Page 35 of Sex, Lust & Lingerie

He handed me the vibrator. Curved slightly like a banana, it featured a sleek shiny white base with control buttons that gave way to ten inches of sparkly hot pink stimulation. Holding it in my right hand, I curled my left hand around it and slid my fingers up to the rounded tip. Easy to hold. Smooth to the touch. Not too hard, not too soft. Cock-like. Whimsical yet seductive to the eye. Based on extensive research, I’d never seen one like it.

“Don’t you love it, Glorious?” gushed Kevin. He was literally doing a “happy dance,” shuffling from one foot to the other.

“It’s fabulous. I think women are going to love it. Men, too!”

“Totally agree. I’m going to send out a press release this morning.”

“No, don’t.”

Kevin’s grin morphed into a frown. “Why not?”

“It’s not a good time with the stock crisis. Plus, we need to focus group test it first. Make sure we’re giving women what they want.”

Kevin nodded. “You’re right. There are two dozen more. I’ll make sure Consumer Insights sets up the groups.” He laughed. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting respondents.”

For the first time in God knows how many hours, I laughed too. It felt good to dispel all the doom and gloom—even for a short minute.

Before Kevin headed back to his office, I told him to leave the vibrator with me. He placed it upright on my desk and sashayed off. My eyes stayed fixed on the slick erect fixture, our stunning new sex toy. There was only one way this company and I were going—and that was up. Suddenly, a brilliant idea hit me. I emailed Kevin. Already back in his office a few doors down from mine, he immediately emailed me back.

G—That’s genius! I’ll make it happen. xoK

At 11 a.m., I was standing on the stage of our packed state-of-the art theater, a former screening room, where we often held large sales presentations, product announcements, and pep rallies. Every seat was taken. My eyes swept across my hundreds of employees, taking in the anxious expressions on their faces. It made me proud how much diversity there was among them—all races were represented as were ages. Our company policy was not to discriminate against anyone, regardless of age or socio-economic background. We were a proud equal opportunity employer.

Behind me, the large screen we often used for sales presentations and commercial screenings was pulled down.

I began by thanking everyone for coming. My welcome was followed by a loud applause. And then I steeled myself, inhaling as much oxygen as I could.

“By now, you all know that that we have been experiencing a stock crisis. I am here to tell you that it is unfounded. Our company is as robust as ever—thanks to all of you and your fellow employees around the world.”

Applause.

I cleared my throat and continued. “Many of you have IRA’s and shares of Gloria’s Secret stock. Do not worry. I promise you that the price of the stock will soar higher than it was before. You will all have money for your children’s education and your retirements.”

More applause, even louder.

Tears pricked my eyes. I sucked in a shaky breath. “And I’m here to tell you that I’m going nowhere. No one can bully me and force me to leave the company I built with my own blood, sweat, and tears.”

To my astonishment, employees rose to their feet in a standing ovation. Throughout the theater, they were cheering, “Go, Gloria!”

It took all I had to battle tears. I was so overwhelmed by their enthusiastic response. I had always been there for my employees, and now they were there for me. My eyes circled around the theater, landing on the faces of so many that I personally knew—from sales execs to seamstresses, VP’s to secretaries, tech gurus to janitors. In the front row, Kevin was applauding wildly, but standing listlessly next to him was Vivien. In contrast to her earlier cheerleader behavior, she now seemed to be feigning enthusiasm, if any. Her fingertips lethargically tapped together, and I swear she was rolling her eyes. When she caught my eyes on her, she pasted a big plastic smile on her face and applauded with zeal. Strange.

I moved on to the final leg of my speech, trying to quiet the audience with downward waves of my hands. “I’m going to end this little speech on an up note.” An image of the vibrator flashed onto the large screen behind me.

“Introducing Gloria’s Secret latest breakthrough—My Secret Vibrator. We’re going to blow the competition out of the water. There’s only one way we’re going—and that’s up with a bang!”

The audience went wild. Shrieks and gasps accompanied the loud applause.

A megawatt smile lit up my face. “Thank you, all. Now get back to work!”

I ran down the steps to the stage and darted out the side door of the theater. I could still hear clapping and cheering. Kevin met me in the hallway and gave me a bear hug.

“That was fan-fucking-tastic, Glorious!”

“Thanks, Kev,” I said humbly. I was emotionally and physically drained.

We walked back together to our offices. After dropping him at his, I continued on two more doors to mine. Vivien had beaten me back. She was filing her nails but quickly tucked the emery board under her desk pad when she set her eyes on me.

That big fake smile flashed on her face. “Oh, Gloria, you were amazing. I want to give a speech like that when I’m CEO.”

Although there was sincerity in her voice, her comment sent a shiver up my spine. I gave myself a mental kick. I was just being over-sensitive, maybe borderline paranoid about the tenacity of my job.

I simply said, “Thanks. Any important new emails or phone calls come in?”

Vivien leaned into her computer screen and shook her head. She gazed up at me. “Gloria, by the way, I forgot to tell you. I have to leave early today right after lunch. I have a doctor’s appointment. It’s all the way out in The Valley so it’s unlikely I’ll be coming back. I hope you’re okay with that.” Her eyes stayed locked on mine as she awaited my response.

“Not a problem. I hope everything’s all right.”

A sweet smile accompanied a flutter of her fake lashes. “Oh, yes, everything’s just fine. I’ll catch up with you later for drinks.”

I couldn’t help my mental eye roll. She was probably going to one of her beauty doctors—for dermabrasion, Botox, or lip filler. Now that I knew she was older than the twenty-nine years she claimed to be, perhaps she had a genuine need for these treatments. I forced myself not to say another word. She was being supportive, and I needed Daddy’s little girl on my side. Besides, at two o’clock, Jaime Zander was scheduled to meet with me. In light of their tumultuous, borderline incestuous past and her recent come-ons, I was glad she wouldn’t be here.

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