Chapter 15 - All Work and No Play
Lisa picked me up from school at 4:00 pm the following day and it was the first time I could remember not getting a chance to decompress for a few minutes on the front steps of the main building. Lisa waved at me from the window of her car which she parked in the street. I slipped into the front seat and tried not to stare at her long legs covered in a pair of tights that had a diamond pattern across the surface. This pattern disappeared beneath the hem of a short red skirt which she matched with a cream colored shirt that fluttered in the wind blowing from the registers of the car. "Are you nervous?" She asked.
"Yeah, a little."
"Don't be, I'm sure everyone at the office will be nice."
The office was near the school. Once inside her assistant, an older woman named Beth, met us in the elevator. "Take him around to meet the different departments and we'll chat later."
"Yes Ms. McGentry." Beth said. "Let's hit accounting first."
There were three guys in the accounting "bunker", as they called it, older men with too much fat and too little hair. "Hey Jack, we've heard so much about you." Pete said, the senior member in the department. "That was really amazing what you did for the boss lady." He coughed. "I mean Ms. McGentry."
"You would have done the same." I responded again taking the advice of my math teacher.
"No he wouldn't have," Rick, another man in the office, laughed. "We have a lot of fun in here though. If you decide to work with us we have a spot right over there." He pointed to a desk near a window already set up with a computer.
I raised my eyebrows, I kind of expected to be stuffed into some closet with no windows and barely enough air since I was a kid working part time. "Thanks guys, that's real nice."
They smiled and began to call me over to their desks.
Beth interrupted. "We have to visit all the departments guys, thanks for you time."
We exited the "bunker" and moved toward another office. "Just a little warning Jack, most departments think that if they get close to you they will have a line in with Ms. McGentry."
"Ah, I see. They are going to be seriously disappointed. I am allowed to date her daughter, but that wasn't for sure until after I knocked out her ex-husband."
Beth snorted suddenly her professional mask cracked by a broad smile. "That sounds about right."
The legal department, the sales department, and marketing department were similar experiences. Every employee was over-the-top friendly and most had a space set up and ready for me to use. An hour or so later, Beth escorted me back toward the north side of the building where the executives had their offices.. "So am I supposed to choose where I work?" I asked.
"I think so, but you will have to discuss that with Ms. McGentry." Beth answered.
We walked near a closed door tucked into the corner of the office space. It opened suddenly and the sound of fast moving fans and a blast of cold air poured out behind a young woman who did not see us. She had a laptop held before her and headphones on her head. She quickly ducked around the corner and slid into an office chair before a bank of computer screens.
The four large monitors covered the majority of her L-shaped desk, most were covered with lines of text but others had graphical charts that marched across in a slow progression. I stopped and marveled at the impressive computer setup. "Who's that?"
"That is Alex. I think it is short for Alexa but everyone just calls her Alex. She is our software gal, some of the other employees call her ‘the code monkey’."
"Interesting." Alexa had hair cut short in the back and long on the sides with the ends dyed a bright pink, perhaps it had all been pink at one point and slowly grown out. She wore a skirt similar to all the women in the office but it appeared to be chosen out of deference to the office dress code rather than a personal sense of style. The white button down shirt she wore was rumpled with a few coffee stains around the cuffs. She fiddled with a plastic toy with one hand while the other flashed between her mouse and keyboard. "She is a computer programmer then?" I asked.
"She works on projects largely supporting Mr. Craddock. Though I have seen her speaking with Ms. McGentry on occasion." Beth answered.
I caught Alex's eyes in the black reflection of one of her screens. Her look spoke not of dislike but complete apathy toward my continued existence. "She obviously doesn't care like the other employees."
"She's focused on her work, treats everyone the same, and she has no need to get "in" with the bosses. She's pretty invaluable and knows it." Beth said.
Beth continued walking down the hall until she stopped before a large office in the opposite corner from Alex's space. She knocked politely and Lisa's voice spoke from the other side in a crisp tone. "Enter."
Lisa sat behind a vast desk that was polished to a mirror sheen. Behind her a bank of windows illuminated the room with natural daylight. She had a small laptop connected to a single large monitor where a grid of numbers were displayed. "Will there be anything else?" Beth asked.
"No, thank you for your help, Beth. Jack have a seat." Beth left and I sat in the second of two tall leather backed chairs facing Lisa. "First things first, when you are in this building you can't call me Lisa. Either Ms. McGentry or boss lady." She smiled. "Probably Ms. McGentry when you are actually talking to me."
