Heartbrea and Hope

My apologies to those who have read chapters 1 to 5 and then the long pause. When I first started writing this series, I had no idea that the longer the story is, the time involved goes up exponentially, even with dividing things up into chapters. A twenty thousand word story is not two times as hard than a ten thousand word story, it is four times harder. Add in creating a whole fictitious island chain big enough I had to start making maps and have a template of the people and important facts to keep track of my plot.

Then add in writer's block. Yes, I got stuck. I had a beginning and had the last chapter outlined very early, but the middle was and is a challenge. The pace does pick up quite a bit in these later chapters so no, each chapter will no longer be a single day or weekend and I do not plan anything close to 104 chapters for the two years covered in this story.

Upcoming are chapters 6, 7, and 8, completed which will be released a week or two apart depending upon how long they take from submission to publish. Chapter 9 is now mostly complete. If you click on my name and select 'about', you will see what I am currently working on and how complete the story is.

CIS = Cornwall Islands Social. The social media app of the Cornwall Islands that has functions of Facebook, Twitter, Google Shopping, and Outlook combined.

My universe, my rules. I am aware the practices in my story do not happen in real life including the social scenes regarding sports. Yes, I know I don't know crap about The Premier League. The culture in The Cornwall Islands is 30% US, 40% UK, 5% other European and 25% my warped little brain.

Brownie points = the concept of emotional bank account. Look it up if you care.

In the US is a fast food chain called Chick-fil-A. They are known to have drive-through lines that are extraordinarily fast compared to other chains.

Gunner vs gooner... Arsenal is a team in the UK Premier League with that nickname. I'm a clueless American writing a story. In my universe, it's Gunners on The Cornwall Islands which don't actually exist. If you are a gooner not a gunner... sorry.

St Ives is the South island and current home of MC. The largest town is named Somerset.

St. Austell. North island and the home of the other half of the people taking part in the project with Movie Max. The main town is named Devon.

Covid does not exist in this world and 2020 was 'normal' in that regard.

Monday, February 24, 2020

This was the first day of what was to become 'regular' for us, perhaps better stated as regular except we were living in a naturist country and starring in a reality show as monogamous porn stars. As I woke up, I rolled onto my back and smiled, my mind with a peace I relished. I will have to get up shortly and go to work. It was such a simple thought... I am going to go to work. I know people complain about having to go to work, but after the severe troubles of not being able to find work in the US, I vowed to myself to never complain again about having to do it. Having a job meant supporting myself and my wife and I was grateful that I was going to do just that.

We had set the TV alarm ourselves for a quarter to seven and woke up to my favorite naked weather girl on Somerset Channel 2. Emma Jones had a model beautiful face with dark brown hair and as they say, the drapes matched the carpet. Add in that she was rather busty and that enhanced viewership. Upon hearing the noise, Jennifer roused and looked at the screen then smirked, rolled her eyes and reached for the TV remote then switched it to channel 4. This channel had a very buff and hung guy doing an exercise show. Colton Cross was both buff and hung. Jennifer smirked at me, "Better!" then stuck her tongue out at me.

Sigh, a buff bouncing big dick doing step aerobics is not 'better' than a beautiful busty weather girl. Truth is, though, I love Jennifer's sassy comeback attitude.

I grabbed Jennifer and flipped on top of her. Her smirk betrayed her mood and she asked "Being a bit aggressive this morning?" The smirk became a smile and she relaxed her legs giving me a coy look telling me that a nice quickie was in store.

We both knew my aggression was no threat, but she seemed to like the role of 'helpless female' sometimes. She knew she was safe, and perhaps that also held part of her arousal and she was certainly no helpless female. Our coupling was brief but enjoyable and I even managed to give her a brief but shallow climax. Yeah I know, quickies did not count toward the Movie Max four times a week sex requirement, but we were in no danger of falling below our minimums required by Movie Max.

