On Susan Major's desk the telephone rang.
She glanced at it with a frown. That was all she needed. Didn't the world and their ape know that she was up to her eyebrows in work and with a never-ending pile of more work that stretched to the dim and distant horizon to be done? Why is there never a temp around when you need one? Hopefully, whoever it was would just go away if she ignored it.
The telephone rang again - this time it sounded more insistent as if complaining to her that "Hey, you're not the only one working here - I am too so pick me up!"
Susan sighed and ran her hand through her thick brown hair. All the other staff in the office had their heads down and noses to the grindstone judging by the click and clatter of fingers on keys. The telephone rang angrily again. Whoever was on the other end of the line just could not take a hint. Irritated, she picked it up. "Hello?" she said sharply. No one answered. All she could hear was a silent static. Maybe someone was having a joke. Playing games. If they were it wasn't bloody funny at all. "Hello?" she said again, this time more forcefully. "Is there anyone there?"
More static. Well, she was in no mood for this sort of crap. As she was about to bang the telephone down suddenly someone said "Are you a bad girl?"
Surprised, Susan froze and glanced quickly around to see if anyone was looking at her. Especially the men in the room for the voice was so very deeply masculine in tone. Nope, no one was taking the least bit notice of her. She should by rights hang up - but she didn't. She pressed the phone to her ear and muttered. "Who is this?"
More static then "Are you a really bad girl?"
She felt her mouth drop open in shock and she could feel herself blushing madly. She should definitely tell this jerk exactly where to get off then hang up - but she didn't. "If you don't tell me who you are I'm going to hang up on you and report you to the shift supervisor. This isn't funny you know."
"Are you a really, really bad girl - Susan?" said the voice.
At the mention of her name Susan felt her heart skip a beat. She twisted around in her seat holding the phone close to her ear with both hands. Click clack went the keyboards. Everything seemed normal. She turned and looked through one of the window panels each side of the door to where her boss worked. She could see his shadow through the glass. She gave herself a mental shake. "Listen you pervert. Whether I am or not a bad girl is none of your dammed business." she hissed. Why was she even contemplating getting into such a conversation with this person in the first place?
Why? Because his question had struck a chord deep within her that's why.
"So you are then Susan."
"No I am not!" she replied trying to keep her exasperation low. And failing despite her efforts. Before she could stop herself she blurted "Well, not always."
"I think you are Susan. In fact, I'd be disappointed if you weren't." said the voice. "Do you know what happens to bad girls Susan?"
Susan suddenly felt hot all over. Her heart was leaping wildly in her chest and her cheeks were flushed. Whoever it was on the other end of the line certainly knew more about her inner thoughts than was decent. He was saying all the right words in just the right order and in the right manner. She bit her lip. What does happen to girls who turn bad? Don't be a fool. She should just hang up. But she couldn't for she needed to know the answer to that question. She closed her eyes and said "No, no I don't."
"Call me Sir."
Her breath caught in her throat. He was getting closer and closer. "No I don't…Sir."
"Bad girls get spanked."
She couldn't breathe let alone take a breath. Her face felt caressed by a crimson flame and she was tingling all over. He had hit the bullseye. He had said her magic - forbidden - word. She glanced around again. No one was paying any attention to her and she could see the shadow of her boss pacing back and forth in his office. "Spanked?" she whispered. Her mouth felt dry unlike another part of her.
"Don't you think bad girls deserve to be spanked Susan?"
"I…I guess so."
"Do you know what I think Susan?"
Susan licked her lips. "What?"