Conflict of Interest, Part 2

This fictional account contains explicit sexual materials, adult language and
sexual themes.  If these offend you, please do not read further.  The persons
and events described in this work are fictional.  Any similarity to actual
persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by SSTORYMAN.  All
rights reserved.  Permission is granted to reproduce this story in any form
and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no financial
remuneration is received, directly or indirectly, by the person reproducing it  

This is a sequel to the author's "Revenge" posted March 2000 and "The Affair"
posted January, 1997.  It may be helpful to read (or re-read) them before
reading this story.  There are also some references to characters who first
appeared in the author's "Lisa's Quest" and "The Vacation."  But familiarity
with these stories isn't necessary to enjoy this one.

Finally, thanks to AZ-MAN for his editorial suggestions, support and
encouragement.


CONFLICT OF INTEREST

2.	Charity Begins at the Office.

   While she waited for Sandy Rogers to call, Charity Hamilton mused about the
various events that led her to become a smoker and realize she was either a
lesbian or bisexual.  It happened as she worked on the bank case.  Her client
was the biggest bank in town.  A second defendant in the suit was another bank
represented by Johnson & Myers.  Charity knew about them.  Everyone did.
Their senior associate Rene Williams represented the other bank.  Rene was the
lawyer who got the city's no-smoking ordinance declared unconstitutional.  The
case put Rene, and her firm, on the map.

   J&M was a curiosity.  All the lawyers and staff were allowed to smoke in
the office.  Every other firm in town had gone non-smoking in the nineties.
But the rumor was that J&M only hired smokers.  They were also damn good
lawyers.

   Representing their two co-defendants, Charity and Rene spent hours together
working on the bank case.  Rene always wanted to meet at Johnson & Myers, and
her reason was simple.  She wanted to smoke while they worked.  That was okay
with Charity.  Her mom and older sister smoked.  She didn't mind.

   But Charity soon saw that Rene worked better when she smoked.  The longer
they worked together, the more she smoked, often chain-smoking during strategy
sessions.  Rene devised brilliant solutions to knotty legal problems.
Charity's clothes reeked of stale smoke after their meetings.  But she got
great stuff from her co-counsel.  No one knew how much her success on the case
was due to Rene's ideas, and Charity wasn't about to tell them!

   Rene was a couple years older.  She had a striking appearance, an
unassuming manner and an outgoing personality.  The package was quite
attractive.  Her chestnut brown hair, worn in a modified pageboy, was always
in place.  She was tall, at five ten, slender but shapely.  On her feet, she
stood tall and erect.  She dressed professionally but stylishly.  She was
tough when she had to be, but her face was almost angelic.  She projected
serenity and charm.  Charity found herself inexplicably drawn to her, even
though Rene smoked constantly!

   One night, after hours of reviewing documents, Charity asked her new friend
about it.  A bottle of wine smuggled in for the meeting made it easier.  She
remembered the conversation like it was yesterday.

   "Rene, I've never seen anyone smoke like you.  You seem to work better when
you're smoking.  It doesn't bother me.  My mom and my older sister Alison
smoke.  But I have to ask.  Don't you worry about what you're doing to your
body by smoking so damn much?"

   Rene laughed.  She shook her pretty chestnut mane, and made a defiant face.
"No, I don't worry about it.  But you're right.   I _do_ work better when I
smoke.  Did you know nicotine has been proven to improve both deductive
reasoning and analytical thinking?"

   "You're shitting me."

   "I'm not," she replied solemnly.  She picked up her pack of Marlboro Lights
100s.  "I started at Cromwell & Houston, the most prestigious firm in town.
When I clerked there during law school, we were still allowed to smoke in our
offices.  But by the time I started there as an associate after law school,
the partners made it non-smoking.  I thought I'd lose my mind!  I spent tons
of time running outside for smoke breaks.  That was bad enough, but I also
lost my mental edge.  To be productive, I had to smoke.  I thought about
quitting, but truthfully, I didn't want to.  I like smoking.  Then some
partners left C&H to start their own firm, where they could smoke.  I jumped
at the chance to join 'em, and signed on with Johnson & Myers.  Best damn
decision I ever made."  She clicked her lighter to light up again.  "At J&M,
no one gives you shit about smoking.  Yeah, sure, I smoke too much, by some
standards.  But I do better legal work than most people, too.  I'm glad you
can tell.  Most people don't catch the connection."

   "I can tell.  With a cigarette in your hand, you're a damn magician!  I'm
envious, to be honest.  I wish I was as good as you are, Rene."

   Rene teased her with a wicked smile.  "You grew up around smokers?  So why
don't you smoke?  Or did you try it and quit for some reason?"

