Executive Sweet (A Sample)

"Let me also add that you're wrong about me. My strongest emotion right now is pure delight, just thinking about all the business deals we can do together. I'm so focused on this game that I refuse to even consider jeopardizing it by having an affair with you. Given my track record with women, it would be a terrible idea and would ruin the entire plan. Besides, as you've already pointed out, I don't have any trouble finding women to seduce, so you're off my list.

"That isn't to say that I'm not attracted to you. You're a total knockout, and in any other setting, I would go after you from the moment you walked in my office. But today, your allure tells me that these other businessmen will want you too, and it will be even more of a pleasure to watch you play them. Believe me when I say that, right now, I look at you and all I want to do is tell you about the incredible business schemes I've thought up for us."

Dan leaned back in his chair. "Kay, I've been fantasizing about this for a long time. You're the first person I've ever met who could actually pull it off. I think we could play this game fabulously, with me setting up executives and you knocking them down." He stared directly into her eyes and his face glowed. "Will you play with me?"

Wow, he's hard to resist. She could do this, and make big money, too. And if she got to target unsavory of men, then it would be a real thrill. Don't forget working with Handsome Dan. But wouldn't this game destroy her career prospects, once everyone got to know her as some sort of slut?

"Dan, I've got this little voice in my head that keeps shouting 'career.' I've worked hard all my life to get to this point. I've excelled academically and finally landed a good job with a solid future. I was expecting to start work in your negotiations group today." She grumbled and let her head fall. "Playing this game could ruin my career. I feel like I'm throwing away everything I've worked for."

Dan blurted out a single laugh and then looked straight at Kay. "I'm sorry; I don't mean to laugh at you. You're right. You could turn me down and go work in the negotiations group. In five years, you'll be head of the group. In ten years, you'll be climbing the corporate ladder and maybe even be one of my dozens of vice-presidents. Do you want that? Because if you do, then you can have it, and much faster than you think. Play this game with me, and if you're good at it, I'll promote you to vice-president when it's over. It will cut a decade off of your climb up the corporate ladder."