In the very core of her being Joanna began to feel her pleasure building. Increasing with every thrust, ripples grew into swells and then morphed into waves of splendor as passion and need collided. For a split-second, Joanna froze, afraid of what was to come, afraid to give into it, afraid to lose her mind and body to Addison knowing she’d never get it back, but it was too late. Addison already owned her, and as that thought entered Joanna’s mind, she opened herself up to the orgasm Addison had created, and it claimed her instantly...in spasm after spasm of pleasure.

The passage of time was lost on Joanna as she shuddered and trembled through the last throes of ecstasy, and as her breathing returned to normal, she felt the mattress dip. It took all the strength she had to open her eyes, and when she did Joanna watched as Addison walked from the room without looking back.

***

Fran followed Lydia Patel into Addison’s outer office, and while the young woman returned to her desk, Fran continued to Millie’s. “So, what’s the emergency?” she asked. “I was in a meeting.”

“Yes, I know, but I didn’t think this could wait.”

“What’s going on?”

Millie looked past Fran to the admins sitting by the door. Keeping her voice low, she said, “Addison came in this morning and told us to cancel everything for today.”

“She can’t do that,” Fran said through her teeth. “Ravi Nahas flew in from Dubai last night. We’ve been working on this for over a year.”

“I know. That’s why I sent Lydia to find you,” Millie said, lowering her voice even more. “Fran, Addison didn’t look at all well when she came in, and I could barely understand her. She was talking in whispers.”

“Is she sick?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you cancel the meeting with Nahas?”

“No. I thought I should talk to you first.”

“Good,” Fran said, glancing toward Addison’s office. “Let me go see what’s going on. If she’s sick and we do need to cancel, I’ll make the call.”

“Of course.”

Fran gave Millie a feeble grin and then went over and tapped lightly on Addison’s door. Hearing no response, she turned the knob and walked inside. It was nine o’clock in the morning, but by the amount of light in the room, it could very well have been midnight. Peering through the shadows, she saw a figure sitting behind the desk.

“A bit dark in here, isn’t it?” Fran asked as she carefully made her way across the room. Flicking on the lamp sitting atop the credenza, she turned around. “That’s better. Don’t you think?”