Board meeting is the right name. Board. Suits and egos, not a single smile that isn't painted on or an opinion that isn't safe as to be completely pointless. It's as if we're colluding in how to have the most un-fun experience of living possible…this is where I come in. Standing at the head of the table I adjusted the sleeves on my crisp grey suit jacket. My cleavage was showing just enough out of my white blouse and every time I turned my Cute Client, sitting in the first chair, would walk her eyes the length of my legs. A skinny white tie accompanied her black colored shirt and short white skirt. The Senior Client sat in the back with his fingers curled around his mouth, extremely skeptical of my pitch so far. The Male Client was sitting across from Cute Client, being way too obvious of his attraction for me. My boss Clay, Ruby and Jefferson rounded out the rest of the board meeting.
Off to the side was a large poster of two women laying the beach, dressed in casual beach attire. The one on the bottom had her hands pinned above her head and back arched while the one on top had one hand gripped around the bottom's wrist and the other hand holding our client's beer.
I picked up a Red Delicious apple from the basket of fruit behind me and palmed it in my hand, "The difference between our beer and their beer is that our beer says," I tossed the apple in the air, holding my gaze with Cute Client and caught it effortlessly, "sex. Not Clydesdales running through the plains," I tossed the apple up again, "If you want to be cool, if you want to be popular, if you want to get…" I glanced over at the drooling Male Client and winked, "…laid. Then this is what you drink."
"Okay, but what about the models? Are you sure they're not too, uh, too…" The Senior Client trailed off.
"Gay?" I finished for him, but he was unable to respond, faced flushed from his uneasiness of the topic, "What do you think?" I asked the younger male in the room.
"I wouldn't care if she was."
Ruby laughed as she twirled her pen between her fingers, nodding her head in the direction of Cute Girl sitting in front of me, "And what about you?" I took a bite into the apple suggestively, watching her toy with the diamond band on her ring finger.
"I-um-I…I hadn't thought about it, but I think it'll work for the NY Hopps company."
"We just want to make sure we're not running off any clientele." Senior Client jumped in, steepling his fingers, bring it to his mouth.
"I understand, but you're targeting males twenty-one to sixty five. Now this," I pointed to the posted, focused on Senior Client, "Won't be a hinderance to the male demographic in any way and you'll gain some respect along with that because you're showing that your beer isn't just for men, but for women too. Plus if I'm not stirring the pot a little then I'm not doing my job."
Senior Client sat back in the chair, not quite looking at me but through me. He rubbed the manicured goatee with his thumb as if he was contemplating something. Finally he clapped his hands together and smiled.
"Emma Swan. You have yourself a new client." Standing, he walked over to me and shook my hand then to my boss shaking his.
Ruby and Jefferson started clapping which made everyone else begin to. Another deal closed thanks to me. Everyone began to clean up their things as the three of us walked to the door, holding it open for our new official clients. We shook hands as they began to file out saying 'thank you', 'nice to meet you', 'you're welcome', blah blah blah. Leaning over slightly I took my eyes to Cute Client who was only just standing to pack files into her briefcase. The base of my core rumbled as growing ball of heat made itself known, especially when she glanced over her shoulder to meet my eyes.
"Ahh. She's mar-ried." Ruby whispered teasingly in my ear.
"Uh huh." My answer was full of sarcasm.
"With two kids.
"Ah, a family woman."
Ruby scoffed loudly, mumbling something under her breath that sounded like "really?', but out of all my friends she should know that I don't discriminate. I love all women: single, married, 'straight' equally. Cute Client made her way to the door. She seemed incredibly nervous, smiling tightly as she waved to us.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the bathroom is?"
"Yeah, it's just down the hall and to the left." Ruby answered, using her fingers to point in the general direction.
"Thanks." Cute Client bit her lip and let her gaze linger on me, smiling as she moved past us.
My eyes fell to her ass as she walked with an extra switch in her hips, forcing my gaze to stay there. The ball of heat burst into a roaring blaze, my fingers were itching for her, "That's a long trip. She might get lost."
"Well, I'm sure you'll show her the way," She teased, sending me a wink, "Oh and don't forget Eliot will be here with baby Atlas at three."
Now this brought a smile to my face Eliot has been like a brother to me since we were in elementary school, he was my first and last boyfriend in middle school and coincidentally I happened to be his last girlfriend. A year ago he and his partner Theodore of nine years decided they wanted a kid and came to me, asking if I could carry. Hard pass, but I did offer my eggs. After finding a willing a carrier for my eggs and Eliots sperm, baby Atlas graced the world with his presence nine months later.
Today is the first day I get to meet him.
But enough of that, I need to focus on Cute Client.
Making my way to the bathroom I played the scenarios through in my head. This certainly wouldn't be my first time having sex at work, nor is it my first time with a client, or with someone who was married. Which is why my fumbling last night with Reg pissed me the fuck off. I had to fuck her out of my system after I left that stupid bar.
