OK guys. This is, as promised, the very last chapter of Corporate Sellout. Thanks so much to the people who read, liked, favourited and best of all, reviewed it as it went on. It was amazing for me to know that it wasn't just me I was writing for!

But it has reached the point at which I decided (right at the beginning) it would end. I know I left you on a bit of a cliff hanger in part one, but all will be resolved in part two...promise!

I have started sketching out the plot line and character profiles for Triangle, so it won't be too long before the first chapter of that story goes up. I hope you like it and continue to support me and the other writers who give their time and effort to amuse and entertain you. Although we all love to write, its you guys who make it worthwhile.

Right...enough about me and my smug self satisfaction! Here goes...part two.

Oh, just one thing more...if you're not reading 'electric love' by dietcokeandlime? You really should be. A lovely, fresh Naomily fic from a new (to this site anyway) writer. Give it a go...you won't be disappointed!

Emily

Isn't it odd how, with one swift dart of a stiletto, fate manages to trash everything you thought you had in the palm of your hand?

I really, really didn't want to go into work today. It's Sunday for fucks sake. But Sarah and I had agreed to share the weekend work between us alternately until the whole new sales team was up and running. Meeting this guy Carlos today was the last interview I had to carry out and it was impossible for him to get time off during the week. I booked a function room at the Premier Inn for it. One with internet access and a desk I could put my laptop on. He'd come highly recommended from a friend I had, who worked for a competitor, so I expected this would be the last brick in the wall Sarah and I were building for our prestigious employer. We'd interviewed and recruited over a dozen prospective sales people and I was happy that with Carlos, this would be the final one.

So it proved. He was articulate, intelligent and came with a folder of professional and personal references. After just a few minutes, where he earned brownie points for not staring at my legs and tits, I was sold. We tied up the formalities after an hour and I left him there while I hurried back to my love. Bad enough leaving her asleep in my bed on a Sunday morning, there was no way I was wasting any more time fully dressed when a naked and sleepy Naomi waited for me at home.

Or that was my plan...until fate stuck an oversized cucumber up my unwary butt.

I expected Naomi to be still dozing in bed...maybe with a cooling coffee on the bedside table and the Observer half read on the duvet cover. A proper intellectual, my Naomi. Always wants to know what's going on in the world. I planned on stripping myself on the way to the bedroom, ending up in her open arms, with a soft kiss and wandering hands. Then a blissful Sunday afternoon, lazing about after sex (and hopefully with lots more sex to come), drinking coffee, eating croissants we could order in from the deli and just enjoying each others company. Perfect Sunday in fact.

Which of course, it was anything but.

As soon as I walked in I knew she was up and about. Her coat was missing from the hook next to where I hung mine. I thought foolishly, that she might have just forgone the croissants and gone down to the Italian deli for something more substantial. But as I dropped my keys into the dish on the side table, I had a premonition something wasn't quite right. I noticed that little brown package I'd forgotten to mention last night was missing. At that moment, I had no way of knowing how explosive the contents had been to my girl, but I was about to find out.

When I got into the lounge, I saw the TV was on, which was odd on a Sunday. There was just a black screen with a single line of white text on it

"She lied to you" the caption read starkly.

My heart sank to my boots. I had no idea, until five minutes later anyway, what was actually on the small red and black flash drive sticking out of the side of the TV, but instinctively, I knew it was very bad news for me.

I picked up the remote and pressed the button to replay whatever preceded that ominous message. Whatever it was, I knew with mounting anxiety it must have been from Richard Hurst. As I waited for the video file to reload, I saw the small box the drive had been in and recognised with dismay the other contents. A mini bottle of expensive Scotch. Exactly the same as the bottles in the mini bar at that ridiculously pricey Spa/Golf course we'd stayed at with Katie and her boyfriend. The small, foil wrapped mint next to the bottle confirmed it. I felt sick. This was definitely one of Richards elaborate games. Painting a picture, he calls it.