We weren't due at work until eight that morning and we both loved showering together so we made an effort to be up early enough each morning to make it happen. We were both actively working on our relationship and the intimacy of showering together was not only fun, we both felt it brought us closer. We went down to the pool shower which is still much more fun than the mundane indoor one. Jennifer did allow me to make sure she had the cleanest vagina and breasts on the islands and I know she made sure I had the cleanest penis.

Once done and ready, Jennifer hot kissed me goodbye after a quick breakfast of Pop Tarts. Yeah, I know, the breakfast of champions, but it was quick and easy. Jennifer was also happy at the prospect of having skilled employment and cheerfully bid me goodbye with a big smile and, "I'm headed to work!" I loved her smile. We both understood that we were off to meaningful employment. It was odd wearing only socks and boat shoes and her wearing only her strappy silver very low heel comfy sandals as we kissed goodbye, got into our cars, and drove to work separately even though her workplace was a block and a half away. Sometimes I would have to go to job sites that were not within walking distance from work.

My first thought while getting into the car was the same as my last thought as I got out of the car at the parking lot a few blocks from my employer. Wow. I'm going to my first day at a real job since... seems forever. The parking lot was several blocks away from work as that was the closest lot to The Interior Department which was two blocks from The Central Fountain. I will give The Cornwall Islands credit for making certain areas pedestrian friendly including the three blocks around The Central Fountain which included The Interior Department. Parking was scarce in certain areas by design and small business was encouraged in those special areas. The car-centric big chains like Walmart and Tesco were available, but those pedestrian friendly areas were almost all unique stores, artists, pubs, and restaurants. Sidewalk shopping, dining, and drinking were a big thing near The Central Fountain and the waterfront. I said it before and it bears repeating, parts of The Cornwall Islands were like a big magic movie set specifically designed to charm you.

I walked into the Interior Department building and walked inside the lobby. At the front desk, Elizabeth smiled and then said something to Arra who looked up, smiled at me, and said, "Welcome Joshua! By the way, me and my boyfriend, Callum, want to invite you and your wife over Thursday night."

That made me smile because people were warm and welcoming here. This woman I barely knew had just invited my wife and I to get to know them better. I deferred, saying that I had to text my wife to get her agreement. Arra nodded, knowing it was all just part of the culture here. An invitation was almost always for the couple and an answer involved agreement by both partners.

Arra paused then continued, "Anyway, as for visiting us. We had a company-wide memo about you being on Movie Max and it said you would be busy most Saturdays and Sundays so Thursday seemed like a good safe bet. Oh, we need your address. When Movie Max arranged your job interview, they only put to be determined for your address."

I thought for a second and realized that I could drive there with little conscious thought, but I had no idea what the actual address was."

Arra giggled, "Such a guy. Text your wife. She will know."

I did and found out our address was 25 Lionfish Lane, District 7, Somerset. The name Lionfish seems appropriate for The Cornwall Islands. Arra typed my address in and shook her head at me, "Typical guy."

Elizabeth looked through some items on the desk and pulled up a sheet of paper with information on it then handed it to me then said, "Gemma the Director is going to be your direct manager and says you are going to be busy with an introduction dinner for the Interior Department tonight and with Jennifer's employer, Jones and Cranston Meats, tomorrow night. These are your welcome dinners!"

I liked how 'relationship friendly' employers were there. The two organizations communicated directly in setting up those two evenings and it was just a thing that was organized without drama or a lot of back-and-forth dickering. I was asked to sit in the lobby until I could be shown my cubicle by Gemma who came down the stairs about five minutes later. She came over to me and handed me an Ipad, "We have blocked a few things upon the request of Movie Max. We took a bit of a chance on you so please, don't abuse the fact that we were not able to lock down the device as much as the ones given to you by Movie Max."

I nodded and said, "I am all in on my current marriage to Jennifer and have every intention of fulfilling my two-year contract." I thought about it. How? I love... loved? Ashley... Wow. It's only been ten days but it seemed like a lifetime ago.

I nodded to her seriously, "I will make no effort to contact my ex, Ashley, my first wife and mess up her life in addition to mine."