   "No, I never tried it.  My sister Alison is four years older.  She began
smoking in high school.  She used to tease me about trying it.  But for some
reason I just never did.  I don't know why not, really, to be honest."

   Rene's grin showed infectious confidence.  "I don't know why, either.  But
it's not too late to pick it up.  You can still start smoking, you know."

   "Oh, come on," she laughed, thinking Rene was kidding.  Her unsmiling look
convinced her otherwise.  "You're serious, aren't you?"

   "Absolutely," Rene replied.  Taking her pack, she offered it to her blond
friend.  "Go ahead.  Try one with me."

   "Oh, God, no, I couldn't."

   "Suit yourself.  You asked why I smoke?  Well, it's because I like how it
makes me feel.  I mean, I _really_ like it.  I love it.  Smoking makes me
productive, sharper, more alert.  And yet, it also relaxes me.  There's
nothing like nicotine, I tell you.  It's a miracle drug.  If you never tried
it, you should.  Really."

   Rene put her cigarette between her lips and took a long, slow drag.  The
tip burned bright orange.  She sucked the smoke deep inside and smiled,
waiting before finally pursing her lips to release an almost endless stream of
blue-gray mist.  The smoke obeyed her every command as she exhaled in several
stops and starts.  She finished by releasing three perfect smoke rings.

   "It's fun, too," she went on.  "Smokers say it gives 'em something to do
with their hands, and it's true.  Holding a cigarette, manicuring it in an
ashtray, and moving it in and out of your mouth, is so comforting.  And a good
exhale is a thing of beauty.  Smoking makes a pretty woman look more sexy and
sophisticated.  Lots of guys, and girls, too, think it makes us look a hell of
a lot sexier.  I _really_ like that.  Yeah, all in all, Charity, smoking's
great.  Are you sure you don't want to try it?"

   Charity hesitated.  Rene looked strangely attractive smoking.  What the
hell?  It wouldn't hurt to just try a cigarette.

   "Okay," she announced.  "Let's take a break, have another glass of wine,
and you can show me how to smoke."

   "Great," Rene happily replied.  "You're gonna love it, Charity."

   And she did.  Rene gave her a cigarette and coached her.  Her first
cigarette was a good experience.  From years of living with her mom's and
Alison's cigarettes, she tolerated the smoke nicely.  In fact, she more than
tolerated it.  She enjoyed it.

   Each time they got together thereafter, Rene offered Charity cigarettes.
It became part of their routine.  She grew comfortable smoking with Rene.  As
the filing deadline for their motion to dismiss approached, their work
sessions turned into all day, every day affairs.  At the first all day
session, Charity had a cigarette at eight in the morning and continued smoking
all day.  Each time Rene lit up, she offered Charity another one.  Charity
didn't think she was smoking much, and she wasn't, compared to Rene.  But when
they left that night, Rene counted the butts and proudly announced that she'd
smoked ten cigarettes to her own thirty.  Together they finished off two packs
in a single day.

   The next day they started at eight, and once more Charity smoked, this time
even more.  Late that morning, Lisa Robinson, Rene's pert blond secretary,
checked on their lunch plans.  Charity had a cigarette in hand.  Lisa
whistled, shaking her head in pretended amazement.

   "Oh my God, Charity," Lisa exclaimed.  "Rene's got you smoking!"

   Charity blushed.  "Yeah.  But I'm smoking just to be sociable, mostly."

   Lisa noticed the cigarette butts in the ashtray.  She giggled
sarcastically.  "Yeah, sure!  Me, too.  Rene and I are sociable like that, at
least thirty times every day, aren't we, boss?"

   Rene frowned.  "We don't give people shit for smoking, Lisa.  Be careful."

   "Sorry, boss," Lisa apologized.  "Charity, I think it's great.  You look
good with a cigarette.  Let's see you puff.  Show me."

   Charity did.  It wasn't hard.  She'd become used to it in the last day and
a half.

   Lisa laughed.  "Oh God.  You inhale and everything!  This is so cool." She
patted Rene on the head.  "Good work, boss!  That's another one for our side."

   After Lisa left, Charity turned to Rene.  "What did she mean by that?"

   "People are on one side or the other.  Either they're smokers and they're
with us, or they're non-smokers and they're against us.  Lisa's comment is a
compliment.  What she's saying is, you smoke like you're one of us."

