Her Tiger-Print Heels

18 Retaliation and Retribution

"Rachana, you're too angry to just let him go," Joni said.

She leaned against Rachana's office desk. "If you let him go, you won't have the upper hand in your relationship. Listen, you need 'hand.'"

Joni paced across the office. "You're upset enough to be in his grip right now. We've got to change that. And change it now."

Joni's adamancy shook Rachana at first but then further encouraged her frustration. Her disgust of Senator Sexton already had intensified since the town hall meeting. She had been devising plans to get the bridge project accomplished despite obstacles, like Johnny and Chairman Dean.

Without direct intent, she had changed her focus on the project. The bridge was no longer for the Transportation Department, or for the State of Tennessee, or even for residents of the area. The focus of the project was to outdo the punk junior senator.

While Rachana looked at the situation through a political lens, Joni saw something different.

"If you don't have hand," Joni said, "he will push you down and stick closer to that Chairman of his. In fact, he will stare you in the eyes and see you as an enemy. As someone he dislikes, not beautiful woman. You see, his boss has him seeing you as an adversary already."

She put both hands on Rachana's desk and leaned in close, like the boss in a conspiracy setup.

"Rachana, a woman—one who really wants her man back, which you do—must make him pay. You got to bait him, you got to make him want you. You go to his place all dressed to the nines. Show up unannounced in a tight dress that shows off your goods. For you, it's your booty and them legs."

Joni smiled as the conspiracy developed. "Get him to a place where he's got to have you but then leave him hanging. Then you'll have 'hand.' He won't know what to do. Does he follow his master's orders or does he give in to you? Obedience to a man or sex with a gorgeous woman. That'll be his dilemma. It'll drive him crazy. And knowing men, he'll go for you."

Rachana looked at Joni, amazed. Her office manager was morphing before her eyes into a conspirator with some solid planning skills. In fact, she was taking Rachana on a path different than she'd been on ever before. Rachana decided to explore Joni's plan though she was still wary.

"Joni, this makes more sense than political wrangling. Should we visit Victoria's Secret to do a little business shopping?"

"Exactly."

The two left for the afternoon to launch their conspiracy.