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\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1604327 \f36\fs24\cf17\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1604327 
\par \'93Where, Anne?\'94 asked Stan, mildly. But he was anxious, twisted up inside. \'93Is it far?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, Stan, not far. I\rquote ll commute. It\rquote s about an hour each way, about sixty miles or so up the motorway.\'94
\par 
\par \'93So you\rquote re going to stay with us?\'94 asked Denise, looking and sounding troubled.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, of course!\'94 Anne answered, sitting up straight.
\par 
\par \'93Thank God!\'94 muttered Stan, and Anne took his hand in both of hers. \'93I wouldn\rquote t leave you, silly!\'94 she told him.
\par 
\par \'93Good! \lquote Cuz we\rquote re not planning on letting you go!\'94 Denise exclaimed.
\par 
\par Suddenly, Anne just simply broke down. Her face crumpled and she turned away from them both. Stan could hear her sobs. He and Denise moved together to comfort the crying woman.
\par 
\par Stan kissed her underneath her ear, while Denise restrained herself to merely hugging her, murmuring \'93It\rquote s all right. We love you, Anne,\'94
 repeatedly. Anne simply let them do this for a while. Then she shook herself a little and pushed them away. She stood, sniffing back her tears and fetched herself a tissue. 
\par 
\par Stan watched as one of the two women he loved fought herself back under control. He was continually amazed at Anne\rquote s control, her self-discipline. When her mastery over her feelings, burst like this he knew there had to have been a major reason.

\par 
\par Finally she seemed to be in command of herself again. She looked up at Stan, then over to Denise. She told them both, \'93I\rquote m sorry about that. I don\rquote t know what came over me. I\rquote 
d been holding this in for a while, now, since Sid got into contact with me. He told me I had to keep it secret, \'93deeply under the rose\'94 as he put it, and I couldn\rquote t say what was happening to anyone. But in the end I had to tell you, I }{
\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 had}{\insrsid1604327  to. It wasn\rquote t fair to you, and it wasn\rquote t fair to me, either. I\rquote m so sorry, and }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 then }{\insrsid1604327 you go and say that to me. I thought you\rquote 
d both be upset and angry with me. To be quite honest I was frightened about what you\rquote d say. }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 Thank you!}{\insrsid1604327 \'94
\par 
\par As Anne spoke, tears began to flow down her cheeks again and, at the last, her voice broke once more. But she visibly commanded herself to stop, Stan could }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 feel}{\insrsid1604327 
 the order radiating out from her centre, and she dabbed her eyes once more.
\par 
\par \'93God, I must look a mess!\'94 Anne said. Denise immediately replied \'93God, I wish I looked half as good as you even when you }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 are }{\insrsid1604327 a mess!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Ladies!\'94 Stan called, making a \'93Time-Out\'94 motion with his hands. \'93You\rquote re }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 both}{\insrsid1604327  beautiful! Stop trying to out-humble each other!\'94
\par 
\par }{\insrsid1604327\charrsid1604327 Denise}{\insrsid1604327  looked at him and stuck her tongue out. Anne reached over and gently punched him on the arm. Denise clipped his ear. Suddenly they }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 both}{\insrsid1604327  laun
ched themselves at him.
\par 
\par For a while it looked as though Stan might win and pin them down, even with both of the ladies combined against him. But then Anne demonstrated that she\rquote d been paying attention to his reactions in bed \endash  she tickled him underneath h
is foot. Stan }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 howled}{\insrsid1604327 
, he flopped, he begged, but with Denise grabbing his other foot he had no chance. Eventually Denise had mercy on him and let go, and Anne followed suit. Stan had tears in his eyes, but the other two were grinning from ear to ear. Denis
e turned to Anne and held up her hand for a high five, and Anne slapped it.
\par 
\par \'93And let that be a lesson to you!\'94 Anne told him.
\par 
\par \'93What for?\'94 he asked, gasping
\par 
\par \'93Whatever! I\rquote m sure you must have done something wrong!\'94 she answered him, and Denise nodded in agreement.
\par 
\par Stan was happy that they\rquote d stopped tickling him, but even happier that the mood had taken a turn for the better.
\par 
\par \'93So, can you tell us the story, now?\'94 he asked Anne, once he\rquote d got his breath back.
\par 
\par \'93Well, okay, but this really }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 is}{\insrsid1604327  hush-hush, all right?\'94 she told them. \'93Sid\rquote 
s come up with a pretty innovative design idea, and asked me to come up with an independent proof-of-concept design to show to some venture capitalists. He\rquote s setting up a company to complete the design and turn it into a real p
roduct, if he can get the finance in place. I don\rquote t know much about that end of things, sorry.
