"Kate?... Kate?"
I look up from my computer to see Mark leaning over the top of my cubicle. His hair is a mess and there are bags under his eyes. He looks as shit as I feel.
"Sorry," I mutter, tearing my eyes of the blurry spreadsheet in front of me. "Miles away."
"Thank god it's Friday, eh?" he replies sympathetically as I take the papers he hands me.
I smile wearily in response, dumping the papers on my somehow still teetering pile of work. I used to love my job but ever since Jack fucked up and lost us one of our major accounts it's been a nightmare. He lost his job and the rest of us were forced to pick up the slack and his list of remaining clients. I'm starting to wonder if he was the lucky one after all...
I spend another few hours staring at my screen, fingers flying over my keyboard as I send out invoices and reports, my brain slowly turning to mush. Eventually I can stand it no more and decide I've earned a coffee. I roll myself back on my chair and stand, tugging the hem of my tight fitting pencil skirt down where it had bunched up. I walk across the office to the kitchen area, finding some satisfaction in my awareness of the eyes that glance up from their computers and follow me as I pass.
As I went for the machine to heat up I take a moment to check my phone and feel an uncomfortable knot form in my stomach as I see I have a text from Meg. It's been a week since we went to the club together and ended up messing around at hers. It wasn't the first time we'd done it, but I hadn't heard from her since then and my nerves were getting the better of me. I brace myself and open her text.
Are we good? xxxx
I relax slightly as I type my reply - Yes xx
As usual, her reply comes instantly.
Good. Up for another night out? xxxx
Instinctively I want to say no. I'm still shaken over what happened at the club last week with Sam but then I glance over at my desk and the mountain of work I still have to get through and think that maybe a chance to let my hair down wouldn't be so bad.
Sure! xx - I reply.
Great! Some of us are meeting at mine first. You can come straight here after work! xxxx
I sigh as I read Meg's text. Had I known her other friends were coming I might not have been so eager to go. They weren't bad people, they were just a lot to deal with sometimes. Meg came from a very wealthy family and whilst she did a great job hiding that fact, her rich friends weren't so discreet. I'm not exactly hard up or anything but even so, sometimes I can't help but feel a bit out of place amongst them.
I don't have anything to wear! xx - I protest in response to her text.
You can borrow something from me! xxxx - She replies, before adding - Keep your hands off my butt plug though!! xxxx
I snort into my coffee, quickly ducking my head down as several people glance up from their desks in confusion. She was of course referring to my decision to wear my plug out clubbing last week. She'd teased me a little about it when we'd been fooling around but had known she wasn't going to let me get away with it that easily.
I promise I'll be on my best behaviour xx - I text back.
I hope not! See you later best bitch xxxx
I smile as I send her some kisses in return and stroll back to my desk with my coffee. Despite the un-dented pile of work beside me I feel more energised than before, nerves and excitement fuelling me with the adrenaline I need to get through the afternoon, and by the time six o'clock comes I finally feel like I've made some progress.
I rise from my desk, sliding my stuff into my bag and pulling my blazer on over my shirt. There's a sudden buzz in the office as everyone hurries to leave before management can find a reason to make us stay. I catch Mark lingering by his desk and smile at him as I catch him up and we fall into step and squeeze our way into the packed elevator together.
"Big plans for the weekend?" he asks amidst the chatter of our other colleagues. He's quite bit taller than me and his smile is awkward as he tries not to stare down my cleavage.
I shrug as best I can in the cramped box. "My friend wants me to come out with her tonight," I reply. "I'm half regretting saying yes!"
He laughs and I can tell he wants to ask me something else. I know he's had a crush on me since I started at the firm but he's never asked me out. He's not my usual type; a bit goofy and wider in the middle than I would normally like but he does make laugh and that counts for a lot. If he ever plucks up the courage I might say yes.
We bundle out of the elevator and into the street, calling goodbyes to each other as we go our separate ways. I walk the two blocks to the nearest subway station and manage to squeeze into the packed train just before the doors slide shut. It's only a couple of stops to Meg's building and I'm glad of it. The train is hot and noisy. Two people are arguing loudly, oblivious to the nearby commuters doing their best not to get involved and someone nearby has got horrific B.O. As soon as the doors hiss open I'm out of there, my heels clicking loudly on the concrete floor as I march through the station and up the steps into the cool evening air.
Meg's building is directly across the street from the station. It's modern and stylish, much like she is, and there's someone waiting to open the door for me as I approach. I take the elevator all the way up to the twentieth floor, unconsciously tapping my foot to the jingle playing through the speakers. The doors eventually open onto a long corridor with white panelled walls and tasteful art hanging from the walls. When we're out its often easy for me to forget how wealthy Meg is but there's no chance of that happening here. The building feels more like a five star hotel than an apartment building.
I stop in front of the mirror opposite the elevator, taking a moment to adjust my hair and blouse, knowing Meg's friends will notice if anything is out of place, before striding down the corridor to knock on her door. I can hear music playing inside the apartment but Meg answers almost immediately, her face lighting up as she sets her eyes on me.
"No wonder no one does any work at that place of yours!" she exclaims.
"What?" I reply, instinctively reaching to tidy my hair. I can see her friends behind her, about seven or eight of them in total, all glammed up and ready for the night out.
"You!" she says with a grin as she throws her arms around me. "You look fucking hot!"
I feel my cheeks colour slightly at the compliment but don't deny it. Office attire suits me, from the glossy black tights and black pencil skirt that hugs my ass to the white blouse that barely contains by boobs. Throw in my long blonde hair and you've got the quintessential secretary look that every man fantasies over.
She leads me into her into her apartment, which frankly makes mine look like a dump. The windows are floor to ceiling glass, looking out over the park below. The open plan kitchen/living space is full of top of the range appliances and the furniture is both expensive and tasteful. I smile as she introduces her friends, some of whom I've met before, others I don't remember. They're all typically beautiful, white teeth flashing over Armani suits and Prada heels. They are all nice enough but I can tell none of them are that interested in me.
"Let's get you a drink!" Meg announces, steering me towards the kitchen.
I follow her gratefully out of the sitting area, dropping my bag on the island as she pours me a glass of wine. Her brunette hair has a slight curl to it that suits her and she's wearing a black, strapless dress that hugs the curves of her body and sparkles under the kitchen lights.
"Whats the occasion?" I ask, jerking my chin at the others in the other room.
"Oh nothing really," she said with a shrug. "You no what they're like. Last minute and everything... I just couldn't face it alone."
I smirk as I take a great gulp of my wine. "And you thought I was the best person to call?"
