When I woke up in the morning and remembered what I'd done last night, it took me a few minutes before I could sort everything out. I'd been in, like a trance or something driving home, and I'd undressed and fallen into my bed and immediately into a deep sleep. This morning, lying back on my pillows, knowing I had to get up and go to work, I took the time to try to get it all straight in my mind.
I liked Marc. Of course I did. What was not to like? He was as cute as any guy I'd met recently, or maybe forever. And I was sure he liked me. But wait a minute. He'd come on to me at the plaza outside my office, all smooth and sexy and smiling and all dimples and you're the one. How many women had he tried that on? And how many had looked at him and listened to him, just like me, and gone to his place and let him take their pictures? I mean, what was so different about me? Well, the obvious. I'm adorable.
Figuring that all out was a relief. I kicked off the sheet and hopped up and stood in front of the standing full-length mirror in my bedroom. Even fresh out of bed, I looked gorgeous. Or especially fresh out of bed. I thought my slightly puffy, half-open eyes and tousled near-black hair made me look extra desirable. In a sexy, just out of bed sort of way. I twisted before the mirror and let my eyes glide over my body. My pale skin contrasted with my dark hair. At times I'd wished it was blonde, but wasn't there something about dumb blondes? Whatever. I lifted my arms over my head, and my boobs tightened against my chest. Even so, they stood out like grapefruit halves, and my nipples capped them like ripe raspberries. Ripe and ready to eat. Sometimes I can be so silly.
I loved looking at myself like this. Not for the first time, I wished I could be two people at once. One to admire my perfection and one to, what do I want to say? One to bask in the adoration. I turned to get a look at my buns. Yep. Tight and round as ever. And my legs. I was trying to decide what my best feature was when I caught a glimpse of the clock. Oh, shit, I was going to be late.
I showered and got dressed as fast as I could, but even when you're in a hurry, it takes a while. I knew I'd never get to work on time. I was dashing down the stairs to the door of my building when I suddenly thought, "Fuck it. Fuck being late, and my tight-ass boss, and ...Oh, just fuck it all." I could be late for once. Instead of flitting around trying to remember where I'd parked my car or frantically looking for a taxi, I decided to walk. It was another beautiful sunny day, and I sauntered through the city streets, loving my morning of freedom.
And loving all the glances I got from the men along the way. I may have rushed to get ready, but I'd put a lot of care into it. I always do. My hair shone, my skin gleamed, I was shaved as smooth as a marble all over. My make-up was perfect. My top showed just enough, and my skirt danced over my bare legs above my high-heeled sandals. Guys leaning forward in a double-time march to get to their jobs caught me on their radar and slowed to take a peek, then stopped to swivel their heads and follow me with their eyes. Delivery-men paused in their work and whistled. I laughed and gave them a wave of my hand. All of a sudden I wasn't walking. I was floating. This was me. Laura. I loved being me. I loved being seen.
In the lobby of my office building I stopped and talked with Stan, the security man. Hey, did you hear that? I made a rhyme. Anyway, I'd been watching him watching me like forever, and today, since I was in no hurry, I gave him time to get a better look. I twirled my hair in my fingers and looked into his eyes and giggled at whatever it was he was saying. Then I got on the elevator and rode upstairs.
I was bent over, reading the missed call notices on my desk, when I sensed Mr. Butt-hole behind me. My boss? You know, I told you about him last time. OK, his real name's Mr. Butler, but I think the one I'd made up for him suits him better.
"Laura. In my office. Now."
I knew from the way he said it that he was pissed off at me, but I was still floating. So I just floated in after him and watched as he settled into his big desk chair and got all important. When he was done I dropped into the chair across from him, where I usually took dictation and listened to his lame attempts to seduce me.
"Laura. Do you know what time it is?"
"Gosh, Mr. B. I've no idea." I crossed my legs and raised my arm to look at my bare wrist.
"Well, then I'll tell you.' He lifted his own arm and pulled back the sleeve of his suit. He was trying to check his watch, but he couldn't quite take his eyes from my legs. My skirt was short, silky-thin and all but transparent, and my tan thighs stretched from under it. He yanked his cuff down and cleared his throat.
