Susan

A couple of months after I came back to work following Ronnie's birth, I was called into John Patterson's office. My expectation was that he wanted an additional payment on account for my fairly recent promotion. It was not. I was introduced to Averill Buchanan, Assistant VP for Maxum Finance, which was a subsidiary of our company specializing in equipment leasing and other forms of commercial finance.

The first words I heard from Averill were, "She'll do!"

I looked back and forth. John spoke, "Susan, we are trying to land a major equipment leasing client. You understand how leasing works, right!"

I replied, "Yes, although I haven't handled any of those since I've been here."

He continued, "If you understand how it works, Averill can fill you in the details of what we plan to offer and how much wiggle room we have."

I responded, "Okay, but if Averill has all the information, why am I needed?"

John sighed and said, "This guy is a skirt chaser. We want you to hold his interest, perhaps showing some leg or cleavage, during the pitch. I'm going to be frank, Susan. You may have to do some wet work so we can close this deal."

I replied, "If I do this, you're going to owe me big-time."

He said, "Not only will you get a bonus, but you'll be at the top of the list for the next available promotion."

I responded, "Okay. What assets are involved?"

He explained, "So far, he's only talking about new and used machine tools. We're thinking that he has a long-haul trucking fleet that could be leased also."

I inquired, "What kind of useful lives are we talking about? Do we get possession of the assets when the lease is up?"

John told Averill, "See, I told you she was one sharp cookie."

Averill told me, "Come to my office and we'll go over all the details."

I asked John, "Tell me about the wet work."

He answered, "Usually, we would use a pro. Max Robinson is in town for a convention. Actually, you would be better than a pro because, if necessary, you can pitch him while you're in bed."

I explained to John. "I'm a happily married woman." I continued, "When is all this going to go down."

He replied, "Tomorrow night. You, Averill, and I will meet with Max and his people."

I said, "His people? How many?"

He continued, "We don't know for sure, but we don't think it will be more than two."

I inquired incredulously, "You want me to fuck three guys tomorrow night?"

He responded, "Yes, possibly three; it could be four. We hope we have a happy, contracted client by Friday morning."

I spoke directly, "Wait a minute! I have a husband and three children at home. I can't stay all night and even very much of the night. Mason cannot know what I'm doing. I have to be home at a reasonable hour, like ten pm at the latest."

He seemed a little taken aback by my negative answer. "Can't you stretch that a little bit."

I answered, "Maybe, but no more than an hour. I'd prefer to keep that as leeway. One more time, tell me what's in this for me?"

He offered, "A bonus, and the inside track for the first assistant vice presidency that becomes available, if we're successful."

I continued "And if we're not successful?"

He replied, "Then you get consideration for future good things. There will still be a bonus, but it will be considerably smaller."

I asked, "What if the first position that comes up is something I know nothing about it?"

He replied, "You can turn it down and be in line for the next one. However, I think you can handle any of them. Most positions are primarily personnel management at the level we're talking about and above."

He inquired, "Are we good to go?"

I told him, "Only if I can deal with the schedule, and absolutely no more than three guys. I've never even had a threesome, much less a foursome!"

He said, "Averill, tell Max the limo will pick them up at the convention center at six o'clock. If everything goes smoothly, we should finish up dinner between seven-thirty and eight. That gives you two hours to entertain three guys before your ten o'clock deadline. We'll have the limo pick us up here at five-thirty. If worse comes to worst, you said you have as much as an hour of additional leeway. Are we good now?"

I answered, "Yes. Do I need to wear anything special, or will my work outfit be okay?"

John replied, "Yes, just make it one of your better ones."

I understood that to mean as sexy as you are willing to go.

I called Mason around two and told him a minor catastrophe had occurred, and that I would be working late, possibly ten or even later. He told me okay, love you, and see you when you get home.

At five-thirty, we got into the stretch limo for the drive to the convention center. As soon as we were all introduced including Jimmy Albright and Tommy Smith, Max's two subordinates, we started pitching our services. It turned out that it was between fifteen and twenty million dollars of machine tools, including existing and new purchases. Averill took the ball on implicit interest rates, amortization schedules and lease end book values. He pointed out the shorter term and higher interest rates on the used equipment.

