I need a new job,
he thought for the twentieth time that day. His current position reminded him of his former life in the military, namely the long periods of excruciating boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. The nature of his job as a project coordinator in this cubicle farm meant that he would work twelve hours a day for two weeks, but spend the three weeks after that inventing ways to look busy.
All in all, though, he considered himself fortunate to have such things to ponder. The pay and benefits were above average, the work when it occurred wasn't difficult, and the fringe benefits were, well, second to none. His female coworkers were the hottest he had ever seen.
He had gained a reputation as, for want of a better term, a stress reliever. Though not a trained massage therapist, he had studied enough anatomy and technique on his own to be able to actually give effective back, neck, and shoulder rubs, the kind that actually left the recipient feeling much better.
His skills had not gone unnoticed, with the office whisper network attesting to his expertise. Like most cubicle dwellers, his coworkers suffered from a variety of ills real and imagined, most having to do with extended periods of sitting in front of a computer. He didn't offer his services openly; they came to him, so he was not seen as some kind of obsessed stalker. He wasn't the best looking guy in the place, but he also wasn't an arrogant prick like most of his male coworkers. That made him popular as a friend as well.
Fringe benefits, indeed.
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"Hello, this is Tom."
"Tom, it's Debbie. Gayle wants to see you."
"About what?"
"I have no idea. You know how she is. She says 'Jump!' and we say 'How high?'"
"I'll be right there." At least he didn't have to make up reasons to look busy for a while.
Gayle was one of the myriad vice presidents of the company, charged with developing and managing the overall marketing strategies. Smart and driven, she had clawed her way to near the top by force of will and superior talent. She knew what she wanted and how to get it.
She was also pretty damn good looking for someone closer to 50 than 40, with clear blue eyes that sparkled, short blond hair that framed her angular face, and the kind of curvy, mature figure that came only with age. Full breasts filled her blouses and jackets and she dressed to accentuate her curves. He knocked on her doorframe.
"Gayle? Debbie said you wanted to see me."
"Yes, Tom. Please come in and shut the door."
Uh-oh,
he thought.
That usually means something bad is about to happen.
He did as instructed and sat in the comfortable chair in front of her desk.
"So tell me. How do you like your job?" she asked.
"Oh, it's all right," he lied.
"Don't bullshit me," she answered. "I've been watching you for a while, and I can tell you're bored stiff most of the time. When you DO have something to keep you busy, you can do it in your sleep. The job is either too easy, or you're overqualified for it."
"Well..." he began to respond.
"I'll get right to the point. I don't think Cathy is managing you like she should. She knows you could do her job better than she can, and she feels threatened. She doesn't give you enough to do because she's afraid you'll show her up."
He just stared back at her, unable to think of a suitable answer. She was right, but he had to tread carefully.
She continued. "I think I have a way to put your skills to work. Start by giving me one of your famous neck rubs, and I'll tell you about some ideas I've had."
His eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, the girls all talk, even to me. I know all about your mad skills with your hands," she said with a smile. He complied and walked around to stand behind her. "Right here," she said, indicating an area at the base of her neck and into her right shoulder. "I can never seem to get rid of that tension."
He wasn't one to just grab and start squeezing. He could see in his mind's eye how the muscles overlaid each other, and his fingers could sense where they were the tightest. He gently began kneading that area through the fabric of her silk blouse, slowly coaxing the tissues into a more relaxed state.