Then the 'movie' began with footage from the first Christmas party I went to at JI. I instantly knew with cold fear what the point of that was. I was zoomed in on, in all my pissed and coked up glory as I danced alone with a dorky smile on my face. I almost didn't need the obscene aside he gave the girl filming. After all, he did fuck me that night. I was so buzzed from the booze, drugs and stupidly flattered by the CEO's attention that he really didn't have to try that hard to get me alone. He actually fucked me pretty good that night, one of the few times in the year we had sex that I actually enjoyed it...maybe trying to make an impression I guess. In any case, I didn't need sneaky morning after footage from his phone to tell me what had happened in between. My 'walk of shame' face and wrinkled clothes told it all.

Then more horrors piled on horror. The first time he'd shagged me across his desk. Me walking to the door, zipping up my skirt recounted the story without words. Worse followed, me getting up from my knees on the carpet in the next segment, (post fellatio obviously)...drinking thirstily from that plastic cup to get rid of the awful after taste was a bit of a give-away.

Then the final stab into my bleeding heart. Me again...this time naked and panting underneath him. Eyes closed (how did I never realise his fucking phone was recording me?) and obviously from the jiggling image, being screwed vigorously. The gorge rose in my stomach unchecked as I heard him instruct me to finger myself. Then me coming hard and noisily. Yes, despite the gloss I put on my 'relationship' with my boss to Naomi, me genuinely climaxing with a guy. Because I did a couple of times during that awful affair. Friction is friction and just occasionally I was so drunk and eager for the short oblivion an orgasm gives you, I allowed myself to enjoy it. He must have been saving that little gem for an occasion just like this.

"Naomi has watched this" I whispered to myself bleakly. "She's watched this and knows you're a fucking liar now Emily. She'll never want anything to do with you again...you told her you got nothing out of the sex with him"

I sobbed then, hopelessness washing over me in a giant wave of despair. The sickness in my gut surged again until it was unstoppable. I lurched to my feet and ran to the bathroom, emptying my stomach of the two cups of coffee I had drunk at the hotel into the sink. My head pounded as I retched and retched again over the bowl. Finally, I straightened and looked at myself in the harsh, unforgiving light of the vanity mirror.

"Well..." I said dully to my reflection, scooping some water up to clean my mouth, then reaching for the mouthwash to finish the job "...thats it all over then...you've finally done it Emily...pushed her out of your life forever...and its all your fault, you stupid, vacant, careless bitch"

I almost scared myself with the self loathing expression on my face as I stared at my crumpled appearance. No more the senior manager, fresh from another work victory. Just a sad little girl, too timid to be truthful.

I turned to leave the bathroom. I don't know what I was planning to do, but it probably involved copious alcohol and eventual oblivion. I thought at that second that I would probably never see my lover again. She'd gone...left me and would probably never set foot in my apartment again. Not that I could blame her at all...

Then, as I opened the door I jumped about a foot in the fucking air.

Naomi?

My mouth opened to say something...I don't know what. But she spoke first. I saw that her intense eyes were red rimmed from crying. I did that, I thought miserably.

"Whatever you're thinking Emily...whatever it was you were about to say...just don't, huh?"

Jesus I thought, this is incredibly, going to be even worse than her never being here again. Now she's going to slag me off first, call me the lying bitch I am...then leave me forever.

She stepped closer and I actually flinched. I wouldn't have stopped her if she'd hit me...I deserved it. But she didn't.

"Listen to me..." she said quietly instead, and I glanced up at her face in shock "...I know you've watched that...horrible shit..in there like I have. It hurt Emily...really fucking hurt. But not for the reasons you probably think it did. We all have a past. I certainly do and if one of my ex's decided to send you an explicit show reel of Campbell shags gone by, you'd probably be as devastated as I was..."

I swallowed hard and waited for the punch line.

