by Claire Angel
“I have it on good authority nobody is hiring at the moment. The economy has made people hold onto the jobs they have like grim death. Nobody wants to take the risk of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.” I had heard something of the same around the water cooler on Monday mornings.
“I’m sure there are positions available. I just need to make a concentrated effort to look under every rock. I won’t go back to answering phones and getting lunch orders. That is what I did to make ends meet when I was going to college. Eating nothing but pasta can get old in a hurry. I should’ve taken some of my spare time and learned how to cook. I could have saved myself a lot of money by eating in.” I had let time slip through my fingers.
“I hope you’re right, but the inside track goes to friends and family first. I have no doubt the others in the same boat are already reaching out to relatives. I wouldn’t procrastinate. My sister has an antique business, but my sugar daddy is wealthy enough to keep me happy for quite some time.” There was not a moment she didn’t remind me of the old man with one foot on a banana peel and the other one in the grave.
“Your future depends on him kicking the bucket. You only took this job to make him think you weren’t some kind of gold digger. The family has been circling like buzzards waiting for the old man to croak.” She had them eating out of the palm of her hand.
“I play to my strengths. I might have to sleep with him in the same bed, but I don’t have to have sex with him. He doesn’t have the capability of giving me what I want in the bedroom. I turn to his sons jumping from bed to bed. It’s a good thing I love sex. The feeling they give me with one orgasm after another is mind-blowing. You haven’t lived until you find a piece of eye candy young enough to be your son.” I had to give her credit for finding a lucrative position on her back.
The inheritance was going to be in the millions and she was going to reap the rewards by spending her waking hours by his side.
“I need to pound the pavement and knock on some doors. Stay in touch. I would really like to know how things work out for you.” I could already see her wearing designer dresses and picking out jewels to adorn her skin.
I walked away and stopped to look at my reflection in a shop window. I was a comely young blonde ready to take the world by storm. I could see out of the corner of my eye men not the least bit subtle about their intentions. They had my 5’4, 120-pound hard body on their radar. I could bat my eyes and have them tripping over themselves to be with me.
I went to a nearby park and sat down on a bench with my feet covered in snow. I had several prospects, but each phone call was met with the same response. There were no openings, but they would keep my file on hand for any further developments. One told me they had a position available, but it wouldn’t be open for a couple of months.
It wasn’t long before I saw the writing on the wall. I had the piece of paper in my hand and was debating on whether or not I should crumple it up in my fist. It finally dawned on me this was a temporary fix. Two months fielding advances from men feeling that 40-year-old itch wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. I could play defence and keep them from getting too close.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to find, but I certainly didn’t expect to find a line around the block. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but it felt like a losing battle.
I waited impatiently tapping my foot on the ugly green carpeting. The place looked like it was a throwback to a different era. The seventies décor convinced me that they didn’t have the budget to make any changes. The scene outside the window was of the cold and impersonal parking lot. The weather was getting people down and losing my job had made a lasting impression on me.
The woman sitting beside me was rubbing her belly and talking underneath her breath to a child that wasn’t even born yet. I wasn’t comfortable with making friends, but she was the one that took the initiative. I almost jumped out of my skin when she began to speak like we had already been friends for years.
“I’m a struggling actress with several high profile commercials underneath my belt. I lived modestly in Hollywood for the past six months until I got pregnant with a married man’s baby.” Sandra was a bit talkative and it was a good thing that I was a good listener.
“You could have sued him for child support payments. The money you could have gotten would have set you up on easy street. What could possibly compel you to let him off the hook? Does he even know about the baby?” I was trying to fill the time with idle chitchat and give her my unbiased opinion at the same time.
“I love him and I want him to be happy even if it’s not with me. I knew going in the possibility of him staying with his family was bigger than he claimed. I took a chance hoping that he wasn’t going to break my heart. He does know about the child, but he wants nothing to do with it. He already has a growing family. I decided that some distance was the best for the both of us.” I had an extra room and felt this motherly instinct to help.
“I would hope somebody would do this for me. I want you to stay with me for as long as you need. I’m probably going to be home a lot more considering my financial constraints.” She told me of her culinary talents in the kitchen.
“I have this inane ability to make something that is going to melt in your mouth. I can make anything work on a shoestring budget. Gourmet meals have nothing over me. I should have pursued becoming a chef with Michelin stars to my name. Best laid plans.” I knew somebody from the culinary institute down the street.
“I hope you have been taking your vitamins and doing whatever you can to keep yourself healthy for the baby. I have a couple of nieces. They are my sister’s pride and joy. They live in Alaska. I don’t have the heart to impose on them by coming to live with them with my hat in my hand.” I would never live down the disappointment I would see in her eyes.
