Trigger by Carol Jean

side step the pass she made at him?
No! Steven wouldn’t do that. No way. He’d tell her straight out if
she was way off base or out of line.
    “Go to work Judy. Work is good for you.”
    Steven stands up and holds out his hand. She puts
her hand in his, he pulls her up and into his arms and into a kiss
that makes her legs feel weak and her belly ache.
    “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with
you.”
    Steven takes her hand and pulls her outside and to
BB. He opens the door, puts her inside and kisses her lightly.
“Nine o’clock, Judy.”

Chapter 17. The Source
    Starting with Charles,
she decides to go every office to see how they were getting along
and if they have any questions.
    “What happened, Miss Mason? We all thought you would
get a kick out of the poster.”
    “Charles, I was someone I shouldn’t have been. I
acted out. Steven called it a stunt and said it could have
backfired with grave consequences. This morning facing that photo,
I was embarrassed and ashamed that I let you all down. It felt like
you all were throwing my misbehaving in my face. I promise I will
never to anything like that again.”
    “But the phones have been ringing off the hook. Our
customers and associates are pleased that they are working with
you. I haven’t heard one bad comment about you.”
    “But they will say it Charles. After all the fuss is
over, they’ll say, ‘You know Miss Mason she was woman who wore a
red dress and carried a gun into the governor’s charity event.”
    She sighs deeply and looks at the promising young
man. “I let you down Charles. You trust me to provide you with a
good and stable place to work and help you one step up on your
career. I apologize in advance that I’ve put you in a position
where you will have to either defend me and Stalwart or agree I
acted like a tramp.”
    Charles gasps and his eyes fly wide open.
    “It will happen, Charles. Just remember what I’ve
said and remember to never make that same mistake yourself.”
    Charles opens his mouth and then closes it. And
then, “I thought you looked beautiful, Miss Mason. You set that
event on fire and made every one else look shabby and boring. You
were all anyone was talking about and they all wanted to know you.
You have messages from three people, who want do to business with
you.”
    “You were there?”
    “Yes. I didn’t approach you because I wanted to
mingle in the background to get feedback. I didn’t hear anything
bad, except for Simon Perry’s father, who raged over your low class
upbringing and impertinent manners.”
    She feels her mouth want to drop open. She clenches
her jaw.
    “People listened to him, Miss Mason. They didn’t
comment and walked away from him. My opinion is that they liked you
better than they liked him. My perspective is that they admired you
for being beautiful, but more because you never backed down, or
looked upset or out of place. They liked your confidence because
you didn’t flaunt it, Miss Mason. You are smart and intelligent and
determined to build a good business and that’s what they saw. Who
wouldn’t want to be aligned with you?”
    “Thank you Charles. I appreciate what you’ve done
and what you said to me. It’s shows loyalty, which every employer
values. It shows foresight, which will take you as far as you want
to go in this world, and it also demonstrates that you are a good
human being and gentleman, which will take you farther.”
    She manages a smile. “Brains and deadly handsome,
how many girls handed you their number, Charles?” she laughs
    “Two.”
    “That’s all? There must have been only bimbos at
that thing.” She’s smiles feeling better that she’s at least
cleared with air with Charles.
    “I’m going to make the rounds and then I’ll be in
the office until eight-thirty. Come in when you’re ready to go over
things but I have to leave by eight-thirty. I have a date tonight.”
She hears the excitement in her voice.
    “It’s the first