Fringe Benefits (6 page)
Authors: SL Carpenter
Her thoughts were for a new beginning somewhere else. She would take some very good advice from two people she liked a lot.
Fuck him
, she thought.
- - -
Richard sat through several more meetings. He was lost in thoughts of Linda. His mind raced at some way to keep them together. The long distance relationship would make it tough. He stared out the window, seeing the waterfalls outside and thought of her. Something about water stirred him.
“Oh, Richard? Are you here? Would someone smack him?” his boss laughed.
“Sorry, I was thinking about…umm, what’s up, boss?”
“The merger has been completed and our two companies have decided to join forces and do some cross-training. Richard, you will be in charge of training their new manager.”
“Well, I have done a preliminary review of the company,” Richard started telling the CEO’s at the meeting. “I went through some of the files and looked over the financial statements. There may be some changes that need to be made in personnel. This merger has a lot of potential but we need the right people in the right place.”
His boss nodded. “Richard, we want to make this merger transition as smooth as possible. Let’s go in there focused. You have our backing on what you think we need to change. This is your area to manage now, we expect a lot from you.”
Richard mumbled, hating the thought of training someone new. He scribbled on his notepad. He started doodling a woman’s features. His mind was clear but it was focused on Linda. She captivated him. His drawing took some shape and the details became clearer. The curves, the hair falling loose, it started looking like her.
“Let’s go next door and meet the other company managers and staff.”
Walking in the door, Richard tried to be pleasant and suddenly got weak in the knees.
Linda coughed up her coffee and wiped her chin with a napkin.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet the new company manager, Richard Lewis.”
“Hey, Richard, glad to meet you.” Steve hurriedly made himself known by kissing Richard’s ass first. “My name is Steve. I’ve been running this department and if you need any—”
“Wait, you’re Steve Babbit?”
“Why, yes, I am.”
“I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Steve. Been talking to a lot of people and your name came up a lot.”
“Well, thank you.” Steve smugly looked over to Linda
“Since I’ll be your new boss I’d like to make my first departmental move and you’re a big part of it.”
“I appreciate it. Anything you need just ask.”
“Well, I’ve been talking to some of the people that work for you and I think a move is in order. You ever work in data entry?”
“
What
? Is this some kind of April Fool’s joke?”
“Well, your department has been in need of some new blood. Something to invigorate the people working there.”
Confused, Steve looked at Richard. “Who have you been talking to? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I want a full investigation of this man on charges of sexual harassment. Interview each woman that has worked for him, both currently and over the last…hmm...two years?. The ones I’ve talked to had some interesting things to say about you, Steve.” Richard stared at him. “By the way, this is a management meeting… you can leave now.”
“This is
bullshit
!” Steve yelled. He looked at Linda and she smiled and gave him a tiny wave goodbye. He grabbed his papers from the desk and stormed out the door.
Standing before the managers, and seeing their stunned reaction to Steve’s demotion, Richard began talking. “I don’t like doing things like that, but that is not the kind of manager we want with this merger. Our companies together can accomplish great things. These people behind me are the management from the company that just merged with yours. Now we are one bigger company and with your help we can only prosper. I will be the corporate supervisor. I report to the people here with me. We want people that can shake things up and help us grow. We think that the department Steve was managing is a vital part to the company’s growth. Everyone from your corporate management team has said nothing but good things about all of you…except for him. Who was his co-management worker?”
Linda stood up. “That would be me, sir, Linda Hamilton.”
Smiling uncontrollably, Richard continued. “Well, you are now in charge of this department. We will need to spend some time together and will both need to work closely to make sure this merger comes together smoothly. There are a lot of details that need to be straightened out. I don’t care if it takes all night, we will do things over and over and over until we do it right.”
Everyone was mingling and shaking hands with their new coworkers. Stacy hugged Linda and everyone seemed to be optimistic on the merger.
Linda walked over and stood next to Richard at the end of the table.
“So, how do you feel working under me? Are you going to be okay with that?”
Linda replied with a devilish look, “By the end of this day I’ll have you under
me
, begging for more.”
THE END
Here’s a sneak peek at the other stories in the
April Fools For Love Series
Double Dare
© 2015
Jodi Redford
An April Fools For Love Story
From the moment Graham Barlow and Matt Spencer moved into the bungalow across from hers, Dani Tipton’s willpower has been strung to its limit. Ignoring the hot and heavy fantasies the two hunks inspire on a daily basis is more than any woman’s libido can take. Although temptation beckons, Dani’s determined to be a good role model for her wild, trouble-prone younger sister. Jumping in the sack with either of her sexier-than-sin neighbors sure as hell wouldn’t help her case. But when her sister sets up the ultimate April Fool’s prank, Dani suddenly finds herself neck-deep in a compromising position. Literally.