With my hand in my pockets I pushed open the bathroom door with my shoulder and a stall had just closed. Smirking, I glided to the one beside her, hearing her fumble with the briefcase and papers. Deciding against saying anything I let her do her thing in peace, that is until she steps out of that stall. I finished first and headed to the sink with her following shortly after. Surprise struck Cute Client almost making me laugh. Through the mirror I kept my gaze on her as she began washing her hands beside me.
"I had to go so bad during that pitch that I almost didn't make it." I started, earning a grin.
"Really? Your presentation was very impressive that I couldn't even tell."
Turning off the water I kept my eyes on hers, leaning over to brush my shoulder against hers, "You think so?"
Copying my movements Cute Client held her hand over the machine that spat out some paper towel, handing one to me then keeping one for herself, "Yes, very impressive."
Adverting my gaze I looked over myself in the mirror, "Well I'm glad you like it. Because that's what we're here for," Tossing the paper towel in the waste basket nearby, I sent her sly smile and her face shifted to a crimson red, "To please the client."
We shared a silence, Cute Client opened and closed her mouth like a fish, eyebrows scrunching and it seemed like she couldn't find the right words, "Well, I guess we should get back."
"Yea I guess so." But neither of us moved.
"It was a pleasure," she offered her hand for a shake and I took it, holding on tightly.
"It could be more of one."
Her eyebrows scrunched, "Excuse me?"
I rolled my eyes, dropped her hand from mine and wrapped it around the skinny tie, dragging her to one of the empty stalls and slamming the door shut. Immediately her hands went to my shirt, snapping the button loose as I worked to get her tie loosened.
"You know," I chuckled lowly, immediately taking my lips to her neck, "I'm never wrong." She shivered against my mouth.
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing sweetie." Pulling back I went to dive in for a kiss but her hand gripped my shoulder, stopping me.
"I-I-…I don't kiss."
Pulling down her skirt, I cocked my head to an angle with a raised eyebrow, "Yea. Right." I dove in, devouring her mouth and she wasted no time slipping her tongue in mine, moaning enthusiastically as my hands twirled with the edge of her thong. Ripping my lips away I attacked her neck, her body convulsing from the simple actions, allowing me to flip her around, placing both of her hands with her wrists crossed up on the stall edge. I bit her ear, smiling when she moaned again, pushing her ass against me. Sliding my free hand down her low back I slipped in between her legs, feeling the heat radiate from her center.
Another shiver ripped through her body as my fingers slid over her panty-covered soaked slit. She dropped her head back to rest on my shoulder, her mouth hanging open as the sweetest sounding quiet moan drifted from her lips. Her hips drove forcefully down against my fingers but I swooped them away from her throbbing heat then back up to barely touch her, eliciting a lust-filled growl. Slipping her panties to the side I brush against her clit and her knee jutted forward, slamming against the stall wall.
The pulse point in her neck jumped from her quickened breathing filling the empty bathroom along with the sound of her wetness being moved around. Nevertheless I continued moving my fingers around her folds, barely touching her clit and teasing her around her entrance but doing nothing more. The bathroom door swung open and heels clank against the tile floor as someone slid into the stall beside us, which is when I decide to take it a step further by sliding one finger inside of her.
A creak of the stall wall sounded around us as her grip tightened around the edge and she whimpered quietly from the back of her throat, breathing heavily through my nose. The woman beside us began to clear her throat uncomfortably, like she was trying to announce that we were weren't alone, and my fingers left Cute Client momentarily only to slide two back inside. Her ragged breath became louder, but got drowned out from the toilet flushing as she began to rock her hips slightly against my fingers.
The click of the unlocking stall added to the sound, and the mystery woman beside us slipped out and let the sink water shoot from the faucet at the highest force. Desperate for a release Cute Client let quiet moans fill the space, hips bucking harder against my deep, driving fingers. Her scent encompasses me as I lean closer and whisper, "Come baby," into her auburn hair, pulling back out to pinch her clit just slightly. She tossed her head back, her mouth fully open lips curved into a smile to let out a silent scream as her face turned bright red while she unabashedly rocked against me.
Her lips pulled higher into a smile. Like she was in another place. A beautiful place. And that place was me.
My lips went to the crook of her neck, sucking the skin then smoothing it over by tenderly scraping my teeth across the area, sending another wave through her body and her wetness dripped down my hand and onto the floor. The bathroom door swung open with the tapping of heels retreating Cute Client let out a groan then fell back into me, her body limp as she ran a hand through her damp hair. Slowly I helped her turn back around after releasing my hold on her now red wrists, dropping to a low squat to help pull up her skirt. I kissed her one final time on the lips then opened the door to our stall.
"Your boss is probably worried about you," I said in a teasing motherly tone. I walked out but was stopped from her pulling on my arm.
"When can I see you again?" Cute Client's eyes were wild with lust as she straightened out her shirt.
"You're seeing me now."
Dragging her from the stall, she stopped me once more before I could leave the bathroom, "I mean later. Tonight."
"Who knows where I'll be later tonight."
"Please?"