   Charity _did_ take it as a compliment.  Lisa had an exquisite smoking
style.  Sitting at her desk in the hall outside Rene's office, pretty, blond
Lisa did great snap inhales.  Smoke luxuriously dribbled from her red lips as
she worked at her computer between puffs.  Charity liked how Lisa looked when
she smoked.  She also liked how Rene looked.  A cigarette was a great prop.
Holding it and moving it around while it generated curls of smoke made its
user look sophisticated.  Rene used the word 'sexy' before.  Charity had to
admit, it _was_ very sexy!

   That day, Charity had twelve cigarettes.  She liked it.  She liked doing it
with Rene, Lisa and the others at J&M.  Her ingestion of nicotine proved
exceptionally satisfying.

   The next day Rene had depositions on a different case.  Charity went back
to Williams & Connors and spent the day returning phone calls and reviewing
depositions and interrogatories for another session with Rene the next day.

   Charity left the office early.  She stopped by the 'cage' on the first
floor where they sold cigarettes, candy and newspapers, and bought two packs
of Marlboro Lights 100's to pay back Rene for the cigarettes she smoked.  She
was horrified by how expensive they were!  Her mom and sister always said it's
not smart to buy them by the pack instead of by the carton.  Well, she could
afford to reimburse Rene two packs.  Lawyers at Williams & Connors were well
paid.

   She started to her parking garage, but changed her mind.  She turned and
walked down the street to Johnson & Myers.  She'd stop in and leave a pack of
cigarettes on Rene's desk, as a good will offering, to thank her for her
kindness.  Secretly she hoped Rene would be back from her depositions, so she
could smoke with her once more.

   J&M's receptionist was Joyce, an attractive young black woman.  She knew
Charity, and told her to go back to Rene's office.  "But she's not here,"
Joyce said.  "She's out for the day."

   "Yeah, I know, Joyce," she called out as she headed down the hall.  "I'm
just leaving something on her desk."

   The wall clock said five forty-five, but everyone was working hard.  Rene
said at J&M the lawyers worked hard and played hard.  There was no arguing
about their success, she mused, admiring the luxurious décor.  The offices at
Williams & Connors were Spartan by comparison.

   Lisa, was working at her computer outside Rene's office.  Secretaries at
J&M worked for several lawyers, so despite Rene's absence Lisa had plenty to
do.  An open pack of Salem Lights 100's and an overflowing ashtray were beside
the phone on her desk as she typed.  A long, white cigarette burned in the
ashtray.

   "Lisa, I know Rene's not in.  I came to drop something off.  Can I put it
on her desk?"

   "Oh, hi, Charity.  Yeah, sure."  Lisa paused and hit the send button.
"There!  I had to email something to another of my lawyers."  She picked up
her cigarette.  "Can I help with something?"  She raised the Salem to her
lips.

   "No, thanks."  She watched Lisa snap inhale some thick, white smoke deep
into her lovely chest.  She felt a funny tingle inside watching her.  "Uh, I
got Rene some Marlboro Lights 100's to pay her back for the cigarettes I've
been smoking."

   "God, that's _so_ nice," Lisa gushed, exhaling a stream of mentholated
smoke.  "Rene really likes you, Charity.  She's told me more than once."
Charity was looking around.  "Do you need a piece of paper?  Do you want to
write her a note?"

   "Uh, yeah, that'd be great," she said uneasily.  "I like Rene, too.  She's
so professional, so smart, and so damn nice.  It's been a pleasure getting to
know her."

   "Here, I'll turn on the light and take you into Rene's office.  You can
write her a note."  Lisa picked up her cigarette and led Charity into the dark
office.  Turning on the light she motioned to Charity to sit in Rene's chair.
"She's got legal pads, and pens.  Go ahead and use one.  Rene will be touched
by your gesture."

   Lisa sat down while Charity composed a note.  She smiled.  "You've been
smoking quite a bit with Rene, Charity.  How do you like it?"

   Charity startled.  "Um, okay, I guess.  I mean, I like it fine."  She
sighed.  "To be honest, Lisa, it isn't hard to get used to.  I'm amazed how
much better Rene works when she smokes.  It seems like the more she smokes,
the better her brain operates.  It just seemed natural to smoke with her.  My
mom and my sister smoke, so I'm used to it, though I don't smoke myself."

   "Yeah, that's what Rene said," Lisa beamed.  She put her cigarette to her
lips again.  She looked mysteriously at the blond lawyer.  "But you've thought
about it, haven't you?"

   "Thought about what?"

   "Smoking.  I've seen you smoke several times now.  You're a natural,
Charity.  And you really like it, don't you?"  Lisa narrowed her eyes.  "Would
you like a cigarette right now?"  She paused, waiting for the reply.  "I think
you would."

