by K. S. Martin
“I didn’t want word to get back to Molly that I was reporting our conversations. She has a lot of friends in the neighborhood.” Hannah meant the room full of assistants that sat behind her. Secretaries sat just outside their bosses offices but there was a large room full of assistants to back up the work load. Some did accounting work, some did contract work. Contracts were on the other side of the elevators, Robichaux managed both departments for now and his office was in between the two sections. There were a few CPA’s like me and we all managed certain aspects of the accounting process but the only employee that I directly supervised was Hannah. I’d heard that there was some dissention when I brought her with me because there a few assistants looking to move up into her place. It paid better to be in Hannah’s position than most of theirs. The manager’s were not thrilled when I asked to bring her along and mentioned that there were other employees interested. I told them that I was more than happy to interview but that I required an assistant that could type ninety words per minute, could take dictation and shorthand and that was a secretary possessing a certificate. None of the employees on staff were qualified. I offered to advertise outside but it was decided that Hannah would be fine and that I could hire her. She was the most qualified and I knew that before I’d given my requirements. Nobody goes to secretarial school anymore, it’s rare. “Mr. Robichaux is taking Jamie to lunch. Jamie was offered a very sweet package and a big office with his own staff.” My eyebrows went up at that thinking about the tight skirts that would want the positions. “Robichaux sold him to the board, the managers and department heads sight unseen but when they met him and got a load of his qualifications along with the personal endorsement that you would give if asked, they snapped him up.”I made a face.
“Who cares what I think?” Not many people had bothered to learn my name. I was just another bean counter.
“Apparently a lot of people appreciate your work ethic, integrity, skills and your honesty.” Hannah grinned. “Who knew?”
“I thought we were just sitting here quietly doing our jobs, I can’t believe anyone noticed.” I know that I had a stupid smile on my face.
“You did spot that error last week, the one that saved them a million dollars.” She crossed her legs. “You also stream lined their payroll process without much thought.
“Anyone could have spotted that error.” I shook my head denying in any way that I was special.
“But anyone didn’t, you did, and after the paperwork had been through three other CPA’s. You have your eye on the bottom line and it’s been noted and appreciated.”
“Well.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Who knew?” I giggled with Hannah. I saw the door knob turn. “In the future Hannah, I will expect better. You’re excused.” I winked and she returned it and was at the door when it opened. Mr. Edwards was coming in. He had an armful of paperwork. Hannah closed the door behind her. I spent the rest of the afternoon with the payroll department head. I was becoming more popular since spotting the error. I had helped him streamline his system before and found the error that he’d been tearing his hair out over for two days]. Someone had transposed a number, easy enough if you work with numbers all day and easy enough to figure out, it took me all of five seconds. I had a feeling that Edwards would be either firing or reprimanding someone later for the simple mistake in the first place and not figuring it out in the second place and because I found it so quickly in the third place. It really seemed to annoy him that it wasn’t that hard to find. Hannah texted me that Jamie and Robichaux were back from lunch around five thirty. I gathered my things and headed for the elevator. I had a tension headache and all I wanted to do was take a run to kill the stress. My back and legs needed the stretch badly.
“Ms. O’Brien?” Mr. Robichaux called to me from his office. “Come in and close the door please.” I did as I was told. Jamie was relaxed in a chair, one foot propped on a knee. His eyes traveled my body hungrily. I sat down when Robichaux gestured. “What do you think of Jamie here?” I looked over at Jamie. “I wasn’t sure that I was following the conversation very well.
“I think he’s incredible.” I smiled at Jamie. “He’s a great guy with an unequalled work ethic. Jamie is awesome at what he does and has a meticulous attention to detail.” I looked back at Jamie knowing he would understand what my mind was screaming which was why is he asking this?
“Good. What can we afford to pay him?” Robichaux was tapping keys on his computer.
“I’m not prepared to answer that and I don’t think that I am the best person to answer it anyway. Jamie and I have been friends since grade school and he did save my life so I feel obligated to him at the same time I feel obligated to the company and our financial well being.” Jamie started to laugh.
