Chapter 8 - A woman with a plan

"Good Morning Mr Quido, I need your signature on these forms that Mr Stern has asked me to sort out first thing. They are standard documents."

"Hi Tatalee, you are looking sweet this morning," the old man replied. "So they are standard you say, so I need not worry and I can just sign my life away?" he asked.

"Mr Quido, don't you trust me?" Tatalee asked as she leaned over the desk. 

His eyes brightened as he looked straight at her cleavage and the caramel-coloured skin of her breasts brought a smile to the old man's face. He signed on the last page and applied his stamp.

"Thank you Poppa Stern."

"No thank you Tatalee, you have made my morning, I love your performance, and Nick could not have found a better assistant. So smart and attractive," Quido replied

Tatalee stopped in her tracks before she headed towards the door and turned around slowly.

"What's the problem Tatalee?"

"I was thinking If Nick wanted a rush on this application, do I still need to send it to the loan evaluation committee for approval if you have signed it already Pops?"

A sheet of paper fell from her hand and she slowly reached forward, her skirt tightened across her rear and rode further up her thigh. She rotated her hips gently as she straightened all the while ensuring that she faced away from the old man. 

She heard when he gulped.

"Tell you what I am meeting two of the directors for breakfast shortly, just prepare the cover sheet with a synopsis of the loan and bring it back and I will have them approve the loan at breakfast. No need to send back the entire file my sweetheart, I trust you," Quido said softly. 

Tatalee smiled as the light switch flicked in her head. Her pen tumbled from her suddenly loose grip. 

  'Oh I'm so sorry Pops I feel so clumsy everything just keeps falling from my hand today," she said as she bent this time from her knees and gave the old man a broadside view of thigh, ass and breasts. 

She knew he had a weakness for young firm flesh and she was using her youthfulness to her advantage. 

Nick will be so proud of me getting the full loan approved in such a quick time, she thought to herself.

Tatalee was back at her desk in a flash, preparing the profile as well as the adjusted loan amount for signature of the two board members and was again slipping into the office of the president before his obnoxious assistant came. She would have wanted to check all documents prior to Pops signing. 

She had managed to outwit the old man, complete the task as instructed by Nickolas well before eleven am. The rest of the day would be used to pursue her own activities, since her body was still feeling restless and excited, she needed to relax and do some light reading and await the madness when Nickolas arrived in office. She knew she was playing a game of "kick the can down the road", because someone may discover the disparity between the approved loan and the price on the security documents. But by then a disbursement would have already been made and the beneficiaries would have to provide the additional surety. While it was not the policy to provide full funding there were exceptions to the rule especially if the president provided his personal guarantee. 

Even if things don't materialize, Quido Stern would never let Nickolas Stern fall or be clock sanctioned, Tatalee reasoned as she tried to reassure herself. With her fingers crossed she sat at her desk and watched the lazy hands of the wall clock taking an eternity to let the time pass. Each time she heard the entrance door buzz, she looked nervously to see if Nickolas had arrived, she paced the floor until the carpet started to wear. The unease of outwitting Pops rested on her head and heart and she wanted to at least tell Nickolas how and what she did as either a confession or to seek his approval. 

Tatalee Hobson felt like a child that was on the verge of being discovered with her hands in the cookie jar and hoped that her friend and boss would provide the comfort and reassurance that everything would be fine. Butterflies flew wildly in her stomach as she watched the minutes tick by.  Her pacing was cut short by the ring of her cell phone and her face lit up like the sun when she realised that it was Nickolas.

"Hi what took you so long to call? I did the thing and guess what it got approved by Pops and two of the board members for the amount that you had asked."

  "Whoa," he replied. "Great Julio and Cesar will be coming by shortly to provide the original documents, so please be there to greet them. I am tired and will not be coming into office for the rest of the day. Oh yes thanks for sending the bouquet of flowers to Karma yesterday, it was her birthday and I cleanly forgot. Good job!. She was ecstatic about receiving such a splendiferous token. Bye Tatalee, I will see you in the morning, all things being equal."

  Before she could respond the line went dead.

She felt disappointed that he did not have time to talk and had rushed so hurriedly from the phone. The conversation had left her feeling unfulfilled and confused. Just yesterday she thought she had seen a glint of passion. Just a few hours later she had single handed secured a sizable commission for him and he did not even sound enthusiastic or want to celebrate their success. Instead, he was staying home with his wife, Karma. 

Tatalee sat down heavily in her chair and buried her head in her palms and sighed heavily.  Deep down she felt there would have been bells and whistles and even further discussions on the matter. He seemed so distant. She sat despondently trying to focus on her work and failing miserably.

Two hours later Julio and Cesar came into the office with big broad smiles and a token to show their appreciation. The goodie basket contained the things she loved to eat including canned nuts, blue cheese, red wine and potato chips. 

"I have included a bottle of that special sauce that you love so much last night and the next time we are in Jamaica we would love to meet and celebrate like how we did last night. It was a pleasure. To top it off you were up and left for work when we finally woke up. Nick shared with us the good news that our business was in very good hands and that the loan was already approved. Thank you so much. We will forever be in your debt Tatalee and if you ever need a favour feel free to call us."