Max and company seemed fairly favorable, so we moved on to the long-haul truck fleet, including trailers and semi-trailers. I made notes on all the numbers and pointed out that again that the truck fleet would have different useful lives and interest rates from either the new or the used machine tools. While I talked through the trucking fleet proposal, Averill wrote up formal proposals for the two sets of machine tools.

Max then summed up where we were. He had proposals for both new and existing machine tools. He assumed I was writing up a truck fleet proposal, which I was. He then laid it on the line, he would sign if the closer, nodding his head toward me, performed satisfactorily. So, it was up to me to get his signature on three orders. Averill checked the trucking fleet proposal while I checked the two that he had prepared. No surprises were found. I put all three proposals in my brief case along with some blanks, just in case, and Max, Jimmy, Tommy, and I headed for the elevators after saying goodbye to John and Averill. Even though I was wearing business attire, including a skirt suit a little shorter than I usually wore, the three guys seemed to like what they saw. There was a little groping as we rode the elevator up to their floor.

Once in their suite, Max asked me if I had done this before. I replied that I hadn't. He said that he and his guys would be happy to contribute to my experience. He then asked me if he could read the three proposals. I handed them to him. I then asked him about leasing his other vehicles and office equipment. He mentioned forklifts, local delivery trucks, and salesmen's and executives' cars. I quoted him shorter useful lives and higher interest rates than for his long-haul trucking fleet. He asked about volume discounts. I told him I could make small interest rate concessions but nothing else.

He said, "It sounds good, but we'd like to see what the merchandise looks like."

I suggested, "Why don't you guys move to the sofa, and maybe I can give you a little show."

I really don't know what happened. It was like a switch being turned on. Suddenly, I was hot and moist, and full of desire to be naked and fucking. I couldn't believe how hot I got as soon as the music started.

They quickly sat on the sofa. I started off with undulating hips and a hint of bump and grind. I turned around and shook my booty. After a couple of minutes of this, I slipped my jacket off letting it slide off my shoulders and then fall to the floor. A little more shaking, and I unfastened my skirt and unzipped it letting it slide down my thighs and then to the floor. I unbuttoned my blouse and soon it was following by jacket and skirt to the floor.

Max encouraged me, "Looking good!"

Jimmy threw in, "What an ass!"

Tommy added, "Hot stuff!"

I danced a while in my bra and panties. Then I kicked off my heels and put my leg up on the coffee table. "Who wants to do the honors?" I asked.

Tommy quickly exclaimed, "Me! I'll do it!"

He stood and bent over and started rolling my pullup down to my knee. He then pulled it the rest of the way down and laid it on the coffee table.

I pulled that leg back and put the other on top of the table.

Jimmy shouted, "My turn!" He repeated the procedure with the other leg and pullup.

I sat down on the coffee table, and said, "Max!"

He quickly unfastened my bra. I stood up and danced a little holding my bra against my boobs. Then I removed my hands, and the bra fell to the floor. I gave a little shimmy.

Tommy commented, "Ohmigod!"

Jimmy added, "What a rack!"

I was so hot I would have liked to jump all three, but I decided to finish my dance first. I backed up to the table and bent over a little so that my ass stuck out. I requested, "Max?"

I didn't have to ask twice. He quickly stood, stuck his fingers in the top of my panties, and pulled them down. I stood up and shook my ass a while, and then asked, "What's next?"

Max inquired, "How about a lap dance?"

I replied, "How about a lap fuck?"

Max, showing his executive leadership, instructed the guys, "Boys. move the table out of the way," as he did his own quick strip. He did not disappoint. His eight inches stood up like an iron rod, as he sat back down naked.

