After the speeches and accolades, Jack was approached by a former co-worker who said he had questions about one of his old accounts.
"Good grief, this is a party," Jack said. "Can't it wait?" Diane waved him off, promising to be there when he got back. Jack grabbed his drink and headed out. Looking back, he saw David approach Diane.
"What is the sexiest woman in the company doing sitting here all by herself?" David asked. "Doesn't Ketterer know how dangerous that is?"
"Fending off the assholes trying to hit on me," she said as she turned to face the man behind her. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ross, I didn't know it was you."
"That's okay, Diane, no apologies necessary," he said, sitting down next to her. Diane took in the older man's sudden closeness, noticing the power and confidence he exuded. He wasn't the best-looking man, but there was an air about him that intrigued her.
"Wouldn't your wife take exception to you hitting up on another woman?" she asked.
"I'm not married, but some would say I'm married to the company," he said.
"How boring," Diane responded. "What about love, family, children?"
"I have everything I could ever need - power, money, prestige, you name it. If there's something else I want I just take it," he said.
"And what do you want now?" Diane asked.
"Why, you, of course." Diane laughed.
"What, you think that because you're the boss you can just take someone's wife?" she asked.
"You misunderstand me, Diane. Actually, I find that while I can just take what I want, sexy women included, I find it more interesting and fun to get people to give me what I want, willingly," he said. "Have you ever heard the old story about the frog?"
"I'm not following you," Diane said.
"If you take a frog and throw it into hot water, it jumps out. But if you take that same frog and put it in cold water, then slowly turn up the heat, by the time the frog knows what's happening it's too late. The same thing applies to men. Just put the right amount of pressure on the right place at the right time and before you know it, he'll happily give you everything he has - even his very right to exist."
"And who is it you're looking to 'cook' now?" she asked. David pointed at her husband, Jack.
"Your husband, actually," he said. "And I'd like you to help me in my little experiment."
"Oh really?" Diane asked. "You obviously don't know my husband very well."
"Tell me, Diane," David said, "How's his job hunting been going? I know it hasn't gone well and I also know he's decided to take you up on your offer to work in the cave. Haven't you ever wondered why he hasn't been able to secure something better by now?"
"I figured it was the recession," she said.
"Well, that may have played a role, but the truth is, I've been doing little things behind the scenes to sabotage his job hunt. Nothing illegal, mind you, just dropping little hints," he said. "Besides, who do you think laid him off to begin with? And who do you think promoted you?"
"Why would you do that?" Diane asked.
"Well, call it collecting on an old debt. Also, because he has something I want," David said. "You, for starters. And then there's that trust fund of his. Has he told you that it's worth more than 500 million dollars?"