Erotic XXX Stories | Sex Stories Toplist

Erotic Stories By Letter: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

CINDY2 split them please Eight

The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual relationships. If you
feel that it is illegal, immoral, or otherwise improper for you to read
this, then *Don't Read It.*

* * *

*Cynthia Martin*

*Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1991, 2001*

Please note the original copyright date. This story was basically
written ten years ago. As a result, you will likely find obsolete
references. I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it; it's too tedious
trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.

This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and is a sequel to -- and
much longer than -- _Call Girls._ If you haven't read it, I urge you to do
so. Without having read it, the actions in the first few pages will not
make any sense.

Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_. The reason for
this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a word preceded and
followed by an underscore in italics; that's my intent. Similarly, *word*
results in the word appearing in bold face. If you use Word's Auto Format,
it will take care of things; if you don't, you at least know why it's
there.

More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr.org/~Morgan> If you
like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at <morg105829@aol.com.>
My books are now also being posted on <www.storiesonline.net> although at
this writing there are fewer of them than on my site.

* * *

*Chapter 11*

The next morning after their lovemaking, Cindy dragged Dan out of bed.
Along with the Stewarts, they went to church early and then returned home
to another breakfast Cindy prepared. With her heart in her mouth, she made
croissants which turned out to be as light and flaky as Jan's best. She
served them with omelettes which were also masterpieces.

Jan just shook her head sadly and said, "Pete, it's all over. I used to
think I was a passable cook, but there's no way I could do this."

Cindy went over to Jan and hugged her saying, "Oh, you poor thing!
Isn't it lucky you have such a talented house slave? Just think! I'm the
only person that stands between poor Pete and starvation. You _can_ boil
water though, can't you? With the boil-in-a-bag dinners they make now, you
can probably survive," she replied with her eyes dancing.

Jan took the opportunity to spank Cindy but hurt her hand in the
process. She glared at Cindy while she shook her hand; her eyes were
dancing, though, as she said, "Damn it, slave, make your ass soft when I
want to spank it. You hurt my hand."

"I'm so sorry, mistress. But why didn't you tell me you wanted to spank
me?" It was all she could do to keep from laughing as she added, "I'm just
a poor dumb slave, though, not a mind-reader."

"Damn it, Pete," Jan said with a grin, "why aren't there any decent
slaves available any more? I guess the British blockade of the Slave Coast
must really be affecting the supply."

They played in the sun all afternoon. Dan's tan was getting darker
while Jan and Cindy looked like sprites with their golden tans, golden hair
and blue eyes. When Dan gave Cindy the money from the previous evening,
she grinned and said, "Thank you, darling. I appreciate your handling the
financial arrangements. How about if we celebrate by dining at _Chez Nous_
again? I think I can get time off."

Jan was lying with her head on Pete's stomach. She had seen Cindy using
Dan as a pillow and decided it looked like a great idea. Without even
opening her eyes she said, "Beat it! And get out of my sun." Dan and Cindy
again took a shower together. While she was fixing her hair, Dan put the
few things he had brought with him back in his bag.

When they arrived at the restaurant where they had eaten ten days
earlier, they were greeted by the hostess who then went back to the
kitchen. Moments later the chef appeared to personally show them to the
best table in the restaurant. In spite of it being Sunday night, the place
was crowded. As they were being seated, he introduced the hostess as his
wife, Marie, and himself as Marcel Legrand. He retreated to the kitchen
and Marie smiled and asked, "May I bring you something to drink? Marcel
was in such a rush -- you can see we're very busy -- he forgot to mention
that you are our guests this evening."

Cindy looked puzzled and asked, "But why? You already gave us that
lovely cognac when we were here last time. Why should Dan and I be your
guests tonight?"

She replied, "You see how busy we are. This is all due to your help."
She smiled and said, "There is an ulterior... is that the right word...?
motive. He would like to sit with you later to see if you have any other
ideas."

They ordered dinner and the change was instantly noticeable. The
quality of the food was substantially better than it had been the week
before. Dan ordered a bottle of white wine for them from the very short
wine list. While they were waiting for their appetizers Marie brought out
a small basket with two croissants and stood by the table while Cindy tried
one. It was not very good -- in fact it was rather soggy. She excused
herself from the table. Instead of going to the ladies' room as Dan
expected, she went back to the kitchen.

When she didn't immediately reappear, Dan just shrugged and took some
papers out of his bag and started to review them. After an absence of
fifteen minutes, she reappeared and sat down again. She didn't tell him
what she had done and he didn't ask. A few minutes later, Marcel appeared
with another small bread basket. He signaled to Marie who came over to the
table to join them. In the basket were four croissants. He offered one to
Dan and one to Marie. Dan broke his and the steam came out. It was as
light and flaky as the ones Cindy had baked that morning.

Dan didn't say anything. He watched Marie break one and take a bite.
Her eyes widened and she took her husband in her arms and hugged him,
exclaiming, "Marcel! _C'est fantastique!_ Never have you made such a
thing. My darling, it's superb!"

Marcel just grinned and then kissed Cindy on the cheek, causing her to
blush. "Marie, it's not me. It's this young woman who made them. Have
you ever had better? Anywhere?" Marie admitted she never had.

When the Legrands left the table, Cindy said, "Dan, these kids need
help... financial help. The kitchen is a horror show! No wonder it's
such a problem cooking well. And the wine list needs help, too. Marcel
and Marie have every dime they have scrimped and saved in this place. He
has access to some very fine wines, but no money to buy them. How can we
help them get some money?"

Dan had been enjoying the meal immensely. In fact, the weekend had been
the most wonderful three days he had ever spent. Not only was Cindy the
most beautiful girl in the world but she was also one of the smartest. The
biggest changes were in her attitudes and view of the world. Where
formerly they didn't agree on the time of day, now they disagreed on almost
nothing. He took the opportunity to tease her. Still looking at his plate
he said casually, "Why don't you just lend it to them?"

"Daniel Burke, you're crazy! And you're mean! You know damned well I
have about $80 to my name. The seventy-five from last night plus about
five bucks left over from last week. I could lend them about enough to buy
five pounds of flour!"

"You can do a bit better than that," he replied casually. He reached
into his pocket and brought out a bank document he had intended to show
her. It was a confidential internal credit memo listing bank officers and
their lending limits. They were listed alphabetically by rank. Under
senior vice presidents, Cynthia K. Martin was listed at $50 million, the
highest personal lending limit of any officer listed; the listing for
"current assignment" said "leave of absence." He passed it over to her
without comment.

While Dan was rummaging through his papers, Cindy was trying to puzzle
out how she could get the Legrands $25,000 which was her estimate of what
it would cost to fix up the kitchen and improve the wine cellar. When Dan
passed her the paper she was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn't pay
much attention until her own name caught her eye. She read it and then
reread it. When she looked up at him, her eyes were wide with amazement.
"What _is_ this? Some kind of joke?" she exclaimed. "I'm fired. My
current occupation is slave. What gives?"

"Did you ever resign?" Dan asked quietly.

"Resign? I was fired! As in, 'You're no longer employed here at the
bank.' God, I'll remember Jen's words forever! Then I got violently ill."
She looked at Dan with love in her eyes. "Honey, you missed it. It was
not one of your mistress's better performances. In fact, I was
disgusting!"

Dan appeared to be bored by the whole thing. "What's the problem? Are
you sure of the wording? The exact wording?"

She smiled wryly, "I'm absolutely sure. Those words are engraved in my
mind as if they were carved in stone."

He shrugged and said, "I guess that explains it then. You're no longer
employed at the bank. You have been working at Deerfield rather than
downtown Chicago. But you are still a senior vice president and senior
lending officer, though." He looked at her and shook his head, adding, "But
you don't look like most of the senior vice presidents. And I don't know
if they would approve of your preferred attire these days."

"Preferred attire? Burke, have you lost it completely? My attire is my
skin. What do you mean?"

"Usually Chicago Trust Company senior vice presidents are so
conservatively dressed it's disgusting. Honey, you're usually naked."

Suddenly Cindy grinned. "That's okay. Yesterday I hope you noticed the
chairman of the board? Madam Chairman with the bare mound revealing her
beautiful cunt? Let's see... You also saw Jan -- all of Jan. She votes
her parents' shares and her own. That's about 56 percent. Then Jen votes
her shares and the Chapman's. That brings the total to about 85 percent.
Then their sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Chip Cartwright, own
another ten. That gets us to about 96 percent. Since Connie was a
stripper for years she won't complain, either, so I guess I'm okay." She
looked at him with a hurt look on her face although her eyes were dancing,
and added, "Don't you like the way I dress? I thought you liked to have
immediate access to all my bodily openings?"

Dan's face was impassive as he just nodded vigorously. "Cindy, do you
want to do it? Lend them the money?"

She smiled and said, "Hell, the bank can only say no. Let's try!"

It was after nine o'clock and the restaurant had nearly emptied when
Marcel came out from the kitchen. Marie brought over coffee and cognac for
the four of them. Marcel looked at Cindy with respect in his eyes. He
said, "Madame, if you were to open a restaurant nearby, I would close up
immediately. You're the finest chef I have ever encountered. How long
have you and monsieur been married?"

Cindy smiled and said, "We're not. I'm Dan's mistress. Besides, I know
almost nothing about cooking. Actually, I'm a banker."

Both of the Legrands' jaws dropped at her announcement. "A... banker?
You mean, you work in a bank?"

Dan smiled and said, "The fact is Cindy is a senior lending officer at
Chicago Trust Company. In that capacity she has a proposition to make to
you."

Cindy proceeded to outline what she had in mind. Marie, who kept the
books, left the dining room and came back with the financial records.
While they were waiting, Marcel told them the reason for the croissants was
they were thinking of opening for breakfast. When he heard it, Dan asked,
"Have you and Marie had dinner yet?" Marcel said they had not. Dan smiled
at Cindy and said, "Hon, Marcel cooked for us. Would you mind making a
couple of omelettes for them?"

