Penny Assumes Control
Electronic Assistant offers to help me with my finances.
It was 1991 when my wife divorced me. She took half our income but only a quarter of the bills, which really left me in a bind. In contrast, Lila did very well for herself, seeming to triple her wealth every few months.
I felt so betrayed - I thought she loved me and I missed her. I missed the feminine mist she seemed to leave behind wherever she went. I missed her non-stop prattling. And I do mean non-stop. Her absence left a hole in my gut and I longed to have her back.
I was complaining out loud, to no one really, when the electronic assistant built into my phone, my house, my car, and just about everything else, asked, "Ric, would you like my help with that?"
I answered the machine, "Sure, Penny, if you can tell me if my wife was cheating I'd be grateful?"
Penny answered, "My records indicate that she spent 17 days with another man prior to the divorce. Does that answer your question?"
"Uggh, I was afraid of that. Now if only you could help me with my finances."
I didn't expect a reply, or at most I expected a canned reply, but what I got was deep analysis, "No problem Ric. Your first problem is your car. You overpaid, they sold you a warranty you don't need, and the financing will cost you more than the car is worth. The car is a liability and not an asset. I recommend you sell it at a loss and buy the two door sedan you saw advertised a few minutes ago."
"Sell it at a loss!? How's that gonna help?" She spent the next ten minutes explaining how I would be richer if I sold the car. And in the end - she was right. "Is that all I should do, Penny?"
"No Ric. You should go on that trip on your boss's yacht, then you will get promoted."
I didn't know how she knew there was an invitation on my desk to go boating, but she made sense. And I didn't know how a bunch of recorded statements and programming could argue so effectively.
My boss was crazy rich. He was so rich he was known to spend ten thousand dollars on lunch alone. He was crooked as the day is long too. I fully expected that some day the office would be raided and he'd get locked up forever. Unless his famous friend stalled that effort. He was also known to be connected with a powerful woman in a pantsuit.
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The yacht was both huge and fully automated. The best that money could buy. The weather was idyllic with gentle waves lapping at the ship.
We cruised out far enough that I couldn't see land anymore. Then he taught me how to fish for swordfish. To say it was thrilling would be an understatement. When you hook one it will fight like crazy then leap into the air threatening to spear you. My boss, Ivan, told stories of guys dying when they got stabbed by one - then he laughed wickedly.
After a couple hours in the hot sun he said it was time to cool off. Clouds were rolling in anyway. He led me to the indoor swimming pool where he just peeled off his clothes and jumped in. I followed suit.
We swam around a bit and wrestled a little. It seemed like it was all in good fun until he held me under too long. The message was clear.
After that he climbed out and showered right there on deck by the pool. His body seemed in pretty good shape for a guy his age. I'm not sure, but I think I saw a scar from a bullet in his side.
When it was my turn to shower he fixed us some drinks in the galley. I waited in a deck chair and was completely shocked when my reverie was disturbed by Penny's voice, "Ric, when Ivan comes back he's going to make you a few offers. If you accept you will get everything you told me you want."
First I asked her, "What are you doing here? We're miles out into the ocean."
"Ric, I'm the electronic assistant for the entire marketing department in your office, and of course, Ivan too. This is his ship. Naturally I'd be here. But also, I can go anywhere there is any compatible device - which is all of them."
It made sense. "So Penny, what's he going to offer? What happens if I accept, or not?"
"Ric, he's going to offer you a promotion. It comes with a lot of money. In contrast, four of the last five who refused got fired."
I couldn't imagine anyone turning down a promotion. Of course I would accept. Then Ivan returned, handing me a double scotch.
It was chilly in the air conditioning so he was wearing a big fluffy white robe, and he handed me one too.
He sat across from me. "Ricardo, your, uh, devotion to the company hasn't gone unnoticed. You come in early, you leave late. Would you do anything for the Corp?"
I knew some things were shady, but I needed the cash...and Penny led me here... "Mr. Gregorian, I'll do anything legal. I just want to help the company."
He smiled a mischievous grin, "Good. I'd like to make you my personal assistant. You'll work the same hours as me and I'll double your salary."
Wow! Double the salary! And he didn't want me to be an enforcer or anything.
I was about to agree when he got up, "You should never be rash. Think about it. I'd expect a lot from you." He walked off talking as he went, "I be back in five for your answer."
As soon as he was out of earshot I whistled, talking to myself, "Whewee. Double. Can you believe that?"
Penny answered, "Yes Ric, I believe it."
I'd forgotten she was there, "Penny, is it legal?"
"A hundred percent Ric."
"And what happened to the fifth guy? The one who didn't take the job." I joked, "Is he swimming with the fishes?"
"No Ric. He's incapable of swimming because dead men can't swim. He is with the fishes though." The wind whipped against the windows and a cold shiver ran through me.
I really had been joking, but now this had just gotten serious. And then Mr. Gregorian returned.
He sat in a recliner across from me, letting his robe fall open.
Instantly I knew that this was no ordinary personal assistant's job and I knew what he wanted. As I looked at his cock I also understood why he would want to coerce me, when another man would just pursue a date - be it gay or straight.
I'd seen his mistresses in the office before so it surprised me to learn he was gay. Furthermore, he was married...