Message-ID: <14882eli$9809011419@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Archived-At: <URL:http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/14882.txt>
From: "Bill Morgan" <morg105829@hotmail.com>
Subject: {Morgan} NEW: Six-month Turnaround 11 of 16 M/F Rom. lite sex
Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d
Content-Type: text/plain
Path: qz!not-for-mail
Organization: The Committee To Thwart Spam
Approved: <usenet-approval@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Moderator-Contact: Eli the Bearded <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Story-Submission: <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Original-Message-ID: <19980829115643.7165.qmail@hotmail.com>

Author's note: If you are looking for wall-to-wall sex, look elsewhere. 
This book is a romance with a business setting. Beyond that, the sex is 
comparable to - or less than - what one would find in almost any work of 
popular fiction.

Permission is granted to post on any free site, as long as the copyright 
statement is included. Please advise the author of any such postings.

Comments are welcome and encouraged. Please address me at 
morg105829@aol.com.

I hope you enjoy the book. My plan was to post a chapter each weekday. 
Due to posting problems on ASSM, I am uploading all remaining parts 
today. This is a repost of chapter 11 of 16. The original posting 
omitted the chapter reference in the Subject line.

Six-Month Turnaround

Copyright 1992, 1998 by Morgan. All rights reserved.

Chapter 11

Three weeks had passed, and they were good ones for Murphy 
Manufacturing. As expected, two days after the visit to Kaga, Cliff 
received a firm order for production quantities. Quality of production 
was even better as the crew got used to the new system. Finally, the 
previous Friday they had heard that the preliminary tests on the new 
piston rings were very promising.

Cliff had asked for the PA system to be set up as it had been when the 
Kaga order was first discussed. He addressed the workers this time. 
"Folks, I have a letter I want you all to hear. It's from the managing 
director of Kaga Motors in Japan. He is writing to inform me we have 
been selected as the first American auto parts supplier to be designated 
a preferred provider for their company. He continues by saying this 
selection is based on a number of criteria:

"The first is product quality. The trial quantity met their 
specifications. The first production shipment *exceeded* them - 
substantially. The second is timely delivery. He says they do not get as 
good service from their long-term suppliers in Japan. But the final 
criterion is attitude. Mr. Saito, general manager in Michigan, sent to 
company headquarters near Tokyo the scroll you people signed and sent 
with the first shipment. That's dedication, the very best possible 
attitude. He wants me to tell you that he and his fellow directors in 
Japan are most impressed.

"Finally, and this is the real reason for calling you all together. I am 
now quoting from his letter: 'Please extend our deepest appreciation to 
Mr. Jim Wozlowski of your company. Preliminary tests indicate the rings 
Mr. Wozlowski fashioned may be signif icantly superior to the ones we 
are now using. My technical people express their astonishment that 
Murphy Manufacturing could possibly have workers who are so good and so 
dedicated that they can improve on our design without even knowing the 
technical specifications of our engine. Nevertheless, he seems to have 
done so. Mr. Fitzpatrick, this indicates dedication to your company's 
interests and to ours. This is the finest possible attitude. Needless to 
say, if Mr. Wozlowski's ring is adopted, Murphy Manufacturing will be 
the preferred worldwide supplier for them. In addition, we will, of 
course, pay you a royalty on all rings we use made from that design 
produced by any other manufacturer.'

"Folks, all Miss Donnell and I can say is, thank you. You are doing what 
you set out to do. Incidentally, where's Jim Wozlowski?" Jim waved his 
hand. "What are you standing there for, for chrissakes? Your plane for 
Orlando leaves in only three hours, and I hope to hell you're not going 
to go looking like that. As a very small expression of the company's 
appreciation, we have first-class tickets for you and your entire family 
to Florida and an all-expense paid trip to Disney World. And Jim, you'll 
get a significant piece of any royalties the company receives. Now get 
the hell out of here!" There was a great cheer as Jim ran out to his 
car.

"Before you all go, there's just one more thing I wanted to say. Miss 
Donnell and I recognize that dedication is a two-way street. Jim 
demonstrated it, and we're trying to reward him for it. The same thing 
applies to all of you. Once again, thank you all. You're really doing 
the job I knew you would!"

