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XIV

Meeting with Mr. Blaidd

On Wednesday, Amanda was in Michael's office during lunch. On Monday, she had asked to beg off a couple of days due to her situation. As they were eating and talking, he noticed a slight difference in her normal demeanor. He could see that she was still in heat, but, the effects were less than they had been on Saturday night. She was every bit as bubbly and effusive as is normal for her; however, she seemed to be contemplating something. Michael thought that he would give her a few minutes to decide to tell him what was on her mind. As strange as it may seem, knowing his attitude towards having a close relationship with a humanimal, especially a female humanimal, Michael was more than a little concerned that she was going to tell him that, because of what he had said to her Saturday afternoon, she no longer wanted to associate with him. While this thought didn't terrify him, it did cause him a bit of concern. After all, Amanda was the first really close friend he had made outside of the Panthera family.

After giving her about five minutes, Michael said, "All right, Amanda, out with it."

"Out with what?"

"Whatever it is that's on your mind. You're sitting there as bubbly as you've been ever since we started eating lunch together on Mondays but, I can see that there's something on your mind. So, what is it?"

"Sometimes I think you're too observant."

"It goes back to when I was growing up. Being an outdoorsman, being observant was a necessity unless I wanted to step on a rattlesnake or some other dangerous critter." Michael looked at her, expectantly.

"All right. After my mother and dad left my apartment on Saturday, I got to thinking. You live less than five minutes away from me and they live almost an hour away. If I was so sick I couldn't get out of bed and I needed someone to come and help me, it would be an hour before anyone could get to my apartment with a key. So, I went to a hardware store and had this made." She reached into her purse and retrieved a key which she placed on the table between them. Michael looked at the key and then back at her. Amanda continued, "I want you to have it in case I need your assistance."

Michael leaned back in his chair and looked at her for several seconds before he said, "Amanda, you know how your mother feels about me. If she walked into your apartment and saw me there, I believe she would have me arrested for attempted rape. So, are you sure you want to give this to me?"

"Despite the way that she has treated me and talked to me my whole life, I believe that, if you saved my life, she wouldn't do anything to you."

Michael took a deep breath and let it out slowly and looked at her for several more seconds before he reached out and reluctantly took the key. "I hope I don't regret this." He said.

Michael thought for several seconds before he reached into his pants pocket, retrieved his keys and removed one. "I guess I should reciprocate. Here's the extra key to my apartment. Please don't abuse the privilege."

Innocently, she asked, "Whatever do you mean?"

Michael looked at her pointedly and said, "Amanda, you're a sweet vixen and don't think that your strawberry-blonde hair has me fooled for a second." She looked at him curiously for a second before he reached up and patted his own dark blonde hair. "I know blondes are dumb." She laughed. "I also know they can be devious. So, I'm asking you to not surprise me. Okay?"

Michael noticed a slight mischievousness on her face as she said, "All right, Michael. I won't come into your apartment without your specific invitation unless I think it's an emergency."

"Thank you." Michael should have paid closer attention to what she said.

"By the way, has your--problem ended?"

"Not yet but today's the last day. In fact, I can feel the last of my heat hormones gradually washing out of my body. I'm so sorry for the way I acted last weekend. I wanted to apologize to you on Monday but, I was too embarrassed. Please forgive me."

"Apologies are unnecessary, Amanda. You had a good excuse. Do you remember anything that you did?"

With an overly sad voice, she said, "No. Bertha and Wanda have been enjoying a good laugh at my expense, though. In fact, every time I look at them, they start giggling."

"I'll tell you as much as you want to know, if you want me to."

"Please."

"Okay. What's the last thing you remember?"

"Seeing you walk into Bruno's and telling that Arctic fox guy that you were with me."

Michael looked at her for a few seconds before he said, "You may be in for a major shock. First of all, that Arctic fox was--wasn't a guy."

Amanda's eyes widened so much that you could see all the way around her irises. "What!?"

"That's what Wanda said and a rabbit that I interested 'him' in confirmed it. She returned several minutes later and proceeded to call me every name she could lay her tongue to because of it."

"Oh my God. What else happened?"