   Charity laughed nervously.  "Oh, God, I don't know," she blurted out.  "I
admit, your cigarette does smell good.  But I'm not sure . . . ."

   "Don't bullshit me, Charity.  Hang on a sec."  Bolting from the room, Lisa
returned in a flash with her pack and lighter.  "Here," she smiled, shaking
one loose and handing it across the desk.  She took out another Salem for
herself.  "It's almost six.  I'm entitled to a break.  I'll have a quick
cigarette with you before you go."

   "Oh God, I don't know, Lisa," Charity began.  "I mean, you're so busy."

   "Nonsense," the blond secretary shot back.  Using her almost spent
cigarette, she lit her next one.  "There," she said, pleased with herself for
getting her second one lit.  Then she clicked her lighter and held it out for
Charity.  "Let me light you, too."

   Charity hesitated.  She hadn't had one all day.  But the all-pervading
fragrance of ambient smoke was very inviting.  "Okay," she suddenly announced.
"Why not?"

   Lisa giggled.  "Why not, indeed?"  She touched the flame to the tip of the
white cigarette hanging from Charity's lips.  "You deserve this.  You really
do."

   Charity took a long first drag and sucked some smoke in her lungs.  Wow!
It felt good.  But Lisa's cigarettes had a different, cooler taste.  "God,
these are different.  Why is that?"

   Lisa laughed.  "They're menthol, silly.  Menthol gives the smoke a cool,
minty taste.  It's nice, isn't it?  I like these better than Rene's brand.
What do you think?"

   Charity took another drag.  She smiled at Lisa as she inhaled.  "I like it
fine," she giggled.  "It tastes good."  She tipped her head back, just like
Rene did, and released a stream of smoke through her pursed lips.  "God,
thanks, Lisa.  This is nice!"

   "You're welcome," Lisa graciously replied.  "A cigarette really clears out
the head, doesn't it?"  She laughed.  "Rene works best when she chain-smokes.
And _I_ work better and faster when I do, too."  She blushed.  "I smoke at
least a pack in an average work day."

   Charity was about to ask a question, but before she could, there was a
knock at the door.  A familiar face looked in.

   "Howdy, stranger."  A middle aged man stood there accompanied by a younger
woman.  "Long time, no see.  How are things at Williams & Connors?"

   "Oh my God!  John Crawford," Charity exclaimed.  She put her cigarette in
the ashtray on the desk, stood up and shook his hand.  "I haven't seen you
since you left Williams & Connors.  How do you like it here at Johnson &
Myers?"

   "I love it," John beamed back.  "I heard you and Rene are working on a
case.  She's a damn fine lawyer, Charity, easily the equal of anyone at
Williams & Connors!"

   "Yeah, I know.  Rene's great.  God, John, it's good to see you.  Our
corporate group at Williams & Connors really misses you."

   John smiled.  "I wish I could say I miss them.  But I don't.  It's a great
group of people here.  And for us smokers, the ability to smoke in the office
is a wonderful change from those puritan corridors at W&C."  He nodded at
Charity.  "Please, sit down.  Ah, I see you've picked up the habit yourself."

   Charity returned to her seat.  "Oh, not really," she said with an
embarrassed smile.  "I only smoke occasionally.  Lisa was just taking a little
break, and she offered me one of hers."

   John realized he should introduce his companion.  "Charity, let me
introduce my secretary, Robin Sullivan.  Robin, this is Charity Hamilton, a
friend from my old firm."

   The sultry blond beside John stuck out her hand.  "Hi, Charity.  I'm Robin.
I'm John's secretary.  It's nice to meet you."

   "It's nice to meet you, Robin.  How long have you been working with John?"

   Robin's eyes sparkled.  "I was hired to work for him when he came to J&M.
We've been together ever since."  She batted her eyelashes.  "He's a great
boss."

   "She's the best secretary I've ever had," John jumped in.  "Robin is a big
change from the shitty secretary I had at Williams & Connors.  Best of all,
Robin smokes, even more than me!"

   Charity laughed.  "And if I remember correctly, that's a lot, John.  So,
how's your wife Sherry, and your two girls?  Sherry and I spent a lot of time
together at W&C firm parties a few years ago.  God, I haven't seen her in a
long time.  How's she doing?"

   "Sherry and the girls are fine."  He smiled.  "You'll be interested to know
that right before I joined J&M, Sherry started to smoke.  It took a lot of
pressure off our relationship.  She finally gave in and joined the ranks of
the nicotine addicted."

   "God!  Sherry's smoking?  Wow!  That's a surprise!"

   "Yeah, she used to be a real anti," he admitted.  "But she changed,
Charity.  It's kind of a long story.  I'll tell you sometime.  You might enjoy
hearing it, especially now that you smoke."

