Conflict of Interest, Part 7

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

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

7.	The Deal.

   Sandy Rogers sat in Charity's office and shook her head.  "Explain one more
time this so-called 'deal' that you worked out with that bitch, Rene
Williams."

   It was seven forty-five in the morning.  After an urgent call from Charity
the night before, Sandy agreed to meet her at her law office first thing the
next morning.  As always, Charity smoked a couple cigarettes in the car
driving to work.  To her chagrin, she'd run out of breath mints.  Instead, she
squirted extra perfume all over her clothes and hair to hide the tell-tale
odor.

   Sandy noticed the perfume.  It was conspicuous, and it was her favorite
scent.  She wondered if Charity put it on just for her.  She hoped so.  She
really liked Charity.  Perhaps 'liked' wasn't the right word.  'Wanted' was
more like it.  The young female lawyer with the supple body and bright smile
had attracted Sandy's attention from the start.  Now, though, this beautiful
young lawyer was giving her unbelievably bad news!

   Sandy sputtered.  "Damn!  You said you'd scare Larilyn so she wouldn't
pursue her blackmail idea.  The threatening letter didn't work, did it?"

   "No, it didn't," Charity gulped.  She smiled somewhat self-consciously.
"But then, I didn't expect that she'd hire a smart lawyer like Rene Williams
to represent her."

   "Ah, yes, Rene Williams," Sandy snorted.  "I hate that bitch!  She beat me
in that lawsuit over the city ordinance a few years ago.  I've never
forgotten.  God, it's so ironic she's Larilyn's lawyer.  But it figures.
Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong!"

   Charity took a breath.  "Sandy, there are a few things I must tell you
before I outline the terms of the non-disclosure agreement Rene and I
discussed last night.  After you hear them, you may decide you don't want me
representing you anymore, and that's fine.  Ed Smith can find you another
associate here in our office to handle this matter if you want."

   Sandy smiled seductively.  "Charity, I doubt that'll be necessary.  I'm
_so_ much more comfortable with a female lawyer.  I'm already quite fond of
you."

   "Well, you may not be after you hear what I say.  See, Rene Williams is my
roommate."

   "What?!"

   "That's right.  Rene and I have been living together for almost six
months."

   "So, that means that Rene is ? your lover?"

   Charity nodded.  "Yep, that's what it means.  But please don't mention it
to anyone."

   Sandy smiled lasciviously.  "God!  So, Rene Williams is a dyke, too?  I
don't believe it."

   "I don't know if Rene is technically a lesbian or just bi-sexual," Charity
fudged.  "But I wanted you to know about our relationship, in case you want to
request new counsel because of it.  I don't believe my relationship with Rene
is a conflict of interest that would preclude me from representing you.  But
if you feel uncomfortable with the situation, you can replace me."

   Sandy frowned, then smiled warmly.  "I don't want to lose you, Charity.  I
like you."

   "Thanks.  But there's something else you should know."

   "Wait a minute," Sandy interrupted.  She began to realize what was coming.
"Rene Williams smokes.  She works for that damn pro-smoking firm, Johnson &
Myers.  You and Rene live together."  She paused and gasped.  "Oh shit!  You
don't smoke, too, do you?"

   Charity froze.  "Yeah," she admitted softly.  "Yes, I do.  That's the
second thing I wanted you to know.  I started smoking when Rene and I began
our relationship."

   "Damn.  God, this is terrible.  Just when I was getting comfortable with
you."

   "And there's one more thing.  No one at Williams & Connors knows, but I
need to tell you, Sandy.  I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this
particular fact to Ed Smith.  Yesterday Randy Myers at Johnson & Myers offered
me a job, and I tentatively accepted.  I haven't told Ed, but I originally
intended to give my notice today.  I'm holding off resigning, though, till
this matter's resolved.  Either you'll ask me to be replaced, which is fine,
or we'll settle or try the case.  I can't represent you and be in the middle
of changing firms, because the other firm is handling the case for Larilyn."

   Sandy shook her head.  "Shit!  I should probably talk to Ed about this."

   "That'll be fine.  I'd only ask that you let me talk to him first if you do
intend to mention my intention to leave Williams & Connors."

   "Wait.  First, let's hear about the proposed settlement.  What are the
terms?  Maybe we can resolve this quickly, and then you can join those
bastards at Johnson & Myers."  She paused.  "Really, Charity, I have to say,
I'm quite disappointed in you."

