The Peter Principle Part 1

by Leslie Schmidt

"The loss of the Bentley and Grime's contract is a significant problem Barbra," Max Branch said, leaning back in his chair.

"Yes sir," the buxom and attractive blonde replied from across the desk. She didn't offer any explanation but they both knew that the real problem was that she was pushing the limits of the Peter Principle.

Barbra had been brought in during the hostile takeover of a competitor. Rumor had it that she interviewed for that job on her back and then was kept on for 'diversity.' Her performance was generally lack luster but not bad enough to warrant letting her go. Still, the dizty blonde persona did not match the sharp, hard-nosed image that Fredrick, Towson and Gold tried to portray. This was a circumstance which would test Max's "leadership" ability-the hit wouldn't help his division's bottom line but wasn't bad enough to get much notice on the eighth floor.

Max was both surprised and a little disgusted to see her eyes tearing up.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Branch. I'll work to do better, I'm just, well, I really kind of overwhelmed these days..."

Max knew she was a single mother-she had just come off of maternity leave when the takeover happened-that was been part of the decision to keep her on. It was later that the rumors of how she'd gotten the job came to light. Now, almost three years later, he was sure her days and evenings were full.

"I know I'm not living up to FT&G's standards but, with jobs so tight right now--I've looked around for something less demanding..."

'Wow,' Branch thought, 'she's really at her wits end, or really stupid, to tell her boss that!'

"Barbra, I'm not at all near that," he said. "You've got a lot of things pulling at your time but, I'm sure that you'll be able to pick it up. I certainly haven't given up on you. You're a valued member of the team. I value your dedication and the poise you bring to the job." ['What a fucking liar I am,' he thought.] Several of your co-workers have commented that you always have a positive attitude and bend over backwards to help out." ['Eye-candy for the office and the occasional drunken fuck after a staff party.' He smiled to himself. He'd never sampled her wears but he'd heard the stories...]

She smiled at him and wiped one of her eyes.

"Thank you sir," she said with a smile but inside she knew he was placating her. She knew that she was in over her head, it was only a matter of time...

Then again, she'd always found ways to win over boss', professors, etc...

She leaned forward and pressed her shoulders together, knowing that it would show off her cleavage. This part of the job she knew.

"Sir, would it be possible for us to go over some of my accounts?" she wiggled her shoulders. Sure enough, he was looking down her shirt. She pressed her thighs together, knowing that her borderline too short skirt had ridden up. "I don't want to take too much time out of your day but..." He was now staring at the hem of her skirt.

Branch smiled and leaned back in his chair, as did she.

"I'm pretty well booked this week," he said, "but maybe we can get together for drinks on Friday and I'll look over your portfolio..." he let his voice trail off.

"Sure!" she replied with a smile and another wiggle of her shoulders. She shifted in her seat, keeping her knees together but shifting to the side so her hem moved up even more on her left thigh. Enough that the first of the star tattoos on her hip and thigh showed.

"Come over to my place around seven," he said, "and bring your travel files and laptop."

"OK, Mr. Branch," she said as cutely as she could. She stood up. "Thank you."

Max let her get half way to the door. "Oh, I forgot, you've got a little one...a little girl, right?"

She turned. "Yes."

"You'll have to get a babysitter...no...don't worry about that, bring her with you. I have some toys and stuff that I'm sure she'll play with."

Barbra's balloon was quickly deflating-hadn't he seen her meaning? "Oh, OK."

"I love little girls, they're really special to me," Branch said. "I'm sure we'll have a great time."

"Well, that's great," she responded, her face clearing and taking on a more professional expression. "And my little Tamera is very well behaved."

"Oh," Max paused, "I'm sure that, with you showing her what to do, she'll make me very happy. And, of course, make the evening a success for both of us."

Barbra went back to her office a bit disappointed and confused. She sat down and only then realized what he meant....at first she was shocked, then she thought she had to be wrong, then she was just nervous.

The next day she was alone in the break room when Max came in.

"Good morning Mr. Branch," she greeted him.

"Hi there," he responded. "I hope you're feeling a little better today."

"Yes...I am."

Branch looked behind him to make sure no one was coming down the hall. "Are we still on for tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it."

"I hope Tamera's looking forward to it also," Branch replied, this time trying to show just a touch of a leering smile.

"I haven't told her about it yet."

"Oh," Branch continued, "you must tell her about all the fun games I have for her to play."

At that point one of the IT support staff came in carrying a 24 oz coffee mug with "Hand over the JAVA and no one gets hurt" written on it.

On the drive through Friday night Houston traffic, Barbra was thankful for the GPS on her dash, otherwise she'd never be able to find her way. At the gate the guard made a phone call, then opened the barrier.

"Follow the road until you're past the lake. It'll make a sharp turn to the left and then the house is a couple down on the right," he told her before waving her through.

"You be sure to be real good," Barbra said, looking at Tamera in the mirror. "You, me and Mr. Branch are going to play some real fun games, OK?"

"OK," the toddler responded from her safety seat in the back.

Branch was wearing sweats and flip-flops when he opened the door. From the outlines, Barbra could see he was commando beneath. She was wearing a white sleeveless dress that buttoned down the front and had a wide belt above a hemline that just barely reached below her ass. She was exaggerating her height with three inch heels; she knew that that was the only way to make up for her slightly heavy frame.