Michael proceeded to tell her about everything that happened at Bruno's. After he mentioned the kisses, nuzzling, and scent marking, she said, "I had heard that being in heat can lower a girl's inhibitions but, I never realized how badly it lowered them. I know how you feel about us, Michael. I'm terribly sorry I forced myself on you like that."

"Actually, Amanda, you don't know how I feel about humanimals. You know a little but not everything. I've got absolutely no problems with you other than an old inhibition concerning relations with you. When you kissed me, I'll admit it surprised me but, it was a pleasant surprise. My problem is the thought of a sexual relationship with a humanimal.

"Do you remember Saturday morning?"

"Except for my argument with my mother, no." A fearful look crossed her pretty tiger-fox face as she said, "Was it bad?"

"Bad? That all depends on your definition of bad, I guess. You called me at 2400 and begged me to come help you with your hangover. I got dressed and walked to your apartment."

"Walked to my apartment? Why did you walk?"

"Because I had left my car at Bruno's so I could drive you home. After all, we both thought you were drunk.

"Anyway, when you opened the door to your apartment, well, let's just say that I saw the proof that humanimals look like furry humans underneath their clothing."

She inhaled sharply and, once again, her eyes got large enough that Michael could see all around her irises. "Oh--my--God! Did I say why?"

"You said that you had gotten hot and you needed to cool off."

She put her face in her hands in embarrassment and whispered, "What did I do?"

"You ran a tubful of cool water and sat in it." Michael looked at her for a couple of seconds before he dropped the other shoe. "And you demanded that I keep you company while you soaked."

Michael could hear the embarrassment in her voice as she said, "Please tell me I didn't demand you join me in the tub."

"You did but I refused. I sat on your commode."

"Thank God."

"It didn't get much better. Michelle called and, as I picked up the telephone, I told you to stay in the tub and I would join you in a minute."

"Oh, no. No wonder Michelle won't look at me."

"When I told you it was Michelle, you got out of the tub, dried yourself as best you could and came into the living room, still naked, but wearing a towel that barely covered your femininity, and asked me to dry and brush your back fur."

"What did I tell Michelle?" She asked still embarrassed.

"You implied that she had interrupted us while we were--indisposed."

"Michael, what am I going to do? I'm going to get a bad reputation."

"Bertha, Wanda and Michelle know why you were acting the way you were. They're probably enjoying the fact that this was the first time you were in heat and interested in someone." She looked at Michael with a scared look on her face and he said, "Yes, me. I'm honored that such a beautiful fox-tiger woman, such as you, would get so carried away because of me when she's in heat but, as I said at the time, I can't allow it to go any further.

"Now, I understand your need and desire to apologize for something over which you had no control but, it isn't necessary."

She said, "Thank you, Michael. But, I'm just so embarrassed by what happened. I'm also afraid that, the next time I go into heat, it'll happen again." She had a worried look on her face.

"Well, Amanda, if it happens, we'll deal with it as best we can. So, don't worry about it too much. Let's just enjoy the rest of lunch and cross bridges only when we get to them."

She smiled and said, "All right. I'm glad to know that you aren't offended by what I did this past weekend."

*****

About twelve weeks later, Michael was in his office working on some paperwork in preparation for his weekly meeting with Mr. Blaidd and Mr. Schimpanse. As he was looking over the paperwork, his phone started ringing.

Michael answered it saying, "CIT Department. Michael Thomson speaking."

Michael heard Amanda's soft voice saying, "Michael? This is Amanda."

"What can I do for you, Amanda?"

"Mr. Blaidd wants to see both of us in his office as soon as possible."

Michael's initial reaction was one of mild panic. Amanda and he had gone out on a few dates over the last three months, just as friends, and he wasn't absolutely certain that it was acceptable behavior under company policy until he remembered that Robert and Wanda were now living together and Jonathan and Bertha were openly dating with Jonathan spending an inordinate amount of overnights at Bertha's home.

After these thoughts crossed his mind, Michael relaxed enough to say, "Really? What does he want? Do you know?"

"No. He didn't say."

"Okay. Both of us, you say?"

"Yes."

'We aren't in any trouble, are we?"

She laughed lightly and asked, "Why would we be in trouble?"

"Well . . . you know . . . we have gone out on a few dates together."

"That isn't a problem as long as neither of us are married to someone else. That's the real reason your predecessor got into trouble and left."

"What do you mean?"

