Best of Asian Erotica, Volume 2

The week’s events would decide which of them got the job of managing director in the company. The chairman was looking at retirement in a few years. Whoever got the job would be the next big boss. Level playing field, the chairman had said. He was a man of principle, of an old-fashioned kind of morality in life and in business, and she believed him. The glass ceiling was only cracked and splintered in many companies, but in this one, she felt she could smash it with her fist and reach the stars beyond. It was an incredible feeling.

Alex had tried very hard to charm her and she had been very careful to be casually and smilingly uncharmed. He was discreet, but women talked and she was certain of his intentions. The only way to get what he wanted was to discredit her. The only way he could do that was to seduce her.

He was tempting though, she had to admit, from the safety of her office as he walked down the corridor. He moved like a boxer, light on his feet, broad-shouldered, powerful, lithe, athletic. He was all promise. A promise of smouldering heat, skin on skin, of dreamy and intoxicating bliss. He stirred fantasies in a woman’s head. Dangerous fantasies. She put down her coffee and took a long drink of cold water.

The four-day meeting with the clients was at an island resort. One of those places with seven-hundred-dollar-a-night native cabanas on a perfect tropical beach.

The island was erotically charged. It was ridiculous to bring a delegation of business executives and clients to such a place, away from husbands and boyfriends, wives and girlfriends. When she was boss, she’d make sure they had four-day conferences in tents in Siberia. Survival was just the thing to knock sex on the head.

Dinner was a pleasant affair, the clients happy, the food good, the wine flowing. Alex had offered a dance, but she had refused. Getting into proximity with him was not a good idea. As she left for her cabana, she saw he had his arms round one of the secretaries and felt a momentary twinge of envy, which quickly vanished.

She took a bath and changed into her nightgown, let down her long, glossy, black hair and looked at herself in the mirror. Thirty-nine, figure good, button nose, great eyes, skin still fresh, pert tits. She laughed and poured a glass of champagne.

There was a knock. Room service with more champagne, she hoped.

Perhaps Siberia was a bit harsh.

‘Suchen, sorry it’s so late.’

Alex was standing at the door. His eyes left hers and dropped slowly down her body. It was a look of pure admiration. She had nothing on underneath this thin garment and, she suddenly realized, her breasts were outlined against the satin.

‘Alex,’ she said, unmoving. Let him look. See what he’s missing for the rest of his life.

‘Just need to see if we agree on some figures before tomorrow’s big meeting. Whatever’s happening between us, we can’t look like fools in front of the clients.’

She looked down and saw his laptop. This was highly dubious and really not worthy of him.

‘Tomorrow morning, early. At breakfast, plenty of time. Goodnight.’

The problem was her voice was steady, but her heart rate had risen.

Damn the man, attractive bastard. She always avoided being close to him and now he was standing one foot away and with that infuriating magnetic stillness.

‘Don’t be iron filings, Suchen,’ she said to herself. She took a breath and made to close the door. He put out his hand and she looked at him, indignant.

‘What- ’ she began.

‘Sorry, orders from chairman. Check your phone.’

She frowned and turned. Her phone was on the bedside table and she looked at it. There was a message. It must have come in whilst she was in the bath. Some problem with the figures, he said. Check it out tonight.

When she turned back, Alex had closed the door, put his laptop on the desk and was looking at her. She suddenly realized she was in silhouette against the lamp and moved away.

He took off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair. He was wearing a white fitted T-shirt and it showed every dip and line of his flat abdomen and the muscles of his tanned arms.

Her mind began to spiral off in unwanted carnal directions. She felt an involuntary spasm between her legs.

Oh, no, no, she thought. No, you don’t. ‘Be right back.’

She grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom. She tied her hair up in a thick elastic ribbon. When her hair was down, silky smooth to her waist, she felt wanton. That would not do at all. She could certainly not sit around working with no clothes on. Sensible cotton bra and panties, plain T-shirt and good solid jeans. These were proof against any man’s charms. She looked at the bottle of champagne in the ice bucket.

A few minutes later she came out. ‘Champagne?’ she said, putting the ice bucket on the coffee table. Alex poured himself a glass and drank.