Cesar kissed her on her cheek and whispered, "You rocked my world last night."

She furrowed her brows in confusion. What on earth was he going on about? Despite his strange remarks she couldn't afford to offend their new clients. She decided to play it safe and act as if she knew what he was talking about, after all she would have known if something had happened.

"It was nothing, I aim to please as I was only doing my job." 

Her spirits rose as she revelled in all the compliments. She was alluring to these men even if Nick seemed blind to it. These men seemed to be really admiring of her and their charm oozed out into the room. She was still smiling when they left. Something was still bothering her though and now that she was alone again, it kept surfacing in her mind. 

What exactly did Cesar mean about her 'rocking his world? She thought of what that could imply but despite carefully searching her memory, nothing of that night explained his remarks. For the rest of the day she mulled over his statement and still it remained elusive. Even though her head still felt cloudy, she was feeling much better after the receipt of the gift basket. Naomi was the only person she could think of to talk to about the gift as well as what was on her mind. 

Naomi's extension was answered on the first ring.

"Girl how was the night; did Nick get to bang you silly?"

"What?" Tatalee asked.

  "Oh crap me and my big mouth. He called and asked that I collect some work clothes from your apartment and bring it to the suite. I just thought that you guys finally decided to bring the relationship to the next phase." 

"Nothing of the sort we had a business dinner with a client and it took longer than we expected. When I woke up this morning he was asleep in the chair and I was alone in the bed. He was the perfect gentleman."

"I don't believe you Tatalee; he had you all night and nothing?"

  "Not a thing Naomi. I guess he remembered was married and his flirtatious behaviour was my imagination all along." 

"Tat, I was shocked when he called. I thought you had an accident or something, but when he mentioned work clothes, I thought the worst and unfortunately my feelings were that you gave up the chocolate pudding."

"Hah no way that I would have given in so easy. Yes he is handsome and has this mysterious and wild side to as if he hasn't been tamed and then there are times when he is so sweet, soft and caring. I just can't understand him."

"The problem with you Tatalee is that you love the bad ones and unfortunately they are more exciting and somehow you hate boring and unpredictable men. However, this one already has a leash around his finger."

"I know, Naomi we are just friends but he confuses the hell out of me."

"Tatalee do you even know what is it that you want?" Naomi asked sarcastically.

"That is why I hate talking to you sometimes Naomi I am trying to bounce things off you and you are just throwing it back in my face to let me feel dirty."

"I am sorry, but I think you should just stay away from this guy. He is a disaster waiting to happen."

"Too late Naomi, he is already my boss and we have to work together as a team. Whether it's coincidence or otherwise, we have to spend long hour alone together."

"Well then as your friend all I can say is good luck and please remember me when you have conquered the hill and you are sitting on the throne as Mrs Stern."

"Get your mind out of the gutter Naomi. Not all friendships are like that. Hey why are you side tracking what I really called to tell you about, I met two clients and we partied after signing the documents. I danced and drank some expensive liquor last night and eat oysters with a special sauce that made it the nicest seafood I ever had and guess what girl?"

"What!" Naomi replied.

"I have another bottle of the sauce, you want to swing by the apartment later and try some?"

"What time did you finish celebrating?"

"Who knows I woke up at about seven thirty and got dressed."

"Got dressed!"

"Yes Naomi, I put on the clothes that you carried over at my boss's behest" Tatalee replied sarcastically.

"How are you sure nothing happened after all that drinking and oyster eating. "Naomi asked. 

Tatalee sighed "No he wasn't even in the celebration he seemed to have been working because this morning my inbox was filled with documents."

"Alright I will take your word for it Tatalee."

"You think I would tell you if anything happened between Nick and me Naomi?" Tatalee asked

"Sure, your conscience would ride you and in order to feel a little better off taking on crosses on yourself you would have to confess…." 

"Hah since when you became my priest?".

".  .  .if you didn't." Naomi

"What! Naomi? Not a thing would be wrong with me!"

"Right you would find yourself going off your head trying to make contact with him at all times of the day and wondering the streets at night searching everywhere for him. You could be cursed for sleeping with a married man."

"Shut up Naomi, that is old wives tales designed to scare people. I don't believe a word of it. People have been sleeping around for eternity and I don't see them suffering on the side of the road."

"Tatalee. You may not see it but there are consequences to every action. You better stay away from him." 

"Naomi you sound like an old nag, well listen Nick and I are just friends and good friends too He would never do anything to hurt me."

"Somehow, I think you are lying to yourself Tatalee, you sound as if you are in love with this guy. Are you listening to yourself? You are so eager to defend his actions. Are you sure you are seeing him like how everyone else sees him?"

"See him how Naomi? What do you mean by everyone? Are you sure you are not just talking about yourself? Do I detect a hint of jealousy? Why can't you just be a tad less forthright with your thoughts and comments Naomi? Why do I even bother talking to you?"

Tatalee slammed down the phone as hard as she could.