Two of Us Together

(This is my

Literotica Summer Lovin' Story Contest 2024

entry. I love to hear what my readers have to say. Good or bad! Please rate and vote. Thank you!)

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Judy sighed and continued down the street of Antelope Hill. It was a lovely summer morning. It was a perfect day, she'd love to explore it more but she had work at Arlington's Department store. She hated working at the department store BUT it was a living! That's all she could ask for really.

Across town, Aiden Arlington was staying, for the summer at least, in a fancy apartment building ---THE apartment building of Antelope Hill and perhaps all of Wyoming. It might as well have been the Ritz!

Aiden's apartment was known throughout Wyoming and the American Midwest as a historical site. President William Howard Taft, President Calvin Coolidge--or some other important and pompous jerk, had signed an important bill there once, one this summer day none of that mattered to Judy though. She had work to get to. Same old grind, sadly taking a day off work because it was a beautiful summer day wasn't a valid excuse for missing work. It sucked but it was true! Another day, another dollar. So it goes...

Aiden smoked a cigarette and surveyed small Antelope Hill from his balcony atop the tall apartment building. Sure the summer weather was hot but it wasn't SO terrible here. At least Antelope Hill wasn't the horrendous backward place his family had said it was. The people were kind and the vast prairie was beautiful in the early summer morning. Aiden might even like it, still being sent to this remote town felt like a punishment.

Aiden's family owned Arlington's Department Store chain where Judy worked. Judy noticed Aiden up on the balcony and waved hello. Aiden waved back. It was a new custom to him. People in New York didn't wave hello. They flipped you off and called you vile names BUT no one waved hello or said good morning---that was a midwestern thing.

Judy studied Aiden as she unlocked the department store door. Aiden was fine, to say the least. Judy had always noticed him BUT she doubted he noticed her. Why would he? She was just a person. Unimportant! She was just another employee. A face in the crowd. Ignored by many, noticed by no one unless she messed up!

When Aiden first arrived that summer, rumors had spread around small Antelope Hill like wildfire. Drying out from drugs and alcohol had been suggested. But, the women of Antelope Hill had decided that Aiden was a handsome man. Aiden was there because he knocked up a woman back in a big city. Aiden was in Antelope Hill to bide his time while the pregnancy could be covered up! Neither reason was true but in a small town that didn't matter. Antelope Hill liked its salacious gossip!

As usual, Judy was the first employee into the Arlington Department store. This often happened. Judy was a prompt and good worker. So she started the coffee, even though it was summer out, the department store was chilly due to the air conditioning. Judy supposed to was a good scheme on behalf of the Arlington family---having a cool place would bring customers in during hot weather, but it was still chilly for her as an employee. It was summer but Judy often wore a jacket! She'd caught a cold more than once from the excessive air conditioning.

Judy grabbed her cup of mediocre coffee and headed to her section in Women's clothes. Judy had worked at Arligton''s Department store for five years, so she knew what she was doing. Judy was good at her job and had received several promotions and won "Employee of the Month" two times. Judy had the certificates on her wall at home. Judy didn't have much and she was proud of them! She knew she was good at her job!

Anyway, after today Judy wanted to quit and it was only 10:30. She hated it here! Some lady had just screamed at her! The lady was going to the Italian Alps with her husband for a summer vacation, she needed skis, she was going skiing and mountaineering in the Italian Alps. The woman had demanded that Judy give her skis. Judy attempted to explain that Arlington''s Department Store didn't stock things like skis in the middle of summer. The lady would have to wait two to four weeks before the items could come. Probably more since they were special order items. Honestly, who wanted skis in the summer, especially in a small town like Antelope Hill?

But, the wealthy woman accused Judy of hiding the skis and mountaineering items in the back. On and on the irate woman had screamed at Judy. In her anger, the woman shoved Judy and accused her of "ruining her summer Italian Alpine vacation due to jealousy". Thanks to the shove, Judy had hit the counter and a nasty bruise was already forming.

Yet, Judy had born it all, even the shove. She'd been polite and courteous. Judy had not told the lady to "go fuck herself" or shoved the lady back despite Judy's strong desire to beat the woman till she was black and blue.