   "I'm sure," she sighed.  "But it's an excellent firm, and they're offering
me the chance to do something I can't ever do here at Williams & Connors."

   "The chance to smoke at work, right?"  Seeing her lawyer nod, Sandy sighed.
"Shit!  Ordinarily I'd never let a smoker represent me.  But it's definitely
an unusual situation.  We only have a couple days left till Larilyn sends out
those fuckin' pictures.  So let's hear about the settlement you and Rene came
up with."

   "Okay," she gulped.  "I did some research.  Despite what my letter said,
I'm not sure we can convince a judge to grant a temporary restraining order or
a gag order.  It's a big risk to try, because if the judge turns us down, the
fact of your uh, your sexual preference is on record for anyone and everyone
to see."

   "But isn't blackmail illegal?"

   "There's nothing in writing.  She's only made an oral request."  Charity
smiled as she thought of the 'oral' nature of both parts of Larilyn's demand.
"Her distributing the pictures isn't per se illegal.  They belong to her, and
you let her take them.  I'm afraid it doesn't look good for you, Sandy.  We
don't have much leverage.  The final point is, she hasn't asked you to do
anything that's actually illegal.  Smoking is a legal activity, of course."

   "And you're not just saying this because Larilyn's lawyer is your lover?"

   Charity frowned and shook her head.  "Sandy, I'm giving you independent,
impartial advice.  My personal feelings never color the advice I give clients.
But I told you.  If you want to replace me, I'm happy to step aside.  If you
lack confidence in my counsel, then you should.  This is no picnic for me,
either, believe me.  Ed can easily get someone else to take over for me, and
we won't bill you for any time I've spent on this."

   "No, I don't want that.  I'm sorry," Sandy apologized.  The scent of
Charity's lovely perfume assailed her olfactory nerves.  "My last comment was
uncalled for.  I'm sure you're being totally professional and giving me the
best possible legal advice."

   "Yes, I am.  But you might want to consider locking Larilyn up with a
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement."

   "I assume that agreement would prohibit Larilyn from distributing the
pictures and from telling anyone about my lesbianism?  And what would I have
to do to get her to sign it?"

   "That's the hard part," Charity admitted.  "Rene says Larilyn won't agree
to anything unless you smoke with her, the same deal she first proposed."
Before Sandy objected, she went on.  "But the agreement would bind her
forever, and could contain a big liquidated damages clause.  It'd bind her
lawyers, too.  I suspect you have more than a few enemies at Johnson & Myers.
The non-disclosure agreement would bind them as well."

   "Oh, God, I hadn't thought of that.  You're right.  They now know, too."
She glared.  "Shit.  They'd love nothing better than to bring my whole career
crashing to the ground."

   "That's why my best professional, legal advice is this:  Just do it.  I
mean, how bad can it be?  So you have to smoke a few cigarettes?  So what?
Big deal.  It won't kill you, Sandy."  She smirked.  "And plus, you'd get to
meet Adrienne.  Rene says she really is hot!"

   "Well, counselor, I guess you're telling me that I have no choice?"

   "You always have a choice," Charity explained.  "But any other course of
action creates a real risk that Larilyn or her lawyers will go public about
your sexual proclivities.  Smoking with Larilyn and Adrienne is the only route
that guarantees there will never be any disclosure."

   Sandy looked worried.  "God, I suppose you're right.  No, I'm sure you are.
I trust you, Charity.  I'm not worried about your conflict of interest."
Before Charity objected it wasn't technically a conflict, Sandy resumed.  "But
there's something else I never told you.  When I do, you'll understand my
reluctance to submit to Larilyn's demand."

   "What is it?"

   Sandy stood up and began to pace.  "I grew up in the sixties.  I graduated
from high school in 1968.  You weren't there, Charity, but it was an amazing
time of revolution."  Her eyes took on a far-away look.  "It was flower power
and love-is-all-you-need.  Women's politics was just coming of age.  And there
I was, in the midst of it."

   "And?"

   "So, most women my age, in high school and college, did everything possible
to show our independence from traditional patriarchal models.  Conventional
male-dominated wisdom said good girls didn't smoke.  But that was changing in
the sixties.  My junior year in high school, Philip Morris came out with a new
cigarette, one designed for exclusively for women."

   Charity gasped.  She knew what Sandy was talking about.  "Virginia Slims?"