“I told you Professor.” Robichaux was laughing now too. “It’s okay Mich. I told him you wouldn’t answer that question. It’s too loaded.” I nodded and smiled, I didn’t really feel like part of the joke but more so the butt of it. Jamie stood then and reached across the desk to shake Robichaux’s hand. “Thank you very much sir. I hope that I can make you proud.”
“Oh you will Flanagan. I’m going to work your ass off. The kids working out there haven’t a brain to share amongst them. I should fire the lot of them. Between you and Ms. O’Brien here, our work load should be significantly reduced. Ms. O’Brien has set quite a pace Mr. Flanagan, let’s see if you can keep up with her. Goodnight you two.” Robichaux smiled and walked us out of his office to the elevator then went back inside and closed the door. Once we were inside the elevator I turned to Jamie.
“What was that back there?” He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed.
“We were just playing with you Mich, don’t get upset.” I stepped out of his embrace.
“I didn’t like it Jamie. This is where I work. I don’t want to be a joke, okay?” He reached for me again. “And what did he mean that ‘I set quite a pace?’ Just what is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m sorry. I guess you don’t know him as well as I do. I’ve spent a lot of time with him in class and in conference when he was my advisor. I get him and he gets me, I forget that not everyone knows him that way. It won’t happen again sweets. I think by set quite a pace he was complimenting you. He means that you turn out a lot of work Mich. You are quite the busy little bee. It was mentioned in my meeting.”
“Mentioned? Well, I try. Did they make you an offer?” I didn’t let him know what the gossip said, if he and Robichaux were this close it would get back that Molly told.
“They made a good one. I have medical, dental, 401K, profit sharing,” I was nodding, I had the same. “My salary offer was a lucrative one.” I stiffened. He wasn’t telling me what he made. It didn’t matter, I had access to payroll, I could find out what his check would be before he got it. “Now we can afford the rents and you can buy groceries.” He kissed my cheek and whispered his salary into my ear. I went sheet white. He would be making a lot more than me. “Don’t panic sweetie, I hear you’re getting a bonus and a raise after that stunt you pulled with the million dollars. I was suddenly very happy, they had noticed. The elevator opened into the garage. “I’m going home Mich, do you want to come?” I shook my head and apologized when I saw the look on his face.
“I’ve had a tension head ache since my meeting with the payroll guy and I just want to take a run and have a bath, okay?” He nodded. “I’ll call you before I go to bed.” He smiled softly and walked to his car. I went home and got dressed to run but just as I started out of the door the sky darkened, the wind shifted and it poured. “Damn.” I cursed. I really needed to get a treadmill when I could afford it, I could put it in the garage or the smallest of the bedrooms would be better. I should’ve gone home with Jamie. There was a treadmill in the basement. I ran the bubble bath instead and made myself a cup of tea with my last tea bag. I counted the days until I would get paid again. This was awful, a sad state of affairs my Dad would say. I had a degree, my student loans
were paid back a long time ago and I still ended up living paycheck to paycheck. I took my tea to the tub and sank down into the hot water. I soaked there until I’d finished my tea, and then heated my frozen dinner. I called Jamie when I finished eating. He didn’t answer so I left a message that I was going to bed. He called back and woke me up an hour later.
“Hey babe.” He’d been drinking. “I did you a favor. Some people were trying to rent an apartment but Bobby was saying that there were no vacancies in the building right now as I was passing his office on the way to the mailbox. I told him that you had moved out a couple of months ago and that you would be willing to end the lease early so that he could rent to the nice couple in his office. He agreed that he could do that and that since your apartment is still in perfect condition, he is going to write you a check for the security deposit. You just have to stop by tomorrow and sign the end lease agreement. Okay? It looks like you can buy some groceries.”
“Jamie, why were you drinking?” I asked calmly.
“I was celebrating sort of while I was cleaning and doing laundry like you told me to. And you’re welcome.”
