The Trainee

Ashley met up with her friends.  They’d done it, all three had management trainee jobs with the same company.  Ashley thought she’d done better than Abbie or Amber and got a single manager as her mentor.  Not only that but Michael whose reputation as a deal maker went before him. 

Michael put down the phone.  He’d just been chosen as the ideal manager to have a potential high flyer management trainee attached to him and no he had no choice in the matter. He was stuck with her for a year unless she resigned or was fired.  They knew him too well he’d play fair with her but he could do without hand holding someone wet behind the ears. 

Still there was always rotations and training and he didn’t have to supervise her personally all the time.  He’d go and talk nicely to Ellie on the shop floor and see if she had any ideas. 

Ellie looked at him as if he was mad.  “She’ll have a MBA and thinks she knows it all.”  “We’d better help her get her hands dirty then.”  “You could have Veronica show her the ropes.  She’s bright and wasted on the line.  We picked her up when Foster’s went under.”  “What’ll it cost me?”  “She gets the same courses?”  Ellie yelled out “Berry get your bum over here at the double.”  “Berry?”  “Bernice is a variation of Veronica, hence Berry.”  Berry walked over “Got your knickers in a twist again and want me to straighten them out?”  “No I just got fed up with your ugly face and thought I’d feed you to the lions.”  Berry looked him over and Michael felt himself blush.  “He looks all right to me.”  “Right then you’re banished and Michael can do what he likes with you.”  Berry gave a shudder, “I could think of some suggestions.”  “Are you sure you want her?  No don’t answer that.”  Ellie grinned at him “Oh and the union want to run another shop steward course.”  “I can cover the training room and I dare say we can add it to her training plan so I can cover some of the costs.”  “Berry as well?”  “I’ll cover half the cost if you can fit the pair of them in.” 

He led Berry away.  “So what am I doing?”  “You’ve just become my new office manager.  Your major task will be sorting out my new trainee.”  Berry looked at him.  “Seriously?”  “Seriously.  She has an MBA and will need knocking into shape.”  “Seriously, fuck.”  “She might be bright but the last thing we need is another MBA who thinks they know it all.”  “I might offend her.”  “So if she resigns I don’t have a problem.  If we can fire her with justification I don’t have a problem either.  I just want her off my back.  Rotate her through the different sections, find some training courses for her and if she survives she might even be useful.” 

Michael had a small suite on the thirteenth floor away from everyone else and Berry looked round it.  “So what do you do besides hand holding mothers’ darlings?”  “As little as I can get away with.  No that’s not quite right.  I get the odd projects and ideas that come floating by and turn them into something useful.”  “Oh you mean project plans and stuff.”  “More suck it and see or prototyping approach.  Things turn up and it’s my job to review them to see if they are worth perusing.  The biggie at the moment is Foster’s had just signed an oversea’s contract and we might like to sell to them as well but I’m a bit suspicious about it.”  “So you want me to turn off Miss MBA?”  “No but don’t go out of your way to accommodate her.  We’ll rotate her though some of the less pleasant parts of the company’s work.”  “Gottcha, night shift coming up.”  Michael blinked “Well you want her to experience everything?”  “Be careful we don’t want to upset her contacts but yes.  I suggest you share an office with her which would normally be that of an executive assistant but I don’t have one so it’s free.”  He dug round and produced a credit card.  “Sign this form and I’ll add you to the authorised users.  Don’t go mad but I’m certain she’ll need some protective clothing etc.” 

Berry set her bike helmet down by her chair and settled into her office and tried the internet out.  Good that worked she called IT and had the trainee’s workstation disconnected from the internet but left on the internal networks.  She wandered over to the small kitchen area and checked out the microwave and kettle.  They looked fine.  Then she explored down the corridor and found a larger kitchen area that had a few tables in it.  “Are you looking for someone?”  “No I’m just exploring.  I’m the new office manager for Mr. Hargreaves.”  “Office manager, I wonder what he’s up to?”  “He has a new management trainee for a year and I’m to help supervise her.”  “Not another MBA who knows it all?”  The other women said with sympathy.  “Well she hasn’t arrived yet so she might not be too bad.”  “I’ll let you know if we have any photocopying done shall I?”  Berry’s eyes lit up.  “You wouldn’t have one of those really complicated ones that collate and bind as well?”  “Step this way.”  It took Berry fifteen minutes of instruction to master the machine so she could send a file from her computer and have it come out collated and bound.  She first asked Michael how he would like to be addressed and he thought Michael would be fine except in front of the new trainee.  Then she should be more formal.  Then she boasted to Michael how she’d eventually managed to make the photocopier machine collate and bind a file she’d sent to it from her computer. 

The next morning she’d made Michael mug of coffee after raiding the special blend in the executives coffee area.  “Tastes better than normal.”  “Thank you kind sir.”  She was sat sipping her when Ashley arrived.  “May I help you?”  Berry enquired looking at the designer outfit Ashley was wearing.  Ashley just swept by her and into Michael’s office thrusting herself through the closed door.  Berry’s thoughts were less than complimentary still a management trainee should have lots of interesting experiences and what could be more interesting than driving a noisy old truck?  Somehow she enjoyed the thought of all the courses she could pick out that Ashley would be attending during her year and as her supervisor she could set her dress code as well.  Things were looking up. 

“Michael how thrilled I am to be working directly with you this year.  I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.”  “And you are?”  “Oh I’m Ashley your new management trainee.”  Michael nodded to Berry as she stepped to the open door.  “Ms Long could you show Ms Patterson to her desk please.”  Then he turned back to Ashley “Ms Long is my office manager and she will be your direct supervisor.  She will assess your training needs and you will follow her instructions.  Do you have any questions?”  “But I thought I’d be working directly for you.”  “You will be working in my section but there will be things such as the photocopier and health and safety regulations that she would be a more appropriate person to deal with.”  “Photocopying, health and safety, they aren’t management jobs.”  “But as a manager you will need to know about them.”  “Ms. Patterson please step this way.”  Ashley ignored her.  “Miss Patterson you have just been given a polite instruction by your supervisor, never the less it was an instruction.  My advice would be to you you must obey it unless it is illegal and even then I’d be very careful.  You may do it under protest but if you refuse it is grounds for dismissal and will certainly count against you in any appraisal.  Ms. Long will set your dress code by the way.  For example high heels are not practical on the shop floor.” 

Berry led a shaken Ashley from Michael’s office.  “Here’s your desk.  Now since you’re comfortable with photocopiers could you just make three collated, bound copies from the file I’ve just sent to you?”  “Why?”  “What happens when you are making last minute changes to a management presentation and there is no one else available to do it?”  “Oh well I suppose so.”  “I’ll leave you to it then.”  Thirty minutes later Ashley admitted defeat.  “So a photocopy course then.  Now we’ll walk done to the warehouse and retrieve a package for Mr. Hargreaves.” 

When they got there Berry left Ashley where the open mesh flooring started.  Somehow heels and open mesh flooring didn’t seem a good fit and when Nelson offered to carry her you could feel the shock waves rolling from her.  When they returned to the office Berry delivered the package then took Ashley shopping for something that would fit into the office environment a bit more and not make her stand out quite so much. 

“So guy what did you do last week and how’s it working out with your hot single manager?”  Ashley pulled a face.  “He has an office manager who hates me.  Can you believe no access to Facebook from my computer.  She sent me on a course to learn how to use photocopiers?  The week after next I start truck driving course followed by my email and then a word processing course.  Who uses email these days?  My shoes are all wrong, she sets my dress code would you believe it so not even one designer dress, and I get to make the coffee for her.”  “Oh mine’s a sweety.  I’ve been given the task of making sure some important shipment goes out on time.”  Abbie talked about how many meetings she’d been to and how many PowerPoint presentations she’d prepared.  “All senior management ones of course.”  All in all Ashley was depressed.  Why on earth she was going on a shop steward course that included health and safety next week was anyone’s guess. 

“Could you just change page three to include this updated table before going home.”  “No problem.”  Well the change was no big deal but it meant she needed to reprint the presentation.  It couldn’t be difficult could it after all the office junior had them printed in less than five minutes. Thirty minutes later she called Ashley.  “How do you make a dozen collated bound copies?”  Ashley talked Abbie through how to do it over the phone. 

Berry picked up the phone “I’ll come down and see what I can do to help.”  She turned to Ashley “Panic stations they shipped the wrong order and now we have just two days to sort it out.”  She tapped on Michael’s door “Ellie called.  Someone screwed up the order details and she has two people off sick but she needs to get an end of year order out so I said I’d help.”  Michael picked up his jacket.  “We’ll all go.  Ashley as well.”  They scurried down and saw Ellie.  “Thanks guys.  I was looking through the numbers and noticed the end of year order we sent out didn’t look right.  I called the company and confirmed the order details with them and it wasn’t what we shipped.”