"...I was hurt for you...for us. No one deserves to be humiliated like that. And the one thing you can be sure of Emily Fitch...is this..."

She took a deep shuddering breath and cupped my disbelieving face in both her warm hands.

"...I love you, and you love me, right?"

I nodded, too scared to speak.

"That crap is irrelevant. Its past, old news, just a pathetic attempt to break us up by an embittered middle aged goon who never deserved you in the first place. I deserve you more...K?"

I nodded again.

"R..really Naomi" I stuttered weakly, still not believing my ears. "bbb...but I thought..."

"Really" she said firmly. "Now...I'm going to go in there while you wash your face, I'm gonna wrap that twisted pile of shit into a bag and then put it somewhere out of sight. Later, when we're both a bit calmer, I'm going to decide how we solve the Richard fucking Hurst problem once and for all. Its a criminal offence Emily...sending stuff like that out to people? Mr high and mighty Hurst is going to find out just how determined I can be when a cunt like him decides to try to fuck up my life...and yours. I won't let him. And neither will you...OK?"

This time when I nodded I felt a tiny smile on my face. A smile which was returned with interest.

XXX

Naomi

It was hard being noble, and I'm not sure I brought it off totally successfully. But I had to try. Otherwise...? Otherwise that rabid fat fuck wins right? If me and Ems split up, who gains apart from that odious creep?

No, after a bit of solitary weeping during a long walk in the park, ignoring curious stares, I made my mind up to face this head on. I bet anyone would be devastated seeing their lover having sex with someone else. Even if it was ancient history, it still hurt like a bitch. I'd only experienced heartache like that once before, but it was a pale shadow compared to this morning. I don't think I will ever get the image out of my head of Emily's beautiful face contorted in pleasure as that fucker gave it to her good and proper. But I have to try.

It shouldn't matter anyway, should it?...It's all ancient history? But still here I was, savagely wounded by it. Knowing she'd enjoyed his lovemaking, even if once or twice during a year long affair is painful, but I wasn't gonna let it be terminal. Seeing it happen was the kicker...most ex's don't have the means or the motivation to punish people like that.

It's hardly Emily's fault now, that she had an affair with a middle aged pervert who liked to secretly film his mistresses, is it? There's only one twisted party in this affair, and it ain't me or my girlfriend.

She was only guilty of being used, being naïve. Something we've all been at one time or another. I was never going to win any prizes as the virginal Miss Campbell, was I?...Some of my 'escapades' pre and after meeting Emily (remembering how I'd enjoyed Mandys charms rather a lot recently) were definitely lurid. But I'd not had a ex lover so mean and spiteful as Hurst.

But to let this break us up, which she was probably thinking it would, as I carried on walking round the now empty park, was stupid. And I'm not stupid.

So I bit my tongue, steeled myself and went back to the apartment, just as Emily must have finished watching the Richard and Emily show. I heard her retching in between sobs in the bathroom and decided then and there that I had to be the strong one here. For once, I was not going to run from a problem.

So I manned up and floored her with my 'noble' speech. It might have sounded good, but inside I was definitely dying. I wanted nothing more than to be able to turn the clock back, dump that treacherous envelope unopened into the bin, then take my girl to bed.

Well, I couldn't do that, I seem to have temporarily lost my sonic screwdriver, so time travel is out. But I could make it right for Emily and me. So I did.

I took her to our bed and reclaimed my prize.

It wasn't the most passionate or intense sex we'd ever had. It wasn't even close actually. But it was tender, full of love and ultimately satisfying for both of us. I needed and she needed, to properly reconnect. To place our own seal back on the love we shared. Richard fucking Hurst and all his evil machinations could wait. Sunday might have been ruined up till then, but I was determined to get it back.