   "Yeah, that's right.  Then you know something about the sixties.  Well, all
my friends and I were involved in women's rights.  Smoking Virginia Slims was
one way to make a significant statement.  We didn't realize we'd been sucked
in by the male dominated marketing manipulators at Philip Morris.  So they,
and I, we all smoked, and we all smoked Virginia Slims."

   "So you were a smoker?  That's no big deal."

   "Oh, it was!  In my case, it was.  Smoking became an absolute obsession for
me.  It hit me hard and early.  By the time I began college in the fall of
1968, I smoked a pack a day.  At UCLA it only got worse.  I smoked like a
fiend all through college, and afterward.  I didn't quit smoking till after I
graduated from Harvard law school in 1975.  At that point I smoked two packs a
day every single day."

   "God, I never knew you went to law school.  So you're a lawyer?" Charity
mused.  She couldn't help but giggle hearing this revelation.  "And you were
addicted to cigarettes?"

   Sandy nodded.  "Yeah.  In those days we didn't know to call it addiction.
But yes, I was addicted to nicotine.  Lots of radical feminists like me smoked
in those days.  The Surgeon General issued his first warning about smoking and
health in January 1964.  But no one took it seriously till the evidence
mounted afterward.  1970 saw the end of tobacco advertising on TV.  It was
then I first started to think about quitting, though I didn't till five years
later.  I knew I was smoking way too much, and it wasn't good for me."

   "But why tell me this?  What does your past life have to do with Larilyn's
demand that you smoke with her?  It sounds to me like it'd be no problem."

   "Oh, it's a problem, Charity.  When I quit back in '75, I almost fuckin'
died!  It was the hardest thing I ever did.  Remember, I smoked two packs a
day.  The cravings I had were excruciating.  If I went an hour without a
cigarette, I was a wreck.  In those days many profs in college and law school
let us smoke in class.  If they didn't, I smoked right before class started
and then, the second it was over, I had a cigarette in my mouth as I walked
out the door into the hall.  Bang, I lit up the second I hit the exit.  I was
terrible, Charity.  Absolutely terrible.  A total addict.  Thank God I was
finally able to quit.  But it was agonizing."  She took a deep breath.  "So,
you may ask, what does this have to do with anything?  Just this.  I'm afraid
if I smoke a pack of cigarettes with Larilyn, which is what she's demanding,
all those old cravings will return.  I do _not_ want to go through the pain of
quitting again!"

   Charity nodded.  "I see.  So, you're afraid that if you smoke with Larilyn,
you might find it hard not to start up all over again?  And this time you
might not be able to stop?"

   Sandy shook her head.  "No, I'd be able to stop.  I did it once.  It's the
_pain_ I'm afraid of.  The agonizing, excruciating pain of nicotine
withdrawal.  Damn!  It makes me shiver just thinking about it."

   The female lawyer smiled.  "Is that why you became such a violent
anti-smoking advocate?  Was it because of your own experience quitting
smoking?"

   "Yeah, it was a factor.  I know from experience how hard it is for kids to
quit once they start.  It doesn't seem difficult at first.  You think you can
quit anytime.  That's what I thought, too.  But then when you actually try
quitting, it's a different story.  That'll happen to you, Charity, poor dear,
when you try to quit.  You'll want to, and it'll be hell to pay.  Take my
advice, sweetie; quit right now, today, before nicotine gets its hooks in you
any deeper."

   Charity laughed.  "But I don't _want_ to quit.  I like smoking, Sandy.  To
be honest, I don't care about all the health bullshit."  A look of horror hit
her client's face.  "I'm sorry, Sandy, but it's true.  I love to smoke!  I
don't pay attention to the stupid health stuff.  I love to smoke too much.  I
don't know if quitting would be hard for me.  I suppose it would.  But I can't
imagine it, because I don't ever want to stop smoking."

   "You'll change your mind eventually.  I did."

   Charity shrugged.  "I don't' know about that.  We'll see.  But now I want
to smoke more, not less.  That's why I'm going to join Johnson & Myers, so I
can smoke more."

   "But what about your family?  Surely they don't want you to smoke!"

   "Actually, you'd be surprised.  My mom and my older sister both smoke, and
have for years.  When I finally told them I started, they weren't upset.  Oh,
I think Mom was a little concerned.  But that was it.  Mom's smoked for thirty
years, and Alison has been a smoker for fifteen.  We actually have more in
common now that we smoke together.  It's been nice."