Judy was a good worker so she'd stuck by Arlington's Department Store motto of "having a helpful smile in every aisle." She'd worn a fake smile and weathered the woman's temper tantrum and physical abuse. She'd even suggested the woman check out the summer sale section. "A helpful smile in every aisle" was how you got customers.

Judy might be feeling a bit better IF her manager Elton had stood up for her. Somehow, Elton had managed to calm the insensed woman, even though he'd said the exact things Judy had. The irate woman had eventually left, she'd glared at Judy. Judy knew the woman blamed her for the skis not being available!

Needing to calm herself down, for fear she'd run out of the store and punch the lady. Judy went to the back of the store but not to look for the items the crazy lady had demanded. Judy knew they weren't in stock! It was summer for heaven's sake! She knew the lady was going to the Italian Alps in three days but there was nothing she could do about that. Judy went in the back to smoke. Hopefully, she could calm her nerves with a cigarette. She pulled out her pack of Lucky Strikes.

"Can I bum a cigarette?" came a melodious and calming voice. To Judy's surprise, up against the wall leaned Aiden Arlington. He was drinking from a flask, it was summer but Judy knew the flask didn't have lemonade!

Aiden Arlington's amber hair floated in the warm summer breeze. It was a nice change from the freezing air conditioning inside inside. Judy started to think about pinning him against the building and making out with him. She'd love to explore and discover all the contuvers of his body.

Judy would like to feel his hardness up against her. Judy would like a lot of things. It had been too long since she'd had a man, especially as one as sexy as Aiden. Judy didn't know if she'd ever been with a man as sexy as Aiden. She'd like to get it on with Aiden but knew it was wrong to jump the boss no matter how sexy he might be. Judy never really had ideas about pinning men against the wall but if she could Aiden Arlington would be perfect!

"Sure?" said Judy, as she handed him a Lucky Strike cigarette. He wasn't going to chew her out for skipping work, was he? She eye-fucked him. Handsome as the devil and at 19 he was just a baby! Not that Judy was ancient of anything she was 25. Still, looking at Aiden she felt old, as if she'd seen and known everything. She looked at the suit, yes, the suit that he was wearing here in Antelope Hill, at 10:30 in the morning in mid-summer. Aiden looked devilishly handsome. Judy wanted to jump him more than ever and had to still herself.

Judy just stared at the suit hoping it would calm her desire. It didn't. All she could imagine was stripping him out of that suit bit by bit and exploring his naked body. Here in Antelope Hill, most men wore a suit to get married OR to be buried in. (Although, some would say it was the same thing!)

Here was the sexy Aiden Arlington in suit at 10:30 in the morning. Not just any suit either, Judy had helped with purchasing one evening. She'd seen it in Antelope Hill's purchasing catalog. This suit was silk lined with lamb's wool and imported from Scotland. It went for $40,000. That was as much as some people in Antelope Hill made in a year! All of that for one outfit, that Aiden was wearing! Judy knew the Arlinton family had money, she just didn't think they had that much money!

Aiden bummed the cigarette off the woman. He had problems. Firstly, he was very lonely. He couldn't tell people what he was here for---everything had to be done in secret. That meant shutting up and keeping to himself, even though he was lonely. Then no one in this small town spoke to him since his family owned the department store which was Antelope Hill's main employer. They didn't want to upset him!

So Aiden was an island on to himself. Aiden wouldn't and couldn't tell his business to anyone. Aiden kept his family's secrets. Rumors about why he was here had reached his ears. But, drinking---even this early in the morning calmed his nerves. Aiden took a gulp of his whiskey.

"Nice summer, day. I think it'll rain later today though. Can I have a sip of that." questioned the woman. Aiden could tell the woman was pretty but she was flustered. That probably was why she was out here drinking and smoking. He couldn't blame her!

"You work in the store?" questioned Aiden. He hadn't mingled or gotten to know the employees. Aiden knew if he made relationships it would make his herculean task all the more impossible. He'd heard the rumors about why he'd come to Antelope Hill. Aiden wished they were true! The rumors were better and less harsh than the truth. Drinking in the morning and being aloof probably helped these rumors! Gods above he needed a drink. He took another big swig of whiskey from the flask and handed it to the woman.