\par 
\par \'93But I\rquote ve just finished the first simulation run of the POC design, and it comes out clean. So I sent it to him this morning, for him to get some more in-depth simulations run \endash  I can only get so much done here, and I can\rquote 
t do it at The Firm, obviously. So, for the moment, my extra work hours are at an end. Thank goodness!\'94
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote s got to be good news, anyway,\'94 Stan said, and his sentiment was echoed equally by Denise.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, well\'85 it\rquote s only a temporary respite I expect. But to really go further I have to have access to more powerful tools than I can use at home, and that\rquote 
s going to be dependent on Sid getting the financing. If he can manage that, then I expect I\rquote ll be handing in my notice the next day. That\rquote s one of the reasons I\rquote ve been pushing hard at work, to get my project wrapped-up }{
\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 there}{\insrsid1604327  as far and as clean as possible so Percy can appoint someone to take it over with a chance of success.\'94
\par 
\par \'93You do realize what you\rquote re letting yourself in for, don\rquote t you?\'94 asked Denise. \'93That commute\rquote s going to be hell!\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 Tell}{\insrsid1604327  me about it!\'94 Anne groaned, \'93but it\rquote s the only way, really. I simply can\rquote t do the work from home at all, even if I wanted to \endash  I need those software to
ols, and a high end workstation to run them on.\'94
\par 
\par \'93When?\'94 Stan asked.
\par 
\par \'93If it comes off at all, that is, if Sid gets the first tranche of money, it\rquote ll be soon. January, February at the latest. I fully expect to hand in my notice in January and be working full-time for Sid very soon after that.
\par 
\par \'93But in the meantime, we\rquote ve got Christmas and New Year. I expect that\rquote ll be my last chance to really relax for a while, and I want to make the most of it!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Cheers to that!\'94 Denise exclaimed!
\par 
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\par Christmas was coming fast, and Stan was wondering what to get for his special ladies. He had to find something for his assistant, Elizabeth, too.
\par 
\par As usual, Stan did most of his shopping online. He quickly found the perfect gifts for \lquote his ladies\rquote  as he was now accustomed to thinking of them, and something for the older lady. He also selected personal gifts for Denise and Anne.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1604327 \f36\fs24\cf17\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1604327 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Of course, every day at The Firm they still saw Elaine. Stan could tell that Denise was having a difficult time
 adjusting once more to having Elaine as only a friend, not a lover and confidante. He knew it was something that only time could cure, so he and Anne simply did their best to help her through it.
\par 
\par Now that Anne was free of the bone-numbing workload that she\rquote d been under, and merely working about ten hours a week overtime, she and Stan took Denise out as much as they could.
\par 
\par It was Friday, less than two weeks before The Firm had its annual Christmas party before closing down until the New Year. Stan had managed to get tickets for \'93The Phantom of the Opera\'94 at Her Majesty\rquote s Theatre, Haymarket, \endash 
 it was Denise\rquote s first West End Musical.
\par 
\par \'93Are you sure I\rquote ll like this, Stan? I mean, musicals aren\rquote t really my scene,\'94 she told him on the drive into London.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, yes, you\rquote ll love it!\'94 Anne replied before Stan could answer. \'93There\rquote s something about live musical theatre. I just love it. And it\rquote s not as if you don\rquote t like the songs \endash  You\rquote ve been humming \'93
Phantom\'94 for weeks now.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, but that\rquote s because Stan bought me that }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327\charrsid1604327 Nightwish}{\insrsid1604327  album, and it\rquote s on that. I don\rquote t think it\rquote ll be quite the same!\'94
\par 
\par \'93You\rquote ll be surprised, I think,\'94 Stan said. \'93Its pretty close. Yes, Denise, I\rquote ll stake dinner out tomorrow night on it. You\rquote ll love it.\'94
\par 
\par  \'93But you\rquote re already taking us out tomorrow, Stan,\'94 Denise protested.
\par 
\par \'93Then I can\rquote t lose, even if I lose, can I?\'94 he said, smiling at her in the rear view mirror.
\par 
\par Parking in London was never easy, but Anne had an advantage \endash  Sid had opened an office there, well within easy walking distance of Southgate tube station. It had an allocated parking space that she\rquote 
d made sure was free. So Anne was in the front reading the directions. Stan hated driving in London, but it }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 was}{\insrsid1604327  easier if he didn\rquote t have to navigate. It was a case of adjusting to it, and 
Stan found that he became more assertive as the drive went on. He had to, to make headway \endash 
 everyone else was intent on taking full advantage of any hesitation! They made it with plenty of time to spare, got out and walked the short distance to the Tube station.
\par 
\par They got off at Green Park, and walked the quarter mile back up Piccadilly to St. Jermyn\rquote s Street and the theatre. Stan\rquote s careful research had ensured good seats \endash 
 it was easy to get cheap ones, where the view was partially obscured by pillars \endash  and after ordering interval drinks they sat down to enjoy the Phantom\rquote s use of Christine as his face and voice to project }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 his music}{
\insrsid1604327 .