“Of course, I’m sorry, thank you Jamie. I mean it thank you. I’m just concerned, lay off the alcohol, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, nag, nag.” I laughed at that. “Hey, I have to drop off my dry cleaning before they close so, I’m going to go. Make sure that you stop by tomorrow and see Bobby after work and then come see me, okay?” I said that I would and asked when his start date was. “I start on Monday, maybe we can catch lunch?” We said our goodbyes and I fell into bed after downing three Advil’s and passed out.
I had terrible cramps for the next two days and was miserable. Usually Jamie would hold me close and keep a heating pad on me. He’d bring me tea, soup and chocolate. We would lie on the couch together and watch TV when I felt this bad. Jamie called and I told him I was too tired to go to the pub to watch the game that he wanted to see. I hated my period. Usually it was just cramps and inconvenience but a few times a year the hormones got really bad and I got really bitchy and weepy. It was during one of these kinds of periods that Fran named me “Bitchy Michy.” I would call her Franny Farmer which drove her equally nuts but it never stopped her from calling a spade a spade.
I woke up earlier than usual. I had an hour before I had to start getting ready. I jumped into my sweats and running shoes. I strapped on my iPod and took off. The rain had stopped and the air smelled great. I decided to only run five miles then I would have to get ready for work. I could hear a car coming up behind me and jumped a little when the horn blew. I turned to look, it was Jamie. “Hey Mich, hold up a sec, give me your house keys. I brought you some groceries and I was going to make you breakfast.” I reached into my pocket and tossed him the keys. “Hurry back.” I waved and took off. I know he sat there watching me until I was out of sight. I’d turned the music off when the horn blew and didn’t hear the engine drive away. I ran inspired. There would be a Jamie Flanagan omelet or something equally as yummy waiting for me when I finished. Maroon 5 filled my head now and I ran faster. I wished Jamie would run with me sometimes I loved to watch him, he was grace in motion. His long legs ate up the miles and there was nothing better than running behind him watching those legs flexing and moving except watching his ass in some nice spandex. My insides quivered at the memory. Jamie had a great ass. Once a long time ago there was a woman who fell off the path while she watched him run. She was coming toward us and Jamie had taken his tee shirt off and had it looped around his neck. He was wearing his spandex running shorts. They came to just above the knee. I was behind him watching his rear and as she passed she’d turned and fell into the woods. I stifled my laughter but Jamie never even noticed that she passed. He was running and in his own world. He had his headphones on and his head was probably filled with AC/DC or Rush. He loved the old stuff. He’d been in high school then, not as developed as now and she was old enough to be his Mom, but it didn’t stop her from looking. I was on my way back up to the house now. I stretched on the porch, pulling each ankle up behind me to the back of my head. I stretched my arms up and bent over to touch the toes of my shoes. I went inside. I was engulfed in a scent from heaven. “You have time for a quick shower.” He called from the kitchen. “Or you could come in here and keep me company until its ready. I dried myself with a towel and went to the kitchen. “I filled your fridge, and put some stuff in your lunch box. Okay?” His eyes grew soft when he saw me. “Is it bad?”
“What?” I sat on a stool at the counter pass thru.
“Your cycle, it’s bad this time isn’t it?” I nodded and scrunched my nose. He reached up into the cabinet pulling the Midol down and giving them to me with a glass of orange juice. He put my mug into the coffee maker and put my favorite pod in to brew. He reached up for something else and put a new box of herbal tea on the counter. “That’s for later.” He winked and went back to the frying pan to put an omelet and hash browns on my plate. I was starved. He sipped his coffee and poured eggs into the pan to cook. “Do you want to do something this weekend Mich?” I shrugged still shoveling food into my empty belly. “Sweetie slow down.” I stopped and looked up at him. I had been eating like a truck driver. I couldn’t help it, it was so good. I was sick of turkey sandwiches and frozen dinners. And if I had to eat another bowl of exactly one half cup of store brand cereal to ensure that it lasted until the next time that I could afford to shop, I was going to puke. I slowed down making a conscience effort to chew slowly. I sipped my juice daintily. Jamie brought his plate and sat beside me. He took small bites seemingly not interested in the omelet. He offered it to me when I finished mine. I ate half of it and I was stuffed. There were no hash browns on his plate. I wondered about it but didn’t ask. “Go shower, I’ll clean up.” I pulled my shirt and sports bra off standing beside him. I heard his ragged intake of breath.
