The next six days felt quite normal for Jennifer. Her work days flew by, with one less major project to worry about. She could tell Eric was going to be a benefit to her office life. More time for herself. She had gone to the gym more this week. She had more time with friends. And both her dates with new men ended with bed-breakingly hot sex. I mean, she literally broke her bed frame, or well Jason did. "Worth it", she thought, nibbling at her lip.
Tuesday rolled around. That idle weekday, stale and trite. No one likes Tuesday. And yet, mid-morning, she was going through the motions of her tasks for the day when a notification popped on-screen:
"Eric: Hello Jennifer, as I recall I owe you another coffee today. Something to the effect of teaching you to avoid future mishaps? :coffee-emoji:"
The date had completely escaped her mind. His giddy tone was entertaining, and she knew having a high-ranking admirer at her beck and call was an asset. Her fingers hovered over the keys pondering her reply.
"Jennifer: Hello there. Admittedly, I had forgotten about you Eric, butI can still meet today. Send me a weekly reminder going forward. That way, I can remember your standing offer to me. See you soon."
To the letter, she chose each word precisely. Her subtle venom. The imperative instruction. Signaling to her all-too-obvious admirer that he was an afterthought at best. Before she had even sent her reply, his name appeared in the window bottom: "Eric is typing..."
"Eric: Yes, good idea. Sent, thank you for the suggestion." His eager was palpable to her.
"Jennifer: Actually, I have some work to get done as it happens. I'd need more time. The walk to the shop, the line, sitting to drink our coffees. Not sure it fits today, Eric." she knew exactly what she was doing. She had finished the day's work before 11am. On cue, Eric fervently typed back.
"Eric: I have an idea. What if instead of going to the coffee shop, I got them for us to have quickly in my office? On me, of course." she smiled, knowing his offer was coming before it arrived.
"Jennifer: I can make that work. Tell me once you have them and you are back in your office. Then, I will let you know when to come down the elevator to get me, since your floor has restricted access." she enjoyed testing his protocols, to see how far he would go.
"Eric: I have a better idea. I can put in an immediate request with IT to increase your key card access. How does that sound to you?" She was delighted at his initiative.
"Jennifer: Even better. Let me know once you have." she sensed how he would reply.
"Eric: Sent. Whenever you are ready, give me 15 minutes heads up and your small ceremonial matcha latte with almond milk will be waiting for you."
She leaned back in her chair, bathing in how malleable her new VP-level errand boy was quickly becoming. She felt emboldened to push even further.
"Jennifer: I'll give you 10, likely around 1pm." she answered.
"Eric: Great! See you then, Jennifer. Thanks." she had noticed how often he was quick to thank her in those moments where, if anything, she should be thanking him. Yet another little delight.
It was now 1:13pm, and she realized her estimated hour had passed. She had been chatting with colleagues and didn't bother to set an alarm or reminder. She pulled out her phone to message Eric, "Jennifer: 10 minutes, starting now. :winky-tongue-emoji:"
"Eric: If I'm being totally honest, I've been standing inside the coffee shop waiting for your green light. I will be back in my office in 10 mins. Talk soon." His brazen admission told her all that she needed to know. In Eric, she had a new lap dog, and she was fine with that. His harmless fawning was useful, and he was beyond respectful of her boundaries so far.
She leisurely made her way up to his office, the elevator no longer an obstacle. The fact that she could wander anywhere in the entire building made her pussy tingle just a bit. She liked using Eric to further her own power and reach. What else could he unlock for her?
Again, one single firm knock. This time, the door opened immediately. Eric stood there with a puppy-like glee.
"Come in, hot matcha awaits."
She sat down, again letting his words dangle without a response for just long enough to show him that she was steering every aspect of their conversation. Satisfied with his patience at surrendering that tempo to her command, she moved to speak.
"I love that you mind every detail, Eric. Never lose that." she mused.
"Thank you Jennifer, I won't. I am grateful you noticed." he said, almost triumphantly.
"So, as I said when we left each other last week. Tell me more about you." her tone was almost that of a therapist to a patient, rather than one between colleagues. Still, his face showed a willingness to accept whatever tone she used.
"Oh, okay. So you don't want to cover any of the specifics--" he began.
She employed that ever regular tactic of hers. She caught him off, deftly. More and more, she saw his own reflex to curtail his words as he saw her move to speak, interrupting himself in a way.
"No. I like that you take care of it. You do it well, and that gives us more time to get to know each other. I want to know more about you. Enigmatic as you are, such a young male having risen through the ranks so quickly. Tall, slender, handsome in your cute winsome way. I want to know Eric. So, share." As with her messages to him, in-person her words were just as measured.
He felt lost at where to start, "I mean, I don't know. I guess it's a little talent, a lot of hard work, and making work my top priority."
