Whenever I was around him - my boss - I couldn't help but feel flustered and lost for words. It had been a long time since I had felt that way about someone and it made me feel like a school girl with a crush. He was handsome, in an old fashioned way, with eyes a piercing brown that seemed to look right through me. He always dressed smartly for work, pinstripe trousers and a carefully ironed shirt - ironed by his wife, that is.
He knew women found him attractive too, you could tell by the way he spoke: confidently, but always with a teasing smile. I knew it was pointless, but I couldn't help fantasising about him - if for no other reason, it passed the time in a job I had no interest in. I used to think about the effect I might have had on him too; I was aware I was quite good looking, and a lot younger than some of the other women that worked in the office. We would flirt with each other but I didn't really think it meant anything other than friendly banter - of course, I knew he was married. However, it certainly made my job more entertaining.
I'd been working as a temp for almost a year, ever since I had graduated from college. I hadn't meant to be there for that long, but somehow I had become stuck in a dead-end position that wasn't really going anywhere and I was struggling to see a way out of it. I knew I wasn't ever going to push myself to find a career I was interested in without biting the bullet and leaving my job at the office, so after giving it a lot of thought I decided to hand in my notice.
I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement as I knocked on my boss's door on the morning I'd committed myself to the decision. There was no answer straight away so I knocked again, then half-opened the door and peered around. My boss was sitting at his desk on the phone looking deep in conversation, but looked up as I came in. He stopped speaking for a moment and smiled, signalling for me to take a seat.
"I'm sorry, I'll have to call you back," he told the person he was talking to, "something just came up."
He put the phone back into the cradle and gave me a long look. "So how can I help you this morning?" he asked, sitting back in his seat and folding his arms. I hesitated for a moment suddenly feeling slightly unsure of myself, but managed to hand over the envelope containing the letter I had written the night before, explaining my reasons for leaving.
"I've decided to hand in my notice." I said, not quite meeting his eyes as he took the letter from me. "I'm sorry." I added, somehow trying to soften the blow.
He raised his eyebrows and let out a long breath. "I can't say I'm that surprised." He said, sounding disappointed. "I know this job isn't really what you want to be doing." I nodded in reply. "I'll be sorry to lose a good employee though, you have always been better than this place." I blushed slightly at the compliment and he gave me a long look. "Actually, I won't just miss you as my employee," he added, "I like being able to see you everyday."
"Well, I'll miss working here." I said, trying to bring the conversation back to safe territory. "You've been a good boss."
"I hope I have, to you." He replied, and I felt slightly uncomfortable. He was incredibly attractive, sitting here in front of me, and all I could think about was what his eyes might be searching for when they left my face and lingered on my body. I'd always liked dressing up for work, and today I was wearing sheer stockings with the fastenings just about hidden under an above-knee-length skirt. I wore a tight-fitting white blouse that just showed a little bit of cleavage and black heels. I always wore my hair down, and right now it hung in loose waves around my shoulders. If I'm being honest, I dressed up for him. I hoped to get his attention and it seemed today, perhaps I had.
He leaned forward over the desk and reached for my hand, which was resting on the surface. "You don't have to leave, you know." He said, gently stroking the back of my hand. The sensation sent shivers through my spine. I should have moved my hand away, but I didn't.
"Yes I do, you know I do." I replied, meeting his gaze. "What if, perhaps, we could come to some kind of arrangement?" He asked, looking at me in a meaningful way. "What do you mean? What kind of arrangement?" I asked, feeling a guilty spark of excitement as my mind raced through the possible meanings to his question.
He slowly traced his fingers along my arm and back down again. "What if, perhaps, you were to help me?" He proposed, with a slight grin as he carefully took my hand and pulled it towards him, "Then maybe I could help you in return?" He rested my fingers on his lips, and still I didn't pull away. He opened his lips and I could feel his breath on my fingertips as he kissed them.
"What would you do for me, exactly?" I asked, feeling slightly breathless. He put down my hand and leant back again, looking rather business like.
"What if there were a vacancy opening here soon? Something more suited to your creative talents? Perhaps I could help you... acquire the position?" He looked at me questioningly, waiting for an answer.
