My name is Margret Brown. I own a clothing boutique and this morning, like most mornings, I arrived an hour before opening. I went to my office and sat down at my desk. All the company books and ledgers were sitting on my desk completed and up-to-date. The weekly deposit was counted, recorded and waiting for me in the safe. They have been getting larger lately. I had grabbed the mail as I entered and found two hand written cards that I had opened while I walked through the deserted store. Both were from customers who were so happy with the service they had gotten from Grace Kelly.
Two months ago Robert had invited my husband Bill and I over for dinner. He wanted us to meet Grace. Robert Thorn was a good-looking guy in his fifties. He always reminds me of Jimmy Steward. Grace was a much shorter and younger version of her name sake. She had blond hair like the famous film star and the same inviting likable attitude Grace Kelly had been known for. The only thing that bothered me at first was the fact that Grace was only as old as my oldest daughter Mary.
When dinner was over Grace and Bill had cleared the table and started on the dishes. Robert and I had retired to the living room.
"What do you think of Grace?" Robert asked tentatively.
Always one for the dramatic I allowed an awkward silence fill the room before speaking, "I think she's darling."
"Really?" He asked pleading.
"In fact, she perfect. She's young..."
"See that what I was afraid of, what will people think..."
I put my hand on Roberts to get him to shut up, "What I was going to say is she is young but she does not act her age. She acts far more mature than I would normally expect from someone her age."
Bill and Grace walked in laughing. Bill took the chair next to me and Grace joined Robert on the couch. "What's so funny?" I asked smiling.
"Oh, Grace was telling me how she was tired of using Robert and how tomorrow she was going to start looking for a job, "said Bill. My husband of course lacks tact or the understanding of how what he says may or may not hurt the feelings of those around him.
Robert turned to Grace angrily, "I thought we discussed this."
Grace didn't shrink from his attack. Spunky girl, "Yes we did, and I decided I needed a job."
"Why? I make more than enough to take care of you."
"Really, how much is my allowance dad?" Grace asked in a mock child's voice. "I want to make my own money. Besides I need something to do. What if I were rich and told you that you didn't have to do anything but sit on your butt all day?"
"That pretty much is my life," Chimed in Bill.
I gave him a dirty look.
I ignoring my husband, Robert responded, "I like taking care of you."
"And I like being taken care of Robert, but I like to do things for myself too." She took Roberts hand in hers and nuzzled his nose with hers. Grace smiled, "You wouldn't love a woman that just rolled over and did what you wanted anyway."
Robert smiled "No, no I wouldn't."
I cleared my throat to remind them that there were other people in the room. "Well I have a possible solution." Everyone in the room turned sharply to face me. "One of my sales managers, Penny, is six month pregnant. She would like to take the next three to six month off. I could hire you on a temporary basis and when she comes back we could find something else for you to do."
Grace's face brightened as if she had just caught Santa putting presents under the tree. "That would be great,"said Grace as she crossed the room and hugged me. I couldn't help but notice how nice it felt to have the girl's body pressed against mine. To be honest I was hard pressed to let her go.
Penny spent only two days training Grace before pronouncing her to be a natural at managing my small store. She was smart, efficient and a hard worker. She learned our accounting system in only a week and then showed me how to improve on it with a little help from one of Robert computer friends. The customers liked her. The rest of the girls loved and respected her and even seemed to work harder for her.
A month later Penny announced she would be having twins and would not be back.
Of course the main benefit to me for hiring Grace was her nightly shopping sprees. I gave her an account with the store to purchase clothes. I explained to her that her clothes were fine but old and out of date. If she wore the store's clothes while working she would be like a living breathing mannequin. Grace accepted the offer only after I agreed that the cost would be subtracted from her pay checks.
I found myself watching the surveillance videos every morning, not because I thought for a moment that Grace was stealing but because I liked looking at Grace. It was quickly becoming the highlight of my day. Grace only tried on clothes after closing when everyone was gone and no one could see her but the security cameras. Much to my surprise, she often wore only panties and a bra while she shopped. A couple of times she had even walked around the store not wearing anything at all. I was not going to complain anymore than I was going to admit that it was really turned me on to see her naked every morning. "Robert is a very lucky man." I found myself saying under my breath several times.
I wheeled over the TV stand so I could watch the tape from behind my desk and maybe pet my kitty a little while Grace tried on a couple of the new more skimpy outfits in the store. I found a sales slip with graces name on it, stuck to my door that morning so I know she had been trying outfits on the night before.
I took last night's tape out of the security system and put it into the VCR. I rewound the tape back only an hour since I usually only watch Grace shopping. I only take the time to review the rest of the tape if something is amiss. "Damn" I thought, I had over shot closing time by a bit but did not want to miss a moment of Grace, so I simply fast forwarded through the end of the day. I could not believe it when I noticed that my heart rate was quickening as I got closer to closing time. For goodness sake I'm a married women sitting here like some dirty old man waiting to watch a young girl, my best employee and my best friend's girlfriend, strip and walk around the store naked. I know I'm sick, but I can't help it.