Gemma relaxed then smiled and nodded, "Good! I think we chose well and welcome! Today is mostly busy tasks and your required physical."

We walked up the modern open-riser wooden stairway with glass railing to the second floor and Gemma led me to what was to become my cubicle. Cubicle is a misleading word for what I had, as it was oriented sideways against one of the outer walls with a window to my right with a wonderful view of the street near me in the pedestrian-friendly area near The Central Fountain. It was large for a cubicle at about eight feet wide with a good quality solid feel to it with a warm attractive wood finish desk with blue-gray fabric covered cork board sides. The upper part of the dividers at standing height between the cubicles were glass to allow light to filter throughout the room but block noise from adjacent cubicles.

It was a cubicle to end all cubicles and was almost like a mini office without a door. It had a desk on one side and a short bookshelf behind it on the other. Above the bookshelf was fabric covered cork board where people would personalize their workspace with photos or souvenirs. The whole building was modern with more wood finishes than stone to give a bit of warmth to all the glass and light flowing throughout the space.

The building took up the end of a block and had windows on three of the four sides so windows brought lots of light into the space. I noticed that there was only one dedicated office and that was for the interior minister himself. Even the directors had cubicles, the only difference was that their cubicles were twelve feet wide. Everyone had window views while common areas and restrooms were in the center of the floor. I smiled because I could tell this was going to be an awesome job in an environment that was warm and welcoming.

Looking around, everyone's cubicles were full of things that showed who they were. The cubicle behind me had a collection of different colored pieces of geode crystals in a small wooden cabinet while another had a small display of scale trains, you get the idea. The majority had at least one memento of a Premier League team, none of which I specifically recognized. All had pictures of friends and family. Most of the mens' cubicles had multiple glammed up nude photos of their wives or girlfriends. Not spread beaver shots, think 1970s Playboy Centerfolds glammed up and posing with a prop like a fancy car or someplace scenic in the background.

I smiled, people worked to live here, not the other way around. I made a mental note to bring in some pictures of Jennifer to put on the wall of my cubicle. Perhaps one of the pictures of our trip to the cenotes or the horseback ride on the beach.

I sat down and Gemma began to go over day-to-day logistics. I was sitting in my new chair and Gemma had stepped close to show me where the main project files were on one of the servers. I looked left and was greeted by Gemma's right breast right in front of me and I mean right there. I froze. Gemma realized why I froze then laughed, knowing damn well her breast was up close and too personal for comfort. She stepped back and sighed at my apparent discomfort. She took damn good care of herself and her breasts still stuck out proudly though she was aged in her forties.

Gemma saw me trying not to look and admonished me, "Joshua. This is not the United States and here in the Cornwall Islands, we compliment each other and don't feel shame about our bodies. It's just what we do and who we are. I work out a lot and eat a lot of healthy things that I hate eating and avoid a lot of foods I do like to look the way I do. If you like what you see, I want you to look and compliment. I'll start."

Gemma looked me up and down and said, "You are a very nice looking young man and I think you have a very nice package. Now you go."

It was not my first odd conversation, but this one was coming from my boss! I looked at Gemma and paused, then finally said, "Your shaven femininity is very attractive and I am impressed that your chest is very attractive... uh... still... uh."

Shit, I may have just insulted her.

Gemma laughed, "Joshua, I am forty-two years old and am not ashamed of that fact. You were going to say my breasts were still fairly pert, weren't you?"

I nodded.

Gemma said, "We do not get hung up on age or pretending that someone is or is not attractive. Every person has something you can compliment and complimenting people is a good thing and a little ego boost."

I nodded, "It's a lot to take in and this is a weird discussion to be having with my boss... my female boss."

Gemma explained, "I know, but I do need you to work on assimilating and I have been assigned to be your mentor whether you like it or not. I am expected to help you assimilate into our culture while you are here. Sorry, but here is your lecture."

