Conflict of Interest, Part 12

This fictional account contains explicit sexual materials, adult language and
sexual themes.  If these offend you, please do not read further.  The persons
and events described in this work are fictional.  Any similarity to actual
persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by SSTORYMAN.  All
rights reserved.  Permission is granted to reproduce this story in any form
and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no financial

This is a sequel to the author's "Revenge" posted March 2000 and "The Affair"
posted January, 1997.  It may be helpful to read (or re-read) them before
reading this story.  There are also some references to characters who first
appeared in the author's "Lisa's Quest" and "The Vacation."  But familiarity
with these stories isn't necessary to enjoy this one.

Finally, thanks to AZ-MAN for his editorial suggestions, support and
encouragement.


CONFLICT OF INTEREST

12.	Rearrangements.

   The phone rang and Charity answered it.  "Hello?"

   "Hi, Charity, this is Sandy.  How are you doing tonight?"

   "I'm just fine.  But how are _you_ doing?"

   Sandy laughed.  "I'm doing great.  I wanted to bring you up to speed on all
that's happened since last night when we talked on the phone.  I was too upset
at the time.  I'm sorry about that."

   Charity took a deep breath.  "Don't worry about that.  I understand.  But
it's great.  I'm glad you called.  I've been thinking about you a lot today."

   "Yeah, and I've been thinking about you, too."  There was a pause, and
Charity thought she heard the telltale click of a lighter.  "Well, kid, I
thought about it all day today, and I've finally decided that I'm going to
start smoking again."

   Charity breathed a sigh of relief.  "Oh God, that's great, Sandy."

   "I thought you'd think so," Sandy laughed.  "But you know what?  I'm okay
with it.  I had a great time Sunday smoking with Larilyn and Adrienne.
Larilyn was right, the bitch!  She won.  Once she got me started, I didn't
want to stop.  All I could think about at the office today was having another
cigarette.  It drove me crazy.  At first it pissed me off.  But then I
realized that life is too short to do without the things I want.  And I want
to smoke."

   "Have you told anyone about your decision?"

   Sandy almost told how her sister and nieces knew she was smoking again, but
decided not to.  Charity didn't know them, and it didn't really matter.
There'd be plenty of time for that discussion later.  She took a deep breath
and launched into it.  "Well, no, not really.  I haven't told the lung
association, if that's what you mean.  But it's obvious I need to resign as
Executive Director and President of the lung association.  I can't keep
working there if I smoke.  In fact, I just finished typing my resignation
letter.  I've set up a meeting tomorrow morning with Walt Donovan, the board
chair.  I plan to deliver a draft resignation letter and begin discussions
about a severance package."

   "What do you mean?"

   Sandy paused for a hit on her cigarette.  This time, Charity clearly heard
her exhale.

   "A lot of shit has gone on at the lung association over the years.  They're
not going to want me to talk about any of it.  I'm proposing a one year
severance package in exchange for keeping my lips zipped.  I'll also propose
that I agree not to work against the lung association's interests in lobbying
or public relations efforts for that year as part of the agreement.  When I
remind Walt about the many shady things I could tell the media, some of which
he's personally been involved in, they board will agree to buy me off on those
terms.  I'm sure of it!"

   "Wow!  Obviously, I think that's great.  But what are you going to do?"

   Sandy paused to puff on her cigarette.  "I'm still licensed as an attorney,
you know.  So I'm thinking of taking a different career path.  I'm a damn good
lobbyist.  I made a few calls tonight to people in some gay and lesbian
organizations here in town and statewide.  I think I can begin a new career as
an advocate for gay and lesbian rights groups.  I'd like to finally come out
of the closet on that issue.  But I'd need to be affiliated with a law firm or
lobbying organization.  Now that I'm a smoker again, I'm going to talk to
Randy Myers at Johnson & Myers.  That's where I'd like to hang out my shingle
to start my new career."

   Charity giggled.  "Oh God, Sandy, that'd be fabulous!  Even if you can't
lobby for their pro-smoking clients right away, it'd make quite an impact if
you joined Johnson & Myers."

   "Yes, it would, wouldn't it?  That leads me to my next issue.  Charity, I'd
like to continue seeing you.  Unlike Larilyn and Adrienne, I'm looking for a
serious, monogamous relationship with another professional woman.  I know
you're involved with Rene Williams, and I don't want to piss her off.  But
would you have any interest?"

   A tingle of excitement ran up and down Charity's spine.  "Yeah!  Rene and I
had a long talk at dinner tonight, Sandy.  Rene's interested in seeing other
people.  I guess she, Larilyn and Adrienne shared some intimate moments this
weekend.  She said she doesn't want to be tied down and committed only to me
any longer.  I'm fine with that, mostly because I can't stop thinking about
you."  She paused.  "I think I'm in love with the new Sandy Rogers."

