It was a good day. There'd been plenty of them recently. Tea on tap, own office, big desk but best of all she'd just opened the email saying she'd had the best performing team for another month. But that she knew that already, it wasn't even close.
In the following meeting more than once she was asked "How do you do it?" more out of praise than an actual question. She'd reply the same way everytime, "Oh I just keep them in line and motivated."
She would catch his eye halfway through the sentence everytime. He knew what she meant, they both did. He had been invited to the meeting as his performance had far outstripped everyone, praise was due.
There was something off recently though, she could tell. He'd bring her tea with a hint of that swagger back, the swagger she obliterated to moment she had his balls in lace. The daily knicker checks had stopped, he always had them on. He was many things but he wasn't stupid. Even so, the slight spring in his step recently, it had slowly been returning. As the meeting adjourned everyone went to leave, her face was awash with a smug pride befitting of all the public praise she had received for 'her' hardwork. But that turned to one of confusion when she heard the boss ask HIM to stay.
Her eyes bolted to him, her jaw closer to the floor than ever before.
"You look surprised," he said as he flashed her a wink from the eye the boss couldn't see. She realised very quickly her guard had dropped. She picked up her chin and tried her best to plaster her prideful face on as she paced quicker than usual back to her office, the familiar thump of her heels hitting the carpeted floor as she went.
Why did he get called back? Why did he have that stupid look on his face? Does he know something she doesn't? It was probably just a pat on the back, maybe it was due, she'd had her share based off his graft. He can have this one, she thought. She'd give him his first trousers round ankles knicker check later, wouldn't be winking then.
She tried her best to crack on with her work but she just couldn't concentrate. It wasn't helped by the banging and drilling coming from next doors office, what the hell were they doing in there? But not before a knock rasped her door and in entered a fresh cup of tea and a familiar face.
"Sorry it's late. Meeting with the boss. You know how it is," he scrunched his face as if the meeting had been an annoyance but she knew the game he was playing.
"I'm your boss" she reminded him. He went to reply but she raised a hand just as he placed the tea on her desk.
"Pants down. You know the drill."
"Errrr, I'm gonna go ahead and say no."
She knew it. Something had been up and that meeting was not a coincidence.
"You're not wearing your knickers are you?"
"Haven't done for a while now," he said it with a resigned tone, as if he'd really wanted to but just couldn't be bothered. The swagger, the confidence, the smiles and winks. All the things that had led to him having her way with her in her office several times. They were all back with a vengeance. She felt a pulse and a throb down below, involuntarily of course. Fuck! This wasn't supposed to happen. She had a reputation and team performance to maintain.
"So what did he want with you?," if she was losing the physical battle she may as well try and level the professional playing field. She crossed her legs over as she spoke just to check. Yep. There was wetness there she hadn't had in a while. Maybe his defiance wasn't so bad after all.
"Oh nothing much. But I won't be bringing you tea anymore I'm afraid. Just won't have time." Again his tone betrayed his actual meaning. He was loving this and everything he said was drenched in faux disappointment.
"Going quiet on me?"
"Listen its been fun but I really need to get back to work." Before she could object he'd turned on his heels and was gone. Just the tea as evidence he was ever there in the first place.
She had her tea and she was slick between the legs. This wasn't all bad, right? No but something was up. It was time to investigate. She could turn on the charm offensive when she needed to, she'd get it out of someone, they all fall in line eventually. But she barely had to leave her office door before she got her answer...
"No." No. No it can't be. The office next door had been a store room for as long as she could remember. But men in suits don't leave store rooms laughing and joking. She popped her head round the door in sheer disbelief.
"Can I help you?" he said. Again exaggerating his tone, acting bewildered she was even there in the first place.
"This is a joke right?"
"Joke? No... look we don't have an appointment booked and I'm really busy getting to grips with everything," he purposely grabbed the edges of his large new desk as he said this, the same way she'd done on hers so many times before. Only when he was having her way with her of course.
"..so if you don't mind. Cheers," another wink and dismissive head nod. Another throb and pulse down below.
"Did I not get the memo? When did this happen?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe when they realised you had a one-man team and it was probably better that he get his own office and team than continue to prop yours up?"
"So, you've got your own team and office, and haven't been wearing your knickers?"
"Yes, yes and no. And they never were mine, they were yours, the box by your foot there has got them in. I'd give you a hand with them but as I said, kinda busy."
"You do realise I can still get you sacked whenever I want, right?"
"And how would you do that? By going to the boss who I'm playing golf with on Sunday? Have fun with that, I make him too much money. I'd probably have more chance getting you sacked to be honest," he posed for a moment as if stuck in thought then returned to his computer screen.
Fuck. There were issues to tackle professionally here but her brain was clouded, her judgement foggy, her cunt wet and ready. She might need a pair of those in the box after all.
"So-"
"You're still here?" she'd never been spoken to like this in her life. Her heart was racing. Her brain was telling her to object, how dare he, use her formal tone, flex her professional power muscle. But none of it would come, she was stumped.
He paused for a moment before telling her to take a seat. She didn't want to but without hesitation her heeled feet made their was gracefully to the chair opposite him. Legs crossed, she pulled down her skirt to hide her stocking tops, she swallowed in her throat. Suddenly her presentation and demeanour meant far more to her than it had recently. Must maintain superiority, she thought.
"You're not my boss. In fact we're equals now, colleagues if you will. And I think it'd be in both our professional interests to maintain a healthy working relationship. Yes?" She nodded, can't argue with that.
"Good. Although I have to say if I was you I'd be a little pissed off that the new guy got the bigger office and desk. Wouldn't you?" he was enjoying himself now. In his element.
"Size isn't everything."
"Still annoys you though doesn't it?" A hot flush shot through her. She was being put in her place, this hadn't happened for a long time and not by anyone she couldn't pull rank on if needed. That safety net was gone.
"Dont pretend you didn't like wearing my knickers."
"You're right, I should be thanking you. The motivation they gave me has landed me in here in no time at all, all thanks to you. Wearing them for half the time you thought I was is a small price to pay, don't you think?"
Again. Stumped. She let out a brief smile by accident before wiping it off. Her heart was racing. He hasn't done anything! Need to compose, she told herself.
"So look, maintaining this healthy working relationship. I don't think emails and water cooler chat are going to cut it, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well the boss said that it was obvious what your recent success has been down to. It's no secret. Spotlight is on you now. Can you keep it up without me? Or were you really just a one-man band?"
"I was doing fine before you"
"Yeah but you don't like 'fine' do you? You like praise and meetings and bonuses and big desks," he tapped his desk with a pen to emphasise his point.
"Either way, I'm playing golf with him on Sunday. It's plenty of time to get in his ear about certain things. Overperformers, underperformers, I'm his eyes and ears now essentially."