It was more than Mason's seven plus, and I knew I was going to enjoy this, regardless of whether he was as good as Mason. I quickly walked over to him, straddled his lap, and guided his manhood into my completely ready cunt. The feeling as I impaled myself on his majestic emblem of masculinity was absolutely delightful. Although I had never done something so bold as to fuck a guy while others watched, I was more excited and aroused than embarrassed. All thoughts of Mason and my children were erased by my erotic sensuality. What I wanted was what I was getting, a hard, hot cock in my love canal. God, it felt good as I slid up and down his prick, performing the lap fuck I had promised. Soon, my whole body trembled as I orgasmed. I wanted more and resumed thrusting myself up his masterpiece of manhood. It felt wonderful as each of my strokes brought me closer to another body-shaking climax. I convulsed with erotic pleasure.

Again, I resumed thrusting myself onto him, with delightful sensations coursing through my body. It could only go on so long, and once more my body was trembling with the joy of orgasm, as I felt him spurting against my vaginal walls. I kissed him. I told him, "Max, that was so good!" He smiled and kissed me back.

"My turn!" Jimmy claimed. I allowed him to pull me off Max and lead me to the coffee table. He positioned me with my hands and knees resting on the table. He bent forward in a sort of skewed doggy style position. I couldn't believe how good it felt as his cock pushed across my G-spot on every stroke. I was reduced to moaning and groaning a succession of cries, "Oh"s and "Ah"s in rhythm with his sensual stroking. Soon, my hips buckled with another massive climax. He continued pounding me to three more orgasms with him making a semen deposit on my last orgasm. Oh, God, was I ever high.

Tommy's cock was similar in length to Mason's but a bit thicker as I observed it, pointing to the sky, as he lay on the carpet. I couldn't wait to get it into my pussy. I began bouncing up and down on him. It must have quite a sight to see my tits bouncing up and down. Tommy tried to slow them down by holding them in his hands, which only increased my stimulation as I quickly came hard. I resumed ramming myself against him and in a few minutes, I was having an even larger orgasm. I couldn't remember ever having such a good time, as I turned around to give Tommy some reverse cowgirl. On my second orgasm in that position, he unloaded his semen into my baby hole. I was pretty wiped. Max and Jimmy helped me to my feet.

Max suggested, "How about some anal and DP?"

I quickly replied from my near stupor, "How about some signatures and a drink?"

Max asked, "You want us to sign now?"

I replied, "You didn't enjoy my last presentation?"

Max responded, "Tommy, get the little lady a drink. What about the vehicles and furniture? Don't forget the interest concessions!"

I replied, "Give me ten minutes and I'll have two more sales orders. I'll give you an extra 0.10 percent off on the local equipment and vehicles, and 0.05 percent off on the furniture. Deal?"

He inquired, "We're still getting anal and DP, right?"

I explained, displaying my wedding and engagement rings, "I'm married, and I have to be out of here by ten-thirty, so hubby doesn't get upset. Sign quickly and I think we'll have enough time."

In spite of my state of arousal and seeping pussy, I quickly filled out the two additional leasing contracts, it actually took about twenty minutes because the rolling stock had to be itemized. Fortunately, it was not necessary to itemize the office furniture and equipment.

Now it was time for the promised anal and DP. Beforehand, I had thought of this possibility and had a new tube of lubricant in my briefcase. Max warmed me up with a very nice anal fuck and two very pleasant anal orgasms and then Tommy and Jimmy gave me my first double penetration, which was absolutely fantastic, if a bit hurried. I had four or five blended orgasms before they came at the same time dousing both my vagina and rectum with baby juice.

I took a quick shower, including anal and vaginal douches, dressed, checked to see if Max had signed all five agreements, kissed them all good night and was out the door at ten-forty-five. It would only be a few minutes after eleven when I got home.

At home, I told Mason we had been working on a major leasing deal. I said it was worth working late since we actually did deals for new machine tools, used machine tools, their truck fleet, their local equipment and vehicles, and even their office furniture. Mason complimented me. Even though I was exhausted, I couldn't deny Mason a celebratory fuck. I gave my all, which although not my best, seemed to be good enough for Mason. Although I had no feelings of guilt, I did feel a concern. I felt that I could not let this develop into a pattern.

