Remembering the details.

Your rivalry hit a new high, or low depending on how you look at it, a few days ago.

The firm had just taking on a new client, the state’s largest Indian casino. Of course Ashley and yourself both vied to be the lead associate assigned to such an important and lucrative case. As you bickered around the water cooler one morning on who knew more about gambling your arguments soon became a game of verbal chicken.

When you declared, “that men are naturally better gamblers,” Ashley, with searing anger in her eyes, challenged you to a poker game, with the loser having to back the winner to the firm's partners for the job. At first, as you do with all her ideas, you dismissed it as being juvenile and not worth serious consideration. Then she shot back “scared little man?”

You reacted out of pure emotion. “Scared?!” your honor offended, “what are we back in high school princess? Next you will want us to get some fake IDs for beer and play strip poker.”

When Ashley briefly froze at the mere mention of strip poker, you couldn’t resist going in for the kill, “now look who is scared, little miss DB.”

“Ok, strip poker it is then!” She had to agree or lose face backing down, even though you weren’t actually challenging her to a game. “I will get to see how little of a man you really are, Mr. B.O.L.!”

Never had you been so angry with her before, all you could say was, “Oh yeah?!”

“Yeah!” was her response.

Clearly your passions had gotten the better of both of you and the firms two leading young associates were arguing like 3rd graders.

You didn’t notice this at the time, however, because your anger clouded any rational judgment. Instead, desiring to score the last point without much thinking you foolishly continued, “Then let’s make this really interesting. The loser not only has to endorse the other to the partners, and gets stripped naked, but also has to do whatever the winner says for the rest of the night!”

For the first time there was silence as you both realized how high the stakes had gotten.

“Ok, deal”, Ashley calmly and coolly responded. Be at my house at 5:00 PM on Sunday. Okay?”

“Okay” is all you can say as the two of you shook on the wager and walked away.

For the rest of the week you hardly spoke to each other. You could see in her eyes the same doubts you were having about such a reckless wager. Not only will the loser probably fail to make partner anytime soon, but will also be utterly humiliated by their arch-rival. Even worse, the final wager is so broad it could lead to ****, which you wouldn’t put pass Ashley.

Ashley’s voice snaps you back to the present, “finding poker too mentally challenging little man? Don’t worry, it will be over soon.”

Ashley with that arrogant smile on her face leans over and places her cards on the table.