Mark was still processing his trip to the bathroom as he slowly walked back towards the conference room. This time, his slow pace permitted anyone to interrupt him. George, an engineer on his team, had heard a rumor that his project was going to be canceled. Mark's mind was still in the bathroom, finger fucking himself, and he was trying to refocus on the meeting. He tried to focus on his engineer's concerns, and all he could say was not to worry. Mark didn't even hear the engineer going on about the changes the marketing team wanted to make, and abruptly cut off the conversation. "Look, George, I need to get back to the project status meeting. Just calm down and relax, okay? I'll find out what's going on, but for now just focus on what you can control, not what you can't!"
And then, Mark just walked away!
His engineer stood there, stunned and motionless. He had never before seen Mark react with such a lack of empathy, and he didn't know what to make of it. One of his peers who had overheard the conversation walked up to George, watching Mark walk away. "What's up with him?" Both stood, shaking their heads before heading back to their cubicles.
As Mark headed back to the meeting, he grappled with the question his CEO had asked. The same issue seemed to come up with almost every project: We need to add more features to the project now, or we won't achieve some sales opportunity, or we won't satisfy some customer requiring something. Mark had been doing product development for fifteen years now. The methods, technologies, and tools had changed dramatically. Product development cycles had shrunk, and the productivity level of engineering groups had improved at least five-fold. When he started, it was common for a product company to release significant updates about every eighteen months and minor updates every six months. Now they released three to four revised versions of each product a year. But despite the schedule, there were still constant attempts to add more features to projects underway.
Well, some things never change, Mark thought. Always questions about adding resources he had to counter, having his team work increasingly longer hours, or even at times accused of padding the schedules. Even though he had 100% support from other executives and board members, these constant time-wasting, emotional conversations felt old, and he noticed himself having less patience than in the past. His life had become 100% about his company, working 70-80 hours a week at the office, traveling regularly, and even coding at times to keep projects on track. It had taken a toll on his personal life, and meeting Sheri had reinforced it. He knew he'd need to be available for her if he wanted to have anything more than a casual relationship.
As he entered the conference room, he found an animated discussion going on regarding the supposed need to add five new features to an algorithm for compressing HD video streams. The debate continued for longer than usual. Mark's scattered mind had trouble regaining its focus. He knew the VP of Sales and his CEO had to leave soon to make a presentation at a local media company, so rather than trying to short-circuit the lumbering discussion, he let the scheduling issue terminate it.
Sure enough, the meeting ended with the discussion unresolved, and Mark went back to his cubicle, checking the time. Noon. Time for lunch. He decided to eat by himself today. Most Fridays, he ordered lunch in for his team and they ate together, but not today. He ordered in for them as usual but left them alone so he could contemplate Sheri and his submission. He noticed his ass felt a little sore, not too sore, but the slight pain made him hard, thinking about what had happened. He went across the street to a salad place to pick up lunch. He then walked down the Embarcadero to people-watch and contemplate the weekend ahead.
It was a sunny and warm day in San Francisco. The walkway along the bay was full of people eating lunch, tourists walking, skaters, people jogging, and all the other activities sunny, warm days generate in San Francisco. He watched a beautiful woman step towards him. She walked with the sun at her back causing an effect like a silhouette to occur as she neared him. He smiled at her as she passed, and she smiled back.
Sitting and watching, eating his salad, he started thinking about the little box. Last night he had scanned bondage and adult toy sites, trying to figure out what was inside. He thought it had to be some sort of gag, or collar, something smallish. A blindfold? He started to become obsessed with the box. Sheri knew making him wait reinforced her dominance over him and caused him to think of her often. As the day moved along, he kept wondering about the box and wanting to open it, but he didn't want to do anything to displease her. Rewards, not punishments, he kept thinking.
He started to head back to the office. It was 1:30 pm. He did not expect to hear anything from her until 5 pm. As he walked along Market Street, he felt his phone vibrate. When he looked at the message, he stopped and smiled.
"Hi, Handsome. I have another task for you to do before you get to my place tonight. Is now a good time for me to explain it to you?"
Mark stopped and leaning up against the side of a building. "Yes, I am on Market Street heading back to the office. I have time, Goddess."
"Good boy. You are such an attentive boy. I have a package I need you to pick up for me. You are on Market Street? Are you near Second Street?"
"Yes, Goddess. Next block."
"Perfect, my toy. There is a store on 2nd street between Market and Mission called Pleasure Emporium. I have placed an order that you need to pick up and bring tonight. Go in and tell them you are here to pick up something for Mistress Sheri. Do not open it or look inside. I will know if you do. You must pay with cash. They do not accept credit cards. Ask for Sara. She is expecting you."
Mark knew about the store, though he had never visited it. He had seen reviews online and knew it was a controversial establishment that was popular with BDSM players. "Yes, got it, Goddess. I will pick it up now."