   "Wait a minute, John," she objected.  "I'm _not_ a smoker.  I smoke
occasionally, to be sociable."  It was all she could think to say.  She didn't
want him jumping to conclusions.

   Lisa interrupted.  "Rene introduced Charity to our obnoxious little habit."
She smiled with a knowing glint in her eye.  "But Charity's just
experimenting, at least so far."

   "Oh, I see," John nodded ceremoniously.  "Well, in any case, Charity, my
wife now smokes.  In fact, both our girls, Beth and Gracie, smoke, too."

   Charity was astounded.  "Your little girls?"

   John nodded.  "Well, they're not so little now.  Beth and Gracie are both
teenagers.  But Sherry's okay with them smoking.  That shows how much she's
changed.  My wife is an incorrigible pack a day smoker who lets her daughters
smoke.  Pretty amazing, huh?"

   Charity shook her head.  "Yeah, it's amazing."  She wasn't sure she
approved of teens smoking, but John seemed almost happy about it.  Without
thinking, she raised her cigarette to her lips for a moderate drag, inhaled,
and exhaled a thin stream of smoke into the quiet.

   Robin broke the silence.  " John, if we don't get going, I'm going to sit
down and have a cigarette of my own."  She looked jealously at the thick smoke
cascading from Charity's lips.

   "Sure, okay," he announced.  "Charity, nice to see you.  Good luck on your
case with Rene."  He gave her a wicked smile.  "You should become a regular
smoker.  I must say, you look pretty damn good at it.  I mean that as a
compliment."

   "Thanks, John, but I don't think it'll happen.  I can smoke occasionally
with friends without becoming a regular smoker."  Charity paused.  "Say hi to
Sherry for me.  Tell her I might give her a call sometime."

   "She'd love that."  He and Robin moved toward the door.  "Take care."

   As they left, Charity turned to Lisa.  "My God!  I can't believe it.  John
Crawford's wife, and his kids, smoke?  It's totally too weird."

   "Yep, I've seen her," Lisa confirmed.  "Sherry Crawford looks like she's
always been a smoker.  Every time I see her, she's smoking.  She obviously
loves it.  People change, Charity.  People start smoking at every age, whether
they're old like you, or young like John's girls."

   Charity bristled.  "Wait a minute.  I'm not old.  I'm only 28."  She tapped
ashes in the ashtray and readied her cigarette for another puff.  "Sherry is
ten years older than me."

   "It only proves my point," Lisa teased.  "Charity, you could easily start,
too, especially since you're much younger than Sherry Crawford.  If she can do
it, you surely can!"

   Charity crushed out her cigarette.  "God, what is with you guys?  Why in
the hell is everyone around here so damn interested in getting non-smokers
like me to start?"

   Lisa put her Salem in her mouth for a long, slow drag.  After sucking the
smoke into her lungs, she spoke.  "It's like Rene said, Charity.  People are
either on our side or against us.  Everyone here is big on smokers' rights.
We fight for the right to enjoy tobacco without government interference or
oppression.  It's a cause we believe in, so we fight for it." Smoke burst from
her mouth.  "Every new person who joins us makes us stronger.  These days we
need to be as strong as possible.  The other reason we proselytize is, we like
to smoke.  Everyone fights for the things they like.  That's why Rene and I
are encouraging you.  We like to smoke, and we think you'll like it, too.  In
reality, I think you already do!"

   "God, I don't know," Charity mumbled.  She remained troubled by John
Crawford's unexpected revelation.  "This is all too weird."  She looked at her
watch.  "I gotta go."

   With cigarette in hand, Lisa left first.  "If you didn't like to smoke
yourself, Charity, you wouldn't have been willing to smoke a cigarette with
me.  Smoking is pleasurable, and you know it.  So let your heart be your
guide.  If you like smoking, smoke.  Give in.  It's not so bad, is it?  Is
there anything wrong with letting yourself enjoy something that you really,
really like?"

   "I guess not."  She paused.  "Don't get me wrong.  You guys are really
nice.  I appreciate it.  And I do kind of like smoking, I admit.  It's just a
big decision, that's all."

   "Yeah, it is," Lisa solemnly agreed.  "Don't kid yourself.  It's a decision
that changes your whole life if you go for it.  But trust me," she whispered
in conspiratorial tone.  "It's worth it!"

   Charity felt confused driving home.  She _had_ wanted a cigarette.  All
along it was in the back of her mind.  It was why she visited Rene's office.
And she did enjoy smoking with Lisa.  But it was bewildering.  She'd never
been with people who so openly, unashamedly professed their commitment to a
habit which the world scorned.  But they were right; smoking was indeed
extremely pleasurable!