   Sandy shook her head.  "One day you'll see the light, dear.  I'm so sorry."
She sighed.  "But back to business.  I guess you're saying I'm up shit creek.
Despite my fears, I'm going to have to join Larilyn in her perverse game of
corruption?"

   "Does Larilyn know you used to smoke?"

   "I don't think so.  She might.  I never mentioned it at the lung
association.  I'm not proud of that part of my history, you know."

   "I see.  Well, to answer your question, yeah, I think you have to go
through with it.  But it's just one pack of cigarettes, Sandy.  Do what
Larilyn asks, get her to sign the non-disclosure agreement and give you back
the negatives, and it'll be over and done.  Forever."

   Suddenly Sandy had an idea.  "Charity," she said slowly.  "You're right.  I
have to do this, to protect my reputation.  So here's the deal.  Call that
bitch Rene Williams and tell her I accept her client's terms, if she'll sign a
tough non-disclosure agreement that bars everyone from telling about my sexual
life.  And that includes this Adrienne person, as well as Larilyn's lawyers."
She winced.  "I'm sorry.  I shouldn't call Rene a 'bitch' in your presence,
should I?"

   Charity shrugged.  "Lawyers are used to being called all kinds of names.
It comes with the territory.  I don't take it personally.  I'm sure Rene
doesn't, either."  She smiled.  "In fact, she's called you some choice names,
too."

   Sandy sat back down and began to turn on her charm.  "Yeah, I bet she has.
But if I do this, Charity, I need to ask you a favor.  I can't walk into that
room with Larilyn and her friend Adrienne completely unprepared.  So I was
wondering.  Are you willing to ??  Can you help me practice smoking again?
I'd rather smoke my first cigarette in thirty years with you, someone I trust,
rather than Larilyn.  Can we get together, say tonight?  You could run me
through the paces all over again."

   Charity was flabbergasted.  "What?  You want to smoke with me tonight?"

   "Sure," smiled the older woman, fluffing her short blond hair.  The idea of
spending the evening with her beautiful lawyer made Sandy exceptionally hot,
even if it meant she had to smoke.  "Why not?  That way, with your help, I can
get comfortable before going into the lion's den."  She touched her lawyer's
hand.  "I'd really appreciate it, Charity.  You've been very kind to me, even
though you're a smoker.  This would be an immense help."

   The blond lawyer hesitated.  "Well, I guess I could."  The feel of Sandy's
fingers on her own was strangely electric.  There _was_ something about this
woman!  Against her better judgment, she nodded her head in agreement.  "Okay.
Do you want to meet somewhere?"

   Sandy frowned, then smiled sweetly.  "We can't meet in public; and we sure
as hell can't meet at your place!  Your roommate, Rene, might be there.  No.
I guess we need to meet at my place.  As much as I don't want that foul
tobacco smell lingering in my house, it's the only answer.  How about stopping
over around eight?"

   Charity wondered what else in addition to smoking was on Sandy's agenda.
"All right," she slowly replied, despite her foreboding.  "I'll be there at
eight.  I'll bring my cigarettes."

   "Fine," Sandy said, with surprising eagerness.  "Here's the address.  And
remember, not a word about this to anyone.  Not to Ed Smith, or to Larilyn's
counsel.  Right?"

   Charity nodded.  "Right," she agreed.  No, she _definitely_ would not tell
Rene!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Rene and Larilyn met over the lunch hour.  She reported on her conversation
with Charity.  At first Larilyn was disappointed Charity wouldn't agree to
pull her punches, but she was delighted when Rene told her of the tentative
settlement on a non-disclosure agreement.

   "I don't mind promising not to tell," she admitted.  "I was willing to do
that from the start.  The only thing I care about is getting that blond bitch,
the Hillary Clinton look-alike, to smoke with us.  Maybe Adrienne and I can
get her hooked.  If that happens," she went on, with a big smile on her face,
"then I'll be deliriously happy!  And even if it doesn't, the revenge will be
sweet."

   Rene lit up another cigarette.  Larilyn looked at her half empty pack of
Marlboro Lights 100's.  "Can I ask you a personal question, Rene?"

   "Sure," her lawyer replied.  "Shoot."

   "Why do you smoke lights?  You've obviously smoked for years.  I smoked
your brand when I started, but after awhile I had to switch to something
stronger and more satisfying."  She took a gold pack of full-flavor Benson &
Hedges from her purse.  "Now _these_ babies are worth smoking!  Have you ever
tried something stronger than Marlboro Lights?"