\par 
\par Stan liked \lquote Phantom\rquote , but he\rquote d seen it before. He kept a careful eye on Denise. This was }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 her }{\insrsid1604327 night, and he wanted to be sure
 she was enjoying herself. After all, it was his suggestion. To his delight, it was obvious that she was more than just merely enjoying the show \endash  she was spellbound. Good!
\par 
\par At the interval, they ran laughing to the bar and grabbed their drinks. The ladies had gin and tonics and Stan had just tonic as he still had to drive home.
\par 
\par \'93That was superb!\'94 Denise yelled in his ear over the hubbub.
\par 
\par \'93I told you!\'94 Stan answered in similar style. \'93There\rquote s something about Musical Theatre that\rquote s just }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 more}{\insrsid1604327  than simply going to the cinema. I love it, I just wish I could go more often!\'94

\par 
\par Tonight, Stan was wearing a smart black suit and tie, with a white shirt \endash  basic \lquote smart dress\rquote , but not the full tuxedo. Anne was also wearing black.  The tall, elegant woman was in a simple off-the-shoulder \lquote little black dress
\rquote  that emphasized her long legs and slim figure, while Denise was wearing a longer length dress in a deep shimmering emerald green with a deep d\'e9colletage that emphasized her bust and drew the eye away from her waist. Earlier, Stan couldn
\rquote t help a feeling of pride as he saw eyes \endash  and heads \endash  follow the ladies as they had walked with him to the Piccadilly Line station.
\par 
\par He also couldn\rquote t help but notice that both Anne and Denise were getting admiring looks. Neither was above a little preening under the attention they were getting, but both made it perfectly clear \endash  by hugging Stan every chance they got 
\endash  that they were taken. That made }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 Stan}{\insrsid1604327  preen!
\par 
\par They went back to their seats, and Stan allowed himself to enjoy the rest of the show without distraction. At the end all three were on their feet applauding, then it was time to go back to the car and get themselves home.
\par 
\par Anne was sleepy by the time they got to Stan\rquote s Mondeo, and he thought he could remember how to get out of 
London, so he let her close her eyes and drift away. A little over an hour later they were home. Stan woke Anne up and turned to Denise to find that she was awake, bright eyed.
\par 
\par He smiled at her, and her answering smile left him in }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 no}{\insrsid1604327  doubt as to what she wanted next. Stan was pretty tired, it was }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 well}{\insrsid1604327 
 after midnight, but his adrenaline had been flowing as he drove quickly home, and he felt awake, and alive.
\par 
\par Stan quickly walked around and helped Anne out, then opened the door for Denise. Together they assisted Anne into Stan\rquote s home and up the stairs. She tiredly kissed Stan goodnight, waved to Denise and said \'93Have fun!\'94 before going to bed.

\par 
\par Stan and Denise were barely into his room before he was on her, hungrily taking charge. He undid the fastening on he
r dress while tasting her lips, caressing her mouth with his hungry tongue. She plastered herself against him, one hand behind his head pulling him to her, the other on his ass, forcing his erection, already solid, against her sex.
\par 
\par There were a very few, 
short moments when they tore themselves apart to take off their clothes, but soon Stan was able to push Denise onto the bed, lying against her and caressing her with one hand while he held her hands captive with the other. Denise moaned into his mouth as 
he kissed her. His urgent need suddenly brooked no delay and he passed his hand between her legs to find her lower lips engorged, open and very, very wet.
\par 
\par Denise was as turned on as he was and quickly he slid into her. She moaned, \'93Oh, Stan\'85\'94 in pleasure i
nto his ear as he kissed her neck just below her ear. Stan was in heaven too, feeling his dick encased in warm, wet velvet. He took her hands in one of his, pulling them up and laying them flat on the bed above Denise\rquote 
s head as he began to thrust into her. This wasn\rquote t going to be a slow, sensual lovemaking, this was raw sex and it seemed Denise was on fire as much as he was, matching him move for move.
\par 
\par Stan ground a little at the peak of each thrust, working his pubic bone against Denise\rquote s hood, bringing gasps and moans from her. Stan\rquote 
s awareness contracted down to only feeling her body under him, writhing in pleasure in tune with his movements as he expressed his lust. Her red hair was matted to her forehead as she frankly rutted with him, sweating and gas
ping. He was grunting a little with the effort himself, but he knew this wouldn\rquote 
t take long. Before Denise could go over her peak Stan found himself emptying his balls, eyes shut, mouth open and his whole body rigid as steel as he forced every last millimeter of his cock as deeply into Denise\rquote s cunt as he could.
\par 
\par He fell off Denise and rolled away, then rolled back to embrace his lover. She smiled at him.
\par 
\par \'93Sorry,\'94 he said, but Denise laid a finger on his lips, silencing him.