   She turned off the freeway and drove the last few miles home.  She decided
to stop at a gas station to buy a disposable lighter and another pack of
Marlboro Lights 100s.  This one would be hers.  She wanted to experiment with
smoking, by herself, in the privacy of her condo.

   So that night Charity smoked three cigarettes.  She already had ashtrays at
her place for when Alison or her mom visited.  And she enjoyed the three
cigarettes.  Yeah, Rene was right.  Smoking was relaxing and stimulating at
the same time.

   The next morning she showed up at Johnson & Myers.  Joyce waved her into
Rene's office.  "She's already waiting for you," the pretty black woman
announced.

   A coffee pot and box of doughnuts were on Rene's desk.  The tall, brunette
lawyer looked up and flashed a smile.  "Charity, thank you!  You're _so_ nice!
God, you didn't have to buy me more cigarettes.  But you're _so_ thoughtful!"
Crossing the room she wrapped her arms around her, affectionately giving her a
big hug followed by two gentle kisses, one on each cheek.  "God, woman, you
are the best," she added with a tender whisper.

   The touch of Rene's lips against her cheeks, the fragrance of her perfume,
and the feel of her body all overwhelmed Charity.  It was like an electric
shock, without warning.  Her knees wobbled, she felt faint, and almost
collapsed.  She sat down, vainly trying to recover from a reaction she didn't
expect.

   "Um, you're welcome, Rene," she gasped, vainly trying to catch her breath.
"Cigarettes are expensive.  I smoked too many of yours not to pay you back."

   "Nonsense," Rene answered, still smiling.  Then she paused.  "Hey, are you
okay?"

   Charity nodded.  "I'm fine.  Really."  She desperately tried to sound sure
of herself.

   "God, your face's white as a sheet.  And you're shaking.  Look at your
hands!"

   It was true.  Charity's hands trembled violently.  Her ruddy complexion was
ashen.  "I'll be okay," she protested.  "Something weird happened when you
hugged me.  I'm not sure what it was."  She swallowed and gave an embarrassed
grin.

   Rene took the coffee pot from her desk and poured a cup.  "Lisa made sure
we had our own pot today.  Here.  Have some coffee.  Maybe you need a shot of
caffeine to pick you up."

   Charity eagerly gulped the coffee.  Her color slowly returned as the
caffeine kicked in.  "Oh, God," she gasped again.  "That's better.  Thanks."

   Rene closed the door.  But before doing so, she called to her secretary.
"Lisa, make sure we aren't disturbed.  By anyone!  Got it?"

   "Sure, boss," came Lisa's reply from the hall.  "No problem."

   Rene sat down beside Charity, who offered her brunette colleague an
embarrassed grin.  She felt inexplicably wobbly.

   "I'm so sorry.  I don't know what happened."  She had another sip of
coffee.  "But I'll be okay in a minute."

   Rene laughed and shook her head.  "I usually don't have that effect on
people.  I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to surprise you by hugging you like that.
I'm sorry," she repeated.

   "It just caught me off guard.  Don't apologize.  It was nice."  She gave
her friend a strange look.  "Can I have a cigarette?  I mean, right now?  I'd
really like one."

   Rene was surprised and pleased.  "Of course.  Sure."  She shook out two
Marlboros and gave one to Charity.  "God, I have to admit, kid, that's not the
reaction I expected.  I _always_ want a cigarette to calm down or get my
bearings.  But I didn't expect you to ask for one!"

   Charity got a light from Rene.  The cigarette was perched in still
trembling lips.  "Oh God, thanks," she mumbled, puffing out an initial cloud
of smoke.  Fixing the Marlboro more firmly between her lips, she took a longer
drag.  With an audible whooshing sound she pulled the smoke into her lungs.
"Oh damn, that's good," she sighed.  "Really good!"

   Rene lit up one for herself.  "I know," she smiled.  "Now you understand
why I smoke, Charity.  I never get tired of the kick from a nice, long first
hit on a freshly lit cigarette."  She cocked her wrist and held her Marlboro
by her head.  "You look better now.  The combination of caffeine and nicotine
works wonders, doesn't it?"

   "Yes, it sure does."  Charity took another long, substantial puff.  She
inhaled deeply.  "Rene, I must confess something."  She held the smoke inside
extra long.  "Last night I bought myself a pack of cigarettes.  A pack of my
own."

   Rene smiled.  She didn't seem surprised.  "And?"

   "I smoked by myself at home last night."  She had a guilty smile on her
pretty face.

