LACTOGENESIS XXXIV: THE STAFF MEETING, PART TWO Despite her irritation at Jeremy, Monique managed a thin smile upon her introduction to the rest of the staff of the Lac-Station. It was not returned by any of them. The predominant emotion evident on most of the faces was confusion; on Chris's it was open hostility. "'Executive vice president'? What do we need one of those for? We aren't IBM, for Chrissake," Sherri said. Eleanor joined in. "To bring in a total stranger without consulting any of us and elevate her to a position of such authority was rather presumptuous of you, Jeremy. If there is indeed a need for such a position to be created, then the post should clearly go to our co-founder, Christine." Chris, even through her anger, was surprised. Eleanor was the last person she expected to come to her defense. "Yeah, what makes this Ms. Marcoux so qualified, besides the fact that you're fucking her?" Sherri said venomously. Again Chris was surprised; she thought she had been the only one to notice that aspect of the situation. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me like I wasn't even in the room," Monique said. Chris immediately took note of the fact that she made no move to deny the accusation. "All right, calm down, everybody," Jeremy said sternly. "One of the major reasons I called you all here tonight was to make formal introductions. I didn't want to make a big deal out of appointing Monique until we were sure it was going to work out for her. The truth is, the Lac-Station has succeeded beyond my wildest expectations. Even I had no idea how many people have a thing for mother's milk. The demand for our services is beginning to outstrip my ability to handle it. I'm sure you've certainly noticed the steady rise in business." The women slowly nodded. Come to think of it, it *has* been a while since I've had two nights in a row to myself, Chris noted. I guess I've been having too much fun to notice how hard I've been working on this. Her breasts actually tingled at the thought. Jeremy continued. "A couple of weeks ago I realized that I needed somebody to take over for me. Now Chris, I want you to know that you were the first person I considered for the job. But think about it for a minute. First, it would require you to quit your job at the paper. Would you want to do that?" Chris shook her head no. "I didn't think so. Second -- and don't get pissed off -- you don't have the necessary connections to make this work. I'm sorry, but you don't. You have to have a kind of a dark side to make a business like ours run profitably, and sweetheart, you have a naughty side, not a dark one. That's to your credit." Janine raised her hand. "Can I ask, then, what Monique's qualifications are?" "You may indeed," Monique said, rising from her chair. "First of all, I've been a group leader with the cross-town chapter of La Leche League for five years. I've also worked as a lactation consultant at two hospitals and a free clinic during that time. Up until about a year ago I also worked part-time in the very milk bank that precipitated the formation of this company in the first place. I think that qualifies me as an expert on the subject. Also, I have been lactating for the past six years, even though my daughter was weaned over three years ago. The simple fact is, I love the feeling of having milk in my breasts; it makes me feel special, more... complete, perhaps you'd say. In fact, I was getting worried that perhaps I was allowing that aspect of my life to control my life to too great an extent. I was finding myself excusing myself from my desk eight, ten, twelve times a day to go express more milk, just for the rush I used to get from it. I was concerned that I'd have to finally give it up, until I met Jeremy." What has this turned into, a meeting of "Lactators Anonymous"? Chris wondered scornfully. "How exactly *did* you meet?" Sherri asked. "Jeremy, resourceful fellow that he is, found out where several of us meet for coffee after our LLL meetings," Monique explained. "He approached our table, introduced himself, and began talking about the Lac-Station. As he talked, I realized that it was exactly what I needed. We talked about it over the course of several meetings, and about two weeks ago he asked me to work for him." "But why as executive VP?" Eleanor asked "Jeremy thought it would be a good idea if you had someone you didn't know well take on the supervisory chores. Don't you agree that it's usually more difficult to suddenly start taking orders from a friend who's been promoted over you than it is to do so from a stranger who comes in out of nowhere?" Chris had to admit she had a point. One avoids a lot of resentment and loss of friendship that way. "More important than that, however," Jeremy added, "is that Monique has that dark side that I mentioned earlier." "That's right," Monique said, now avoiding eye contact with the others. "It's not something I'm proud of, but I think it'll help me help Jeremy run the company. I was -- and am - - actually addicted to lactation, much as some people are addicted to sex. At one point I was... excuse me, I didn't realize how difficult this would be to say out loud... I was actually prostituting myself just so that I could never lack for eager men to suck the milk out of my breasts. It got to where I would do almost anything to feel that rush, the tingle of the letdown, the release of the milk squirting out. I began to develop some rather unsavory connections in what I now call my 'shadow world' to keep this going. As a result, I've learned a lot about the secret desires -- yes, and perversions -- of the 'normal', everyday