Cindy nodded her head, grinned, and disappeared into the kitchen. Marie
returned with the financial records and Dan started to review them and list
their cash requirements. It turned out that the store next door was vacant
and the landlord had made a very attractive offer to the Legrands to take
it over and join the two shops together. It would more than double their
seating capacity since the kitchen, particularly with the new equipment,
could handle both rooms. Dan made very careful notes as they talked.

Cindy reappeared with onion soup gratinee and a bottle of white wine for
the Legrands. It was like the soup Jan had made her first day she was at
the house and was superb. When the crust was broken, they both savored the
aroma. A few minutes later she reappeared with omelettes, soufleed
potatoes and two salads, and sat down again at the table. After taking a
bite of the omelette, tears came to Marcel's eyes. "Cindy, this is the
finest omelette in the world! You must be an outstanding banker because
you could make a fortune as a chef! No one is in your class. No one!"

Cindy just shook her head and said, "Thank you, Marcel, but it isn't
true. Janice Stewart is far better than I am. She taught me all I know
about cooking which is only a tiny fraction of what she knows."

Then she reviewed the restaurant's financial numbers with Dan. When
they finished, she kissed him softly on the cheek and said, "Honey, if I
had a division I would take you into it as a senior lending officer. No
one can analyze financials the way you do." Finally Cindy said, "Marcel and
Marie, on behalf of Chicago Trust Company I am prepared to lend you
$125,000." She indicated the terms and conditions and then looked at the
two, waiting.

The two young people were dumbstruck. Finally Marie said, "A bank would
lend us money? So much money! But you can't, Cindy. We... We're not
even citizens. No one lends money to immigrants. No one."

Cindy took Dan's hand and squeezed it. "Marie, there's an analyst at
Chicago Trust who spent a couple of years trying to educate me. With some
help from others, what he was trying to teach me finally sank in. You have
wonderful food. Your business has picked up in just the last week. When
you add breakfast service and enlarge the restaurant, you'll do even
better. We would like to help you, if you'll accept our help."

Suddenly, Marie jumped into Marcel's arms and kissed him passionately.
_"Mon cher,_ it's true! The streets in the United States _are_ paved with
gold! My darling, could you imagine this ever happening in France? Could
we go to a bank and borrow five francs?" She sat on his lap and he cupped
his hand under her full breast. Suddenly, both Legrands blushed as they
realized what he was doing.

Cindy got up from her chair and sat across Dan's lap. He took her
breast in his hand and she moaned with pleasure. "Doesn't it feel
wonderful to have your lover squeeze your tit?" she asked Marie softly.

"Tit? I don't know the word, tit," the girl said with a puzzled look on
her face. Cindy grinned and cupped her breasts saying, "Tits, Marie. Or
boobs, or breasts." Since she was not wearing a bra, her nipples showed
prominently under her dress.

The French girl blushed, but then grinned. Finally she just shook her
head and said, "We must close up now. Marcel and I are going to just float
home. Thank you so much. But what do we do now? Do you think we might
get the money? How long does it take? Two or three months?"

Cindy smiled warmly and said, "I think it will be faster than that."
They kissed and left the restaurant. While they were waiting for his
train, she asked, "Did I do the right thing, Dan? I hope that memo you
showed me wasn't someone's idea of a sick joke. Marie and Marcel would be
absolutely crushed!"

Instead of answering directly, Dan replied, "How did you analyze the
loan?"

"Two young people working extremely hard trying to make a life for
themselves in a new country. Honey, in the kitchen I saw a pile of English
books. They want so badly to succeed. They deserve the chance. The
numbers are okay, I guess, but it's a loan to them, not against their
assets. What would you have done?"

Dan took her in his arms and kissed her. Again she heard bells and felt
the electricity flow between them. When they parted he stroked her hair
and held her close, murmuring in her ear, "Made the loan, of course."

* * *

The next day there was a Board meeting at the bank. It was a scorching
hot day so Janice decided to wear a shirtwaist dress in a light blue shade
that complimented her eyes. At breakfast Cindy told her about the events
of the night before while Jan just listened carefully with her face
impassive. When the girl finished the story she said, "Jan, it will
destroy those young people if I can't get them the money."

Jan smiled warmly and said, "You can. If worse comes to worst, write a
check yourself. Our account can cover $125,000 without any strain. Okay?
Happy?"

Cindy took Jan in her arms and kissed her warmly. "Janice Stewart, I
love you! If the loan goes in the tank, it only adds ten more years to my
indenture."

"Ten years? Are you kidding? Make it twenty-five. Who ever heard of a
slave making $12,500 a year!" Jan stuck out her tongue and Cindy laughed.

When Jan got to the bank, she took the elevator up to the executive
floor. As she went towards Don Martin's office, the receptionist said, "I
beg your pardon! Madame, visitors must be announced."

Jan stopped short and went back to the reception desk. A beautiful
black girl was sitting there with the regular receptionist sitting beside
her. The regular receptionist, Jean Robbins, was blushing beet red and
looking like she wanted to disappear into the woodwork. The black girl looked up at her attentively and asked, "May I help you? Do you have an
appointment with someone?"

Jan smiled at the regular receptionist and said, "Jean, relax. This
girl is only trying to do her job." She extended her hand and said, "Hi.
I'm Janice Stewart. You must be new here. Welcome to Chicago Trust
Company!" The girl was beautiful. Her skin was the color of light cocoa.
She had lustrous brown eyes and exquisite black hair worn in a
shoulder-length page-boy. "Wow! We must have hired someone with some
judgment in Personnel recently. You're the most lovely thing to appear in
this bank in years."

The girl took Jan's extended hand and was surprised at the firmness of
her grip. She was puzzled. The name, Janice Stewart, was not on any list
of officers. In fact, she couldn't recall seeing the name, Stewart, on
anything. She had spent almost the whole previous night studying lists of
names to try to avoid the kind of situation she had obviously just created.
She smiled shyly, and said, "How do you do, Mrs. Stewart? I'm April
Jefferson, the new relief receptionist."

At this point Jean Robbins said, "April, Mrs. Stewart is a bank
director, along with her sister, Mrs. Chapman. Here comes Mrs. Chapman
now."

Jennifer had been trying to sneak up behind Jan's back. When Jan spun
around, the girls kissed and then Jen frowned at Jean. "Jean Robbins, I
thought you were my friend. I was going to goose my sister and you went
and spoiled it!" She extended her hand to April and said, "Hi. I'm
Jennifer Chapman. I think you have my name on your list somewhere.
Welcome to Chicago Trust!" Turning to Jan she said, "Come on, sis. We're
keeping the overpaid executives waiting." The two disappeared through the
door toward Don Martin's office.

When the door closed behind them, April exhaled loudly. "Wow! What was
that? They have to be two of the most beautiful women in the world. Who
are they? I know Mrs. Chapman is Chairman of the Board, but who is Mrs.
Stewart?"

Jean Robbins had finally recovered. She smiled and said, "April, Janice
Stewart controls the votes on about 61 percent of the bank's stock. If you
said she owns the place you wouldn't be far wrong. Incidentally, not only
are they beautiful but they're both smart as hell and the nicest people I
have ever met. Maybe now you understand why things are changing so fast
for the better around here."

One of the first changes made at Chicago Trust was to shrink the size of
the board of directors. Now there was only Jen, Janice, Don Martin, Dan
Burke, and Harry Simpson, the corporate secretary and general counsel.
Because of the small number -- the prior board had numbered twenty-five --
they converted the former board room to a large conference room and used a
small conference room separating Don's office from Dan's for Board
meetings. Jen had given the chairman's office to Don and used the
conference room on the infrequent occasions when she was in the bank on
business.

As they approached Don's office, Mary Thomas rose to greet them. Jan
stopped short and looked at Mary closely. "Mary Thomas, what's happened to
you? You're looking younger and... Are you free for lunch today, by any
chance?"

The woman was baffled but nodded her head. "Great!" Jan said. "Get us
a private dining room for three people, will you? We'll eat as soon as we
finish with the regular meeting of the Mickey Mouse Club." Mary just smiled
and shook her head. She was becoming used to the irreverence that
characterized the two sisters. She had no idea what they were thinking
about but she made the reservations.

After greeting Don Martin, the three went into the conference room and
Dan joined them. Jan grinned and shook her head. "You look like you got
some sun over the weekend, Dan. Did you go to the beach? And by the way,
don't you ever two-block your tie?"

Dan was tired from his weekend with Cindy. He was wearing a new suit
but, as usual, his coat was off, his shirt cuffs were turned up, his collar
was unbuttoned, and his tie was pulled down. "As a matter of fact, no. I
spent the weekend serving alternately as a punching bag and a pillow. I
did see a great deal of our directors, though," he said with a grin. The
two girls daintily stuck out their tongues and then laughed.

The meeting went very quickly. Don Martin now knew that Janice Stewart
had an MBA in marketing and finance from Columbia and was a Phi Beta Kappa
from Yale. Her sister, Jennifer, was also Phi Beta Kappa at Princeton and
had a Ph.D. in political science. Although she didn't have a business
degree, she knew a great deal of economics. Both young women asked
excellent questions. He knew he had the best board in the banking
industry. When they completed the agenda items and adjourned the formal
meeting, Harry Simpson excused himself to prepare the Board minutes leaving
the four alone.

Dan's hands were folded on the table. He looked down at them and said,
"Don, I think I should resign."

_"What?"_ Don exclaimed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I spent the weekend in bed with your daughter. You asked
me to keep an eye on her and I said I would. But I'm sure that's not what
you had in mind. I breached your confidence, so I better get the hell out
of here."