The next day when I showed John the five signed contracts, he was more than happy. He told me, "I think I'm going to have to start calling you, "The Closer." I pointed out that I didn't want this to be a frequent occurrence. He said that he understood my reluctance and would try to save me for the really important situations. I thought only time would tell me about his sincerity. I reminded myself that nobody had my best interests at heart like me. It was important to me to get to the executive suite, but I had to be careful about how I was used along the way, especially if it disturbed my marital relationship with Mason.

Mason

I didn't worry too much about Susan occasionally working a late night. I had a funny feeling about one night when she came home shortly after eleven. She seemed flushed. Her excitement was attributable to success with some big contracts, but she just didn't seem to have the energy for a really great love making session. I shared her ambition, but I wasn't completely sure that she was above taking short cuts to obtaining success. I was happy that she seemed to be able to catch up when I pulled ahead in our race to the executive suites of our respective companies. When she became an assistant VP, it seemed that her travel increased, while when I obtained an equivalent position, my travel lessened. I also attended fewer conferences, while it seemed that she was attending more.

I began to get very concerned when she, with short notice, informed me that she had to attend an out-of-town Friday through Sunday night conference. I suggested I might take Friday afternoon off and go with her. She pleaded that we could go another weekend, since the meetings were long, and she might not be able to enjoy our free time together because of her tiredness. Childcare wouldn't have been a problem since both sets of grandparents were ready and willing.

In my mind, I questioned that although I didn't object out loud. I decided that prudence indicated the need for corroboration. I hired a PI to find out as much as possible without tipping my hand about her weekend activities. Unfortunately, reputable private investigators don't come cheap, and I would have to pay time-and-a-half since it was weekend work.

Susan

Although I tried to keep it to a minimum, my superiors wanted me to provide the icing on the cake for several large clients, although it was only two or three times a year. Finally, one very large client came up for renewal. Because of a merger in process the new contract would be much larger than the old one. The President and CEO of the client company wanted my services for an entire weekend. I told my Group VP that there was no way I could get away from my family for a whole weekend. I was called into the office of our company's Chairman and CEO. He expressed the importance of the deal to the company's future. He also promised that I would be a Group VP within a year if I was successful and obtained a much larger renewal commitment.

Back with the Group VP, we schemed to set up a fake conference. Instead of at a convention hotel, it would be at the client's lakeside rural retreat. The only reality was that both the faux and the real conferences were held in the Atlanta area. Mason wasn't happy when I told him about the conference occurring in only a week-and-a-half. He suggested coming along, but I pointed out that I would likely be exhausted as one of my functions would be to meet and greet as many potential customers as possible.

Thursday night before the weekend, Mason and I made love. It was as good as it had ever been. Friday morning, we seemed to part on good terms with deep kissing and looking forward to my Sunday night return.

Friday evening, Oliver Halliburton met me at the airport with a driver and limo, and we rode in comfort to his estate. We became very friendly on the hour-long drive and did just about as much as could be done without taking our clothes off.

His lodge was like a log cabin, except that it was huge with three stories. He carried my bags to a second-floor bedroom. He suggested I leave my clothes there. I then followed him nude to the third floor, which was apparently the master suite. Although smaller than the first two floors, the third floor was devoted completely to the master suite. It included a sitting room, an office and a large bedroom dominated by a massive four-poster canopied bed. Beyond the bedroom was a massive bathroom with a party-sized, jetted tub.

I soon discovered the pleasures of making love on satin sheets, as he took it upon himself to initiate me into the weekend's festivities. First, he thoroughly fucked me. Then he gave me a complete body massage, leaving no part of my body untouched. Then, he thoroughly fucked me again. He provided me with a silk robe that matched the one that he put on, although mine was more petite.

