There was a knock at the door. Margot peered up from behind her half rim reading glasses to discern who was interrupting her thoughts. Standing at the door was Lizette, Brad Jones' assistant, waiting for permission to enter. Margot waved her in. Lizette approached, a handful of reports and folders in hand and set them in the in-box on the corner of Margot's desk.
Margot was Jones' superior and that made Lizette one of her team members. Lizette had puzzled Margot ever since the young woman was hired. She was out of college but a year or two, dressed very professionally and was friendly with everyone in the office. In fact everyone on the team was that way with each other, regardless of their office, everyone except Lizette when she was alone with Margot. Around Margot she was different- quiet and nervous. Margot was an accomplished manager, well educated at the best of ivy league schools but not stuffy and elitist. She had molded a cohesive, relaxed and productive team. It gnawed at her that Lizette was always so formal in her presence and she did not like the unexplained tension between the two.
"Lizette, sit down for a moment. I know you are very busy, but we need to talk," Margot started a pleasant smile on her face. The young woman sat down in the chair before Margot's desk, placing clasped hands in her lap as she looked down at the floor. Margot leaned herself against the edge of the desk as she looked down at Lizette and contemplated the early twenty something while summoning just the right words. Lizette waited in silence for Margot to address her.
"I've noticed that you are a very hard worker, very dedicated and attuned to my department's needs and goals. I like that trait and you should know I truly appreciate your efforts and attitude. As I am sure you have noticed, our team is very cohesive and we all can speak openly without fear of repercussion or judgment. That is just how we operate- it is my professional philosophy. Now, I need to know something.... you are very formal with me... I want to make sure we have a good working relationship. You are on my team and I need to know that you understand that I am approachable. This is an open and dynamic office. Do you fear me for some reason? Have I offended you?"
Lizette continued staring down, "No, nothing at all.... I just have respect for you," she honestly replied.
Margot stood in silence thinking of her next words and then started, "Well I appreciate your respect but you should know that you can relax in my presence and still be respectful.... I do not bite," she quipped trying to make a joke.
While waiting for Lizette to respond, Margot noticed how Lizette seemed to fixate on Margot's high heeled shoes, occasionally glimpsing at her stocking clad legs. Then she remembered how she often caught Lizette distantly trailing behind her in the hallway and how she had thought it unusual that it happened with such frequency, how they happened to 'bump' into each other at odd times. Then Margot gained understanding. She walked to the office door, closed it and resumed her place before Lizette.
"Lizette, do you like them?"
"Like what?" Lizette replied.
"You know what I mean... we both know...." Margot said giving the young woman an opening.
Lizette carefully knelt before Margot and gently ran a finger across the cream colored shoe adorning her forty something married boss. Margot looked down at Lizette and observed her features- skinny medium height and build, rounded hips, small upturned nose, thin eyebrows, seductive eyes and ruby red lips.
Lizette leaned forward and kissed the toe of the shoe. Noting Margot did not object, she laid a worshiping kiss on the stocking covered top of Margot's foot. Cautiously she moved to her ankle, up the shin, the side of the calf- it was all intoxicating for the young woman. As she got to Margot's knee she placed her hands just under the Margot's skirt and began to lift it with the most devious of intentions. She did not hear Margot tell her to stop until she was tapped on the shoulder.
"You need to stop. This is going to go on all too long... people will wonder," Margot stated. Lizette was disappointed but did as she was told, sat in the chair, hands back in her lap, head down waiting to be addressed. Margot placed a slip of paper in the young woman's hand, "Be there at 6:00 p.m. sharp."
Lizette got up and left, a new found powerful stride to her gait. Margot watched as the young woman departed her office and thought to herself that Lizette did not know what she had just bought into.
************ Margot sat in an over sized arm chair sipping a cold martini ignoring the kneeling silent Lizette at her feet. She took note of the late afternoon setting spring sun as it peered through the sheer cream drapes and warmed the room.
Lizette knelt and waited for Margot to address her. She was impressed by the fine decor of the house, its formality and how well it was kept. Everything was in its place, not a speck of dust to be seen.