   "And?"

   "Don't tease like that!  What do you think?  I liked it.  God, I liked it a
hell of a lot!  I suppose Lisa already told you we smoked together last night
when I stopped by?"

   Rene nodded.  "Yeah.  And she also said John Crawford and Robin Sullivan
both gave you some shit for not being a real smoker."

   "They didn't give me shit.  But I was freaked out.  They told me John's
wife Sherry, and his two daughters, all smoke.  God, I used to know Sherry.
She was always so anti-smoking!  But now I guess she smokes, and she lets her
daughters smoke, too.  It was too weird."

   "But now you understand, don't you?"

   Charity reluctantly nodded.  She took another lengthy drag.  "Yeah, I
really do."  She flashed a wry smile as she exhaled.  "The more I smoke, the
better I understand.  Each time I smoke it makes me want another one.  Each
drag I take makes me want more.  It's not bad.  It's very nice.  I like it, so
I want more.  And the more I get, the more I enjoy it, and the enjoy it, the
more I want.  And so on, ad infinitum."  She frowned.  "Is this making sense?"

   Rene nodded.  "Yes, dear.  It makes perfect sense, to me and to every other
smoker in the world."  She reached out and gently stroked Charity's hand.  In
response, Charity jumped again.

   "God, I'm sorry," Rene apologized, pulling back her hand.  "Like I said, I
usually don't have that effect on people."

   Charity's hands shook as she returned her cigarette to her mouth.  With an
extra long hit, she sucked more smoke deep into her lungs.  Her chest
noticeably expanded, further accentuating her breasts.  "It's my problem,
Rene, not yours."  She paused to exhale a thick cloud of smoke.  "I don't
touch people much.  It's been awhile since I've had a relationship.  My mom
gets after me.  She says I need a boyfriend.  But who's got time for a
relationship working sixty hours a week?"  She laughed irreverently.  "And
it's tough finding the right person.  So, when you hugged me, Rene, and then
touched my hand, I guess it set off some kind of alarm inside me.  It's a sad,
quasi-sexual reaction to never getting any anymore, I suppose.  Pathetic!"

   Rene nodded.  She took a thoughtful drag from her Marlboro.  "Charity, can
I ask a personal question?  Is that okay?"

   Charity shrugged.  "Sure.  I just told you my deepest failures.  What could
be worse?"

   "Did you react that way because you're attracted to me?  Sexually, I mean?"
Seeing shock on Charity's face, she smiled and went on.  "However you answer
is okay.  But I must tell you, I finally stopped chasing men because I
couldn't find one who satisfied me, sexually.  I now consider myself bisexual.
I wondered if you are, too."  She smiled sweetly.

   Charity gasped.  Was Rene coming on to her?  "God, I don't know," she
admitted.  She anxiously took another hard drag on her cigarette.  Without
thinking, she followed it up with a second consecutive hit.  She didn't know
what to say, but the smoke filling her lungs made it easier to be totally
honest.  "Yes, I suppose I am attracted to you, Rene.  God, what am I saying?
You're smart, sweet, and . . . ."  She paused and gazed at her.  "And goddamn
beautiful!"

   Rene gave her blond friend a sweet smile.  "Charity, you're very
attractive, too.  You're one of the most beautiful girls I've ever known.  I
mean that.  Now, let me ask something else.  Again, you don't have to answer.
But have you ever been with a woman?"  Her blond colleague slowly shook her
head.  "I thought so.  Would you like try it?  With me?"  Her fair-haired
friend nodded her head up and down, and Rene smiled.

   Rene stood up and pulled Charity to her feet, too.  She was several inches
taller than her blond friend, and she smiled looking down at her.  She took
the almost spent cigarette from Charity's trembling fingers and put it, along
with hers, in the ashtray.  "There," she whispered sweetly.  "This will only
take a second.  And remember, this is just an experiment!"

   Wrapping her arms round the quivering blond, Rene planted her lips on
Charity's mouth.  She kissed her softly, gently, no tongue.  She moved her
hands onto her ass and slowly pulled it against her, increasing the intensity
of her kiss and slightly opening her mouth.  Gently but firmly she thrust her
tongue inside her mouth.  Following a momentary delay, Charity began to kiss
her back.  Suddenly she pulled Rene against her own torso.  Her passion was
evident.

   "Oh my God," she finally gasped, freeing her mouth from her taller
friend's.  "Oh, God, Rene.  This is weird.  But shit!  I want you!"

