"Damn it," I cursed to myself, "where the hell is December?"
Sitting in my cramped office, I checked through my email folders looking in vain for the wretched December reports which I was supposed to give the client that afternoon. I had, apparently foolishly, entrusted the reports to my new office temp. Now, not only could I not find the reports, I couldn't find my temp either. Of course, I thought bitterly, she was only two hours late, which was about normal for her on a Monday morning. I was starting to think she wasn't going to work out.
"Bloody hell, fucking, shit, god damn it!" I cursed again, wondering how many times I was going to check the same folders before I gave up.
The sound of a door closing drew my attention from my fruitless search. Leaning forward, I could just see out of my door into the reception area of my tiny office.
Portia, my temp, had just arrived and was leaning over to turn on her computer. So, my first sight of her today was of her long, cocoa colored legs, accentuated by her high heels. Her mini-skirt, under which she was plainly wearing either a thong or nothing, had risen up and I could clearly see the sweet curves of her ass. Unfortunately for Portia, the peek which usually led me to forgive her tardiness wasn't enough to make me forget about the damn reports.
"Portia," I barked, "could you come in here please?"
Portia jumped a little. With a hasty show of straightening her skirt and grabbing a notepad from her desk, she swayed into my office. I gave her an unashamedly appraising look as she did.
Portia was a pretty young woman with smooth dark skin that seemed to glow warmly. Cornrow braids pulled her hair back from a round face with big, brown eyes and full dark lips. In addition to short skirts, she habitually wore low cut blouses which showed off her full breasts wonderfully.
I felt a little lust mingling with my anger. It was a heady combination and I felt oddly blurred. Probably a result of all the blood rushing downward. I took a deep breath and tried to sound calm.
"Portia," I said, "I'm having trouble finding the December reports you sent me. Can you remember exactly when you finished those?"
Portia looked suddenly flustered. "Which reports where those, Mr. Manchester?"
Having only had my own business for a few months, I rather liked when Portia called me Mr. Manchester. It was usually flattering. Today, it just annoyed me.
"The December reports that I asked you to do two weeks ago," I said, trying not to growl. "The ones I need to present to the clients this afternoon. The ones you assured me you would have finished and emailed to me in time. Where are they?"
"Ooooh." Portia looked suddenly appalled. "Oh, I... I didn't... I mean..."
I just waited, fixing her with a stern look and refusing to give her any way out.
"I..." Portia's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "I haven't finished them yet."
"Email me what you've done do far," I said coldly, "and then clean out your desk."
"My... my desk?" Portia stammered.
"Yes," I growled, "you can go."