There were tears of course, after we made love. Tears from both of us. But by the time we'd got up again sometime after 4pm, it was getting better. I'd managed to get Emily to stop apologising over and over and she was beginning to believe I was sincere about putting it behind us. I waited until she used the bathroom to wash her hair before carefully re wrapping the 'evidence' and hiding it at the bottom of the Ottoman in our bedroom, underneath the clean spare sheets. Tomorrow was Monday and the kernel of an idea was forming in my head about how to get even with that perverted fucker.

XXX

Monday morning.

Naomi

I walked briskly up the road towards the tall office building hogging the Bristol skyline. I got some strange looks from people as I passed, probably due to my grim and fixed expression, but fuck I did not give. I was on a mission. Not, as you're probably thinking, to have a stand up row and resignation meeting at JI, but to see someone else. After yesterdays porno show and the later make up session, I should have been feeling a bit more mellow, but I had a couple of things to sort first. I'd taken the time, when Emily was asleep last night... a small relieved smile on her pretty face... to phone Mini.

Yeah, my ex Mini.

Because I was about to take her up on the offer of help when it was needed. Firstly, I was about to have a job interview with her boss, Melanie. I needed a fall back position, because the next time I walked into Jupiter Investments I wanted to make sure I was still gainfully employed for the next year. Mini told me she'd speak to her boss about a position in the accounts department at her place. Apparently, my ex didn't waste any time after we split...lining up her attractive 30 something divorced line manager as her next regular shag. They'd been an item for a month or so now, so Mins was OK calling in some favours. I had personal experience of how persuasive my ex can be in bed and out, so I guess this interview should be a shoo in. At least I hoped so. It was key to setting things in motion for revenge.

Then I needed someone else's help too. Bumping into Effy Stonem at that party on Saturday made me recall how devious and manipulative she could be. Unlike her brother however, she could be a force for good as well as evil, so I got her mobile number while Emily was in the loo. Effy was always casually bisexual, both at school and since leaving it seemed, but I had no intention of actually shagging her in return for some help, attractive as she is. No, I needed her contacts. After a tearful and wretched Emily had begged me not to go straight to the police with the evidence Hurst had provided, I had to think up another strategy for revenge. So, with the knowledge that Effy had mesmerised and teased most of the male and female population of the city at one time or other, I knew she would know the right person to contact for what I had planned.

But first, as the heavy glass doors hissed closed behind me...for that job interview.

XXX

Twenty minutes later, I was out in the street again. I'd already called JI at 8, to tell them I had an emergency dentist appointment this morning. I knew full well when I told Rebecca that, it would be out on the grapevine straight away. I had no doubt Tony Stonem would note my Monday morning absence and advise nasty Hurst that his filthy plan had worked. No way had Stonem not been involved in the whole stitch up. But I now had the beginnings of a plan of my own. I had a job offer for next week if I wanted it (albeit on £2000 p.a. less than I was earning now), but in a much nicer, less corporate office, despite the identikit glossy exterior of the building. It was a charity, dedicated to supporting teenage cancer research...right up my street, so it worked on both levels. I had a get out clause now financially and it made me feel a bit less of a cop out to capitalism too.

And Effy Stonem, despite her brother being part of the conspiracy to smash my relationship with Emily, had agreed to use her contacts to put the second part of my scheme in place. Mr Hurst and Co had events in the making which would make their lives pretty uncomfortable for a while, if things went well...

I took a deep breath as the elevator opened on my floor and fixed an entirely false smile on my face. But I'm pretty at putting on a brave face in public, unless its in front of my girlfriend. With her, my feelings are there for all to see. I just can't lie to her. But JI? Yep, job done.

Rebecca greeted me as I walked in. her face a mask of professional concern.

"Hey Naomi?" she said, watching me carefully "...how was the dentist?"

"Oh...not as bad as I though actually. I chipped a back tooth on a nut Saturday night, and it hurt like hell, but the dentist did a cosmetic repair and filled the hole. Now it's only my bank account that aches?" I said wryly.

She smiled back and indicated the new pile of paperwork on my desk.