Sandy was sitting in his office and they were drinking their coffee. "I 
guess the honeymoon's really over," Cliff sad sadly, "When a guy has to 
subsist on company coffee instead of a hearty breakfast."

Sandy glared at him while trying to hide a grin. "If you were closer I 
would kick you, and you know where. First, it takes a damned crane to 
get you out of bed, and then you sexually assault me in the kitchen 
while the eggs burn. Then you have the gall to complain about no 
breakfast. The nerve!"

Cliff tried to look innocent. "Now wait a minute! The reason it takes a 
crane is you sexually attack me all night long! And maybe I wouldn't 
assault you in the kitchen if you had more clothes on... if you had 
*any* clothes on!"

They both grinned and Sandy stuck out her tongue at him. He changed the 
subject. "How do you feel about coming down to Charlotte with me? There 
are some bankers down there to see, and I know JL and his boys would 
love to see you, too. This is the second big bet. What do you think 
about the prospects for our renovated auto parts business?"

"I have my fingers crossed," she replied. "But I would love to, even 
though Charlotte can get pretty hot this time of year. Do you want me to 
make plans to come with you?"

"I sure do! We might as well both be hot. Sandy, this is a stupid 
question, I know, but do you play golf?"

"I thought you would never ask! Yes, I play golf. And God knows, it took 
you long enough to get around to it." She grinned and added, "Are you 
thinking of taking up an *outdoor* sport? I thought you were... Never 
mind what I thought you were. But why do you ask?"

"Because they take their golf seriously down there, and JL asked me to 
bring my clubs. Do you have any to bring? If not, we can always rent you 
some."

"Yes, smarty, I have clubs. I also have a handicap. I will also beat the 
pants off you. Want to bet?"

"Sure, I'll bet. What's your handicap, by the way?"

"I'll tell you when we play. I don't want to frighten you off too soon."

They caught a United flight to Charlotte and were met by JL at the 
airport. Jeff Stover was right. This was a big risk. In the planning 
session JL Wilson and his people sounded like they knew the business and 
knew their market. Everyone would soon know if they really did. With the 
Kaga business, Murphy was out of the tank. But if the Southern Stores 
project really bombed, they would be right back in it again. They went 
to claim their baggage and JL was surprised that there were two golf 
bags.

"Sandy Donnell, you've been holding out on me again!" JL said, "I never 
knew you played golf."

"Come on, JL!" she replied with a grin. "A girl's got to have some 
secrets."

They went to the hotel, checked in, and then went out to one of the 
renovated auto parts stores. It was a unit Cliff had seen on his first 
visit but now he didn't recognize it. The lighting had been vastly 
improved, and was very effective after dark, giving the store a bright, 
attractive appearance. JL told them they had extended the hours of 
operation and were using numbers of permanent part-time people to handle 
it. They walked in and were surprised at the weekday evening activity. 
"How long has this place been reopened?" Cliff asked.

"We opened ten days ago," JL replied. "It sure looks good to me. How 
does it look to you?"

"It looks like you're doing a land-office business. Sandy, what do you 
think?"

"Hell," she said, "I'm only the treasurer. What do I know? JL, how are 
the numbers? Or do you know yet?"

"Ma'am, they are just great! One of Kevin O'Rourke's guys was down and 
set up our accounting system on one of those personal computers. It 
works great! We're running 300 percent of last year. How does that 
sound?"

"That sounds great to me," Sandy replied, "But as I said, I'm only the 
treasurer. What do you think, Cliff?"

"Any time sales increase by a factor of three, I'm in favor." he 
replied. "What do we do now?"

"How would you like some real Carolina barbecue? It's not like anything 
you ever get up North. Care to try?" JL asked.

They both agreed, and JL took them to a family barbecue restaurant. JL 
ordered for the table. What they received was barbecued pork, not the 
spare ribs they had expected. There were a bunch of other dishes with 
it. JL was a little concerned, with Sandy present, that the place only 
served beer and soft drinks. Before she had a chance to answer, Cliff 
spoke for her, "Sandy is a beer drinker from way back. Remember, she's 
from Milwaukee, the home of a whole bunch of beers and a lot of beer 
drinkers."