Although I could barely walk because my thigh muscles were tired, I managed to follow him back to the first floor where the large chef-style kitchen was located. He told me that Chef would be preparing the meals the next day. We supped on his preparation of soup and sandwiches. We had our choice of several pies to supplement our postprandial coffee. He then took me to the basement, which was primarily a game room, although it included a wide-screen television, complete with viewing area, and a well-stocked bar. He gave me a lesson in shooting pool. Afterward, we went to the swimming pool-hot tub area behind the house, and took a nude swim, followed by a grass fuck and then relaxation in the hot tub.

After that we returned to the master suite, where we took showers and then retired. I checked him out and he was ready for a final horizontal dance before going to sleep. Saturday morning after yet another thorough fucking, I asked him when we were going to discuss business. He said that some of his associates would be coming over later and we would discuss our business after I was 'acquainted' with them. He told me that Chef was probably ready for breakfast, and so we donned our matching robes and headed downstairs to the dining room.

Chef had a little menu card, I selected bacon, Belgian waffle, veggie omelet, and croissants to go along with orange juice and coffee. I was famished and ate like a pig. Afterward, we returned to the master bed and did our best to work some of the calories off. After that I napped until a little after noon when Ollie woke me up.

His colleagues had arrived. They were all vice-presidents of one variety or another. He introduced me to Jackson Brown, Michael Harvey, James Paddington, and Randall Cutler. Ollie then instructed me to lose the robe. I was both embarrassed and excited by letting the silk robe slide to the floor revealing my nude body. He explained that I was to give each of them a blow job and a nice fucking. These would be intermingled with the four having a late breakfast. It seemed that both Jackson and Micheal were very well endowed at over eight inches. James and Randall, like Ollie, were between seven and eight inches. By one o'clock I had finished the first round of blow jobs. As Jacky had eaten his breakfast after my blow job, Ollie instructed him to take me downstairs for our first fuck.

We started off with me leaning over the pool table and Jacky penetrating me from the rear. After all of the four blow jobs, I was very hot and came for the first time as he completed his first thrust into my love canal. After that it seemed that it was only taking him three or four strokes to bring me off every time. After five or six of my orgasms he finally ejaculated inside me. By this time everyone else had finished their breakfast and joined us. Mike sat down on one of the sofas and indicated I needed to climb aboard. It felt so good to have his large manhood filling my cunt up. I couldn't believe how much I was enjoying being gangbanged by the five guys. After I did the other four guys, Ollie slipped in to give me another thrilling fuck.

Ollie gave me a glass of wine and asked if I was ready to give my presentation. I had to retrieve my briefcase which contained my presentation materials from the second-floor bedroom. Ollie made it clear that I was presenting in the nude with my boobs swaying and my pussy leaking cum. The first part of my presentation was somewhat interactive as I was verifying that the assumptions in our preliminary calculations were accurate. It turned out that the four guys were the Regional VP's for the Southeast, Midwest, Far West, and Northeast Regions of Ollie's company,

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and also the freshly fucked afterglow on the way home. Still, I felt a little bad about being such a faithless bitch to my darling husband.

Chapter 3.

Mason

When I picked her up at the airport following her 'conference' in Atlanta, I brought the children. Susan seemed very happy to see all of us. Petie was seven, Alice, five, and Ronnie, four. That night she was as hot as I have ever seen her, as we made love for over an hour, before we fell asleep in each other's arms.

Tuesday afternoon I visited the PI. He told me he had bad news and bad news. The first bad news was that he had huge quantities of largely circumstantial evidence. The second bad news was that he didn't have any direct evidence of extramarital sexual activity. He gave me a narrative of his team's observations:

"Subject was met at the airport by Oliver Halliburton, CEO of R & N Industries, a client of subject's employer. The pair traveled by Limo to Mr. Halliburton's rural estate, located about fifty miles southeast of Atlanta. Because of the security surrounding the estate, it was not possible to observe any activity within the house or its surroundings. Apparently, the subject and Mr. Halliburton went for a late-night swim in the nude but because of distance and darkness it was difficult to verify what actual activities took place. Saturday afternoon four males joined the pair. After dark, there was significant nude activity in the pool area, but it was not possible to identify any specific activities. Late Sunday morning, there was additional nude pool activity, and the subject was identified as a participant, but specific activities of a sexual nature were not identified. On Sunday afternoon, all parties left the resort, and Mr. Halliburton and the subject went to the Atlanta airport. The subject embraced and kissed Mr. Halliburton and then boarded a non-stop flight to Dallas."

