Monday was a holiday and I had been doing more than a little celebrating of my good luck over the weekend so, as usual, I was late for work on Tuesday.
Right away my boss started in, "Blah, Blah, Blah... You need to be more responsible for your actions... Blah, Blah, Blah... This is a business and we have scheduled commitments... Blah, Blah, Blah... There are lots of people who would love to have your job... Blah, Blah, Blah..."
There was a lot of other shit too. It ended up by me telling him to go fuck himself before I stormed out of his office; slamming the door so hard I shattered the glass. I thought I controlled myself pretty well because, although I was tempted, I didn't knock him on his ass.
After lunch and three martinis, I cooled down a little and went back to the office. I found the contents of my desk in a big cardboard box entrusted to the security guard in the lobby along with an envelop containing a check for unused vacation and sick time, two weeks pay in lieu of notice and 3 months severance pay. It was all very neat and in accordance with company policy when they fire your ass. There was also a note telling me that I was not welcome in the building and that I should contact the human resources department by telephone about what to do with my 401k account.
Well, screw them. I had my own resources and, as an electrical engineer with an advanced degreed, I could get a job almost anywhere if I needed it. It was well after midnight when I left my favorite watering hole and staggered home to bed.
It was almost noon the next day when I awoke with a pounding headache and a raging hard on. On my way to the bathroom, I noticed that my alarm clock/radio was on the floor by the far wall, hopelessly smashed to pieces. There was a substantial gouge in the plaster just above it. I wondered how that happened? I was think it was OK when I went to bed last night.
I was just stepping out of the shower and beginning to care whether I lived or died when the phone rang.
"Huh?"
"Mr. Rodgers?"
"Oh God, I think so, yeah I am pretty sure it is."
"This is Shelly, Shelly Manilli from human resources. Do you remember me?"
Boy did I remember her, Rachel Manilli or Shelly Manilli, as she was known in the office. Every single man (and many of the married ones) lusted after her and her unspoken promise of ecstasy. She was tall, with hair so black that it had blue flashes in the right light, almost like a raven. Her Italian heritage had given her big breasts fading down to a small waist, swelling out to sensual hips and beautiful, shapely legs that went all the way from her ass to the floor. Probably her most outstanding feature was the whiteness of her skin and the contrast between it and her dark eyes and naturally red lips.
"Hi Shelly, sure I remember you. Didn't I ask you for a date a couple of weeks ago?"
"Yes, I'm sorry I had to turn you down but you know the company policy about dating co-workers."
"Yeah, sure. What can I do for you?"
"I was calling about your 401k. What do you want to do with it?"
My erection had begun to subside but her sultry voice was not being kind to it, especially standing there in the nude, dripping water on the carpet.
"I'll have to talk to my broker and get back to you."
She sounded a little disappointed when she whispered, "Oh, OK thanks."
"Er... Shelly? Since Scott and Associates no longer employ me, what about dinner some time?'
There was a twinkle with a world of promise in her voice when she answered. "Why, I think I would like that, Mr. Rodgers."
"Call me Jim. I have to go out of town later today on some personal business and I wont be back until late tomorrow, how about Friday?"
"Sure."
She gave me her address and I arranged to pick her up at 7PM Friday.
Two minutes later the phone rang again.
"Yeah?"