Ashley found herself on the production line working between Berry and Hanna, who was sweet on one of the drivers, on the other side.  Michael worked with them fetching bins of parts for Berry and the others as they needed them.  Ashley wondered about going home at normal time but then thought it wouldn’t look good so she was determined to stay as long as Veronica did.  They worked until midnight then set the line up so the robots could work steadily through the night at a slower rate.  Ellie produced sleeping pads and bags for those who wanted them.  Berry and Ashley curled up and were soon fast asleep.  At six thirty the next morning they were awakened by coffee and bacon sandwiches before they took their places on the line once more.  By four o’clock the order was done and the fifty three foot trailer was maxed out and pulled away.  Only one and a half pallets were left on the dock and no other tractor trailer was available.  Berry walked down to the shipping department and after sweet talking them got given the keys to Tom’s personal Ford Transit van.  Ashley looked over the van.  It was almost like driving a luxury car.  “Leather seats, I can’t believe the luxury of this van.”  She exclaimed.  “Well it’s Tom’s personal van.  He has a full license for a tractor trailer but was going to retire but his manager brought him this and it’s loaded with every option Tom could find.”  “But why?”  “Because Tom is reliable and knows everyone.  Often there isn’t the justification for a full load but we have an urgent order to go out.”  “And Tom takes it in this?”  “Exactly, it might be expensive for a van but it gets better mileage than an almost empty tractor trailer.  Now do you know where we’re going?”  “No.”  “Have a look in the glove compartment and see if there is a way to program this GPS thingy.” 

Soon they were travelling down the highway and they arrived at the customer’s premises shortly before midnight and helped unload the van.  “Right girl coffee and home or spend the night in a hotel?”  “I’ve got no clothes with me.”  “Coffee and cruise control then.  Try to stay awake and keep talking to me so I don’t fall asleep.”  The highways were clear of traffic but Berry felt her reactions were getting slower as they approached the factory.  She drove through the gates then pulled up.  “I’m too tired to back it into the right place.”  She walked across and handed the keys over to security “I’m jiggered.  I need a ride home.”  “I’m finishing my shift in fifteen minutes.  If you don’t mind waiting I’ll drop Tom’s van into its spot then run you home.”  “Sounds like bliss.” 

The next day they both crawled in for lunchtime.  Amber came in and sat down next to Ashley “They’re going to kill me.” “Who and why?”  “I sort of screwed up big time.”  An encouraging look was given and Amber confessed all.  How when she’d entered the part number the computer had rejected it so knowing it was a check digit she’d just recalculated the check digit.  “And?”  “There’s this big truck downstairs full of rejected stuff that I typed in wrong.”  “Oh my God.”  Berry looked up.  Amber was a know it all but she thought she might just have learnt a lesson.  She pulled out a posh writing pad from her desk she’d seen earlier and brought a fountain pen over. “OK girl write the production area a thank you note and an apology by hand on this pad.”  “I’ll type it up.”  “Not for this one.  It has to be hand written on good quality paper.  Nothing less will impress the production area.  Then you’re coming down with me to beg Ellie’s and their forgiveness.”  “Do I have to?”  “Want to keep your job?”  “I’m coming.”   

Ashley tagged along as well only to be greeted by Ellie “Hi girl you done good.”  “Ellie this is Amber who is here to grovel at your feet.  Amber it was Ellie who caught it by the way.”  Amber looked apologetic.  “I’m sorry I screwed up.  I entered the wrong number and when it was rejected I recalculated the check digit and entered it.”  “Learnt anything?”  “Yes, not to recalculate check digits but recheck them up properly.”  She handed over the letter “Could you give this to the staff?”  Ellie looked it over before pinning it up on the notice board.  “Try not to do it again and you’re lucky it was the customer’s end of financial year and with Ashley and Berry’s help we managed to get their order delivered in time.  Now off you go.”

“Next confess all to your a manager before he finds out from someone else.”  Amber made her confession.  He started off glumly “I can’t wait to hear from on high about this.  If we’re lucky the pair of us will still have a job.”  But then brightened up “Still if I fire you now before they came down on me I’d have a scapegoat.”  Amber looked horrified.  “She’ll do penance.  Make your coffee for you morning and afternoon.” Both Amber and Ashley looked on wide eyed.  “Won’t you Amber?”  Amber nodded briskly.  “And Ellie has accepted her apology and we did get the order out.”  “Leave it with me.”  Berry hustled the two girls out of his office before he changed his mind. 

They came back to Berry and Ashley’s office.  “Making his coffee for him that’s not politically correct.”  “Neither is screwing up an order by recalculating the check digit.”  “Yes I sort of see what you mean.”  A tall blonde entered the office.  “Hello Veronica I understand you’ve been up to mischief.  Oh and Michael out you come there are words from on high for you as well.  First Michael you are reminded that senior managers do not play on the production floor.  We pay you too much.  However on high has said you may redeem yourself by handing me your notes on reorganising the floor layout more efficiently.”  “How did you know?”  “Just a lucky guess but you have a track record of stumbling across things.”  She turned to Amber “Offering to make your manager coffee each day Amber?  You do realise I’ve only just got mine trained to get his own?  On high is very disappointed by the way.  He wanted a sacrificial management trainee who screwed up but apparently Ellie put in a good word for you so he doesn’t get his sacrifice.  You’ve escaped by the skin of your teeth and I suggest you have eight lives left, be careful with them.  Screwing up a check digit again would not be a good idea.  I trust you have learnt from the experience.”  Amber nodded vigorously.  She turned to Ashley.  “You worked overtime and haven’t submitted the paperwork.  Do so and I suggest time off in lieu.”  Then she turned to Berry.  “You realise that we expect three out of four of our management trainees to fail as they don’t seem to grasp how we do things or what is important.  You young lady are responsible for saving the CFO’s bacon by sending a management trainee on a photocopying course which meant she could explain to another trainee just how to get the handouts collated and bound before the meeting.  I came in early fully expecting to have to sort it out but it had already been done.”  She turned to address them as a whole.  “Other than that well done and maybe we’ll keep more than one management trainee this time at the end of the year.”  She turned on her heel and marched out.  Behind her there was a collective sigh.  Michael looked them over “I honestly thought we would see someone fired for this but I think you got away with it.  Ashley take the afternoon off with Amber and just relax.  Both of you are too stressed to do anything for the rest of the day.  I’ll straighten it out with Amber’s boss.  Ms. Long I think we could both do with a cup of coffee so bring two into my office.” 

“He wants you to make his coffee?”  “He has made mine before now.”  “This is so weird and it’s too much.”  Ashley and Amber slipped away. 

Ashley peered in the cab.  “When was the last time it was vacuumed?”  “I don’t think it ever has been.”  The driving instructor was finding the two girls hard going.  Even Berry insisted on taking a dust pan and brush to the units then a damp cloth and wiping down all the surfaces.  Still they seemed to be brighter than his normal students and picked up things quickly.  Some of the other students made sexist comments about Ashley’s attire well until Berry laid into them verbally then they just avoided the two girls and pretended they didn’t exist.  Somehow they got through the course and got their licenses.  Both were pleased to return to the office and both thought if they never had to climb inside a cab again it would be too soon.  Still Berry cheered up when she remembered Ashley’s face when they had to connect up the dirty hoses it sort of made it all worthwhile. 

“Berry I have to spend a day following someone at work.”  “Mom?”  “I don’t think getting up at five am to follow her as she cleans offices is the greatest idea.”  “I’ll ask but bake me a fruit cake first.”  “I have have to bribe my own sister?”  “I need to bribe my boss.”  “Gotcha.” 

Berry made his coffee and carried in a slice of fruit cake.  “Greetings oh handsome one.”  Michael pulled a face.  “No.”  “Wonderful I told my sister you wouldn’t mind her trailing one of us all day.  Something to do with school.”  Michael took a bite of cake “Not bad. Did you make it?”  “No my sister did.”  “Well if she was here for two days on the first day our management trainee could give her a tour and explain what each section did.  That way it would test how much she has learnt and you’d better go with them both of course to fill in any gaps of her knowledge then the following week she could trail us both.”  Berry grinned to herself.  Meg was going to be given notes with lots of awkward questions. 

Ashley squirmed again “I’ll have to get back to you on that one.”  She said yet again.  It took her two days to find out all the answers to the questions and she was well aware of Veronica’s enjoyment.

“So has the bitch managed to make your life a complete hell yet?”  “She brought her sister in for a day for her school and I’m sure she was given a list of awkward questions to ask.  It took me two days of digging to find the answers.”  “How can you stand it?”  “I spoke to my dad and he said I had to stick it out.  Not only that but he actually grinned when I complained about all the silly courses and things she has had me do.  Mum of course was all for coming in and sorting the bitch and my manager out and I had to explain to her it was best not to do it.”

Meg sat silently by Michael's desk as he explained the different projects they were working on. And how they worked.  “So really you just wait for things to happen?”  “That and drink coffee and talk to people.”  “How do I get a job like yours?”  “Go to university and get a degree, then through a management training course these days and eventually you get a job like mine.  Now we have a quarterly senior management meeting to attend.”