Tamera was in an oyster shell white sundress-straight with spaghetti straps and a pair of silver and fake jewel encrusted flip flops that she insisted in wearing everywhere. She was two months out of diapers and had her favorite My Little Pony panties on.

In the living room there was a decorative wooden chest next to the dark fireplace.

"Tamera honey," Max said, "If you look in there you might find some toys."

The girl toddled over, followed by her mother who helped her with the lid. "Oh wow!" Barbra said to her daughter, "You'll have lots of fun with these."

As the child rooted around in the box, Max headed toward the kitchen. "Can I get you a drink-I've got most you might ask for."

"White wine?" Barbra asked.

"Sure, what about Tamera. She'd like some juice, I've got apple and grape."

"Better be the apple-save the carpet."

"Great," he called as ice clanked in a glass. "While you're out there, did you bring your Basic Account Summery?"

"I can pull it up," Barbra said, putting her brief case on the dining table, "but I also have a hard copy."

"That will be great," Max said as he put scotch in his glass, then added water. He came out of the kitchen carrying his scotch, a stem of wine and a sipper cup of apple juice.

Tamera had been pulling toys out of the box-a couple of dolls and a Spiderman action figure, a stuffed horse, a 'Shape-O', and toy made to look like a laptop. Barbra caught her breath when she pulled out a ten inch, anatomically correct, dildo. The child held it and had a questioning look on her face, then dropped it on the floor and dug back in the box.

"Tamera, do you want some juice," he said.

The toddler walked over, dragging a Raggedy Anne doll by the leg.

"What do you say honey," Barbra asked as the girl took the cup.

"Thank you," she chimed.

"That's fine sweetheart. You'll have other things to drink later too," Max said as he smiled at Barbra.

Her face went white but she forced a smile.

"Has she eaten?" Branch asked. "I have snacks if she'd like."

"We ate just before leaving," Barbra replied. "Maybe some desert later."

"Well, let me put something on for her, then we can get to work."

With cartoons playing on the 72 inch screen, Max and Barbra sat down at the dining table and started looking over her accounts.

"OK, what I want to do is shift some of the portfolios around between you and other reps in the office to give you a better balance," Max said as he pulled up a spreadsheet of assignments. "If you can keep a secret, Carl Atwood is being transferred to a new office. We're establishing an Asia office in Singapore and he's going to head it up."

"Wow, what an awesome opportunity for him."

"Well, he earned it," Max responded with a smile. "At any rate, that means I'll be shuffling accounts."

"There are a number of accounts, some call them 'sleepers' that have a record of steady performance but don't hold much potential for big returns. Most of the guys don't like them-feel they're a waste of effort but, frankly, they're in many ways our bread and butter..."

He went on to explain as gently as he could that these accounts, while not giving much opportunity for big bonuses, would provide steady income. The clients were generally not planning on changes to their businesses and were looking for long term stability in their markets. Barbra knew that she was being shunted off onto a siding, but she also knew that this would provide her with a secure and quiet place in the organization. For the time being, it would be best for all.

"Now, finally," Max went on, this time pulling a sheaf of papers out of his brief case, "I do have a challenge for you." He handed her the papers.

Barbra looked through it-it wasn't account information, it was an account proposal.

"That's a prospect we've been trying to reel in for about six months. The client is a rather cantankerous fellow but, as you can see, managing his operation could be a real boon. I'd pretty much given up on it until I thought of you..." Max smiled at Barbra. "I'll be frank, I think he may be susceptible to a girl's charm."

"I see," Barbra said, not fully understanding his meaning- -yet.

" But be careful. He's got some...ties...south of the boarder you'll want to steer clear of."

"As I say, the eighth floor has given up on it...if you can revive it and get the contract...well, it would be noticed."

"How do you think I should approach the client?" Barbra asked.

"I'd just say, call him up and arrange a meeting...then put on a charm offensive. Also, I understand he's a real family man, he'll understand the challenges that a single mom has that might make him more receptive. It's one of Carl Atwater's projects, he hasn't had much luck with it. I'm...not sure he applied all his...resources...to winning it. You should talk to him about it."

"OK, Mr. Branch," Barbra said, not really sure he truly meant what he was implying.

"I understand the client really likes kids-you might want to introduce Tamera to him," Branch nodded toward the toddler who was sitting in front of the TV.

"Yeah, I might do that," she replied, aware that they were done with business.

"Cool," Max said, pushing his chair back. "Can I get you more wine?"

"Ah...yeah," Barbra replied, beginning to feel nervous. She fucked bosses, college professors, even a junior high school teacher before but she knew that Max wasn't really interested in her. "Actually, instead of wine, do you have any Bourbon?"

"Sure," Max said, standing and walking toward the kitchen. "How'd you like it?"

"Straight up, on the rocks."

Max turned to her with a smile. "OK."

She followed him in and stood on the other side of the counter as he put ice in a short class, then filled it with Jim Beam.

Without saying a word, Barbra took the glass and emptied it in one shot, then put it back down with a raised eyebrow.

Max smiled and refilled the glass.

This time she drank about half. "OK," her voice was a little breathy, "what now?"

"What I really want is for you and Tamera over there," he nodded toward the door way, "to show me just how much you love each other."