Free The Biggest Part of Me by Malinda Martin

figure stretched taut.  He appreciatively looked her over.  “Just wondering.  You seem especially diligent with this project.”
    “Well, of course.  This is a tremendous opportunity.  If I handle it right it could be a huge boost for my career,” Jane said as she rolled her head back and forth.
    Ed took that as a cue for him to massage her shoulders.  His hands were hard and demanding as he attempted to ease the tension in Jane’s neck and shoulders.  “Is that all?  I mean, is it the work or the boss?” 
    Jane froze.  “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Jane, I saw how uncomfortable you were at that Cuban restaurant.  I saw the two of you dancing at the club.  It certainly doesn’t seem like a typical business relationship.”
    Hesitating for a moment, Jane sighed.  “Listen, Ed.  I probably should level with you.  Jason Collins and I grew up in Jacksonville together.  His family lived behind mine.  We grew up playing sports and going to school together.”
    “Yes, you told me that you were childhood friends.  But it doesn’t explain why you were dancing so closely last Saturday.”
    Jane was frustrated trying to explain herself.  “We were high school sweethearts.  Saturday night at the club the band played a song that had been very special to us.”  She didn’t dare tell him that Jason had paid the band to play it.  How could she explain that?  She wasn’t sure herself.  Jane looked up at Ed.   “We were reliving the moment, that’s all.”
    Relaxing his grip on her shoulders he began caressing them.  He wanted to ask her more questions about this old boyfriend but looking into her sincere expression he decided to let it go.  “Glad to hear it.”  Their eyes held.  Ed leaned over intending to gently kiss Jane.
    “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” 
    The voice caused Jane to quickly jump up from her chair and move away from Ed.  She was turning red all the way to the roots of her scalp.  “Oh, hello.  We were just talking about you.”
    “Really?” Jason puzzled.
    Ed was frustrated by Jason’s appearance.  “We’re going out to lunch now,” he smirked, “unless there’s a problem with that.”
    “No problem with that,” Jason smirked back.  Then turning to Jane he said, “I just wanted to remind you about the two o’clock meeting.  You do have your marketing brief ready for me to go over, of course.”
    “Of course.”  Not sensing the growing tension between the two men, Jane reached for her purse and coat.  “Did you need anything before then?”
    “No, I just came to have lunch with Terry.”  And then turning to Ed and smirking he added, “Make sure she’s back at two.  We have plans, you know.”
    Ed returned a forced smile and put a possessive arm around Jane as he directed her past Jason towards the elevator.  Jason watched Ed continue his hold on Jane.  He didn’t like it one bit.  “Executive Frankenstein Goes To Lunch,” he murmured as he left Jane’s office.  And then his mind was filled with ideas for accessories to go with the incredibly big and ugly action figure he was designing.
     
    Ed did have Jane back for the two o’clock meeting with only one minute to spare.  Jason was waiting in her office, pacing, when she blew in the door.  “Good afternoon,” she said hanging her coat on a nearby coat tree.
    Jason flashed a frozen, humorless smile on his face.  “Did you have a nice lunch?”
    “Yes, it was lovely, thank you,” she returned.  Looking over at the two assistants sitting on the couch, pads in hand she said, “Oh, hi Shelly.  Have you met my assistant Sally?”
    “Yes, we’ve all met each other while we waited for you,” Jason said sharply.
    Not taking the bait, Jane said, “Wonderful.  Shall we get down to business?”
    After the brief was discussed, highly impressing Jason, calendars were opened, notes were brought out, and the planning began.  Phase one of the complete marketing