It was posthumous of course. Dad told me about it. I'm surprised you didn't know." Why posthumous of course?" Sylvie questioned."Subalterns had a life...span of a week to two months in the front line. Dad said they gave out V.C.'s with the rations. It looked good in the papers." That's cynical." His sister replied."If you think that's cynical you would be surprised at attitudes in Government today." Marion remarked. "According to Charles, the E.U. is the battlefield these days. Yesterdays enemies. I’d be attractive to them with my track record.” she protested. “You could try, but I know all top executives at our competitors. I’m afraid I couldn’t give you a positive reference….” he tailed off, the implication clear - none of the other firms in the city were going to touch her. “Come on Cat, you’re smarter than this. You know who you are up against for this role. I’m seeing Rebecca later this afternoon. She’s 25, single and and clearly ambitious. How do you think she will answer the same. “Look at me.”And as my eyes meet hers, an exquisite sensation of pain and pleasure combined startles me in all its delicate intensity.She steadies me, left hand on my shoulder, the hard points of her nails digging into the skin.In the mirror, her right arm is draped over my shoulder. A finger caresses my cheek and then it is gone.The sensation returns and now I understand.She is tracing the tip of her finger along the first of the stripes she has drawn on my back, a delicate arousal of inflamed. “What brings the VP of Finance down to the marketing department?”As she took the few steps from his doorway to his desk, Noah did what he always did when he was around Nancy Townsend. His eyes took her in from head to toe and he thought for the 10,000th time… “What could I do with this beauty?”Nancy was dressed, as she often was, in a tailored blue business suit. Today she was wearing a white blouse under the jacket that was quite sheer, allowing him to see the lace of her bra covering what he.