   "Oh, sure," Rene smiled, watching Larilyn slip one from her pack into her
mouth..  "I like full flavor cigarettes.  I occasionally buy a pack as a
special treat, if I want to be especially nice to myself.  But for day-in and
day-out smoking, I prefer something lighter, like these."

   Larilyn shook her head.  "Not me," she said, lighting up a B&H.  "I switch
around a lot, though.  Sometimes I smoke More 120's, and sometimes Marlboro
100's.  Recently it's been these lovely B&H's."  She took a long drag and
inhaled.  "I like my smoke thick and rich, see," she said with a pleasant
smile, holding it inside.  "For a kick I occasionally even smoke unfiltered
cigarettes.  That's what _I_ buy myself for a special treat."

   Rene shrugged.  "Whatever.  But what do you think?  You have no problem
signing a tough non-disclosure agreement?"

   "No problem at all," Larilyn confidently answered.  "Just let me get my
hands on Sandy Rogers and make her smoke.  Adrienne and I'll do the rest.  By
the time we're done, maybe she won't care about the non-disclosure agreement
or keeping her fuckin' job at the lung association!"

   "I don't know," Rene cautioned.  "Don't be too sure.  In any case, I'll put
a covenant not to sue into the nondisclosure agreement, to make sure she can't
change her mind and come after you two guys later."

   "Whatever you think.  You're the lawyer.  Say, did you warn your roommate
about Sandy?  I told you, she can be very seductive."

   Rene laughed.  "Yeah, I mentioned it.  But it doesn't matter.  What on
earth would my lover want in Sandy Rogers?"

   "I don't know, but I'm telling you.  That woman is like a mad dog in a meat
market when she smells young, female flesh.  If she wants it, she'll figure
out some way to get it!"

   "Relax," Rene smiled, exhaling a cone of smoke.  "There's no way Charity
will ever be tempted by Sandy, anti-smoking, Rogers!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   After school Priscilla drove Penny to the Crawford's.  Penny was eager to
get there, and Priscilla knew why.  She was delighted by her little sister's
newfound enthusiasm for tobacco.

   "So, I take it you're ready to smoke again?"

   "Yeah," Penny giggled.  "I've been looking forward to it all day."

   "I don't know if I mentioned it, but Grace's sister Beth and I worked it
out to smoke over the lunch hour.  Is that cool, or what?"

   "No kidding?"  Penny was envious.  It wasn't that she _needed_ to smoke
over lunch, because she didn't.  But the idea of it seemed incredibly neat.

   "Yeah," her sister nonchalantly smiled.  "It sure is nice to smoke more
often.  God, if we thought about it, maybe we could figure out some way for
you and Grace to join us."

   Oh, wow, Pris," Penny gasped.  "Could you?  I mean, that'd be so great!"

   "Sure," she graciously replied.  "I'll talk to Beth to see what we can do."
The car pulled into the Crawford driveway.  "Here you go, Squirt.  Have a nice
afternoon smoking with Grace.  I plan to do the same, except I'll be with Beth
and Mary and my other friends."

   "Thanks, Pris.  You're a great sister!"  She paused.  "Don't you wish you
could smoke in your car?  That'd be the best, wouldn't it?"

   "Yeah, I thought about it.  But it's risky.  Mom rides in here once in
awhile, and if she smelled anything fishy ?."  She shuddered.  "I'd be dead,
for sure.  I'll bide my time.  But I promise, Squirt.  As soon as I'm
eighteen, I'm out of the closet.  I don't care what Mom, Dad or even Aunt
Sandy say.  I'm smoking, and there's no way they can stop me!"

   "You're lucky," Penny frowned.  "You only have less than a year to go.  I'm
just fifteen.  I have to wait almost three years to smoke out in the open."

   "Look on the bright side," Priscilla countered.  "I didn't start till this
year.  You have two extra years to have the benefit of smoking.  So, enjoy!"

   "I will!  And thanks again."

   As Priscilla drove off, she felt pleased.  Her little sister showed all the
signs of giving herself over completely to smoking.  At this rate, she
wouldn't be able to back out even if she wanted.  Having Penny as an
accomplice in crime was helpful in many ways.  She laughed wickedly and looked
inside her purse at a half empty pack of Marlboro Menthol Lights 100's.  She
grinned and patted it.  God, she couldn't _wait_ to have one.  It'd been a
long time since lunch.  Too long ?..

