The room was only dimly lit by the pale moonlight, coming through the windows. It caused a soft glow to outline the two nude figures on the bed in the corner.

"You know, I shouldn't really be spending so much time with you, Jimmy," the woman's voice murmured softly, as she clutched tighter to the man. She was only half-serious; and they both knew it. Their little game was just a kind of seductive dance. Neither was serious about one another. They were too ambitious about clawing their way up in the world. "But you sure are good for a girl like me! Even then..."

"Why not, Connie?" he asked in a low voice.

Connie snickered softly and then turned her lips up to his. "We're two of a kind. And sure you're one step above me. And I'm just a secretary, right now and ... well..."

Connie stared at him and then took a slow, deep drag of her cigarette. "You know that Gordon Fuller is after your neck?"

"Naturally!"

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing--right now." He caressed Connie's fingers. "Don't you worry your little head about that. Old Man Kilman and I are long-time friends, and Gordon can't do anything against me--directly, at least--without Henry Kilman's okay."

Connie's eyes flinched for a moment and then she said: "That Irene! She surely cut in big when she married the boss." Her voice had an edge of bitterness to it. "I could almost hate that woman!"

"So she married the man for money--what difference does it make?" Haden asked, sliding his arm around Connie's naked shoulders and pulling her closer to him.

"Just that I'm jealous!" she sighed, putting out her cigarette and turning toward him. She laughed, then said, rather honestly: "I'm willing to do that kind of thing with the right man."

"Well," he teased. "There's Bob, the ol' man's son!"

"A nice, charming young man," she offered, in a serious voice. "I suppose so."

"Bob's very nice. A bit of an idealist, though," he noted.

"Yes. But very nice. Yes, I suppose I could try bagging him. If he'd just notice me. Why don't you fix me up?"

"I might just do that, if you're serious."

She laughed at that. "But then I'd be second best, under Irene, the holy mistress of this small town! If you get my meaning!"

"But that would make you second best!" he pointed out.

"Better that than nothing," she shrugged. "Well, its that or going elsewhere."

"And why pick up stakes if you can get a good roll right here at home?" She thought for a moment then asked: "And whom are you planning on hunting?"

"I'll never tell. A secret."

"See, we're both alike," she countered.

"And what about love?"

"What about it? What's love got to do with all this?"

"I suppose you're right, in a way. We're all trying to get ahead--"

"And don't care how we do it, just so we win? Right?" she admitted. "I don't mean to be a secretary all my life."

"Not planning on getting married? Having children?"

"To the right guy. With enough bucks to make it worth settling down with him. If you get my meaning."

"And that would be..."

"Well, somebody will come along!"

"You've been thick with Dale, I've noted."

"Oh, that!" she laughed nervously. "He's just ... some guy ... nice, sure. But no Bob Kilman. And if I have to pick somebody it would be him. Of course!"

"Then who do you have your claws out for?"

"Well, not with you! If that's what you're worried about. You're as bad as the rest of us. Sex is our business. Not love. And in the long run, sex is a matter of serious business, when it opens new doors. And I'm smart enough to play it ... smart! If you know what I mean."

"You're hot enough, that's for sure!"

"And I play it dirty with the right partner."

"Like me?"

"Like you, but well, we're kicks! Now aren't we? An easy Saturday, Sunday through Friday fix between more serious connections! Handy for both of us."

They both laughed at that.

He said: "I suppose you're right. We sell ourselves for the best possible position. Climbing our up with the social ladder."

"It can be fun," she offered, reaching down between them to caress him. "Now can't it?"

"Yes. It can." He admitted thinking about Janet Kilman, whom he planned on bagging, just as Irene had seduced her way into the ol' man's bed to become mistress of the Kilman Kingdom.

Connie said: "We are good together, aren't we?"

"Good for this kind of action, for sure. And you're a great secretary, to boot."

"Not for any longer than I have to be!"

"And I thought you were going to pair up with Dale Robbins!"

"Oh, he's just a kid. Nice, but ... well..." She avoided his eyes, then suddenly said: "Oh let's stop all the talking. Just kiss me!"

He didn't need a second invitation. Their lips met eagerly. She trembled against him, as her hands continued exploring his body.

One thing that he could say about Connie, she knew how to please a man, he thought happily. A good secretary to have around until she found another bigger exec to play games under.

Connie was ambitious and, like she said, willing to bed her way up into power. And he was merrily the first step in the long climb she had set for herself. Like many women in her position they thought it was an original move--sadly it was all too common. Though in her case, she might get very far with her sexual skills and body.

But that didn't make much difference, because he had plans for himself.

The form of Janet Kilman took shape before his eyes. Janet, blonde, beautiful and virgin. The daughter of Old Man Kilman, and the woman he planned on marrying. One way or the other.

Connie's physical actions brought his attention back to her searching hands and lips and the excitement of her body against his.

It was a savage world they lived in; everybody giving their bodies for the price of power and money, but he didn't care much about that, right then.

Suddenly their bodies joined, desperately, thrusting through the last convulsions of ecstasy, and then finally relaxed, exhausted and satisfied.