There were very few employers that allowed the lower class to still work in their business. The world was broken up into three classes. The lower class was anyone working manual labor or servitude jobs, normally living in slums or worse. The upper class was those that were rich, royalty or high-quality business owners. Then there where the Elites.
The Elites took over every political position, financial institution, and research companies. Every Elite had one of three talents; they could control someone's actions, change someone's emotions, or control what they were feeling, or cause great pain.
They held extravagant parties that all the upper class tried to attend. And the Elites caused devastation in the lower classes.
I worked at Madame First Research Company of uptown Bayside Shaffle. While I was a lower class I could still get a job at the research company as a barista. I served drinks for the wealthy that passed through. My uniform was a gray mini dress that I was constantly fighting with to either cover my ass or my breasts and a short black apron that almost covered more than the dress. Black high heel and black gloves. And to add insult to injury I wore a black bow tie around my neck like a dog wears a collar. The middle of the collar was a gold pin with the "Property of Elites" symbol on it.
Something about a dress and an apron just made men (and a lot of the time women too) think they could grab at my ass while I was holding trays full of drinks. I didn't say anything, I would much rather work here with men trying to cop a feel then some of the work 'resorts' or self serve camps that were nothing more than prisons. The only other jobs I qualified for because of my age would be as a Pet or the brothel down the street where I lived.
I was fixing a set of orders when Nora came running to me. Her breasts weren't as big as most of the girls that worked her so she didn't have to constantly be tugging at it.
"Riley! Riley!" She ran into me and almost knocked us both down with these heels.
"Oh, Riley! The new owner is here and they're doing a full tour of the place with him."
I patted her head. "It's okay, Nora. It's just the Elite Prince of the Bayside, right? You just have to curtsy when he walks by you then get on with the rest of your day."
She shook her head in my apron enough to make it ride up so I had to push her off. "They asked me to serve the room. The hostesses are gone today. I'm not a hostess! I've never served a full room of Elites before! They're so scary."
"That's their power to control you just work fast and don't spend a lot of time with them."
"I know that but I'm scared they'll make me... do things. Riley, will you please go with me." She looked down and blushed, "You... you always control yourself better than anyone else here. Their powers don't work that way on you do they?"
I shrugged, "Lots of people can do it better than me, it's not a big deal."
She sighed, "I wish I could."
She looked so sad when she said that, I couldn't say no. Nora was shorter than me with curly red hair. Even though she didn't have a massive chest like most of the girls working here, her massive hair was more than enough to grab every Upper-Class patriot's attention. The Elites didn't have curly hair in their genes so even they were captivated by her. So I never worried about getting harassed while working with her. She helped me make the order of drinks and sweet treats; the tray was large and heavy so we carry it together up the elevator. On the private floor, we started heading to the main meeting hall when our boss started running towards us.
"Stop stop stop!" He was out of breath, he didn't move around a lot. His face had a permanent smile on it from elective surgeries and other chemical enhancements to look younger. He was wealthy enough to be in the Upper Class but not charming enough to be invited to be with the Elites.
He started yelling at us with his cringe smile face and told us the meeting was actually in the VIP room.
"But Mr. Enzo—"
"No buts, the Prince isn't going to be served in a common room like that. No, no, you will be serving him in the VIP room. We converted it to his office when he visits us."
"Why would he visit us?" I ask. "The Ruler himself never looks over this company."
Enzo tried to give me an evil look but his permanent smile was still in place. "Keep your mouth shut Riley, I swear your nosey behavior will get you in trouble."
Enzo didn't bother to help us with the large tray but he did hold the doors open and introduce us before we entered.
I took hold of the tray above my shoulder as we entered because I was taller. I could feel the swaying in my heels as Nora moved soundlessly on her stilettos.
Nora stood in front and curtsy, "It is a pleasure to serve you."
"Such red hair," one said. "Is it always that curly?"
Nora flirted back with every answer while I held the tray. She slowly started passing out drinks and cocktails and sweets as she explained the availabilities we offered.
I tried not to look at any of the Elites while they fussed over Nora's hair. But curiosity slowly got the better of me and I glanced over at the Prince himself. He had his ankles crossed and leather boots up to his knees. Tight pants around his narrow hip and blue suit lined with gold accent and a red handkerchief. I tried not to stare but I felt my cheeks start to blush as I stared at his bright green eyes with a dark rink of gold around the iris. His hair was perfectly blond and brushed to the side.
He watched Nora annoyed and coldly yet he still look so handsome. He had his ear pierced in three different spots, each one with a different style or kind of gold as the weird way they show their rank.
His eyes flashed to me and I almost fell over. I turned away and hoped he didn't think I was staring.
I could feel eyes on me now and I was nervous as I started to shiver and blush all over.
It also started to look like Nora was... tipsy. As she served one of the Elites they would take her hand and rub their hands on her and reach to feel her hair and she would stumble and fall into their labs before quickly getting up.
Oh no. There were only a few drinks left and even though I wasn't supposed to move until Nora was done I did. I reached up for the last of the drinks and started directly handing them to her and then guiding her to the next person.
When we got to the prince I avoided looking at him again and just focused on keeping Nora straight.
"You have pretty girls here, Enzo. Where do you find them?" Said a voice. I could recognize Hendrix' voice almost anywhere.
Elites were... weird.
They didn't really believe in sex even though they were constantly pushing trends that sexualized people and promoted deviant behavior. A former Pet of an Elite explained it to me like - they think the act of having sex was beneath them, something that separated them from humans.
So while they had wild (and I mean wild) sex parties and they never actually participated in the act of sex itself. My friend, the former Pet, also explained an Elite will take pets or sexual partners but they used them in different ways. Like anything from just playing with someone or hurting them. She never really went into detail what they did to her. Just enough to know I don't what the Elites to notice me.
Nora finished handing out her last drink and I dropped the tray down under my arm.
I curtsied and started walking Nora backward out of the room. "Thank you, for allowing us to serve you," I said, still walking backwards.
"I don't think we received everything, ladies. Are you in that quick of a hurry." Hendrix said.
I couldn't be rude, but I also told Nora I would help her through this serving. So I giggled and put on an innocent smile, "Master Hendrix, you do joke with us too much."
Out the door, that's when I felt a wave of sweet heat flow over me. It was a command from an Elite. I could feel them but they never did anything to me. With my hand on the door, Nora sighed and started to walk back into the room, back towards Hendrix.
I didn't think. I shouted, "Bye," and slammed the doors closed. My heart fell to my stomach and I knew I was going to get fired. Nora walked into the closed door, still under their power. I took her hand and ran. The elevator doors were closed and I was hitting the button when the doors to the VIP room opened. Still holding Nora's hand I ran down the stairs before Enzo saw which way we went.
Someone else would have to serve the VIP room for the rest of the day.
At the end of the day, I closed my own section and was putting my coat on when Enzo walked in, "That's her!"
I sighed. I knew I couldn't avoid punishment after how I informally left that room. "Enzo look," I started to apologize. Before I could say anything else two of the security guards grabbed me. I gasped as Hendrix entered behind Enzo.
"You thought you were so clever, little witch," He said.
"What going on?" I shouted.
"How dare you!" Enzo shouted in my face, "I will throw you to the Hounds after the fool you made me."
My face went cold, the Hounds? Surely they wouldn't be that mad because I slammed a door?
"Stealing from an Elite?" Hendrix said. "You really are a low life. I'll make sure you pay for this."