“We were lucky to find one another. I will be happy to show you the finer points in the art of making food. I’ve never had anybody in the kitchen with me. It will be nice to have somebody to talk to.” She was a wild child with a nose ring and tattoos. I couldn’t see the extent of her ink, but I suspected there was more than what I was seeing.
“I think this might be the start of a beautiful friendship. Don’t make me regret this. I want to come home to find my belongings where I left them. I’ve heard horror stories of roommates leaving for parts unknown and taking everything that wasn’t nailed down along with them. The only thing I ask is for a little respect.” I didn’t want to be blunt, but it was necessary to make sure we knew where we stood with one another.
“My mother would have my head if I even considered doing anything like that. I would live with her, but she hasn’t exactly been accepting of my choices. I don’t want to introduce her to her grandchild until I am in a position to show her that I am doing well.” I was going to judge her food before attempting an introduction to my friend at the culinary institute.
My name was finally called and I felt like I was an intern trying to get ahead.
The woman with her hair in a bun had matronly concern for my predicament. She had a list of possible positions on hand. She shook her head from side to side and tossed each one into a pile.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I do have something that just came in. You are definitely overqualified, but beggars can’t be choosers.” I was expecting a receptionist position, but this was about punching numbers and analyzing the results. A monkey could probably do the job.
“It is better than some of the alternatives. I could be answering phones. I appreciate the opportunity and I will do what I can not to let you down.” She waved her hand dismissively and my seat was being coveted by others looking for gainful employment.
I called the number and they told me that I could start tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. I breathed a sigh of relief, but now I was going to have to convince my landlord to wait for his rent for a couple of days. It was a good thing I was good for it and not some kind of deadbeat trying to pull the wool over his eyes
Roman
There was something missing and I knew that my riches were nothing without somebody to share it with. I had a Rolodex of women’s names I could call to satisfy my urges. They were nothing more than distractions. It was fun while it lasted but left me empty in the cold light of reality.
“I don’t know why you would even consider marriage. It’s an antiquated notion meant to keep you chained to one person for the rest of your life. There is a variety of women waiting for your stamp of approval. I noticed somebody new starting here today. This insane talk about marriage is nothing but your mother whispering into your ear.” Samuel was a blonde Adonis.
He was a colleague and friend who spent his waking hours picking up the scraps after I was done with them.
Sloppy seconds took on a different meaning when he found them crying in their beer. I was responsible for sending him down the aisle three times until he finally got wise.
“I have everything going for me. I own a clothing empire worth billion here and overseas. My investments are strong with my future bright. Why shouldn’t I want to settle down with a good woman who makes me feel happy? I’ve had my fair share of lovers over the years. I’m not getting any younger and my biological clock is ticking.” I was down on myself from how my brother was punching me in the face with his success with family photographs of their vacation in Tahiti.
“Married with children don’t necessarily go hand in hand. I thought we had a good thing going and you’re trying to ruin it. I’ve always been there to talk you down from the ledge of some kind of insanity. I never thought I would have to slap the taste out of your mouth. Keep talking like this and I might have to consider drastic measures.” I could only imagine what piece of ass he was going to throw into my path.
“I look outside and I see the little people trying their best to keep their head above water. They have a family depending on them to bring home the bacon. Their downtrodden expression changes when they come through the door at the end of the day. The allure of the embrace of warmth and the comfort of family loyalty is hard for me to resist.” My corner office made me feel isolated from the rest of the world.
“You have to snap out of this. There’s no telling what kind of spies are out there watching for any kind of weakness to pounce on. You can’t really believe everybody under the umbrella of your employment is loyal.” I did feel that I surrounded myself with a select few who were fortunate to have my confidence.
“I know you’re trying to help, but you are rapidly getting on my last nerve. You might be content playing the field, but I don’t find the same appeal. Waking up to a strange woman in my bed with a medley of different perfumes every night leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. It sickens me to think of how often I found solace at the bottom of a bottle. I don’t want to go home with an unsuspecting victim of the female persuasion.” I was waxing poetic and I knew that my words were falling on deaf ears.
“I’m going to do you a favor. The new talent is off limits to me. I want to introduce you to the new member of our family. Her name is August. I want you to give her a warm welcome when she comes in here.” He was once again trying to set me up only to come running to the rescue when things didn’t work out between the two of us.
“I don’t want to be responsible for making her run into your arms. It’s not fair to give her hope and then throw her a lifeline that is only going to make her feel like she’s drowning. You don’t know the meaning of the word commitment. I’m guilty of the same thing, but I’m trying to turn over a new leaf.” My vision for the future had the white picket fence and the loving arms of a woman wrapped around my waist.
He didn’t want me to become a victim of society or to conform to some kind of conventional thinking. I wanted somebody to count on me. I was begging the universe to do me a solid. I was looking for the total package with the kind of chemistry that was off the charts. A tall order indeed, but I was willing to kiss a lot of frogs to find my princess.