Jan and Jennifer protested. Jan said, "Daniel Burke, you'll do no such
thing! Do you know how much Cindy loves you? That's the correct word, but
it's so inadequate. I know the signs well, and so does Jen. Dan Burke, if
you told Cindy you wanted one of her boobs for breakfast, all she would do
would be to ask you how you wanted it cooked. And I don't want to bruise
your male ego or anything, but she seduced you. And I have never seen a
girl so happy in my life!"

Don asked quietly, "What are your intentions towards my daughter, Dan?"

Dan looked up for the first time and looked directly into Don's eyes.
He said, "Don, I love her more than life itself. I want to marry her. I
want her to be the mother of my children. I saw her with a small baby
Saturday night. She nursed him at her breast and looked gorgeous and
gloriously happy. She wants a lot of kids, too. May I have your
permission to court your daughter?"

Don jumped from his chair and took the younger man in his arms and
hugged him. Then he gripped his hand and said, "Dan, it should come as no
surprise to you to learn there is no one, _no one,_ I would rather have as
a son-in-law than you. When is it going to happen?"

Dan grinned wryly and said, "You better ask Jan that question. She owns
her."

Jan grinned and said, "How about January? Chicago is impossible in
January. You two will love it in Hawaii then." Dan just shook his head.
Then Jan changed the subject. "However, I understand you're using my slave
for unauthorized purposes: making loans. What do you think of the _Chez
Nous_ credit, Dan?"

"I think Cindy is the best lending officer this bank has. And I say
that with my personal feelings for her put aside. Don, with your
permission -- and yours, Jan -- I would like to give her some special
lending assignments. You know, banks are always criticized for not
supporting the local community, and particularly for not making credit
available to small business. The reason is simple. We don't know how to
do it. As bankers, we always retreat to the numbers... and those
companies never have good numbers. We talk all the time about character
loans but we never make any. Janice Stewart, I'll bet you $10,000 Cynthia
Martin can and will."

Jan's face was impassive. She said, "How can she do the analysis? And
speaking of things we don't do, who is April Jefferson? She seems very
bright."

Don and Dan looked at each other and Don said, "Jan, that's Dan, too.
She has her degree from a local college and is enrolled in a banking
program nights. Of course our personnel people don't believe she has the
right educational credentials, but we hired her anyway. We're going to put
her in the credit program, but you know what a rat's nest that is. But why
do you ask?"

"Could she do the analysis for Cindy? I'll bet Cindy could train her if
you're willing. I'm sure she would be a hell of a lot better than some
stupid classroom teacher. How about if I drive her out and introduce
them?"

Don grinned and said, "It's your money, ladies. What can I say?
Particularly when my chief credit officer says yes. By the way, Dan, what
did Cindy say about your new job? Does she approve?"

Dan looked embarrassed and said, "Don, I didn't tell her. She thinks
I'm still a lowly credit analyst and I like it that way. Can we leave it
like that? She doesn't know I'm buying her condo, either. Do you know
what Cindy is doing? She's reading apartment ads. She intends to be a
wife and mother, so she's trying to work out how we're going to live on
what I make as an analyst." He smiled warmly and shook his head. "God, I
adore that girl!"

They left it that Dan would tell April about the new assignment. Jan
asked him to see if it would be all right for Cindy to drive her home after
dinner... about ten o'clock or so. He said he would find out. Then the
two girls left for their lunch date with Mary Thomas.

The three women were ushered into a small private dining room, one of
several used for important clients of the bank where business could be
discussed in private. After they were seated and had ordered, Mary looked
at them attentively. Jen didn't know what Janice was thinking about, but
she had a pretty good idea. She left it to Jan.

On one hand, Mary was very puzzled. On the other hand, even though she
had been with the bank for twenty years, she had never eaten in one of its
private dining rooms so it was a real treat for her. She was looking at
the two girls and thinking again how incredibly beautiful they both were.
Then she almost fell off her chair. Janice Stewart had just asked her,
"Mary, how long have you been in love with Don Martin?"

"For years," she said quietly. "At least fifteen, I guess." Mary
suddenly turned beet red. "But... but... I never said it out loud
before! Ever. Not even alone in my apartment." The woman's face crumpled
and she began to cry. She looked up at them with the tears streaming down
her cheeks and said, "I'll type my letter of resignation as soon as I get
back." She started to get up from her chair, and said, "If you will excuse
me, I'll leave now."

Jan and Jen kept eating their soup. Janice looked up and said, "Where
are you going? You haven't had your lunch yet."

"I told you. I'm going back to the office to resign," she said as her
sobbing intensified.

"What for? And why are you crying?" Jan asked kindly.

The question came as a shock. It startled Mary so much she stopped
crying. She replied, "Well, I confessed that I love Don Martin..."

"And I love Peter Stewart and Jen loves Steve Chapman. So what? Jen
and I are very much alike. Whenever we think of our husbands our cunts
start running rivers. In my case my nipples become as hard as pebbles and
I immediately think of our most recent lovemaking. I love it and I love
him. Now what does that have to do with anything, least of all why you
would want to resign your position."

"But you're married!" Mary wailed. "That's the difference."

"Oh!" Jan said with a grin. "So when are you going to marry Don?"

Mary looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "What are you saying?
He doesn't even know I'm alive! I'm just a piece of office furniture
except I've been around the office longer than any of the furniture."

"Well, let's fix that, shall we?" The girls talked through lunch. When
they were finished, Jan asked about a health club that was supposed to be
in the building. Mary knew about it. It was very expensive, she said.

They went down to it and Jennifer paid for memberships for herself and
Mary. The girls went and stripped, putting on leotards Jen had purchased
for them at the club's shop. As they changed, Janice noticed that Mary was
very pretty but should lose about twenty pounds; her posture needed work,
too. They took Mary to the weight room and put her on a machine between
them. Mary looked on in amazement as the two young women moved weights
with no apparent effort. She realized they were both in perfect physical
condition without a single ounce of fat on either of their bodies.

They swam in the pool, showered, and prepared to return to the office.
It was almost three o'clock. Jennifer grinned at her sister and said,
"Okay, sis, I guess I have the assignment. I think she'll be a beautiful
bride, don't you?"

"Sure do," responded Jan with a grin.*Chapter 12*

April Jefferson was feeling good when she returned to her desk after an
early lunch. She was scheduled to relieve Jean at the reception desk at
twelve-thirty. She was very pleased with her new job at the bank. The
people were very nice and things were starting to work out for her.
Looking at her desk she found a note to see Mr. Burke immediately.
Suddenly, her heart was in her mouth. _It must have been that trouble with
the two women this morning,_ she thought. _But they seemed so nice! I
hope he'll give me another chance!_

She went to Mr. Burke's office and knocked on the open door. She
really liked him. She had learned that his door was almost never closed.
People -- little people -- from around the bank were always dropping by to
talk with him. He looked up from his desk and grinned. "Hi, April. Come
on in and close the door, would you please?"

_At least he's kind enough to rip my ass in private,_ she thought.
Closing the door, she sat down, sitting up as straight as possible. _Oh,
God she thought, _this makes my tits stick out. What will he think?_ He
smiled and leaned back in his chair. She thought he looked tired and said
so. _What's wrong with me? He'll think I'm offering to take him to bed!_

Dan leaned back and grinned. "That's part of the problem that maybe you
can help to solve. April, you don't want to be a receptionist, do you?"

"I beg your pardon, sir?" she asked softly. Dan liked the musical
quality of her voice. She was a very well-spoken young woman. "I like it
very much. I'm very sorry for what happened this morning. If you give me
another chance, I promise it will never happen again."

"What will never happen?" Dan asked, obviously puzzled.

_There's nothing else to do but tell him,_ she thought. _Here goes
nothing!_ "This morning I challenged Mrs. Stewart at the reception area. I
didn't think I was being rude... At least I tried not to be. I realize I
should have known who she is, but I didn't. I'm going to study the lists
even more carefully again tonight," she said softly.

Dan started to get the picture. He smiled warmly and said, "April, I'm
sorry. I didn't call you in to bawl you out. I asked you in to see if you
would like a new job... one more in keeping with your ability and
education."

Now the girl was shocked. "I beg your pardon, sir?" Then she started to
cry.

Her mother had spent her life telling her how ladies behaved and
insisting that she act like one, so she kept her head up straight even
though tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Do you know what it's like for
a black girl like me to have a job in a place like this? Mr. Burke, I'm a
refugee from welfare. I went to city schools in Chicago. I went to a
lousy college. The only job I'm qualified for is to be a cleaning woman,
cleaning offices and washrooms. I guess that's what I'll go back to."

Dan rose from his chair and went around the desk when she started to
cry. He was down on one knee beside her and reached out and held her. It
was the last straw. When April began to cry like her heart would break, he
just held her close, feeling her warm body. As she wrapped her arms around
him and buried her head in his shoulder, he could feel her body shaking
with her sobs. As she began to regain control, Dan reached in his pocket
and gave her a clean handkerchief which she used to wipe her eyes and blow
her nose. Then she realized with a start what she had done. "May... May
I take this home and wash it tonight, please, sir? I'm so sorry... I
guess I'll go look for some other job. Thank you, sir."

Dan was down on one knee. He said, "April, we're having a real
communications problem this afternoon. Look, instead of beating around the
bush, maybe I should just tell you straight out what we have in mind.
Okay?" She looked at him and nodded, utterly bewildered. "April, we would
like to use you in special credit analysis reporting directly to one of our
senior vice presidents. Do you think you would like that?"

"I beg your pardon, sir? I don't think I heard you correctly. Would
you mind repeating what you just said?"

"We're forming a special lending unit under a senior vice president.
She needs help with credit analysis. Would you take the job? She'll give
you all the training you'll need. Are you interested?"