   "Me, too," the brunette answered.  "I want you, too, Charity.  God, I want
you so bad it hurts, honey."  Their lips joined again.  They kissed
feverishly.  The time for restraint had undeniably passed.  Rene's hands went
up underneath Charity's skirt.  In a flash they were inside her panties, and
her fingers began squeezing her ass.  Charity groaned.  Rene moaned back.

   "I wanted you the first time I saw you, Charity.  You're so beautiful, so
sexy!  Then when you lit up your first cigarette, oh God!  I went fuckin'
crazy.  I _wanted_ you to smoke, Charity, and I was desperate to share the
experience with you.  And now you _are_ smoking, sweetheart.  It makes me so
hot to see you doing it!"  She locked her lips on Charity's again.

   "Wait a minute," Charity mumbled, frantically gasping for air.  "We can't
do this, Rene.  This is dangerous.  Someone's bound to come in."

   "I told Lisa no interruptions, but you're probably right.  It isn't smart
to do this here!"  She panted impatiently.  "But God, I _want_ to, though.  I
really want to!"  She frowned and  took an opportunity to pick up her
cigarette and put it in her mouth for a hard, quick drag.  "Here's what let's
do," she said excitedly, holding smoke in her chest.  "We'll tell Lisa you
forgot to bring some deposition transcripts.  You left them at home.  We have
to go to your place to get them.  I have to go along, because you're not sure
which ones I'm talking about.  Do you live alone?"  Charity nodded eagerly.
"Good," she went on.  "No one'll notice how long we're gone."  She kissed her
blond companion again.  "Because I can't wait, baby.  God, I'm so wet!"

   "Shit, me, too," Charity gasped.  Following Rene's lead, she picked up her
cigarette and took a quick, hard drag.  Then she had a second one, performing
a double-pump.  "Let's do it."

   Consumed with passion, Charity didn't stop to think that she'd never been
with a woman.  She didn't consider herself bisexual, or a lesbian, or
anything.  She just wanted Rene, and she wanted her pretty brunette friend to
have her, too, as fast as possible.

   Rene took from her desk the two unopened packs of cigarettes.  "Can we
smoke at your place?"  Charity nodded, and Rene grinned.  "Good!  Thank God!
I want to smoke with you, sweetie.  Now that you smoke, I want to do it while
we make love.  I hope you don't mind, but I love smoking while having sex.  I
want to watch you smoke buck naked."  She laughed.  "God, I can't wait to see
you undress, Charity, to see your pretty titties and that firm ass of yours.
I want to eat your pussy like you've never been eaten before."

   "Wait a second, Rene."  Charity took a breath.  "Calm down.  We can't walk
out looking like we're on our way to bed."  She crushed her cigarette in the
ashtray, picked up her coffee and took a delicate sip.  "We have to settle
down."  She grinned lecherously.  "I don't want to stop, but we need to relax
and look normal before leaving your office."

   "Right," Rene gasped.  She sat behind her desk and took a deep breath.
"One thing always helps me relax.  Another cigarette!  Do you want one, too?
I hope you do!"

   "Sure," Charity shrugged.  "Why the hell not?"  She accepted another of her
tall friend's Marlboro Lights 100s.  "Thanks."  She held it to her lips and
waited for Rene to do the honors.  The pretty brunette did, lighting Charity's
cigarette and then hers.

   Charity dragged deep and stretched while holding smoke in her chest.  "I
_have_ to become a regular smoker now," she said with a mischievous grin
before pausing to exhale.  "That is, assuming you and I will be more than a
one night stand.  I mean, a one morning stand," she added, laughing.

   "I'm completely open, Charity.  Like you, I don't have enough time to
develop relationships.  The last few years I've been pretty promiscuous, to
tell you the truth.  But I'm really open to something long-term."  She smiled
as she took another puff.  "That's saying something, because we've never even
had sex.  But I'm not worried.  You're a beautiful person.  It'll be
wonderful.  I'm sure of that!"

   "The idea's still a little weird to me," Charity confessed.  "I've never
done it with a woman.  And right now I don't want to have sex with women in
general.  I want to have sex with _you_ Rene.  You're so pretty, and I like
you _so_ much.  We get along great.  I can imagine something happening between
us that might last."

   "Me, too," Rene smiled, reaching out her free hand and taking Charity's.
"Me, too."

   They spent the entire morning at Charity's.  They never looked at
deposition transcripts.  They kissed, cuddled and pleasured each other in bed
for hours.  And they smoked.  Rene insisted they smoke while making love.
Charity found it stimulating.  The combination of smoking, much more heavily,
and passionately making love with her beautiful, statuesque, new brunette
lover, made her come again and again.  By the time the morning was over, both
girls were exhausted; exhausted, but intensely satisfied.

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