person on the street. Jeremy seems to think this aspect of my personality will help maintain a high level of activity for the company." "And my job will then be to act as a filter for the people Monique brings to us," Jeremy quickly assured his staff. "I'll make sure the true perverts, the criminal element, etc. never get through. I still want the Lac-Station to be a high-class operation." "Dammit, Jeremy, you never let us have any fun," Sherri said sarcastically. She seemed to be warming up to the situation. "I'm not trying to take over, or bust up what you have going here," Monique continued. "I'm hoping to be able to help take us to the next level, that's all. I also hope to get to know all of you better in the process. I really need this. All I'm asking for is a chance and your cooperation." She sat down again, speech apparently over. "You *are* fucking him, aren't you?" Sherri asked point-blank. Before Monique could answer, Jeremy interjected, "That's none of your goddamned business, Sherri." "Okay, okay. Just curious. Easy there, tiger," Sherri said soothingly. She aimed a wicked grin in Chris's direction. It's my business, though, Jeremy, Chris thought. She had to restrain herself from saying that out loud. She didn't want to open that particular can of worms at this time and place. This was something she and Jeremy would have out privately later. Janine, ever the camp counselor, was determined to lighten the mood. "Well I for one am glad to have another person on board. I was starting to spend too much time away from my kid! Welcome, Monique." Her infectious good humor began to spread among the others. Smiles began to appear. Monique relaxed visibly. "If you don't mind me saying, though," Janine went on, "you don't really look like you could be making very much." She was referring to Monique's figure, which more strongly resembled a barely pubescent 12-year-old than that of an actively lactating woman who had borne a child. A quick review of the others showed them all to be fairly well endowed. Sherri led the pack with her F-cup chest, followed closely by Chris, who only looked as large because her breasts were extraordinarily firm. Janine's rack was a solid 36D, while Eleanor's, although somewhat smaller, was still fairly impressive. Monique sported mosquito bites by comparison. She only smiled. "That's a common misconception, Janine," she stated authoritatively. "People think that large-breasted women must automatically make more milk. In reality, larger breasts usually contain more fatty tissue, not necessarily any more glandular structure...although from what Jeremy's told me, our own Christine is probably a rare exception to that rule. Small breasts can make just as much milk as large ones. They all respond to the law of supply and demand. Since my personal demand is quite high, so has my output been. You might be surprised to know that these can easily produce over 1500 cc per day." Sherri snorted. "Bullshit," she said. "Those aren't big enough to hold anything!" Monique replied, "I probably empty my breasts far more often than any of you. That's how I'm able to make as much as I do. But you're right, Sherri, it doesn't take much for me to become engorged. In fact," she said, looking down at herself, "all this talk has got me going pretty well." Sure enough, the small swells under her tight-fitting dress did look larger than they had when Chris had first seen her. There might even be some dampness there, but it was difficult to tell with the white material. She rose. "Will you excuse me for a minute?" Jeremy frowned. "You haven't forgotten the rest of the agenda, have you?" "Oh, for heaven's sake, don't worry, Jeremy," she said. "I'll be full again in fifteen or twenty minutes." "Hang on there a sec," Sherri said to Monique as she prepared to leave the room. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I think we're being handed a tall tale here. I just can't believe those itty bitty titties can make a drop, let alone a quart. I'd like to see you express right here, in front of all of us." "Well, I don't know..." "C'mon, La Leche leader. Don't you people do this sort of thing all the time?" Monique considered for a few seconds, then sat down. She drained her champagne glass in one gulp, then said with a smile, "All right. In the interest of better employee relations, I'll do as you ask. Then will you get off my case, Sherri?" "Deal." "And the rest of you. Would such a demonstration be sufficient to prove to you that I am 'worthy'"? She said the last word while crooking her fingers as if to simulate quotation marks. All eyes in the room swung to Chris. So it's up to me, huh? she thought. I could tell this girl to screw off, but I can tell she's gotten under everybody else's skin. It almost seemed to Chris as if their common bond of having milk-filled tits had created a kind of sisterhood among the women in the room. This must be why LLL is such a strong organization, she said to herself. I wonder why I don't feel that connection to the others. She scanned the others' faces. Jeremy's was practically pleading; Janine's and Eleanor's were silently saying "We could use the help"; and Sherri's wore an expression of "Oh, what the hell, why not". Monique's face held a look of earnestness, of genuinely wanting to be a part of this group. Suddenly Chris knew that she couldn't deny Monique that, even if she were the person directly responsible for the growing chasm Chris knew had formed between herself and Jeremy. She slowly nodded her assent. Monique smiled widely, showing her perfect teeth. Without another word, she started wriggling out of the top of her dress.