   Meanwhile, Grace met Penny at the door.  The blond teenager hurriedly told
her brunette friend about smoking with her sister the night before.  She was
so excited talking about it that she forgot about actually smoking.

   "Wow, that's so cool," Grace agreed.  She shot a sideways glance at the
table where her pack of Salem Lights 100's rested.  "But don't you want a
cigarette now?"

   Penny laughed.  "Oh, yeah, I almost forgot."  She graciously accepted a
Salem from her friend.  "Thanks, Grace.  I've been looking forward to this all
day!"

   "Me, too.  I had one before you came.  I need to smoke just as soon as I
get home," she admitted.  "But I'm ready for another one.  I'm always ready
for more!"  She held out her lighter and lit up Penny.  Then she lit up her
own Salem.  "God, this is nice, isn't it?"

   "Yeah, sure is," Penny agreed, pushing a long, thick exhale through pursed
lips.  She'd learned a lot in just twenty-four hours, and immediately put her
knowledge to use.  She took a second drag, longer than her first, and right
away inhaled deeply.  Her enthusiasm wasn't contrived this time.  She
luxuriated in the experience.

   "You seem more confident smoking today," Grace noted.  "I guess you like it
okay?"

   "Oh, yeah," Penny smiled.  She deliberately held her cigarette beside her
head, with her wrist cocked, and let the smoke drift past her face.  "I love
it.  And Prissy wants to spend more time with me now, since we both smoke."
She listened to her words.  We both smoke.  The phrase sounded so ?so
deliciously sophisticated!  She paused for another hit.  "Prissy says she and
your sister will try to figure out a way for us to join them smoking over
lunchtime at school."  She opened her mouth and exhaled a cone of thick
mentholated smoke.

   Grace nodded.  "I talked to Beth about it, too," she admitted.  "I think
all we need is for our parents to write a note letting us leave the building
with our sisters."

   Penny's face fell.  "Oh," she mumbled glumly.  "Rats!  That'll never
happen.  My mom will never write me a note giving permission to leave campus
with Prissy."

   "Chin up, Penny.  Think.  Maybe we can figure out some reason for your mom
to let you.  I know _my_ mom will do it for me."  She grinned.  "God, it'd be
really cool to get to smoke over lunch, wouldn't it?"

   "Sure would," Penny agreed.  She pondered the situation taking another long
drag.  There _had_ to be a way.  There just had to.

   They began work on the project, intermittently smoking as they did.  Grace
marveled at Penny's quick assimilation into a regular smoking routine.  Grace
followed her usual pattern of lighting up every half hour or so.  Each time
Penny joined her for a cigarette.  Her drags grew progressively longer, and
her inhales deeper.  She seemed to suffer no ill effects from smoking.  Grace
had to smile.  It looked like she finally had a fellow smoker in her class at
school!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Charity stood on the loading dock having her late afternoon cigarette.
More and more, smoking helped her think clearly.  At that moment her attention
was fixed on her job offer from Johnson & Myers.  She couldn't leave Williams
& Connors till the matter with Sandy Rogers was over.  But had she made too
hasty a decision telling Randy Myers she'd come?  After all, the only people
she talked to were Rene and Randy.  They were in a recruiting mode and weren't
objective.  But she didn't expect them to be.  As she took a long, extended
puff, she remembered someone else she knew pretty well at the firm:  John
Crawford, the corporate lawyer, also formerly of Williams & Connors.

   She exhaled a long stream of smoke and remembered something she told John
the last time she saw him.  She promised to get together with his wife Sherry
to chat.  John told her Sherry now smoked.  It made Charity smile.  Sherry
Crawford would be a great person to talk to, someone more objective to
consider the pluses and minuses of being associated with Johnson & Myers.  She
knew if switching firms had really made her husband happy.

   As she thought about it, she chained into a second cigarette.  Somewhere in
her rolodex was John and Sherry's home address and phone number.  What the
hell?  She'd just stop over, unannounced, to talk to Sherry alone.  She didn't
want John "selling" her.  She wanted to know how Sherry felt, as an outside
observer, about life at the two firms.  Was John really glad to be there?  It
was a key question, and one John's wife would probably answer more honestly.