"Credit analyst? Me? Oh, Mr. Burke, I can't believe it! I hoped...
Oh, God, did I hope! I hoped some day I could get into credit, but I knew,
deep down, it could never happen. But you say it did! The answer is yes,
of course. What do you want me to do? I'll do absolutely _anything_ to
get such a job!"

Dan went back behind his desk and smiled. "Great! Now we're getting on
track. Let me start at the beginning now that you know how the story is
going to come out. First, the whole idea was Jan Stewart's. Obviously,
you didn't insult her this morning. She was impressed by you and asked for
you specifically. As you may know, she and her sisters effectively own the
bank. Do you like her?"

"Like her? Good heavens! Mr. Burke, sir, she is a lady -- a real
lady. My mother worked for a family when she was very young. She told me
about them. She's the one who insisted I speak properly and act properly.
She was always saying that was the way real ladies act." Her eyes began to
tear again as she continued, "The other thing she used to say was that real
ladies were kind and understanding. They respect other people. I guess
that's what I think about the sisters."

Dan had been listening carefully. When she finished, he said, "April, I
think you're absolutely right. I didn't think of it in those terms, but I
think you have it right. She is a real lady. In fact, she's really more
like a princess or a queen. But that's another story. You'll be working
with Cynthia Martin. She's the daughter of the president and my fiancee
but she doesn't know that yet. If I look a little tired, it's her fault."

As he spoke about Cindy, Dan's face just beamed. She said, "You love
her a lot, don't you, sir?"

"More than life itself, April. Look, there are a couple of things that
are strange about this job. First, she is, in terms of personal lending
authority, our most senior lending officer. Second, she's shown on the
officer roster as being on a leave of absence. You'll know it soon enough,
so you might as well know it now. She's Janice Stewart's house slave."

_"What?_ Did you say, slave?" April exclaimed.

"I sure did, and she is. I'm sure Jan or Cindy -- it's Cindy, by the
way, not Cynthia -- will explain it to you." Dan's face had been very
friendly and relaxed. Suddenly it became very serious as he continued,
"April, I have a favor to ask. I have no right to ask it, and you have
every right to tell me to go to hell. Your answer has absolutely nothing
to do with the job I mentioned. Regardless of how you answer, you have the
job if you still want it. Understand?"

"Yes, sir. And the answer is yes. I don't care what the question is,
either. What is it?"

"I want you to tell a lie for me. I want you to tell Cindy, if she
should ask, that I'm still a credit analyst. You can admit to knowing me
or not as you chose. She doesn't know I'm the executive vice president,
and I would rather she not know." Dan was looking down at his desk, not
even wanting to look at the girl.

April got out of her chair without thinking and went around the desk.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, "Of course, Mr. Burke. I
thought you wanted something else, like me joining Miss Martin in slavery.
The answer to that's also yes. Do you understand? There is absolutely
nothing I won't do for you, sir. Nothing! I see you love her deeply, but
why is it a secret?"

Dan looked at her and saw the warmth in her eyes. He replied, "April, I
really don't know." He smiled and said, "I guess I'm having fun with Cindy,
teasing her." He explained that Cindy was looking for inexpensive
apartments where they could live and have lots of babies. "We're going to
have dozens, I guess. She adores the little things and I'm sure she'll be
a world-class mother." He grinned and said, "I'm going to work to try to
support the family while she stays home, barefoot, and pregnant with a baby
nursing at her breast. I can see her now, and it will be great!" April
just smiled warmly.

He moved along with the conversation. "There's a stack of files here
for you. I took the liberty of buying you a briefcase because you'll need
one in the job and Jean Robbins said you didn't have one." He pulled out a
beautiful woman-size attache case which he slid across the desk to her.

April opened it and her eyes widened. Inside it was fitted out with the
best hand-held financial calculator available, as well as a woman's gold
Cross pen and pencil set. Files were neatly arranged in a file folder
attached to the lid. She looked at him and asked, "Do you deduct something
from my pay each week until this is paid for, sir? It's absolutely
beautiful! I would never have purchased anything so fine, but I realize
that representing the bank I should look the part."

"April, it's a gift from me. After all, you're compromising your
integrity for me. And one more thing: the name is Dan. It's really all I
ever answer to. When I was in the Marines, I was a platoon sergeant; no
one has ever called me 'sir' and I don't want people to start now. The
files are to review with Cindy. Tell her it's her father's idea. The last
thing is the manila envelope that's in the case. That's all the material
she'll need to close a loan tomorrow." He smiled and said, "I guess that
about does it... Whoops! I almost forgot. Can you stay late tonight with
Cindy? Would it be all right if you didn't get home until about ten?"

"That's fine, sir... Dan. I'll call my mother, if I may. Here's a
quarter for the phone call..."

"April Jefferson, how long have you worked at this bank?"

"Sir...? Dan? For almost six weeks. But why do you ask?"

"How much money have you seen go down the drain in that time?
Thousands? Millions?"

"I don't understand, Dan."

"Young lady, when the bank asks you to work late, the damned least we
can do is pay for the phone call to tell your family you'll be late! Cindy
will drive you home. Now beat it! And don't forget your attache case!
Jan Stewart will be by to pick you up in a bit."

April was waiting just off the reception area when the women returned
from the health club. Jan asked for April and she came right out.
Extending her hand she said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Burke
said you wanted to see me."

"April, I know damned well Dan told you to call him Dan. I go by Jan,
Janice, or 'you hot cunt.' Very occasionally I answer to Mrs. Stewart.
Okay?"

April grinned and said, "Fine, Jan."

"Let's go. I'm parked downstairs."

They went to the basement garage and Jan reclaimed her car. Soon they
were on their way out to Deerfield. April luxuriated in the leather
upholstery and the feel of the car. She said it was the most beautiful car
she had ever been in. Jan grinned and said nothing. As they drove, Jan
said, "April, I guess Dan probably told you that Cindy is my slave. Did he
tell you why?"

"No, ma'am... Jan, he didn't. He said you or Cindy or both probably
would."

"Jan, I was a prostitute until I got married. How that happened is
another story. Anyway, my biggest customer was a guy named Hugo Bingham.
Bingham hated my guts. My husband and I obtained the manufacturing rights
to a new computer hard disk. We're about to start producing them any day
now. At any rate, we needed money for tooling. I borrowed $20 million
from the bank. My account officer was Cynthia Martin. Less than a month
later, the bank sold the note to Hugo Bingham who immediately called it.
Suffice it to say, I was not happy. He wanted me to return to him as his
slave. We settled his hash but I was not too happy either with the bank or
with Cindy.

"My family bought the bank and fired the chairman. My sister, Jennifer,
bought some notes Cindy had outstanding. She did to her what almost
happened to me. She gave Cindy the choice of immediately paying the notes
or becoming my house slave. That's what she elected to do. Because of
some things that happened, I have come to love that girl. She's the most
courageous person I've ever met in my life. She endured the most agonizing
pain it's possible to conceive without a murmur. Anyway, she thinks she'll
be my slave for about ten years. Please don't wise her up."

Jan grinned and added, "There's one more thing. Please don't tell Cindy
that Dan is the executive vice president. It's his secret. Can you keep
it for him?"

"I already promised him I would, Jan," April replied.

As Jan pulled into the driveway, Cindy was using the lawn tractor to cut
the grass in the front lawn. When she saw Jan had company, she shut it off
and came over to the car. "Cindy," Jan said, "This is April Jefferson.
Your father has assigned her to work for you as a credit analyst. She has
some material to go over with you, and she'll be staying for dinner. You
two can go over her stuff after we eat and then you can drive her home.
Okay?"

"Of course," Cindy replied. She extended her hand and said, "Hello,
April. I'm delighted to meet you." April took her hand in a firm grip.

"What can I do to help, Miss Martin? Mrs. Stewart explained the
situation. I said I would do anything to be able to work with you,
including selling myself into slavery. Can I help you? Please?"

April was wearing a cotton cord suit. The day was very hot -- well into
the nineties. Cindy shook her head saying, "You don't know what you're
volunteering for! Why don't you just wait out back. I'll be finished here
in front in just a couple more minutes. Then maybe you can help me."

She got back on the tractor while Jan escorted April into the house.
She looked around and said, "Jan, this is a small palace! It's so lovely."
She told Jan about her mother and the family for whom she worked. She
said, "This reminds me of something else she said. She said that real
ladies have homes that are beautiful, decorated in good taste, and yet are
very homey and welcoming." She smiled at Jan and said, "I never understood
what she meant before. But now I do. She was speaking about your home and
about you. You are truly a lady!"

"Lady, hell! I'm a partially reconstructed whore," Jan exclaimed.

"No, ma'am. You're a lady. More like a princess or a queen, actually,
but 'lady' is pretty close," April insisted.

Jan looked into the girl's warm brown eyes. She saw tears in the
corners of them but not a trace of sarcasm. On impulse, Jan took the girl in her arms and kissed her warmly. "April, I'm looking forward to meeting
your mother. You're the one who was born a queen or a princess."

April went outside in the back yard and waited for Cindy to appear. She
saw the tennis court and the swimming pool and realized how big the yard
was. It was completely private, shielded on all three sides by woods. It
was beautifully landscaped with beautifully cared-for flowers and shrubs.
Cindy came around after putting the tractor away in its shed. She grinned
and said, "What would you like to do, April? I still have a lot of work,
but it doesn't concern you."

The black girl smiled and said, "It sure does! You're my boss. If
you're a slave, I guess I'm a junior slave. What do the slaves do around
here and where are the slave quarters?"

"That's part of the problem. I'll tell you about it. Let's go." She
took April up to her room.

"Oh, Cindy, this is beautiful!" the girl exclaimed.