"Sorry...but its piled up a bit since Friday. Tony and Richard were in earlier...they seemed to think you might be off today...any reason why?"

I smiled thinly. Not exactly being subtle, were they? An extra pile of work, just in case I came in tearful and broken, Maybe they thought that might be the last straw for me. Instead, I brightened my smile and took my coat off.

"Right then Becca...better get on with it then. Actually, now that annoying tooth is sorted, I'm raring to go...feeling great?"

I saw the quickly smothered look of surprise on her face and realised then she probably had got more of a heads up from Stonem this morning than she was letting on about. I decided to twist the knife a bit harder. Being the office gossip meant anything I told her was common knowledge in about a nano second anyway.

"Have a good weekend yourself? " I said brightly. She nodded so I went on, "I had a wonderful one. Me and Ems had a boozy picnic up on the downs...the sun was hot and we ended up playing football with some kids that were up there with their parents. I'm getting old Becca...had to sit down after ten minutes?"

She laughed politely at my elaborate lie, but seemed to buy it. I thought I might just throw another grenade in, just for fun.

"Actually, I should have been mad with Emily...she only went and refused a package from a courier while I was in the shower before we went out? Bloody silly...it could have been something important? Said she was worried it was a letter bomb or something...I ask you...do I look like a terrorist target?" I joked, watching Rebecca's face as she tried to act nonchalant. I didn't think she would be in on the full contents of that evil flash stick, but she obviously knew Hurst and Stonem had cooked up a plan to disrupt my weekend. She didn't exactly look disappointed, but the gossip in her mourned the lack of drama.

"R..right" she murmured slowly "...well, I'll let you get on Naomi...lots to do?" she said over her shoulder as she retired to her own desk. I pretended to be absorbed in arranging my piles of files neatly, while really watching her. Sure enough, once she thought I was preoccupied, she was straight on the phone, holding the receiver away from me as she whispered urgently into it.

I mentally conducted a humorous countdown in my head until Mr T Stonem appeared. It must have been less than 20 seconds. Obviously, Rebecca's reporting wasn't what he wanted to hear, because as he entered the office, his face was like thunder. I flashed him a brilliant smile, which didn't seem to improve his mood. I grinned to myself as I bent again to my work, doing what I think was a grand job of pretending to be the perfect, contented employee.

Half an hour went by, then I heard the door swish behind me. I didn't need to turn round. The way everyone in my eyeline physically stiffened told me it was the big cheese himself. He skirted round my desk and stared down at me. I could feel his eyes burning into the top of my head before I looked up at him.

"Morning Richard" I said happily "Did you have a nice weekend, boss?"

He opened his mouth to answer, but judging by the scowl on his face he wasn't about to tell me anything nice. I couldn't resist tormenting him a bit more. Keeping the serene smile on my face, I spoke before he could answer.

"I had a great weekend...me and Emily, we..."

His scowl got darker and he dropped his pretence of actually listening.

"Yes well...weekends over now Naomi...lots to do huh...so?" he nodded pointedly at the pile of files on my desk. I smiled broadly again.

"Yes...of course...sorry boss...it's this whole 'being in love' thing...makes me smile at everything. I'll get on with my work now..."

I didn't look at him again, just buried my head in spreadsheets and columns of printed figures on the reams of paper in front of me. I heard him suppress a heavy sigh.

Then Tony Stonems office door slammed hard as he walked inside. I concealed my delighted smirk behind my monitor. Fuck this is fun, I thought as I prepared to actually do some work for Jupiter Investments.

XXX

Emily

I've been a bit...distracted...this morning. For one thing, Naomi is going for an interview at her friend Mini's company. Which is worrying on more than one level. Sure, I want my love to be out of JI as soon as practically possible. I know it will be horrible for her, working there...knowing that Richard and Tony Stonem will be gloating over what they think is the stick of dynamite they threw into our relationship. The fact that we have agreed not to give them the satisfaction by admitting it was ever watched is neither here nor there. Naomi might be good at putting up a front, but I know she will be churning inside, just like I am. Shame, humiliation and guilt hang over me like a Bristol shower cloud. She's told me (and shown me) that she still loves me and won't let them break us with the horrors of the past, but I know how I would feel if someone (yeah Emily...someone like Mini maybe?) showed me an action replay of Naomi getting fucked by her. Multiple times at that. I'd be broken. And that feeling isn't going away.

