Cuthbert Racing

"Perfect daddy. I'll start there tomorrow. Say hi to mummy for me."

"Yes dear."

CHAPTER 2

Sophie reported to the manager of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations next morning at 8:30 to find the executive was none other than Thelma who appeared to want to marry Sebastian. She noticed Thelma's knuckles were white and when Thelma spoke her voice was tense.

"Good morning. You may as well know I don't like your appointment here one little bit."

Sophie smiled. "Is that a way to greet a colleague?"

"What?"

"A colleague, it means..."

"I know what it means you dumb bitch and if you lay a finger on me..."

"Thelma, if you dare speak to me like this again I'll knee you so hard in the pussy you'll only be able to have sex through the other end for six months. Do you understand?"

The very white face Thelma choked.

"Is this conversation being recorded?" Sophie asked, her eyes only inches away from Thelma's.

Thelma now looked puce. "Yes," she croaked.

"Then I'll expect you to destroy that tape when I leave this room. Treat me like an equal and we'll get along just fine. I'm not out to take your job; I'm just here to see and observe before I take over as your direct boss. What is the name of your most competent assistant I can work alongside for a week?"

"Jessie."

"Thank you darling. You have gone through a wee bit of trauma. If you prove acceptable as a person I shall assist you to snare my brother if that is your aim and you'd like to learn strategy from me."

In the outer office Sophie said, "Hi everyone. I'm Sophie and have been appointed temporary assistant manager of this department at my request because I shall soon take up the new appointment of executive director, general services. Some of you longer-serving people will remember me working here between university semesters. Who is Jessie?"

"I am Miss Cuthbert."

"Oh hi but I'm Sophie to everyone and always will be. I need to work alongside you for a week. You are a little cramped."

Sophie sighted a woman at a much larger desk with space to squeeze in a second person. "Hi, could we swap desks with you?"

"No. This is my desk."

Sophie smiled and said, "Oh please, don't make me pull rank. I need to affect a swap for just five days. Could you please consider cooperating?"

"I might. I understand you threw you brother across the room."

"That's gossip darling. If I moved him more than four feet I'd be surprised. But I don't go around fighting everyone who stands in my way -- I lash out only when necessary and it's not necessary here because we're on the same team. My brother technically assaulted me and I had warned him not to touch me."

"We're on the same team you say?"

"Yes."

"And no doubt I'm frustrating you?"

"Oh, is that how you see it? I thought we were negotiating."

The woman was surprised. "You mean I have a say in this?"

"Yes, of course. Refuse me and I'll admit defeat rather than pull rank on such a tiny little issue."

"Well I suppose I could shift. Only for five days you say?"

"Yes, but I want you to agree only if you feel comfortable with this."

"Yes I do, let's shift now Sophie. My name is Robyn. Like you I don't get pushed around easily."

"I can see that. Thank you Robyn. Much appreciated. Now are any of you into sailing?"

A big woman who said her name was Kathryn said she crewed most weekends on her father's yacht along with her fiancé.

"Oh good. I wonder is you could do some research for me personally when you have downtime in the office. You will have better contact than I do. I plan to convince this corporation to have a yacht built for promotional purposes and raced. I'd liked you to find what the optimum size should be so we don't break the bank on upkeep and we could crew weekend after weekend without having to struggle to maintain a large crew. Of course once were are in the top five of our division attracting crew would no longer become a problem."

"We sail a 34-footer. What length are you thinking?"

"I'd like you to keep an open mind Kathryn so would like to keep that to myself until you give me your finding. If you incur legitimate expenses I'll sign them off."

"Sophie, my name is Steven and I sail a bit but my interest is in where this could take us if approved by management. At present our support for our industry is through sponsorships that this department manages. If we launched a keeler that before the first season had us up in the top five of a division the kudos we'd get from the industry would be enormous."

"That's my thinking," Sophie said. "Also it gets me back being a sailing master but please everyone, keep that under your hat. How many hour do you think that research will take Kathryn -- just a ballpark figure?"

"Eight hours."

"Can Jessie and I take some work off you -- that's providing it's okay with you Jessie?"

Jessie nodded.

Kathryn said, "Yeah, I have an urgency pinned to this draft brochure from our advertising agency regarding the wording about sail batten technology. The agency says the wording is and I quote, 'stupefyingly technical', unquote and our people need to lessen the need for a PhD to understand the points being made."