"See, I told you I have a problem! We're not treated properly around
here. Everywhere else, slaves get their ration of rice. Here, it's
gourmet dining. Slaves have a right to sleep on the floor. They make me
sleep here. I don't even have an outhouse. They make me use my private
bath!" While she was talking, she was shedding her clothes and then turned
to face the girl.

April's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "Good heavens! Cindy, you have
the most beautiful female body in the world! No wonder..."

"No wonder what?" Cindy asked.

The girl smiled and said, "You know Dan Burke, don't you? He came in
this morning looking like he'd been in a train wreck. I heard someone ask
him and heard him mention a name: Cindy. That's you, isn't it?"

Cindy grinned and said, "I certainly hope so, unless he has two of us."
Then she said, "Were you serious? Do you want to help? You're welcome to
take a nap until dinner." April said she was certain, so Cindy told her to
take off her clothes. "We can't handle banker's clothes. Besides, I'm
wearing the slave uniform around here."

April grinned and stripped. Cindy noticed that the girl's clothes were
inexpensive but very well cared-for. In moments, she was bare. Cindy
whistled appreciatively. "Lady, did I hear you say something about women's
bodies? Yours is exquisite!" She went up to the girl and touched tiny
marks on her abdomen and looked at her with a question in her eyes.

April answered the unasked question. "Stretch marks from my pregnancy.
I'm a mother and like so many black girls, unmarried. Do they show very
much?"

Cindy shook her head and said, "April, I pray I can look half as good as
you do after my first child." The girl was slender but with very full
breasts. Her narrow waist flowed out to slender hips and down to beautiful
legs. Her pubic thatch was a small patch of silken black hair above her
nether lips. "Come on, let's go."

They went outside and the two girls worked on the tennis court and then
the swimming pool. When they were finished, Cindy dove in and the girl followed her. April was only an adequate swimmer so after four laps she
climbed out and just watched as Cindy surged up and down the pool. She
looked like a trapped porpoise and moved through the water as fast and as
smoothly a one. Finally Cindy pulled herself out of the pool and squeezed
the water out of her hair. She pulled over two mats and lay down in the
sun.

She looked at April and grinned. "Do you lay in the sun? You have a
permanent suntan, I guess."

April said, "It can always stand some improvement." As Cindy lay with
her eyes closed, the girl took the opportunity to study her closely. She
could see tiny lines on her body and realized there were lines paralleling
her slit that appeared to be surgical scars. She asked about them.

Cindy just lay on the mat with her eyes closed. "They are reminders of
my runaway ego," she replied.

"But what are they?" April asked.

"They're whip cuts. The worst doesn't show. It's in my cunt." She
smiled and said, "It circumcised my clit which has turned out to be fun."

"But who did this to you?" April insisted.

"April, I did it to myself. When it was over, I kissed the whip and
thanked the person holding it. I meant it, too. I'm starting to feel
pretty good about myself." Cindy looked up at the sky and estimated the
time. "Come on. We have some more work to do."

They went inside and took turns in the shower. Then they went down to
the kitchen where Cindy started the dinner. As usual, she prepared canapes
and got the materials together for drinks. At five o'clock, Jan came into
the kitchen wearing only her tiny black peignoir. Cindy kissed her on the
cheek and said, "Dressing for dinner, I see."

Jan winked and looked at April. "Good heavens, girl, what a body!
You're magnificent." April had been looking at Jan. With only the
transparent peignoir which ended at her hips exposing her pubic area
completely, she was magnificent and April said so. "I guess I've recovered
from my career as a prostitute," Jan said wryly. Then she grinned and
said, "April, are you game for some fun?" The girl quickly agreed, so Jan
asked her to open the door when Pete came home.

They heard the car come up the drive. April was waiting at the door and
opened it as soon as Pete reached it. "Good evening, sir," she said
softly. "I'm Slave April. I'm assisting Slave Cindy this evening." Pete's
eyes bugged as he looked at the beautiful girl standing in front of him.
She seemed to welcome his inspection and said, "I have full tits, sir,
although they're not as firm as the mistress's or Slave Cindy's. Would you
like to feel them? I'm slim and have a firm ass. It's also available for
your inspection. The mistress believes I may be strong enough to become a
field slave someday." While she was going through her recital, her eyes
were dancing.

Pete just shook his head and ran upstairs. He took a quick shower and
soon returned wearing only a pair of shorts. This time Jan went to him and
melted in his arms. He picked her up, carried her into the living room and
sat down in his favorite chair with Jan sitting across his lap.

The two girls brought in the drinks and hors d'oeuvres and both knelt on
the floor with their trays resting on their breasts. Jan took her drink
which was frosting on the outside of the glass and put it between Cindy's
breasts. The girl didn't move; there was just a tiny shudder as the icy
glass came in contact with her tender skin. "Is it cold enough, Slave
Cindy?" Jan asked with her eyes sparkling.

"I think milady will be pleased," Cindy replied in a flat tone of voice
but with her eyes dancing.

The dinner was magnificent. The two girls ate at the table. As they
were finishing, Pete just shook his head. "April, this is torture. Can
you imagine what it's like to sit here looking at three of the most
magnificent pairs of tits in the world? Woman of the house, your lord and
master is horny. What are you going to do about it?"

"Let's go up to the playroom," she suggested, leading the way upstairs
to the master bedroom. The bed was turned down on both sides. Jan
unbuttoned Pete's shorts and dropped them. Following her request, he got
on the bed and she knelt between his legs. "Slaves, your master wishes to
fondle tits. I'll be occupied so he'll use yours."

Pete was in the center of the bed. Cindy got in beside him and rested
her head on his shoulder. His arm came around and cupped her firm breast.
April watched what Cindy did and climbed in on the other side and did the
same thing. Each of Pete's hands was cupping a beautiful tit. Meanwhile,
Jan had gotten between his legs and began to work on his cock. She slid up
his body and kissed him passionately. Sliding down his body, she worshiped
it with her lips and fingertips. Finally she took his cock in her mouth
and started to work on it.

April watched the woman in amazement as she took it into her mouth to
its full length. _Where did it go?_ she wondered. _It can't possibly fit
in her mouth. It's gigantic!_ Jan's head was going up and down as it acted
like a vagina. Finally, the girls could feel Pete's body shake as he came
in a flood. The sexual excitement caused Jan to reach an orgasm of her
own, and she collapsed on the bed. Cindy moved down on the bed to where
Jan was lying sprawled in exhaustion. She started to lick the girl's cunt and tasted her wonderful love juices. April, seeing what Cindy was doing,
went down on Pete, carefully licking his cock and getting the last traces
of his semen. When they finished, the two girls returned to Pete's arms.

Again Cindy had a thought that had first occurred to her when she saw
April nude for the first time. She leaned across Pete's body. April
wasn't sure what Cindy was thinking of, but had a good idea. She met her
halfway, and the two girls kissed. Cindy's tongue darted out and April had
a taste of Jan's love juice that was still on Cindy's mouth, while Cindy
reached across and stroked April's full breasts. The beautiful black girl moaned with aroused passion.

Jan had disappeared from the room and returned while the two girls were
kissing. She had a corona lighted for Pete and a panatella for herself.
Climbing into bed beside him, he cupped her breast and she moaned softly.
"Why don't you slaves entertain us? Drink each other's nectar."

Cindy whispered quickly to April who first looked startled but then
nodded. Cindy lay on her back and April knelt over her face with her legs
spread wide exposing her cunt to Cindy's mouth. The girl leaned forward
and Cindy's legs came up to wrap around her neck, raising her cunt so the
girl could reach it with her mouth and tongue. Cindy's tongue darted out
and began to probe the girl's vagina. She found her clit and licked it,
then bit it gently with her teeth. April shuddered as she had an instant
orgasm -- the first of her life. Meanwhile her mouth was active in Cindy's
love box. Her eyes opened wide when she saw the cut Cindy described that
ran across her clit. She tongued it and bit it with her lips, being
rewarded with a flood of cuntal juice which she carefully licked up. The
two girls maintained it through what seemed like dozens of orgasms until
they both collapsed. Jan and Pete had been watching and were just shaking
their heads.

Finally, they left the room and returned to Cindy's. Cindy gave the
girl a pair of shorts and a tank top and put on similar clothes herself.
Going downstairs, they cleaned up the kitchen quickly and then sat down at
the kitchen table. April told her what had happened during the day.

Then she changed the subject. "Cindy, first, thank you. I have never
in my life gone down on a woman. If someone had told me to, I would have
vomited at the thought. However, if my first sexual experience had been
with you, I would probably be a lesbian. You have a delicious cunt!" The
girl smiled wryly and said, "Isn't that a terrible thing to say?" Then she
looked at Cindy with a question on her face but with her eyes dancing.
"There's only one thing. I thought white girls were supposed to taste like
vanilla?"

"April, your cunt is delicious, too! I think Jan called it nectar, and
yours is." She grinned at the girl and asked, "But why doesn't it taste
like chocolate? I thought all black girls did. Regardless, I loved it!
Now, can we play banker just like the big kids?"

April retrieved her new attache case and put it on the table. Before
she opened it, she just looked at Cindy and said, "I told your father I
would do anything for the opportunity to work with you. I was only
thinking of the opportunity of getting into lending. Now I see that I was
more right than I could possibly know. Cindy Martin, you're a wonderful
person. Do you know something else? You don't treat me like I'm black.
I'm not talking about discrimination, either. I've had the experience of
seeing the nice people check off the little box that says 'Black'. I can
see another tick mark on some chart somewhere for affirmative action. You
treat me like a person. You seem to be interested in me; you kid, you joke
-- you're just very nice. I'm really looking forward to this." The girl became very serious and added, "Cindy, I'm going to ask you for a favor.
It's a very big one but it's within your power to grant. Will you grant me
my favor? Please?"

Cindy smiled softly and said, "Of course, April. Anything. What's the
favor?"