Monday night I decided to talk to Susan. If it wasn't for the children, we would have gone straight to divorce lawyers. Because of the children, I thought I would at least hear her out. After the children were all in bed, we had our conversation. I started off with, "This afternoon I got some very disturbing news." I could tell I had her full attention. I slid the PI executive summary across the table to her.

I saw that she was beginning to tear up and take deep breaths. She bit her lip and pushed the PI report aside. She said, "I'm so sorry, Mason. I had hoped you would never find out what I was doing to even the odds. The executives at my company have never quite believed I had the right stuff to go to the next level, plus I lost almost a year due to maternity leave. It has been a constant struggle to feel like I was keeping up with my competition. So, I cut some corners. Mason, Halliburton wasn't the first, but I hope he will be the last. I love you. I want to preserve our marriage and continue to live with you and the children. I know this must hurt you and is a threat to our relationship. It's all on me, so it's up to you how we go forward. I don't know what else to say. For me, this was all business, and I hope that it hasn't damaged our marriage beyond repair."

I asked her, "How many others have there been?"

I continued, "I think it's not less than ten."

She replied, "Sitting here I have thought of nine. There might be one or two more. Most were one-night stands. This wasn't the only weekend, but most were once and done. I'm so ashamed. The first was do it or someone else gets the next promotion. After that it got a little easier, although I always told my superiors that I was happily married, and this had to be an infrequent occurrence."

I commented, "At least that was something."

She pleaded, "Mason, you have always been the love of my life. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Please don't dump me. At least tell me what you're thinking."

I told her, "I love you, Susan, but this has been a big shot. I don't think we can go on the same way without any changes. This has been a big blow to my trust and my self-esteem. I have to say that major changes in status are not off the table. I think that at a minimum we need to have counseling. I just got this report this afternoon. I felt I at least need to listen to what you had to say. Now I have. I think I'll sleep in the guest room tonight and probably continue doing so until I have a better sense of how we can go forward, if we can go forward."

She replied, "Again, Mason, I'm so sorry. I'm already revisiting my priorities. I think I've been putting too much into my job and not enough for my family. I'm sorry about that. I guess I owe the children, as well as you. Again, I would appreciate any consideration you can give this cheating bitch."

I concluded, "I'm going to need some time to get my feelings in order. I don't think of you as a cheating bitch, and I don't think you should, either. I guess that's it for today."

Susan

I'm sure the PI report was an unpleasant shock for Mason. If anything, it was even more unpleasant for me. I knew I had to keep my marriage intact even if it meant sacrificing some of my career goals or at least postponing them.

The next day I talked to the Executive Vice-President, William McLemore about my marital problems and my future at Coldwater Clayton Industries. He told me that I would never again be asked to sleep with anyone, and that furthermore, Jimmy McBride was retiring in six months as Regional Vice President of the Northeast Region, and the plan was for me to be promoted when that happened. Not only that but the promotion would be announced in three weeks, and I would be reassigned to be Jimmy McBride's understudy for the six months prior to his retirement. This was fantastic news, although it didn't mean that Mason's and my problems were solved.

When I told Mason, he congratulated me and told me that it was great news. He pointed out that he still had some negative feelings about my admitted escapades with clients. His thinking was that although he was willing to soldier on, he felt that our relationship had suffered some damage, and that both of us, and our relationship could profit from counseling. I had to agree with him. Fortunately, we found a marriage counselor that was willing to meet with us on Saturday afternoons. We generally followed a three-week pattern of Mason having an individual session, me having an individual session and then a joint session. Sometimes we would have two joint sessions before resuming our individual sessions. The counseling really helped. It not only helped Mason deal with his feelings of betrayal and distrust, but it helped me clarify my goals, number one was my relationship with Mason, number two was my relationships with my children, and number three was my career, even though I was wildly successful, in part due to some of my 'escapades' with clients.