But her working that closely with her recent ex too? Stupid of me to be jealous, especially as I'm hardly blameless in that department either? But here I am, jealous AND worried about her getting the job. I trust her...no, I really do. But Mini, apart from being drop dead gorgeous, with that beautiful face, tumbling waves of natural blonde hair and (go on admit it Emily) knockout tits...is also rather too recent an ex for me to be entirely comfortable. Hypocrite? Yep, thats me. At least Naomi was up front about what she was planning to do. I, on the other hand, kept Sarah a secret until I was found out. So the jealousy I feel is mixed with a profound sense of guilt and self recrimination too.

Anyway, after sitting for half an hour drinking way too many coffees while Sarah was out of the office, I pulled myself together and just restricted myself to one text.

"Hi babe. How did it go? And how is it at JI? E. XXX"

I figured that was anodyne enough. Concerned, but not frantic. Inside I might be dying, but I didn't want Naomi to know that. She had enough to deal with, having to sit under the gaze of our tormentors all morning. The reply came quickly.

"Hi gorgeous. Interview went well. Job offer in post. Gruesome 2some rather disappointed at my lack of hysteria. Meet me at 1.30? N. XXX"

Well, that made me feel a whole lot better...apart from the job offer. Calling me gorgeous (which she does a lot) and wanting to meet up for lunch. Can't be bad news then? I sighed and put away my phone for the rest of the morning after thumbing an OK to lunch with Naomi. Time to put in some graft for that inflated salary.

Two and a half hours later I was sitting outside Gino's coffee shop on a bench, trying not to look nervous and clutching my chocolate sprinkled Mocha. Naomi's latte with almond milk was in a sealed cup next to me. The sun was out and I unbuttoned my jacket as its warmth soothed my anxieties. I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the pleasant heat.

"Hello darling" a gruff voice said, startling me out of my reverie. I opened my mouth to tell whoever it was to fuck right off, but stopped before a word came out. A grinning Naomi was looking down at me.

"Fucking hell Naoms..." I said, blushing a bit at the ease with which she had fooled me. "...I thought it was some corporate suit from JI, trying to pick me up?"

I blushed some more when she looked down at her own smartly besuited body and smirked. "Actually, that was about right...corporate suit, check. Willing and able to pick up a certain beautiful brunette and shag her senseless, check...shall I go on?"

I laughed to cover my embarrassment. Jesus, I thought, way to go Emily.

"Alright...alright" I said defensively, trying not to grin back. "Colour me stupid?"

Naomi sat down and kissed me deliberately on the mouth, stifling any other daft comments I might be about to make. She reached past me as I kissed her back hungrily and swiped her coffee from the bench beside me.

"Oi" I said "So it was just the coffee you were after, miss?"

Naomi giggled as she sipped from the steaming cardboard cup.

"Guilty as charged. I thought a kiss was fair reward?"

I smiled back ruefully as she stared at me.

"Yeah..more than I deserve actually... after what I..."

Her face changed from amusement to a determined frown.

"No Emily...stop that right now. No more guilt, no more apologising. I thought we'd sorted this out? Past is past. You have nothing to apologise for. End of...clear?"

I nodded uncertainly as she put down the cup and squeezed both of my hands in hers.

"Right?" she said, holding my eyes with her intense blue ones.

I nodded again, this time a bit more confidently.

