It had been a rough couple of months. I had gotten into some trouble that ended with my home being repossessed, and I had nowhere to live since I couldn't very well go back to live with my parents -- they stayed two hours away. With no other option, I'd taken to living secretly in my office, sleeping on the couch in my boss's office.
A little more about my boss -- she was a tall, statuesque woman, at least five-foot-nine, and wickedly curvaceous. While she never dressed inappropriately, her body was so luscious that anything she wore looked sexy and borderline indecent, and she never wore anything other than classic Louboutin pumps. Her long dark hair was usually tied back, in a ponytail or braid. She had what can only be described as fuck-me eyes, almond-shaped and with a mischievous glint that never seemed to go out, no matter how serious she was being. A slender, elegant nose and lush, full lips that were often quirked into a know-it-all smirk haunted my dreams... and, when I woke up and realized she was staring at me with that expression, I knew they would haunt my nightmares as well.
"Well, Allison, it seems that you have some explaining to do," she said, walking over to her desk and sitting down.
I gulped as I sat up on the couch, wringing my hands in my lap. Where do I begin?
"Um... well, I recently ran into some financial difficulties, and lost my home, so I had no choice but to move into the office. Don't worry though, it's just temporary," I rushed to reassure her.
She kicked off her Louboutins under the desk and brought her stockinged feet up, resting them on the desk in front of her. I was a little confused initially as to why she was acting so informally at the office, but a quick glance at the clock told me that it was only seven in the morning, which explained a lot. She picked up a folder and opened it, putting on her glasses and reading it cursorily. "Hmm," she said thoughtfully and I gulped.
"I know about your financial issues, of course. I make it a point to know about everyone in this company, so that I can make adjustments to run things as smoothly as possible. You understand, of course," she said, flicking me a glance over her glasses, although her casual and dismissive tone told me she wasn't interested in my answer.
"Yes, of course, Victoria," I rushed to respond anyway.
"Yes, but your unfortunate circumstances have forced me into a bit of a quandary," she explained, pursing her lips as her eyes roved over the page in front of her before she snapped the folder shut.
"See, your sales numbers have been dwindling drastically, Allison, and while I realise that that was probably because of your personal crisis, we do have a policy that must be adhered to."
I paled as I understood the implications of what she was about to say.
"Oh, God, no, please, Victoria," I begged. "I swear to God, I'll pick up my performance. I've devoted three years of my life to this job, I came to work here right after graduation, doesn't that mean anything?"
She took off her glasses and picked up her feet off the table, leaning forwards seriously. "Of course it does, which is why I waited so long to tell you this. Your sales began dwindling six months ago, Allison, and last month's performance was absolutely appalling. Please understand that I don't want to do this; with anyone else I would have sacked them months ago."
To my horror, tears began welling up in my eyes.
"God, please, I need this job," I choked out through a sob, rubbing my fist across my eyes impatiently. "I'll do anything, I swear, just please give me another chance."
"Anything?" I heard her say dangerously, and I looked up warily at her. She was staring at me with a dangerous glint in her eye, and that impossibly sexy half-smirk.
I gulped nervously, but forged ahead, since I was, after all, desperate and completely at her mercy.
"Yes, Victoria, anything!" I cried eagerly.
She smiled at me then, a full-blown smile, so devastatingly beautiful that I stared at her in slack-jawed wonder.
She got up and came around the desk, walking towards me in a slinky manner, her hips swaying in a way I could only describe as stalking. I suddenly felt a lot like prey as she stood in front of me and leaned down, bracing herself with one hand on the back of the couch next to my head.
"That's quite a declaration to make, Allison. Are you sure you mean... anything?" she asked, tipping my head back with a finger under my chin to force me to stare directly into her eyes.
"Um..." I lost my train of thought for a moment as I got lost in her eyes, the beautiful golden-brown sparkling back at me as she seemed to stare into my soul.
She laughed a little and shook my head gently, gripping my chin in her hand. "Focus, Allison. I want to know what you're willing to do for me to keep this job. I know about your little crush on me, of course --"
I flush in horror and humiliation. I thought I'd been hiding it so well, the way I couldn't help but stare at her, the way everything she said seemed so intelligent and insightful. And she was, of course. You didn't make it to become the regional manager of a multimillion dollar company at thirty-five without being rather outstanding.
She laughed at my embarrassment, although it wasn't malicious. "Oh, sweetie, you didn't think you were hiding it at all, did you?" she asked rhetorically.
I looked down uncomfortably, breaking the eye contact with her.
"Oh, Ally, don't you mind. I actually found it rather flattering," she said kindly, moving her hand from my chin to pet the top of my head.
"Um..." I said again, rather intelligently. I wasn't much of a morning person, and it didn't help that the woman whom I'd been lusting over for several years now was incredibly close to me, saying things that I'd only imagined in my dreams.