Read Online Power Play: A Novel by Danielle Steel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Danielle Steel
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men in her life as sex objects more than equal partners. They were so startled by it, they loved it. She was unashamedly sexual, even at fifty-five.
“Power acts as an aphrodisiac for powerful, successful men,” Jillian informed her sister, and then went back to the game, as she sent a crushing serve in her direction, which Fiona missed, intrigued by what she said. “And an anesthetic for women,” she concluded, as Fiona listened with interest. “Like you,” Jillian continued. “How long has it been since you got laid?”
“You expect me to answer that?” Fiona looked shocked.
“If you can’t answer that question,” Jillian said smugly, “my guess is you can’t even remember the last time.”
“Of course I can. It was two years ago,” Fiona said, looking momentarily miffed as they continued to play.
“That’s ridiculous, for a woman your age. And you don’t look anywhere near your age, by the way. If you weren’t successful, you could have any guy you want. The problem is that you’re a successful CEO, which scares the shit out of any guy. A man in your same position would have women ten deep lined up at his gate, and be screwing everything that moves. Men in power feel sexy and are driven by sex. Women in the same jobs go underground and forget they’re women. Success is very isolating,” she said, as the game came to an end, and they met at the net. Jillian had beaten Fiona. She almost always did, except if she was exceptionally tired or sick.
“I’m not sure I agree with the anesthetic part, but it is isolating,” Fiona said, looking thoughtful as they both cracked open bottles of water when they left the court, and took a long drink. They always played hard. It was relaxing for them both.
“I don’t think women in your position feel sexy, because men don’t pay attention to them. They’re too threatened by successful women so they ignore them, and treat them like men, which is devastating for any woman’s self-image, to be overlooked as a woman.”
“Maybe,” Fiona said pensively. “I never think about it.”
“That’s my point. I’ll bet you never even think about guys, most of the time. You’re too busy working. The male CEOs I know are having affairs, usually with unsuitable women. When was the last time you heard about a female CEO having an affair with a guy she picked up at a massage parlor?” Fiona laughed at the idea, and Jillian lookedserious about her theories. “Look at you. When was the last time you went on a date, or a guy asked you out for dinner?” Fiona thought about it, and honestly couldn’t remember.
“I don’t know, it’s been a while … a long while … but in my case, loss of memory is a blessing. I’ve had some of the worst blind dates in history.”
“So has every female CEO I’ve interviewed. The good guys are too afraid of them to ask them out, and those women wind up with the dregs who go after them for all the wrong reasons, or some terrible blind dates set up by friends.”
“That sounds about right. Why do you suppose my male counterparts have more fun?”
“Probably because they go after it. And a successful man is a hero, particularly one with power. A woman in a powerful position is automatically presumed to be a bitch.” It was true, but the theory sounded depressing to Fiona, who had encountered the results of that stereotype too. Most of the men she had met had been afraid of her, and didn’t want to get involved. And now she didn’t either. She’d given up. “Everybody wants to date a successful guy, they’re in high demand. No one wants to date a successful woman, or damn few men anyway. They’re too scared. Powerful, successful women get a bad rap. Not every female CEO is a bitch,” Jillian said, thinking about it, and Fiona laughed nervously.
“That’s reassuring. I was beginning to worry. Am I one of the good ones or the bad ones?” She looked concerned for a minute, as they sat down on a bench with their
“Power acts as an aphrodisiac for powerful, successful men,” Jillian informed her sister, and then went back to the game, as she sent a crushing serve in her direction, which Fiona missed, intrigued by what she said. “And an anesthetic for women,” she concluded, as Fiona listened with interest. “Like you,” Jillian continued. “How long has it been since you got laid?”
“You expect me to answer that?” Fiona looked shocked.
“If you can’t answer that question,” Jillian said smugly, “my guess is you can’t even remember the last time.”
“Of course I can. It was two years ago,” Fiona said, looking momentarily miffed as they continued to play.
“That’s ridiculous, for a woman your age. And you don’t look anywhere near your age, by the way. If you weren’t successful, you could have any guy you want. The problem is that you’re a successful CEO, which scares the shit out of any guy. A man in your same position would have women ten deep lined up at his gate, and be screwing everything that moves. Men in power feel sexy and are driven by sex. Women in the same jobs go underground and forget they’re women. Success is very isolating,” she said, as the game came to an end, and they met at the net. Jillian had beaten Fiona. She almost always did, except if she was exceptionally tired or sick.
“I’m not sure I agree with the anesthetic part, but it is isolating,” Fiona said, looking thoughtful as they both cracked open bottles of water when they left the court, and took a long drink. They always played hard. It was relaxing for them both.
“I don’t think women in your position feel sexy, because men don’t pay attention to them. They’re too threatened by successful women so they ignore them, and treat them like men, which is devastating for any woman’s self-image, to be overlooked as a woman.”
“Maybe,” Fiona said pensively. “I never think about it.”
“That’s my point. I’ll bet you never even think about guys, most of the time. You’re too busy working. The male CEOs I know are having affairs, usually with unsuitable women. When was the last time you heard about a female CEO having an affair with a guy she picked up at a massage parlor?” Fiona laughed at the idea, and Jillian lookedserious about her theories. “Look at you. When was the last time you went on a date, or a guy asked you out for dinner?” Fiona thought about it, and honestly couldn’t remember.
“I don’t know, it’s been a while … a long while … but in my case, loss of memory is a blessing. I’ve had some of the worst blind dates in history.”
“So has every female CEO I’ve interviewed. The good guys are too afraid of them to ask them out, and those women wind up with the dregs who go after them for all the wrong reasons, or some terrible blind dates set up by friends.”
“That sounds about right. Why do you suppose my male counterparts have more fun?”
“Probably because they go after it. And a successful man is a hero, particularly one with power. A woman in a powerful position is automatically presumed to be a bitch.” It was true, but the theory sounded depressing to Fiona, who had encountered the results of that stereotype too. Most of the men she had met had been afraid of her, and didn’t want to get involved. And now she didn’t either. She’d given up. “Everybody wants to date a successful guy, they’re in high demand. No one wants to date a successful woman, or damn few men anyway. They’re too scared. Powerful, successful women get a bad rap. Not every female CEO is a bitch,” Jillian said, thinking about it, and Fiona laughed nervously.
“That’s reassuring. I was beginning to worry. Am I one of the good ones or the bad ones?” She looked concerned for a minute, as they sat down on a bench with their
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