"Yeah, Women's Clothing," Judy said to Aiden. She hoped Aiden wasn't going to chew her out for not working. After the woman's tirade, Judy was barely holding it together. But Aiden didn't say anything. The two just shared a few peaceful moments of beautiful summer weather and drinking and smoking together. Judy and Aiden vented their pent-up emotions into the early summer morning without words.

That night, all alone and depressed, Aiden walked through Antelope Hill seeking something. He didn't know what. Answers from the Cosmos perhaps? He'd been sent here by his family, to close this department store. Yes, it had been the original Arlinton Department store--that had launched an empire, yes it had been the one his great-grandfather loved best.

But the small store in Antelope Hill Wyoming, just wasn't performing anymore. It couldn't keep up in the modern world. So it had been decided by the Arlington family, lawyers, and investment bankers that Antelope Hill's Arlington Department store needed to close. It was best for maximizing profit.

Profit and gains were all that mattered. Not the people who lived in the town and depended upon the store. Out with the past, in with the newer and supposedly better. The populace of Antelope Hill were nobodies from the perspective of Arlington Department Store's corporate management. So they could be let go.

Aiden's father had sent him, the youngest son to close the store. Aiden knew he was the sacrificial lamb. He would be the bad son, the one who forced people out of their jobs and took away their livelihood. Aiden would be the son disparaged in the press In the future, Aiden would be cast as an evil villain when he really had no choice in his destiny.

Aiden continued strolling in the warm summer weather. He supposed it was his fault really. He was the youngest son and had studied European literature in college. His oldest brother, Richard, had studied economics. As the oldest brother, Richard was going to inherit the entire Arlington empire. Naturally, Richard would need a legal strategy from the second brother, Simon, So the entire family had decided it was best for public relations reasons, which Aiden didn't understand, he would shut down the Antelope Hill store.

So Aiden had packed his bags and reluctantly gone to Antelope Hill. Still, he'd done it to help his family. He hoped in his heart that if he fired everyone, his family would finally be proud of him. Aiden hoped after he'd accomplished this task he would be on the same level as his older brothers. But, his heart told him it wasn't true.

That hot summer evening, Aiden walked and walked aimlessly without knowing where he was going. Suddenly, on a poor street called "Gasoline Alley", he heard a voice breakout singing "Moon River". It was enchanting and he was instantly enamored by whomever sang this song. Aiden looked up at the balcony of the impoverished apartment. It was the woman from this morning. The one he'd shared a drink and cigarette with. The woman singing pulled on the cords of his heart. She was his siren, his enchantress. She was calling him.

"Hello, Aiden beautiful summer evening isn't? You couldn't ask for a better summer evening or a lovier sunset," she called from the balcony. They'd spoken no words but the woman was the first person to have an honest and uninhibited conversation with him since he'd arrived in Antelope Hill. Aiden felt like he could trust her. Aiden felt like she could be a confidant and if he was lucky just maybe friend.

"Jane...right?" Aiden questioned. The attractive woman had been so kind this morning. Aiden knew she would have to be one of the people he fired and just the thought of that broke his heart. Aiden was too kind for this task. It should have never been assigned to him by his family.

"Close, it's Judy," said Judy. "Come on up...like I said it's a beautiful summer evening, tomorrow is Saturday and I have plenty of wine...also some lemonade. We can make Sangria and pretend we're in Italy...France...Spain...or wherever Sangria is from. Just somewhere away from our troubles, responsibilities and screaming clients"

Knowing he had nothing else to do but head back to his empty apartment and perhaps field a harsh business call from his father, Aiden was eager to join Judy. He too wanted to escape his troubles and responsibilities. Aiden soon found himself on her balcony with a glass of red wine mixed with lemonade. Sure it wasn't technically Sangria but it was a cold alcoholic beverage. Perfect for forgetting the world for a while. Ultimately, it was delicious and got the job done. Aiden and Judy talked of nothing and had a wonderful evening that ended all too soon. Judy was tired from her stressful day at work.