They sat at the long conference table and admired the PowerPoint presentation about the new way that sales were going to process orders which would mean they could process urgent orders within five days.  Meg looked at the head of the table and saw he was looking puzzled but didn’t like to show his ignorance.  “Any questions?”  The head salesman looked confidentially round the table.  Well they couldn’t kill her could they.  “Couldn’t the sales person use a tablet and send the orders in directly?”  “We tried that but the file systems weren’t compatible and every time they changed the file format things stopped working.”  “But if you used XML to transfer information between the systems that would work even if they changed the file format wouldn’t it?”  The head salesman turned for support to the IT person who in turn looked towards Michael.  “That would in fact work. Some companies are actual tying in their ordering process to the production line in the same manner.”  The man at the head of the table beamed.  “Mr. Collins I shall expect something from you by next week?  Now that concludes the formal part of the meeting but I noticed we have some trainees here today so if I may I’d like them to explain part of the business to us.”  He looked expectantly towards Abbie, “Now then what can you tell me about how the production department works?”  Abbie looked at him blankly she knew nothing about the production department.  “It’s sort of where they make things?”  She said hesitantly.  “Amber?”  Amber expanded slightly and said that’s where the salespeople sent their orders.  “Ashley?”  Ashley thought for a moment about taking Meg round and all the questions she’d asked and then she realised she’d actually worked on the line.  She gave a small talk that lasted nearly ten minutes describing the area and how the raw material came in and was sample tested before use and how the finished goods were stacked on pallets ready to move to shipping and be trucked out. 

Michael, Ashley, Berry and Meg were sat in Michael's office when Mr. Collins arrived.  “What’s this XML software then and how much does it cost?”  Michael turned to Meg “Want to explain?”  “I needed some Open Data for my school project and it was only available as XML format so I looked it up.  It’s an ISO standard and works with tags and things.  The nice thing is you look for a tag, extract the associated data and ignore the rest so if something changes in the file it doesn’t matter.  My sister Berry mentioned it as part of her advanced Word Processing course when she wrote a VBA something or other to connect to a database.”  “Oh well if its word processing it must be simple.”  “Ashley was on the course as well so I’m sure between the two of them they can come up with a Word document that runs a macro to save it as an XML file that can be forwarded as an encrypted email back into the production scheduling database.”  “It’s that simple?”  “I’m sure you’ll want to enhance it but they should be able to come up with something by next week.”  Ashley wasn’t quite so confident but after talking to the salespeople they came up with a document that did the basics and created the off line email which was sent when the tablet next connected to the email server. 

“So I select a customer from the drop down menu, it connects to the database and retrieves the information about orders and things.  Then I enter in the order it does it’s thing and sends the encrypted order home to mummy when I’m somewhere near the office?”  “That more or less sums it up.”  “Can we hide this information here so I can show the customer the screen?”  “I don’t see why not.”  The new system prototype was running three days later.  The programming staff would refine it over time but Mr. Collins was impressed.  “I thought managers just told people what to do.”  “Yes but sometimes the customer doesn’t quite understand what they want so to be able to throw something together quickly helps.” 

“Now this course is all about survival and first aid and in the wilderness. Remember there is very poor internet coverage in the wilderness where we will be travelling so send off any messages you want to send now.”  Berry wasn’t sure she should have signed Ashley up for this but on the other hand Ashley with no social media was worth every footstep.  The instructor looked them over and checked their clothing and packs.  Berry was happy she’d dragged Ashley over to the Mountain Equipment Coop before they set off.  Ashley might not look fashionable but Goretex apparently was the in material today.  Their backpacks were designed for comfort and packed with the most expensive lightweight items that their assistant had thought best for them.  Berry thought he had nice blue eyes and refused to even think about if the items would be useful or not just as long as he kept explaining what they were to her.  Besides she thought it would do Ashley good to carry her own supplies for three or four days on her back and she relished every extra gram Ashley had to carry.   

“Now we’ve split the course up into two sections.  The first is just survival training and is often used for team building by corporations.  The second part we’ll be joined by some others who need their first aid certificates.”  He looked them over “Anyone lead an active outdoor life?”  The look Ashley gave him would have slain lesser men.  He looked down his list “Right Ashley you’re a management trainee you’re in charge.”  He brought up a map on a tablet.  “Here is where we need to get to.”  Ashley looked horrified for a moment but then picked up her back pack and looking down at her iPhone resolutely led the way in a direct line to their destination. The undergrowth grew thicker and more impenetrable.  Ashley looked down at her phone, it seemed to have lost its GPS signal.  Not only that but on the slope it lost its signal and the map display disappeared.  A satisfied smirk appeared on the instructor’s face and that Berry wasn’t having.  She pulled out her smartphone and brought up her offline map then clicked on hiking for route.  Next she found their destination and plotted a route.  She passed her phone to Ashley together with a compass and explained that if they turned left they’d hit a trail that would lead them to their destination.  The hiking trail had notes attached to show the ideal places for breaks the only problem was a bridge that had been marked on the map was no longer there. 

The instructor grinned.  The narrow but deep chasm would take them a day to climb down and a day to climb back up and it wouldn’t be an easy climb either after wading through the waters.  Ashley and Berry looked at the chasm and couldn’t see a way round it.  Berry looked thoughtful then asked if anyone had any ideas.  One had done some climbing and thought they could climb down.  A middle-aged lady mentioned she’d seen something in London when a group of Royal Navy sailors had swung across a chasm carrying a field gun.  They’d set a tripod on one side with a longish arm sticking out over the chasm then one had swung across, secured a rope then they had all slid across on the rope.  Berry asked “Does anyone have any ropes with them?”.  Ashley’s bag revealed a pocket chainsaw so together they looked round for suitable logs to drag over to make a tripod.  The climber had one coiled up in his bag together with various clips.  Berry found a pair of very thin looking lightweight ropes in the bottom of her bag which the climber thought were fine as he looked them over with envious eyes.  The lady supervised the construction of the tripod.  The climber got involved with the knots holding it all together. The longest log stretched out above the chasm with a rope hanging down over the chasm.   

The rock climber dragged out some spiral spikes then used a wrench to screw them firmly into the ground and guy ropes were attached.  The instructor insisted on double checking all the knots and seeing that the ropes ran freely.  Who was going to swing out across the chasm?  Berry looked at Ashley and dismissed her.  At least Berry’s cycling meant she was reasonably fit.  As long as she didn’t look down she could do this.  She took a run and hung onto the rope and swung across landing safely on the other side.  She heard the applause from the rest of the group on the other side. 

She found a tree stump and secured the end of the rope.  Then the rock climber sailed across in a harness carrying a rope on his shoulders.  He soon set to work retying ropes.  Soon the bags were sent across followed by the other members of the group.  Ashley looked on and noted the native Indian amongst the group looked pleased.  “Is this how the Native American Indians would have solved the problem?”  She asked.  “Native American Indian is an English term same as aboriginal.  As a member of the Ojibway people I think we deserve our own name don’t you?”  “Yes but what would you use?  And would the other tribes agree to it?”  The girl shrugged “It is difficult we have so many organisations that use Indian or aboriginal but America was given it’s name by an Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, and native everyone is a native of somewhere so Native American isn’t really Ojibway.”  “Still you were thinking?”  “I was thinking of the tribal system where the person in charge is the person who knows best what to do.  So here today, Mrs. Garcia was in charge of the tripod, Henry the ropes and knots, and yourself in seeing what resources we had available and having the courage to ask for ideas.”  “But surely that was the right thing to do.” “Not for some managers, in the military they tried in the Rangers to use specialists to lead the group but the problem was the army has too many officers who think that soldiers should only follow orders so today seeing the traditional Ojibway way in action was good.”  

Somehow they managed to get to their destination successfully.  “You did well in working together as a team.  I don’t think I’ve seen a group come together quite so well before and support each other.  Now tomorrow for those who are continuing we start on first aid in the wilderness.  We will have three firefighters and a two search and rescue members joining us.” 

The first thing one of the search and rescue people did was to bring out a small Rocco detector and scan their backpacks and clothing.   She handed out Rocco reflectors to those who didn’t have them already embedded in their clothing or backpacks.  “What are these?”  Asked Berry who hadn’t been given one.  “Rocco reflectors were first used to find people in avalanches but these days we use them to find people by flying a helicopter with a detector slung underneath.  They can detect a strip 100 meters wide.  If I had my way everyone would carry them.  You’re lucky your backpacks have them sewn in already.” 