"Ok,” I sighed. “It took so long to get used to using your first name."
"Good, now I know everyone has been trying to get you to work in their areas. Do you have a preference?"
"You were right about the ass-kissing." I said quietly.
"I know my people. I reward those who do good work for me, I don't mind them pressing for an advantage," she smiled.
"What about Alex?" I said finally.
Lisa's gaze had drifted back to the figures displayed on the computer screen but they snapped back to me at the mention of Alex. "What about her?"
"Beth said she works as a computer programmer, I've played around with that at school..." I drifted off.
"Is that the only reason... mild interest?" Lisa said sitting back into her chair her eyes boring into me.
"Well she was the only one who didn't suck up. I figured instead of making one group happy I would just upset them all. It would be even that way and I wouldn't be asked to..." I shrugged my shoulders. "...talk to you about them."
"So the fact that she is a girl working by herself has nothing to do with it." Lisa said narrowing her eyes.
I jerked my head back in surprise just now understanding the source of her suspicion. "What?" I shook my head. "No. No way. I have Polly you know that." I studied her face and realized that her issues with men were not going to vanish just because I helped her out with her husband. "Lisa...I mean Ms. McGentry, I think about Polly all the time, there is no way," I held up my hands palms facing forward. "Absolutely no way I could be interested in another girl." I said each word slowly and crisply to emphasize the point.
This seemed to mollify her. It also had the benefit of being the God's honest truth. "Ok Jack." She picked up the phone on her desk. "Alex, could you come into my office for a moment?"
Moments later Alex stuck her head inside the office. She had a pencil stuck behind an ear and a straw between her teeth. "What's up?"
"Have a seat please." Ms. McGentry said indicating the chair beside me.
"I've got this thing running." Alex said pointing back toward her desk.
"Won't take a moment, have a seat please." Ms. McGentry said with obvious patience. She had obviously expected some push back having dealt with Alex in the past. "This is Jack."
"Yeah, I know." Alex responded with barely a glance my way. "Saved you life or somethin'."
"Yes, well, Mr. Craddock has offered him a part time position and Jack has expressed interest in learning what you do."
Alex's mouth dropped open and the straw tumbled from between her lips onto her lap. "You mean he's going to be asking me questions and shit? No way, I haven't got time for that."
I started to shrink back into the chair. This wasn't going they way I wanted.
Ms. McGentry’s eyes narrowed. Alex's attitude seemed to have sparked something inside her and a stubbornness passed through her features. "Make time, Alex."
"Oh man," she stared at the ceiling then turned toward me. "What do you know?"
"Uh...." I said with my usual intelligence.
"Java, SQL, C, anything?"
"We learned a little VisualBasic at school, but I learn fast."
Alex shook her head and turned back to Ms. McGentry. "What about a computer, he can't use my rig."
Lisa nodded and suddenly displayed her skill as a manager. "How about this, I'll let you buy whatever you want for yourself and Jack here will use your old setup."
Alex's back straightened suddenly. "Anything I want?"
I watched Lisa nod slowly. "Within reason, two or three thousand."
Alex whistled. "Ok that might work."
"Just let him get his feet wet." Lisa continued. "If he's incompetent you will only be out a little time."
Alex turned toward me. "Do you have a computer at home?"
"Yes." I answered.
"Ok, follow me."
I looked toward Ms. McGentry. She made a gesture indicating I should follow. Alex led me down to her office area and quickly wrote down a list of websites. "These are the docs and tutorials for the main language I use. Go home and get started on these, then when you are here I will give you simple stuff to do. If you have the knack I'll know soon enough."
In a blur of words and mouse clicks Alex rolled me through the overview of what she does on a day to day basis, the magnitude of her skill set was daunting. By the time Ms. McGentry arrived my knees were burning from where I was kneeling next to Alex's computer and my head was spinning. "Here's your procurement form, Alex. Get the equipment as quickly as possible."
"Yes of course," Alex responded. "When is he starting?"
"After school each day, plus some weekends. Nothing formalized at this point, he'll be on the clock."
Alex nodded.
"Come with me Jack, we have some paperwork to sign."
I went down to another office where I signed forms and agreements. The pay wasn't much but I was young and had no expenses, it was an opportunity that most kids never got.
