Jennifer and I remained secret lovers for close to a year and then one Sunday as I was downstairs washing my car, she came up to me with a broad smile

Jennifer Clarke was the Senior Manager in charge of New Business Development at one of our clients, a company that had extensive interest and shareholdings in the Media, telecommunications and Finance. She was in her early thirties, bright and highly regarded among her peers.

This was her second time at the company. Jennifer had resigned some three years earlier to study full time to complete her masters and had spent a year and a half working for a US company in California.

Now Jennifer was back at the company and making great strides. We had never met and so I was looking forward to meeting her. A number of people who had met her recently commented on how good she looked and how the California sun and lifestyle had really worked wonders on her.

Ice Advertising, the Ad Agency I co-founded with Karen Blake, had recently been awarded the account following a very competitive bid. We had to compete with four of the biggest and oldest agencies in the country and felt that it was a major victory to beat them. The account was big in comparison to the other accounts we had, $60 million dollars was a big account for us and we were ready for it.

Our first formal client meeting was scheduled for the client’s office and we were to be briefed and introduced to the marketing team who we would be working with. Karen and I knew most of the people on the team, from our prior encounters at cocktail parties and other industry functions and so we felt good going in knowing that we were not strangers. We arrived early for our 10:00 am meeting to be held on the third floor of the company headquarters in New Kingston. The offices were recently refurbished and looked great. We were very impressed with this new look.

The Administrative assistant to the Director of Marketing Paul Gates escorted us to the third floor conference room. Paul was married with two kids and has been with the company for over ten years and was considered to be one of the better marketing professionals in the country. We had spoken many times in the past and I was very impressed with his work.

As we entered the conference room I was immediately struck by the expansive view of the Long Mountain range going all the way back to Red Hills, through the glass windows that took up one side of the room. I took a seat facing the windows; the view was my kind of scenery. Karen sat beside me and I could see that she too was impressed with the view.

We were alone in the room and so Karen and I spoke a while about some business we had to sort out while on the road. As we talked I got up and walked over to the window to get a better look of the view of the mountains and the view of New Kingston below.

At exactly 10:02 Paul walked into the room with four other people in tow. Anthony Mackenzie his Marketing Manager, Michael Nelson, Promotions and events Manager, Annette Thomas, External Affairs and Jennifer Clarke Senior Manager in charge of New Business Development.

Everything I had heard about Jennifer was grossly understated. She was beautiful, tall and looked like a high fashion model. Jennifer was dressed in a black business suit that was very feminine that radiated power and success. Jennifer was telling everybody that she was on her way up and dressing the part. I felt inappropriately and inadequately dressed beside her.

“Jennifer how are you, I finally get a chance to meet you. I have heard so much about you,” I said shaking her carefully manicured hands.
“Howard, good to see you too, I trust that you will give me a chance to correct all the bad things you’ve heard about me” she replied smiling.

Jennifer and I spoke a while and took our seats around the table. Jennifer took a seat directly across the table from me, I immediately felt uncomfortable and nervous having this beautiful woman sitting in front of me. I deliberately turned my seat slightly to face Paul who was sitting at the head of the table. At least now I would not have to look at her directly.

For most of the meeting I could not take my eyes away from Jennifer and for some reason every time I looked in her direction I found that she was already looking at me.

The meeting was good and at 2:00 pm when we came out we were mentally exhausted. We were given our brief and told to go and produce their new campaign.

Jennifer and I never met again as she was constantly traveling and in meetings whenever I went to her office. There was one brief encounter when I was with Paul going over some layouts and storyboards for a new product they were launching. Jennifer knocked on Paul office door and pushed her head in.

“, Oh hi Howard how are you, Paul sorry to disturb you but I cannot make the 3 today, I have to fly to Montego Bay now to meet an investor for the investment bank we are setting up out there.” Jennifer said half way through the door.
“Ok just leave your report and notes with my assistant, I’ll cover for you.” Paul replied.
“Thanks Paul, See you later, Howard good to see you again, by the way are you coming to our company party next week, I hope Paul sent out your invitation” She said smiling at Paul.
“I have it here to give him, don’t worry, he’ll be there you can go now” Paul fired back at her.

As I was leaving Paul handed me an envelope with four invitations to the company Christmas party the following week.

Karen came to the party with her boyfriend, Steven Graham of five years; I deliberately came alone, hoping that Jennifer would also come alone.

Jennifer did not arrive until after 10 and as expected made an entrance. She was dressed in a tight fitting black mini dress and looked great. The eyes of all the men and women in the room where on her as she walked in, pretending not to see and notice the eyes on her. She was alone.

Paul came in about ten minutes after Jennifer and he was also alone. I assumed that his wife of ten years was not well or had opted not to attend staying with the kids.