“Come with me.” Jamie froze. “Don’t panic, it hasn’t started yet, I’m still in the cramps and irritable stage, after today, you won’t have another opportunity for a week.”
“I wasn’t panicking, I just wondered if it would… hurt you.” I shook my head.
“I don’t think so, maybe it will ease some of the tension, let’s find out. You weren’t panicking huh?” I teased.
“Nope, that’s not a deal breaker for me. I’ll make love to you no matter what. Whatever you want, whatever you need, whenever you need, just ask and it’s yours.” My heart swelled. I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom. He undressed quickly and followed me into the bathroom.
“I’m sorry, there’s no wand.” I adjusted the water.
“I’ll take care of it as soon as I can.” Jamie kissed my shoulder. He climbed in behind me pushing me against the cool tiles as the water sluiced over his head and down his chest. Jamie kissed me hard. His tongue began a long serious exploration of my mouth. I could feel his heart pounding against me. His hands cupped my ass pulling my heat to his shaft. I wrapped my legs around him and let him enter me. My arms were around his head. He was still kissing me, pounding into me and murmuring my name against my lips. I came hard, my belly clenched at the same time, I cried out. Jamie put my feet down and turned me around. His arm supported me as he entered me from behind. His lips were on my neck, I let my head cant in the other direction so he could do whatever he liked. Jamie’s finger was circling my clit now and I was screaming again. He felt so good, I always felt great when he was inside of me. He came and pulled out leaving me empty, I hated that part, and I wanted him to stay inside of me until the tremors subsided. He turned me to face him and held me against his chest. I listened to his heartbeat slowing to normal now. Jamie washed my hair and my body. His touch was thorough and gentle. He rinsed me off and sent me out of the shower. I started to dry off and noticed the blood. I sat on the toilet and reached under the sink for a tampon. The water turned off and the curtain opened.
“You should call out Mich. You should stay home and take it easy. I’ll hold the hea
ting pad for you.” It sounded wonderful but I had two meetings that I had to go to.
“I can’t. I wish that I could. Jamie, are you available after work for heat therapy.” I asked quietly, I was a little embarrassed to be asking. He was drying himself with my towel.
“You have to stop by and see Bobby today, don’t forget. Why don’t I pack you a bag and you can spend the weekend with me on the couch. The heating pad is still in my drawer and I have cable.” I grimaced at that, he had noticed the TV situation. Of course he had. I didn’t get a paper, so he couldn’t read the sports scores, TV would be the next logical step.
“That sounds good.” I brightened, but was flushed with embarrassment. Jamie picked up his clothes and dressed as he went. He went to my bedroom. I heard him opening drawers and the closet. I couldn’t wait to see what kinds of clothes I ended up with. We left together once I’d dressed and he’d cleaned the dishes, he put my suitcase in his car and he followed me as far as the turn for my office where he went straight. He always took such good care of me. Tears pricked my eyes. The hormones were kicking in double time.
My day dragged. It was a catastrophe of meetings, Midol and cramps. I left early, before the ice cream social scheduled in the large conference room. I had no stamina for small talk and socializing today. Hannah figured out what was wrong and fed me hot tea all day. She wasn’t surprised when I packed up and left early. I went to Jamie’s to find the door locked and no answer when I knocked. I trudged down to Bobby’s office. At least this would be over quickly.
“Hi Bobby.” I tapped his door frame gently with a knuckle.
“Hey there Mich.” He said softly. Bobby was an older man with a slew of grandchildren and no wife but he had several daughters that were all locals. He never cooked or cleaned for himself and mostly stayed in his office if he wasn’t repairing something. He was the building manager, maintenance man, landscaper and owner. Bobby was short, round, balding and in his late fifties. He was friendly, exuberant, and always had a nice smile for everyone. “I have your paperwork right here. If you can sign on the bottom, the Davies can move in next weekend.”