"You are officially an employee, part time anyway, of Craddock Fiduciary Asset Management." Ms. McGentry smiled at me. "Now follow me there is one more detail we need to finish up."
I followed her into the elevator and then out to a parking lot where she led me to a small car that appeared to be abandoned. It was a late model Honda in a faded gold color. "This is the car you will drive, but only between my house, your house, school, and work. Got it."
I nodded silently. The car was old but a treasure, I could finally stop asking for rides every time I needed to get to Polly's. I took the keys from Lisa's fingers.
"It has been sitting here awhile, we stopped needing it for courier services a while ago. I would get the maintenance done on it. Everything about it is your responsibility aside from insurance which is covered by the company, if it breaks down or if you wreck it, you fix it."
I nodded. "Ok, thank you, Lis...I mean, Ms. McGentry."
She rested a hand on my shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
* * *
I was not in any way prepared for the depth and complexity of job I chose at Lisa's office. I spent a few hours each day after school at the office and then every evening closeted in my room trying to learn how programming worked along with the specific aspects of the business. All this to complete the few tasks that Alex was using to train me. On Saturday I spent nearly eight hours in the nearly empty office and after a quick dinner with the family I was back in my room continuing to work out issues that would probably take Alex six seconds to do.
I heard the door click open and assumed it was Mom trying to deliver laundry so I was surprised by the feel of something pressing against the back of my neck. "Don't move." The scent of vanilla and roses gave away the voice despite her humorous attempts at disguise.
I lifted my hands into the air. "Don't shoot, I'm unarmed."
Polly snickered before letting her voice drop an octave. "Stand up and turn around slowly."
I did and drank in the sight of Polly. She wore a black T-shirt that was tight enough to display the outlines of her bra. It had the word 'Dance' written across it in stylized pastel lettering. She combined it with a black pair of capri leggings with a broad white waistband barely visible beneath the shirt. She combed her fingers through her hair pulling the curly red ringlets over her shoulder, a gesture that forced me to lurch toward her with an involuntary step. She raised the plastic toy gun and poked it into my chest. "Whoa there buddy, what do you think you're doing?"
"I've missed you." I said reaching out a hand toward her.
"Pfft." Polly smirked. "You have a car and not once did you come over to see me."
"I've been so busy, I did miss you."
"Doesn't matter now. I am kidnapping you."
I smiled. "Oh really, where are you taking me?"
"That's for me to know," Polly said tapping my sternum with the plastic gun.
"This is Saturday right?" I asked.
Polly nodded.
"Isn't this the night your Mom was going to teach you the ropes, so to speak? You know that cleverly designed forfeit you wrote."
"Already done." Polly smiled and reached into her pocket. "I've been here for quite a while talking to your parents. Your Mom is an awesome cook. This is a note from her."
I was surprised she had spent so much time here without coming to see me. I unfolded the scrap of paper and read,
Mom wrote:Jack,
You've been working so hard this week I think you need a break. I know you've missed Polly so just do whatever she says and I don't want to see you until tomorrow night. I've cleared it with Lisa.
Love you,
Mom
My eyes widened and Polly snatched the note from my fingers. "I especially like this part, 'just do whatever she says.' Don't you?" Polly's grin blazed in the dim light of my room.
I looked back at my computer and the code that had been interrupted halfway through a variable name. "Kidnapping me, eh?"
"Yep, so don't move."
I raised my hands in mock surrender and watched as she retrieved a bit of fabric from a purse slung over her shoulder.
"Put these on." She flicked the shiny red fabric toward me.
My fear increased in direct proportion to how near the fabric got to my body, I elected not to catch it, watching it fall to the floor after it bounced off my chest. "Polly." I said with a hint of whine in my voice. "Please..."
Polly shook her head and sat on the bed. "Put them on or I go tell your Mom that you're being uncooperative. I'm sure she would have something to say on the matter."
I played the scenario through my head, what would my Mom do? I flashed back to the amusement on her face when she found out about the green dress that still hangs in the closet. She had left it alone. A bargain was in order. "Ok, I'll put them on but you can't make me wear anything else, no dresses," I pointed toward my closet. "Nothing else girly."
Polly smiled. "I promise that if you cooperate I won't dress you in anything else girly." She recited as if testifying in a courtroom.