After a very pleasant evening together, JL dropped them off at the hotel 
and they went up to their rooms. Then Sandy took a coin from her purse 
and looked at Cliff. "Heads or tails?"

"Heads," he said.

She flipped the coin, caught it, and placed it on the back of her left 
hand. Making sure Cliff was looking, she removed her right hand covering 
the coin. "It's tails. You lose."

"What did I lose?" Cliff asked.

"We sleep in my bed, not yours," she answered dryly. "Get your razor, 
and let's get to bed." Once in bed, Sandy molded herself to his body and 
fell asleep.

They spent the next day visiting other stores in varying stages of 
renovation. Two were complete, although they had not yet had their 
official "Grand Re-Opening" celebrations. Sales in all the units were 
going very well. When they returned to JL's office, Cliff asked him what 
he thought the cause was. "Well, sir, I'll tell you. I think about 40 
percent is the new merchandise assortment, 40 percent is the store 
renovation and improved layout, and the last 20 percent is better 
employee morale. They feel like they belong, not like they're a bunch of 
step-children. I'll tell you, it hasn't been like this in a long, long 
time."

They went over the sales reports for the entire Southern Division, store 
by store. Finally, Cliff looked at the other two and said, "Damn! I 
think it's going to work. It's really going to work! Congratulations, 
JL, this is even better than we hoped for. You and your people are doing 
a great job!"

That evening JL and his wife, Marlene, took them to a fine place for 
dinner and dancing. During the evening, Sandy learned that Marlene was 
an avid golfer. "Hey, guys!" Sandy said. "Marlene and I are taking you 
on in golf tomorrow. Full handicaps, of course. JL, Cliff and I have a 
little side bet, but Marlene and I will play you two in a $20 Nassau, 
okay?"

"You're on, little ladies," JL answered. He looked at his wife 
affectionately. "But damn! Marlene and I were counting on trimming the 
damnyankees again, too!"

The next morning, JL picked them up at the hotel and drove them out to 
his club. They had a nine o'clock tee time, and arrived at the club 
early. Sandy and Cliff went to the practice tee to warm up. Cliff hadn't 
swung a club in over a year, and was pretty sure Sandy hadn't played in 
months, at least. He did some limbering exercises and then started 
hitting balls, beginning with his very short irons. Meantime, Sandy had 
gone to the opposite end of the tee. Cliff could have been a very good 
golfer if he played more. After taking a few shots with various clubs, 
he got up to his driver. He started pounding out shots that appeared to 
be carrying 250 yards or more. His notorious slice seemed to have 
disappeared. Then he looked up and watched Sandy. It came as no surprise 
to him that she had a very graceful, fluid swing. At 5 feet 8 inches, 
she was a tall girl, and she used her height effectively. She was not as 
long as he was, but was far longer than any woman he had ever played 
with.

They went to the first tee. Cliff played to a USGA handicap of sixteen. 
On this course, it became a playing handicap of eighteen. He asked Sandy 
what her handicap was and was told it was a twelve on the course. He was 
getting six strokes, but was giving her the distance between the men's 
and women's tees. "What's our bet?" he asked Sandy.

"I'll tell you when we're done," she replied with a grin.

The men teed off from the white tees. Cliff's layoff of nearly a year 
showed on his first drive. The slice that had disappeared on the 
practice tee came back with a vengeance on his first tee shot. Although 
he sliced it into the woods, it seemed to be close enough to the fairway 
to still be in play. JL obviously played a great deal. He wasn't as long 
as Cliff, but a lot straighter. Marlene hit her tee shot off the forward 
tee short and straight. Then Sandy addressed her ball and swung with the 
very fluid, graceful swing Cliff had seen on the practice tee. She hit 
the ball beautifully. It landed just to the right of the fairway 
centerline with a slight draw on it. The draw - really top-spin - caused 
the ball to roll, adding to its distance. She was almost 200 yards out 
in the middle of the fairway. Cliff had been watching the women tee off. 
After Sandy hit, he turned to JL and said wryly, "Why is it I think this 
is going to be a very long and expensive morning?"

