Stay Lady, Stay v2.01
1 This story is entirely fictional and takes place in a fictional version of Boston.
2 There is no under-age sex represented in any way. However, this is Literotica and even in a Romance story some characters do express their love in a very physical way.
3 I despise and do NOT condone racist language in real life. On the other hand, I know despicable people do use racist and other demeaning words and I have had one of the characters in the story talk in such a way as to reveal his true character. I apologize for any offense given.
Introduction
They are all around us, but hardly ever noticed! They are the wallflowers, the small people, for most they are mere shadows, the anonymous who without recognition are still essential to the functioning of society. They deliver mail, they keep the utilities running and fix our cars, and we really know nothing about them. They were not in the popular group in high school, sometimes they were bullied, almost always ignored, and yet they are living breathing human beings with lives to lead, but often, despite their human limitations. The little things of life so often wind up having a profound effect upon our human lives. The position in which we are born into the family, how we were treated at school, especially in our first few years, whether we were in the popular in-groups or did we become the target of bullies? Did we have supportive parents and teachers or those who told us we are worthless? So many little things can simply build or tear down our self-confidence. These people, in some ways social outcasts, people with low self-esteem, often lead a lonely existence. But what if....
Stay Lady, Stay
Jude was a nice little boy, but had neither outstanding attractiveness or strong intellectual gifts. An only child, He would never be a teacher's pet, or get special recognition. Many teachers would not even be aware he was a deep thinker who was very sensitive to how others treated him.
In Jude's first few years of school the teachers made a big deal out of Valentine's Day. Each child was supposed to share a valentine with each other student. Of course, some could not afford to give one to everyone else, but somehow Jude always seemed to receive the fewest in the class. He was only a kid but still it made him feel unappreciated lonely and unloved, almost like being a social outcast.
By middle school years February 14th was his least favorite school day of the year.
He arrived in high school with a far lower than average level of self-confidence, he actually had developed Valentine's Day phobia. Shy and a bit of a loner, it was hard for him to get dates, and he never had a date for the school's Valentine's Day Dances despite wanting to ask many girls. Jude simply could never work up the nerve. He was human, he had the same desires, the same yearnings as so many others, but it just seemed that the normal things of life were always denied to him.
Jude was solitary, yes, but not unaware. A deep thinker that watched and analyzed, he noticed that Valentine's Day seemed more like a girl's thing. Girls seemed to love the attention of getting cards and silly little gifts.
When he was finally able to get a few dates, he still didn't like Valentine's Day. Even as he began to have more intimate dates, he hated the fact that he felt pressure to do the 'plastic fantastic' Madison Avenue right thing for Valentine's Day, or live with the fear he would be rejected. When he gave in and bought a gift his gifts always seemed to be the wrong ones. He tried so hard to make them thoughtful and personal, but of course he never had the money to be able to give expensive jewelry or large bouquets of roses to the women whom he courted.
Many adults have their little phobias and foibles but they do not keep the person from a high level of performance at work. So it was for Jude, he was smart and driven at work. The only fly in the ointment was that he struggled with negative, demanding bosses.
At first, Jude was doing extremely well at work, but his wonderful boss took a far better job in another state and the new boss, Avery, was a negative bully who saw himself as a little god to be worshiped by those under him. Avery seemed to think encouragement was wasted and a stick worked better than a carrot, that fear was a great motivator and kindness was a waste of effort. It really took the bloom off the job for Jude. Jude further noticed that Avery was a terrible misogynist who looked down on all females as inferior beings, treating them as toys to be used and then discarded. He seemed to believe a woman's only real place of value was in the home cleaning and cooking in the kitchen...and of course servicing him in bed. Secretaries and nurses were an exception to that rule...as long as they were 'dishy'. Powerful men, as he viewed himself to be, needed to make an impression on the world. Clients should be impressed by their big offices, the sexiness of the receptionist, their secretaries' great racks or asses. It was no surprise he never had a male secretary!
