This is just a quick bit of nonsense. A slightly different take, on a familiar theme.
With some of my earlier efforts I’ve been remiss with the story tags. I still get complaints from people didn’t get what they were expecting. Tragic. But this time I left them off deliberately; it should be apparent why.
So if you are the kind of reader who goes ballistic at certain types of story, and need to know what’s coming, delete now. This is one you won’t like. If you insist on reading it anyway, at least it’s not very long.
*
“OK, you two, our Japanese friends have gone back to the hotel.” said Oscar. “They told us our contract is much the same as Beesons, who they saw yesterday. I believe we’re a bit more expensive, but better on delivery times.”
“When do they tell us who won, boss?” asked Bill.
“Tomorrow morning at eleven. They’ll come here, and either sign with us, or inform us that Beesons got it.”
“Anything else we can do?” asked Andy.
“They’re having a nap this afternoon, still jet-lagged. But I want you to meet them at the hotel after dinner tonight, and take them out on the town.”
“Any restrictions?”
“You know the company rules.” said Oscar. “What they get up to in their own room, is none of our concern. But when they’re with us: there will be no strip clubs, no lap dancing, and no escorts.”
“Yeah, we know. It’s a sacking offence.”
“Well, this contract is bigger than your last two put together. So, just in case you you’re tempted, I’ll read you the riot act.”
Bill and Andy groaned.
“You may not, under any circumstances, pay money for sexual services for our customers. Not your own, and certainly not on expenses. They either sign with us, or they don’t. Don’t worry, Beesons have the same rules. They took them to Legends last night, but there were no girls.”
“How do you know?”
“I had someone watching them.”
“Wow!” said Bill.
“Maybe they’re gay, sharing the same room?”
“Probably not. I’m informed they tried groping some ladies on the dancefloor, and were rejected. I get the impression they’re just saving their money on this trip. Anyway, sharing a room means nothing, the Japanese have different standards of privacy to we Brits.”
The two of them went to Bill’s office, and closed the door.
“Yet again, we’re reminded this is the biggest contract we’ve ever been up for.” said Andy.
“Right.” replied Bill. “We’ve been hearing it for the last three months. I can’t believe he actually had someone watching the competition last night.”
“What do you reckon? Could Beesons do the same to us, tonight? Send in spies?”
“Maybe Oscar will. You know what a stickler he is for rules and regs. Once burnt, twice shy.”
“Doesn’t leave us many options.”
Bill was the contracts manager, and Andy was sales manager. For years they had worked as a team. Sometimes using the good cop, bad cop, ploy when pitching for business. Of the five biggest deals ever signed by the company, three had been down to them. The commission from this Japanese contract would ensure them a comfortable retirement.
Bill’s wife, Carol, was a sales rep for a major cosmetics firm. She was tall, with long wavy black hair. Andy’s wife, Dee, ran her own beauty parlour. Only slightly shorter, around five foot six, with deep auburn hair in a long bob. The girls had become friends at a seminar before hooking up with the guys, and their courting had been as a foursome. They’d even got married on the same day. Joint reception, but separate honeymoons. All four were still close.
“I know a guy who works over at Beesons.” said Andy. “He slips me info now and then. Our oriental friends were asking about getting girls at the nightclub. But it’s true about them having the same rules as us. They danced with a few, but didn’t get anywhere.”
“That’s how we win then. Get them laid, get the contract.”
“That’s all well and good mate, but we will get fired if Oscar finds out.”
“Then we have to come out of this squeaky clean. We take them to Legends again, so they can compare our night out with Beesons’. Then, discretely give them what they want.”
There was a long silence. This was the most money they would see at one time. Literally the chance of a lifetime.
“Plan B then?” said Andy.
“Plan B it is.” agreed Bill.
“I’ll go and make the arrangements.”
“See you at the hotel.”
Later, at the nightclub, the evening was going well. The Japanese businessmen seemed to have a huge capacity for alcohol. And Bill and Andy were getting tipsy.
“Do you think we’re being watched?”
“I don’t know, but we’d better proceed as if we are.”
“You can certainly drink a lot Mr Adachi.”