"He started cheating on his wife and he got caught, by none other than her."

"Ouch!"

"Yeah. She was a Bengal cat and they are notoriously bad tempered when ill-treated. I understand he came to work the next day with four noticeable scratches across his face. This was on Monday and he had to go to the weekly meeting with Mr. Blaidd and explain what happened."

"I'm guessing that Mr. Blaidd wasn't happy."

"I wasn't working here at the time; but Bertha, who was Mr. Blaidd's personal secretary at the time, said that he stared at Mr. Shishuukhei during the entire meeting and requested that he remain after the meeting adjourned. Bertha was told her presence wasn't necessary. She told me that she heard Mr. Blaidd explain in a rather vocal manner that the company's standards of conduct don't allow for employees to commit indiscretions that may reflect badly on the company and, if Mr. Shishuukhei wished to commit these indiscretions, perhaps, he should consider employment elsewhere."

"Wow! But, if Mr. Shishuukhei had not been married, his indiscretions would have been acceptable?"

"So long as he didn't commit the indiscretions that could reflect badly on the company, yes."

"You mean like receiving injuries because of said indiscretions?"

"Yes."

"Good. At least I don't have that Sword of Damocles hanging over my head."

"Sword of Damocles?"

"It's from an ancient myth from Eurape. According to the myth, Damocles was pandering to Dionysius, his king, and exclaimed to him that Dionysius was truly fortunate as a great man of power and authority, surrounded by magnificence. In response, Dionysius offered to switch places with Damocles for one day so that Damocles could taste that very fortune firsthand. Damocles quickly and eagerly accepted the king's proposal. Damocles sat down in the king's throne surrounded by every luxury, but Dionysius, who had made many enemies during his reign, arranged that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held at the pommel only by a single hair of a horse's tail to evoke the sense of what it is like to be king: though having much fortune, always having to watch in fear and anxiety against dangers that might try to overtake him. Damocles finally begged the king that he be allowed to depart because he no longer wanted to be so fortunate, realizing that with great fortune and power comes also great danger. King Dionysius effectively conveyed the sense of constant fear in which a person with great power may live."

"So, a Sword of Damocles is anything that puts a person on edge and fear that something bad is soon to happen?"

"Exactly."

Michael looked at his now clean and well-organized desk and said, "I've got no overly important paperwork to work on. I can be upstairs in about five minutes."

"Good. I'll let Mr. Blaidd know."

*****

Four minutes later, Michael stepped off the elevator and walked to Amanda's desk. He stood there patiently and watched her as she transcribed her shorthand into a letter on her word processor. He heard a quiet giggling from the other three secretaries of the quartet, as Michael called them, as he stood there. Finally, the giggling must have gotten to Amanda because he could see mild irritation cross her face.

Amanda raised her head and said, "What is so . . ." She nearly fell out of her chair when she saw Michael.

"I don't blame you for that reaction." Michael said. "I have to look at this face every morning. So, I know what you're seeing."

"Oh, stop it, Michael. Any female would consider herself lucky to have you." She said; however, he heard her whisper, "I wish it was me."

"I'm sorry, Amanda. I couldn't hear you."

Amanda closed her mouth, took a short breath and held it. This was her way of showing embarrassment. "Nothing." She said. She changed the subject by saying, "Are you ready to see Mr. Blaidd?"

"As ready as I can be."

She pressed a button on her intercom and said, "Mr. Blaidd? Mr. Thomson is here."

"Good." Came the reply. "Would both of you please come into my office?"

"Yes, sir." Amanda looked up at Michael and said, "Let's go."

They entered Mr. Blaidd's office and saw Mr. Schimpanse in there as well. "Come in, Michael. Have a seat. You too, Amanda." They sat. "Michael, if you will recall, one of your duties as CIT Manager is to attend computer expos at our discretion. Do you remember this?"

"Yes, sir, I do."

"Good. I was informed this morning that there will be a computer expo in Jaguarville next week. You and Amanda will be attending. You will leave Friday morning and return a week from Sunday."

Michael interrupted and said, "I'm sorry, sir. Jaguarville?"

"Oh. I'm sorry, Michael. I keep forgetting that your knowledge is about 20,000 years old. Jaguarville is a relatively large city in the northeastern corner of the peninsula you used to know as Florida we call it Flamingo."