“The most important thing is keep everything clean with pure water.”  He followed by taking them through the steps to clean a wound.  His radio beeped and he answered the call.  After a short conversation he clipped his radio back on his strap. “We’re in luck guys, a hiker has fallen and is in need of first aid and they’re practically on our doorstep.”  The instructor set off at a rapid pace and the others did their best to keep up.  The instructor checked over the hiker for injuries but it seemed apart from the badly sprained ankle it was just cuts and bruises so basically just painful and stop the blood.  “Ashley come and clean up the wound and slap a bandage on it.  You’ve done it before in practise.”  Berry stood back and practically creased herself with laughter as Ashley pulled a face but worked quickly to clean up the wound getting blood smears over her clothes and face as she did so.   

“Right now we need to move him to the clearing 30 meters away so the helicopter stands a chance of seeing him and picking him up.  Berry go to the clearing and use the two way radio to tell them we have an injured hiker with a badly sprained ankle so call in our position and be sure to tell them we have Rocco reflectors to make it easier to find us.”  The firefighters came forward.  “Leave carrying him to us.”  Together with the assistance of the search and rescue members the injured person was very carefully carried to the clearing.  “Now guys today we were lucky and had a couple of firefighters to help moved the injured party a short distance.  For a longer distance we’d need a stretcher so we’ll take a look at the ways to improvise one.  In practise we don’t often use them.  You need a number of strong volunteers to be able to carry someone any distance.” 

Berry struggled with the exam and guessed a few multiple choice answers on the grounds that no answer gave a zero score but a guess stood some chance.  Then it was over.

“I’m pleased to say you all passed and are now qualified as a Wilderness First Responder.” 

Michael read through the confidential report from the instructor.  He felt that Ashley had done better than might have expected when she first arrived.  He got the impression she thought her MBA made her above team building.  Neither she or Veronica could really be said to have formed strong team bonds but both had pulled their weight.  He mentioned Veronica was slightly protective of Ashley which he hadn’t expected at first it was almost as if she was allowed to dump on her but no one else was.  Neither downed anyone on the course, Veronica just didn’t make it easy for Ashley.

“Got a passport?”  “I could get one.”  “Get one we’re going to some sort of conference in the Caribbean.  We can’t leave Ashley by herself to get up to mischief so make sure she has one too.”   

When they arrived Ashley spent her time taking photos to send back to her friends.  Berry stood next to Michael in the line up to register and felt his hand grope her bum.  On her inquiring look he commented “Different set of laws here sexual harassment doesn’t apply.”  Ashley overheard the conversation then grinned as Berry groped Michael’s bum through his thin slacks.  “I’m so glad you mentioned it.”  “The honeymoon suite for two is it?”  Asked the girl behind the counter.  Michael growled and they were given three separate rooms together although the girl did give Michael and Berry rooms with connecting door to reduce the risk of scandal.  

Berry looked over the conference attendees and picked out one that made her go weak at the knees.  Boldly she approached him.  “Hello handsome.”  “I can’t afford it.”  Berry looked puzzled then shocked “No that didn’t come out right did it?”  “You mean you think I’m ugly?”  He said taking mock offence.  “I need some help.”  “What would you like me to do and no I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”  “I have a management trainee who has difficulty relating to a wide range of people.”  “You mean she’s uncomfortable around blacks?”  Berry cringed “Yes.”  “So?”  “If I get her out by the pool could you help her with her sunscreen oil?”  “She’d probably run a mile as soon as I approached.”  “Not if you did mine first and remember I’m her supervisor so she has to do what I tell her to do.”  “And you’re going to stretch her limits?”  “Just a tiny bit.  She has to get more comfortable around Nelson and the others otherwise she’ll never make the grade.”  “I’m Leroy but you can call me sucker.  What time?”  “Five and just in swimming trunks that way she won’t pick up that you wear a suit and tie normally at first.” 

At quarter to five Berry suggested they go down to the pool and relax in the sun.  She handed a tiny bikini to Ashley who frowned.  “It covers the essentials.”  “I know it’s now part of my dress code.”  “Relax, no one here knows you so it wouldn’t be as if your neighbours will be gossiping about you.” Ashley slid it on and adjusted it.  “Not what I would have chosen myself but it doesn’t look too bad I suppose.”  They walked down and Berry couldn’t resist swinging her hips just the tiniest bit.  There was a screen up at one end of the pool and Ashley made for it and the loungers behind it.  “A bit of privacy at least.”  She murmured and she sprawled out on the lounger.  Berry stretched out as well and moments later Leroy arrived.  “Hi Leroy could you help me with my sunscreen?”  She asked innocently batting her eyelids blatantly at him.  Ashley wiggled so she was slightly further away from Berry and Leroy.  How could Veronica bare to have him run his hands over her body like that?  She felt herself grow warm as Veronica seemed to mop up the attention that Leroy was giving her.  It was only to be expected after all the sun in the Caribbean was stronger.  She glanced at his hands for some reason when the word stronger came to mind.   She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pair of them. 

“Ashley I think Leroy should do you as well.  We don’t want you to get sunburn and all the health and safety issues that implies now do we?”  She rolled over onto her front.  At least that way she didn’t have to face him.  Leroy was amused.  He took a handful of sunscreen and started on her heels and the soles of her feet.  Then he worked slowly up her legs to her knees.  He followed with the backs of her arms then he moved on to her back.  It was fun watching the conflict in her as his fingers worked their magic but she didn’t want to admit it.  Somehow the back of her neck and shoulders were stroked time and time again.  His hand brushed against her bikini bottoms and he was surprised to see the material turn see through when the oil landed on it.  He glanced at Berry and grinned at her look of total innocence which didn’t fool him for a moment.  Across from the pool on a balcony overlooking Ashley and Berry’s corner four guys were drinking beer.  One picked up a pair of binoculars he’d been using earlier to look out to sea and aimed them at Ashley’s bum.  Leroy couldn’t resist and after emptying a little more oil on to his hands ran them over Ashley’s bum.  There was a thumbs up from the balcony as the binoculars were passed from one to another. 

“I think you’ve done her back nicely now.  Time for her front.”  Ashley rolled over and kept her eyes closed as Leroy started on her heels and toes then slowly worked his way up her body.  The binoculars were focused on her tight hard nipples that were thrust against her thin bikini top.  As he worked under her breasts and round them Ashley grew more and more aroused until in exasperation she clutched his hand and moved it over her nipple and gave contented moans as his fingers worked their magic.  Berry looked up and put her finger to her lips to silence the moans coming from the balcony as they took in glimpses of Ashley’s hard nipples in the now transparent top being manipulated by Leroy’s fingers.  Berry had a naughty thought she could send them a postcard with wish you were here written on it or an email with an attachment just showing her nipples squeezed between his fingers.  Leroy moved in for the kill and swept his fingers across her tummy then slowly lower down until he’d wiggled a finger inside her.  Ashley grasped his left arm as his right brought her to a small climax. 

“I think you should ensure that Leroy doesn’t get sunburn as well so Leroy if you’d care to stretch out I’m sure Ashley will do the honours.”  Ashley hesitantly pour some oil on to her hand the very delicately moved her hand across his back.  Leroy could barely feel her hand as it moved lightly across his body.  “Don’t forget his toes.”  “Does his toes really need sunscreen?”  “He has melanin which gives some protection but only about SPF 15 so yes really to save him from skin cancer and so forth he needs sunscreen to meet current health and safety standards.”  Leroy was shaken by the words his dark skin wasn’t enough protection?  You live and learn and he certainly wasn’t going to object.  “So hurry with that sunscreen before I burn.”  Ashley slapped a more generous amount on her hands and smeared it over his body.  Ashley enjoyed running her hands over his muscled back rather too much.  “Pull his trunks down and do his bum.”  Ashley hesitated, a direct instruction and no sexual harassment laws to protect her. She’d better follow Berry’s instructions.   

She felt just a little bit naughty and lubed up her hands before giving his bum a good groping.  “Hey girl that’s where the sun don’t shine.”  She wiggled her finger “Want me to stop then?”  Before wiggling it a bit more. This was fun and gave her a sense of power seeing how he coped with a wiggling finger inside.  There was a moan from Leroy, then Berry piped in “I think the front needs doing as well.”  Oh well fun time over.  She covered his body with sunscreen all except his very private parts.  “I think you’ll need to get him erect otherwise you won’t expose all the skin to the sunscreen.  She had to be joking didn’t she?  A glance at Berry told her she wasn’t joking.  She oiled up her hands and stroked Leroy’s private parts.  She could possibly be doing this with a strange pool boy could she?  “Keep stroking him until he creams that way we’ll know he’s fully stretched.”  Ashley mentally shrugged, she’d already put her finger up his bum this wasn’t much worse.  It wasn’t as if she had to take him in her mouth or lower down.  If she closed her eyes she could just imagine he was one of her boyfriends, she could do this.  With one hand she stroked him and with the other she cupped his testicles and lightly moved her fingers, there that seemed to be a sensitive spot.  There was another groan.  She wasn’t that bad surely, then she felt something splatter against her chest.  No consideration some men still at least she wasn’t wearing an expensive dress.  “Looks like he’s done now.” Remarked Berry handing her a tissue so Ashley could wipe the spunk off her chest. 

