Chapter 25

             Cheryl climbed in Terry’s vehicle and announced excitedly “I’m going flying!” as she beamed.

             “What!?” Terry exclaimed.  “What did he say and when are you going?”  she asked before continuing.  “Just give me a blow by blow description of everything that happened.”

             Cheryl began her rendition of the morning’s events, only to be stopped every few moments with a question from Terry.

             “Was he watching when you bent over to pick the pen up? Did you make the drop of the pen look accidental like I said?” 

             As Terry drove and listened, a sly grin crossed her face.  “Am I the master manipulator of men or not?” she asked triumphantly.

             “Well” Cheryl began her reply “I guess when it comes to men you do know how to take control.”

             “He’s falling for you,” Terry stated confidently.

             “Well, wait a minute” Cheryl protested, “I don’t want him to fall too far.  I only want him to back me and persuade the rest of the board of elders to back me, if Aaron comes back talking crazy.  Then if they fire him as pastor, they’ll hire me!”  she explained.

             “I know all that,” Terry said.  “But if you’ve got the chance, why not go for the brass ring!  Or I should say diamond ring,” she corrected herself.

             “Now Terry,” Cheryl protested again, “before you get those wheels in your head turning, I want to say, I don’t want to be the cause of breaking up Mr. Becker’s marriage.”

             “Aw, come on,” Terry pleaded.  “The old goat probably doesn’t get any more than once a month and he might give half his fortune away to have a sweet young thing like you.”

             “Terry!” Cheryl stated her name firmly, indicating she shouldn’t go on.

             “Oh, alright, but now I almost wish I had played him myself instead of teaching you some of my best tricks.”

             A long black stretch limousine pulled in to Cheryl’s driveway at the appointed time.  Before the driver could ring the bell at the front door Cheryl came bouncing out wide eyed, wearing a tight pair of jeans and a similarly fitted sweater and tennis shoes.  The driver opened the right rear passenger door for her and she hopped in gleefully.

             The last time she’d ridden in a limo was after her wedding some eight years previously.  That one was only rented for the day, but this one was completely owned by Mr. Becker himself.  As she began to look around the luxurious passenger compartment, she was startled to find she was not alone.  “Good morning, Mrs. Cooper” Mr. Becker greeted her.

             “Why Mr. Becker,” Cheryl started, “when you said you’d send a car, I had no idea that you would be in it.”

             “Does my presence bother you?” he asked.

             “Well no, she cooed “I sometimes like surprises” she said as she tilted her head and looked up from half closed eyes looking as seductive as possible.  She couldn’t believe herself.  She had told Terry she didn’t want to destroy the man’s marriage and yet here she was playing seductive games. 

             There was something very appealing about Mr. Becker, although it was difficult to figure out what it was.  It couldn’t be just that he was very, very rich, she thought.  She wasn’t that type of woman, was she?  While Mr. Becker offered Cheryl a choice of Champagne or Gingerale, neither of them knew that Terry was following and taking pictures every step of the way.