I thought about the words, studying them for possible loopholes and then picked up the red satin panties that had fallen to the floor. I kept my eyes on her as I lowered my cotton shorts taking my underwear off at the same time.
Polly hummed a pleased tune as she watched, her hand idly toying with the plastic gun. "Very nice."
I turned a red to match the underwear as I pulled them in place around my waist and felt the smooth material cover my bottom and waist. My body responded to the cool touch of the satiny material and I quickly jerked my shorts back up my legs. I looked at Polly and held out my hands. "Ok, I did it."
Polly took a deep breath, "I do so love seeing you squirm."
I rolled my eyes. "I've noticed. Now what?"
"Turn around and put your hands behind your back." Polly smiled withdrawing a bit of white cord from the same purse that held the underwear.
I rolled my eyes before complying. Polly wrapped cords around each of my wrists positioning my hands palm to palm. I felt a wide band of cord wrapped around my hands and no amount of twisting would provide any slack. "Stop moving, Jack. I'm not finished." More of the same rope was wrapped above my elbows as she pulled them closer together forcing my chest outward and a grunt escaped my lips. "My you aren't very flexible."
"I'm not a dancer." A small bit of discomfort in my voice.
"We'll have to work on this." She wrapped the ropes between my arms and I could feel the tension on my shoulders increase slightly.
"Ugh, go easy back there."
A set of hands slipped down the back of my shorts and began to make circles over my satin covered buttocks. "You know you like it." Her hands began to move forward following the waistband of my new underwear. I jerked as they reached the front. "You'll be ok," The hands withdrew and Polly walked toward the door. "Come on, follow me closely or I'll get a leash."
I followed her down the stairs and saw Kat waiting by the front door. "Looks like you caught him," Kat smiled. She wore her usual Saturday black leggings and a sweatshirt and was holding her cellphone in one hand.
Polly smiled. "He put up a little fight, but that's how I like him."
I turned to see Mom approach with a grin on her face, she wore a button down shirt untucked over a pair of jeans, her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. "Let me get a picture of you two."
"Mom." I whined. "No pictures."
"You hush," Mom patted me on the cheek. "Polly get in there close with him." Mom pulled out her cell phone and took a couple of pictures, one from the side to display my bound arms."
Kat stepped forward holding a small red gift bag. "Here you go, open this when you get to your house."
Polly brought her hands to the front of her mouth. "Oh how sweet. What's in it?"
"Oh, I think you'll like it." Kat looked at me with a grin that meant whatever was in that gift, I was sure to hate it.
Mom scowled. "Kat, I didn't get them anything. You’re making me look bad."
Kat shrugged. "Sorry it was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing."
"Hang on a second, I just had an idea." Mom said and darted off up the stairs.
I looked at Kat but she just shrugged. There were a few thumping sounds from upstairs and Mom returned holding her hands behind her back. "Close your eyes Jack."
"Mom, no way." I said shaking my head.
"Polly." Mom said and I felt Polly's hands slide over my eyes.
Fingers tickled my lips and I stuck my tongue out to push them away. As I did a hard round object pushed against my teeth. Before I could clamp them shut the object had forced my jaw wide. A large sphere filled my mouth. Polly released my eyes and Mom was buckling a strap behind my head where I could not see her. Kat however was holding both her hands over her mouth in a shocked posture.
Mom entered my line of sight when she finished her task. My world had just done a backflip off the high dive. Mom had stuffed a ball gag in my mouth in front of my sister and girlfriend.
Polly recovered first. "Oh wow, it's pink."
I continued to stare at Mom. The simple homemaker I had always known her to be had just grown horns, even worse she had revealed a sexual side to her existence. This was not something I wanted to know at 16 years of age. What in the world was she doing with a ball gag, and more importantly why had she done this to me?
The shock in my eyes must have been obvious. "Come now Jack, every woman has secrets."
But not my Mom. I wanted to scream but was of course unable to.
"You two run along, I have already talked to Polly’s Mom."
Polly pressed a hand into my back and I allowed myself to be led into the night. The darkness obscured the nearby houses but I still hurried to Polly's car imagining the ball in my mouth could be seen for miles like a kind of beacon. I waited by the passenger door but Polly opened the back door of her car. I hurried to get in. She buckled my seatbelt firmly pinning my arms behind me.
"That was a surprise." Polly smiled at me in the rear view mirror as she started the car.
I shook my head and felt a line of drool sliding from the corner of my mouth.