Michael called Berry into his room.  “See if you can persuade Ashley to wear this.  I think she might look good in it.”  He handed over a hanger that held a dress with a plunging neckline.  “Oh and there is a sort of matching necklace to go with it.  Berry stared at the loops hanging down for a moment.  “This isn’t what I think it is is it?”  “You mean the loops go over her nipples.  You’re absolutely right.  I’m told the effect is subtle as most don’t guess what it is to start with.”  Berry grinned “Your word is my command.” Then took a look at his expression “But if I’m to get madam prepared before dinner I must fly.” “There’s a dress for you as well so I’ll step through and hang it up in your room.”  She scurried out of his bedroom through the connecting door into her own room.  From there she carried the dress and necklace into Ashley.  “Request from on high, one dress to be worn for dinner.  Apparently it’s formal tonight.”  “I wonder if it’s the right size?”  Ashley stepped into the gown and Berry lifted it up and tugged it into place.  “Looks a bit long.”  “Let me try a pair of heels.”  With two and a half inch heels the dress was perfect.  “It’s a bit open at the front.”  remarked Berry “Well it’s not dowdy that’s for sure the way it clings to every curve.”  “There is a silver necklace to be worn with it.”  Berry fastened the necklace round Ashley’s neck.  “Not bad apart from the loops.”  Berry eased one breast out from the dress and gave it a quick suckle then slipped the loop over it before doing the other.  “I’d better go and put mine on as well.”  Ashley went and sat in front of the vanity and after slipping a towel over her shoulders set to work on her makeup.  Berry returned to her room and picked up her long dress.  She knocked on Michael’s door.  “She’s in it but you’ll need to help me with mine.” 

Michael murmured he’d rather help her out of her clothes.  “Well yes but then we’d miss dinner wouldn’t we?”  Michael sighed why was Veronica so bloody practical.  Berry undid her blouse then her bra which was really a bit worn and wiggled out of the rest of her clothes until she was standing there in her knickers.  Michael frowned they really didn’t go with the dress at all.  Then he remembered he was suppose to give them the underwear the salesgirl had picked out for him.  He turned and picked up the small carrier bag that seemed to have lots of tissue in the top and handed it across to her.  “Undergarments.” He announced.  Berry looked in the bag at the delicate garments.  “You went to town didn’t you?”  She turned her back on him and started to get dressed once more.  First the garter belt then the stockings.  She first rolled then eased the delicate stockings up her legs and clipped them in place.  Next came the delicate silk knickers.  The rest of the set would have to wait for something that didn’t plunge quite so deeply.  She wiggled into the dress and turned to face him.  Michael was holding out another necklace with loops dangling from it.  “Matching are we?”  He nodded cheerfully.  “You’d better come and get my nipples firmed up then else they won’t have anything to hang from.”  “Fingers or lips?”  “Kiss me first then suckle each nipple I should think.” 

The kiss was everything a girl could want except it ended after a mere five minutes.  “They look hard to me.”  “Yeah but they’d like a bit of attention as well.”  Michael suckled first one then the other.  As far as Berry was concerned she didn’t mind missing dinner just as long as he carried on. Michael broke away and quickly slipped the loops in place.  “Let’s collect Ms. Patterson and go downstairs.”  They knocked on her door and entered when she called.  “Just finishing my eyelashes but I’m ready now.”   

They entered the hotel’s restaurant and stood waiting to be directed to a table.  Berry noticed a very formally dressed Leroy standing in line and greeted him.  Michael's nose twitched “Would you mind sharing a table?  I’m not sure I like the idea of being the only male with these two.”  “Sure why not.  I’m Leroy by the way.  I’m here at the conference to see what the latest fads are in management theory are.”  “Fads, my dear sir these are carefully thought out ideas that they come up with so they can update their MBA courses.”  Leroy put his head back and laughed out loud.  “You mean the centralise then delegate to the regions thing?”  “I’ll have you know that currently we are starting a new initiative to centralise some activities in order to achieve cost efficiencies.”  “I like the tale of the supermarket chain that took over a supermarket in the country that was next to a dairy.  They were going to stop using the local dairy and go with their central supplier until their customers and the local council made waves.” 

Ashley sat quietly not quite believing her ears.  Leroy knew about management theory and wasn’t just a pool boy?  Michael drew Ashley into the conversation asking her about the latest theories that had been expounded on her MBA course. Then the three others took the view that the MBA approach was far too simple and didn’t take enough things into account.  The discussion continued over the meal and Berry’s opinion was sought out about what she thought was the most practical solution to some of the problems that businesses faced. 

Ashley continued to ask Leroy questions as they danced so at the end of the dance he led her over to another table and introduced her to Frank.  “Frank has forgotten more than I know about managing than I’ll ever know.”  “True enough but I have hopes he’ll improve over time.”  “Now young lady what can I do for you?”  Ashley asked him about the differences between what she’d been taught and what Leroy had been saying.  “Surely the lecturers can’t be that wrong can they?”  “They don’t take into account people.  If a senior manager has an interest then often he’ll support a project for that reason rather than the things he should be looking at and don’t forget managers sometimes end up being managers by accident and you get the wrong people in the job.”  Ashley carried on the discussion leaning forward as she did so and her neckline gaped slightly exposing her nipple and it’s loop to Frank’s gaze. After that Frank continued the conversation answering in far more depth than he might have done.  “Rather than tell your staff what to do one technique is to explain the problem and suggest a solution but it’s better if they come up with the solution themselves they feel as if they own it more.”  Well that was a different idea to telling your staff what to do. 

Leroy asked Berry to dance and as a slow number started dropped his hand to her thigh.  “Straps?”  She grinned at him “How else does one keep things up?”  Leroy groaned as she lightly stroked his crotch “See how effective they are.”  He glanced at Ashley “Not tonight, perhaps tomorrow I’ll add them to her dress code.”

On Monday when Berry returned to her room after the conference sessions there was a knock on the door and a girl was stood there with a rolling clothes rack.  “I’m looking for a Veronica and an Ashley?  I’m Daisy and I have a few things I’d like you to try on so I can make any necessary adjustments.” She rolled the rack into Berry’s room.  “They are all paid for by the way including any adjustments I deem necessary.”  “I’ll just get Ashley.”  Together they looked through the evening gowns that Daisy had on the rack.  She’d split them into two and had a half dozen for each girl.  As they tried them on so she fussed over them and made sure the dresses hung correctly and made small adjustments with her needle so they would.  “I have some shoes on the bottom of the rack that were chosen to go with the dresses but you never know with shoes if they’re going to fit or not so I brought a selection.”  Berry thought Michael had gone a bit over the top but she wasn’t going to complain.  All the dresses had plunging necklines as if they were designed to be worn with the infamous necklaces.  Berry put aside the one that was least flattering and put the most flattering one to one side to wear on the last day.  “There’s underwear as well.”  The writing on the packages was in French but inside well the ivory colour definitely matched her skin tone even if it was in foreign. 

The bikinis were all of the sort that you might not wear at the neighbourhood pool but they were flattering and after trying on the dresses the girls decided to go and lounge by the pool again in their semi private corner.  They’d barely lain down when Rashon arrived and said Hi.  Leroy was in a meeting but he’d sent Rashon down to help them.  Something about sunscreen?  Ashley rolled her eyes but Berry smiled warmly at him.  Soon he was covering Berry’s body with sunscreen oil.  Ashley had a feeling she knew what was coming still if he was as handy with his fingers as Leroy it wouldn’t be too bad.  It gave her a kick when she got the feeling that no one had ever put their finger up him before.  A virgin bum that was all hers and he was so responsive and grateful when she eventually let him climax after bringing him to the edge at least four times first she felt she’d be remembered.  She glanced to one side and saw that Berry’s smart phone was on the ground and definitely not videoing every last thing. 

Rashon dropped by at dinner time and Berry introduced him to Michael.  Soon the talk was about the different sessions they had attended and what they thought of the presenters.  Rashon invited Ashley to dance and after being surprised by the feel of straps under her skirt as they danced he introduced her to a few specialists he knew who knew more about the subject that they had had under discussion earlier.  Berry grinned at him when he returned.  “I was getting desperate in fact I thought I might have to drop Michael a broad hint about the dance floor for a moment there.”  Michael looked up “Why would I need a broad hint dropping about a dance floor?”  “Because one of your staff is feeling neglected and would like a dance?”  He looked across at where Ashley was in deep conversation “No I think she’s fine.”  Rashon looked at him.  “I think she meant herself.”  Rashon and Michael exchanged meaningful looks.  “Take her out on the dance floor before she commits murder.”  Michael offered her his hand.  “I think I can just about manage a waltz?”  She glowered at him and tugged him onto the dance floor.  He took her up in his arms as if to waltz but she wiggled against him in time to the slow dance music.  Rashon looked on amused from the sidelines and eventually rescued Michael after three numbers.  “Do you always bully your boss like that?”  “How else can I get him on the dance floor.  At the last Christmas party the single women out numbered the available men five to one and they had to drag him literately on to the dance floor after they had poured two glasses of spiked wine down his throat.”  Frank drifted over to Michael’s table and together they talked about the problems of trainees.  Frank’s problem was his macho environment couldn’t accept women were their equals. Michael mentioned he had the same problem and when Frank looked puzzled “Veronica thinks women are superior to men not their equals.”  