"Oh that's easy, I know who to go to for that."

"Good, and we need pricing and guaranteed delivery of these 250 invitations to a cocktail party in Shed 22 to be posted out by the 25th of this month."

"Okay, we'll take that won't we Jessie?"

Jessie smiled and said sure.

Others in the 9-person room (10 with Sophie) volunteered to take work from Kathryn. Sophie called, "Now we're cooking like a real team" and everyone looked pleased.

Jessie disclosed her real name was Jessica. She was bright and agreeable and communicated brilliantly, making it easier for Sophie to make herself more useful than she'd expected.

They went down for coffee at the morning break and most of the room fell silent. Thelma who was just leaving sized up the situation. "This is the chairman's daughter Sophie, a fun girl and not Miss Dracula. Give her a break and introduce yourselves."

Mrs Wagstaff, pouring coffee, had to look twice before she said uncertainly, "Is that really you Sophie?"

"Yes Mrs Wagstaff. It's amazing what a bit of makeup and wearing nicer clothes and a tighter bra will do, isn't it."

"You're Sophie all right. My heart almost stopped yesterday when I found I had the big boss's daughter on my staff."

"Dad wouldn't have let me near this place after my latest disgrace. I had to come in the backdoor and shame him Mrs Wagstaff. I worked to avoid compromising you."

"Call me Alice dear. I will follow your progress with interest."

* * *

On Saturday at breakfast Rebecca asked Sophie, "How many times have you spoken to your mother since you're been back?"

"Um, I guess mum has been busy."

"You liar. You've made no effort and she's made no effort. You too are like kids. We'll we're dining with them tonight and you're coming with us."

"I really don't think..."

"Sophie darling, be a good girl please. Your Aunt Rebecca doesn't ask for much but when she does she..."

"Okay you witch. I'll come."

"Oh great, let's go out shopping as we don't have anything to wear. David is going to golf."

"Nothing to wear? You are either demented or forgetful darling."

Sophie took the opportunity to acquire a party dress and she and her aunt arrived at the restaurant overdressed with David strolling behind them looking proud because they were rather stunning. But if they outshone Diana Cuthbert it was only by a whisker.

Rebecca said "Hello darling" and Diana replied "Hello darling."

They kissed carefully but arm stroked affectionately.

Diana said, "I gather this is my daughter -- my kidnapped daughter?"

"Hello mummy."

"Darling please don't, call me Diana. Mum or mummy makes me feel ancient. God you look stunning."

Sophie's face was split by a huge smile and she flew into her mother's arms and ignored the 'watch my hair and makeup' warming.

Her father Roland, managing at last to take his eyes off his sister-in-laws new upper-shape, forced on Rebecca by her bully of a niece, said, "Hello darling Sophie -- you look ready to meet the Queen."

"Thank you father."

"Or to launch at ship."

"Ah, that sounds better. Perhaps you meant the corporation's keeler."

"Are we acquiring a keelboat?"

"Yes, I'm working on it."

"I see, and on who's authority?"

"Granddad's I should think. I've only to pick up my phone and dial him in Hawaii..."

"Um, could you defer that for the moment. He and mom have forgotten we exist and let's keep it that way till we go up to join them for Christmas."

"Oh anything you say father."

"Are we are getting back into yacht racing?" David said, appearing rather excited.

"Oh darling, what a marvellous idea," said Diana. "Sailing before the mast were some of my most enjoyable days ever."

"You are fanaticising," Roland said. "You were too scared to venture out of the cockpit unless the yacht was moored."

"A little nervous after going over those stupid far too low rails twice, hanging on once and on that other frightening occasion being picked up by the following yacht in those shark-infested waters."

Roland grinned, "Is that why we went yachting?"

"No, you traded in Black Beauty for that motorised gin palace we still have."

"Well, you don't need to worry," Roland said. "If Sophie manages to move me on this we'll not have women on board."

"What do you call me dad? I'll be sailing master."

"You will?"

"Yes, I've had two years as sailing master on a 40-footer sailing out from St Kilda in Melbourne"

"Well dad always said you were by far the best sailor in our family"

Rebecca seized the moment. "As uplifting as this conversation is, would one of you men please talk to the hovering wine waiter."

After the good health toast, Roland asked, "Sophie, why are you not living with us?"

"Aunt Rebecca has a pool?"