"Let go of your American hangups. My husband has dozens of my nudes all over his office wall including a few from when I was quite a hot young thing right after I turned eighteen and we were only at the dating stage. We took many of those glamour shots and I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed having them done as much as giving them to my wonderful husband. He gets lots of compliments on them and he tells me about it. I love hearing about how this client or that said I am attractive. I love compliments, even if they are indirect."

I thought for a second, "What does your husband do?"

She smiled when she thought about her husband, "He owns his own electrical contractor business with eight employees, but still does electrical work himself."

It made sense, then she continued, "Joshua. We don't pretend sex or physical attraction don't exist. Instead, we embrace it. I like looking at you and I hope you like looking at me, even if it is my glamour shots from twenty years ago. Again, we don't pretend and I am not embarrassed by this conversation. You are allowed to look here. Just don't stare and if you think a woman is attractive, ask her for an exchange politely and once you get it, leave her alone. I guarantee it has already happened to your wife dozens if not hundreds of times. A woman will say yes ninety-nine percent of the time and I assure you that women get many requests. Just don't be shocked when she looks straight at your package before saying yes. Girls like looking too, and we don't pretend here. We like looking and we do it."

"Don't be bashful or weird about it, just be honest and say you think she has a pretty face, chest or nice femininity and ask for the exchange. It is a compliment here and she will thank you as long as you are polite. Obviously, honor both her and your relationship status and don't start touching, flirting, or asking her out. After she agrees, click her profile and take a quick look at her significant other and tell her that person is lucky to have such a beautiful woman in his life. She will then thank you for the compliment with a nod and a smile. After that, leave her alone.

She added, "Oh, and make sure you look at her significant other before saying anything. Calling a same-sex partner the wrong gender is bad form. It takes two seconds to look."

I nodded, but she could tell I would have to think about all she said.

She shrugged, "By the way, Thank you for your compliments. One of the benefits of not having large breasts is that they stay higher longer. Let's exchange codes. I know I like looking at you and it's just a thing here. This is not a come on and I have been happily married over twenty years and have never stepped out on my husband. That being said, "I have an excellent collection of male nudes on CIS and I want to add yours."

I sat just taking it in when she added, "Your American view of modesty is silly to me. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman's body so why should we hide that beauty? I am proud of those photos. I love being a woman and I love being admired and I won't deny any of it, even at work because I will not pretend to be someone I am not. I loved glamming up for them and it has nothing to do with my job or me being your boss. There is no 'work Gemma' and 'home Gemma'. There is only Gemma and I am no different here than at home."

"We don't pretend our personal lives don't exist at work and that is why my husband has those pictures of me in his office and that is why you see so many of what we call glamour shots on cubicle walls. Your wife is part of you, or at least she should be."

I sighed heavily and Gemma admonished, "Joshua. Being part of a couple is the center of life here. Be special to one person because it is good for you. Everyone should have someone who lights up when they see you. Everyone should have someone who shares themselves with you, body and mind. Everyone should be able to wake up at night and hear the soft steady breathing of someone who loves them and know they are not alone."

She smiled, "Lecture over, but you need to assimilate. Speaking of assimilating, you will need to figure out who your Premier League team is going to be. Pretty much all the men and most of the women follow a team. It's just an excuse to get together and socialize with people. It will be good for you and you will make friends outside of work and your Movie Max group."

Damn, that was still awkward. We exchanged codes and she stood there and told me to look in her photos section. Her expression was not turned on or smug, it was just expectant. Uh, wow. In her photos is a beaver shot and I mean up close and her vagina was almost as open as you can get without pulling herself open. Another photo had a closeup of her areola in some kind of artsy shadowy pose was also in her collection. She was attractive now, but was pretty much catwalk model gorgeous when younger. One shot of her from the late 1990s was her standing in a doorway with a fancy wood office behind her. She was glammed up with silk stockings to her upper thighs. Her perfect dark brown hair framed her model beautiful face. She had perfect teardrop B-cup boobs and nicely trimmed pubes. It was pretty much a top-quality centerfold shot.