Chapter 1: Introduction
Paul Whitman knew he was in trouble. Big trouble at work. The type that not just means you lose your job but could be sued and blackballed as well. He sat at his desk, his fingers drumming nervously on the mahogany surface, eyes scanning the same spreadsheet for the tenth time. He knew it could be a mistake, but his greed and arrogance of not believing he would be caught seduced him.
His wife and their kids enjoyed the fruits of this thanks to a hefty bonus, but when the auditor from the other company finally gets around to examining this project, he is toast.
Right now the only other person that knows of this is the President of his firm, Leon Stevens. He could be the only person to make this go away and maybe he could. Paul has delivered millions of dollars in business to Leon's company and with all that, maybe Leon could clean this up for him?
But he knew, even as he tried to wish it into existence, that it was unlikely. Leon Stevens was a shark, a ruthless one at that. He had heard the rumors about his extracurricular activities and how he has used his power and influence over subordinates, especially the vulnerable ones. He was cruel and humiliating at times to his workers, but Paul and others put up with it in exchange for the fat paycheck.
Leon was in his late 50's and was fabulously wealthy and his connections in the business allowed him to lord over his subordinates. Cross him and better get used to saying "Welcome to Wal-Mart" because you would never work in this industry again.
His mind drifted to the story about his co-worker, Jake, how he was caught in a compromising position with an intern, and just like that, he was out of the job and blacklisted. It was as if he was never there. Rumor was the intern was one of Leon's many sexual conquests which was why he fired Jake. Leon just got out of marriage #3 and probably was eyeing the young 25 year old for marriage #4. But the way Leon moved around there would be another young piece to take that place.
Paul was shaken out of his stupor when a voice came over his telecom: "Paul, my office. Now."
It was Leon. Paul already took a verbal beat-down from him when he found out. Leon had to assuage the situation too from his end to the other company or else there would be repercussions for Leon as well if not corrected. Paul never saw him so mad before.
He got up from his desk and made his way to Leon's office. Leon was sitting behind his desk, his face stern and his blue eyes cold.
"Sit down, stupid asshole." he said, his voice sharp.
Paul did as he was told, his legs feeling weak. He knew what was coming, and he wasn't wrong.
"You fucked up, Paul," Leon said, his voice low and dangerous. "I spent all morning cleaning this up to cover my ass. "
Paul looked down at his hands, not wanting to meet Leon's gaze. "I'm sorry, Leon. I don't know what to say," Paul managed to choke out. He knew he was grimacing, but he couldn't help it.
Leon leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Paul's face. "I bet you're sorry, Paul. You're sorry you got caught. You're sorry you're about to lose your job. You're sorry your family's lifestyle is going to to take a shit."
Paul looked up, his eyes meeting Leon's. "Please, Leon. I'll do anything."
Leon's lips curled into a smirk.
"Anything, huh?" He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his desk.
Paul could see Leon's mind working.
"I could make this go away. You have done real good here and would be shame to throw it all away for one greedy fuckup. I fire you and you know there is nothing out there that will replicate what you make here. That million dollar house of yours, the club membership, private school for the kids...you won't be able to pay that nut every month."
Leon's voice was dripping with satisfaction, like a cat toying with a mouse. "But you see, Paul, you're in a bit of a bind. You're a smart man, you know the predicament you're in. So, let's make a deal, shall we?"
Paul swallowed hard, his throat dry as the Sahara. "What do you want?"
Leon's smirk widened, a shark's smile before the kill. "Your wife spend the weekend with me at my penthouse. I could use her Friday and Saturday night to clean this up for good. You know how these Japs are with tradition. Could use a proper women to put this to bed." Leon held the word "bed" for a beat with a smile.
Paul's eyes widened in shock. "What the fuck, Leon? You can't be serious."
Leon sat back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Paul's face. "I am. This is punishment. I can still fire you next week if I wanted to. But, you and your wife can make amends. I can't just bring any woman I meet to do this and she handles these things well. Hell, she benefitted from this too, right?"
Paul was shaking his head, disbelief coursing through him. "No, I can't... I won't..."
Leon held up a hand, silencing him. "Now, Paul, don't be hasty. You're in no position to refuse. And think about it, it's just one weekend. And for that, your job, your family's lifestyle, and your reputation are saved." Leon's voice was like a whip, cracking through the air.
Paul's mind was racing, his heart pounding in his chest. He looked at Leon, the man who held his fate in his hands. He thought about his wife, Kim, her laughter, her smile. The life they had built together. The kids. He thought about the alternative.
"What would this involve...her being your date?" Paul asked.
"One weekend," Paul finally managed to choke out, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leon's smile was triumphant. "That's my boy," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Talk to her tonight about it. Obviously this is not a hostage situation. But, if she says no..."
"I'll talk to her." Paul meekly said.
He managed to stand on wobbly legs and shuffled out of the office, Leon's eyes burning into his back.
Paul made his way back to his desk, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and dread. He knew he had to talk to Kim, but he had no idea how. How does one even begin to have a conversation like that? Leon did not come out and completely state this was an "Indecent Proposal" like the movie but he sure as hell insinuated it would be part of the deal. How could Paul allow this? No job was worth this!
He sat back in his office in a daze. He was snapped out of it by a text from his wife "Just got off phone with travel agent and sent the deposit. We are booked for the Caribbean this summer! XOXOX!"
The $20,000 pimped-out summer vacation they are taking the family to Kim has been busy planning. That she was looking so forward to. That some of the money this disaster was used for. That just adds to it. The house, the cars, the lifestyle, the schools for the kids...all would be gone if Leon wants it to.
This was going to be a rough conversation tonight.