   After her second cigarette, she determined to drop in unannounced on Sherry
Crawford.  But when?  She thought about that.  She remembered John rarely left
the office before six thirty.  She could drop by after work and catch Sherry
just as soon as she got home.  She also remembered Sherry used to work nine
till five at the library.  Probably still did.  If she stopped by their house
after work, at say, five thirty, she'd catch Sherry before John got there.
She took a last hit on her Marlboro Light 100 and dropped it to the ground.
She crushed it under the heel of her shoe, exhaled, and smiled.  She'd stop by
the Crawfords' on her way home.  She'd spend an hour with Sherry, chat briefly
with John, and then grab a bite before heading to Sandy Rogers'.

   She walked in the back door and went to the elevator.  Late in the day few
people went up.  She was glad, because she smelled strongly of cigarette
smoke.  It was still a secret that she was a smoker.  But if her conversation
with Sherry Crawford went well, as she hoped, and if they settled Sandy
Rogers' dispute, then it wouldn't be a secret much longer!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Rene let the phone ring till Charity's voice mail kicked in.  "Hi, this is
Charity Harrison.  I'm away from my desk.  Leave a message with your name, the
date, and time of your call, and I'll call you back.  Thanks."

   Rene waited through the ensuring instructions to leave a message.  "Hi,
Charity, this is Rene.  You were going to meet with your client to discuss the
settlement agreement with non-disclosure provisions.  I haven't heard from
you, but I met with Ms. Dahlberg.  She's willing to sign a strong
non-disclosure agreement and turn over the negatives as soon as your client,
uh, satisfies her other conditions.  Of course, the non-disclosure agreement
will contain no reference to the other conditions.  That'd be embarrassing to
both parties.  Anyway, give me a call.  Let me know if we have a deal.  It's
Thursday afternoon.  As you know, my client intends to send the pictures
Monday.  If we're going to reach agreement, we need to move fast.  I assume
you'll prepare the agreement.  Let me know when you're ready for me to look at
a draft."  She paused.  She wasn't sure if Charity's secretary listened to her
voice mail.  She decided not to leave a personal 'I love you.'  She finished
by leaving her office number and hung up.

   She reached for her cigarettes.  Before she lit up, she paused.  She
considered what Larilyn said about preferring stronger, full flavor
cigarettes.  Suddenly that sounded damned good.  Hell, she deserved a treat!
Slipping the Marlboro Light 100 back into her pack she ambled down the hall.
She stopped at the door of Bonnie Martin's office.  Bonnie was a
twenty-something female who was John Crawford's corporate paralegal.  A pert
redhead, Bonnie was smoking at her desk, as usual, working at her computer.
Rene's eyes surveyed Bonnie's desk top.  She saw what she was looking for.
Beside the full ashtray sat a pack of Marlboro 100's.

   "Hey, Bonnie," she said, slipping into the small office and sitting in the
side chair across from her desk.  "How are you doing?"

   "Fine, Rene," the redhead smiled.  She raised her cork-tipped Marlboro 100
to her lips, wrapped her lips around the filter, and drew hard.  "What can I
do for you?"

   Rene smiled.  "I was wondering.  Could I bum a cigarette?"

   "Sure, no problem," Bonnie said cheerfully.  She thrust out her lower jaw
and exhaled upwards.  "You run out?"

   "Not exactly," Rene grinned, accepting a cork-tipped Marlboro.  "A client
today asked why I smoke lights.  My client switched to full flavor cigarettes
a few months back and likes 'em much better.  I told her I occasionally buy
myself full flavor cigarettes as a treat.  But Bonnie, I've mostly smoked
lights for years now.  For awhile it was Merits; then I switched to Marlboro
Lights."  She stopped long enough to accept a light.  "Mm, thanks," she sighed
happily, after an initial puff which she inhaled deep inside her chest.  "So I
got to thinking," she went on cheerily, stopping to exhale the thick, rich
smoke.  "Maybe my client's right.  Maybe I deserve to smoke something stronger
all the time."

   The pretty redhead beamed.  "God, Rene, I agree!  Everyone has their
preferences, but I for one can't stand low-cal cigarettes.  I want to smoke a
brand I can really taste!"

   "And these _are_ good," Rene admitted, drawing again on the cork-tipped
Marlboro.  She had to agree.  Full flavored Red 100's had a more robust
tobacco taste, and a decidedly stronger nicotine kick.  She smiled.  "Yeah,
maybe when I finish my current carton, I'll think about trading up, so to
speak."

