Corporate Punishment

Forewarning

Sam walks into Al's Tavern a few minutes early and sees Tiffany sitting in a corner booth. He slides in across from her. "What's going on that you are being so cryptic?"

"It is about the trip you are about to go on." She stops abruptly as the waitress comes over. Sam orders a beer and barely notices the waitress' low-cut top and the way her bra made it look like she was bustier than she actually was. "So obviously I know that you and Sally are going to Seattle for the week."

"Yeah. you made all the arrangements." They barely notice the beer that is placed in front of Sam.

"Have you been working with Sally for long?"

"About as long as I have been with the company."

"Nothing odd has happened during that time?"

"No. We have just worked on the project. We haven't even really discussed our personal lives. She made a few comments about who I was texting earlier. Asking about girlfriends and boyfriends."

"OK. Good. I don't know how true what I'm about to tell you is, but I felt you needed to be warned. I have overheard that Sally can get very friendly on business trips. From what I have heard, she really doesn't care if the other person is in a relationship or not. As you have seen, she is competent. I have also heard that she has used these past flings to have others drop out of leading some of the better projects."

"She blackmails people so that she can get better projects?"

"From what I have heard, I can't prove anything. Just be careful. OK? I don't want my clothes daddy to get in trouble."

"Clothes daddy? Is that all I am to you?"

Tiffany giggles, "No, it isn't. You are an OK guy and safe to hang out with." She takes a sip of her wine. "So how is the exercise going?"

Sam opens an app on his phone and slides it over to her. "Not bad. This is the first day this week I haven't gone to the gym."

Tiffany doesn't even look at his phone before sliding it back to him. "Are you liking it? How does it feel?"

"It is OK. It helps to clear my head after working all day."

"What are you two doing in Seattle, anyway?"

"Oh, the Lawrenceson project is ending, and they wanted some of us there for the implementation."

"Really? So why are you going? Isn't Sally the head of that project?"

"She is. Apparently, I was requested personally. When Sally was out, I presented it to Ms. Lawrenceson."

"Wait. Whitney Lawrenceson asked specifically for you? Man, I have heard that she can be the hard-nosed bitch."

Sam mumbles, "Couldn't be any worse than Macy." Sam doesn't see Tiffany smirk as he looks into the depths of his beer.

"At least with Whitney you won't have to be around her for long."

"Only a very long, stressful, frustrating week."

"Frustrating? Do you have a thing for Whitney?"

Sam doesn't look up. Without thinking, "I don't think I do, but the brains in my pants thinks I do. It can get me in more trouble than I want."

Tiffany is about to tease him, but decides to be a friend and just files it away for later. "I really don't know how to process that. I just wanted to warn you about Sally. You don't want to get in trouble with Macy."

"Thanks Tiffany. It is good to know that I'm going into the lion's den. Maybe I should have told Ms. Wallace that I couldn't go."

"Are you going to be OK?"

"Yeah. It just means that I may pack a little differently."

Tiffany finishes her wine. "I need to get going, Sam. I'm supposed to meet my friends in a few hours. If you need to talk. You have my number."

"Thanks. I should be fine." He smiles at her. "You looked amazing when you accidentally sent the pics. Have fun."

Sam has another beer before he heads home and packs.