Melanie, a legal secretary, is a key member of a team in a law firm that is head-hunted by a competitor. She falls in love with a senior associate who is a talented artist; when he is moved to their office in Germany, she finds herself blackmailed by an evil female lawyer who wants to use her for her own sexually perverted ends. How can Melanie escape from the horrible treadmill that her nemesis has set up for her? SPECIMEN That afternoon, something unexpected happened. I was sitting with Simon Green at his desk, going through a complicated document that needed wholesale revision. Simon was the other associate on Larry's team. He broke off from what he was saying and, out of the blue, asked me "How about coming out with me this Saturday?" I was unprepared for this, and had to think of an appropriate reaction - and quickly. "I'm very flattered, Simon, but - as I'm sure you know - Vernon Carpenter and I are going out together." "Yes, I know, Melanie. But Vernon's in Berlin and you're here. Unless you fly out to Germany every weekend to see him?" "No, of course not." "So how about a little fun? I'm sure you deserve it. I've seen how hard you work here. And we're still keeping fun in our family, so to speak." I chuckled. "You make it sound like incest! The answer is still No, Simon. But thanks anyway." I smiled but hoped he'd realise that my reply was final. Before the end of the day, I was cornered at the water cooler by Sally. She had crept out of nowhere - I had tried to avoid her all day, unless there was a crowd of other people around. "I heard Simon tried to date you." There was no warm preface like 'Hi, how are you? Sorry I hurt you on Friday.' She went straight in with something about Simon's approach to me. I remained silent. "I've been trying to get a date with him ever since I started here," she continued. "I'd do anything to get a date with that guy." "Ask him." "I have, several times. And he always makes excuses." "There's plenty more fish in the sea, Sally." "But I want that fish. I've paid for sex before, and I'm prepared to pay for it again. Especially with him. I've got an idea. We could make up a foursome. You could go back to Simon and say you've changed your mind. Fix a date with him, tell me when it is, then I'll find one of the tame guys here and persuade him to come out with me, and we can make up a foursome. But don't say anything to Simon about that - it'll be a nice surprise for him." "I don't like the idea." I moved to turn back to my desk, but she grabbed my arm. "You don't have to like the idea, Melanie. I know about those dirty pictures, remember? Just fix the date with Simon, and I'll fix the rest. If I get to have sex with him, you get a bonus. Remember I said I'm prepared to pay for sex." "I'm not going back to Simon to plead for a date." "I think you should. I know too much." I walked back to my desk. I was less concerned about the revealing portrait of me. But if she spread the story round about Vernon's pose in the picture, I could never look him in the eye again. It would be the end of our relationship, and I couldn't let that happen. I didn't feel I could go to the partners here, as I'd just joined the firm and I'd be marked as a trouble-maker. In only a few weeks, Sally had appointed me to be the office pimp.