The front nine became a match between Sandy and JL. The man was 
sweating. He was far more practiced than she was, and it was his home 
course which gave him another advantage. For her part, she was nearly as 
long off the tee as he was, and was deadly inside 125 yards. Her short 
game and putting were devastating. As they made the turn, the women were 
up by two holes. "Cliff, do you feel rich and foolish?" JL asked. "How 
about pressing them on the back side?"

"Let's do it," Cliff replied. "It doesn't matter if I don't have any 
money to live on for the next six months. There's a lesson here 
somewhere I need to learn."

The match had evened by the time they reached the 18th hole. On a par 
three, Cliff had put his tee shot just a few feet from the pin and won 
the hole with a birdie. On the top handicap hole on the back nine, Cliff 
and Sandy both had pars, but he won it because of the stroke she gave 
him. If the men won the last hole, they would be the winners. Although 
they had lost the front nine, the back nine was worth twice as much 
because of the press, and they would win the match. If the hole was 
even, they would be even on the nine, even on the match, and down $20 
for the front nine. The way the day had been going, losing only $20 
would be a moral victory.

The last hole was 475 yards for men, but only 400 for the women, played 
to an elevated green. The hole was a par-5, and the 8th handicap hole 
for men. Cliff didn't get a stroke. During the round Cliff had finally 
controlled his slice. His tee shot was his best of the day. He got his 
full power into the ball and powered it over 250 yards. JL hit his usual 
straight ball but not nearly as far. Marlene hit, and finally Sandy. 
She, too, had her best drive of the day. Her ball traveled over 225 
yards. Playing from the forward tee, her ball was ahead of Cliff's on 
the fairway. As they walked down the fairway, JL was shaking his head. 
"I used to say my mommy didn't raise any dumb children, but now I just 
don't know. Why is it I feel this young lady is sandbagging us? You 
know, Cliff, she is good - I mean *real* good! You mean to say she 
hasn't been practicing all summer?"

Cliff grinned at the older man. "JL, I can assure you she hasn't had a 
club in her hand since I joined the company on April 1. I wouldn't say 
it to her, but it's fun watching her swing. I agree. She is very good 
and beautiful to watch."

JL grinned back. "And that's not limited to her swing, either!"

It was a very warm day in July, with the temperature in the nineties. 
Because they had chosen to take caddies, not carts, all four were 
feeling the heat. JL and Marlene hit their second shots well, but it 
didn't look like they would be in contention on the hole. It was Cliff's 
turn to hit. He looked at his partner and said, "How about if I go for 
it? I don't think we're going to win if we play it safe."

JL gave a rebel yell that startled some golfers on an adjacent hole. 
"That's what I like to hear! Go for it!" Cliff forced himself to relax 
as he addressed his ball with a 3-wood. He caught it beautifully. The 
ball hit just in front of the green and bounced up moving to the right 
of the pin. Sandy had watched him and then went to her ball. She also 
took a wood, grinned at Marlene, and hit her ball. It, too, hit just at 
the crest of the hill and bounced over, going straight for the pin. 
Cliff and JL looked at each other and shook their heads. "Damn!" JL 
said. "This is the last time I play against a treasurer. They just can't 
stand to give up any money!"

By the time they reached the green, JL had to sink a very long putt for 
a par and Marlene was playing for a six. Cliff was just past the pin in 
distance, but on the right edge of the green. He had a very long putt - 
60 feet or so. He lined it up and stroked it. It was long and very 
difficult because the green sloped down back-to-front. He had a good 
line but not quite good enough. The green broke more than he had 
estimated and his ball rolled below the cup, leaving him a four-footer 
coming back. Sandy's ball had rolled past the cup and was about twenty 
feet away with a downhill putt. She didn't hesitate. She looked at the 
line for a moment, stood over the ball and stroked it. Her putt was 
perfect, rolling right for the center of the cup and dropping in for an 
eagle three. She and Marlene hugged each other, and then went to shake 
hands with the men. Cliff ignored Sandy's hand. He gathered her in his 
arms and kissed her soundly. Then he released her, took his putter and 
sank his own putt for a birdie four, even though the match was over.

"I just had to do that," he said. "It's the first time in my life I ever 
had two birdies in a single round!" They walked back to the clubhouse 
and went to the terrace for lunch.