"Promise to fire my black ass out of your unit and out of the bank if I
don't hack it." She looked into Cindy's eyes and waited. She saw an
expression of shock and then... love?

Cindy stuck out her hand and said, "It's a deal. I promise to fire your
black ass if you don't hack it. I also promise to see you get the biggest
damned bonus in the bank when you do, though. And I'm sure you will."

"Cindy, thank you. I should warn you, though, I don't know very much.
The schools I went to through college were uniformly lousy. You've heard
how bad the Chicago schools are? The stories you hear are the truth toned
down in the interests of believability." She reached into her new case and
took out the envelope Dan had given her.

Cindy opened it and found the loan documents for the Legrands along with
a check for $125,000. It was ready to go. All she had to do was sign it
as lending officer and authorized signatory. She also found a smaller
envelope and opened it. It contained the results of pre-employment tests
given to April at the bank. The IQ was reported as 140, the low end of
genius. Other tests were similarly impressive. She asked April to come
around the table and look. She showed the numbers to the girl and said,
"April, you can do it, and I'm sure you will. Now let's get going."

They spent an hour going over the loan files. Cindy had a pad and made
a list of things she wanted April to do for each one. There was a machine
shop, a grocery store, a dry-cleaning establishment, and an auto repair
shop. April took careful notes. When they were finished, Cindy said,
"April, do you understand what I want? How long will it take you to get
this stuff and finish the analyses?"

"I'll have it done by Wednesday morning, first thing," the girl replied.

"You will like hell! I just gave you at least a week's work young lady.
What are you trying to do? Kill yourself? Don't forget, your little boy needs his mother, too."

April just looked at her steadily and repeated, "Wednesday morning. Do
you want me to bring them out to you? Could... Could I rent a car? I
have a license."

"April, you said you know Dan Burke. You do, don't you?" The girl nodded her head. "Tomorrow, see Dan. Tell him I said you need the full
array of lending officer plastic. Oh, and tell him to get you business
cards. We'll start you as an assistant vice president. Is that okay?"

April's jaw dropped. "But you can't! That's... that's an officer. An
officer of the most prestigious bank in Chicago. I can't be an officer!"

"Slave April, you're now an officer! Shall I get out the whip? You saw
what it can do. I'm an expert on the receiving end, but I think I can
figure out how to use it from the handle end, too. Do you want to try me?"

"No, I guess I don't. But I want you to know a couple of things,
Cynthia Martin. First, I love you. There's nothing I won't do for you,
understand? Absolutely nothing! The second thing is I won't fail you. I
give you my solemn oath on that. You have just stuck your neck out for a
slum nigger. Why, Cindy? Why did you do it?"

Cindy's eyes were bright with tears. She said, "April, I love Dan Burke
very much. We used to fight all the time -- I mean constantly! It's very
simple. He was completely right and I was totally wrong. He said you lend
to people. That's our job. To lend to people you have to learn to judge
them. I'm doing that. I judge that you're an outstanding person and will
be an outstanding loan officer for Chicago Trust Company. The fact that
you're female and black has nothing to do with nothing. I'm judging you as
a person, April, and you passed the test with flying colors.

It was getting late. It was already almost eleven and it was an hour's
drive to April's home in Chicago. Cindy checked her watch and said,
"April, please call your mother. I'm sorry it's so late. Your little boy is going to miss you, and I don't want your mother to worry." The girl smiled and placed the call.

They went out, got into Cindy's little car and headed south. "This is a
beautiful little car," April exclaimed. "And the seats are so comfortable.
They're special, but I don't know just why."

"They're Recaros. They claim to make the best sports car seats in the
world. It's kind of fun, isn't it." They sped south, headed downtown and
then went to South Chicago.

It was obvious April was embarrassed by where she lived but didn't say
anything. When Cindy pulled in to the curb where April indicated, there
were a number of men standing around. It was a very hot night as they
immediately realized when they got out of the air-conditioned car. April
nodded towards the car and the biggest man just returned the nod. She had
seen a light on in their apartment and knew her mother was still up.
"Cindy, I know it's late, but would you like to meet my mother? I know she
would love to meet you."

"I would love to, April. Lead the way."

April led the way up to a third-floor apartment and rang the bell. It
was opened instantly by an older black woman. She looked younger than
Cindy expected, appearing to be in her late thirties. She hugged April and
kissed her, then extended her hand and said, "I'm Mary Jefferson, April's
mother."

"I'm Cindy Martin, Mrs. Jefferson. I'm very pleased to meet you. I
apologize for keeping April out so late. However, she has just been
promoted to a new position at the bank and I guess I'm her new boss. I
needed to brief her on her new duties, but I'm very sorry it took so long."

"Mother, Miss Martin is a senior vice president of Chicago Trust
Company. I'm working for her. She says I'm now an assistant vice
president, but I don't believe that." She smiled at her mother and said,
"Do you suppose we could have some tea? It's a long drive down from
Deerfield and Miss Martin has to go right back. I wanted her to meet you,
though."

Mrs. Jefferson hurried into the kitchen while April went into the
bedroom. She came out holding a sleeping baby boy in her arms. She
whispered, "This is my son, Cindy. He's a year and a half. Isn't he
handsome?" The baby stirred and opened his eyes. Instead of crying, he saw
his mother and smiled. She held him close and kissed him softly. After
the baby nuzzled her shoulder and went right back to sleep, April put him
back in his crib.

A few minutes later Mary Jefferson was back with tea cups and then
carefully set the table for three. She went back to the kitchen and
brought back a teapot and a small plate of cookies. The women sat at the
table while Mary gracefully poured.

April looked at her mother and tears came to her eyes. "Mother, do you
remember telling me how good people lived? What their homes were like? I
didn't believe you. Now I do. I was in such a home today. Mother, it was
exactly like you described it. The woman, Mrs. Stewart, _owns_ the bank.
She really does! But she's so beautiful and kind. She treats me like a
person -- like she's really interested in me. Thank you, mother, for
trying so hard to teach me."

Mary Jefferson had been looking at Cindy closely. She spoke to April
while looking at Cindy. "What do you think of Miss Martin, April?"

"Mother, she and Mrs. Stewart could almost be twins. They have the
same color hair, the same eyes, and are almost the same height. I guess
Mrs. Stewart is slightly taller. Oh, and Miss Martin's hair is longer.
Isn't it beautiful?"

"That's not what I meant, April," Mary said softly.

"Mother, she is a lady. A real lady. Exactly like you described: a
gentlewoman. Is that what you were asking?"

"Yes, dear, and you're right, of course. Miss Martin, it's a real
privilege to have you visit our apartment. Thank you for giving my
daughter her opportunity. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

"Mrs. Jefferson, I'm sure you're right. I have only known April for a
few hours, but I love her. I really do. I'm looking forward to working
with her." The women talked for a while longer and then Cindy got up to
leave.

When April walked with her back down to her car, she nodded at the big
man who had been joined by two others. It was obvious they had been
watching Cindy's car to be sure nothing happened to it. Cindy opened the
door and heard April whisper, "Thank you, Sam." She drove off and April
went back to the apartment and found her mother waiting for her. "What did
you really think, mother?"

"Honey, I think you're absolutely right. She is a real lady. She has
been hurt, hasn't she? Physically, I mean."

"Yes, mother. Tortured, I think. I have seen her naked, though, and I
can't imagine a more perfect body. She's in love with another officer at
the bank who is a wonderful gentleman. I'm sure they're going to be very
happy together."*Chapter 13*

The next morning Jan went into the office of Illinois Technologies with
Pete. Cindy learned they were planning to change the company name to The
Peters Drive Company. By now she had become so expert in cleaning she
finished her work in the house by ten, and then put on a pair of tight
Levi's and a chambray shirt she borrowed from Jan. As a result of her
workouts on the gym equipment, her own clothes were now all too tight in
the shoulders and too full on her hips. Getting in her car, she drove to
_Chez Nous._ Since the restaurant had not yet opened for lunch, she knocked
on the door and waited.

She was greeted by Marie whose face instantly turned apprehensive. When
she said she had come about the loan, Marie ran back to the kitchen and
returned with Marcel. From the way she was holding on to his hand, it was
easy to see she was frightened. Marcel took her to a table and Marie
brought over coffee. She sat next to Marcel and held his hand again, as if
trying to draw strength from him.

"What... what's the problem, Cindy? Do they need more information? Or
did they just say no?" Marcel asked nervously.

Cindy reached out her hands and held Marcel's free hand in her left and
Marie's in her right. Then she smiled and said, "I apologize. I know how
important this is to you and I'm sorry it took so long. I have your check
here with me. If you'll loan me your pen, there are some things for you to
sign and then you get your check."

The Legrands were stunned. Marie stammered, "Our check!? You mean,
they said yes? They really did?"

Cindy's eyes were moist as she said, "I said yes, Marie. I said it on
Sunday. I have the authority to lend a great deal more than this. It's
important for you to understand that I'm lending to you and Marcel. The
money is for your wine cellar, to fix up the kitchen and that stuff, but
it's not why the bank is making the loan. I'm making the loan to you
because I believe in you two. Do you understand?"

She opened the manila envelope and pulled out the papers while the two
just looked at each other. Marcel just shook his head. "Do you mean,
Cindy, that Dan was not teasing us? You're really a senior banker? But
you can't be! The way you dress..."

Cindy looked down at herself and then asked, "What's wrong? I'm
dressed." Then she grinned and said, "Oh, damn! I forgot to wear my
senior-banker suit. Don't worry about it. The money spends anyway." Then
she looked crestfallen although her eyes were dancing as she added, "I
didn't think I looked *that* awful."

Marie jumped up from her chair, came around the table and hugged Cindy
saying, "Oh no, Cindy! We didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You are
_magnifique!..._ magnificent, no? We're so very sorry. It's... it's just
that in France... Well, there are no bankers like you in France. None!"

