"SADIE!!"
Even from the other side of the crowded pub, I heard Jenny screech out my name excitedly. I made my way through the crowds, pushing my way forward and as I reached the booth the girls moved around to give me room to sit, just as a waiter came over with a large tray full of shot glasses and set them on the table.
"Come on Sadie, you're behind," Jenny laughed, handing me a large glass of wine and pushing two shots towards me, "Drink up."
I took a swig from my wine glass. It was good wine, not the cheap stuff I normally drank. I took one shot and downed it quickly. Tequila, ooh that made my throat tingle.
"What are these in aid of?" I leaned in and asked Jenny.
"Celebrating," she grinned, "my internship ended today, they've not only given me a full-time position but it's double the salary too"
"Oh, great," I answered.
"You could look a little more happy then," Jenny retorted, "what's up?"
I looked at her and paused, telling her I didn't want to burst her bubble. She nudged me and told me that we were best friends, we'd been friends for a very long time, and she wanted me to tell her or else.
"Jack has cut my hours at the cafe, I'm down to only two shifts per week now. He said it was better that way than sacking some staff and keeping others," I told her, "and it's only been a few months since I got my flat, I don't want to move back to my parents already."
She leaned over and hugged me, and told me to drink my problems away and we'd see about resolving things the day after, there wasn't much that I could do about it tonight anyway. The shots kept coming, we kept drinking, and I found it a small blessing that I didn't have to get up for work in the morning.
When I did finally awaken I saw a message from Jenny. Still tired, my head throbbing, I decided to shower before reading it. When I did, it surprised me a little.
"Might have an idea for you, finishing work an hour early today, can I come around and speak to you about it?" it read.
I replied and told her that would be fine. I had a little shopping to do, nothing too important, and would be back in plenty of time for her arrival. When she did arrive she was very happy.
"Right, bare with me on this, hear me out before answering, I know it wouldn't normally be your kind of thing but it's fairly easy money," she said.
I looked at her, shrugged, and she told me again to hear her out. I shrugged again, laughed, and told her just to tell me already.
"I can check on a cleaning job. I used to do it, it's private for one old man, just his house, nowhere else," she started.
She paused, judging my reaction, before continuing.
"He used to pay £150 and it took around three hours usually," she continued.
"That seems high for three hours of work, what's the catch?" I asked.
"Are you okay with cleaning for him first?" Jenny asked.
"Yes, no problem," I told her.
"In your underwear?" she said quietly.
"What!" I cried out.
Now it made sense why he paid so much. It was like having a private stripper who cleaned as well as undressed.
"And you used to do it?" I asked.
"Yes, only for a few weeks, I was like you and not much income so although I wasn't over keen on the idea it was good money and it's only him there watching," she answered.
"Watching," I said.
"Yeah, he'll follow you from room to room, getting a good view, you learn to block out that he's there after a while. I just thought of the money which helped," she laughed, "and he'll definitely like you."
I laughed at her comment. She was extremely pretty, always dressed well, model-like stick-thin figure, but had always been a little jealous of my curvier body. She always said that men always looked at me first, my 36C 24 36 body sculpted in all the right places, with me responding that only until they saw how beautiful she was compared to me. My having pale skin and ice-white hair didn't help, Jenny was always tanned and her jet-black hair was almost perfect every time she went out. I looked albino compared to her sultry Mediterranean look.
"He just watches?" I asked tentatively.
"Yeah," Jenny answered.
"Okay, give him a ring then," I asked her.
She got up and walked into the kitchen, I heard her talking for a few minutes, and then she returned looking forlorn. She looked at me and shrugged her shoulders.
"You're in luck, his last cleaner has just left him, I've given him your number," she giggled.
"Thank you," I told her.
"Drinks are on you on Friday then," she laughed.
I had a phone call from an unknown number the following day. I answered, and the voice asked if I was Sadie. I replied yes, and then he told me it was Mister Reynolds. I paused, not knowing who it was.
"Jenny gave me your number, about the cleaning job?" he told me.
"Oh," I laughed, "sorry she hadn't told me your name. Yes, I'm interested," I told him.
He laughed too, told me that was great, and asked me to write his address down as he wasn't great with modern phones and couldn't text properly. I wrote it down, wondered why it seemed so familiar, and then he asked me to come by the following day, around midday. I told him that would be no problem.
Ending the call I searched online for the address. Wow, it was in the very posh part of town, all the high flyers lived there, in the expansion built on the hillside overlooking the town. No wonder he paid that amount, if he lived there he could certainly afford it.
After showering the next morning, I chose my underwear wisely. I didn't want to go too slutty, no lacy see-through ones for my first day. They could wait I giggled to myself. I pulled out some boxer short-type bottoms and a matching top. I put them on and looked at myself in the mirror. If he was going to watch, then he could, but I didn't want to be spilling out of anything. These would be sturdy enough for my movements without falling away and exposing too much to his old eyes.
I'd selected jeans and a T-shirt but as I'd only be wearing them on the journey I pulled on a casual dress and wore trainers. I walked across town, enjoying the sun and saving money on a taxi or bus fare, and got to his block easily in time. I pressed the button with his number on, and a buzzer opened the door. I took the lift up to the sixth floor and knocked on his door.
If I'd been expecting some hunky-looking guy who looked nowhere near his age I was disappointed. He stooped over a walking stick and looked tired. He was dressed well and his hair was combed neatly, however, and he let me in and pointed towards the living room.
"Oh wow, nice view you have up here," I said looking through the large window.
"Yes, worth the rent just to see that view, it's beautiful isn't it," he answered.
He opened the door and it swung outwards, and he waved me through onto the balcony. It was immersed in sunshine, and so very warm.
"It's designed on purpose facing this way, the sun is on the balconies all day, perfect for tanning," he explained.
He walked back in and sat down, while I took in the view a little longer before joining him.
"Did, erm, Jenny explain the terms?" he asked,
"Yes Mister Reynolds, you mean about the underwear thing right?" I asked, "I have no problem with working around you in my lingerie," I laughed.