   "I love you, too, Charity.  God, this makes me happy!  I'm _so_ ready to
begin a new life, to leave behind my life at the lung association and living
in the closet as a gay woman.  What do you say we get together at my place
tonight to talk about this?"

   "Sandy, I'd love to.  But I hope we'll do more than talk."

   Sandy laughed as she raised her cigarette to her lips.  "Charity, we will
definitely do a lot more than just talk!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Two weeks later the lung association issued a press release announcing the
resignation of Ms. Sandra Rogers as its president and executive director.  On
behalf of the entire board, Dr. Walt Donovan announced the start of a
nationwide search for her replacement, and noted the association's sincere
appreciation for Ms. Rogers's years of stalwart service.

   The same day, Johnson & Myers issued a press release announcing that Sandra
Rogers was joining the firm as of counsel.  It was announced that her
involvement with the firm would be as chief representative and lobbyist on
behalf of a newly formed coalition of gay and lesbian rights groups throughout
the state.  Given her years of experience as a lobbyist and a public advocate,
Johnson & Myers declared Ms. Rogers would be a welcome addition to the firm.

   In response to media inquiries, Sandy Rogers confirmed that the primary
reason she chose Johnson & Myers was because of its fine history and
experience in defending unpopular causes from government interference.  "The
gay and lesbian community needs such effective representation," she stated.
"I believe I can provide that as a part of that fine firm."

   Media representatives asked if she'd changed her mind about tobacco and
health issues, but she refused to answer.  "I have nothing negative to say
about the lung association, or about any of their activities.  I specifically
agreed with the lung association not to engage in any lobbying activities
against the anti-smoking movement for a period of one year.  After that, I
look forward to offering my expertise as a lobbyist and public relations
expert to Johnson & Myers' other clients, including the statewide restaurant
and bar owners' association which opposed the anti-smoking ordinance I
proposed on behalf of the lung association several years ago."  When asked if
she'd immediately lobby on behalf of Johnson & Myers' anti-smoking clients,
she smiled demurely.  "Of course not.  Until some time passes, that would be a
conflict of interest."

   In a related story, Johnson & Myers also announced that Charity Harrison, a
litigation attorney with the firm of Williams & Connors, was joining its
litigation group.

   Meanwhile, Amanda Preston settled into her new (and old) life as a smoker.
She still drank a little too much, and didn't give up all her pills entirely,
but with her sister's encouragement she soon returned to her former pack a day
habit.  As for Priscilla, she was astounded by the rapid change.  For months
she'd sneaked around in secret smoking behind her mother's back.  Suddenly she
was smoking with her mom.  Priscilla's habit, too, quickly elevated to a pack
a day.  Penny continued to hang out with Grace Crawford.  They became fast
friends, as did their families.  Amanda Preston and Sherry Crawford found they
liked each other's company, and Sherry enjoyed sharing tips with Amanda on how
to protect her underage smoking daughters.

   Charity was delighted and amazed upon eventually learning that little Penny
had been caught in the act by her Aunt Sandy on that fateful afternoon, and
that it was that episode which finally broke Sandy's resistance and made her
decide she wanted to be a smoker again.  Charity admitted to Sandy that she
herself knew that Penny was smoking before Sandy did, and both of them had a
good laugh over the delicious irony of the whole situation.  Charity
thereafter always retained a special fondness for Penny, and for her friend
Grace Crawford, because apart from the youthful indulgence of those two
teenagers her beloved Sandy might never have decided to return to smoking.

   Sandy and Charity moved in together and became active in gay and lesbian
rights activities.  Sandy felt a great sense of relief being out of the closet
at last.  She was a one-woman woman, and she adored Charity and their growing
relationship.  True to her word, Sandy continued smoking shamelessly, and
amazingly never uttered a single word of regret about, or concern over, her
radical change from her former anti-smoking lifestyle.  Working at Johnson &
Myers, and living with Charity, Sandy gradually picked up her pace.  Soon she
was smoking at least a pack and a half of Virginia Slims Menthol Lights every
day, and loving every minute of it.

   As for Larilyn, she and Adrienne continued to socialize and hang out
together, enjoying their more promiscuous lesbian lifestyle.  Rene joined in
and became one of them, partying with a wilder crowd and loving it.  It was a
bit awkward having her former lover, Charity, working in her firm after they
split up.  But they each understood it was a lifestyle issue, and not personal
in any sense.  Rene continued to smoke Marlboro 100's, and never did return to
smoking the lights which Larilyn had urged her to leave behind.

   Two months after Sandy started at Johnson & Myers, they had a small reunion
party.  Sandy, Charity, Rene, Larilyn and Adrienne got together for dinner to
celebrate the changes, intended and unintended, that resulted from Larilyn's
little blackmail scheme.  But by that point, there was no longer any conflict
of interest among them!

THE END

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