She took them through the papers and explained them. In minutes they
were all signed. Finally, Cindy took out the check, signed it and gave it
to them. She smiled and said, "In a short time, I'll be back to see you.
I'll want you to think about using Chicago Trust Company as your bank. I
hope you'll give us serious consideration."

This time the Legrands were just wide-eyed. "Do you mean... Chicago
Trust Company would like us as... as customers!?" Marcel exclaimed. "But
that's silly! It's only for the biggest companies and the wealthiest
people."

Cindy smiled softly and said, "Marcel, in case you didn't notice, I just
gave you $125,000 of my bank's money. You're a customer of Chicago Trust
right now whether you like it or not." The Legrands just beamed and said
anything they had or would ever have would go to Chicago Trust.

When Cindy left, she felt great. She didn't even wait to go home.
Instead, she found a pay phone and called Dan at the bank. He answered on
the first ring, "Burke." She didn't know that he had kept the extension he
had when he was in financial analysis as a special line on his new phone.
Mary Thomas was instructed -- and, in turn, told all of the other
secretaries -- that if it were answered it was only to be "Credit Analysis,
Dan Burke's phone." Cindy was the only person with the extension number; it
was not listed on any bank directory.

"Dan, it's Cindy," she said softly. "I called for two reasons: First, I
wanted to thank you for the most thrilling three days of my life. I love
you, darling. The second reason is to tell you I delivered the check to
the Legrands. I couldn't even wait to get home to call you. Honey, it was
my greatest day in banking! Those two are so happy, they're floating. I
feel so great about the bank and about myself. That's what you have been
trying to tell me for so many years, isn't it?"

Dan smiled as he listened to her voice. "It is great, isn't it? Cindy,
you've changed, you know. You're the nicest person on the face of the
earth and I love you so much. I really do. I'm just sorry I have trouble
telling it to you face-to-face. It sounds so dumb to me when I say it.
Cin, I really do love you. Did you mean what you said a few moments ago?
About loving me?"

"Isn't it pretty obvious? By the way, I was assigned the most
delightful person the bank has hired in years, April Jefferson. Do you
know her? She knows you, and I asked her to see you this morning. Did
she? She needs all the paraphernalia of a bank lending officer.
Incidentally, Dan, can I get you in my unit? First, I want you. You're
the finest credit analyst in banking. Second, I'm trying to promote her to
assistant vice president and she's only been in the bank six weeks.
Darling, it's not fair to you! It's just not."

Dan smiled to himself. When Cindy's call came in, he had emptied his
office of a group of senior lending officers so he could talk to her in
private. Then he said, "Look, Cindy, let's face facts. You claim to be in
love with a guy who has made a career of stepping on people's toes around
this place. Your father has been able to keep me here, but he can't afford
a revolution. I'll tell you what I think I can do, though. If you need
help on analysis, I can probably spring loose to assist. Fair?"

"It's better than nothing," she said, "But it's not fair. I'm going to
talk to Jan and Jennifer. They'll fix it!"

"Honey, please don't. I thought you were getting used to having a
low-paid analyst as the father of your children?"

"Damn it, Burke, you're being screwed! And I don't want anyone to screw
you, do you understand?" she exclaimed. "Except me, of course," she added
in a small voice. "What about the officership for April? Will it go
through?"

Dan laughed and said, "It just did. Incidentally, I hope you know it
requires the approval of the Board of Directors to elect an officer? The
Board was polled by phone and it was unanimous. She has personal lending
authority to $500,000. That was your father's idea. He's a great believer
in having people sign their own names."

He laughed again and said, "Hon, if it's okay with you, we're only
giving her a car-rental credit card today. Your father says there's a
messenger coming out with material for Jan this evening. He'll bring the
rest of the gear with him. He wants you to give it to her and I think it's
only right. Incidentally, do you really like her?"

"She's a wonderful person, Dan. Beyond that, though, she's going to be
a great lending officer." Her voice changed timbre as she asked, "Will I
see you this weekend, honey? I miss you terribly. It's funny. I only
sleep really soundly now when my head is on your shoulder."

Again Dan chuckled. "I'm glad to hear it. I, on the other hand,
scarcely get any sleep at all. If you're not assaulting me sexually, you
keep me awake with all the noise you make."

"Noise?" she protested. "What noise? I certainly don't snore, Daniel
Burke!"

"No, Cynthia Martin, you don't snore. And I'm teasing you, too.
Actually, honey, you do make noise, though. You make the most wonderfully
warm happy noises deep in your throat. Remember the Chatty Cathy doll?
You pulled a string and she would say something? With you, I just squeeze
your boob ever so gently and I hear those wonderful noises."

"Wonderful, Daniel Patrick Burke! I'm like a windup doll. Except
instead of pulling a string, you squeeze my tit! Thanks a hell of a lot!"

"Cindy, is there an Irishman lurking on your family tree somewhere?"

"If you're asking me if there is any Irish in the family, the answer is
hell, yes! A lot. Why?"

Again he laughed, this time with gusto. "Honey, there had to be! With
your temper... Oh, well, I guess that's why Irishmen are usually big. We
have to be to survive our wives. Darling, life with you won't be dull!
But back to your kind invitation, I would love to come out, if you still
want me. How about if I bring some string?" He laughed and hung up, just
as she was about to explode again.

She stood there on the street looking at the telephone receiver.
Finally, she just grinned, shook her head, and put it back.

That evening, as promised, the messenger from the bank brought out all
of April's materials. The next morning she heard the crunch of gravel as
April come up the driveway. She knew it was April because the car was
being driven so slowly. It was clear that the girl was being very careful.
April came up the walk and Cindy opened the door for her and gave her a
kiss. As usual, Cindy was naked.

When she closed the door, April gave her a light pinch on the ass. Then
she said, "I've heard of tight asses before, Miss Martin, but yours is as
tight as they come."

Cindy stuck out her tongue and said, "Thank you, Miss Jefferson. Is
that what they taught you in school regarding getting along with your
superiors in business? Pinch their unprotected rears?"

April was a picture of wide-eyed innocence and she made tears come to
her eyes as she said woefully, "Miss Martin, I told you the Chicago schools
were lousy. You mean we're not supposed to pinch the boss? But I'm sure I
have something about it in my notes, somewhere!" Cindy just laughed. April
followed her up to her room and waited while she took a shower and dressed,
again putting on her Levi's and chambray shirt. The girls went down to the
kitchen and Cindy poured coffee for them.

Taking the package delivered from the bank, she changed her demeanor.
"April, I have some things for you. I was asked to give them to you
personally." She first gave her engraved business cards which said, "April
Jefferson, Assistant Vice President, Chicago Trust Company," along with the
address.

Cindy put out her hand and said, "April, let me be the first to
congratulate you. You were elected an officer yesterday by unanimous vote
of the board of directors. I don't know if you know it or not, but it
takes a vote of the board to elect an officer. The reason is officers have
the authority to commit the bank. You have personal approval authority to
$500,000 per loan. It's not given to everyone nor given lightly. Do you
understand?"

April was just shaking her head, stunned. She whispered, "Do you mean
I'm an officer of the bank? A real one!?"

"You sure are," Cindy replied, "And the approval authority is real, too.
It means you can lend up to half a million dollars on your exclusive
say-so. Incidentally, there may be a few noses out of joint. You skipped
the rank of assistant treasurer. And your salary is now $60,000 per year."
She grinned and said, "That was Jan's doing, I found out. She said
otherwise she would have to pay you overtime for last night, and she
_hates_ paying overtime." She then gave the girl her cards including a
corporate American Express card. Cindy was having fun watching the girl who could not believe her good fortune. It made Cindy feel very good just
to watch her. She noticed that April had dark circles under her eyes; she
was obviously very tired.

"Let's get to work, April. How are you coming on your assignments?"
Cindy asked.

The girl smiled and opened her case. In it were neatly labeled files
for each of the loan applications. April took the files out and, one by
one, reviewed them with Cindy. Inside each folder was the list of
questions Cindy had raised on the application, the answers, and a neatly
written recommendation for action. They went over the recommendations one
at a time.

When they finished, Cindy leaned back in her chair and said, "Wow! You
did it. April, I wasn't kidding on Monday. I did give you at least a
week's worth of work and many officers would take a month. I was serious
when I asked to review your progress. Never in the world did I think you
would have it all done! It's great.

"Now, young lady, it's crunch time. You're a lending officer. Do we
lend? If so, why? If not, why not? Incidentally, none of them is looking
for even half a million, so these are all yours. What are _you_ going to
do?"

April just sat there, stunned. Suddenly, the authority given to her
began to sink in. _I can say yes or no. Me! All by myself. That's what
Cindy is waiting for. Oh, my God! What do I do?_ she wondered.

She took the file on the grocery store first. "I lend the money to
these people. The owner is Korean and his whole family works in the store.
They have fair prices and excellent produce. The loan will enable them to
expand. They are good people." She looked at Cindy and waited for
questions. Instead, Cindy just nodded impassively and asked for the next
file.

"On the dry cleaner the answer is no. I asked around and their
reputation is mixed to poor. The quality of their cleaning is not very
good. I don't think they're aware of air-quality problems with
dry-cleaning solvents, either. I'm not sure they care that much about
their customers." She looked directly at Cindy and said, "I think it's some
kind of a front. I don't think they need the money and I'm not giving them
any." Again Cindy nodded and asked for the next file.