Karen, Steven and I along with two other staff members were sitting at a table watching the happenings and chit chatting about all kinds of stuff. I was watching Jennifer as she walked around the room meeting and greeting company employees and specially invited guests.

Jennifer finally made her way over to our table and I rose to meet her. As she approached I held out my hand and she avoided it choosing to open her arms to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her; she hugged me back tightly and adjusted her body to fit perfectly with mine. The electricity was shocking, the hug felt good and I had an instant erection, Jennifer felt it and pressed even harder against me.
“It's good to see you Howard, save a dance for me” she whispered into my ear.
I’m going to save the whole night for you I said to myself. But said to Jennifer “If you can find time for me”
“I‘ll find time, you just be ready” she said and let me go.
I introduced her to the other team members and spoke briefly and she went off to meet the other guests.

I needed a drink and headed for the bar. Anthony Mackenzie was standing at the bar with a drink in hand watching the going ones.
“Howard, you made it,” he said as I approached.
“Would not miss it for the world” I replied and ordered a rum and coke.
Anthony and I stood by the bar and talked for a while, I wanted to find out some more about Jennifer. I wanted to know if she was playing with me or if she was for real.
“What’s the story on Jennifer” I finally asked Anthony.
“Jennifer, mmmm” he said and sipped on his drink.
“Jennifer, Jennifer is Paul’s girl man, that’s the story. They have been trying to keep it a secret, with Paul been married and all that but it’s not working. It’s the biggest secret in the company” He said.
“Paul’s girl “I replied in amazement. Now I understood why they both came to the party alone and ten minutes apart.

For the rest of the evening I sought to avoid Jennifer, the last thing I wanted to do was to fool around my Clients girl, only god knows what Paul would do if he found out I was trying to push him out. I figured the worst he would do was try to find a way to fire the agency to get back at me. Jennifer was not worth $60 million dollars in billings, not yet anyway.

Jennifer finally found me and dragged me onto the dance floor as they were playing calypso music. She could dance, was there anything this girl could not do I thought to myself. I wondered what she would be like in bed. The thought of losing 60 million quickly altered my thoughts.

Jennifer bumped and grinded me for over 30 minutes and if I said that I did not enjoy ever minutes of it, I would be lying. My erection was bursting to get out and Jennifer played and teased on it. For anybody looking on they would not have figured that anything usual was going on, but we were in an advanced stage of foreplay.

Then the music stopped and the beat slowed down, I saw Paul from the corner of my eye standing at the Bar talking to the President of the company and the Minister of Industry and Commerce, who was a good friend of the president. I could tell he was watching us.

Jennifer pulled me closer and we began to dance to the slow rhythms of the music.
“Having Fun” She whispered in my ear.
“Yeh” I said not sure what else to say.
Jennifer pressed hard against my erection and I responded by holding her closer.

“Howard, mind if I break in” it was Paul standing behind me.
“Sure no problem” I lied.
I disengaged myself from Jennifer and handed her over to Paul.
“Save the last dance for me” Jennifer said to me and turned looking at Paul.

As I walked off I could hear Paul arguing with Jennifer about how she was dancing with me. I looked back and saw Paul holding Jennifer by the arm and leading her off the dance area towards a cluster of empty tables and chairs. I walked over to the bar and surprisingly found Anthony still standing there.
“Told you man.” Anthony said to me as I came up to him.
“Dose she flirt a lot?” I asked.
“Not that I’m aware of, must be something about you, why she’s playing with you.”
“Me, doubt that very much, must be something else”
“Whatever it is, I suggest that you keep her at a distance until you can figure it out. You don’t want Paul on your case.”
“Yeh thanks”

Karen came up to me, and asked to speak with me. We walked off a short distance away from the music and prying ears.
“You know that Jennifer is Paul girlfriend?” Karin asked
“I just found out” I replied.
“You know what that means, keep your dick in your pants and leave her alone”
“She’s the one coming on to me. The woman’s playing some kind of game with me”
“Well she isn’t worth 60 million dollars you remember that, I know you Howie, you’re going to make a move on her. You know it and so do i.”
Karen was right, I was planning to make a move on Jennifer, but I had not factored on Paul in the picture. This was a high priced game now. I had to walk away from the table and find another game, a much cheaper game.

Karen said she was leaving and I decided to leave with them. I walked around and said goodbye to a few people and left. I did not see Jennifer and Paul so I left without talking to them.

I didn't talk to Paul for two to three days after the party. When we spoke we did not mention the incident or any reference to Jennifer outside of work related subjects.

Jennifer did call me five days after and invited me out to lunch. She even offered to pick me up. I hesitated before saying yes. I wanted to find out what she was up to.

Jennifer and I remained secret lovers for close to a year and then one Sunday as I was downstairs washing my car, she came up to me with a broad smile on her face.

She was pregnant…………………………… to be continued