Tuesday they set by the pool and Berry thought she might even have to apply her own sunscreen when Kendis nervously arrived.  Berry took a look at his hearing aid and just motioned him to apply her sunscreen oil.  She was a bit more forward with him than she had been with the others taking his hand and moving it over her sensitive spots.  She thought it was sweet he was so shy so she tugged up her bikini top then guided his fingers to cup her breasts and manipulate her nipples to give her the most satisfaction.  She even went so bold as to tug his finger deep inside her and caress the back of his hand as his finger moved inside.  It was all very pleasant and none threatening for some reason but eventually she pointed towards Ashley and Kendis took the hint. 

Berry looked at Kendis’s look of bliss as Ashley covered his rod with sunscreen oil until he spurted.  Anyone would think it was the first hand job a girl had ever given him.  If only she hadn’t left her phone upstairs today she could have taken a photo as a souvenir.

The week continued, each day a different guy would drop by and using Leroy’s name would apply sunscreen oil first to Berry then to Ashley.  Ashley grew used to her bikinis growing sheerer and tinier as the week went on and to giving them a hand job and the guys got more used to accepting that the girls had a point if view that whilst it might be different was still valid. 

At the airport on the way home Ashley noticed Frank and went across to say hi.  “Hello Ashley and Veronica have you met Debora my right hand?”  “Pleased to meet you.”  Debora addressed Berry “I’m pleased to meet you as well.  Did the dresses and bikinis work out? I wasn’t sure about them but Daisy seemed to think once she’d adjusted them they weren’t too bad.  Michael gave me the basic measurements but you know what men are like, they never capture the nuances.”  Ashley drifted off to speak to Leroy. 

“How did you get involved?”  “Well after Frank spent most of the evening ogling Ashley’s neck line and necklace he talked to Leroy and asked how he knew the pair of you and Leroy spilt the beans on how you were trying to desensitise Ashley and introduce her to a wider variety of people.  So then he thought he’d take a hand.  We brought a group with us more for a break from work than anything else so I organised them to do your sunscreens.  They seemed to like the idea anyway.”  “I’ll bet they did.  Daisy did a wonderful job as well.  Do you want the dresses back?”  “No that’s fine.  Did the young men meet with your approval?”  “The third one, the one with a hearing aid, seemed a bit nervous at first but seemed to relax a bit when I guided his hands a bit more to where I wanted them.  I wanted Ashley to get the full impact.”   “It wasn’t a hearing aid.”  Berry looked at her, “Kendis was so nervous about getting it wrong that eventually I gave him a tiny radio then guided him on what to do next from the balcony.”  “Well he took his time getting me aroused and he was the only one to put two fingers in me but god I had no complaints when it eventually did arrive.”  “It did wonders for his self confidence as well which is what Frank was after.” 

“So did you enjoy the conference?”  “Lots of new ideas and experiences.”  “Any experiences you missed out on.”  “Probably lots but I’ve still got time for one more.”  Leroy looked puzzled and Ashley stood on tip toes to kiss him.  “Enjoy?”  “I’m not sure.”  She stepped back up and slid her hand behind his neck and this time the kiss went on for much longer.  “We could take this further?”  “I don’t think I’m quite ready for that but thank you for the thought.  They’re calling my flight now.  Bye.”  She gave him a quick final kiss on the cheek then dashed to the gate. 

Berry was sat on the plane next to Michael.  “The dresses for each of us?”  “There was only one each wasn’t there?  You mean you would have liked more than one each so you could wear something different each night?  I thought about it but the budget wasn’t there.  Anyway you both looked nice in the dress I provided.”  Men, he hadn’t even noticed.

Abbie had been assigned to the transport section and she had to have a load delivered to a customer by noon the following day.  She had the trailer loaded up then instructed Nelson to take it out that afternoon.  “No way lady.” Came the reply.  “You have to.  I’m instructing you to drive it there now.” Nelson looked stubborn.  “Forget it there is no way I’m setting off today.”  Abbie panicked and called Ashley.  “How do I get him to do what I want him to do?”  “I’ll come down.”  Ashley took a look at Nelson “What time did you start today?”  Then she turned back to Abbie.  “He can legally drive for another thirty minutes before reaching his maximum number of hours for the day.”  “I can head out around 5 am tomorrow morning if that would help.”  A smiling Nelson was feeling more helpful now.  “Why didn’t you mention it?”  “You’re management I thought you knew.” “Thank you for the offer of a five o’clock start.”  She turned to Ashley “How did you know about hours of work and so forth?”  “Health and safety part of the shop stewards course.”  “Shop steward’s course?”  “I took it together with madam bitch.  It was quite interesting in places a sort of management course but from the other side but more practical if that makes sense.” 

A phone call came down from on high.  “His majesty has given his word to get four trailers to a customer seventeen hundred kilometres away within twenty four hours so make it happen.  You may need to charter a plane.”  Abbie was shaken to the core.  She wandered down to the loading bay and spoke to the supervisor.  “Why would we need to charter a plane to get four trailers of goods seventeen hundred kilometres in twenty four hours?”  “Dunno but Joe might know.”  He called over to Joe who was supervising the last few pallets being loaded on to the trailer.  “Problem is a driver can’t drive that far in a day.  Legally they need to rest.”  An unladylike word sprang to Abbie’s mind.  She called Ashley for advice.  “I’ll grab Veronica and come down.” 

Berry greeted Joe “Hi handsome how’s Hannah?”  “Doing well.  We’re hoping to get married soon.” Berry grinned “So guys what’s the problem?”  “We need to charter a plane to get four trailer loads to a customer seventeen hundred kilometres away within twenty four hours.”  “Why not just drive them there?”  “It seems that a driver can only drive so far in a day.”  “But if it could be done you’d pay a premium right?”  “Right now if its cheaper than a plane we’d pay a substantial premium.”  “Joe would turnpike double work?”  “I’d have to check the route. Give me the address.”   Berry sent Ashley off to see Ellie and collect Hanna.  “Can you guarantee a full load on the way back?”  “Why I want to return home and it will double what we pay them.”  “OK I’ll get something set up.”  “Remember we’re offering a fast trip.”  

Joe admitted it would work so Berry produced her full driving license and passed it to him.  “Is this for real?”  “It’s for real and not a forgery.”  “You’re talking about doing half the driving?”  Berry nodded “I don’t know about that.  The tractor isn’t paid off yet and I’m a bit nervous about letting a woman drive.”  Hanna arrived in the background.  “Hanna how would you like to transfer to shipping and be sent on training to get a full truckers license?”  “I don’t own a truck.”  Joe looked at Berry with respect.  “But with a full license she could drive mine?”  “And you’d get paid a premium for fast delivery.”  He looked to Hanna, “If you get your full license then we can drive the tractor together at the same time.”  “I might not want to do it forever but OK.”  “Well that’s two trailers sorted out.” 

Berry called up Nelson.  “Hey girly it’s my day of rest.”  “It pays four times the normal rate.”  “I’m on the way.”  She turned to Ashley.  “You have one of these as well.  Do you mind travelling with Nelson?”  Abbie looked aghast at the idea of spending time cooped up in a cabin with Nelson but Ashley just nodded.  “We’ll manage.”  She picked up the keys to the tractor with the big sleeper cab and started to assemble the turnpike double.  “I never thought I’d see the day when Ashley would go near a coloured guy.”  Abbie said to herself.

“So who are we going to visit?”  “A east European company that your old company signed an order with just before they went under.”  “It sort of fell to pieces didn’t it?  I think the owner had personal problems and got divorced and the company just fell apart after that.”  “Are they worth talking to?”  “The size of the order was interesting to say the least.  Foster’s brought new equipment in to give them the extra capacity and we still have the equipment.”  Berry went a bit thoughtful.  “Are we taking Ashley?”  “Well it would be a relevant experience for her.”  “Could we rest in Europe so we wouldn’t be so jet lagged first?”  “Now that young lady is a very sensible idea.  Which museums, and Art Galleries do you want to visit?” 

Berry had a budget for the visit.  They flew economy.  Well the cost savings were substantial and for seven hours Berry thought they could stand it besides she had an idea that Ashley had never flown economy before.  The food was just as bad as she thought it would be but she’d carried some ham sandwiches with pickle to feed Michael.  She had some without pickle for herself.  She gave Michael the isle seat and took the middle one herself.  Ashley got the window seat and less legroom as the curve of the cabin meant there was less space. 

