“So, Joanne, what do you think to your new office?”
Joanne pursed her lips in a silent whistle as she surveyed the corner office, to which her new boss had theatrically opened the door a few seconds earlier.
“Well, Mister Rigsby, it’s certainly impressive. Far larger than I expected.”
“You’re the youngest person ever promoted to Manager within the Marketing Department here, Joanne, and we want you to feel right at home.”
The corner office on the seventeenth floor was minimally furnished at this moment, merely containing a stark glass desk with a black leather chair behind it and two matching visitor’s chairs facing the desk.
“Once you’ve settled in, take a few days to decide what you want. We’ll have our furniture people come by. I think a budget of around five thousand dollars would be appropriate.”
“Mister Rigsby, that’s far too much.”
“Don’t be silly, Joanne. You need to impress clients here, and we have a reputation to maintain. I expect to see this office comfortably and tastefully furnished in a way that reflects your own personality. That requires a budget, so a budget you will have. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Please, call me Charles. We’ll be working closely together from now on.”
Joanne glanced quickly at him. From any other man in the company it would have been a ‘come on’ line. A clumsy, even sleazy, attempt to chat her up, followed by the dinner invitation and hotel room. She knew Charles Rigsby better, though. There had been no ulterior motive, no intended move. He was the company go-getter, the high flier to whom her own career was now inexorably linked. Continuing to climb the corporate ladder on his coat tails meant they both needed to ensure there was no hint of impropriety between them.
“Speaking of budget. . .”
“Uh-uh?”
Joanne had wandered over to the south-facing window, one of the two exterior glass walls that provided her new domain with so much light. She rapidly returned her attention to him as he continued to speak.
“Your car. It doesn’t quite carry the right image for a senior manager, Joanne.”
“It’s only two years old, Charles.”
“Nearer three, I think. Our manager’s cars are changed every eighteen months. We source all the cars from a single dealership, the Lexus one on Fifteenth and Main. You know it?”
“I’ve driven past it a few times. Wait a minute, did you say Lexus?”
“Stop playing with me, Joanne. You know full well our managers all drive a Lexus. I’ve taken the liberty of making an appointment with the head of sales there. Mister Winters is expecting you at two o’clock. He knows the budget and he’ll sort you out a deal. If you want to trade in your old car at the same time, he’ll give you the top price and a cheque, but that will be between the two of you.”
“Thank you, Charles.”
“Now, I’ll leave you to get to know your new secretary. Mary used to work for me. She’s very good, and I’m sure you’ll have no complaints . . .”
Joanne was quick on the uptake. Although they were business friends, Charles clearly had put Mary in place as her secretary to allow him to keep tabs on her. There was no way she would find anything to complain about regarding her new secretary. Rather, she would have to find a way to win her over. That would then give her the informal conduit back to Charles. Joanne knew she could play the corporate game just as well as the men.
* * * *
“I have an appointment with Mister Winters. I believe he’s expecting me. Joanne Archibald.”
The receptionist smiled at her, before half turning to speak to the man approaching from across the showroom.

“It’s okay, Magda, I heard. Good afternoon, Ms. Archibald. I’m Stan Winters. Charles has told me to look after you. . .”
He trailed off as he realised Joanne was staring at him quizzically.
“Is there a problem?”
“Stan Winters . . . Your son wouldn’t be Phil Winters, would he, by any chance? About my age?”
“Well . . . Yes.”
“You possibly don’t remember me, but I used to go out with Phil in High School.”
“You’re that Joanne . . . Of course, I remember you. How could I have forgotten you? That must be what, ten years ago?”
Joanne grinned at him.
“Something like that.”
“I remember now, you were in the hot tub, fooling around with Phil when I came home unexpectedly. Your bikini top lying on the deck . . .”
He stopped as she blushed a very bright red. Then he laughed out loud.