They had talked mostly of nothing but during the course of their conversation, Judy had spoken of how all of Antelope Hill relied on Arlington Department Store in one way or the other. It provided groceries, from the small convenience store, clothing, and shoes. The department store was a pivotal part of the community. Yes, it was little compared to the other Arlington Department Stores but it was a vital lifeline in small Antelope Hill and neighboring communities without it citizens would have to make a several-hour car trip to Cheyenne IF they had a car which many struggling residents, like Judy didn't.

Aiden knew without the department store, Antelope Hill and all the people in it would suffer. Aiden didn't want his family's profits to come before hardship in small Antelope Hill. So after he and Judy had finished the wine and lemonade, Aiden went back to his lonely apartment.

Aiden knew he had a job to do and his heart ached because of it. He meditated and reflected on the situation. Aiden, who'd always had a kind heart, couldn't bring it to himself to close the entire store when an entire town depended upon it. He spent a sleepless night looking through bills and tax returns of the entire Arlington Department Store chain. Aiden wasn't an accountant and he didn't have a degree in finance. Truth be told he sucked at math. But, even with his dreadful math skills, Aiden knew something was wrong with the accounts of Arlington Department Stores.

After, further study, to his amazement, Aiden discovered that accountants were skimming off the top of Antelope Hill's department store's profits. The accountants thought they'd get away with it since it was the smallest of the Arlington department stores. That was just one of Aiden's unscrupulous findings! Many other nefarious tax dodges existed in the company's books. There was more than enough money for the Antelope Hill branch to survive.

Aiden wasn't shrewd in business dealings but he had a kind heart---some would say it was his greatest asset while others would say it was his greatest downfall. His brothers were sharks but Aiden was Aiden and he cared. While he looked through papers, Aiden discovered that if they shifted some money from other stores that were doing better, they could keep the Antelope Hill branch open.

He called his father, elated to tell him the good news. He was sure that his father would be thrilled that people could keep their jobs and support their families. Aiden knew it was a win-win situation! He was proud of himself for finding the discrepancies and saving the day!

"Aiden...we already know that. Our accountants and business advisors discovered that months ago. We fired the fraudulent accountants, honestly don't you keep up on the business? I don't see how you can be so incompetent and brainless! Honestly, you got a degree in English literature. You're smart! Couldn't you have gotten a useful degree? One that furthered the Arlington name? What you found in the accounts was already known. You may live in a fairy tale world where everyone is happy and equal like in your foolish waste of time novels. But, ultimately the real world, the world of business isn't like that! We don't want win-win scenarios. We want win-win-win scenarios!

"Honestly, Aiden sometimes I can not believe your incompetence and naivety. The Arlington department stores need to make more money. We need profits, profits, profits. The business of America is business! The department store can do better SO the store will do better. Don't you care? We've got to have a greater fiscal quarter than the last fiscal quarter! WE need win-win-win scenarios!

"For heaven's sake, your inheritance and the status of our entire family is at stake. We're also taking the Arlington Department Store chain public. We're going to be on Wall Street and be on par with Sears and J.C. Penny's. We'll be known across the world, as a global brand. Now shut the fuck up, don't be a baby, quit your complaining, fire everyone, close the fucking store, and come home." said his father wearily, as if Aiden was an idiot.

Aiden knew his father was annoyed with him, possibly even mad but Aiden's father was speaking to Aiden like he always spoke it Aiden. Aiden knew it was demeaning but Aiden loved his family.

Still determined to do the right thing, Aiden tried again and again several times, pleading with his father. Aiden's protests about families keeping their jobs fell on deaf ears. His father would rather have a new Alfero Romero car than a family in Antelope Hill have a home and food to eat.

The families in Antelope Hill only wanted basic necessities. At this moment, Aiden hated...no loathed his father. Here in Antelope Hill, was the first time Aiden had truly found peace and a home for his heart.

The people were the salt of the earth and cared for one another. No one had judged him, in fact, they'd welcomed him with open arms. It was the antithesis of the emotions, Aiden received from his family.

In his despair, Aiden thought of his only friend...or at least confidant in the entire town. Judy. He wanted to do something for her before he had to fire her. Something with her. It was early in the morning and the sun was barely rising when Aiden found himself back in Judy's apartment.