   "Marlboro 100's aren't just good, Rene.  They're the best!"  The unbridled
enthusiasm from the paralegal was apparent.  "You really _should_ switch,"
Bonnie added, "and don't wait!"  She picked up her half-empty pack and offered
it to Rene.  "Here, take the rest of these."

   "Oh, Bonnie, I can't.  That's not necessary."

   "Don't be silly.  I insist.  Don't worry; I have plenty more where these
came from."  Bonnie opened her desk drawer and took out a fresh, unopened, red
and white pack of Marlboro 100's.  "I keep a carton in my desk, to make sure I
never run out."  She grinned.  "I never want to run out of cigarettes!
Smoking's just too important to me, as you can tell," she added, pointing
toward the overflowing ashtray on her desk.

   Rene put the cigarette between her lips.  With a slightly embarrassed grin
she took the half-empty pack and slipped it in the patch pocket of her navy
blazer.  "Thanks, Bonnie.  I appreciate it.  These are damn good!  They taste
much richer than my Marlboro Lights."

   "Of course," Bonnie smiled.  Her green eyes sparkled, complementing her
short, close-cropped red hair.  "Some of us here at Johnson & Myers are still
_real_ smokers.  The other Bonnie, at the front desk?  She also smokes Reds.
I'd love to see you join us, Rene.  I'm always glad whenever another woman
comes into true smoking enjoyment."

   Rene laughed.  "Bonnie, you're too funny.  You sound like a commercial!"

   "I've only been at J&M a couple years.  It's great to work someplace where
the only issue is _what_ you smoke, not whether you smoke or how much."  She
sighed.  "What a great change from Williams & Connors!"

   "Oh, that's right," Rene acknowledged, still puffing on her cork-tipped
cigarette.  "You came with John Crawford from Williams & Connors.  Did you
know Charity Harrison there?"

   "Oh, sure," Bonnie smiled.  "Charity is a good egg."

   "Yes, she is.  Very confidentially, Charity has been talking with Randy
Myers about joining us at J&M.  I expect it will be announced officially very
soon."

   "God, that's great."  But there was hesitation in Bonnie's voice.  "Charity
doesn't smoke, does she?"

   "Oh, yes she does," Rene triumphantly grinned.  "She started less than a
year ago, but she's definitely one of us now.  Yeah, she smokes, big time.  It
happened while Charity and I worked together on that big bank case.  No one at
Williams & Connors knows.  That's part of why she wants to come here.  She'll
come out of the closet as a smoker once she joins our litigation group."

   Bonnie sighed.  "Charity belongs here then.  Congratulations, Rene.  It
sounds like you got a convert.  Now all we need is to make sure Charity's
smoking full flavor cigarettes."

   "Charity's a lights girl," Rene smiled.  "But who knows?  If I switch,
maybe she will, too."

   "Rene, what do you mean 'if'?"  She grinned from ear to ear.  "So, you guys
are friends?"

   "Yeah, you might say that," she mysteriously replied.  "Actually, we're
roommates."

   "Oh.  That's great.  Well, be sure to give her my best.  Tell Charity I'll
be glad to see her move to the winning team.  This place is the best!  And not
only because we can smoke.  It's the people, the clients, everything.  I'm so
glad John brought me over with him!"

   Rene went back to her office still smoking the Marlboro 100.  Her secretary
Lisa noticed the cork-tipped cigarette as she passed by.  She called out.
"Hey, boss.  What's with the different cigarette?  You out?"

   "No.  I just felt like having one of Bonnie's Reds, a little treat.  You
know, something a bit stronger."

   Lisa nodded.  "I understand.  I do that.  I buy a pack of full strength
Salem 100's.  Hey, what's up with Charity?  I saw her in here yesterday
talking to you and Randy Myers.  Is she going to join us?"

   Rene smiled.  "Lisa, you're clairvoyant.  It's still confidential, but yes,
Charity accepted an offer to become an associate here at J&M."

   "I _knew_ it," the blond secretary declared jubilantly.  "You must be happy
about that, boss, especially since you and she room together.  You guys must
be pretty good friends!."

   "Yeah," Rene sighed.  "We sure are.  And I'm ecstatic."  For reasons you
can't even imagine, Lisa, she thought to herself.  At least, she mused, I'll
be ecstatic when we finally get this damn Dahlberg versus Rogers case
finished.

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