I was hired at a small prestigious law firm in the library. Fresh out of college, I had majored in Library Sciences, but in this economy I was grateful for the opportunity. My responsibilities were heavy. I assisted the paralegals with Westlaw searches and court records. I also input scan and catalogue all the documents to PDF format.
I was proud of my new career and seeing my name on my business card-- Lisa Warren, Assistant Legal Librarian, Riesbeck and Bauer, LLP.
Unfortunately, I look like a librarian. I plumped up in College, and that meant many lonely Friday nights. Thankfully, I have known for a long time that I'm not into boys. I am a lesbian.
I worked for a very beautiful woman who was tough as nails. Robyn was only a few years older than me, but she really exuded the corporate mentality. Dog eat dog. Robyn would kiss up to all the partners, but she was brutally critical of everyone behind their back.
She had dark brown hair, a gorgeous face and exciting body. Robyn wore jewelry and make-up flawlessly. I think Robyn wear a different pair of shoes everyday. Her legs looked great in pantyhose. Who said that librarians aren't sexy? Well, at least Robyn is.
She was hard on me the day I showed up. She found fault with things I did well, and when I really messed them up she blew me out of the water. Everyone else had given her a nickname--Ice Queen.
Robyn was relentlessly bitchy and of course I fell in love with her. Unrequited.
She would occasionally go off to lunch with a perfect corporate looking man, Steve. I wondered how he put up with her. People suffer for love and beauty. I watch her butt sway as she walks down the hallway.
I imagined their sex life together, Robyn and Steve. She dressed so well, so I imagine her undressed, sweating in ecstasy.
After the second month, one of the partners had lost crucial documents. He was sure that he brought them to the library for filing. The documents were originals and our case would be dismissed if we didn't find them right away. Robyn came down on me hard, because all folders should have been checked, but it turned out that she had filed it herself.
I was able to find the backup PDF copy, and then looked in all other unrelated folders returned that week. Hurray! I found the missing documents. That must have been an important document!
All this came to the attention of the Senior Partner, Mr. Riesbeck, who is in his mid-70's and founded the firm long ago. He made a special trip to the library to thank me. He made a little ceremony of it.
"You saved our client a half a million dollars by your dedicated work and organization. I wanted to give you a thousand dollars bonus in cash."
He counted out ten $100 bills and presented them to me in front of everyone who was in the library, including Robyn. Robyn's face was sullen and she was biting her lip. Everyone congratulated me, and I announced that I would buy lunch for everyone on Friday, and new clothes and a gym membership.
Then Mr. Riesbeck turned to me and said. "Don't spend your money on that. I will also pay for your Gym membership. The big producers and partners get that free, and so shall you, Lisa."
I turned to Robyn and asked her if she would help me buy clothes one day at lunch. She whispered in a little nasty voice, "I don't go to lunch with lesbians." I was horrified, because I am not "out." How the hell did she know? Gaydar?
So over the next few weeks, she popped my balloon. She made sure that I was the center of gossip and rumor. I went to Mr. Riesbeck about the gossip, but I never mentioned Robyn by name.
In his gruff, confident voice, "I've heard the rumor, and I'm going to watch out for you. I assure you that the firm has hired many gays and lesbians. I wouldn't care if you came to the Christmas party with a Martian in leather. I will eliminate the gossip. The buck stops here."
I thanked him, but held my breath as I left his office, worried for Robyn.
The next day Robyn was transferred --promoted, they said. She glared at me as she moved her desk, but now she was the office manager. The firm was going to pay for my Masters Degree in Library Science, and I would be the Head Librarian within 2-3 years.
I was going to the gym three times a week and I changed my diet. Every day I ate tuna salad and soup. I lost 75 pounds and I started looking fantastic. Now that I learned to shop, my wardrobe had been steadily upgraded, especially thanks to several pay raises.
I had a waist line, and my big butt was now toned. It looked nice atop my newly shapely legs. My neck and shoulders had thinned. Although my breasts shrunk, so did my stomach. I looked good. I even bought a little make up.
At the office Christmas party, I brought a woman for a date. Truthfully, I didn't think she's a keeper, but it was nice to feel accepted at work. I was "out" to everyone, and it wasn't an issue.
Robyn brought Steve to the party, and announced their engagement. They were the golden, happy couple. She showed everyone the 3 carat diamond ring. Wow!
She was bitchy to my date, and wouldn't speak to me. Total Ice Queen, but she looked gorgeous.
Formal clothes suited her, and she wore dark elegant sparkles and amazing heels. Everyone watched her as she flowed around the party.
So I kept on working hard at the firm and finishing my Masters. I even went to summer school instead of the beach. Grueling! I didn't have any time for a social life, but I was establishing my place in the world. You should be suitably impressed.
And then another year passed, Robyn never married Steve. Can you believe that? She had seemed so happy with her trophy fiance.
Everyone was surprised when she was alone at the next firm Christmas party in mid-December. Robyn didn't put much effort into it this year. To me, though, she always was feminine and pretty.
This time, Robyn was friendly to me. She wished me a Merry Christmas and even hugged me. Oh, that was heaven! I drank up her embrace. I felt worthy.