Author's Note
Risk Versus Reward is a prequel to Girl Friday and focuses on the story of Karin, the 'H.R. Lady' who provided Charlotte's rather unique interview experience when she was hired. You do not need to read Girl Friday to understand what's going on in Risk Versus Reward. But if you enjoy this story, Girl Friday should most definitely be on your reading list.
Karin's made up her mind. In the last chapter of the story she let Betty Nguyen add her photo to the album of 'nipples I have pierced', figuratively speaking, as she sat in Elena's kitchen to be run through with a ring that matches Desi's. Now all that is left is to tie up loose ends as the ladies figure out their future together.
If you've read Girl Friday, the events in this chapter should feel very familiar.
I hope you enjoy Karin's continuing story.
WaxPhilosophic
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Chapter 21: The Big Day
I shifted the pencil holder from the center of the desk all the way to the far left corner, stared at it for a total of about thirty seconds and then moved it all the way over to the right. I took a quick look around the office, devoid of any furnishings except for a high-backed black office chair from Ikea -- I can't remember the exact model name, something with a lot of umlauts -- and this beautiful and exceptionally heavy piece of antique hardwood furniture that just got delivered from the consignment shop. I moved the pencil holder back to the center of the desk and the circle was complete.
"Des!" I hollered. "It looks pretty fucking bare in here. How's anyone going to take us seriously when all we have is a desk?"
Desi wandered in from the lobby wearing jeans and a vintage Nirvana concert t-shirt, filling it out quite obviously without the benefit of a bra, because I could see the outline of her nipple ring poking up through the silk-screened mop that was Kurt Cobain's hair. She took a swig from the can of Diet Coke in her hand before setting it on the corner of the desk -- the place occupied by the pencil holder only moments ago.
"They're going to take us seriously because you're going to convince them that we're serious. It's all attitude, baby. Chutzpah. And if there's anyone who knows anything about chutzpah, it's you. I mean look at this dress you poured yourself into." She trailed a finger over my bare arm while she licked her lips. "You'll have them eating out of your hand."
While I still felt goose-flesh rising in the wake of her fingertip, Desi took my hands and pulled me close enough to brush her lips lightly over the inside of my wrist while she ran her tongue slowly over my upturned palm. As long as we've known each other she still finds new ways to give me shivers when she touches me.
"Hell," she whispered, "I know I'd eat out of your hand -- or anyplace else if you asked me to eat from."
I smiled. The way Desi talked about me I almost believed it -- that I could summon the chutzpuh needed for our big day, our grand opening, our first real potential customers -- but deep down I was quaking in my shoes. This was a big risk we were taking together, striking out on our own, starting our own little version of The Academy on a shoestring budget. If everything worked out like we planned, it would be a beautiful enterprise, but if it didn't -- well, I didn't even want to entertain that possibility.
I picked up Desi's Coke can and thrust it in her direction. "Not on my hardwood desk, baby," I said.
Desi stuck her tongue out at me as she plucked the can from the desktop.
"Promise?" I said. I was seriously considering sticking my tongue down her throat and laying her beautiful body down to give the new desk a proper test run. I tend to channel my nervous energy into my sex drive when I get anxious and this seemed like as good a time as any, but as luck would have it my pervy train of thought was interrupted by the chime of our front door.
"Oh shit," Desi said, "Betty's early."
"And apparently locked out." I felt my shoulders tense.
Not exactly the best way to start a grand opening.
"I thought you gave her a keycard."
We both trotted out to the lobby fully expecting to see our favorite mistress impatiently standing along with a group of frowning domme clients just on the other side of the full-length glass door. I even imagined her swishing that riding crop back and forth, stirrng the air around her ankles while she waited for us to open the lock and let her in.
We came face-to-face with the building manager instead, with her dark-green dyed mohawk and colorful tattoos peeking out from under rolled up shirt sleeves. She was accompanied by a moving dolly full of packages. "Been collecting these in the mail room," she said while chomping on a wad of gum. "Waitin' for y'all to get moved in. There's enough of 'em stacked up that I think the UPS guy's nervous this is some kind of front for stolen merchandise."
"Thank you," I said as Desi and I began unloading the boxes. "And I promise you, no criminal intent here."
"Just teasing, Sugar." The building manager blew a good-sized bubble and popped it before resuming. "None of my business what you ladies do up in here so long as the rent check clears."
"Well, thank goodness for that," I said, "'cause we're up to some pretty shady stuff here. But I promise we'll do our best not to leave any body parts sticking out of the dumpster on trash day." I even managed to say the whole thing without grinning.
"Hmph," she said, probably trying to figure out if I was serious or not. "Make sure you bring the cart back down to the mail room where it belongs." She chomped her gum a few more times, and left.
Desi reached over and smacked me on the shoulder.
"Listen, bitch," I said, trying to look stern.
"Three hours. Three hours we've been tenants in this building and already you're getting us in trouble."
"It's my chutzpah showing through." I smiled.
Desi's next smack landed on my backside. "Chutzpah my ass," she said. "You're nervous aren't you?"
"Am not."
"Can't fool me, honey. You always get cheeky and over-sexed when you're all keyed up." Desi wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me over for a hug. I heaved a sigh and buried my head in her shoulder.
"What if I fuck up, Des?" I mumbled into her sleave. "I mean these are potential customers, right? What if I do something stupid and mess it all up for us."
"You're not going to mess up, OK? You're going to be amazing." She placed her hands firmly on my shoulders and held me at arms length. "Come on, let's open some of these packages. Take your mind off things. Mellow you out a little bit."
Desi plucked a small rectangular box from the stack. "Here's one from a Miss Saffron Moon Smith."
"Miss Smith? Her middle name is Moon?"
"Really? Are you surprised? Open it."
I peeled back the shipping tape and pulled at the flaps. "Body paints, Des. A whole assortment. And a card. 'Best of luck girls and keep the creativity flowing.'"