"OK" she said firmly "subject closed. Now...lets have an update. To start with, as I said, I've got the job at Mini's place. Different floor to her, but same building. Her boss is nice and the job itself sounds perfect. Instead of rearranging telephone number sized figures for Jupiter, I'm going to be doing something worthwhile...arranging logistical support for cancer treatment centres...you know?"

I smiled broadly at her obvious enthusiasm.

"And..." she said after returning my smile "...with the two pornographers in chief retiring to lick their wounds...I've had a call from Effy Stonem...you know, that girl we vaguely knew from Roundview...?"

I started at that.

"S...Stonem...yeah but Naomi...that means she's Tony's sister...why on earth would she help us?"

Naomi took another deep swallow of cooling coffee before answering.

"Her and the sainted Tony apparently fell out big time earlier this year. You know what she's like, thin on details but big on shock value. Apparently the experimental Ms Stonem shagged Tony's long term girlfriend Michelle...like multiple times...and he wasn't best pleased?"

My mouth nearly hit my knees. I knew Effy was what the Guardian called metro sexual, but her brothers girlfriend?

"Yeah...apparently they were on the outs anyway, coz he'd been banging some girl from the post room? Michelle found out and went round to his place to confront him, but instead of a row with Mr Stonem, ended up rolling around on a bed with his younger sister...mad huh?"

I just shook my head at that revelation. And I thought MY love life was complicated. No wonder Tony Stonem had a bit of a thing against lesbians. His own sister had turned his girlfriend.

"So...Effy is still shagging Michelle?" I said, not really knowing if I wanted to know the answer to that. Like if she wasn't...what was to stop her turning her sensors towards my girlfriend. It didn't sound like loyalty was one of her strong points?

Naomi nodded, which made me feel a bit better. Not sure why...it was all getting very complicated.

"Off and on I think. Elizabeth Stonem likes to ring the changes, but at the moment, this Michelle is the flavour of the month" she said, swallowing the last of her latte and putting the cup down by her feet.

"Anyway Ems...thats all by the way. The main thing is she's willing to help us. It turns out Stonem senior knows an awful lot about his boss's extra marital fun...you included unfortunately. But before you and him...well, you know...got it on?...there was a girl called Maria...she left JI because she'd fallen pregnant by Richard. The bastard wouldn't acknowledge the kid at first...but Maria is a good Catholic girl and refused to get rid?...Anyway, she had the baby, but instead of doing the sensible thing and suing him for maintenance, she struggled on alone. But she did get a DNA test done at the time she left him. Without going into too much gruesome detail, Hurst left enough samples around her flat to convince an army of scientists he was the boys daddy. And...he must have had a fit of conscience at one point, because he sent Maria a cheque for £3000 after she quit. Still thought she might change her mind and have the abortion I guess. She didn't...and better still, never cashed the cheque. Stupid bastard sent her a note with it too...something along the lines of 'If you change your mind about the clinic, this should help?"

I gaped at this whole new level of nastiness and sexual history I knew nothing about. Effy Stonem had uncovered more about the unpleasant Mr Hurst in a morning than I had during a 12 month 'affair'. Suddenly the mocha I had enjoyed roiled in my stomach. I swallowed hard to keep it down. This was no time for vomiting.

"B...but" I said uncertainly "...I get that I wasn't the only idiot who fell for his charms Naoms...but how does all that help us?"

Naomi smiled sweetly.

"Because, Emily my darling...this Maria is now married and about to emigrate to New Zealand. When Effy told her...don't ask me how she got in touch so quickly, but anyway...when Effy told her how he's treated you and me...she decided to help. She doesn't want to go to law...just to wreck his life the way he did hers and ours. Or tried to. She's dropping off all the evidence to Effy tonight. Letters, the DNA test, copy birth certificate of her son Max, which has Richard named as the father...oh, and some hotel receipts from dirty weekends, that sort of stuff. Times, dates places. What we need to do is produce a similar story...without the unwanted pregnancy? Didn't you say you kept a few things like that?"