\par 
\par \'93No need, Stan. I don\rquote t know what got you fired up, but whatever it was, we\rquote ll have some more of it! For now, let\rquote s just cuddle and sleep, and we\rquote ll see about picking up again in the morning, hmm?\'94
\par 
\par Post-coital lethargy was stealing over Stan, but he didn\rquote t want to leave her high and d
ry. He drew himself up on one elbow and placed his other hand on her mons, caressing her open lips with his fingers, feeling the mixture of fluids there. Denise started to protest again but Stan leaned into a kiss that silenced her as effectively as her f
inger had silenced }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 him}{\insrsid1604327  a moment earlier.
\par 
\par He put pressure on her clit with the body of his hand as he pushed first one then a second finger into her, feeling her response as she arched her back. He heard a muted \'93Mmm!\'94 as she exhaled into his mouth, and he 
began to finger-fuck her, expertly. This was something that he\rquote d become good at in twenty years of marriage, and Denise was still not completely off the boil from the sex a few minutes ago, so it wasn\rquote 
t long before he felt her muscles spasm in release.
\par 
\par Stan never tired, knew he never }{\cs16\i\insrsid1604327 would }{\insrsid1604327 
tire of experiencing this, bringing a partner he loved to orgasm. It was enthralling, and now he was able to express his love, not just his lust. Denise opened her eyes as she came down from her first orgasm to find Stan
 watching her, maintaining eye contact as his fingers caressed Denise\rquote s outer lips. He whispered \'93I love you,\'94
 and Denise smiled, then caught her breath as Stan began to play more urgently with her, shifting so he could play with her ample breasts, taking one nipple into his mouth and teasing it with his teeth, stroking it sensuously with his tongue.
\par 
\par He brought Denise to another, higher peak before she grew too sensitive and pushed his hand away. \'93Enough, Stan!\'94 she told him, and he subsided. Denise lay be
side him, gradually coming back to earth before throwing both arms around him, kissing him soundly and telling him \'93I love you too, you beast!\'94
\par 
\par They slept soundly for the rest of the night.
\par 
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\par A week before the actual Christmas break began, it was The Firm\rquote 
s Christmas lunch. In accordance with long-standing tradition, this was on the Thursday before the break, consisted of starter, main course and sweet, and was served by the directors of the company.
\par 
\par Stan, Anne and Denise entered together. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Denise look startled, and looked to see why.
\par 
\par Elaine was at a table beckoning them on, smiling brightly. Stan gave a small shrug and went where he was bidden, pulling Denise along behind him. Anne had no hesitation 
and settled in next to Elaine. Stan sat opposite on the table of four, leaving Denise nowhere to sit except next to Elaine on her other side.
\par 
\par \'93Well,\'94 Elaine explained, \'93I think it\rquote s silly, you and me not being able to talk to each other. So I thought I\rquote d solve it. Besides, I have news.\'94
\par 
\par Denise sat silent, so Anne said, \'93News? Do tell!\'94
\par 
\par Elaine smiled. She brought up her left hand for all to see. There, on her ring finger, was a ring. A ring with a small, but significant, solitaire diamond.
\par 
\par Anne gasped, but Denise squealed. She reached forward and quickly hugged Elaine, saying \'93Oh, congratulations Laney!\'94 before she suddenly let go, looking embarrassed.
\par 
\par \'93Don\rquote t be a silly muppet!\'94 Elaine said, a little cross as she grabbed her and hugged her back. Then she held her hand in front of her and said \'93It looks good, doesn\rquote 
t it? We bought identical rings. We plan on the ceremony being sometime in the spring.\'94 Elaine looked down at the table. \'93I\rquote d love it for all of you to be there,\'94 she said, softly.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote d love to be there, too, Elaine,\'94 Stan answered. Anne nodded firmly, too, but Denise looked doubtful.
\par 
\par \'93Denny, please say you\rquote ll come? I really want you to, you know?\'94
\par 
\par Denise opened her mouth, shut it again, appeared to think for a moment and tried again. \'93Laney, I\rquote d love to come, but I\rquote m not sure Susan will want me there. I don\rquote t want to cause a fuss or anything.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Hush,\'94 Elaine told her, \'93let me handle Susan, and I\rquote ll make sure you realise that you\rquote re wanted, by both of us. Okay?\'94
\par 
\par Denise nodded, and Elaine looked happily from one to the other at the table. \'93Now, let\rquote s see what\rquote s inside the Christmas Crackers!\'94 she said, brightly, \'93I want to enjoy the meal!\'94
\par 
\par Stan looked around. They were the centre of attention, and some knowing looks were being directed their way, but he decided that was a problem for another time \endash  for now, he\rquote 
d simply enjoy himself in the company of three beautiful women, two of whom he loved, and who loved him back.
\par 
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\par }}