"No good enough."

"She and Uncle David are very young in their outlook."

"Not good enough."

"I called them to meet me, knowing you two would have been furious with me."

"You're damn right," said her mother.

"Unlike the warm, sweet-hearted Aunt Rebecca and the understanding Uncle David."

"Oh," said her mother and her father said, "Ouch."

"And there's another reason."

Everyone looked at Sophie expectedly.

"I am to rise rapidly to senior executive level at Icon and with you dad being executive chairman and you mum being company secretary I thought it would be too claustrophobic working AND living together."

"You mother and I get by."

"Yes, but think of the affect of your stroppy daughter being added to the matrix?"

Her father breathed relief. "Oh yeah."

Diana said rather coldly, "And how to you propose to earn an executive position, with emphasis on earn?"

"With my flair for organizing events, my flair in leadership and being the person responsible for the launching and racing of Icon's most effective marketing tool, the keelboat Cuthbert."

"Yachting officials could rule that's too close to a trade name," said Diana, a lawyer as well as an accountant.

"Show me the name of any firm within 1000 miles of here called Cuthbert's?"

"You have become a bright little shit haven't you," he mother said in open admiration. "Little wonder they found the excuse to toss you out of a staid girl's boarding school."

David smiled, "It amazes me Diana how you can come so close to being offensive and suddenly it's all bright lights and fuzzy feeling and makes you sound so lovely."

"Diana is capricious by nature and always has been," Rebecca said, giving Diana a silent toast.

During a period when the conversations were split, Roland said quietly to his daughter he was quite captivated by his enthusiasm of putting the Cuthbert name back into sailing but for him to proceed she'd have to present him with a convincing case and then he'd have to convince the board. The same thing applied to an executive position. "I'd like you high up in the structure but you have to show you deserve to be there. Sorry darling, but that's how it is to be."

"I understand dad," Sophie said, looking across the table to the dark eyes of her aunt. She knew Rebecca had a building desire to fuck her and hoped Rebecca would not peruse that. It was not considered acceptable for an aunt and niece to become that close.

Sophie took a call from a former girlfriend who'd learned she was back in town and invited her to go out sailing for lunch next day. She accepted and on the way home she announced her sailing invitation and Rebecca acted very disappointed, saying David was away at golf all day and she'd be left on her own.

"I'll cancel."

"No, don't you dare. Just give me some time next weekend. David's away both days at golf, last two rounds of the club championship qualifying rounds."

"Right, lunch Saturday and on Sunday I'll hire a small yacht and take you out cruising."

"Damn the golf, that sounds too good to miss."

"No darling, you did very well last weekend and I'd like you to continue as you could have a good show in your handicap division."

Sophie was in a cab on her way to the marina when Wilma called. "We'll be a few minutes late. Daryl car wouldn't start and my young sister borrowed mine. Daryl's brother has just arrived to ferry our gear and us. We won't be long."

Daryl had met Sophie once just before she left to teach in Victoria and he was pleased to greet her after Wilma had finished climbing all over Sophie. The two had gone through university together and were excited to reunite. The brother Ted just gaped.

"Ted, this is Sophie -- I told you about her."

"You said she was a brilliant student, keen in music and fanatic about sport but you didn't say she looked sensational."

"Well I suppose that's something women don't really notice," Wilma lied.

"Hello Sophie."

"Hello Ted. No, don't shake hands... kiss me. There, that wasn't disastrous was it?"

"God no."

"Are you all right Ted?"

"Yeah Willy, never been better. Um, you haven't invited me but could I come sailing?"

"I don't see why not. You moan that sailing is a bore."

Ted looked up at the sky and said, "Well not today."

The penny clicked for Wilma and she grinned and asked if Sophie would mind if Ted came along.

"No, why should I?"

"It was polite to ask."

"Oh yeah, you're quite right to point that out. Sorry Wilma. What do you do for salary Daryl?"

"I manage a real estate office in the LJ Hooker group. We specialise in commercial property."

"And you Ted?"

"I'm a draughtsman at a major design and build boatyard, Williams & Son."

"Ah yes, I know it. They built dad's launch."

They dropped the bags they were carrying on to the deck of the 38-footer and climbed aboard. Sophie went straight to the bow and removed the cover off the self-furling foresail and then dropped off the bow mooring lines and then waited with the folded cover at the hatch to be opened by Wilma who'd gone below.