I had, but I was about to burn them all. Fuck knows why I did hang on to stupid ephemera like that...I certainly didn't have blackmail in mind. But sometimes he made me book a room on my credit card, in case Miranda went through his bills. I didn't have the sort of explosive evidence that Maria could provide, but put together, it would prove damning. But still...

"I still don't see how this all works Naoms?" I said dully "I mean, if Maria was suing him for maintenance, or taking him to court for breach of promise or something, then yeah...but what's the point of us just having this stuff?"

Naomi covered my slightly trembling hand with hers and smiled at my puzzlement.

"Because babes...Richard and Miranda have never been able to have children. He told her apparently that he had the snip before they got together. But it's an outright lie. If we send Miranda this stuff, together with a photo of the boy and a written statement from you and Maria about what he's been up to...and more importantly that he's not above a bit of revenge porn too...I think him and his fragrant wife might have need of a top class marriage guidance counsellor very soon"

I sat there with my mouth open as the full implications sank in. Richard might be untouchable in law, but I knew just how much he feared the wrath of Miranda...and her ultra rich family. He and Miranda might live in gilded luxury in a city centre penthouse, with a country manor and thirty acres near Bath as their weekend retreat, but most of that had been provided by his other half. He might be a successful businessman, but his wealthy status depended on his wife too. It was perfect. I goggled at Naomi's pleased grin.

"That's...that's bloody brilliant Naomi...fucking hell, remind me never to get on the wrong side of Ms Stonem, will you...she's lethal!"

Our shared laughter made the strutting pigeons take anxious flight from the busy pavement.

XXX

11 months later.

Naomi

The big jet thundered across the bay in front of the wooden building I was sitting outside. Close enough to see the small features of people being ferried home to dreary old England. But far enough away not to disturb the flock of grey sea birs which were squabbling over a discarded fish on the quay. They were used to the great white birds that roared and whistled towards and away from this small island once every couple of hours. As I was.

It'd been 11 months now. Our lives have changed irrevocably since those strange days at Jupiter Investments. Emily and I are content...no, more than that...blissfully happy. No more 9am meetings or late night conferences for Emily. No more spreadsheets or tedious accounting for me. With the £25,000 Emily's dad gifted us and the endowment policy my sainted mother cashed in to help, we had enough...without dipping into our 'getaway' pot...to buy this little profitable business on an idyllic Greek island. Even with the recession in the mainland receding, businesses were going cheap. We got the freehold, the goodwill and the machinery (well, 15 fairly good condition mopeds and scooters) at a bargain price from Yiannis, who was selling up to retire back to Corfu with his wife.

We've been up and running for 3 months now, and as the tourists flock in to rent bikes, life is good. We live simply really. Most days we work together, renting out the bikes and doing the paperwork before enjoying the long lunchtime breaks eating, drinking some ouzo and usually having a crafty quickie in the bedroom upstairs.

Home is a whitewashed single storey building half a mile away, down the winding cliff road. The village itself is small but popular with water sport enthusiasts. Three tavernas and a couple of shops is all. It's enough.

Yes, life is good. Giving up our wage slave lives back in Bristol was easy. My mum has just left to go home after her second visit of the summer and Katie flies over here so regularly, she might have to take out dual citizenship soon...

Richard Hurst, Tony Stonem and all their works are firmly behind us. The big cheese firmly brought down to earth by his vengeful wife. I hear a high profile divorce is due in London. Tony Stonem? Well... Lets just say he's a bit subdued now his boss has been reduced to just another middle aged separated schmuck with a horrifying maintenance bill due.

"Naoms babe...?" I hear from the little kitchenette we have out back "...lunch is ready...come and get it?"

I smirk as the double entendre registers. Oh fuck yeah...

Corporate Sellouts? Yep, that's us!

And THAT, my lovely readers, is that. Please tell me if you enjoyed the ride. I have some written for 'Triangle' so expect to see something of that by next Monday. Thanks for dropping by!