Michael thought for a couple of seconds and said, "Is it on the banks of a river that flows north and then turns east?"

"Yes."

"Ah. I used to know it as Jacksonville. Now I know where we're going. I grew up just north of there."

"Good. The train trip will take about eight hours. It's an express so there will only be a 15-minute stop at Marten before you arrive in Jaguarville. You'll be leaving Catlanna at 0300 on Friday morning and arriving in Jaguarville around 1100. All of your expenses will be paid, work related that is. We're not going to pay for any souvenirs." Mr. Blaidd smiled as he spoke.

"I assume that expenses will include automobile rental?"

"Yes. All you'll have to do is sign the rental and drive away. I believe you're allowed 200 miles a day."

"Thank you, sir. I hope you don't mind if I take a drive to see how much my home has changed over the last 20,000 years."

"Just as long as you don't exceed the mileage limit, you may go anywhere you so desire; however, I do want you at the expo every day."

"Yes, sir. I don't foresee any problems in fulfilling that stipulation."

During this conversation, out of the corner of his eye, Michael had noticed that Amanda wasn't paying close attention to what Mr. Blaidd and he were saying. She kept looking down and rubbing her hand along the side of her face and muzzle. Even though he noticed her actions, Michael didn't want to draw attention to her for fear it could cause her a little trouble. He knew that, after this meeting, he could ask her what was wrong with her, unless she brought it up during the meeting.

Mr. Blaidd turned to Mr. Schimpanse and asked, "Konrad, do you have anything to add?"

With a mild Germanic accent, Mr. Schimpanse said, "Yes. Michael, when you and Amanda arrive here Friday morning, Mrs. Lagomorph will issue you a company credit card. Take care of it because it has no limit. When you pay for any meal, don't give the card to the waitperson. We want you to pay for your meals at the register. This is to prevent any potential fraud. Over 95% of humanimals are honest to a fault, but over 75% of the dishonest ones work in service industry jobs and they won't hesitate to steal credit card numbers, especially from major companies such as SoGa.

"Please take your time and obtain as much information as you can about the computer systems and components you believe would be beneficial to the company. If you have any questions as to the potential need of any computer system, you can call Mrs. Gatopardos and she should be able to give you a general idea as to necessity of what you're looking at purchasing for the company.

"I visited Jaguarville about five years ago. It's a beautiful city. There are numerous restaurants overlooking the river; I would suggest enjoying at least one meal at the river. I would also suggest visiting the beach and having dinner there looking out at the ocean.

"I'm assuming the city that you wish to visit, Michael, is Brantawick. It's about 65 miles north of Jaguarville. I've heard they have great seafood, if you like seafood. Personally, I, along with all chimpanzees, am allergic to seafood. I guess it goes back to the ancient days when our ancestors never ventured near rivers or oceans since we couldn't swim.

"As I said, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied during your down time; just don't forget that this isn't a vacation, it's a business trip."

Michael said, "Thank you, Mr. Schimpanse. I'll do my best to earn your trust."

Mr. Blaidd said, "Michael, I'm sure you remember that Amanda's purpose on this trip is to insure that we don't pay more for the computer components than is absolutely necessary. I trust you because of your knowledge of computers, Michael, but, I also know computer people well enough to know that they can have a bit of tunnel vision where computer systems are concerned and, sometimes, spend more money on a new system than is absolutely necessary. I hope you understand our reasoning, Michael."

"Yes, sir. I understand completely."

"Good. Well, I believe that's all that we need to talk about. Michael, Amanda, I look forward to seeing what you decide as far as upgrades to our computer system. We'll see you when you return a week from Monday."

He stood up and, along with Mr. Schimpanse, shook Michael's hand. They escorted Amanda and him to the door and held the door for them.

As Michael was about to walk through the doorway, he stopped short. "Mr. Blaidd," he said, "What about next Monday's meeting? Won't we be here for that?"

"Oh. No, Michael. To get everything ready for your trip, we'll postpone the meeting until the Monday after you and Amanda return."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

*****

After Amanda and Michael left the office, Amanda moaned plaintively. "What's wrong, Amanda? I saw you acting nervous in the meeting." Michael asked her.