Buttoning the last button on my blouse I curled my fingers under Cute Client's chin and pulled her to my lips, deepening the kiss for a second before I pulled back seeing that her eyes were still closed, "I'll see you in your dreams." And with that I slipped out of the bathroom, strolling leisurely to my office. Ruby was leaning against the wall texting when I turned the corner, immediately walking in-step with me.
"You had a walk in while you were, otherwise indisposed, and I already sat her in your office."
"I thought we didn't do walk ins."
"Yea well this one seems important. Clay wouldn't have let him in if it wasn't."
From the clear glass walls that framed my personal bubble I saw a man sitting in one the guest chairs with five other people standing behind him. Looks pretty high profile. I made sure to fix myself in the reflection and glanced over at Ruby, "Any idea on who he is?"
"That's Police Chief Jim Vanguard." Jefferson came up beside me, handing over his tablet with all of Jim's information on it. Now I don't pay a lot of attention to politics, but you can't turn on the TV without hearing his name or seeing one of his cheesy commercials, "Focus, because we only have enough time for me to go over this once, "The woman in the leopard shirt, that's Diane Overton. She's basically his gatekeeper. The man with blue suit is Bill Ranson, runs the Carnegie Foundation, and has raised almost a million dollars for the campaign."
"Got it."
"The red head beside him is Daniel Marks, chief advisor, the two woman in plaid are his senior advisors, Nancy Henderson and Christine Scolloto." He quickly finished, stepping close to fix the collar of my blouse.
Glancing down at the tablet I couldn't help but smirk when I noticed he was down in the polls. Bill has raised almost a mil and Jimbo is still losing? No wonder why he's sitting in my office.
"Isn't he the fascist asshole. The one who literally thinks homosexuality should be abolished and the LGBTQIA+ community are a group of sick people and with his help can be cured to live the 'all American life'" Ruby said, unable to hide the frown.
"Yup," Jefferson answered curtly, "So we're basically about to sell our soul to the devil."
"Not selling, but we will bill for time and expenses," They chuckled but the worry lines were deepening in their faces, "Hey, we don't know why he's here, lets just do this meeting, get it over with, and laugh about it over drinks at the Banshee tonight." They both nodded, sending me weak smiles as we entered my office.
"Chief Vanguard." I greeted. I received scowls from everyone on his team, but Jim gave me that good ol' Mayor smile and handshake. He wasn't a bad looking guy; in shape, short brown hair that he definitely took time to gel into a style, pristine white teeth, bright green eyes, buy all accounts he was a looker.
"Emma Swan, good afternoon. Sorry to barge in on you like this."
No you're not.
But instead of saying that I just waved my hand through the air, pushing my chair off to the side so Ruby, Jefferson, and I could stand, "How's it going?"
"Very well, thanks."
"Really? Because with all the money you're raising you should be out in front, but the polls show you're trailing behind councilwoman Stockwell."
A smirk pulled on his lips as he sat back and adjusted the knot on his tie, then smoothed over the tail, "My opponent is ahead by the narrowest of margins at this point. However, my advisors have informed me that we're in a position to take over the lead." He said, waving his hands over the people behind him, smug smiles plastered all over their faces.
"Your advisors are blowing smoke up your ass," cue disgruntled sighs, "And your prepared remarks are as stale as the campaign you're running."
Once more he played with his tie, sighing deeply, "Well it's always helpful hearing from one of mine supporters."
"I'm not a supporter. I'm an adwoman who's just letting you know that you're pissing away all your money on your ad campaign," I leaned the palm of my hands on my desk, pushing forward slightly as to tower over him, never letting those green eyes move away from mine, "Why are you here?" Jim struggled to keep eye contact, finally darting his gaze to the floor then back at me.
His speech silences itself in reverence to my words but behind his 'American Man' persona I can see the synapses firing off in his brain, "I'm here for honest feedback and you Emma Swan did not disappoint," He stood from his chair and held out his hand, "I would like us to work together during my run for Mayor. Will you help me?"
I wasn't at all shocked that he would ask me this, but it would only be fair to speak with Jefferson and Ruby before giving him a final answer. After all, we are a team.
"I'll reach out before the weekend and give you my final answer."
He cleared his throat, once again adjusted his tie, "I have to admit, that wasn't the answer I was expecting, I'm used to hearing yes right away," psh, you and me both, "Very well. I'll tell my camp to be on the lookout for your call."
Turning to face Ruby and Jefferson I found them hard to read at this moment, personally I don't care if he hates gay people. Whether they're democratic and hate you behind your back or republican and hate you to your face I say let the best self-serving asshole win. All I care about is if his money is green. But like I said, we're a team. We huddled near the window, but before I could ask a question to them a floral, sweet scent filled the room. The feeling of being watched swept over me.
"There you are," I heard Jim whisper behind me, and my ears searched for the response. When none came I shot my gaze over my shoulder. No fucking way. Is that…? "Emma," begrudgingly I turned to face him, suppressing the shock when I see who's hanging on his arm. I don't know if what I'm feeling is joy or sorrow but I do realize that whatever the destination it's not my choice. I forced a smile their way, keeping my distance by the window, "I would like you to meet someone, this is my wife, Regina."