When they landed she looked out at the gloomy skies and the drizzle.  People came here for holidays? It took all sorts she supposed.  She’d booked them into a student hall of residence which had the virtue of being central but cheap enough that the two weeks resting fitted within the normal hotel rates for the trip.  “I know we’re saving money but a sleeping bag on the floor in my room?”  Berry smiled at him.  “I’m sure Ashley wouldn’t mind sharing with you.”  “Enough said you may stay.”  Berry had wondered how accommodating Michael would be.  She liked the idea of sleeping in the same room as he did if only to stop Ashley from digging her claws in.  She wondered down to the kitchen where she met a postgraduate student who was working during the vacation.  “So doing London on a shoestring are you?”  “Not quite, it’s a business trip that paid the airfare but we’re stopping off in London to get over any jet lag.  We have some expenses paid but things like hotels and food are expensive here.”  “Have you found Marks and Spencers yet?”  “Are they some sort of clothes shop?”  “Yes but they sell food as well.”  “I don’t think I want to cook everyday for two weeks.”  Berry looked round the kitchen “The kitchen is a bit primitive as well.”  “How many are you?”  “Three, me my boss and a trainee manager with an MBA who knows everything.”  “Find me £30 and tonight we shall dine like kings.”  Berry shrugged even hamburgers were expensive over here and brought out her purse and handed the money over. 

“Hi guys we’re dining in tonight.”  Michael looked up.  “You can cook?”  “On a good day but tonight Ying Yue is cooking.”  Ashley rolled her eyes sweet and sour pork no doubt.  The meal was very good apart from the mixture of plates and knives and forks they used.  Wine was served in mugs and a tooth glass.  Ying Yue looked them over “Will it pass?”  Michael looked up “I’ve had worse food in a two star restaurant.  What will it cost us to have you cook every day for us?”  Ashley looked at the assorted plates “Could we eat off nice china please?”  Ying Yue looked thoughtful and showed them the list of prepared meals from Marks & Spencer.  “There are places where I could buy seconds in china.”  Michael looked thoughtful as well.  The price of reasonable restaurant meals would cover both raw food and few other things as well.  “We’re on vacation so I’ll stand the cost of the set of china.  Pick a pattern you can live with and you can hang on to it when we leave.” He looked at the battered microwave.  He gave Ying Yue a budget and asked it if might cover the cost of a new microwave or instant pot.  Ying Yue looked pleased she’d been hoping merely to have her food paid for the next two weeks.  “If you’re buying an instant pot I could prepare a few meals.”  Volunteered Berry not wanting Ying Yue to have to do all the cooking.   Ying Yue murmured innocently “I could prepare my grandmother's traditional Chinese recipe for you.  Berry was suspicious then the penny dropped.  “Was that the time when the ration was just a bowl of rice a day?”  Ying Yue burst into laughter “You caught me out but I know one or two recipes from my other grandmother who used to be a cook in China town.” 

“We’re in London for ten days?  What on earth can you do in London for two weeks?”  Michael thought about dropping a management trainee off one of the bridges that spanned the Thames “Well that’s your task for the day keep us amused.  Here’s a list of places I’d like to visit and I’m pretty sure Veronica has a number as well.” 

“Guys I’m not sure there is going to be room for us on the next train.”  They were stood on the crowded platform waiting for the tube.  There were a pair of teenagers close by who commented “It’s quiet at the moment, you should feel it in rush hour.”  The other whispered “It’s so quaint these tourists have no idea.”   The tube train arrived and everyone scrambled on.  Berry felt some guy put his hand on her bum to push her the last few inches into the train.  She turned at looked at the suited guy who was rather nice.  “Thank you for the helping hand.”  She murmured “You’re welcome.”  He stood behind her leaving his hand resting on her bum.  She noticed two girl Goths getting in at the next stop and admired their purple hair with pink stripes and dark heavy makeup that made so strong a statement.  “Watch out for these pair.”  He whispered in her ear.  She noticed one squeezed in front of Ashley and the other was behind her.  “Notice what’s in her hand?”  Berry took a peek.  It couldn’t be a wand could it?  “She’s not going to use it on the tube is she?”  “Just watch.”  The first Goth moved the wand so Berry could no longer see it.  Ashley tried to move away but the Goth behind her held her in place.  Ashley’s face was mixture of emotions almost as if, no surely not.  “She likes to hold the wand between her pussy and an other girl’s pussy to see if she can bring them both off.”  She felt his hand slide round and place itself on her crotch so he could pull her backwards against his hardening rod.  His finger moved in small circles as they both watched Ashley being played with.  As she got more aroused the girl standing behind her moved her hands up so she was cupping one breast.  Ashley was holding the Goth in front of her on the hip to steady herself.  “I think she’ll last out two more stations.” 

Ashley looked as if she was about to moan out loud when the Goth silenced her by giving her a French kiss which seemed to be just enough to take Ashley over the top.  Berry read the lips of the second Goth “Time to get off.”  And both girls stepped across the carriage and stood by the door next to Berry.  “Don’t you just love tourists.  I mean they come here for experiences.”  “Yes but Elvira she probably wasn’t expecting that.  I mean I bet it was her first orgasm with the girl.”  “And her first real kiss.  Did you get a good grope of her tits?”  Elvira slid her hand behind Berry’s bum.  “I bet the pair of you enjoyed it as well.”  Then she kissed Berry lightly on the lips before sliding out of the tube.  Berry looked across at Ashley who looked as if she was about to collapse but fortunately a teenager stepped up in front of her and pinned her to the doorway with his body. The tube pulled away and the carriage swayed gently.  Berry looked across to see Ashley being dry humped against the doorway. 

“My stop next so I’ll have to leave you.”  Berry turned and kissed him on the lips just to leave an impression.  He slid his business card into her hand “If you you need the services of a personal banker.”  She looked at the card from a Swiss Bank, financial advisor was his title.  She felt weak at the knees, groped by a banker on the tube?  She nudged her way through to where Michael was standing and stood in front of him. “Put your hands on my bum.”  “There are laws about sexual whatever over here.  “Yes but I know where your hands have been.  There have been too many accidental gropes on the tube today and I want to feel safe.”  “Ashley OK?”  Berry looked down the carriage to where Ashley seemed to be doing a slow dance with her teenager.  “I think she’s happy for now.” 

The teenager looked at the station name and very reluctantly pulled away from Ashley’s confused body before darting out of the carriage.  Berry grabbed her hand and pulled her against Michael’s body.  He moved his hands so he had one hand resting on Berry’s bum and one on Ashley’s derrière.  Berry covered Ashley’s other cheek with her hand.  He didn’t say a word as both girls ground their pelvises on to his thigh as the train swayed as it travelled along.

Ashley condescended to go shopping down Oxford street with Berry. It was practically a high outdoor shopping mall but with stores both sides of the streets.  They liked different stores.  Michael liked looking at all the short summer dresses walking along the street.  Ashley was about to buy a bracelet from some guy who was selling them out of a suitcase when suddenly he closed the suitcase and dashed off.  Berry looked up to see a pair of London policemen walking down the street.  They were unarmed which she thought was odd.  It really was different over here.  She really got into the street markets where bargains were to be found and the selling patter outrageous as the crowds gathered round to see what was being sold.  “Not the fifty pounds you’d pay at Harrods, nor the forty three pounds you’d pay at Selfridge's.  I’m asking not even thirty eight pounds for this original print of the Mona Lisa direct from Paris, to you today twenty pounds only and its a steal at that price.  One to you sir, two to you madam?”  There were at least three people in the crowd rapidly taking the money and handing out the prints. 

Ashley ate the Chinese dish that Ying Yue had prepared.  “Could you show me how to make this?”  She asked hesitantly.  “You can prepare dinner tomorrow under my direction if you like?”  Offered Ying Yue.  Berry saw how much Michael seemed to enjoy it and decided she’d sit in and take notes.  “Well if it counts as part of her training we really ought to pay you.”  Commented Michael and quoted the amount per day that they normally paid teachers to run a course.  “I can pay you in dollars into a TransferWise multi-currency account then it would look better on the books.”   “Am I teaching one or more than one?”  “All three I should think.”  “I’ll order two more instant pots then, we can always find a few starving students to eat it all.”  Thinking of one particular post grad student who might have to be physically pried away from his experiments.  Still with a glass of wine inside him there might be possibilities.   

Berry thought about Ashley and the Goths.  Ashley with purple hair?  It would be part of her dress code of course.  The nice thing was they were much of a size so she could pick out some suitable Goth clothing before Ashley caught on.  The morning of the afternoon flight she ushered Ashley into a nearby beauty salon where Ashley was given a full manicure and pampered to help her relax before her hair was washed and colour was applied after Berry slipped the girl a few notes.  Berry didn’t give her a chance to look in the mirror and hurried her back to her room to change before the flight.  Ashley took one look in the mirror before freaking out over her purple hair with pink stripes.  “You can’t do this!” She yelled.  Michael stepped in to see what all the fuss was about.  “It looks fine to me.  Veronica sets your dress code.  If you wish to resign that’s fine otherwise get dressed and let’s go.”  Ashley looked at him open mouthed then shrugged her shoulders in resignation.  Berry passed her the Goth clothes and she glanced at Michael surely he wouldn’t expect her to wear these monstrosities?  “I like the black fishnet stockings.  I’ll have to think about your dress code Veronica.”  He turned and left the room before he saw Berry put her tongue out at him. 