"Goddamit, Laura. It doesn't matter what time it is. You're late. That's all that matters. I'm a busy man. I've got things to do, and I can't wait for you to show up whenever you damn well feel like it. You pull this shit again and you're gone. Fired. Got it?"
So it had gone from "You're a lovely girl my wife just doesn't get it maybe we could…" to "You're out of here." Mr. Butt-hole had turned into Mr. Big-shot. At least he wouldn't have to get the monogram on his shirts changed.
I leaned forward and clasped my knees. I knew my arms would push my breasts together, exposing more of my cleavage. I chanced a look up and saw him lifting off his chair to get a better view.
He stood and came around the desk.
"You know, Laura, maybe I've been too hard on you. Maybe you and I got off on the wrong foot."
I sat back and let a little more leg show, and dangled the foot we'd gotten off wrong on. I peeked up at him from below my lowered lashes. I know how to do this, and I knew I had him
He leaned back onto his desk. We'd been through this all before, but this time he was so sure he was in charge.
"Listen," he said. I looked up. His gaze was all over me, everywhere but my eyes.
"There's no reason we can't start over. If you can promise you'll be here for me when I need you, I think I can let this little lapse slide."
I wasn't sure how long I wanted to let this scene play, but I was ready for some pay-back. I re-crossed my legs and looked up at him.
Oh, Jesus, this was too easy. He was almost slavering. I decided to put him out of my misery.
"Mr. B, I only came in this morning to tell you I'm quitting." I don't know where that came from. I just said it.
What do they call it? Sputtering? Spluttering? Anyway, that was Mr. B. It was all Laura you can't and Laura you know I need you, and then it was Laura you bitch and Laura you'll never get another job in this town, and then more of both. I thought I handled it pretty well. I stood up and pulled down my skirt as far as it would go, and straightened my back and walked out. I wasn't about to flash anyone who talked to me like that.
On the way down in the elevator I considered having second thoughts, but who needs those. Outside, I dug in my purse for Marc's card and punched in his number on my cell-phone. Voice-mail. OK, maybe third thoughts. Still, I was looking good, and feeling good. The walk to work had been gratifying, and I figured a stroll to Canal Street, or anyway in that direction, wouldn't do me any harm. I got plenty of wolf-whistles and cat-calls along the way, and I was pretty satisfied with myself when I rang the top bell at 114 Canal.
No answer. I tried his phone again. Voice mail again. I sat down on the stone stairs outside the ware-house. I'm usually pretty up-beat, but at that moment, I was wondering if I'd counted the birds in my bush too soon.
I tried to make a score-sheet in my mind. It's not as easy as you'd think, but my brain just works like that. So on the plus side was I'd blown off Mr. Butt-hole. On the down side, I didn't have a job. That seemed to even out pretty well. Again, on the plus side, I'd met Marc. And then on the down side, he hadn't answered my calls, and wasn't at home. But if I waited here long enough, he'd have to come home, and that would have to go on the plus side. I was pretty sure that had me ahead. I was still figuring the up side and the down side when Marc came walking up the street in shorts and a T-shirt, grocery bags in his hands. That's how the up side works. You can see how not everybody can do it.
Whatever side, he smiled. "Hey, Laura. Wow, am I glad to see you here." The way I was sitting, with my feet on the step below me and my skirt way up, showing my legs, he'd have to be a wombat not to be glad to see me here. He handed me a bag and said to come on up.
Marc led the way. The stairs were as steep and treacherous as they'd been last night, but at least now I had a view. Dimples, shmimples. Those legs. And what a butt.
Upstairs we put the groceries away and Marc asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I'd been in such a rush this morning that I hadn't had my coffee or juice, but now I was celebrating, so I reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine. Marc raised an eye-brow, but he opened it and poured two glasses. We went and sat on the couch.
Like last night, he ogled my legs, and I let my skirt ride up some more, happy to see he really cared for me.
Marc leaned over and clicked his glass against mine. That smile. Those dimples. "So, Laura. Cheers. What's new?"
"Well, everything. You know, after last night and all, I was late to work."
Marc just looked at me, like he was waiting for more, and after a few seconds I realized he wasn't following me.
"So I quit."
Marc was still staring at me with a confused look. It occurred to me he might not be the brightest puppy in the tool-box. But OK, I'm probably no Eisenstein, either, and with Marc's looks, and his dimples, and that butt, who cared?