“Sadly, you and your rivals can not offer us the hospitality we were hoping for. Mr Tanaka and I still suffer from the jet leg.”
Bill smiled.
“We do not sleep very well.”
Mr Tanaka leaned towards them.
“We had hoped for some female company. I sleep better after a good massage.”
“So, you would both be more comfortable if a girl could come to your room, and attend to your needs?”
“Yes. But we do not pay for such things. If none are available, we must make do with alcohol.”
Bill leaned back and spoke quietly to Andy.
“They’re definitely up for it.”
“We’d better make ourselves scarce then.”
“Gentlemen. I know it’s still early, but we have to go.”
They looked disappointed.
“I hope you sleep well.”
“See you tomorrow.”
All four men stood and shook hands. The Japanese bowed. At the door, Bill and Andy looked back. Two women were making their leisurely way to the table.
One had cascading waves of honey blonde hair, with subtle low-lights. The other had a short pixie cut that came to her ears; also blonde with hints of pink. Mr Tanaka and Mr Adachi stood up, and greeted them with smiles and more bows.
“Well done mate.” said Bill. “Those two look classy.”
“They do, don’t they?”
The two women were dressed in expensive suits. The skirts were just above knee-length, modest but alluring. They were already removing the matching jackets.
“Out of our hands now.”
Next morning, Bill was too nervous to eat anything. He sipped his coffee and tried to concentrate on the newspaper. He went to the sink to rinse his cup and noticed a plastic bowl at one end of the counter top. In it was what looked like a big rabbit, soaking in water.
“Bunny boiler?” he muttered, and smiled to himself.
He arrived at his boss’s office at ten thirty. Andy was already there. Both were wearing jeans and sweaters.
“How do you think it went?” asked Oscar.
“Difficult to judge. Same as Andy told you, I imagine.”
“What time did you leave?”
He was sure Oscar already knew.
“Just before eleven. Our guests were still there.”
“We just have to wait then.”
“I see you both booked the same fortnight’s holiday, starting today.”
“Problem? We did come in on our day off.”
“Of course not. You’re a team, you’ve been away at the same time before. Going somewhere nice?”
“If Beesons get this contract, we’ll spend two weeks in The King’s Head, drowning our sorrows.”
“Really?”
“Only joking boss. Dee and Carol have booked it off as well. We’ll think of something.”
“And if we win it?”
“Dee fancies San Francisco.” said Andy.
“And Carol fancies Bali.” said Bill. “Goes without saying, we haven’t organised anything definite yet. But we should all get away today or tomorrow.”
“You don’t go on holiday together?”
“No. As you said, we’re a team, so it makes sense to take our time off together. But we’ve always recharged our batteries separately.”
“Right.”
The Japanese businessmen arrived five minutes early, looking very tired. They were carrying their bags, obviously ready to leave. Andy wasn’t sure whether that was a good sign or not.
“Good morning gentlemen.” said Mr Tanaka. “Do you have a contract for us to sign?”
The next couple of hours rushed by. Soon, Bill was on the phone to Carol.
“I’m at the airport, sweetheart. I might as well stay here and get some lunch, if you can manage the packing by yourself. Don’t forget your passport.”
“Bali?”
“Correct! I just booked it.”
“On my way baby, I packed last night.”
“Can you tidy up that hairy mess, before you lock up?”
“OK.”
The departure lounge was the first place and time they’d had the opportunity to talk since the previous afternoon.
“So, what time did you get in last night, sweetheart?”
“About three. You were dead to the world.” said Carol.
“And how did the massage go?”
“Surprisingly, once they got their clothes off, they lost interest! Pity really, Dee’s a really good masseuse.”
“Ah well, I’m sure you helped them sleep.”
“Eventually yes.”
“So how were your first Japanese men?”
“Much better hung than we’d expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Dirty bastards wanted twos up with Dee.”
“I’m sure she coped. She’s done anal before.”
“Then they both wanted to cum on my face, and I hate kneeling on the floor. The taller one, Tanaka, shot it all over my lovely blonde curls!”
“Ah, that explains the soaking wig.”
“Right. I’ve thrown it out now. But I guess you’ve got enough money to buy me another!”