She looked at him with horror in her eyes. "Why next week? Why couldn't that show be the week after?" She said sadly.

"What's wrong? What difference does it make when the show is?"

She leaned closer and whispered, "Do you know what will happen next Friday?"

"I must confess to ignorance. No, I don't."

"Michael, don't you remember what happened 12 weeks ago? How could you forget?"

"Twelve weeks ago? I don't see the--oh, my, God! Next weekend?"

"Yes. Michael, what am I . . . what are we going to do? The only thing that saved us last time was your moral character. This time, if I understand how our situation works, it will be much worse on me."

"Maybe we'll be on different floors of the hotel. That'll help, won't it?"

"Yes, but, we're going to have all weekend with virtually nothing to do. Likely as not, we'll spend it in each other's company. That will make it a lot more difficult on me and the longer we stay friends and don't consummate the relationship the worse my heat cycles will affect me."

"Isn't there any medication to help you suppress your desires during your heat?"

"I don't know. I'm afraid to ask a doctor. If he knows my mother, he might inadvertently tell her and then my mother will hate you even more."

"As if that's possible." Michael replied with a small laugh in his voice.

She laughed and said, "I don't know what to do?"

"Wait a minute! I know a doctor that I believe I can trust to keep this a secret. I'll call him when I get back to my office."

Michael left and calmly, but quickly, returned to his office. He closed the door and sat at his desk. He picked up the telephone and quickly dialed a number. A few seconds later, he heard a familiar bass voice speak.

"Catlanna Research Center, Biology Department. This is Dr. Leo Panthera. How may I help you?"

"Dr. Leo?" Michael said.

"Michael! Where have you been? Tigresa is talking about having you for dinner, literally this time."

Michael laughed and said, "Dr. Leo, you see me four days a week at the gym. Don't go there."

"Ha-ha. I know. I said that to Tigresa. She's upset that you haven't been by the house for a visit lately."

"Please tell her I'm sorry. But, I won't be able to visit for a while longer."

"So, is it true?"

"Is what true?" Michael asked after a short pause.

"Is it true that you and Amanda Fuchs are hot and heavy?"

"Oh, Lord. Where did you hear that?"

"From a semi-reliable source. So, is it?"

"Hot and heavy? No. Are we enjoying each other's company on a regular basis? Yes. But, that's not what I called about, Dr. Leo.

"Next week, Amanda and I are going to be in Jaguarville on business for the company. We're leaving Friday morning and we won't be back until a week from Sunday."

"That's a long time to be together, especially since I've heard from my resource that she's got rather strong feelings for you. Be careful."

"Being careful isn't my problem. Amanda says that she will be starting her heat cycle on Friday."

"Oh, no."

"Oh, yeah. She, I, we want to know if there's anything that she can take to lessen the effects."

"Nothing safe that I know of. I'll investigate and, if I find out about something, I'll let you know; but, Michael, if you two are just friends, her heat shouldn't be a problem."

"Dr. Leo, you, of all people, should know that, if a humanimal female has strong feelings for a male, she will be sexually aggressive during her heat. I like Amanda; but, I don't want her to see me in that manner. I'm not ready mentally."

"I understand. I'll let you know something by a week from Thursday night.

Dr. Leo stopped talking for a moment and his voice was replaced by a female voice, "Michael, you had better be dying if you don't intend to come over for dinner tonight. Anne's pestering me every day wanting to know when you're coming over again."

"Well, I'm not dying so I'll be over right after work."

"Good. I'll let Anne know so she can be happy for a little while.

"What's Leo going to let you know?"

"I'm going out of town next week and Amanda's going with me. She's also starting her heat that Friday. I was hoping that he could find something to help her deal with it."

"Hmm. I don't know of anything. Leo and I will check and let you now as soon as we can."

"Thanks, Dr. Tigresa. The sooner you can, though, the better."

Michael hung up the telephone and then he dialed Amanda's extension. He heard her voice say, "Mr. Blaidd's office. This is Amanda Fuchs. How may I help you?"

"Amanda," Michael said, "I talked to the doctor I told you about earlier. He said that, as far as he knew, there's nothing you can take for your problem." He heard her moan. "However, he said, that he'd investigate further and let me know something by next Thursday evening. As soon as I hear from him, I'll let you know what he says."

"Thank you, Michael."