“I would be offended, but I’m proud of my sexual conquests. I don’t depend on you to get that necessary fix in the morning with the orgasmic cries of pleasure flowing from their lips. We have the same taste. I don’t actually have a type. I like them in all shapes and sizes. Nationalities and races have become a game of sport.” I was hoping that he knew what he was saying was absurd and women weren’t put on this planet to please him.
What the hell was I thinking? It was what I did all the time.
“I do have a lot of work to do. The new clothing line is coming in from Milan. I’m a little nervous. I always feel that way until I get a look at what they have come up with. My vision is precise and I can be very harsh with those that don’t follow my demands to the letter.” I knew what I wanted and I was never going to settle for second best.
“You’ve always been a stickler for details.” His blond hair was in perfect contrast to my shaved dome.
I had stubble on my head. It was easy to get in the shower and out within minutes in the morning. Everything was about convenience and I was no stranger to those things that made my life easy. The restaurant down from my apartment building always had my meal ready when I walked through the door. It was the same thing every morning and I had a routine that I followed religiously.
I did like what I saw in the mirror in the morning. Naked was my way of admiring the hard work it took to sculpt my body into the perfect specimen. There were areas I wanted to improve, but for the most part, I smiled with this cocksure grin.
“I’m never going to change my ways when it comes to how I do business. I work tirelessly to give this company a leg up over the competition. The slightest flaw can unravel years of stellar reputation. People depend on me for nothing but the best. I would be letting myself down if I tried to cut corners for the sake of the almighty dollar.” I felt empowered and it took me a long time to learn to delegate.
“You brought me into this business five years ago. I have been responsible for a sales growth of over 50% every year. My expertise in advertising has put you on the map. I know you don’t like social media, but it is what today’s youth is following. I’ve taken advantage of their addiction to technology.” He did have the pulse of the next generation in the palm of his hand.
My mouth dropped to the floor figuratively speaking when a vision in loveliness walked by my door. She was a sight for sore eyes with legs that went straight to heaven and beyond. I immediately began to envision the obscene things I could do to her on the office floor. It was such a sudden impact that I was left speechless with my heart in my throat.
“You are just the person I wanted to see. I want you to come in here and meet the boss. I need to get back to the office. I’m sure the two of you can find some common ground to get better acquainted.” He was throwing this impressionable young woman into the lion’s den to be devoured.
“I hear that you come from a temporary agency. I hope you don’t find what you’re doing boring. I know it can be mundane and repetitive.” I couldn’t look her in the eye without seeing them flutter in a post aftermath celebration of the physical variety.
“Everybody has been very supportive and kind. I’ve heard good things about this company and its owner. I’ve also heard things that make me cock an eyebrow of concern. Your name has been cursed by several of the female staff. Do you care to refute their claims?” I wasn’t expecting an inquisition, but I felt that I needed to explain myself.
“I’m not proud of some of the things I have done in the past. I look back and I would love the chance to do things over again a different way. Perhaps we can talk about this over dinner. I would love to see…ahem…learn more about you.” I was losing my composure and had this vivid fantasy of pinning her up against the door in a compromising position.
“I know where this is going and I don’t want to be another skid mark on the list of women you have slept with. I have a bit more respect for my body than that. I wouldn’t mind getting a cup of coffee.” It was
such a simple thing and yet spending time with her was like a gift.
“I can have something brought in or we can go down to one of the coffee shops in the area. It’s entirely up to you which way the wind blows.” I took a few steps closer and I could smell the overpowering scent of her perfume.
“Do you always make it a habit to seduce any available woman? Jumping from bed to bed might be fun when you are young and can enjoy it. I’m past the point of wanting to go to a club in the middle of the night to listen to music and get hit on. I find my solitude something that I took for granted when I was younger.” She was talking, but I was thinking of far better things that she could do with her mouth.
“You don’t paint a pretty picture of me. I would like the chance to prove to you that I am a different man than what you have been led to believe. I still have naughty thoughts not appropriate for the workplace. It’s healthy to fantasize.” She was standing in front of me in a leather purple skirt and the only thing I wanted more than anything was to see what she was wearing underneath.
“I’m only going by what I have been told. You’ve done nothing to instill any confidence that you can be trusted. I would be worried about my virtue being corrupted by your hand.” I took her hand and began licking her fingers while keeping eye contact.
“I don’t think you should be doing this. Anybody can walk by and see what is going on inside this office.” Half the fun was the possibility of getting caught.
She wasn’t exactly pushing me away even though her words said something else.
“Don’t worry about what anybody else thinks. This is my office and nobody is allowed in here without my permission. I know one day my day of judgment will be calling. That day isn’t today.” Her heaving bosom underneath the peasant white blouse was drawing me to the polar vortex of her womanly curves.
“I know I should leave, but I don’t want to.” She stumbled on her feet and landed on the chair in front of my desk.