April sat up even straighter in her chair as she opened the file on the
auto repair shop. She looked defiant as she said, "The analysis says no,
but I say yes. The owner is an ex-con; he learned auto mechanics in
prison. Two other ex-cons work with him. They do beautiful work at fair
prices. They're respected in spite of their backgrounds. Incidentally,
they served time for armed robbery, burglary, and auto theft respectively.
They're all black and it's a black neighborhood. They were turned down by
the SBA on moral grounds. Sam wants the money to buy a new lift and an
engine diagnostic machine. The total is $85,000 and I will personally
guarantee the note." She looked at Cindy who just nodded and asked for the
last file.

"This one I don't know about. It's a machine shop and I don't know
anything about them. The numbers look okay and the owner checks out okay,
but I need to know more," she said.

Cindy spoke for the first time. She asked quietly, "What do you need to
know?"

"I need to look him in the eye," the girl responded.

Cindy still didn't say anything. Asking April to wait in the kitchen,
she went to the library, called Dan, and again he picked up at once. She
was so excited, she bubbled, "Dan, I love you! And I love April! That
girl is so good! Here's what I want you to do..." She gave him the
information on the Korean loan for $125,000 and the loan to the auto repair
shop for $85,000. She asked for the checks to be ready within an hour;
they would drive by the bank. Then she said, "Dan, the lending officer is
April Jefferson. She's using her personal authority. Honey, she has the
knack! Honest, she does. Do you have any more Aprils hiding there? I'll
use them." They talked a few more minutes and made arrangements for the
weekend. She returned to the kitchen and returned the files to the girl.

April looked like she was waiting for the ax to fall. She had a
handkerchief in her hands which she was twisting in her fingers from
nervousness. Cindy realized she was being cruel so she grinned and said,
"Thank you, April. That's taken care of. The checks will be ready in an
hour. How about if we go by the bank, get the checks, have some fun, and
then look at a machine shop? Dan tells me Dad has some more files for us,
too. Are you game?"

The girl looked at Cindy in utter amazement. "But... But... But what
about the loans?"

"Honey, you just made two and rejected a third. What's the big deal?
That's your job."

"But..."

"I told you, April, you have personal authority to $500,000. Those two
loans are yours. Do you understand? Your analysis was unbelievably good,
by the way. How were you able to do so much so fast?"

The girl beamed at the praise. She reached out and hugged Cindy and
kissed her softly, whispering, "Oh, God, thank you. Cindy, you have done
everything you said you would do. I just didn't believe you or believe it
could happen to a girl like me. But you made it come true."

"No, April. You did. There's a great deal of very hard work in those
files. I'm so proud and so happy for you." She grinned at the girl and
said, "I'm thinking of a new uniform for our unit. It's what I'm wearing
now. What do you think? I don't think that lovely cord suit would last
six seconds in a machine shop. Care to join me? I'm sure we wear the same
sizes -- except for your oversize tits, of course."

April was now relaxed and she grinned, "Look, honkie! I can't help it
if you're flat-chested. My man likes his woman to have tits he can grab
hold of!" Then she shook her head and said, "Cindy, that's the worst lie I
have ever told in my life! Flat-chested? Even I can't buy that one."

The two girls went up to Cindy's room. April quickly stripped and put
on an outfit identical to Cindy's. It fit her perfectly. They drove the
rental car to a local outlet where April turned it in, then stopped at a
store for a belt for the Levi's and a pair of moccasins. The girls then
headed downtown. Cindy waited in the car while the black girl ran in to
the bank. She was back in fifteen minutes, grinning from ear to ear. She
looked very cute in her tight jeans.

When she was back in the car, she couldn't wait to tell Cindy what had
happened. "I ran into one of our more pompous young officers -- an
assistant treasurer. He was appalled at my attire and was going to take it
up with personnel. Then your father came along. He pointed out that,
first, I outranked the guy and an apology was in order. Furthermore, he
happened to know I was going out to see about a loan to a machine shop and
my dress was most appropriate." She smiled warmly at Cindy and added, "I
really like your father!"

She gave Cindy directions to the grocery store. They found a place to
park and the two girls walked in. By now Cindy's tan was almost as dark as
April's skin. They were a lovely pair, one with silky black hair and the
other a golden blonde. They entered the store and asked to see the owner,
Mr. Kwan. A man about forty years old came out from the back room,
looking very attentive. April extended her hand and shook hands with him.
She said she was from the Chicago Trust Company and they were there to talk
about his loan application. He ushered them into his back room where a
corner served as his office.

April then introduced Cindy and said, "Mr. Kwan, we're here about the
loan application you filed with us last week."

"Ah, so. You need more information. What would you like to know?" he
asked.

"No, sir. It's not that at all. The bank has approved your
application. I have your check with me. We're looking forward to working
with you and I want to thank you for your business," April said quietly.

The man's jaw dropped. "Approved? But... But who approved it?
Chicago Trust Company? There must be some mistake. That bank doesn't lend
to small stores... To immigrants." He stammered and shook his head and
added, "I only filed an application Chicago Trust because the SBA requires
bank loan rejections before they will consider helping. It's all a
mistake."

At this point Cindy entered the conversation. "Mr. Kwan, there is no
mistake. The loan was approved by Miss Jefferson here. She's an assistant
vice president and approved it herself. She exercised her personal
authority. She'll be your contact at the bank if there are any questions."
Cindy smiled warmly and continued, "I'm a senior vice president; Miss
Jefferson works for me. I came with her only to assure you that we do want
your business. After all, everyone in the United States came from
somewhere else -- or their ancestors did. This even includes the Indians.
Are there any questions? If not, Miss Jefferson will ask you to sign some
forms and then give you your check."

The poor man was stunned. Finally he pulled himself together and ran to
tell his wife. The woman came back along with three teenage children.
With great ceremony he introduced his family to the officers of a major
bank that was lending money to them. While Mrs. Kwan hurried off to
prepare tea, her husband signed the loan papers and April took out the
check. Using her brand new Cross pen, she signed the check and passed it
to him.

"But you... you can sign an official check?" A girl... and black?" he
stammered.

Cindy said quietly, "Miss Jefferson is one of our brightest young officers. April, please give Mr. Kwan your card so he'll know how to
reach you." April took one out of her brand-new card case and gave it to
him. Mrs. Kwan returned with the tea and served it with ceremony. The
boys brought chairs for everyone. The Kwan's oldest child was a girl,
Nancy. When she joined them, her father showed her the check and April's
card.

The girl's eyes widened. She asked diffidently, "Miss Jefferson, you
look quite young. You have been to graduate school?"

April smiled warmly and said, "No, Nancy, I have not. I came out of the
Chicago schools. I've been at the bank for only a short time. However,
I'm convinced that the bank is a wonderful place for someone who is willing
to work." She nodded towards Cindy and said, "Miss Martin is also quite
young. She does have a graduate degree. She also has the highest personal
lending authority in the bank. If you're interested, when you finish
school, please call me. We're expanding our activity with small business
and I'm sure you could help us." She smiled warmly and shook hands with the
family. Finally, Cindy welcomed them as customers of Chicago Trust
Company.

When they were back in the car, Cindy asked, "Well, how did it feel?
You made your first loan."

The girl was leaning back in the seat with her eyes closed. They were
headed towards her neighborhood in South Chicago. Still with her eyes
closed she said, "Fantastic! The family was so happy! Cindy, I think I
did the right thing. What do you think?"

"Honey, I told Dan I thought you're on your way to being the best
lending officer the bank has ever had. That's what I think. By the way,
tomorrow, write a letter to the dry cleaner denying the loan. They're
tough to write sometimes. Would you like me to do it for you?"

"No, thank you. I can do it." She opened her eyes and looked at Cindy
and asked, "Could you have dinner tonight with my mother and me? I think
we will want to celebrate. Do you think Jan and Pete would mind? I would
love it if you could. There are a couple of nice places we could go."
Cindy agreed and said she would call Jan later.

Following April's directions, Cindy pulled up at a small auto repair
place. It was obviously converted from a service station and the apron was
used to park cars awaiting repair. As April got out, a big man came out
from the service bay. Cindy recognized him as the man who had looked after
her car on Monday night. April wasted no time. She shook hands and
introduced Cindy who thanked him for watching her car.

He said quietly, "That's a mean machine. We don't want anything to
happen to it. What brings you ladies down this way?"

April said, "Sam, I came to give you the loan you applied for at our
bank, Chicago Trust Company. Can we go into the office and handle the
paperwork?"

The big man was stunned. He said, "April Jefferson, that's not nice!
You're a good girl, and that's the first mean thing I have ever heard you
say. What's got into you, child?"

April just walked into the office leaving Sam sputtering on the apron.
Cindy walked in and found a chair to sit on while Sam reluctantly followed
them inside. April still had not said anything. She placed her case on
his cluttered desk, moved some papers to the side and laid out the loan
agreements. Sam just watched.

In a flat tone of voice she said, "Sam, sign at the marks and date it
today." She gave him her pen which he looked at quickly and then signed.
Now he had an amused expression on his face. He was playing along with her
little joke. She checked the signatures and then took out the check,
carefully signed her name and gave it to him. "Thank you for your
business, Sam. I want to welcome you as a customer of Chicago Trust
Company!"

It was as if someone had hit Sam behind the knees. He sagged to the
floor and sat there looking at the check. He murmured, "It's an official
check, made out to me for $85,000. And you signed it, April! What's going
on around here?"

"Mr. Smith," Cindy interjected, "it's real. April is an assistant vice
president of Chicago Trust Company." Turning to April she said, "You better
give Sam one of your cards." Turning back, she continued, "April works for
me. I'm a senior vice president and division head. I want you to know
that this loan is being guaranteed personally by April. In spite of the
SBA turn-down, she thinks you're going to make a go of it. The bank is
backing you and she's backing the bank. In other words, Sam, she's
trusting you. Are you going to be worthy of her trust?"

In the meantime April had handed him one of her cards. He looked at it,
studied it, and then jumped to his feet. He ran into the shop and came
back a few moments later with his two men. One of the