Greasing the Wheels.

Mr. Tempest's attempt at "Greasing the Wheels" was not going smoothly.

"Why does dad have to be so cheap?" Susan asked as she rolled her eyes.

Deepening her voice, Mary mockingly took up Mr. Tempest's cause; "Susan, you don't start a negotiation with your best offer."

Exasperated John shot back "Well you don't start out sliding the host a five either. It's insulting. Now, he'll probably not let us in out of spite."

Evelyn looked at the children and said; "Well I need to freshen my makeup. Text me where you'll be if Nathaniel gets us kicked to the curb." With that, Evelyn irritably made her way inside to find the restroom.

As soon as her mom had disappeared into the crowded bar a mischievous expression appeared on Susan's face. "Dad's floundering. Time to use some alternative currency to incentivize our getting a table."

With that, Susan strode to the dais where Nathaniel and the host were at a stalemate. She leaned over the podium, pretending to check out the waiting list, giving the host a great view of her highly visible cleavage. Susan was wearing a red mini with a V-neck so profound that she didn't need to bend over to display her goods. Her arching forward was not so much to better reveal her breasts as it was to communicate an unspoken bargain. Get us a table and maybe you can do more than look. "So how many groups are still ahead of us?" she asked seductively. "That's... That's not the issue." stuttered the host. "I have to see everyone's ID before... before I can put you on the list." He finally managed to spit out.

Mary saw that Susan's beauty and sexuality had tilted the scales in the Tempest's favor. She only needs to press her thumb a little harder, and the victory would be theirs. This epiphany caused Mary to step forward, a rashly thought out plan in mind, and act in kind.

Mary leaned on Nathaniel Tempest taking his arm in hers. "I am famished." She stated looking up into Nathaniel's bewildered eyes. Then turning her attention to the host and with her most doe-like expression asked. "Will our table be ready soon?" Her tone made the matter seem settled, and they were only waiting for the bus boy to do his job. Batting her eyes at the flummoxed young man behind the podium she casually reached down and slowly slid Nathaniel's hundred dollar bill toward the host. She sensually ran her tongue around her lips before stating, "Susan and I left our purses and ID's back in the room. I hope that's not a problem?"

The hedonic play that Mary and Susan had just put on had the young host quite perplexed. He began to stammer. "No, No problem. Let's see party of four or no five. Yes, five. Follow me. I see a corner table that will work." The host, full of nervous energy, fumbled picking up a few menus before finally leading the four of them to their table. He then spit out in rapid succession, "Misty will be your server. She will be with you shortly." With that, he scurried off back to his station.

Susan and Mary both let out a nervous giggle. Then Susan placed her hand on Susan's knee and said, "Oh wow, sorry you had to see that dad, but it seemed you were floundering with that squeaky wheel. By the way Mary, you go girl. That was some hot show you put on. Any more enticing and our host would have needed a change of pants." Susan then turned to her brother and father and asked. "Isn't our girl growing up?"

Nervously Nathaniel implored, "Thanks for the assist Mary. But please you three don't let your mother hear about this."

Mary looked over at John. It was the first eye contact they had made since her performance. She noticed something different in his eyes. Earlier when she had been on eye level with his barely covered crotch he had looked at her as one looks at a lamp or chair. He had barely registered her as another person much less a member of the opposite sex. Now his visage was one of a man who was seeing, for the first time, something new and desirable. The look made Mary's cheek flush, and she quickly demurred to bury her head in her menu.

Then Evelyn reappeared. "I see we finally got a table. I hope you all didn't go through too much trouble." At that statement, the rest of group, likewise, hid their faces perusing the menu.