The counseling seemed to have accomplished its purpose, and we terminated the sessions about a month before my appointment to northeastern regional vice-president became official. It was only a few months after my promotion that Mason was promoted to Senior Vice President in charge of

Blankenship Rheinfels Industries, the largest and most successful subsidiary of Mason's parent company, Sutton Blankenship Industries. The next two years were wonderful. Even the parties were nicer as Mason and I were one of Dallas's more successful power couples, even though we were still very young for the responsibilities we had undertaken.

Mason

To say that I was disappointed to learn of Susan's extramarital behavior over the last few years of our marriage would be a massive disappointment. I wasn't completely shattered, but I felt betrayed and wondered if I would ever again be able to trust the cheater. I felt a little cheated because even though our advancements toward the executive suite had been comparable, hers had been in part because of her marital infidelities, apparently infrequent but critical in her career advancement. I guess the bottom line was that although I still loved her, I certainly didn't like her as much as I once had.

One of my requirements for continuing our relationship was that we undergo marital counseling. The counseling did help me to at least understand Susan's decisions to step outside our marriage when it seemed to assist her career advancement and also helped me to feel like it was less of an affront to my manhood and to my position in our relationship.

The next few years were good although I still had niggling doubts whenever her schedule or travel seemed to open up opportunities for her to be unfaithful again. I had to say the good times seemed to outweigh my lingering doubts, and we enjoyed the intimacies of a good marital relationship and the pleasures of parenthood, even though I didn't think we would ever return to the way things once were.

Susan

There was one negative in our happiness. I was again having to keep a secret from Mason. I was given a special assignment, in particular because my management of the Northeast Region had been very successful in my first two years there. I was part of a small team of executives in negotiations for the merger of Coldwater Clayton and Sutton Blankenship. Each conglomerate had less than half a dozen key players privy to the negotiations.

It was interesting that I was included in the negotiations and Mason wasn't; apparently, the Sutton Blankenship management wanted him to continue the excellent results his division was achieving without disruption. I got the feeling from some of Mr. Sutton's comments, that not all of his top executives would favor the merger, and I suspected Mason was among them.

Although Sutton Blankenship was smaller than Coldwater Clayton it had consistently shown greater growth and profitability and thus was a prime target for our takeover. Ironically, a major part of the growth and profitability was due to Blankenship Rheinfels, my husband's subsidiary. Sutton Blankenship came onto the merger market because Ira Sutton, the son of one of the founders, wanted to retire and monetize his stake in Sutton Blankenship.

It was very clear the day that Mason learned of the upcoming merger. He came home in a terrible mood. He exclaimed, "What a bunch of idiots!"

I don't expect it made him any happier when I told him, "I'm inclined to agree with you. Coldwater Clayton has more to gain from this than Sutton Blankenship."

His next question struck hard, "How long have you been aware of this?"

I told him the truth, "Several months. I was on the negotiation team, sworn to utmost secrecy conditions."

He replied, "You couldn't have given me a hint?"

I responded, "It was a condition of being on the negotiation team that I not tell anyone anything. None of us could even tell our spouses."

He continued, "Well, I guess dear Mr. Sutton knows how I feel about it."

I started crying, "Honey, he already did. Why else wouldn't you have been on his negotiating team?"

He replied, "Am I wrong to feel like you blindsided me again?"

I continued crying, "I think so. This was going to happen whether I participated or not. I had to sign an NDA even before I knew who the merger target was."

He put his arm around me, "Okay, I see that it's really not your fault. Sorry, this hasn't been the happiest day of my life."

I kissed him. I loved him so much. I also knew there were some hard decisions ahead. Some had already been made, although I didn't think I should divulge that to Mason yet. Some of these decisions would affect Mason's career directly or indirectly.