Daryl who's been watching Sophie after sending Ted below to bring up the winch handles called, "So you've been involved in more than a bit of sailing?"

"Yeah, a bit," Sophie said, beginning to untie the cover over the mainsail in preparation for hoisting.

Underway on the harbour, the small diesel motor being turned off, they sat with drinks in the cockpit, with Daryl perched on the cushioned part of the transom behind the wheel.

"What craft does your outfit design and build Ted?"

"Mainly 35-foot to 75-foot motor cruisers but we do turn out a few custom yachts as well."

"Anything leading edge in yacht design?"

"Not really although we did a shell on a racer that is at the back of one of our shed that was the subject of a claim against a defaulting owner but he was then declared bankrupt."

"What length?"

"Forty-five feet."

"What's the shell like?"

"Should be okay. It's still in the custom mould and covered." He joked, "Want to buy it?"

"Could be interested."

Ted said, "On yeah?"

"First things first. Tell me about the design."

"Roger Williams put his heart and soul into it, designed to be rated under IRC rules as a racing machine -- few creature comforts with emphasis on strength and a pedigree to perform best in freshening to foul weather."

"Which means a bit of a dog in light airs?"

"Designers are not supermen."

"Quite. I'm interested. My parents are principal stockholders in Icon Boat Fittings."

"I know that outfit -- we deal with it."

"My parents are contemplating returning the family to sailing."

"Of course, our father used to talk about your grandfather and father and the other brother was navigator. The Cuthbert's were a big name on the water. Do it again and it could be very good for business."

"I need a big carrot to push my parents?"

Wilma asked, "Why are you attempting to make this to happen?"

"Because I want to be sailing master. I've had two seasons sailing a 40-footer out of St Kilda."

"And over to Tasmania? That can be a real test on occasions."

"Indeed it can be Ted. Well these are early days. We first have to research and do an analysis to find the optimum length taking into account investment, operating costs, crew sustainability and our racing objectives. We that have a clear view of the length of boat we require."

"That already has been done for you by extensive computer analysis."

"Oh god, 45ft."

"Under present conditions, yes. But that analysis is good only to a point. They are myriads of variables involved and that's why sailing is such a pure sport -- no one, no matter how much they throw into racing can really control everything every time."

Daryl said, "Well as interesting as I find this, I also find myself holding on to an empty bottle of beer. Sophie, take the wheel and talk to me about what you feel, see and suspect."

A few minutes later she said: "She's wallowing like a coal barge. Far too much weigh aboard and is underpowered by those sails."

Daryl sniffed. "Ocean Ahoy is a cruising yacht my dear. Everything stays as is."

"Well, let's leave it eh. I could tension the backstay more and get you guys to crank up those winches and for what... half a knot? It's better to just let it run and talk and drink and eat."

"Daryl, you take back the wheel. Sophie could you take Ted below and make some sense out of everything we all brought for lunch. There's not hurry but Ted bring up a bottle of red wine and two glasses for Daryl and me."

When Ted returned he stood nervously.

Sophie took the lead. "Do you want to do it?"

"What?"

"Wilma is giving us the opportunity to have sex?"

"How do you know?"

"You know she's sent us down here and you heard her say there's not hurry."

"Well I don't know. How can you be so sure?"

"Ted," Sophie said sounded exasperated, "Do you want to fuck me or not?"

"Sure," she said, pulling off his polo shirt. "I can't wait to get at those tits."

"Oh, how romantic. Come after them big boy."

Minutes later Sophie gurgled in delight when into her hand fell a hot cock, not overly long or thick, but with an over-size head.

"I can't believe I have the honour of doing this," Ted said with a finger up Sophie's butt as she lifted a leg high and he pushed his dick into her.

Looking down at the huge balls resting on her upper thigh, Sophie whimpered.

Later in the week Sophie arrange a midweek visit to a night club with Ted, teaming up with her brother Sebastian who she'd found out knew Ted very well and of course Sophie turned up with Thelma. It was quite clear before the night ended that Thelma and Sebastian had become closer... much closer. Ted told Sophie in bed in his flat later that he understood some women and guys fucked in dark corners of night clubs but it was the first time he'd seen anyone doing it. Sophie asked in faked surprise oh was that what they were doing; she'd noticed they seemed to become rather passionate in their kissing at the table.