I had judged the time and opportunity perfectly as Maria was walking passed my door towards the parking lot exit.

“Maria – hey don't go out like that, come in here.”

She hesitated, looked at me, and then her eyes dropped away from mine and she came into my office.

“It's so cold out there and just look at you.” As I spoke I moved around my desk to meet her. “You need someone to look after you don't you?”

She was wearing a lovely dark green leather coat that just brushed her knees and it was wide open. As she stood in front of me I reached out and, just like a mother to a child, buttoned it down the front and then moved even closer to her as I reached around for the belt and slipped the end through the buckle to draw it tightly around her waist.

“There now.” I said as I gripped a lapel in each hand and pulled the collar up around her neck “we don't need the company President getting a cold do we?

“No, thank you Anne” she whispered without raising her eyes to look at me.

“Do you have some gloves to go with that nice warm coat?

“Yes.” She reached in the side pockets and bought out a pair of black leather gloves that, as she pulled them on, reached well up her wrists.

“Those are just great now just let me fix those wrist straps to keep out the wind and then I'll close up here and see you tomorrow – bye Maria. Oh” I continued as she started to turn for the door “and make sure you are properly dressed for this weather OK?”

She turned and left without a backwards glance and I just knew I had her pegged to the nth degree – she would soon be mine and so would her company and the money.

It was just over six months ago when Maria had been introduced to me and the rest of the staff as the new owner. Her grandfather Fred, my boss and friend for the last five years, owned the business and when he died she, by default as the last surviving family member, had inherited and become President of our company.

I was the CEO and Chief Financial Officer and, although just in my early 30's, had worked too hard for my position to put up with a 23 year old know nothing for a boss. The first time I met her I pegged her for a sub; she might not know she was but I spotted it right away.

As we were introduced, she even had a “wet fish” handshake. I made a point of holding her glance until she blinked and dropped her eyes; that's when I knew.

Over the next weeks and months I made sure that she came to rely on my knowledge and that any meaningful decisions had my input. I made a habit of dropping papers in front of her for signature without giving her a moment to read them. Maria had made it clear that she didn't understand what was going on and trusted my judgment. The fool.

I adjusted my wardrobe and started wearing a lot of power suits and high heels. I took every opportunity to tower over this shy ex-hairdresser who was so used to taking orders that when they came from me she accepted them without question.

Later that evening I phoned her at home with a cock and bull story about some papers that just had to be signed immediately. A half hour later I pulled in the driveway of Fred's mansion, now hers, that she had moved into after I arranged to have everything she owned, which wasn't much, shipped in from the west coast.

I knew she would be alone because one of her other problems was she could not get used to the fact that she had all the money anyone would ever need. Under my guidance the company was netting over $2 million a year but since she was eighteen she had lived by herself on a very tight budget and the habit still stuck.

When she opened the door I posed to let the full affect of my outfit reveal itself. Tight black leather pencil line skirt, matching belted hip length jacket and knee high boots with 5” stiletto heels. Even my hands were encased in tight black kid.

Maria looked me up and down, gulped, and then lowered her eyes as she stood aside to let me in.

Striding straight down the hallway to