There wasn't much she could do. The computer just froze and then died, without as much as a warning. She watched with the horror her screen going dark and in the sudden silence she heard her boss's voice right behind her back.
"Oh shit."
She almost burst into tears. Her first week in this major high security government office, the precarious little steps she took so carefully every day, and now this stupid disaster. Angrily, she dug her pointy fingernails into the keyboard.
"Don't worry, Lyn." Her boss leaned over to click the switch on the UPS. "We had a problem with this machine before. You did your backup last night, didn't you?"
"Backup?"
"They didn't tell you to back up your files every night? Didn't you have a computer training scheduled when you started?"
Lyn shook her head. "It was rescheduled for tomorrow."
Her boss drew a sharp breath. The gray tired eyes under the silver hair closed for a second.
"Tomorrow you'll learn all correct procedures. Don't worry now. The computer guy will show you all you need to know."
Lyn nodded, still a bit in shock. The computer crashed in the moment she was trying to open a file on the network, a file she had no business of opening. She was hoping now the computer guy would not able to track back her activity.
And everything went so well so far, she was thinking the next day on her way to work. Her Agency got her this job in no time. She passed the security check, her references were checked, her skills evaluated. The fact that she was recommended by one of the top government officials did not hurt either. The job was a routine database work, nothing to worry about, but she was aware that it would take a little time to gather the information she was after and to get to know the people.
She looked at them as she entered the hall divided by partitions low enough to allow the air and light from huge windows dance through the space. People looked somehow pre-fabricated, almost all men in white shirts and subdued ties. Women, on the other hand, preferred bright primary colors for their shapeless suits and blouses, skirts covering the knees above medium heel pumps. Lyn sighed when she looked at her own slender legs under way too long skirt. Fortunately, it was narrow enough not to make her feel unbearably frumpy.
A young man was standing at her desk, frowning at a tiny computer in his hands. He looked up when she approached and Lyn was instantly intrigued by his dark shiny eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses. His appearance was distinctly non-institutional. He was wearing a black t-shirt and looked like he did not shave for two days.
"I'm Javier," he said as she shook his cold dry hand. He looked about eighteen when he smiled but his voice was serious and self-assured.
He chatted with her a bit while sitting at her chair, a brand new computer already up and running. His English was excellent even with his accent, but curiously polite, almost old-fashioned. Not for a moment his eyes left the screen as he typed on the keyboard with a horrifying speed.
"So how you like it here so far?"
Out of the habit she wrinkled her nose a little and shrugged.
"It's a job."
"Not too much fun, is it."
"More like the longest eight hours of the entire day."
This always worked. Nothing brings people close faster than mutual complaining, instant little bonding over discontent. People relax, tend to talk, feel you are on their side. But Javier did not say anything. She realized he came from outside, that he is not one of her coworkers, trapped and slowly crushed by the office routine.
"Now," he said. "Pull another chair here and I'll show you the backup procedures."
"Where are you from," she asked when she sat down next to him, so close she could detect a faint clean scent of his skin. For an instant second she wanted to rub her face against his sleeve and purr like a cat.
"Venezuela," he replied shortly and handed her a yellow pad. "You might want to take some notes."
The next half hour was rather hectic. She was used to concentrate absolutely, absorbing the most in the shortest period of time. This time, however, something was distracting her a bit, perhaps his physical closeness or his beautiful hands with slender fingers. It's been long time ago since she'd felt that way. Her Agency did not encourage its employees to indulge in unplanned personal relationships.
He looked up suddenly and caught her watching him. Lyn rose, smoothing her skirt on the hips, and felt his eyes sliding up and down her body. It was almost as if he was running his hands up and down her body.
"What exactly were you doing when your computer crashed?" he asked casually. Lyn held her breath for a moment. It was enough for him to shoot another boyish smile right into her eyes.
"Curious young lady you are, aren't you." He already turned back to the screen, adding the last touches before her network connection was re-established.
"Here you go."
Lyn was still standing silently behind his chair when he got up to leave.
"I didn't get your last name, Javier," she said quietly. He was gathering his CDs and notes from her desk and did not reply.
"I'll be back," he said over his shoulder.
That evening she met with Bruce from the Agency. The management did not believe in technology - all essential matters were reported in person, sometimes split between two or three messengers. To become a messenger was one of the highest jobs at the Agency. No notes, no recording, never get caught. If that happened, there was just one way out.
"Met a guy today, MIS or something, does all the computer work. Javier form Venezuela." They were sitting in a dark bar, holding hands, kissing occasionally. She had never met Bruce before. He leaned over now and kissed her with his fingers buried in her blond hair, sticking a tip of his tongue to her mouth. She felt she was getting wet automatically, against her better judgment. It's been too long.
"We'll check on it," he whispered with a smile, nuzzling her neck. But when she looked in his face, his eyes were cold, wary, alert. She stole a glance at his crotch. No reaction there, from what she could tell. Nonetheless, her nipples hardened under the silk blouse and she was wondering if Bruce noticed.
She still felt warmth between her thighs when she finally got home. Slowly, she undressed in front of the mirror, thinking of Javier's eyes stroking her body. Her nipples, now almost painfully sensitive, hardened even more when she released them from her bra. Would he like the look of her? She drew a finger between her moist pussy lips and suddenly she could feel his hands following her own like an echo of her thoughts. This was no time for toys and games. She sat on the edge of the bed with legs slightly apart and closed her yes. Were those hers or his fingers stroking her clit, entering her, first gently and carefully, then in earnest, in fast, rhythmical motions?
Her juices were flowing, thick and creamy, and she could not resist bringing a drenched finger to her mouth and lick off that slick fragrant moisture before sticking it back deep inside her pussy, then another one, then yet another. She spread her legs wider to let him watch her, and just the touch of the cool air on her hot swollen clit made her come in an explosive, shattering climax, with all her body arched towards her invisible lover. She saw his face as she bit her lips not to cry out his name, she saw his eyes watching her with a hungry smile, she felt his hands on her breasts and she collapsed, exhausted and covered with sweat, on her empty bed.
"That guy you mentioned..." Bruce was leaning against her car on the parking lot. It was the next day, after five, and not dark enough. Her coworkers, passing by, had a chance to appraise Bruce's expensive coat and dark suit. He was holding her close and whispered into her hair with perfectly unnatural smile.
"All his info's perfect. Way too perfect. The old and new ID picture scan isn't a perfect match, though. Agency advises you to be extremely careful and proceed as fast as you can. Don't talk to him more than it's necessary. And try to get out of there soon."
Lyn nodded. She did not report her mishap from the previous day. It was her experience that both she and the Agency could function much better if they left each other alone. She did what was planned and what she was paid for. There was no safe wall behind her back, no one to call for help, no one to trust.
It was really just pure luck that at the end of the week she was asked to take over the duties of someone who left for vacation. At that point, she already knew where to look for what she needed to find. She congratulated herself on listening to Javier's explanation of security measures - it was much easier now to find her way around the network without getting into trouble. In addition, she had a chance to look through some papers her absent coworker left behind. By Wednesday of the following week, her mission was nearly accomplished.