"Gee, guys," Sandy said after they were seated, "I hate to bring it up, 
you understand, but that's $100 you owe each of us. The way I count, it 
was $20 on the front, $40 on the back, and $40 for the match. Then 
there's Cliff's side bet with me."

Marlene was laughing while Sandy was speaking. JL asked her, "What's so 
funny?"

"Before I answer, JL, I want to ask Sandy something. Sandy, JL 
subscribes to a lot of golf magazines including one that reports on all 
kinds of tournaments. Watching you today bothered me. There's something 
in the back of my mind I just can't reach. Tell me, did you play 
tournament golf?" Sandy nodded. "Of course! I seem to recall some 
mentions of amateur tournaments in the Midwest. College, too, maybe?" 
Again Sandy nodded.

Cliff watched in amazement. "Sandra Donnell! You promised me: no 
secrets!" he said accusingly.

Sandy grinned sheepishly. "We were talking about the company and about 
us. We never spoke about golf. This doesn't count."

"Sandy!" he exclaimed.

"Well, I played a little golf when I was younger," she admitted.

"And what's 'a little golf'?" Cliff persisted.

"I was captain of the Wisconsin women's golf team and runner up in the 
Wisconsin and Midwest women's amateur championships," she said in a very 
small voice.

"And your handicap? Is that real?"

"It sure is!" she said. "I didn't play much at all for the last couple 
of years. You can't keep a handicap in single digits unless you play a 
lot."

Cliff spoke to JL. "We were had! Remember the strategy discussions in 
Milwaukee? I feel like a damn fool. I broke the very first rule in the 
strategy book: Know the competition. JL, I feel I ought to pay your 
share, too. It was my blunder."

"No, sir!" JL replied emphatically. "It's my fault more than yours. I've 
known this girl a lot longer than you have. And I hope you noticed my 
wife knew. And she knew from reading magazines with *my* name on them! 
No sir! There's more than enough blame to go around!"

They ate lunch, and JL asked if they would like to go swimming in the 
club pool. Everyone was in favor, but Sandy said she hadn't brought a 
bathing suit. JL grinned. "This is my lucky day! We hate to let that 
money get out of the state. As it happens, the pro shop sells bathing 
suits, too. Now why don't you just take some of that money and buy one? 
I know Marlene would love to help you pick one out." The girls went off 
to the shop, while JL and Cliff went to the locker room to change. "I 
wouldn't say it with the girls around," JL said, "but that was the best 
damned match I've played in years. And you know what else? There's no 
way I mind losing if the opponent shoots an eagle to win. Cliff, we 
didn't lose. They won. There's a difference."

They went out to the pool deck and sat in the sun. Cliff closed his 
eyes. He opened them again when he heard a sound, like a collective 
indrawn breath, from the people on the deck. He turned and saw Sandy and 
Marlene. Marlene had insisted that Sandy buy a white bikini which was 
spectacular on her. With her auburn hair, green eyes, and light tan, 
coupled with her perfect figure, she was breathtaking. Cliff just said, 
"Wow!"

Marlene grinned, while Sandy looked like she wanted to hide. The older 
woman said, "What do you two think? There's a funny side to this bathing 
suit. It's been in the shop for months. Everyone has been looking at it, 
but no one had the nerve to buy it. I think it's perfect on Sandy, don't 
you?"

JL said appreciatively, "I think Sandy would look perfect in a potato 
sack, but it sure does look great."

They swam, soaked up the sun, had a snack, and finally JL took them back 
to the airport to get a late flight home. When they were seated on the 
plane, she looked at Cliff, "Are you mad at me?"

"Why, in hell, should I be mad at you?" he asked, puzzled.

"Because I cheated you in the match and embarrassed you with the bathing 
suit, is why," she whispered.

"You did not cheat! You just won. As far as the bikini is concerned, you 
don't know much about men. You looked spectacular, honey. All I could 
think of was all those poor guys eating their hearts out 'cause you're 
mine. You are, aren't you?"

"Sure am!" she whispered, and kissed him softly.



-- 
+----------------' Story submission `-+-' Moderator contact `--------------+
| <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us> | <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us> |
| Archive site +----------------------+--------------------+ Newsgroup FAQ |
<http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/>----<http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/faq.html>