At airport Berry noticed two guys and a pretty girl looking at them for a moment before approaching.  The girl stumbled by Michael and he caught her in his arms.  Berry was suspicious, it was too neatly done.  She glanced at the chauffeurs lined up and spotted her name on a board.  Good, she gathered up the other two and hustled them over to the driver practically dragging Ashley away from the guy who was making eyes at her.  In the car she sat in the front.  Michael and Ashley sat together in the back.  “You must be important.” Laughed the driver as they sped away.  “What makes you say that?”  “Stephanie isn’t cheap and she had two accomplices with her today.”  “Stephanie?”  “I’ve said too much.”  Berry drew out a hundred euro bill and passed it over.  “The limo is already paid for.”  “You were telling me about Stephanie?”  He glanced around “She is as you say an expensive lady of the night.  Often her targets are politicians who are coming to negotiate a deal.  Are you politicians?”  “No business only.”  “But not doubt you are negotiating something expensive?”  Berry pulled another two hundred euro bills out of her bag.  “They way they work is they will try to compromise you then take advantage.  I suggest you share one room and only go out in a group of three.  Even leaving one behind in a hotel room will find a maid in the hotel room very quickly.”  “Pass him another seven Veronica.”  The driver looked startled, “How long are you here for?”  “Three days.”  He passed them a phone.  “It has my number on it.  When you want to go anywhere just text me twenty minutes in advance and I’ll be your dedicated driver for the next three days.  Don’t trust anyone.  Especially other cab drivers you may end up not where you wish to be and that is all I’m going to say other than enjoy your stay.  Oh and I’d like the phone back when you go to the airport.”

They entered the hotel and approached the check in.  “Three rooms is it sir?”  “Just the one with two double beds please.”  Requested Berry.  She’d noticed one of the well dressed guys sat waiting in the foyer get up and amble across towards Ashley.  The clerk’s eyebrows raised “As you wish.”  As they got in the elevator Ashley demanded “Are you mad?  We have to share one room?”  “I think it’s safer that way.”  Berry pulled out her phone and played a video showing Stephanie and another girl with Mr. Foster doing some very dirty things.  “My god is that physically possible?”  “I guess so.  Mr. Foster’s wife divorced him and the company went under shortly afterwards.”  “I’m almost tempted to let her do her worst.”  “Be sensible, if need be I could always wear a pair of seamed stockings for you and you don’t know where she’s been or who she’s been with.”  Michael pulled a face.  “I can get a good idea from the video about where she’s been and we know she’s been with Mr. Foster.  Do you think she is a gymnast?”  Berry turned to Ashley “Sort him out.”  Ashley shrugged “Which would you rather Stephanie for one night or Miss Long for a week?”  Michael's eyes lit up.  “If you’re offering Veronica?”  She laughed “If you’re good I might consider it but not if I find you with Stephanie.”  “Spoil sport.” 

A few minutes after they arrived a maid in a uniform that Berry mentally described as not quite thoroughly indecent but certainly not Victorian respectable pushed a trolley with tea and coffee into the room together with madeleines and other small cakes into the room.  “Complements of the hotel.  Would you like me to serve?”  She asked and bent at the waist and wiggled her bottom invitingly at Michael whilst she arranged the cake forks and plates on the table.  “Thank you but we can serve ourselves.”  Michael looked so disappointed. 

“We’ve been invited to meet our counterparts and eat out with them tonight.”  The girls got changed into long dresses and they found their way to a private dining room.  Berry stared at the steak in front of her.  How on earth was she supposed to eat it with chop sticks?  Walter, as he insisted they call him, picked up a chunk of steak with his chop sticks.  The steaks had been cleverly cut up into squares so they could be eaten easily with chop sticks.  The white wine flowed and between Walter and his secretary Elizabete the conversation flowed easily.  Berry thought Elizabete’s backless plunging cowl neckline dress was a little near the line.  Especially when Michael felt the need to pay attention to her. 

The coffee arrived and Walter announced “Since we don’t have your silly sexual harassment laws over here would you care to try something slightly different than wife swapping? Executive assistant swapping?”   Elizabete fluttered her long eyelashes at Michael and ran her hand up his thigh.  Ashley thought she was going to throw up until Michael spoke.  “Unfortunately I only have a management trainee here and an office supervisor.  I haven’t even begun to train the trainee in how to give a hand job and as for Veronica.”  Ashley wondered if he knew what Veronica had had her doing in the Caribbean.  He shrugged his shoulders.  “Next time perhaps I’ll bring my executive assistant.”  They returned to their room and Berry brought up the video on her smart phone.  She glanced at the room, interesting.  She got undressed and lay back on one of the beds.  “Ms. Patterson I’d like you to put your head between my thighs and eat me out.”  Michael looked up at this.  Ashley looked taken back but then rationalised that obviously this was a country where the sexual harassment rules didn’t apply.  She looked over towards Michael who simply shrugged.  It was an instruction but it didn’t really make sense to him.  As far as he knew Veronica was heterosexual. 

Oh well thought Ashley if it was going to be done she’d do it well so the bitch couldn’t complain.  She thought about which bits of hers were the most sensitive and set to work kissing her way up Berry’s thighs.  Berry in turn was quite turned on by the sense of power and she guided Ashley’s head so she wasn’t applying too much tongue before she was ready for it and brushed her purple hair so it covered more of where her tongue was working.  She glanced over towards Michael how was just giving the two girls his full attention.  Watching with a sense of amazement and arousal especially as Berry’s chest grew flushed as she encountered his gaze.  Ashley finally buried two fingers inside Berry as her tongue massaged the outside and Berry came without a doubt.  Ashley rolled over on her back and took in Michael had been watching them the whole time.  She slid her fingers down and gently masturbated as Berry rose up and walked over to Michael on the other bed.  “Liked what you saw then?”  She said running her finger tips over his hand which had been gently wanking away.  “Let me help.”  She bent forward and deliberately took him in her mouth ensuring he was hard enough so she could pull him inside her.  She rolled them over so she was underneath and Michael was having to do more of the work.   

Ashley lay back and gently masturbated turned on by the idea that the other two were, well they just were.  She gave a small cry and that set Michael off spurting his sperm deep inside Berry.  The next morning they arrived at a conference room and on the opposite side of the table sat Madam Balodis.  “Walter?”  Queried Michael.  “Walter, Stephanie, and Elizabete had their chance.  Now you will deal directly with me.”  The negotiation was hard but fair.  Berry brought up the fact their company had been using a cheaper less reliable product from a competitor which brought it it’s own set of problems.  Such as having to carry more spares and have extra technicians available besides the down time.  “How do I know your product is more reliable?”  “You’ve been buying them on the open market for sometime.  Our technical support desk has helped configure a number of units that your company has installed and no failures have since been reported on those units since.” Remarked Berry who had been through the help desk logs.  Madam Balodis conceded the point and a reasonable price was established provided the company could accept payment in grain.  Michael nodded and gave a price for the year in tons of grain delivered per thousand units and the deal was done. 

As they picked up their bags at the hotel Berry pointed out the security camera domes hidden in the corners of the room.  Only when they were on the plane home did she show them the video once again and how the room they had been given was exactly the same as Mr. Foster’s.  “Oh my God you mean they videoed me eating you out?”  “Yeah but with your purple hair and Goth makeup no one will ever know it was you.  It should wash out by the way completely in two washes.”  “I never realised that we exported and accepted payment in anything but dollars.”  “It’s not unusual.”  “Stephanie, Elizabete and Walter were there to compromise Michael?”  “Don’t forget the charming young men who were so nice to you.”  Ashley went white.  “So by me eating you out and you having sex with Michael that was enough to blow their scheme?  You just can’t trust them can you?”  “But you have to trade with them.”  “I don’t think I’ll ever know enough to be a manager.  Was it worth coming?”  “Well we should make a profit of four or five million a year for a few years so yes it probably was.” 

Michael smiled “I think you’ll do fine now you’d accepted that you have much to learn.”  Ashley turned to Berry “You might have been a bitch to work for but I think I’ve learnt a lot more than I might have done.  Are you going to move in with Michael?”   Michael looked shocked at the idea.  “Well you’ve already had sex together and you work well together so why not?”  Why not indeed thought Berry.  Michael paused and thought for a moment or two.  “Well Ms. Long what do I need to say to convince you?”  Berry thought about all those millions of dollars “Meg hired as a management trainee so she gets paid to go to university.”  She lent across and kissed him on the lips and somehow Michael agreed to her suggestion. 