Ambition sometimes leads to achievement; sometimes to downfall. Betty Buxtehude was ambitious. Careful planning had gotten her this far. Deceit and dishonesty were her tools of trade. Expecting success, she started her next step. Frank Farnsworth was her boss. Getting past him on the ladder was her plan. He was a handsome hunk, but in her way. Inappropriate rumors were started. “Just a small error in billing.” “Kinky sex in the store room.” Long conferences were held in the boss’s office. Memo from Management. No inappropriate behavior shall be permitted. Office politics were getting ugly. Patting herself on the back, she started another rumor. Quietly, Frank was terminated. Real problems started at that point. She was called into the boss’s office. “Terrible rumors are being spread, Miss Buxtehude. Unfortunately, we had to let Mr. Farnsworth go.” “Victory”, she thought. “We don’t know how you found out about him and my secretary. Xantippe is a good secretary, as well as my niece. You are hereby terminated for spreading vicious rumors.” Zero, zilch; for all her efforts, she had gotten nothing except unemployment and a bad reference. © Paul (AHikingDude@aol.com) ~INDEX PAGE~