Mason

After a couple of the happier years of my life, I was certainly blindsided by the announcement of the merger between Susan's and my employers. Unfortunately, it was a done deal. To me, it seemed that the merger agreement definitely favored Sutton Blankenship. However, I did learn that the big winner might be Ira Sutton who was receiving cash for his fifty-five percent interest in Sutton Blankenship. His interest was composed of personal holdings and several trusts of which he was the principal or only beneficiary.

Chapter 4.

Mason

The clusterfuck for some of us continued even after the untimely death of Mitchell Warren from a heart attack suffered after the merger agreement was signed and announced, but before the effective date of the merger.

Susan

I was startled by receiving a phone call at home on the Saturday afternoon after the big merger was announced from Addison Carr, the Executive VP of Coldwater Clayton. All he would say is that I had to attend an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee at ten Sunday morning in the Board Room. The only other hint he gave was that the meeting could be long or short, but we would have to finish our business before we could adjourn.

At ten, all the members of the six-member Executive Committee were there except for the President, CEO, and Chairman, Mitchell Warren.

Addison started off with the grim announcement that yesterday evening Mitchell Warren passed away due to a massive heart attack. Our first agenda item will be the election of a new CEO for Coldwater Clayton before the merger is accomplished and for the surviving entity, CCSB Industries, Inc. I have two comments about the election. First, I am removing my name from consideration. I am still planning on retiring in eleven months. I think my remaining time should be spent supporting and advising the new leader of our combined entities. Second, I think we should consider Randolph Harrington, the current Executive VP of Sutton Blankenship. I'm not recommending him but only saying that he deserves consideration, if for no other reason, because of his current position. Nominations are now open."

Adrian Fulwater, Southeast Regional Vice-President made a surprise announcement, "I believe the only person with comparable qualifications for leading the merged entity to Mitchell is Susan. She has the best handle on our plans for the combined entity. I am nominating her."

I was surprised when Addison quickly seconded the nomination.

Adrian then said, "I move Susan be elected CEO and Chairman by acclamation. Are there any dissenters?" Surprisingly, there were none. Just like that I had become CEO of Coldwater Clayton prior to the merger and would be CEO of CCSB Industries after the merger was completed.

I was applauded and stood to accept my new position. "I am proud to accept the results of this election. I believe our plans for the new entity are in place and require few, if any, changes in terms of positions. Some of the roles of the cast will change of necessity.

We decided that we would have an Executive Committee composed of fifteen members: A CEO and Chairman, myself; a President and COO, Addison; an Executive VP, Randolph Harrington; ten Division VP's, three of merged subsidiaries and seven of surviving subsidiaries; a VP of Planning, the former Northwest Regional VP of Coldwater Clayton, and a VP of Mergers and Acquisitions, Mason. I knew that Mason would have preferred to be in charge of AHBR Industries, but even though Blankenship Rheinfels was outperforming all other subsidiaries of both conglomerates, it wasn't as large as Andrews Henderson, its combination partner in the merged entities.

Mason

Susan didn't want to reveal anything of the merger reorganization until we had the full plan at an announcement meeting. Considering the surprise that she had planned for me, I would consider that to be somewhat cowardly on her part. First, she announced the three top level positions; her becoming number one in the new organization was a surprise to everyone who didn't attend the Sunday afternoon Coldwater Clayton Executive Committee meeting. I didn't find out about Mitchell Warren's passing until Monday morning. Clearly Susan knew, but didn't pass that tidbit on to her darling husband.

Addison Carr becoming President and COO of the new organization wasn't a big surprise although it appeared that Randy was a little disappointed by being obviously number three in the new organization at Executive Vice-President. I felt pretty secure as head of the most successful division in either of the preceding organizations although it hadn't yet become the largest.

I was shocked at being passed over for the successor organization, when one of the Coldwater Clayton Regional Vice-Presidents took over the newly created AHBR Industries. More was yet to come. When all of the ten successor organizations were assigned, I was without a position. Next announced was Senior Vice-President in charge of Planning. Again, not me. Now, I was the only one of the former Sutton Blankenship Regional and Divisional Vice-Presidents without a position in the new organization. I was steaming even though I was doing my best to present a calm exterior.