tony and Richard Hurst were in the office, so I hissed my disappointment as the phone stopped. I wanted to take it, but their eyes kept flicking over to me as I sat at my desk. Better not tempt fate. It was over half an hour before the two amigos left the office, to a collective sigh of relief from all of us. Grabbing my phone, I dashed out to the ladies and slammed a cubicle door behind me, sitting fully clothed on the upturned seat. Impatiently I thumbed the message icon.

"Hi babe...its me. I guess you're up to your eyes in numbers so I'll make this quick. I got the job! Yeah really! But the bad news is I have to stay at my place tonight. I've been given a shed load of stuff to read through and my laptop is there? I'm so sorry to do this...but can you understand? I'll be round tomorrow first thing. Call me tonight. Love you so much"

Well, if you'd asked me if that was what I was expecting to hear, the answer would be an emphatic no. There was something about her tone that chilled me. Why the fuck couldn't she just bring her laptop over to mine. I'd bought stuff for dinner and a bottle of expensive vodka, just so we could celebrate if she was successful. It just seemed odd...more than odd.

I immediately called her back, but got the voice mail. So I tried again, after waiting a few minutes. Same response. My mind was whirling. What was wrong? She got the job...the one she really wanted. I got the fact that she would be knee deep in new employee stuff for a good while, but something about the way her voice trembled at the end gave me a chill. Something was wrong and she wasn't fessing up to it. For the first since we got together properly, doubts came to the surface. Surely she couldn't be having second thoughts?

I didn't leave a message. I thought my silence might speak louder. If she needed time to decide to tell me what was wrong, I'd give her that.

XXX

Emily

I stared at the phone as it stopped ringing for the second time. Sitting in my apartment with my laptop open next to me I was almost frozen by indecision. Guilt, shame and remorse competed to see which could make me feel worse.

I felt like I'd cheated on Naomi, although of course I hadn't. But in my head I had. That was the problem. Coming face to face with Sarah after all this time? A complete head fuck. We'd sat there for a good few seconds after Laura had left us. I had no idea what to say to my ex. None at all.

God she looks good, my treacherous mind repeated as I stared at her. Hair longer, face a little fuller but still stunning. Eyes so luminously grey they looked like those old Hollywood film stills...all highlighted and alluring. Her body had filled out too and that made me feel even guiltier for noticing. A body I had explored many times, if not naked.

Finally she spoke, when the silence had become unbearable.

"Well...this IS a shock Ems" (I winced at the unconscious shortening of my name. My family called me Emsy, but only my two lovers had ever used Ems) "...what are we going to do now?"

I gaped for a bit, still unsure of how to play this. There was still the incredible attraction, but common sense was slowly ending my paralysis. We're older...she's probably living with someone...too much time has passed...I have a girlfriend?" The fact that Naomi was only the fourth reason my mind had come up with to argue against...well against whatever my body was wanting was..awful and I flushed with shame.

"You look wonderful Sarah" I blurted out stupidly, then flushed a bit harder. Way to go Emily. Remember why you two broke up? Her humiliation...your cowardice in the face of your family's anger?

Sarah flushed herself then and stifled a small smile. Then her face went impassive again.

"Likewise Emily...but that's really not the point, is it? We've not seen each other for what...four years? Life has moved on. Anyway...I thought you would be married now...couple of kids?"

Her voice hardened at the end of that sentence and I realised she was probably imagining I had toed the Fitch family line since our 'affair' back at university.

"Err...no...not at all Sarah. Quite the opposite in fact. I'm ...gay. Out... my family have accepted it and..."

I stopped then because her face froze.

"Right" she said tightly "can I just say it took you long enough Ems..." (again the nickname) "...it would have been... nice if you'd admitted it to them a few years ago?"

I nodded in shame. She had every right to be pissed at me. My mother and sister had virtually frogmarched her to our door, putting all the blame for our little 'experiment' at her feet. When it had actually been me who pursued Sarah.

"You're right...and I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself" I said sadly " I should have stood up for me...us...back then. It would have saved you and me a lot of heartache. Can you ever forgive me?"

There was a long pause. A pause when I considered my career at Amex might be the shortest on record. If she really hated me, there was no way we could form any sort of a working relationship.

"I should say no to that Ems. But I was right...life has moved on. I'm gay too... always have been and I'm happy admitting it. Got this job right out of uni...well three rungs down...and got promoted to this level...to a job I love. It looks like we'll be working together whatever baggage we have from the past" she took a deep breath and smiled " so how about we behave like grown ups and deal with it?"

I smiled back and relaxed a bit.

Which lasted until I left the building half an hour later. What the fuck was I going to tell Naomi?

"Hi babe...great news..I got the job...and as a bonus, I'll be working VERY closely with the only other girl who has been in my knickers...my first love in fact. And you know what they say about first love?"

Sitting with the silent phone in my hand, waves of guilt washing over me at not telling Naomi the truth straight off, I realised life was about to get bumpy again.

Last chapter till next week. Hope you liked it. Let me know if you did!