For the last eighteen months, Graham and Matt have been carrying a major case of blue balls for Dani. No matter how hard they flirt or lay on the charm, she’s kept them strictly in the friend’s zone. So when they discover her buck naked in their swimming pool they figure they’re either hallucinating—or have been handed their one shot at rocking Dani’s panties off. Not too difficult to do, seeing how she’s not wearing any. Convincing her to indulge in a little frisky threesome skinny dipping? Easy enough. And the sexy interlude that follows is hot enough to boil the pool water. But when it comes to making their unconventional triad permanent, Matt and Graham issue Dani the biggest dare of all—entrusting them with her heart.
Warning: This M/F/M ménage brings new meaning to getting to know your neighbor. Lusty pool shenanigans and creative uses for hot tub jets. No bathing suit required, but bring an extra towel. Things are bound to get wet
.
Biting Serendipity
© 2015 Mary Hughes
An April Fools For Love Story
Biting Love Short Bites
, Book 4
Serendipity “Sera” Braun wears glasses and a bun to teach during the day, but at night, she adds a breast-plumping vest and dirndl for her job hoisting beer steins at Nieman’s. The big, leather-vest-and-earringed Viking bouncer? He’s bedsheets waiting to get sweaty, but all he does is scowl at her. She’s trying to keep her geriatric stripper of a granny from breaking a hip, but it’s hard when she keeps getting distracted by that sexy, smoky baritone.
Thorvald Thorsson is bitingly lonely—every vampire around him is mating. But his ex-fiancée rejected him as a killjoy, so it’s high time Fun Thor comes out to play. No way he’d pair up with the cute but too-serious little schoolmarm who waits tables at the bar.
Sera bridles the wicked, delicious things she’d like to do with the muscular Viking, suppressing herself until she’s a volcano about to blow. Then they are thrown together in a prank war, and all his potent masculinity is focused on her. He makes her burn to let loose, but how can she and still be responsible for Granny and set a good example?
Warning: A terribly lonely vampire, a conflicted schoolmarm with a caged wild side, nosy roommates and the female version of a bromance, not to mention scorching sex, a whole town full of busybodies—and the best April Fools joke ever.
When the Lights Go Out
© 2015 Roxy Mews
An April Fools For Love Story
Named after the date of her conception, April Prime was used to hiding away and avoiding the world on April Fools’ Day. Or at the very least, avoiding her parents who tended to celebrate the holiday very differently from the rest of the world.
This year would be different. This year she closed on a home, and was taking control of her life. A few hiccups had her headed to an office supply store in search of moving supplies. Crashing through a bathroom door, she stumbled on a bit more than she expected when mister tall, dark, and indisposed was already using the facilities.
Taylor James was stuck being the brunt of yet another round of April Fools’ pranks. One of them being a change of the bathroom door signs. He went to work knowing he’d have to navigate a mine field. What he didn’t expect was a woman bursting in on him only to send his head spinning.
Despite the scenery, April is ready to make a red-faced retreat. That’s when a car crash knocks out the power to everything inside the store, including the electronic locks.
By the glow of the emergency flood light the two realize they may be stuck for a long while. April and Taylor could wait out the inconvenience in silence, or they could capture a moment together, and just maybe find something special when the lights go out.
Warning: Sex in the dark may lead to orgasms and head injury.
A
BOUT
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ARPENTER
Scott Carpenter is a born and raised California man. Any rumors that he is, in fact, a woman hiding her identity are completely false, although he will admit to the possibility that he may have been a woman in a previous life.
His writing began many years ago and turned into an outlet for his humor and somewhat twisted imagination. To his surprise, his short stories finally found a home and at the beginning of the 21st century the world was introduced to his version of lust – the first volume of
Strange Lust
stories made their debut in 2002.
Since then, Scott has amassed a sizeable backlist of titles with several publishers, and is at present in the process of retrieving his rights to older novels and working on ideas for new ones. The short story format is dear to his heart and he has the amazing ability to tell a complete tale, with richly complex characters, in far fewer words than most other authors. His readers never quite know what to expect from one page to the next, and also appreciate the chance to read erotic romances written from the male perspective. His work is unique and his fans numerous. He blushes if told either of these facts, insisting he’s just an ordinary guy. His readers know better.
When not setting up the most awful puns in his writing, Scott is probably busy at work on his other passion – art. He is a multi-award winning graphic artist with many years of experience under his belt. He has created and run art departments for several digital publishers, and now runs his own graphic design company (with Sahara Kelly). His visions for cover art continue to astound his clients, and his commitment to providing the highest quality art for the most reasonable price keeps authors knocking at his cyber-door.
Scott would like to invite you to visit his website at:
Or come hang out with him on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/slscottcarpenter
He’d love you to drop by and see his Gallery of Art at:
http://www.scottcarpenter.deviantart.com
If you’re interested in his company, please check out:
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LSO BY
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ARPENTER