Like most misogynists Avery did not think he was being sexist. To him it was a simple fact of life, men are superior and alpha males were the only men that counted. Woman's primary purpose was to serve a man's sexual needs. Men didn't have great racks or asses so women needed to be 'eye candy' receptionists and secretaries. The same with nurses. A nurse might have to professionally insert a catheter. That would mean touching Avery's junk. Avery couldn't stand the thought of a man touching his cock in any capacity. So, Avery needed women, hot women, all around him.
It is funny how one thing can be a great irritant and at the same bring some welcome relief. Avery liked to humiliate his employees. The women had to put up with what was in effect sexual harassment. As to the men under him, instead of talking directly to them, for he was far too important, he had his secretaries go give them his orders, in effect saying they were only worth a secretary's time.
The secretary for the old boss had been with him for 15 years. She lasted less than 2 months with Avery. Every new secretary had to be attractive, a real looker and it seemed that Avery demanded not modest office attire, but women with sexy clothes and make-up that had to be like perfect Barbie Dolls.
A pattern soon developed. Married women lasted a few months, singles seemed to last a bit longer. Ultimately no secretaries could stand Avery's constant sexual harassment and belittling forever. Many quit in frustration or were fired with resultant settlements. The nicest thing a person could say about Avery was that he was a huge egotistical asshole. Jude didn't blame the women at all. Jude barely dealt with Avery. He couldn't imagine dealing with the asshole all day long!
When delivering Avery's messages some of the secretaries seemed to enjoy putting the male employees down, acting superior because of their 'beauty'. However, a few were gentle, smiled nicely and tried to soften the message. It was amazing what a cheery smile and a word of encouragement from a very attractive woman would bring out in the men.
The one that made Jude feel the best was Sarah. She was cute, vivacious, and a hard worker. Not surprisingly, because she was a mother with young children, she had left after working under Avery for six months. Her last day, had been the Friday before the long 4th of July weekend. Jude had developed a little crush on her and was very sad to see her and her beautiful smile leave.
On his return from the long weekend, Jude was working at his desk. He got a phone call with a question about something from weeks ago. He opened the large bottom drawer of his desk where he kept older files until he later moved them to the file cabinet, to get the answer.
He was shocked when, near the back of the drawer, lying flat across the files was a pink envelope with red hearts.
He knew that he accessed the drawer on a daily basis and the card was not there the last day of work before the holiday. He picked it up and laid it on his desktop, found the file he needed, and returned the call providing the information requested.
The task completed he looked again at the envelope. Why would someone give him a Valentine's Day card when he hated Valentine's Day so much? Was it a cruel prank? Maybe he should just throw it in the bin unopened and save himself from the emotional pain of what seemed to be a cruel prank.
Finally, curiosity won out over fear. He studied his name written in a beautiful feminine style. Who would have sent it? And why? Carefully he opened the envelope and withdrew the card. It was obviously very expensive, something one would give to a lover, but he had no lover. Finally, with trembling fingers, he opened the card and a slip of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. The card was signed: "I will miss you! Love, Sarah!"
Then he remembered the paper falling to the floor. He reached down, picked it up, and read: "I bought this card for you last February, but then was afraid that you would not understand and might become angry with me. When I cleaned out my desk before leaving, I found it and just really wanted you to have it, since I would not be around to see if you got angry or were hurt. XXX"
He was absolutely flabbergasted. Jude had heard she was a single parent and had thought about trying to ask her out, but his shyness had caused him to procrastinate too long, and then she was gone. Further, he was full of doubts. He was forty-three and not terribly attractive. Sarah was so wonderful she deserved someone stronger, smarter, kinder, someone, who made a better living. Still, he would often think of her and imagine what it could have been like with her if they had become a couple. It would have been nice to have a caring girlfriend instead of a Tinder 'romantic hook-up.
A solitary man, Jude just wanted to do his job and be left alone. He had little to say and mostly kept to himself. He usually could not understand how other people thought and after being hurt many times he had a hard time trusting any other person. Jude was puzzled and eventually frightened by all social conventions such as inane conversation, parties, religious forums, and politics. When it was necessary to join a discussion, such as for work, he would say as little as possible until he could escape to go home.
