Danielle Engle - Lavender Excursions

Leaning back in her chair, Kimberly swirled the wine around in her glass. It was a habit she'd picked up from a former lover. It was very relaxing to watch the tiny bubbles form, then burst. Much like she imagined a woman's climax to be, bursting full and fruity in your mouth. Oh, Kimberly , came the censoring voice of her superego. You can't be having thoughts like this ! She frowned, irritated by her own conscience. Why not ? she silently challenged it. She rubbed her forehead, trying to focus her mind on the interview rather than the strange thoughts she'd been experiencing since her visit to Morgan Estates.

"Kimberly?" Camarin prompted.

Kimberly realized she was still waiting for her to answer. "The practice of business is not the cut and dried procedure described in textbooks," she explained. "I felt like I was giving students a false impression of how their lives would be. How could I teach them to manage the market and predict market forces when I myself had never managed a business?" Kimberly paused and finished her wine. She was so tired it didn't take much to make her giddy.

"Go on," Camarin urged. She leaned over and refilled their glasses; Kimberly's more than her own. She was supposed to get Kimberly tipsy and off balance. Getting her in bed with another woman would undoubtedly be a challenge. Camarin smiled at the thought. She felt her clit twitching at the thought of deflowering this lesbian virgin.

She crossed her legs, allowing herself to enjoy the sensation. She performed some of her best roles when she was aroused. It seemed to feed her creativity.

Kimberly puzzled over why Camarin was looking at her so intently.

The way her eyes kept straying to Kimberly's chest, she thought a button might have popped open. Or perhaps she'd spilled a drop of wine down her front. "Will you excuse me, Camarin? I need to go to the powder room."

"Of course," Camarin replied, thinking how quaint and old-fashioned Kimberly seemed. She took advantage of her absence and emptied the rest of the bottle into her glass. Motioning the waiter over again, she ordered another half bottle.

Kimberly looked herself over very carefully in the mirror. As far as she could tell, nothing was amiss. Her headache looming bigger than ever, she massaged her temples. This was not a good day for her. She thought about the evening ahead. Mark had invited her to dinner and the prospect was not a pleasant one. On impulse, she left the restroom and stopped at a public phone in the lobby.

She dropped coins into the slots and listened to the familiar jangle as they slid into place. The dial tone sounded and she punched in Mark's number. Not wanting to talk to him personally, she called him at home. Two rings and his answering machine came on. She waited for the beep, then let him know she couldn't make it this evening.

"I have so much to finish on this new contract we're working out with one of our vendors," she explained. "I really wish I could make it, honey. With this promotion coming up, I can't afford to screw up this contract. Thanks for being so understanding, sweetie. I'll call you later." Kimberly hung up the phone and returned to her table.

She was too distraught with guilt to notice Camarin's inquisitive gaze.

"Everything okay?" Camarin asked very pleasantly.

"Yes," Kimberly replied. "I just needed to freshen up a bit and make a quick phone call."

Camarin watched as Kimberly discreetly edged her wineglass toward the middle of the table. Her hands were trembling and she looked a little pale. "Are you certain you're okay?" Camarin asked, the concern in her voice very genuine this time.

Kimberly smiled and made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

"Just tired," she said. "Now where were we?"

"You were explaining to me why you left teaching and took a job in business. I understand that. What I don't understand is how you came into your first job at the level you did. That's awfully unusual, don't you think?"

"Luck of the draw, I suppose," Kimberly replied. "The company was being reorganized when I applied. They were looking for new blood and someone with the skills to put more emphasis on employee development. With the labor shortage and the increased demand for better customer service, the company was starting to lose its edge over the competition. They decided I fit the bill. However," she explained,

"I was offered the position with the express understanding that my continued employment hinged on how well our department performed in beating the competition."

Kimberly paused and reached for her water glass. She'd already taken the first sip before realizing she'd picked up her wine instead.

What the hell , she thought. She'd just broken her date with Mark and she was telling her life story to someone who might very well plaster a negative image of her all over the Internet. She finished the glass and closed her eyes to savor the sweet intoxication. I want to be oblivious , she thought. Totally, thoroughly oblivious for a change .

Camarin was making notes, trying to play a convincing role as a reporter. Although it wasn't part of the script, she found herself wondering about the woman sitting across from her. What made her tick? How did she come to this crossroad in her life? Did she know it was a crossroad? "How does it feel to be in line for a vice-presidency in your company, Kimberly?" she suddenly asked. "Is it frightening?

Exciting? Tell me what it's like."

Kimberly smiled. "That's a good question," she replied. "I can only say I've made a point of getting to know our customers – found out who they are and what they want. If you're out of touch with your customer base, you're losing the only control you have in your market." Kimberly shrugged. "It's really not that complicated," she added.

Camarin reached for a carrot stick, munching it while thoughtfully watching Kimberly's countenance. She wasn't listening to her words so much as she was reading her gestures and expressions. Her green eyes flashed with the intensity of her moods. Camarin decided that Kimberly Justin was a very complex person. Perhaps Taryn had taken on more than she realized. It would be interesting to see how it all fell out in the end.

Meantime, the second bottle of wine was almost empty and it was three o'clock in the afternoon. Everything was going as planned.

"Kimberly, I believe there's a good story here but I have so many more questions I need answered." She closed her hand over Kimberly's. Giving it a tight squeeze, something to indicate their common bond, she continued. "I imagine you must have things you need to finish at work this afternoon. Why don't we end our meeting here, then get together again over dinner tonight? My place," she added. "I love to cook and besides, it'll give us a little more privacy."

Kimberly thought it over. She did have some work to finish and she'd already broken her date with Mark. Why not? "Okay," she said.

"Just tell me when and where." Kimberly took her pen and calendar out of her purse.

Camarin smiled, thrilled at the thought of having Kimberly alone in her house. It made her wet just thinking about the possibilities and where it might lead. There was nothing wrong with a little fantasizing, was there? "Seven o'clock okay?" she asked.

Kimberly agreed and wrote down the directions to Camarin's house.

They gathered their things and left. Each one wondering what the other was thinking, neither realized the parallel course their thoughts were taking. It would be an interesting evening indeed.

When Kimberly got back to her office, she found a note on her desk. Michael reminded her that he had the afternoon off. Deciding to make the most of the quiet, Kimberly started reviewing a contract with a vendor. She jotted notes in the margins and made changes in some of the wording. It was evening before she realized how much time had passed.